Absolute Regression

Chapter 650: Still, I'm the Best, Right?

Demonic Buddha was organizing the poisonous herbs scattered around the yard.

He had already harvested what needed to be collected early, and only those that required long drying were left.

Just then, a voice came from behind.

"I'll help you."

Turning around, he saw Geom Muyang walking over.

"Would you really?"

Demonic Buddha did not decline. He understood. For Geom Muyang, coming over and offering help like this was an effort to approach him.

Geom Muyang walked up beside him and, after quietly watching Demonic Buddha for a moment, began organizing the poisonous herbs alongside him.

"I wonder if I’m bothering you when you might want to be alone."

"Not at all. In fact, I was just getting bored."

Geom Muyang had always felt that Demonic Buddha had a sharp edge to him, but lately, he seemed so gentle that it felt like dealing with a different person. Would Demonic Buddha also see him as having changed?

"I didn’t know you were interested in herbs."

"To be honest, I’m not particularly interested in medicinal or poisonous herbs."

Demonic Buddha paused his sorting for a moment.

"I just came to enjoy the pleasure of discovering herbs."

There was genuine fun in simply finding herbs. The thrill of spotting something that everyone else missed and the tactile satisfaction of gently digging it up without damaging the roots brought the greatest joy in the realm of hobbies.

Of course, that didn’t mean he roamed around gathering herbs on his own. When he wasn’t interacting with the Poison King, he usually immersed himself in sculpting statues. But even that paled in comparison to the joy of gathering herbs.

And more decisively—

"It’s even more enjoyable because there’s someone who appreciates it."

There was no one who appreciated the gathered poisonous herbs more than the Poison King.

"Does the Great Young Master have any hobbies he enjoys these days?"

Not that he would have found a new one, but upon thinking for a moment, there was something worth mentioning.

"These days, I’ve developed a hobby of working."

He had been working several times harder than during the succession struggle. Because of that, his reputation within the cult had actually improved.

"Maybe it’s the karma for losing the succession to the Young Cult Leader who loved to play around?"

As Demonic Buddha and Geom Muyang squatted together, organizing the poisonous herbs, Geom Muyang glanced toward the main gate. Geom Mugeuk had gone to the Clearheart Clinic and hadn’t returned yet.

"Are you worried about the Young Cult Leader?"

Demonic Buddha had expected him to shake his head in denial, but Geom Muyang nodded instead.

Demonic Buddha smiled and said,

"No matter how remarkable a younger brother is, a brother is still a brother."

It wasn’t just something Geom Muyang said. He truly meant it.

"If Mugeuk were to get hurt, I wouldn’t be able to face Father."

That Geom Mugeuk’s martial arts far surpassed his own was an entirely separate matter.

He believed that if they were out together, it was his duty to look after his younger brother. To be more honest, he didn’t want to disappoint their father. If he let go of even that expectation...

That was why, if the opponent today hadn’t been someone who used poison, he would have definitely gone with him.

How could Demonic Buddha not know what was in Geom Muyang’s heart?

“Being the older brother of someone so outstanding isn’t easy, is it?”

Especially if that younger brother was Geom Mugeuk?

“Living as a shadow isn’t so bad.”

After Geom Muyang’s candid words, Demonic Buddha paused briefly before replying.

“I think it is bad.”

There was something Demonic Buddha truly wanted to say to Geom Muyang. He hadn’t expected it would happen while drying poisonous herbs in the courtyard of the Infinite Compound, but still.

“The Young Cult Leader didn’t try to carry out the succession struggle without bloodshed because he wanted you to live as his shadow.”

“...!”

“Please be a brother who keeps the Young Cult Leader tense until the very end. For his sake, and for yours.”

Geom Muyang remained silent. Demonic Buddha, who had spent so long being his shadow, was now telling him not to become a shadow.

Demonic Buddha knew.

What it meant to live as Mugeuk’s shadow.

