Absolute Regression

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor : TheBattleSage
Editor Notes/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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< Chapter 30: The Reason the Blade Cries >

Seo Daeryong returned empty-handed after leading the Enforcement Martial Artists.

“Yang Tae refused to comply with the arrest. He claimed that the Blade Ghosts could protect themselves on the territory of the Southern Heavens Blade Family. When we tried to forcibly bring him in, his subordinates intervened, leaving us no choice but to retreat.”

Yang Tae had a hundred direct subordinates. If he refused, arresting him would not be easy.

The investigators, their morale at an all-time high, were agitated.

“They’re mocking us.”

“We should forcibly arrest him, even if it means taking all the Enforcement Martial Artists.”

Gok Myung calmed the excited young investigators, advocating for caution.

“We must handle this carefully. If we clash with the Blade Ghosts, many of the Enforcement Martial Artists will get hurt.”

“But we can’t just let this slide, can we?”

Amidst the heated debate among the investigators, I handed them a document.

“Send this to him.”

“Gasp!”

What I showed them was a summons. They were shocked because of the charge written on it.

Treason.

“Does refusing to comply with an arrest warrant constitute treason?”

Even the experienced Gok Myung was unaware of this.

“It does. We are directly appointed by the Cult Leader, while Baek Dogui is appointed by the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Our orders and those of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon cannot conflict. Ultimately, he has disobeyed the Cult Leader’s orders. We don’t even need to go there ourselves. If we send the summons through a messenger, he will come running.”

He would come. If the charge of treason spread to all the Blade Ghosts, they would kill him themselves.

“Yes, understood.”

Seo Daeryong, holding the summons, ran out immediately.

Sure enough, not even an hour after the summons was delivered, Yang Tae appeared at the Underworld Pavilion in person.

The word ‘treason’ was a magical term that made even the most insolent people compliant.

But while it brought him here, it could not make him confess.

Despite the investigators interrogating him for two whole hours, he did not admit to threatening to kill Jonghwa’s younger sister.

As expected, I had to enter the interrogation room myself.

Yang Tae, subdued and seated, flinched when I entered. No matter how strong a Hundred Demonic Blade aura was, it could not compare to the current aura of someone who had slain the Demonic Army Commander.

“Second Young Master.”

“You should address me as the Leader of the Underworld Pavilion.”

“I apologize for my rudeness, Pavilion Leader. The summons mentioned treason. What do you mean by that?”

“I thought this would be the only way to see you.”

When I spoke softly with a smile, Yang Tae responded in kind.

“I apologize for refusing the arrest. As you know, being in an organization often requires us to be mindful of various things. There’s also the matter of saving face in front of your subordinates.”

“I understand.”

“This wasn’t an issue that should have escalated like this. It all started because of some childish pranks.”

“There is some truth to that.”

As I readily agreed, curious to see his next move, Yang Tae seemed encouraged and began to try to placate me.

“I knew you were someone reasonable. We can resolve this amicably.”

“How?”

“As this is your first significant position, you’ll need a lot of external support while running the Underworld Pavilion. It will also require a lot of money.”

So, he was implying he would offer a bribe.

“And that’s not all. When you become the official successor, you’ll absolutely need our support. Right now, everyone is aligning themselves with the First Young Master….”

“If you provide support, it would indeed be helpful. Please, assist me greatly.”

Yang Tae’s expression brightened immediately.

“You truly are a generous person. I will serve you well from now on. We should arrange a proper meeting soon.”

He began to stand up, cautiously watching my reaction.

“Where are you going?”

“Wasn’t our conversation over?”

“You meant you’d help me after you get out of the prison, right?”

At the mention of the prison, Yang Tae’s face hardened.

“Why make such an unpleasant joke?”

I looked up at him, revealing my cold intentions.

“Does this sound like a joke? We’re discussing the charge of threatening to kill a family member of a the Underworld Pavilion investigator.”

“I’ve told you clearly, I never made such a threat.”

“Your statement is irrelevant. The testimony of the threatened investigator has already been accepted.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Our cult has a rule. The testimony of a member of the Underworld Pavilion takes precedence over any conflicting testimonies. This rule was established to uphold the authority of the investigators who enforce the cult’s laws. You probably didn’t know about this. I only found out about this rule recently because of people like you. You’re not the only one who thinks you can get away with everything by insisting on their innocence.”

Yang Tae was too shocked to speak. He couldn’t have imagined that such a situation would unfold when he first arrived here.

Then, a bolt from the blue was added.

“If you confess willingly, I will reduce your sentence to ten years. If you deny it, it will be twenty years. There will be no further negotiations.”

“What, what? Ten years?”

Yang Tae was so surprised that he even stuttered.

“Make your choice.”

“Are you insane?”

Yang Tae’s true nature emerged as his words turned harsh.

“If I need to be insane, so be it. It’s hard to deal with people like you while being sane. Now, you have half an hour to decide.”

In the end, Yang Tae’s composure shattered. With blazing eyes, he spoke.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Not only ten years, but I have no intention of spending even a single day in prison.”

There was no longer any point in talking, so I stood up.

“The trial will be held within a few days.”

“By whose authority?”

“By my authority. You live by your own rules, don’t you?”

His desperate words tried to hold me back as I turned away.

“Wait! Second Young Master! Pavilion Leader! Why are you doing this?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Your son nearly killed a friend by assaulting him. It wasn’t just a one-time fight; he bullied him every day for years. As a parent, you threatened to kill the investigator’s family to cover up the incident. And you still ask why?”

