Absolute Regression

Today, I brought all of my people with me.

From the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the One-Slash Sword Supreme, Lee Ahn, Seo Daeryong, to the Demonic Army Commander Jangho, they were all here.

I didn’t tell the others why we were visiting the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. I didn’t want them to act intentionally. Today, there was no need for persuasion or to make an impression. We just needed to show ourselves as we are.

“Welcome, esteemed guests! It’s a pleasure to see you all here!”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader greeted us with open arms, looking happier than I had ever seen him.

Had he already reconciled with the man in shackles after that major faux pas?

“I suddenly felt the urge to visit with my companions. Please forgive the intrusion.”

“It’s alright. It’s an opportunity to interact with the heroes of the Divine Sect, isn’t it?”

“Your heart is as broad as the sea.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Welcome.”

Naturally, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was already well-acquainted with the Demon Supremes.

“I heard you’ve become quite close with the Second Young Master recently.”

“You heard wrong. Not just close; I’m his left wing.”

Among ourselves, we joked about being his wings, but I didn’t expect the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to say this to someone else.

He was likely showing the man in shackles just how much he trusted Geom Mugeuk. Even I didn’t anticipate this move, so how surprised must the One-Slash Sword Supreme have been?

I knew she wouldn’t be happy about this, but I asked her to join us so she could see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon at least once more. I was determined to make her one of my people.

After staring at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with a surprised face for a moment, the One-Slash Sword Supreme spoke to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“But I am not the right wing.”

Her determination to avoid getting entangled with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was clear, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader took it as a witty joke and thanked her.

“I heard you greatly assisted in making Cheong Seon a Demon Supreme.”

“I did it trusting the Second Young Master.”

She credited me. And added another point.

“And the major assistance came from the Blade Demon. I only secured an abstention vote, while he obtained a full vote.”

She didn’t mention any specific names, but she clearly stated that thanks to Blade Demon, she secured a vote. No matter how much she disliked Blade Demon, her personality wouldn’t allow her to take credit for someone else’s achievement.

This was news to me as well. I had naturally assumed that the One-Slash Sword Supreme secured a vote, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon managed to get an abstention vote.

But the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had secured a vote? This quirky old man never even mentioned it when he came to see me.

I sent a telepathic message to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

—Weren’t you being shunned?

—Maybe someone felt sorry and helped out.

—If you get shunned twice more, you’ll have all the Demon Supremes kneeling.

—There won’t be a need to ask for favors again.

—Thank you.

—Enough.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader clasped his hands and expressed his gratitude to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“You are better than my friend.”

“Isn’t it strange to seek friends in the martial world in the first place? We meet and part as needed. Living that way keeps life simple.”

“I won’t forget your wise teachings.”

With that, the two Demon Supremes finished their greetings, and now it was Jangho’s turn to greet him.

“I am the Demonic Army Commander Jangho. It is an honor to meet you.”

“To meet the valiant Demonic Army Commander in person, the honor is mine.”

“I asked the Second Young Master to let me meet you.”

“I hope you aren’t disappointed by my name, which is more famous than deserved.”

Jangho had followed my request without asking why. This reliability, the sense that he would accomplish any task silently, was something unique to Jangho.

Next, Seo Daeryong greeted him.

“I don’t know if I deserve to be here, but I am Seo Daeryong, an investigator from the Underworld Pavilion.”

“I’ve heard much about you. They say you are the right-hand man of our Second Young Master?”

Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened as he looked at me. His expression asked, did you really say that? I smiled and responded.

“Seeing that you know without me saying it, everyone must truly think so.”

The last person to greet was Lee Ahn.

“I am Lee Ahn, serving the Young Master. It is an honor to meet you.”

“Those lively eyes, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such spirit.”

“Thank you for seeing me in a good light.”

Her aura during training lately had been like a sharp blade.

A sharp aura that seemed capable of cutting anyone.

Her task from now on would be to learn how to temper this sharpness.

“If Investigator Seo is my right hand, then Lee Ahn here is akin to my heart.”

When I said that in front of everyone, Lee Ahn was flustered. Her face turned red, but I declared confidently.

“Everyone, please know this. Lee Ahn is my heart.”

Saying something when it’s just the two of us versus saying it in front of others is as different as heaven and earth. If it’s something I can say when we’re alone, I should be able to say it in front of everyone too. That’s what a true relationship is.

However, it’s not easy to find such a relationship. It’s truly not easy.

In that sense, meeting Lee Ahn was a great fortune for me. It’s not just because of the life debt from before the regression. As I told my father, it’s because she is a remarkable person.

Someone who, despite hiding nine tails, can sacrifice her life for someone else.

She revealed that to me because we grew close, but otherwise, she would have hidden her fox nature all her life and carried out her duties like a bear.

“Just because someone holds you in high regard doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice yourself for them. Don’t forget, those are two distinctly separate things.”

This was my philosophy regarding the relationship between a superior and a subordinate.

I was speaking to Lee Ahn, but at the same time, I was also addressing the man in shackles.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader expressed his admiration.

“I envy you for having someone you can praise so highly.”

I saw the man in shackles over his shoulder. What was he thinking?

“The Second Young Master praises his subordinates, so I can’t just stay quiet. Let me introduce someone. The man over there in shackles is my right hand.”

I was inwardly surprised. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had never introduced the man in shackles before, but today he did. And he even called him his right hand. There must have been some change between the two since his disastrous blunder.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked bluntly.

“Why do you keep your right hand shackled?”

“If I take my eyes off him for even a moment, he’ll ascend, so I had to hold him back forcefully.”

