Absolute Regression

Chapter 521: May I Try Casting the Last Lot?

As he watched the backs of his father and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, a martial artist from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion approached and reported.

“We’ve located the whereabouts of the Cloud River Sect members. Under the Heavenly Communication Pavilion Lord’s command, the Demonic Army has been dispatched for a rescue operation.”

This was the place where they had fought against Gyo Cheon. It turned out to be the Cloud River Sect. Thankfully, they had not killed them and left them alive.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to the martial artist of the Heavenly Communication Pavilion.

“Send word to the Demon-Slaying Brigade Leader to meet at that location.”

“Yes! Understood.”

Before leaving, he should at least see his friend’s face. He had received a lot of help from Jin Hagun during this affair.

As the martial artist of the Heavenly Communication Pavilion disappeared with a lightness movement technique, Seo Daeryong, who had been listening from the side, expressed his joy.

“That’s a relief.”

“You were the one who found them.”

In the end, the two sects Seo Daeryong had chosen were the Phoenix Mountain Sword Gate and the Cloud River Sect. He said he couldn’t choose between them, so Geom Mugeuk picked the Phoenix Mountain Sword Gate. But that turned out to be a trap meant to buy time, and the real incident had occurred here at the Cloud River Sect.

“As expected! The prestige of the Underworld Pavilion’s top entrance!”

At the compliment, he could have puffed out his chest proudly, but Seo Daeryong bowed respectfully and expressed his gratitude.

“Young Cult Leader, thank you.”

“For what?”

“For everything, really.”

If he had met his master alone, would a wonderful reunion like today have happened? He didn’t think so. It would have been awkward and distant, and he wouldn’t have been able to express his true feelings at all.

“That gratitude—write it all down! You’ll see. That brilliant mind of yours will change into one that forgets everything once it turns its back. Ah, you’ll say later, ‘Did the Young Cult Leader really say that? I thought I said it myself.’ You’ll drive me mad with your twisted memory. No, no. I probably won’t remember either. So write it all down meticulously, without leaving anything out.”

“I’ll make a whole book and pass it down through the generations.”

A vision of the future began to take shape in Seo Daeryong’s mind.

He pictured himself with his grandchildren on his lap, telling them the story of what happened today.

And maybe, those grandchildren would say something like this:

—Grandfather, is it another story about the Cult Leader?

Of course it would be. That gratitude was piled up like a mountain.

Even today’s events. Geom Mugeuk could have told him to wait at the safehouse, but instead, he brought him all the way here.

“I’m grateful that you brought me here so I could meet Master even a little bit sooner.”

“That’s not why I brought you, though.”

“Huh? Then why did you bring me?”

“If we’re going to meet, might as well do it at the place where all debts are settled. Meeting at the safehouse and meeting here would have felt completely different. For a martial artist, the most important thing is whether or not you were there at the moment, in that place where emotions and blood reached their peak.” ℝàΝ𝐨ᛒĘꞨ

He felt the truth in those words. The excitement he felt when he saw his master in this place soaked with blood was still vivid.

“Even though I couldn’t fight with you?”

How could there not be regret over something like that, as a martial artist?

“You *did* fight alongside us. The fact that you didn’t jump out recklessly to help Master and ended up being a hostage alone means you fought well. It’s fortunate you’re smart enough not to worry us with such things.”

Seo Daeryong’s eyes trembled. Just what kind of sin had he committed in a past life to deserve this Young Cult Leader in this one?

Of course, Geom Mugeuk wasn’t the type to let Seo Daeryong’s emotions, so clearly written on his face, pass unnoticed.

“And if I had died, you’d have jumped in, wouldn’t you? How could I make that long journey to the afterlife without you, when I’d be bored out of my mind?”

He always made it sound like a boast, but the Young Cult Leader actually hated boasting.

Hiding his emotions, Seo Daeryong replied with a helpless expression.

“Of course! You had a plan all along, didn’t you? I’m someone who genuinely appreciates that you told me to stay hidden far away. I’m someone whose top priority in life is to live long and survive! Thankfully, I achieved my dream today. I’m no longer just the right-hand man. I’m the right-hand man who doesn’t have to do dangerous things.”

That was what the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had meant—leave the dangerous work to the Young Cult Leader.

“But what can we do? Since I’ve been told to take on the dangerous work, you, as the right arm, will have to follow the body.”

“Ah... so it’s like that again, huh?”

Geom Mugeuk strode forward with long steps.

“Well then, still-in-danger right-hand man, let’s go.”

Seo Daeryong stood still for a moment.

Just as Geom Mugeuk had looked at the backs of his father and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Seo Daeryong silently watched the back of Geom Mugeuk.

He always joked around and talked too much, but whenever Seo Daeryong looked at the Young Cult Leader’s back, he couldn’t help but think he looked lonely. The more he got to know him, the more he felt that way.

