Absolute Regression

With my provocation, the surrounding air became heavy and stifling. The demonic energy emanating from the Evil Smiling Demon took control of the area.

His demonic energy was special. The reason he earned the nickname “the Evil Smiling Demon” was precisely because of this demonic energy, called “Evil Smiling Heart.”

The Evil Smiling Heart awakened the fundamental violence in humans.

When exposed to the Evil Smiling Heart, one’s heart would beat violently, filled with a desire to kill someone. Those with weak martial power would even draw their swords and stab the person next to them.

Even masters with high internal power found it difficult to fight normally under the influence of the Evil Smiling Heart.

“There are two faces behind this mask. If the other face awakens, aside from the one you’ve seen so far, even I would find it hard to handle. That’s why removing the mask is difficult.”

If the face he showed until now was the Smiling Demon, the other face must be Evil.

“I didn’t mean to be rude to you, Smiling Demon. It’s just that, to me, a friend should be someone who can be seen without barriers, whether they have two or three faces. If I was impudent, please forgive me.”

I had been exposed to this Evil Smiling Heart before my regression. Back then, since I hadn’t learned the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique, I barely managed to endure it.

The Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique naturally activated, blocking his Evil Smiling Heart. Though my technique was not yet perfected, it was sufficient to block the current level of Evil Smiling Heart.

The Evil Smiling Demon, instead of increasing his demonic energy, gradually retracted it. His once laughing eyes in the eyeholes slowly turned cold. His smile fading meant he had calmed his anger.

“As expected, you are extraordinary, Second Young Master. You are completely unaffected by my Evil Smiling Heart.”

“I’ve been trained in malice and venom since I was young. You know that, right? My brother was particularly harsh on me.” 2

The Evil Smiling Demon laughed aloud. As if the tension had never existed, he reverted to the appearance he had when we first met.

“Indeed, Second Young Master, you are an interesting person. It’s a pity we can’t be friends.”

“Well then, I shall take my leave.”

As I opened the door to leave, the Evil Smiling Demon spoke.

“I still think it was you who killed the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.”

“You misunderstand.”

I didn’t outright deny it. The tension between us was the most important factor in maintaining our relationship.

As the door closed, I saw the figure of the Evil Smiling Demon, left alone in the white room.

* * *

At the entrance of the Valley of Villains, I met Seo Daeryong.

“Inspector Seo, what brings you here?”

“I’m in the middle of training. I was running as part of my physical training.”

“Of all places, in front of the Valley of Villains?”

“It just happened to be this way.”

“Were you planning to jump in and save me if things got dangerous?”

He was even carrying the dao he used for training.

“I’m touched.”

“It’s not like that. How could I possibly break through there?”

“That’s why I’m touched. You came to save me even though you knew you’d die.”

“I just came to check. If I heard the sound of fighting, I was going to inform Master.”

“Smart as always. Of course, that’s what you should do. There’s no point in rushing in and dying in vain when you’re not skilled enough. With such a wise right-hand man, what do I have to worry about?” ᚱÁNọＢĘʂ

Finally reassured that I had come out safely, Seo Daeryong let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew, my legs are still shaking. Even though you’re the Pavilion Lord, I was a bit worried.”

“Inspector Seo.”

“Yes?”

“Keep worrying from now on too.”

“Excuse me?”

“Keep worrying about me. I can make mistakes, be clueless, and do stupid things. So keep worrying and helping me.”

Seo Daeryong gave a faint smile.

“Of course, if the right hand doesn’t do it, who will?”

“The left hand will.”

“Are you really going to ruin such a good mood?”

Joking and bantering, we walked out together, then stopped and looked up at the tree above us.

“What are you doing up there?”

Surprisingly, Gu Cheonpa was sitting on a branch.

“Watching the sunset.”

“Here, of all places?”

“And keeping an eye on my lazy disciple.”

At that moment, Seo Daeryong was taken aback. Tears welled up in his eyes as he gazed up at the Blade Demon in a daze. For the first time, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had called him a disciple.

“Master! Thank you, Master.”

There was a quiver in Seo Daeryong’s voice. Old man Blade, who hated such sentimental moments, shouted sternly.

“What are you staring at? If you’re here to train, start running!”

“Yes, Master!”

Seo Daeryong started running. It seemed he was truly moved by being acknowledged as a disciple, as he even forgot to say goodbye to me.

I jumped up and sat next to him on the branch.

“Hey, it’ll break.”

“I’ll be as light as a feather.”

Despite both of us sitting, the thin branch did not break.

“Well done.”

“It’s nothing.”

“You saw how happy he was, right? So, you can’t put it off. Just say everything when it happens, take credit when it’s due, and if you hate someone, show it. That’s how it should be.”

“Is the young teaching the old now?”

“Yes. You need to learn. That way, you can get along with us youngsters.”

“If only you’d shut up.”

We chuckled at each other.

“If you were so worried about me, you should have said something.”

“I came because I was afraid you’d make him mad. When that Evil Smiling Demon gets angry, his eyes really flip.”

“Have you seen it before?”

“I saw it once. No one could stop him.”

Yeah, I knew that look too. It was true; no one could stop him.

“I thought maybe you could have driven him crazy.”

“Why me?”

“Because you really know how to get under people’s skin. Why would the Evil Smiling Demon be any different?”

“Fortunately, it didn’t get to that point today.”

“Because you’re the Cult Leader’s son, you got out without bloodshed. Otherwise, one of you would have died.”

“Thank you for worrying, sir.”

“Thank you, my foot. Let’s go.”

“The sunset is beautiful over there. Let’s just take a moment to watch it.”

“It’s already sad getting old, why bother with the sunset?”

