Absolute Regression - Chapter 365
Only Noblemtl
Absolute Return Episode 365
Episode 365: Just thinking about it makes me angry.
Baekjagang couldn’t believe it.
‘Does the current leader of the Demonic Cult really have such thoughts?’
Do you really think of Visa as a friend, and you really don’t want to fight with him, and you really want him to buy you a drink?
That Geommu-geuk, who is rumored to be the greatest of all the successors to the Heavenly Demon? That So-maeng-ju and Il-rang, who even bewitched the So-maeng-ju?
Hyuk Sa-gun was the first to read the distrust in Baek Ja-gang’s eyes.
‘Okay!’
He misinterpreted this distrust as follows:
How can we believe what the devil or the poison king says?
‘Refuse! Tell me no!’
Hyuk Sa-gun was nervous inside. If neither the Poison King nor the Demonic Medicine came to check, the poison would definitely be discovered.
‘Then I can’t help it. For your sake, refuse.’
Meanwhile, Geommu-geuk also read the distrust in Baek Ja-gang’s eyes. Of course, Geommu-geuk did not know Baek Ja-gang’s ability to detect lies. That is why he tried to persuade Baek Ja-gang somehow.
―It’s a lie to corner them. Please trust me this time. Pretend to accept the devil and the poison king.
Even without sending a message of confession like this, Baek Ja-gang now believed in Geommu-geuk. Because he knew for sure who was telling the truth.
Soon Baek Ja-gang opened his mouth. Of course, since Hyuk Sa-gun was present, he did not readily give permission.
“What if two people come and check and it turns out that he is not addicted?”
Geommu-geuk could tell that Baekja-gang was willing to grant his request. They weren’t going to come anyway, and what was needed now was to come up with conditions that Hyuksa-gun could accept.
“We will reduce our church’s influence in the Gangseo region by half.”
The Gangseo region was a strategic point where the Cheonmasin Church fought against the Sado Alliance.
“Can you write this up as an official document?”
“there is.”
Baek Ja-gang felt goosebumps rising in his ears again. His senses were working so well.
As if to prove it, the sound of sword dance followed.
– I can’t do that. If you do that without your father’s permission, you’ll be kicked out that day! Wouldn’t it be better if you adopted me?
Baek Ja-gang tried hard to suppress the corners of his lips from rising. He was an unstoppable guy. How could he be so naughty at such a crucial moment.
“Good. Then I’ll check when the two of you arrive.”
The Hyuksa Army expressed its dissatisfaction with the unexpected decision.
“Are you really believing what the cult leader is saying right now?”
Baek Ja-gang stared at Hyuk Sa-gun with small eyes. In that moment, Hyuk Sa-gun realized that he had acted rashly. After all, if what he said was true, there was no reason to get excited.
If the Sword Dance Cult had set such a condition, it would have been a situation where the military should have welcomed this decision. The fact that the power of the Cheonmasingyo in the Gangseo region was reduced by half would have brought great benefits to the Sadomaeng.
“I will follow your will, my lord.”
Baek Ja-gang asked Geommu-geuk.
“When will they arrive?”
“It will take about ten days.”
I deliberately took as long as possible. I wanted Bisain to recover from his injuries and join this fight. This was not my fight, but Bisain’s fight, and also Baek Ja-gang and Sado-maeng’s fight.
“Okay, you stay in the mansion until then.”
Geommugeuk looked at Hyuksagun with suspicious eyes.
“In the meantime, the deputy sergeant major can kill the sergeant major to destroy the evidence.”
The sword dance hit the nail on the head. The Hyuksa Army was really thinking about how to eliminate the generals to avoid suspicion.
“What nonsense are you talking about? The General is like a teacher to me.”
“So. Why did you do that to someone like you, Master?”
Hyuk Sa-gun glared at Geommu-geuk with cold eyes.
Those smart soldiers were easy to deal with, but the much younger Geommugeuk was strangely rough and difficult to deal with.
Are you oppressed by your status as the leader of a demonic cult?
No. There was something about Lee Ja that made people feel suffocated. He was the kind of person who wouldn’t be easy to order even if you met him at a bar.
Baek Ja-gang ended the tense battle of wits where they glared at each other.
“Stay near Maeng until the Poison King and the Demon Doctor arrive.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
The Hyuksa Army felt that the current situation had changed. Now, a new phase had begun.
“Let’s stop here for today. Military Hyuk will stay for a while.”
Send out the sword dance and leave the Hyuksa Army? It seemed as if they trusted the Hyuksa Army, but it was the opposite. Now is the time to reassure and comfort the enemy.
“We’ve made a lot of profit thanks to that kid acting up.”
The word referring to the sword dance movement has changed from ‘little cult leader’ to ‘guy.’
