Absolute Regression

Chapter 614: Wrinkles on This Handsome Face

The eyes of Bureau Chief Ji Dae-hyeong and the escort warriors turned toward a single man.

That man was none other than Chung Baek, the escort warrior responsible for delivering the goods to the Black Hand Faction.

A flicker of confusion passed over Chung Baek’s face. When he had followed the Bureau Chief here, he hadn’t imagined he’d be singled out.

“This is a ridiculous slander.”

His cry trembled just as much as his wavering eyes.

In contrast, Geom Muyang remained composed. He slowly walked toward Chung Baek. Not only Chung Baek, but Ji Dae-hyeong and the other escort warriors tensed up.

Geom Muyang stopped a few steps away and stared at Chung Baek. Even without intentionally glaring, his gaze was inherently cold.

“Do we look like we have nothing better to do?”

It was a statement that implied: do you really think we came all this way just to frame an escort warrior?

That calm voice held a natural persuasiveness. After all, Branch Leader Ho Myeong had come personally, and the speaker seemed to be someone of even higher authority than a branch leader.

Before Chung Baek could make any excuses, Geom Muyang continued. His low voice carried weight, and its courtesy only made it more authoritative.

“I won’t press the matter of you deceiving the Bureau Chief. That’s something your own bureau should handle.”

Geom Muyang glanced at Ji Dae-hyeong, then turned his gaze back to Chung Baek.

“There’s only one thing I want to hear. Who entrusted the goods?”

A brief silence followed.

Ji Dae-hyeong did not step forward to defend Chung Baek by saying he didn’t need to answer. That was partly because he felt overwhelmed by Geom Muyang, and partly because he was starting to harbor doubts about Chung Baek.

“It wasn’t anything like that! Bureau Chief! Please believe me! This is a setup! I’m being wronged!”

Chung Baek’s excuse lacked specifics, which only made it more suspicious.

Still, they couldn’t blindly accuse him. The opponent was the ruthless Demonic Cult.

Ji Dae-hyeong stepped in and asked Chung Baek in a gentle tone. After all, Chung Baek was still his subordinate for now.

“Escort Warrior Chung, calm down and tell us what happened.”

“The item was nothing unusual.”

“What kind of item was it?”

Despite receiving various reports related to recent escort missions, nothing stood out as particularly suspicious. That meant either Chung Baek had filed a false report, or the Demonic Cult was framing him.

“It was a standard military weapon.”

“Who entrusted it to you?”

“I cannot speak of that in front of outsiders.”

“It’s alright. I give you permission. Speak.”

Then came the words that should not have been uttered in this situation.

“Are you suspecting me?”

He certainly appeared suspicious.

“No. But if this is a conspiracy as you say, shouldn’t we uncover the truth?”

“Very well. Then I will speak only to the Bureau Chief. The one who handed me the item was…”

Just as he seemed to lower his voice and approach the Bureau Chief—

Whoosh!

Chung Baek hurled his body toward the entrance.

But someone moved even faster.

Thud!

Before he could escape, a flying kick slammed into him, sending him rolling across the floor. Just as he sprang up—

The one who kicked him struck his pressure point and subdued his demon pulse.

The person who had anticipated his escape and blocked him was none other than Ho Myeong, the Branch Leader of the Changsha Branch.

As the head of the largest branch in the Honam region, his martial skill was extraordinary.

Ho Myeong dragged him by the collar and forced him to kneel before Geom Muyang. Not a single escort warrior dared to intervene. If he had committed no crime, he wouldn’t have tried to flee. The moment he made a run for it, everything was over.

Geom Muyang spoke to Ji Dae-hyeong.

“I believe now you’ll trust our words.”

Though polite, Geom Muyang’s gaze was cold. The meaning behind it was clear: we’ve shown enough courtesy—now it’s your turn.

“We’ll be taking this man to the Changsha Branch.”

Ji Dae-hyeong did not dare to say otherwise. Ho Myeong, having already shown his power, was emanating fierce demonic energy.

Looking down at Chung Baek, Geom Muyang tilted his head slightly.

“You’re more afraid of some counterfeit weapon makers than us?”

Chung Baek’s face was full of terror. The Demonic Cult before him was frightening—but so were the ones he had made a deal with.

Ho Myeong released the pressure point enough to allow him to walk.

As they escorted him out of the grand hall and toward the main gate—

Sshhhhhhhhk!

The screeching of wind that tore at the ears—followed by the sound of it slicing through flesh!

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

All eyes turned toward one person.

Chung Baek looked down at his own chest with a vacant expression.

Sssssszzzzzz.

His chest, struck by concentrated hidden weapons, had melted open, leaving a gaping hole.

Chung Baek’s body collapsed forward without resistance.

Standing in front of him was a man aiming a cylindrical hidden weapon. He looked like an ordinary young man.

Just moments ago, he had been disguised as someone working at the bureau, sweeping the yard—then launched a sudden attack.

Neither Ho Myeong, who was walking beside Chung Baek, nor Geom Muyang, who followed behind, could stop the ambush.

“You bastard!”

Just as Ho Myeong was about to charge—

Geom Muyang shouted.

