Absolute Regression

Chapter 672: When Did You Get So Good at This?

Geom Muyang was training in the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique in his quarters.

It was a martial art his younger brother had passed on to him, even breaking the Cult rules for his sake. How could he possibly neglect it? Whenever he had time, he devoted himself entirely to training the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique.

While immersed in training, Geom Muyang opened his eyes and stopped his practice.

He had sensed someone entering the house. In the past, he would have realized it later, but even though he had only learned it recently, it was already showing its effects.

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

“Young as you are, why do you keep looking out the window?”

“Then is looking out the window only for the old?”

“Young people don’t look. They can’t stand it and run outside.”

“That’s a prejudice.”

Geom Mugeuk walked over and stood beside Geom Muyang.

“How did it go?”

“I met the Alliance Leader just fine.”

Since the birth of the Martial Alliance, had there ever been a time when the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult met the Martial Alliance Leader so easily? His younger brother was probably the first.

“Are you hungry right now?”

When Geom Muyang shook his head, Geom Mugeuk asked again.

“This is important. You might not be able to hold back and gulp it down if you’re starving.”

What nonsense was he about to say this time? Geom Muyang looked at his younger brother with such eyes.

“Here, this is probably the first time you’ve seen this in your life.”

Geom Mugeuk pulled a white bottle from his chest. The reason he had come rushing over was inside that bottle.

When Geom Mugeuk slowly opened the stopper, an indescribably wonderful fragrance flowed out.

As Geom Muyang quietly looked into the bottle, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Don’t tell me… Sky-Clear Jade Oil?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

“Pay your respects! This is the Cult Leader and the Alliance Leader of the elixir world!”

The fragrance alone was overwhelming. Truly, he had never smelled such a sweet aroma before.

“Where did you get it?”

It was such an extraordinary elixir that even the stoic Geom Muyang’s voice trembled.

“The Alliance Leader gave it to me to thank me for helping this time. Said we should split it in half. Told me to be sure to thank you as well.”

Geom Muyang chuckled faintly.

No way that was true. And there was even less chance the Alliance Leader had told him to share something this precious.

“I’m fine. You drink it.”

“I can’t do that. It was given to us to share.”

“Want me to confirm it with the Alliance Leader?”

“If you can’t believe me, go ahead.”

Of course, he couldn’t. Knowing Geom Muyang’s personality, he wasn’t the type to go to the Alliance Leader and ask, ‘Did you really tell us to share it?’

“Forget it. Even if that’s true, you drink it all.”

“If you won’t drink, I’ll throw it away.”

“Do as you please.”

“You think I won’t?”

Geom Mugeuk made to throw it onto the floor.

Of course, he didn’t.

“Ugh, I can’t even pretend to tilt it. I’m too worried it might spill.”

Geom Mugeuk held the bottle up with both hands.

Geom Muyang turned back toward the window again.

His younger brother, suggesting they share Sky-Clear Jade Oil?

When had their relationship reached this point? It felt like just yesterday that they were at each other’s throats, ready to kill. Truth be told, the emotions from back then were still vivid. That’s why moments like this sometimes felt strange.

Then, from behind, came Geom Mugeuk’s quiet voice.

“I’m scared.”

When Geom Muyang looked back, the mischief had vanished from Geom Mugeuk’s face.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop the ones behind all this. You saw it yourself this time—they’re persistent enough to endure and prepare for decades. What if someone even more vicious shows up, and I can’t handle it?”

After staring at his younger brother for a moment, Geom Muyang suddenly spoke.

“You fighting alone?”

As if waiting for that line, Geom Mugeuk held out the bottle of Sky-Clear Jade Oil.

“That’s why we should drink it together and fight together. I’m not giving this to you for your sake—it’s for mine. So you can protect me. Keep this up and I’ll order you as Acting Cult Leader.”

How could he refuse someone who spoke like that?

Geom Muyang replied calmly.

“Then just one drop! No more.”

“Fine. Even if I wanted to give more, there aren’t many drops.”

“Drink and leave me the rest.”

“I’ll have mine later.”

When Geom Muyang reached out his hand, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“Open your mouth.”

“What?”

“How can I trust you with this? You’ll say you’re only drinking one drop, then gulp it all down and call it an accident.”

Geom Muyang gave him a look of disbelief.

“I’d rather not drink at all.”

“Then you’re admitting I’m right—that you planned to drink it all but failed.”

Geom Muyang glared at him as if thinking, Is this guy insane?!

Geom Mugeuk brazenly stared back.

“If you’re innocent, then open your mouth.”

In the end, Geom Muyang opened his mouth slightly.

“Don’t close your mouth carelessly! If you spill it, we’re doomed.”

After stressing that, Geom Mugeuk tilted the bottle without hesitation.

Drip, drip, drip!

Three drops fell in quick succession. There was no time to close his mouth after the first drop.

As Geom Muyang stared in surprise, Geom Mugeuk shouted.

“Talk later—circulate your qi now!”

