Absolute Regression Chapter 388 : Didn’t we form a united front

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker/Notes : Saphartlantis

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Chapter 388: Didn’t we form a united front?

It had been an unexpected ‘joint operation’ between the Orthodox faction and the Demonic Cult.

Baek Jagang glanced at Jin Paecheon, who looked proud, then turned to look at Geom Woojin again.

The one who drew his sword first had been none other than Geom Woojin. He was the one who had summoned Geom Muyang. And now the Heavenly Demon was boasting about his son?

‘Looks like it wasn’t just his appearance that changed.’

Perhaps it was this kind of change that had helped Geom Mugeuk grow.

In fact, at that mont, the one more flustered than Baek Jagang was Bih Sa-in.

Everyone had soone beside them, and he was the only one standing alone, which made him feel like he had done sothing wrong. He felt sorry toward his master.

He wanted to shout on behalf of his master.

‘You two! You’re really being childish!’

You think so too, don’t you?—he looked at Geom Mugeuk with eyes that said as much.

And just then, as if waiting for it, Geom Mugeuk’s voice ca flying in through transmission.

―Later, you have many children! Have seven and line them up! That’s when you get your revenge.

―Can you transmit sothing normal for once?

He regretted looking at him. The guy must have been eagerly waiting for a chance to tease him.

In truth, only Geom Mugeuk could grasp the deeper aning behind their father calling out to his older brother in this mont.

Their father simply wanted to show it. His two sons who had ended the battle for succession without shedding blood. He wanted to proudly display his sons standing side by side. This was both pride and praise.

‘Right? Isn’t the joy of letting live greater than the joy of killing? Others might not know, but you do, Father, don’t you? You know how much harder this is. You’re soone who could kill anyone if you set your mind to it.’

At any rate, Geom Mugeuk could feel it. This mont, standing shoulder to shoulder with his brother—this was their father’s first and last boast about his children in his entire life.

Father, I won’t let it be your last. I’ll make sure you can keep boasting. 1

anwhile, Baek Jagang’s counterattack had begun.

“A tree with many branches knows no days without wind.”

Could a life lived alone be free of loneliness? He had truly lived freely without regrets. And yet, how could he dare to boast about that life in front of this difficult road?

A slight shadow passed over Jin Paecheon’s face, who had just been beaming with pride. Jin Paecheon had been struck directly by that wind—he was the one who had lost his child first. A branch had been broken.

That’s why he had tried his utmost to raise Jin Hagun and Jin Haryeong with great care. The two of them had been the only private desire allowed to soone who had lived entirely for the Martial Alliance and the martial world.

Just when the mood might have turned heavy, Geom Woojin spoke.

“From those branches, flowers bloom, and birds chirp.”

Geom Mugeuk didn’t miss the chance to step forward.

“My brother is the flower, and I’m playing the chirping bird.”

At that, Geom Woojin looked at Geom Muyang and said,

“The flower blooms.”

Then he turned to Geom Mugeuk and added,

“And the wind blows too.”

That was how he corrected it.

Geom Mugeuk put on an exaggerated expression as if to say, “You’re too much.”

At the sight, Jin Haryeong smiled.

In a different sense, she thought Geom Mugeuk was like the wind—a person who suddenly swept in and stirred up a storm, only to disappear in a whisper. That’s why she had co all this way, chasing after that playful wind. 2

Sure enough, as expected, even during today’s gathering, the wind had been blowing without fail.

‘Unimaginable things are really happening.’

She had never even dread she’d be called up to a place where the three of them were gathered like this. And even less did she expect that the conversation would begin with boasting about children.

It was the first ti she had seen the Heavenly Demon this close. And surprisingly, before the thought of “That’s the Heavenly Demon” could occur to her, one thought ca first.

‘That’s his father.’

They looked alike, and yet they didn’t.

Geom Woojin gave off an oppressive aura that made it difficult to even speak to him. Even without knowing he was the Heavenly Demon, it would’ve been the sa. It wasn’t the dignity of his position. Nor was it the kind of fear that ca from a fearso appearance like Fist Demon King or Bih Sa-in. It was the intense presence of Geom Woojin himself, as an individual.

