Absolute Regression

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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< Chapter 184: Understanding What Kind of Person the Fist Demon King Is >

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

At Geom Muyang’s remark, the Demonic Buddha smiled and replied.

“Maybe it’s because I brought good news.”

Ma Bul was acting more cheerful and lively than usual.

“There seems to be no need to worry about the Fist Demon King. He has clearly stated his support for you, Young Master.”

Despite the good news, Geom Muyang’s expression didn’t brighten significantly.

“Eldest Young Master, if I may speak frankly, I know there have been times recently when you’ve been disappointed in me. I tried my best, but things didn’t always go as planned. So, I apologize to you.”

Ma Bul apologized sincerely, without the slightest pretense. It was an extension of the emotions he had felt earlier while watching Geom Mugeuk practicing martial arts.

He had the sense that if things continued as they were, he wouldn’t be able to defeat Geom Mugeuk. He realized that change was necessary and decided that the change should start with himself.

“No, I am the one who should apologize.”

From Geom Muyang’s reaction, the Demonic Buddha sensed something. Geom Muyang seemed flustered and suspicious of his words.

Geom Muyang was someone who always tried to see beneath the surface. He tended to take people’s words with a grain of salt. Right now, he was doubting the Demonic Buddha’s sincerity.

If this had been yesterday, Ma Bul would have been angry at this response. He would have thought about the rift that had formed between him and Geom Muyang.

But he didn’t. Now, he wanted to accept it. This was the essence of who Geom Muyang was. If he didn’t like it, then it was he who had to leave.

Whether Geom Muyang understood the Demonic Buddha’s feelings or not, he calmly spoke.

“When I returned to the Cult, I was taken aback because Mugeuk had grown far more than I expected. The Mugeuk I knew was a young wolf, but when I came back, he had grown into a great tiger. In that anxious state, I repeatedly acted disrespectfully towards you, Demonic Buddha. I apologize.” 1

Geom Muyang bowed his head.

Ma Bul’s heart eased. This was enough.

The rift that had existed between him and Geom Muyang no longer felt like a chasm that might cause them to fall; instead, he decided to see it as a marker for a better future. It was something to look at and draw strength from when feeling discouraged or troubled.

“You are also a tiger, Eldest Young Master. So don’t be afraid, and roar to your heart’s content. I will protect you.”

“Thank you.”

The Demonic Buddha was gathering strength.

Yes, this is how we should approach others. Just as Geom Mugeuk had approached him without hesitation, he too should stride confidently towards Geom Muyang. That way, no matter how this matter ends, he won’t have any regrets.

Ma Bul’s gaze turned toward the window.

“Tonight, the moonlight is truly beautiful.”

However, Geom Muyang’s eyes couldn’t fully appreciate the lovely moonlight.

‘This won’t do.’

He felt that as long as the Demonic Buddha’s eyes became misty while gazing at the moonlight, he wouldn’t be able to defeat Geom Mugeuk.

‘If you truly care for me, instead of praising me as a tiger, you should be bringing a trap to catch that other tiger.’

In a situation where every possible tactic was needed—whether it was a reckless move or a scheme—it was frustrating to see such calmness.

It was because he wasn’t as desperate as he was. After all, in the succession fight, the only one who would die if he lost was himself.

Since their hearts were different, even the moonlight felt different tonight. The soft and warm yet cold and lonely moonlight shone down on them both. 2

* * *

In the moonlit training ground, I was practicing my punches alone.

Through continuous training, I had mastered even the basic techniques that the Red Fists learned. Although they found it difficult, it still felt as easy to me as the basics of fist techniques. But because the basics needed to be solid, I had dedicated all my time to honing my fist techniques from the very first moment of training.

At that moment, the Fist Demon King walked towards the area.

With the moon at his back, a shadow fell on his face, making him look truly like a demon.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“How could I not be afraid looking at that face?”

“It’s not just that you aren’t afraid—you actually seem to find me easy to deal with.”

“Do you prefer others to see you as something terrifying? I’m sure that’s been your experience all your life.”

Dan Woo-gang slowly approached until he was right in front of me.

He leaned his face close to mine. It was my first time seeing his face from this distance. He truly looked like a demon born into this world.

“What do you think, seeing me up close?”

Looking at the Demon Supreme’s face, I felt something for the first time.

“You look tired.”

“!”

“What on earth could make the Demon Supreme of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult look so exhausted? Is it the Iron Fists? Or perhaps that cliff? Or is there something else troubling you?”

For a moment, the Fist Demon King’s eyes slightly trembled. No one had ever questioned him so directly. Not his fellow Demon Supremes, and not even Father treated the Demon Supremes casually.

“I suppose you’ve charmed other Demon Supremes in this way, but it won’t work on me.”

It seemed my comment about him looking tired had touched a nerve.

