Absolute Regression - Chapter 2
Time flowed relentlessly.
The world was still under the control of Hwamu-gi. Rumor had it that he had become even stronger, relentlessly pursuing the ultimate truth through endless training.
Twelve absolute masters among his followers governed the world, known collectively as the Twelve Zodiacs.
Although the supreme ruler had unified the martial world, life did not improve. Injustice prevailed in all matters related to the Twelve Zodiacs. Those who pleased them gained fame, while those who resisted lost their lives. Life seemed even harsher than during the era of divided factions.
Meanwhile, in the martial world, the Apostles’ League, and the Demon Sect had still not opened their gates. They all claimed that they would never open their gates as long as Hwamu-gi remained alive.
Just when one might have thought that he’d died in some obscure valley, the man returned.
When they had first met, the man was in the prime of his youth, but now he had become a middle-aged man with gray hairs sprinkled around his temples. He exuded an unparalleled maturity compared to back then.
He had changed. His face and body were darkly tanned as if he had traveled the entire world, and several unseen scars adorned his skin. He was frighteningly transformed, yet his eyes remained as clear, pure, and profound as they were when he first found himself.
“Well, here is the main part of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.”
Inside the box he offered was indeed the main part of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp.
“It really exists!”
The specter’s voice trembled.
“How on earth did you obtain it?”
“I searched every possible place. I pride myself on being a master of mountaineering, swimming, diving, and camping. I could sketch a map of the Central Plains with my eyes closed.”
“You’re truly remarkable.”
“What’s remarkable isn’t what I obtained, but the madness I exhibited in the process, I suppose.”
The specter suddenly thought to himself. Perhaps this wasn’t the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp’s main part, but rather the pure willpower of this man. As he pondered this strange idea, a sky-blue determination seemed to flow from the man’s body, and he was imagining the odd scenario of the main part being created from this willpower. However, the man urged him again.
“Well, what about the next ingredient?”
“Aren’t you eager to boast?”
How great must the adventures have been to obtain the previous ingredients? If it were him, he wouldn’t be able to resist bragging about such a successful quest to anyone.
“I’ll boast after I kill you and have my fill with your corpse. I’ll keep talking, turning you into a mummy, and play with you for the rest of my life. I’m talking about killing you…”
“You’re making such jokes. It’s strange.”
The specter wanted to chat and laugh with this man about the martial world and life. But as always, the man was busy.
“Well, what’s the fourth ingredient?”
“Money.”
To the unexpected answer, the man asked, “How much do you need?”
“Five-hundred million nyang.”
It was an unimaginable amount of money, but the man’s response was unwavering.
“I’ll go get it.” Whether it was one hundred million nyang or ten billion nyang, the man would go get it. That’s what the specter knew about him.
He might add a joke or two while looking at himself. Would he just kill him and beat him up?
But he was someone who would silently move towards his goal. The specter was witnessing how terrifyingly strong one’s will could become when properly provoked.
“Just wait a moment.”
“Why?”
“I’ll provide the money. Our family has collected money over generations for this purpose. I’ll use that money.”
“Why?”
“Because achieving this Great Law is both my and our family’s long-cherished desire.”
“Alright. Thank you, really, thank you. It’ll save me a lot of time.”
The man was genuinely pleased.
“So, would you join me for a drink today?”
“I’ll have just one drink before I go.”
“You’re such a stingy friend.”
They brought out the alcohol and sat side by side on the rocks in the yard, pouring it into large cups and drinking together. They savored the drink slowly.
“You know, when we first met, we were both pretty lively.”
“My body may be aging, but my heart remains the same. I’m striving desperately to live youthfully.”
“Why such effort?”
“I will return to my younger self, whether I’m fifty, sixty, or a hundred years old. I’ll be the person who came to find you on that day. My time froze on that day.”
If he had heard these words when they first met, he might have thought, ‘Efforts may be in vain, but would it be worth it?’ But now, he knew better than anyone just how formidable the man’s determination was.
“If the Great Law succeeds and you can return to the past, could you do me a favor?”
“Speak.”
“If you go back, please come find me.”
“And then?”
The specter sighed heavily as he spoke.
“Stop my marriage.”
At the unexpected request, the man burst into laughter.
“Hahaha.”
It was the first time the man had laughed since they met.
“I’m not joking. Please do me this favor.”
“Is that more important than five hundred million nyang?”
“It is to me. I wish to live my life alone. Please make sure of it.”
“Alright.”
After revealing the year of his marriage, the specter insisted once more.
“Promise me. Promise me you’ll definitely stop it.”
“I promise.”
The two of them finished the remaining alcohol.
“What’s the final ingredient?”
“You already know.”
“What is it?”
“The Secret Demon Soul.”
As the man understood what it was, his expression turned solemn.
“It’s the essence of your late father.”
“I know. My father never let go of it for a single moment.”
“Do you have it?”
The man shook his head.
“Do you know where it is?”
“I don’t.”
“If by any chance, that falls into the hands of Hwamu-gi?”
“Then all the efforts so far would’ve been in vain. Unfortunately, even if it remains at the main temple, it won’t be easy to obtain.”
Currently, the Demon Sect was under lockdown with a new leader at its helm. Although they couldn’t unlock the seal due to Hwamu-gi’s momentum, they had been strengthening themselves over the years.
There would be no warm welcome for him, the son of the former leader. Instead, the new leader would likely attempt to kill him, thinking he was dead.
