Absolute Regression

Chapter 625: Don't Make Me Revert to My Old Self

At the end of the golden light, the Demonic Buddha revealed himself.

The moment he laid eyes on him, the Byeoksan Sword’s expression twisted.

“Has your Buddha ever once shown mercy?”

The Demonic Buddha rolled the prayer beads in his hand and replied.

“That’s a misunderstanding. Our Buddha treats these pitiful sentient beings with compassion. Though, there are rare times when he cannot contain his bloodthirst.”

With a relaxed expression, the Demonic Buddha slowly walked toward him.

The two stopped a few steps apart and faced each other.

The Byeoksan Sword was so tall that one had to tilt their head far back just to look up at him. The sight of the two standing face to face looked as if the world’s tallest and shortest people were confronting each other.

“You look taller since we last met, friend.”

“Who gave you permission to call me that?”

They already knew each other.

Since his youth, the Demonic Buddha had wandered throughout the Central Plains, mingling with many masters.

He was even friends with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader of the Wilderness—need anything more be said?

“How many times have we met?”

The Byeoksan Sword remembered precisely.

“Three times.”

“In this brutal world of murim, meeting three times and surviving makes us friends. Don’t you think?”

The Byeoksan Sword’s response was cold.

“It’s only now that I say this, but you’re far too reckless.”

The Demonic Buddha had a knack for uttering things that struck at the heart. He often managed to flip his opponents inside out.

“Not once, in all three meetings, have you failed to offend me.”

At that, the Demonic Buddha calmly asked,

“Was anything I said untrue?”

The Byeoksan Sword’s expression twitched. It was precisely because none of it was false that it irritated him. He always spat out words that struck right at the core.

“My neck hurts just looking up at you.”

The Demonic Buddha turned around and sat on a rock. After gazing at the ground for a moment, he spoke unexpectedly.

“Maybe it was because of your height. I felt like you’d taken something I never had. That’s probably why I said such hateful things.”

Had it been the past, he would have never uttered such words. That made the Byeoksan Sword wary instead.

“Don’t play games.”

The Demonic Buddha nodded as if he understood. Even saying such things was due to the influence of Geom Mugeuk. Talking about his own height? In the past, it would’ve been unimaginable.

The Byeoksan Sword raised his deep inner energy and roared.

“How dare you! Do you even know where you’re standing? You’re treading on ground you should never set foot on!”

The very reason he came here was to root out the demonic cult bastards who had entered Wuhan.

The Demonic Buddha, seated on the rock, looked down at his feet and said,

“I’m not even touching the ground.”

His legs were so short that his feet didn’t reach the ground.

Of course, the Byeoksan Sword didn’t take it as a joke, but rather as mockery. A murderous aura began to rise from his body.

“That’s right, you always did enjoy mocking others.”

The Demonic Buddha stared directly at him and asked,

“Do you know who the person you tried to kill today was?”

The Byeoksan Sword didn’t answer, but it was obvious from his expression and the look in his eyes.

“So, you knew it was the Great Young Master.”

The Demonic Buddha’s eyes gleamed coldly with a golden hue. It was a phenomenon that appeared only in those who had mastered his unique martial art, the Golden Vajra Demonic Art.

The Byeoksan Sword began drawing up his inner energy, preparing to draw his sword at any moment. Even before the Demonic Buddha, he didn’t back down.

“Entering the lands of Wuhan without the Martial Alliance’s permission? You deserve to die. And you’re no exception.”

He released his qi. Grass and leaves all around trembled, and the surrounding air instantly grew frigid.

He had never crossed blades with the Demonic Buddha before, so he didn’t know how the fight would turn out. But he believed he could win.

The Byeoksan Sword’s hand slowly moved toward his sword hilt.

He was, down to his bones, a master of the orthodox path. Though perhaps not quite on the level of the Han Wolgaek, there was no way he harbored any fondness for the demonic cult. And the Demonic Buddha was someone he had always intended to deal with someday.

“You do know that if you draw that sword, there’s no going back?”

To the Demonic Buddha’s question, the Byeoksan Sword replied coldly.

“Eradicating the unorthodox is the path I’ve walked my entire life. I won’t regret it.”

Amid the tense atmosphere, the Demonic Buddha spoke softly.

“That’s something I can respect. You’re a fine orthodox man.”

It was the first time he’d heard such words from the Demonic Buddha, and the Byeoksan Sword flinched slightly.

Indeed, he was acting differently than in the past.

The Byeoksan Sword glared at him with eyes that clearly asked: What trick are you trying to pull now?

The Demonic Buddha looked up at the sky. Between the trees, stars shone in the night sky.

“These days, life has slowed down for me. I’m not who I used to be.”

The Byeoksan Sword mocked him.

“Because you’ve become like a kite with its string cut.”

He knew well that the Demonic Buddha supported the Great Young Master.

“Isn’t it true that both you and the Great Young Master are no longer useful? If I kill you here, your demonic cult might even thank me.”

At the mention of Geom Muyang, the Demonic Buddha’s expression turned cold.

“Byeoksan Sword.”

The Demonic Buddha called out to him coldly, then added,

“I’m trying to speak nicely—don’t make me revert to my old self.”