‘If the Young Cult Leader had died today, I wouldn’t have had the skill to avenge him. But at least... the journey to the afterlife wouldn’t have been a lonely one. The ferryman guiding him across would’ve had to plug his ears from all the noise from the two.’

The Cloud River Sect Master looked up at the sky and gave thanks.

‘Thank you. Truly, thank you.’

* * *

Just moments ago, he had been in despair.

Experts had stormed the Cloud River Sect, subduing him, his blood kin, and his disciples, locking them up in this remote storage building.

Though he was a renowned expert in Chongqing, he had stood no chance against the invaders.

He recognized two among them. And they were the ones who drove him to utter despair.

One was the Red-Faced Noble, his face flushed red.

The other was the one with a woman’s figure tattooed across his body—Color Soul Vajra.

The moment he saw Color Soul Vajra, his heart sank. He knew all too well how many women that monster had brutalized.

Not just his wife and daughter—how many women would be left in his household to see the next day?

Such vicious men had arrived in swarms.

‘In the end, we’re all going to die a miserable death.’

That was the depth of his despair.

Then, from outside, came the sound of a fierce clash. Screams followed.

Kwa-deu-deu-deu-deuk.

A massive iron door was ripped off, and someone filled the doorway.

When the Sect Master saw the man’s face, he was startled. Never before had he seen a martial artist this large. And never before had he seen a martial artist with such a fearsome face.

The towering man spoke in a blunt tone.

“We’ve come to rescue you. Everyone, come out.”

He looked even more like a villain than the ones who had captured them.

But it was these men who had saved them.

“Thank you. Truly, I’ll never forget this kindness.”

Even when asked for their names, these large martial artists only said to wait a little longer and never revealed who they were.

While he was calming his shocked heart, Joo Gweol, the Chongqing Branch Leader, arrived with martial artists from the Martial Alliance.

The Cloud River Sect Master felt complete relief upon seeing a familiar face.

After exchanging greetings, Joo Gweol approached Jangho.

“Once again, I’ve received your help.”

The way he looked at Jangho had changed—not just because he had received help.

Joo Gweol had learned that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was not behind the incident.

He had heard that at the Phoenix Mountain Sword Gate, the Azure Cloud Hero was secretly training in the Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Strike, and that it was he who had planned this incident. That was how the misunderstanding regarding the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was resolved.

“I’m sorry for misunderstanding you.”

He had also heard from Jin Hagun that these towering martial artists who had saved him during the earlier attack on the branch were members of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Demonic Army.

Though he had always loathed and despised the Demonic Cult, the way he looked at Jangho was now gentle. Not only had he saved his and his subordinates’ lives, he had also prevented the annihilation of the Cloud River Sect.

“I’m merely someone following orders.”

Jangho showed no pride in what he had done, which made Joo Gweol like him even more. Perhaps it was due to the guilt he felt for having misunderstood them, but surprisingly, he thought that befriending someone like this might not be such a bad thing.

Could friendship between a member of the Demonic Cult and a righteous sect martial artist be possible?

He had always been firmly against Jin Hagun forming a friendship with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, but now, as if to punish that disapproval, this feeling welled up within him.

“I hope I’ll have a chance to repay you someday.”

Joo Gweol spoke sincerely, and Jangho gave a curt nod in reply.

Naturally, Joo Gweol’s gaze turned to the two figures standing atop the distant building’s roof.

There, Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun stood side by side, engaged in conversation.

Geom Mugeuk had told him honestly why this whole incident had happened. He told him everything, just as it was.

“So that’s what happened.”

Jin Hagun realized that this entire incident had stemmed from a long-standing grudge, and once again felt how terrifying human resentment could be.

“I sincerely apologize on behalf of the Cult for the family that was annihilated in this incident.”

“You had no choice. Still, thanks to you, they were able to survive.”

If not for Geom Mugeuk, the Cloud River Sect would have been exterminated. And if this incident had deepened the conflict between both sides, who knows what might have happened. That’s why it wasn’t just the Cloud River Sect that had been saved.

“As expected, you’ve done it again.”

Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk. Honestly, while waiting at the safehouse, he had believed that Geom Mugeuk would resolve the issue.

“It’s thanks to your understanding. If you’d clung to rigid principles and acted like an inflexible person, this incident would’ve been several times more difficult.”

Had it been the old him, he would’ve certainly insisted on principles first. In that case, they might have played right into the plotters’ hands.

“It wouldn’t be easy to stay around you if I were that stiff.”

“Exactly. I’d break through all of that anyway.”

Jin Hagun could feel it. With every encounter, his relationship with Geom Mugeuk was deepening little by little. It was because he trusted him that he had let members of the Demonic Cult into the Chongqing Branch, and had willingly entered the safehouse.

“Is everything finished now?”

“Elder Blade Demon is handling the final matter. Once that’s done, we’ll be leaving immediately.”

