Absolute Regression

The first person to arrive at the Flowing Wind Tavern was the Demonic Army Commander Jangho.

His large build and the scars on his face overwhelmed everyone in the tavern. There was not a sound from the other patrons as Jangho crossed the first floor and ascended to the second floor. Only when he joined our table did time seem to flow again.

“How have you been, Second Young Master?”

“I’ve been well. I hope I didn’t call a busy man for no reason.”

“If you hadn’t called me to this gathering, I would have been very disappointed.”

“Of course I had to call you. It’s our first drinking party with my people. Here, have a drink first.”

I poured Jangho a full glass of liquor.

“Thank you.”

Seo Daeryong and Jangho exchanged greetings. They were acquaintances from the letter incident last time. Sitting next to the smaller-framed Seo Daeryong made Jangho’s size appear three times larger.

“Have you been busy?”

“It was hectic at first, but now it has calmed down a bit.”

“If you ever have any problems or worries, come to me anytime.”

“Of course. You’ll be the first I visit.”

Jangho was always reassuring. Despite his rough exterior, he was emotional, meticulous, and valued relationships deeply.

With Jangho here, the pace of drinking increased. He could hold his liquor as well as his large frame suggested.

While drinking, Seo Daeryong glanced at Jangho from time to time. It wasn’t just to gauge his reaction, but there was a hint of envy in his eyes.

“Are you jealous?”

When I hit the mark, Seo Daeryong flinched.

“Of what?”

“Are you jealous of Lord Jang?”

Seo Daeryong, borrowing the courage from his intoxication, answered honestly.

“Yes, to be honest, I am. I once wanted to be like him. Even though I failed.”

“It’s not too late.”

“You told me before. When I lamented that it was too late, you said you were disappointed in me. But what can I do about it being late? I’m already thirty-two.”

“It’s still not too late.”

Seo Daeryong, who was about to retort, drank the liquor in front of him. Normally, if it were someone else, he would have shouted not to say such things lightly about others’ affairs.

Although he swallowed his anger with the liquor, Seo Daeryong was visibly flustered.

“Is it really not too late?”

Knowing he was asking sincerely, I answered earnestly.

“It is late.”

“Oh, of course.”

Seo Daeryong seemed disappointed. It looked like he had a sliver of hope that it might not be too late after all.

“But there’s a good side to it.”

“What is that?”

“You’ll put in more genuine effort. Even when you swing your sword once, you’ll put more force into it than others, and when you take a step, it will be with deeper consideration than others.”

“But the reality is that I still won’t be able to catch up, right?”

“You can catch up. Oh, look, here comes a good example. The very embodiment of denial!”

Following my gaze, Seo Daeryong and Jangho looked towards the first floor. There, Lee Ahn, with her large build, was drawing everyone’s attention as she hurriedly came up to join us on the second floor.

“She started down that path a step ahead of you, lives on the training grounds these days, and is still that cheerful. Here she comes.”

Upon arriving at our table, Lee Ahn immediately apologized.

“Oh, I’m really sorry. I was late because I washed up and changed my training clothes.”

“What’s the rush? It’s just a drinking party.”

“It’s important because it’s a gathering with distinguished people.”

Lee Ahn greeted the two of them.

“Hello, Lord Jang. Investigator Seo.”

The two men stared at her brightly greeting them. Thinking it was because she was late, Lee Ahn apologized again.

“I’m sorry, I was late, wasn’t I?”

Seo Daeryong stared at her because of my remark about her being a good example, while Jangho had a different reason. Jangho spoke to her respectfully.

“Something about you has changed, Lee Ahn.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Something feels different.”

The eyes of the leader of the Demonic Army were indeed sharp.

Then, Lee Ahn glanced at me and, smiling, said,

“I’ve been stuck in training hell, so I’ve lost some weight. I’ve changed a bit, haven’t I?”

Of course, both Lee Ahn and I knew that wasn’t the real reason. It was because her qi had changed after she received the Soaring Sword Art. This was a secret that must never be disclosed to outsiders.

Jangho might have sensed there was more to it, but he politely didn’t ask further about the changes.

“The weather’s been gloomy, and I’ve been craving a drink too. Please give me some alcohol!”

Lee Ahn held out her glass, and I filled it to the brim.

“You’ve worked hard with your training, Lee Ahn.”

“It’s nothing. It’s what I should do. Besides, I know you train much harder than I do, Young Master. You even cut down on your sleep.”

Seo Daeryong was startled at this.

“Really?”

“You didn’t know?”

Lee Ahn’s question made Seo Daeryong look at me.

“Someone who seems like he would slack off.”

“That’s right. But inside this lazy-looking shell is an incredibly hard-working martial artist.”

Seo Daeryong looked at me, then at Jangho, and finally at Lee Ahn. Then he drank alone.

“I feel like I’m the only loser here.”

“But you work hard at your job, don’t you?”

At Lee Ahn’s consolation, Seo Daeryong hung his head.

“I put off today’s work until tomorrow and came to drink.”

“Oh dear, our Investigator Seo looks so diligent on the outside.”

Lee Ahn teased him lightly. In moments like this, she seemed like a cheerful young girl who laughed heartily.

“Come on, let’s drink for today’s loser!”

Lee Ahn raised her glass, and we all made a toast. Even the so-called loser didn’t mind, joining the final toast, claiming the title for himself.

“So? Everyone here is working so hard. Do you want to learn martial arts properly?”

“From you, Pavilion Leader?”

“No.”

“Then from whom?”

Seo Daeryong unintentionally glanced at Jangho.

