Absolute Regression

Chapter 490: Do Not Be Lonely

"Show him, Uncle."

Had Hui been agitated, someone might have stopped him. But he was calm as always.

This fight wasn’t impulsive or emotional.

It was a solemn warning from a loyal man who had lived his life as a guard, to an assassin.

And it was an inevitable clash born of two opposing fates.

"Show him that the only place for assassins to go is hell, Uncle."

As soon as Geom Mugeuk finished speaking, Hui lunged forward without hesitation.

Hui charged toward the enemy.

It was a new side of him, no longer just the back of a man who always blocked the enemy’s attacks.

The King of Killing didn’t avoid him. He swung his dagger to meet the charge. His eyes turned even more transparent, and within that clarity, there lingered an unreadable emotion.

Though it was unclear what that emotion was, one thing could be felt with certainty.

He acknowledged his opponent.

Kaang!

A clear metallic clash of sword and dagger marked the beginning of the battle.

Both were martial artists hidden from the world.

They were people who moved in secrecy to fulfill their goals. This was a duel between two such individuals.

Hui’s swordsmanship had been passed down to the chief bodyguards of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Demonic Spirit Guardian Sword Art.

The Demonic Spirit Guardian Sword Art was based on the Swift Sword Technique (쾌검술).

As a bodyguard, one must react quickly. After all, their first attack was always a surprise assault.

In contrast, the martial art mastered by the King of Killing was the secret technique of the Death Spirit Emperor (사령제), who was the ruler of assassins three hundred years ago.

Assassination Dagger Strike Art.

He had mastered a martial art known as a legend in the world of assassins.

Hui pressed fiercely against the King of Killing.

Geom Mugeuk had never seen this rough side of Hui before. Until today, Hui had always seemed composed. But today, he fought like a reckless warrior who knew no retreat. 𝙧ΆꞐo͍₿Ës

Sparks exploded as the sword and dagger clashed in the air.

The Assassination Dagger Strike Art was also based on speed.

As such, their clash was so fast it was almost invisible. In this battle, the slightest lapse meant death.

Chwaaak.

Hui drew a sword arc that curved into a half-moon to slice through the King of Killing.

Kaang!

The King of Killing blocked the attack and instantly thrust his dagger multiple times.

Three consecutive strikes, all aimed directly at vital pressure points.

Hui blocked the attacks with his sword and leapt into the air, then rained down thrusts at the King of Killing from above.

The King of Killing slipped backward to evade the assault. He, too, demonstrated a footwork worthy of the technique he wielded.

The King of Killing relentlessly sought Hui’s life.

And Hui sought to cut through the King of Killing’s torso.

Their sword and dagger clashed again and again, like instruments performing a fast-paced tune filled with murderous intent.

Chang! Chang-chang! Cha-cha-cha-cha-chang!

Each time, sparks flew. Their exchange was so fast that sparks burst all around them like fireworks exploding.

A dazzling symphony of swift defensive swordsmanship and assassination techniques unfolded.

They grazed past each other, leaped over, stepped in, retreated, clashed and separated again. Their bodies moved just as swiftly as their sword and dagger. Blades grazed skin, and blood splattered.

One could hardly believe such a person lived quietly, as Hui displayed a martial art so splendid and magnificent that it bordered on unbelievable.

Driven fiercely, Hui’s momentum was pushing back the King of Killing.

It felt as if Hui’s martial art, which had never struck first in his life, was now declaring:

—We simply never killed.

A trace of alarm flickered across the King of Killing’s face. He had known his opponent was strong, but not this strong.

Watching them, Myungshin was once again struck by the truth that his own survival against the King of Killing had been thanks entirely to Hui.

Because Hui was this powerful.

That was why the King of Killing had refrained from reckless action.

But the King of Killing was no ordinary man either.

He was fending off even Hui’s incredible assault.

It was truly a match of equals.

Even while hoping and believing that Hui would win, Geom Mugeuk was inwardly tense.

’Sir!’

Had the opponent been anyone other than the King of Killing, he wouldn’t have been this nervous.

