The gazes that had been fixed on the stars gathered in one place.
Bisain and Jin Hagun looked at Geom Muguk. He was still looking up at the night sky with those clear, deep eyes.
The word *friend* sounded so foreign. Was the word this man had spoken truly the same one they knew?
“Since when were we friends?”
Bisain asked bluntly.
Jin Hagun also waited for Geom Muguk’s answer with the same thought in mind.
“Did you think I was the only one who considered us friends?”
“Do you truly believe we can become friends?”
“I believe we can.”
After a brief pause, Bisain asked again.
“What if one of us, believing we are friends, ends up betraying the other?”
Even childhood friends changed, betrayed each other, and went through chaos. And you’re saying the three heirs of the orthodox, sacred, and demonic factions would become friends? That betrayal would be one involving the lives of thousands or tens of thousands.
“Then let us think of it this way. Ah, right—we were enemies, weren’t we? Let us not feel slighted. Let us not even think of it as betrayal.”
“By then, your sword would already be piercing my heart. Would I even have the leisure to think such thoughts?”
Though he wore a fearsome expression and spoke frightening words, Bisain’s gaze was softer than ever. He was imagining a life spent as friends with Geom Muguk.
He pictured himself as the Sacred Path Alliance Leader, Geom Muguk as the Heavenly Demon, and Jin Hagun as the Martial Alliance Leader, meeting one another and laughing together. He pictured himself, white-haired with age, still dumbfounded by Geom Muguk’s unchanging banter.
But just as ideals differ from reality, the words that left his mouth were different from his heart.
“If rumors spread that I’ve become friends with the Young Cult Lord of the Demonic Cult, I’ll be driven from the position of Young Alliance Leader.”
At that, Jin Hagun also entered the conversation.
“How much worse would it be for me? Becoming friends with the heir of the Demonic Cult and the heir of the Sacred Path Alliance? Far from becoming a successor, I might be beaten to death by my grandfather.”
Geom Muguk looked at Jin Hagun.
“Now that I think of it, Young Master Jin hasn’t become the successor yet. Let us help make you the successor.”
Jin Hagun then spoke with a stern expression.
“It is not as if I can ascend to the seat of Alliance Leader just because you help me. Only when I possess the qualifications and the capacity worthy of the position can I finally rise to it.”
Pride could be felt in his words—the pride of a righteous faction heir, that such a successor could not be decided so easily.
“As expected, you draw a line between us.”
Geom Muguk squeezed in close to Bisain’s side, acting friendly.
But Bisain stepped away to avoid him.
“You’re too cold!”
Now the three stood facing one another, as if drawing a circle.
Jin Hagun asked Geom Muguk.
“What kind of martial world do you dream of?”
It was a question Bisain had wanted to ask as well.
Geom Muguk’s gaze turned once more toward the stars in the night sky.
“The martial world I dream of is one where your orthodox path, your sacred path, and my demonic path harmonize together. I do not believe fate gave us these statuses, and even bestowed upon us heaven-shaking martial arts, so that we could dream of unifying the martial world by sacrificing countless people.”
Trust in one another would likely only be possible in a relationship built on the conviction that none of them dreamed of unification.
“I was not close with my father, nor was I close with my elder brother. I lived without comprehending the hearts of guards who would lay down their lives for me. That is why I always ask myself: what do you intend to do by unifying the martial world, when you cannot even properly look after those around you?”
Geom Muguk’s gaze, which had been on the stars, turned back toward the two of them.
“I believe that becoming friends with you is more difficult than unifying the martial world.”
He spoke as if joking, but his words were filled with sincerity.
“For martial artists, the easiest thing is to fight and kill one another. So let us not live such easy lives. Let us take on a harder challenge. Let us become true friends.”
Neither Bisain nor Jin Hagun had ever thought this before. Geom Muguk was right. Becoming true friends was a hundred times harder than fighting.
“There are too many evils in this world that must be slain. There are absolute evils that cannot be killed unless we do it. See, is there not even evil that seeks to devour us? Let us live while striking them down. Let us gather to drink together, let us mock our subordinates together. Let us travel together. That is the martial world I wish for.”
Could it really be possible?
Bisain blurted out without realizing.
“It sounds like a dream.”
“Then let us dream for the rest of our lives.”
It was precisely as Bisain and Jin Hagun were lost in their own thoughts that—
A shooting star fell, tearing across the night sky.
Geom Muguk clapped his hands together and quickly made a wish.
“Please let me unify the martial world!”
Jin Hagun shook his head in dumbfounded disbelief, while Bisain smiled faintly.
And for a while longer, they stood there beneath the pouring stars.
