Absolute Regression

Chapter 680: Even if the Sword Was Put Down from the Hand

When Geom Muyang stepped into the Iron Workshop, he saw Gwak Yeong in the distance.

She was moving chunks of iron, loaded onto a handcart.

Instead of heading toward her, Geom Muyang walked straight to where Artisan Gwak was working.

Artisan Gwak, who had been inspecting the completed weapons, greeted Geom Muyang when he saw him.

“It is fortunate that you have returned safely.”

Geom Muyang also gave a polite bow.

“Thanks to your concern, I have returned well. Have you been doing well?”

Artisan Gwak shook his head with a subtle smile.

“No, I had a bit of a dilemma because of you, Great Young Master.”

Geom Muyang could guess what he meant. He was most likely referring to Gwak Yeong.

He relayed to Artisan Gwak exactly what had been written in the letter he had sent.

That Gwak Yeong had been an artisan of the Martial Alliance’s Iron Workshop, and that she had forged counterfeit throwing weapons to save her younger sibling.

Whether or not she would be accepted into the Iron Workshop here was for him to see and decide for himself. He also said that it was only because her skill was too valuable to waste that he was sending her, and that he had no other connection to her, so the decision was entirely up to him.

He had no intention of exerting any further influence beyond introducing her to the Iron Workshop. All authority here rested with Artisan Gwak, and Geom Muyang respected that.

“I had already heard the rumors about that woman.”

How could he not? The youngest ever to become an artisan of the Martial Alliance’s Iron Workshop— and a woman at that.

Artisan Gwak spoke words Geom Muyang had not expected.

“The Gwak bloodline is skilled in working with iron.”

“Could it be?”

“Yes, that’s right. Upon checking, I found that she is also a descendant of the Gwak Iron Gate.”

The Gwak Iron Gate (郭家鐵門).

Once, they were known as the family with the greatest skill in crafting weapons in all the Central Plains.

But in one generation, a quarrel broke out among the brothers of the Iron Gate, escalating into a deadly fight, and they scattered in all directions. It took less than half a day for a great family to collapse.

The reason Gwak Yeong could become an artisan of the Martial Alliance’s Iron Workshop at such a young age was because she had inherited the outstanding bloodline of the Gwak Iron Gate.

Artisan Gwak’s name was Gwak In.

He too was a descendant of the Gwak Iron Gate, and strictly speaking, he and Gwak Yeong were distant relatives.

“That is why I struggled more over it. Normally, I would have accepted her right away, but I worried it might seem like I was taking her in simply because we were of the same family.”

Artisan Gwak had always been a man of upright character.

“And yet, you accepted her.”

When Artisan Gwak had first seen the counterfeit Blitz Blade, he had truly been impressed.

Its craftsmanship was so fine that he could have believed it had been made by their own hands.

And when he learned that it had been forged not in a proper Iron Workshop, but in a converted warehouse, and with people who were not trained Iron Workshop technicians, he found himself unable to reject her.

Of course, that did not mean he could immediately entrust her with an important position.

“I told her to start from the bottom, just like anyone else entering the Iron Workshop for the first time. In any case, if she wants to adapt here, she will have to prove herself through skill.”

How long that would take was impossible to know.

Artisan Gwak’s gaze turned to Gwak Yeong, far away, carrying iron.

“That child has likely lived believing she was already a finished sword. But when she melts herself down and begins again from molten steel, I am curious to see what kind of sword she will become.”

Geom Muyang looked at her as she did menial labor, her face flushed red and sweat streaming down.

After a moment of watching her, Geom Muyang bid Artisan Gwak farewell.

“Then, I will take my leave.”

After exchanging farewells with Artisan Gwak, Geom Muyang walked out of the Iron Workshop.

He intentionally did not go to see her.

He thought that openly acknowledging her in front of everyone would not help her.

Gwak Yeong also knew that Geom Muyang had come, but she did not look at him.

In her heart, she wanted to run up to him and express her thanks—for giving her the chance to enter the Iron Workshop like this.

But she did not.

Right now, the person she needed to get close to was not Geom Muyang, nor Artisan Gwak, nor any senior or colleague.

The only one was what stood right before her eyes.

Iron.

How well she became acquainted with this would determine her relationships with everyone else.

‘I will keep the promise I made to you after I have married this iron. Ah, that would be a remarriage, wouldn’t it?’

*         *         *

“Elder!”

After leaving the Valley of Wicked, Geom Mugeuk ran straight to the dwelling of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

When he opened the door and entered, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was in the yard, practicing martial arts.

The trend of martial training had spread like wildfire among the Demon Supremes.

