Absolute Regression

Chapter 437: Do you prefer Father, or me?

A small rumble of thunder rang out from a clear sky.

The one who widened her eyes while looking at her own outstretched fist was Cheon So-hee.

“Did you hear that, by any chance?”

When Fist Demon King, who stood before her, nodded his head, Cheon So-hee cried out in delight.

“Master! I did it!”

At last, the sound of thunder burst from her fist.

She had become Fist Demon King’s second disciple, following Geum Mugeuk, and had been selected as his successor.

Since that day, she had steadily trained in the Thunderous Asura Fist taught by Fist Demon King, and today, for the first time, produced the sound of thunder.

Fist Demon King, who knew better than anyone how much effort she had put in, smiled. It was a rare and precious smile from him, almost never seen.

“This is only the beginning.”

“Yes, Master.”

She felt as if she were floating.

She knew people whispered and gossiped behind her back. Envy and jealousy were inevitable.

She also knew that there were concerns because a woman had been named the next Fist Demon King.

The Fist Demon King of this generation was known for his terrifying face, massive frame, and above all, his enormous fists.

That was why she understood. Instead, she would show them. Show them clearly what this small fist of the next Fist Demon King could break. She would prove it with strength.

Just then, someone spoke from behind.

“Congratulations, junior sister.”

Startled, she turned around to see Geum Mugeuk entering the training ground.

“Senior brother! You’re back!”

Having recently been immersed in intense training, she hadn’t even realized Geum Mugeuk had returned.

Geum Mugeuk smiled at her and respectfully greeted Fist Demon King.

“Disciple reporting back after the mission to Northern Sea.”

“Well done.”

Fist Demon King welcomed him with his usual demeanor. His terrifying face was the same, and his muscular body shone even brighter.

“There were schemes brewing even in the Ice Palace. In the end, they all got drunk and collapsed.”

“I heard as well. Drunken Demon said it was a tough time.”

It seemed he had spoken with Father about the situation in the Northern Sea.

Master, do you know what Father is thinking?

Back in his younger days, if Father had spoken to Blood Heaven Blade Demon with a flushed face about his dream, then perhaps now, he would’ve shared that with Fist Demon King? 𝔯ΑŊƟβΕ§

After exchanging greetings with Fist Demon King, Geum Mugeuk turned to Cheon So-hee.

“To make the sound of thunder already. Impressive.”

“It’s all thanks to master’s excellent guidance.”

“I’ll treat you to a congratulatory drink soon.”

“Yes, senior brother.”

Cheon So-hee treated Geum Mugeuk with deep respect. Not only because he was her senior, but also because he was destined to become the next Heavenly Demon.

But more than that, there was a greater reason.

She had become the next Fist Demon King thanks to Geum Mugeuk. Her fate had changed in the Midnight Training Group she shared with him.

As he walked ahead, Geum Mugeuk turned back to her.

“Junior sister, you’re going to be an amazing Fist Demon King.”

At this moment, in Cheon So-hee’s heart, she didn’t call Geom Muyang “senior brother.” Nor did she refer to him as “Young Cult Leader.”

‘Cult Leader, when that time comes, I’ll serve you with all my loyalty.’

The place she had come to with Fist Demon King was in front of a cliff located within the Eastern Fist Faction.

It was Fist Demon King’s dream to bring down this cliff in a single strike. Just how far had that dream progressed?

I stood beside Fist Demon King and looked up at the cliff. It still felt overwhelming. And the cliff resembled Fist Demon King, who stood staring up at it.

Could he really bring down this cliff?

Could I really persuade this man?

After staring up for a while, I gently opened with a story meant to ease his heart.

“Lee Ahn has gone on a mission.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“She sent me a letter.”

It seemed she was still making sure to take care of her father.

“Then I assume you also heard the news about her finding her family in the Northern Sea.”

Fist Demon King silently nodded. Instead of asking whether the news had surprised him, I said this:

“The Ice Palace Master was quite shocked about Lee Ahn’s identity. The niece she found had ended up becoming your adopted daughter.”

It should’ve been him who was surprised, not the other way around—but I phrased it like that to elevate Fist Demon King above the Ice Palace Master.

“Did you happen to reply?”

Surprisingly, Fist Demon King nodded. And even added, “Of course.”

I imagined him holding a brush that must have looked tiny in those massive hands, writing a reply. He probably struggled over what to say since he wasn’t the type to write letters.

But in that moment, he must have been a father—one worried for and missing his daughter.

“I heard that if you hadn’t gone to the Northern Sea this time, Ahn would’ve been in danger.”

“I’d like to say she would’ve handled it fine without me—but she probably would’ve been in danger.”

Fist Demon King’s gaze softened slightly. At this moment, I wasn’t just a disciple or Young Cult Leader—I was the disciple and Young Cult Leader who had saved his daughter.

Now was the time.

