Absolute Regression
Chapter 38: I'm Going to Rip Them Off
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TL: FoodieMonster007
I trained late into the night at my personal training ground.
Training was my top priority. If I lost to Hwa Mugi, everything I was building would be for nothing, no matter how valuable.
When training became too tough, I imagined dying at Hwa Mugi's hands because I had missed a single moment of practice. It was an unrealistic scenario, but the desperate thought helped me overcome laziness.
Fortunately, today's session was the most satisfying since my regression.
Pure, powerful internal energy swirled in my qi center. My techniques grew stronger, and my speed increased.
My inner arts had reached a level where I could face the Demon Supremes in a battle to the death. No one would believe someone my age could possess such internal energy.
It's still not enough.
I needed to gather more. With inner arts, more was always better.
My continuous training yielded considerable progress with the Four Strides of the Wind God. I knew I would eventually hit a wall, but for now, my skills improved with every use.
Using the Four Strides of the Wind God stoked my desire to fight. The technique constantly stimulated my fighting spirit.
I had to be patient. A time would come when I could reveal myself to the world on my own terms.
I had just finished a round of the Four Strides of the Wind God when someone spoke from behind me.
"Your internal energy has grown again."
Startled, I turned and saw my father standing there.
"You're truly like a ghost."
He had appeared behind me without a sound and guessed my inner arts had increased just from watching my technique.
I spoke honestly.
"I obtained the Azure Jade Divine Pill from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon."
Father didn't seem surprised by the major news.
"Why aren't you surprised?"
"Didn't you say you had something to gain from him?"
"But that something was the Azure Jade Divine Pill!"
"I knew the Blade Demon had the Azure Jade Divine Pill."
I was shocked. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon wouldn't have told anyone about this.
"How did you know?"
His next words were even more shocking.
"Because I gave it to him a long time ago."
"Good heavens! You're the one who gave it to him?"
I suddenly recalled the Blood Heaven Blade Demon drawing a line, insisting he was closer to my father than I was. This confirmed the two must have been very close once.
"What did you wager in your bet with him?"
"I wagered myself."
"It seems the Blade Demon made a very bad deal."
"My business is just getting started. I plan to rip off the Eight Demon Supremes properly."
In the past, my father would have dismissed this as nonsense, but now he said nothing.
"Why are you just listening?"
"Because I think you might actually do it."
"So you finally recognize my true worth."
"Why do you hate the Demon Supremes so much?"
"When I look at them, I hear this voice in my head. 'Hey, don't you want to become the Heavenly Demon? But what can you do? You can only become the Heavenly Demon if we support you. Should I be your backer? You want that? Then impress me.'"
"Isn't that just a persecution complex?"
"Maybe. In any case, I hate it."
I didn't intend to fight this battle alone. It was a fight I would wage with my father, so I shared my honest feelings about the Eight Demon Supremes. I couldn't let our relationship become twisted, no matter what happened with others.
"Train."
As my father turned to leave, I thanked him.
"Thank you for appointing Jang Ho as the Demonic Army General."
"It wasn't because of you. It was because two Demon Supremes recommended him."
I called out to my father again.
"Father."
He answered without turning back.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to be happy."
For a moment, I saw my father's back tremble slightly. He must not have expected me to say that.
"I believe that for the people around me and for our Cult to be happy, I have to be happy first."
I cut in before my father could speak.
"It's a cheap sentiment, perfect for getting killed, right?"
"As long as you know."
Father paused at the door and added one more thing.
"If you intend to walk this path, don't even think about happiness."
I shouted before my father closed the door.
"I refuse. I'll walk that path, and I'll definitely be happy."
The door slammed shut with a THUD, as if to mock my impossible dream.
I understood why my father hated the word happiness. Both of us had lived lives far removed from it.
We had always considered happiness a refuge for losers.
But, Father, I've learned that living a happy life is just as hard as striving for a goal.
……No, maybe it's even harder than just running toward success. Maybe we were escaping to success instead, Father.
The Flower Sword Supreme was certainly different from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
She had helped make Jang Ho the Demonic Army General, but instead of rushing over to boast, she remained silent.
This means she wants me to visit her.
Her silence told me she valued face and honor. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, in contrast, prioritized his own emotions. He was the type to rush over and yell just to feel satisfied.
I bought a bottle of fine liquor and went to see the Flower Sword Supreme. I found her tending the flower garden in the yard of her thatched cottage.
"The flowers are beautiful."
"They say flowers grow more beautiful as you age. That's still a distant story for you, Second Young Lord."
She probably didn't know that when you get even older, such things just become a bother.
"I sincerely thank you for your help. I've brought some liquor as a token of my gratitude."
"I appreciate the gift, but I don't drink alcohol. I quit a long time ago."
"Ah, is that so? I apologize."
"It's alright."
I already knew she didn't drink, but I had brought the liquor on purpose to avoid seeming like I understood her too well. It might have been excessive, but I had to do what I could. Relationships were built on such small details.
"I was taught to repay any help I receive. Is there anything you desire?"
She spoke in a gentle tone, still tending to her flowers.
"It would be best for you to cut ties with the Blade Demon."
She presented this as her price, just as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had predicted.
"May I ask why?"
