Absolute Regression Chapter 39

Episode 39: This is what you do in these situations.

On my way back after meeting Ilhwageomjon, Hyeolcheondoma was waiting for me at the crossroads where I always waited.

“What did that fox say?”

He was on edge because of the Ilhwageomjon.

“He told me to cut ties with the old man.”

“As expected! What did I say? I said it would happen? Or tell me why?”

“They say that Blood Heavenly Lord and I have different ideals. The old man is too free-spirited… … .”

“This is f*cking crazy.”

A cold magical energy surged out from his body.

“So what are you going to do?”

“Of course I should join hands with the one who offers better conditions.”

“what?”

I intentionally provoked the Bloodthirsty Demon.

“When you can weigh it, you should do it. Wouldn’t an old man do it?”

Bloodthirsty Horseman couldn’t get angry. He would have done the same thing himself.

“The situation is still dominated by the elders. Do you think you can offer something better than the Heavenly Goddess?”

“I could do it. I’m the kind of person who would do anything to ruin myself.”

“Why did your relationship with Senior Ilhwageomjeon become so bad?”

After a moment, Hyeolcheondoma said.

“Is there a reason to hate someone?”

I know why.

These are two people who have no reason to trust anyone in the world. If they are evil, they are evil, and if their lust for power is secondary, it is sad.

“Would you like a drink? If you go back like this, won’t you just feel complicated and bitter?”

“How do you see me?”

“Cool-headedness? I don’t think that’s a virtue. When you’re upset, you get upset, and when you’re upset, you vent your frustration. Okay, let’s go. I’ll buy you a drink today.”

After a moment of hesitation, Hyeolcheon Doma suddenly flew up and spoke.

“Wait at Magachon.”

He was the one who disappeared into the distance in an instant.

The old man has a bad temper.

But it’s definitely different from when he first came to me and poked me in the ribs.

Hyeolcheon Doma was waiting for me in front of the Pungryu tavern run by Jo Chun-bae.

“I thought you were going to Kiru.”

“I hate places where women come out.”

“It’s unexpected?”

“Unexpected? Why? Do I look like I’m revealing myself to women?”

“No, that’s not it. My dead brother liked Kiru.”

“It ruins the taste of alcohol. Let’s forget about that guy.”

“yes.”

Actually, I took it out on purpose. To keep the wounds in his heart from festering inside him. It didn’t seem like it was something that Hyeolcheon Doma really needed.

I sat down at the Pungryu tavern and asked.

“Why did you choose this tavern?”

“They opened a branch of Hwangcheon-gak across the street.”

It looks like he stopped here after seeing it while passing by.

“Be careful. If you hit someone on the street, you too will be caught by me.”

Bloodthirsty Horse looked dumbfounded at my joke.

Jo Chun-bae greeted us warmly.

“Welcome, my lord.”

“Long time no see.”

“It’s an honor to have you back.”

“I come here because the alcohol and food taste good.”

As Jo Chun-bae, who had received the order, disappeared into the kitchen, Hyeolcheon Doma opened his mouth.

“You are being unnecessarily kind.”

“What’s wrong with being kind?”

“If you are attracted to recognition, you will inevitably end up making mistakes. Let’s take the owner as an example. Do you think the food will turn out well when you are this kind? Or, will it turn out better when you threaten to kill him if it doesn’t taste good? In that respect, the Grand Duke has an advantage over you.”

“It’s certainly easier to live in this world if you’re ruthless.”

“It’s not too late.”

“Even so, I won’t get on that ruthless carriage.”

“The reason is?”

“Because I believe that the dish that is being made now will be more delicious if it is made happily while whistling rather than if it is made in fear.”

“One day, the author will use your kindness to ask for something bigger and demand something from you. If you don’t listen, he will criticize and curse you. That’s human nature.”

“Someday, that person will return the favor for this small act of kindness I did. Maybe it will even save my life. That’s what it means to be human.”

“Let’s just leave it somewhere.”

We drank together.

“Actually, I think you are a more emotional person than I am.”

“How could you stop me with those eyes? You’ve been wrong about people for a long time.”

I think I saw it well. He has spent a lot of emotions in this whole process of getting entangled with me. Even now, at this moment, he is pouring out and having conversations that he has never had in his life.

