Absolute Regression

Chapter 677: This Drink is for Older Brother and Friends

Early in the morning, at the entrance of the Daecheon Mountains where they had agreed to meet, Geom Muyang stood with a restless look on his face.

He had been so nervous that he couldn’t sleep the whole night.

Hunting with father.

Back when Geom Mugeuk had gone hunting with father, he had wondered.

What kind of conversation had they shared in the mountains?

At that time, he had disliked his younger brother, so he had worried about what sort of slander he might have whispered to father.

Now, he was going on that hunt himself.

At that moment, Geom Muyang’s eyes gradually widened.

He was staring in surprise at Geom Mugeuk, who was walking toward him.

More precisely, it was because of the pack Geom Mugeuk was carrying on his back.

“Are you moving house?”

He was literally carrying a mountain of baggage.

“You don’t get it, big brother. We need all of this.”

He tied bundle after bundle onto the large leather backpack, stacking them higher and higher. On top of that hung cooking utensils, water gourds, a skinning knife for animals, and even a hatchet.

Since there were three people, the luggage had multiplied.

By comparison, Geom Muyang was carrying nothing more than a small leather backpack — and even that wasn’t half full. He had tried to think about what he should bring, but there wasn’t much to pack.

“Don’t mind me, just think of me as the porter!”

“Let’s share the load.”

“It’s fine. You need to serve father.”

That was what he had said when they met, but as soon as Geom Woojin appeared, he started playing it up.

“Oof, so heavy. You’d think if the younger brother was carrying so much, the older brother would offer to take some of it.”

Of course, it didn’t work on Geom Woojin. No doubt the eldest had already offered to share the load — and since he had, this was just Geom Mugeuk’s little game. By now, he could see right through him.

“Muyang, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Geom Woojin took only the eldest son along with him and led the way up the mountain.

“Give me the pack.”

“It’s fine.”

Today, even father had brought a small leather pack. The first time they’d gone hunting, he had come empty-handed.

What had he brought this time?

Geom Woojin took the lead, Geom Muyang followed two or three steps behind, and Geom Mugeuk trailed at the very back.

Geom Mugeuk deliberately lagged far behind.

So that his father and his brother could talk comfortably.

Father and brother climbed the mountain path in silence, occasionally exchanging a few words. If he wanted to listen in, he could have, but he didn’t.

Instead, he listened to the cries of mountain birds, the sound of water flowing along the valley, and the wind. He listened to the sounds of insects and the rustle of leaves.

The path turned from dirt to stone, and at times, the sunlight filtering through the leaves made it look like a road of jewels.

How long had they been walking like that?

“Shh.”

At their father’s signal, they both held their breath.

Father pointed in one direction with his finger and asked the elder brother,

“Do you see it?”

Geom Muyang widened his eyes and scanned ahead, but there was nothing in sight.

“Close your eyes and feel it.”

“Yes.”

Geom Mugeuk understood. Just as father had taught him Energy Emission Training during a previous hunt, he was now planning to teach the same to his elder brother.

“Release just a single thread of energy. Slowly, without breaking it. Like a silkworm drawing out its thread — slowly.”

Masters all handled qi and used it to sense their surroundings.

However, few thought to draw it out like a thread, extending it ten or twenty meters away. Without knowing the key mnemonic verse about carrying energy on the wind, it was impossible.

Just as he had experienced back then, his elder brother would now be having a brand-new sensation.

“It broke. Focus and try again!”

“Yes!”

Geom Muyang faithfully followed his father’s instructions.

When had he last had such a close conversation with father about martial arts? It had been a very long time.

“You need to release your qi with the feeling of slowly unraveling a coiled thread.”

It was a serious and tense moment, yet not as uncomfortable as he had expected. His father, when teaching martial arts, felt different from when he sat upon the Throne Mat.

‘Was father always this talkative?’

He had always seemed the sort to say “figure it out yourself!” and then turn away. But when it came to teaching martial arts, he was meticulous.

‘So my younger brother must have felt this way with father too.’

Perhaps this was the reason his brother had suggested the hunt — to pass this same feeling on to him.

To show him that the time spent together with father wasn’t as uncomfortable as he thought.

“Now, place your energy onto the wind.”

At first, it would be just a single thread, but eventually, dozens of strands of qi could be sent out in all directions, spreading like a spider’s web. Geom Mugeuk had already reached that level.

“Again!”

Unlike himself, who had managed it immediately, his elder brother could not do it so easily. Still, he had to figure it out on his own. Especially in matters of handling qi, only when one understood and accepted it in their own way could it truly take effect.

Father did not grow impatient and waited for his elder son.

