Absolute Regression

Chapter 580: You’ve Turned Your Back Twice

Yeon Baekjin had never once imagined that he would encounter the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in his lifetime.

Now, the three people before his eyes looked completely different.

And the first question that came to mind was this. His voice and demeanor had become very polite.

“Why is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult… no, the Divine Cult, here in this place?”

Because of you.

To prevent you from walking the fate of killing Seo Jin.

“As Martial Artist Yeon already knows, we came here because of Unit Leader Seo.”

The Young Cult Leader personally moves for the sake of a mere unit leader? In response to the natural doubt that appeared on Yeon Baekjin’s face, Geom Mugeuk looked at Seo Jin and spoke.

“Unit Leader Seo is someone special to me.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Seo Jin bowed her head respectfully. She occasionally felt it—that the Young Cult Leader showed her more affection than she deserved. But it was certainly not romantic interest. Was it because he cherished Lee Ahn too much?

Yeon Baekjin looked at Seo Jin.

If that was the case, then his older brother had essentially killed the older brother from Unit Leader Seo’s hometown, the Ghost Slayer Squad Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It didn’t matter how close the two of them were. What mattered was the fact that the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult had come here because of it.

The presence of the Young Cult Leader was no different from saying the entire Demonic Cult had come. At his word alone, the Golden Dragon Martial Hall could be annihilated overnight.

Yeon Baekjin’s body trembled slightly. He had always considered himself to have a strong spirit, but he could not hide the fear that surged inside.

Yeon Baekjin asked cautiously.

“What should I do?”

Instead of answering, Geom Mugeuk posed a question.

“What do you plan to do about your brother?”

Yeon Baekjin’s expression hardened in an instant.

Now that his brother had tried to kill him, the answer was already decided. He was not the kind of person who would obediently die just because the one trying to kill him was his brother.

“Even so, I can’t let myself die, can I?”

There was no choice but to become ruthless.

At Yeon Baekjin’s answer, Lee Ahn thought of the matter between Geom Mugeuk and the Great Young Master.

Even among low-ranking martial artists, it was impossible to avoid such bloodshed between kin. Yet the succession dispute of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had ended peacefully. She once again realized how much effort Geom Mugeuk had put in.

Yeon Baekjin remembered that Geom Mugeuk knew about the place he was trying to find.

“By any chance, is the Young Cult Leader also searching for that place?”

It was a question born of disbelief that they had come all the way here purely for the sake of a mere unit leader.

“That’s right. I also intend to resolve that matter.”

Yeon Baekjin's fear grew even deeper. The place his brother had been bewitched by was now drawing the interest of even the Demonic Cult. Would they really let them live? The Demonic Cult he knew was not such a merciful place. Every story he had ever heard about them, from childhood to now, was soaked in blood. Beneath those handsome and beautiful faces must be monsters hiding.

But what changed his heart were the corpses of the White Snake Corps sprawled across the ground.

‘If not for them, my corpse would be lying there instead.’

The thought that he had already been dead once soothed his fear.

His gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk.

“What must I do for you to become not a vicious Young Cult Leader, but one who vanishes like smoke?”

“Two things will suffice.”

“What are they?”

“Be honest. And trust us.”

Yeon Baekjin remained silent for a moment. Now that he knew their true identities, neither of the two things would be easy.

“I don’t trust you yet, but I’ll speak honestly.”

This honesty was born half out of gratitude for having his life spared, and half out of fear.

“My brother is under some kind of spell. It’s definitely related to the secret construction project. And what he was promised in return…”

He had assessed the situation accurately.

“It must be a martial arts secret manual.”

“Why do you think it’s a secret manual?”

“My brother couldn’t stand being looked down upon by martial artists who belittle the martial arts of martial halls. He must have been unable to resist the temptation of a supreme martial art.”

Geom Mugeuk put the pieces together and drew a conclusion.

“There’s a treasury beneath the Golden Dragon Martial Hall where a supreme martial art is kept, and despite having the skill, some martial artists didn’t graduate and instead are digging there?”

That place was managed by the Sword King.

With the Sword King’s martial prowess, it was unlikely he would go to such lengths for a martial arts manual.

‘What is it that you want?’

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze deepened. The Sword King was clearly trying to use him for something.

Even if he let the Sword King have what he wanted, he had to stay one step ahead. If only he could sneak into that place.

“Besides your brother, is there anyone else who might know about that place?”

“There is one person. Gi Seok, one of the Seven Instructors, is my brother’s right-hand man. If anyone knows something, it’s him. But his martial arts…”

He trailed off, about to say that Gi Seok was far stronger than the other instructors. But just seeing the martial prowess of the woman he kept by his side was enough to understand the Young Cult Leader’s true strength.

“He’s deeply loyal to my brother. He won’t speak a word.”

