Absolute Regression

Chapter 678: Eat, Drink, and Lounge Around

“You’ve changed lately.”

When Gowol turned at the voice from behind, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult was standing there.

“What do you mean, Cult Leader?”

At Gowol’s polite demeanor, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult’s expression was full of displeasure.

“You’ve changed, starting with the way you speak so formally.”

“There are too many eyes watching, aren’t there?”

The place where the two stood was the Inner Compound of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“Too many eyes? No one here cares about us!”

Of course, everyone cared. Who would dare ignore someone who was the former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the master of the current Soul Reaper Demon Supreme?

Returning to the cult earlier than Geom Mugeuk, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult had sought out Gowol first.

However, even after returning, Gowol had been so busy that it was hard to see his face. This was where the Cult Leader’s discontent began.

How could Gowol not know his feelings? At least for today, he decided to drop the excuse of being busy.

“Cult Leader.”

At Gowol’s sudden informal tone, the Cult Leader’s expression softened instead.

“I really enjoy what I’m doing.”

Then the Cult Leader asked pointedly,

“Do you really enjoy it?”

With a determined gaze, he said to Gowol,

“You’ve changed. I used to hear the sound of your heart pounding, but now I only hear the sound of your mind turning. You used to be warm, but now you’re cold.”

And, as always, he placed the blame on one person.

“This is all the Young Cult Leader’s fault. Handing over work to a perfectionist like you, not knowing it would turn out exactly like this—no, he must have known. Someone that smart couldn’t possibly not know.”

Of course, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult also liked Geom Mugeuk.

But seeing Gowol working himself to the bone made him angry.

It felt like, after Gowol had finally been freed, he had voluntarily shackled himself again. No matter what anyone said, Gowol was more important to him than the Young Cult Leader.

“So you turned me into a cold-blooded man just to badmouth the Young Cult Leader?”

Even at Gowol’s joke, the Cult Leader didn’t let go of his irritation.

“What did the Young Cult Leader say? It’s obvious. ‘Sorry for working you so hard. Let’s endure a little longer. I’ll be counting on you in the future!’ Am I right?”

“I haven’t met him yet.”

“What?”

“He went hunting with the Cult Leader and the Great Young Master.”

The Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult gave an incredulous look.

“So the cold-blooded one is someone else. See? Even if I try not to badmouth the Young Cult Leader, I can’t help it. No matter how loyal you are, the Young Cult Leader puts family first. Family always comes first for him.”

“Of course.”

Then, staring straight at the Cult Leader, Gowol added,

“Aren’t I your priority? To you, I come before anything else.”

“!”

That statement meant he saw him as family.

It was also the surest way to dissolve the Cult Leader’s anger in one blow.

“Because we both know we’re that kind of person to each other, the Young Cult Leader uses me, and I remain loyal to him. There’s a kind of trust that only someone who has things to protect can give.”

After a brief pause, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult spoke.

“You keep talking like that, so you end up suffering like this every time.”

Gowol’s gaze drifted toward the distant building of the Heavenly Communication Pavilion.

“I should suffer. I’m on the path to becoming its master.”

It was the first time he openly revealed his ambition to become the Chief Strategist of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“Cult Leader, I’m not cold. I’m hotter than ever.”

“Good for you, being so hot.”

At the unnecessary jab, Gowol smiled.

“Cult Leader, the Young Cult Leader is someone big enough for us to stake our entire lives on. We’re the ones making use of him.”

The Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult lifted his head toward the far-off Daecheon Mountains and shouted loudly.

“The Young Cult Leader’s got it good—he’s got a loyal and fiery strategist who understands him, a father, and a brother. Damn it! How’s a man supposed to live when he’s got no family?”

At that, Gowol moved to stand right beside the Cult Leader.

“Who says you have no family? You’ll upset your family if they hear you.”

*         *         *

The hunt continued into the second day.

To be exact, they found their prey. The elder brother had continued his Energy Emission Training, discovering all sorts of animals. As the saying goes, blood can’t be hidden—his skill in Energy Emission improved rapidly.

It was almost as fast as his own, which could be considered that of a heavenly martial body, and he understood why.

It was because their father’s martial arts had reached an even higher realm.

“You’re teaching my brother better than you ever taught me! You never explained it like that when you taught me!”

Geom Woojin paid him no mind and focused on instructing his eldest son, pouring out the affection he hadn’t been able to give before.

While training in Energy Emission, they finally found something big.

“It looks like a tiger!”

