Absolute Regression

Chapter 528: The Man Trusted by the Young Cult Leader

“……You really came.”

Dan Ah’s trembling voice wavered. Had she ever been this surprised in her life?

“Haa, haa, haa…….”

Her rough breathing gradually slowed.

The back she was staring at was no longer small or feeble. It was the back that had blocked the terrifying sword aura of the Four Companions flying in like a storm. It was the back that had shut the Gate of Hell wide open before her and her sisters.

Seo Daeryong slowly turned to face her.

A flicker of relief passed through his quivering gaze—he had made it in time.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Seo Daeryong couldn’t bring himself to speak, having saved her by such a narrow margin.

“……How did you get here?”

Dan Ah’s question finally prompted Seo Daeryong to open his mouth.

“……I heard you were looking for me.”

At that moment, Dan Ah felt a pang in her chest. Not from joy, but guilt. Because she hadn’t believed he would come. Because she hadn’t trusted him.

This man had run until he was breathless just to get here for her.

And no one was more surprised by those words than Kang Dal.

‘So he really exists!’

A master with a large saber, yet such a small build.

He too had been skeptical. No—he’d thought it was a lie. And yet he had accepted her plea because of how nobly she was willing to sacrifice her life to protect her sisters and her client.

But now, the person she spoke of was real?

If that man was truly a master of the Main Division, as she had said, he should have stepped forward and introduced himself already. But here they were, still facing off, swords locked, surrounded by the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit.

Of course, not just his own men, but even those of the Pursuit Unit were now entirely focused on the newly arrived man.

And the one most shocked by the situation was Yao Gung.

‘What is this guy?’

He was confused. The look on the man’s face as he gazed at the woman—there was innocence in it. And even shyness.

Was that really the expression of someone who had just obliterated the Four Companions in a single strike? He was so bewildered, he had glanced again at their mangled corpses.

Yao Gung secretly channeled his inner energy into both hands. If needed, he was ready to strike using his exclusive martial art, the Blood-Severing Hands.

“Where did you come from?”

He asked as politely as possible.

Because the dozens of pieces of what had once been the Four Companions seemed to be warning him to tread carefully.

Seo Daeryong turned toward him slowly.

At that moment, Dan Ah saw it. The shy look in his eyes from before had vanished, replaced with an unfathomable coldness. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Who are you?”

Seo Daeryong asked calmly.

“I am Yao Gung, commander of the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit.”

He neither humbled himself excessively nor acted arrogantly. A chaotic battle could break out again at any moment, so he had to consider the morale of his subordinates—and the strength of his opponent.

"Who are you?"

Instead of replying, Seo Daeryong drew the large saber planted before him. He handled the saber, as large as his own body, with surprising ease. Given his small frame, it made the sight all the more striking.

This wasn’t the Seo Daeryong who would joke around in front of Geom Mugeuk. The one standing before Yao Gung was a completely different person.

"I’ve heard of the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit."

Outwardly calm, Seo Daeryong was seething with rage inside. Had he been even a moment later, she might have died at the hands of these wretches.

"It’s an honor that someone like you would know of us lowly folk."

"It may not be such a good thing that I do."

Those marked by someone like him usually ended up either in the thunder prison or facing public execution.

"When I first heard the rumors about your group, I thought this."

Yao Gung grew tense, wondering what Seo Daeryong might say. He hoped for something conciliatory to smooth things over.

"Let me get my hands on one of them just once."

Yao Gung’s expression turned cold.

"But if you answer this one question, I might just let it go."

At the phrase ‘let it go’, Yao Gung’s eyes twitched with killing intent. He barely resisted the urge to strike immediately.

"What’s the question?"

"Who commissioned this job?"

Yao Gung answered icily.

"If it were a client we could name, would we have crept over this wall in the first place?"

It was clear he had no intention of revealing anything.

Strangely, a smile of relief appeared on Seo Daeryong’s lips.