In truth, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been at the forefront of that trend—he had resumed martial training long before.

And recently, spurred on by Geom Woojin’s closed-door training, the Demon Supremes each felt a sense of mission.

They had gained a goal: to surmount the wall that stood before them, no matter what.

The martial technique that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was displaying now was the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber Style.

The Third Form—Extinguishing Blade Bloodstorm.

Huuuaaaaang!

The fierce saber energy that burst forth from the blade roared like a whirlwind.

Unleashing such a dangerous technique in the yard was bound to devastate the surroundings.

But just as the saber energy was about to smash through the courtyard wall—

Ssssssht.

Right in front of the wall, the saber energy vanished as if it had been a lie.

Seeing this, Geom Mugeuk understood—Blood Heaven Blade Demon was executing the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber Style while keeping it strictly within a designated area.

Just as it is harder to walk slowly on a tightrope than running at full speed, limiting one’s technique like this was a far higher realm than simply shattering the wall and demolishing the buildings beyond.

‘Elder has ascended to a new realm!’

Blood Heaven Blade Demon swung the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber again—this time, its target was Geom Mugeuk.

Swaaaash!

A massive wave of saber energy surged toward Geom Mugeuk, who stood before the door.

The Second Form of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber Style—Extinguishing Blade Wave.

Geom Mugeuk did not evade the terrifying attack.

At the critical moment—

Sssshhht.

Just as before, the wave of saber energy disappeared right before his face as if it had been a lie.

Blood Heaven Blade Demon shouted at him.

“Do you have a death wish? You didn’t even raise your Protective Energy!”

He had only just realized that Geom Mugeuk had been standing there completely defenseless.

“I trusted you, Elder.”

“And if I had made a mistake?”

“Then I’d appear in your dreams every night as a vengeful spirit. ‘Please return my handsome face!’ I’d say.”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head with an expression that said, *I can’t deal with you*.

He could endure such antics, but the thought of feeling sorry toward the Cult Leader was something he could not bear.

“I’ve missed you!”

When Geom Mugeuk tried to rush forward for an embrace, Blood Heaven Blade Demon blocked him with the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.

“I reek of sweat. Stay back!”

“Your sweat smells better than any medicinal elixir, Elder.”

“Say that without frowning.”

At that, Geom Mugeuk burst into laughter.

Seeing Blood Heaven Blade Demon put him at ease—there was a comfort that only he could give.

“I’ll go wash.”

“I said it’s fine.”

“I’m the one who’s not fine.”

If someone were to ask which of the Eight Demon Supremes was the most fastidious, Geom Mugeuk would answer without hesitation—it was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

One only had to look at his ever-pristine bed to know, despite him looking like the last person to be neat.

At that moment, something caught Geom Mugeuk’s eye.

In a corner of the yard’s garden grew flowers and plants he hadn’t seen before—evidence that he was getting along well with the One-Slash Sword Supreme.

How long had he crouched there, looking at the grass and flowers?

From behind came Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s voice.

“Cult Leader liked it, didn’t he?”

It was clear that he was referring to the time spent hunting with him and his brother.

Yes—perhaps the one who understood his father’s heart best was none other than the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Rising from where he had been, Geom Mugeuk turned to him and said,

“Ah, he doted on the eldest son so much. I cried myself to sleep every night.”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon had a look that said, *I can see you doing that.*

“Your mouth must not have rested even there.”

“I couldn’t rest it. It was one against many, after all.”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke with a faint smile.

“Well done.”

It was only a brief remark, but it carried his genuine sentiment.

It wasn’t praise for Geom Mugeuk, nor for his elder brother—it was for their father.

It meant, *You did well for the Cult Leader.*

“Next time, Elder, you should come with us.”

“Why would I go there?”

“To stand against my father, who favors the eldest son, and look after me.”

“If that’s the purpose, you should bring the drunkard or the masked one.”

“The drunkard will just take my father’s side to curry favor, and the masked one—Father won’t even want to bring him.”

“Then take your master, the fist fighter.”

“You know, my master will only side with Father too. The only one who will wipe my tears is you, Elder!”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon laughed as if amused.

Geom Mugeuk carried the pleasant mood forward with an even better story.

“Do you know? Even in Wuhan, you saved me this time.”

“Me? I haven’t even been near Wuhan.”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon gave him a look as if to say, *What trick are you trying to pull now?*

“Thanks to you, I came to like books.”

Back in the Martial Treasury, when he had been about to give up searching for an orb for the Secret Box to absorb and simply leave—if he hadn’t suddenly thought to read just one book before going, he would never have obtained the Yellow Eye.

