Absolute Regression

Chapter 667: I Wanted to Run Away

"Brother! I came back alive!"

When Geom Mugeuk cheerfully greeted and entered the room, Geom Muyang was standing by the window.

Without turning around, Geom Muyang spoke.

"I heard it all."

"Heard what?"

"You talking bad about me."

"I never said that. I just said my brother’s hearing is so good that he can even hear when people talk behind his back. So if you’re going to insult him, do it from far away."

A faint smile formed at the corner of Geom Muyang’s lips as he kept his back turned.

Geom Mugeuk slumped down like laundry draped over a chair.

"Ah, it’s finally over! Now, let’s take a break for a while! I’m going to have fun, so don’t stop me! I’ll hang out with my friends, with the Demon Supremes, and with Father too. I mean it! Don’t even mention plots, schemes, or conspiracies! Brother, let’s have fun together!"

Geom Muyang turned around and looked over Geom Mugeuk’s body.

"For someone who just finished such a big fight, there’s not a single drop of blood on your clothes."

"People as refined as us even fight in an elegant manner."

Just then, someone opened the door and stepped in, speaking.

"Is that why? Or is it because you had others fight while you stood in the back with your arms crossed, just watching?"

Geom Mugeuk’s face lit up brightly. It was a voice he hadn’t heard in so long and was so glad to hear again.

"Of course, I doubt your mouth stayed still while others were fighting."

When Geom Mugeuk jumped to his feet and turned around, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme entered the room.

"I’ve missed you so, Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk ran toward the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult with his arms open. The Cult Leader shifted aside with a light step technique.

"Don’t pretend you’re happy. I know you’ve completely forgotten me. The moment you saw my face you thought, ‘Who’s this? Ah! That Cult Leader from back then!’"

Geom Mugeuk shouted,

"That Young Master from back then was me!"

He lunged forward again, but the Cult Leader once more evaded with his step technique.

"Enough! You’re creeping me out!"

But contrary to his words, the Cult Leader’s face was full of joy. It had been a long time since he could joke and play around so freely, and it felt like something blocked in his chest had suddenly cleared.

Had he ever had someone to treat him this comfortably while teaching that brat of a disciple at the Heavenly Wind Cult in the Wilderness? He had missed this moment.

Yes, this was it. This was the taste he had thrown everything away for.

To meet someone to whom he could speak his mind openly, and who, even if there were misunderstandings or mistakes in the process, would accept it all and help set things right.

To have even one such person would be a blessing, yet he had two.

Just then, another person entered the room, clicking his tongue as he spoke.

"You’ve completely fallen for that act."

The one who entered was the Demonic Buddha.

The Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult and the Demonic Buddha exchanged glances in greeting. Their relationship, which had once soured, had now somewhat recovered.

"With an act like that, isn’t it worth falling for?"

The Demonic Buddha couldn’t bring himself to deny it.

After he finished greeting Geom Muyang and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, Geom Mugeuk asked,

"What about the Poison King?"

"He went to his room."

The Poison King was probably already spreading out the poisonous herbs he had gathered.

"I was going to bring that Chief back alive, but it didn’t work out."

"You did well. He probably didn’t know anything anyway."

Geom Mugeuk offered his gratitude formally.

"Thanks to you, we were able to handle this matter easily. Thank you."

"I didn’t come here because of you."

Saying that, the Demonic Buddha looked at Geom Muyang.

Geom Mugeuk felt he now understood what lay behind the Demonic Buddha’s unwavering loyalty toward his older brother.

The Demonic Buddha had lived a lonelier life than anyone since childhood. That was why he knew—what loneliness meant to a person.

Having holed himself up in a small cave, he would also know the kind of loneliness his older brother felt after being pushed aside in the fight for succession.

"It’s fine. There are already two people here who came for me."

When Geom Mugeuk glanced at the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, the man shook his head firmly.

"Sorry, but I came to see Military Advisor Go."

