Absolute Regression

Chapter 512: Because of the Heart That Likes Someone

The old man was none other than Gyo Cheon, the master of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the previous Blade Demon.

He had thought his master was dead. Not even once had he ever imagined that he might still be alive.

He believed he would only see him again in hell. This was someone who no longer even appeared in his dreams.

When he received the message summoning him to Chongqing, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was truly astonished.

Had it not included details only he and his master knew, he would never have believed his master was still alive.

"I didn’t know you were alive."

To the words of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Gyo Cheon quietly replied,

"If you had known, you would’ve come to kill me."

Despite the aged tone of his voice, it struck sharply in the ears and scraped at the heart.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up at him. His eyes, his chin — the traces of his old face still remained. But the deep wrinkles had devoured his appearance so thoroughly that he thought he might not have recognized him if they had passed each other on the street.

Gyo Cheon, too, looked down at his disciple. The youthful face of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon could no longer be found.

"You’ve aged a lot too."

"Time has passed that much, after all."

Standing before his master, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon felt as though he had returned to that distant time.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

From within the densely wrinkled eyes, a strange gleam shone.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon could feel that his master’s martial cultivation had risen far beyond when he was once the Demon Supreme. Though the body had aged and grown frail, the inner strength had deepened beyond description — just that gaze alone conveyed it clearly.

’Could it be... does he believe he can defeat the Cult Leader?’

Even if the strength accumulated over the years was added to his original power, could he truly endure the Cult Leader’s Nine Calamities Demon Art? A supreme demonic technique like the Nine Calamities Demon Art?

"If I were hurt? Would you even massage it for me?"

Though laced with gruffness, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon understood.

He hadn’t even begun yet. Once the emotions built up over such a long time began to pour out — he couldn’t even imagine what that would look like.

"If you wish, I will."

To that respectful reply, Gyo Cheon gestured for him to come closer. It was a gesture that carried the meaning: *Do you even dare come near me?*

Surprisingly, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon stepped toward him. Gyo Cheon didn’t tell him to stop, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn’t stop walking. ȒаΝ𝔬ᛒĚꞩ

As the two drew nearer, the tension escalated.

Thirty paces, twenty, ten...

When he came within ten steps, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon finally stopped.

Surely, his master wasn’t alone — and yet, even coming this close, he hadn’t felt the presence of anyone else nearby.

If someone else were present, it would mean they were a master of such skill. But if Master had come alone, that was astonishing in its own right.

"Why don’t you come closer? Are you afraid of me?"

"I am."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered honestly. And the reason was something unexpected.

"If it were me, I wouldn’t have endured it for this long. I wouldn’t have lasted even ten years before setting out for revenge."

But his master had endured for over thirty years, suppressing and suppressing again. All for this moment.

"Why have you returned?"

Then came his master’s quiet reply.

"Because I’m still alive."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon let out a long sigh.

"If you survived, you could have just lived on."

It wasn’t sarcasm. He was speaking from the heart.

"You could’ve spent your twilight years in a place with good mountains and clean waters. And if that got boring, you could’ve become a shadow unconnected to the cult, chasing after power and wealth."

But then his master gave an unexpected answer.

"I did. Both."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon flinched for a moment.

"I tried to forget. I even went to the mountains, tried every possible path. But the events of that day wouldn’t fade."

His voice was hoarse and cracked from age, but every word carried weight and emotion.

"I realized revenge was the only meaning left in my life."

Knowing that the fire blazing in his master’s heart could never be extinguished, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon let out a heavy sigh.

"So you want to borrow the righteous faction’s power? You plan to start a war just to kill the Cult Leader? Do you really think the Cult Leader will die that way?"

"If they find out he’s the Demonic Cult Leader, the righteous faction will try to cut off his head no matter what, won’t they?"

Was he sincere? The Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn’t think so. His master wouldn’t have spent all those years just to manipulate the righteous faction.

There was certainly something his master believed in. Something meant to kill both the Cult Leader and himself. Something that would mark the end of his long revenge.

‘What exactly did you bring with you?’