“As I mentioned before, that’s not my intention. I seek something different.”

“What is it?”

“Teach me your fist techniques. I find learning fist techniques incredibly enjoyable. It excites me to the point that I can’t sleep.”

It was a statement spoken in earnest. Perhaps it was because I had spent my entire life practicing swordsmanship. It could have been because I had perfected the Soaring Sword Art and achieved mastery of the Wind God’s Four Steps. It was a fist technique that found me like fate at just the right time.

“Please teach me. I want to fight the Fist Demon King with the fist techniques you teach!”

“!”

“I want to defeat you, Dan Woo-gang, with that fist technique.”

Suddenly, a surge of energy burst forth from the Fist Demon King. His energy felt like a fierce wind. It was the kind of wind that made it impossible to keep your eyes open and filled your mind with a terror as if you might be blown away.

Instinctively, the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique activated, and I drew upon my defensive energy to counter his.

In response, the Fist Demon King’s energy grew even stronger. It felt like a wind that could blow away not just my body, but my very soul.

I channeled my internal power into my clenched fist and executed a single technique.

It was “Heaven-Supporting Fist,” a move I had learned from training in the Red Fists.

Pa-ang!

A refreshing sound burst forth from the empty air where my fist struck.

I stared directly into Dan Woo-gang’s eyes and spoke.

“You awakened something within me.”

Even without saying it, the Fist Demon King would know what that was.

Dan Woo-gang withdrew the energy that had been pressing down on me and asked,

“Why did you come only now?”

It was a question one would naturally be curious about, the seventh connection among the eight Demon Supremes.

“Was I not someone you needed that much?”

“It’s quite the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“I’ve heard that you fulfill the roles of two Demon Supremes. That’s why I wanted to meet you when I had grown stronger.”

“Who said that I fulfill the roles of two people?”

“My father.”

Geom Woojin had mentioned that the numbers of Demon Supremes were four to three but that it was balanced. I confirmed through Song Sa-hyuk that he was referring to Dan Woo-gang.

It was clear that my father had some influence over the Demon Supremes. The Fist Demon King, too, showed somewhat complicated emotions when my father was mentioned.

“I can’t believe that the Cult Leader would say such a thing. Don’t go to such lengths to try to pull me to your side.”

“Go and verify it for yourself.”

Dan Woo-gang’s face grew even more fearsome. I could confidently say that if he went to the Central Plains with that face, it would be a daily succession of new incidents and amusing affairs.

Gazing at me intensely, he asked,

“You said you could become my disciple—are you serious?”

“I am. This is the only chance to become the master of the future Heavenly Demon. Don’t miss it.”

“What would you do if your disciple, who became the Heavenly Demon, tried to control you at will?”

At last, I released my energy. It was the first time I had shown my energy to the Fist Demon King.

An endless, expansive sky.

Reflecting that sky was clear water. When you step into the seemingly shallow water, you realize it’s a bottomless abyss. I stretched out this suffocating fear as I spoke sternly.

“Is that all your Heavenly Demon amounts to?”

Dan Woo-gang looked at me with a startled expression.

We stared at each other in silence for a long time. It was the Fist Demon King who eventually broke the silence.

“Hold out your hand. Let me see that baby hand of yours.”

I extended my hand forward.

“Now clench your fist.”

I slowly clenched my fist.

A glimmer flashed in the Fist Demon King’s eyes as he examined my fist. Yes, this was not an ordinary hand. The hand he called a baby’s hand was, in fact, the hand of a Heavenly Martial Body bestowed by the heavens.

To become a master, the entire body is important, but the hands are especially so. This is even more critical in fist techniques, as physical weaknesses cannot be hidden behind weapons.

He wrapped my hand in his large one. As our hands met, we probed each other.

Eventually, without saying a word about my hand, Dan Woo-gang turned and walked away.

“Starting tomorrow, join the Black Fists’ training.”

* * *

After leaving the Eastern Fist Faction, I went straight to the Valley of Wicked.

I went there to ask Soma about the Fist Demon King. For some reason, I felt that the Evil Smiling Demon would know him well.

As usual, Soma was sitting alone in that all-white room.

His first words upon seeing me were:

“Young Master, you want to fight the Fist Demon King, don’t you?”

I was taken aback.

“Have you learned a martial art that reads minds? Or have we become close enough to understand each other just by looking into each other’s eyes?”

“You’re wearing a mask today, aren’t you?”

“If I’m wearing a mask, does it mean I want to fight the Fist Demon King?”

“Yes, if you wear a mask, it means you want to fight the Fist Demon King.”

I laughed and pulled the mask up over my head.

“How about now?”

“Then it would mean you came because you wanted to play with me.”

Since today was not a day I came to play, I lowered the mask back down.

“I may be able to deceive ghosts, but I can’t fool you, Soma.”

