Absolute Regression - Chapter 6
I woke up early in the morning, packed my belongings, and said to my father, “You should go back now.”
“Where would I go? We’re out here for hunting, aren’t we? We should catch at least one tiger,” he replied.
Where would he go? It meant that he didn’t mind spending some time with me.
“I’m glad.”
“What for?”
“I’ve prepared for the second day as well.”
“Quit the nonsense and lead the way.”
“Yes.”
Father and I ventured deeper into the forest.
How long did we walk?
Father spoke to me again. “Close your eyes.”
“Yes.”
“The target is beyond a hundred sheets.”
Further than last time.
“Now, feel the wind.”
“I can feel it.”
Once again, he spoke words I had never heard in both my lives.
“Now, let your energy flow into the wind.”
Since learning martial arts, I had never thought about letting my energy be carried by the wind. No one had ever said such a thing to me. It wasn’t written in any martial arts manual.
The thrill of learning something new surged through me, even though knowing something and executing it were two different matters.
“First, release your energy.”
I cautiously emitted my energy, as I had when searching for the wild boar yesterday.
“If you’re this slow and cautious, you’ll only be good for capturing techniques. To use it in real combat, you must extend your energy as far as possible as quickly as possible.”
But it wasn’t easy to carry my energy into the wind. I could feel both the wind and my energy, but how could I merge these separate elements? Moreover, the wind Father spoke of wasn’t a strong gust but rather the flow of air around us. I had to find the air flowing directly in front of us to carry my energy into it.
Despite wandering for a while, Father said nothing and didn’t rush me. He simply watched the distant mountains without a word.
Why do people see someone else’s life from their backs? From Father’s back, I should have felt the strength of an absolute master, but instead, I felt loneliness and solitude.
“I see.”
“What?”
Suddenly, the energy I emitted was cut off beyond a hundred sheets.
“Huh! When did my energy reach there?”
I absentmindedly sent my energy into the wind, thanks to the insights gained from my past life. With considerable knowledge acquired from my past, even seemingly difficult tasks became effortless.
“I didn’t even realize.”
Father glanced at me with a slightly annoyed expression. Whether it was a coincidence or luck, it wasn’t something that happened easily.
He then casually remarked, “It doesn’t matter. Anyway, that guy has already fled.”
As the sun began to cast its rays, we encountered the creature we had missed before.
“It’s him!”
Perhaps it was Father’s remark, but I couldn’t tell. Since it wasn’t visible to me. It was remarkable how Father accurately assessed the size and energy of something far away.
“It’s beyond a hundred and fifty sheets. Send your energy into the wind and find it.”
I made another attempt to release my energy into the wind.
Considering my success earlier, it wasn’t that difficult for someone at my level. Ultimately, it was a matter of mindset.
I tried this and that.
Then, it suddenly dawned on me.
I had been trying to impose my energy onto the wind. That was the problem. The deliberate act of imposing my energy onto the wind.
I sent my energy along with the wind. Rather than feeling like riding the wind like a horse, I felt like my energy was intertwining with the wind, like walking side by side with a friend.
And just like that, my energy flowed effortlessly, blending with the wind, and reached beyond a hundred and fifty sheets.
The moment I confirmed what it was, the roar of a ferocious tiger echoed from afar. In that moment of surprise, my extended energy was abruptly cut off.
“It really is a tiger!”
I was surprised by the tiger, and Father was surprised by me. Perhaps he didn’t expect me to grasp his teachings so quickly.
Father, this is just the beginning. I’d like to stroll leisurely along the riverside with you, but we have to ride the current. We have to plunge down the rapids. Our enemy may be facing a storm alone in the middle of the distant ocean right now. Father, please send me to the sea.
That night, perhaps due to drinking alcohol carelessly, I found it hard to fall asleep.
Whenever I grew weary from searching for potent ingredients, I turned to alcohol. During those moments, I often found myself gazing at the stars in the night sky. The same stars that had kept me company on lonely nights shone just as brightly tonight.
