Having finished speaking, Hwi drew his sword in one swift motion.
The Assassin King sprayed blood and toppled backward. Before he hit the floor, he had already died where he stood.
Though now he was no more than the head of the Underworld, this was the moment when the man who would one day become the king of assassins and claim a seat among the Twelve Earthly Kings died.
Hwi left no lingering attachment to his death, nor to this battle in which he had staked his life.
Swaaash.
After shaking the blood from his blade, Hwi returned it to its sheath.
As though he had cast off the last of the fight along with the blood, Hwi did not even spare the Assassin King’s corpse a glance.
He had now ended the fight of killing and returned once more to being one who protected.
Geom Mugeuk walked over to Hwi and spoke with formal courtesy. He said nothing else. Because in this moment, these were surely the words a guard warrior needed to hear.
“Thank you for protecting me.”
Hwi looked at Geom Mugeuk in silence for a moment. The one who ought to be giving thanks was himself.
If the Young Cult Leader had not unleashed the Ninefire Demonic Art when the Assassin King and the assassins attacked together, he would have died then and there.
That was not the only way the Young Cult Leader had helped. Throughout today’s battle, Hwi had fought with the thought that he had to protect him. Because he could bring out his greatest skill when he had someone to protect.
Myeongshin was looking at the two of them.
The talkative Geom Mugeuk and the taciturn Hwi.
They were two utterly different people, yet Myeongshin suddenly felt that they were alike.
Why had that thought come to him?
At that moment, Myeongshin abruptly recalled the sight of Geom Mugeuk standing before him after killing the assassins.
He realized that the lonely air he had given off then resembled the atmosphere of this man named Hwi.
Myeongshin voiced what he felt.
“Somehow, the two of you seem alike.”
At Myeongshin’s words, Geom Mugeuk joked glibly.
“There are plenty of things Uncle and I have in common. We’re handsome, stylish, and taciturn.”
Hwi gave a faint smile, while Myeongshin looked dumbfounded at the word taciturn.
In that pleasant atmosphere, the three exchanged glances.
Hwi’s gaze toward Myeongshin had softened compared to before the fight. He still disliked assassins, but at least for today, they had been comrades who had staked their lives together.
Geom Mugeuk checked Hwi’s condition.
“By the way, are your injuries all right?”
He knew Hwi had avoided serious wounds, but his body was covered in blood.
“I am fine. Fortunately, they are only cuts to the skin.”
Hwi opened the front of his garment at his chest.
“Because of this, which the Young Cult Leader gave me, I was able to fight more aggressively.”
It was not as though he had defeated the Assassin King because of the finest Heavenly Silkworm Silk, but Hwi attributed the merit to Geom Mugeuk all the same.
That was the kind of man Hwi was.
He gave the credit to others and quietly lived a life of protecting someone.
That life had killed the Assassin King today.
“You were splendid today, Uncle.”
Hwi smiled faintly. Geom Mugeuk wanted to praise him to his heart’s content, if only for today, but Hwi felt awkward in such an atmosphere.
So Hwi hurriedly changed the subject.
“I will leave the cleanup here to this branch.”
“Please do.”
Now Myeongshin asked Geom Mugeuk.
“What should I do?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
Because it depends on you. If you tell me to become your subordinate, I must. If you tell me to die, I must.
Of course, that was only because he still did not know what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was.
“From now on, you should live your own life.”
After a brief pause, Myeongshin asked cautiously.
“Is it truly all right for me to leave like this?”
Geom Mugeuk nodded. Myeongshin could feel it. Geom Mugeuk was sincerely trying to give him freedom.
Then, without realizing it, a sentence slipped from him as if he were talking to himself.
“What should I do with my life now?”
It was not a question for Geom Mugeuk, but for himself.
Geom Mugeuk regarded that uncertainty as a joy.
“Isn’t this the best time? Right now, when nothing has been decided. Choosing something is enjoyable, and making plans is enjoyable too. So savor this moment.”
You really are…
Myeongshin did not know how many times he had said or thought those words about Geom Mugeuk.
Myeongshin honestly revealed his feelings to him.
“You said it before. That it would be nice if somewhere in this world, there was at least one admirable assassin who would accept a single coin offered by a child who had unjustly lost his parents as payment for a commission, and kill the wicked. But you misjudged me. I am not such a broad-minded man that I would accept a commission for a single coin. I set principles for myself when I went out to kill, but even amid that, I was greedy for money.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at him with clear, deep eyes.
But the future you lived that kind of life. Then again, there is no guarantee that you will live that life again in this life.
That had been his life before the regression, and in this life, he was a different person. In this life, they were clearly living different lives.
“Take your time deciding how you will live.”
