Absolute Regression

Chapter 703: Twice He Asked, yet If He did not Answer

Seventeenth Beauty’s steps slowed down.

The Faceless Swordsman was following her without knowing anything.

If it had been anyone else, it would not have mattered, but she wanted to spare at least this Faceless Swordsman.

But she could not. Her pressure point was sealed, so she could not reveal anything even if she wished to, and if she truly tried, it would only cost her life.

Her whole life had been one long contemplation of how to kill someone.

So the fact that she now carried the feeling of wanting to save someone felt unbearably strange. No, it was the very first time.

At that moment, the Faceless Swordsman behind her gave her a push on the back. Her thoughts had run too deep, and her steps had become far too slow.

Seventeenth Beauty turned her head to look back.

They had been together inside the carriage all along, yet this was the very first time their eyes met. Until now, he had only looked outside.

Seventeenth Beauty turned forward again and resumed her steps.

And like that, they entered the guest hall. As soon as she crossed the threshold, Seventeenth Beauty flinched. Behind the open door stood another Faceless Swordsman.

And by the window, there was yet another. He was leaning against the wall, staring into the hall, and Seventeenth Beauty could instantly tell he was no ordinary Faceless Swordsman.

The aura radiating from him was entirely different. That presence naturally called forth one single name.

‘Evil Smiling Demon!’

Was it because of the pure white mask?

The moment she saw the Evil Smiling Demon, an image of a massive, snowy-white wolf sprang into her mind. A lone wolf standing amidst a snowfield where blizzards howled.

Only then did she truly notice her companions. All of them, with stiff faces, were staring toward her.

Now she realized. The twenty assassins of the Court of Beauties, including the Third Beauty, had all already been subdued.

Why had she not thought that they too could have been overpowered?

At that moment, the Evil Smiling Demon spoke to her.

“Are you alright?”

For an instant, Seventeenth Beauty thought he might have been addressing her. But then, someone behind her answered.

“Yes, I am alright.”

Startled, Seventeenth Beauty turned back.

She saw that it was the Faceless Swordsman who had saved her, bowing politely with clasped fists as he replied. The Evil Smiling Demon had been asking if he was alright, for the man’s uniform was soaked in blood from many wounds.

The sight shocked Seventeenth Beauty once more.

‘So… he wasn’t mute!’

Until now, she had believed that Faceless Swordsmen were incapable of speech, that their tongues had been cut and even their emotions stripped away.

But he even exchanged a nod and smile with the Faceless Swordsman who had already been in the guest hall.

‘What… they can smile?’

The Faceless Swordsman led Seventeenth Beauty to a chair and seated her down. Once seated, Seventeenth Beauty finally realized her situation. The frightening Evil Smiling Demon of the Demonic Cult, and the Faceless Swordsmen — she and her companions had fallen into their hands.

Her gaze turned toward her senior and junior assassins.

Since none of them could open their mouths, they exchanged only silent glances. That was when she noticed it. A thin line of blood traced across each of their throats.

‘Could it be?’

Seventeenth Beauty realized at once. All those wounds had been inflicted by a single person.

‘It was the Evil Smiling Demon.’

The Evil Smiling Demon she knew was a man who had nothing to do with sparing lives. Among the Demon Supremes, he was said to be the most brutal of all.

‘Then why hasn’t he killed us?’

In the meantime, more carriages arrived in succession.

From them, more subdued assassins were dragged out. All the assassins of the Court of Beauties mobilized this time had been captured and brought here.

The Faceless Swordsmen seated the captives in the empty places. The later each group of captives arrived, the more shocked they became at the sheer number of their subdued comrades.

Were we truly such a powerless organization?

They had always believed that if they so wished, they could kill any man in the world.

But against those masked ones, their beauty had no effect. It was blocked by those masks, as if they had met their natural nemesis.

The Faceless Swordsmen who had gone out all returned after subduing assassins.

Seeing the captives, the Third Beauty immediately understood.

‘Everyone has been caught, except for the First Beauty and Second Beauty.’

