Absolute Regression

After washing off the blood, Geom Muyang stood in front of the bronze mirror, and a servant girl helped him put on new clothes.

He wore a thin robe that protected him from swords directly against his bare skin. Over that, he layered a slightly thicker robe. His obsession with death was openly displayed, at least to the Demonic Buddha.

Ma Bul watched this scene from his chair.

Considering the involvement of the Yunnan Twin Freaks, Geom Muyang had every reason to be angry, but he said nothing. The Demonic Buddha could sense the anger boiling under the cold calm of his face.

“The Second Young Master…”

Originally, he intended to start with, “He has changed too much.” But he changed his words, thinking it was too obvious.

“…what kind of person is he?”

Geom Muyang answered from within the bronze mirror.

“I thought I knew my brother well, but I realized earlier that I don’t know him at all. He wasn’t like this before…”

Suddenly, the Demonic Buddha raised his voice, causing the poor servant girl to accidentally scratch Geom Muyang’s neck with her fingernail while adjusting his collar.

“Ouch! I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

The servant girl immediately dropped to her knees, begging for forgiveness. The atmosphere instantly chilled even more.

“Why would I kill you over something like this?”

Geom Muyang spoke softly, but the Demonic Buddha coldly interjected.

“But we can’t let this go unpunished, can we? Keeping a servant girl who injured the future Heavenly Demon? How laughable would that seem to others?”

The servant girl pleaded desperately.

“Please! Spare me!”

Geom Muyang helped her to her feet.

“Everyone makes mistakes. You may leave now.”

“Thank you, Eldest Young Master. Thank you so much.”

The servant girl left the room.

“You must not show such leniency towards the mistakes of subordinates. You should at least give her some punishment.”

Then Geom Muyang suddenly asked.

“Did you ask what kind of person my brother is?”

“Yes, I did.”

“If a similar situation arose, he would buy a meal for the frightened servant girl. He has always been warm-hearted since childhood.”

“That doesn’t mean you can let your guard down.”

“I didn’t say that to suggest lowering our guard. Didn’t you see Mugeuk looking at the people earlier?”

The gaze in the bronze mirror that was directed at the Demonic Buddha now turned to Geom Muyang himself.

“Honestly, I was a bit envious.”

The Demonic Buddha sometimes found Geom Muyang unpredictable.

Despite his brilliant and cold handling of affairs, there were times when he would unexpectedly reveal his innermost thoughts.

While contemplating how to respond, Geom Muyang walked over and sat down across Ma Bul. He poured himself a cup of cold tea and drank it.

“What is worrying you so much, Demon Supreme?”

“It’s not just about the Second Young Master’s abilities, but more importantly, Gu Cheonpa is a cunning old man. The fact that he chose the Second Young Master means there must be a significant reason. Whether it’s buying a meal for a servant girl or something we don’t know about.”

Then Geom Muyang said something unexpected.

“I think the answer lies with my father.”

The Demonic Buddha was taken aback by those words.

“What do you mean by that?”

“My father supported Mugeuk while I was away. He bestowed upon him the Black Demon Sword and placed him in the position of Underworld Pavilion Lord. He’s testing how I’ll handle the empowered Mugeuk. I believe this is the final test to become the successor.”

For a moment, it seemed plausible, but then the Demonic Buddha shook his head.

“That can’t be it. During the Second Young Master’s rise, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme died. Although the cause was said to be a qi deviation, there are too many suspicious points.”

At first, he believed the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult when he said it wasn’t Geom Mugeuk’s doing, but now he no longer believed it.

“It could have been the Second Young Master’s doing. And yet, you think it was the Cult Leader’s test? The Cult Leader cherished the Soul Reaper as a main force of our sect.”

“My father probably didn’t foresee that far. Mugeuk possesses abilities beyond my father’s expectations.”

“Then did Geom Mugeuk really kill the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme?”

Instead of answering, Geom Muyang posed a question.

“Could you, Ma Bul, have killed Yasuo?”

“Of course… I could kill him!”

A moment of hesitation revealed how formidable the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was. Even the Demonic Buddha lacked confidence against him.