Normally, she should’ve felt fear and rejection.

But she didn’t find it unpleasant. Rather, she wanted to strike up a conversation.

I’ve wanted to et you at least once.

Was it because he was Geom Mugeuk’s father? Though it was her first ti seeing him, it felt like they had t many tis. There was a strange sense of familiarity.

Her gaze now shifted to Geom Muyang. It was the sa with him. Not as the heir of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—

‘So he’s the older brother.’

He gave off a completely different impression from Geom Mugeuk. He had a calm, composed presence and seed like soone who wouldn’t easily show his emotions. If there was any resemblance, it wasn’t to Geom Mugeuk but to her older brother.

She t eyes with Geom Muyang and gave a slight nod. Geom Muyang also gave a slight nod in return.

‘There’s sothing we have in common.’

Both were blood relatives who had been pushed out of succession. Of course, she had never had the ambition to beco the heir in the first place.

‘Whoever ends up marrying you two, the scariest father-in-law in the world is probably waiting.’ 3

Their future father-in-law would be asking,

‘And what does your father do?’

‘He’s the Heavenly Demon.’

Just imagining such a scene made her want to laugh. Anyway, anything related to Geom Mugeuk always made her tense, excited, and amused.

Her gaze now turned toward Bih Sa-in.

Originally, he would’ve been soone difficult to look at directly, but strangely, he didn’t seem so terrifying now.

Maybe it was because he was standing beside her older brother or Geom Mugeuk?

Now, Jin Haryeong turned her eyes to look closely at Baek Jagang.

He gave off a completely different impression from the Heavenly Demon. And he was unlike her grandfather too.

In fact, among the three, just from appearances alone, he was the most difficult to read.

But that black martial robe was telling a few stories of its own.

To show up in such an outfit to a gathering like this? Normally, it would make you think:

I'm not soone who cares about outward appearances.

But there was no such intention sensed from it.

Instead, what ca through was this: if sothing were to break out here, he’d be dressed in the most practical attire for a fight.

His intention was completely swallowed by that will, and it felt utterly natural. A person who focused entirely on himself, rather than on appearances or justification. And that’s why he also looked incredibly strong.

She looked around at the people on this floor and let out a soft sigh without realizing it. Just being in a place like this was astonishing.

Did Jin Paecheon, who stood nearby, hear her sigh?

“Did you know my granddaughter is known as the Beauty of Hubei?”

Or perhaps it reminded him of his deceased son and daughter-in-law?

Jin Paecheon had never once boasted about his grandchildren to the martial artists of the Martial Alliance or the orthodox sects.

The Alliance Leader bragging like a fool about his grandson and granddaughter?

That was sothing the prideful and honor-bound Jin Paecheon would never allow himself to do.

And so today’s boast had been one long held back. A boast ant for the two people in front of him, as well as a subtle boast directed at the martial masters of the orthodox sects on the first floor who pretended not to notice.

Jin Paecheon looked back at Jin Haryeong.

“This old man thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”

With him saying such a thing right in front of everyone, Jin Haryeong’s face turned bright red. 4

‘Please don’t! Grandpa! I’m begging you!’

She struggled to reply calmly.

“There are so many beautiful people in the world. Others will tease .”

“And who would dare tease my granddaughter?”

At that, the eyes of Bih Sa-in and Jin Hagun turned, as if waiting for the cue, toward one person. Even Geom Muyang, eting Jin Paecheon for the first ti today, looked at Geom Mugeuk standing beside him with an expression that said, “Who else could it possibly be but this guy?”

Jin Paecheon looked at the man in question and asked,

“What do you think?”

Jin Haryeong tensed slightly, wondering what words would co out of Geom Mugeuk’s mouth. It was obvious he would joke around and tease her.

“I think so too. If there were a Most Beautiful Woman Under Heaven contest, Lady Jin would definitely win. Even if the Alliance Leader isn’t one of the judges, she’ll still win!”

Jin Paecheon smiled in satisfaction.

