Absolute Regression - Chapter 391



Only Noblemtl

Episode 391: Let’s fight amongst ourselves.

Geommuyang looked down at the duck dish placed in front of him without saying a word.

Is it because we share the same blood? Even if we don’t see each other often, there are times when I can see deep into my brother’s heart. It’s a time like now.

The duck swam in front of him playfully, but Geommuyang could tell that his younger brother was saying thank you.

Although Geommugeuk is good at saying all kinds of strange things, at this moment, he was conveying his feelings without saying a word.

Who is calling whom blunt?

Meanwhile, Jin Ha-ryeong was identifying himself with Geommuyang, who had come forward to perform Geommu Drama.

If it were me, would I have been able to step up like that in place of my brother? Probably not.

Even if he had stepped forward, would he have been able to control the atmosphere so powerfully? If he had not truly cared for his younger brother, he would not have been able to do it. From the beginning, Geommuyang was determined to go all the way.

Jin Ha-ryeong wasn’t the only one who was moved. Bisain also spoke softly.

“I think it’s great to have a brother.”

Visain had never once regretted being alone. But today, he was a little jealous. That he had a brother who would step up for him like that.

At that moment, Geommugeuk, who had his eyes closed, spoke.

“If you regret it, take me as your older brother.”

“You must be my younger sibling!”

Geommugeuk was still smiling with his eyes closed.

“Why are your eyes closed when you’re not even sleeping?”

“This is the first break you gave me, so I should rest.”

Then the blacksmith said.

“I told you to rest your mouth. Keep your eyes open and your mouth closed.”

“I feel so good I can’t breathe.”

Another thing that Visain envies is that his brothers ended the fight for succession without shedding blood.

How much blood did he shed before becoming the successor? All succession battles are like that. All lives of the military are like that. Because they have all been like that.

I’ve lived my life thinking that way, but now there are two people in front of me who aren’t like that. They’re whining like that and asking if that’s really how life is.

Jin Ha-gun was drinking quietly. Was it because he was overcome by a strange emotion? The alcohol went down better than usual.

It was also because of Geommuyang. Since Geommugeuk knew that he was such an amazing person, it wouldn’t be strange if he could accomplish something.

But just a little while ago, I felt complicated when I saw Geommuyang. I felt a mixture of admiration, jealousy, and shame. It was probably because I heard that he looked like me.

What do I resemble? Am I not better?

I had such thoughts in my heart, but the sight of the swordsman I saw a little while ago made me feel ashamed of my pride.

At that time, Jin Ha-ryeong poured wine into Jin Ha-gun’s glass. Although she didn’t say anything, she understood her brother’s distressed feelings.

“I’m looking forward to the future.”

It meant that there was still a long way to go, but it also made me really look forward to it.

What kind of martial arts world will unfold when these people become leaders and lords? Seeing all three of them in one place today made me feel even more excited. It was different from what I had vaguely imagined.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the first floor was completely relaxed.

We gathered together in a group of three or five friends and had a drink. I didn’t expect much since it was a shabby bar, but both the drinks and the food were excellent.

“It tastes good.”

Cho Chun-bae, who had already heard this compliment twice, came into the kitchen and smiled broadly. He had heard it from both the Jeongpa and Sapa people. He was already happy at the thought of bragging about it to the regulars.

“Here, one more bottle of alcohol!”

“Yes, I’m going!”

I will protect the peace of the martial arts world! While Jo Chun-bae was running around diligently, Hyeolcheon Doma was filling the cup of Ilhwa Sword Master.

“sorry.”

She was the one who had provoked Taeulsin Sword earlier. I could have just turned away first, but my pride wouldn’t allow it.

“That’s because I’m young.”

“Young. How old am I?”

“You’re young at your age. If I were your age… … .”

Bloodthirsty Demon stopped himself from saying something.

“What are you going to do at my age?”

“There’s nothing set in stone.”

It actually happened.

Hyeolcheon Doma drank his alcohol quietly without saying what it was.

“You can just live with it as if it were my age.”

“How can you live like that at your age?”

Ilhwageomjon declared, striking the table three times.

“From now on, Hyeolcheon Doma is the same age as Ilhwa Geomjon.”

The drunkard who was drinking next to me intervened.

“I guess you have a lot of things pent up against your senior. You want to let it all out by becoming friends.”

Bloodthirsty Demon smiled faintly.

“I see.”

For some reason, Hyeolcheon Doma poured alcohol for Chwima. He always said that he hated seeing a drunkard.

“I know you have been a great help to this person in many ways.”

He knew that Chwima had played a big role in restoring the relationship between himself and Ilhwageomjon. Although he didn’t know the details, he had heard from Ilhwageomjon that Chwima had put in a lot of effort.