It might sound like some grand sacrifice, but it wasn’t.

It was a desperate struggle to protect one’s pride, and a convincing excuse, found at the end of an escape.

He wasn’t protecting anyone by becoming a shadow — he was simply hiding.

This small man before him, Demonic Buddha, knew that. This man was truly looking at him straight on.

While silently staring down at the poisonous herbs, Geom Muyang spoke in a low voice.

“You really do make things hard for me, Demonic Buddha.”

Demonic Buddha looked up at the sky and replied,

“Don’t try to endure. Just live as the Great Young Master should. That path will surely leave footprints.”

Geom Muyang’s gaze followed his, turning upward.

‘Isn’t living as myself harder than enduring?’

But he didn’t say that out loud. To someone who was trying this hard to stand by him, he didn’t want to offer excuses — he wanted to show effort instead.

‘Alongside that footprint, there needs to be another.’

One that was smaller than anyone else’s, yet moved forward with the greatest strength.

That alone was enough.

999

Having returned from the underground secret chamber, Geom Mugeuk left So Jeongrak’s quarters.

The Clearheart Clinic was operating as if nothing had happened.

Geom Mugeuk headed toward the medical room where the patients who had fallen asleep earlier were.

The people who had been asleep there were now all awake.

He had expected the clinic to be in chaos with the physicians searching for So Jeongrak, but surprisingly, everything was proceeding as usual.

Geom Mugeuk walked toward a corner of the medical room.

There was a man lying face-down, receiving acupuncture with his back exposed.

"What on earth are you doing here?"

The man replied while still lying down.

"My back’s been hurting lately from gathering poisonous herbs."

"But Demonic Buddha probably collected all the poisonous herbs."

Pretending not to hear, the man was none other than the Poison King. He was also the one who had awakened all those who had been asleep here.

When Geom Mugeuk had arrived at the clinic, he came with him. No matter how immune he was to poison, Geom Mugeuk didn’t let his guard down against So Jeongrak, a master of poison arts. He could have ingested a mass-lethal poison and died with it in his body.

"I thought the physicians would be in an uproar after waking up, but it’s quiet."

Still lying down, the Poison King replied,

"I told them. That Physician So had gone away for a few days to treat veteran masters of the martial world."

Several people had seen So Jeongrak leaving earlier with the Demon Flame Lord and the White-Bone Soul Demon on their way from the medical room.

"I said that the experts requested discreet treatment, so I put everyone here to sleep. Told them the patient was a senior master from the Martial Alliance, so not to worry. If they want to confirm, tell them to check with the Demon-Slaying Brigade."

That explanation had put everyone at ease. By the time his disappearance became an issue, everything would already be over.

"You know, the more I see, Poison King-nim, you're really clever! How do you handle things so perfectly? You've been traveling across the Central Plains in secret, haven’t you? I bet you've made lovers all over — in Chongqing, in Hubei, all over the place!"

The Poison King chuckled to himself while still lying down. Hearing someone say he was smart so bluntly, and even that absurd remark about lovers — those were things he only ever heard when with Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk sat lightly at the edge of the Poison King’s bed.

"If you're going to get acupuncture, go to the Demon Doctor."

"I’d only go to him if I lost an arm."

That was the Demon Supreme’s pride speaking — he wouldn’t go just because of some back pain.

Having said that, Geom Mugeuk realized how long it had been since he last saw the Demon Doctor. Even if he resolved to take care of everything properly, reality always left things neglected. Now that he thought about it, he'd been so busy as the acting Cult Leader that he left the cult without even sharing a drink with Jo Chunbae.

Geom Mugeuk looked up at the sky outside the window. The pure white clouds were drifting slowly, but never stopping.

"You’re not going to ask how it went?"

To that, the Poison King replied while still lying down.

"What’s the point in asking?"

It was a statement filled with pride in his own poison, but also a sign of his trust in Geom Mugeuk. That was why he didn’t ask about So Jeongrak, or about the two elders who had violated the Forbidden Demon Order.

