Absolute Regression

Chapter 683: If the Heavens Gave a Prophecy

"Who contacted you?"

At the Fist Demon King's question, Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.

"A message came for Soma-nim. He left the sect for a while to do me a favor."

Fist Demon King was well aware of the special relationship between Geom Mugeuk and Evil Smiling Demon.

At first, he had found their relationship quite unexpected, as he thought their personalities didn’t suit each other at all.

But now, his thoughts had changed.

The more he got to know Geom Mugeuk, the more he sensed an indescribable loneliness from him—one that felt very similar to that of Evil Smiling Demon.

"Do you have to go out again?"

"It seems I must."

"Take care."

Though blunt, his farewell carried concern.

"May I ask you a favor?"

Fist Demon King nodded.

"Please tell my father that I quietly left the sect because of some matters."

Even if he told no one else, he had to at least inform his father.

"Why not tell him yourself?"

"I have someone I must meet."

Fist Demon King spoke in a reprimanding tone.

"Shouldn’t you first see the Cult Leader and deliver the message to that person?"

"The person I need to meet is my master’s daughter."

"……."

"Understood. Please tell Lee Ahn that I couldn’t see her before leaving—"

Before he could finish, Fist Demon King turned and started walking away.

"I’ll make sure to tell the Cult Leader myself."

*         *         *

Lee Ahn was in her residence.

Standing in the yard, she looked up at the sky, her face full of worry. Just as she let out the sigh she had been holding back—

Whoooong!

A surprise attack came from behind.

‘Too late!’

Realizing she was too late to dodge, she drew upon the Heavenly Star Body and threw herself forward to minimize the impact.

Thud!

She took a strike to the back from the swiftly incoming palm, but thankfully, the Heavenly Star Body shielded her.

Bouncing forward, she spun around like lightning and drew the Sun and Moon Sword.

Shiiing!

Emitting a chilling aura, the blade stopped just short of slicing the opponent’s neck.

"Young Master!"

The one standing there smiling without dodging was Geom Mugeuk.

"Pass!"

Using the Heavenly Star Body to protect herself, and stopping the blade instead of recklessly cutting down her opponent—both were excellent.

"What would you have done if I accidentally cut you down, Young Master!"

Her sword trembled in her hands, her heart still pounding with relief.

"Once one reach a certain level, you shouldn’t play pranks like ambushes."

Meaning that with her current skill, she could never accidentally kill him.

As she lowered her sword, Lee Ahn’s face lit up with joy. The person she had missed so dearly was standing right in front of her.

"You heard I was back, didn’t you?"

"Yes."

"And yet you didn’t come to see me? That’s too cruel, Lee Ahn. Have you abandoned me now?"

"To see the face of the person I abandoned, I went three times. Once when you were out hunting, and twice more when you were away on trips. What on earth kept you so busy?"

In the past, Lee Ahn would have simply waited until Geom Mugeuk came to see her, worried that visiting him when he was busy might be bothersome.

But this time, she hadn’t done that.

"You could have at least left me a letter."

"For what? I could always come again. We were bound to meet like this anyway."

"What’s this? Did you reach enlightenment while I was away?"

Lee Ahn let out a sigh at that.

"If I had, I wouldn’t be troubled right now."

"Something happened?"

Lately, she had been troubled over matters concerning the Tenebrous Ghosts Corps.

Now that she was truly managing the organization, all sorts of unforeseen issues had begun to surface.

A particularly large problem had arisen recently—a dispute between the first squad led by Cheong Myeon and the second squad led by Seo Jin.

It had started as a minor quarrel between two ordinary members, but it had gradually escalated until it became a full-blown conflict between the squads themselves.

"I thought about stepping in personally to resolve it, but for now, I’ve been pretending not to know. Still, I feel like I shouldn’t just leave it alone. Honestly, I’m also annoyed. What do they take me, their leader, for?"

Lee Ahn spoke candidly—something she would not have said to anyone but Geom Mugeuk.

And to that already burning house, Geom Mugeuk fanned the flames with a grin.

"They’re just seeing you as plain water. Now imagine if Lord Jang were the head—would they dare split into factions and fight? They think you’re too nice, so they take you lightly."

"Right? Ugh, maybe I should just beat them all up."

"Then do it. Why didn’t you?"

"Well… there are squad leaders in place. I feel like it’s not my place to step in, and besides, a beating won’t actually solve the problem."

Geom Mugeuk chuckled.

"You already know the answer, so what are you agonizing over?"

Lee Ahn laughed as well.

