Absolute Regression

Jangho originally wasn’t the type to step forward.

However, he didn’t like the arrogant attitude of the man with shackles, who dared to talk about the position of the right-hand man.

He was the first to realize that today’s situation was because of the man with shackles.

– Perhaps we are here today because of that shackled man.

Thus, he sent a voice transmission to Lee Ahn and Seo Daeryong.

Lee Ahn courageously began to take action, and Seo Daeryong also moved.

With his rich combat experience, Jangho instinctively realized that this place would be a battleground for an unseen fight.

At Jangho’s words, the man with shackles lifted his head and stared at him. The large scar on Jangho’s face twitched.

The man with shackles spoke to Jangho.

“Why are you so fixated on being the right-hand man? If I were you, I would be content with being the left-hand man and just watch the right-hand man fight.”

“I don’t have the hobby of enjoying other people’s fights. Since I aimed to be the right-hand man, I will strive to become one.”

“You’re quite manly.”

“Thank you.”

Up until that moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who had been silently observing, sent a voice transmission to the man with shackles.

– Manly? Nonsense. When have you ever said such a thing?”

– You don’t know me well enough. I am someone who can say all sorts of things. I joke and jest too.”

– Damn it! Why are you saying such things in this situation?

– You started it, Cult Leader.

– Be that as it may. What are these people crowding around you trying to do?

– Can’t you see? They are all working hard for their leader.

– It’s cowardly! I am alone.

– What have you been doing all this time? You have so many subordinates.

– So? Is the Second Young Master someone who cherishes his subordinates more?

– Even if you go to the Second Young Master, it would be for reasons completely unrelated to them. Even if a hundred people gather to praise him, it would be the same. So, don’t worry about them. ȑ₳NÓᛒĚṨ

– Then for what reason would you go?

But the man with shackles didn’t reveal the reason.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

“You have good subordinates.”

“Cult Leader, you have even better subordinates.”

“No. I am a lonely person. Except for that person over there, no one understands me.”

“Having someone who understands you is a great blessing in life.”

“I hope that blessing stays with me for a long time.”

Geom Mugeuk didn’t say that they should remove the shackles. He knew well that pushing the issue of the shackles would be disadvantageous to him.

“Here, take a drink.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader poured a drink, infusing it with internal energy. Only true masters could pour a drink without breaking the glass while infusing it with internal energy. If the recipient didn’t have sufficient internal energy, they wouldn’t be able to accept the drink to the end.

However, Geom Mugeuk’s expression didn’t change even as the glass was filled.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was inwardly astonished.

‘Could it be? Does his internal energy surpass mine? Impossible!’

While he was in shock, Geom Mugeuk’s expression remained calm. He received the drink, drank it, and then extended the glass.

“Now, please accept a drink from me.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s expression stiffened. If he failed to accept Geom Mugeuk’s drink in front of all these people, he would be humiliated.

But he couldn’t refuse due to the momentum.

“Fine. Let’s see if I can handle the drink of an ascending dragon.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader accepted the drink.

Once again, internal energy was infused into the falling drink. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader pretended to be nonchalant as he accepted the drink. He had enough internal energy to withstand it.

“The drink tastes excellent.”

“Let’s drink until we’re drunk today.”

“Sounds good.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, feeling triumphant, sent a voice transmission to the man with shackles.

– Did you see? I accepted the Second Young Master’s drink infused with internal energy. It was nothing.

– Young Master spared your dignity. He likely didn’t want to infuse the drink with internal energy, but he did it so you wouldn’t feel embarrassed, knowing you had infused yours. He didn’t even use all his internal energy.

– ……

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had actually realized this first. How could he not know, having exchanged internal energy with his body? He had foolishly shown off to the man with shackles, only to reveal his limitations.

– Don’t feel discouraged. I know this is how you are.

– You make me feel even more inadequate. I’m usually better than this, but I keep making mistakes.

– I understand that too.

Geom Mugeuk had noticed that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was conversing with the man with shackles through voice transmission.

However, he pretended not to notice and continued drinking. At that moment, a voice transmission came from the Blood Heaven Sword Demon.

– Why didn’t you humiliate him?

– If his pride is hurt, the situation will only worsen.

– When you have the chance to show your strength, you should do it. You should have crushed him thoroughly. People’s hearts often move over simple things.

– He likely saw something more important.

– Aren’t you overestimating him?

– Perhaps I am.

The drinking continued once again.

Geom Mugeuk drank with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and engaged in a calm conversation, carefully avoiding any offensive remarks. His strategy was to refrain from provoking the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

Geom Mugeuk focused on why he came here today: to show his people to the shackled man.

“Inspector Seo. How is your martial arts training going these days?”

“It’s difficult, but I’m doing my best.”

Then, the Blood Heaven Sword Demon interjected.

“Difficult, you say?”

“No, it’s not difficult.”

“Really? Then I should increase your training.”

“No, it’s excruciatingly difficult.”

Geom Mugeuk laughed as he joined their conversation.

“Trying to please the elder must be as hard as hitting my father’s weak spot.”

“It’s not that difficult with Master.”

“There you go calling me master again.”

The Blood Heaven Sword Demon scolded Seo Daeryong bluntly. Seo Daeryong, standing firm, spoke confidently as if it wasn’t a mistake.

“You may not have formally taken me as a disciple, but I consider you my teacher. Even if you chase me away tomorrow, I will forever remember you as my master.”

“Who said you could remember that?”

“Are you saying he can’t even remember as he wish?”

The One-Slash Sword Supreme supported Geom Mugeuk’s rebuke.

“That’s just how he is.”