The silence that hung for a moment was broken by Gyo Cheon.

"Do you feel sorry for that day?"

Was it the memory of that day that stirred up emotion? A faint tremble laced his cracked and aged voice.

"Do you regret what you did?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn’t answer either question, but Gyo Cheon continued.

"If you’re sorry for what happened and regret it, then why not help me now?"

At last, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke.

"How do you mean?"

Gyo Cheon stared at him as if piercing through.

"Kill the Cult Leader with your own hand."

And then came an even more shocking statement.

"With the very hand that once killed me."

Gu Cheonpa silently looked down at his own hand. It did not bear the same depth of time as his master’s, but now even his hand bore marks — layer upon layer of the years gone by.

As the wrinkles in that hand faded, grew younger in his mind, Gu Cheonpa recalled that day from long ago. That long-ago moment returned to him as vividly as if it had happened yesterday.

“Master, did you call for me?”

The one who rushed into the residence was the younger version of Gu Cheonpa. Having become the official successor of the Blade Demon, he was diligently training in the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber Technique.

He was entirely different from how he was now. His face was rather handsome, even with a trace of cuteness. Most of all, he was brimming with the vitality of youth.

His master was seated on the Throne Mat, looking down at him just as he was today.

“I called you because there is something I must tell you.”

“Please command me.”

To him, Gyo Cheon spoke as though proclaiming a decree.

“Starting today, our Southern Heavens Blade Family will officially support the Great Young Master.”

At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression hardened.

“You are to inform all the Blade Ghosts of this decision.”

But instead of accepting the order, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked his master,

“Why the Great Young Master?”

This time, Gyo Cheon’s expression stiffened.

“Because it is my decision.”

Young Gu Cheonpa then said what should not have been said.

“Please give me a reason I can accept.”

He had never once gone against his master’s words before.

Even if he had to endure scolding, he had to hear the answer. That was how important this matter was to Gu Cheonpa.

As expected, Gyo Cheon erupted in fury.

“Are you saying you intend to defy your master’s will?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then why are you questioning it? Why are you still standing there?”

Gyo Cheon’s fierce demonic energy exploded toward Gu Cheonpa. Though he raised his inner energy in resistance, it was, of course, not enough.

Gu Cheonpa gritted his teeth and endured the pain, as if his entire body was being torn apart. No matter how painful it was, he had to hear the answer.

Gyo Cheon strode forward and stood before him. He already knew the reason.

“I know you share a close bond with the Young Master. And I know that cunning Young Master is trying to use you.”

Even through the pain, Gu Cheonpa voiced his thoughts.

“The Young Master is not that kind of person.”

Having his words denied, Gyo Cheon’s expression hardened even further, and so did the demonic energy.

“Ugh…”

It felt as if Gu Cheonpa’s entire body was being ripped apart. Any longer and he would suffer severe internal injuries.

Still, Gyo Cheon did not stop his demonic energy. He would never forgive defiance from his successor.

“Uuuuaaaaagh!”

As the demonic energy grew stronger, his screams intensified.

If the defiance continued, he was prepared to kill his disciple right then and there. He could do it — there were plenty lined up to become the next Blade Demon.

‘Dying like this would be a meaningless death.’

At last, Gu Cheonpa yielded his will. Had he endured any longer, he would have surely sustained irreparable injuries or died.

“…I will follow your will, Master.”

Only then did the crushing demonic energy subside.

With an angry face, Gyo Cheon gave his order of dismissal.

“Leave.”

As he turned weakly to go, Gyo Cheon spoke again from behind.

“Did you ask me to give you a reason you could accept?”

Gu Cheonpa turned back toward Gyo Cheon.

“In this succession battle, the Young Master will definitely die.”

In that moment, Gu Cheonpa felt it. The resolve flickering in his master’s eyes.

‘Master intends to intervene directly in this succession fight.’

He could feel that his master had made up his mind to personally kill the Young Master. For the Great Young Master, there was nothing he wouldn’t do.

“Don’t get close to the Young Master anymore. If you do, you’ll die with him.”

“I will bear it in mind.”