The heirs gave faint smiles at Geom Mugeuk’s response. He could’ve just said, “She’s the most beautiful,” but instead he brought up a whole contest and even ntioned the judging.

There’s probably no one else in the world who would respond like that to the Martial Alliance Leader—only Geom Mugeuk.

Jin Haryeong found Geom Mugeuk’s response amusing, but at the sa ti, it made her happy. Even though there was soone as beautiful as Lee Ahn, she was thankful that he had said such words in front of her grandfather.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Of course, what she was really thinking was:

―Even though you think the Most Beautiful Woman Under Heaven is Lee Ahn.

When she sent that as a voice transmission to Geom Mugeuk, a reply quickly ca back.

―Even if your grandfather were the judge, Lee Ahn would probably still win first place.

Grandfather, he’s teasing ! I should tattle on him!

Today, Jin Paecheon was busy. He was fully committed. Now he began boasting about Jin Hagun.

“People say raising a son is useless, but a son is still a son, isn’t he?”

Then he looked at Jin Hagun standing behind him.

“Full of chivalry and responsibility. Where could you find a son like this? I’m proud of you.”

Of course, he was actually his grandson, but he referred to him as a son to make a comparison with the other successors.

Jin Hagun was flustered. Jin Paecheon was not soone who usually treated him kindly. In fact, he had always been even stricter and more frightening toward him, fearing he might abuse the fact that he was the grandson of the Alliance Leader. It had been so long since he’d heard words of pride from him that it moved him deeply.

Today’s comparison involved Geom Mugeuk and Bih Sa-in. How could he say he was better than those two? Still, just for this mont, he skipped over humility.

“It is thanks to Grandfather’s excellent teachings and guidance.”

After saying it, he realized—when had he ever said sothing like that to his grandfather before? Had he ever? Strangely, he couldn’t even rember.

It had been a long ti since he’d heard the words “I’m proud of you”, but he hadn’t properly expressed his thanks either. 5

Jin Hagun sent a voice transmission to Geom Mugeuk.

―Did you know? I can’t even rember the last ti I thanked Grandfather.

At so point, Geom Mugeuk had beco the kind of person he could share this kind of honest feeling with, comfortably.

―Aren’t we those sons they ntioned earlier? The useless ones raised for nothing.

Maybe that was why. He was soone who could read your heart and offer comfort. Soone who could even show the way forward.

―Still, once we mature a little more, we’ll grow up properly, won’t we?

Jin Hagun thought that just being able to feel a renewed sense of connection with his grandfather made this summit aningful.

Baek Jagang may have thought that Bih Sa-in was still lacking compared to Geom Mugeuk, but he had never once thought lacked anything compared to Jin Hagun. Second place might be tolerable, but third—absolutely not.

‘No matter how much they boast, they can’t beat our Sa-in.’

He resolved that before this gathering ended, he would make that much perfectly clear.

In any case, ever since the three successors ca up, the atmosphere on the second floor had changed. At the very least, conversations had begun to flow more actively. 6

The Demon Supres were having similar thoughts about Geom Mugeuk.

As expected! It only gets resolved once the Young Cult Leader gets involved.

Geom Mugeuk didn’t miss the montum. He called out toward the floor below.

“Owner, bring us so liquor and dishes, please.”

“Understood.”

Jo Chunbae brought up the drinks and side dishes.

He had walked up and down this second floor countless tis, but never before had he been so nervous.

‘If I spill it, I’m spilling my life with it!’

His hands were trembling terribly, but he mustered all the courage he had.

He set down the liquor and dishes at each person’s seat. It was the most tense and suffocating mont of his entire life.

“Please enjoy.”

Just as he was about to turn back, Jin Paecheon asked Jo Chunbae,

“Do you know why the Young Cult Leader chose your tavern to host this gathering?”

Jo Chunbae had never imagined the Martial Alliance Leader would ask him sothing like that.

“I’m not quite sure myself.”

Jin Paecheon believed there had to be another reason for choosing this particular tavern. How good could the alcohol really be? And how comndable could the tavern owner’s character possibly be? Even if both were top-tier—why here, of all places?

