Absolute Regression Chapter 733

Episode 733: This Way’s a Good Thing

The cave was dark.
Of course, to the eyes of the swordsman who mastered the Shinanjutsu, it was perfectly bright, and the two demons had no difficulty moving around.
Those with torches would have fared somewhat better, but those without would have been lost in the darkness, relying solely on instinct.

The two demons conversed while Geommugeuk took out a small torch from his pocket and lit it.

“Is this a maze cave?”
“Surely the three of us wouldn’t get lost?”
“In fact, wouldn’t we get lost if there were three of us?”

It means that because we trust each other, we will end up losing our way.

Ilhwa Sword Master smiled faintly at Bloody Heavenly Doma’s words. Others might think Bloody Heavenly Doma would say something like, “If you lose your way, just destroy everything.”
But she knew he had a surprisingly delicate side.

Of course, the two had no fear of getting lost. This was thanks to the Cheonhataepyeong Geommu-geuk leading the way.

“When would you two ever get lost? And just because you’re a little lost doesn’t mean you’ll have nowhere to go, right?”

The three walked inside. The cave was already filled with the thick stench of blood, and the echoes of clashing weapons, curses, and screams mingled. It was a veritable hell of death and destruction.

“First, let’s take the right path.”

The sword dance chose the right path among the three branches.

“It’s comfortable to move with the cult leader. I feel like he’ll take care of everything, right?”

In response to Ilhwageomjeon’s blind faith, Hyeoncheondoma looked at Geommugeuk’s back and spoke rudely.

“I don’t think I’d have any particular thoughts. I just go without thinking.”

Geommugeuk answered with a smile.

“As expected! Our elder is seeing clearly! Where on earth is the guy with the Jangbo map hiding?”
“But how did he end up here? Was he hunted here?”
“Or did he come in on purpose?”
“On purpose?”

It seemed clear that Geommu-geuk had a premonition, but he didn’t tell me what it was. I didn’t bother asking. He was the kind of person who would explain it to me in a painful way even if I told him not to.

As he walked through the cave, Bloody Heavenly Swordsman blew a gust of wind and swept away a rock protruding from the ceiling. It was located just in the right spot where Ilhwa Swordsman would have hit his head if he had walked by.

“I saw it too.”
“I bet you did.”
“No matter how kind you are, they won’t let you see the bet.”
“Who asked you to see it?”

The expression on Geommu-geuk’s face as he listened to the conversation between the two was gentle. “Yes, I left the school together because I wanted to hear that conversation between the two of you.”

The cave was complex. After a while, a fork in the path appeared, sometimes with three or four paths.
But Geommugeuk strode steadily, as if he knew where to go.

Shhh.

Suddenly, a sword leaped from the darkness and swooped down, aiming for Geommu-geuk.
He twisted slightly to avoid the attack, then continued forward, not even bothering to look at the attacker.
This, in turn, caught the attacker off guard. Not only had the attacker passed by in his tracks, but the two men following him also passed by without even a glance.

Shhh.

The sword he swung too late missed. The three men had already disappeared into the darkness.

“What the heck is this…….”

Phew!

A sword pierced the chest of a man who had been standing there dazed for a moment.
Someone else had ambushed him from behind and killed him.
The assailant searched the fallen body. When Jang Bo-do didn’t appear, he disappeared back into the darkness.

There was no rational choice or judgment here. Everyone was hiding, ambushing and killing people, then searching their bodies for Jang Bo-do. It was a situation where the lucky ones would get Jang Bo-do.

Chaeng chaeng chaeng chaeng!

This time, several people were fighting.

“Just go.”

Surely, there might be someone among them with a Jangbodo sword?
But for some reason, Geommu-geuk simply passed by.
The startled sword flew towards Geommu-geuk as he crossed the battlefield, but it didn’t even graze a hair.
Geommu-geuk effortlessly slipped out of the fight as if playing tag.
What difference could there be between the Bloody Heavenly Sword and the Ilhwa Sword?

“Why don’t you stop them?”

When Bloody Heavenly Sword asked, Geommu-geuk looked back to where the fight was taking place.

“Look into those people’s eyes.”

They were all consumed by greedy madness.

“I’d rather have the gambler quit gambling.”

The sword dance moved deeper into the cave.

“Do you know where he’s hiding?”
“If we’re lucky, we’ll meet him.”

It wasn’t a matter of luck.
In fact, Geommu-geuk had been to Manhyeoldong before.
He had traveled throughout the Central Plains in search of materials for the return, so how could he have simply passed by this famous cave in Cheonjasan?