"That’s just cruel!"

Geom Mugeuk’s eyes shifted to the last remaining person, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.

She smiled. He fully expected her to say she came because of him.

"I wanted to see my master after so long."

Soul Reaper, you too?! His eyes said it all, and only then did she smile again.

"I’m joking."

The Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, of course, wouldn’t miss such a perfect opportunity.

"Joking, huh? So you didn’t come to see me?"

"No. I came to see my master."

The Wind Cult Leader teased Geom Mugeuk.

"Life is something you walk alone, you know."

Geom Mugeuk walked over to the window.

"Brother, let me borrow the window for a moment."

Then he stared outside, pretending to be lonely.

Watching him, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme felt it.

Geom Mugeuk’s back truly looked lonely.

It was similar to how she had felt when she saw the Evil Smiling Demon standing alone on a rooftop.

Maybe that was why the two of them were so close.

The Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult asked Geom Mugeuk,

"And where is Military Advisor Go?"

"I don’t know. Aren’t I someone who walks life alone?"

"Leave Military Advisor Go out of that and walk."

At that, Geom Mugeuk turned around with a smile.

"We agreed to meet at the main cult. He said he’d come after finishing what he had to do."

The hidden contributor who had made it possible to resolve this matter so smoothly was none other than Gowol. He had shared all of Hidden Moon’s information with the Heavenly Communication Pavilion and passed it along to Geom Mugeuk.

"Still being overworked under that heartless leader, I see."

Geom Mugeuk did not deny it.

"That’s why we need you, Cult Leader. No matter how much I tell him to take it easy while working, he won’t listen to me."

"Do you think that stubborn mule listens to me either?"

"Still, he listens to you more than to me."

After exchanging a few words with the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, Geom Mugeuk turned to the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme. He could sense that her qi had undergone a significant change since before. She was no longer the same as she once was.

"Thanks to you, we were able to resolve this matter well. Thank you."

The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme thought Geom Mugeuk was indeed meticulous. He never forgot to give his greetings to each and every person, even when the situation was over and it would’ve been easy to skip over such details.

"I believe it was only possible because the Young Cult Leader was here."

She knew full well that it was Geom Mugeuk who had orchestrated the entire operation and ultimately prevented all the schemes from unfolding.

From the beginning, she had been someone who should not have been here in Wuhan. And it wasn’t just her—Poison King, the Demonic Buddha, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, the Great Young Master were all present.

The one who made it possible for them all to be here was the Young Cult Leader himself—the future Cult Leader she would serve for life.

At her words, Geom Mugeuk beamed.

"As expected! The only one who truly recognizes me is the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme!"

Once the lively reunion settled down, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult casually asked,

"How about over there?"

What he was curious about was the Martial Alliance Leader’s skill.

"The Alliance Leader is no ordinary man, right?"

Everyone was curious, so they focused on Geom Mugeuk’s reply.

"I’ll have to tell my father to postpone unifying the martial world."

That alone was enough to say how formidable the Alliance Leader was.

But the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult immediately shook his head.

"Your father is scarier."

"You haven’t fought either my father or the Alliance Leader, have you?"

"Do you need to fight to know? When I think about facing the Alliance Leader, I feel concerned and start planning how to fight him. But when I think about facing your father… ah, I don’t even want to imagine it. That’s the difference."

To the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, the Demonic Cult Leader was far more frightening than the Martial Alliance Leader.

"All right, let’s head back. We should see that poor military advisor who’s being overworked."

Experts from the Demonic Cult could not remain in Wuhan for long.

So Geom Mugeuk sent the Wind Cult Leader and the Demon Supremes ahead first.

"You all go on ahead. My brother and I have something to do here."

Geom Muyang gave him a look that seemed to say, “What are you plotting now?”

"Soon you’ll be hearing good news from the Martial Alliance."

"What kind of news?"

With a cryptic smile, Geom Mugeuk replied,

"Since we’ve come all this way, we should give them a proper celebration before we leave."