“Shouldn’t you let someone who’s meant to ascend, ascend?”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded with an understanding expression.

“Indeed. These young dragons are so unruly that people like us can’t handle them easily.”

As he said this, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at me. While suggesting that those who should be released should be set free, he was also complimenting me as a young dragon destined to ascend.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was truly perceptive and adept at reading the room.

If I were ten, no, even twenty years younger, I might have considered making the Blood Heaven Blade Demon my advisor. Of course, he would vehemently refuse, leaping at the chance to say no.

Meanwhile, the table was set with drinks.

We sat around, pouring drinks for each other.

I don’t believe that fate controls every aspect of a person’s life. Fate merely offers us opportunities. It’s up to us to judge and seize those opportunities.

Despite all the research and preparation I did in anticipation of regression, the man in shackles was not part of it. He could play a crucial role in my life after the regression.

But that’s fine.

It’s actually better that I didn’t know and prepare in advance, as it led to this moment. A moment where I could reveal who I am and, ultimately, reflect on myself.

The first to speak today was Lee Ahn.

After a few rounds of drinks, Lee Ahn cautiously stepped forward.

“Would it be alright if I offered him a drink?”

She was referring to the man in shackles. This wasn’t something I had instructed her to do. Previously, I had given him a drink, which had led the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader to make a significant blunder.

Unaware of this, Lee Ahn was making the same offer.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, unlike his earlier reaction to me, smiled and said,

“He would appreciate that.”

Things had definitely changed. What could have happened?

Lee Ahn brought a bottle and a glass, poured him a drink, and asked respectfully,

“Are you guarding this bell?”

I didn’t expect an answer, but surprisingly, the man in shackles spoke.

“At first, I was… but now the bell is protecting me.”

Whether she understood the significance of his answer or not, Lee Ahn continued the conversation.

“We’re quite similar.”

The man in shackles slightly lifted his head to look at her.

“At first, I protected Young Master, but now Young Master protects me.”

I saw it. A faint smile appeared on the man’s lips. That must be why. That’s why Lee Ahn was able to continue speaking naturally.

“That bell doesn’t tell you to leave, does it? Our Young Master keeps telling me to leave. He wants me to live my own life. Is it really because of that? Or is he trying to get rid of me because he dislikes me?”

The man in shackles responded to her question once again.

“No one would call someone they want to get rid of, their heart, in front of everyone.”

It was a new look for the man in shackles. He had already answered Lee Ahn’s question twice.

From the beginning, just as Lee Ahn’s questions were directed at me, it occurred to me that the man’s answers might also be intended for me rather than Lee Ahn.

“Ah, I suppose that’s true?”

Lee Ahn looked in my direction. I sensed that she was once again probing. She must have had a hunch that the reason we brought them here was related to this man. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have engaged in such a conversation with him.

I tapped my chest twice before pointing my finger at her.

Lee Ahn beamed.

“You sound so serious that it feels like you’re joking.”

At that moment, Seo Daeryong, who had been sitting, picked up his drink and joined us. He moved so naturally that there was no point in stopping him.

As Seo Daeryong sat next to Lee Ahn, he spoke.

“I think you are overly concerned about this martial artist.”

“About me?”

“Yes. Based on my observations of the Pavilion Leader so far, he deeply cares for his subordinates and wishes for their survival. It’s akin to the concern of a parent wishing their children to live well after leaving the perilous Sword Forest of Dosan. I believe that is why he had me learn martial arts from Master.”

“Oh! That might be true.”

Lee Ahn looked at me again. Given that she had inherited the Soaring Sword Art, it made sense that such words would resonate with her.

I told her, “It’s a misunderstanding. I’m teaching you so I can make proper use of you in the future. If you’re that naive, you’ll be taken advantage of your whole life!”

Then Seo Daeryong answered on her behalf.

“Sometimes, working under someone who utilizes you properly is more comfortable. It’s more challenging under an incompetent and indecisive leader.”

Lee Ahn extended her glass in agreement, and Seo Daeryong toasted.

“Why do you like our young master so much, Investigator Seo?”

“Do I seem to like him?”

“If that weren’t the case, you wouldn’t have come to this gathering, would you?”

Lee Ahn had already grasped Seo Daeryong’s personality.

She was right. For someone who disliked standing out and avoiding danger, voluntarily sitting next to Lee Ahn was a brave move.

“Because I’m his right-hand man.”

Although he said it jokingly, Seo Daeryong’s words carried a lot of sentiment.

It was at that moment the man in shackles raised his head and quietly asked,

“What will you do if someone tries to take that right-hand position from you?”

It wasn’t an answer to a question; it was something he brought up first. His initial words were incredibly provocative.

Seo Daeryong was startled by the unexpected question. The intense gaze of the man in shackles, visible through his disheveled hair, was striking.

Seo Daeryong’s complicated emotions showed on his face as he considered how to respond, then he calmly answered.

“I am timid and easily frightened, so I probably wouldn’t fight back. Let them take it. I am working hard to become someone else’s right-hand man for such a day. Luckily, everyone needs a right-hand man.”

The provocative look in the man in shackles’ eyes gradually calmed.

Meanwhile, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, knowing he was the subject of the jest, looked incredulous. I glanced at him and said,

“Raise him well.”

“I don’t want to.”

At that moment, Jangho, the Demonic Army Commander, looked over at them and said something unexpected.

“I’m next in line to be the right-hand man. While Investigator Seo may be kind enough to give up that position, I won’t hand it over to just anyone.”

It was a moment where Jangho revealed a new side of himself.

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