Absolute Regression

Chapter 641: Or Unless There’s a Way to Survive

“What kind of poison is it?”

Geom Muyang’s heart dropped. He never imagined that So Jeongrak would poison his own younger brother.

The one before him was someone who had neutralized the Omang Body Poison administered by the Poison King. How could a poison used by such a man be anything ordinary?

“Tell me! What poison is it?”

It was the first time Geom Mugeuk had seen his older brother so agitated. Not even when he lost his position as successor had he gotten this worked up.

“To think seeing you agitated could be this touching.”

“You brat! Don’t joke around!”

Geom Muyang was truly angry. As he stared at his surprised, furious brother’s face, Geom Mugeuk calmly spoke.

“Brother, I’m fine.”

His gaze was steady. Neither his posture nor his aura felt like that of a sick man.

“You were poisoned. How are you fine?”

“To me, poison liquid is like water, and poison smoke is just like campfire smoke. No, even less than that. My eyes don’t even sting.”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

“I’m immune to all poisons.”

“Right, you’re immune to all poisons… Wait, what? What did you just say?”

Geom Muyang’s eyes widened as he looked at Geom Mugeuk. What did I just hear? While his older brother made that expression, Geom Mugeuk repeated himself.

“I said, I’m immune to all poisons.”

For a moment, Geom Muyang couldn’t say a word. More than anyone, he knew how strong his younger brother was, how innately gifted he was in martial arts, how truly exceptional he was.

But to be immune to all poisons?

That was a completely different matter from everything said so far.

Even in the entire history of the martial world, martial artists who had achieved full poison immunity were few enough to count on one hand. That’s how rare it was.

It wasn’t something one could achieve through mere fortune—it had to be a blessing from the heavens themselves. That was how Geom Muyang viewed poison immunity.

That was why he had doubted his brother to the end, thinking it was a joke. But he could tell from Geom Mugeuk’s utterly sincere eyes—it was true. And then came the words that proved it.

“If I wasn’t immune to all poisons, I would’ve taken this on myself no matter what. I wouldn’t have let you take on something so dangerous.”

No wonder he had stubbornly insisted on taking the patient’s role.

Geom Mugeuk added with a smile.

“Even if you want to kill me, poison won’t work.”

Geom Muyang didn’t feel jealous. He felt glad. Because he had lost in the fight for succession to a younger brother with such an extraordinary destiny.

“How did it happen?”

“While rescuing the Pavilion Master of the Underworld Pavilion, I happened upon a fortunate opportunity.”

Maybe this was why the heavens chose to aid his younger brother.

After all, the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was living a life of saving, not killing. How could the heavens not take notice?

Each time he held back from breaking the tables at taverns, and each time he ran to save someone, perhaps pieces of destiny meant for his younger brother were quietly falling into place.

“So what do you mean, So Jeongrak poisoned you, explain?”

“It means he’s someone who uses poison arts.”

At the same time, it confirmed that the one backing the Hermit of Heaven and Earth was undoubtedly the Clearheart Clinic.

Geom Muyang recalled So Jeongrak. He remembered the man's devoted demeanor as he tended to patients. He also remembered how earnestly he taught his junior physicians.

“So it was all just a façade?”

At Geom Muyang’s doubt, Geom Mugeuk’s eyes deepened. He wished it had all been an act—just pretense and performance.

“Or maybe, while acting, he ended up living that life for real.”

It was just as difficult dealing with So Jeongrak as it was facing the Hermit of Heaven and Earth, Hwa Yulcheong. After all, they had to take down someone who lived such a respected life, right in front of the Main Division of the Martial Alliance.

“Let’s go back for now. We should talk it over with the Poison King and Demonic Buddha.”

When the two stepped back into the manor, Geom Mugeuk burst into laughter at the sight before him.

The courtyard was filled with herbs laid out to dry. He didn’t need to ask—he could already tell how much their Demonic Buddha had been worked to the bone during the three days they’d been away at the clinic.