Shouldn’t Hui be left to handle his own fight?

Absolutely not. If Hui were in even the slightest danger, Geom Mugeuk would jump in immediately.

Even if Hui resented him afterward, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second.

Hui and the King of Killing.

From the beginning, the lives of Hui and the King of Killing could not be weighed against each other. Even if there were a thousand Kings of Killing—or every assassin in the Central Plains—it would never equate to Hui.

Suddenly, his father’s words resurfaced.

‘If you put Hui at the front, then you take responsibility.’

And now, Hui was undeniably at the front.

‘I’ll take responsibility, Father.’

It was right then.

Shwiik!

Someone launched a surprise attack from behind Geom Mugeuk.

Chae-eng!

Turning with a slash of his sword, Geom Mugeuk deflected the ambush and gestured toward the attacker with a finger to his lips.

"Hold on! This is a critical moment."

He turned his head back to the fight between Hui and the King of Killing.

Indeed, it was a tense moment in their battle.

Something burst from the King of Killing’s hand.

Papapak!

From a small cylinder the thickness of a finger, hidden in his left hand, a barrage of fine needles shot out.

Chang chang chang!

Hui deflected the flying concealed weapons with his sword as he soared upward. He had predicted that this ambush would be followed by another attack, so he struck mid-air. He had chosen offense instead of defense.

Papapapak!

Even in the face of this unexpected counterattack, the King of Killing remained composed and dodged the attack.

Hui had been prepared for the King of Killing’s ambush.

He had been fighting while thinking that it was strange for an assassin to engage in such a frontal battle in the first place.

Only after Hui safely overcame the ambush did Geom Mugeuk finally glance at the assassin behind him.

But by then, Geom Mugeuk’s sword was already buried in the man’s heart. There was no way an assassin would have remained still just because he’d been told “shh.”

Just as the assassin was about to strike again, Geom Mugeuk stabbed him through the heart without even turning around, killing him instantly.

Geom Mugeuk turned his head to look down the street.

Here and there, people were peeking out, watching the fight. A good number of them were likely assassins waiting for their chance.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Myungshin.

"Come, let’s go!"

He meant that they should eliminate the assassins too.

Since no one could predict how they might interfere in the duel, it was in their favor to strike first and fast.

Of course, even then, Geom Mugeuk’s attention was still half-locked on Hui’s fight.

Though it looked like he was only watching this side, he was keeping track of both fronts—an awe-inspiring presence only achievable by a true master who had reached a transcendental level.

"Let’s do that."

Myungshin still couldn’t fully grasp it.

The fact that he was fighting on the same side as the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, standing against the King of Killing.

Just a few days ago, such a thing was unimaginable.

‘Right. I must fulfill the commission I entrusted.’

The two of them strode forward through the street.

There was someone pretending to be a bystander, but was clearly an assassin.

However, that was a foolish move that underestimated Myungshin’s memory.

Shwik shwik shwik shwik!

The flying daggers Myungshin threw in succession were avoided—

Puk!

—but the follow-up sword strike from Geom Mugeuk, who surged forward, was not.

"Root them all out!"

Myungshin nodded.

That nod was a farewell to the Underworld and, beyond that, a complete severance from all assassin organizations.

At that moment, something poured out from a second-floor building.

Chwarurururuk.

What fell onto the street were star-shaped concealed weapons.

Where they landed, pointed blades stuck out from their centers.

These weren’t throwing weapons meant to strike and kill, but rather tools meant to slow down movement when scattered on the ground.

Stepping on one would instantly lead to poison infection.

But this time, they weren’t just that.

"Be careful where you step!"

At Geom Mugeuk’s warning, Myungshin shouted back.

"Be careful right now!"

Just as Myungshin’s shout ended, the scattered weapons on the ground suddenly launched into the air like an explosion.

Pak pak pak pak pak pak pak pak!

Blades shot outward in every direction.

A typical reaction to such concealed weapons was to avoid stepping on them—but this surprise attack capitalized on the fact that no one would expect them to launch after landing.

But Geom Mugeuk, even without a warning, was not someone who could be caught off guard.

