Absolute Regression

274th Not a political war, but a political war.

Becoming the Murim lord was Jinhagun’s long-time dream.

I grew up watching my grandfather from a young age. This is something I have heard countless times from people around me.

You should follow in your grandfather’s footsteps.

Of course, I thought that when I became an adult, I would naturally become a Murim lord. However, the grandfather announced that he would hand over the position of successor to someone with the ability and qualifications.

So I tried and tried again. Because becoming the Murim lord was Jin Ha-gun’s life itself. Because I couldn’t even imagine a life without becoming a Murim lord.

But what? Are you giving up on being the Murim Lord?

It was the most shocking thing Jinha had ever heard in his life.

Seeing Jinha’s expression harden, Hyeolcheondoma and Gwonma glanced at each other. I could see that the sword dance had sent some sort of signal.

Because they had experienced it too, they could guess what state Jinha was in now.

Bisain was also sitting across from me, so I saw his expression.

‘no!’

Of course, that didn’t mean he came between the two people and interrupted the conversation.

But Seo Baek-jung, who was in a hurry, had no such courtesy.

Seo Baek-jung sent a message to Jin Ha-gun.

-What are you talking about?

I shouldn’t have intervened like this, but Jinha’s expression was unusual.

-Please wait a moment.

From the short answer, Seo Baek-jung sensed that something was wrong. Jinha told me to wait, but I couldn’t.

―If the leader of the Demonic Cult is trying some trick, you must not overlook it!

Hearing Seo Baek-jung’s message, Jin Ha looked at him coldly. Leading the Murim League’s elite organization, the Destruction Demon Corps, his prayers overwhelmed Seobaekjung.

Seo Baek-jung could no longer intervene due to the sharp reaction. I had a bad feeling. His eyes turned to the sword dance. From the first time I saw him, he was not an easy opponent. Can Jinha really handle the role of author? Seo Baek-jung sensed that a variable had occurred.

Jinhagun sent a message to Geommugeuk.

―Are you giving up your position as leader? What does that mean?

He tried to remain as calm as possible, but his voice was shaking.

―It means that if you obtain Cheonhwamun, you will not be able to obtain the position of Murim lord.

Jinha’s heart, which he had worked hard to calm down, began to beat rapidly again. The word Murim lord is like a weakness to him.

This is a modified work. You must never pass over. Jinha drank the drink in front of him. After controlling my mind like that, I asked calmly.

-Tell me the reason.

Geommugeuk did not answer right away. Everyone around them focused on the two people. Everyone felt it. A very important conversation is taking place between the two people.

Geomseon sent a message to Hyeolcheondoma.

-As long as I’m around, you’d better not engage in vain tricks.

It seems like Geomseon felt something uneasy. Since they were experts, they could sense emotional changes just by changing the air currents.

-We live in a time when old people cannot interfere even if they want to. All we can do is just watch.

In response to Hyeolcheondoma’s answer, Geomseon spoke in a flirtatious tone.

-When you have to meddle, you have to meddle.

The two men’s personalities clearly had similarities.

―Isn’t that why our school can’t fight political factions?

Geomseon smiled slightly because it was a high praise for someone who said he couldn’t play because of him.

―Why are you sacrificing so much just because your juniors are so grateful to you?

―It’s not about sacrifice, it’s about living the right life.

-Live your own life.

If someone else had said it, it would have been frowned upon. However, the Hyeolcheon cutting board was an exception.

-Now what… I’ve lived like this my whole life. How can that life easily change?

-It could change.

Hyeolcheondoma’s gaze naturally turned towards the sword dance. Geomseon’s gaze also turned towards Geommugeuk and Jinhagun, wondering what Hyeolcheondoma’s last words meant.

At this moment, Jinha was urging the sword dance.

-Tell me the reason!

Then Geommugeuk stared at him and answered.

-You know the reason, right?

The moment Jinha heard those words, his heart sank. Geommugeuk began to uncover what he had been trying so hard to keep buried.

Jin Ha-gun’s gaze passed through the sword dance and turned to the person standing in the distance. He was Seo Cheong.

He is the one who killed an innocent person. Jinha was still thinking about what to do with him. It was because of such concerns that Seo Baek-jung did not say a single friendly word to his son when he first introduced him.

-What do you mean?

After asking, Jinha regretted it. I pretended not to notice in the hope that it would be something else.

‘shit.’

Even if it was for another reason, I shouldn’t have asked. You dreamed of becoming a Murim lord, but you pretended not to know to avoid the truth?

So, as if he had done something else, the sword dance precisely hit his weak spot.

-I mean Seocheong.

