Absolute Regression

I crossed the final boundary of the Inner Sanctum with Jo Chunbae.

Our identities and bodies were checked twice before, and the various food supplies Jo Chunbae brought were inspected once again.

Jo Chunbae was frozen stiff. As we went deeper into the Inner Sanctum, the martial artists guarding it became more imposing and terrifying, making him barely able to breathe properly.

Only after we passed the boundary did Jo Chunbae relax.

“Phew, I’ve never been this scared in my life.”

“There’s no need to be so tense. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Of course, without you, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far. This is my first time in the Inner Sanctum.”

We were heading to the residence of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“What’s your first impression of the Inner Sanctum?”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. There aren’t many people who live as diligently as the owner of this place in this vast area.”

“Oh, please don’t say that.”

Jo Chunbae waved his hand dismissively, saying it was nonsense, but the pleasant curve of his lips showed every time he did so.

“How fortunate am I that you, Second Young Master, visited my tavern, and thanks to you, I get to serve dishes to people I could only dream of meeting, and now I even get to come to the Inner Sanctum. I never imagined this.”

The reason I brought Jo Chunbae today was to have him cook while I drank with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. But in truth, it was to show him around the Inner Sanctum.

One day, he mentioned in passing that he wanted to see the Inner Sanctum of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, and today I intended to fulfill that wish.

These days, my personal cook Lim Suksoo was with other cooks, providing meals to the members of the Heavenly Wind Cult who were waiting in the outer yard, so there was a sufficient reason to bring Jo Chunbae.

“I must have accumulated a lot of good karma in my past life.”

“It seems our tavern owner saved the martial world in his past life.”

“Though I might not have saved the entire martial world, I must have at least taken down a Murim Alliance elder who invaded our cult with a steel ladle.”

I laughed pleasantly at his joke. Just then, some martial artists of the Inner Sanctum passed by, greeting me respectfully. Jo Chunbae couldn’t even make eye contact with those rugged and intimidating warriors.

“Now that I’m here, it’s both nice and scary.”

“That’s why we set up the branch office in Maga Village. It’s not an easy place for everyone to visit. So, take good care of the people from Maga Village and the branch office, and if you have anything to report to me, be sure to do so.”

“Yes, I will.”

And so we arrived at the residence of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“You’ve arrived?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader greeted us warmly. I had promised to treat him to drinks once the decision on Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was made. Feeling good about the outcome and my refusal of the artifact, the Cult Leader seemed very pleased.

“This is the owner of the Flowing Wind Tavern you met last time. Rather than serving cold dishes, I thought it would be better to have him prepare warm dishes here. Please, take care of it, Owner.”

“I will put my soul into these dishes.”

“I don’t particularly want to eat your soul so just prepare them as usual.”

“Yes!”

While Jo Chunbae prepared the food, the Cult Leader and I entered the room.

“Congratulations on taking the Demon Supreme as your disciple.”

“If it weren’t for you, Second Young Master, it would never have happened. Thank you.”

“It’s thanks to your excellent teaching, Cult Leader.”

“Let’s toast to our victory.”

We shared words of appreciation and celebrated our victory. I had expected Cheong Seon to win. With someone as skilled as the Cult Leader involved, victory was assured, regardless of the methods used. For even a talented disciple like Yang Dao to create a variable, the opponent was simply too formidable.

Soon, the food and drinks prepared by Jo Chunbae were brought out.

The Cult Leader was satisfied with the food.

“The cook’s skills are impressive.”

“I will convey that to him. The owner will be pleased.”

We enjoyed the food and drinks. Jo Chunbae’s dishes were exceptional today.

“Have you met with my father?”

“We are scheduled to meet soon.”

“When you do, emphasize this point. By taking Cheong Seon as a disciple, you will train her to be an even stronger Soul Reaper Demon Supreme than the previous one. That’s what matters most to my father.”

“I understand. Thank you for telling me.”

“It’s nothing.”

As the drinking session progressed, I casually mentioned to the Cult Leader,

“May I offer a drink to the man in shackles over there?”

The Cult Leader was momentarily startled.

“Why do you want to give him a drink?”

“It’s nothing special. I’ve seen him several times whenever I came to visit you. On such a happy day, I’d like to offer him a drink.”

The Cult Leader laughed and said,

“That man can’t drink at all.”

“Is that so?”

It was then that the man in shackles spoke up.

“I’ll take a drink.”

I was surprised, but the Cult Leader was even more so. His expression gradually hardened. From this unguarded reaction, I could infer one thing.

The man in shackles had never once accepted a drink from the Cult Leader.

“Then let’s give him a drink.”

I pretended not to notice the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who seemed ready to explode, and stood up.

I took a bottle of liquor and a glass and walked over to the man in shackles.

Sitting in front of him, I offered him a drink.

The shackled man, who had been bowing his head, lifted it and took my glass.

I slowly poured liquor into his glass.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t communicate telepathically either. I simply poured him a drink.

The shackled man, still bowing his head, drank the liquor after receiving it.

Then he handed the glass back to me and this time, he poured the liquor for me.

I accepted the drink and emptied it in one go.

We exchanged glances and finally shared a drink. We didn’t speak a single word, but just drank, and that was enough for me.

The Cult Leader, watching this scene, seemed genuinely angry. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said what he did.

“Do you know what that guy’s talent is? He can smell things like a dog. He’s incredibly good at sniffing out anyone who comes to steal our artifacts. Doesn’t that shackle look like a dog’s leash? Hahaha.”

The Cult Leader’s laughter echoed through the room, his words more contemptuous than humorous.

The only sound in the room was his laughter.

And then, silence followed.