"Don’t tell me you made this too?"

"I’m sorry, but I did."

"Use that technique for me someday too!"

"If we survive this."

With that, Geom Mugeuk leapt through the air and shouted,

"We will survive!"

Geom Mugeuk flew up to the second floor—the very place where the concealed weapons had just been scattered.

Kwa-jijik.

He crashed through the window and flew straight into the room.

Shiiik!

A dagger from an assassin lying in wait by the window grazed past Geom Mugeuk’s face.

It must have been a precious opportunity for the assassin, but Geom Mugeuk had already sensed his presence in the brief moment he broke through the window.

Just as he killed the assassin, concealed weapons shot out from under the bed, aiming for Geom Mugeuk’s ankles. It was another ambush not easily dodged.

Puk! Puk!

But Geom Mugeuk was already standing atop the bed, driving his sword into it.

The traps set in this room weren’t over yet.

The closet doors burst open and another assassin launched an attack.

Shwik shwik shwik shwik shwik shwik!

What he held in his hands was a small crossbow—compact but with tremendous firepower, capable of firing in rapid succession.

Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!

The wall behind where Geom Mugeuk had been standing was riddled with holes.

But at the same time, the assassin collapsed backward. A dagger had embedded itself in his forehead—it was the very dagger Myungshin had gifted.

When Geom Mugeuk looked outside again, two assassins were attacking Myungshin.

A surprise attack timed for the brief moment Geom Mugeuk had flown to the second floor.

They were not ordinary assassins.

They were elite assassins hidden among the first-rate killers—special-grade assassins disguised as the owner and clerk of the fabric shop.

They were none other than the Black Shadow Twin Slayers.

From both sides, they struck at Myungshin with their swords. Whether shopkeeper or clerk no longer mattered; since their opponent was Myungshin, the disguise meant nothing.

The faster they eliminated Myungshin, the more effective their disguise would become.

A bloody battle against two special-grade assassins.

Though Myungshin had injured his arm, he was now proving that he hadn’t won his position in the Underworld with a coin toss.

The figures of Hui and the King of Killing, who had been fighting on the rooftop, were no longer visible. The sounds of their battle echoed from beyond the building.

Geom Mugeuk’s figure streaked across the sky.

He wasn’t heading toward Hui or toward Myungshin. He had noticed someone at the window of another building aiming at Myungshin.

That man was Eophwa, a special-grade assassin from Salcheon.

As Geom Mugeuk charged toward him, the concealed weapon that had been aimed at Myungshin was redirected and fired at Geom Mugeuk.

Charararang!

The concealed weapon flew with a sharp, whistling wind—it was a secret weapon used exclusively by the assassin group Salcheon.

Paralyzing Smoke Rings.

An ultimate concealed weapon with the highest kill rate.

Even a mere graze from the flying concealed weapon had the terrifying power to tear through flesh and bone. But that wasn’t the weapon’s true danger.

Seogeok!

The moment Geom Mugeuk sliced the incoming projectile with his sword—

Pung!

—a burst of Paralyzing Powder erupted from the severed weapon.

It wasn’t poison, but a substance that temporarily paralyzed the muscles.

Geom Mugeuk, mid-air, plummeted downward.

And in that instant, Eophwa burst out of the window.

That fleeting moment of paralysis was precisely what he had aimed for.

Swaeeek!

Just as Eophwa tried to cleave Geom Mugeuk’s skull in two while he was falling and frozen—

Shiiik! Seogeok!

The Black Demon Sword (흑마검) flashed out and sliced through Eophwa’s neck.

Eophwa died with his eyes wide open, wearing an expression of disbelief.

It had never failed before—until now?

But the Paralyzing Powder had no effect on Geom Mugeuk.

Eophwa, having never experienced such a case, was brought down in a single exchange despite being a special-grade assassin.

Turning around, Geom Mugeuk threw his daggers.

Shwik shwik shwik!

The three daggers flew toward one of the Black Shadow Twin Slayers (흑영쌍살).

The target turned and deflected them, but that was all it took to break the deadlock of the duel.

