Absolute Regression Chapter 21

21st Four Steps Are Enough.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!”

My father’s laughter resonated through the hall.

“Is it such a laughing matter to say that you’ll kill someone?”

My father, who had stopped laughing, spoke decisively.

“You can kill the Demon Lord, but you can’t kill the Bloodthirsty Demon.”

You’re saying that you can’t kill him yet.

“Then why did you make me clash with the Bloodthirsty Demon? Take responsibility!”

“Okay, don’t take responsibility.”

He took responsibility just as coolly as he gave cool answers.

“I will entrust the Hwangcheonjoo to you.”

I was shocked. I never dreamed that they would appoint me to the position of Lord of the Underworld.

“Is that possible?”

Of course, what could be impossible with the will of the Heavenly Horse?

“Is it possible for a single investigator to kill the Demon Lord?”

As things were going this way, I began to think that maybe my father had been thinking of appointing me as the Lord of the Underworld from the beginning.

“You said you wanted to establish discipline properly?”

I heard it like this.

I’ll give you a knife, so go ahead and make a scene.

To put it worse, you become the shield and the swordsman.

There would be many things that would hinder the father from stepping forward himself. But what if he were the youngest son of a wild and reckless Cheonma?

‘Are you trying to use me to handle the things that your father has been putting off? Whether I die or not.’

I couldn’t tell if it was a choice born of ruthless fatherly love or a decision to make me his successor. Yeah, let’s not take this issue emotionally.

What my father said the other day was right.

-The human heart is something you can never know.

Don’t try to read minds, just judge based on what you see and hear. It’s not about reading the other person’s mind, but judging based on the unfolding situation.

My father was originally like this. He was a man who would write inscriptions on the wall for his children, and he was also a man who would throw his children into dangerous situations if it meant he could use them.

Rather, I feel comfortable with this kind of father. I can do what he wants and get what I need.

“If you send me out to slaughter a cow, you should give me a knife.”

“Is there anything you want?”

The name of one of the places I absolutely had to go after returning came out of my mouth.

“Please put me in the Heavenly Demon’s Library.”

Cheonmaseokgak was a place where all kinds of precious martial arts secrets were gathered, and only a very small number of authorized people, including Cheonma, were allowed to enter.

“Why Cheonmaseokgak?”

A look of wonder naturally appeared on my father’s face.

“If you think you can learn the secret art by going there, you are very mistaken. You will end up just seeing the secret title.”

There were that many secret techniques. Even if I was lucky enough to find the best one, it would only be at the same level as the secret technique I learned.

There was doubt and reproach in my father’s eyes, as if to say, ‘How could you not know that?’

“I want to try my luck.”

My father will be curious. What on earth is this guy’s intention behind doing this?

My father stared at me for a moment and then made a decision.

“I don’t know what kind of vulgar intentions you have.”

Only after saying something that didn’t have to be said did my father give permission.

“Entry into Cheonmaseokgak is permitted for seven days.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Seven days, it was a truly unprecedented time for me, who was not yet the successor. It also meant that entrusting the Hwangcheonjoo was an important task.

“Please tell our school’s discipline to wait exactly seven days!”

* * *

Ian was very excited to learn that I was joining Cheonmaseokgak.

“Master, when you enter Cheonmaseokgak, you must memorize one martial art and come out. If you are greedy, you will gain nothing. Also, make sure to eat. If you skip meals to save time, your memory will decline and you will suffer. Oh, and it is so big that you might get lost… .”

Watching Ian chattering nonstop, I reflected once again.

The Ian in my memory was a very reserved person.

She is such a chatterbox.

I guess that’s how I was back then. I guess I was just looking at the roof of Cheonmajeon, filled with the desire to become a successor. The people who would actually help me achieve my dream were standing right in front of me.

So Ian must have become quiet. It was I who made this talkative and cheerful woman quiet.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“I heard. Focus on one thing and eat well.”

“Sleep well. Then, I hope you get good results. Don’t forget. Being able to enter Cheonmaseokgak without being the successor is a heavenly opportunity.”

“Oh my, my ears are bleeding. Ugh, they might already be bleeding.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll talk less from now on.”

“No. The depressed receiver’s signal is even more horrible.”

“Then please keep my words in mind, and there’s something else you need to think about when looking for an emergency kit… .”

“please!”

Actually, Ian didn’t have to worry that much.

Because in that vast Cheonmaseokgak, I knew exactly where to go.

If I were to explain why I wanted to enter Cheonmaseokgak, I would have to go back to when I was looking for the Bimahon, the final ingredient of the Return Law.

I returned to Cheonmasingyo after the sealing to save Bimahon.

They made deep scars on my face so that I could not be recognized. I was already dead, had left the church for decades, and had my face disfigured, so no one could recognize me.

I worked my way up from the ranks of the common people to the point where I could have a one-on-one meeting with the new leader. It took a really long time.

The last year I saved Bimahon, I was able to hear a story about a martial arts.

The four steps of the wind god.

The person who obtained the Wind God’s Relics was none other than Zhou Baek-do, the leader of the Bongmun Demonic Cult at the time. Since the leader changed six times in the few decades since Bongmun, you can imagine how chaotic the cult must have been.

I remember clearly what he said to me while we were drinking.

“… … I was able to ascend to the position of leader because I found the lost Wind God Temple treasure.”

The Wind God Temple.

The ultimate method, consisting of only four basic techniques.

It is said that he once assisted Cheonma in his martial arts, but it was lost in battle at some point and is no longer being passed down. However, Ju Baek-do obtained the Wind God Sa-bo.

