Absolute Regression Chapter 613

Can you handle the 613th awakened leader?

While the Poison King was looking up at the tree, Ma-bul was looking up at the scary-looking golden Buddha statue in the temple.

Then a calm greeting is heard from behind.

“It’s been a while.”

As Geommugeuk entered the temple, Mabul asked without looking back.

“What brings you here?”
“I came here because I wanted to see you, Mabulnim. It’s been a while since I last saw you.”

Even though I only saw the back of Mabul’s ugly head, I feel so happy to see him. I guess it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him.

“How have you been?”

Ma-bul turned his back on the Buddha statue and turned toward Geommu-geuk. Behind the small Ma-bul, the huge golden Buddha statue formed a strange contrast.
Whenever I see Ma-bul, I feel that what I see is not everything. Geommu-geuk knew very well that the small giant Ma-bul was a much bigger person than the golden Buddha statue.

“Is the temporary leader worth it?”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.”

The sword dance was joking, even waving its hands.

“I thought my father didn’t care much about school affairs. He would make decisions on one or two important matters. But he wasn’t. He managed every single movement of troops.”
“The leader of the cult closely monitored school affairs more than any other leader in history.”

The sword dance drama showed that Mabul was very knowledgeable about his father’s work. Since he was very interested in politics, he would have been the most knowledgeable about the situation of the religious leader.

“Do you know why the leader is so concerned? Is it because he is meticulous? No way.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”

Then a surprising answer came from Mabul.

“For the unification of the martial arts world.”
“!”
“The leader believed that when he could rule the school, he could rule the world.”

Perhaps I heard a story about him from my father once.
My father showed different sides to each of the demons. That’s why I feel that the side of my father that the demons see is also different.

“Eventually, in five years, you will stand at the forefront of the unification of martial arts.”

He had been like that before. He had said that his father would not look after him.
There was a reason for Mabul’s assertion. It was the reason he had not told him at the time.

“It’s not that I’m ignoring your will.”

If I had ignored you, I wouldn’t be standing here and saying these things.

“Then why are you so sure?”

The reason why I hold the sword dance in such high esteem but still believe it cannot be defeated is this.

“Because of you, the leader is also awakening.”

Mabul looked at Geommugeuk and asked.

“Can you handle the awakened leader?”

Geommu-geuk could tell. The awakening that Ma-bul had spoken of was not just a martial art that would be strengthened through closed-door training. It meant that Geom-woo-jin himself was becoming stronger.

“So there are nine of us?”

Palmazone jokes that everyone is on his side.

“I saw there were two before?”

On that day when they promised to return five years later, the only Mazone left for the final sword master was the extremely evil Soma.

“Then I guess I have to work harder.”

With a look of encouragement, Mabul went out of the temple.
Geommugeuk followed him quietly and walked through the temple grounds together. The monks who passed by clasped their hands and greeted them.

“Have you stopped making stone statues?”
“I have.”

In the corner of the yard, the stone statues he had been making were still there. Looking at the dusty tools, it seemed like it had been some time since he had touched them.
I thought Geommugeuk would tease me for being weak-willed.

“You quit well.”
“You quit well?”
“Actually, I didn’t get along with you. You calm your mind by carving a stone statue? You’re not that kind of person, are you, Ma-bul?”

Mabul stopped walking and asked.

“Then what kind of person am I?”
“Mr. Mabul is someone who moves between people, understands their hearts, persuades them with passion, and fights with all his might for his goals. He controls his heart when he takes a breather after fighting with people to his heart’s content.”
“Is it an insult or a compliment?”
“If you feel bad, it’s an insult, and if you feel good, it’s a compliment.”

Geommugeuk added with a smile.

“I’m just telling you the truth now.”

If you can’t speak, then. With that expression on his face, Ma-bul started walking again.

“What brings you here? A busy person wouldn’t come here just to play. Is there something you want me to do as the leader?”
“No. I came here to report on something I wasn’t asked to do.”

Mabul looked at Geommugeuk with an expression that said, “What are you talking about?”
Geommugeuk knew. It is much harder to not do something than to order it. Just as it is much harder to ask someone to go back than to come.
That is why he is more cautious about this meeting with Mabul than with the Poison King.

“My brother is leaving the school, so I secretly asked you to watch over him.”

The golden light on Mabul’s body shone a little more intensely, as if revealing his emotional turmoil.

“Why are you reporting that to me?”
“Because I think I should let Ma-Bul-nim know.”

After a moment, Mabul asked.

