Absolute Regression Chapter 407 : If You Prepare, I Will Prepare Too

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker/Notes : Saphartlantis

========================

Chapter 407: If You Prepare, I Will Prepare Too

I was drinking tea at a tea house while watching people pass by.

People walked down the snow-covered road without slipping at all. Just like the people living under the sandstorms of the Wilderness, the people of the Northern Sea lived alongside the snow.

The person I was supposed to et here was soone I was eting for the first ti today. So I didn’t know who among the passersby would suddenly enter the Tea House and sit across from .

The reason I pressed down my bamboo hat was not to hide myself, but because of the person I was eting. He was soone whose life depended on secrecy.

How much ti had passed like that?

A middle-aged man naturally sat down in the seat in front of .

"Oh dear, it’s cold."

The man, with a plump and kind appearance, was none other than the Northern Sea Branch Leader of Hidden Moon.

All the information networks of Heavenly Communication Pavilion and Hidden Moon were currently focused on the Northern Blood Gate and Northern Sea Ice Palace. It was Hidden Moon who had urgently contacted , saying there was sothing to report. Although it was sothing that could have been conveyed through a long-distance transmission, I wanted to et the Branch Leader once.

"Have a warm cup of tea first. You've had a hard ti."

I poured tea into his cup. I wanted to offer at least a warm cup of tea to a subordinate who had been working hard, even if I couldn't offer liquor.

Of course, liquor would have been better, but the reason I chose the Tea House instead of an inn as the eting place was because of Song Sa-hyuk. Although I had told Han Seol that we would drink next ti, until my elder brother drank, I had decided not to drink either.

While I was pouring the tea, the man quickly sent a transmission.

―Yang Joong, the second son of Northern Blood Gate, has died.

It was unexpected news. I had anticipated that Yang Joong would be pushed out from the succession with this incident, but.

Dead? The courteous image of the Northern Blood Gate Master, who had invited , flashed through my mind.

'He’s much more ruthless than he appears.'

What on earth is he plotting, to the point of killing his own child?

They could easily fabricate a reason for the death. Since it was the son of the Northern Blood Gate Master, no one would dare step up to investigate the cause.

This report allowed to deduce one clear fact.

The Northern Blood Gate was definitely connected to the Blood King.

If not, he wouldn’t have hastily handled this matter by killing even his own son.

―Now, pay attention to the movents of the eldest son of Northern Blood Gate.

―I will inform you imdiately if I detect any special movents.

―Thank you.

The man left first.

I stayed behind for a while, finished my tea, and then left the Tea House.

As I opened the Tea House door and stepped out, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

The na Northern Blood Gate was truly a na born of fate.

A gate that would lead to the Blood King.

Ah, Blood King. Do you know this?

The northern gate is also the gate that leads to the afterlife.[a]

* * *

When Geom Mugeuk returned, the Great Drunken Demon delivered good news.

"I found out why she was killed."

He had deliberately not told Lee Ahn and Han Seol, planning to speak only when Geom Mugeuk returned and everyone was gathered.

"I knew our Demon Supre would find out."

In front of Han Seol, Geom Mugeuk addressed Song Sa-hyuk not as an elder brother but as a Demon Supre.

Now that everyone had gathered, the Great Drunken Demon revealed how he had discovered it.

"First, I examined the letters recently exchanged with her, operating on the firm belief that it was related to liquor. Most of our conversations were indeed about liquor."

Since the letters were ones collected by Forr Master Brewer, it was natural that what he had read were letters he had sent. That made it very difficult to find any clues.

"Then I found this passage."

Song Sa-hyuk showed them a line.

―I too want to try Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor.

Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor was a liquor neither Geom Mugeuk nor Lee Ahn had ever heard of. In contrast, Han Seol knew well about Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor.

"Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor isn't just an ordinary liquor. It's a liquor with special effects."

"What kind of effects?"

"It helps you endure the cold. Normally, drinking liquor warms the body and makes you feel less cold, but Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor is particularly remarkable in that effect."

The Great Drunken Demon, too, was well aware of Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor’s properties. And the mont he saw the term Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor, one fact ca to mind.

"This ti, the constitution they were looking for was the Extre Cold Constitution, right?"