"Did you roll around in a pile of poisonous herbs or something? What's with that smell?"

Only then did the Poison King lift his head and look toward Geom Mugeuk.

"Huh?"

What caught his eye was the pouch Geom Mugeuk was holding carefully in his arms. When he saw the poisonous herb leaf sticking out from the end of the pouch, the Poison King’s eyes widened.

"Snowdream Flower?"

Pluck, pluck, pluck, pluck, pluck!

The acupuncture needles embedded in the Poison King's back popped out on their own.

Springing upright, he began to sniff in earnest.

"I smell Black Smoke Grass, too."

Geom Mugeuk opened the pouch and looked inside.

"Oh, you're spot on."

The Poison King accurately named the herbs underneath in order.

"Qi Transformation Herb and Yin Wind Flower as well!"

Geom Mugeuk stared at both the pouch and the Poison King in astonishment. Guessing the contents alone wasn’t easy, but incredibly, the Poison King listed everything in the exact order they had been packed.

"Seven-Color Sunshine Herb, and even Moonshadow Herb!"

He had identified even the poisonous herb at the very bottom of the pouch, just by scent.

"Pleasure Herb is incredibly hard to obtain, though."

These were truly rare poisonous herbs that So Jeongrak had gathered over a long time.

When the Poison King reached out slightly to grab the pouch, Geom Mugeuk subtly moved it to the opposite side.

"Now that I think about it, I’m quite hurt. Weren’t I the one you cared about the most, Poison King-nim?"

"You are."

The Poison King swallowed hard, glancing at Geom Mugeuk—though his gaze was clearly fixed on the pouch.

"Doesn’t feel that way lately."

"It’s definitely you."

"Are you sure?"

The Poison King nodded.

"You must declare it clearly in front of our second gatherer. Say it — ‘You are second only to the Young Cult Leader!’ Can you do that?"

The Poison King visibly flinched.

Seeing that, Geom Mugeuk held back a laugh. That was enough teasing for their friendship. He handed the pouch to the Poison King.

"So Jeongrak told me to give this to you as a gift. He said he sincerely respects you."

That alone was enough. Enough to let him know that So Jeongrak had died from the Poison King’s own poison.

The Poison King opened the pouch with a wide smile, his joy unmistakable. Could someone truly love poisonous herbs this much?

"You like it that much?"

"With these, I might be able to create a new poison I’ve been planning."

The Poison King, eager to return to his quarters, immediately left the medical room, and Geom Mugeuk followed behind him.

After walking for a while, the Poison King suddenly spoke.

"Thanks for bringing it."

Their gazes briefly crossed in midair. Geom Mugeuk could feel the Poison King's sincere gratitude. Geom Mugeuk smiled faintly, and the Poison King returned it with the same smile.

And, of course, Geom Mugeuk wasn’t going to let this moment pass without a little fun.

"I'm truly glad you recognize it. Ah, since we're on the subject, do you know how much effort it took to gather those herbs while fighting against the Demon Flame Lord and the White-Bone Soul Demon? In the midst of a three-hundred-move life-and-death battle against two elders, I dashed between attacks to collect poisonous herbs and stuff them into the pouch. My protective energy was melted by the Demon Flame Lord’s palm technique, and the White-Bone Ghost created by the White-Bone Soul Demon resurrected five times by reassembling itself. If it weren’t for my deep devotion to you, Poison King-nim, I wouldn't have been able to collect them."

"……"

"……"

"Be honest. How many moves did it really take you to win?"

"I said it was three hundred moves."

"……"

"Two hundred moves. No, a hundred."

When the Poison King kept staring at him, Geom Mugeuk finally spoke honestly.

"One move."

The Poison King nodded without surprise.

"I figured as much."

Geom Mugeuk realised— the Poison King had sensed that his martial arts had advanced.