“Be careful! That’s a Blitz Blade!”

Ho Myeong froze for a moment. As a Branch Leader, he knew exactly what kind of hidden weapon Blitz Blade was—one of the Ten Great Golden Dragon Hidden Weapons designated by the Martial Alliance.

The man shifted the Blitz Blade, which had been aimed forward, and pointed it at Geom Muyang.

But Geom Muyang showed no fear—his expression said: if you’re going to fire, go ahead.

That was when Ho Myeong drew his sword and stepped in front of Geom Muyang. His stance made it clear—he would block the attack even with his body.

The man looked at Geom Muyang and grinned. It was the kind of smile that resembled a madman’s deranged grin.

Then, he moved the Blitz Blade—previously aimed at Geom Muyang—beneath his own chin.

Swaeeek!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Before anyone could stop him, he had taken his own life with the Blitz Blade. From the start, his goal had clearly been to kill Chung Baek and then commit suicide.

Ho Myeong rushed over to check the body, but there was no chance he had survived.

Geom Muyang approached and examined the Blitz Blade still held in the man's hand. It was that counterfeit Blitz Blade—one that had nearly killed his own brother.

Geom Muyang’s gaze turned icy cold.

That someone had been watching his arrival here, had carried out a surprise attack, and then committed suicide afterward—it was all telling. Suicide sounded simple, but getting someone to willingly take their own life after completing a mission was anything but easy. It meant they were not dealing with an ordinary organization.

Sensing that this matter would not be easily resolved, Geom Muyang immediately issued an order to Ho Myeong.

“Report this incident to the Heavenly Communication Pavilion as it is. And select only the elite among the branch’s martial artists.”

“Yes, understood.”

After that, Geom Muyang turned back to Bureau Chief Ji Dae-hyeong.

Ji Dae-hyeong, startled and flustered, cried out.

“That man is not one of ours! We have nothing to do with him!”

Since the incident had occurred within the bureau’s premises, he feared any misunderstanding that they were involved. If the Demonic Cult pinned a fabricated crime on them, it would be nearly impossible to shake off.

“I know.”

At Geom Muyang’s calm reply, Ji Dae-hyeong let out a breath of relief.

He had suspected whether the Demonic Cult was up to something, but this ambush wiped away all such doubts.

“That man wouldn’t have gone so far as to commit murder and then eliminate himself over a one-time delivery.”

Ji Dae-hyeong agreed. If Chung Baek had made only one mistake, he would have tried to plead for forgiveness instead of running. In other words, it meant he had disguised multiple deliveries as escort goods.

“Can you hand over the escort mission records from the time he served as an escort warrior?”

In the current situation, even if he had said, “Hand them over or die,” he would have had no choice but to comply. Yet Geom Muyang handled the matter with politeness and rationality.

“Don’t worry about those records leaking. Our only goal is to find the ones who killed him. Your escort warrior died—you deserve to know the truth, don’t you?”

Ji Dae-hyeong did not hesitate and gave a straightforward answer.

“Understood. I will provide the records.”

“Send them to the Changsha Branch of our cult.”

“Understood.”

Geom Muyang turned and left the place.

Ho Myeong, following behind, asked him.

“Where are you headed?”

Since they had come to the side that handed over the goods, it was now time to go to the ones who received them.

“We’re going to the Black Hand Faction.”

Geom Mugeuk was just exiting the Heavenly Demon Pavilion when someone appeared up ahead.

“Young Cult Leader!”

It was none other than Seo Daeryong.

“My right arm! Have you been well?”

When Geom Mugeuk greeted him warmly, Seo Daeryong ran up with a wide smile.

“I must have agonized a hundred times over whether or not to come greet you at the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.”

“You should have come.”

“You’ve become the acting Cult Leader. I felt like I shouldn’t just casually show up.”

Seo Daeryong looked up at the Heavenly Demon Pavilion. Its majestic structure and the giant statue of the Heavenly Demon Spirit guarding it were overwhelming just to gaze upon.

“How could I come? Just looking at it is terrifying.”

At that, Geom Mugeuk gave him a suspicious look.

“That’s not the real reason, is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t forget about me because you’ve been spending time with Lady Dan, did you?”

A faint blush rose on Seo Daeryong’s face. It wasn’t exactly a wrong assumption. Every bit of free time he had, he had spent with Dan Ah.

All of the Dan sisters were busy. The second sister, Dan Bi, was diligently working as an enforcement martial artist at the Underworld Pavilion, and the youngest, Dan Yeon, was being doted on in the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps.

The eldest, Dan Ah, after receiving sword instruction from the One-Slash Sword Supreme, had devoted herself to sword training.

Then, when Seo Daeryong’s daily tasks were finished late at night, they would meet and nurture their love. Because they only saw each other briefly amidst their busy schedules, those moments were all the more precious.

“Just thinking about it makes you happy?”

Seo Daeryong responded with a goofy grin instead of words.

Having someone on his side—just that fact made him happy.

“It’s a good time for you.”

“Young Cult Leader, you’ve never even experienced this ‘good time’ yourself.”

Seo Daeryong shrugged.