“So it was Gi Seok who brought in the White Snake Corps, wasn’t it?”

“My brother wouldn’t have contacted them directly, so yes, it must have been him.”

Though he answered the questions obediently, there was one thing Yeon Baekjin could not concede.

“My brother… leave that matter to me.”

He had resolved to kill his brother with his own hands. He didn’t want to see him used miserably and then left to die at someone else’s hand. He especially didn’t want him to die at the hands of the Demonic Cult.

If he couldn’t do it himself, he was prepared to perish with him in mutual destruction.

As Geom Mugeuk quietly observed him, he suddenly said something unexpected.

“Go meet your brother again.”

Yeon Baekjin was startled.

“Didn’t you see it yourself? He summoned the White Snake Corps to kill me. And even brought a top-ranked expert with them! If it weren’t for you, I would’ve died here today.”

“That’s exactly why I’m telling you to meet him.”

Yeon Baekjin tried to guess the reason.

“You’re telling me to use his guilt, aren’t you? If I go now, he’ll think the White Snake Corps hasn’t carried out the assassination yet. Since his little brother’s already as good as dead, he might at least say something.”

But Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“That’s not it. If he were the kind of man to leak information out of guilt, he wouldn’t have summoned the White Snake Corps to begin with.”

“Then why?”

“Go and say everything you want to say. That way, you won’t have any regrets in the future.”

Yeon Baekjin wore a blank expression for a moment.

‘What is this? He’s saying it’s for me?’

Yeon Baekjin couldn’t believe it. No—he couldn’t understand it.

“You’re telling me to believe you’re looking out for me in this situation? Me? Why would you?”

At that, Geom Mugeuk brought up something Yeon Baekjin had forgotten.

“You turned your back twice. Once toward us, once toward the enemy. Both times, to protect Seo Jin.”

The first time, when he stepped in front of her. The second, when he shielded her from the hidden weapon.

“And now you’re asking why? You’re someone who risked your life to protect one of my people.”

It was truly a sincere act of care for his sake.

“If you don’t say what you need to say and things end as they are, you’ll spend the rest of your life thinking about your brother. Even if you go on to live as the Golden Dragon Martial Hall Master, you’ll always carry that void in your heart.”

Of course, there was another reason too.

If Yeon Baekjin could live brightly, that would be good for Seo Jin as well. Geom Mugeuk was doing everything he could until the very end. Because to him, Seo Jin was someone worth it.

“With your relationship, you’ll regret saying it, and you’ll regret not saying it—but this time, the regret of not saying it will be greater. So don’t do it for your brother. Do it for yourself. Say what you need to say and come back.”

*         *         *

Yeon Baekin stood by the window of his office, gazing at the night view.

It was late, but lights still illuminated parts of the martial hall, and he could see those who were training late into the night.

“He’s arriving today?”

At Yeon Baekin’s question, Gi Seok, who was standing behind him, answered politely.

“Yes, he should have already arrived.”

Yeon Baekin didn’t ask further, but Gi Seok spoke on his behalf.

“It’ll be difficult for Lord Baekjin to see the sunrise tomorrow.

Yeon Baekin’s expression hardened reflexively, but then he suddenly recalled what the Sword King had once said.

—An evil man simply walks his path while being condemned along the way.

Yes, there was no need to feel ashamed. Trying not to be cursed—that was the truly shameful act.

“The sky’s full of stars tonight. Tomorrow will probably be clear.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Gi Seok’s lips. He far preferred a leader like this over one who was indecisive and pretended to be kind.

“Has he still been attending the White Dragon Class training lately?”

“He’s been going every day recently. They say he’s been teaching a version of the Golden Dragon Sword Art that’s completely different from before.”

Gi Seok cautiously added,

“I really don’t know what he’s thinking.”

Though it was meant to ask if Yeon Baekin knew what was going through the man’s mind, Yeon Baekin remained silent. He hadn’t mentioned the demon that the man had talked about.

Just then, a subordinate’s voice came from outside.

“Your younger brother has come to see you.”

Yeon Baekin and Gi Seok looked at each other. It was an unexpected visit, especially at such a late hour.

“Shall I stay?”

At Gi Seok’s question, Yeon Baekin shook his head.

“Bring him in.”

When the door opened, Yeon Baekjin entered.

As soon as he stepped inside, the strong smell of alcohol spread throughout the room. He was holding a bottle of liquor in one hand. Upon seeing Gi Seok, he skipped the greeting and went straight into drunken talk.

“Our Instructor Gi must’ve had his tail worn down to nothing.”

It was a rude remark, but Gi Seok showed no sign of displeasure. On the contrary, he smiled and replied,

“I wish my loyalty were as strong as that. Please, have your conversation.”

With a polite bow, Gi Seok stepped aside and left the room.

Yeon Baekin could have scolded him for being rude to Gi Seok, but instead, he treated him more gently than usual.

