It was the moment the Orthodox-Demonic Alliance was disbanding.
What the hell? You mean you’ve been talking with me a lot lately? Didn’t I make it clear I wasn’t looking at you because I wanted to hear that answer? And yet you stared straight into my eyes and backstabbed me like this?
Baek Jagang’s expression brightened as he launched a signal flare announcing the new formation of the Heretical-Demonic Alliance.
‘These accursed heretics!’
Regardless, Geom Ujin spoke again as if his words were sincere.
“We hunt together, fish together, and play Go as well.”
Geom Mugeuk was startled.
“Huh? We haven’t gone fishing, though?”
For a moment, Jin Paecheon’s eyes flashed coldly. Could it be that he made something up from nothing? Without even talking to his children? Despite the suspicious gazes directed at him, Geom Ujin remained calm.
“Do I have only one son?”
Of course, Geom Mugeuk had asked while guessing that his father had gone fishing with his older brother. Geom Ujin was not someone who said things that weren’t true. He had wanted to show at this gathering that he looked after his older son as well.
“This is too much! Please take me fishing too!”
Geom Ujin pretended not to hear and looked at Jin Paecheon as he spoke.
“The time spent with my son was good, but it was also time I needed for myself.”
The two men’s gazes collided in midair.
Those arrogant, haughty eyes that soured one’s mood just by looking at them. Because of that, one could tell. That it was not a lie. Because those eyes could not even feel the need to bother lying.
“Yes, children are good, and time for oneself is also good.”
Jin Paecheon’s gaze settled coldly.
“Then what will you do?”
The excited atmosphere instantly cooled.
It was a question asked not by a grandfather doting on his grandchild, but by Jin Paecheon, the Martial Alliance Leader.
Baek Jagang also watched silently to see what answer Geom Ujin would give.
Geom Ujin stared at the wine bottle placed before him. Depending on the answer, the wine in that bottle might not even have its first glass poured.
“Do you think you can stop us by saving such time?”
The moment the words ended, the air changed in an instant. It grew cold and heavy.
Bisain looked at Geom Mugeuk. Jin Hagun and Jin Haryeong also looked at Geom Mugeuk.
But instead of looking at them, Geom Mugeuk looked at his father’s back. Both his father and the Heavenly Demon Soul engraved upon his back were ones who did not look back. They only ever went forward.
The father who had turned back briefly for his son was now looking ahead once more. He was looking at the entire martial world.
He had asked the Martial Alliance Leader: Can you stop us?
The first to react were the orthodox experts on the first floor.
They simultaneously revealed their auras and prepared to strike at any moment. What the Demonic Cult Leader had said moments ago was a clear provocation.
The heretical experts also made thorough preparations. They strategized via voice transmission on how to move if the Demonic Cult and the Orthodox faction fought.
Hyeolcheon Doma stood with his arms crossed, looking at the orthodox experts standing before him. He wore a serious expression that seemed to be pondering whom to cut down first if a fight broke out.
But in truth, he was thinking about something else. He had faith that as long as Geom Ujin and Geom Mugeuk were up there, a fight would not break out.
He was now thinking of Seo Daeryong. Hearing the conversation on this floor, he realized that he had never once had an in-depth conversation with his own disciple.
‘I’ll have to meet with him separately soon.’
He surprised himself. And he did not hate it. In the past, he would have been repulsed. Because he had believed that such soft, mushy feelings only hastened one’s death.
He suddenly recalled words that Geom Mugeuk had once heard from the Cult Leader.
Such cheap sentimentality, perfect for getting oneself killed.
Yes, that was what he would have thought. Because he too had lived thinking like the Cult Leader. But these days, he often thought that among all the emotions he possessed, perhaps that was the most precious.
Hyeolcheon Doma turned his head at the fervor he felt from beside him.
Ilhwa Sword Venerable had already chosen her opponent. Should a chaotic battle break out, she intended to kill the Taeeul Divine Sword.
The Taeeul Divine Sword had also read her killing intent, and thus secretly hoped a fight would break out.
‘Not a single one of these Demonic Cult bastards must be left alive.’
Because that was his unwavering heart as always.
As the atmosphere grew murderous, Chwima opened a wine bottle and downed it in one long gulp.
A faint aroma of alcohol heightened the tension in the hall even further.
Of course, there were those who remained composed even in this situation.
The Poison King opened the window, rested his chin on the frame, and looked outside.
Someone might have sent a chilly aura his way for his insolence, but no one dared pick a fight with the Poison King. He could be killed, but only if everyone died alongside him. The Poison King had always been such a being.
While the tension stretched tight—
Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathic message to Baek Jagang.
‘Please intervene.’
‘Me?’