*         *         *

Jin Hagun returned to the Martial Alliance.

When the Martial Alliance warriors saw Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artists soaked in blood, they greeted them with a respectful clasp of the fists.

They knew well that this blood had been spilled to protect innocent lives.

Recently, Jin Hagun had been making a conscious effort to change himself. As a result, his bonds with the Demon-Slaying Brigade had deepened, and that change had allowed the brigade to grow into an even stronger organization.

Naturally, the way people in the Martial Alliance looked at the Demon-Slaying Brigade had changed.

Once inside the Alliance grounds, Jin Hagun dismissed his subordinates.

"Go get your wounds treated and rest well! You’ve all worked hard."

"You’ve worked hard too, Division Leader!"

With that, Jin Hagun headed alone toward the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

On the way, he couldn’t stop thinking about his grandfather.

He didn’t know what kind of fight had taken place with Hwa Yulcheong, but judging from their own battle, his grandfather’s must have been no easy one either.

Especially since Jin Hyeo had said they would take him hostage to threaten his grandfather. If that had led to his grandfather being injured…

That was why, this time more than ever, he trusted Geom Mugeuk. He believed that Geom Mugeuk would have ensured his grandfather remained unshaken.

Jin Hagun stepped into the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

Creak—

The moment the door opened, he instinctively felt the air inside was different.

His heart began to pound.

When he took in the sight before him, his chest sank.

The Throne Mat was empty.

If that had been all, he might have simply assumed his grandfather had stepped out for a moment.

But beneath the Throne Mat, dozens of martial artists stood lined up on either side.

They were no ordinary martial artists. They were the heads of various Martial Alliance organizations.

First, the four elite groups that represented the Martial Alliance—

the Division Leaders of the Blue Dragon Group, the White Dragon Branch, the White Tiger Corps, and the Vermilion Bird Corps.

And not just them.

The Masters of the Heavenly Wind Pavilion and the Secret Pavilion, both elite units that moved in secrecy, were present.

Alongside them stood the heads of other divisions, including the Captains of the Iron Cavalry Unit and the Shadow Unit.

Even the Martial Alliance’s Chief Strategist, Jeogal Hyeon, was there.

Jin Hagun’s heart pounded wildly, and his surprise only grew when he saw his younger sister, Jin Haryeong, among them.

‘No way?’

Could something have happened to his grandfather?

His steps quickened toward the front.

The leaders of the Martial Alliance standing in two lines on either side silently watched him pass.

When he reached the space below the Throne Mat—

The door that the Alliance Leader usually used opened, and from it, Jin Paecheon walked out.

The moment he saw his grandfather, Jin Hagun let out a sigh of relief. That short walk from the entrance to here had been the most nerve-racking moment of his life.

"Alliance Leader!"

Jin Hagun looked at Jin Paecheon with trembling eyes.

Seeing his grandfather unharmed brought one person to mind.

‘Thank you, Mugeuk.’

Just this once, boast as much as you want. I’ll take it all.

Jin Hagun offered a formal bow.

"Demon-Slaying Brigade Division Leader Jin Hagun, reporting back after completing my mission."

Jin Paecheon silently looked down at his grandson. His eyes and his demeanor were different from usual, which only heightened Jin Hagun’s tension.

His grandfather was safe—so what could have happened to bring all these people together like this?

At last, astonishing words came from Jin Paecheon’s mouth. He was not a man who postponed something once he had made up his mind.

"From this moment on, I appoint the Demon-Slaying Brigade Division Leader, Jin Hagun, as the next Martial Alliance Leader!"

Jin Hagun’s eyes widened.

His grandfather’s words just now meant he was being officially named the successor to the Alliance Leader.

That long-cherished moment had arrived without the slightest warning, leaving him both shocked and flustered.

Jin Haryeong sent him a voice transmission.

—What are you doing, big brother!