“While we’re on the subject, let me just say this: From now on, you’ll need to take care of the demons and disciples. Otherwise, we’ll continue to clash with the Hwangcheon Pavilion.”

Bloodthirsty Demon raised his head and looked at me coldly.

“You’re getting more and more arrogant.”

“It is the elders who are arrogant.”

“what?”

“Aren’t you looking down on the school and your father? After all, I am the bloodthirsty one. What does it matter to you what happens to my disciple? Isn’t that right?”

Bam!

The table broke and the bottles of liquor and plates containing snacks fell and broke.

“You’re so cocky. Sometimes I really want to beat you to death.”

The bloodthirsty demon who had been glaring at me shouted at the poor Jo Chun-bae.

“What are you standing there staring at? Bring a table over here and bring out some new drinks and snacks!”

“In times like this, you don’t do it like that, you do it like this.”

I got up from my seat and moved to the seat next to me.

And he put the money on the table.

“I’m sorry. This money will be enough to cover the broken items and the loss in sales today.”

Jo Chun-bae waved his hand and refused to accept the money.

“It’s okay. It’s really okay.”

“I’m not okay. Take it and come back here and look after the table. It’ll break your legs.”

“yes!”

Jo Chun-bae, who received the money, quickly ran to the kitchen.

Bloodthirsty Horse was very impressed.

“You want me to do something like that?”

“If you don’t want to do it, then don’t break it.”

“Are you trying to teach good deeds by bringing Amazon now?”

“The magic I am trying to build does not smash the guesthouse because it feels bad.”

“What the hell are you!”

“Stop yelling and come sit down.”

Eventually, the blood clot machine sat down at the table I had moved to.

“You cheeky bastard. You’re definitely crazy!”

He glared at me and spoke coldly.

“If you betray me, I will kill you.”

Cho Chun-bae, who was bringing new alcohol, was startled, but soon pretended not to hear, put down the alcohol and glass, and returned to the kitchen.

I filled a new glass with wine and gave it to Hyeolcheondoma.

“Are you serious about what you said just now?”

“Yes, I am serious.”

“Then be loyal to me with all your heart. The threat I made earlier was a threat that could be made at such a time. If you are truly loyal and then betray and abandon me, then you can stab your sword into your master’s heart.”

Bloodthirsty Horse couldn’t refute it.

I poured my glass full of wine and held it out for a toast.

Bloody Cheon Do Ma drank alone, snorting. Although he didn’t clink his glasses, I could hear the sound of the glasses clinking in my mind.

* * *

A person entered the Ilhwageomjeon’s mausoleum.

He was her right-hand man, Saujong.

“Lee Gongja is currently meeting with Hyeolcheon Doma and drinking alcohol.”

Ilhwageomjon, who was standing with his back turned, said nothing.

“He’s an impertinent fellow.”

Only then did Ilhwageomjon turn around and look at Saujong coldly. Saujong lowered his head.

“sorry.”

“Watch what you say. There is nothing more vulgar than talking behind someone’s back.”

“I will keep that in mind in the future.”

Saujong deliberately cursed at Geommu-geuk even though he knew Geomjon would be angry. He believed that he could express the emotions that she could not express on her own.

Saujong believed that he was special to the sword master. She was respectful to the gatekeeper, but she was only kind to him. He was special.

“You’re not the scientist I knew.”

In the mere months since the Non-Mu Competition, the storm caused by the Sword Dance Theater has grown bigger and bigger.

“It’s just a storm in a teacup.”

Saujong underestimated Geommugeuk, but Ilhwa Geomjon thought differently.

“What if that teacup is big enough to hold all of the martial arts world? That greedy old man offered the Heavenly Goddess. It’s like offering everything he has. Doma must have seen the potential to become his successor in Lee Gongja.”

“Did Your Majesty also see potential in this scholar?”

The Sword Dance Theater certainly looked unexpected. However, it wasn’t enough to grant an elixir like the Heavenly Sword.

So she was annoyed. She wondered if maybe the Bloodthirsty Demon had seen something she hadn’t. What the bloody old man had seen, and she hadn’t seen it? Her pride was hurt and she was annoyed.

“Please rest for today. I have prepared a new person for you.”

