Absolute Regression

There was no way to describe this sound of the wind.

If I had to put it into words, it sounded like the wind blowing through the mysterious valleys at the end of the world. It was that refreshing, lively, and otherworldly—a sound that seemed impossible to exist in this world.

The moment I heard the sound of Star Light Step at its peak, I knew it instinctively. I was going to become addicted to this sound. It was as captivating as the insane speed itself.

At first, I was ahead.

The Star Light Step, having reached its peak, was indescribably fast.

It was, of course, far faster than when it was at Ten Star Greatness. When I first suggested the race, I had braced myself for the possibility of crashing into trees, rolling on the ground, and making a mess of myself in front of my father.

I was prepared for my father to watch and laugh at me, and to cause a commotion.

But I ran better than I had expected. My vision and body were keeping up with that incredible speed. Probably because I had already fully adapted to Star Light Step back then, traveling back and forth between our cult and the Martial Alliance.

Thanks to that, even though I had just reached the peak, I could run at a speed similar to my father’s.

However, it required extreme focus and mental strength. As I ran, I got dizzy and exhausted, so I slowed down. When I did, my father surged beside me.

“Well done!”

“Well, who’s son do you think I am!”

My father looked surprised and impressed. Of course, that didn’t mean there was any hint of yielding on his face. Whether it was his son or anyone else, once the competition heated up, my father was the type who would never accept losing.

“Son, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

His tone was serious, so I got a bit tense right at that moment.

Right at that moment.

Bang!

I took my eyes off the path to glance at my father and ended up crashing through a tree, tumbling to the ground.

“I was going to tell you to be careful!” 1

I heard my father’s hearty laughter fading away into the distance.

I jumped up and ran after him. Fortunately, my protective inner energy shielded my body, so I got up without any injuries.

“That’s cheating, Father! Cheating!”

I complained that my own distraction was unfair. Of course, my father didn’t even look back and ran even faster.

I ran after my father again.

As I ran, I realized something. It wasn’t the type of martial arts that would determine the outcome of this race. The Star Light Step of the Wind God and the Heavenly Demon Flight Technique were nearly on the same level of movement techniques, though the former was still superior. ṙΑŊộBĘš

The issue was eyesight. The highest speed that these techniques could achieve was beyond what the eyes could keep up with.

So in the end, once I got used to it, I knew I would definitely be able to win. Thanks to the New Eye Technique, I had vision that exceeded normal limits.

I ran, watching my father’s back in the distance. Just like when I first went hunting and saw my father’s back, now I was running while watching it.

Back then, he looked lonely, and even now, he still looked lonely, but there was one thing that had changed. The one looking at him—that is, me—had changed.

This moment felt better than any other time I had run in my entire life. I didn’t know what my father was feeling, but at least I could sense that my own feelings for him were growing.

The moment I thought about my father, I fell again. Even a brief lapse in concentration led to stumbling and crashing.

I got back up and chased after him, but in the end, I couldn’t catch up.

By the time I reached our cult, my father had already gone straight to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

If it were me, I would have waited just to tease him a bit, but my father knew how to hold back even when it came to teasing. He would probably save it for the next time we met.

I bowed in the direction of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion and expressed my gratitude once more.

Reaching the peak of the Wind God’s Four Steps was entirely thanks to my father. It wasn’t just that the Star Light Step became faster. The Dark Shadow Step became more covert, the Divine Lightning Step allowed me to escape from greater dangers, and the Underworld King Step truly became the stride of the King of the Underworld.

* * *

That evening, the trio from the Flowing Wind Tavern gathered for a drink.

“It’s been a while since you’ve come by, so today’s drinks are on me.”

The owner, Jo Chunbae, offered to treat them to drinks tonight in celebration of Seo Daeryong’s safe return. However, Seo Daeryong graciously declined the offer, accepting only the thought.

“This time, I won the martial arts tournament and got a prize. Tonight, I’ll be treating us to a hearty meal, so please prepare all your best dishes.”

“A victory! Congratulations, Investigator.”

“Thank you.”

“Young Master, everything’s been alright with you?”

“Of course.”

As Jo Chunbae went downstairs, Seo Daeryong’s boasting finally began.

“Oh, where should I begin with the amazing adventures of this lonely investigator? Ha! When I first laid eyes on the Martial Alliance building, I could feel destiny calling me…”

Watching Seo Daeryong start his epic tale, Lee Ahn and Jangho exchanged smiles.

Seo Daeryong told his stories in such an entertaining way that his adventures never felt dull.

“You’re really amazing. Even though it was a martial arts competition, it was still a real battle, wasn’t it? And to win despite not having much real-world experience!”