“It’s late. What brings you here?”

The moment Yeon Baekjin saw that expression, a surge of anger rose within him. He summoned the White Snake Corps to kill him, and yet now he dared to wear such a face?

Shouldn’t he, as a fellow human being, at least show a little guilt or awkwardness? At the very least, shouldn’t he be cold as usual?

Yeon Baekjin sat down at the reception table and drank straight from the bottle. He used it to suppress the boiling rage.

“I couldn’t sleep, and I had something to say.”

It was Geom Mugeuk who had advised him to have a drink before speaking. It would help loosen him up. It was indeed a wise suggestion—if not for it, he might have already exploded in a fit of rage.

Yeon Baekjin held out the bottle.

“Want some?”

Yeon Baekin shook his head. Yeon Baekjin took another drink by himself.

“So, what is it you want to say?”

After sitting silently at the table for a while, Yeon Baekjin finally opened his mouth. It was something he’d thought of on the way over, and something he’d long held in his heart. It wasn’t something said for his brother’s sake—it was for himself.

“To be honest, I thought I gave up the position of Hall Master to you.”

Yeon Baekin listened to his brother’s words in silence.

“Since we were young, I always heard that I had more martial talent. I believed that if I really put my mind to it, I could become the Hall Master.”

Yeon Baekjin continued speaking without looking at his brother, instead staring down at the bottle in his hand.

“Of course, now you’re far stronger than me, but even that—I convinced myself I let you have it. I stopped trying so I wouldn’t surpass you.”

Yeon Baekin had never once imagined his younger brother harbored such thoughts. And then, a certain thought crossed his mind: Is he insane?

“It was all just my delusion. This martial hall was never mine to begin with.”

In response to his brother’s confession, Yeon Baekin spoke kindly.

“I was too caught up in my own thoughts to understand yours. From now on…”

“From now on?”

“Let’s try to get along. We’re the only bloods we have, aren’t we?”

Was his brother always this shameless and cold?

“Thanks, brother.”

Thanks for leaving me with this as your last face.

Yeon Baekin felt his own heart had grown ice cold. He could say any kind words at all, no matter how sweet.

‘You should have acted like this from the start. You should’ve either lived pretending not to know, like before, or helped me with loyalty like Gi Seok. Then things wouldn’t have come to this, would they?’

But he knew. His brother was never someone who could do that. Once he sobered up, he would surely start investigating behind his back again.

“Let’s eat together tomorrow.”

Eat what? My memorial rites meal? That remark pushed Yeon Baekjin’s fury past its limit. And because of that, he instead smiled as he asked,

“What martial art is it?”

Yeon Baekin flinched slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“What kind of martial art is it that you’ve been bewitched by?”

Yeon Baekjin asked with a smile, but his gaze was ice cold.

The smile vanished from Yeon Baekin’s face.

Yeon Baekjin could tell. This martial art was like a reverse scale to his brother. Of course, he had staked everything on it.

“You haven’t received the martial arts manual yet, have you? They told you they’d give it to you after you finished digging up the treasury, didn’t they?”

Yeon Baekin’s face gradually stiffened, but Yeon Baekjin kept pressing.

“Who in the world would just hand over a supreme martial art? And even if they say they will, you believed that? Brother, are you an idiot?”

Yeon Baekin didn’t get angry—not until the very end. After all, once this conversation ended and Yeon Baekjin walked out of the room, they would never see each other again. If anything, it was for the best. Even the faintest trace of guilt he felt toward his brother had been erased by this.

Yeon Baekjin was truly furious. To be deceived by such a man, to summon the White Snake Corps to kill his own brother—and now that same brother was going to die by his hands. Brother, are you seriously a fool?

Yeon Baekjin stood up, threw open the window of the office in frustration, and stood there for a long time, gazing outside.

“If you’ve said everything you came to say, then leave.”

Yeon Baekjin glanced once at his brother, then left the room without a word.

Left alone, Yeon Baekin opened the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of liquor. It was an expensive drink he usually saved for special occasions.

He poured it full into a snow-white cup and downed it in one shot.

“Get lost from my life already.”

*         *         *

When Yeon Baekjin met Geom Mugeuk again, he was visibly excited.

“It’s only my feeling, but I think I’ve found where the entrance is.”

A short while ago, while standing by the window in his brother’s office and looking out, he had seen the night view of the Golden Dragon Martial Hall.

There were areas brightly lit, some less so. Lights were on all throughout, but there was one place that stood out for its darkness. He had forgotten that place even existed because he had never had a chance to look out at night from there. It was a place even the martial hall members usually forgot about.

Though it was directly visible from the office window, it was a place used only once a year. Because it was considered sacred within the martial hall, no one was allowed to approach it on regular days. And more than anything, it was the place his brother valued most.

“It’s the dueling stage where the graduation test is held.”