Absolute Regression

Chapter 518: I Have Only One Master-Disciple Relationship

Gyo Cheon felt a chill in his chest from Geom Mugeuk’s cold gaze. That should have been just the Young Cult Leader, someone he could scoff at. Perhaps it was because the words he spoke had struck a chord.

‘Should I have been crazier to come here?’

Seeing the corpses lying about and Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin standing tall among them, he began to think—maybe he really should have.

Just as the Geom Woojin he had investigated differed from the one before him, so too did this Young Cult Leader feel different from the one he had researched.

Even knowing he had been buried as if in jest, the sight of him now, staring back with his face drenched in blood, sent a cold wind blowing through Gyo Cheon’s heart.

His gaze naturally shifted to Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin, standing beside him.

‘Like father, like son, huh?’

In contrast, Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin looked at his blood-covered son with a face full of disappointment. Having only ever seen the solemn side of Geom Woojin, this expression felt strangely unfamiliar.

Gyo Cheon didn’t know. This change was, in fact, the greatest driving force behind Geom Woojin’s newfound strength. Not knowing the process, he could only be shocked by the result.

‘He’s far stronger than the former Cult Leader.’

How could this be? He knew better than anyone how hard it was for martial masters at the level of a Cult Leader to raise their martial prowess further.

Suppressing his doubts, Gyo Cheon looked over at the remaining masters.

Of the twelve elite warriors, five had died. Seven remained.

“Who’s next?”

It was the will to push forward with the original plan—to wear down his inner energy no matter what and kill him.

Blood Heaven Blade Demon let out a silent sigh at the sight.

His master had grown rigid. When the situation changes, so too should the plan. But with a hardened mind, he could only think of pushing forward.

‘Can they accomplish what the first five couldn’t?’

It was a moment anyone would have hesitated, yet one man stepped forward without hesitation.

It was Mad Thousand Slaughterer. He was the one who had first felt fear when the Heavenly Demon Sword wailed.

But now, his eyes gleamed with confidence.

He had spent his life like a blood-hungry madman, killing without end. And in this moment, he realized that only his madness could save him.

‘Fear is for you, not for me.’

Next to Mad Thousand Slaughterer, another stepped forward. It was the Ghost Sword Disciple, who had been shaken when the Ghost Sword cried.

Mad Thousand Slaughterer and the Ghost Sword Disciple.

Icons of terror in their own domains.

With his son present, one might have expected Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin to leave one of them to him.

But Geom Woojin stepped forward himself, as if declaring he would face them all.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. This battle meant something important to his father as well. His father, too, was settling that day.

While being mindful of Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s feelings.

For Geom Mugeuk, it was, on the contrary, a great opportunity.

He intended to imprint this battle into his mind from beginning to end. Just like replaying a game of baduk, he would revisit it over and over to refine his martial arts. ŕΆŊȏᛒΕS

Mad Thousand Slaughterer donned gauntlets made of steel on both fists.

His treasured weapon, Wolf Fang Iron Fists.

True to its name, each knuckle bore sharp blades that jutted out like the fangs of a wolf. Judging from the energy flowing through it, it was clearly not made of ordinary metal.

“With these fists, I crushed and killed everyone who got on my nerves!”

His voice, imbued with inner energy, thundered across the field.

Once he put on the Wolf Fang Iron Fists, he transformed. Because his fists remembered—all those he had slain.

‘I can win! I’ll kill the Cult Leader and chew him up alive!’

Madness erupted from his eyes.

Silently watching him, Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin returned the Heavenly Demon Sword to its sheath.

Then he motioned for him to come closer.

A gesture to fight barehanded.

Mad Thousand Slaughterer grinned triumphantly. Against bare fists, even the Cult Leader seemed beatable if he had his Wolf Fang Iron Fists.

Fwaaaaaah!

His steel fist flew toward Geom Woojin with overwhelming power.

Madman’s Killing Strike.

It was the technique he was most confident in.

Geom Woojin also dashed forward, throwing his own fist.

Fist against fist.

Mad Thousand Slaughterer poured all his inner energy into this punch.

‘The one to shatter will be your fist!’