It wasn’t a time to be stubborn, so Geom Muyang immediately sat cross-legged and began dissolving the medicinal energy.

Geom Mugeuk downed the rest of the Sky-Clear Jade Oil in one go.

Drip! Drip!

Only two drops remained.

And so, the two brothers sat side by side, dissolving the energy of the Sky-Clear Jade Oil in their bodies.

There was no need for a guard. By now, Geom Mugeuk’s level was such that even if something happened, he could pause the process of dissolving the medicinal energy, deal with it, and then resume without issue.

Geom Muyang, meanwhile, was experiencing something entirely new.

Even a single drop carried an immense amount of energy—yet he had taken three! The overwhelming power he was feeling for the first time in his life caused his meridians to open all at once.

Following the flow of his true qi, the energy of the Sky-Clear Jade Oil began seeping into his meridians.

Shaaak, shaaak!

With each round of dissolution, powerful energy surged into his meridians. The thrill of that moment was beyond words.

Geom Muyang carefully, yet boldly, continued to dissolve the energy.

When all three drops of Sky-Clear Jade Oil had been absorbed, the energy raced through his meridians with unstoppable force.

It was a headlong charge—a torrent of strength unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

As the raging energy gathered in his dantian and merged with his existing internal energy—

In the next instant!

It was as if an explosion had filled his dantian to the brim with magnificent power, and joy spread across Geom Muyang’s face. No pleasure he had ever felt in his martial path compared to this.

After calmly consolidating his internal energy, Geom Muyang opened his eyes.

His dantian brimmed with magnificent internal power, and his eyes had become clearer and deeper. His body felt light, and it seemed as though his skin was radiating light. He could vividly feel that his own strength had grown.

The Sky-Clear Jade Oil’s effects were not limited to simply increasing his internal energy—it had cleansed his meridians and refined his qi to an even purer state.

Geom Mugeuk, who had finished circulating his qi first, was watching him.

It seemed he had been waiting without even taking a deep breath until Geom Muyang was done.

“Unbelievable, right?”

That, at least, could not be denied. It truly was unbelievable.

Geom Muyang silently nodded before asking,

“Why did you give me three drops?”

“Damn it! You think I wanted to? My hand slipped.”

Geom Mugeuk wore an expression of frustration.

“I’d rather drop my sword in a fight with the enemy.”

Nonsense. There was no way Geom Mugeuk would lose control like that—he had intended to give him three drops from the start. Once again, he’d been played by his younger brother.

“Good thing I left two drops. If I’d poured it all in, I’d have had to cut you open to get it back.”

Instead of taking credit, Geom Mugeuk played the villain.

“You think I spared you in the successor battle out of kindness? Supporting you will make my life miserable. You’d better be ready.”

Geom Muyang didn’t say thank you. For looking after ‘this’ younger brother, even three drops of Sky-Clear Jade Oil weren’t enough.

Geom Mugeuk suddenly stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“We came all the way to Wuhan, so we should at least take a look at the marketplace.”

Just as Geom Muyang was about to say he wasn’t interested, Geom Mugeuk was a step faster.

“We came all the way to Wuhan, so we’ve got to buy Father a gift. You’re not going to get anything? Ah, our poor father who only likes his eldest son—when has he ever gotten a gift from him even once…”

Before the words dragged on any longer, Geom Muyang stood up.

*         *         *

The marketplace in front of the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance bustled with people.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and peddlers with street stalls called out in hoarse voices to attract customers.

Crowds of countless passersby moved through the street.

In that busy scene, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang appeared.

Geom Mugeuk strode along with his face uncovered, but Geom Muyang wore a bamboo hat pulled low.

“No one’s looking, brother. And even if they did, so what?”

But Geom Muyang did not remove his hat. In Wuhan, walking openly with a demonic cultivator’s face was something only his younger brother could do.

“Have we ever walked through a marketplace together like this? This is the first time, right?”

He had once walked a marketplace with his father while traveling. Today, he was walking with his brother. Perhaps someday, all three of them would walk together.

He had thought his brother would simply keep walking straight ahead, but unexpectedly, Geom Muyang looked around at the sights as they went.

It really seemed he was looking for a gift for their father.

Just then, a vendor at a dumpling cart shouted loudly.

“Come and taste dumplings so good, you wouldn’t notice if the person next to you dropped dead while eating!”

At that, Geom Mugeuk turned to his brother and said,

“Well, it’d be hard to kill someone right now, so I doubt we can feel that kind of flavor. Still, should we try one?”

Geom Mugeuk dragged his brother over.

They ordered a plate of dumplings, and for street food, they were quite good.

“Ever bought food and eaten it standing in the street before?”

Geom Muyang shook his head.

“What do you think?”

“I’d like to kill someone and eat in peace.”

Geom Mugeuk burst out laughing. His brother’s rare joke deserved a big laugh.

As they ate dumplings, they looked around the area.