“Do you think we’re the same as some warehouse guards? At least we deserve the treatment befitting our rank, don’t we? Until now, you’ve turned a blind eye to things like this.”

It was a pitiful statement, and at the same time, a frightening one. It was also a statement that propelled me forward.

“Not anymore.”

“If you mess with me, the Demon Supreme won’t just stand by.”

“He will stand by. He did nothing when I killed his own brother. What makes you so special?”

Finally, Yang Tae exploded. He reached the misguided conclusion that he faced this situation because he had tried to be amicable.

Bang!

Yang Tae slammed his fist on the desk, gritting his teeth.

“Listen, Pavilion Leader! I have many friends who would give their lives for me!”

“I guarantee that no one will stand up for you. Who would genuinely risk their life for a trash like you?”

I threw a word at him, as he trembled in rage with bloodshot eyes.

“Why? Want to try threatening to kill my family too?”

Although Yang Tae was agitated, he dared not utter a word.

Watching him swallow his anger, a thought crossed my mind.

Our collapse may not have been entirely due to Hwa Moogi.

When a mere Hundred demonic Blade dares to threaten an Underworld Pavilion investigator and subtly threaten me, the Pavilion Leader, it shows how much discipline has deteriorated.

“Confess willingly.”

I spoke calmly and left the room. As the door closed, the sound of an innocent desk being destroyed echoed behind it. (EN : F for the poor desk, your sacrifice will not be forgotten !!!!)

* * *

That very same day, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon came to see me.

He was sitting in my front yard, his large saber planted in the ground beside him, drinking.

“Come on over, Second Young Master. Or should I call you Pavilion Leader now?”

“Call me whatever you prefer.”

“I prefer Second Young Master, so Second Young Master it is.”

“As you wish.”

“Come and have a drink.”

I sat down across from him without hesitation. Although he suggested we drink together, he didn’t pour me a drink.

“I must have warned you. There’s no good in seeing me too often.”

“You always come to see me whatever I do anyway.”

After staring at me for a moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon abruptly brought up the past.

“There was a moment recently when I saw you in a new light. When you won the duel and made a wish to the Cult Leader, I thought to myself, ‘Yes, that’s it. A smart person would make such a wish.’”

“I also think it was a pretty good wish.”

“Yes, it all started from that day.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon emptied his glass and refilled it. He still didn’t offer me a drink. He poured another drink for himself.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon leaned against the enormous Heaven-Extinguishing Saber he had planted behind him, its overwhelming size contrasting with his thin frame.

“It’s a truly magnificent dao.”

“Aren’t you afraid of it?”

“Why should I be afraid?”

“Because you make my blade cry.”

I did not avert my gaze from the piercing stare of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“Why would the blade cry because of me?”

“Then why does it cry?”

“It cries out of lamentation.”

“For what?”

“Your disciple poisoned me with Energy Dispersing Poison at the martial arts competition. Another disciple of yours insulted my subordinate and refused to apologize. Your younger brother exploited the Demonic Army for his own personal gain, and your subordinate threatened to kill the only family of an investigator from the Underworld Pavilion. The blade cries because it laments seeing the people around its master fail to live up to his character.”

The corners of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s mouth curled up.

“You have a silver tongue.”

“I merely spoke the truth, and it seems to make me a smooth talker.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Please enlighten me.”

“You said that those around me don’t live up to my character, but that’s incorrect. They match my character perfectly. I am only that kind of person.”

Indeed, he was not an easy elder to deal with. Those with high pride or a strong sense of honor were often easier to confront.

“And to be precise, it’s not their fault. It’s yours.”

“You’re saying it’s my fault?”

“When a dragon ascends to heaven, it brings stormy winds and rain.”

“Who is the dragon?”

“Who else? It’s you. And in that storm, my people are getting swept away, aren’t they?”

“What ascension? It’s more like a loach stirring up a muddy pond.”

“A loach becomes a snake, and a snake becomes a dragon.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon emptied his glass again. He still drank alone.

“Damn it! Everything else is fine, but why are my people the only ones getting swept away?”

With a sigh, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon set down his glass and revealed the true reason for his visit.

“Release Yang Tae. Because of you, our Southern Heavens Blade Family’s morale is at rock bottom.”

“If he’s found innocent, he’ll be released.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon began to emit his demonic aura. Feeling its intensity once more, I understood why my father had said I wasn’t ready to handle the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The martial arts of the Demon Supreme were indeed on a different level.

“Let me give you a piece of advice.”

“Don’t.”

“What?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression twisted momentarily, but I calmly continued.

“If you came to ask for a favor, just ask for the favor. Don’t give advice as well. Nowadays, young people find such behavior off-putting.”

It was a situation that could have easily sparked anger, but the old ginger was indeed spicier. Instead of exploding, he reined in his demonic aura with a chuckle.

“You’re right. It’s rare to find someone who gives such straightforward advice these days.”

“You should be cautious. Stagnant water eventually turns foul.”

“Who wants to become stagnant? When you immerse yourself in something, you get attached and might miss the opportunity to let it flow.”

“But we don’t immerse ourselves in stagnant water, do we? Take this chance to let the stagnant water flow away. He’s not worth protecting.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon emptied his glass again. After finishing his drink, he held the glass out to me.

“Will you have a drink with me?”

It was the first time he had offered me a drink since we sat down. I accepted the glass without hesitation.

As he poured the drink, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke.

“Fine, I’ll let the stagnant water flow away.”

“You are truly wise.”

Just as I was about to drink, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon made a significant remark.

“But in return, Young Master, you must become my water from now on.”