Gyo Cheon watched with anticipation. Even if that strike couldn’t kill Geom Woojin, he hoped it would at least injure him internally. Drain as much of his inner energy as possible.

But Geom Woojin never fought in ways his opponents expected.

Just before the fists collided—at the very last moment—Geom Woojin twisted his body.

The devastating punch grazed his face, and in that instant, Geom Woojin had already slipped into Mad Thousand Slaughterer’s guard.

‘Damn it!’

He never imagined the Heavenly Demon would avoid a direct clash. What’s more, Geom Woojin’s evasive and advancing movement was so fast and precise, it was almost unreal.

Mad Thousand Slaughterer raised all of his Protective Energy throughout his body to brace for Geom Woojin’s strike.

But no powerful blow came.

In that fleeting moment their eyes met—

Tok.

Geom Woojin lightly tapped Mad Thousand Slaughterer’s head. As if to say, ‘Get your head straight, you idiot!’

Mad Thousand Slaughterer’s face twisted into something grotesque.

‘You’re looking down on me?’

Even if it was a strong hit to the head, there was no way he would have fallen. His Protective Energy covered even his skull perfectly.

Or so he thought.

“Kggghhh!”

Just as he was about to throw his second strike, Mad Thousand Slaughterer let out a bizarre cry and collapsed backward.

His eyes rolled white—he was already dead.

His body looked untouched. No visible injuries, no blood.

He never learned what killed him, even in death.

Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin was not the kind of man to simply tap his opponent’s head without reason. If he had struck, there was undoubtedly a reason behind it.

That light tap gently penetrated his opponent’s Protective Energy, only to erupt into a delayed, massive ripple that completely overturned the inside of his skull.

It was a martial art that struck externally to destroy internally—Geom Woojin’s Internal Heavy Strike Method, perfected to the ultimate level.

Not just the Ghost Sword Disciple who had stepped forward with him, but Gyo Cheon and the other masters all wore looks of astonishment.

Had Geom Woojin shattered the iron fists with brute force, they might have been less surprised.

Just as with the five he had killed earlier, Geom Woojin never flaunted his strength. He focused only on how to kill the enemy most efficiently. A supreme being who never let his guard down—a thinker among the absolute masters.

He used the Nine Calamities Demon Art when needed, and here, killed with minimal inner energy. Completely immersed in his battle, yet at the same time, it felt as if he were showing his son.

Son, if you ever must fight twelve supreme experts in a deathmatch, this is how you do it.

The Ghost Sword in the Ghost Sword Disciple’s hand began to emit a ghostly wail. As though sensing someone’s fate, the cry was mournful and chilling.

He had not simply stood idle while Mad Thousand Slaughterer died.

He had been drawing up his inner energy, preparing to unleash his ultimate technique. He had seen clearly—if it didn’t land on the first strike, it would never land at all.

Chuaaaaang!

A torrent of black ghostly energy burst from his sword and surged toward Geom Woojin.

Ghost Sword Primordial Slash!

The ghostly energy spiraled around Geom Woojin like a whirlwind.

It looked as though a massive black serpent had coiled around his body, ready to explode.

’Got him!’

The first strike landed, and the Ghost Sword Disciple pushed his inner energy to the absolute limit.

’Demonic Cult Leader! Die in this blast!’

The swirling black energy tightened further, completely obscuring Geom Woojin from view.

In the eyes of Gyo Cheon and the other masters, a flicker of hope passed.

’Even if it doesn’t kill him, he’ll take serious internal damage!’

It was then—

Ssssssshhhhk!

Through the dark maelstrom, light seeped out.

Like parting seas, the black energy split as something shot forward.

It was the Heavenly Demon Sword, shimmering with pure white demonic energy.

At the sight, the Ghost Sword wailed even louder—an anguished cry mirroring the horror and shock in its master’s heart.

The next moment, a rain of sword energy poured down from the sky.

Fifth Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art: Soul Severing Demonic Strike.

Because the attack seemed to scream “Here it comes!”, the Ghost Sword Disciple instinctively hurled his body aside, dodging the strike that would have cleaved into his crown.

