Absolute Regression Chapter 85

Episode 85: Family members are enemies.

When Ilhwageomjon came out of the prison, I was squatting and looking at the flowers growing on one side of the yard.

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“You’ve already grown so much.”

“I’m raising this for fun.”

“Next time, I should try raising one too.”

“You’re busy, so it won’t be easy.”

“It’ll just end up being a weed field, right? I should just do what I’m good at.”

I sat up from where I had been crouching.

“I came as a friend today.”

“Welcome.”

Ilhwageomjon’s expression brightened. She really seemed to have been waiting for this day for a long time.

“Thank you so much for all your help lately.”

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

When he leaked information to Saujong, when Cheongseon became the Demon Lord, when he went to find the leader of Pungcheon, he said that he was only halfway there, but his actions were more than those of someone who had already been there.

“This is a gift given to you as a token of our gratitude.”

“What kind of gift is it?”

“Please accept my sincerity.”

She opened the small box I had handed her. Inside was a night liquor. It was one of the night liquors she had previously received from the golden master, Geum Asu.

“Something so precious?”

“It’s different from Elder Doma.”

I gave Doma a poisoned drink. When I emphasized that point, Ilhwageomjon laughed because he thought it was funny. This is how you break down the dam of ill feelings that has built up between you and Hyeolcheon Doma. If you remove the stones one by one, one day you will be able to see your opponent.

“It’s really beautiful.”

“To put it bluntly, this is top-quality night wine. It’s something that’s hard to find even if you pay for it.”

“It’s enough to make a statement.”

“But it can’t compare to your beauty, senior.”

“Old man, your gilding is too much.”

Ilhwageomjon waved his hand, but his face was smiling brightly. Although she had changed a lot in many ways compared to before, this one thing that had never changed was her weakness for compliments on her appearance.

“You have a good chance of becoming a womanizer later on.”

“I’m going to live like that. I’m going to have fun, go out and meet all the beauties of the Central Plains.”

“I wish my life could be like that… … .”

The part where it says that it can’t be done when you become a Heavenly Horse was omitted. Because there would be a world of difference between going around now and going around as a Heavenly Horse.

Of course, as a father, wouldn’t he be so frustrated that he only stays at the main school? He must be careful because the fate of the martial arts world depends on his every step.

“It’s better to go out and play a lot now. It’ll be difficult later.”

“I will do that.”

“Okay, so let’s stretch out a bit after a long time?”

“This is the moment I have been waiting for.”

Originally, the person I wanted to take care of next after my father was Hyeolcheondo.

But after fighting with my father, my body started to ache. I wanted to fight with him one more time, so I came to see her first.

It was definitely different from the last time I had a fight.

Her subtle movements felt more distinct. I saw them with my eyes before I could feel them with my senses.

Just as my father had done to me, I pushed her harder than I had ever done before. It was possible because I had confidence in my ability to control my sword. She fought desperately, and I did my best.

When the fight was over, Ilhwageomjon gasped for breath and showed surprise. Even though she had used all her strength, except for one last desperate move, she had not been able to subdue me.

“Your skills have improved since last time!”

“There was a learning curve in the meantime.”

“That’s really great, that’s really great.”

She felt happy, but also sad.

“If you grow this fast, it seems like I won’t be able to compete with you any time soon.”

“I did my best for the next match with you, senior.”

Ilhwageomjeon understood what I meant and nodded.

“I guess you want this old senior to grow up?”

“How presumptuous of me to say so. I want to be your lifelong friend.”

My honest words brought a look of emotion that I couldn’t hide in Ilhwageomjeon’s eyes.

It’s also my effort to make her my right wing.

Before leaving there, we talked about various things related to the rain.

It was clear that my skills were superior, but that didn’t mean I had nothing to learn from her. It was a different kind of learning from what I had learned from my father.

We started off with stories about martial arts and then we talked about various things in life. It was such a fun time that she was so sad when we said goodbye.

Next, I went to the residence of the Bloodthirsty Demon. But he was not at home.

When I came back empty-handed after waiting for a long time, the Bloodthirsty Horse was waiting in front of my house.

“Where are you wandering around at this hour of the night? Have you hidden a woman somewhere?”

It looks like the paths are crossed.

“If you’re here, why don’t you go inside and wait? There are soldiers inside.”

“done.”

“Now that we are a family, are you married?”

“What about family? Family is my biggest enemy.”

It seems he is still awkward with Gowol. Well, it’s become more comfortable for me, but this grumpy old man still doesn’t like interacting with people easily.

“What’s going on?”

“I came to tell you some news.”

“What’s the news?”

Bloodthirsty Demon spoke to me with a serious face.

“Mabul left to fetch the Grand Duke.”

I wasn’t surprised. It was an expected move. The news that the military of the Fengchun sect leader had come to me must have reached the demons who supported my brother. They must have decided that they could no longer just watch.

Coincidentally, my brother had returned to the school around this time in his life before returning. What is meant to happen will happen.

“Mabul is always busy. Should I go and get the leader of the Pungcheon Church? Should I go and get my brother?”

“That little guy is incredibly hard-working. What on earth does your brother do in the outback?”

“I don’t know either.”

Of course I know. My brother is going through a gate that will change his life right now. This fact was only revealed after he came, and since then, my brother has completely solidified his position as successor.

“Are you okay, sir?”

“what?”

“You came to me after supporting your brother. Your brother might resent you.”

“If you’re going to do it, then do it.”

In this regard, he was a bloodthirsty man with clear values.

“If there is a better option, you should choose that. If there is someone who ties it up with human relationships and says something about it, it is of no help in life.”

“You are right.”

