Absolute Regression

Chapter 520: The Man Who Lived with Misfortune

Geom Mugeuk glared at Geom Woojin with wide-open eyes.

The gaze Geom Woojin directed at his son was nothing but cold.

"……Why me?"

Puuuk.

But the sword dug even deeper into Geom Mugeuk. Blood dripped from the blade that pierced through his back.

"If you truly understood my son, you might’ve seen this coming."

Then, from the wound where the sword was embedded, a blue light began to leak out.

With it began the collapse.

Jjjiiiiiik.

Cracks began to form across Geom Mugeuk’s face. They spread wider and wider, like spiderwebs, branching out across his face, neck, arms, and entire body.

Swaaah!

At that very moment, blue light burst out from all the cracks at once, and with a sharp clink, the fractured pieces rained down.

From within, the one who emerged was Gyo Cheon. Behind the shattered web-like cracks, fine wrinkles replaced the false visage.

Ssssss...

Following him, the one who returned to his true form was Geom Woojin. The youthful appearance vanished, and his original form returned. The sword that pierced through Gyo Cheon had also changed into the Heavenly Demon Sword.

Cough.

With Gyo Cheon’s cough, blood spurted from his mouth.

In that instant, the trees surrounding them vanished.

Cough, cough.

With the continued coughing, the rocks, birds, and even the sky disappeared. The younger Gyo Cheon, who had been about to strike from behind, vanished as well.

And then, Geom Woojin’s brother also began to fade.

At that moment, Geom Woojin placed his palm against Gyo Cheon’s chest and injected a stream of inner force.

As Gyo Cheon’s expression eased slightly, the fading brother stopped in place.

Geom Woojin silently stared at his brother.

Though it was merely an illusion created from the memories and hearts of himself and Gyo Cheon.

Even though he had returned to his original self from his younger appearance, the expression on Geom Woojin’s face held the same lingering sorrow as in those days. ř𝓪𐌽ɵʙËȿ

"Krreeeegh."

As Gyo Cheon vomited the blood he had been holding in, the brother vanished.

Geom Woojin watched the moment his brother disappeared with a deep gaze.

And thus, the illusion art shattered, and everything around them vanished.

Geom Woojin and Gyo Cheon were standing back in their original place.

In their original spot stood Geom Mugeuk, Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and Hui.

Just a moment ago, when Geom Woojin had suddenly disappeared, it became clear he had fallen into Gyo Cheon’s illusionary art.

Hui had urgently revealed himself, but by then, Geom Woojin was already gone. No matter how much he trusted the Cult Leader’s abilities, he couldn’t help but worry, as he was still a guard.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk said this to Hui.

“No one can harm Father as he is now.”

Even so, knowing it had been Gyo Cheon’s final move, the three of them waited for him with anxious hearts.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk didn’t forget to throw in a joke.

“No matter how much of a hidden trump card it is, would he really want to go alone with Father?”

At those words, Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Hui gave faint smiles.

And now, the Cult Leader had met their expectations, appearing with dignity.

Blood poured from Gyo Cheon’s mouth in heavy spurts.

"……How did you know it was me?"

He had believed that disguising himself as Geom Mugeuk in that situation would make it completely impossible to notice.

The only way to break this Illusion Heart-Demon Art was Geom Mugeuk.

On top of that, their relationship was father and son. He had thought there was no chance of being discovered. Just as he was about to strike from behind, Geom Woojin stabbed him first.

Geom Woojin spoke to him calmly.

"Didn’t you say earlier that you knew what the Illusion Heart-Demon Art was?"

That it used the person who occupied the deepest and largest space in one’s heart to kill them.

"I thought… that person would be your brother."

He had assumed Geom Woojin buried his brother deepest within his heart.

Gyo Cheon turned his gaze toward Geom Mugeuk.

"……So the one who occupied the deepest place in the Cult Leader’s heart was his son."

And more than anything, Geom Woojin was fully aware of that himself. That was why he could confidently drive a sword into his son’s chest.

At Gyo Cheon’s words, Geom Mugeuk’s eyes wavered. Before any joy could surface, shock and confusion came first.

‘I… am the one who holds the largest place in Father’s heart?’

Certainly, in his own heart, his father occupied the largest place. But he had never expected that he would be the most important in his father’s heart.

‘Father!’

Since returning through regression, he had felt many emotions toward his father, but never had there been a moment as joyful as this.

In contrast, his father showed no emotion as he simply looked at Gyo Cheon.

Feeling that things would become awkward if he stayed serious, Geom Mugeuk tried to lighten the mood with a joke.