The Byeoksan Sword knew well that those words were no bluff. He knew the Demonic Buddha had the power to say them. And the filthy temper to match.

But if he had feared the Demonic Buddha, he would never have revealed that he had pursued the Great Young Master in the first place. This was a place where one of them had to die.

“Changing doesn’t mean a thing.”

The Byeoksan Sword slowly drew his sword.

“Demonic cult bastards can’t be fixed.”

At that moment, the Demonic Buddha suddenly roared.

“Shut up! If I speak politely, you’d better understand politely—what nonsense are you spewing like a lunatic?”

After the outburst, the Demonic Buddha sighed.

“Apologies for the harsh words. Lately, I’ve been too withdrawn, closed off. Seeing you after so long… I just can’t keep my emotions in check.”

Perhaps that was why Geom Mugeuk kept telling him not to suppress himself. To live the life that suited him.

“Madman.”

The Byeoksan Sword pointed his sword.

As he saw the Byeoksan Sword become one with his blade, the Demonic Buddha rose from the rock.

“You know, from the outside, it’s hard to notice, but our cult has changed quite a bit lately. Especially among the Demon Supremes, getting stronger has become the latest trend. Everyone’s obsessed with martial arts.”

The Demonic Buddha leapt lightly off the rock.

“Not wanting to fall behind that trend, I’ve been secretly pushing myself. I really hate losing, you see.”

A new golden light surged from the Demonic Buddha’s body. The hue of this battle-forged golden glow was far deeper than his usual one.

Ziiiiing—

Blue energy rippled along the Byeoksan Sword’s blade, vibrating through the air.

Just as he was about to charge at the Demonic Buddha—

Shuuuk!

Srrrk!

A prayer bead shot out with force. It split in two mid-air and fell to the ground.

Shukshukshukshukshukshukshuk!

Beads flew in rapid succession. Each one packed enough power to pierce straight through a body if it hit.

The Byeoksan Sword’s blade danced in the air. Dozens of sword lines instantly formed. The prayer beads split in two and rained down onto the ground.

When he severed the final prayer bead, the Byeoksan Sword saw it.

The Demonic Buddha, now empty-handed, had already formed a new hand seal.

Golden Vajra Demonic Art!

Killer Formation Being!

Golden energy burst from the Demonic Buddha’s hands and surged forth.

Shweeeaaahhh!

It swept out like a wave—something that could not be blocked by ordinary means.

Byeoksan Sword Art!

Byeoksan Wind Forest!

Blue energy exploded from the Byeoksan Sword’s blade as well.

Golden energy and blue energy collided mid-air.

KWAANG!

With a thunderous boom, a shockwave powerful enough to shake the earth spread in all directions. Trees snapped, rocks tumbled, and clouds of dust rose into the air.

Shweeeeaaah!

Cutting through the dust, the Byeoksan Sword charged in. The surest way to deal with the Demonic Buddha was to close the distance—stop him from forming those hand seals.

That was when the Byeoksan Sword saw it.

The Demonic Buddha had already formed another seal in his hands.

Heavenly Sky Oath Seal!

A streak of energy struck down like a bolt of lightning from the heavens, aiming for his crown.

As he lunged to pierce the Demonic Buddha, he twisted his body.

KWAANG!

The Byeoksan Sword swung his qi-imbued sword with lightning speed to block the strike. A shock ran up his arm, so intense it felt as if his wrist might snap. The Demonic Buddha was far stronger than he had anticipated.

‘I have to sever those hands no matter what!’

The Byeoksan Sword charged again, flying forward. In a flash, he reached the Demonic Buddha—but another flash awaited him.

Transforming Law Light Seal!

In an instant, light more intense than the sun burst from the Demonic Buddha’s body. Since it was night, the brilliance was all the more blinding.

The Byeoksan Sword tightly shut his eyes and swung his sword. He slashed not with sight, but with instinct—aiming for the Demonic Buddha.

Shhhk!

‘Missed!’

He pulled up his Protective Energy and unleashed another decisive technique. His attack was his defense.

Byeoksan Whirlwind!

Whrrrrrr!

The Byeoksan Sword spun like a whirlwind in place, sending blades of qi flying in all directions.

Papatatatat!

Dozens of sword energies shot outward, embedding themselves in trees and rocks.

Papatatatatatatat!

He struck toward every place the Demonic Buddha might be—but heard no sound of flesh being torn.

‘Where is he?’

He had lost sight of the Demonic Buddha for a fleeting moment.

When he spotted the golden glow shimmering behind a felled tree—

The Demonic Buddha had already completed his hand seal. His fingers intricately entwined into the most elaborate seal yet.

Demon-Palm Annihilation Seal!

Whooooooosh—

A massive force crushed down, casting shadows around the Byeoksan Sword’s body.

He lifted his head and looked to the sky. A colossal golden Buddha’s palm was descending upon him. Golden light radiated from its hand!

It was already too late to evade. The Byeoksan Sword pushed his Protective Energy to its absolute limit.

KWAANG!

With an earth-splitting boom, the ground flipped, and a cloud of dust erupted.