“What’s right? It’s the same thing that applies when you throw Janelle away.”

I really like this clarity of the Bloodthirsty Horse.

“Are you okay?”

“What?”

After a moment, Hyeolcheondoma said.

“What would you do if you were in a situation where you had to kill your brother?”

“If someone does something that deserves death, they should be killed.”

“Pretending to be strong.”

I snickered at that. Yes, you’re right about being tough. Killing your own flesh and blood is never easy.

It’s not a question of whether I’m stronger than my brother in martial arts or not. A fight with my brother is a fight that requires all my strength. What Bloodthirsty Demon said as a joke earlier was right. Family is the biggest enemy.

“That’s right. Of course it’s not okay. I’m not cold-blooded, so how could it be okay to kill my brother? I’m not the kind of person who would die easily.”

I turned around and shouted into the house.

“Sergeant, come out and see.”

Gowol came out of the house.

“Are you here?”

After greeting me, Go-wol also greeted Hyeolcheon Do-ma politely.

“I heard that Mabul went to pick up his brother. What do you think?”

Go-wol couldn’t answer easily. If it were another enemy, it might be different, but when the older brother of the leader you serve becomes the enemy, the military cannot help but be cautious.

He thought about it for a moment and then spoke carefully.

“The life and death of the Grand Duke is not something that the Prince can decide. The Grand Duke will decide it himself.”

In the end, what he meant was that his fate would be determined by how his brother acted.

I nodded, but Hyeolcheondoma still didn’t trust him.

“I helped you because you wanted to recruit me… … .”

Blood Heavenly Demon slowly approached and stood in front of Go-wol. Blood Heavenly Demon stared into Go-wol’s eyes and spoke.

“Can we guarantee that the interest will not betray us?”

The expression ‘we’ came to my ears. It was the first time that Hyeolcheon Doma used the expression ‘we’ to me. It was probably said without thinking, but it had a great meaning to me. The person who threatened me by poking me in the side so hard that it left a bruise was now ‘we’.

Even under the pressure of the Bloodthirsty Horse, Go-wol was not afraid.

“What about the Demon Lord? Can you guarantee that he will not betray you?”

The corners of Hyeolcheondoma’s mouth curled up at the question of whether he could betray too.

“There are no guarantees. I will betray when I want to betray.”

“I’m here to stop that.”

“Then you! Who will stop you?”

“I will not betray.”

“How can I believe that?”

“Just trust me, Confucius.”

“Don’t forget that I am watching you.”

I didn’t stop the war of nerves between the two. Isn’t that my outlook on life? Don’t let your wounds and conflicts grow, but rather expose them, dig them up, fight them, and resolve them.

Bloodthirsty Demon spoke to me with an expression that seemed hesitant about whether he should speak or not.

“The cult leader would not want you and the Archduke to fight. He does not want the Archduke to die, nor does he want you to die.”

I could see once again that Hyeolcheon Doma knew his father well. He must have had a special relationship with his father, to the point where he drew a line on the floor and was confident that his father thought of him this much.

“I felt it too.”

After returning, when he went hunting with his father, his father asked him in passing if he could carry his brother. There was a hidden meaning in that question.

“A cult leader is someone who never looks back. That’s the only thing he regrets.”

Even in a heart that feels like it lasts forever, scars remain.

“Did you say you knew the leader’s mind?”

“yes.”

“Okay then.”

That’s it, that’s what my father said to me after I finished my training. Those words from my father and those from Hyeolcheondoma strangely gave me strength.

“Is there anything I can prepare?”

“I always have one request for you, elders.”

“Something?”

“You are reconciling.”

“What reconciliation? You’re not?”

Bloodthirsty Sword Master realized that it signified reconciliation between himself and Ilhwa Sword Master.

“The Archduke is coming and you’re talking about reconciliation? You must be crazy.”

How shocked must Hyeolcheon Doma have been to ask Gowol for his consent?

“Your master is such a crazy guy.”

Then Gowol answered.

“I’m not normal either.”

The Bloodthirsty Demon shook his head, saying that they were crazy pairs.

I convinced Hyeolcheondoma again.

“Once my brother returns, the other Demon Lords will also come out in earnest, so we can’t fight with just one wing, right?”

“I wish I could do that too, but haven’t you seen enough by now? The sword master shoots at me with a fierce look whenever he sees me.”

“Yes, I’ve seen enough. As I go, the sullenness subsides. The gazes that glare at the old man are gradually becoming softer.”

But the blood crow shook its head.

“Our reconciliation is more difficult than unifying the martial arts world. I’m going.”

I shouted at the bloodthirsty horse that was turning away.

“Even if we don’t unite the martial arts world, we must at least reconcile.”

The blood crow walked slowly without answering and disappeared into the darkness.

I’ve been taking care of it since the beginning.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

“Don’t worry too much about it. He’s just a grumpy old man.”

“You should be careful. You are the left wing of Confucius. Don’t worry about me. As you know, I haven’t had an easy life.”

But I know that being that kind of person doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt.

“Okay, I get it. But if you have something to say to me, please do. If something upsets you, I will tell you.”

“Yes, I will definitely do that.”

“Oh, by the way, the candidate on the right wing is Ilhwageomjon. For your reference.”

“Okay, then go to sleep well.”

I couldn’t sleep until late that day.

There is no need to think about how your brother came out in his past life.

When my brother comes back, I will see him. In my past life, I could not see anyone properly, so now I will see him clearly.

I will see with my own eyes what kind of person he is. I will see clearly what all those things in my memories were.

As always, firearms come in handy in these instances.

If I can’t overcome my brother, I’ll die by fire anyway.