I nodded and admitted honestly.

“Do you miss the taste of blood?”

“It seems so. I think of you first when I yearn for blood.”

“When I heard that the Young Master was learning martial arts from the Fist Demon King, I expected that you would come to see me at least once.”

Soma and Dan Woo-gang were completely different people. The feeling, the atmosphere, the personality—everything was different.

However, if you were to classify the Demon Supremes without any set criteria, the Evil Smiling Demon and the Fist Demon King would likely end up in the same group.

“Do you know why the Fist Demon King supports the Eldest Young Master?”

“Is it because I went to him late?”

The Evil Smiling Demon shook his head.

“Is it because he supports the eldest son’s succession?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Then why does he support my brother?”

The answer that followed was unexpected.

“It’s probably because of the Cult Leader.”

“Because of my father?”

“Until recently, before you started making your mark, everyone assumed the Eldest Young Master would be the successor. I believe even the Cult Leader had that in mind back then.”

“So, you’re saying Dan Woo-gang is simply following my father’s wishes?”

“That’s correct. He likely believes the Cult Leader wants the Eldest Young Master as the successor. He’s unaware of how much things have changed lately.”

“He’s been focused solely on training his subordinates.”

“Exactly. If he finds out that the Cult Leader is now considering you, he might change his stance.”

The Drunken Demon had said that my father most favored the Fist Demon King, who was purely obsessed with martial arts. I wondered if, perhaps, Dan Woo-gang also liked my father the most.

Soma offered one last piece of advice about the Fist Demon King.

“The Fist Demon King’s moniker is ‘The Unbeaten.’ He’s someone who’s never lost a fight. You’ll truly understand what kind of person the Fist Demon King is when he faces his first defeat.”

I nodded silently. Perhaps I might be the one to hand him that first defeat.

The Evil Smiling Demon sensed my determination.

“Young Master, why do you want to become so strong?”

He accurately understood that my ultimate goal in learning fist techniques from Dan Woo-gang wasn’t just to gain a Demon Supreme, but rather, driven by my desire to grow stronger.

“Are you perhaps dreaming of unifying the world?”

“No,” I replied firmly.

“Do you want to be the strongest in the world?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Then why are you running so breathlessly?”

“I have a feeling that one day a formidable opponent will appear before me. An opponent so strong that unless I work myself to the bone, I won’t be able to win and lose everything. It seems I have that kind of anxiety.”

I revealed my honest fears to him. For some reason, it felt comfortable to show these feelings to the Evil Smiling Demon.

As he silently stared at me, Soma suddenly released a burst of internal energy.

Ziiiiiiiiiiik.

A long line marked the white wall that he always looked at, carved by the burst of internal energy. I was startled. He had drawn a line on the wall he seemed determined never to deface.

“Young Master, how far have we come?”

It had been a long time since he last drew a line and asked me that question. The last time he did, I had said he had reached the line of survival.

I drew my Black Demon Sword and marked a vertical line at the end of the new line, past the survival line I had marked before.

“I have come this far.”

Though we hadn’t spent much time together, the two life-threatening battles we fought back-to-back had led us to draw these lines.

“Do you remember? When we first met, I told you that I don’t make friends with people who wear masks. That principle has changed now. I, too, wear a mask, so I’ll be friends with those who wear masks as well.”

The Evil Smiling Demon spoke to me with clear eyes.

“You said that when we reached this line, we’d become friends, eat together, drink together, have fun and fight together. And if one of us gets into danger, we’d come to the rescue. And if one of us dies first, the other would pour a drink at the grave.”

“That’s right.”

“If that formidable opponent you mentioned earlier appears and you find yourself in danger…”

After a brief pause, Soma continued.

“I will come to rescue you.”

“!”

I realized then that the line of the Evil Smiling Demon was drawn in the same place as mine.

My father always told me: never trust people. He said that feelings like this are a cheap sentiment perfect for getting killed. A naive and innocent emotion, he called it. Yet, even knowing that, I cherished this moment.

“I’ll be waiting for you to come to my rescue.”

Soma’s eyes shone brightly. There was no need for any more words.

As I turned to leave, I asked him, concerned,

“By the way, is that wall alright? It’s a wall for training, isn’t it?”

He once said that staring at the white wall would help him gain more inner strength. Worrying about how it would affect his training if the wall was damaged, the Evil Smiling Demon looked at the white wall on the opposite side and said,

“I didn’t like the color of that other wall anyways. Let’s focus on this side starting today.”

1 : When I said he didn’t apologize, I meant he never apologize sincerely. Everytime, he does it to keep control, not because he really feels sorry over his actions.
2 : He’s letting his fear control him, unable to enjoy the calm before the storm, or the loyalty of his subordinate. In fact, he probably felt this fear all his life. How sad….