This mysterious labyrinthine cave kept me from leaving easily. I felt sure something was hidden somewhere I hadn’t been.
I’d forgotten much of it now, but back then, I knew this place so well I could draw a map if asked.

‘Are they still there at this point?’

My search for Dafa materials here was fruitless, but I did find some. However, because the time period was different, I can’t be certain they still exist.

There was also a place where it was predicted that someone would hide if they were hiding.

The Bloodthirsty Demon and the Ilhwa Sword Master, who followed behind, exchanged glances.
It was natural for them to lose their way at least once, but the Sword Dance Theater never once passed the same place.

As they wandered around the cave, they came across a slightly wider space.
Geommugeuk took out two bamboo tubes from his quiver and gave them to Hyeolcheon Doma and Ilhwa Geomjon, respectively.

“Please drink some water.”

The two drank the cool water.
Geommu-geuk asked Hyeolcheon Doma with a worried look.

“Are you feeling suffocated?”
“It’s okay.”

It wasn’t okay. Bloody Blood was sweating. As I said before entering the cave, he really hated stuffy places.

“I’ll go check out this cave. Please rest here for a moment.”

Geommu-geuk entrusted the torch to Hyeolcheon Doma.

“You?”
“Because I have good night vision.”

In fact, it was easier to perform the sword dance without a torch.

Love, love, love.

Demonstrating rapid speed, the sword dance quickly vanished from sight.
Bloody Heavenly Sword and Ilhwa Sword Lord sat side by side on a flat rock.

“I was so surprised by the young leader that I don’t feel any pain in this situation.”

Bloody Swordmaster nodded and wiped the sweat from his face.

“Even when you were young, you hated stuffy, cramped spaces. You’re still the same.”
“Do people change so easily?”

At those words, Ilhwageomjon laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”
“No.”

I don’t know about other people, but Blood Heavenly Sword Master shouldn’t have said such things. He really changed a lot after meeting Geommugeuk.

“Do you remember? We visited the leader’s training center, right?”

It was during the time when Geom Woo-jin was still a junior cult leader. Although he doesn’t remember the reason, Geom Woo-jin was ordered to train for a hundred days in the training center.

“You bought some alcohol and went secretly.”

A smile formed on Bloody Sword’s lips. When he recalled the past, it was one of the few memories that made him smile. How could he have forgotten it?

“You told me to trust you, but I lost you right away.”
“Did I do that?”

Actually, I wasn’t lost that day. I just pretended to be lost because I wanted to walk with her a little longer.
Come to think of it, the cave wasn’t this stuffy that day. Even though I was sweating profusely, I never once felt suffocated.

“We were so young back then.”

I remember the cult leader smiling at us as we approached, shaking a bottle of alcohol.
I was lost in a moment of reminiscence.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

In the darkness, a dark sword flew towards Ilhwageomjeon.

Ttadadangdangdang!

The one who deflected the dark energy was a heavenly sword wrapped in cloth.
Bloody Heavenly Sword Demon put down the heavenly sword that had blocked Ilhwa Sword Master’s path.
With the surprise attack failing, the one who had unleashed the dark energy had already vanished. The two demon lords didn’t even think about pursuing them. They paid no attention to what was happening there.

“Why? I don’t think I can stop that either.”

In response to Ilhwageomjon’s question, Hyeolcheondoma looked at the torch erected in his direction and spoke.

“It seems dark over there.”

Then he added some unnecessary words.

“Don’t you get worse at night when you get older?”
“It’s rude to tell an older woman she’s old.”
“What’s wrong with getting older? You don’t have to try to look young. The evening is more beautiful than the morning.”
“I told you not to!”

As Ilhwageomjon glared, Hyeoncheondoma turned his head slightly to the opposite side.

Once again, a group of warriors burst in. Blood dripping from their swords, they were the daughter of the Dragon’s Guardian, Chuyeon, and her followers.
The number of warriors, which had been ten, had dwindled to eight.

Chuyeon thought he could leisurely sweep through this cave. After all, the people he had brought were the elite of the Flying Dragon Sect, the Ten Flying Dragon Heroes.

However, during the search, there were two surprise attacks, and two of the Flying Dragons lost their lives. Fighting with torches in a narrow, complex cave, especially in the pitch-black, was not what I had imagined. Today, I also learned for the first time that the Flying Dragons could die like this.

That’s why she became so sensitive.

“What were you two doing here?”

There was another reason why these people stood out more than others.

“What about that porter?”

