Absolute Regression-Chapter 321 : The Cult Does Not Allow It

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

Murim Term Consultant: Kopke

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Chapter 321: The Cult Does Not Allow It

I waited in a secluded forest on the outskirts for the Hidden Moon agent sent by Gowol. 1

Once the former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and I made our move deliberately, there was no one capable of monitoring us.

Unless the Illusion King personally took action, it would take someone of Uncle Hui’s level—who guarded my father—to tail us using stealth and lightness techniques. But how many people like that could possibly exist?

“If what the Cult Leader said is true and Elder Seong was someone of great loyalty, he would've had no choice but to step down.”

“You’re saying my disciple pressured him out?”

“That’s the likeliest possibility. He might’ve fiercely opposed the unification of the Wilderness.”

And then, he disappeared.

“Do you think So Baekta killed Elder Seong?”

I answered honestly.

“It’s possible.”

Jeong Dae’s gaze sank into a cold chill.

“If he did... I won’t forgive him.”

I said nothing. This was an issue between the Cult Leader and his disciple. It was his decision to make.

At that moment, a man arrived at the location.

The man introduced himself as Hwang and said he was the one in charge of the Wilderness under Hidden Moon.

From the way he walked alone, it was clear that his martial arts and movement techniques were not ordinary.

Even so, he appeared unremarkable. That was a common trait of the martial artists working under Hidden Moon. They blended in so well with the crowd that they would never be noticed. 2

“I looked into the matter you mentioned. The information Elder Seong asked us to investigate was about a certain Iron Workshop.”

“And where is that?”

Then, an unexpected place came up.

“It’s the New Hero Iron Workshop.”

The previous Cult Leader tilted his head.

“New Hero Iron Workshop? Was there such a place?”

Even the Cult Leader had not known about this division under the Wilderness.

“It hasn’t been around long and isn’t very large, so you likely hadn’t heard of it.”

At Hwang’s explanation, Jeong Dae nodded. He must’ve assumed that if he didn’t know, I wouldn’t either—but I did know about the New Hero Iron Workshop.

In my life before the regression, the New Hero Iron Workshop had another name.

The Greatest Iron Workshop in the Central Plains.

Back when Hwa Moogi and the Twelve Zodiac Kings had dominated the martial world, the New Hero Iron Workshop had been the most famous iron workshop in all of the Central Plains. It had hundreds of regional workshops across the land and supplied weapons and armor to most of the major sects. It truly was the best iron workshop of them all. They amassed enormous wealth selling military gear.

‘So the New Hero Iron Workshop began here!’

I had thought the New Hero Iron Workshop had no ties to Hwa Moogi or the Twelve Zodiac Kings.

But now that they appeared in this situation, it seemed they were connected after all. 3

“How unexpected. I thought Elder Seong was investigating Huayang Gate or the Black Sand Gang.”

In terms of sheer size alone, the Heavenly Wind Cult was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Huayang Gate was the Martial Alliance, and the Black Sand Gang was the Unorthodox Alliance. In other words, when So Baekta said he would unify the Wilderness, he meant he would subjugate Huayang Gate and the Black Sand Gang. 4

“The swords are ready.”

“Ah, thank you.”

* * *

Only after we had landed far from the New Hero Iron Workshop did I report the results of my search to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“I found where the iron is.”

“Where was it?”

“There’s a secret underground workshop. They’re manufacturing weapons there.”

Through qi emission, I had detected a large underground space beneath the surface. Faint and continuous vibrations and sounds came from below.

“The scale was enormous.”

“They’ve been preparing for war down there.”

War required a tremendous amount of supplies.

What matters most in war, more than supplies, is not letting the enemy discover your preparations. So Baekta had been secretly preparing war materials in collaboration with the New Hero Iron Workshop. No—more precisely, it must have been the Illusion King who connected the two.

“There should be quite a stockpile of supplies down there.”

“What do you plan to do now?”

“I need to meet So Baekta.”

At last, the moment had come to meet him alone.

“And what will you say to him?”

“The fact that he revealed his plan to the Cult Leader means he must’ve expected the information to reach me as well. Which means he likely has something to say to me, too. He’s played one card—now I need to see what else he’s holding.”

The former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gave a meaningful smile. No doubt he was thinking, so the disciple’s finally met his match.

