Absolute Regression

“Ugh!”

Seo Daeryong, grimacing and holding his severely throbbing head, slowly sat up in bed.

“Thirsty, water! Water!”

“Next to you!”

At someone’s words, Seo Daeryong instinctively reached out and drank the water gently placed on the bedside table.

“Ugh, my head. If I ever drink again, I’m a fool.”

Seo Daeryong gulped down the water straight from the jug.

Only after quenching his thirst did he realize he had woken up in an unfamiliar place. The bed was large and soft, and the bedding was luxurious and comfortable.

‘Now that I think about it, who was the one who said ‘next to you’?’

In the distance, someone was sitting by the window, reading a book. Due to the sunlight, he couldn’t see who it was.

“Who is it?”

As his eyes adjusted to the light, the figure became clearer.

“Ah!”

Seo Daeryong screamed. The man reading the book was none other than the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“Wh-where am I? Why is the Demon Supreme here?”

Seo Daeryong stammered, utterly shocked.

“Because this is my room.”

“Oh no! Why am I here?”

“Don’t you remember?”

“……N-no?”

“When we were about to leave the tavern, you suddenly jumped up and wailed that I had to carry you back. You clung to my pant leg, yelling about how a master shouldn’t abandon his disciple.”

“Me? No way.”

“Then you started snoring again, so I really had to carry you back. At least you didn’t throw up on my clothes or the bed, so that’s that.”

Mortified at the thought of clinging to his brand new master’s pant leg, Seo Daeryong didn’t know what to do.

“It’s been decades since someone grabbed my leg.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at Seo Daeryong.

“Are you so desperate to die that you don’t even have the courage to jump off a cliff?”

“……”

At that moment, a question popped into Seo Daeryong’s mind.

“Then why did you let me sleep in your bed?”

“Of course, you don’t remember that either?”

Seo Daeryong gulped, feeling tense.

“When I brought you back and tried to put you in the guest room, you accused me of being a heartless master for making you sleep in such a dirty and shabby place. Then you sat on the floor, crying about how you deserved such poor treatment for choosing such a savage and cruel master.”

“……” (EN : *Heavily sweating*)

“Is life hard for you, huh? It was hard for me too, trying not to kill you.”

Seo Daeryong quickly got off the bed and knelt down.

“I’m sorry, I swear I’ll stop drinking.”

“Why stop drinking such good alcohol? You should mainly stop your bad habits.”

“Yes, I’ll stop everything. Please forgive me. I drank too much last night.”

No matter how much he had yelled and caused a commotion, the Demon Supreme could have just thrown him into the stables instead of the guest room. It was truly unexpected that they had let him sleep in their own bed. Of course, it was probably because of Geom Mugeuk, but still, to let him sleep in their bed was surprising. Seo Daeryong saw a new side of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“Get going.”

“Yes.”

His outer garments were neatly folded on the table beside the bed. Of course, it must have been the servant who folded them, but he felt like he had been treated well.

Meanwhile, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon continued reading his book, which seemed unfamiliar to him.

‘Is he trying to show off his knowledge in front of me?’

Strangely, though, the sight of him reading a book suited him. Looking around the room, he noticed several bookshelves filled with books.

At that moment, a book caught his eye.

“Huh? This book?”

Seo Daeryong absentmindedly pulled a book from the shelf. It was a story about a boy meeting an unparalleled master and growing into a hero, a book he had read many times since he was young.

“This is my favorite book. Have you read it?”

He excitedly turned to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with stars in his eyes.

In contrast, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon glared at him fiercely.

“I hate it when people touch my things without permission.”

“Gasp!”

Startled, Seo Daeryong dropped the book, trying to catch it with his foot to prevent it from hitting the floor. The book bounced off his foot and rolled across the floor.

A heavy silence followed.

Seeing the book lying open and crumpled, Seo Daeryong felt his vision go dark. Soon, his fate might resemble that of the book.

Seo Daeryong quickly ran over, picked up the book, and smoothed out the crumpled pages with his hand while blowing on it with its lips faster than running a marathon.

“I’m sorry. Luckily, it’s just the boring part that got crumpled… I’m sorry!”

Fortunately, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his attention back to the book he had been reading instead of cutting off Seo Daeryong’s arm. Today, he was the embodiment of mercy.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

He timidly bowed and was about to leave the room when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon suddenly asked,

“Why do you like that book?”

