Absolute Regression

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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< Chapter 168: Not Ordinary, Therefore Not Angry >

“I forgot about it!”

Seo Daeryong shouted. He had completely forgotten about the strategy pouch that his master had given him.

“How could I forget something like this?”

“That’s probably why the elder gave it to me instead of you.”

“Ah! I’m saved. Finally, I’m saved!”

“Really? Normally, you would have just lost quietly, but opening this pouch might cause you to overdo it and get yourself killed.”

Seo Daeryong flinched.

“Are you trying to deflate me with your usual worst-case scenario tactic?”

“No. This time, I’m talking about a very likely possibility. Still going to open it?”

“Of course. Regardless of winning or losing, this is the first strategy my master has left for me. I have to see it.”

I opened the pouch. Inside, there was a scroll of paper rolled up.

I handed it to Seo Daeryong. He took a deep breath and slowly unrolled it to read.

After checking the contents, Seo Daeryong was shocked. He handed it back to me, trembling before he could finish reading.

“L-look at this!”

On the paper was written a mantra of a saber technique.

It was the mantra of the first form of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, a secret technique of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Only the first form was written, not the complete mantra.

[…The first form of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber out of nine forms. It will be very helpful in battles among late-stage experts. For any part you don’t understand, learn as Young Master teaches you, and he will also teach you how to conceal that it’s my martial art.]

Seo Daeryong looked half-dazed.

“What’s wrong?”

“The Heaven-Extinguishing Saber is a martial art passed down only to the official successors.”

“Naturally.”

“Then why aren’t you surprised, Lord?”

“Why should I be surprised?”

“It means he sees me not just as a disciple but as his successor.”

Seo Daeryong’s voice trembled. It was the most he’d ever trembled since I met him.

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Obvious? The master sees me as the next Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and you think that’s obvious?”

“Among all the elder’s disciples, who else but you is fit to become the Demon Supreme?”

Seo Daeryong was overwhelmed with emotion.

In truth, I also only found out this time that Gu Cheonpa saw Seo Daeryong as his successor. I had suspected that he would eventually, but the decision came quicker than I thought. It meant Seo Daeryong had impressed him that much.

“But would he really pass on such an important martial art by just writing it on a piece of paper?”

“That’s why he gave it to me. I won’t lose it.”

Though it was only part of it, it was as if he had also shared the secret martial art’s mantra with me. This was a clear indication of how much trust old man Blade had in me.

“Aaaah!”

Seo Daeryong, overwhelmed with emotion, was pacing back and forth, unable to compose himself.

At that moment, I showed him the last part of the paper.

“Did you read this part?”

“What part?”

At the end of the mantra, there was a separate line written.

[If you lose, you’ll die by my hand.] 1

“Gah!”

Seo Daeryong jumped in shock.

On the other hand, I burst into laughter. Of course, there was no way Gu Cheonpa would leave a note without saying something like that, given his personality.

“Ah! He must have pressed down hard while writing this; the letters look especially bold. He wouldn’t really kill me just because I lose… right?”

There was no way I would pass up such a perfect opportunity to tease him.

“Are you sure about that? You losing in a fight using his martial arts against mere late-stage experts? You think his stubborn pride would just let that slide?”

“Fuck, he really might kill me.”

Seo Daeryong clutched his head in distress.

“Even if he spares you for my sake, you’ll probably be in for hellish training for a while.”

“It’ll be hellish training for life. Leader! I must win! Please help me win!”

“Don’t get too excited. If you get careless and hurt or kill Jin Haryeong by mistake, the Murim Alliance Leader will have your head. That would be your real death.” 2

Since Jin Paecheon already knew both Seo Daeryong’s and my true identities, there was no way we could afford to harm her. The reason we were even allowed to reach the finals was because of our shared goal of eliminating the Heavenly Society.

“Leader! Please help me win without hurting Jin Haryeong! I must win using the first form of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, but make it seem like it’s not Master’s martial art.”

“You do realize how impossible what you’re asking for is, right?”

“If it weren’t you, Leader, I wouldn’t be making this request.”

There were five days left until the finals.

Fortunately, the first form didn’t seem overly difficult, and smart as Seo Daeryong was, he could manage it with practice. Our goal wasn’t to fully master it, but rather to use the profound subtleties of the form to defeat Jin Haryeong. One perfect move would be enough.

“As my right-hand man, I should grant your request. Let’s go!”

We immediately headed up to the mountain training grounds. We didn’t pay any attention to Jin Haryeong, the Alliance Leader, or the Heavenly Society.

In fact, I believed this was the best way to avoid arousing suspicion from the Heavenly Society. Who would suspect that those disappearing for training right before the finals were plotting something? They’d think we were just earnest martial artists from the countryside.

We focused purely on the martial arts competition, and I believed that this was actually the best way to bait the Heavenly Society.

Days passed, and soon it was the day before the finals.

