Absolute Regression

Chapter 663: I Suppose I’ll Have to Intrude on This Stage

When Jin Hyeo’s breath ceased, the world he had created also began to vanish.

Ssssss.

The place that appeared was the Grand Hall where they had first arrived.

The corpse of Jin Hyeo lying on the floor finally told them that everything was over.

‘We’ve finally returned to our world.’

Jin Hagun sighed in relief and first checked on his injured subordinates.

He gave internal injury medicine to those with severe wounds and personally applied Golden Wound Medicine.

Though there were more than a few injured, fortunately, none had sustained fatal wounds.

Among the uninjured, he sent the one most skilled in light footwork to his grandfather.

“Tell him we’re safe!”

He had no intention of going to assist his grandfather. Going there with an exhausted and wounded body would only get in the way. Since Geom Mugeuk was with his grandfather, all he needed was to let him know he was safe.

Grand Instructor Hwa Song expressed his regret to Jin Hagun.

“I have no face to show you.”

Even if Jin Hyeo had been a villain despite once being a comrade, it was still shameful to have been defeated so helplessly.

Jin Hagun did not rebuke him. What mattered was what they would do from now on. They had fallen, so they had to stand again.

“Let’s use this incident to further develop the Great Righteous Soul-Reversal Art. Master Hwa, I’m entrusting that task to you.”

Hwa Song nodded with a resolute expression.

Before leaving that place, Jin Hagun expressed his gratitude to the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.

“You saved my life. I truly thank you.”

The warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade also cupped their fists in unison.

“Thank you.”

Indeed, if not for the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, every warrior of the Demon-Slaying Brigade would have perished here in the Grand Hall.

He himself would have become a hostage to threaten his grandfather. It was a situation he did not even want to imagine.

“I will never forget the grace of this day.”

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme instead gave the credit to Geom Mugeuk.

“Repay that grace to the Young Cult Leader.”

Jin Hagun smiled and nodded.

The gaze the two exchanged was soft. At least for today, they were comrades and friends who had broken through deadly peril together.

In particular, Jin Hagun could not forget the words she had told him. Back in the world of the Soul Reaping Art, when he had been overwhelmed with helplessness, she had said—

―Once fully grown, a tiger is frightening, but a serpent is not.

Those words had given him great comfort and made him resolve—

Let’s see each other again when I’ve become a true tiger.

Then, from behind, came the hearty voice of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“Why repay the Young Cult Leader? You should repay us. Repay me!”

Jin Hagun turned to him. He might not have learned everything about the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader from this incident, but at least he knew the man was good-humored.

“One day, I’ll visit with a list of things taken by the Young Cult Leader.”

Jin Hagun’s joke made the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader burst into loud laughter. He had not forgotten the playful remark he had made when they first met, asking Jin Hagun what had been taken from him.

“Let’s hold a grand victims’ gathering! And of course, the head of that gathering will be me!”

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme also smiled at that. There would surely be quite a few who could join such a meeting.

Through this incident, she truly felt admiration for her master.

There was a saying—if someone’s actions make you think they’re doing it too easily, that person is a true master.

If no one else, she alone understood. To others, it might have seemed as though her master had disposed of Jin Hyeo effortlessly, but that was far from the truth.

It was because he had the insight to read his opponent’s mind, to pierce the surrounding circumstances and the heart itself, that he had been able to kill him.

The Soul Reaping Art was a martial skill for deceiving the heart, and today her master had shown its very essence.

In this world, the head of a victims’ gathering; in the other world, an absolute being—that was her master.

“Well then, until next time.”

After parting with the two and stepping out of the Grand Hall, Jin Hagun spoke to Gwak Ju.

“Now, let’s go meet your sister.”

Gwak Yeong was currently in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s safe house. First, he intended to meet Geom Muyang and entrust Gwak Ju to him.

In a trembling voice, Gwak Ju asked,

“Why are you doing this much for me?”

No matter how dangerous the situation, the warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade had looked after him.

Who was he, really? He was merely the younger brother of an artisan from the Iron Workshop. Just an ordinary man who knew nothing of martial arts. Yet they had protected him more than their own lives.

Jin Hagun turned toward him. All eyes of the Demon-Slaying Brigade around them were fixed on him.

“Today, our mission was to rescue you. Even if everyone here had died and only one person remained, that one person would have saved you.”

Gwak Ju looked around at the members of the Demon-Slaying Brigade standing nearby.

Ah, so these are what orthodox martial artists are.

In that dazzling yet chaotic world, they had silently guarded him and brought him back here to reality. People who kept their promises without fail.

Gwak Ju deeply bowed to them all in gratitude.

Once they had departed, only the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme remained there.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky. The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, one step behind, also looked up with him.

She recalled the words her master had told her earlier.

The effort to live differently has made my world strong.

At that moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke. His face, so serious while looking at the sky, was now filled with mischief.

“We’ve got to go meet the person who put us through all this trouble and didn’t even show his face. We’ll meet the one who only calls when he needs something and tell him, ‘That cult leader came here, you know.’”