“Ah, I think it’s because the protagonist reminds me of myself. Born into poverty, with a dark personality, and not fitting in well with those around him. It’s a story about such a person becoming a hero… I’ve read it at least twenty times. I keep it close and read it whenever I can’t sleep.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at Seo Daeryong for a moment but then turned his attention back to his book without a word.

“Then I’ll be going. Thank you so much for letting me sleep here.”

At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked again.

“Do you think the Second Young Master will become the successor?”

There was no hesitation needed for this question.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“He’s an excellent person. More so than anyone I’ve ever seen. I believe our Cult will change because of him. In a good way, of course.”

“Would you be willing to lay down your life for him?”

Seo Daeryong hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

“No.”

“You said the Young Master is an excellent person, didn’t you?”

“I’m not, though. I’m not the type to sacrifice myself for others.”

Although his gaze remained on the book, the corners of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Wait in the yard.”

“Yes!”

Seo Daeryong stood in the yard, waiting for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

‘Could it be that he’s going to use my unwillingness to sacrifice as an excuse to beat me up? Maybe I should have said I was willing to die for him.’

As he worried, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon eventually came out and threw him a large dao.

Thud!

The blade landed lightly at Seo Daeryong’s feet. It wasn’t as large as the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, but it was broader and longer than an average one.

“Pick it up.”

“Yes.”

Seo Daeryong drew the dao. He had trained in swordsmanship, so he had never practiced saber techniques. In fact, he had rarely even held a saber.

“What do you think?”

Not understanding the intent of the question, Seo Daeryong spoke his first thought.

“It’s heavy.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded seriously.

“That’s all there is to it.”

“Pardon?”

“Understanding that weight is both the beginning and the end of the saber techniques I will teach you.”

“!”

In that moment, something clicked in Seo Daeryong’s mind.

“My heart tingled.”

Seo Daeryong, looking down at the blade, lifted his head with a flushed face.

“That’s because you drank a lot last night. Or maybe you have a heart condition.”

“Ah! Yes.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned around.

“Don’t be late for training later.”

“I won’t be late!”

Seo Daeryong put the saber down in the corner of the yard, then went back to pick it up again before leaving.

As he walked away, he wondered if he really had just spoken with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and if he really had slept there.

‘It might still be a dream…’

He felt as heavy as the saber in his hand, weighed down by the lingering effects of his hangover as he walked away.

* * *

Seo Daeryong entered my office.

He still looked disheveled, as if he hadn’t fully sobered up, and he was wearing a saber at his waist that I had never seen before. Just by seeing that saber, I knew things had gone well with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“My right-hand man is here?”

“You mean your right-hand man who you sent to the gallows.”

“Fortunately, you came back with all your limbs intact.”

“How could you send me off with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon like that? You should have taken care of me!”

“It seems you don’t remember anything from yesterday.”

Seo Daeryong flinched at my words.

“You insisted on going with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon even if it killed you. Do you know what you said to me?”

“…..What did I say?”

“You asked why I was trying to separate a master and his disciple and even tried to bite me! I almost believed you had been his disciple for fifty years.”

“…………..Don’t lie to me.”

“I wish I were lying. Before you fell asleep, you said you’d never learn martial arts. Then suddenly you woke up wanting to become his top disciple. If you don’t believe me, ask Lord Jang. He was shaking his head at you, full of disbelieving pity.”

“Ugh. Is there really such a crazy drunkard living inside me?”

Seo Daeryong held his head in his hands.

“What a pity.”

“What is?”

“I liked it when you were gloomy and brooding. These days, you’ve become too bright, even funny, like yesterday.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be dark again tomorrow.”

“What do you mean?”

“Training starts after today’s work. He’ll probably half-kill me. Ah! I wish this work would never end.”

“Too bad I won’t be able to see that.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m going on a mission today. It’ll take about two months, so make sure to keep the Underworld Pavilion in order while I’m gone.”

The playful look disappeared from Seo Daeryong’s face.

“Are you going because of that matter?”

“What matter?”

Seo Daeryong pointed to his eyes with his finger, and I knew what he meant.