At that mont, soone unexpected answered instead.

“My son’s Demonic Path is here.”

The most surprised by those words was Geom Mugeuk himself. He never dread that his father would say sothing like that.

One sentence from his father’s mouth:

My son’s Demonic Path.

Geom Mugeuk was overwheld. He was so happy it left him dazed. 7

Jin Paecheon stared at Geom Woojin in silence for a mont. He hadn’t expected Geom Woojin to answer in his place either. His son’s Demonic Path is here?

Had it been any other topic, Jin Paecheon might not have continued the conversation, but since it was about a child, he asked out of courtesy.

“Do you, Cult Leader, know what kind of Demonic Path your son walks?”

Everyone’s attention turned to Geom Woojin. Even those on the first floor were now listening closely to the conversation. The Demon Supres, especially, were curious to hear his response.

After a brief pause, Geom Woojin replied.

“I am trying to understand.” 8

The word “trying” ant different things to different people. Most interpreted it as a roundabout way of saying he didn’t acknowledge it, but for Geom Mugeuk and those who knew Geom Woojin, it was different.

He is trying to understand .

From the very beginning, when his father answered in his place, Geom Mugeuk had already felt his father’s heart. That answer hadn’t been for the Martial Alliance Leader. It had been for him.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to his father’s back.

‘Thank you, Father.’

Perhaps in return for that earlier question, Geom Woojin now turned and asked Jin Paecheon,

“How well do you understand your grandchildren, Alliance Leader?”

Jin Paecheon hadn’t expected such a question, so he was unsure how to respond. But he answered honestly. If it were about any other subject, he might have brushed it off—but when it ca to family, he took it seriously.

“I’m trying as well.”

It felt like, for the first ti since this eting began, so kind of mutual understanding was beginning to form.

Then, Baek Jagang suddenly turned to Jin Paecheon and asked,

“Then, do you know what kind of Righteous Path your grandchild dreams of?”

Jin Paecheon was caught off guard. He’d never had a conversation about that with them before. 9

“You say you’re trying—perhaps it’s nothing more than lip service.”

It was Baek Jagang’s courteous counterattack. After having been so unreasonably cornered earlier, he wasn’t the type to let things go quietly. Talking about children with pride? He hadn’t even started yet.

Jin Paecheon was about to defend himself but then glanced toward Geom Woojin. After all, it was he who had brought up the subject of his son’s Demonic Path, and Jin Paecheon hoped he might step in with a word.

There was no need for him to make a pathetic excuse. If Geom Woojin just said a single sentence, that would be enough.

‘You wouldn’t understand until you’ve gone through it, but talking properly with grown children isn’t as easy as you think.’

Just that much would suffice. He didn’t even expect him to add sothing like, “It’s hard when they’re young, and it’s hard when they’re older.”

Didn’t we form a righteous-demonic joint front together? Hadn’t we bonded over shared blood ties?

As Jin Paecheon looked at him with hopeful eyes, Geom Woojin replied calmly,

“I’ve been having conversations with my son quite often lately.”

1 : Even…. No, especially if he have to force him XDXDXD

2 : Yup, the wind of change. Though him being a chirping bird does match too XDXDXD

3 : That’s… an oddly specific thing to think about. Is there anything on your mind lately ? ^^

4 : Look, there is steam coming out from her ears !!! XDXDXD

5 : At the very least, if all else fails, they will all have received rare praises today ^^ Not that I’m really worried.

6 : You know this atmosphere reminds a lot of a certain party in Moon Labyrinth, where the initial the of alcohol and companionship suddenly changed to telling stories about their grandkids. The skimpily dressed waiters felt quite awkward XDXDXD

7 : Whoa, I feel emotional too…. Our Demonic Path is one where we do not break tables !!! ^^

8 : Considering how different Mugeuk’s Path is from his own, it shows how much effort Geom Woojin does in the background.

9 : That’s typically the kind of important thing you just assu the other party is aligned with, until it’s too late. Always ask, always verify, social relationships are hard.