“Why are you looking there? He’s the busiest among us.”

“Oh, I thought maybe because he trained the Enforcement Martial Artists before.”

“Would you learn if there’s someone willing to teach you? You can’t become an official disciple, but you can learn proper martial arts.”

“Who is it?”

Instead of telling him who it was, I said,

“Your resolve comes first. Tell me if you’re determined to be reborn. Then I’ll tell you who.”

I had thought of him as the next leader of the Underworld Pavilion. But he was too young to be the next leader. He didn’t have a good family background or political connections. He needed something to become the leader.

Then suddenly, one person came to mind.

Someone who didn’t seem to fit at all, but maybe because of that, might be the best fit.

“I’ll give you a moment. Think about it.”

“What? Decide here and now?”

“Decisions like this can’t be made after long deliberation. Once this drinking session is over, we’re back to square one. You know that, right?”

Seo Daeryong fell into serious contemplation, and we drank while watching the windy sky that looked like it might rain any moment. We drank quietly for Seo Daeryong. I, Lee Ahn, and Jangho all had a lot on our minds these days.

By the time we emptied a bottle, Seo Daeryong made his decision.

“I’ll do it.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“This will change your life.”

“I’m determined. What is life? When an opportunity comes, you grab it! If I mess up and die, please bury me in a sunny spot!”

“I’ll bury you at a spot where pretty women pass by.”

“Sounds good.”

Seo Daeryong downed the drink in front of him in one go.

“Oh! Congratulations!”

Lee Ahn clapped enthusiastically, and Jangho offered his congratulations as well.

“If anyone else had suggested it, I wouldn’t have considered it. But since the Pavilion Leader recommended it, I strangely found myself thinking… grab this opportunity. This is it.”

Lee Ahn, smiling, agreed.

“Our Young Master has the best persuasive skills in all history.”

Jangho nodded in agreement.

Seo Daeryong, feeling good, drank more. He usually couldn’t hold his liquor well, but he was drinking excessively tonight.

“But as you know, I’ve been working as an investigator for ten years. I’ve stayed up many nights aiming to become a Special Investigator. Giving all that up feels…”

“Why would you quit being an investigator?”

“What?”

“There’s no need to quit. You’re the person the Underworld Pavilion needs the most. Why would you quit? I mean for you to learn martial arts after working hours.”

Seo Daeryong thought I was joking.

“Are you trying to work me to death?”

“But you’ll achieve your unfulfilled dreams.”

Staring at me, Seo Daeryong was taken aback.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious. Why rush when learning late? Learn slowly after work.”

“Because it’s late, it’s urgent. Can I become a master by learning like that? Shouldn’t I bet everything in my life and challenge it?”

Seo Daeryong looked at Jangho, seeking support. But Jangho just looked at me as if to say listen to him.

With no ally found, Seo Daeryong turned back to me.

I calmly spoke to him.

“Usually, that’s why people fail. They think they can bet everything in life, but it doesn’t actually work out that way. If you have too much time from morning till night, it’s harder. You end up feeling, with all this time, why am I not making progress, what am I doing? You fall into self-doubt and defeatism. It’s much more effective to make a little effort during the precious time you have while doing your work. It becomes not just work but also a joy.”

Lee Ahn and Jangho nodded in agreement, though it was Seo Daeryong who seemed deeply conflicted.

“And the important thing is who you learn from. If you learn from a true master, someone you truly resonate with, the time spent training doesn’t matter as much. Learning from such a person for just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea is better than listening to a mediocre person’s ramblings for a lifetime.”

“A true master? Who?”

Even Lee Ahn and Jangho were curious about whom I intended to bring in as a master.

“They’ll be here soon.”

“They’re coming here?”

Both Seo Daeryong and Lee Ahn were surprised, as was Jangho.

“Did you know that Investigator Seo would make this decision?”

“Am I a fortune teller? How would I know that? It was a spontaneous thought.”

“Then that person doesn’t know about this situation?”

“Of course not.”

“Oh my goodness!”

Seo Daeryong took another drink. Having already surpassed his usual drinking capacity, he was entering the stage where one drink called for another.

“The key is whether they give you permission. If they refuse, we’ll have to cling to their pants.”

We all agreed to make sure to get the permission and drank together.

Lee Ahn told Seo Daeryong to just touch the drink to his lips, but he said he couldn’t, given the importance of the matter, and emptied his glass.

“I don’t know who it is, but I will definitely get their permission. If they refuse, the right pant leg is mine. Pavilion Leader, please take the left.”

Seo Daeryong was visibly excited at the thought of realizing something he had long desired.

“If the master is someone the Young Master has arranged, they must be truly wonderful.”

Just as Lee Ahn said that,

Flash! Boom! Crash!

Lightning struck, and the sound of thunder followed.

“It looks like it’s really going to pour now!”

At that moment,

“Ah, here they come.”

Everyone’s gaze followed mine to the first floor.

Someone was entering the tavern.

Seeing who it was, Lee Ahn covered her mouth to stifle a scream.

Jangho, too, was startled, his eyes widening.

Seo Daeryong, who had his back turned, finally turned his head.

I could see his surprise in real-time. His eyes widened, he let out a short scream, and as he tried to stand up, he spilled his drink.

Thud.

The person who arrived set down a large dao on the floor.

From his small, slit-like eyes, a fierce, murderous aura emanated.

“Who dares to summon me so arrogantly?”

The person who had arrived was none other than the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Whoosh!

As if on cue, the rain began to pour down in earnest.

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