“You’re right. You could have killed him, but it wouldn’t have been easy.”

After preserving the Demonic Buddha’s pride, Geom Muyang continued with what he originally wanted to say.

“Neither I nor Mugeuk can kill the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme with our current martial arts skills. However, it might be possible with the help of one person.”

“Who is that?”

Geom Muyang didn’t answer, implying the Demonic Buddha should figure it out himself. After pondering for a moment, the Demonic Buddha shouted in shock.

“Could it be? The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult?”

“That’s right. With his help, it might have been possible to kill the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.”

Although it seemed plausible, the Demonic Buddha still had one doubt.

“Why would the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult do that?”

“For an entry into the Central Plains. Ultimately, didn’t he take the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme’s disciple as his own?”

“Ah!”

The Demonic Buddha had never suspected in this way before. Was the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult really behind this?

“And then he had the audacity to come and inspect the corpse? Is that what you’re saying?”

The Demonic Buddha’s recent falling out with the Cult Leader clouded his objective judgment with suspicion and anger.

“The Cult Leader knew the Demon Supremes would summon him. It was the only way he could confidently enter our sect.”

The last doubt holding the Demonic Buddha was this.

“But the Cult Leader lacks the guts. If it’s discovered that he killed the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, the entire Heavenly Wind Cult would be annihilated. It’s not possible.”

“My father always told me since I was young: never presume you know someone.”

The Demonic Buddha felt confused. The Cult Leader he knew wasn’t capable of such a grand scheme. But Geom Muyang’s words made perfect sense. There was also another reason.

“Isn’t it obvious from the fact that the Cult Leader’s forces went to Mugeuk? As you said, the meticulous Blood Heaven Blade Demon wouldn’t have allied with him without such a background.”

What if this were true?

“Damn it! I brought the traitor in myself!”

“Don’t blame yourself. Instead, I’ll use this situation to gain control over the Demon Supremes.”

“And if the situation doesn’t favor us?”

Geom Muyang casually mentioned what the Demonic Buddha couldn’t bring himself to say.

“Kill Mugeuk? No, I won’t kill him. How would my father see a brother who kills his own sibling?”

The Demonic Buddha realized that the reason for not killing Geom Mugeuk wasn’t because he was a brother, but only because their father was watching.

“Then what do you plan to do?”

“I’ll bring all those who sided with Mugeuk to my side. Mugeuk has a strong sense of pride; if his people turn against him, he’ll leave the cult on his own. You saw it earlier, right? People leaving without watching Mugeuk’s match. I’ll make sure those people truly abandon Mugeuk. Let’s see if he can still laugh and joke then.”

“Keeping the Second Young Master alive will bring future trouble.”

“Even if he leaves, if our cult faces a crisis, he’ll come to help, not to destroy us. That’s his biggest weakness.”

Geom Muyang walked back to the mirror. Staring at his reflection, he spoke calmly.

“The position of Heavenly Demon Pavilion’s Grand Master is the most solid in this martial world. A soft person like Mugeuk cannot and should not sit there.”

* * *

The next morning, when I arrived at the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, I met my brother at the entrance.

“It’s been a while since we’ve last entered the Heavenly Demon Pavilion together.”

“It has.”

We walked together.

“Are you nervous?”

“Not really.”

But my brother was nervous.

He always became especially tense in front of our father. Since childhood, he had always wanted to impress him.

Once, when we were young, my brother had heard our father call him “our eldest son” just once, and he boasted about it not for days, but for years.

If I was captivated by Hwa Moogi now, my brother was captivated by our father.

My brother and I entered the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

Inside were our father and Sima Myung, the Strategist Advisor. We walked the Path of Blood together. The demon statues standing on all sides watched my brother’s return and our entrance with cold and strange eyes.

“Father, have you been well?”

My brother bowed deeply to our father.

“Welcome back.”

I observed my father’s expression. His face showed happiness towards my brother. On the other hand, my brother was nervous. I could feel him trembling.

“You seem happy to have your eldest son back.”

My father didn’t respond to my comment. The father who walked with me in Maga Village and the father now felt different.