Although Jangho had plenty of real-world experience, Lee Ahn spent every day in training. So, Seo Daeryong’s achievements amazed and filled her with envy.

“Of course, during that journey, there were also fateful and tragic encounters.”

Seo Daeryong spoke about the woman who had supported him, even sharing the sorrowful end to that story.

“…She was a woman sent by the Heavenly Society.”

Lee Ahn jumped up, hurling curses, while Jangho offered comforting words, saying it was all part of the experience. The two got so worked up that Seo Daeryong felt as if all the wounds he had accumulated were finally healing.

“That’s why I’ve been looking forward to these gatherings the most.”

“We’ve been looking forward to them even more.”

“Now, in that spirit, let’s have a toast.”

Seo Daeryong felt deeply grateful to both of them. A woman who could be considered the most beautiful in the world and the leader of the elite Demonic Army from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were waiting for him and listening to him. Who was he to deserve this?

“I have something to tell you both. I’ve decided to truly walk the path of a martial artist.”

Although Geom Mugeuk and Gu Cheonpa had a direct influence on his decision, the impact of these two was also significant. He always had a desire to be someone they wouldn’t be ashamed of. 2

Lee Ahn and Jangho congratulated him wholeheartedly. While being an investigator for the Underworld Pavilion made him a martial artist of sorts, they understood that the martial path Seo Daeryong was now referring to was of a different nature.

“It’s definitely something worth celebrating, right? To be honest, I’m scared I might die early. Aren’t you both afraid?”

Lee Ahn responded with a smile.

“I believe that life and death are already predetermined. If I think that the when and how of my death are all set, I find peace of mind.”

“So, the martial artist here is a fatalist.”

“Seems that way.”

On the other hand, Jangho had a different perspective.

“I’m always living in fear of death.”

“Really? You, Lord Jang, seem like the last person who would be afraid of dying.”

“No. I wake up several times even in my sleep. I often dream of dying.”

Neither Lee Ahn nor Seo Daeryong knew this about him.

The conversation continued with discussions about life and death. Seo Daeryong, caught up in the mood, suddenly got excited.

“I also nearly died this time.”

Seo Daeryong stood up abruptly and pulled open his top.

“There are four scars left on my body from those orthodox sect bastards. This scar on my shoulder—see the two holes? I got this during the Palgang Battle. This one here, I got in the finals, and this scar over here is…”

* * *

I was listening to the three of them talk from beside the counter on the first floor.

When Seo Daeryong pulled open his clothes at the end, Jo Chunbae and I laughed together.

Honestly, if Song Sa-hyuk saw this, he’d probably want to join their drinking group right away.

Jo Chunbae spoke with a warm expression.

“They’re really good people. If one of them is missing, the other two come and talk about how much they miss the absent one.”

There were times when Lee Ahn wasn’t there, and times when Seo Daeryong wasn’t there, too.

“I’ll be heading back now.”

“Didn’t you come to join them?”

“They look so happy; I think I should let the three of them be together today.”

“Then please wait a moment.”

Jo Chunbae went to the kitchen and brought back a bottle of liquor.

“This is a special bottle I’ve been saving. Take it, have a drink, and rest well. It’s a gift to celebrate your safe return. Welcome back.”

Jo Chunbae was genuinely delighted about my return, as if I were family.

“I met an important figure in the martial world this time. I’ll introduce them to you the next time we drink.”

“That would be wonderful.”

He would never dream that the person I met was the Martial Alliance Leader. But who knows how things might turn out? Perhaps there will be a day when the Martial Alliance Leader shares a drink at the Flowing Wind Tavern.

“Thanks for the drink.”

With that, I said my farewells and left the tavern.

I headed home under the moonlight. There were others I wanted to see—Gowol and Jeong Dae. I felt like sprinting to them with Star Light Step right then and there, but they were currently too far from our cult.

Since I had been away from the cult for a long time, there were many things I needed to take care of. So, seeing them would have to wait. They wouldn’t worry, as they were together.

On my way to my residence, I changed course towards the Great Drunken Forest. When I thought of someone who might be awake to drink with me, the Great Drunken Demon came to mind first.

As expected, Song Sa-hyuk was drinking alone at the Tower of Drunken Dreams.

The drunken ferryman, Lyu Bin, took me on a boat to the island in the middle of the lake.

“Is the Great Drunken Demon still drinking a lot these days?”

“It’s much less than before. Today, he’s only had one bottle.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Thanks to you, Young Master.”

“How could it be thanks to me? It’s because Miss Lyu looks after him and worries about him.”