It was fortunate they were not killed right away, but they were not foolish enough to believe the Demonic Cult would simply let them live.

Since they themselves had been targeted, Cha Iran, the First Beauty, and the Second Beauty could also be in danger.

Perhaps the enemy intended to use them as hostages to manipulate Cha Iran.

Her gaze turned toward the carriage parked outside.

There was only one thing left to rely on.

Whether it was a report that a broken carriage had arrived at the Divine Transformation Gang’s guest hall, or that a fight had broken out among women inside, if such news reached the Gang Leader of the Divine Transformation Gang, then he would personally lead masters here.

No matter how fearsome the Evil Smiling Demon was, with only two days left before the tournament, he could not dare touch the Gang Leader of the Divine Transformation Gang.

She prayed he would come and create a turning point.

But no matter how long they waited, the Gang Leader did not come.

*         *         *

Inside the Gang Leader’s Hall of the Divine Transformation Gang, three men sat drinking.

The one seated in the middle was the Gang Leader, An Cheong-gwang. The two others were Serpent Sword and Iron Cold Blade.

They were the two great masters who had supported An Cheong-gwang and helped build the Divine Transformation Gang into what it was today.

“Only two days remain.”

Cha Iran had relayed her plan to kill the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance on the final stage. Originally, the plan had been to kill him several days later at the celebratory banquet, but since the Alliance Leader had arrived earlier than expected, the plan had been moved forward.

“Do not forget the promise you made us.”

At Serpent Sword’s words, An Cheong-gwang nodded.

“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”

There had been several times before. He might not remember them, or perhaps he only pretended not to remember.

But there was an even greater reason for pressing him to confirm his promise. They knew well that the more An Cheong-gwang achieved his ambitions, the more they would ignite into new, greater flames of desire.

With such a man, one had to take their due when it was promised. Otherwise, he would claim not to remember again.

What An Cheong-gwang had promised them was immense wealth and power.

If the plan to kill the Unorthodox Alliance Leader and frame the Black Heaven Sect for the assassination succeeded, the Black Heaven Sect would be exterminated by Bi Sa-in, who was destined to become the next Unorthodox Alliance Leader.

Once that happened, the Divine Transformation Gang would rise as the foremost faction in Anhui Province and could absorb all the power once held by the Black Heaven Sect.

At that point, becoming the strongest gang under heaven would no longer be just a distant dream.

“Come, let us drink.”

The three clinked their cups together.

Just then—

Creak.

The door opened, and someone stepped inside.

When they saw who it was, all three men leaped up in shock.

To their astonishment, the man who entered was none other than Baek Jagang, the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.

If the Unorthodox Alliance Leader had come, there should have been word from the guards outside. The fact that no such message had come meant he had come in secret.

It felt ominous, but An Cheong-gwang quickly ran forward with a bright smile to greet him.

“Welcome, Alliance Leader.”

An Cheong-gwang bowed respectfully with clasped fists.

“How is it you came without sending word?”

Baek Jagang silently fixed his gaze on him, then suddenly asked,

“Why did you do it?”

“!”

An Cheong-gwang’s chest tightened. Could it be that the Leader had discovered everything and come here for that reason?

Even Serpent Sword and Iron Cold Blade, who were standing behind, felt a chill run down their spines.

“What do you mean, sir?”

For a long moment, silence pressed down on the room. An Cheong-gwang, though unsure of what this was about, met Baek Jagang’s eyes with a look of innocence, as if declaring he was guiltless.

Baek Jagang’s small eyes curved into a smile.

“If there was a drinking party, you should have invited me as well.”

Only then did An Cheong-gwang quietly sigh in relief.

“I dared not trouble so distinguished a guest. I beg your forgiveness, Alliance Leader.”

Behind him, Serpent Sword and Iron Cold Blade bowed politely with clasped fists.

“We greet the Alliance Leader.”

Baek Jagang turned his gaze toward them. Then, repeating the very same words he had said to An Cheong-gwang, he asked,

“Why did you do it?”

