Had he ever seen such an expression on that friend's face?
Jin Paecheon was watching.
A person who was a friend, yet not a friend.
The unfamiliar energy emanating from that old friend. In all his time living as the Martial Alliance Lord, this was the first time he had felt such a powerful dark aura.
Just by looking at this energy, he could tell everything Geom Mugeuk had said was true. The words Hwaryulcheong had spoken just moments ago came to mind.
Are you going to believe the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader instead of a friend you've known for decades?
Was he really saying that to him? After deceiving him for decades on end.
Jin Paecheon forced his boiling emotions down.
"Yes, we were friends for decades."
Jin Paecheon continued, gazing at Hwaryulcheong.
"In all those years, was there even a single day when we were truly friends?"
Hwaryulcheong, instead of apologizing, rather blamed Jin Paecheon.
"If we had been friends, at least you wouldn't have hidden in the fog and spied on me."
Jin Paecheon could not adjust to the reality before his eyes.
After deciding to believe Geom Mugeuk's words, he had thought such a moment might come. The reaction of Cheonae Geosa that he had recalled then was this:
I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. Still, my friendship with you was real.
But that was truly a naive thought.
In reality, he was acting like a man he had met only yesterday. How could a person deny their acquaintance so completely in one moment?
Because of that, the emotion pressing upon him most strongly was not hatred or anger, but emptiness.
The two people's gazes intertwined in midair. They had never once quarreled in their lives, yet now they were revealing completely different energies.
Jin Paecheon entered Hwaryulcheong's battlefield. Scattering ash and piled corpses, blood flowing across the ground, screams wailing from all directions.
*Is this your true form?*
Hwaryulcheong standing alone in the middle of that battlefield—his heated gaze was all too unfamiliar.
Jin Paecheon, who had been staring at Hwaryulcheong, looked at Geom Mugeuk. If it truly hadn't been for Geom Mugeuk, he would never have uncovered this true form.
"Young Cult Leader."
"Yes, Alliance Lord."
Jin Paecheon didn't say any other lengthy words. All his emotions were contained in his gaze, so he said just this one thing.
"I am in your debt."
If it truly hadn't been for Geom Mugeuk, he would have been stabbed in the back by Cheonae Geosa someday. Because he would only have aimed for the perfect moment. Because he would have never dreamed this friend would stab him in the back.
Geom Mugeuk had saved not only his life, but the Martial Alliance and the entire orthodox murim as well. It was an enormous debt, yet Geom Mugeuk immediately tore up the debt note that could have been used to demand repayment endlessly.
"A debt? No. It is thanks to the Alliance Lord believing in me. You are the one who uncovered it, Alliance Lord."
It was the moment a vent opened in Jin Paecheon's heart, and the small lingering hole of doubt that had remained in its stead was completely filled.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Hwaryulcheong.
"You've finally revealed your true colors. How many years has it been? No, how many decades?"
Even in this moment, Hwaryulcheong maintained his composure.
His opponents were the Martial Alliance Lord and Geom Mugeuk. He should know full well how strong the Alliance Lord's martial arts were, not to mention Geom Mugeuk's.
That he could remain calm against these two people clearly meant he had his own preparations.
Geom Mugeuk kept Jin Paecheon from relaxing his guard.
"This man knew from the beginning the Alliance Lord would be here. No, he may have guessed as much before coming and arrived here anyway."
Jin Paecheon understood what Geom Mugeuk was trying to say. It meant to be careful because the opponent might have a plan.
That was something he didn't need to worry about. Because his heart had already grown cold from Hwaryulcheong's reaction.
Now, this was what Jin Paecheon was curious about.
"What purpose did you have in approaching me?"
Was he after his position? Or did he hold a personal grudge? Or perhaps he had some other intention he couldn't have imagined? He was so very curious about the reason.
But Hwaryulcheong, as if he couldn't say it, silently looked up at the sky. Blue sky was visible through the bamboo.
Then, a single word flowed from Geom Mugeuk's mouth.
"Amheukgung."
In that moment, he could see it. An earthquake occurring on Hwaryulcheong's face. He couldn't hide his surprise.
It was a reaction confirming Geom Mugeuk had hit the mark exactly.
Jin Paecheon also knew of Amheukgung's existence. Because as far as he knew, there was only one Amheukgung in murim history.
"If you speak of Amheukgung, do you mean that Amheukgung which was one of the guardian families of Cheonuigung?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
"Yes, that's right. Exactly the Amheukgung from three hundred years ago."
Jin Paecheon was well aware of the battle between the Martial Alliance and Cheonuigung from three hundred years ago.
The one who had annihilated the Cheonuigung, a mysterious martial faction dreaming of conquering murim, was the Martial Alliance Lord of the time, Muhwang Singeom. How could he not know the greatest achievement of the greatest alliance lord in Martial Alliance history?