The arrogant remark he made earlier lingered in my mind. He was so confident, even for a porter. I resolved to give him a good scolding the next time we met.

“Are you already dead? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

At her angry question, Blood Heavenly Demon, who had been staring elsewhere, slowly turned his head.
The moment their eyes met, Chuyeon’s heart sank. The other man hadn’t shown any signs of prayer or murder. Yet, goosebumps ran down his body.
It was the look in his eyes. Blood Heavenly Demon’s eyes were reflecting torchlight, swaying, as if flames were igniting within them.

Feeling as if her entire body was on fire, she instinctively raised her internal energy.
At Chuyeon’s reaction, the Ten Dragons all aimed their swords.

Bloody Heavenly Swordmaster’s hand reached for the knot of cloth wrapped around the Heavenly Sword. The moment he pulled it, he would lose the bet.
But if the situation called for a fight anyway, he had no intention of winning the bet by sending Ilhwa Swordmaster out.
It was then.

closely.

Bloody Swordmaster’s gaze turned to the knot. Ilhwa Swordmaster reached out and grasped it. His hand was clenched, signaling that the knot should not be untied.

“Young lady.”

At the calm call of the Ilhwa Sword Master, Chuyeon’s gaze, previously focused solely on the Blood Heavenly Sword Master, turned to her.
The moment she saw the Ilhwa Sword Master’s calm gaze, Chuyeon finally came to her senses.

‘Both of them are true experts!’

If they give off this feeling without even revealing their prayers, they won’t even be worthy of being treated in the first place.

Chuyeon ordered the Biryong Sipgeol to put away their swords. Her heart grew heavy.

“Even these experts are here. Will I ever be able to find guidance?”

There was a huge difference between my feelings when I came here and my feelings now.

At that moment, the sword dance returned to that place.

“Miss, I hope you are safe!”

Chuyeon was taken aback when Geommugeuk greeted her so warmly.

“I was worried because so many people were injured and killed. I’m glad you’re safe.”

Now I understand why this porter was so arrogant. What could he possibly be afraid of when he’s serving such masters?

“Why were you worried about me?”
“We talked outside. We’re meant to be, aren’t we?”

It might have sounded like a joke to Chuyeon, but he was half-serious. If this was a case of masterminds, there must have been something they had arranged.

‘Are you one of them?’

It could have been, or it couldn’t have been. It could have just been a fateful encounter, something I’d never see again after seeing her. If I followed the line that connected me to her, I might run into them.

As always, the Sword Dance Theater was determined not to miss a single detail. They were determined to feign ignorance and exploit their plans.

“There are a lot of corpses over there right now. Please be careful.”

I couldn’t bring myself to swear at someone who was so welcoming and concerned. No, it was more because of those two masters. Of course, someday, I’ll have a chance to give them a lesson.

“You take care, porter.”

Chuyeon turned and continued walking. Finally, she turned her head slightly to look at the two demons, but they didn’t even look at her.

As she and the Biryongbang warriors left, Geommugeuk took something out of the Hyuknang he was carrying.

“I didn’t find anyone with a map in that cave, but I did find this.”

It was a dark blue-green moss, neatly wrapped in paper.

“What is this?”

Bloodthirsty Demon and Ilhwa Sword Master were shocked when they saw what it was.

“Zhong Yousantae (鐘乳仙苔)?”

Stalagmites were a moss-like elixir that grew on stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling. It was a truly rare elixir, growing only under the perfect conditions.

“This is actually my first time seeing it.”

It was the same not only with Ilhwageomjeon but also with Hyeoncheondoma.

“This is my first time too.”

The two demons stared at the sword dance with astonishment. Discovering and bringing out a stalactite from that dark mess? It was truly unbelievable, even after experiencing it firsthand.

“Why are you all so surprised? Everyone who goes into a cave finds elixirs like this, right? When we go out later, the three of us can share some. I’ll cook it so you’ll enjoy it. But I’ll do the cooking!”

The efficacy of the moss-like moss differed from that of ordinary elixirs. It wasn’t limited to simply increasing internal energy.
True to its name, “the moss eaten by immortals,” it was a highly beneficial elixir, known to restore vitality and promote longevity. Therefore, I plan to feed it to Blood Heavenly Demon in particular.

As they listened to the sword dance, the two demon lords had a similar thought. As always, if the young cult leader were to be so fortunate.

If you’re a cult leader, you can really find someone with a long sword here.

The swordsman carrying the Hyuknang walked ahead on an untrodden path.

“I have a good feeling about this path. Alright, let’s go!”