Absolute Regression

Chapter 505: This Enemy Is Different

The Demonic Army was guarding a building inside the Central Chongqing Branch.

They surrounded the building while maintaining a fixed distance, and had extended a surveillance network not only over its roof but also over the rooftops of adjacent buildings.

Even if ordinary martial artists had been mobilized, it would’ve been called impenetrable, but each of these was an elite soldier of the Demonic Army. It was a defense so tight that not even an ant could slip through.

At that moment, a martial artist from the Central Chongqing Branch arrived and bowed his head to the Demonic Army.

“Thanks to you, I survived. Thank you.”

He was a martial artist who had escaped death with the help of the Demonic Army.

Many from the Martial Alliance had been wounded or killed in this ambush, and had it not been for the Demonic Army, no one could imagine how much worse the toll might have been.

The Demonic Army merely nodded once to accept the greeting. They didn’t speak a single word.

Seo Daeryong stood by the second-floor window, watching the scene. There was someone he had to express his gratitude to in this room too. If it weren’t for Jangho, who was sitting at the desk reading a report, he would’ve been a dead man.

‘I really almost died.’

But there was a feeling that came before fear.

That thrilling rush he felt when fighting like a madman. Seo Daeryong couldn’t forget that moment.

His training, once he returned, would likely be different. He now knew what he was training for, when and how that training would shine—because he had stood at death’s doorstep and seen it for himself.

After staring out the window for a while, Seo Daeryong turned to Jangho.

“What exactly is going on over there?”

Had anyone else asked, Jangho wouldn’t have answered. Even if he did, he would’ve simply said that he was acting on orders.

But since it was Seo Daeryong, he offered a few words of comfort.

“The Demon Supreme will be safe.”

It was a blunt response, but it was exactly what Seo Daeryong most wanted to hear.

“I believe he will be as well.”

Seo Daeryong forced a bright smile, and Jangho smiled in return.

“By the way, how’s the painting coming along?”

Jangho, who wouldn’t blink even if hundreds of enemies charged at him, widened his eyes in surprise at the question.

“How did you know?”

“Someone with a tight lip couldn’t help bragging about how they received a painting from Lord Jang. Not just me—anyone in the know probably knows about it by now.” ᚱ𝐚ŊòΒΕȘ

Unable to hold it in, Jangho laughed. He had previously given a portrait he drew to Geom Mugeuk. He had wanted that first painting gift to go to him.

Since then, he had drawn many more pictures. He drew all kinds of things—his subordinates, buildings, the massive stone statue within the cult grounds. He had drawn fruit, and even swords and sabers. In truth, there were also portraits of Seo Daeryong and Lee Ahn. He just hadn’t been able to bring himself to give them as gifts.

At first, he had thought of drawing as a good hobby because it gave him time to himself.

He believed that as long as he was drawing, he could forget all his worries.

But what he gained from it turned out to be something completely different.

He discovered, through drawing, that there was a side to himself he hadn’t known.

He wanted to show his drawings to others. He started to feel the desire to hold an exhibition of the ones he had drawn well. To let people know, I’m someone who can draw like this. He wanted to be praised for it.

He never imagined he had such a desire. He had always thought he wasn’t the type to flaunt things or seek attention.

That was why drawing became even more fun and intriguing. Though he drew others, what he discovered was himself.

“You should find a hobby too, Vice Lord Seo.”

“I don’t have the time.”

Jangho was about to tell him to make time for it even if he had to carve it out, but instead he smiled and said,

“You’re still young.”

He knew that before one finds the right spark, it’s never an easy thing. He himself had kept putting it off again and again.

This was his own spark.

One day, after he’d said he wanted to try drawing, Geom Mugeuk had immediately rushed out and bought him paints and brushes.

His spark was getting close to the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

If he wanted to draw, he had to get close to the Young Cult Leader of the cult.

Seo Daeryong was watching. Watching the smile that quietly formed on Jangho’s face as he thought to himself. It was a look that once would have been unimaginable.

‘I’ve changed, but Lord Jang has changed just as much.’

It was then that the door opened—and in came the very reason behind all these changes.

The moment he saw who it was, Seo Daeryong gasped in surprise and immediately rushed forward.

“Young Cult Leader!”

Seo Daeryong threw himself into his arms. Normally, Geom Mugeuk would have dodged playfully, but today, he didn’t move away.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.”

After hugging him tightly, Geom Mugeuk patted Seo Daeryong on the shoulder.

“Your precious right arm almost got cut off. I nearly died, you know.”