Extre Cold Constitution and Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor. They both had the commonality of enduring the cold.

"Isn’t it quite a coincidence?"[b]

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn nodded.

At that mont, Han Seol raised a question.

"Isn’t it still lacking as a reason to say Forr Master Brewer was killed just for that?"

"You're right, it is."

Song Sa-hyuk readily agreed and added another decisive reason.

"From what I know, Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor is a liquor that can only be made with the permission of the Ice Palace."

"That's correct. Any liquor with special effects must be authorized by the Palace."

"But when we reviewed the records of liquor production at Hundred Liquors Snow Courtyard earlier, there was no ntion of Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor."

"No ntion? That can't be right."

If so, it was certainly suspicious.

"Soone must have secretly asked her to make it."

The Great Drunken Demon agreed with Geom Mugeuk’s speculation.

"The fact that she inford about it ans she never imagined the liquor would be used for anything bad. It was probably soone she trusted who asked her. Soone she could believe in."

It was an assumption possible only because he knew her well.

"Did she say who asked her to make it?"

Song Sa-hyuk shook his head with a look of regret.

"She didn’t tell that part. She just said it was her first ti making Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor and that it was a really good experience, and I replied that I wanted to try it."

"To deduce the answer from just that passage... truly impressive."

Geom Mugeuk praised the Demon Supre. It was not just empty words but sincere praise. Indeed, the Great Drunken Demon was a smarter man than he had expected.

"Since I’m not drinking, my mind must be spinning sharp and clear!"

Smiling at Song Sa-hyuk’s joke, Geom Mugeuk looked at Han Seol.

Han Seol could tell what Geom Mugeuk wanted.

"I'll find out who asked for the Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor to be made."

Though she answered, a doubt arose — would she really be able to find out? If it had been made without the Palace's permission, the process would have been thoroughly hidden. Had he read such a thing from her heart?

"Move together with Lee Ahn."

Han Seol rejected Geom Mugeuk’s suggestion.

"It's more convenient for to investigate alone."

Even sharing a room was already burdenso enough. And now, being told to roam around together during the day too? It was an unpleasant thought.

"I know."

"Then why are you saying this?"

"Because I fear for your safety."

Not just Han Seol, but also Lee Ahn and the Great Drunken Demon found that an unexpected reason.

"Are you saying you're worried about the safety of the Young Palace Master from the Ice Palace?"

Then, Geom Mugeuk relayed the news he had just learned.

"Yang Joong has died."

The one who was most shocked was Lee Ahn.

"He died? Why?"

"To the Northern Blood Gate Master, he must have been just another tail."

That one sentence contained everything.

After all, he was a man who had deceived and brought so many people only to kill them in experints; he was a man who deserved to die. But the fact that the one who killed him was his father — that was shocking.

Han Seol, too, was surprised, but not because of Yang Joong’s death. She was surprised that Geom Mugeuk knew of his death before she did.

'Their intelligence network is better than ours? Even here in the Northern Sea? Does Mother know about this?'

As Han Seol briefly drifted into other thoughts, Geom Mugeuk gave her a warning.

"You must never let your guard down. The fact that the Northern Blood Gate Master's son t his death within the Northern Blood Gate — that is the essence of this matter."

In broader terms, it ant that within the Northern Sea Ice Palace, the offspring of the Ice Palace Master could also die in this battle.

"That’s why you must move together with Lee Ahn."

In Geom Mugeuk’s gaze, Han Seol felt an authority she could not resist. It was not an oppressive attitude. It was a compulsion born from a heart that truly cared for her.[c]

"Alright."

Han Seol no longer refused. After all, this was the first ti she had ever felt such tension while living as the daughter of the Ice Palace Master.

Geom Mugeuk looked at Lee Ahn. There was no need for words, no need for a transmission, not even a nod. She would handle it well on her own. Just a glance was enough.[d]

After the two won left the room, only Geom Mugeuk and Song Sa-hyuk remained.

"They're looking for a way to endure extre cold. Why? Are they trying to master so unknown martial art? Or are they plotting so conspiracy related to the Northern Sea Ice Palace?"

At the Great Drunken Demon’s question, Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat.