“Master, may I ask a question you might find hard to answer?”

He probably never imagined getting this kind of question from me.

“Do you prefer Father—or me?”

Fist Demon King stared at me with a baffled expression.

“Too difficult, isn’t it?”

“No, I’m surprised because it’s too easy.”

Fist Demon King looked back up at the cliff again, while I looked at him.

Could I truly understand Father’s intentions from this man, whose loyalty was as towering and unyielding as this cliff?

If I had Evil Smiling Demon on my side, then Father had Fist Demon King.

If only I could bring Fist Demon King to my side, stopping Father’s dream of unifying the martial world would become much easier.

But breaking this wall in front of me felt harder than collapsing that massive cliff.

“Father has been acting strange lately.”

“The Cult Leader?”

“He met separately with Evil Smiling Demon. And even drank heavily with Drunken Demon.”

Was he just playing dumb, or did he truly see nothing wrong with it? Fist Demon King asked me bluntly.

“What’s so strange about the Cult Leader meeting the Demon Supreme?”

“It wouldn’t be strange—if it was something he usually did.”

Fist Demon King’s gaze, which had been fixed on the cliff, turned to me.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I want to know Father’s plans.”

“If you’re curious, ask the Cult Leader directly.”

That would be the worst approach. Father had intentionally shared drinks with Drunken Demon right in front of me. He surely knew that the news of his meeting with Evil Smiling Demon would reach my ears.

Even the first time I regressed and stood in the martial ring, Father had known I had been poisoned by Energy Dispersing Poison. Yet he didn’t interfere. He only watched. To see how I would handle it.

It was the same now. Father was watching me. This was like a game of Go. I had made a move. Now, what move would he make?

I planned to show him. That more than half of the Demon Supremes opposed war.

Even if his recent dealings with Evil Smiling Demon and Drunken Demon weren’t because of that, it didn’t matter.

As long as Father harbored ambitions of unifying the martial world, this was something I’d have to face eventually.

“If he were the type to answer when asked, I wouldn’t even be worried. You know exactly what kind of person Father is, don’t you?”

That, at least, Fist Demon King didn’t deny.

“To be honest, the moment I came back, I panicked. Why is he suddenly taking such an interest in managing the Demon Supremes? Has he begun making moves for martial unification?”

Even with the words “unifying the martial world” spoken aloud, Fist Demon King remained completely calm.

“Do you realize this too, Master? That even you seem strange lately. You’re too calm. As if you already know everything. Please tell me what it is you know.”

Fist Demon King’s lips remained sealed. And to open that heavy mouth, I decided to reveal my own situation honestly.

“I’m trying to bring the Demon Supremes to my side—because I’m afraid my assumptions might be right. So far, I’ve met with three. One supports me, one supports Father, and one hasn’t decided yet.”

What caught Fist Demon King’s attention was the undecided vote.

“Which Demon Supreme hasn’t made a decision?”

“Elder Blade Demon.”

Fist Demon King showed a moment of surprise, then nodded as if understanding.

“So Blade Demon truly treasures you. For someone with his nature to be unable to decide…”

He was right. With Blade Demon, it was always black or white. Being in-between was something his temperament couldn’t tolerate.

Yet now, Blade Demon was conflicted. He was bearing the scrutiny of appearing indecisive—for my sake alone.

“Master, you’re on my side, of course, right? I mean, if you’re not siding with your disciple, then whose side would you take?”

“There are two disciples. But only one Cult Leader.”

“I’m both a disciple and the Young Cult Leader.”

“So-hee will side with you eventually.”

I knew a few words wouldn’t be enough to sway his heart.

So I asked directly. Fist Demon King wasn’t the type who liked to talk in circles.

“If Father starts a war, will you accept that order?”

Fist Demon King’s eyes flashed with fierce intensity.

“If it’s the Cult Leader’s command, of course I must accept it.”

I looked straight into that terrifying face and said,

“That’s exactly why you, Master, must be the one to oppose it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because Father won’t be able to ignore your words.”

I knew full well these words placed a burden on Fist Demon King. I was essentially trying to force my will onto someone who lived as a Demon Supreme.

But like Evil Smiling Demon said, I was raising my voice toward the Demon Supremes—calling them to stand with me and my demonic path. Yes, I believe. My strike would break into eight paths and pierce through.

“War must not happen, Master.”

Fist Demon King stared silently at me, then began taking off his outer robe.

“It’s been a while. Let’s train.”

“You mean to wage that war… against me?”

Even with my joking remark, his hands didn’t stop removing his robe.

His upper body came into view.

No matter how many times I saw it, Fist Demon King’s body was flawless. The large, thick muscles forged through harsh training didn’t look sluggish in the least. His body gleamed like diamond.

A single sword scar cut across his chest. I once heard the story of how he got it—back before he joined the cult, during his time fighting in underground arenas.