Jinha bit his molars without realizing it. Wake! Don’t let that guy stop you. Unfortunately, this was not an opponent for whom such determination would work.

―Didn’t you come here knowing what kind of crime he had committed?

―I am….

Jinha tried to answer calmly.

-I was going to think about what to do with him once I finished the Cheonhwamun affair.

―You will punish me later?

After a moment, Geomugeuk asked.

―Isn’t that something that shouldn’t be done?

The words of the sword dance flew like a dagger and struck. It was something he had to say.

Isn’t that what you demonic religion, your religious faction shouldn’t be like?

Geommugeuk was feeling Jinhagun’s agitation. So I am hopeful. He is still young. There is still much to learn and experience. It’s okay if you know how to be shy. It’s okay to kick off the blanket when you’re young.

The sound of the sword dance continued.

―The moment you obtain the Cheonhwamun, you will fail the test given by the Murim Lord.

-A test?

At the word “test,” Jinha came to his senses.

-exactly. This is the Lord’s test.

-How do you know that?

-Because I met your leader.

―Are you telling me, your grandson, that you know Lord Maeng because you have met him many times?

―That’s right, the number of times we met must have been incomparably greater than yours. However, great master.

Geommugeuk looked straight at him and asked.

―Have you been looking straight at your grandfather all this time?

For a moment, Jinha was shocked. Are you looking straight at your grandfather?

Of course I was watching.

The words didn’t come out right away. Because my grandfather… was a very difficult person for me.

―What do you want to say?

Jinha’s voice rose slightly. His composure was already broken and he was getting excited.

―What I’m saying is that because he’s a close person, I don’t see him anymore. At least I did.

Geommugeuk honestly conveyed what he felt. Because I knew that even if I tried all kinds of verbal techniques, it was sincerity that ultimately moved the other person’s heart.

-I never really saw my father before. I couldn’t see it because I was scared, and I couldn’t see it because I could see it at any time. Only recently have I been trying to see it properly. That’s why I said that. Even if you see it a hundred or thousand times, if you don’t look at it properly, you may not know it as well as someone who saw it once.

The gazes of the two people intertwined in midair.

Jinha could not deny Geommugeuk’s words. However, I couldn’t just believe it. My grandfather wasn’t thinking about that, but I thought he might be falling for the sword dance show’s trick. It was confusing.

-I doubt you. How can you be sure that these words are not a ploy to take over Cheonhwamun Gate?

Then the sword dance hit the nail on the head again.

-Then why are you looking at me?

-What do you mean?

-When in doubt, you should look at your grandfather. Shouldn’t the answer be found there?

-!

Suddenly, Jinha remembered the time when he went to say hello to his grandfather before leaving here.

Come to think of it, my grandfather never said a single word about Cheonhwamun. We must get Cheonhwamun or how we should conduct ourselves.

He just told me to have a nice trip. Those eyes that looked at you.

Are those eyes really the look of joy at having obtained the Cheonhwamun without punishing the unrighteous?

no.

Maybe he knew. I just pretended not to know. Because it was something the master suggested for himself. Could it be that the master instead said what he wanted to say?

Let’s make a big contribution and become the successor!

Jinha’s face heated up. Even if I pretended not to know or made excuses as a teacher, I knew. That he did it because he wanted to.

―The person who connected you with that Lord of Heavenly Flowers does not want you to become a leader.

Jinha’s expression suddenly hardened.

Geommugeuk was able to learn one thing from that reaction.

‘He is close to Jinha.’

It was definitely someone closer to Jinha, not Seo Baekjung.

Jinha trusted his master. I respect and follow him more than anyone else.

The reason Master proposed this job was also to make himself the leader.

‘You must trust your master! ‘You must not fall for this bullying!’

Bisain was watching Jinha’s expression change every moment.

What on earth did he say that made Jinha, whom he met for the first time, fall into such a rage?

Actually, if I thought about it myself, I came up with an answer. If you think about how your feelings have changed after encountering sword dance. In reality, what was going on at this drinking party was not a war between political affairs, but a war between political enemies.

Bisain sent a message to Geommugeuk.

-You are the greatest villain in this martial arts forest!

―Transferring is involved, so transfer later!

-No! Please get tangled up and understand this nonsense.

Bisain was surprised that he was saying this. I really didn’t know that a person like me could make jokes like this with someone. I thought I wouldn’t be able to have a true conversation with anyone with this ugly scar.

In the meantime, Seo Cheong sent a message to Seo Baekjung.

-Why is it so quiet?

– We are having a conversation using full voice.

-Someday, I will take revenge on that Demonic Cult leader. Please avenge my father!