“We’ve returned.”

When Geom Mugeuk called out loudly, the Demonic Buddha was the first to emerge from the building.

“You’re back?”

The Demonic Buddha looked relieved upon seeing Geom Muyang unharmed.

Naturally, Geom Mugeuk wasn’t about to let that moment pass quietly.

“I’m here too! I, who is serving as both acting Cult Leader and patient guardian with the utmost diligence, have also returned.”

Regardless, the Demonic Buddha turned around to go back inside.

“Acting Cult Leader who even got poisoned, no less.”

The Demonic Buddha flinched and turned around. Instead of telling him not to joke with such things, he looked toward Geom Muyang.

Seeing the older brother give a subtle nod instead of dismissing the claim, a golden radiance burst forth from the Demonic Buddha’s body.

“Poison King, come out for a moment.”

He called for the Poison King first.

“How heartless. You trust my brother’s reaction over my own words!”

Ignoring Geom Mugeuk’s protest, the Demonic Buddha called out once more.

“Come out now!”

At that, the Poison King stepped outside.

“The acting Cult Leader has been poisoned,” the Demonic Buddha said.

But contrary to the urgency of his words, the Poison King remained unconcerned. Rather than checking on Geom Mugeuk, he squatted down and inspected the poisonous herbs laid out in the yard as he spoke.

“He must’ve done something to deserve it.”

Just as the Demonic Buddha was puzzled by that calm response, Geom Mugeuk spoke up from behind.

“Demonic Buddha, I’m immune to all poisons.”

The Demonic Buddha turned to face him. Though Geom Mugeuk looked at him with a serious gaze, he once again looked to Geom Muyang to verify the truth.

Geom Muyang nodded. That reaction was the clearest answer of all.

‘Truly astonishing and remarkable!’

Only now did the Demonic Buddha understand the Poison King's reaction.

“So the Poison King already knew.”

The Poison King gave a nod. Back when Geom Mugeuk had taken the Heavenly Energy Pill, he had revealed it then—he already knew that Geom Mugeuk was immune to all poisons.

Geom Mugeuk had never made an effort to hide that truth from these two.

“Now, two more people know the secret. Ah, the Pavilion Master also knows. He was there when I received the opportunity that made me immune to all poisons.”

He had no intention of boasting, but in a situation where they had to face someone who used poison arts at its peak, he had no reason to hide the truth from his brother or the Demonic Buddha.

The Demonic Buddha didn't seem pleased to have been told a secret. Instead, with a grave expression, he gave Geom Mugeuk a firm warning.

“Do not speak of this to anyone else from now on. Just because you’ve told me doesn’t mean you should feel obligated to share it with other Demon Supremes for the sake of fairness. As of today, this becomes an eternal secret. Promise me.”

How could Geom Mugeuk not understand what he meant? It was to make sure the secret wouldn’t spread further, even unintentionally, because of the promise. The fewer people who knew, the safer it was.

“I promise you, Demonic Buddha.”

Geom Mugeuk bowed respectfully. This was exactly why he liked and respected the Demonic Buddha.

The man had every reason to resent him, as his own dream had been crushed because of Geom Mugeuk. And yet, here he was, sincerely worried for his sake. He may have been short in stature, but his heart was greater than anyone’s.

Geom Muyang felt the same gratitude toward the Demonic Buddha. When his younger brother said the words "immune to all poisons," he hadn’t been able to think that far ahead. There was still much he had to learn from the Demonic Buddha.

Geom Mugeuk reported to the two Demon Supremes.

“The fact that he poisoned me means he knows who my brother and I truly are.”

Geom Muyang tilted his head.

“Then why only poison you? If he meant to kill, wouldn’t he have poisoned me too?”

After all, hadn’t So Jeongrak detoxified him from poison? He detoxified him, yet poisoned his younger brother? There was no consistency in that.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the one person who could answer that. The Poison King. He was still moving from place to place, inspecting the poisonous herbs spread out in the courtyard.