On the eve of the final battle, the Murim Alliance was in a festive mood. The area was bustling with countless martial artists who had come from all over the Central Plains. Many merchants had come to sell their goods to the martial artists, and there were also those performing martial arts demonstrations on the streets to promote their own sects.

Con artists tried to deceive novice martial artists, and there were plenty of thieves looking to snatch purses.

The Murim Alliance dispatched martial artists from various elite groups, including the Blue Dragon Squad, to maintain order and prevent any disturbances.

Amidst the chaos, Jin Haryeong entered the inn, pressing down on her straw hat. When she asked the innkeeper about Geom Yeon, she was told that he hadn’t come in for several days along with his master.

‘Where on earth could he have gone?’

Before the finals, she wanted to see Geom Yeon. She wanted to joke with him like this: “Should I go easy on your young master or not?” She really wanted to make this joke with him. 3

She was also curious about how she would feel if Geom Yeon actually begged her to go easy on him. Right now, she had no intention of going easy at all, but would her heart waver even a little?

Feeling a bit disappointed, she stepped out of the inn. At this point, there was no choice but to change the joke like this: After winning, she would say to him, “If you had come to me in advance and asked, I would have gone easy on you. Friend, where on earth did you go?”

* * *

Finally, the day of the finals arrived.

A huge crowd had gathered, and befitting a final match, all the important figures were present.

Leading the assembly was the Murim Alliance Leader who hosted the event, along with the heads of the Murim Alliance’s various organizations and renowned martial experts from across the Central Plains.

The main topic of this tournament was, without a doubt, Seo Daeryong. Everyone was keen to see if he, the black horse coming from a small sect, could make new history.

Especially since his opponent was Jin Haryeong, the granddaughter of Jin Paecheon. If he were to defeat her, Seo Daeryong would truly become a hero.

Of course, there were far more people betting on Jin Haryeong’s victory than on Seo Daeryong’s.

As the referee introduced him, Seo Daeryong was the first to step onto the stage.

His demeanor was completely different from other matches.

He had burned himself out completely in the past five days. He had never worked so hard at anything in his life, and he likely never would again. He wouldn’t regret losing—not true, he couldn’t lose. The thought of lifelong hellish training was terrifying enough as it was.

Cheers erupted from all around, chanting his name. Seo Daeryong closed his eyes for a moment to savor this experience. It was a gift life had given him. After this event, he might have to spend the rest of his life as an investigator for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult at the Underworld Pavilion. The finals of the Soaring Dragon Tournament—this was a moment he would never experience again in his life.

Seo Daeryong glanced at Geom Mugeuk, who stood below the stage.

Geom Mugeuk, who was watching the stage with his arms crossed, nodded at him. Seo Daeryong nodded back. Their brief exchange of nods was all the connection they needed before the match.

The referee introduced Jin Haryeong next. The cheers that erupted for her were even louder than those for Seo Daeryong.

Standing on the stage, her gaze shifted past Seo Daeryong and landed on Geom Mugeuk.

He was looking at Seo Daeryong and her with an indifferent expression. She didn’t know why, but at that moment, Geom Mugeuk felt like a different person—neither a servant nor a friend, but someone entirely unfamiliar. 4

“And now, let the finals begin!”

At the referee’s shout, a thunderous cheer shook the heavens and earth, and the match began.

Seo Daeryong was the first to move. His saber swiftly sliced through the air.

There was only one chance to win. He had practiced over and over, solely for this moment. He couldn’t afford to be on the defensive until he created that opportunity.

Seo Daeryong pressed forward aggressively, but Jin Haryeong blocked his attacks with ease. Clearly, Jin Haryeong’s martial arts skills were a notch above his.

The only consolation was that thanks to his recently increased internal energy, he wasn’t being overpowered in terms of strength.

A close fight ensued.

However, the match gradually began to tilt in Jin Haryeong’s favor.

Seo Daeryong’s attacks grew slower, while Jin Haryeong’s sword strikes only became faster. Seo Daeryong had to use all his strength just to block her attacks.

That he was holding on this long was due to his efforts and innate talent. But nothing could overcome the clear gap in their skill levels.

Watching Seo Daeryong steadily being pushed back, the spectators anticipated that the match would soon come to an end. Even the Murim Alliance Leader watched his granddaughter’s match with a relaxed mind.

Just when Seo Daeryong was pushed to the edge of the stage.

The moment arrived.

The distance between them, the position of her feet, the angle of her sword, his own feet and body, the positions of the sword and saber—all aligned precisely as he had been waiting for.

Seo Daeryong did not miss this single opportunity.

Swaaash!

Seo Daeryong’s saber created a transformative change as it unleashed a modified first form of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.

It was the first time he used a variant move since the match began, and it was a perfect strike that caught her off guard.

She swung her sword in surprise to block it, but he had practiced for that as well.

Seo Daeryong’s saber twisted at an odd angle, repeatedly hammering at her sword and slashing towards her fingers gripping the sword.

At that very moment, when the Murim Alliance Leader sprang to his feet!

Clang!