That smile told Yao Gung everything.

‘He really wants to kill me.’

In contrast, Yao Gung softened his expression.

"We’ve already spilled enough blood. How about we leave it at this and retreat? If you just let us go……"

While speaking, Yao Gung suddenly unleashed a palm technique from both hands.

Pwaaah!

A red aura surged from Yao Gung’s hands and shot toward Seo Daeryong. It was a fearsome strike.

Swaaah!

At the same time, Seo Daeryong’s saber slashed through the air.

Kwaaaang!

With a thunderous roar, the two forces collided. Yao Gung had expected his Blood-Severing Hands might be blocked. He was ready to launch his next move immediately.

But he hadn’t anticipated that his opponent’s energy would slice through his attack and come flying directly at him.

‘No!’

The young-looking master standing before him had opened the Ren-Du Meridians and taken two different top-grade elixirs. The martial art he was now unleashing was none other than the demonic arts of the Demon Supreme. More than that, she was watching.

No matter how skilled a rogue master Yao Gung might have been, there was no way he could withstand Seo Daeryong’s Extinguishing Blade Style.

First Form: Extinguishing Blade Strike.

The energy cleaved through the red aura and struck Yao Gung’s body head-on.

Bwooosh!

Yao Gung’s body shattered and exploded right before their eyes.

The seventy or so members of the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit were stunned as they watched the scattered pieces of a body fall in every direction. To them, Yao Gung had been a figure so terrifying they couldn’t even meet his eyes properly.

That he would be killed in a single strike—none of them had imagined it, even in their worst nightmares.

A suffocating silence gripped the scene.

The one to break it was Kang Dal.

He spoke to those still pointing swords at him.

“Your division leader is dead. Drop your swords.”

At his words, the members of the Pursuit Unit looked at each other in confusion, unsure what to do.

Shhk! Thud! Sshhk! Thud!

Kang Dal drove his sword forward, stabbing two of the Pursuit Unit men in front of him in quick succession.

The two who had been caught off guard collapsed, spewing blood.

“If you don’t drop your sword, you’ll die!”

At Kang Dal’s fierce energy, a dozen men nearby threw down their swords.

But even more of them, instead, grew frenzied.

“Kill that bastard!”

“Kill him no matter what!”

Twenty or so members of the Pursuit Unit charged at Kang Dal. Now it was clear why these men were called madmen. Even in a situation like this, they rushed forward swinging their blades.

“Protect the Branch Leader!”

Just as the followers of the cult were about to step forward and block them—

Swaaaaah!

Seo Daeryong’s saber once again cleaved through the air.

Extinguishing Blade Style, Second Form: Extinguishing Blade Wave

Pupupupupupuk!

The charging members of the Pursuit Unit were torn apart by the wave of saber energy. All who had been rushing in were shredded into pulp and scattered in every direction.

Dealing with wicked men was always Seo Daeryong’s task. He understood their nature better than anyone. Cruel to the weak, submissive to the strong—if shown the slightest weakness, they would pounce. There would be no mercy for them today.

Seo Daeryong pointed his saber at those who still hadn’t dropped their weapons.

Even madmen had their limits. The remaining members of the Pursuit Unit could no longer withstand it—they threw away their swords.

The cult’s enforcers suppressed their inner energy and forced them all to kneel. It wasn’t a moment to celebrate being spared. Once imprisoned in the thunder prison of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, a fate worse than death awaited them.

Kang Dal approached Seo Daeryong.

“Thank you so much for your help. I am Kang Dal, Branch Leader of the Jeongan Branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

All eyes turned to Seo Daeryong.

Finally, he revealed his identity.

“I am Seo Daeryong, Pavilion Lord of the Underworld Pavilion of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

Kang Dal flinched in shock. It was a position far beyond anything he could have imagined. And it wasn’t just Kang Dal—everyone else from the cult was equally stunned.