My father, too, seemed unable to sleep.
Though I couldn’t discern his true feelings, I wondered if he felt a passion akin to mine for absorbing martial arts, much like a sponge absorbs water.
“Among the Eight Demons, whom does Father trust the most?”
I didn’t necessarily expect an answer, but my father responded.
“Why do you ask?”
On the day our family faced ruin.
Hwamu-gi infiltrated the Cheonma-jeon.
The Cheonma-jeon.
A stronghold guarded like a fortress by three Geumun-jin and six Gwang-jang-sik, as well as selected Majins.
Around the Cheonma-jeon, Eight Demons and their subordinates guarded the Cheonma in all eight directions.
To the north, the Magmaegums of the Bukcheon-geomga led by Ilhwagum-jon.
To the south, the Dogwis of the Namdo-jong led by Hyeolcheon-doma.
To the east, the Cheolgweons of the Dongkwon-mun led by Bulpaegwonma.
To the west, the Gwisulsas of the Seohwan-jin led by Seophunma.
To the northeast, the Mu-yeon-gaeks resembling the Geugaks of the Geuk-rye-moon.
To the southeast, the Jugaeks intoxicated alongside the Great Demons led by Dae-chwima.
To the southwest, the Do-gas researching all kinds of poison alongside the Dokwas led by Dokwang.
To the northwest, the Gwangseungs enraptured by the delusions of the Mabuls led by Mahye-seummin.
At the time, I thought enemies had breached from outside.
But that wasn’t the case.
Later, I learned that no breach had occurred that day. It was certain that someone among the Eight Demons had led the Hwamu-gi into our stronghold.
There may have been one traitor, or there may have been more. Although the identity of the traitor remained unknown, it didn’t matter.
I considered all of them traitors.
After my father’s death, they chose not revenge but quiet contemplation. None of them stepped forward to seek vengeance. If even one of the eight had, I wouldn’t have felt this betrayal.
Yes, I understand. Nobody dared seek revenge against the overwhelming might of Hwamu-gi standing on the corpse of the Heavenly Demon.
You’re all human too, so I understand.
So, you guys should understand too.
In the future, even if I use you to my heart’s content, even if I treat you as expendable tools, I hope you understand. Wouldn’t that be fair?
“If I were to become the Cheonma, I would bend the Eight Demons to my will and put a leash on them.”
“What for?”
Father sat up abruptly, causing the nearby grass to stand on end. I quickly followed suit.
“Why?”
Father was thinking, but they were much farther away than he realized. While Father knew exactly where the hidden tiger lay even in a hundred drawings, he couldn’t gauge how far the hearts of those smiling before us were.
Unable to speak the truth, I offered another reason.
“They are deeply involved in corruption. Not only the perpetrators but also those who flaunt their power.”
Father listened silently to my words, so I continued.
“Of course, in order to maintain harmony within the sect, we must acknowledge their authority. However, they have crossed the line.”
At this time, there had been several incidents involving the Eight Demons.
“Isn’t it time to rein them in properly?”
Father remained silent, but I could sense his inner thoughts from his demeanor.
Father also empathizes. He was clearly dissatisfied with the Eight Demons. If not, my suggestion to rein in their authority would have been met with outright rejection.
“It’s like tearing your groin and bursting your belly with greed.”
“Haha, we can’t afford to be reckless when the future is uncertain. We’ll take it slow and eat less.”
I labeled it as greed, not just empty words or insults.
I understood Father’s inner thoughts. His unsheathed blade, not yet drawn, was aligned with mine.
Don’t worry, Father. I know them better than anyone else.
Returning to the main temple to obtain the last ingredient, the Secret Demon Soul, I spent many years there. As it was a matter for the distant future, I knew everything about the Eight Demons. How they lived their lives and what their ultimate fates were.
“I will set them straight.”
Thus, the night passed with as many thoughts as the stars in the sky.
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