Absolute Regression

Chapter 565: Bring My Daughter Back Safely

“You’re no different from my daughter.”

The moment she heard those words, Lee Ahn was so shocked and flustered that she froze.

It wasn’t just anyone—those words had come from the Cult Leader. She had never even dreamed of hearing something like that. The idea that the Heavenly Demon considered her in that way was something she couldn’t have imagined.

Lee Ahn stared blankly at Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin, then soon lowered her head. Her mind went completely blank; she had no idea what to say.

“Thank you, truly… thank you.”

All she could do was express her overwhelming gratitude.

After offering her thanks, she walked out over the crimson carpet. But as she did, her legs gave out and dizziness overtook her.

‘I was nothing but a lowly escort.’

Yet, she had removed the side effects of the All-Body Petrification Technique, inherited the Soaring Sword Art, became the adopted daughter of the Fist Demon King, discovered her own bloodline, and today—she was told by the Cult Leader that she was no different from his daughter.

The one who had made all those things possible was waiting for her at the entrance to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

‘Young Cult Leader...’

What was he discussing so intently with Cold Ice Twin Swords?

As she got closer, she heard Geom Mugeuk's voice.

“…This noodle shop here is truly delicious. I heard it used to be a dumpling place. And about thirty miles to the east of here, there’s an inn. It might look shabby on the outside, but their boiled pork dish is out of this world. And if you go straight north from there…”

He was listing eateries with excellent food along the travel route. He seemed to know the paths well, and his memory was so sharp that he could recall what each place specialized in.

Among the Cold Ice Twin Swords, Sahan pretended to be indifferent and stepped back a little, but was clearly listening. Sobing was actively engaged and listening attentively.

“All the places I’ve mentioned should suit your tastes, so please be sure to stop by.”

Sahan glanced at Han Seol and said,

“They should match Young Palace Master’s tastes more than ours.”

Geom Mugeuk also turned his gaze to Han Seol.

“The Young Palace Master will probably have plenty of chances to eat. You’ll be coming to the Central Plains more often now, right?”

Han Seol could see it. Geom Mugeuk was encouraging her to visit often.

Then Geom Mugeuk addressed the two again.

“So, the two of you should eat well before you go.”

Sobing responded with a smile.

“We’ll do that.”

“Even if you come to the Central Plains alone later, send word to me. I’ll treat you to something even better then.”

Even if it was just polite talk, it was still a kind and grateful gesture. Besides, hadn’t he taken good care of them even at yesterday’s drinking table?

After firmly scoring points with the two martial masters of the Northern Sea, Geom Mugeuk finally turned his gaze to Lee Ahn, who stood a little off to the side watching him.

“What kind of secret talk went on for so long?”

By then, Lee Ahn had calmed down considerably.

“He asked me over and over to take good care of his son.”

At her playful joke, Geom Mugeuk laughed. He could tell—her father had bestowed a rare medicinal gift upon her. The pleasant scent of Millennium Snow Ginseng still lingered faintly around her. It was a scent he recognized well, having tasted it before.

Congratulations, Lee Ahn.

He congratulated her in his heart, then turned to Han Seol and said,

“Well then, shall we get going?”

Together, Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn saw Han Seol and the Cold Ice Twin Swords off to the main gate of the Main Division.

As Han Seol walked, her eyes drifted toward the demonic effigies erected along the way. Her stay had been brief, so there wasn't much to reflect on about the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but she felt certain that those towering effigies of demonic spirits would remain in her memory for a lifetime.

The carriage that would take them away was waiting at the main gate.

Although Han Seol felt reluctant to part with Lee Ahn, she didn’t put it into words.

“See you next time.”

“Take care.”

Lee Ahn watched as their carriage faded into the distance, then turned to Geom Mugeuk.

He stood there silently, his face so calm that it was hard to believe this was the same man who had just been talking so animatedly. Most people wouldn’t know—that this silent expression was closer to the Young Cult Leader’s true face.

With a smile, Geom Mugeuk said to Lee Ahn,

“Let’s go. To Master.”

The Fist Demon King was conducting morning training with the Iron Fists.

On the platform, the Fist Demon King threw out a punch, and in sync, Cheon So-hee mirrored the same movement below him. In front of her, Black Fists in black martial uniforms delivered identical punches.

Boom!

They were the highest-level martial artists of the Eastern Fist Faction, and each of their movements carried a level of precision and force that few could imitate.

From the Fist Demon King to the Black Fists, they poured complete devotion into even these basic fist techniques.

No matter how complex or dazzling a technique may be, it always began with these foundational moves. The Fist Demon King placed immense value on them.

