Absolute Regression

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon came to see me.

He was always the type to wait near my quarters with his large blade stuck in the ground, but these days, he would come directly to wherever I was. If I was at home, he would come to my house, and like today, if I was in my office, he would come to my office.

Since he was the senior, I should come to him. But there was no such authority in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s world. He was the type of person who came and went as he pleased.

“Have you heard that the third disciple of the Western Illusion Formation became a disciple of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader?”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“Was that your doing?”

“Why do you always think that every new event is something I’ve orchestrated?”

“So, was it not?”

“It was.”

“What exactly are you plotting with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader?”

“What grand scheme? I’m just helping him.”

“Are you really trying to help the Heavenly Wind Cult make inroads into the Central Plains?”

“Is that not allowed?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked seriously.

“Can you handle it?”

“If you’re referring to the Heavenly Wind Cult, don’t I have you? As long as we don’t fight with the Demon Supreme, could you at least handle the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader?”

“Don’t underestimate him. He may have been brought to our sect unwillingly, but he leads the martial world in the wilderness. If the martial world beyond the borders goes berserk, the Central Plains will become a sea of blood.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was serious, and I took his advice to heart.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Thinking of how formidable the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was naturally made me think of the man in shackles. He was the one controlling and leading this formidable Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“But why Cheong Seon?”

“She was easy to move.”

“Do you think Cheong Seon could become the Demon Supreme in the future?”

“In my opinion, the first and third disciples are about the same. It will take a considerable amount of time for either of them to properly become the Demon Supreme.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded, seeming to agree with that point.

“So, you should also groom Investigator Seo well.”

“Tell him to stop dreaming.”

“The dream is mine. Investigator Seo doesn’t have such dreams.”

“Stop meddling in other people’s affairs and take care of your own.”

As the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was about to stand up, he noticed the exquisite heavenly silkworm thread wrapped around my wrist and asked.

“What is that?”

“I wore it for style.”

“You got it from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, didn’t you?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon immediately recognized that this was no ordinary item.

“Why do you think so?”

“It’s something I’ve never seen before, and you wouldn’t help the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader without getting something in return.”

“Wouldn’t it be too harsh to expect rewards every time you help with something?”

“So? Didn’t you take it?”

“I did.”

“You stingy bastard!”

I smiled, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head as if he couldn’t understand me.

“This is the finest heavenly silkworm thread.”

“Ah! So this is it.”

“You recognize it, of course.”

“It’s my first time seeing it in person.”

“Would you like a piece?”

I was about to unwind the thread from the sword hilt to cut a piece for him.

“No need. It’s not fitting for this old body.”

“Isn’t it precisely because of your old body that you should wear it?”

“No, thanks.”

He had neither a sense of authority nor material greed. At moments like these, I thought that his true nature might indeed be someone who enjoyed reading poetry.

“Is there anything else you received?”

“I also received the Blood Divine Pill.”

I was honest with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. I had been so until now, and I planned to continue being so as much as possible in the future. I believed this honesty was the key to fully opening his heart.

“Blood Divine Pill?”

Maybe I had mentioned it too casually because it took the Blood Heaven Blade Demon a moment to register what the Blood Divine Pill was.

His expression changed in this order: What was the Blood Divine Pill? Blood Divine Pill? Oh? Could it be that Blood Divine Pill? No way! The Blood Divine Pill?

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sprang up from his seat in shock.

“The Greatest Pill of the Wilderness?”

“Yes.”

“Are you saying the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gave you that?”

He was so astonished that he was momentarily speechless.

“Where is it?”

“It’s in my stomach.”

“Oh my! Now your inner strength must surpass mine.”

I merely smiled. In truth, even before taking the Blood Divine Pill, my inner strength was comparable to that of the Demon Supremes, thanks to the Demon Essence Elixir and the Celestial Elixir. Now that I had taken the Blood Divine Pill, my inner strength would overwhelm them.

“Don’t worry, you are still my left wing.”

“Hmph! You’ve received a more effective elixir than the Celestial Elixir and the finest heavenly silkworm thread, so you’ll probably cut off your left wing.”

“My left wing is one with my body and cannot be replaced. If it’s removed, I will die.”

“As I said before, when the body dies, the wing will find a new body to fly to.”

“I hope it finds a better body.”

Though it was a joke, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression had softened before I knew it.

“Were you jealous just now?”

“Jealous? Nonsense! It was a warning. Just to make sure you know you can’t challenge my position just because you’ve received a few treasures.”

“Message received.”

“I’m really leaving now. Get back to work.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood up from his seat. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly spoke.

“I… wouldn’t mind having wings like a dragonfly.”

Meaning he wouldn’t mind having multiple wings.

His words stirred my heart. With such magnanimity, how could I possibly neglect the Blood Heaven Blade Demon?

Just as he was about to leave, a subordinate entered and announced the arrival of another visitor.

“The One-Slash Sword Supreme has arrived.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was taken aback upon hearing that the Sword Supreme had come.

“Did you call her to meet me?”

“How could I invite someone who showed up unexpectedly?”

The startled Blood Heaven Blade Demon opened the window. I belatedly stopped him from going out.

“That would be too undignified.”

“She will dislike seeing me.”

He still felt awkward and uncomfortable about his relationship with the One-Slash Sword Supreme.

“So what? Since when did you care about others’ opinions?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had stood by the window in contemplation, returned to his seat grudgingly.

In the meantime, the One-Slash Sword Supreme entered the room.

