Absolute Regression

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stared at the place where the divine relics had been placed. He looked, looked again, closed his eyes, and reopened them, but the spot where the Blood Divine Pill and the Supreme Heavenly Silk had been was still empty.

“I don’t want to see it. It was perfect, like a beautiful woman, but now it’s like she’s missing two front teeth.”

At the Cult Leader’s lament, the man in shackles glanced at the Thunder Bell and spoke softly.

“There are still canines and molars left. We can still bite our opponents or grit our teeth and brace ourselves.”

“Do you get excited every time a divine relic disappears?”

“How did you know? If you release my shackles, I might even dance.”

The Cult Leader sighed.

“To be honest, I’m afraid.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“That all of this might just turn out to be a vain dream. That when I wake up, nothing will be left. At that time, I might regret it and wonder what possessed me to give up everything.”

The Cult Leader looked at the man in shackles. The man then raised his head, brushed back his long, disheveled hair, and revealed his face for the first time in a while.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

“I’m showing you what you gave everything up for.”

“You crazy bastard.”

The man was right. It wasn’t the Young Master who had enchanted him. It was this man in shackles. This man, who brazenly admitted he had enchanted him and smiled while saying he would bring ruin.

“How should we make Cheong Seon into a Demon Supreme?”

“We need to break the Demon Supremes one by one and bring them in. Persuade, entice, and recruit them. It will require at least two divine relics. If we’re unlucky, we might need one more.”

The man in shackles seemed to have finished his calculations, but the Cult Leader’s face was heavily furrowed.

“You’re subtly telling me to invest in the Second Young Master, aren’t you? You’re always on his side until the end.”

“How long will you rely on the Second Young Master? Act like a man and handle it yourself. I’ll tell you how to strategically target the Demon Supremes.”

“Stop being sarcastic!”

“Fine. Just do nothing and stay put.”

“Is that something a strategist should say?”

As soon as the Cult Leader finished speaking, there was a clanging sound of chains.

The unspoken protest that no strategist in the world would be shackled like this left the Cult Leader speechless.

“I say this because I consider myself your strategist. Just stay put. Sometimes, doing nothing yields the best results.”

After a brief pause, the Cult Leader asked.

“Can we really afford to do that?”

“The Second Young Master will come.”

“And then?”

“He will demand the divine relics to place Cheong Seon in the position of Demon Supreme.”

“Even if it is him, can he do it?”

“We have to believe. We’ve already crossed the bridge of no return.”

At that moment, Cheong Seon, who had been training in the yard, came to deliver the news.

“The Second Young Master has arrived.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was both surprised and impressed. Since things were unfolding as the man in shackles had predicted, he felt a false sense of superiority.

“You’re not someone who can become a nobleman.”

“It’s because you always think and talk about the Second Young Master.”

“Stop talking about him! Stop siding with him! I am your master, me!”

“Who told you to become the leading waves of the Yangtze River?”

At the mention of the leading waves of the Yangtze River, the Cult Leader’s heart sank. The man in shackles might have said it without much thought, but it hit the Cult Leader hard. He already felt like he was being swept along to places he didn’t want to go.

“Yeah, you’re lucky. You get to be the rear waves of the Yangtze River.”

When he decided to go to the Central Plains, he never imagined he would be having such conversations with the man in shackles.

‘Indeed, life is unpredictable.’

For the first time, the Cult Leader felt the unfamiliar tension that comes with the unpredictability of life. This also meant he had lived a relatively predictable and smooth life until now.

* * *

When I visited the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, Cheong Seon was there too.

Recognizing me, she greeted me politely.

“Greetings, Second Young Master.”

When the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was alive, our relationship was indifferent, but the situation had changed. She now needed external supporters, and it was essential for her to make a good impression on me, the Second Young Master and Lord of the Underworld Pavilion.

“I heard you’ve become the disciple of the Cult Leader, Miss Cheong. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Second Young Master.”

She wouldn’t know. All this began with me leaking information to Sa Woojong.

“I have news for the Cult Leader. Miss Cheong, you should listen too.”

As we entered, the man in shackles glanced up, and our eyes briefly met. Since last time, we had our own way of greeting each other.

“What is it?”

“The Demonic Buddha is making a move.”

“The Demonic Buddha? How?”

“He is persuading the Demon Supremes to make the first disciple, Yang Dao, the next Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.”

“Damn it! That friend is even worse.”

“With the Demonic Buddha’s active involvement, it will be difficult for Miss Cheong to become a Demon Supreme.”

Cheong Seon bit her lip gently. She had taken a great risk to become the Demon Supreme. If she failed to achieve this position even after becoming the disciple of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, she might end up being expelled along with the cult leader.

“Second Young Master, isn’t there a way to help this child become a Demon Supreme? As you know, I cannot move freely here in the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.”

“There is a way, but it won’t be easy.”

“What method is it?”

“We need to influence the Demon Supremes. Fortunately, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme are friendly towards me. If I ask for their help, maybe…”

“Please help us.”

“Please help, Second Young Master.”

Cheong Seon was as desperate as the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“This isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

I feigned reluctance.