It was a scar earned when he refused the threats of the dark underworld trying to fix matches. Now, he could defeat those same people with a flick of his finger, but he still felt ashamed of that scar. I, on the other hand, told him it was admirable.

Because it was a scar forged by youthful courage that stood tall even in the face of death.

At first, that was all I thought when I saw it—but seeing it again today, the scar felt like a symbol of who Fist Demon King truly was. A man who does not fear death.

I also threw off my upper robe and stepped forward.

“Ah! When will I ever get a body like yours, Master?”

“If you could, would you trade yours for mine?”

“……”

Rumble—

Fist Demon King’s tightly clenched fist gave off a low, resonating growl.

“I’ll confess this now. Lately, I’ve been so focused on the Nine Calamities Demon Art that I’ve neglected my fist training.”

I always let it fall lower on the priority list, and I felt sorry toward Fist Demon King for that. But he understood my situation well.

“There’s no need to rush. Master the Nine Calamities Demon Art properly first. The rest can come later.”

I thought he was going to propose a full-on spar, but Fist Demon King simply gave his usual teaching.

We stood side by side and began to perform Thunderous Asura Fist. The debate over war was set aside as we immersed ourselves in training.

Kwaaarrrung!

Fist Demon King’s punch tore through the air. I began executing the forms in perfect unison with him.

When I unleashed the First Technique: Black Cloud Asura, thunder burst forth from both Fist Demon King’s fist and mine simultaneously.

The Second Technique: Thunderous Asura shredded the air with fists so fast they could barely be seen, Heavenly Thunder Asura slammed down with weighty force, Iron Leg Asura dazzled with flair, and Diamond Asura struck with unyielding hardness.

We moved in sync—body and shadow—mirroring each other in perfect form.

But the martial intent within those forms was utterly different. If Fist Demon King was a deep sea, I was still just a river.

At last, with the sixth and final technique—Yama’s Thunder Asura, the strike of Death King’s lightning—our session came to an end.

We had focused so hard that sweat poured from my body like rain. Training bare-chested with Fist Demon King burned hotter than any other form of training.

“The power in your fist has changed.”

Even though I had used the same force as before, he had sensed the growth in my internal energy.

By now, it was no longer easy for others to detect my shift in level, thanks to mastering the Complete Reversal of Energy and Spirit, but the power imbued in my fist could not be hidden from him.

“As a reward for this mission, Ice Palace Master granted me Ten Thousand Extreme Ice Essence.”

Fist Demon King looked at me with a surprised face. He too knew well what had to come first before one could take Ten Thousand Extreme Ice Essence.

“I was fortunate enough to also take Millennium Snow Fruit.”

His expression asked the unspoken question—how could one obtain Millennium Snow Fruit and Ten Thousand Extreme Ice Essence with mere luck?

“Can you generate cold energy from your internal energy?”

The qi of the Millennium Snow Fruit had already melted into my blood vessels and organs.

“Yes, I can.”

“Then try performing Thunderous Asura Fist using the coldest energy you can muster.”

I began again, this time alone. Following his instruction, I channeled a cold force into my internal energy as I executed the technique.

It felt completely different from before. Even though the energy was the same, the power was noticeably stronger.

“Originally, Thunderous Asura Fist was designed to shine brightest under the harshest internal energy conditions. That you, my disciple, were able to obtain Millennium Snow Fruit and Ten Thousand Extreme Ice Essence shows that you have a deep affinity with this fist technique. So don’t neglect it—master it fully.”

“I will keep that in mind, Master.”

Fist Demon King then imparted further insight into Thunderous Asura Fist. It was a different kind of teaching from what he had given me back on the snowy mountains. Things he had omitted before because I wasn’t ready, and new realizations he’d come to since.

Fist Demon King truly held nothing back. When he became a teacher, he became a real teacher. When he became a father, he became a real father. That’s the kind of person Fist Demon King was. And this man was my father’s Demon Supreme.

As his lesson came to an end, I respectfully bowed deeply to him.

“You’ve given me such profound teachings, Master, yet I have been disrespectful to you.”

Fist Demon King pulled me to my feet. In his usually impassive eyes, a memory of that day long ago flickered.

“You know how I met the Cult Leader, don’t you?”

Back then, when he had nearly died at the hands of the dark underworld thugs in the underground arena, Father had saved him. Fist Demon King followed him back to the main sect and entered the Eastern Fist Faction. He said Father visited again when he became Black Fists. What Father said then was this:

—I will become the Heavenly Demon. You, become my Fist Demon King.

That day, Fist Demon King became Father’s man.

“I’m someone who already died a long time ago. The life I live now is one the Cult Leader gave me as a bonus.”

His gaze toward me deepened.

“I respect your demonic path.”

That intense stare carried absolute sincerity.

But that respect could not sway his heart away from Father.

“However, I will follow the Cult Leader’s demonic path.”