Despite his words, his face was full of anticipation at meeting Geom Mugeuk again. It had been such a long time since they last saw each other.

“The Young Cult Leader must also be fighting a hard battle.”

When they had first arrived and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had made jabs at the Young Cult Leader, Jin Hagun had said the same thing. Of course, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader hadn’t believed it for a moment.

“He’s in trouble? Your Young Cult Leader is a kite—yes, a kite.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader took the first step forward, adding,

“A kite flies higher the stronger the wind blows.”

999

The Hermit of Heaven and Earth, Hwa Yulcheong, whose identity was now revealed, demanded that the Martial Alliance Leader, Jin Paecheon, kill Geom Mugeuk.

If he wanted to save his grandson, then kill him.

But Jin Paecheon refused the offer.

“As I said I came here today as a spectator. At the very least, Geom Mugeuk won’t turn this stage into a tragedy.”

And when Hwa Yulcheong, with utter confidence, implied that if Jin Paecheon thought the Poison King and the Demonic Buddha would save them, he was gravely mistaken, Geom Mugeuk only showed even greater confidence.

“Do you really think they went to help my friend?”

Those words carried his certainty and conviction that Jin Hagun would be safe.

“Don’t bluff, Young Cult Leader.”

But Geom Mugeuk matched Hwa Yulcheong’s composure with his own.

“Bluffing is for those with nothing to their name. By now, he’s probably lost his last remaining wing as well.”

That confidence came from knowing that So Jeongrak was already dead and the master of the Soul Reaping Art was surely being dealt with as they spoke.

Hwa Yulcheong fixed his gaze on Jin Paecheon. Today, his true target was Jin Paecheon.

“You make the call. Just don’t regret it later.”

He knew well enough—having already lost blood relatives, Jin Paecheon’s greatest vulnerability was the safety of his grandchildren.

But he overlooked one thing—Jin Paecheon’s faith in Geom Mugeuk was far greater than he imagined.

“My decision is already made,” Jin Paecheon said firmly.

He had already resolved to trust Geom Mugeuk.

When Jin Paecheon’s gaze turned to him, Geom Mugeuk answered confidently,

“If the person I sent can’t save Hagun, then even with you and me there, we still couldn’t save him.”

At those words, Jin Paecheon thought of one person.

“Did you send the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded. Relief rose alongside a trace of unease.

Hwa Yulcheong immediately pricked at that unease.

“The whole martial world knows the new Soul Reaper Demon Supreme is still a fledgling. Young Cult Leader, it seems you only wanted the credit of saying you tried to save Hagun.”

Of course, Jin Paecheon knew about the young Soul Reaper Demon Supreme. Compared to her predecessor, she would inevitably be lacking.

Even so, the reason he remained completely unshaken was not because he trusted the young Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.

“She’ll be fine, won’t she?”

“Of course.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s firm reply, Jin Paecheon nodded.

Hwa Yulcheong let out a mocking sigh.

“Foolish! Truly foolish!”

Then Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“No, the foolish one is you.”

When Hwa Yulcheong looked at him as if to ask what he meant, an unexpected remark followed.

“You didn’t know I have anxiety disorder, did you?”

“Anxiety disorder?”

The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, with anxiety disorder? The idea of the Young Cult Leader and anxiety in the same sentence seemed absurd.

“This anxiety disorder is both the torment that plagues me and my greatest strength. It works like this—What if I only send one person and they make a mistake? What if the opponent is stronger? What if someone else comes to help them? What if something changes? I’m the kind of person who worries about every possible thing. And the result of that worrying is this.”

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to Jin Paecheon.

“I sent the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader with her.”

The moment he heard that, Jin Paecheon’s expression eased.

If it had been just the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme—yes, he would have been uneasy. But if the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had gone as well…

Geom Mugeuk was right. Against an opponent who used the Soul Reaping Art, those two were better suited than even he and Geom Mugeuk himself.

“Then it’s settled.”

The thought came naturally—it truly was fine.

In contrast, Hwa Yulcheong’s expression stiffened.

“More bluffing.”

He tried to sway Jin Paecheon.

“The Young Cult Leader is lying just to survive.”

Jin Paecheon looked at him calmly and said,

“You’re the one afraid you might die.”

A flicker of displeasure passed over Hwa Yulcheong’s face. Since his identity had already been revealed, he no longer bothered to hide his emotions as thoroughly as before.

Jin Paecheon’s gaze stayed fixed on him as he continued.

“I’ve never once tried to read your emotions until now. Thinking back, that was arrogance.”

Was it because he had been too busy as Alliance Leader?

No. It was because he had never needed to.

He had lived a life where he never had to watch someone else’s mood—everyone watched his instead.

A life in which it took him decades to realize that the Hermit of Heaven and Earth had never once shown anger toward him and had always gone along with his mood.

“This is all something I brought upon myself.”

But that didn’t mean he would forgive a man who had plotted with his grandson’s life on the line.