Yesterday, before we went drinking, Seo Daeryong mentioned it in front of the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme’s place. He said I had the same look in my eyes as when I was about to achieve the impossible.

“Yes, that matter.”

“It must be dangerous.”

“Fortunately, this time it won’t be too dangerous. I plan to use up some of the danger I’ve saved.”

“What?”

Seo Daeryong didn’t understand, but I didn’t explain further.

Seo Daeryong bowed his head respectfully, his playful demeanor completely gone.

“Please be careful! I’m sorry I can only express my concern in words.”

“If you want to help someday, learn well from the Blade Demon.”

As I was about to leave, Seo Daeryong called out to me.

“Leader.”

“What is it?”

“If it weren’t for you, I would never have had the chance to learn martial arts from the Demon Supreme.”

“You never know how things might turn out. Without me, you might have had the chance to learn martial arts from my father instead. Take care.”

“Yes! Don’t worry about things here and have a safe trip.”

I then went to find Lee Ahn and informed her about the training she would need to do for the next two months. After that, I quietly left the Cult.

* * *

I kept running toward the northwest.

As I continued to improve my mastery of the Wind God’s Four Steps, the speed of my Star Light Step also increased.

Unless they specialized in lightness techniques, even the most skilled warriors could no longer match my speed.

I ran like crazy, and when my internal energy was depleted, I would rest in a secluded part of the forest, practicing energy absorption techniques. Once my energy was replenished, I would start running again, only to rest and absorb energy once more when my energy ran out.

When I got hungry while running, I used the hunting techniques my father had taught me.

Now, I could easily sense a wild boar deep in the forest.

I would catch a boar and roast it over a campfire, often sharing a drink with passing hunters or herb gatherers. Before my regression, I had spent a lot of time with them and had grown quite fond of their company.

About halfway to my destination, I started to pace myself.

There was no point in arriving too early, so I decided to enjoy the journey itself.

If there was a mountain worth climbing, I would climb it. Of course, I didn’t just walk up; I scaled the cliffs. I climbed using only my physical abilities, without relying on my internal energy, to check the condition of my body. I wanted to ensure there were no hidden injuries or muscle deficiencies.

Relying too much on internal energy often leads to neglecting the physical body, which is where the difference between true masters and mediocre ones becomes apparent. True masters don’t overlook even the smallest details. They understand that small differences ultimately amount to everything, ensuring they don’t neglect any part of their bodies.

If the sunset began to set while I was climbing a cliff, I would sit on a protruding rock or a tree and take in the scenery.

As I took in the beauty of nature, it felt as if something blocked in my chest was being cleared away.

Even though I had promised Lee Ahn that we would travel around the Central Plains together, sitting on the edge of a cliff and watching the sunset made me think of my father before anything else.

I wanted to travel with him. I wanted to share these views and have conversations with him. I wanted to understand what kind of person he was and what thoughts he lived with.

Would I ever have such an opportunity? Would a moment like that ever come for us?

Before my regression, I could never have imagined developing such affectionate feelings toward my father. Perhaps I had longed for him, even though we had never really talked.

While I enjoyed the journey, when it was time to run, I ran until I was out of breath.

By the time I reached my destination, my mastery of Star Light Step had advanced another level. My running speed had increased, and the internal energy consumption had decreased.

“Hahaha!”

I laughed like a madman as I raced down the path.

As my mastery of the Wind God’s Four Steps improved, I realized that the Star Light Step was a technique that tapped into human nature. It pushed the exhilaration of running to its limits, creating an addictive desire to keep running.

Now, I passed by people so quickly they couldn’t even recognize my figure. I whizzed by like the wind. (EN : Aang is that you ?)

I often overheard conversations like these:

“Didn’t someone just pass by?”

“What? I didn’t see anyone.”

People, lost in their thoughts, wouldn’t even realize I had passed by.

If I reached another level, even those watching closely wouldn’t be able to tell if a person or a bird had passed.

What would the ultimate mastery of Star Light Step look like?

It occurred to me that people might not even sense my passing.

The place I arrived at was somewhere no one in our Cult would ever have imagined as my destination.

This was Hongshan, the main headquarters of the Heavenly Wind Cult beyond the border.

It was the place where I had obtained the first ingredient for the Great Regression Technique: the Thunder Bell.

I had returned to this place.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!