Gu Cheonpa gave a respectful bow and began walking again.

When he stepped out of the residence, his fist was clenched tightly.

As wrinkles formed on that youthful fist, the scene shifted back to the present. The present-day Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Gu Cheonpa was clenching his fist just the same.

Ever since that day, he had treated his master even better. He had tried to earn greater trust. All for one reason — to find out when that time would come.

“I know. I know why you chose the Great Young Master over the Young Master.”

Gu Cheonpa now spoke the words he hadn’t been able to say back then.

“The Young Master wasn’t the cunning one.”

After a brief pause, Gu Cheonpa continued.

“It was your cunning that the Young Master saw through.”

Crack.

The armrest of the Throne Mat shattered in Gyo Cheon’s grip. The broken fragments turned to powder in his hand and scattered like dust.

It was a demonstration of just how deep Gyo Cheon’s cultivation truly was.

But Gu Cheonpa continued speaking.

“The Cult Leader, even in his youth, was someone with clear likes and dislikes. He liked what he liked and hated what he hated. You knew, Master. You knew that the Cult Leader disliked you.”

A low growl, like a beast’s snarl, came from Gyo Cheon’s throat.

“You knew that if the Young Master became the Cult Leader, you’d be pushed down to the lowest seat among the Eight Demon Supremes. That was something you absolutely couldn’t accept.”

Back then, he hadn’t known. Maybe it was better not to know. If he had spoken these words in his youthful pride, he probably would have been killed by his master on the spot.

“You’re still as insolent and reckless as you were in your youth.”

“It seems your memories have been clouded by hatred toward me. In my youth, I was more respectful to you than anyone.”

Gyo Cheon laughed. A laugh that held both disbelief and deep resentment.

“You betrayed me. The one who passed down martial arts to you — you betrayed me!”

Gu Cheonpa remained silent.

“You’re calling me cunning? Do you think you’re not? You’re the one who figured it out — that if the Great Young Master became Cult Leader, you could never become the next Blade Demon. There’s no way the Great Young Master would let someone so close to the Young Master rise.”

Yes, perhaps his master’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

Back then, he had thought it was a decision made for the Cult Leader’s sake. But perhaps, deep within his subconscious, he had struggled to survive.

Still, at the very least, his master had no right to say such things. Because he had never given him a choice.

The gaze of Gu Cheonpa deepened as his thoughts drifted back once more to a moment in the past.

The younger version of the Cult Leader stood before him.

The Cult Leader in his days as the Young Master, when the two had called each other brothers.

He, too, was different from how he was now. If nothing could be read from the current Cult Leader’s eyes, back then, his eyes had clearly conveyed emotion.

Gu Cheonpa had liked him. Not because he was destined to become the next Heavenly Demon. He simply liked him. His actions, his words. Though younger, he had many admirable qualities.

He treated everyone with pride and arrogance, yet Gu Cheonpa could feel that he harbored something burning within his heart.

No, that reason alone wasn’t enough.

He had liked him so much that he was willing to say something that could change everyone’s fate.

“The Great Young Master and my master are working together to plan your assassination.”

Back then, Geom Woojin had not been like he was now. At the moment he heard those words, Gu Cheonpa clearly saw his eyes tremble.

Gu Cheonpa knew. Geom Woojin wanted to end the succession struggle without killing his older brother.

“They’re going to act during this hunt.”

Gyo Cheon’s shout brought the Blood Heaven Blade Demon back to the present.

“You betrayed your master and made a younger brother kill his elder brother. That’s the kind of person you are.”

If he hadn’t done it, the Cult Leader would have died.

But he didn’t say that to his master. Because to him, his relationship with the Cult Leader meant nothing. He didn’t believe in it.

Yes, if he said he betrayed them out of pure affection for someone, it would only wound his master more. To Gyo Cheon, it was better if he had done it for the Blade Demon’s seat.

That’s why the Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded and calmly admitted it.

“That’s right. I’m that kind of person. Selfish and wicked, and so...”

With a quiet voice and a heavy gaze, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon added,

“Anyone who stays by my side suffers great misfortune.”