Absolute Regression
Chapter 23: They Lived Just Fine
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TL: FoodieMonster007
Father must have achieved complete mastery, so why didn't the Heavenly Demon Defense Art activate? Was he defeated even after it activated? Or did he fight so fiercely that he didn't even have enough inner arts left to trigger it?
The more I learned about Father's incredible martial prowess, the more questions I had about his death. Did Hwa Mugi truly defeat a man like him?
I want to ask Father.
What on earth happened that day?
However, I couldn't ask. It was an event that had not yet happened.
And I would never know.
Because that event would never happen.
I smiled faintly and spoke to Father.
"Now there's a secret between us, Father. I'm happier about that than I am about learning the Heavenly Demon Defense Art."
The word 'secret' seemed to bother him, and Father's expression soured. I quickly added more before turning away.
"Even if you're annoyed, you can't do anything to me. I'm still more familiar with the Four Strides of the Wind God, after all."
I unleashed the Swift Step and shot out of the room in an instant.
My body reached the end of the red carpet.
SHIIIIING!
A rush of wind brushed past me, and I immediately stopped using the Swift Step.
Before I knew it, Father blocked my path.
TAK!
He then flicked my forehead mercilessly with his finger. I had no chance to dodge. Even if I had tried, Father's movements were too fast to avoid.
"Ouch!"
I clutched my forehead. I wasn't exaggerating. It hurt so much that I saw stars.
"You were acting so smug, I thought you were faster than me."
The next moment, Father vanished.
He used the Shadow Step to disappear from my sight, then immediately used the Swift Step to return to his grand chair. Watching his movements, I again felt that his interpretation of martial arts was certainly different from mine.
I could tell he hadn't come over just to flick my forehead for being cheeky.
Father was intentionally showing me. This is my interpretation of the Four Strides of the Wind God, he seemed to say.
"The movement arts you used to return was the Four Strides of the Wind God, but what in the world was the movement arts you used to fly over here initially?"
"The Heavenly Demon Flight Step."
The Heavenly Demon Flight Step was Father's signature movement arts.
"Is it faster than the Swift Step?"
"Right now, of course it is. I don't know what will happen once the Four Strides of the Wind God reaches complete mastery."
"The day I achieve complete mastery, we'll settle it."
"I'll achieve complete mastery first, so I suppose I'll already know the outcome."
"That's not for certain. I might achieve complete mastery faster. After all, doesn't a young mind work more quickly?"
"That clever head of yours is bleeding."
A trickle of blood flowed from my forehead where he had flicked me.
"Aaaah! I should've just asked you to teach me the Vajra Body Divine Art instead."
I left the Heavenly Demon Hall with the glorious wound on my forehead.
It was a wound money couldn't buy.
I felt I had grown another step closer to Father.
Of course, when such thoughts arose, I had to be careful.
Mistakes in relationships are always made when one lets their guard down, thinking they are close.
In any case, both Father and I had taken a step forward with this martial arts exchange. The future where Hwa Mugi would arrive was set, but the present was constantly changing.
"Who on earth was it? What insolent bastard dared to lay a hand on you?"
Lee Ahn grew agitated upon seeing the bruise on my forehead. At that moment, she was like a passionate Noona whose younger brother had just come home after a fight.
"And if I tell you? Will you get revenge for me?"
"Of course! Just say the word! Who was it? I'll go right now and…."
"It was Father."
"……"
"Why aren't you going?"
Suddenly calm, Lee Ahn took a step back.
"I'm a protector, not an attacker."
I laughed at her firm declaration. It was fun to trade jokes and playful banter like this, something I couldn't do in the past. It was also fun to see her smiling eyes disappear into her cheeks.
"Oh, and I've been made the Sanzu Hall Director. I'll be heading to the Sanzu River Hall as soon as the appointment is official."
Lee Ahn's expression went beyond surprise to sheer disbelief.
"You're telling me the great news of becoming the Sanzu Hall Director so casually?"
"What's the big deal?"
"Good heavens! Do you not realize how prestigious the Sanzu River Hall is? You're the Sanzu Hall Director! It's the kind of place where even the Demon Supremes are dragged for punishment if they commit a crime."
How could I not know? That was the very reason Father was sending me there.
My appointment as the Sanzu Hall Director would likely cause another huge stir within the Cult.
"Congratulations, I'm truly happy for you."
"Thank you."
"But why did the Cult Leader suddenly appoint you as the Sanzu Hall Director?"
"I guess he felt bad after hitting me."
"Please be serious!"
"I told him. I said that our Cult needs to change. That it should become a place where people don't have to learn martial arts that destroy their own bodies just to protect someone else."
"!"
Lee Ahn flinched, her voice trembling as she asked.
"Wh-what do you mean by that?"
"I'm going to make our Cult a place where no one has to live their entire life in an overweight body because of the side effects of the Self-Petrification Art."
Lee Ahn's face was blank with shock. I wondered how long she remained in that daze.
"Don't tell me… you knew?"
"……"
Soon, she grinned and spoke nonchalantly.
"It's the path I chose."
"It was a choice forced upon you when you were young."
"No."
Lee Ahn was firm.
"I remember it clearly. They told me that day that learning the Self-Petrification Art would have these side effects. They said the choice was mine to make. So I made it."
That choice couldn't have been fair. They must have asked the little girl something like this.
You must learn this martial arts to protect him, but can you accept the side effects?
In other words, the choice was coerced.