Jin Paecheon's eyes blazed intensely.
The fact that Cheonuigung, annihilated three hundred years ago, had survived until now dreaming of revenge was beyond surprising—it was shocking.
At the same time, now he could understand. He had wondered what reason could allow someone to hide their identity for decades.
It must have been that this grudge had been passed down until now for the sake of revenge for the annihilated family.
He could also now clearly understand why Hwaryulcheong's energy contained such a dark aura.
Hwaryulcheong's eyes blazed intensely as well. When Geom Mugeuk had earlier called him the very incarnation of revenge, he had been half-convinced and half-doubtful.
Geom Mugeuk was so intelligent that he might have guessed as much, or so he had thought. But Geom Mugeuk knew his true identity exactly.
Hwaryulcheong looked at Geom Mugeuk and asked with his gaze.
*How on earth did he know?*
Since he couldn't say he had gone back three hundred years through the Bigwi to witness the battle directly.
"Our cult can find out anything if it wishes to know."
He put forth the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as his answer instead.
"We have been fighting you for quite a long time. Powerful individuals like you couldn't have fallen from the sky. We expected you must certainly have a connection of enmity with the Majungsa."
Since Geom Mugeuk had been at the center of the fight against the forces behind the scenes until now, it was not strange that he had discovered this fact.
Jin Paecheon confirmed once more with Hwaryulcheong.
"Are you truly a descendant of Amheukgung?"
Jin Paecheon wanted to hear Hwaryulcheong's story. About the Amheukgung he spoke of. That he was such-and-such a person, that he had undertaken this task with such-and-such a heart.
But Hwaryulcheong only looked at Jin Paecheon with indifferent eyes, as if he had no intention of saying such things. The friendship of the past years held no meaning whatsoever in this place.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to him.
"What meaning is there in settling a grudge from three hundred years ago? What did you sacrifice your life for? For ancestors you don't even know?"
Hwaryulcheong had an expression of wanting to say something. But he didn't give the reason.
Instead, he put on a strange smile and asked Geom Mugeuk.
"You think you've won, don't you?"
A gaze that clearly held some plan.
"Did you really think I didn't know that man would come?"
Jin Paecheon felt bitter inwardly as he listened. Because he was referring to him as "that man." It seemed he was the only one who had considered them friends.
Jin Paecheon slowly walked forward, revealing an even more powerful energy.
"Yes, if you came knowing I was here, then you must have come to settle things with me."
Jin Paecheon, too, no longer had any intention of conversing with him. He was not a friend, but an assassin-like being of extraordinary patience who had infiltrated for the sake of revenge.
And Jin Paecheon resolved to kill him with his own hands.
"It is our affair, so let us be the ones to tie the knot."
Hwaryulcheong's energy was formidable as well, and since they didn't know what martial arts he possessed, this was a fight where they absolutely could not let their guard down.
Then, at that very moment, words he had never imagined flowed from Hwaryulcheong's mouth.
"If you draw that sword, Jin Hagun dies."
In an instant, Jin Paecheon's gaze turned cold.
This was the reason Hwaryulcheong had been so composed even before two absolute masters.
"You think you two created this situation today? Not at all! This is a stage I created."
It meant he had anticipated everything. In other words, this stage was Hwaryulcheong's stage.
"Great Lord Jin is being guarded by the Demon Extermination Corps warriors. Even if you want to kill him, you cannot easily."
Hwaryulcheong laughed at Geom Mugeuk's words.
"You don't feel it's dangerous because of the Demon Extermination Corps?"
Geom Mugeuk immediately understood his meaning.
"You intend to use the Soul Subjugation Art."
He meant to use the Soul Subjugation Art on the Demon Extermination Corps warriors to kill Jin Hagun.
And today, Hwaryulcheong's plan wasn't limited to just that. His true plan was this:
"If you wish to save your grandson..."
Hwaryulcheong's gaze shifted from Jin Paecheon to Geom Mugeuk.
"Kill the Young Cult Leader."
!
Jin Paecheon hadn't known he would make such a demand of him. He was one who wouldn't blink at most things, but in this moment, even Jin Paecheon was flustered.
On the other hand, Geom Mugeuk maintained his composure with an unchanging expression.
Chilled by that composure, Hwaryulcheong asked.
"Why? Do you think we can't kill Jin Hagun?"
Then Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.
"No. I think you could probably kill him."
Hwaryulcheong looked at Geom Mugeuk with an expression that truly said a rascal is a rascal.
Wasn't this a situation where he should be persuading Jin Paecheon that Jin Hagun would be safe no matter what, if they were trying to kill him using Jin Hagun's life as leverage?
"Now I see."
Geom Mugeuk naturally realized one fact. Previously, a master of the Soul Subjugation Art had shown him his skill in advance. Geom Mugeuk had told the Poison King that those people must have some intention.