At Geom Muyang’s words, Geom Woojin nodded.

“We came hunting, so we should at least take down one tiger.”

Geom Muyang was the first to leap forward, followed by Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk.

Lightly landing on a rock, Geom Muyang quietly drew his bowstring.

Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk landed silently behind him. Even if the prey had been a giant spirit beast with a core instead of a tiger, it would not have escaped this hunt.

In the distance, the tiger came into view. It was a truly massive great tiger.

The bowstring was drawn taut.

The arrow that seemed ready to fly and pierce the tiger did not fly.

Geom Muyang spoke politely to his father.

“It has such a large frame, it feels like a spiritual tiger guarding the Daecheon Mountains. I want to let it live.”

Father nodded.

Just as the two were about to turn away without regret—

“Not because of those over there?”

Geom Mugeuk was pointing somewhere. A short distance from the tiger were two cubs that appeared to be its young. Since he had seen them, their father and elder brother must have seen them too.

“Father, you should say something to my brother too. That’s the kind of cheap sentiment perfect for getting yourself killed. If it were me, you would’ve said so! You’d have told me to take it down right away and replace the hide you sleep on with that one!”

Geom Mugeuk saw it—the slight upward curl of his father’s lip.

Yeah, if it were me, you would have.

Geom Woojin spoke firmly and turned to walk away.

“You don’t kill a spiritual beast recklessly.”

His elder brother strode after him in long steps.

Watching the tiger cubs following their mother in the distance, Geom Mugeuk shouted,

“Young Brother, let’s hang in there!”

A faint smile tugged at Geom Woojin’s lips as he walked ahead.

It was a rare and precious smile, but unfortunately, neither of his sons saw it.

*         *         *

That night, the campfire burned brightly again.

Geom Mugeuk liked this time of day more than the daylight.

Grilling meat with his father and brother, drinking together, and, under the influence of alcohol, exchanging all kinds of stories.

And when, like tonight, the night sky was filled with a cascade of stars, it made him feel even better.

“Father, may I relax my posture a bit?”

“When have you ever found it difficult?”

With a laugh, Geom Mugeuk loosened his posture, stretching his legs out and leaning back at an angle, supported by his arms.

He gazed up at the stars in the night sky as the cool breeze tousled his hair. Ah, this is nice! The words came out naturally.

“Brother, you should relax too. The true charm of camping is in eating, drinking, and lounging around.”

But with his brother’s personality, that was something absolutely impossible in front of their father.

Even so, compared to the dawn when they had first set out on the hunt, his brother had relaxed considerably.

“Father, I’m going to read a book.”

From his travel pouch, which contained all sorts of things, he now pulled out a book.

Geom Muyang asked with curiosity—he hadn’t expected anyone to bring a book hunting.

“What book is it?”

Geom Mugeuk held up the cover. It was a book of poetry.

“You read poetry?”

“Oh, come on, my brother. All you know is killing—do you even know poetry? Do you know literature?”

From the start, pulling out the book and saying this had been part of his plan.

“Well, you do know a little music.”

At the mention of music, Geom Muyang flinched in surprise.

Don’t tell me… you?

Sorry, brother.

Before Geom Muyang could send him a secret sound transmission to stop, Geom Mugeuk spoke to their father first.

“Father, did you know my brother can play the danso?”

His startled brother looked at their father. Almost no one knew, so he didn’t think Father could possibly know—but to his surprise, Father slowly nodded.

“See? I told you Father would know.”

Truly, their father knew many things about his two sons.

It was surprising only because he had hidden it so well.

“Brother, for the sake of Father’s hidden affection, we should have another drink.”

Geom Mugeuk reached into his travel pouch to take out some liquor.

But instead of a liquor bottle, something else came out.

At the sight of it, Geom Muyang let out a sigh—it was the danso.

“Huh? Why is this in here? I must have accidentally packed it while hurriedly gathering my things.”

As if. Geom Muyang shook his head.

Their father did nothing to stop the younger son’s mischief. And what did that mean?

If the younger one was determined, he would end up playing it anyway.

So Geom Muyang stepped forward first.

“My skills are lacking, but… may I play a song?”

Geom Woojin nodded.

From that curt nod, Geom Mugeuk thought he understood. Father had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Meanwhile, Geom Muyang steadied himself and brought his trembling lips to the danso. He was probably more nervous now than if he were playing before thousands, even tens of thousands of people.

When the clear, deep notes began to flow, Geom Mugeuk saw it—

Father gently closed his eyes.