"Of course it’s me! If we drew Father’s heart, this second son would take up a little more than half. Then, of the remaining half, half of that would be the Cult, a sliver for my brother, a sliver for the Demon Supreme, a sliver for Nine Calamities Demon Art, a bit for Father’s dreams, and a little more for fishing. That’s how it would be."

A smile formed on Geom Woojin’s lips. Since he had his back to Geom Mugeuk, his son couldn’t see it.

Geom Woojin added a few more words to Gyo Cheon.

"If it were truly that brat, he would’ve said ten times more than you did earlier. And he wouldn’t have told me to draw my sword and kill my opponent to quickly forget the past. He probably had something to say… to my brother as well."

Blood Heaven Blade Demon could tell that the Cult Leader’s final words carried his true feelings.

Perhaps the Cult Leader had hoped his son would speak on his behalf to his brother. That the son could express his heart better than he himself ever could.

He might have also wished that his son would be the one to tell him how to forget his brother. Because if it had been him, he would have held the same hope for Geom Mugeuk.

Blood Heaven Blade Demon slowly walked to Gyo Cheon’s side. He was still standing in place, pierced straight through by the sword. If the sword were pulled out, he would die on the spot, so Geom Woojin did not withdraw it, allowing Blood Heaven Blade Demon time to say his farewell.

“Master.”

Gyo Cheon looked at Blood Heaven Blade Demon with eyes slowly losing their vitality.

In Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s gaze toward his master, there was nothing but sorrow and regret.

From their earlier conversation, Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been able to guess what kind of illusion technique had been used. A move that exploited the old wounds between the Cult Leader and himself.

“Since it was the final illusion technique prepared by Master, it must have been frightening. But the reason it failed… is likely because neither of us ever had children.”

The deep wrinkles on Gyo Cheon’s face twitched feebly.

“Master, let’s meet again in the next life… in a better relationship.”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon meant every word. Though his master had committed a grave mistake this time, he still wanted to meet him again in the next life.

“In this life, after today, I will forget you. So let’s meet again in the next one. Not as rivals in a succession war, but as master and disciple in a small martial arts hall in some countryside village. Next time, I will truly serve you well. And then, let us both have children and try to raise them properly.”

Gyo Cheon’s eyes trembled. Just like the emotions he had felt ever since meeting Blood Heaven Blade Demon again, he could sense that this disciple truly mourned his death.

After a final cough that brought up blood, Gyo Cheon left his last words.

"……Still pretending to the end."

With those words, Gyo Cheon passed away, eyes still wide open.

In that final moment, whatever his master’s true feelings may have been remained unknown, but because he never acknowledged him to the very end, Blood Heaven Blade Demon felt strangely at peace.

“Looking back, it was all over in a flash, wasn’t it?”

With trembling hands, Blood Heaven Blade Demon closed his master’s eyes.

“Let go of all old grudges now, and rest in eternal peace.”

Geom Woojin slowly drew the sword, and Gyo Cheon fell backward, scattering blood into the air.

Blood Heaven Blade Demon caught his body and carefully laid him down.

He fulfilled his duty to the very end. He gathered firewood, stacked it, and cremated his master.

“This will be a grave no one ever comes to visit, so may you soar freely into the heavens instead.”

Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin stood side by side, watching it all unfold.

Geom Mugeuk understood. Though it had been for his father’s sake, for Blood Heaven Blade Demon, betraying his master had left a wound that would remain with him for the rest of his life.

A man who did not make excuses for his situation and instead quietly engraved the wound upon his heart — the man who lived burdened by misfortune by his own choosing — that man was none other than Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Through this incident, even Father must have realized it. Just how deeply that wound remained. This event would surely change the relationship between the two of them once again.

It was clear that Blood Heaven Blade Demon had reached a certain degree of emotional closure.

Then what about Father?

Geom Mugeuk did not let the moment pass quietly.

One may bury a corpse, but never bury a wound of the heart.

That was the belief he lived by.

“Father, did you see Uncle in that illusion?”

Geom Woojin silently nodded.

“How was it?”

If he had asked this question when he first returned through regression, his father never would have answered. He would’ve turned away without a word. Especially since it involved his brother.

But now, it was different. And from Father’s mouth came an unexpected response.

“It was nice… seeing him again after so long.”

In that moment, Geom Mugeuk felt it — the deep, lingering regret within his father.

Perhaps it was precisely that regret which had made his father wish for a successor battle where no blood would be shed between his children. His father must have missed his brother as well.

“Uncle probably felt the same about seeing you, Father.”

Geom Woojin looked at his son.

“I’m sure he wanted to tell you this: ‘You’re doing really well, little brother. I’m glad you’re leading the Cult.’ How do I know? Well, just look at my brother. The eldest son of Father. That splendid bloodline didn’t go anywhere, did it? Ah, I should’ve gone into the illusion too. There’s so much I wanted to say to Uncle.”