His remark was a clear insult to the shackled man. I didn’t give him a chance to redeem himself by cleverly deflecting his comment. It was a gift of sorts, his rashness giving me an advantage.

I returned to my original seat and poured liquor into his now empty glass.

“Here, have a drink.”

The Cult Leader drank without a word.

The shackled man, as usual, bowed his head and remained as still as a statue.

Watching this, the Cult Leader bit his lip gently. When it came to the shackled man, the Cult Leader couldn’t hide or control his emotions. It was similar to how the Blood Heaven Blade Demon reacted regarding the One-Slash Sword Supreme.

I bid my farewells earlier than planned and left the place.

Having given the shackled man a drink and shared one with him, I had accomplished my purpose for today’s visit.

* * *

After Geom Mugeuk left, the atmosphere turned chilly.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, while acknowledging his mistake, felt inexplicably irritated. He didn’t want to apologize but forced himself to do so.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

The shackled man didn’t respond to the Cult Leader’s apology.

“I said I’m sorry.”

Even after apologizing again, there was no response. Eventually, the Cult Leader erupted.

“Damn it! What are you trying to pull? I am your master. You’re my subordinate. Can’t I even say that? You’ve become so arrogant because I’ve been too lenient with you. Do you want to die? Is that it?”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult shouted. But in his heart, he was berating himself.

‘What are you doing right now? What right do you have to shout like that?’

The more he blamed himself, the louder his voice became.

“How much have I endured until now? Five times you spoke informally? What kind of madman gives such opportunities to a subordinate? Only I did! It was because it was me! You don’t even understand that gratitude. You said you couldn’t drink alcohol, that you hated it, but you accepted a drink from the Second Young Master? Even after I said you couldn’t drink?”

No matter how angry he was, he should have stopped here.

But the Cult Leader couldn’t control his rising anger and crossed a line he shouldn’t have.

The next moment, their surroundings changed.

It was no longer a place with an open blue sky and fields.

It was the middle of a battlefield, blood flowing and corpses strewn about. The stench of blood was so overpowering that it was hard to stay there for even a moment.

“This is the perfect place for you. It will be the only place you can see from now on!”

The Cult Leader’s inability to stop his anger was due to the fact that he had been playing both sides by himself from start to finish. He made the mistake, he got angry.

The shackled man hadn’t said a word. He simply accepted the drink.

‘No, it’s his fault. He shouldn’t have accepted the drink. He told me I was petty and greedy. Why is he doing this?’

At that moment, as if he could read the Cult Leader’s mind, the shackled man spoke respectfully.

“It was my shortcoming. I apologize.”

His response was so courteous that it made the Cult Leader’s heart sink.

The Cult Leader’s heart began to race with the fear that he might never hear the shackled man’s sincere words again.

‘This isn’t right. Apologize. Quickly!’

He screamed inwardly.

But the words of apology wouldn’t come out. He had too much pent-up frustration.

‘Why should I apologize? I’m his master. I’m the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader!’

Although they had clashed many times, they had never faced such a significant conflict. He was unsure of how to handle it.

If he were dealing with someone else, he would have handled it much more coldly. If it were the Demonic Buddha, he would have shouted outwardly but calculated internally.

But he couldn’t do that with the shackled man.

The sea of corpses and blood unfolding before his eyes mirrored the turmoil in the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult’s heart. He agonized over and over but, in the end, couldn’t bring himself to apologize.

Unaware of his inner turmoil, only the mournful howls of wolves smelling blood echoed hauntingly.

* * *

I watched Seo Daeryong’s training from a corner of the courtyard at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s residence.

He had moved past basic training and was now honing his techniques, his saber movements markedly improved.

I had once told Seo Daeryong at the Flowing Wind Tavern that it was never too late to dedicate oneself more earnestly to learning. And now, my words had become reality.

He didn’t neglect a single move. Moreover, being intelligent, he was making rapid progress in his martial arts.

At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon approached and stood beside me.

“Are you here to watch your subordinate suffer?”

“He works hard even during the day, so I don’t have such a bad hobby.”

“Then why are you here at this hour?”

“I have something to discuss with you.”

“Come in.”

Leaving Seo Daeryong to his training, I entered the residence of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

I was impressed by the books filling the shelves.

“You have quite a collection of books.”

“Go ahead, add the rest.”

“They seem out of place.”

“They’re for decoration, not reading.”

“Even as decorations, they don’t fit.”

“You little brat! If you count the books I read in my youth, it would match the number of people the Cult Leader has killed.”

“Then you would have become a great scholar.”

After exchanging jokes, we got to the main topic.

“What do you want to discuss?”

“There’s someone I’d like to release from their shackles.”

Surprised by my unexpected words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon misunderstood.

“Have you found someone you want to release from the underground prison?”

“No, it’s someone around me.”

This time, he took it metaphorically.

“Yeah, everyone lives with a shackle or two.”

“What’s yours?”

“For me…”

He seemed about to say something but stopped and asked,

“Who is this person?”

“A subordinate of the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.”

“Oh dear.”

He already looked as if he sensed trouble.

“If you want him, he must be a good person. Which means the Cult Leader probably values him as well.”

“You’re right.”

“Does the Cult Leader know you want him?”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“Have you talked to this subordinate?”

“No, I haven’t spoken a word to him yet. But I believe we understand each other.”

“Understand each other? Believe? This is truly a steep mountain to climb.”

When I thought about whom to consult regarding the man in shackles, the first person that came to mind was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Even if he didn’t provide a solution, talking with him might help me find the answer myself. That’s the kind of person he is to me.

“That’s why I’ve come to see you, elder. Please show me the way.”

“Do you think I have a method for everything?”

I smiled broadly and replied confidently.

“Yes! Please give me the solution. Show me the way out of this steep mountain range.”

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