‘Why do you think I’m agonizing? Because I want to do well. This is an organization directly under the Young Cult Leader, one he entrusted me to lead—how could I not care?’

She thought Cheong Myeon and Seo Jin would have their own sense of responsibility, so they would surely resolve it themselves. That was how she should think, but she couldn’t help worrying the matter might escalate further and ruin their relationship entirely.

Her habit of always considering the worst possible outcome was a professional affliction from her days as an escort warrior.

Lee Ahn came to a decision.

"Alright, I’ll just pretend I don’t know about this one. Done, worry over!"

"Then they’ll think you really don’t know anything. That you’re an indifferent and incompetent leader."

"Then what should I do?"

"You need to let them know that you’re aware of everything but are deliberately pretending not to. That way, you become the kind of leader who gives your subordinates the chance to resolve things on their own. A leader who isn’t careless, one who knows but doesn’t act recklessly."

Lee Ahn shook her head.

"It’s hard, really hard. I thought I’d be amazing at this once I became a leader. I miss the days when I could just follow you around without a care."

Geom Mugeuk stared at her for a moment before making a surprising proposal.

"Then let’s do something you liked."

"Huh?"

"I’m about to leave the Cult right now—come with me."

Lee Ahn’s eyes widened. She didn’t ask where.

"How much time do I have to get ready?"

"Half a kak."

The moment the words left his mouth, she dashed into her house and began packing.

"People always see me swinging a sword in the training yard, but I’m a woman too, you know! How can you tell me we’re leaving half a kak before departure?"

Even as she complained, she moved like lightning, stuffing clothes and travel necessities into her travel bag.

"And if I go like this? What about my subordinates?"

"What subordinates? Did I have any?"

She was ready to leave in less than half a kak.

"A reckless leader who acts on impulse, ready to depart!"

She looked so happy, he wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t asked her to come along.

"Is it really that good?"

"Of course."

"You hate danger. What if something terrifying is waiting for us?"

"Then tell that terrifying thing this—there’s a cranky woman coming along who’s tired from work and people. This time, it’s that thing that better avoid me. Make sure you tell it that."

They looked at each other and laughed.

"So, where are we going?"

"To Sky Flower Pavilion."

At the mention of Sky Flower Pavilion, Lee Ahn’s expression grew even brighter.

Was it because of the kind words she’d once received there? Or the mysterious air of the pavilion’s mistress? For some reason, meeting her always put Lee Ahn in a good mood.

The two of them left the cult and began making their way swiftly toward Sky Flower Pavilion.

*         *         *

They ran and ran.

When it came time to rest, they would light a campfire and set up camp.

While Lee Ahn recovered her inner energy, Geom Mugeuk would hunt animals and cook for her. They would sit side by side by the fire, talking about this and that.

These days, he was doing his best for his father, his elder brother, and the Demon Supreme. But the person he most needed to care for was Lee Ahn.

"Thank you."

"All of a sudden?"

"Yeah, I just feel thankful all of a sudden."

"You don’t have to say that—I was going to do the dishes and clean up anyway."

Geom Mugeuk smiled at her. Being with her was just that comfortable and pleasant.

"Nothing’s happened at Sky Flower Pavilion, right?"

"That’s where Soma-nim is right now."

That one line was enough. This errand was likely related to The Dream of the Priestess.

Could it be that, as he suspected, she really was a descendant of the Priestess Palace?

Once their inner energy recovery and rest were done, the two began running again.

It was a busy journey with no real chance to admire the scenery, but Lee Ahn didn’t mind. If she was with Geom Mugeuk, even being busy felt good.

*         *         *

At last, Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn arrived at Sky Flower Pavilion.

Inside the pavilion’s inner compound, Evil Smiling Demon and Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress Yeo Jeong were waiting, having received word of their arrival.

"Welcome, Young Cult Leader."

After Evil Smiling Demon greeted him, Yeo Jeong also offered her greeting.

"I should have come to see you, but I’m sorry to make you come here instead."

As expected, it was clear that the reason he had asked to see him was because of Yeo Jeong.

"If Sister-in-law calls, I should come running right away."

As always, Geom Mugeuk addressed her as "Sister-in-law." He likely had no idea how much that small title meant to Yeo Jeong.

"Lee Ahn also came along."

After greeting Evil Smiling Demon first, Lee Ahn bowed to Yeo Jeong, worried that her being brought along might be troubling.

"I begged him to bring me because I wanted to see you, Mistress. It’s been a while, Mistress."

The two women’s gazes toward each other were warm.

"Our martial artist here has become even more beautiful."