“Still, let’s hope it’s still at the main temple.”
“Don’t take too long. I’m getting old too.”
“Promise me you won’t die until I return. Thanks for the drink.”
After downing the last drop of alcohol, the man left.
For a long time, the specter stood there, watching as the man disappeared into the distance.
And the man never returned. There were no rumors of any changes at the Demon Sect either. Yet, the specter always kept his ears open.
As time passed, the specter, too, aged, with wrinkles blossoming like flowers on his face.
Today, as always, he sat blankly on the veranda, staring at the spot where the man always used to stand. And then he saw.
“Look at you.”
The specter’s voice trembled.
The man, staggering as he walked, stood before the specter.
“It’s you, of all people… How could you do this?!”
The man grabbed the specter’s neck, his fragile and elderly neck feeling like it could break at any moment.
“…I must have lost my mind. Uh-huh-huh, I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”
The specter thought the man would kill him. Yes, others might not know, but he knew how hard the man had worked to gather the ingredients for the ritual.
Then, the man released his grip on the specter’s neck.
“I’m selfish too. I would’ve been the only one who knew and could gather all those ingredients. So it’s okay. If it were someone else, I would’ve beaten them to death on the spot, but I understand, only you.”
The man didn’t reproach the specter. Instead, he spoke warmly with sincere eyes.
“Thank you for waiting for me all your life.”
The sincere words of the man brought tears to the specter’s eyes. They were tears of remorse and regret. They could have had a more magnificent farewell. They really could have.
Just as tears were about to fall from the specter’s eyes, the world seemed to freeze as if it were a lie.
“Huh?”
The man looked around in surprise. Everything had stopped moving. Butterflies that were flying froze in mid-air, and blades of grass that were swaying in the wind remained still.
The specter standing before him was in the same state. His tears also hung in the air.
The man wondered if he was seeing things because he had lost a lot of blood.
That’s when a man appeared in the place where time had stopped, except for the man.
“You have passed all the trials.”
The man was surprised and asked, “Who are you?”
“I am the one who can send you to the past.”
“!”
“How could mere mortals and techniques defy Heaven’s will? Did you think that such things could make it possible?”
As the old man raised his hand, the five objects the man had collected throughout his life reappeared around him. They were the materials that had disappeared along with the ritual earlier.
In that moment, the man understood. The old man was something beyond human.
“The real ingredients for this ritual are not these objects, but the effort you dedicated to gather them.”
As the old man waved his hand, the objects vanished like smoke.
“You have passed the trials. You lived your life sacrificing yourself for only one purpose. And forgiving that specter was the final trial. In fact, it was the most difficult trial, but you passed it the easiest.”
The man trembled all over. He had thought the heavens were indifferent, even non-existent. But here was a being considered heavenly right before his eyes. His astonishment quickly turned into anger.
“Was it necessary for me to strive so hard just to get a response from you? Is that how mighty you are?”
“Don’t be too angry. People can see me more easily than they can see you. There are people who meet me every day. At least one of your wishes shouldn’t be so easy to grant, right?”
The man also agreed with that statement. It wasn’t about becoming rich or marrying a beauty. His desire was to go back to the past.
“Send me back.”
“And then?”
“I’ll kill the one who needs to be killed and save the one who needs to be saved.”
Killing the Hwamu-gi and saving everyone was the first task.
And there was another equally important task.
“And… I want to live my life properly. Perhaps the reason I want to go back so desperately is because I regret my life as much as I’m angry at Hwamu-gi.”
“What’s there to regret?”
“Everything. From the moment I was born until now, my life has been pushed by around someone else. Pushed here and there, and it’s all over now… Are you the one who pushed me?”
The old man chuckled and asked.
“What kind of life do you want to live after you’ve achieved your revenge?”
“I don’t know. Whether I’ll become a celestial demon like my father, live quietly away from the world, become a lascivious man who takes all the beauties in the world, live a life of beating up trash-like people after leaving the sect, or become trash myself… I haven’t decided on anything.”
“I’m curious about what kind of life you’ll live. I look forward to your new life.”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s have a drink when we meet again next time.”
With those words, the old man disappeared.
“Next time?”
He had a premonition that the old man might appear in front of him again someday.
At the same time, the time that had stopped began to flow again. The butterfly that had stopped fluttered its wings and flew into the sky, the grass swayed in the wind, and the tears of the ghost that had been suspended in the air fell to the ground.
“I’m sorry. Truly.”
The man silently stared at the ghost shedding tears of apology. He would never know, not even in his dreams, that his Daebang was a great one connected to the will of heaven. The final decision would be made by heaven, but at least the ghost’s Daebang was undoubtedly a mediator between him and heaven.
With an eager face, the ghost pleaded, “Ah! It’s a shameless request, but don’t forget our promise! You have to stop my wedding!”
The man chuckled. Even at this age, facing death, he was making the same request.
“Still in hell?”
“A hotter hell. It’s shameful, but please. If you don’t listen, I’ll haunt you to the end.”
“Is it that serious?”
“Even more so.”
“Fair enough. Then consider experiencing that hell again as punishment for your betrayal.”
“Oh no! Please!”
Leaving behind the wailing ghost, the man walked towards the light.
Trying to hold his sleeve tightly, the scepter was consumed by intense emotion as he watched the brilliant light dispersing. But ultimately, the words he wanted to convey were these:
“I want to go too! Ughhhhh!”
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