“Oh, and here’s the money for the swords. Please take it.”

“No need. Let’s just say I gifted them to the young ones.”

“Are you planning to regret it later?”

“If I’m going to blame you endlessly for this later, then I might as well be the one to pay.”

I handed him the leather belt bag carrying the swords.

“Then give them to the guards yourself. If you hand them out personally, they’ll be overjoyed. I’m heading to the Cult Leader’s Hall.”

As he took the belt bag, Jeong Dae said,

“While I take all the credit, you go show my stupid disciple and that dumb bell what the Rear Waves of the Yangtze are really like.”

* * *

When I entered the Cult Leader’s Hall to meet So Baekta, he was standing in front of a bronze mirror, painting another pattern on his face.

“Young Cult Leader, please wait a moment.”

From within the mirror, So Baekta greeted me.

“Take your time.”

I walked behind him and quietly observed as he drew lines no one else in the world would ever create. A moment of artistry never to be replicated.

“There are three patterns used by this cult. The cult’s emblem, the Heavenly Flower Pattern for war, and the Wind Decay Pattern painted upon death. What I’m drawing now is the Heavenly Flower Pattern, used when going to war.” 11

The colors and form were certainly intense. What I saw on the first day was the cult emblem. Now I was witnessing the second—the Heavenly Pattern.

“How is it? Would you like to try drawing one?”

“I’ll pass. Haven’t you heard the rumors? I’m a pacifist.”

From inside the mirror, So Baekta gave a faint smile and looked at me.

“Seems you're quite fearful.”

“Isn’t it usually the fearful ones who start wars?”

At that, So Baekta’s hand paused for a brief moment before continuing the painting. 12

“Be careful with cowards. You never know what they might do.”

In a calm tone, I asked him,

“You must’ve known that telling the Cult Leader would eventually reach my ears. So why did you say it?”

“The mentor I remember wasn’t someone who spoke of the cult’s serious matters to others.”

“Perhaps the same goes for the Cult Leader. The version of you he remembers wouldn’t have been a disciple who did something this outrageous.”

From within the bronze mirror, So Baekta laughed.

“What’s the real reason you’re doing this?”

“I wanted your permission. Either way, if we’re going to start a war, we need your approval—be it formal consent or silent agreement, don’t we? If we just charge ahead without it, you could strike us down using that as justification. And you people... well, you’re more than capable of that, aren’t you?”

At last, So Baekta completed the Heavenly Pattern on his face and turned around.

“Grant us permission for our war.”

His confident gaze said it all. Even without approval, he would go to war.

What has you so fired up? What fills you with such certainty? What deludes you into thinking the desert winds of the Wilderness cannot be pierced by the blades of our cult?

“Very well. Let me make our official stance clear.”

To see what cards he held, I would have to push back hard.

I spoke to him in a cold and authoritative tone.

“Our cult does not permit your war.”

An unreadable fire flared up in So Baekta’s eyes.

I doused that fire with cold water.

“So go wash your face and wipe it all off before you return.”

1 : Ooooh, that's what you meant by restoring it. Since the organisation is under us, just directly ask !!! Smart !!!

2 : Those kinds of people are scariest as opponents, because if you don’t get rid of them in one go, they’ll hide in the crowd and easily stab your throat years later.

3 : The conspiracy thickens !!! Mugeuk really made the best decision by going back, no way he would have won on his own against so many enemies.

4 : Hmmm, are they infected too ? In any case, if Elder Song isn’t a traitor, that means he had pretty good instincts.

5 : Me too brother, me too.*pat him in the back while remembering school trauma*

6 : Arms dealers manipulating nations behind the scenes to create wars, and thus, more weapons demands. I swear I saw that plot before in a movie, but I can’t remember which.

7 : The classic.

8 : Surprise gift !!! With such quality, might as well splurge a bit. It’s all money that will come back to his pocket eventually.

9 : Been a while since we’ve seen the Dark Shadow Step in action. And even longer since we’ve seen the Underworld King Step. Most enemies die before he can use it, which is a good thing XDXDXD.

10 : Lol, he definitely planned for him to pay XDXDXD

11 : Wonder if the death pattern is like the Dia de los Muertos skull paint. Would be fun.

12 : Hit a nerve, huh ?