Hearing the same question again, Serpent Sword and Iron Cold Blade felt a wave of unease. Their guilty hearts made them flinch, but Serpent Sword forced a smile and asked,

“What do you mean by that?”

Then, once again with a playful smile, Baek Jagang replied,

“You should have greeted me first when I came in.”

“We thought you were busy, so we planned to greet you at the banquet. Our apologies.”

And so, after the greetings, the four of them sat down again around the round table.

An Cheong-gwang poured Baek Jagang a cup of wine.

“Alliance Leader, please have a drink first.”

Baek Jagang accepted the wine, then filled cups for the three men. As he poured the first cup for Iron Cold Blade, who sat on his right, he asked,

“Did I not ask you why you did it?”

The three of them stiffened again. They had thought that question had already been answered and passed off as a jest earlier, but now he was demanding an answer once more.

“What do you mean, sir…?”

Before he could even finish his words, the sound of wind rang out.

Shhhiiik!

Slash!

It was the wind that carried him away to a place where no answer could ever be heard again.

Thud.

Iron Cold Blade’s head dropped onto the table, rolled across it, and came to rest beside the wine bottle.

“Damn it!”

With a curse, Serpent Sword toppled his chair backward and retreated, while An Cheong-gwang stayed seated, his eyes wide with shock.

He had never imagined that the Alliance Leader would suddenly cut down Iron Cold Blade without warning — and with a single strike at that.

Clack.

Baek Jagang slid the sword he had thrust into the air back into its scabbard.

Then, as though nothing had happened, he said,

“Perhaps I’ve grown more short-tempered lately. Twice seems to be my limit. If I ask twice and still receive no answer, I find I cannot restrain myself.”

Baek Jagang lifted the wine bottle, his gaze fixed on Serpent Sword, who stood far back. The gesture meant: come and receive a drink.

Serpent Sword understood. Baek Jagang already knew everything. Otherwise, he would not have done this.

‘If I accept that wine, I’ll die.’

A wave of dread washed over him. In all his life roaming the martial world of Anhui, there had been nothing to fear. But faced with imminent death, his entire body trembled.

He glanced at An Cheong-gwang. The man sat silently, saying nothing. What could he possibly do in this situation? Surely he was racking his brain to find some way to escape this predicament.

Serpent Sword slowly walked back to the table and sat down.

His hand was ready to draw his sword at any moment. He would not die as pointlessly as Iron Cold Blade.

From the table, where blood spread in a dark pool, he accepted the Alliance Leader’s wine.

Was it because he thought it might be his last drink?

The wine that had tasted sweet only moments ago now tasted bitter.

“…The wine is good.”

Baek Jagang asked again.

“Why did you do it?”

It was the second time he had asked him directly, and this time Serpent Sword had to answer.

He replied honestly.

“For money, for power — what reason would I have not to?”

Baek Jagang nodded, as though he understood that much.

“You knew it was me, didn’t you?”

“No, sir. That, I did not know.”

The moment those words left his mouth, chills crept across Baek Jagang’s ears.

Baek Jagang stared at him quietly before speaking in a calm voice.

“Pour me a drink, then be on your way.”

Serpent Sword’s eyes widened. Was he truly sparing him? It was hard to believe, but first he had to escape this place. Whatever awaited outside of hell, it could hardly be worse than hell itself.

Serpent Sword poured wine for Baek Jagang.

Clink.

At that very moment—

Shhhik!

Thud.

In an instant, Baek Jagang’s sword sliced through the air and pierced straight through Serpent Sword’s heart.

Blood trickled down the blade, even as the wine still flowed from the bottle, filling Baek Jagang’s cup.

Clink.

Baek Jagang drank the wine poured by the dead man, then pulled the sword free from his heart.

Thump.

Serpent Sword’s corpse collapsed backward.

An Cheong-gwang understood.

When Baek Jagang said, “Pour me a drink, then be on your way,” he had not meant leave this room. He had meant leave this world.

Baek Jagang wasted no time. He did not probe or test his opponent. He only asked the one question that needed asking.

“Why did you do it?”