“Well, it’s my friends’ business.”

He tried to make a subtle move, but Ilhwageomjon didn’t pay any attention.

“Friends? Don’t even dream!”

“I heard that you have become younger too, senior?”

“He’s the same age as me.”

Next to the three people who were enjoying themselves for the first time in a long while, there was Dokwang. He was still leaning against the window and looking outside.

The gusting wind blew his hair. If there had been any women passing by, they would have all stopped, but the outside was under strict control.

Mabul came up next to him.

“What have you been looking at all this time?”

“I was just watching because I felt a little suffocated. The spring weather is nice too.”

He doesn’t feel suffocated in his own residence in Cheondokrim because he studies and manufactures poisons, but he feels suffocated in other places like this. It was also because he was always searching for poisonous plants and insects in Cheondokrim.

“Are you looking for any poison these days?”

“Why wouldn’t there be any? There are many things we need among the poisonous plants that bloom in the spring.”

“I will come see you sometime soon.”

The Poison King’s expression brightened. Mabul was truly a genius at finding poisonous plants.

Mabul looked up at this floor.

“It would be nice if we could go together, but we’re both busy.”

The King’s gaze was also directed to this floor. The tense atmosphere of this floor relaxed after the successors ascended. How could he not know that it was because Geommu-geuk was at the center of it all?

As the Poison King turned to look out the window again, his eyes met with those of one of the Sapa’s masters.

The person who greeted him with a lottery ticket was a monster. He had fought alongside the King of Tooth and knew that the King of Tooth had saved the Apostle Alliance. The surrounding Sapa masters looked at him, but he paid no attention at all.

The Poison King also bowed to him and looked out the window.

The Demon Lord approached the evil Soma who was sitting alone in the corner of the tavern.

“Can I sit down?”

The evil Soma nodded.

He had never touched alcohol or cooked food.

“I know you don’t eat outside food, but I’ll just fill your glass.”

Just like when I was alone on the roof before, I was also concerned about the evil Soma who was alone now. It was more of an attraction that came from a sense of kinship rather than a rational attraction.

The two eyes inside the white mask stared at the Subhonmazon for a moment and then suddenly spoke.

“I envy you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Then, the evil Soma looked up at this floor. From that one action, I could tell what the evil Soma meant.

He meant that he was a person who served the Heavenly Horse of the time, but you were a demon lord who served the Geommu Theater even when you were young.

“Your Majesty, you really do enjoy difficult things.”

The two eyes in their sockets smiled, knowing that it was not an easy task to lead a sword dance.

Kwon-ma stood with his arms folded near the entrance. He was responsible for today’s safety and did not let his guard down for even a moment. The guards outside constantly informed Kwon-ma of the situation, and all his senses were on edge.

This was also why Geum Woo-jin trusted him the most. He would definitely complete any task he entrusted to him.

The leader and the two leaders were still each drinking their own alcohol.

After Geum Woo-jin refused Jin Pae-cheon’s offer of alcohol, the awkward atmosphere continued.

Well, it was better to hear the successors chatting and joking than to hear those who hated each other having an awkward conversation.

Jinpaecheon was thinking about what Geommugeuk had said earlier.

―Because you’ve never played in your entire life, you probably don’t know how to play.

That’s right. I really don’t remember having fun in my entire life. Since I was young, I’ve only been running towards the top.

‘Now that you’re here… … .’

Not only did I not know how to play, I didn’t even want to play.

‘Working is like playing.’

Because I have lived with this kind of mindset.

How glorious was his life, having risen to the position of the leader of the martial arts world? However, the only regret was that he did not have even the slightest leisure in life.

If I had made a conscious effort, perhaps I could have had that freedom? If I had, would I not have gotten to this position? Just as there is nothing more futile than assuming what-ifs in life, it was something I could never know.

At that moment, Geum Woo-jin’s gaze turned to Jin Pae-cheon. The two people’s gazes met in the air.

Geum Woo-jin’s arrogant and haughty gaze softened for a moment.

“Would you like a drink?”

He previously refused to offer me a drink, but now he is asking for one.

I don’t know why, but I could feel that it wasn’t something that came out easily.

‘Why did you change your mind?’

I didn’t ask that question because I knew he wouldn’t be able to answer anyway.

‘When is it time to refuse! Am I the kind of person who gives when you ask and stops when you tell me not to?’

He didn’t show off his pride like this. At this moment, when he asked for a drink, the one who bowed his pride was Geum Woo-jin.

Is it because they heard what Geommu-geuk said? That they wanted to have fun and rest during this meeting. Is that why they changed their minds?

As Jin Pae-cheon approached with a bottle of alcohol, Geom Woo-jin also stood up from his seat.