The difference between a Branch Leader and a Pavilion Lord was monumental. And this was no ordinary Pavilion Lord.

‘The Underworld Pavilion Lord?’

The Underworld Pavilion was the inspection agency that investigated rebellion, corruption, and misconduct within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Due to its nature, it superseded all other organizations within the cult. It was the domain of specters who dragged away cult members, the group that made even seasoned cultists tremble.

The Underworld Pavilion was, without question, one of the most powerful forces within the entire Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Kang Dal, who had been frozen in a daze, quickly cupped his fists and bowed his head.

"Greetings to the Pavilion Lord of the Underworld Pavilion."

Chak chak chak.

Immediately, the cult members of the branch straightened up in unison and respectfully saluted in perfect discipline.

"Greetings to the Pavilion Lord!"

Their voices rang out with power.

Kang Dal was elated. Not only was it shocking that what she had said turned out to be true, but to think that the expert was actually the Pavilion Lord of the Underworld Pavilion?

'Something like this is happening to me?'

He began to feel that maybe, just maybe, a ray of light was finally shining into his life.

'Perhaps I’ll be summoned to the Main Division!'

All he could do now was desperately hope that would come true.

When Seo Daeryong revealed his identity, Dan Ah and Dan Yeon were both startled. In truth, they didn’t know much about the Underworld Pavilion.

But judging by the terrified reaction of the fearsome cultists, it was clear he was someone of extremely high rank.

Seo Daeryong, having disclosed his status, turned back to Dan Ah.

The terrifying man who had just obliterated his enemies in one blow, the man who held such a high position within the Demonic Cult, was now smiling at her. Just like that day, he was bashful. Just like that day, his eyes were pure.

Seo Daeryong asked her,

"It seems you’re hurt. How are you feeling?"

"I’m alright."

At that moment, Dan Bi and Chohee came out of the building. Dan Bi, who had regained consciousness late, had rushed outside to help her sister after hearing the sounds of battle, despite Chohee trying to stop her.

But upon seeing the scene that awaited them, the two were stunned. Corpses were scattered everywhere, and all the members of the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit were kneeling on the ground.

Her shocked gaze turned to Seo Daeryong, who stood at the center of it all.

‘Who is that man?’

Of course, she recognized Seo Daeryong. How could she not know the man who had revealed himself as a cultist when he’d chased after her sister?

Before her sister could accidentally say something wrong, Dan Ah quickly interjected.

"He is the Pavilion Lord of the Underworld Pavilion of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He saved our lives, so offer your respects at once."

At the mention of the Underworld Pavilion Lord, Dan Bi was startled. So he really was a cultist—and someone of high rank at that?

Dan Bi respectfully lowered her head in greeting.

"I will never forget this grace."

Then, the youngest, Dan Yeon, whispered to Dan Ah,

"I take back what I said about your terrible taste in men."

Dan Ah’s face flushed red.

Just as the tension eased, she suddenly coughed up blood. The internal injuries she had been suppressing flared up.

"Are you alright? Are you alright?!"

A panicked Seo Daeryong rushed to her side and helped her sit down. He was so shocked and flustered that Dan Ah herself became more embarrassed.

"I’m really alright."

"Alright, nothing! Need help here at once!"

Kang Dal cried out urgently.

"I’ll call a physician."

"I wasn’t talking to you."

Seo Daeryong looked up toward the sky as he spoke.

"Please, assist us!"

Someone suddenly leapt down from the rooftop.

It was Geom Mugeuk, who had been observing the situation from above.

He had deliberately refrained from stepping in so Seo Daeryong could resolve the matter on his own. He wanted today’s spotlight to belong solely to Seo Daeryong.

Even while coughing up blood, Dan Ah’s first concern was her sister.

"My younger sister is hurt too. Please take care of her first."

"Unni, what are you saying? You should be treated first!"