“I wasn’t too worried.”

“Because Lord Jang was here?”

“No.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at Jangho as he explained the reason.

“Because there was someone dependable enough to take your place.”

At that, Seo Daeryong’s expression grew triumphant.

“What now? The man who was supposed to replace your right arm just saved it. Looks like he’s withdrawn from the right arm candidate pool!”

Geom Mugeuk walked over to Jangho.

“You did well.”

“Bringing us into the Central Chongqing Branch must have been harder than saving Vice Lord Seo.”

Jangho shared the credit for rescuing Seo Daeryong with Geom Mugeuk. Without Geom Mugeuk getting him into this place, the rescue wouldn’t have been possible.

“Don’t even get me started. I had to beg Leader Jin over and over. I promised him I’d grant every future request, wouldn’t force him to dance, wouldn’t tease him for being boring… I had to make all sorts of vows just to get you guys in.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s exaggerated tale, Seo Daeryong broke into a wide smile.

Then he bowed formally.

“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”

Geom Mugeuk delivered the news he knew Seo Daeryong had been desperately waiting for.

“The Elder is safe.”

Seo Daeryong gasped and asked,

“You met Master?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded. Not only Seo Daeryong, but Jangho also looked relieved.

“Why didn’t you come together?”

Geom Mugeuk answered with a meaningful look in his eyes.

“Now I need to find out. Why he couldn’t come with me.”

An hour later, a quiet farewell took place at the rear gate of the branch.

The carriages carrying the Demonic Army departed first.

Branch Leader Joo Gweol offered his thanks to Jangho.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this favor.”

Not only had Jangho saved his subordinates, but he had personally saved Joo Gweol’s life.

“If you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to come find me.”

In contrast to his emotional words, Jangho was calm.

“Thanks to you, I’ve had a good stay. Let’s meet again.”

And just like that, the large carriages carrying the Demonic Army quietly rolled out. Whether they would return to the main division or wait elsewhere would depend on instructions from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion.

There, Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong, and Jin Hagun stood together. Geom Mugeuk spoke to Jin Hagun, gesturing toward Seo Daeryong.

“I’ll be taking this man with me.”

Under normal circumstances, such a request couldn’t be approved. Ever since the appearance of Blood Heaven Blade Demon beneath the Hyangsu Mountain Lodge, they had become certain that this incident was truly connected to Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Jin Hagun still didn’t know what had been exchanged in secret between Geom Mugeuk and Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Geom Mugeuk had kept it confidential. It seemed there was a reason why Blood Heaven Blade Demon had to stand on that side.

Even so, Jin Hagun accepted without hesitation.

“Go ahead.”

That’s when Joo Gweol, who had been listening, stepped forward.

“This isn’t acceptable. There’s still a possibility that man is the culprit.”

He still hadn’t let go of the suspicion that this incident had been caused by demonic figures.

Geom Mugeuk said to him,

“If it turns out that this man is the culprit, I’ll personally bring him to you. I promise you this as the Young Cult Leader.”

Since Jin Hagun had already agreed, and Geom Mugeuk had gone this far to explain, how could Joo Gweol continue to object?

“Please don’t forget that promise.”

Once Joo Gweol stepped back, Jin Hagun turned to Geom Mugeuk and said,

“If you need help, just say the word.”

“I’m not the one who needs help—you are.”

“Me?”

“They’re targeting you, aren’t they?”

Just as Geom Mugeuk had said, the enemies might continue to aim for him.

“That’s why I suggest this—how about staying at one of the Martial Alliance’s safe houses for now, while you observe the situation from there?”

Jin Hagun had not considered going into hiding. His intention was to stay at the branch and confront those behind all this.

“Don’t think of it as hiding—think of it as laying in ambush. The less you reveal yourself, the harder it becomes for them. Consider it as stripping away one of their moves.”

As expected, Geom Mugeuk had pointed out a perspective Jin Hagun hadn’t thought of. At moments like this, he no longer felt jealousy toward Geom Mugeuk—only a swift acceptance.

“I’ll do that.”

Looking at it logically, being with the branch martial artists might only put them in more danger. Staying with the Demon-Slaying Brigade at the safe house could be the better option.

As he left, Geom Mugeuk said,

“When we crush them, let’s have a drink—I’ll call Bi Sa-in over.”

Jin Hagun gave a single nod before turning and walking in the opposite direction. If even he was finding himself wanting to see Bi Sa-in, someone he never used to think about, then it meant he truly wanted to smash the ones behind this incident to pieces.