“Finally, there’s something I’ve beaten the Young Cult Leader at!”

“Can you really call it a victory?”

“Don’t say something so ominous with such a serious face!”

The two laughed together as they looked at each other. Being with Seo Daeryong always brought a lightness to the heart.

“Something’s been bothering you lately, hasn’t it?”

“What makes you think that?”

“I’m your right arm, remember? I just know.”

But did he really just know? In the old days, they would’ve had a few drinks at the Flowing Wind Tavern by now. As time passed, everything changed—people, circumstances.

Still, Seo Daeryong tried to resist those changes in whatever ways he could. Even coming to meet Geom Mugeuk today was his attempt to stand firm against the tide of change.

‘Even if everything in the world changes, I don’t want my bond with the Young Cult Leader to ever change! I want to live a life where I always have someone I’d gladly give my life for.’

How could Geom Mugeuk not understand his heart? That was precisely why he could tease him like this.

“Since even my right arm has grown a heart, maybe it’s time I detached it.”

“I’m sorry, but even if that right arm had a dozen limbs hanging from it, it still wouldn’t come off!”

After that exchange of jokes, Geom Mugeuk finally spoke honestly to Seo Daeryong.

“My brother left the cult.”

This fact was still top secret—even the Underworld Pavilion Master didn’t know yet.

“Has he taken on a dangerous mission?”

“I don’t know. That’s why it bothers me even more.”

If it were clearly a dangerous mission, they could prepare accordingly. But not knowing—that was what truly unsettled the heart.

“Shall I go and assist the Great Young Master?”

“He finds you hard to deal with, doesn’t he?”

“Not just difficult—he’s scary. The Great Young Master is terrifying.”

“And yet you’d still go?”

“Young Cult Leader, you’re worried, aren’t you? I’m quick to read the room. If I’m by his side, I’ll definitely be of some help.”

If it were for the Young Cult Leader, he could even accompany the Great Young Master. What couldn’t he do?

“You’ve got someone to protect now, so you’d better be more careful with your life.”

Seo Daeryong flinched—he felt it wasn’t just a joke, but a heartfelt statement.

“I haven’t even had the chance to really enjoy it yet, and I already have to be cautious?”

“Do you think happiness is handed to you easily? If you gain something, you have to give something up. Look at me—after getting the position of acting Cult Leader, I’ve become all anxious and worried. Wrinkles are forming all over this handsome face of mine. Look, here comes a brand-new wrinkle.”

At that moment, a Heavenly Communication Pavilion soldier came running toward them.

“New intel has arrived. You’ll need to come with us.”

As he began to walk, following the soldier, Geom Mugeuk looked back at Seo Daeryong. Seo Daeryong was watching him with worry in his eyes.

He had once said this to his father after returning through regression:

I will become happy.

Now his father’s words came to mind.

If you’re walking this path, don’t even think about happiness.

Yes, Father. Back then, I boldly declared that I would be happy, but the stronger my martial arts grow and the deeper my relationships become, the more difficult this path feels. I also now realize that it’s easier to speak boldly when you have nothing to lose.

Still, as I always have—I’ll find a way.

Geom Mugeuk called out to Seo Daeryong in a loud voice.

“I’ll go see you soon. Let’s have a drink then!”

“The escort warrior who delivered the goods to the Black Hand Faction has died. Fortunately, the Great Young Master is unharmed.”

At Sima Myung’s report, Geom Mugeuk breathed a sigh of relief. He lightened the heavy atmosphere with a joke.

“Didn’t I tell you my brother’s no good? He should’ve saved the guy if he caught him. Instead, he saved only himself.”

Though he knew it was meant as a joke, Sima Myung didn’t smile.

“Once again, a counterfeit Blitz Blade was used. The assassin committed suicide on the spot.”

Both were alarming reports. This time, the fake item was a Blitz Blade with power close to the real thing.

What if that Blitz Blade had been fired at his brother?

On top of that, they were facing a group capable of forcing their assassins to commit suicide.

Sima Myung cautiously made a suggestion.

“Shall we send additional support?”

Geom Mugeuk’s deepening gaze turned toward the main division marked on the map.

Flags of various colors, the Demon Supreme Banners, were planted throughout the field. Geom Mugeuk’s gaze fell upon the golden banner symbolizing the Demonic Buddha.

If he were to send reinforcements now, his brother would be furious. It was a matter tied directly to his pride. The one person who might be able to soften that fury would likely be the Demonic Buddha.

“No, there's no need for that.”

Even if the Demonic Buddha were to head out, it should be to harvest poison herbs—not to provide assistance.

Geom Mugeuk's eyes turned once more toward the Changsha region.

Beside his brother’s banner stood a green flag.

It was the Demon Supreme Banner of the Poison King.

Superimposed over that flag was the image of the Poison King himself, standing with twelve poison pouches strapped to him.

The Poison King had stepped out of his own world—Heavenly Poison Forest—and into the wider world. No one knew better than Geom Mugeuk just how powerful he became in those moments. Yes, he would trust in him.

“If that Blitz Blade had been aimed at my brother, it would’ve melted before it could even be fired.”