Seeing the Blood Heaven Blade Demon in the office, she was surprised too and started complaining.

“You? Did you arrange this meeting on purpose?”

I smiled and spoke to her.

“How can you both be so alike? How could I have known when either of you would come to set this up? Neither of you gave any notice, yet here you are. If you have complaints, take them up with the one above.”

I then looked out the window at the sky.

Even without saying, ‘Isn’t this all fate?’, the two understood my point.

I wanted to create a meeting for them, and seeing them meet naturally like this made me think that perhaps old man heavens was truly orchestrating their reconciliation.

“Please, have a seat.”

The One-Slash Sword Supreme sat down across from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“What brings you here, Senior?”

“I came to inform you of something.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon then stood up.

“I will take my leave so you can talk.”

“It’s something you can listen to as well.”

Although she would feel uncomfortable with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon present, her insisting he stay indicated that it was an important matter concerning all of us. And indeed, what she revealed was significant.

“The Demonic Buddha came to me with a request.”

“What kind of request?”

“He asked me to support one of the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme’s two disciples, Yang Dao.”

Selecting a new Demon Supreme was entirely under the jurisdiction of the Eight Demon Supremes. If a Demon Supreme died without naming a successor, the remaining Demon Supremes would nominate and choose the next one. This meant that one needed the support of more than half of the Demon Supremes to ascend to the position of Demon Supreme.

“You said it before, didn’t you? That it would be good for us to support our own as dueling friends.”

“You remembered.”

On the other hand, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was curious about what was being said.

“Dueling friends? What do you mean?”

“It was something that happened.”

“You seem to be conspiring with everyone except me.”

“How could that be? You are my first wing, Elder.”

This time, the One-Slash Sword Supreme asked.

“Wing?”

“You are my left wing, Elder. And now I am earnestly looking for my right wing.”

I intentionally stared at the One-Slash Sword Supreme. Sensing my wish for her to become my right wing, she quickly changed the subject.

“So? Who are you supporting?”

“Cheong Seon.”

“I thought as much. You seem to differ from the Demonic Buddha. Alright, I will support Cheong Seon too.”

Even without considering her relationship with the Demonic Buddha, defying another Demon Supreme’s request would be quite burdensome. Yet, she readily agreed to support me.

She was also considerate of me. The fact that she suggested discussing this with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon indicated as much. This matter required the help of both of them.

“Thank you.”

I was sincerely grateful to her. Just like how she had helped with Sa Woojong before.

Alright, senior. Let’s be dueling friends for life.

She didn’t even ask why I chose Cheong Seon. It showed how much she trusted me.

At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked me.

“But isn’t that just two votes? Have you secured the votes of other Demon Supremes?”

To make Cheong Seon the Demon Supreme, we needed four out of the seven Demon Supremes’ votes.

“Not yet.”

“What are you planning to do?”

I politely addressed the two of them.

“Please each persuade one person. I request this of you.”

“What benefit do we get if Cheong Seon becomes the Demon Supreme?”

In response to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s question, I answered cheekily.

“It benefits me more than you two.”

“I should be the one benefiting!”

“If it benefits me, it benefits you too, Elder.”

“Fuuuuckk—”

Of course, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would comply with my request, but he was just being playful.

On the other hand, the One-Slash Sword Supreme readily accepted my request.

“I will try to persuade the other Demon Supremes for you. If things go well, one of them might cast their vote for Cheong Seon.”

Suddenly, I thought that her goodwill might not be solely because of martial friendship. The favor she was showing was too great for that to be the only reason.

Looking at her, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke with a sullen face.

“You saying that makes me look insignificant.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon tried to lighten the awkward atmosphere with her, but the One-Slash Sword Supreme retorted seriously.

“Weren’t you always insignificant?”

For a moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression hardened. The previously pleasant atmosphere quickly cooled.

Their gazes clashed in midair. They fought with their eyes, neither willing to back down.

I didn’t intervene, giving them enough time to exhaust their emotions. This process needed to be repeated. After all, they wouldn’t kill each other.

The first to turn away was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The victorious One-Slash Sword Supreme scoffed. Thankfully, the time taken for their conflicts to be resolved was getting shorter.

I smiled at the One-Slash Sword Supreme, expressing my gratitude.

“Thank you for informing me about the Demonic Buddha’s request. And thank you even more for offering to persuade the other Demon Supremes. I will never forget this favor, Senior.”

“What favor? See you next time.”

The One-Slash Sword Supreme smiled in return and left the office first.

After she left, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also stood up.

“I’ll be leaving too.”

Receiving the artifact from the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, becoming martial friends with the One-Slash Sword Supreme—all these things might have bothered him, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon showed no sign of it.

“To me, you are always the priority, Elder.”

“Such fancy words.”

When I smiled awkwardly, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also chuckled.

“Even if the Sword Supreme confidently left, persuading the other Demon Supremes won’t be easy. The Demonic Buddha’s side will be working hard too.”

“Please help me, Elder.”

“Can I, who is ostracized among the Demon Supremes, manage that?”

Despite his words, his presence was more reassuring than anyone else’s.

If each of them could persuade one person, we could secure four votes. Even I couldn’t predict the outcome.

I decided to trust the two of them. Both the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme had lived as Demon Supremes for decades. I trusted the lives they had led.

In any case, with the two of them doing a difficult task for my sake, I couldn’t just hand over the benefits to the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.

I headed to the Cult Leader’s residence. However, this time my purpose wasn’t to obtain an artifact. I intended to lay the first stone to acquire something more precious than an artifact.

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