Absolute Regression

The next day, I went to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion early in the morning to find my father.

Father was not in the main hall but in his personal training hall.

I waited outside until he finished his training.

“Come in.”

Father, who had been informed of my visit, called me into the training hall. As I stepped inside, I felt a bit nervous. It was my first time entering his personal training hall.

At that moment, as I stepped inside.

Father, who was standing in the middle of the training area, charged toward me.

The technique Father used was the Underworld King Step.

Along with it came the Heavenly Demon Sword.

The Heavenly Demon attacking someone with the Heavenly Demon Sword while using the Underworld King Step?

No one could survive such an attack.

In a flash, it was all over.

The Heavenly Demon Sword stopped in mid-air.

I was standing right next to it. The sword’s edge was so close I could feel its cold breath. I had evaded Father’s attack using the Divine Lightning Step.

Did the Divine Lightning Step win against the Underworld King Step? Of course not.

From the beginning, it was an attack that I barely managed to avoid.

“You always aim for my handsome face.”

“Those who target you outside won’t be as merciful as I am.”

“Thank you for sparing me.”

I pretended as if nothing had happened and looked around Father’s training hall.

“I thought there would be something special, but there’s nothing.”

Indeed, there was nothing.

It was an empty space with a few swords, sabers, and spears mounted on the walls.

“There isn’t even a single training dummy.”

“Why keep something unnecessary?”

Well, I also imagined an imaginary opponent while training. Why would it be any different for Father?

At that moment, I noticed an iron plate attached to the wall.

It was about a hand’s breadth thick, with deep fist imprints in it. Surprisingly, the material was Millennial Iron.

“My goodness! Just how strong must your fists be? This is abuse of Millennial Iron.”

“Enough with the nonsense and come here.”

Father had a reason for bringing me into the training hall.

“Demonstrate your Wind God’s Four Steps.”

“Yes.”

Opportunities to receive Father’s guidance were rare, so I did my best to demonstrate the Wind God’s Four Steps.

The Wind God’s Four Steps consisted of four main techniques, but each of these techniques contained over nine hundred variations. Depending on the interpretation, those variations could increase or decrease.

The way one interprets and utilizes those variations slightly altered the movements and, ultimately, changed the power of the Wind God’s Four Steps. This is why even the same martial art can feel and appear entirely different depending on who uses it.

When I finished the technique, Father seemed quite animated. It was probably because my achievement was higher than he had expected.

Father and I had a long conversation about the technique I had just demonstrated.

Initially, our discussion was about whether to put more strength into the foot or not, and whether to twist the waist faster or not.

I conveyed my thoughts honestly. At times, I even disagreed with Father’s opinions, but surprisingly, Father was very flexible in his thinking.

He demonstrated the technique right there according to what I had suggested.

“As you said, it seems correct to put more strength into the right foot.”

In moments like these, talking about martial arts, Father felt like a different person. He was free, generous, and rational.

We talked at length about the Wind God’s Four Steps.

We were so engrossed in the conversation that I only realized I was hungry when our discussion about martial arts ended.

After the conversation, I felt that my understanding of the Wind God’s Four Steps had deepened significantly.

“Thank you for your great teachings. I will repay this grace by…”

…killing Hwa Moogi.

“I’ll repay you with money later.”

Father suddenly spoke up in response to my jest.

“Stay for a meal.”

For a moment, I was taken aback.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard you ask me to have a meal together, Father.”

“Such a trivial thing to be surprised about.”

Father left the training hall first. Just as he said, it was a trivial thing to be moved by, but honestly, my heart was touched.

We had a meal together.

I expected a grand feast, but the variety of dishes was not as extensive as I thought. It was a very neat spread.

“There is more rice, so eat a lot.”

“Yes.”

I ate without making any jokes. It wasn’t an opportunity that came often, so I tried to remember this moment well.

Father gave me a puzzled look as I quietly ate, and then he silently ate his meal.

Indeed, whenever I was with Father, I would purposely joke around more and make more mischief.

