Absolute Regression

Chapter 582: Why Don’t You Take Off Your Shoes Before Speaking?

You want us to go down underground together?

At a time when even hiding it deliberately wouldn’t be enough, he wanted to uncover the underground together?

“Are you serious?”

Even without asking, even if he hadn’t nodded right in front of his eyes, he could feel that the words had been sincere. It seemed that he had intended to go underground together from the beginning.

“Why do you want to bring me along?”

Naturally, it must be because he needed him.

The problem would be when he found what he was looking for.

There’s no way he intended to share it, so did he plan to use him thoroughly and then kill him? Was he not worried about the possibility of it being taken from him?

The Sword King pointed his finger at Geom Mugeuk’s chest.

“Because of that.”

As Geom Mugeuk lowered his head, a white snake drawing could be seen between his open robes. He hadn’t erased the snake that Lee Ahn had drawn for him, as it felt too precious to remove just yet.

“I didn’t know you liked snakes.”

Of course, he knew very well that the Sword King didn’t say that because he liked snakes or the White Snake Corps.

“You found the entrance down there, didn’t you?”

At the Sword King’s question, Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.

“Yes, I did.”

Geom Mugeuk walked over to the area where the chairs were arranged and operated the primary mechanism hidden beneath the chairs prepared for the masters.

Then, after returning to sit in the Hall Master’s seat, he manipulated the handle.

Srrrk.

Geom Mugeuk descended together with the chair and then rose back up again.

In the meantime, the Sword King had already walked up to the front of the Hall Master’s seat. Looking down at Geom Mugeuk, the Sword King couldn’t hide the admiration that crossed his face.

“You found this well-hidden entrance and even carried out a scheme to send me outside in that short time. I need someone this clever. It’s a time when smart digging is needed.”

“If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ve made an excellent choice.”

“I’m good at judging people.”

The Sword King sat in the seat next to Geom Mugeuk, the one meant for the masters.

The two of them silently stared at the empty martial arena.

“Who drew that picture for you?”

“My heart did.”

He had already introduced Lee Ahn to him as someone like his heart.

“That was quite a decent idea. If I had left the place for even a moment, who knows what kind of trouble you might have caused down here.”

That wasn’t the only praise from the Sword King.

“On your way here, you also helped the four who could have been taken hostage escape through a quick decision.”

“I knew you wouldn’t have taken them as hostages.”

“Still, it must have bothered you. That alone would’ve been enough.”

Their gazes remained fixed on the empty duel stage.

“I heard you promised the Hall Master an unmatched divine art. Then what will you give me?”

“Greedy, aren’t you! You’ve already mastered the greatest martial art under heaven.”

"You probably didn’t know, but my nickname is the Incarnation of Greed."

After a brief pause, the Sword King spoke.

"You said it yourself—you wanted to become stronger."

What he intended to give was also truly unexpected.

"You can become stronger down there."

If that were true? Then you would die by my hand.

Geom Mugeuk sensed that he would not hear anything more specific from him.

"You really are an excellent master."

Finally, Geom Mugeuk accepted his offer.

"A promise is a promise. Let’s go."

"Aren’t you afraid? You don’t even know what might be down there."

"There’ll be dirt to dig, and officers worn out from digging, I suppose."

"There might be a master down there who will lead you into a death trap."

Then, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze, which had been fixed on the duel stage, turned to the Sword King.

"I’m cautious by nature. I’m not the kind of person to risk my life for pride or curiosity. And yet, the reason I’m willing to go down is because there’s something I believe in."

The Sword King’s eyes remained on Geom Mugeuk, waiting for his answer.

"I believe, at the very least, that the place you intend to fight me won’t be beneath this ground."

And then came an unexpected reason.

"Because you’d want to die looking up at the sky, not at a cramped ceiling of dirt."

"!"

"It’s the same for me. So let’s carry out our digging and snake-drawing schemes under this sky. Or better yet—why don’t we settle our final fight up on that duel stage? You and I are both martial hall people, aren’t we?"

The Sword King said nothing as he looked at Geom Mugeuk.

"Well then, down goes the clever shovel."

Geom Mugeuk descended silently.

His eyes deepened as he entered the underground space. Despite all he had said, he could not forget for even a moment that the Sword King might kill him down here.

It was a risk he normally wouldn’t have taken. But this time, he thought he might gain information about Hwa Moogi and that organization through the Sword King. He judged it worth the danger. And he had also made some preparations—just in case.

As Geom Mugeuk waited in the underground space, the Sword King also descended on the chair.

The two stood atop the mechanism that would lower them underground. Once both were aboard, the space became full.

Uuuung—

The mechanism carrying the two began its descent.

Staring straight ahead, the Sword King spoke.

"You’re too sentimental."

His face, reflected on the steel panel of the mechanism, was smiling. Geom Mugeuk’s own smiling face was reflected beside it.