"Because the Blade Demon is a man far removed from the ideals the Second Young Lord pursues."
"It may be a presumptuous question, but do you know what my ideals are?"
"You said you'd change our Cult into a place of strict order and discipline, didn't you? The Blade Demon hates being bound by rules more than anyone. You'll have many conflicts with him, Second Young Lord."
The Flower Sword Supreme probably thought her persuasion would work. She was filled with pride and considered herself an incomparably better person than the Blade Demon.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can do that, Senior."
Her figure flinched for a moment.
"Why is that?"
"Because Elder Blade Demon gave me too great a gift."
I normally wouldn't have mentioned the gift, but I intended to leak the news about the Azure Jade Divine Pill to her.
I planned to make both the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme my people.
Their terrible relationship would make them easier to handle in some ways. Above all, their emotions would erupt, allowing me to learn their true natures more quickly and certainly.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon would be the Left Emissary, and the Flower Sword Supreme the Right Emissary.
They would become the most powerful Left and Right Emissaries in murim history, the Left Blade and Right Sword. I planned to place them at my sides, then grab the other Eight Demon Supremes by the hair and shake them up.
"What kind of gift?"
"It's a personal gift, so it's difficult for me to say."
"I thought we were close enough to have this conversation. Was I mistaken?"
"Ah, this is difficult."
I pretended to think for a moment, then spoke as if I had no other choice.
"Since you've done me such a great favor, Sword Supreme, I'll tell you. The Elder gave me the Azure Jade Divine Pill."
"What did you say?"
She stopped tending the flowers and turned to me. Her composure and aloofness shattered instantly.
"Are you saying he really gave you the Azure Jade Divine Pill?"
The Flower Sword Supreme found it utterly unbelievable that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had given me the pill. She was even more surprised than I had expected.
"Where is that divine pill now?"
"I've already consumed it, but why are you so surprised?"
"The Blade Demon is an inherently greedy man. How could I not be surprised that he gave something so precious to you, Second Young Lord?"
"It seems he judged me to be more precious than the divine pill."
I said it like a joke, but the Flower Sword Supreme didn't laugh. She must have thought it was true.
"Thank you again for your help. Please let me know if you ever need my assistance. I'll see you next time."
I gave a polite farewell and turned to leave, but the Sword Supreme called out to me softly.
"Second Young Lord."
I looked back at her.
"Second Young Lord, what kind of person is the Blade Demon, from what you've seen?"
"Eccentric, violent, and selfish. I disliked him at first, but he grew on me the more I met him."
"And not because he gave you the Azure Jade Divine Pill?"
"I can't deny that. Who wouldn't be pleased? It's the Azure Jade Divine Pill, after all."
"It's merely a miracle herb."
"But that miracle herb was exactly what I needed."
She tried her best to sever my relationship with the Blade Demon.
"If you want to continue receiving my help, cut ties with the Blade Demon. The Blade Demon is not the one."
"Then prove it."
"Prove what?"
I stared at her for a moment before I spoke.
"Prove that you, Senior, are a more helpful person to me than Elder Blade Demon."
The Flower Sword Supreme's expression hardened slightly.
"Was all that talk about establishing discipline and justice in our Cult just nonsense?"
"Elder Blade Demon gave me the Azure Jade Divine Pill. I need a justification to cut ties."
"Isn't the ideal of doing what's best for our Cult justification enough?"
I let out a deliberate smirk.
"Dreams, ideals, loyalty…… I despise people who try to win the hearts of their subordinates and juniors for free with such things."
In that moment, the Sword Supreme became enraged, and I saw her true self.
Her expression turned cold, revealing a desolate gaze.
Her eyes were like a barren desert.
While I had seen a blazing fire in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eyes, I felt a terrible thirst from the Flower Sword Supreme. The stark change from her gentle demeanor made this desolation feel even more intense.
It was hindsight, but I now knew for sure why she was the first to move after Hwa Mugi cornered her. I knew why her ambition was hastier than the other Eight Demon Supremes. She must have needed to fill that desolation with anything she could.
Normally, I would have put away the whip and offered a carrot, but I didn't.
"I don't know what you think of me, Senior, but I'm preparing for a great undertaking. I'll have to meet many people and make many decisions. I don't have the confidence to judge right from wrong every time. So please, show me something I can judge easily."
As I spoke, I held out my hand to her.
"Place something in this hand more precious than the Azure Jade Divine Pill Elder Blade Demon gave me."
The Blade Demon is not the one? Not a chance. It has to be the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. That was why she was so shaken. That was why she was asking these questions.
"Second Young Lord, what is it that you want?"
I closed my outstretched palm. I didn't ask for her help. It wasn't time yet.
"No, there's nothing for now."
To her, my words would sound like, I already have the Blade Demon, so I'm fine.
Because I said I wanted nothing, she would grow more anxious. If I had demanded something, she would have responded rationally.
"Then I'll see you next time. I won't forget the favor you've done for me."
I bowed politely and left the thatched cottage.
After walking for a while, I looked back. She was still standing in the same spot, staring at me.
I bowed my head once more toward her blazing gaze, then walked away.
Yes, just like that. Come to a boil.
The cooking could only begin once the water boiled.
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