Absolute Regression

Chapter 498: From This Moment on, I Am the Culprit

Seo Daeryong ran up to Geom Woojin and gave a respectful bow.

“I greet you, Cult Leader.”

Geom Woojin accepted Seo Daeryong’s greeting.

“It’s been a while.”

Father also seemed slightly surprised by his appearance.

There was no problem if it was Seo Daeryong, the Underworld Pavilion Lord. The problem was that he was the direct disciple who had inherited the martial arts of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“I greet the Young Cult Leader.”

Since Geom Woojin was present, Seo Daeryong also gave a formal greeting to Geom Mugeuk. Normally, since it had been a long time since they last met, he would have run up saying, ‘I missed you! Young Cult Leader!’

On any other day, Geom Mugeuk would have accepted his greeting with a joke, but this was not one of those times. Above all, before his father, Seo Daeryong had to maintain the dignity of the Underworld Pavilion Lord. The joy of playful banter would pass, but this moment in front of his father would influence the course of Seo Daeryong’s life going forward.

“What brings the Underworld Pavilion Lord here?”

Seo Daeryong could feel it. Not only Geom Mugeuk, but even Geom Woojin was surprised by his arrival.

Seo Daeryong wanted to speak with a tearful expression.

—I’m not supposed to be here, am I?

But he couldn’t dare speak like that in front of the Cult Leader.

Geom Mugeuk read Seo Daeryong’s feelings from his expression.

“We are not supposed to be meeting the Pavilion Lord here right now.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Right now, Father and I are with the one suspected of annihilating Famed Name Manor and the Great Justice Warrior.”

Knowing that he was referring to him, Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened in shock.

“Me?”

“Yes, you’re the prime suspect at the moment.”

And then, something entirely unexpected came out of Seo Daeryong’s mouth.

“But how did you find out? That I went there?”

This time, it was Geom Mugeuk who was shocked.

“You went there?”

“Yes, I did. I went to both places.”

It wasn’t even just one. Geom Mugeuk, unable to hold it in, shouted.

“So Pavilion Lord Seo is the culprit!”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Seo Daeryong jumped in protest.

“No, what do you mean…….”

He began to respond in his usual manner, then corrected himself with courtesy.

“What do you mean I’m the culprit? I am not!”

Of course, it was Geom Mugeuk’s joke. He was not the kind of person to annihilate an entire clan under any circumstances. It was said even the attendants and non-martial women were all killed. Seo Daeryong—and even the Blood Heaven Blade Demon—were not people capable of committing such a brutal act. ⱤÁꞐ𝐎ᛒÈⱾ

Geom Mugeuk asked seriously again.

“What brings you to Chongqing?”

The answer he had hoped wouldn’t come was spoken. It would’ve been better if the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had just stayed at the Main Cult reading books.

“I came to see my master.”

The eyes of Geom Woojin, who had been listening, also sharpened.

He had a feeling when Seo Daeryong appeared. If even the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was here, this was no ordinary situation.

“You don’t mean… the Elder is here?”

Seo Daeryong nodded in reply.

“Yes, he is here.”

“Tell us in detail what happened.”

Seo Daeryong glanced once at Geom Mugeuk, then began to recount what had happened, his voice trembling. Though he addressed Geom Mugeuk, it was a report meant for the Cult Leader.

“Some time ago, Master said he had business to attend to and left the Cult.”

“He didn’t say what it was about?”

“No. He only said there was a place he needed to visit. But… he was different from usual.”

“In what way?”

When the Blood Heaven Blade Demon taught martial arts, he had always been strict, so it wasn’t easy for Seo Daeryong to read his master’s emotions or thoughts.

However, in recent times, the bond between them had deepened, and the master had even responded to Seo Daeryong’s jokes now and then. Because of that, Seo Daeryong had become more attuned to his emotions than before.

“He looked calm on the surface, but his expression was strangely dark.”

At those words, Geom Mugeuk’s expression naturally stiffened. Seo Daeryong was perceptive. And if it was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, then what he sensed must have been accurate. Something had happened to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon?

“But I couldn’t ask further.”

Of course not. It wasn’t just anyone—it was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon saying he had business and was leaving the Cult. How could Seo Daeryong press for more?

“After he left, a long time passed, and then this arrived for me.”

As he spoke, Seo Daeryong took something out from his robe.

What he handed over was a single book.

“Could it be?”

“Yes. It’s the poetry anthology Master used to read often.”