In other words, it is not a show of swordsmanship, but it shows that he believes in himself.
‘If that was the case, I shouldn’t have accepted the Poison King and the Demon Doctor.’
Hyuk Sa-gun expressed his frustration as if he was worried about the Apostles.
“I’m sorry to say this, but I shouldn’t have accepted the Poison King and the Demonic Doctor. The Poison King in particular is the most dangerous person in this martial arts world. I don’t know what he’ll do after entering the main guild and leaving. More than anything, I’m worried about the safety of the leader.”
I tried to change my mind even now, putting my concern for the leader first.
But it was a futile effort on his part, as he had no idea what Baekjagang was thinking right now.
“When they come, keep a close eye on them.”
If they really said they were coming, Baekjagang would not have let them come. Inviting the Poison King to the Sado Alliance? That would never happen. After that day, I would feel uncomfortable even when I drink a glass of water.
That was something that even Hyuk Sa-gun could think about. That was why Baek Ja-gang struck first.
“But why is the leader so stubborn?”
A sharp gaze flew towards the revolutionary army.
You really didn’t do this, did you?
Originally, he was a very suspicious person. If he blindly trusted the Revolutionary Army, he would feel uncomfortable. It was a suspicion that blocked his suspicion.
“It seems like they are trying to buy time.”
“For what reason?”
“I will look into it.”
No matter how smart Hyuk Sa-gun was, he couldn’t deal with Baek Ja-gang, who had been through a lot. Baek Ja-gang shook Hyuk Sa-gun wildly so that he wouldn’t have any other thoughts.
This time, he showed his anger towards the swordplay by releasing a cold-blooded slander.
“It is truly presumptuous to call in the devil and the poison king to confirm. Doesn’t it disregard the faith of the blind?”
“You are right. Besides, even if a document is made to promise something about the Gangseo area, it may not be kept.”
Even though Hyuk Sa-gun tried to change people’s minds by pointing out new problems, it wasn’t easy.
“The leader of the cult is full of pride. He will keep his promise no matter what, even if it is just for the sake of his pride. That guy, Geumwoojin, must be getting some hot air out of his head.”
Hyuk Sa-gun forced himself to hold back a sigh.
If the Poison King and the Demon Doctor came and discovered that the general’s illness was caused by poisoning, he would be finished. Since he was the one who received the poison from Hwang Seok-gyeong and administered the poison.
There have been many things that have hindered his progress so far. Things that have blocked his path and tried to trip him up. Every time, he has overcome them with Hwang Seok-gyeong’s help.
But this time it was different. The scale of the disruption was catastrophic. It was bigger than all the bad things that had happened before combined.
“Then I will take my leave now.”
After greeting politely and turning around to leave, Baek Ja-gang spoke from behind.
“Let’s find out. Are we going to be played around by that little kid?”
“Don’t worry, my lord.”
Hyuk Sa-gun bowed his head with a firm expression and turned around again.
‘Because of that little brat, the leader is going to die.’
* * *
That night, Hyuk Sa-gun showed up at the place where he had met the previous king.
In the distance, in the field, I could see Hwang Seok-gyeong.
He came first again today and was waiting for me. Hwang Seok-gyeong is never late. When I saw him, I felt the suffocation I had felt while watching the sword dance today lifted.
Now I could see that. That feeling of suffocation before was a signal from my instinct that I needed someone’s help. That only someone as good as Hwang Seok-gyeong could order that person to that point.
Hyuk Sa-gun cut through everything and got straight to the point.
“The young cult leader summoned the devil and the poison king.”
The king’s expression hardened. He immediately realized why they were coming.
“It’s because of the military.”
“That’s right. The little cult leader is no ordinary person.”
The king first asked the military for their opinion. Even when he was making a decision, he always asked the military first.
“What would you like me to do?”
Coming here, Hyuksagun had already prepared himself mentally.
“Is there a way to keep the Poison King and the Devil from coming?”
The king hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.
Not only can you not kill the Demon Lord and the Demon King at will, but even if you had to, it wouldn’t be easy if the opponent was the Poison King. If you can’t kill them with one blow, you’re all wiped out. That was the Poison King.
“Then there is only one way. Although it has come much earlier than planned, haven’t we prepared a lot for this moment?”
This decision was something that would change his fate and that of Hwang Seok-gyeong. It would change the fate of his subordinates, the fate of the Sadomaeng, and further, the fate of the Sapha martial arts world, and the fate of the entire martial arts world.
Hyuk Sa-gun asked with a solemn look in his eyes.
“Are you ready?”
Compared to the fierce Hyuksa Army, the king of the tombs seemed at ease. He had lived his life thinking of it as a fight. He had lived every moment with the mindset that if he lost, he would die, so he could answer at any time.