’Dodged it!’

But the relief was short-lived. The falling sword energy wasn’t a single strike.

Splat!

Another blade of sword energy fell from the sky and pierced through his shoulder.

Splat!

Then, the next strike skewered the crown of his head.

His body collapsed in instant death, and even then, more sword energy continued to rain down on him with a slight delay.

Thud! Thud!

Originally, Soul Severing Demonic Strike was an attack that rained sword energy down simultaneously upon the crowns of multiple opponents. Geom Mugeuk had trained alongside it for hostage rescue practice.

This time, however, the attack was focused solely on the area around the Ghost Sword Disciple. Staggered and timed perfectly—so that evasion was absolutely impossible.

Geom Mugeuk understood.

The decisive difference between his own Soul Severing Demonic Strike and his father’s was not the number or the power of the sword strikes.

It was the timing.

His father’s Soul Severing Demonic Strike anticipated the opponent’s evasive movement—and then struck with delay, accordingly.

Geom Mugeuk knew better than anyone how incredibly difficult that realm was to reach.

’Could I even dodge Father’s Soul Severing Demonic Strike?’

He couldn’t confidently say he could.

’This is a level I must attain. No—higher than this.’

Because if he climbed higher, so would his father.

As the Ghost Sword Disciple collapsed, reduced to a wreck, the swirling black maelstrom that had encircled Geom Woojin vanished in an instant.

Gyo Cheon’s face hardened even further.

No matter how strong someone was—this wasn’t right. Mad Thousand Slaughterer and the Ghost Sword Disciple, both killed in just one move? What kind of strategy could possibly be made against an opponent like this? The thought that filled his heart now wasn’t The Greatest Under Heaven—but The Greatest of All Time.

Geom Woojin asked him,

“Will you step forward yourself now?”

Still, Geom Woojin maintained respect in his manner of speech. Because Blood Heaven Blade Demon still regarded him as his master.

To the silent master staring daggers at Geom Woojin, Blood Heaven Blade Demon said,

“It’s not too late even now.”

Gyo Cheon glanced over at the corpses and scoffed.

“You can still say that after seeing them?”

“The dead are dead, but the living must live. Even now, you should admit your wrongs before the Cult Leader.”

Gyo Cheon felt it. Unlike the Cult Leader or the Young Cult Leader, this disciple truly wanted him to survive, no matter what.

Even so, kind words did not escape his lips.

“A traitor pretending to care about me in front of the Cult Leader—how noble.”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn’t make excuses. Geom Woojin simply continued to observe in silence.

The one who spoke in his place was Geom Mugeuk.

“That’s enough.”

All eyes turned to Geom Mugeuk. At first, they thought the words were directed at Gyo Cheon. That he was telling Gyo Cheon to stop. But they were not.

“That’s enough, elder.”

Because the Cult Leader was present, Blood Heaven Blade Demon responded respectfully.

“Young Cult Leader, please don’t step forward.”

“No. This is not something the involved parties can resolve themselves.”

Geom Mugeuk knew. If Gyo Cheon were to die again today, it would leave another deep wound in Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s heart. It would be as if his master had died twice before his very eyes.

"Your master will pretend not to understand your heart until the very end. That way, this act he committed will hold justification."

At that, Gyo Cheon shouted.

"Silence! What do you know!"

Compared to the agitated Gyo Cheon, Geom Mugeuk remained calm.

"You keep crying betrayal, betrayal—if we’re being honest, didn’t you betray the Cult as well? If it was your disciple who betrayed you, you should have summoned only the disciple to take revenge. Why drag in my father? Why disgrace the Cult’s name and provoke war with the orthodox sects? Why involve your own disciples as well?"

Gyo Cheon couldn’t immediately refute the pouring accusations, and Geom Mugeuk’s assault continued.

"Let’s be honest. Your disciple’s betrayal wasn’t really what mattered to you, was it? In fact, you probably thought it was convenient. Since things turned out this way, why not just seize all of the martial world? Isn’t that the ambition you nurtured as you expanded your power?"

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to the remaining masters.