It was unmistakably the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s book. Geom Mugeuk had once borrowed it and returned it, leaving a note on the first page.

—If you hadn’t become a warrior, Elder, you would have become a poet.

“This arrived, you say?”

Geom Mugeuk’s expression turned grave.

“And this was tucked between the pages.”

Seo Daeryong handed over another piece of paper.

—Such-and-such day, Famed Name Manor, Chongqing.

It was a message asking for a meeting at the now-annihilated Famed Name Manor.

Geom Mugeuk looked at his father in shock. This was clearly no ordinary matter. If the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had wanted to contact Seo Daeryong, he could have sent a letter. There was no reason to send a book. Indeed, his father’s gaze was cold and calm.

“Was it the Elder’s handwriting?”

“I wasn’t sure. It looked similar, but then again, it didn’t. I thought about having the handwriting analyzed by one of our Cult’s researchers. But I changed my mind and left immediately.”

“Why leave without seeing the results?”

“Because I realized there was no need to wait. If it was Master’s handwriting, then of course I had to go. And if it wasn’t, then I had to go even more quickly.”

If someone else had written it, that would mean the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was in danger.

“If the Young Cult Leader had been present, I would’ve discussed it first.”

But Geom Mugeuk wasn’t there, and neither was Lee Ahn. At that time, even Jangho had gone out with the Demonic Army.

In the end, Seo Daeryong had come to Chongqing alone.

Geom Mugeuk realized it. This incident was a scheme orchestrated by someone who knew Seo Daeryong would inevitably come to Chongqing. The perpetrator was clearly someone deeply familiar with the Main Cult and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“I went to Famed Name Manor on the date written there, but Master wasn’t present. I’m not sure if the date was wrong or the location was. Still, I couldn’t just return, so I stayed at a nearby inn and waited. I had a bad feeling about it. So I immediately reported the situation to the Chief Strategist through the Heavenly Communication Pavilion.”

“That was well done.”

As expected of the sharp-minded Seo Daeryong.

“While I was waiting like that, someone sent a letter to the guest room where I was staying that night.”

Geom Mugeuk guessed the content of the letter exactly.

“Was it a message telling you to come to the Great Justice Warrior?”

“That’s right. I’d already been misled once, so I couldn’t ignore it. But once again, it turned out to be a dead end. And the next day, everything started happening in rapid succession.”

By the time we turned the carriage around, Seo Daeryong was already here and entangled in these incidents.

“Because of the incidents at Famed Name Manor and the Great Justice Warrior, Chongqing was locked down. I could have escaped if I really wanted to, but I couldn’t return without confirming Master’s safety. That was when a message came from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion. They said Cult Leader and Young Cult Leader were at the safe house and told me to go there.”

If the Chief Strategist hadn’t given explicit permission, not even the Underworld Pavilion Lord could have entered the Heavenly Demon’s private safe house. In this urgent situation, Strategist Sima had made the wisest decision.

Seo Daeryong asked Geom Mugeuk,

“But what did you mean by what you said earlier? Why am I being called the culprit? Is it because I visited those places?”

But earlier, Geom Mugeuk had mentioned the culprit even before knowing Seo Daeryong had visited the sites.

Geom Mugeuk explained the reason.

“The martial technique that killed the Great Justice Warrior’s lord was the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.”

Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened in shock.

“That’s impossible!”

Exactly because of this, Geom Mugeuk turned to his father and said,

“Whoever it is, they’ve plotted quite an elaborate scheme.”

His father’s fury could be felt.

Had someone challenged him directly, he wouldn’t have been this angry.

But by leaving behind the phrase ‘The Demonic Path Shall Rule the World’, they had touched the demonic path—and now they had touched his father’s Demon Supreme.

‘Before he is my Blood Heaven Blade Demon, he is Father’s Demon Supreme.’

Geom Mugeuk could feel it clearly. His father would never forgive the one behind this plot.

At last, Geom Woojin spoke in a low voice.

“There is no need to worry about him. He’s not someone who would fall so easily.”

It was a statement of absolute trust in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

With those words, Father walked into the building.

His back seemed to say it all—go find out where that man is.

Geom Mugeuk called out loudly to his father.

“I’ll find out where the Elder is.”

Once Geom Woojin went inside the residence, only Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong remained in the courtyard of the safe house.

At last, Seo Daeryong let out a sigh of relief. He had been extremely tense in front of the Heavenly Demon. He tried not to show it, but he had been trembling.

“I was scared he’d suddenly accuse me—‘Was it you?!’”