"Why don’t you take off your shoes before speaking?"

Yes. For now, this moment spent with him was still enjoyable.

We hadn’t yet peered into the pitch-black hole within each other’s hearts. We still didn’t know what we might see in that abyss.

And so, the mechanism carrying the two of them continued its descent into the darkness.

"Where are we being taken?"

Outside the martial hall, Gyo Seok asked Lee Ahn. While following their instructor, Lee Ahn and Seo Jin had suddenly taken them out of the martial hall. In that moment, they had suppressed both their acupoints and internal energy, dragging them out without a single chance to resist. For a moment, they truly thought they were being kidnapped.

Only after leaving the martial hall did they apologize and release their sealed acupoints and internal energy.

"You’ll understand once we get there."

Unlike the anxious Gyo Seok, Yu Gwang obediently followed wherever Lee Ahn led.

They soon met someone hiding in a modest house on the outskirts, a bit removed from the marketplace. It was none other than Yeon Baekjin, who had been presumed dead at the hands of the White Snake Corps.

"Great Hero Yeon!"

Yu Gwang and Gyo Seok were startled to see Yeon Baekjin in hiding like this. Only now did they truly realize that something serious was unfolding.

Of course, they had initially assumed it was no more than a conflict between brothers over the position of Hall Master. But then Lee Ahn said something completely unexpected.

"We’ll be going to the main cult’s safe house right now."

The main cult? Safe house?

Those unfamiliar words made Yu Gwang and Gyo Seok glance at each other, eyes wide. They knew the terms, but had never heard them spoken aloud or encountered them in reality.

To the surprised pair, Lee Ahn spoke calmly.

"I regret that you got dragged into this. But from now on, you must do as I say."

Even if they didn’t want to listen, they had to. The aura Lee Ahn exuded was no longer that of an ordinary member of the White Dragon Class.

They had always thought she wasn’t an average person, but now she gave off a presence even greater than Yeon Baekjin, the Hall Master’s younger brother.

At that moment, a carriage arrived. It was driven by a man who looked like a plain farmer. In fact, he looked so plain that it felt extraordinary—because in a situation like this, there was no way an ordinary farmer would show up.

The five of them climbed into the rear compartment of the shabby, windowless cargo cart, and it set off.

Gyo Seok asked cautiously.

"What in the world is going on?"

If this had been the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult from before Geom Mugeuk, they would’ve already been subdued, their blood points sealed, and carried off. Even if their lives had been spared, they wouldn’t have known who had taken them or why.

But fortunately, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult they were now dealing with was the post-Geom Mugeuk version.

"A conspiracy involving the Martial World is unfolding here at the Golden Dragon Martial Hall. We came to resolve it."

Yu Gwang turned to Gyo Seok with an I told you so look.

But at that moment, Gyo Seok had no room in his head to deal with a conspiracy-theory friend.

"Who are you?"

Lee Ahn answered calmly and steadily.

"You'll know once we arrive."

Just as Gyo Seok was about to ask where that was, Yu Gwang tugged at his sleeve and stopped him.

"Just follow where fate leads us!"

More like where the pretty lady leads us!

That pretty woman, like fate itself, quietly closed her eyes and recalled the last secret transmission she had heard from Geom Mugeuk.

—There’s an entrance beneath the Hall Master’s seat on the duel stage. Go to the safe house and deliver this message.

And he had told her something else as well.

After hearing it all, Lee Ahn had been puzzled.

Who was she supposed to deliver such an important message to? A martial artist in the safe house? Or was someone already waiting there?

How long had they traveled?

They switched carriages twice, checking for anyone tailing them, and finally arrived at a manor.

Only Lee Ahn and Seo Jin noticed that they had passed through a formation as they entered. In fact, Seo Jin sensed it more clearly.

Having trained in Ghost Art, Seo Jin was also well-versed in formation techniques, so she could grasp more precisely just how extraordinary the formation they had just passed through was.

Just as with the Martial Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult protected its safe houses with utmost rigor.

In the courtyard of the safe house stood a man with his back turned.

The moment she saw that familiar broad back, Lee Ahn flinched in surprise. Then, her face lit up with joy. The person she had missed so dearly was there, waiting for her.

"Father!"

The man who turned to face her was none other than the Fist Demon King.

"Lee Ahn."

She ran and embraced the Fist Demon King. When she had returned to the main cult after the mission, they had barely exchanged greetings before parting again. But now, they were reunited like this.

On the terrifying face of the Fist Demon King, a joy that he allowed only for one person bloomed.

Of course, the other three were startled by his intimidating appearance. Even Seo Jin found herself overwhelmed by his imposing aura. After all, this was her first time meeting a Demon Supreme.

'She’s the daughter of that man? How could such a face produce such a daughter?'

Not just Seo Jin—all of them found themselves looking back and forth between the two with the same thought.

