Absolute Regression

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
========================
< Chapter 179: I Have Never Felt Lonely Once >

I climbed the mountain with my father.

It felt like just yesterday when I first climbed the mountain with him right after regressing, but a lot has happened since then. If I had to pick just one thing, it would be that my relationship with my father has gotten much better than it was back then.

So, even though the same two people were climbing the same mountain, it was clearly a different situation.

“What’s the reason you asked to go hunting?”

“I wanted to spend time with you, Father.”

My father stopped in his tracks and looked back at me. Because I was sincere, I was able to calmly meet his gaze.

Father, when I returned and saw you in that Taesai attire, I was truly overwhelmed. 1

As my father resumed walking, he asked me again.

“Why did you bring so much stuff?”

“As you saw last time, it’s all necessary. It may be inconvenient now, but later, these things will make us comfortable and bring us joy.”

My father took the lead once more, and I quietly followed behind him.

When I first suggested, ‘Let’s go hunting together,’ I thought I would talk a lot like a chatterbox, but when I was actually with my father, I didn’t have much to say.

The fortunate part was that even though we were just walking in silence, it wasn’t awkward at all. Rather, it felt like we were having a silent conversation, which made it even better.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

Even in this life, I don’t plan on getting married, but if I ever do and have a son, will there be a day when I go hunting with him like this? Could I be the kind of father that my son feels comfortable saying, ‘Father, let’s go hunting’? 2

Would my son think the same as he follows behind me? And what thoughts might my father be having right now?

We continued walking for a while longer before I broke the silence.

“The Leader of the Martial Alliance said he wants to meet you.”

Since I had already reported my meeting with the Alliance Leader through a letter, my father was aware of it.

“How’s that man doing?”

“He’s rather lively for his age. He’s blunt in character and his martial arts are ruthless. He was quite different from the Leader I had imagined.”

“He’s not the person the rumors make him out to be.”

“The Leader said he wanted to see you. So I told him you might feel the same, but he said no. He thinks you’d want to kill him.”

“He knows me well.”

“Are you serious?”

“Did you really think the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would long for the Martial Alliance Leader?”

“Couldn’t it be out of respect for the leader of the opposing side or admiration for a fellow martial artist?”

“There’s no such thing. Even respect as a martial artist only comes after you’ve fought.”

“Do you want to fight the Alliance Leader?”

After a brief pause, my father answered.

“He’s someone I’d like to face at least once.”

The victory in that fight would inevitably mean the other’s death. If the Heavenly Demon and the Martial Alliance Leader clashed, it wouldn’t end with them just brushing the dust off their clothes.

And the outcome of that battle would change the fate of the entire martial world. That’s why this fight cannot easily take place.

I know that my father dreams of unifying the world under one rule. Since the topic of the Alliance Leader came up, I took the opportunity to probe my father’s intentions.

“If our cult and the orthodox sects clash, do you think the Unorthodox Alliance would side with us?”

“If you think the Unorthodox Alliance is closer to us than to the orthodox sects, you’re mistaken.”

“Is that not the case?”

“If the Unorthodox Alliance had to choose between siding with us or the Martial Alliance, they would side with the orthodox sects.”

“Do you have a reason to be so sure?”

“They hate us more than they hate the orthodox sects. They probably dream of eliminating us and then splitting the martial world with the orthodox factions.”

I thought my father was right. Before regressing, I once spoke with a master from an unorthodox sect. He also hated our cult, and his reason was simple: as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult came to represent true evil, the Unorthodox Alliance was reduced to a cheap imitation of evil.

Why should the Unorthodox Alliance never be the rulers of the martial world?

It was merely the lament of a single unorthodox master and a personal opinion, but back then, I thought many in the unorthodox sects might share similar sentiments. Perhaps the Unorthodox Alliance’s hatred for our cult, as my father mentioned, stemmed from that very idea. 3

I didn’t bother to dissuade my father from his ambition. After all, we’d have to go to war at least once anyway. The target might not be the Martial Alliance or the Unorthodox Alliance, but rather Hwa Moogi.

‘Father, you must grow stronger too!’

That evening.

We settled in a quiet spot by a flowing stream.

I laid down thick leather for my father to rest on comfortably. It was the most important item among all the things I had carried.

After setting up a comfortable place for my father to sleep, I lit a campfire and cooked the game we had caught.

I didn’t just sprinkle some salt for a quick meal; I properly grilled it with seasonings I had prepared in advance. This time, I brought not only the secret seasoning made by Lim Suksoo but also various vegetables and other foods.

“How does it taste?”

“It’s good.”

“It has to taste good. I found out what kind of flavors you like through Lim Suksoo and prepared the seasonings accordingly.”