I understood the more taciturn father.

Before my regression, around this time, my father had already considered my brother as the successor. My regression shook my father’s heart, but the person who had first entered that heart was my brother.

If I didn’t understand my father’s feelings towards my brother, I could never win this battle. And I must not forget. My ultimate enemy was neither my father nor my brother.

“How did the task go?”

In response to my father’s question, my brother answered confidently.

“I overcame all the final hurdles.”

My father’s face brightened at those words. My brother hadn’t been handling trivial tasks on the frontier.

The Nine Demonic Walls.

The Nine Demonic Walls was a secret training ground of our sect, hidden in the frontier.

My father had granted my brother access to it. Like the Heavenly Cave, the Nine Demonic Walls could only be entered with the Heavenly Demon’s permission.

Passing through the Nine Demonic Walls was no easy feat. It was a step above the Heavenly Cave that I had previously passed through. However, one could opt out of the Nine Demonic Walls midway. It was a safer but more challenging barrier.

Sima Myung was also very pleased.

“Congratulations, Eldest Young Master. Passing all the trials! It truly shows that blood cannot be deceived.”

My brother had inherited our father’s blood. When it came to martial arts talent, he was second to none.

I feigned ignorance and asked, “What did he pass through?”

Sima Myung smiled and answered, “The Eldest Young Master has passed through the Nine Demonic Walls.”

I suddenly hugged my brother.

“That’s amazing, brother!”

Father and Sima Myung were quite startled by my actions. However, my brother, having experienced my changes, accepted my congratulations calmly.

“Thank you.”

“So, you’ve also mastered the Soaring Sword Art?”

If it were just the two of us, he might not have answered, but since Father was present, he answered honestly. Though, of course, he directed his answer to Father, not me.

“Father, I have also mastered the Soaring Sword Art during the process of passing through the Nine Demonic Walls.”

“Congratulations.”

“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Father. Thank you.”

Father’s gaze turned to my brother and me.

I wondered what he was thinking right now.

“Congratulations, Eldest Young Master.”

“Thank you, Strategist.”

“Congratulations, brother.”

“Thank you.”

“In this harmonious atmosphere, I have something to say to Father.”

I directed my gaze at Father.

“For us, the cutting of the umbilical cord was a signal that the fight for succession had begun. That’s how our lives have been and how they will continue to be. So, Father, this time, I plan to engage in a fair competition with my brother. What do you think, brother?”

Instead of answering me, my brother spoke to Father.

“Father, I didn’t realize how much Mugeuk had grown while I was away. He has truly matured.”

Father just looked down at us silently. What could he be thinking? Was he scoring us on who would make a better successor even at this moment? Or did he worry about us turning on each other like he was forced to with his older brother ?

Father made no mention of my suggestion. Fair competition? If it were just the two of us, he might have called it a cheap sentiment perfect for dying.

Still, I told Father because I wanted to show my intention to try and take my brother with me.

“Go and rest for now.”

My brother and I bowed to Father and walked the Path of Blood out of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

At the entrance, I asked him, “Why do you want to become the Heavenly Demon, brother?”

He suddenly said, “Because if I don’t, I’ll die.”

I expected a different answer from him, but it was a surprisingly straightforward response.

“Do you think you’ll die if you lose the succession battle?”

“Everyone who has lost so far has died.”

“Can’t we avoid killing each other? The brotherly love of Geom Muyang and Geom Mugeuk, leaving a mark in the history of the Demonic Cult.”

“Do you think other brothers didn’t have such thoughts? In the end… humans all betray.”

“Then let’s not be like them.”

He chuckled at my words and started walking ahead.

I called out to him as he walked away.

“I was sincere about the fair competition.”

My brother stopped and turned to look at me.

“Then you should have asked if there’s any goodwill in my heart first. Do you have it?”

“I do.”

“Then this fight starts in my favor.”

Watching his back as he walked away, I finally let out a chuckle.

Yes, how could this be easy? It’s challenging enough to make someone who favors you your ally.

‘Still, brother, we have to do it. The knife aimed at our backs won’t be called brotherhood, but Hwa Moogi.’

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