When the dust settled, the Byeoksan Sword stood there—in the middle of an enormous palm-shaped crater. The pit was several times deeper than a man’s height.

As he prepared to leap out, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His internal injuries were too severe—he could no longer fight. Surviving was a miracle in itself.

Staggering, he collapsed where he stood.

And then he saw it.

The Demonic Buddha now stood above, looking down from the edge of the crater.

From below, the Demonic Buddha appeared like a towering giant.

‘I was defeated… this easily?’

It wasn’t just bad luck. He had felt the undeniable difference in power. From the moment the small prayer beads were launched to when the giant hand struck—every step had flowed exactly according to his opponent’s design. He had assumed at least a close match—but the Demonic Buddha was a step above.

He couldn’t quite see the Demonic Buddha’s expression up there. Then came his voice.

“Looks like I haven’t fallen behind the trend after all.”

As the Demonic Buddha once again formed a hand seal, the Byeoksan Sword closed his eyes.

‘A complete defeat.’

It was a battle in which he had no right to speak, even in death.

He fully expected a killing blow of qi to come flying in—

Fwhoooosh.

But instead, his body rose on golden waves and floated upward out of the crater.

He landed gently in front of the Demonic Buddha.

With a stunned expression, the Byeoksan Sword asked,

“Why aren’t you killing me?”

“If I meant to, you would’ve died down there already.”

It meant the Demonic Buddha hadn’t even used his full strength for the final blow.

The Byeoksan Sword looked at him with eyes full of disbelief.

“…You were this strong all along?”

The Demonic Buddha’s gaze was soft, and his expression peaceful. The fierce momentum from earlier, the aura of someone who seemed ready to kill, had vanished entirely. The golden radiance that had shone brightly throughout the battle had already faded.

After the succession conflict, something had changed within the Demonic Buddha. His meeting with Geom Mugeuk had left a deep impression. He had found calm while carving stone statues.

He began doing things he had never done in his life and felt emotions he had never experienced. As his life changed, so too did his martial arts.

By letting go of everything, the Demonic Buddha had become stronger.

“Even if you spare me, I won’t tell you who sent me.”

“I won’t ask.”

The Byeoksan Sword looked up in surprise. He had assumed the only reason he was spared was so that question could be asked.

“Finding out who’s behind you—that’s the Great Young Master’s job. I’m just here to make sure he gets the chance to do it.”

The Demonic Buddha gave the Byeoksan Sword two options.

“Now choose. Will you return to your homeland? Or die here by my hand?”

The Byeoksan Sword had tried to kill the Great Young Master, and had also intended to kill the Demonic Buddha.

“You’re sparing me? Why?”

The Demonic Buddha placed his hands together in prayer.

“Our Buddha bestows compassion upon pitiful sentient beings.”

“Cut the nonsense!”

The Demonic Buddha replied honestly.

“Because, like you said, this is Wuhan.”

The moment word spread that the Byeoksan Sword had died at the hands of a Demon Supreme in Wuhan, the orthodox world would erupt in fury. That could very well be exactly what they wanted.

“Still, if you insist, I can kill you. It’ll cause a lot of trouble, but I’ll figure out a way to clean it up. You know how it goes—only the dead end up unfairly blamed, right?”

The Demonic Buddha calmly tried to persuade him.

“Why do you think the Great Young Master came all the way to Wuhan and caused this chaos? To bring down the Martial Alliance? Do you really believe that? Are you saying the best plan we could come up with was to send the Great Young Master to Wuhan to collapse the orthodox world?”

After a brief silence, the Byeoksan Sword asked in return—a question lacking conviction.

“…Then why?”

“What reason did the person who summoned you give?”

The Byeoksan Sword could sense a deeper meaning in the Demonic Buddha’s words. As if asking, Did you truly come here because you trusted the one who called you?

One thing was certain. If they had truly been plotting some grand conspiracy, they would not have let him live.

After a long silence, the Byeoksan Sword made his choice between the two options.

“I’ll return. I’ll go back to my homeland and won’t come out for three years.”

The Demonic Buddha knew. The Byeoksan Sword wouldn’t admit he lost to him out of pride. He’d come up with some excuse for why he was returning—at least this way, it wouldn’t be revealed that the Demonic Buddha had come to Wuhan.

“This is our fourth meeting. So when we meet a fifth time, let’s share a drink.”

The Byeoksan Sword, who had been staring at him, turned silently and walked away.

As he staggered, the Demonic Buddha called out.

“Hey, friend.”

When the Byeoksan Sword turned, the Demonic Buddha said calmly,

“Even next time, the Great Young Master won’t be allowed.”

From the depth in the Demonic Buddha’s gaze, the Byeoksan Sword could tell just how much he cared for the Great Young Master.

“And if this happens again…”

The Demonic Buddha didn’t hide his emotions.

“Even if it’s not in Wuhan, but in front of the Martial Alliance’s Hall of the Alliance Leader—I’ll kill you with my own hands.”

After speaking, the Demonic Buddha placed his hands together respectfully and turned around to walk away.

The Byeoksan Sword watched the soft golden light fade into the darkness, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.

And so, the two flags grew distant once more.