Seo Baek-jung felt sorry for his son who couldn’t even understand the atmosphere. He doesn’t even say he will take revenge, but please take revenge. Compared to those three successors, it was even more pathetic.

However, raising him like this is ultimately his own responsibility.

-Don’t act rashly and stay quiet.

They say that a position makes a person, so I thought that if I create a big position and pass it on, I will become a person worthy of it. It was a complacent thought. Raising a child, even just a part of the effort that went into raising Cheonhwamun, took greater effort than all of that effort.

The price of avoiding that responsibility was now saying this before my eyes

– Should I run away quietly, just in case?

Seo Baek-jung sighed and answered.

-It’s already late. So stay calm.

Meanwhile, the sword dance and Jinhagun’s war music continued.

-Okay, let’s say you’re right. Why are you telling me this? To take over Cheonhwamun Gate?

-Of course there is that reason, but there is a bigger reason than that.

-what?

-I want you to be a person who sticks to principles.

A cold prayer spewed out from Jinha’s body. He didn’t even want to hear Mine talk about principles.

As he gained momentum, everyone around him tensed.

The Destruction Demon Corps increased their internal strength, and the Cheonmajeon Guard and the Four Apostles also increased their momentum and prepared for a counterattack.

On the other hand, the sword dance performance was extremely calm.

―Later, when you and I become leaders and leaders of a cult, our decisions will determine the life or death of tens of thousands of people. I hope we didn’t make the wrong decision back then. You and me too. There’s that rain somaengju too. I want to be a person who sticks to principles.

Jinha’s prayers, which had stretched out, faded away. He could feel it. That the sword dance is speaking from the heart. His eyes said this. Be a good leader. So let’s not wage war in our time.

‘lost.’

It was one word that came to Jinha’s mind.

Whether Geomgeuk’s words were false or sincere, it was his complete defeat. I had to admit it. Whether Geomgeuk is a fraud or a real demon, he is at least a better person than himself. He said he was a difficult person to handle.

‘I guess I have to try harder. ‘Ten times, a hundred times more than now!’

One day, when he becomes the leader, he does not want the Murim Alliance to be taken away by the sword dance in front of him.

Jinha spoke calmly.

-I will be a person who sticks to principles. It’s not because you want it. Because I really want to be that kind of person.

-I believe you will become that kind of person.

-Are you mocking me?

-The ridicule should be directed at a guy like Seo Cheong over there. Shouldn’t this be done to Seo Baek-jung, who wants to protect a guy like that as his son? Isn’t that why we exist? If not us, who can stop the children of a huge sect like Cheonhwamun?

-You really…

you were a complete loser until the end.

Jinha’s eyes suddenly turned to Bisain sitting across from him.

The two people’s eyes met. He was so absorbed in the sword dance that he didn’t even notice that he was looking at him like this.

Bisain silently poured a drink into Jinha’s empty glass.

It felt a little different now than when he first provocatively sat across from him.

Jinha drank the drink that Bisain poured for him. I never thought the drink poured by Sapa’s successor would be so comforting.

It wasn’t just Visan that felt different.

Seo Baek-jung was looking at himself with strange eyes. It was as if those eyes asked:

‘You’re sure he’s not going over to the Demon Cult and trying to take his hands off us, right?’

At that moment, the sound of a sword dance was heard.

―Are you worried about your promise to Lord Cheonhwamun?

How quick-witted. Yes, I was worried. Just a little while ago, I was yelling at him to just trust me, but now I couldn’t stop saying that I’ve changed my mind. Moreover, it was even more difficult because it wasn’t just the two of us, but there were so many people watching.

-I will solve it so you won’t be in trouble. Are you okay?

The words Jin-ha said he didn’t like came up to his throat. I didn’t want to be swayed by the sword dance anymore. But we have to let go of Cheonhwamun. Only then will I have something to say to my grandfather when I return.

How on earth are you going to solve it without causing trouble? I was very curious about the solution.

At the moment when Jin Ha-gun’s head nodded slightly, Geommugeuk ended the long sound and opened his mouth.

“Come on, let’s have a drink and relax.”

We all drank together. Everyone was curious about how the sword dance and Jinha’s telephonic conversation came to a conclusion.

Geommugeuk put down his drink and said indifferently.

“Originally, this wasn’t supposed to be this big. As everyone knows, this incident started to protect our son, Moon-ju, who committed multiple murders. I understand because it is the law of heaven. However, the dead people are innocent people…”

At that time, someone interrupted the sword dance.

“What does that mean?”

It was Geomseon who lived his whole life for good deeds and consultation.