Ilhwageomjon looked at Saujong coldly and tried to say something. However, his lips, which were about to tremble, did not let out a word.

She turned around and went into the cell.

Saujong’s expression as he watched her from behind was extremely complex, but his eyes were hot.

As she entered the cell and operated the secret device, the floor opened and a secret passage appeared.

She went down the passage. It was pitch dark the further she went down, but she went down it with a sense of familiarity, as if she had been down it more than once or twice.

There was a long hallway in the basement. She walked, opened the door at the end of the hallway, and went in.

Inside was a luxuriously decorated bedroom.

A young man sat on a large bed and suddenly got up.

Ilhwageomjon walked slowly and sat down at the dressing table where a large mirror was hanging. The young man’s eyes reflected in the mirror were full of fear.

Ilhwageomjon spoke softly to the young man in the mirror.

“It’s okay, just take off your clothes first.”

* * *

On the way back from the drinking party with Hyeolcheon Doma, I stopped by Ian’s training ground.

Just by the warm feeling inside her, you could tell how hard she was training.

She walked around the training grounds, sweating profusely with her heavy body. It was a tough training that pushed her to her limits, but not a single movement was in vain.

Watching that scene, I felt that it was time to pass on a new martial art.

“Ah! You’re here? Your Majesty?”

“I see you’ve been practicing hard these days.”

“How did you know?”

“I think you’ve lost some weight.”

“really?”

Ian laughed heartily even though he knew it wasn’t true. Perhaps because the topic of life had come up, he asked her a question he had been saving.

“Your Majesty. Is it true what you said before? That you can cure my side effects?”

How much thought went into asking Ian this question? She must have thought and thought again about how I would react if I answered, “I was joking.”

Even if the person who taught me the whole body petrification technique had told me that side effects could never be eliminated, I still couldn’t help but ask this question.

“Can you really fix it?”

It was the first time I had seen her this nervous.

“I can fix it.”

“really?”

Now it’s time to tell her the truth.

“I know a procedure that can eliminate the side effects of full-body petrification.”

It was a method I found after wandering around the Central Plains in search of Dafa materials. I was determined to return her to her original body if I returned. Thinking back, I realized that my past life wasn’t just a desolate path for revenge.

“What kind of procedure is that?”

“It is a great method called the Body Detoxification Technique.”

“… … Shindokjeonghwasul?”

She repeated that several times and then asked again.

“How did you learn this?”

“That’s a secret, you know? There are many secrets that must be kept when it comes to martial arts.”

“Yes. I know. I know.”

Her voice was shaking throughout the conversation.

“I guess I can do it now.”

“there is.”

“But why don’t you do it?”

“It’s a very dangerous and difficult procedure. And I don’t know what variables might occur during the procedure. That’s why I’ll perform the procedure when my martial arts skills have improved significantly.”

“Ah! So there really is a cure!”

Her face was filled with joy.

“You have to risk your life. You never know what might happen during the procedure. Can you do it?”

“yes!”

There was not a single moment of hesitation in her answer.

“This is disappointing.”

“Huh? Did I do something wrong?”

“I knew you would say this. You said that if I die, I won’t be able to protect you, so I won’t undergo the procedure.”

That was my joke to prevent that possibility from happening.

“You told me to live my life, didn’t you?”

Then she smiled brightly as if it was a joke.

I know now. That appearance just a moment ago was her original appearance.

I want to find her original heart that was sleeping under the weight of loyalty and responsibility, that natural heart that every human being has.

“Ian.”

“Yes, your highness.”

“Is there a place you want to go in the Central Plains?”

“No, there isn’t.”

Since you’ve been looking at me all your life, no matter where you go, you’ve never really seen anything good.

“Let’s go on a tour of the Central Plains together later.”

“really?”

“Yes. Let’s go to all the famous places and see all the spectacular views. I’ll let you taste all the famous dishes. I know a lot of places.”

“Did you promise?”

“You promise too.”

“What?”

“You can’t leave me then.”

“I could abandon you, my lord? Even if the heavens and the earth were turned upside down, such a thing would never happen.”

Even if you were the most beautiful person in the world and all the men in the world admired you, would you still say such things?

“Let’s just leave it somewhere.”