* * *
The leader of Heuksadan, Chu Goeng, looked out the window with a hardened expression.
“Now they’re openly keeping watch.”
Across from the building where he was, two martial artists could be seen staring this way.
They were experts from the Martial Alliance’s Demon Extermination Corps. They had begun pressuring them several months prior, and now they were outright surveilling them.
Chu Goeng was a man who defied the stereotype that a large physique and quick temper meant ignorance. He was perceptive and adept at scheming.
In business, his ruthless and cruel nature drove him to eliminate competitors by any means necessary.
Yet even he could do nothing but watch the surveillants across the street. Since they were the Demon Extermination Corps—a thorn in his side—he could not remove them as he pleased.
“What of Black Thirteen?”
“There is still no word.”
The one who answered the Heuksadan leader’s question was his right-hand man, Song Chung.
All word from Black Thirteen—who had gone to deliver the kidnapped children to the Yellow Dragon Escort Agency—had been cut off.
“I believe he ran afoul of those Demon Extermination Corps bastards.”
The Heuksadan leader furrowed his brow. The very name of the Demon Extermination Corps made his teeth chatter.
“I suppose we’ll have to ask the Sacred Path Alliance for help.”
It was not an easy decision. The Sacred Path Alliance never helped without a price. If he received help for this matter, he would have to provide them with a massive sum under the guise of sponsorship. And there was already so much money flowing into the Sacred Path Alliance.
Just then, another subordinate came, delivered a letter, and left.
“This is a missive from the Sacred Path Alliance.”
The letter had arrived right as they were speaking of the Sacred Path Alliance, surprising the Heuksadan leader and Song Chung.
Having read its contents, the Heuksadan leader crumpled the paper in irritation and threw it at Song Chung.
“Impudent bastard!”
Song Chung unfolded the crumpled letter and read it.
Surprisingly, it was a summons from the Young Alliance Leader of the Sacred Path Alliance, stating that if he did not come, they would erase Heuksadan from the martial world.
Song Chung began by soothing his enraged leader.
“It seems the brat has become a successor and grown arrogant.”
Killing intent erupted from the Heuksadan leader’s body. Normally, when he was this furious, corpses would pile up. But his opponent being who it was, his anger could only continue to simmer.
“But why does the Young Alliance Leader suddenly want to see me?”
The missive contained only those words, the time, and the place. The purpose was not written. That was why the Heuksadan leader was even angrier.
“It isn’t an attempt to assert discipline?”
“We’re not even directly under the Sacred Path Alliance; what discipline?”
“Since when have those Sacred Path Alliance bastards cared about such things?”
Unlike the offended Heuksadan leader, Song Chung saw this contact as an opportunity.
“If you invest in the Young Alliance Leader through this opportunity, it will be much easier to conduct business in the Central Plains going forward. And when you meet him, subtly bring up the matter of the Demon Extermination Corps.”
A bad mood was a bad mood, but this was obviously what had to be done. Business was business.
“This year’s harvest was for nothing. In the end, I’m going to get squeezed no matter what. How much will it take?”
There was something he believed as an immutable truth: money was the surest way to win someone over. If it failed, it was because there was not enough money.
“Since I am not a man lacking money, why not give something else?”
“What?”
“The Sun-Moon Sword.”
“Are you mad?”
He had every reason to flare up. The Sun-Moon Sword was the treasured blade he cherished most among his possessions.
“How often does an opportunity to meet the Young Alliance Leader present itself? Let us make him our man through this opportunity.”
“What if he fails to take the seat? We won’t know until the day he actually rises to it, will we?”
“Isn’t that precisely why investment is difficult?”
After a brief deliberation, the Heuksadan leader made his decision.
“Fine. Let us hand over the Sun-Moon Sword.”
The Demon Extermination Corps issue was a factor too. It was regrettable, but the opponent was worth that much. He would give it, and find a way to recoup everything.
“In exchange, I’m taking everyone from Black One to Black Ten. Call Black Night and Black Hound as well.”
Song Chung flinched in surprise.
“That is excessive.”
“It has to be excessive.”
“You know Black Hound’s temperament. There is no telling what trouble he’ll cause. He is the type to go berserk even in front of the Young Alliance Leader of the Sacred Path Alliance.”
“That is exactly why I am bringing him.”
The Heuksadan leader would not yield on this point.
“Even when giving generously, we must not look like pushovers. They must feel the tension of how dangerous a presence we are. Only then does the value of our gift increase.”
Knowing that once he made a decision he never changed his mind, Song Chung accepted his will.
“Understood. I shall carry out your orders. Shall we depart now?”
The Heuksadan leader rose from his seat.