After finishing our meal, I served tea. It was also a tea my father liked. Seeing my father’s satisfied expression as he drank the tea, I felt glad that I had prepared well.

“Have you reached the Ten Star Greatness of Wind God’s Four Steps?”

As expected, my father immediately saw through my achievements.

“Yes. During the recent battle with the Heavenly Society, I felt like I was on the verge of something, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite lead to a major breakthrough.”

It felt almost within reach yet still distant—truly a sense of being both far and near.

“If you get impatient, it will only slow you down.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Would you like another cup of tea?”

My father nodded, and I poured him another warm cup.

“Do you enjoy spending time with me?”

He had truly come a long way. My father, asking such questions. There’s one principle I recall in moments like this: never think about deceiving my father.

“To be honest, how could it be fun? It’s naturally a bit cautious and burdensome.”

“Then why did you ask to come?”

“Because it feels reassuring.”

My father looked at me with a surprised expression. I calmly conveyed my thoughts.

“I feel very reassured when I’m with you. No matter who stands in our way, you’ll protect us, right? Even if it’s not a person but a monster, you’d still protect us, wouldn’t you? I just feel at ease when I’m with you. There’s no need for me to protect anyone, no burden of thinking, ‘I need to make this person one of mine,’ or the responsibility of making someone who sacrifices for me happy. I’m completely comfortable in this moment where I don’t have to do anything no matter what happens. I feel reassured because you’re here.” 4

These were my true feelings. My father looked at me with a slightly deeper gaze, perhaps taken aback.

“Aren’t you ever lonely, Father?”

At my question, my father scoffed. It was a difficult question to get an answer to, but when else would I ask something like this?

My father lay down on the ground, seemingly ready to sleep. He lay there for a moment, gazing up at the night sky, before he suddenly spoke.

“I have never felt lonely once.”

But to me, it sounded like this:

I am always lonely.

And so, the first day of hunting with my father came to an end.

* * *

On the second day, we moved around more comfortably than on the first. Although we barely spoke, neither my father nor I found it awkward at all.

We simply climbed the mountain together, walked along paths, and rested by a valley. Hunting wasn’t the main focus; we just strolled and rested together.

That evening, as I was about to grill the game we had caught, my father came over to me.

“I’ll do it.”

“Do what? You’re not saying you’ll cook, are you?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re going to cook?”

My father asked me calmly as I stood there, too stunned.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Have you ever cooked before?”

“I do it sometimes.”

I was shocked by this almost unbelievable statement.

“Is there a martial art among the demonic arts called cooking or something? That’s what you mean, right?”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

How could I not joke when my father was talking about cooking?

“When a dish doesn’t suit your taste, you kill the cook, right? Are you cooking today as a form of repentance for that?”

“Isn’t my cook’s skill far too exceptional for that?”

“You’re really going to cook?”

My father, as if to prove it, started cooking. And he did so with remarkable skill. Instead of grilling the whole piece of meat, he sliced the best parts and stir-fried them with vegetables and mushrooms. To top it off, he even made soup, as if to prove that he really did cook regularly.

What was even more surprising was that the food tasted excellent.

“What is this? Why does it taste so good? Did you secretly add some high-grade ingredients instead of seasonings?”

A smile appeared on my father’s lips. It was the first smile since we started climbing the mountain.

It was a moment of discovering a side of my father that I had never known.

The Heavenly Demon of this era is a Heavenly Demon who cooks.

That night, lying down by the campfire, my father and I talked about various things. I mostly started the conversations, and my father responded, but naturally, the conversation turned to the Demon Supremes.

“You already know this, but on my side, there’s the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Evil Smiling Demon, the One-Slash Sword Supreme, and the Great Drunken Demon. On my brother’s side, there’s the Demonic Buddha, the Poison King, and the Fist Demon King. The young Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was excluded for now. How does it look? My side seems to have the advantage, right?”

“It’s evenly matched.”

“Even though we have one more person, it’s still even?”

“Yes.”

Being evenly matched despite being one person short meant that someone among the Demonic Buddha, Fist Demon King, or Poison King was worth two people. Who could my father be valuing so highly?

“Is it time for us to kick out our slacker?”

Despite my joke, my father didn’t say anything more on the subject. It was his way of telling me to experience it myself and struggle a bit. Who exactly did he have in mind?

“Why do you want to become the Cult Leader?”

Because it’s my mission. It’s the mission I’ve struggled for all my life, even regressing to fulfill. I’ll protect it, even if it costs me my life.

“To master the Nine Calamities Demon Art.”

“Why are you so fixated on mastering the Nine Calamities Demon Art?”

“It’s not an obsession with the art itself but with becoming stronger.”

“You’re already strong enough. What more do you hope to achieve by becoming stronger?”

“Only by being strong can I protect everyone.”