At that moment, a woman stepped out of the building. She had a beautiful appearance that contrasted starkly with the Fist Demon King.

With snow-white hair and deep, fitting eyes, she was none other than the One-Slash Sword Supreme.

Upon seeing her, Lee Ahn respectfully cupped her fist and bowed in greeting.

"I greet you, Sword Supreme!"

"It’s good to see you, Lady Lee."

The One-Slash Sword Supreme smiled as she welcomed Lee Ahn. She knew how much Geom Mugeuk cherished Lee Ahn, and now the girl was also the daughter of the Fist Demon King. Naturally, her gaze toward Lee Ahn was warm.

The presence of the two Demon Supremes was overwhelming. Both had recently attained martial enlightenment through blood-drenched training. And that effort was still ongoing even now.

The day Geom Mugeuk confirmed the Sword King’s presence at the Golden Dragon Martial Hall, he had gone out and returned. At the time, Lee Ahn had suspected that the outing was preparation for what was to come. Geom Mugeuk had sent an urgent transmission to request assistance from the Fist Demon King and the One-Slash Sword Supreme.

Knowing that his opponent was the Sword King, Geom Mugeuk had never considered facing him alone. Especially not with Lee Ahn and Seo Jin also involved.

He had called the Fist Demon King for Lee Ahn’s sake, and the One-Slash Sword Supreme because the opponent was the Sword King. He sensed that this battle would become a great stimulus to all who wielded swords.

As everyone watched Lee Ahn greet the two of them, they held their breath.

The scariest man in the world, and the most elegant woman in the world?

‘Who in the world are they?’

Lee Ahn first revealed the identities of herself and Seo Jin to her two friends.

"I am Lee Ahn, Commander of the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and this is Unit Leader Seo Jin."

Yu Gwang and Gyo Seok were so shocked that they froze, unable to say a word. This was the moment they truly understood the meaning of ‘main cult’ and ‘safe house’.

"You two… You mean, you’re from the Demonic Cult—no, the Divine Cult?"

Gyo Seok stammered in a trembling voice. He should have known back when Yu Gwang kept muttering ominous, ominous. This is all your fault! That conspiracy nut ended up dragging in the scariest people in the world.

"Yes. Like I said earlier, we came out because there was something to investigate."

But the real surprise came next. Lee Ahn formally introduced the two Demon Supremes.

"This is the Fist Demon King, one of the Eight Demon Supremes of the main cult, and the One-Slash Sword Supreme. Seo Jin, offer your formal greeting."

At the word Sword Supreme, they had dared to wonder, Could it be? But yes—it really was a Demon Supreme. Seo Jin respectfully bowed to both of them.

"I am Unit Leader Seo Jin of the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps. It is an honor to meet such distinguished figures."

Her voice trembled. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment—to meet not just one, but two of the Eight Demon Supremes at the same time.

The One-Slash Sword Supreme left a particularly strong impression. So beautiful, so graceful—it made one think, If I grow old, I want to age like that.

If Seo Jin was this shocked, then how much more stunned were Yu Gwang and Gyo Seok? Who would have imagined they’d ever meet a Demon Supreme in their lifetime?

"Ack!"

"Please spare us!"

The two men dropped to the ground in a full prostration. It truly felt like a dream.

Of course, they weren’t the only ones surprised. Yeon Baekjin, who had been standing awkwardly, also bowed deeply. His heart nearly stopped from shock.

He should’ve been more surprised when Geom Mugeuk first revealed his identity. But somehow, this moment shocked him even more.

When he’d seen Geom Mugeuk, it hadn’t felt real. He just didn’t seem like someone who could be the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

But now it was different. Now he felt it clearly—he was facing the true Demonic Cult and genuine demonic beings. Had he ever met anyone in his life who felt this terrifying, this overwhelmingly powerful?

He could now feel that this battle had entered a new phase. This was no longer a situation where he could speak carelessly or take the lead. The once-vague image of the Demonic Cult had now revealed its form right before his eyes.

"Alright, everyone, go inside and get some rest."

Lee Ahn summoned a martial artist from the safe house and had them escort the others inside.

Now, only Lee Ahn, the Fist Demon King, and the One-Slash Sword Supreme remained in the courtyard. Lee Ahn relayed everything that had happened so far, exactly as it had occurred.

"I’ve never seen the Young Cult Leader this tense before."

At those words, the Fist Demon King and the One-Slash Sword Supreme exchanged a glance. They sensed that the opponent this time was more formidable than any they had faced before.

"Where is the Young Cult Leader now?"

At the Fist Demon King’s question, Lee Ahn shook her head and delivered only the message she had been told to pass on.

"He said to tell you there’s an entrance leading underground beneath the duel stage."

This was the final message Geom Mugeuk had given her to convey.

"And… if he doesn’t appear at this safe house within ten days, he asked that you come to rescue him."