At her blunt remark, the Blood Heaven Sword Demon didn’t flare up.

“Do you even know what you’re talking about?”

“Clearly. I, too, would rather not remember.”

The two engaged in a silent battle of nerves without raising their voices.

Geom Mugeuk didn’t intervene. Showing them as they were was the purpose of today’s visit. Though showing them too truthfully was the problem.

Geom Mugeuk silently poured them drinks.

The One-Slash Sword Supreme fiddled with her glass, while the Blood Heaven Sword Demon emptied his immediately.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader watched them with somewhat unfamiliar emotions. He probably hadn’t expected the Demon Supremes to have an emotional confrontation in front of him.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sent a message to the shackled man.

-What is this all about? What’s the intent?

-You knew those two didn’t get along, right?

-But to reveal their emotions and fight in front of me? Those sly individuals? There’s no way. Do you know what they are?

-It’s not because they’re in front of the Cult Leader.

-!

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader bit his lip and looked at Geom Mugeuk and the two Demon Supremes.

Sitting on either side of Geom Mugeuk like wings, they displayed their emotions without caring about him.

Even this scene weighed heavily on the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. He felt the loneliness of standing alone on a remote rock island.

‘This can’t go on!’

When this gathering first began, I felt confident that I could confront Geom Mugeuk with great vigor. It seemed like I could create a significant turning point…

But the reality was that I was overwhelmed in terms of momentum, internal energy, and magnanimity. Moreover, the people he brought with him acted differently than I had expected.

The woman suddenly offered a drink to the shackled man, that small and gloomy fellow chimed in, and the Demonic Commander, uncharacteristically, coveted the position of the right-hand man. And now, the two Demon Supremes were having an emotional confrontation.

‘These people are collectively insane.’

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was deep in thought. He wanted to overturn the table and shout out in anger.

-You bastards! Why don’t you all get lost? Do you know who I am? Are you coming at me in a group like this? Do you want to start a war with the Wilderness? If you want to fight, come at me!

But he couldn’t do that. If he had such courage, this moment wouldn’t have come.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader didn’t give up until the end.

Pouring a drink for Geom Mugeuk, he spoke cheerfully.

“Our cult will support you unreservedly to become the next Heavenly Demon.”

“Thank you. I will also actively assist the Heavenly Wind Cult’s entry into the Central Plains.”

“Thanks to your help, my disciple has become a Demon Supreme. You didn’t ask for any reward, but I must reward you.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader showed that he didn’t mind any more insults. He wanted to show the shackled man that he had changed. He wanted to demonstrate his will to change, that he was no longer a petty and greedy person.

“Choose anything.”

“Will you really give me what I want?”

“Yes. Anything in this room.”

Everyone looked at Geom Mugeuk, anticipating what he would choose.

Finally, Geom Mugeuk spoke to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. What came out of his mouth was something no one in the room had expected.

“Please give me those shackles.”

Everyone was shocked when he asked for the shackles.

Among them, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s surprise was the anticipated shock of ‘finally, it has come.’

That’s why he was even more furious.

‘How dare he make such a demand even after I offered him the position of my right-hand man?’

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke firmly with a cold gaze.

“I can never give you that person.”

But he misunderstood Geom Mugeuk’s request.

“I didn’t ask for the person tied to it. I only asked for the shackles made of Millennial Cold Iron.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was astonished. It was something he hadn’t even considered.

“What do you plan to do with the shackles?”

“To tie up people who don’t listen,” he replied jokingly, looking at Seo Daeryong.

Seo Daeryong pouted and said, “Shackles are for those who do listen. You shouldn’t tie up people like me who don’t listen! That’s when the real trouble starts.”

Though he said it playfully, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader felt a pang of anxiety. It was an issue he had never thought about.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk revealed his true reason for wanting the shackles.

“I want to melt down that Millennial Cold Iron and create something more valuable. Such a treasure is hard to find even among sacred artifacts.”

He could always restrain the man with other shackles. So this request was symbolic. It was an expression of his desire to set him free.

“Therefore, please give me the shackles.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader fell into deep thought and closed his eyes tightly.

‘What should I do?’

It would have been helpful if the shackled man sent him a message.

‘But since it’s about freeing his shackles, he wouldn’t send a message.’

Just then, the shackled man sent a message.

-Refuse.

-What?

-For the sake of the Cult Leader, you must not accept this request.

-Why are you telling me this?

-Didn’t you ask for fairness?

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader unconsciously sighed. He hadn’t expected Geom Mugeuk to ask for the shackles or the shackled man to send a message.

‘Everyone is smarter than me. I can’t keep up with my own head.’

He had thought he could handle it well… but the disparity between his ideals and reality filled him with despair.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was conscious of the gazes directed at him.

“A promise is a promise.”

It wasn’t due to pride or appearance. He judged that releasing the shackles now would make him look better in the eyes of the shackled man.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader took out the key hanging from his necklace. Slowly, he walked over and unlocked the man’s shackles. Throughout the process, they exchanged no words, not even a sound. He simply unlocked the shackles, and the man merely watched.

Clink.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader placed the shackles and key in front of Geom Mugeuk.

“Take it.”

“Thank you.”

The shackled man remained seated, bowing his head in the same position.

Geom Mugeuk asked the shackled man, “Is there anything you would like to be made from this?”

Everyone’s surprised gazes turned to Geom Mugeuk.

No one had anticipated that he would consider giving the melted Millennial Cold Iron back to the shackled man.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, feeling dizzy, closed his eyes tightly.

Facing these people, he realized the only thing he could do was overturn the table of drinks.

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