“The moment you schemed using my grandson’s life, every tie between us ended.”

Nothing more really needed to be said, but there was still one thing he wanted to know.

“One last question—All the cooperation you’ve shown me all these years, what was in your heart when you did it? Was that too all pretense?”

At Jin Paecheon’s question, a sneer appeared on Hwa Yulcheong’s lips.

“Why? Do you think your chivalry is real and mine is fake? Be honest—there must have been times when you were conscious of me. Times when you disliked that I was revered as a more respected hero than the Alliance Leader himself. Am I wrong?”

Jin Paecheon couldn’t deny it. There truly had been such moments. But those were fleeting feelings. He had quickly reined in his mind and treated his friend with goodwill.

Hwa Yulcheong pressed in even more persistently.

“If you kill me, what will those who survived thanks to my help think? Will they really believe I’ve been a villain hiding my identity for decades? Or will they think you killed me out of jealousy? Will they still respect and follow you as they did before?”

He was shaking Jin Paecheon’s resolve. Having watched him closely for years, he knew better than anyone what words could strike like a dagger.

Jin Paecheon quietly nodded.

“Yes, they might see me differently.”

He seemed strangely serene. But it wasn’t because Hwa Yulcheong had swayed him.

“That’s fine. My era is coming to an end anyway.”

Hearing those words, Geom Mugeuk understood—Jin Paecheon was finally ready to appoint Jin Hagun as his successor.

Perhaps Jin Hagun would be the last among the three of the three faction’s heir candidates to be named an the successor, but the first to become Martial Alliance Leader.

“Yes, I acknowledge your chivalry. You’ve lived an admirable life.”

That was when Geom Mugeuk cut in.

“I do not acknowledge it.”

What nonsense, trying to sway the Alliance Leader with nothing but that petty tongue? A three-inch tongue will be met with another three-inch tongue.

“You want to claim that chivalry was real? It’s fake. For you, every so-called chivalrous act was nothing more than a mission to build the Alliance Leader’s trust. If you want to be acknowledged, claim instead that you were a loyal and diligent servant to the Dark Palace. That I can accept.”

A twitch appeared at the corner of Hwa Yulcheong’s eye. He had indeed lived with exactly that mindset.

“If that chivalry were real, you wouldn’t have let So Jeongrak, who guarded you, kill innocent people in poison experiments. You wouldn’t have harmed people with the Soul Reaping Art and driven them to take their own lives in the end. If you wanted to claim that chivalry was genuine, you should have acted alone without subordinates who used poison and the Soul Reaping Art, targeting only the Alliance Leader.”

Hwa Yulcheong couldn’t refute Geom Mugeuk’s relentless words.

In truth, these words weren’t for Hwa Yulcheong—they were for Jin Paecheon. To tell him that there was no need to suffer from a poisoned dagger pulled from a scabbard labeled “chivalry.”

“What? You think even fake chivalry counts for something? That it’s better than nothing? If it hadn’t been you, someone truly chivalrous would have been in that place—someone without subordinates who used poison and the Soul Reaping Art. So don’t dare speak of chivalry to the Alliance Leader with that deceitful mouth.”

A faint smile appeared on Jin Paecheon’s lips. How could he not know? Geom Mugeuk had spoken those words for his sake.

In contrast, Hwa Yulcheong glared at Geom Mugeuk with a terrifying look. After all that talk, he had been unable to refute even a single word.

The emotion in his eyes was not merely killing intent—it was a darkness even deeper.

“Yes… this is the real you, isn’t it?”

Hwa Yulcheong had revealed himself.

The aura he now displayed was incomparable to before—this was the true presence of an absolute master of the Dark Palace, that had cultivated it’s power in the shadows for the past three hundred years.

At that moment, Jin Paecheon spoke in a calm tone.

“Though I came here as a spectator, I suppose I’ll have to intrude on this stage. Would that be acceptable?”

Geom Mugeuk answered with a smile.

“This stage has belonged to the Alliance Leader from the very beginning.”

Geom Mugeuk stepped back, and Jin Paecheon moved forward.

“Ah, then I’ll lower this stage’s curtain.”

Then, looking down at his sword, he spoke unexpected words.

“Since becoming Martial Alliance Leader, I’ve never unleashed my true swordsmanship. After all, an Alliance Leader can’t recklessly display a rough and violent sword style.”

One would expect his aura now to be all the more ferocious, yet instead it was calm.

It was not the raging sea of violent winds that made it impossible to open one’s eyes, as his aura usually was.

The sea in darkness was utterly still.

And that made it all the more frightening—because no one could know what would happen in that sea from now on.

The dark energy radiating from Hwa Yulcheong’s body grew even stronger. The bamboo around them began to wither under its force.

“I have no intention of letting the likes of you into Hagun’s era.”

Now calling Hwa Yulcheong “the likes of you,” Jin Paecheon fully stepped onto the stage and slowly drew his sword.

“I’ll send you off together as I close the curtain on my own era.”