Jinpaecheon poured the wine while standing.

“Thank you.”

Baek Ja-gang, who was watching the scene, did not say anything about offering alcohol or asking for it. He did not stay away from her, but he did not intervene deeply either.

The relationship between Jeong and Ma.

He was always at an appropriate distance.

This time, Geumwoojin looked at Baekjagang.

Baek Ja-gang sensed from the look in Geom Woo-jin’s eyes that he had something to say to them.

Baekjagang approached them holding his own glass of wine.

The three of them stood at a close distance. They could almost touch each other if they stretched out their hands.

With their skills, they could inflict fatal damage on their opponents by surprise. That’s why this distance was also a distance of trust.

The reason Geumwoojin called them was not to play together. Quite the opposite.

“Now let’s talk about work.”

Jinpaecheon and Baekjagang’s expressions became serious.

The Black Clouds emanated their energy and surrounded themselves. This was to prevent their voices from leaking out.

“You probably know that there is someone behind this.”

Of course. Jin Pae-cheon’s grandson and granddaughter almost died, and Baek Ja-gang even fought the king himself.

Then, surprising words came out of Geom Woo-jin’s mouth.

“If we fight, let’s fight among ourselves.”

The idea was to not involve others in their fights, or in other words, to join forces and eliminate them.

“We will share all information related to them with you and make it our top priority to punish them.”

Jinpaecheon and Baekjagang were surprised. They didn’t know that Geomwoojin would be the first to lay the foundation.

Since ancient times, in negotiations, the one who expresses his or her thoughts first is at a disadvantage. The leader of the Demonic Cult could not have been unaware of this. Furthermore, since he had stronger pride than anyone else, it was only natural that he would wait for the first suggestion to join forces.

Geum Woo-jin shattered all expectations.

Has this guy changed too? Or is there another scheme?

Several thoughts crossed Jinpaecheon’s mind.

Can we trust what this cultist says?

It’s unknown.

It was time to turn to that which had helped him survive all along: his instincts.

Instinct did not tell him whether the cult leader’s words were true or not. Instead, it turned his head back.

I could see the figure of the swordsman in the distance. My instinct told me to look at him. And I heard the whisper of my instinct. If you don’t know, trust that kid. The kid who dragged you and that Apostle Lord to the tavern in front of the Demonic Cult.

Finally, Jinpaecheon revealed his honest feelings.

“Honestly, I have never had a serious conversation with my grandchildren. You’re right. I don’t know what that kid dreams of.”

Jin Pae-cheon’s gaze towards Jin Ha-gun deepened.

“I want to see how far that child walks. It must be a truly beautiful and wonderful path. Yes, to see that path, I must beat up all those vulgar people who plot behind the scenes.”

Jin Pae-cheon’s gaze turned to Geom Woo-jin again.

“Good. I will share all information related to those bastards and make punishing the masterminds my top priority.”

It was the moment when the Murim Alliance decided to join hands with the Cheonma Shingyo.

Geum Woo-jin and Jin Pae-cheon’s gaze turned towards Baekja River.

He had already made up his mind. He didn’t talk much so he couldn’t tell if he was the type of person who could tell when someone was lying or not, but at least during today’s conversation with Geum Woo-jin, I didn’t get goosebumps in my ears.

“How can Saga be stubborn when Jeongma is leaving? Let’s tell them who they dared to touch.”

His small eyes smiled. He spoke humbly, as if he was yielding to the sect or the demonic cult, but his eyes were not inferior to anyone at all.

No further words were needed now.

The three people’s glasses clinked in the air.

It was the moment when the unprecedented alliance of Jeongsa-ma and Sama was born in the history of martial arts.

Now, the Cheonmasingyo, the Murim Alliance, and the Sadomaeng will share all information related to the background and track down the enemies, and will even provide support if needed.

Geommugeuk opened his eyes and watched the three people toasting. The other four did the same.

The moment the sound of voices stopped, I knew that the three of them were having a very important conversation. That was why I could guess that the toast had made the tripartite alliance come true.

This is what it means to trust your father. No matter what he thinks of my magic, at least he knows what to do and where to go.

That’s why I felt at ease after holding this meeting. I thought my father would take care of the rest. After all, a father is a father.

“Anyway, I said you guys can’t play.”

Everyone smiled at the words of the sword dance.

“We can’t just let this historic moment pass by. Let’s celebrate it properly instead of those people who don’t know how to have fun. Let’s drink and sing and… … .”

Geommugeuk looked at Bisain with a meaningful smile.

“Why are you looking at me?”

Visain, startled, saw a huge storm cloud, a tsunami rising into the sky, lava spewing out fireballs, and even more serious, the greatest crisis of his life was approaching him.