The Blade Demon leaped away from the spot.

Left alone, I sat on the branch and watched the setting sun for a while.

Suddenly, I remembered the last time I saw the Evil Smiling Demon before my regression. His eyes sparkled with a final burst of light before his death.

―…I can’t remember. Even when I played tag as a child, did I always want to kill the seeker? When did I start being like this?

―Do you regret it? Living so wickedly?

―Regret? No. I regret not killing more. But facing Hell is scary, really scary. Ah! It’s frustrating. Can you take off my mask for me… Thanks. This is the first time, right? My real face?

―You must have been called handsome when you were young. Why did you wear the mask all your life?

―When I was young, my master chose me and asked if I could wear this mask for the rest of my life if I followed him. In return, he promised I could kill as many people as I wanted. I didn’t hesitate and agreed. Ah! Now that I think about it, I’ve been like this since then. That’s why my master recognized me.

―After your master died, you had a chance to take off the mask, at least.

―You’ll understand if you wear it. Once you put it on, you can’t take it off. It brings peace. Wearing the mask, killing, and killing again. Eventually, the mask was killing people on its own.

―Where did you come up with an excuse and collapse? You killed them all.

―Did you notice? Hahaha, cough. It’s really hard to laugh for real. This mask has become my symbol, so how could I take it off? Should I announce to the martial world that starting today, the Evil Smiling Demon is removing his mask? Hey, Mucheol. Ah, Mucheol isn’t your real name either, is it? What’s your real name?

―…

―Have you ever thought of me as a friend, even once?

―… 3

―You bastard. If you come to hell, then I’ll kill you with my own hands.

―Fine, take your revenge then.

―I’ve been in pain for a while now. Just draw your sword, my friend.

―Farewell.

The Evil Smiling Demon died by my hand.

At that time, in the process of obtaining the Secret Demonic Soul, I had no choice but to eliminate him. He was a villain who deserved to die, but at the moment of his death, he considered me a friend.

I never called him a friend in the end. Perhaps, at that moment, I was the greater villain.

* * *

My father gladly allowed me to have a game of Go despite the sudden visit.

Usually, we played Go in silence, but today I had a lot to say.

“…I met the Demonic Buddha the other day. I said things I didn’t mean, tried to test him, and made an effort to understand what kind of person he was.”

My father focused on the Go board without a word. Normally, he would have scolded me for being so noisy, but today he stayed silent.

My father had sensed it. He realized that his son had come to talk because he was troubled.

I continued speaking.

“Today, I also met the Evil Smiling Demon. I don’t like him. Not because he opposes my brother, but because he kills people with a grin, like a madman.”

My father captured a stone and said,

“Make dead stones only here.”

He meant that I should not kill any more Demon Supremes. When Soul Reaper Demon Supreme died, he had told me not to kill anymore, and now he was emphasizing it again.

Did I have to kill the Evil Smiling Demon again? Was that my fate again? I felt that he and I were bound by a strangely persistent connection.

I just hoped that wouldn’t be the case in this life.

“Do I have the skill to kill the Evil Smiling Demon? Anyway, the reason I’m meeting these Demon Supremes is…”

I continued speaking. I wanted to say everything I could while he was willing to listen quietly.

“Though it was for me, it was also for you, father. When I first went hunting, I boasted that I would subdue all the Demon Supremes and line them up, but it turned out not to be so easy when I actually faced them. Father was right. Dealing with people is the hardest thing in the world.”

Father said nothing and just continued playing Go. It seemed he decided to only listen today.

“Please don’t misunderstand my showing this side of me as being unfit for succession. If I worry about these things in advance, I will be able to show a stronger side later.”

“Since you have the opportunity, why don’t you badmouth your brother?”

“I don’t plan on badmouthing him for a while. It’s hard enough for him pretending to be as graceful as a swan. Beneath the water, he’s constantly paddling frantically. Unlike me, he’s not the type to come and confess like this, right?”

I saw Father smirk slightly. It was a very subtle and quick change, but my New Eye Technique caught it.

“Talking too much puts me at a disadvantage in Go. I’ll concentrate now.”

We focused on Go. While finishing the game, I asked,

“When I’m unsure of what to do sometimes, can I come to see you?”

Father’s hand, about to place a stone, paused in mid-air.

“Isn’t that cheating? Asking the referee for answers?”

“Don’t think of it as asking the referee, just consider it as getting some advice.”

Father placed the Go stone down.

“Giving advice is fun.”

Though he didn’t directly say yes or no, it was an implicit permission.

I knew. Treating me kindly was separate from choosing a successor. He could declare my brother as the successor even tomorrow.

I barely won by two points.

“Your skill is improving, isn’t it? Are you keeping the strategist Sima Myung up all night? That’s unfair.”

“Don’t you have a strategist too?”

“They can’t play Go.”

“Where in the world is there a strategist who can’t play Go?”

“Now that I think about it, you’re right. I’ve never seen a strategist in stories who can’t play Go. I must have been fooled by a strategist who can’t play Go.”

Father smirked at my jest.

“Then I’ll see you next month.”

As I greeted Father and left, he asked from behind,

“Is the burden heavy?”

Hearing those words made my chest tighten. It was the first time Father had spoken comforting words to me.

“It would be a lie to say it is as light as a feather, but it is not so heavy that I cannot bear it.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Then that’s fine. Lately, why do these words sound so good?

If someone acknowledges my efforts… yes, then that’s enough.

1: Depends on your mentality and circumstances I guess. The you before the fall of the cult would have fallen under the influence of the Smiling Heart. The you before regression barely endured it and the present you just shrug it off.

2: Cold and very sad.

3: At least he would be good at poker.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!