“The thought that I should read a book changed my fate. Thank you.”

Geom Mugeuk lowered his head in gratitude.

Blood Heaven Blade Demon silently regarded him for a moment before speaking calmly.

“To defeat others, you must never let go of that sword. But to defeat yourself…”

Then came words no one would believe were advice from the one known as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to the future Heavenly Demon.

“Even if you put the sword down from your hand, never put down a book.”

*         *         *

From the Tower of Drunken Dreams, Drunken Demon’s gaze turned toward the lake.

There, in the spot where his eyes came to rest, a corpse was drifting.

A corpse near his own dwelling?

It was enough to surprise anyone, yet Drunken Demon showed no hint of surprise.

He walked across the lake’s surface toward the body.

Looking down at the corpse, floating face-down, he asked flatly,

“Is this your new way of showing apology?”

As if waiting for the question, the corpse flipped over.

The one floating in the lake was Geom Mugeuk.

“Long time no see, brother.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I was trying to surprise you. I didn’t know you’d lost so much of your childlike heart.”

“It’s not a matter of childlike heart—it’s a matter of conscience.”

And Drunken Demon was well within his rights to say so.

The last time Geom Mugeuk had returned from mission and become the temporary Cult Leader, he hadn’t seen Drunken Demon either.

So this truly was the first time in a long while.

And this was someone whom he normally visited later than the other Demon Supremes, which had always left him feeling a bit slighted.

“Brother, how long has it been?”

Drunken Demon looked down at him in silence for a moment, then gave a respectful bow.

“Even when Father became a ‘waiting stone’ before he passed, he spoke of you, Young Cult Leader. Though you were the most neglected among the Demon Supremes, Father still liked you best.”

It wasn’t in Geom Mugeuk’s nature to let such a joke slide.

“You really took after Father—you’re so handsomely atmospheric. You can take after him in everything but his temper and his drunken rants!”

Drunken Demon shook his head once, then leapt toward the Tower of Drunken Dreams again.

The lightness skill with which he walked on the water was smooth and elegant.

Geom Mugeuk called after him,

“Come on, it’s not like it’s been *that* long since we last met!”

He lay back down on the lake, gazing up at the sky.

“Ah, this is nice. The sky here really is the most beautiful when viewed like this.”

Floating in the lake of the Tower of Drunken Dreams again after so long felt good.

After fully savoring the joy of being back, Geom Mugeuk ascended to the tower.

Drunken Demon poured him wine into the Ice Palace Chalice.

“How did it go?”

“It went well.”

He explained everything that had happened in Wuhan—just as he had done before parting from Evil Smiling Demon, and just as he had told Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

He had always done this.

When it came to matters involving the forces behind the scenes, he told all the Demon Supremes.

It was never a fight he waged alone—it was with them.

When he finished, Drunken Demon refilled his cup.

“You’ve worked hard.”

At Drunken Demon’s subdued reaction, Geom Mugeuk tilted his head.

“You seem different today, Brother.”

“Me?”

“Somehow… calmer?”

He would usually have played along with a few more jokes by now.

It wasn’t as if he was sulking—he wasn’t the type.

Though Geom Mugeuk often teased him for being narrow-minded, he knew better than anyone that Drunken Demon was a bigger man than most.

The problem was that today’s calmness felt tinged with concern.

“Is it because of Lady Lyu?”

He already knew that Drunken Demon and the third-generation drunken guest, Lyu Bin, treated each other with affection.

Had something happened between them while he’d been away?

When he’d met her earlier, guiding him, he hadn’t sensed anything amiss…

After draining the wine in his cup, Drunken Demon stood.

“Come with me.”

He led Geom Mugeuk somewhere, the two of them moving with lightness skill until they landed on the lakeshore opposite the entrance.

Drunken Demon led him into the Great Drunken Forest.

Deep in the woods, a mist-like liquor qi filled the air.

It was the absolute forbidden zone of the Great Drunken Forest.

Because this liquor qi could not be expelled with inner force, even masters could not easily pass through.

As Drunken Demon walked, the liquor qi opened a path as if alive.

Only he could walk here.

There stood the brewery—a place Geom Mugeuk had visited before when following him.

Once inside, Drunken Demon spoke with a puzzled expression.

“Things went well on your trip, the Cult Leader has emerged from closed training, the Demon Supremes are growing stronger… everything is going well.”

His steps stopped. His gaze fixed on the large jar placed in the middle of the room.

There lay the reason for his subdued mood.

“Why has the newly brewed liquor gone bad again?”