“In most cases, when poison enters the body, the body neutralizes the toxicity on its own. But this time, I preserved the poison and brought it back.”

At the mention of having retained the poison, the Poison King stood up and approached Geom Mugeuk. He motioned for the Demonic Buddha and Geom Muyang to step back.

“Let’s see what kind of poison it is.”

Geom Mugeuk extended his hand forward.

Ssss...

A tiny droplet formed at the tip of his finger. It was the poison he had preserved inside his body, now released externally.

Geom Mugeuk was not merely someone with a body immune to poison. His martial arts had reached the pinnacle, and he had elevated even that immunity to an entirely different level.

The Poison King fanned the air with his hand and took a whiff, immediately identifying the poison.

“It’s Three-Day Breath.”

Three-Day Breath was a poison even Geom Mugeuk recognized.

In the past, Geom Mugeuk had helped the Poison King in the Heavenly Poison Forest. He had learned much about poisons during that time, and Three-Day Breath was one of them.

Fwoosh.

The Three-Day Breath on his fingertip was incinerated by his Heat Yang Energy and vanished.

“So he wasn’t trying to kill me.”

Three-Day Breath was a terrifying, lethal poison. If the antidote wasn’t taken within three days of exposure, one would die on the fourth day. That was why it was named "Three-Day Breath"—meaning one would live only three days.

“If he had simply wanted to kill me, he would’ve used a poison that kills instantly. Or, to avoid attention, a poison that kills tonight or by tomorrow morning. But to use a poison that kills only after three days?”

Geom Mugeuk turned his gaze to the Poison King.

“So Jeongrak seems to know that you’re the one who administered the poison to my brother.”

Then, his eyes turned to his brother.

“You asked why he only poisoned me and not you, didn’t you? That man wanted to say something to the Poison King.”

His eyes returned to the Poison King as he voiced what he believed to be So Jeongrak’s intention.

‘Since I detoxified your poison, now let’s see if you can detoxify mine.’

At that, the Poison King gave a faint, mocking smile.

“He was testing me.”

Three-Day Breath was one of the hardest poisons to detect. That made it a perfect choice for a test.

“If you hadn’t discovered within three days that I’d been poisoned, you would’ve been held responsible for letting the successor of this cult be poisoned right under your nose.”

Even if the Cult Leader himself forgave him, it would’ve been a burden the Poison King could never endure.

In a fleeting moment, a glint of cold frost appeared in the Poison King’s eyes—and vanished.

“Of course, I always knew.”

Geom Mugeuk believed that. Even if the Poison King was looking elsewhere, even if his attention was divided, he would have noticed. Noticing that Geom Mugeuk had lost an arm while studying venomous herbs or insects might be forgivable—but missing the signs of poison? Never. Not when it came to poison.

“Have you ever met So Jeongrak before?”

At Geom Mugeuk’s question, the Poison King shook his head. All he knew were vague rumors that there was a physician in Wuhan who was highly skilled in detoxification.

“Whatever he’s plotting, one thing is clear—he challenged you, Poison King.”

At the provocative word “challenge,” Geom Mugeuk had expected the Poison King to say he’d hunt So Jeongrak down immediately—but, unexpectedly, he showed no reaction at all.

He simply squatted back down and began wrapping the thoroughly dried poisonous herbs in paper.

That was just like the Poison King. Yes, reacting meant you lost.

The Demonic Buddha also crouched beside him and started helping. The Poison King explained how the herbs should be wrapped.

The Demonic Buddha began wrapping the herbs just as he was told. It was hard to believe he had just learned it; his hands were skilled and precise.

“I plan to visit So Jeongrak again in three days. If I show up healthy, he’ll assume you detoxified me. I’ll find out what kind of poison he uses next, and use him to uncover what they’re really after.”

Geom Mugeuk said to the Poison King.

“When the time comes, I’ll leave the final blow to you.”