“… … The previous leader and his blood relatives suddenly met with disaster, so the Heavenly Demon’s unique martial art, Guhwamagong, was lost. Fortunately, only the Heavenly Demon War was lost, so we were able to preserve our sect’s power and seal it. After that, our sect was in constant chaos over the position of leader. If I hadn’t obtained the Wind God’s Treasure, our sect would have continued to be in chaos and collapsed in self-suffering chaos.”

He was able to rise to the position of cult leader just by adding secret methods to his own martial arts, so we could see how outstanding the martial arts of Poongsinsabo were.

“Where did you get the Wind God Temple?”

“At Cheonmaseokgak. At the time, I was in charge of managing Cheonmaseokgak.”

“If there was an emergency there, why was it reported to have been lost?”

“Because it wasn’t on the bookshelf.”

“… … !”

If I hadn’t been drinking with him that day, if he hadn’t been in a bad mood that day, if he hadn’t gotten drunk and bragged about his heroics that day, I wouldn’t have known where the Fengshen Temple was.

Cheonmaseokgak was the largest library I have ever seen in my life.

Ninety-nine huge bookshelves filled the library, filled with all sorts of secrets on martial arts. There were also some exquisite martial arts that made anyone’s heart race, and they were secrets that the school had collected over many years.

I walked slowly between the bookshelves, savoring the smell of old books. The endless bookshelves, the bookshelves filled with martial arts secrets, it seemed like seven days would not be enough just to read the titles.

Of course, I don’t have to look for a needle in a haystack.

“It’s here.”

I stopped in front of the nineteenth bookshelf.

There were secrets about sound energy stuck in here. Of course, I don’t plan on spending my new life with music.

I looked under the bookshelf, not at the shelves. There was a book propped up on one side to level the shelf, which had sunk under the weight of the books.

I used my inner strength to slightly lift the bookshelf and take out the book that was propped up underneath.

The four letters written on the old emergency sign that came into the world like that.

The four steps of the wind god.

“You were really here!”

I was jumping for joy.

I thought back to my conversation with Ju Baek-do in the past.

“Because the Wind God’s Book wasn’t on the bookshelf.”

“Then where have you been?”

“That precious secret was being used as a stand for the nineteenth bookshelf.”

He said that he discovered this because of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. He was the type of person who had to put his chopsticks down straight and fold his clothes neatly without a single error. He said that if there was a glass of water on the corner of the table, he couldn’t eat because he was worried that it would fall.

At Cheonmasogak, it was discovered that the thing supported under the bookshelf was crooked and that this was discovered in the process of straightening it.

I don’t know why this precious secret became a bookshelf support. Even Zhu Baek, who discovered the martial arts, didn’t know either.

I think there must have been some anecdote in the past.

There must have been some incident that caused the greatest secret technique in the world to be hidden here. It could have been the process of a succession dispute, or the result of a great Heavenly Demon’s misguided love. Or it could have been someone’s misguided ambition.

Anyway, thanks to that, I became connected with Pungshinsabo.

I carefully opened the first chapter of the emergency manual.

Before the full-scale confession, a single line written proudly made my heart pound.

―Four steps are enough to walk the world.

Yes, this is it! A martial art that is considered the best in the world should have this much pride.

The Pungsinsa Temple was largely composed of four types of temples.

Shadow Step

Flashing steps

Underworld King’s Step

Speedy walk

The first step, the shadow-seeking method, was a method used when infiltrating somewhere.

At first, it is only possible to avoid the eyes of one person, but as the level increases, the number of people that can be avoided increases. It was explained that when the Dark Shadow reaches greatness, it can disappear in an instant even while being watched by dozens of people.

The second step, blinking, was a defensive technique that was used to evade attacks that could not be avoided, and was a way to find a way to survive.

The third step, the Hades’s Bow, was a tactic that involved diving into the opponent, and was described as being able to nullify any defense or evasion.

It was as if Hades was saying this.

I will open the way to hell, so follow me.

Therefore, the King’s Treasure and the Flash Treasure were truly contradictory. If the two techniques, one that always evades and one that always penetrates, clashed, depending on the qualities of the martial artist performing the martial arts, either the spear would break or the shield would be pierced.

The last step, the speedboat, was a light-hearted technique that showed where the speed limit was. The higher the speedboat level, the narrower the central plains would become. I was sure that the speedboat that achieved great success would show movement that surpassed human limits.

In the end, the fortune teller said this.

Seep, dodge, attack, run.

Aren’t these four perfect steps enough when dealing with someone?

I sat in a corner of Cheonmaseokgak and quietly recited the scriptures.

Ian’s advice was taken seriously. I ate the beef jerky I brought with me at every meal, and slept well when it was time to sleep. Instead, I spent the rest of my time with a clear mind, concentrating on the Pungsinsabo.

The depth of the knot was as deep as the sea, and the meaning contained was as wide as the sky.

It was a martial art that was created based on one excellent first method and modified to suit the situation. That’s why it was much harder to understand than a martial art that was tightly packed with dozens of first methods. It was a depth that would never have been understood if there had been no life before the return.

Was that why it was different the first time I read it, the second time I read it, the tenth time I read it.

So I got lost in the trance without realizing how much time had passed.

Seven days after entering Cheonmaseokgak, I had completely memorized the nine chapters of the Wind God Sabo and was able to unfold them. Of course, it was only at the level of Il Sung, and all that was left was to continue to raise the level through continued cultivation.

I tore off the most important part of the secret and swallowed it, and propped the rest under the bookshelf. The role of the Wind God’s Treasure changed from the best treasure in the world to a bookshelf support.

I don’t want another lucky person to come along and learn the Fengshen Sabo. I want to be honest about my desires.

Then I took my first step outside Cheonmaseokgak.