Only then did Jin Hagun snap out of it, standing tall and shouting with formality,

"I, Demon-Slaying Brigade Division Leader Jin Hagun, will uphold this solemn command, guard the Alliance, honor righteousness and chivalry, and protect justice."

At once, the leaders gathered there raised their voices in unison.

"Righteous Path of Chivalry! Justice Shall Reign in the Martial World!"

The resounding voices were brimming with spirit and conviction.

Jin Hagun was overjoyed—more than words could express. He had dreamed of this moment since childhood, to succeed his grandfather as Martial Alliance Leader.

In truth, the position of Martial Alliance Leader was not something one could attain simply through inheritance or by the decision of the current leader alone.

According to the established laws of the Alliance, the candidate nominated had to receive the approval of over eighty percent of the Alliance’s leaders, including the Chief Strategist. Whether they voted in favor or against was strictly confidential, making the process highly rigorous.

Jin Paecheon’s decision to delay choosing a successor had, in hindsight, been wise. In that time, Jin Hagun had diligently built up fame and a solid reputation through his work as the Demon-Slaying Brigade’s leader.

Moreover, in the course of fulfilling his duties, his character had earned recognition as well.

Thus, everyone had already made up their minds long ago.

"Division Leader Jin, please step up."

At Chief Strategist Jeogal Hyeon’s words, Jin Hagun climbed the steps to stand beside Jin Paecheon.

The assembled leaders all bowed with respect.

"We pay our respects to the next Alliance Leader!"

Jin Hagun returned the bow.

"I am truly grateful that you see worth in someone as lacking as I."

Jin Haryeong also offered her congratulations. Though under normal circumstances she should have bowed formally as well, at this moment she simply wanted to congratulate him as a younger sister. She knew better than anyone how much her brother had yearned for this day.

"Congratulations, brother!"

Jin Hagun beamed at her.

The leaders each came forward to give their congratulations, and Jin Hagun descended to greet them one by one, expressing his thanks.

With this, the successor to the Martial Alliance Leader had been decided. An official announcement would soon be made, and all of the martial world would learn of it.

The Martial Alliance would hold a grand celebration.

*         *         *

Once everyone had left, only Jin Paecheon and Jin Hagun remained in the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

"Hagun, there’s something I need to tell you."

"I will take your words deeply to heart."

Jin Hagun thought his grandfather would speak about the sense of duty and bearing an Alliance Leader must have, perhaps also about Geom Mugeuk and the peace of the martial world.

But his grandfather said something completely unexpected.

"I’ve had the wish that you would never sit in this seat. My feelings were half and half."

For the first time, Jin Paecheon spoke honestly about the Alliance Leader’s position.

"This is a seat that comes with an enormous weight of responsibility. You must restrain your desires to the utmost and carry the burden of protecting the lives of countless people. Even if it’s not your fault, the blame will come to you, and you’ll bear every kind of resentment."

He spoke to his grandson with all the affection in his heart.

"It might seem exciting and good, but that lasts only a day or two. You’ll spend your life conscious of others’ eyes. You’ll have to watch yourself even while eating, and you won’t even be able to curse freely. Because of tangled relationships, you can’t even show dislike to someone you hate."

Then, he revealed something startling.

"I’ve wanted to run away more than once."

Jin Hagun could hardly believe his grandfather had such thoughts.

"Those people who congratulated you earlier—if they were offered this seat, more of them would run away than accept it. The more you truly understand what this seat means, the more you’ll run rather than covet it."

Jin Hagun understood what he meant. The position of Division Leader of the Demon-Slaying Brigade could be grueling enough—how much harder must the Alliance Leader’s seat be?

"Do you know how I endured it?"

"How did you endure it?"

Jin Paecheon’s gaze grew intense.

"Through strength."

He wasn’t just giving his grandson a difficult and heavy seat—he was also giving him the strength to protect it.

"I will pass on to you the Emperor’s Sword Style!"