“We have to go. If we don’t, they’ll erase us from the martial world.”
* * *
When they had almost arrived at the appointed place, Geom Muguk had the carriage stopped.
And he spoke to Jin Hagun.
“For today’s protagonist, let us change our clothes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t today’s occasion one where the Young Alliance Leader of the Sacred Path Alliance imparts teachings to the unorthodox sects? It is not a place for the Demon Extermination Corps. Have the Corps wait, and let us change into the uniforms of the Sacred Path Thirteen Wolves.”
Jin Hagun had planned to go with Bisain and pressure them together. He had thought that if the Young Alliance Leader of the Sacred Path Alliance and the Demon Extermination Corps Commander of the Martial Alliance warned them together, the effect would be doubled.
However, Geom Muguk was trying to elevate Bisain’s authority from Bisain’s position.
“Very well, let us do it that way.”
Jin Hagun readily accepted.
Bisain felt Geom Muguk’s consideration for him, but pretended not to notice and said nothing.
“Just give us two sets of clothes.”
Then the Sacred Path Thirteen Wolves provided the two with spare uniforms.
As they changed, Geom Muguk spoke.
“Today, we shall become not the Sacred Path Thirteen Wolves, but the Sacred Path Fifteen Wolves. Fourteenth Wolf, Fifteenth Wolf, receive your new recruits!”
In truth, Jin Hagun needed considerable courage to wear this uniform. While he himself thought nothing of it, if someone took issue with it, he could face severe criticism.
But watching Geom Muguk change while chattering away—complaining that his legs were too long and the pants too short, that the color did not suit him, and spouting all manner of nonsense—Jin Hagun could not help but reflect on himself.
This was nothing. What truly mattered was who wore the clothes. Looking back, would people remember a petty man who worried over nothing, or a great man who willingly donned another’s attire out of consideration for them?
Having finished dressing, Geom Muguk did not forget a final quip.
“Will you be the Fourteenth Wolf, or the Fifteenth Wolf?”
* * *
The Heuksadan leader had arrived first and was waiting.
The elites of Heuksadan stood in lines around him.
In the martial world, Heuksadan was seen as a pack of strays. An organization that swarmed every source of profit to tear off a piece, that overwhelmed with numbers, that crawled back out no matter how many you killed.
But that was only half of what Heuksadan was.
At the very least, the Heuksadan leader was no dog, but a tiger. A clever tiger that knew pretending to be a dog was how one survived for long.
From Black One to Black Ten, they were tigers as well. Beyond those ten, some might be wolves, foxes, or dogs. But those cherished by the Heuksadan leader were experts worthy of recognition.
Of course, the most reliable among them was Black Night.
In terms of martial prowess alone, he was the strongest after the Heuksadan leader.
He was a quiet and taciturn man by nature, yet he loved slaughter so much that he would enter battles he did not need to fight, enjoying the creation of seas of blood.
The one who appeared last was Black Hound.
He, too, was second only to the Heuksadan leader. If Black Night was second in martial arts, Black Hound was second in foul temper.
In Heuksadan, where murder, assault, and rape were commonplace, he was a notorious villain who handled deeds that humans could not bring themselves to commit.
“Chief, what in the world did you call us all here for?”
He was the one who called the Heuksadan leader “Chief.” Because he had assisted him since youth, he was also the only one who did not fear him.
“The Young Alliance Leader of the Sacred Path Alliance has contacted me to meet.”
“Why him?”
“He probably became the successor and now wants something.”
Black Hound’s gaze turned to the long box beside the Heuksadan leader. Seeing the sun and moon symbol drawn on the box, he asked with an expression of disbelief.
“Don’t tell me it’s the Sun-Moon Sword?”
“It is.”
“You’re giving it to the Young Alliance Leader?”
When the Heuksadan leader nodded, Black Hound shouted in a flare of temper.
“It cannot be done. Why give that precious sword to him? Just give him some money and send him away.”
Black Hound knew well how much the Heuksadan leader cherished this sword. He glared at Song Chung and spoke.
“It must have been that loudmouth who told you to give it.”
Black Hound disliked Song Chung. He had originally been by the leader’s side, but had been pushed aside by Song Chung.
Song Chung’s expression stiffened.
*This ignorant mutt is already kicking up a fuss.*
This was precisely why he had said they should not bring Black Hound.
Just as the two were locked in a staredown—
“They’re coming.”
In the distance, a carriage and escorting martial artists came into view.
The Heuksadan leader spoke to his subordinates.
“We must at least let this esteemed guest know how filthy his hands will get if he tries to erase us from the martial world.”
Absolute Regression, Episode 344.