It was also why he personally trained the Iron Fists—to ensure this foundation became second nature to them.

Once the round of training concluded, Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn stepped onto the scene.

“Father!”

The Iron Fists split their gazes in two directions. The hot-blooded young ones looked toward Lee Ahn, while the older members turned toward the Fist Demon King.

They knew this was a rare chance—to see an expression the Fist Demon King did not usually reveal. He was not one to show emotion, but just this once, he made an exception.

“You’ve come.”

His expression softened. Every time one saw that warm and pleasant expression hidden within that usually terrifying face, it came as a surprise.

The Iron Fists who had been watching the Fist Demon King turned to one another, quietly sharing in this remarkable moment.

Geom Mugeuk, who had followed behind Lee Ahn, spoke up.

“The unfilial daughter has arrived.”

“What do you mean, unfilial?”

Lee Ahn asked in surprise, and Geom Mugeuk tattled.

“After arriving at the cult, she didn’t even greet Master and went straight to drinking with me.”

With a face full of indignation, Lee Ahn protested.

“It was way too late at night!”

“And yet you knew full well Master doesn’t sleep early.”

Lee Ahn glared at Geom Mugeuk. Really? You’re doing this now?

With a laugh, Geom Mugeuk clasped his fists together respectfully and greeted the Fist Demon King.

“Master, have you been well?”

The Fist Demon King nodded and welcomed him with a softened expression. It had been a long time since both his daughter and disciple stood before him.

Just then, a booming chorus echoed like a battle cry.

“We greet the Young Cult Leader!”

The Iron Fists shouted in unison. They took pride in the fact that the Young Cult Leader was the disciple of their Master.

“Have you all been well?”

Having once trained alongside them, Geom Mugeuk warmly returned the greeting to the Iron Fists.

Cheon So-hee, her face still showing the traces of a hangover, gave a polite nod to both Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn.

Leaving her in charge of training, the Fist Demon King began walking with Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn.

Once they were far enough from the training ground, Lee Ahn spoke with a regretful expression.

“I’m afraid I must apologize. Something’s come up, and I need to leave the cult with the Young Cult Leader immediately.”

Knowing that showing disappointment would only weigh down Lee Ahn’s heart, the Fist Demon King simply nodded without asking for details.

“And there’s something I should tell you.”

Lee Ahn told the Fist Demon King that she had received the Millennium Snow Ginseng from Geom Woojin, and conveyed exactly what had been said.

“The Cult Leader said that?”

“Yes.”

No one understood the bond between Geom Woojin and the Fist Demon King better than Geom Mugeuk, and he saw it clearly now—the fleeting, unhidden emotion that crossed that normally fearsome face. To the Fist Demon King, those words from the Cult Leader were far more valuable than the Millennium Snow Ginseng itself.

In such moments, Geom Mugeuk always thought of a particular image—their youth, when two men as strong as steel had roamed the Central Plains together.

While these thoughts passed, the three of them arrived at the entrance of the Eastern Fist Faction.

“Travel safely.”

“Yes, Father.”

Just as Lee Ahn turned to leave after her farewell, she stopped and said,

“The undeserved gift I received today from the Cult Leader—it’s all because of you, Father.”

The Fist Demon King shook his head.

“It’s because of you.”

After a short pause, he added,

“If you hadn’t become my daughter, none of this would have happened.”

At that moment, tears streamed down Lee Ahn’s face.

She had held them back before the Heavenly Demon, and even before Geom Mugeuk. But now, before her Father, the tears she had suppressed finally broke free.

She was overwhelmed with gratitude. She had once been nothing but a child abandoned at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—how could she be worthy of such overwhelming love from such great people?

“I’ll be back soon.”

Startled by her own unstoppable tears, Lee Ahn hurriedly left the area ahead of the others.

The Fist Demon King looked over at Geom Mugeuk. Though his gaze was blunt and expressionless, Geom Mugeuk could read the feeling behind it.

— Bring my daughter back safely.

Don’t worry, Master. Your daughter will bring the Young Cult Leader back safely, and return with him. You know, don’t you? Just how strong your daughter is.

With that silent farewell, Geom Mugeuk also stepped out.

Outside, Lee Ahn pretended nothing had happened and said,

“Didn’t you say we’re in a hurry? Why are you dragging your feet?”

Geom Mugeuk smiled as he looked at her.

You silly girl. You haven’t even wiped all the tears from your face.

But he didn’t tease her for crying. Because for her, no tears could be more precious than those.

“Ready?”

“Yes!”

Soaring into the air, Geom Mugeuk shouted,

“Let’s go, Lee Ahn!”