Their gazes crossed in the sky.

“Let’s gather all the successors sometime soon for a meetup.”

Geom Mugeuk leapt into the air and vanished from sight in an instant.

Because he expected to see him again soon, the farewell didn’t feel too bitter.

Jin Hagun looked up at the sky where Geom Mugeuk had flown off, then turned his gaze downward.

His eyes met Joo Gweol’s, who had turned back after sending off the Demonic Army.

The expression of the man who had always frowned whenever he saw Jin Hagun with Geom Mugeuk was, just for today, serene.

‘Whatever the reason, may you continue to change like that.’

The power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was steadily growing—just like the size of the Demonic Army members.

‘If we don’t want to fall behind, we must keep changing too.’

* * *

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat down across from the fortune teller.

The old man’s face darkened. The news he had waited for had not come. Instead, someone who shouldn’t have appeared had shown up.

“The place you told me was incorrect.”

The fortune teller had told the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to go to the Phoenix Mountain Sword Gate. But Gyo Cheon had acted at the Cloud River Sect.

“Did you meet Master?”

At the old man’s question, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded.

The fact that he had met Master and still returned alive meant their plan had failed.

“The knot has been untied.”

It should have been Gyo Cheon who resolved the matter.

No matter how strong the Heavenly Demon was, they had believed he wouldn’t be able to overcome all twelve of them and evade Gyo Cheon’s final move.

The fortune teller let out a deep sigh.

“I must have misread the omen.”

When he had previously met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, he had read his own fortune.

Back then, the fortune he had drawn had said, “Those who are meant to live shall live, and those meant to die shall die.” He had assumed he belonged to the former.

But as the old man sensed his end approaching, he felt unexpectedly at peace.

“While orchestrating this event, I read countless fortunes. Only one gave me pause. I believe, in the grand scheme, that’s the reason this plan failed.”

“What was it?”

After a moment’s pause, the old man said something unexpected.

“Your Young Cult Leader.”

The fortune teller let out a long sigh.

“His fortune was completely indecipherable. At times, he appeared as someone holding the fate of the martial world in his hands. At others, he showed no influence over it at all. One reading portrayed him as a blood-stained star who would incite a massacre. Another marked him as a great sage who would save the martial world. Every time I cast a lot, his future changed drastically. In all my years of divination, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Then, he asked the Blood Heaven Blade Demon a favor.

“May I cast a final fortune on the Young Cult Leader’s future?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded.

The old man shook the bamboo fortune stick container. Knowing this would be his last, he moved with careful deliberation.

And then, one stick sprang forth.

Both men were startled when they saw the characters inscribed on the bamboo.

There were four words written:

—Unification of the World.

The fortune teller stared blankly for a moment, then let out a booming laugh.

“If that’s the case, then my death must be Heaven’s decree.”

The old man tilted the container in his hand toward the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Puaaaah!

From within, concealed projectiles launched forth. The container had doubled as a hidden weapon device. At this range, no one could dodge the old man’s unique secret projectiles.

Cheng cheng cheng cheng!

But the projectiles struck something and deflected. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had raised the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber to block them.

Shiiiiiik!

A saber flew through the air and slashed deeply into the fortune teller’s chest.

Bone and flesh tore apart as the old man collapsed. Had it been a sneak attack with the intent to kill, it would have been far more difficult to block. But this strike—this was a plea for death.

“Because I failed at the hands of one favored by Heaven... I have no regrets.”

Leaving behind those final words, the fortune teller breathed his last.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon picked up the bamboo stick that had fallen to the ground. He silently stared down at it, then tried to burn it away with Heat Yang Energy.

But then, withdrawing his energy as if reconsidering, he tucked the stick into his robe.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk arrived.

“Ah, is it over? I rushed here hoping to get a fortune read myself.”

“What kind of reading would you expect from a fake fortune teller?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon strode away with heavy steps.

“Elder, wait for me!”

Geom Mugeuk followed after him. Had something happened with the fortune teller? He sensed something different about the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s demeanor today.

“Oh, and don’t even think about going back to the Cult alone. We’re all going back together.”

He said it because he was worried the Blood Heaven Blade Demon might feel uncomfortable and slip away on his own. After all, he was more than capable of doing just that.

After a brief pause, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied.

“I was planning to go together.”

It seemed that while talking with his father, he had already decided to return with him.

“Ah, excellent. There will be even more joyful moments on the journey back.”

Now, the return to the Cult would be accompanied by both the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Seo Daeryong. Just as he had spent much time with his father, he hoped these two would also get that same opportunity.

“Oh, and you should look forward to it. The real showdown is still ahead.”

“What showdown?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk with a curious expression.

But Geom Mugeuk didn’t give him an answer, as if to say he’d understand when the time came. Instead, with a meaningful smile, he said,

“You’ve never had one of Father’s fish dishes, have you?”