"I have sowhere to go. Brother, secretly protect Lee Ahn and the Young Palace Master."

"Where are you suddenly trying to go?"

Geom Mugeuk spoke with an enigmatic smile.

"I'm going to prepare for the cold too."[e]

"What do you an?"

Leaving behind the curious Demon Supre, Geom Mugeuk also left the room.

"At least answer before you go! Hurry! I told you, I get sensitive when I don't drink!"

* * *

Even if he wanted to answer, it was sothing he absolutely could not reveal. He had co to handle sothing related to his pre-regression life.

Using the Star Light Step, he instantly flew to the Snowy Mountains.

Among the vast Snowy Mountains, he headed to the coldest, most ferocious place: Great Wind Valley. This place was said to have the strongest winds in the world.

Whoooooooooooooosh.

A terrifyingly strong wind blew through the valley. It was known as the Wind Valley that even masters trained in martial arts could not pass through. A place where the wind would tear apart human flesh and bone. On top of that, the snow whipped along with the wind, making it nearly impossible to see.

The people of the Northern Sea called the wind here Mad Killing Wind. It was truly a mad, deadly wind. It was so cold and vicious that even if one raised their inner energy to protect their body, crossing the valley was no easy task. Truly a marvel crafted by nature.

After hearing the speculation that the enemies were seeking a way to endure extre cold, he realized it was ti to co here.

Before regression, when he had wandered all over in search of materials for the Great Regression Technique, he had traveled to all sorts of places. When encountering places like this, he had instead stubbornly pushed further inside.

He had even co here back then.

Ugh, honestly, he had no confidence to live that life again.

Whoooooooooooosh.

Breaking through the wind, he continued to walk deeper into the valley.

The further he went, the stronger the wind beca.

The wind blew so fiercely it seed it would tear apart even Protective Energy, and he had to use his internal energy just to avoid being blown away, so advancing further was truly not easy.

'It was around here.'

As he kept walking, he entered a crack in the right-side wall. It was a place where he could briefly shelter his body from the outside wind.

Back then, he had also hidden himself here.

It must have been fate. Discovering that there was a passage leading elsewhere at the edge of this crack. It was during a ti when he ticulously explored every nook and cranny.[f]

There was another gap invisible to the eye. A narrow gap hidden behind thick vines.

It didn’t look like sowhere anyone would want to enter. It made one naturally think, "If I try to squeeze through there, I'll die stuck for sure".

I entered inside. I kept going through the narrow gap where just one person could barely pass.

After I completely passed through it, a slightly wider space appeared.

It was as if I had co to another world — sunlight stread in, and grass and trees grew there. Outside, cutting winds were blowing, but here, a brook flowed gently. It was a place where one could feel the ancient mystery.

"It's been a long ti."

In the middle of it stood a tree. On that tree was a white fruit, looking as if a chunk of ice hanging. This was the legendary elixir.

Millennium Snow Fruit.

It could provide far greater internal energy than the Millennium Snow Ginseng, and it had one more incredible effect.

Not only did it make one strong against the cold, but it also allowed any cold-attributed energy to be absorbed easily. Moreover, it allowed one to withstand attacks imbued with extrely cold internal energy.[g]

For example, even if struck by Cold Ice Palm, one's blood vessels would not be damaged by the cold. On the contrary, it ant mastering the Cold Ice Palm would be much easier than for others.

In the past, after obtaining the Heavenly Qi Pill from the Poison King, my body had beco resistant to both heat and cold due to reaching the stage of Heat and Cold Immunity. However, this Millennium Snow Fruit was a specialized elixir for enduring cold. If both elixirs overlapped, it would be possible to withstand even cold that surpassed all limits.

In my pre-regression life, I had not been able to consu the Millennium Snow Fruit.

The cold energy contained within it was too powerful; attempting to consu it recklessly would freeze one’s blood vessels imdiately. It was an elixir that perhaps only soone like the Ice Palace Master, who had fully mastered the Ice Cold Divine Art, could consu.

I still rembered.

The words I spoke as I left behind the Millennium Snow Fruit.

If fate allows, we shall et again.

At that ti, I already had the belief that I might find my way back here after regression.