Knowing that Lyu Bin had feelings for Song Sa-hyuk, I spoke kindly. I thought it would be good if a woman like her took care of him. For it to truly work, she’d need to become his wife rather than just a subordinate, though.

If it were up to me, I’d gladly help them get together, but I had no intention of intervening recklessly. After all, meddling improperly could ruin a relationship that was on the verge of success. 3

From the railing of the Tower of Drunken Dreams, the Great Drunken Demon waved at me.

I called out to him loudly.

“Hyung.”

Since it was just the two of us, I comfortably called him “Hyung” (older brother). The simple act of calling someone by a familiar title can brighten their mood, and Song Sa-hyuk showed it with his expression.

“Hey, little brother, you’re here?”

“I thought my pathetic fourth-ranked brother would be drinking alone, so I came by.”

“There’s no such thing as a pathetic fourth rank among the Eight Demon Supremes. Even being in the middle isn’t easy.”

The boat reached the island, and I climbed up to the Tower of Drunken Dreams.

“What brings you here all of a sudden?”

“I felt like having a drink.”

“You came to the right place.”

The Great Drunken Demon and I drank together. We didn’t say anything; we just quietly drank.

Being knowledgeable about alcohol, Song Sa-hyuk also understood those who drank. He could tell whether his companion wanted to chat while drinking or, like now, preferred to drink quietly with the moon over the lake as their only companion.

“I went hunting with Father.”

“You were gone quite a while this time, weren’t you? Impressive. How can you stand spending so much time alone with the Cult Leader? I’d go crazy.”

“It might surprisingly turn out to be insanely fun.”

The Great Drunken Demon shook his head, convinced that wouldn’t be the case.

He should have seen Father cooking. It’s a shame I couldn’t share that with him.

“I learned from talking with Father that he seems to hold the Poison King or the Fist Demon King in high regard.”

“If the Cult Leader respects someone, it would be the Fist Demon King.”

Song Sa-hyuk spoke with certainty.

“Not the Poison King?”

“The Cult Leader doesn’t like the use of poison. He’s never explicitly said it, but everyone knows it. Even the Poison King knows but pretends not to.”

“Then why does he think so highly of the Fist Demon King?”

Although I had planned to investigate the Demon Supremes, meeting them after regressing made me realize that to truly know someone, you need to meet, talk, and experience them personally. Even then, you might still not fully understand. What I knew were their actions, not the people themselves. The same applied to the Fist Demon King.

“I drank with the Fist Demon King one-on-one once.”

“How was it?”

The Great Drunken Demon looked down at his drink, recalling that time, and took a sip.

“I thought, ‘It wouldn’t be easy to beat this person unless you’re prepared for it.’”

It was the first time I’d heard the Great Drunken Demon speak so highly of another Demon Supreme.

“But why the Fist Demon King?”

“Maybe he’s planning to make another fifth-rank behind me.”

Since it implied the intention to bring the Fist Demon King over to our side, the Great Drunken Demon asked with concern.

“If you mess with the Fist Demon King in this situation, the Eldest Young Master won’t stand still.”

“That’s exactly it. I don’t want him to stay still.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s about time for me to have a showdown with my brother, isn’t it?”

Song Sa-hyuk’s gaze became intense as well, understanding that this signaled the start of the full-fledged battle for succession.

“Are you confident?”

“I’m counting on you.”

The Great Drunken Demon smiled and shook the empty bottle at my words about trusting him to face him.

“Hearing that makes me want to have another drink.”

I poured the last of my drink into his glass.

“Hold back. From now on, you’ll need more time sober.”

* * *

The next afternoon, I headed to the Eastern Fist Faction where the Unbeatable Fist Demon King resided.

“I’m here to see the Fist Demon King.”

The Iron Fists guarding the entrance looked at me with surprised expressions. It was a well-known rumor that their leader, the Fist Demon King, had sided with the Eldest Young Master.

“Please follow me.”

One of the Iron Fists led the way.

The gazes of the Iron Fists moving around the Eastern Fist Faction were focused on me. White martial robes, blue martial robes, red martial robes, black martial robes—they wore different colors according to their ranks. Their genders, ages, and physical abilities varied. However, they all had one thing in common.

They were unarmed, without a single piece of metal on their bodies.

I walked slowly among the Iron Fists who had dedicated their lives to bare-knuckle fighting.

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1 : Wow, that’s such a low move XDXDXD

2 : They’re not the type to be ashamed of you secretly. Lee Ahn’s too nice for that, and Jangho would have told you clearly if he ever felt this way.

3 : Yeah, too much shipping could interfere with the growth of their feelings.

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