The words left unspoken became a beautiful melody. The tune was like the sound of water flowing through a valley, or like a flickering campfire. The falling stars seemed to shimmer even more brightly, intoxicated by the music.

That pure, deep sound that pierced the heart spread across the Daecheon Mountains.

When the performance ended, Geom Woojin opened his eyes.

The look in Father’s gaze as he regarded his son was gentle.

“It’s truly wonderful.”

Even just “wonderful” would have been high praise, but he had even added the word “truly.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Geom Mugeuk had never seen his brother’s face look so unburdened.

Perhaps something that had long weighed heavily on his brother’s heart had been lifted during this hunt.

When Geom Muyang’s gaze turned toward him, Geom Mugeuk called out,

“Believe me! I didn’t mean to bring the danso. I mistook it for a skewer for grilling meat and packed it.”

He wasn’t sure if he had ever told his brother this before.

“Thank you.”

The mischief disappeared from Geom Mugeuk’s face.

“Thank you, brother.”

Their father silently watched his sons exchange words of gratitude.

“Who do you take after to turn out so fine? As you’ve seen, Father, your sons are the kind who read poetry and play instruments.”

As he spoke with pride, Geom Mugeuk saw it—

A faint, wistful longing passed through Father’s eyes. It was a feeling he had never sensed from him before.

But in the next instant, it was gone.

Father turned his back on the tiger skin and lay down.

“Let’s sleep.”

*         *         *

The next day, the three of them reached the summit of the Daecheon Mountains.

Here, the boundary between sky and earth seemed to vanish.

The surrounding peaks rose sharply, like martial masters of the martial world standing tall.

The three stood at the top, gazing at the majestic scenery.

The last time he had come here with his father, his father had told him that whenever martial arts training became too difficult, he would climb up here.

In his father’s back, he saw the overlapping image of his father’s younger self.

‘What were you thinking back then, and what are you thinking now?’

It was then that his father, still facing away, asked,

“You’ve reached Nine Star greatness in the Nine Calamities Demon Art, haven’t you?”

What his father had seen through was not only the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique that his brother had learned.

“Yes, I’ve reached Nine Stars.”

He wondered how long it had taken his father.

“How long did it take you to reach Great Achievement from Nine Stars?”

His father’s answer—

“Seven years.”

It must have been possible only because his father possessed such innate talent.

“You could probably reach it in less than five.”

Geom Woojin acknowledged his son’s martial talent to that degree.

After all, at Geom Mugeuk’s current age, even he had not reached Nine Stars.

If he were to achieve Great Achievement within five years, it would make him the fastest among all past Cult Leaders to reach the peak of the Nine Calamities Demon Art—or rather, the legendary Young Cult Leader to achieve Great Achievement before even ascending to the position of Cult Leader.

“If you feel suffocated in your chest while training, or if you feel a wall, climb up here to the Daecheon Mountains. The mountain’s energy will surely help you.”

“Yes, I will.”

Geom Mugeuk said to Geom Muyang with pride,

“That’s the kind of person I am—the successor that Father lends this whole great Daecheon Mountain to!”

This should have prompted his brother to retort, ‘How is that lending? And is that something to brag about to a brother who’s no longer the successor?’

“I’m jealous.”

For a moment, Geom Mugeuk flinched. That powerful blow left him without a comeback.

“You just looked down on me, didn’t you? Ah, you don’t know, but the year you were born, Father even brewed liquor. You’re just saying this to tease me. Come on, Father, tell us now! ‘Son, on the day you were born—’”

Geom Woojin began striding away.

“The sun’s setting. Let’s head down.”

Geom Muyang came up to Geom Mugeuk.

“I told you it’s a misunderstanding.”

“Give me your pack.”

He was asking for the load on his back.

“It’s fine. Today, you carry Father all the way.”

His brother was silent for a moment, then nodded and turned away.

After walking a little, he turned back to ask,

“Aren’t you tired?”

It was clear he didn’t mean the weight of the pack.

“Tired? I’m dead tired.”

At that, his brother grinned and kept walking.

Geom Mugeuk stood there watching the backs of the two ahead. Compared to the climb up, his brother was now walking one step closer to their father.

One step closer meant a relationship that now required twice the effort. Disappointment and resentment only existed while waiting to grow closer.

In the distance, a tiger’s roar echoed.

He thought it might even be the tiger his brother had spared, and followed after the two.

“I thought for sure you’d help carry the load on the way down, Father! My brother’s the kind of man who only knows how to kill people and play the danso—he’s heartless! You don’t hear me, Father?”