He found it unexpected to be asked for help, yet at the same time, it was not a bad feeling.
‘Then who would intervene?’
‘Wouldn’t we welcome it if the Orthodox and the Demonic fought?’
‘What if they fight and grow fond of each other?’
‘That would be troublesome.’
Among the three men present, Baek Jagang was the most flexible.
“Sain, pour me a drink.”
“Yes, Master.”
Bisain filled Baek Jagang’s cup.
Geom Ujin and Jin Paecheon both understood his intention well. If they truly did not intend to engage in a life-or-death bloodbath here.
“Mugeuk, pour me a drink.”
“Yes, Father.”
Jin Paecheon did not back down either.
“Hagun, pour me a drink too.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
And so the three men each took a drink.
Setting down his cup, Jin Paecheon asked Geom Mugeuk.
“Your Demonic Path is here?”
“That is correct.”
“Where is that Demonic Path?”
At Jin Paecheon’s question, everyone’s gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. Not only Jin Paecheon but also Baek Jagang was curious. Just where in this tavern could his Demonic Path be?
An unexpected answer flowed from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
“You are looking at it right now, are you not?”
“What do you mean?”
Geom Mugeuk looked at Jo Chunbae, who had been unable to step down and was standing awkwardly nearby.
Only then did Jin Paecheon realize that Geom Mugeuk’s Demonic Path was Jo Chunbae.
“That innkeeper is your Demonic Path?”
“That is correct.”
The person in question, Jo Chunbae, was the most surprised. Though he had grown quite used to surprises lately, this was yet another record-breaking moment.
‘Have you ever become the Young Cult Leader’s Demonic Path, old boy? This man must be drunk. And in front of the Demonic Cult Leader, the Martial Alliance Leader, and the Heretical Alliance Leader, no less. Heh, he must be very drunk.’
This time, Jin Paecheon asked Jo Chunbae.
“Are you the Young Cult Leader’s Demonic Path?”
“How could I dare?”
Jo Chunbae was so flustered he did not know what to say.
“Tell me your thoughts. I wish to hear the thoughts of the person in question. I am not threatening you, so answer comfortably.”
‘He tells me to be comfortable, but how could this be a comfortable place?’
The flustered Jo Chunbae did not know what to do and suddenly looked at Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk was smiling as he looked at him. As always, Geom Mugeuk’s eyes seemed to say, ‘Do not be afraid, for I am here.’
How could he repay the grace of a man who bestowed such great meaning upon an insignificant wretch like himself? Even giving his life would fall far short.
“I…”
The moment he began to speak, the surroundings grew so quiet that not a single breath was audible. He could feel everyone focusing on him.
‘Oh, my heart! Please stop pounding!’
Jin Paecheon said with a smile.
“Think of yourself as the man I saw this morning and speak. You spoke well then, did you not?’
As if I only spoke well? I even gave the Alliance Lord quite the scolding.
Jo Chunbae took a deep breath and began to speak. In truth, these were words he had wanted to say not to Jin Paecheon, but to the Heavenly Demon, Geom Ujin. Since this would be his only chance to say them to him, Jo Chunbae summoned his courage.
“The Young Cult Leader opened a Hwangcheongak branch across from our tavern. He told us that if anything unfair happened, we should go there and report it. We had lived our whole lives being pushed around by martial artists, but we actually got to see Hwangcheongak martial artists and even filed reports there. These days, we’ve become close with them. When we have delicious food, we take it to the branch for them to eat.”
Because his voice trembled, it felt all the more sincere.
“The Young Cult Leader often came to my tavern to drink and told me this: ‘My Demonic Path is one who does not break tables.’”
The experts on the first floor hearing these words for the first time turned and exchanged glances. Had they heard wrong? What had he said does not break?
“After that, the people who got drunk, beat others, and made trouble gradually disappeared. The martial artists who treated the merchants here like servants also disappeared. Fewer people died in accidents, and fewer went missing. I do not know what the Demonic Path is, what the Orthodox Path is, or what the Heretical Path is.”
Jo Chunbae spoke with his eyes tightly shut. The only thing giving him strength to overcome his fear was his heart for Geom Mugeuk alone.
“However, if I were given a choice and had to pick just one among all the ‘Paths’ in the world, I would choose the Young Cult Leader’s Demonic Path without hesitation. I would choose it even without knowing what it is. I dare say that not only me, but everyone living in Magachon would do the same. Because when everyone else was far away, only the Young Cult Leader remained by our side.”
Since he had already spoken, Jo Chunbae revealed the feelings he had never once spoken before.
“I hope the Young Cult Leader does not accomplish great things in the future. Without a doubt, the Young Cult Leader cares for those he meets and moves for the sake of all. I worry that those deeds will be too hard on him. I worry that he will grow weary.”