Yes — this was probably the normal pace. He himself had simply learned too quickly.

Geom Mugeuk silently watched his father, seated on a rock, as he instructed the elder brother.

Seeing that scene made his chest tighten, and he turned his head away.

Was it that feeling of emotion at that moment?

While gazing far into the distance at the layers of mountains touching the sky, Geom Mugeuk sensed father’s gaze.

He slowly looked toward him, and their eyes met in midair. In father’s gaze was the unspoken thought: “You did well to set up this moment.”

“Teaching me was one thing, but teaching my elder brother must be testing your patience, right?”

At Geom Mugeuk’s cheeky remark, Geom Woojin strode toward him.

“The person who really tests my patience is always the same.”

Stopping right in front of him, Father asked coldly,

“Have you nothing to say to me?”

From the look in his eyes, it was clear he already knew the answer. Geom Mugeuk flinched and looked away.

“You know?”

“Of course!”

Geom Mugeuk immediately understood — his father had realized that he had passed down the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique to his elder brother.

“You weren’t supposed to know, though, right?”

Unless his elder brother had actually used the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique, there had been no reason for it to reveal itself until now. Under normal circumstances, it was impossible to detect.

‘Ah! You knew because you achieved the Twelve Star Greatness!’

Geom Mugeuk blurted out,

“My brother forced me to teach him. He even threatened to kill me if I didn’t!”

“…”

“Oh, if he’d gone that far, he might as well have asked for the Nine Calamities Demon Art instead.”

Still, wrong was wrong, so Geom Mugeuk dropped to his knees and pleaded.

“Father, please forgive me this once! Brother, hurry up and beg too!”

“Why are you dragging your brother into this?”

And with that, he gave his elder brother a way to slip out.

“The situation was urgent. There was a strong enemy who used Soul Reaping Art and could have endangered him. Just think — my already ill-tempered brother falling victim to Soul Reaping Art? Ugh, I couldn’t have borne to see it.”

Though Geom Muyang should have reacted with disbelief, he instead quietly stepped forward and knelt beside Geom Mugeuk.

Part of him thought that staying silent might be the better way to help in this situation, but…

This was different — this was about the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique. He couldn’t just leave it to his younger brother.

“I’m sorry.”

Geom Woojin asked him,

“When you were learning it, did you know it was the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique?”

“No.”

Geom Woojin looked like he’d expected that answer, but Geom Muyang still spoke in his younger brother’s defense.

“My younger brother did it for my sake.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at his elder brother with deep emotion, but when he met Father’s sharp gaze, he quickly lowered his head and shouted,

“Please forgive me! Just this once!”

Looking down at both his sons, Geom Woojin spoke softly,

“Not without a price.”

Forgiveness — but not for free.

Geom Mugeuk instantly lifted his head.

“Fine, I’ll do whatever you order. Anything except unifying the martial world!”

Beside him, Geom Muyang also raised his head.

“I’ll even take unifying the martial world.”

Geom Mugeuk turned to him.

“Joking at a time like this? Brother, you’ve really changed.”

“It’s not a joke.”

Yes, he knew it wasn’t a joke. If father willed it, his elder brother would gladly stand at the vanguard of the Grand Demon War.

Was it because of that answer? Or perhaps because of something he was planning to assign later? Either way, Father turned away with an unreadable smile.

“Start training again.”

“Yes!”

Geom Muyang rose to his feet and returned to his original spot.

The Energy Emission Training resumed.

Again and again, he repeated it.

How much time had passed like that?

At last, Geom Muyang emitted his qi far enough to detect the animal hiding in the distance.

“It seems to be a wild boar.”

Geom Woojin nodded in satisfaction.

Geom Mugeuk handed his elder brother the bow and arrows hanging from his leather pack.

“Father must be hungry.”

---

“Brother, just light the campfire.”

He said he would handle everything else himself — and he truly did.

Geom Mugeuk’s hands, as he dressed the wild boar, rivaled those of any hunter or master chef.

He worked quickly and skillfully, cutting it up and skewering the most delicious portions on wooden sticks.

Then, he took out seasonings from his pack — salt first, then layers of secret marinades he had prepared in advance, adding depth to the flavor. The meat began to roast, which started releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

Watching him, Geom Muyang was quietly impressed. They had camped in the forest several times on the way back to the cult, but he hadn’t known his younger brother’s skills were this good. His deftness was truly in a realm separate from martial arts.

Once the meat was roasting, Geom Mugeuk began unpacking the rest of the gear in earnest.

He started with the bundle he had packed separately.

Shaa—

A tiger skin for Father was spread out. Large enough for him to sit or lie on.

“Father, please sit here comfortably.”