Puk!

Myungshin didn’t miss the opening and stabbed the opponent’s arm and thigh in rapid succession.

With one of them wounded, the tight fight began to tilt in their favor.

"That’s why you should make me more gifts from now on! See how they save you right when you need them?"

Cracking jokes even in the middle of this?

Myungshin wanted to say something back, but he didn’t have the time.

After helping him finish off one of the Black Shadow Twin Slayers, Geom Mugeuk left Myungshin to deal with the remaining one and landed on the rooftop of the building across the street.

Hui and the King of Killing (살왕) were now fighting in the vacant lot behind.

Their sword and dagger clashed so rapidly they were no longer visible.

Geom Mugeuk didn’t look at their weapons—he looked into their eyes.

‘I can win.’

Hui’s strength was solid—like an unshakable fortress that no storm could collapse.

The King of Killing must have felt it more keenly than anyone.

The King of Killing suddenly unleashed a flurry of concealed weapons to widen the distance.

And at that very moment!

His dagger began to shine with a white glow.

‘Danger!’

Geom Mugeuk could tell he was about to use a major technique.

Just as he was about to intervene, he saw Hui’s face. Calm, unflinching—completely unshaken.

From the tip of the King of Killing’s dagger, a silver radiance erupted.

And then—

Swaaaaaaaaang!

Dozens of silver energy blades rained down toward Hui.

Flying Sword Light Rain.

One of the secret ultimate techniques of the Assassination Dagger Strike Art (암살비격술).

Like rain—no, like light—the silver energy blades poured down, and Hui’s sword began weaving through the air.

Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-cha-chak!

Geom Mugeuk saw it. The lines drawn rapidly before Hui—was this what a spider weaving its web in fast motion would look like? The sword lines were forming in an instant.

This was the ultimate technique of the Demonic Spirit Guardian Sword Art (마령수호검법), filled with unwavering determination to block any attack.

Guardian Sword Wall (수호검벽).

It was the first time Geom Mugeuk had seen it—Hui’s sword wall.

Kwaang! Kwang! Kwaang-kwang-kwang! Kwang-kwang!

The silver energy blades collided with the sword wall.

Radiant beams shattered and scattered into a glittering mist.

The King of Killing’s attack had been blocked.

Never having imagined that Flying Sword Light Rain could be stopped, the King of Killing was truly shocked.

"The Cult Master’s guard."

And he was genuinely impressed.

"You’re beyond the rumors."

Hui stood silently, his sword lowered at his side.

Just then—

Whik-whik-whik-whik-whik-whik-whik-whik!

More than a dozen assassins dropped down beside the King of Killing.

Just their movements alone proved they were no ordinary fighters.

As if nothing mattered but killing his opponent, the King of Killing charged with the assassins toward Hui.

A battle that had been neck-and-neck even against one King of Killing—

Yet Hui neither flinched nor fled.

A true bodyguard must remain calm precisely at such moments.

Hui thought of the Cult Leader (교주) behind him.

Thought of the Young Cult Leader (소교주) behind him.

And that gave him the strength to fight with twice, thrice the power.

"Assassins belong in hell!"

He repeated the very words Geom Mugeuk had said at the start of the fight.

But from Hui’s lips, those words carried a different weight.

Hui gripped his sword with renewed strength and charged forward.

He did not step back. Behind him stood the Cult Leader, the Young Cult Leader, and his pride as chief guard of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Then, from behind him came Geom Mugeuk’s voice.

"Do not be lonely, sir! We’re on your side!"

The next moment—

Sseu-sseu-sseu-sseu-sseu-sseu-sseu-sseut.

The assassins running toward Hui reeled in shock.

Something had unfurled to both sides of Hui as he charged.

And what widened their eyes in terror—

Were fearsome, terrifying apparitions.

Geom Mugeuk had unleashed the Great Annihilation Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art.

All the ghosts, except those around Hui’s position, split and spread to his sides like massive wings.

Kwa-kwang-kwang-kwang-kwang-kwang-kwang!

The ghosts charged alongside Hui.