That was likely what the Poison King would prefer. Since the enemy had challenged him with poison, it was only right that the Poison King be the one to finish it.

The Demonic Buddha felt uneasy seeing how the Poison King remained so calm. Hadn’t he experienced it many times in life? People like this were the scariest when they were truly angry.

Just then, a martial artist from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion—who always delivered messages—arrived.

“Urgent message.”

He handed the urgent message to Geom Muyang and then stepped back.

Geom Muyang’s eyes widened as he read it and quickly relayed the contents.

“The Forbidden Demon Order has been broken.”

Everyone’s expression turned grave at those words. Even the Poison King, who hadn’t reacted much to So Jeongrak’s poisonous provocation, suddenly stood up. The Demonic Buddha had already stood before him.

“Who broke it?”

The Demonic Buddha asked, and Geom Muyang responded.

“It wasn’t just one person. It was the Demon Flame Lord and the White-Bone Soul Demon.”

Even just hearing those names would plunge the martial world into terror. They were grandmasters of the demonic path—past and even further past generations.

And the most important detail lay in the last line of the message.

“They’re headed to Wuhan.”

A heavy silence settled.

At a time when they already had to deal with Hwa Yulcheong and So Jeongrak, now those infamous figures from the opposite extreme of notoriety were approaching.

“There’s no information on which route they’re taking or when they’ll arrive.”

Given the sheer level of their martial prowess, tracking them properly would’ve been nearly impossible.

Geom Muyang turned to the Demonic Buddha and asked,

“Those placed under the Forbidden Demon Order are under some sort of restriction, correct?”

The Demonic Buddha nodded and replied.

“That’s right. If they forcibly circulate their internal energy, they’ll die within a few days. A week at most.”

A trace of fury crossed the Demonic Buddha’s face.

“Those old men must’ve decided to throw their lives away.”

Breaking the Forbidden Demon Order wasn’t just a minor offense—it was the highest-level command issued by the Cult Leader. Violating it was one of the gravest crimes in existence.

They were prepared to die?

Geom Mugeuk saw things differently. If they had simply gone senile with age, or decided to burn bright one last time before dying, that would’ve been preferable.

“Or maybe… they’ve found a way to survive.”

Someone like the Demon Flame Lord and the White-Bone Soul Demon were men who valued their own reputations.

“If they broke the Forbidden Demon Order just to enjoy seven days of freedom before death, they would’ve acted already.”

That meant there was only one reason for their movement.

“The ones behind this must’ve promised to lift their restriction.”

The three listening nodded. Yes—if that wasn’t the case, there’s no way both would move at the same time.

“What about the possibility that the restriction’s already been lifted?”

To this, Geom Mugeuk shook his head at Geom Muyang’s question.

“If they planned to use those old monsters, they wouldn’t have lifted it in advance. Instead, they gave them certainty that it could be done.”

What kind of trust had they instilled to move such formidable elders?

Geom Muyang said with concern,

“Then you must be their target.”

But Geom Mugeuk shook his head again.

“If I were their target, So Jeongrak would’ve used an instantly fatal poison on me.”

“Then why draw them to Wuhan if you’re not the target?”

There was clearly another goal. The first likely reason that came to mind was this:

“Someone capable of removing their restriction is here.”

The ones pulling the strings would need to fulfill their promise within seven days and release the seal. Those old monsters didn’t have much time left.

“What if they come here and kill righteous sect masters from Wuhan? How will the upright martial world interpret that?”

Right now, Geom Mugeuk, his brother, the Poison King, and the Demonic Buddha were all present in Wuhan.

If word got out that those infamous old monsters of the previous generations had joined them? Fear and hatred would sweep through the orthodox martial world.

“I don’t know exactly what those bastards are after.”

With a deepened gaze, Geom Mugeuk calmly added—what made those two coming to this place truly terrifying wasn't their fearsome martial arts.

“Men with nowhere left to return to are on their way here.”