Geom Mugeuk placed a hand on Dan Ah’s back and infused a stream of internal energy to assess her condition. When it came to internal injuries in martial artists, he was more skilled than most physicians.

"Since the blood wasn’t trapped inside and was instead spat out, you avoided serious injury."

Fortunately, both women had escaped life-threatening wounds. With some rest and recuperation, they would recover fully.

"Thank you. I will never forget your kindness in treating us."

As Dan Ah expressed her gratitude, Geom Mugeuk directed the credit toward Seo Daeryong.

"Give your thanks to Pavilion Lord Seo. He ran tirelessly to save you."

Dan Ah looked at Seo Daeryong. She could still hear the sound of his ragged breathing in her ears. Had it not been for him, she and her sister would have died right then and there.

Under her gaze, Seo Daeryong showed an embarrassed expression. Just like the bashful look that had first drawn her in, this look, too, tugged at her heart.

Watching the silent exchange of glances between them, Geom Mugeuk smiled.

Seeing that, the youngest, Dan Yeon, asked Geom Mugeuk,

"Who are you, sir? May I ask your name?"

Everyone naturally assumed this young martial artist was a subordinate of the Pavilion Lord of the Underworld Pavilion.

In that moment, Seo Daeryong realized his mistake.

‘I got so caught up with the lady, I forgot to introduce the Young Cult Leader!’

Seo Daeryong raised his voice and addressed Kang Dal and the branch cultists.

"This is the Young Cult Leader of our cult! Show your respect!"

Young Cult Leader?

At first, Kang Dal thought he must have misheard. He had barely accepted the Pavilion Lord of the Underworld Pavilion being here, sure this man might be someone of similar rank, but the Young Cult Leader?

"What are you all doing?"

At Seo Daeryong’s command, Kang Dal and the rest of the cultists immediately cupped their fists and bowed deeply.

"Greetings to the Young Cult Leader!"

The very same Young Cult Leader, surrounded by endless rumors, had now appeared in person, leaving everyone at a loss for words.

The women were just as shocked. They instinctively fell to their knees alongside the others.

‘That man is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?’

They might not have been fully aware of the Underworld Pavilion, but this was the Young Cult Leader, how could they not have heard about him?

Geom Mugeuk motioned for them all to rise.

Seo Daeryong bowed deeply to Geom Mugeuk.

"I was so flustered that I forgot my manners."

No matter how urgent the situation, he should have introduced Geom Mugeuk first and only then requested treatment. The closer you are, the more respectful you must be—that was something Geom Mugeuk always emphasized.

Looking at the deeply apologetic Seo Daeryong, Geom Mugeuk smiled warmly.

How could he not understand Seo Daeryong’s feelings? He was simply happy that Seo Daeryong and Dan Ah’s bond was growing deeper.

"I understand, Pavilion Lord."

In front of Dan Ah, Geom Mugeuk also respectfully cupped his fists and observed proper etiquette.

"The Pavilion Lord is someone I trust and cherish above all. Whoever the Pavilion Lord seeks to protect is also someone I must protect."

Since the day they met, Geom Mugeuk had never treated Seo Daeryong with such formality.

How could Seo Daeryong not understand the heart behind it—that in front of the woman he liked, Geom Mugeuk was going out of his way to show him utmost respect?

‘……Thank you. Truly.’

Dan Ah looked at Seo Daeryong with renewed eyes. This man—he had earned the trust of the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

Kang Dal, meanwhile, was overwhelmed with excitement. It had already been shocking enough that the Pavilion Lord of the Underworld Pavilion had appeared, but now the Young Cult Leader was here at his very own branch?

As a cultist, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience—something few ever witnessed.

Even if he never made it to the Main Division, this single memory would be enough for him to boast about for the rest of his life.

Just then, the cultists raised their guard and simultaneously drew their swords.

Kang Dal’s gaze turned outward.

From the distance, a single carriage was rapidly approaching.