Jin Haryeong’s sword flew out of her grip, arcing through the air before clattering to the ground with a sharp ring. If she had tried to hold on, her fingers would have been severed, so she had no choice but to let go of the sword.

Before she realized it, Seo Daeryong’s saber was aimed at Jin Haryeong’s neck.

Jin Haryeong couldn’t believe the situation. The final technique that disarmed her was so exquisite that she couldn’t even begin to counter it.

Words she truly didn’t want to utter weakly escaped from her lips.

“…I lost.”

At that moment, the referee declared Seo Daeryong the winner.

“The winner of the Soaring Dragon Tournament is Seo Ryong of the Seodo Sect in Gansu!”

Simultaneously, cheers erupted from all around. Seo Daeryong leapt off the stage like a child and ran into Geom Mugeuk’s embrace.

“Thank you, thank you so much.”

Tears flowed down from Seo Daeryong’s eyes. It was the first time anyone had seen him cry. Though he didn’t seem like the type to cry easily, he couldn’t hold back his tears. 5

Though he wouldn’t have won without Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong had truly put in a tremendous amount of effort. Conversely, it was precisely because of his dedication that Geom Mugeuk’s teachings had resonated so well with him.

Geom Mugeuk hugged him tightly and whispered softly while patting him in the back.

“Well done.”

From being an investigator at Underworld Pavilion to becoming the disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and now winning a tournament that determined the best among the late-stage martial experts of the Murim Alliance by defeating the granddaughter of the Alliance Leader—this victory brought joy beyond just winning. It was the feeling of finally stepping onto the true path of a martial artist that made him so happy.

“Now stop crying and get back on the stage.”

“Yes.”

Seo Daeryong wiped away his tears and climbed back onto the stage.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk felt a gaze on him. From afar, the Murim Alliance Leader was looking at him. Although the distance was one at which most masters couldn’t transmit their voice, Geom Mugeuk’s message was clearly conveyed to the Alliance Leader.

— I’m sorry. My friend who came with me was so earnest that I helped him train.

— What was that last technique?

— It was a martial art of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Jin Paecheon was taken aback by my candid reply.

— It was the Blade Demon’s technique?

— Yes. This friend is the Blade Demon’s disciple.

I revealed it on purpose. Once he realized that Seo Daeryong was no ordinary demonic practitioner, the Murim Alliance Leader’s anger would subside. Indeed, Jin Paecheon no longer took issue with the outcome.

— Sometimes, a loss can be more beneficial than a victory.

It seemed he believed that this defeat might be more helpful for his granddaughter, who had never known loss. 6

— I am merely moved by your immense generosity, Alliance Leader.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted back to the stage.

And then, another moment came.

Beyond the overjoyed Seo Daeryong, someone caught his eye on the other side. It was the woman who had come to congratulate Seo Daeryong every time he won.

That’s when Geom Mugeuk noticed. Her eyes and expression were so coldly indifferent. Having only seen her shyly smiling face, this expression was startlingly unfamiliar.

She practiced softening her face. Smiling, frowning, then smiling again. Then she looked up at the stage, waving and calling out to Seo Daeryong. 7

The moment her eyes met Seo Daeryong’s, she beamed brightly. She was a completely different person from the one Geom Mugeuk had seen just moments ago. He could clearly discern her drastic change in expressions even from a distance, thanks to his New Eye Technique.

‘It’s the Heavenly Society!’

They had been working behind the scenes for a long time.

It was possible that they had approached other martial artists who made it to the finals in similar ways.

For those who liked women, they sent a woman; for those who needed a friend, they sent a friend; and for those who needed money, they offered money. Truly, the Heavenly Society was no ordinary organization.

In any case, they had finally succeeded in catching the Heavenly Society’s tail!

But the joy was fleeting. Geom Mugeuk looked at Seo Daeryong with a heavy heart. He was smiling broadly, waving back at the Heavenly Society woman.

‘Ah, Daeryong, what are you going to do?’

He decided not to tell Seo Daeryong until the woman revealed her true nature. It would be better for him to remain unaware so his actions would stay natural.

I’m sorry, Investigator Seo, but the more genuinely you like her, the more securely we can capture them. There’s no other choice. The pain will only make you grow stronger! 8

1 : HAHAHAHA, HE’S SUCH A TSUN XDXDXDXD
2 : Probably after excessive torture too.
3 : Hahaha, she’s infected with his humor ^^
4 : Another one of his faces. Plus it would be rude to encourage a friend against another. And he need to focus on the Heavenly Society move.
5 : I don’t think he ever cried before in the story ? At least I don’t remember…. Put a comment if you remember him doing so, leave a like and subscribe for brand new content !!! (I’ve watched too much Youtube recently…;)
6 : True that, a talented martial artist will learn much more from their defeats than their victories. Victories lead to complacency and dull habits while defeats drive you to understand more about yourself and how your enemy won.
7 : Target acquired.
8 : To deceive your enemies, first deceive your friends.