“I have already decided.”
Geom Mugeuk asked in surprise.
“Is it all right to decide something this important so easily?”
“That is why. Because it is too important, no amount of worrying will give me a proper answer. After long deliberation, I would only make a bad move. At times like this, the thought that first came to mind has often been the correct answer.”
Myeongshin had that thought.
He had lived his entire life as an assassin. What other life could he possibly live? Open a teahouse or an inn and live leisurely? His insides would only burst from dealing with troublesome customers.
“I think I will live by running a small forge.”
Because making various weapons and devices was one thing he truly loved.
“That suits you well.”
Geom Mugeuk pictured him working in a small forge. Fate would not simply leave alone a man who had weathered such storms. Perhaps the act of accepting a single coin to resolve someone’s injustice might happen in that forge.
“If, one day, while hammering iron, you suddenly think, This isn’t it, then seek out Master Gwak of our cult’s forge. If you say I introduced you, he will meet you. If it is him, he will surely give you an answer. Whether it is weariness of your work, or weariness of your life.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s consideration, Myeongshin’s eyes shone intensely.
“Why are you being this good to me?”
“It is not only for your sake. If Master Gwak sees your skills, he will surely receive some sort of stimulation. Then it will be a good thing not only for the two of you, but for our cult as well, would it not?”
He said it that way, but Myeongshin could feel it. That this was for his sake. He did not say that he would never forget this grace. Such things always had to be answered through action.
“If I make something good from time to time, I will send it to you.”
“We are the sort who never refuse gifts, you see. I will gratefully accept them.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Myeongshin clasped his fist and palm together with solemn courtesy. His final farewell was exceedingly respectful.
“I believe the Young Cult Leader will become a Heavenly Demon the martial world will never see twice. I sincerely hope you accomplish your great work.”
At his heartfelt farewell, Geom Mugeuk also returned the courtesy with solemn respect. After all, Myeongshin had spent his whole life bound to an organization.
“May you live freely.”
Myeongshin nodded, then also gave Hwi a respectful farewell.
“Through meeting you, I learned that a life of protecting is far more difficult and far more valuable than a life of killing.”
Hwi also clasped his fist and palm respectfully and sent him off.
“Live well, wherever you go.”
And so Myeongshin left that place.
Geom Mugeuk watched until his figure had completely disappeared.
“Watching someone begin a new life feels good, even if all you do is look on like this.”
Hwi could sense a certain longing in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes. Perhaps this Young Cult Leader, more than anyone, desperately yearned for such a free life as well.
Geom Mugeuk turned his head toward Hwi. The longing that had filled both his eyes had already vanished.
“Uncle, we should return as well.”
Geom Mugeuk and Hwi also left that place, shoulder to shoulder.
* * *
Father was making something at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s safehouse.
He was so engrossed in it with his back turned that I could not even greet him.
“Don’t tell me? Are you making a weapon capable of conquering the martial world?”
That was almost the atmosphere.
Then Father turned to look this way. After confirming what was in his hands, I burst into laughter.
“I suppose not. You were trying to conquer fish.”
What he was making was a fishing rod.
On the way here to Shaanxi, I had defeated Father twice in fishing contests.
We had said we would compete again on the way back, and Father was already preparing for the return. Naturally, Father had believed that we would come back safely.
“I have returned, Father.”
“We have returned after completing the mission, Cult Leader.”
When we formally greeted him, Father looked after Hwi before his own son.
“You are hurt.”
Before entering this place, Hwi had changed out of his bloodstained martial robe, but Father noticed at a glance.
“They are all merely scratches.”
I could not simply let that worried look toward Hwi pass.
I raised my hand high toward Father.
“There is a son here too! I may have suffered internal injuries you cannot see!”
Father pretended not to hear me and rose from his seat, walking toward one wall.
Then he searched for something in the leather pack standing there. Father usually took things out with Void Grasp, so what kind of item was it that he was looking for it himself?
What Father brought from the leather pack and held out to Hwi was a small pure-white bottle.
“Apply this.”
It was the wound salve used by the Heavenly Demon himself. Naturally, it was a medicine with efficacy incomparable to ordinary wound salve.
“I cannot. How could I dare apply the Cult Leader’s medicine?”
“Apply it.”
At Father’s firm command, Hwi could no longer refuse.
“Thank you.”
Father’s eyes were deep as he looked at Hwi, whose head was bowed. The fact that Hwi had been injured this much meant that Father understood just how fierce that battle had been.
“Father! I also have cuts!”
At that, Father extended his hand with a contemptuous laugh.
The leather pack opened on its own, and this time another bottle came out and flew toward me.
“That is the most insincere Void Grasp I have ever seen.”