Where there is success, there is also failure.

*         *         *

In a secluded corner of the Central Chongqing marketplace, Yoo Beom sat in front of an old fortune teller.

“Judging by your appearance, your fortunes aren’t looking too good.”

Yoo Beom’s face was swollen, with a red, hand-shaped mark across his cheek. A mark left by Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Yoo Beom lowered his head deeply.

He was tense. Depending on how the report he was about to give was received, he could lose his life.

While the old man slowly shook a wooden canister, the two of them exchanged a silent voice transmission.

—We failed to kill the Demon-Slaying Brigade Leader.

The old man’s hand, which had been rattling the canister, paused for a moment upon hearing that the mission had failed.

Yoo Beom quickly gave the reason why failure had been inevitable.

—The Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult came to the site. Blood Heaven Blade Demon refused the order to stop him.

The old man slowly opened his eyes. They were filled with nothing but coldness.

Both the attempt to kill Seo Daeryong and the plan to assassinate Jin Hagun had failed.

—Please forgive me.

Fortunately, the old man’s anger did not erupt into a violent murderous intent demanding accountability.

—If the Young Cult Leader showed up, then it makes sense.

He seemed to understand the relationship between Geom Mugeuk and Blood Heaven Blade Demon quite well.

At last, the silent voice transmission ended, and the old man began shaking the wooden canister with renewed force.

“If it doesn’t come with one try, then try twice. And if it still doesn’t work after twice… then it’s time to divine the outcome. Now, draw one.”

The old man held out the bamboo divination tube.

As if everything had already been prepared, there was once again a single stick slightly protruding.

Yoo Beom pulled it out.

—Insufficient wrath shall be replenished with blood.

After reading the inscription, Yoo Beom looked at the old man with a tense expression. He understood what the message meant. It signaled the initiation of the third annihilation.

Since the previous operation had failed, this third annihilation would become a major incident that would send shockwaves through all of Murim.

“Go relay the divination.”

---

I returned to the safe house with Seo Daeryong.

I immediately went to see my father and reported everything exactly as it had happened.

From beginning to end, I told him everything. The only time he showed any hint of rage was when the name Blood Heaven Blade Demon came up.

If earlier they had merely provoked the demonic path by leaving messages written in blood, now it was certain—they had directly targeted the Demon Supreme.

Whoever they were, they’d better hope they run into me instead of my father. Because my father was truly furious now.

“Do you have any idea what might be going on in relation to Elder Blade Demon?”

I had hoped that maybe my father would know something. After all, he had known Blade Demon since his younger days.

But my father said nothing. I couldn’t tell whether he genuinely didn’t know, or if he was keeping something to himself.

“This enemy feels different.”

I conveyed exactly what I had sensed.

“At first, I believed it was those people behind everything again. But now… I’m not so sure.”

“What makes you think that?”

“While we were cutting off their funding in Shaanxi, here in Chongqing they were bringing Elder Blade Demon into their plans. These were two separate operations.”

In other words, this wasn’t a retaliation for the incident in Shaanxi.

And if Father hadn’t turned the carriage around, this entire situation would have unfolded in a completely different direction.

“Not only that—their methods are different now. Until now, they always acted from the shadows, growing their strength in secret and plotting for the future.”

In our cult, Hwan Yeo had hidden herself as the mistress of a garden. In the Martial Alliance, one had posed as Jin Hagun’s master. In the Unorthodox Alliance, one acted as an instructor. It was the same with the Heavenly Wind Cult, the Northern Sea Ice Palace, and the Golden Dragon Trading Company.

They had been scheming and gathering power. Of course, the Twelve Zodiac Kings weren’t the completed versions of that future power just yet.

“But this time is different. They boldly attacked the Central Chongqing Branch of the Martial Alliance, attempting to kill Vice Lord Seo. At the same time, they tried to eliminate the Demon-Slaying Brigade Leader and the entire Demon-Slaying Brigade. You know what that outcome would’ve meant, Father.”

Their intention was unmistakable.

“They’re trying to start a war between our cult and the Martial Alliance.”

My father’s eyes gleamed with a cold light. He dreamed of unifying Murim under one rule, but he would never welcome a war orchestrated by someone else’s hand.

“Perhaps, after suffering many setbacks, they’ve simply changed their strategy—but something about it feels subtly different.”

It was an instinctive feeling, so I couldn’t offer a clear explanation.

But even if I didn’t know…

“I believe you know the answer, Father.”