Lee Ahn turned to Geom Mugeuk and said,

"See? This is what you’re supposed to say when you meet someone after a long time—not smack them around."

Understanding the situation to some degree, Evil Smiling Demon and Yeo Jeong both smiled.

"Come inside."

The four of them sat facing one another in the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress’s quarters.

"As you may have guessed, the reason I asked Orabeoni to bring the Young Cult Leader here is because of this."

Yeo Jeong brought out a jade box.

Opening the lid with care, she revealed The Dream of the Priestess inside. She had kept it in perfect condition.

"I received this from you and have kept it untouched until now."

Looking into Yeo Jeong’s eyes as she gazed at the item, Geom Mugeuk could tell—she knew exactly what this object was.

‘So my intuition was correct.’

She was without a doubt a descendant of the Priestess Palace.

"Young Cult Leader, do you know what this is?"

"It is The Dream of the Priestess."

"So you knew when you sent it to me."

She could still remember how shocked she had been when Geom Mugeuk had sent it through Evil Smiling Demon.

Geom Mugeuk added an explanation about the artifact.

"All I know is that it’s a divine relic of the Priestess Palace, which was said to have perished alongside Heavenly Will Palace three hundred years ago. I don’t know exactly how it is used."

Yeo Jeong asked him once more,

"Then why did you send this to me, Young Cult Leader?"

Evil Smiling Demon sat silently beside them, watching the two converse. Their connection had been so deep that now it seemed to extend even to Yeo Jeong.

"I came across this relic by chance in the Martial Alliance’s treasury. And the moment I saw it, I thought it belonged to you, Sister-in-law."

"May I ask why?"

"I suddenly recalled how you once looked into someone’s fate."

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted to Lee Ahn beside him.

"Back then, you looked into her fate. That’s when I began to wonder if perhaps you were a descendant of the Priestess Palace."

He had already read the answer on the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress’s face. If it were untrue, she would have denied it outright. But Yeo Jeong said nothing.

And then came the astonishing truth.

"You saw correctly. I am a descendant of the Priestess Palace."

After speaking to Geom Mugeuk, Yeo Jeong turned to look at Evil Smiling Demon.

From that, Geom Mugeuk understood—this was the first time she was revealing it even to him.

"It wasn’t that I deliberately tried to deceive anyone. I had simply resolved to live my life forgetting forever that I was a descendant of the Priestess Palace. I also only just learned that the force behind this affair was the Dark Palace."

Evil Smiling Demon showed not the slightest sign of disturbance, his gaze saying clearly that her identity made no difference to him.

Yeo Jeong’s eyes fell upon The Dream of the Priestess.

"This is a divine relic passed down to a priestess capable of prophecy. I had thought it was lost long ago, yet here it was in the Martial Alliance’s possession."

Then came an even more startling statement.

"With this, I can make a prophecy."

Lifting her head, she met Geom Mugeuk’s gaze.

"That is, if I am a priestess capable of receiving one. I’ve heard that even among those of priestess bloodline, far more cannot receive prophecies than can."

Geom Mugeuk’s mind conjured the image of the priestess from three hundred years ago—her eyes covered with The Dream of the Priestess.

Knowing the future, being a prophet… she had not looked like a happy woman.

"I did not give this to you so you would receive a prophecy. I gave it simply because it was yours. You can keep it forever in that box, or burn it here and now and forget the Priestess Palace ever existed—it makes no difference to me."

Yeo Jeong looked to Evil Smiling Demon. He gave a single nod, as if to say the choice was hers alone.

Slowly, she took out The Dream of the Priestess.

"Honestly, I was curious—whether I’m someone who can receive a prophecy or not."

But that wasn’t the real reason. She thought, ‘If Geom Mugeuk sending me The Dream of the Priestess was fate, then I shouldn’t avoid this fate.’ Especially for Evil Smiling Demon’s sake.

"If the heavens were to grant me a prophecy, I wonder what kind it would be."

The mystical energy emanating from the relic grew stronger once it was in her hands.

Carefully, Yeo Jeong covered her eyes with The Dream of the Priestess.

Geom Mugeuk felt the thick swirl of mystical energy rise around her body.

A suffocating silence filled the room. Geom Mugeuk, Lee Ahn, and Evil Smiling Demon all held their breath, eyes fixed on her.

How much time passed like that?

Yeo Jeong finally removed the relic.

When her eyes slowly opened, there was astonishment in them.

"I saw a certain scene."

Which meant a prophecy had been given. She was, incredibly, a priestess capable of prophecy.

Her trembling gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk.

"I saw you there, Young Cult Leader."