That was not all. After checking the medicine bottle, I cried out.
“This is too much! This is wound salve I already have!”
The one he had given Hwi was the highest-grade product reserved for the Heavenly Demon, while this was a grade below.
When Hwi’s eyes met mine, he lowered his head with a flustered expression.
“If you do not want it, forget it.”
When Father extended his hand as if telling me to give it back, I swiftly tucked it into my chest.
“Still, it is the first wound salve Father has given me, so I should apply it. I will use it for a long, long time.”
Father rose from his seat.
“Since you allowed that man to be injured, you should be punished. Follow me.”
If you are going to put Hwi in front, then you are responsible for protecting him. I had broken that promise.
“You misunderstand. I did everything in my power not to get hurt because Uncle’s heart would ache if I were injured! Of course, I do feel I was the only one trying too hard! Father!”
Father took me to an empty lot with no one around near the safehouse.
There, he drew his sword and said,
“We must make sure there will be no more need to apply medicine.”
I could tell. Through a spar, he was going to bestow a lesson upon me. It was not a punishment, but a reward. It was a reward for both of us returning safely, and Father’s way of expressing his joy.
‘Thank you, Father.’
I stood about ten paces away from Father.
And today’s spar was different.
Father revealed no aura whatsoever. Even so, there was an energy dominating the space.
It was the energy of the Heavenly Demon Sword.
It seemed Father was telling me to feel only the energy of the sword.
‘If that is so?’
I too withdrew all of my aura. With not even a single handful of energy, striving not to reveal even the faintest presence, I slowly drew the Black Demon Sword.
The energy of the Heavenly Demon Sword could be felt.
The energy of the Black Demon Sword could be felt.
It had truly been a long time since I had focused solely on feeling the energy of the Black Demon Sword like this.
‘Now that I think of it, I have been too indifferent.’
Because I was learning the Ninefire Demonic Art, because I was using the Time-Heaven Secret Art, because I was increasing my internal energy.
I had been paying attention to other things and neglecting the Black Demon Sword.
Suddenly, I recalled the first time I met Ian after my regression.
Back then, I had reflected on this as well.
I had taken her existence for granted. Just like living without realizing how grateful one should be for the air one breathes every day.
It was the same. I had faced my enemies with this Black Demon Sword all this time, yet instead of being grateful, I had taken it for granted.
“I am this foolish. Thank you truly for teaching me, Father.”
A faint smile formed at Father’s lips. It was clearly a smile of satisfaction.
In this way, Father constantly gives me instruction and stimulation.
And today’s lesson was not only that.
“Unleash the Nine Flames Demonic Art.”
I performed the Nine Flames Demonic Art before Father. I did not hide my accomplishment, and displayed it with all my might.
Father needed to know my skill accurately. And I hoped that, in turn, it would become a driving force that stimulated him once more.
‘Father, how much has my Nine Flames Demonic Art changed from yours?’
After seeing my Nine Flames Demonic Art, Father once again lectured on the formula of the Nine Flames Demonic Art.
It was the same martial art, and I had heard the lecture many times, but today there were things that felt different yet again.
It must have been because my realm had changed, and Father’s realm had changed. Even the exact same words felt different. Truly, training with Father felt as though my skill grew with every word we exchanged.
We asked and answered, thought, then performed it again. By the time that round of training ended, it was already deep into the night.
For a while, I looked up together with Father at the moon hanging bright and full in the sky.
Then Father suddenly asked,
“What is it that makes you uneasy?”
It was the first time I had received such a question. After my regression, he must have seen the changes in his son and read the deep unease contained within them.
“You brought me into the world as a perfect son, but I have exactly one anxiety.”
“What sort of anxiety?”
“The anxiety that some colossal evil, jealous of you and me, will try to devour us.”
Father wore an expression of incomprehension.
“Did you not say that we are the only ones capable of devouring that evil?”
Father remembered precisely the demonic path I had spoken of.
“It seems I’m afraid of meeting something too large to swallow.”
What would Father think of this unease?
After staring at me for a moment, Father rose from his seat and drew his sword.
“Then you must make your mouth and belly larger.”
That simple, lucid answer was also a single phrase that defined the path I had to take from now on. Yes, unease was something to be filled with skill.
I sprang to my feet, opening my mouth wide.
“Yes! No matter how large it is, I will swallow it whole.”
And so, my martial training with Father continued throughout the night.
The moon that had watched over us set, and the morning stars inherited its place. Then, when even the stars withdrew, the dawn light took their place.
As a bright yet reddish energy awakened the earth, the shadow of one man stretched long.
Throughout our training, only one person stood alone with his back turned, watching over us.
Absolute Regression Chapter 493