Having spoken as if in a trance, Jo Chunbae bowed his head deeply.
“A lowly one such as I has overstepped his bounds. Please forgive me.”
His body trembled. Now that he had finished speaking, fear flooded in. He could not remember what he had said. Had he committed some unforgivable discourtesy?
Geom Mugeuk approached him and spoke softly.
“Thank you, Innkeeper. What innkeeper in the world would stand in this place and speak on my behalf?”
“Rather, it should be the opposite. What Young Cult Leader in the world would speak on behalf of a tavern keeper? For the Young Cult Leader, I would have no regrets even if I died in this place.”
Geom Ujin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang all watched Jo Chunbae’s blazing eyes in silence. The same was true for Geom Muyang, Bisain, Jin Hagun, and Jin Haryeong, as well as the Demon Venerables and the orthodox and heretical experts on the first floor.
Some understood the relationship between the two deeply, while some did not understand it at all. There were those who thought it was a trick or an act. There were those who found it pathetic.
It was at that very moment.
A clear, resonant ring sounded as Geom Ujin poured wine into the cup before him.
“Innkeeper, come and receive a drink from me.”
At Geom Ujin’s words, Jo Chunbae turned pale.
“How could I dare!”
He trembled, but whose command was this? How could he simply stay put?
Jo Chunbae ran over and respectfully received the wine.
“Drink it, then pour me a glass.”
After drinking, Jo Chunbae poured wine into Geom Ujin’s cup. His hands shook so much that the wine overflowed.
But that wine returned to the cup as if by a lie. Geom Ujin had drawn the overflowing wine back into the cup with a supreme void-grasping technique. Not a single drop fell to the floor.
It was then that Jo Chunbae met eyes with Geom Ujin for the first time.
It was a very brief moment, but it was a gaze Jo Chunbae would never forget.
It was right at that moment.
“Receive a drink from me as well.”
Surprisingly, the one who spoke was Jin Paecheon. The sincere heart that cared for Geom Mugeuk had been conveyed to the Alliance Lord’s heart. Therefore, these words were sincere.
“I too do not yet understand the Young Cult Leader’s Demonic Path. However, I believe I at least clearly know why this place.”
Jin Paecheon offered Jo Chunbae a drink.
Baek Jagang did not remain idle either.
He silently gestured for Jo Chunbae to come closer.
Baek Jagang said nothing. He simply poured wine for Jo Chunbae, then lightly clinked his own cup against Jo Chunbae’s.
Clink.
The clear sound of cups meeting resonated faintly throughout the tavern.
That sound served as a signal, and the taut atmosphere dissolved once more.
Geom Mugeuk said loudly.
“Father, Alliance Lord, we too shall have a drink.”
When Geom Ujin and the two Alliance Lords nodded their permission, Geom Mugeuk led the four others and settled into a corner on this floor.
“Innkeeper, bring us wine here first!”
“Yes, coming right up!”
Jo Chunbae brought the wine and cups first.
It was precisely then, just as everyone had sat together, about to take a drink and exchange greetings.
Something floated up from behind and slowly flew toward where they were sitting.
It was a stir-fried mushroom dish that had flown over via aerial absorption, and it landed precisely before Bisain.
And from behind came a single remark from Baek Jagang.
“It’s the mushroom our Sain likes.”
Bisain’s eyes widened. It was the most flustered she had ever appeared since arriving.
Then the duck dish at Jin Paecheon’s table could contain itself no longer.
The dish Jin Paecheon sent flew across the air and was placed before Jin Hagun.
“Hagun, it’s the duck you like. Don’t drink on an empty stomach.”
Then, even from a table where a dish would never seem to rise under any circumstances, a bowl floated up.
The dish that flew from Geom Ujin’s table set down before Geom Mugeuk.
“This is a dish I hate, though?”
Then Geom Ujin spoke.
“I sent a dish that I hate.”
From where Geom Mugeuk sat, he could only see his father’s back. It was as if the Heavenly Demon Soul was smiling.
“As expected! Blood cannot be deceived—our tastes are so alike! Still, the dish Father sent is the best!”
At Geom Mugeuk’s cry, Jin Hagun shouted.
“No! The dish the Alliance Lord sent is the best!”
Bisain also cried out louder, not to be outdone.
“No! The dish my Master sent is the best!”
At this new competition, Jin Haryeong smiled with an expression of helplessness. They say men are children no matter how old they get; they say that to study men, you study children; and these are the men protecting the martial world.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s question, she raised her cup high and spoke.
“Because I feel so secure. Now, let us all drink together!”
Absolute Regression