Was the Poison King's poison arts also growing stronger?

The Poison King began walking again, and Geom Mugeuk followed behind.

"Even if it was easy to collect… still, I’m the best, right? Right?"

"Maybe I should pick up a dish Demonic Buddha likes on the way back."

"Why are you suddenly talking about Demonic Buddha-nim?"

"He's the one who should be getting the acupuncture."

"So I’ve already been bumped from first place!"

As the two exchanged jokes while walking along the street in front of the clinic, they could feel the glances from passing women.

"Do you feel those looks? Before we head back, let’s have a drink with some of the female heroes of Infinite."

Just then, one of the women who had been glancing at them stepped forward.

"Um…"

The woman blushed, as if confessing something, her face turning red.

She raised her head and spoke. Naturally, they expected her to ask them out for a drink or tea.

"Return to the Demonic Cult, Geom Mugeuk."

In an instant, the expressions of both Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King hardened.

The woman's gaze and expression were no different from when she started glancing at them. She didn’t seem to be in a trance. And yet, she was clearly under the effects of the Soul Reaping Art.

She reached into her robe and pulled something out. To their surprise, it was a counterfeit Blitz Blade.

She didn’t try to attack swiftly. She drew it out very slowly, as if to say:

I’m going to draw a hidden weapon and attack now.

As if she wanted them to know.

Before she could aim the Blitz Blade, Geom Mugeuk struck her pressure point with a swift gust of internal energy.

At that moment!

Her eyes rolled back, and her entire body began to convulse violently.

The veins on her forehead swelled as if they were about to burst. If left alone, she would surely die.

Geom Mugeuk struck again with internal energy, sealing her blood circulation. He thought putting her to sleep might help. But it was no use.

"Urrghhh!"

The woman’s veins swelled even further.

She had been struck with a type of Soul Reaping Art that would kill her the moment any form of restraint was applied. This was the first time Geom Mugeuk had encountered such a technique.

If sealing her blood paths didn’t work, knocking her unconscious would have had the same fatal result.

So, Geom Mugeuk first released the pressure on her blood point and circulation path.

The bulging veins subsided, and the woman regained her senses.

She slowly raised the Blitz Blade again.

Her movements were so slow that it was as if she were silently saying: If you want to live, kill this woman.

There were many people around. Dodging the Blitz Blade might result in someone behind them getting killed.

With too many passersby nearby, it was impossible to erect the Great Demon Wall. So Geom Mugeuk stepped in front of the Poison King and gripped the hilt of the Black Demon Sword.

Even at such close range, his plan was to parry the hidden weapon with his blade. Deflect them all downward!

The Blitz Blade was aimed — and in that moment, as Geom Mugeuk locked eyes with the woman beyond the weapon—

She slowly put the Blitz Blade back into her robe.

Then she looked at Geom Mugeuk and said,

"Um… my friends are over there. Would you care to join us for some tea?"

The woman clearly had no idea what she had just done. She likely didn’t even know the Blitz Blade had been in her robe.

Between those two completely different actions, there had been no noticeable change.

Her gaze didn’t shift, no ominous energy emerged.

The transition between her actions had been utterly natural — like she had simply played two roles in one body.

With a smile, Geom Mugeuk replied,

"That’s a shame. I’ve got somewhere urgent to be right now. But let’s definitely have a cup next time."

The woman, looking bashful, bowed her head and disappeared into the crowd.

"An astonishingly sophisticated use of Soul Reaping Art."

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, the Poison King silently nodded. There had been absolutely no sign that the woman was under the Soul Reaping Art. That alone spoke to how formidable their current opponent was.

"A warning to return, it seems."

Naturally, the Poison King expected Geom Mugeuk would take it that way.

"No. To me, it sounded different."

Geom Mugeuk’s eyes darkened with depth.

"They must know I wouldn’t turn back because of a threat like that."

And yet they still made their move like this.

"Which means… they have a different intention altogether."