But at this moment, it felt as if my pre-regression self was having a meal with Father. As two grown men, as martial artists, yet still as father and son.

‘Father… I missed moments like these.’

In the past, I had never once missed this. But only in this moment did I realize how much I longed for it deep in my heart.

Thus, I finished my first historic meal with Father. This first meal, where not a single word was spoken, would forever remain unforgettable.

After the meal, Father asked me, “Did you enjoy the food?”

It was time to return to my usual self.

“Are you thinking of replacing me with Suksoo?” (EN : For those who don’t remember, it’s the cooking chief. Of course I remembered him, who do you take me for ? *tone deaf whistling while heavily sweating*)

Don’t be upset, Lim Suksoo. It’s just a joke.

“No need.”

“Ha ha.”

I had a drink with Father, a little liquor that came with the meal.

“You drank with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon in Maga Village?”

“Yes.”

As expected, Father knew every move I made within the sect.

“How much do you trust him?”

“I don’t.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know him. No matter how transparent a person appears, you shouldn’t be complacent in thinking you know them.”

When I answered as per Father’s teachings, he looked satisfied. He was worried that I might get betrayed if I trusted the Blood Heaven Blade Demon too much.

“Why did you come to see me today?”

It was only after more than two hours had passed since I had sought Father that he asked this question.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Speak.”

“Please add one more member to our family.”

Father looked at me as if I had said something absurd.

“Do you mean you want to get married?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I want to pass on the Soaring Sword Art to my bodyguard, Lee Ahn.”

I intended to pass on the Soaring Sword Art, in which I had achieved great mastery, to Lee Ahn. Only with the Soaring Sword Art would she be able to protect the position of leader of the Haunted Shade Corps.

The problem was that the Soaring Sword Art was a martial art that was only passed down to the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon. Without Father’s permission, I couldn’t teach it.

“You criticize your true bloodline from behind, yet you want to make a bodyguard part of the family?”

“Yes. She is more precious to me than my blood relatives. And she is someone who will accomplish great things in the future.”

“Are you sure you want to pass down your exclusive martial art?”

“My exclusive martial art will be the Nine Calamities Demon Art.”

All my efforts to gather the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme, to place Jangho as the leader of the Demonic Army, and to establish a new Demonic Path, would all be in vain if I didn’t become the successor.

Ultimately, all these actions were to gain Father’s recognition. I needed to become the successor to inherit the Nine Calamities Demon Art in order to confront Hwa Moogi.

“You are confident.”

“She is worth teaching.”

“In what way?”

“She is a better person than I am.”

Father was silent for a moment, perhaps because my answer was unexpected.

After taking a sip of his drink, Father asked, “Do you intend to make that child the leader of your private organization?”

“Yes, that’s correct. In the future, there may be times when I have to eliminate the Demon Supremes. I’ll fill the void with my private organization. So please grant me your permission.”

Father responded with a simple and willing statement.

“Very well.”

At first, I thought I had misheard. I couldn’t believe he would allow it so easily.

“Are you truly saying I can pass on the Soaring Sword Art to Lee Ahn?”

I asked again to confirm, and Father silently nodded. I had expected there to be conditions or a mission to complete before he granted permission… Why was he allowing this so easily?

“But you must promise me one thing.”

“Command me.”

“If you ever decide to kill a Demon Supreme, you must inform me first. No matter who it is.”

It was not a difficult promise to make. In fact, I had already intended to do so. I had no plans to eliminate Demon Supremes without Father’s permission.

“Yes, I will definitely do so.”

* * *

“You called for me?”

Having received Father’s permission, I immediately summoned Lee Ahn to my personal training hall.

“Do you know why I called you?”

“Yes, I have a rough idea.”

“What is it?”

“Is it to test what I’ve been training for so far?”

Since I had called her to the training hall, it was a natural assumption.

“So? Are you prepared?”

“I have been training to the best of my ability.”

“Not that.”

“Pardon?”

“Are you ready to receive a new martial art?”

For a moment, Lee Ahn was startled. Her surprise quickly turned into excitement. For a martial artist, there is no more exhilarating moment than learning a superior martial art.