People quarreling over a bargain, a woman running with food in a bowl, children chasing after a candy seller, passersby sidestepping men carrying heavy loads.

It was then that Geom Muyang saw it—his younger brother smiling at the sight of these things.

Why was he smiling at lives Geom Muyang had never once cared to notice in all his years?

Geom Mugeuk popped the last dumpling into his mouth.

“Since you stole my Sky-Clear Jade Oil, I’ll at least get this.”

Geom Muyang let out a dry chuckle.

And the two began walking again.

As they made their way through the market, Geom Muyang’s gaze lingered on a shop.

Geom Mugeuk noticed that the way his brother looked at that place was different from how he looked at the others. It was a musical instrument shop.

“Let’s go in and take a look.”

Geom Mugeuk entered first, and Geom Muyang followed him inside.

“Brother, do you know how to play any instruments?”

“No.”

But for someone claiming that, the way he looked around the shop was different.

“Well, yeah. What instrument would you know how to play? If I don’t have an ear for music, then you’re probably the same. We’ve never even seen Father play anything, so it’s all in the blood! The only thing we know is how to kill people!”

Just then, a sound came from behind.

Startled, Geom Mugeuk turned to see Geom Muyang playing a danso flute.

As he blew into it, a beautiful tone flowed out.

The melody pierced through the noise around them and spread far.

Geom Mugeuk’s eyes went wide.

He wasn’t just blowing into it for fun—his brother was playing an actual song.

Never in his life had he imagined his brother could play an instrument, and the shock was genuine.

No matter how much you try to see someone clearly, moments like this reminded you just how hard it was to truly know a person.

Maybe it was because he felt his brother’s heart in the music, but listening to it was simply wonderful.

When the performance ended, applause erupted from behind. Turning around, they saw people who had stopped mid-step on the street gathering at the shop entrance.

Geom Mugeuk shouted to his brother,

“What the—? When did you get so good at this? Why are you good?!”

The shopkeeper also voiced his surprise.

“Your playing is truly excellent.”

Perhaps the praise from the people outside and the owner felt burdensome, for Geom Muyang walked out.

Geom Mugeuk quickly bought the danso and followed after him.

“Why’d you buy that?”

“Because the fact that you played it has already made its value go up a thousandfold. And besides, maybe you’ll need it again sometime soon.”

When Geom Muyang looked at him questioningly, Geom Mugeuk changed the topic.

“You’d look amazing—standing over a field of enemy corpses, hair flowing in the bloodwind, and then playing the danso! So cool! Women would be falling left and right!”

“They’d fall from fear.”

It was right then.

Clunk.

A cart passed by, splashing muddy water onto his brother’s pants.

But Geom Muyang didn’t care at all and kept walking.

“I really thought the bloodwind would start blowing and the whole Wuhan marketplace would be massacred.”

At his nonsense, Geom Muyang—walking ahead—smiled silently.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. His brother was enjoying this moment too.

Yes, smile like that once in a while. It looked good on him.

Geom Mugeuk was thoroughly enjoying his time with his brother.

They looked around at various things. Though Geom Mugeuk had been the one to bring up getting a gift for their father, it was now Geom Muyang who was looking more seriously.

But there wasn’t anything that caught his eye.

Holding up a set of pajamas, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“How about these Wuhan-brand floral pajamas?”

Geom Muyang gave him a look that clearly said, Are you out of your mind? Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

“Ah, right. You’ve never seen them.”

He quietly put the pajamas back down.

“Forget it. The shock would be too much for you.”

They resumed walking through the marketplace, when Geom Muyang’s gaze stopped at one spot.

An elderly portrait artist was sitting and sketching passerby faces.

For some reason, Geom Muyang walked over and sat down in front of him.

Surprised, Geom Mugeuk hurried after him.

“What’s this? You’re scaring me.”

His brother was the kind of man who would never, in his life, sit for something like this.

“You sit too.”

“Me?”

Even more startled, Geom Mugeuk sat beside him.

Could it be… his brother wanted to leave behind a picture of them together?

As if to confirm it, Geom Muyang removed his bamboo hat for the first time since entering the marketplace.

Showing his face, he said to the artist,

“Draw us together. I’ll pay extra, so make it as good as possible.”

The artist began working diligently with his brush.

Geom Mugeuk stared at his brother in shock.

Sitting for a portrait together was surprising enough—but asking for it to be done well?

“Who are you? Where’s my real brother, and who’s this pretending to be him?”

Even at the teasing, Geom Muyang’s expression didn’t change. He even added,

“This painting—I’m going to have it made into a scroll.”

“What?”

That was something Geom Mugeuk had never expected to hear.

“I’ll make it into a scroll and give it to Father.”

“!”

Only then did Geom Mugeuk understand his brother’s intention—this was the gift for their father.

There could be no greater present than a portrait of the two brothers together.

“They say there’s no younger brother like an elder one… were you always this clever?”

“Look forward.”

Geom Muyang added bluntly,

“Your ugly face might come out even stranger.”