"Now I understand why they showed me the Soul Subjugation Art in advance. It wasn't to show me how great their skill was, was it? It was to let me know the Soul Subjugation Art would work even on the Demon Extermination Corps."
"In your current position, shouldn't you hide that fact?"
He had naturally expected them to hide it, and had tried to use the fact that they hid it to incite conflict between Jin Paecheon and him.
"But Hagun is my friend. I couldn't do that."
Hwaryulcheong put on a strange smile and then spoke to Jin Paecheon.
"He is truly someone worth cherishing. But no matter what, you couldn't kill your grandson, could you?"
Jin Paecheon glanced at Geom Mugeuk and then asked Hwaryulcheong.
"What do you intend to do after killing the Young Cult Leader?"
"It simply becomes as if nothing happened. I will leave, and you can continue protecting the Martial Alliance with your grandchildren."
"So what do you gain?"
"Killing that Young Cult Leader who has dealt us enormous damage all this time."
Geom Mugeuk scoffed and cut in.
"Could it be for just that reason? Would someone like that hide their identity and live for decades?"
Hwaryulcheong ignored Geom Mugeuk's words and pressured Jin Paecheon.
"Don't think too hard on it. This will become a secret between only us. As long as I don't speak, no one will know you killed the Young Cult Leader for your grandson's sake. Even if the Demonic Cult claims so, you can simply dismiss it as a conspiracy."
There, Hwaryulcheong added a compelling reason.
"Think of when such an outstanding Young Cult Leader becomes the Demonic Cult Leader. If you don't kill him today, the orthodox faction will fall to him anyway. So hurry up and kill him."
While he was persuading Jin Paecheon, Geom Mugeuk simply listened.
Soon, Jin Paecheon reached a conclusion. Even with his grandson's life and the future of the orthodox faction on the line, his deliberation was not long.
"I will not kill the Young Cult Leader."
At that firm decision, Hwaryulcheong stabbed at the Alliance Lord's sore spot.
"Do you mean you cherish the Young Cult Leader more than your grandson? What would the martial artists think of you?"
"Cherish him more than Hagun! How could that be?"
"Then why are you trying to get your grandson killed?"
Why on earth would Jin Paecheon have made such a decision resigned to his grandson's death?
Jin Paecheon's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
"I came to this place today as a spectator."
The moment he heard those words, Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly. The Alliance Lord had not forgotten the words he himself had spoken to him.
Added to that was the Alliance Lord's faith.
"I believe this stage will not end in tragedy. Because you would not have invited me to a tragedy."
Hwaryulcheong looked at Jin Paecheon with a surprised face. It was a variable. He hadn't known Jin Paecheon trusted Geom Mugeuk to this extent. The Jin Paecheon he knew was not this kind of person.
Just as he hadn't known him, he himself had not known him either.
Naturally, Hwaryulcheong's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
*How on earth can this be?*
Geom Mugeuk calmly explained to Jin Paecheon.
"Sojeongnak said before he died. He concluded that if I died, my father would never endure it."
Geom Mugeuk was seeing through Hwaryulcheong's plan.
"They have already calculated that the Great Demonic War will occur if the Alliance Lord kills me."
Jin Paecheon nodded. Yes, if not for such a purpose, he wouldn't have retreated willingly, after hiding his identity for decades.
For the sake of today's stage, how could Geom Mugeuk have made no preparations at all?
"As you predicted, I anticipated as well."
Geom Mugeuk said to Jin Paecheon.
"Hagun will be safe."
Until he heard those words, Jin Paecheon had been extremely tense. No matter how much he trusted Geom Mugeuk, it was still his grandson's life on the line.
But Geom Mugeuk had spoken directly. That Hagun would be safe.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Hwaryulcheong.
"Did you think I would stand by and watch you kill my friend?"
Hwaryulcheong snorted.
"I suppose you think Mabul or the Poison King will stop it."
He had even predicted who would go to help from their side.
"Yes, those two are indeed Demon Lords strong against the Soul Subjugation Art. But that is only regarding the Soul Subjugation Art cast on themselves."
Hwaryulcheong put on a meaningful smile.
"Can they truly prevent Jin Hagun's death? From an attack by a subordinate striking the Great Lord right beside him? Or perhaps Jin Hagun will take his own life?"
It was a display of how much he trusted the Soul Subjugation Art master.
Jin Paecheon tensed up again at Hwaryulcheong's confidence. Naturally, Jin Paecheon's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
As had been the case until now, Geom Mugeuk did not disappoint him in this moment either.
"To save my friend..."
The meaningful smile that had been directed at Hwaryulcheong was now directed at Geom Mugeuk.
"Do you really think they went?"
Absolute Regression: Episode 657