Now, I could finally attempt it. I had obtained internal energy incomparable to before, my blood vessels had been forged through the Heavenly ridian Strengthening Technique, and, above all, I had achieved the full mastery of the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique.

I believed that the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique, with his Twelve Stars, would protect my body from the cold emitted by the Millennium Snow Fruit.

If even a sliver of doubt remained in this belief, I should not attempt to consu the Millennium Snow Fruit. It was certain that I would suffer severe internal injuries otherwise.

However, I felt it deep in my bones — this was fate.

I had discovered this place before regression, achieved full mastery of the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique, found and sought to exploit the Heat and Cold Immunity.

Fate was telling .

The ti had co to consu the Millennium Snow Fruit. No — it was commanding that I must consu it.

Along with fate, my instincts were also telling .

If you are preparing for the extre cold, then I too shall prepare.

'Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique, I’m relying on you.'

The mont I grabbed the Millennium Snow Fruit, a chill so intense it felt like my whole body would freeze surged through . Just touching it, the Millennium Snow Fruit was warning of its danger — if I ate it, it would kill .

Without hesitation, I consud the Millennium Snow Fruit.

The mont it entered my mouth, I felt a cold unlike anything I had ever experienced. I had thought it would be hard and take ti to lt, but that was not the case. The instant it entered my mouth, it lted instantly, and an extre coldness spread throughout my body.

The Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique was already activated, resisting the icy chill.

Sssssssssss.

The coldness was so intense that a scream almost burst from my mouth.

It was hard to believe that sothing this cold could even exist in the world.

Even though the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique had activated, I felt the pain as if my whole body was freezing solid. I wanted to expel this energy from my body imdiately. A fear that I might die overwheld .

'Endure, I must endure.'

While enduring and dissolving the energy of the Millennium Snow Fruit, I recited the formulas of the Nine Calamities Demon Art, recalling the Demonic Fiends.

I thought of East, West, North, and South, and recalled the Heavenly Demon Spirit I had seen in visions.

I recalled everything related to the Nine Calamities Demon Art and the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique.

Even that was not enough to endure it, so I thought of my father. I recalled the sight of him mocking .

It worked.

Even in this agonizing situation, surprisingly, a smile appeared on my lips.

I endured, and endured again.

And the result was a great success.

I succeeded in dissolving all the energy of the Millennium Snow Fruit.

A large amount of internal energy was added to my dantian, and most importantly, I achieved what I had desired.

The cold energy of the Millennium Snow Fruit had permanently perated my blood vessels.

Unless energy colder than the Millennium Snow Fruit invaded my body, no coldness would be able to harm .

I felt joy at having gained another weapon to oppose them.

This was how I was growing stronger and stronger.

"I will surely use this strength for good."

I brought my hands together in front of the Millennium Snow Fruit tree and bowed, then left the place.

Passing through the narrow passage, I returned to the valley where the Mad Killing Wind blew.

Whooooooooooooooosh.

A trendous wind assaulted .

Even though I had not raised my internal energy to protect my body, the skin-piercing wind did not feel cold at all.

To exaggerate a little, the Mad Killing Wind had now beco a spring breeze and a warm wind to .

Before regression, I had turned back the way I ca. I could not go any deeper into the valley back then.

But today, I was curious. Curious about what lay at the end.

Thus, I began walking toward the source of the wind.

[a]I wish I could show off like always, but I have no idea what reference this is.

Maybe sothing about the disposition of King Yama's palace and the cycle of reincarnation ?

Or the position of the Gate of Death in the formation of life and Death ?

[b]Nah, it's clearly linked, but for what purpose ?

Did they found a legacy hidden into an absolute zero zone ?

Or is it to create the best physique for their puppet Hwa Moogi ? After all, it was never denied that he was a jiangshi....

[c]The 'deception' has already started ^^

[d]^^

[e]*Go buy a winter coat* ^^

[f]Gotta break ALL the pots, collect ALL the loot, and read ALL the lore.

Only then can oone be called a true completionist.

[g]Extre Yin category.

We'll probably find an Extre Yang lying around sowhere int he future, eh ? ^^