*         *         *

Seo Jin was staring up at the hanging signboard.

In her entire life, she had never seen a signboard this large.

Golden Dragon Martial Hall

As if the sheer size of the plaque were a statement of the hall’s might, the four golden characters spelling out Golden Dragon Martial Hall loomed above the entrance.

There wasn’t a single martial artist stationed at the gate, and the doors were wide open. It felt like the place was saying, “You dare step into the Golden Dragon Martial Hall with impure intentions?”

Inside, she could see an enormous training ground. So vast, its edges couldn’t be seen. Countless people were walking back and forth across it.

At that moment, a martial artist passing by noticed her and approached.

“What brings you here?”

Seo Jin looked up at the martial artist.

“I’m here to meet Instructor Im.”

“There’s more than one Instructor Im here. Which one are you talking about?”

“Instructor Im Hyeon.”

“Wait here a moment.”

The martial artist went inside, and soon came back out.

“Follow me.”

Seo Jin followed the martial artist into the compound.

As she walked behind him, she took in the sights. It was so vast, she couldn’t tell if she had come to the Martial Alliance or to a martial arts hall.

Everywhere in the training grounds, officials were immersed in martial arts training. Some were grouped in dozens, others trained in smaller numbers. She could feel the intensity of their drive to grow stronger.

“This place is really something.”

At her comment, the martial artist guiding her replied with pride,

“This is the Golden Dragon Martial Hall, the greatest martial hall in the Central Plains. Haven’t you heard of it? We don’t take people just because they pay. You have to pass an entrance exam to get in.”

That was why it was so renowned. In fact, it was said that getting in was easier than getting out. Unless you passed the exit test, you couldn’t claim to be a graduate of this place anywhere.

The place he guided Seo Jin to was the office of a martial artist housed in a large building.

“Welcome. I am Gi Seok, an instructor of the Golden Dragon Martial Hall.”

The hierarchy within the Golden Dragon Martial Hall was divided into Hall Master, Grand Instructors, Instructors, and Assistant Instructors. While there were over a hundred Assistant Instructors, there were only seven Instructors, known collectively as the Seven Instructors.

He was one of those seven.

Seo Jin had assumed she’d be led directly to Im Hyeon, so being brought here instead left her slightly puzzled.

“My name is Seo Jin.”

“You said you came to see Instructor Im, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And what is your relationship with Instructor Im?”

A strange unease stirred in Seo Jin’s chest.

“He’s like a younger brother from my hometown.”

Im Hyeon had been childhood friends with her brother, Gwi Ryeongja, but he was even closer to her. Unlike her brother, who spent all his time holed up in his research lab, Im Hyeon had often played with her.

She had come today to receive an item Im Hyeon was supposed to pass along to her brother.

“I see.”

Gi Seok’s expression darkened, and then he delivered a thunderclap of a message.

“Instructor Im passed away recently.”

Seo Jin gasped in shock, a short cry escaping her lips. She was too stunned to know what to say.

“…You’re saying brother died?”

Her voice trembled.

Gi Seok brought her a cup of cold tea and handed it to her.

“Please, have a sip and calm yourself.”

With the teacup in hand, Seo Jin asked him,

“How… how did it happen?”

“He suffered an accident during training.”

“What kind of accident?”

Did he die while sparring with disciples? Or was it some other mishap?

“We can’t provide details to non-family members.”

“But I’m practically family.”

“That may be, but you’re not family, are you?”

More than a decade ago, even his last surviving parent—his mother—had passed away. He had no family left.

“It’s the hall’s policy. I hope you understand.”

Seo Jin sighed. What good was learning the reason now, anyway? He was already dead. He had died all alone in this distant land.

“What about the body?”

She had thought to at least retrieve Im Hyeon’s remains and bury him in his hometown.

“We cannot release it to anyone but direct family. We’ve already taken care of the burial, so there’s no need to worry.”

Already buried? Even so, they didn’t contact her or her brother?

“Instructor Im left no emergency contact information.”

A knot of suspicion formed in Seo Jin’s chest.

‘That can’t be right.’

Im Hyeon had once told her directly: if anything happened, he had arranged for them to be contacted. “You two are my family now,” he’d said.

‘They won’t tell me the cause, won’t release the body, and now they’re even lying?’

She instinctively knew—they were hiding something about Im Hyeon’s death.

Gi Seok then asked her,

“By the way, what brought you here looking for Instructor Im?”

Fixing her gaze on Gi Seok, Seo Jin exhaled slowly and replied,

“I’m here to join the Golden Dragon Martial Hall.”