Under the bright moonlight, the king answered as if he had been waiting.
“I am always prepared.”
* * *
At the same time, a meeting was taking place elsewhere.
The sword dance was standing in the field where he had previously met the Apostolic Lord.
The Baekja River flows there.
“I knew you’d come here. First, let me apologize.”
“It’s okay that you lied to me.”
“No, that’s not why. My lie is what put the lord in danger. They think that if the demon and the poison king investigate together, they will definitely find out the truth about the poisoning. In the end, they will try to wrap this up before the two arrive.”
“How do you end it?”
“I won’t just run away.”
Words that should not have come out of Geommugeuk’s mouth leaked out.
“They will try to kill the leader.”
Even when told that he would kill himself, Baek Ja-gang showed no particular reaction.
“And they’ll put the blame on me. They’ll never miss that opportunity.”
Geommugeuk continued speaking in a calm tone.
“Originally, this would have happened a few years later, or maybe even a dozen years later. But the timing changed when my disciple and I became friends.”
Originally, it should have been, “When I appeared.” However, Geommugeuk said, “When I became friends with Bisain.” He tried to show off his friendship whenever he had the chance.
Dreaming of unifying the martial arts world was enough for my father alone. It was difficult enough to stop him.
“You are out of this fight.”
Of course, since it is the work of the Apostolic Alliance, it should follow the will of the leader.
But I couldn’t do that because I knew my opponent was a fighter.
I think that if we fight one-on-one now, the Apostle Lord will beat the King.
The problem was that the King of Fighters would do anything to win. He was a man obsessed with winning, and did not pursue fair play.
“Are you worried about me?”
“If you get hurt, you’ll be embarrassed in front of your father.”
“That won’t happen. I’ve learned light combat properly, so I’m confident I can run away.”
Baekjagang thought that there must be a reason why Geommugeuk wanted to get involved in this fight.
“Why do you want to get involved in this fight?”
Geommugeuk answered honestly.
“It’s because of the Little Leader. He’d rather be involved in this fight than me. He’s not fully healed from his injuries, so I’ll be there to protect him.”
Baekjagang’s ears didn’t get goosebumps.
I suddenly thought about it.
A world of martial arts where the Demon Lord and the Apostolic Lord are friends.
But not a single scene came to mind. That kind of martial arts world didn’t exist for him.
At that time, I remembered what Geommugeuk had said.
―My Madona, the Apostle of the Little Blind, I believe that there will certainly be a new ideal in our time.
“I tell you again, that friendship won’t work out.”
Then Geommugeuk said something surprising.
“I am a person who believes in the friendship between the Lord and our father.”
“What? With your father?”
At times like this, I feel embarrassed. The eyes of the man who talks about the friendship between the Heavenly Horse and the Apostle Lord are not those of a simple-minded, innocent-looking man who is dreaming a simple dream. That smart, sly guy is speaking with sincerity.
“You haven’t really talked to my father, have you? I think you two would get along well.”
“While aiming at each other to see how to kill each other?”
Baek Ja-gang felt that his affection for Geommu-geuk was growing deeper the more he met him. He felt a strange sense of kinship with him, and he was curious about what he would say.
And above all, it was fun to be together. Aren’t we talking about the friendship between the Heavenly Horse and the Apostle Lord that no one in the world would have ever thought of?
‘What if I’m the father of this guy?’
Maybe? I thought, but soon shook my head. Just thinking about the look in Geumwoojin’s eyes that was mocking me made me angry, but what about my friend!
“Please let me fight together with the Little Leader!”
“Make it better.”
This was a permission that Baekjagang would never have given. He was not the type of person to involve someone else in handling the affairs of the Apostolic Alliance.
But this time, I decided to acknowledge their friendship.
“A friendship that will soon be broken, enjoy it now.”
“thank you.”
Baek Ja-gang’s path to becoming the leader of the Apostles was not smooth.
I didn’t even have a family to protect myself from becoming weak-hearted. At the time, I believed that was right, but now that I’m older, I sometimes think about a different life.
Especially this time, when I see Geum Woo-jin’s son, I feel that way even more.
‘Sain, you’re going to have a hard time from now on.’
Can’t you lose to Geumwoojin’s son?
The moon that the King and the Hyuksa Army were looking at was also looked up at by Geommu-geuk and Baekja-gang.
“After this is over, can I ask you one favor?”
“What favor?”
“I’ll tell you after I’m done.”
In Baekjagang’s life, who would have dared to say that he would tell her the conditions later? That’s why this moment was still fresh, and that’s why he could nod with curiosity instead of annoyance.
“They will unleash all the power they have accumulated so far.”
“If you want to deal with me… … .”
Baek Ja-gang said, his small eyes filled with bright moonlight.
“I should have saved up a lot.”