This was the second time he was being asked. An Cheong-gwang could not evade or hesitate any longer.

“I wanted to devour Anhui’s martial world, and all of the unorthodox martial world as well. The dream you once dreamed, Alliance Leader — I dreamed it too.”

An Cheong-gwang rose from his seat and walked toward the throne mat as he recounted the day Cha Iran had come to him. Though he moved about, Baek Jagang simply listened.

“…Had I not accepted their proposal, they would have gone to the Black Heaven Sect. And in that case, our Divine Transformation Gang would have been the one framed.”

He spoke as though he were the wronged party, but Baek Jagang was unmoved.

“That would never have happened. The Sect Leader of the Black Heaven Sect is a loyal man to me. They would never have gone to him in the first place.”

His words carried both his trust in the Sect Leader of the Black Heaven Sect and his scorn for An Cheong-gwang.

“Temptation always chooses the easier prey.”

An Cheong-gwang’s face twisted as he sat down upon the throne mat. Then, as though lashing out in desperation, he roared,

“You are too arrogant!”

The moment he pressed the armrest of the throne mat—

Clatter.

The walls around Baek Jagang rotated, revealing hundreds of small holes. The ceiling split open, revealing hundreds more.

This was a contraption he had prepared for such dire moments. For a very long time, with immense sums of money, he had secretly constructed this mechanism.

Baek Jagang recognized it at once.

“Death’s Ten Thousand Needle Gate — quite a fine device. Did you know? It was crafted by this Alliance’s own technicians.”

Though Baek Jagang’s composure infuriated him, An Cheong-gwang placed his faith in the mechanism. He trusted the wealth and years invested in it.

“Don’t pretend to be at ease! Not even you can escape this unscathed!”

He had never intended to use this mechanism against Baek Jagang. It had been meant for the day Cha Iran betrayed him.

“Damn it!”

Even if the Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance died here and he fled through the secret passage behind the throne mat, he would spend the rest of his life in hiding, hunted, his name and face forever concealed.

“You were not supposed to die here.”

It should have been the Black Heaven Sect that killed him.

“How could you not wait two more days, and shatter my dream like this!”

Hundreds of hidden apertures for concealed weapons were aimed at Baek Jagang, yet he showed not a trace of agitation.

“If you had invested the money you wasted on building this contraption into strengthening the Divine Transformation Gang, you would have achieved your dream already. You simply chose the shorter path.”

Unable to endure any longer, An Cheong-gwang activated the mechanism.

Clack!

But the trap did not spring.

Clack, clack!

No matter how many times he pressed the controls, only the sound of metal echoed — the mechanism refused to fire.

Baek Jagang rose from his seat and said leisurely,

“Knowing exactly what was in your heart, do you think my guards would have let me come here unprepared?”

His escorts had already infiltrated through the walls and ceiling beforehand, dismantling the entire device.

“Damn it!”

An Cheong-gwang leapt up. Should he flee through the secret passage? Or strike first?

He had yet to decide, when suddenly a flash of light split the instant.

Swoooosh!

Splatter!

A streak of azure sword energy pierced straight through his chest.

He never managed to rise; he collapsed back into the throne mat.

Thud.

Looking down at the gaping hole in his chest, he spewed blood.

It was all too futile.

It had taken him less than a moment to choose to clasp Cha Iran’s hand. That single decision had overturned everything.

Life was long, but decisions were always made in an instant.

What if he had refused her back then?

Baek Jagang turned to leave, speaking as he walked.

“Save your dreams for the next life.”

Just then, a voice came weakly from behind him.

“…That woman said something to me.”

Baek Jagang halted, glancing back at his final words.

From An Cheong-gwang’s mouth spilled something wholly unexpected, along with blood.

“…She said that only if you died would the martial world not fall to ruin.”

With that, An Cheong-gwang’s head slumped lifelessly to the side.

For the first time since entering this room, Baek Jagang’s small eyes narrowed into sharp slits, flashing keenly.

Not once while hearing those words did he feel the chill on his ears.

That meant he truly had spoken them.

That if he lived, the martial world would perish?