“Why the Poison King?”
“The forged secret weapon that you were going to investigate this time was poisoned. I was worried that someone might be handling poison, so I asked the Poison King to take care
of it.” “Why are you telling me that?”
“I’m afraid that you might misunderstand later. I’m afraid that you’ll think that I brought the Poison King because you asked me to.”

In other words, it was because he was worried that there would be a misunderstanding between Geommuyang and Mabul. Hyung is not the type of person to make excuses for this or that. Nor is he the type of person who would explain everything in detail.

“What if I misunderstand?”
“What do you mean? It’s disappointing. If it were me, I would probably curse out of displeasure. How much I’ve treasured you, and why are you taking the Poison King away from me?”
“You’re the one who curses, you’re the one who’s narrow-minded. I won’t curse.”
“You should. If you don’t curse, then this time, my brother will be disappointed.”

Eventually, Mabul burst into laughter.

“Do you really live your life worrying about such trivial things?”
“Because I believe that people become distant and hate each other because of such trivial things. Even the grand dream of unifying the world, doesn’t it all start from such small thoughts?”

The sincerity of the sword dance continued.

“So, don’t back down, but rather, be more proactive. Even if it’s not a fight for the successor, isn’t there more than one or two things in our school that require your help? Please take action for our school.”

As Ma-bul looked at Geommu-geuk, a golden light flashed in his eyes, and soon the intense golden light softened.
Ma-bul had been feeling a sense of helplessness lately, unable to find the answer. That was also why he carved the stone statue.
However, he had to move forward without retreating, and confront it as himself. Perhaps Geommu-geuk’s words were the way to overcome his helplessness.

“No. I’ll go back to carving statues.”
“Then, even if you do carve a statue, sell it. Carve a statue that you can sell. I’ll be your first customer.”

It means that no matter what you do, you should not sink. At this moment, Mabul thought of something he wanted to say to Geom Woojin.

‘If you want to win, son, you must awaken properly.’

After Geommugeuk greeted him politely, he turned around.

“Oh my, I’m so busy I don’t know when I’ll be able to come and play again.”

Ma-bul spoke from behind the departing sword dance.

“Your brother is a strong man.”

Because Mabul was the person who trusted his brother more than anyone else. He was also the person who staked his life on his brother.

“So you don’t have to worry too much. The Archduke has the same blood flowing through him as your father.”

Geommugeuk bowed his head respectfully, looking at the brightly shining golden light.

“Yes, I believe that too.”

But the words and actions of the sword dance were different.
Believing was believing. Worry was worry.

‘Because we share the same blood, there are some things I’m more worried about.’

After leaving Ma-Bul’s residence, he spoke to the person performing the ritual.

“Contact Eunwol and tell her to focus all possible information networks on you and the Poison King. And one more thing.”

Geommugeuk added one more order that had been put off until Eunwol.

A few days have passed since Geommuyang left the school.
During those few days, Geommu Theater’s work speed has gotten faster and faster.
And today’s speed is even faster.

It wasn’t just that he was good at his job. He was unusually fast today, as if he was busy with something. Usually, Geommugeuk would make a joke after finishing a task, but today he didn’t say a single joke.

“Do you have something to do today?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you finished early? You’d have more time to rest.”

But today there was a different reason.
Geommu-geuk, who had finished work earlier than usual, followed Sima Ming.

“Do you have anything to say?”
“No, I finished work early and I was thinking of going to see Tongcheon-gak for the first time in a while. Is that okay?”

Who would say that’s not okay?

“Yes, please go.”

In this way, Geommu-geuk followed Sima Ming into Tongcheongak.
As they passed through an area with tighter security than Cheonma Hall and entered, they saw numerous Tongcheongak soldiers in the wide space.

It was busy there. In fact, I think the best way to describe it was to show this place.

Swish, swish, swish!

Cylinders containing letters continued to arrive from a hole installed in one wall.
The soldiers classified the letters that arrived according to their importance.
Depending on the contents of the letters, the flags planted on the map of the Central Plains were moved to different places.

Sima Ming could tell. Geomwu-geuk had come here because he was curious about Geomwu-yang’s news. Even though he pretended to be calm on the outside, he was very worried about his brother.

“Since you’re here, why don’t you hear some news about your brother?”

Sima Ming said to his soldiers:

“Bring me the latest information regarding the Archduke.”

The soldier immediately brought the documents and reported.

“His Majesty has now arrived at Changsha, his current destination. He has only stopped at two inns, and has continued on his way to his destination without resting except for the time spent eating and sleeping.”