However, I didn't say that to her. I didn't want to diminish the pride she took in her choice.
"I'll cure those side effects for you. Not right now, but later."
Lee Ahn smiled as she replied.
"They can't be cured."
"I can cure them. Trust me."
"Yes, I'll believe you."
She took my words as a joke. The one who had taught her the martial arts must have told her that the side effects could never be eliminated.
As if wanting to drop the subject, Lee Ahn changed topics.
"But if you become the Sanzu Hall Director, won't the current one protest?"
"What can he do? It's an order from the Cult Leader."
In truth, I wasn't particularly worried about the current Sanzu Hall Director. Judging by how he handled the past incident with the Demonic Army, it was clear he had either been won over or was being blackmailed by them. He had to step down one way or another, which was likely why Father appointed me. Sama Myeong would handle his resignation properly.
"I'm more worried about the backlash from the martial artists who do the actual work. If the Heavenly Demon's son suddenly drops in as the Director, wouldn't they be resentful?"
"The person who dropped in is so wonderful and brilliant, no one will be upset."
"Thanks for saying so, anyway."
"People's opinions are always set when it comes to the one who pays their monthly salary."
I smiled at her usual joke and brought up the topic I had been postponing.
"Speaking of the monthly salary. Lee Ahn, there's something I need to handle. Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"Yes, tell me anything."
"Bodyguard Lee Ahn, as of this moment, you are dismissed from your position as my bodyguard."
Lee Ahn's large frame jumped, landing with a thud. She was so startled I almost felt sorry.
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"I said you're dismissed from your bodyguard duties."
"Are you serious?"
"……"
She looked at me as if her entire world had collapsed.
"I'll ask one more time. Are you serious?"
Her voice trembled pitifully, but my answer was firm.
"I'm serious."
"May I ask why?"
"Because you wouldn't get revenge on Father for me."
She didn't laugh at the joke.
SHIIING.
She drew her sword and aimed it at her own throat.
"I would rather die. I will die as your bodyguard."
Lee Ahn, dying once is enough.
I quickly told her.
"This isn't goodbye. You're to remain as one of my martial artists."
"Whew! You should've said so sooner. I almost died! Check my neck, did I cut myself?"
Only then did she let out a sigh of relief. However, that didn't mean all her worries had vanished.
"But being a bodyguard is my calling. I've never considered any other work. What exactly do you want me to do?"
"Martial artist, Lee Ahn! I now bestow upon you a new title."
"……"
"I hereby appoint you Captain of the Ghost Shadow Squad."
She was just as shocked as when I had dismissed her from her bodyguard duties.
"The Ghost Shadow Squad? Does our Cult have such a unit?"
"No."
"You're making me the Captain of a unit that doesn't exist?"
"I'm going to create it. It will be under my direct command, and you'll receive your monthly salary from me, not the Cult."
"The Ghost Shadow Squad… does that mean the shadow of a ghost?"
"Yes. If I had to give it a meaning, it's that I will be the ghost, and you will be my shadow."
I had intentionally included the character for 'shadow' in the name. Since she had lived her entire life as my shadow, I hoped the name would feel more personal to her.
"I like the name! But have you received permission from the Cult Leader?"
"Not yet."
Creating private organizations within our Cult was strictly forbidden.
"I'll be sure to get his permission."
"You'll be able to do it. The problem is me."
"Why you?"
"What do you mean, why me? First of all, I'm not skilled enough to lead such an important unit, am I?"
"Don't worry about that. I'll teach you a martial arts befitting the position."
"Even if I do become stronger… would I really suit such a position? No one will follow me."
They will.
They will all follow you, won over by your character.
And one day, they will learn that the Captain they follow is the world number one beauty. Yes, this murim will witness the strongest organization in history, led by the world number one beauty.
"Lee Ahn, for my sake, can you become the pillar of the Ghost Shadow Squad?"
Our gazes met and locked in the air.
Her confidence was at rock bottom, but with the words 'for my sake' included, her answer was already decided.
"Yes, I accept your command."
"Good. For now, you're a lone Captain, but this will one day become the strongest organization in the murim. From now on, abandon your existing martial arts. Focus solely on cultivating your inner arts and building your physical stamina. When the time is right, I will teach you a new martial arts."
"Understood."
Though she answered spiritedly, Lee Ahn wore a bewildered expression, unsure whether she should be happy or worried.
"Then who will protect you from now on?"
"Am I a child that needs protecting? A martial artist must protect their own body."
In her eyes, which seemed small as they were nestled in her cheeks, there was only worry.
"I don't know what to say."
"Just say, 'Thank you.' I'll also give you the highest monthly salary of any Captain in our Cult."
"But you don't have any money, do you?"
"I'll earn it."
"Doing what?"
"There are ways to make money. If all else fails, I'll just have to sweep the courtyard of the Heavenly Demon Hall."
"I don't need money. I've saved everything I've earned until now."
"Money is always necessary. It's your price, your value. I'm paying you what you're worth. So don't feel burdened by it."
"…Yes."
"And once you start spending money, it disappears in a flash. Save up tenaciously. Life is long. If you're unlucky, you'll live to be a hundred. No, you might even have to live another hundred years after Rejuvenation."
Lee Ahn laughed at my half-joking words.
The me of the past would have worried about her.
Could she accept this change? What if problems arose?
However, having lived a full life, I knew it was all needless worry.
There was no need to worry. Everyone was smarter than I thought, more capable of looking after themselves, and they lived just fine.
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