Yes, that guy would’ve been this chatty even in the illusion. Who else could replicate this level of chatter?

“Oh right, then did you return to your younger self, Father?”

When Geom Woojin nodded again, Geom Mugeuk clicked his tongue in regret.

“Ah! That was the perfect chance to see your younger self, Father. With this handsome face of mine, I should’ve faced off against your younger self in a direct showdown. Even if I didn’t match you in Nine Calamities Demon Art, I should’ve matched you in looks!”

Even here, it became obvious. If it had been his real son, he would’ve gone on endlessly about his youthful appearance — that was just the kind of person he was.

Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at that scene and once again felt envy.

And Geom Mugeuk, of course, didn’t miss it.

“Jealous, aren’t you? You want a son like this, don’t you?”

How sharp his senses were. But no — it wasn’t just that. He had already blurted out earlier, without realizing it, that he wanted to have children too.

If it were just the two of them, he would’ve brushed it off and said something like, ‘Not jealous at all. Family only brings trouble.’ But with the Cult Leader standing right there, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Don’t be jealous. You already have another child, don’t you, Elder?”

“Another child?”

Geom Mugeuk whistled, lacing it with internal energy.

At that signal, someone dashed toward them like the wind from afar.

The one who arrived in a single sprint was none other than Seo Daeryong. He had been hiding and waiting from a distance.

“I pay my respects to the Cult Leader.”

Seo Daeryong bowed respectfully to Geom Woojin, then turned to face Blood Heaven Blade Demon. On this day, he felt more nervous about seeing his master than the Cult Leader.

His expression conveyed everything in his heart.

“……Master.”

Even the trembling voice in which he called out to his master revealed how deeply he had worried and how much he had missed him.

“Do you not resent me for dragging you into something like this?”

Though it had been unavoidable that he was caught up in his master’s affairs and had to be summoned, Blood Heaven Blade Demon had intended to protect him no matter what. Later, with Geom Mugeuk and the Cult Leader arriving, he no longer needed to worry about Seo Daeryong.

To that question, Seo Daeryong answered.

“How could this have been something you dragged me into, Master? It was because of them. And aren’t you just a little disappointed? Your disciple should have come and taken care of everything smoothly. But I’m not such a capable disciple — just a timid and cowardly one like me.”

Their eyes met and held in the empty air. Geom Mugeuk sensed it then — that those two, despite being so different, shared subtle similarities.

“Branch Leader Seo, it seems you didn’t hear.”

Since his father was present, he addressed Seo Daeryong formally as a branch leader.

“Hear what, sir?”

“Elder Blade Demon made this declaration. That he now has only one master-disciple relationship.”

In that moment, Seo Daeryong’s face turned red.

In return, Geom Mugeuk shared something with Blood Heaven Blade Demon about Seo Daeryong.

“When we met earlier, Branch Leader Seo said he would give his life for his master. He willingly offered himself as a dangerous decoy.”

Seo Daeryong bowed his head deeply, his face growing even redder. This was what made Geom Mugeuk so likable — he always made sure to deliver what needed to be said.

Even if his stoic master said nothing in response, having his heart conveyed was enough.

Then Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke.

“If there’s any danger in the future, have the Young Cult Leader handle it.”

Seo Daeryong’s head shot up in surprise. Hearing the affection hidden in his master’s joke, Seo Daeryong felt so overjoyed it was as if he could fly.

“You heard that, right? You all heard that? That’s Master’s official command!”

Geom Mugeuk turned to his father and spoke as if tattling.

“Father, you heard that too, right? Then you must say something. What is that supposed to mean, saying that to your own child? From now on, you and your disciple are taking care of all the dangerous things!”

A smirk appeared on Geom Woojin’s lips. That smirk, always full of layered meanings, spoke clearly today.

You’ve done well.

And so, it was the most perfect smirk to close this day.

Father walked away from the place. Behind him, Blood Heaven Blade Demon followed.

Both Father and Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked with light steps.

Geom Mugeuk stood still for a moment, watching their backs.

Originally, Blood Heaven Blade Demon had walked a step behind, but Father had slowed his pace to match shoulders and walk side by side.

As they walked, the two began talking. Perhaps they were finally speaking of that day — the one thing they hadn’t discussed in all those years.

Seeing their backs, Geom Mugeuk suddenly recalled the first time he met Blood Heaven Blade Demon after returning through regression, and the line he had drawn back then.

That old nine-to-one line, drawn in the name of the Cult Leader’s affection. These two men, with such a shared past…

‘That line Elder drew back then… it was accurate.’