"What did you promise them? After sowing discord between the orthodox and unorthodox sects, what did you say you’d give them?"

At that moment, Blood Heaven Blade Demon felt it. That perhaps his master truly had harbored such thoughts. That the scheme to divide the orthodox sects might not have been about revenge alone. That by gathering the ambitions of these aging villains, he was perhaps trying to achieve the dream he had once failed to realize.

"So let’s stop using betrayal as an excuse."

In truth, Geom Mugeuk didn’t fully understand what Gyo Cheon felt. Nor did he care to.

Even so, the reason he pressed Gyo Cheon wasn’t to attack him. It was for Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

To tell him not to hold meaning in the past. That such a master wasn’t worth it.

Geom Mugeuk looked at Blood Heaven Blade Demon and spoke.

"Do you feel sorry for your master? No, the one you should feel sorry for isn’t your master—it’s your disciple."

"!"

"Because he bore the risk alone over this worthless bond. For a master like that, your disciple came here all by himself. That timid and cautious disciple of yours."

Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s pupils trembled. Between master and Cult Leader… now that he thought about it, he hadn’t even considered Seo Daeryong.

"Is it this master-disciple bond, the one that truly matters, that’s kept you here until now?"

Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his head and looked at Gyo Cheon.

Though Gyo Cheon stared back coldly, the gaze Blood Heaven Blade Demon directed at him still burned hot.

He stared at him for a long while, then finally delivered his last words.

"You’re right. It probably wasn’t for Master’s sake—but to lessen my guilt. That’s why I wanted to save you. And that’s why… I’m even more sorry."

Gyo Cheon’s eyes twitched.

"I will send you off myself on your final path. I’ll carry this guilt with me for the rest of my life. The problem was that I tried to discard what I should have carried."

As if offering his final farewell as a disciple, he bowed deeply with solemn courtesy.

Only after that did he respond to Geom Mugeuk’s earlier question.

"This is not the place where meaning should be found."

Though his voice had trembled before, his next words were firm.

"From now on, I have only one master-disciple relationship."

Geom Mugeuk looked at Blood Heaven Blade Demon and smiled brightly.

‘Elder!’

There was a reason he had pushed this far.

Because Gyo Cheon had to hear those words before he died. If Gyo Cheon had died first, Blood Heaven Blade Demon would never have been able to say them. A battle with the dead was the hardest kind of battle in the world.

Even someone this clever and wise couldn’t easily free themselves when entangled in the wounds of the past.

Past wounds had nothing to do with present intelligence. In fact, the smarter one was, the harder it might be to escape them.

Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk and smiled faintly.

‘Thank you.’

‘Elder, let’s go back soon. Let’s sit side by side by that sunlit window and read a book together.’

Geom Woojin gave a slight nod toward Geom Mugeuk.

One could see it in his expression. His father was praising him for doing well. Geom Woojin, too, didn’t want Blood Heaven Blade Demon to be left with a scar on his heart.

Now with a refreshed expression, Geom Woojin turned toward the enemy.

Among the five remaining masters, his eyes met those of an elderly man with white hair.

"It’s been a while."

The old man asked in surprise,

"You remember me?"

Geom Woojin nodded.

"Incredible memory. I saw you when you were just a child."

Amazingly, he was a demonic figure from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Mixed Demon.

The old man was a retired demonic figure of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Once possessing great skill, he had held several important posts within the cult. Back then, he had been quite close with Gyo Cheon.

"It was a serious request. I had no choice."

Geom Woojin asked bluntly,

"Did you know the target was me?"

After a brief pause, Mixed Demon answered.

"I knew."

Geom Woojin had no intention of speaking with him further. This betrayal was far worse than Gyo Cheon’s.

"Then you have no reason to step forward."

Now that Blood Heaven Blade Demon had resolved his heart, Geom Woojin began a final reckoning of his own.

Before Geom Woojin, a demonic ghost appeared silently.

It was more terrifying, more intense than the ghost conjured during the previous Human Annihilation Form.

Ssssss...

The ghost began to divide.

This was why Geom Woojin had told him there was no need to step forward.

"Then die right there together."