“Lee Ahn, leader of the Haunted Shade Corps.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, I will pass on the Soaring Sword Art to you.”

Lee Ahn was so shocked that she screamed.

“Eek!”

It was the most surprised I had ever seen her since we met.

“No way! The Soaring Sword Art is a martial art passed only to the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon. If you pass it on to me, the Cult Leader will kill me on the spot. You would also face severe punishment. If you intend to teach me in secret, please give up. There are no secrets in this world. Even if the secret is kept, I cannot learn it.”

After she finished her outburst, I asked with a smile.

“Are you done talking?”

“I have more to say, but let me just say this. No! Absolutely not!”

I smiled and said to her, “I already got permission from Father.”

“What?”

Lee Ahn’s eyes widened. As I watched her surprised expression, I realized how varied her expressions were. She had many different reactions to surprise, and this one was new to me.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“That can’t be true.”

“If you don’t believe me, you can come with me and confirm it.”

Lee Ahn, who feared Father more than anyone in the world, waved her hands and stepped back.

“Just kill me instead.”

“I don’t hate you enough to lie about something like this. Do you want to know the definitive reason why I’m telling the truth?”

“What is it?”

“You’re right. If I taught you without permission, you’d die. I wouldn’t put you in such danger.”

It seemed Lee Ahn had enough trust in me for that.

“You really got permission?”

“Yes.”

Lee Ahn’s eyes wavered.

“But the Soaring Sword Art is your exclusive martial art. Why are you passing it on to me?”

“To become the leader of the Haunted Shade Corps, you need to master this level of martial art. And… you’re practically my family. So, it’s okay for you to learn it.”

For a moment, Lee Ahn seemed overwhelmed.

“Young Master.”

“It’s not for you, it’s for me. I plan to work you hard in the future. So don’t get too happy.”

“Even so, how can I dare to learn your martial art?”

“My exclusive martial art will be the Nine Calamities Demon Art. So you can learn this without any burden.”

In the end, tears started falling from Lee Ahn’s eyes.

“No one has ever… valued me this much…”

I gently patted Lee Ahn’s back as she struggled to speak. She burst into loud sobs. It seemed something deep inside her had finally been released. I let her cry to her heart’s content.

After she calmed down, I began to teach her the Soaring Sword Art.

The transfer of martial arts knowledge was done through oral transmission.

“The Soaring Sword Art consists of eight techniques that embody the changes and energy of the sky. Think of your dantian as the sky and expand it as much as possible. Your true energy should flow like the wind, sometimes as gentle as a spring breeze, and sometimes as powerful as a passing typhoon. The beginning of your internal energy is…”

Lee Ahn, being intelligent, memorized the key points of the Soaring Sword Art perfectly after I repeated them five times.

“You must be able to recite these key points even if someone pokes your side while you’re asleep. Understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lee Ahn would work hard, and with my occasional guidance, her skills would improve rapidly.

“And this.”

I took a small wooden box out of my pocket and handed it to her.

“What is this?”

“Open it.”

Inside the box was a Blood Poison Pearl, one of the treasures I had taken from the secret vault of the Golden Manor’s owner.

“What is it?”

“It’s a Blood Poison Pearl.”

“What? The rare Blood Poison Pearl?”

“Yes. In case you encounter situations with poisoning risks or face enemies who use poison techniques, keep this in your mouth while you fight.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“It’s a gift to celebrate your formal training in the Soaring Sword Art.”

“No! I can’t accept such a precious item after already receiving martial arts training!”

“You must accept it.”

“Why?”

“Because I plan to give one to people I’m less close with than you. I can’t give it to others if I don’t give it to you first.”

“That’s a strange logic.”

“All right, I’ll come to test what you’ve learned later. Don’t slack off in your training.”

Before the place could turn into a sea of tears again, I quickly left.

I felt an intense warmth from behind, one that surpassed mere gratitude.

I looked forward to the future that this warmth would create. At least, I wouldn’t let it become a sacrifice for my sake. So…

Become stronger, Lee Ahn!

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