How can you not worry? Brother, I told you not to take to heart the fact that you almost killed me! Even if that happened, I wouldn’t have died!

“If I stay here, I can find out what my brother ate.”

Then he looked through the documents the soldier had brought.

“Here’s what you drank at the inn. Shall I tell you?”
“No problem.”

I could really see how well Tongcheon-gak was keeping an eye on Hyung. Eunwol, who was cooperating with him, probably played a big role as well.

“My brother, there might be a woman hidden in the Central Plains. This will be the opportunity to reveal it.”

Sima Ming asked quietly at the pointless sound of the sword dance.

“Are you worried about your brother?”

Geommugeuk answered with a smile.

“How bad of a person is my brother? I’m worried about the world of martial arts.”

However, unlike what he said, the place where Geommu-geuk’s gaze was directed was the flag that said Muyang. The location of the flag was Jangsa, and the flag of Jangsa Pyo-guk (長沙鏢局) was placed next to his brother’s flag.

And a little distance away from the two flags stood a splendid green flag.

Geommuyang was walking briskly through the merchant’s market.
He passed all the taverns and attractions he would have visited if he had come with Geommu. He was running only toward his goal.

Only by catching the person who made the forged secret that almost killed his younger brother and almost caused him an irreversible mistake, will he be able to enjoy the leisure that this long-awaited excommunication brings.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he acted recklessly.
Geommuyang knew exactly how to handle this situation. He didn’t just reveal that he was the Grand Duke of the Heavenly Demon Sect or use force to resolve this issue. He wasn’t the type of person who would rush things just because he was impatient.

A middle-aged man was waiting for him in front of the Jangsa Pyoguk. He was the head of the Jangsajidan of the Cheonmasingyo, Homyeong, who had been contacted in advance.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
“Thank you for coming, Lord Ho.”
“All of Jidan’s elite are waiting nearby.”

Ho-myeong was truly surprised to receive the Grand Duke’s message. Even though he had lost the succession dispute, his opponent was the eldest son of Cheonma. One wrong word could cost him his life.

“If you just give the order, I can make everyone in Jangsa Pyo kneel within half an hour.”
“There’s no need for that. Let’s meet the king alone. Don’t reveal my identity.”
“Yes! Please wait a moment.”

Ho-myeong said a few words to the man guarding the entrance to Jang Sa-pyo-guk. Then, the man, who had become thoughtful, ran inside, and another man guided Geommu-yang and Ho-myeong inside.

While waiting in the main hall, Ji Dae-hyeong, the owner of the signboard, appeared with his men. One of the men recognized Ho-myeong’s face and sent a message to Ji Dae-hyeong that he was the owner of the signboard.

Geommuyang used Jangsa Jidanju to quickly meet Pyogukju. It was not the fox borrowing the tiger’s power, but the tiger borrowing the fox’s power.

“What is happening to the sign that the Lord of the Shingyo has seen?”

In Ji Dae-hyung’s eyes, all he could see was the call of name. The visit of the Demonic Cult’s Jang Sa-jidanju, with whom he had no regular contact, was truly a serious matter.

“I came to ask you about the token you delivered to the Black Water Sect earlier.”

At the call of his name, Ji Dae-hyung’s expression hardened for a moment.

“We don’t reveal anything about the object to outsiders.”

Then, Jidanju’s call revealed his cold magic.
The heads of the groups were not easily frightened either. They raised their internal energy so that they could draw their swords at any moment. This was what they believed in.

“No matter how much you are, if you mess with us, the Central Plains Bureau Union will not just sit by and do nothing.”

They were one of the biggest vested interests in the martial arts world, so even the Jeongsa-ma did not treat them lightly.
At that time, Geommu-yang, who had been silent, stepped forward.

“I have not come to scare you or to trouble you.”

The moment Geommuyang opened his mouth, Ji Daeyang could feel it. Naturally, he had thought that this young man was one of Jidanju’s disciples.

‘It wasn’t Lee Ja-ga who brought Zidane here. Zidane brought this person here.’

From the moment he spoke, the dignity and intimidation that was evident from Geommuyang was extraordinary.

“The items you brought were the finest weapons of our school.”

For a moment, Ji Dae-hyung was startled. Judging from his expression, it seemed like he had no idea about that fact.

“It is impossible for a large country like Jangsa Pyo to have sent the goods to Heukdo without checking the contents of the goods.”

Geommuyang looked back at the people who had come with him with cold eyes and asked.

“Who deceived the king?”