My father, my brother, and all the family members of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

And now, perhaps a few more people might be added to that list. In the past, no one stepped forward, but now, some of the Demon Supremes might rise up for true vengeance.

However, my father’s stance was firm.

“The Nine Calamities Demon Art will only be passed on to the one who becomes the Heavenly Demon.”

“Then I will become the Heavenly Demon.”

Just as my father’s resolve was unwavering, so was mine.

My father glanced at me for a moment before turning away to sleep.

‘And even if I become the Heavenly Demon, I will be a different kind of Heavenly Demon than you. The kind that travels freely across the world. Though it will take much more effort to achieve that.’

* * *

On the third day, my father headed for the summit of Mount Daechun.

On the way up, I sensed a tiger’s presence once or twice. But I pretended not to notice, leaving an excuse to come hunting again in the future.

If I sensed it, surely my father did too, but he also didn’t mention hunting the tiger. Perhaps my father was also looking forward to the next hunt.

“Wow, was the summit always this beautiful?”

The view from the top of Mount Daechun was like something out of a painting.

“When I was your age, whenever I found my martial arts training too difficult, I would come up here.”

It felt strange imagining my father standing here in his youth.

“If I get frustrated during training, I’ll have to come up here now and then.”

“Come here for a moment.”

“Yes.”

My father sat on a wide, flat rock at the summit and gave me a lecture on the Soaring Sword Art.

Even though it was a martial art I had already achieved Twelve-Star Greatness in, and what I needed now was Wind God’s Four Steps, my father still spoke about the Soaring Sword Art.

It was as if to say that all martial arts are ultimately connected, and by thoroughly understanding the one you know best, you can find the key to understanding others.

It was a truly special moment—listening to a lecture on the Soaring Sword Art given by someone who had also reached Twelve-Star Greatness in it.

And I had a new experience. I thought I would understand everything naturally, but there were quite a few parts that differed from my own thoughts. I realized that even though we had both reached Twelve-Star Greatness, the paths to our destinations were significantly different.

Whenever I encountered something I couldn’t understand, I asked my father without hesitation. I didn’t pretend to know what I didn’t, nor did I purposely act ignorant. I engaged in the conversation naturally, letting my thoughts flow like water.

What I thought would be a brief discussion about martial arts continued for three hours, then four hours, then stretched into an entire day, and then another, and even a third day.

We kept talking while eating the food we had prepared, while drinking tea, and even while sipping the liquor I had brought for the final day. We talked while hunting when we ran out of food, and we discussed martial arts while grilling meat over the campfire. Both my father and I were completely absorbed in these conversations.

It started as a debate on the Soaring Sword Art, but soon we found ourselves discussing all aspects of martial arts. It was an in-depth discussion between my father, the Heavenly Demon, and me, with my heavenly martial body and immense knowledge from regression.

When the lengthy three-day discussion finally ended, I jumped to my feet and performed the Wind God’s Four Steps. And I realized it—I could finally perform the Four Steps of the Wind God perfectly.

With a surprised expression, I spoke to my father.

“I’ve achieved Twelve Star Greatness in the Wind God’s Four Steps.” 5

My father, as if he had expected this outcome, didn’t look surprised. It was as if he had grabbed me by the collar and thrown me into greatness.

I bowed deeply to my father.

“It’s thanks to your great teachings. I’m truly grateful, Father.”

“Get up. Let’s head down now.”

“Yes.”

I was overwhelmed by a strong desire to run. I was eager to find out how fast my perfected Star Light Step was, whether I could handle that speed, and how much smaller the world had become. I was curious about it all.

“Father, how about a race? From here to our cult. What do you say?”

At last, I had earned the right to compete against my father’s Heavenly Demon Flight Technique.

My father looked at me with a dismissive expression. For some reason, I really liked that look.

“What will you wager?”

“Our pride, of course.”

“Fine.”

It was a condition that was entirely favorable to me since I had nothing to lose, but my father agreed readily anyway. He was planning to win and tease me about it.

My father and I stood side by side. I realized there weren’t many times when I had stood next to him like this and seen him from the side. His face felt new to me once again. This moment of racing side by side with my father made me incredibly happy.

“Alright, we start on the count of three. One, two…”

I said “three” after I had already started running. This way, if I won, my father would have something to say about it.

As the two of us, both masters of peak movement techniques, began to cut through the air, I heard a sound of the wind unlike anything I had ever experienced in my life.

1 : Probably ceremonial robes or something.
2 : You don’t need to worry, you will be a good father ^^ What interest me more is if he will have a grandfather and uncle.
3 : The eternal forgotten, the perpetual third place.
4 : Such reassurance is by itself a sign of great trust.
5 : Wow, that was fast. They’re both monsters of knowledge.