Geom Woojin sat down on it.

“As expected! It suits you perfectly! You look magnificent!”

When Geom Woojin extended his hand, the wild boar on the fire began to turn on its own.

“Of course. But right now, making sure the meat doesn’t burn is more important than looking good!”

Next, Geom Mugeuk unpacked another item.

“This one’s for Brother and me.”

He laid out two furs from ordinary animals, clearly different from Father’s. He positioned his elder brother’s spot a little closer to their father’s.

“Now, I’ve prepared this too.”

From his leather pack, he produced a small folding wooden tea table and set it in front of Father. Then came clean chopsticks and tableware, which he arranged neatly for him.

Perhaps finding the process enjoyable, Geom Woojin used Void Telekinesis to rotate the meat over the fire so it wouldn’t burn.

When the meat was perfectly roasted to a golden brown, Geom Mugeuk sliced off the most tender and delicious portion and served it to Father.

“Please eat, Father.”

He also placed servings into his elder brother’s and his own dishes.

“How does it taste?”

“It’s good.”

From Father, “good” was as high as praise got — equivalent to “excellent.”

His elder brother confirmed it.

With wide eyes, Geom Muyang’s expression clearly said:

It’s delicious.

Grinning, Geom Mugeuk said,

“This is meat hunted by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Great Young Master, prepared by its successor, and grilled by the Cult Leader himself! How could it possibly taste bad? If you said it was bad, our whole family would be executed!”

At those words, Geom Muyang laughed.

When he’d been so nervous the night before that he couldn’t sleep, he had never imagined today’s hunt would have such a warm atmosphere.

It was enjoyable. Meat eaten out here in the mountains, with a campfire burning, had a completely different taste.

“I’ll make it even better!”

Geom Mugeuk rummaged through his leather pack again. Geom Muyang watched, curious about what he might pull out next.

“You can’t have meat without alcohol.”

This time, out came liquor.

It was Father’s favorite. He had even prepared clean cups in advance, along with some snacks to go with the drink. The preparations were thorough.

Just then, Geom Woojin extended his hand. Father’s leather pack, which had been set down beside him, floated through the air into his grasp.

What was he going to take out?

The two brothers watched in curiosity.

“I brought a bottle of my own.”

Father’s item was also liquor.

Geom Mugeuk felt puzzled. Last time, he had brought some, so Father must have assumed he’d do the same this time.

“What kind of liquor is it?”

Then, from Father’s mouth came something neither of them had expected.

“I brewed this myself when Yang was born.”

“!”

Both Geom Mugeuk and Geom Muyang were shocked.

Especially hearing that it was brewed the very year he was born — Geom Muyang was stunned. In that moment, all he could think of was one thing Father had just said.

Yang.

When had Father last called him “Yang”? He’d heard it when he was very young, but today was the first time since then.

And that wasn’t all.

‘Brewed it himself?’

A wave of emotion surged through him. Not just any liquor, but one made to commemorate his birth?

And today, Father had brought it here.

“…Cult Leader.”

Geom Muyang’s voice trembled. It was the first time Geom Mugeuk had seen his brother shake like this.

Holding the bottle, Father said,

“Today, I’ve come as your father.”

“!”

“Come, take a cup of my liquor.”

“…Yes, father.”

Geom Muyang approached and respectfully accepted the drink.

“You too, come here.”

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward to receive his cup as well. His elder brother was trembling so much that he couldn’t even make a joke.

Geom Muyang filled their father’s cup with care, and the three of them drank together.

“This is absolutely incredible!”

Geom Mugeuk exclaimed. It wasn’t flattery — the taste truly was outstanding.

“This drink is for you, Brother — and for friends.”

Passing the cups back and forth, the three finished the bottle. They didn’t hold back, drinking until it was gone.

For Geom Muyang, it was the best liquor he had ever tasted since the day he was born. He thought he might never drink anything this good for the rest of his life.

“When will we drink the liquor from the year I was born? Next hunt, maybe?”

At Geom Mugeuk’s eager question, Geom Woojin flinched.

“Of course, you made some for me too, right? I know you favor the eldest, but I’m still your son. Isn’t that right?”

Seeing his father’s ambiguous expression, Geom Mugeuk’s face shifted into one of suspicion.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t make it yourself and had Uncle Hui do it instead. ‘Hui, go brew a bottle. He’s my son, after all, we should commemorate it.’”

But Father only continued to wear that strange smile, making Geom Mugeuk’s voice rise.

“You didn’t forget completely, did you? That’s not why you’re smiling awkwardly, right? Please tell me that’s not the case! Tell me you at least bought some and pretended you brewed it!”

And thus, the first day of the hunt came to a close.