Now the two of them could finally talk at ease.

“Why would I? Father knows full well that you’re not someone who would do such a thing.”

“He knows about me?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

“Would he have appointed you as Underworld Pavilion Lord just because I recommended you? I’m sure the Chief Strategist reported everything there is to know about the man Seo Daeryong.”

“Then he must even know how timid I am.”

Seriousness of the current situation aside, it was good to see Seo Daeryong again after such a long time. Good people always bring that feeling, no matter the circumstances.

“How have you been?”

“I’ve been well.”

You probably don’t know, Young Cult Leader, just how much I missed you. I checked every day to see if you had returned.

“Did everything go well where you went?”

In response to Seo Daeryong’s question, Geom Mugeuk nodded.

“Well, of course. With people like us going, how could it not?”

Even if only Geom Mugeuk had gone, it would have been fine—but with the Cult Leader accompanying him, there was no way it wouldn’t have been resolved.

“When we were handling things over there, we had no idea the real problem was waiting here in Chongqing.”

Seo Daeryong cautiously asked,

“Do you think Master will be all right?”

But then, as he looked down at the poetry anthology, he shook his head.

“With this book in our hands… there’s no way he’s okay.”

He was overcome with despair, then suddenly snapped out of it and shouted.

“What nonsense am I saying! Didn’t Cult Leader say so too? That our Master isn’t someone who’d be taken down so easily. He’ll be fine!”

The deeper the affection, the greater the worry.

When he had been alone, he’d held it together somehow, but seeing Geom Mugeuk again, all the worries he had been suppressing finally burst forth. Ever since this incident broke out, Seo Daeryong hadn’t been able to sleep properly, consumed with worry for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Geom Mugeuk reassured Seo Daeryong.

“Elder will be fine.”

“You really think so?”

“When have I ever been wrong?”

“Of course, never! Not once!”

Geom Mugeuk thought of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

What came to mind wasn’t his figure swinging a giant blade, nor the piercing glare in his eyes, nor his unyielding and stubborn personality.

What came to mind was the image of him sitting quietly and reading a book.

That’s why he believed. No matter where he was, no matter who he faced—he would not go down easily.

Because there was no one else like this Demon Supreme who read books.

Geom Mugeuk placed the book inside his robe. He was certain this book would protect the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“This is the Elder’s matter—so it’s up to you and me to resolve it, right?”

A fire lit in Seo Daeryong’s eyes.

“What should we do? Just give me the word.”

“They tried to make you the culprit behind all this. Someone will probably come forward claiming to have seen you.”

A person who had mastered the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber visited the scene beforehand? It was a situation with almost no way out. So then—

“Let’s go along with their plan.”

“How?”

“When else in life will you get to be such a villain?”

It meant Seo Daeryong had to become the villain who annihilated the Great Justice Warrior. Geom Mugeuk had expected him to hesitate or try to back out of it, but Seo Daeryong replied without hesitation.

“From this moment on, I am the culprit! Be careful—I’m a ruthless, terrifying man!”

“You’re really going to do it? If we make one wrong move, you might be branded a villain by all of the martial world, even after this is over. Aren’t you afraid?”

“I am afraid,” Seo Daeryong admitted honestly.

“You know, don’t you? How cowardly and timid I am. How much I care about protecting myself. And how terribly conscious I am of how others see me.”

But the reason he could overcome all of that was simple.

“Still, I have to do it. This is about my master. Even if it costs me my life, I have to.”

Seo Daeryong remembered the first time he met Geom Mugeuk—when he had been gloomy, withdrawn, and timid.

He also remembered the first time he met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. That day, drunk and desperate, he had clung to his master’s trousers. He remembered how the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, such a meticulous man, had let him sleep in his bed.

When he thought about those times, how could he hesitate?

“It’s a shame, though. All I get to be is the bait.”

How could Geom Mugeuk not understand his feelings? His desire to play a heroic role and resolve this situation. His longing to be acknowledged by the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

But it was still too soon. The one behind all this was no ordinary person. Even the role of bait wouldn’t be easy.

“You might be the bait, but you’re the bait meant to hook a monster. The ultimate bait of the bait world. The top-of-his-class, brilliant bait. The best bait in the martial world.”

Seo Daeryong gave a faint smile. If it weren’t for this Young Cult Leader before him, he would have already fainted several times in this situation. But instead of running or turning away, he was saying this:

“Even if this bait gets swallowed into the monster’s belly, you have to make sure to pull me out!”