“We don’t know what the Demon Supremes who would give their votes will demand. Even if things go smoothly, I will owe a great debt to the Blade Demon and Sword Supreme.”

“Won’t my disciple and I also benefit? We will not forget your favor.”

“Understood, I will try.”

“Thank you. Please wait a moment.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sent Cheong Seon out, indicating he had something to say to me privately.

“You go outside and continue your training.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cheong Seon bowed to me and left. Her eyes were filled with desperation as she looked at me.

Once she was gone, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked.

“What do you want this time? Another divine artifact?”

“No.”

“No?”

The cult leader was shocked.

“There is nothing more important than my life.”

He spoke half-jokingly, but there was sincerity in his words. To such a person, my next words came as a blessing.

“This time, I don’t want anything.”

“Nothing?”

“Yes, nothing.”

“Really?”

I nodded firmly, and the cult leader’s expression brightened.

“When the results come out, I will treat you to a drink.”

“A drink too?”

“You’ve given me two precious divine artifacts. Whether we win or lose, let’s have a drink.”

“Where?”

“Here, of course. If the cult leader leaves while the divine artifacts are in a stolen state, everyone will find it strange. I will prepare the drinks and food.”

Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. It was to drink in a place where the shackled man couldn’t intervene.

“I’ll try to make it a victory drink rather than a defeat drink.”

With those words, I got up. The cult leader was both pleased and a bit bewildered.

“Just in case, make sure to teach your disciple well. Cheong Seon might have to duel with First Disciple Yang Do.”

“I’ve already taken that into consideration.”

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

As I was about to leave, I turned back to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“By the way, I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I tried to create a sky within a space made by the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique, but the incantations didn’t flow smoothly. Could you explain it to me once more?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was surprised. Even the shackled man, who seldom showed emotion, was startled. It was a rare reaction from him.

“To fill the space, you must succeed in materializing it within half an hour.”

“I’ve already succeeded at doing it within half an hour.”

“What did you say?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was astonished. When I mentioned opening it in two hours previously, he didn’t believe me. I had promised to show him next time, but now I had reduced it to half an hour, which was understandably shocking.

“Show me. Then I’ll explain it to you.”

“Are you willing to wait for half an hour?”

“I’ll wait.”

“Alright.”

I immediately began reciting the incantations and initiated the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

Half an hour later, we were inside the space I had created. I had deliberately brought the shackled man along as well.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was amazed, and the shackled man was also astonished. The sky had indeed unfolded, but there were holes everywhere, creating a strange sky.

After surveying the area for a moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked me,

“Why did you start with the sky?”

“I like looking at the sky. It feels like it clears my mind. Now, please explain.”

“Since I promised, I will teach you.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader then explained in detail the part of the incantations related to filling the space.

In truth, I could have created a perfect sky. However, I pretended not to be able to do it properly to naturally demonstrate my abilities in front of them.

After receiving the explanation and another half an hour later, I reopened the space with a clear, expansive blue sky, surprising both of them even more.

It wasn’t for the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. It was to directly show the shackled man my capabilities.

Was it showing off? Yes, it was intentional bragging.

In my past life, the greatest virtue of a leader I had learned was strength. It was strength, no matter what anyone said. Someone strong enough to entrust everything to.

And then I saw it. The face of the shackled man looking up at the sky. His eyes were clear yet lonely.

I still didn’t know who he was. But one thing was certain.

Even though I called him the shackled man, he was someone whose appearance and aura were completely at odds with being shackled.

* * *

After Geom Mugeuk left, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the shackled man were silent for a while.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke first.

“We saw a martial arts genius today.”

“There’s no doubt he possesses the heavenly martial body.”

“Heavenly martial body? Yes, without it, he wouldn’t have been able to master the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique so quickly.”

“Do you still regret it?”

“Regret what? Giving him the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique? Of course not. This regret has nothing to do with his abilities, don’t you think?”

“With the martial arts you’ve taught him, who knows what legend he might create.”

“As I always say, what’s the point if that legend isn’t about me?”

“Our dear cult leader, you’re a man who doesn’t know how to give up.”

“There you go, mocking me again.”

“No, I mean it. I think it’s good that you’re honest.”

“It’s because it’s you! I’m honest only in front of you. I’m not this soft and easygoing with others.”

Although he often revealed his true feelings, the shackled man had never shown his heart. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader understood the reason better than anyone. As long as those shackles were not removed, he would never know the man’s true feelings.

But even so, he would never remove those shackles.

‘I won’t let anyone take you away from me.’

Whether the shackled man understood this sentiment or not, he simply stared at the evil spirits engraved on the Thunder Bell.

“Are the evil spirits speaking to you again?”

“They’re asking why I live like this again.”

“Tell them everyone lives like this. You wretched spirit, everyone lives like this. Who are you to ask such grand questions?”

However, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader didn’t know. At that moment, the shackled man was speaking entirely different words to the evil spirit.

He was telling the spirit about a person who kept siding with him and talking to him. The evil spirit, appearing as taciturn as the Thunder Bell itself, silently listened to his words.

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