Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker/Notes : Saphartlantis
========================
Chapter 392: With a More Exciting Song!
“At last, the time has come.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Bih Sa-in’s heart sank. How could he not know what those mischievous eyes were demanding? It truly felt like the inevitable had finally arrived.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He flatly denied it. With a face like that saying he didn’t know, who would dare press further? Unfortunately, the one speaking was that shameless Geom Mugeuk.
“It’s time to keep your promise.”
The others—Geom Muyang, Jin Hagun, and Jin Haryeong—grew very curious, wondering what kind of promise it could be.
At the same time, they all had the same thought.
That poor guy. What sort of weakness did he get caught with this time?
Still, curiosity outweighed any sympathy they held towards him… for now.
It was the same for Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang, who were standing a short distance away.
Bih Sa-in spoke with his eyes.
‘No way? Here? Please tell me that’s not it.’
If that had been the case, Geom Mugeuk wouldn't have brought it up in the first place.
“Is there any time or place better than now to fulfill that promise?”
By referring to it as that promise, Geom Mugeuk further fueled the growing curiosity around him.
Bih Sa-in’s heart pounded rapidly. Even when he had waited beneath the dueling stage for his first match, it hadn’t raced this much.
Geom Muyang quietly said,
“I don’t know what this is about, but don’t go putting the Young Leader in a tough spot.”
“He’s the one who made the promise.”
Bih Sa-in emptied his cup with an anxious look.
“You’re not giving up, are you?”
“If you were me, what would you do?”
What he disliked was still something he disliked. But he had to admit what needed admitting. If the roles were reversed, and he had a chance to tease Geom Mugeuk like this?
“I wouldn’t be able to give up.” 1
“If I miss this chance, I’ll probably regret today for the rest of my life.”
Bih Sa-in agreed. The people gathered here today were not the kind that could be brought together again easily.
But precisely because of that, he couldn’t bring himself to say yes. Instead, he gave another reason.
“The ones behind today’s gathering might be watching us.”
“They might.”
“And you still want to do it under these circumstances?”
He was basically saying—would it be okay to show himself dancing in a situation like this?
“Rather, I hope they see it.”
“What?”
“Even with you guys around, we’re living well. We’re getting on with our lives. I want to show them that.”
It was clear he wasn’t joking—he meant it.
“If we can’t live our lives properly, then even if we take them down later, it won’t be a real victory. Let’s not give them any meaning at all.”
As always, this was Geom Mugeuk’s habit. Ah, excuse me a moment. Where did I go? Oh, it’s nothing, please continue.
Bih Sa-in drank again. There was a flicker of hesitation—should he just do it? 2
Geom Mugeuk changed tactics.
“Young Leader.”
When Bih Sa-in lifted his head, Geom Mugeuk spoke with a gentle expression.
“It’s fine. I was just messing with you.”
“Really?”
“No matter the promise, isn’t it a bit much to keep it in a situation like this? It’s a shame, but I’ll have to let it go. Come on, let’s not worry about it and just drink.”
He should have been glad not to dance, but for some reason, he wasn’t.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Jin Haryeong asked,
“What in the world is going on?”
“You don’t need to know.”
That was when Bih Sa-in suddenly spoke up.
“I promised I’d dance in front of everyone.”
Jin Haryeong froze with a stunned expression. Even Jin Hagun and Geom Muyang were taken aback.
As everyone turned their gaze toward him, Geom Mugeuk frantically waved his hand.
“Why are you looking at me! The Young Leader made the promise on his own.”
Naturally, Jin Haryeong didn’t believe him.
“No way! It must’ve been the devil’s temptation.”
Both Geom Muyang and Jin Hagun nodded at the same time.
“He must’ve pushed him into a trap from behind!”
“The one always trying to push me from behind is that Young Leader over there!”
“No way! He would never do that.”
“And how would you know?”
This time, Geom Muyang stepped forward.
“I apologize on my brother’s behalf.”
Ironically, their actions ended up helping Geom Mugeuk. With Bih Sa-in’s personality, it was hard for him to deny something once it had been said so openly.
“No, I did say I’d dance.”
Bih Sa-in downed three cups in a row.
“I’ll dance.”
Everyone tried to stop him.
“Please don’t!”
Starting with Jin Haryeong.
“Don’t get caught up in my brother’s nonsense.”
Even Geom Muyang tried to stop him.
“Don’t push yourself.”
Jin Hagun also tried to stop him. If he imagined himself in Bih Sa-in’s position? Ah, what a nightmare that would be.
“I can’t become a petty man who doesn’t even keep his promises.”
“Honestly, being petty might be the better option here.”
Jin Haryeong said with a hint of pity as she looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“Look at how satisfied he looks.” 3
At that, Geom Mugeuk delivered the final blow.
“So? Don’t you all want to see it?”
“……”
Bih Sa-in suddenly shot up from his seat. He was caught up in the mood and the alcohol. If it had to happen one day, then—fine, let it be today! That youthful fire surged within him. He also wanted to show Geom Mugeuk that he could keep his promise. In the end, he charged toward a typhoon, a tidal wave, and molten lava all at once.
Bih Sa-in strode confidently toward Baek Jagang.
Since they had heard everything exchanged at Bih Sa-in’s table, Baek Jagang wore a look that said, Are you really going to do this?
“There’s a promise I once made to myself. I said if I got through that crisis, I would dance in front of everyone. I think I’ll keep that promise today.”
Somehow, everyone seemed to understand what was going on. That statement carried a deeper meaning. It had been that much of a crisis, and ultimately, he had overcome it alongside Geom Mugeuk. It wasn’t just any promise, and it wasn’t just any dance.
Baek Jagang quietly stared into his disciple’s eyes.
“I never knew you had this side to you.”
Bih Sa-in’s face was flushed red. Whether it was from the alcohol or excitement was unclear.
“A promise is meant to be kept.”
Baek Jagang gave his approval. As expected of his bold and forthright nature.
Bih Sa-in returned to Geom Mugeuk and made a request.
“Please help me prepare.”
“You’re really going through with it?”
Bih Sa-in’s eyes showed no resentment, only the resolve of a man who had made up his mind.
“I keep seeing new expressions from you.”
“It was your words that fooled me and brought me all the way here.”
“We’ve still got a long way to go. I’ll see every expression you have.”
Bih Sa-in’s pupils trembled. Surprisingly, he now knew those words were sincere.
From the railing, Geom Mugeuk called down to Jo Chunbae below.
“Owner, go fetch the musicians.”
“Understood.”
As Jo Chunbae tried to rush off, the Fist Demon King gently stopped him and sent a sound transmission to the Division Leaders.
The Division Leaders dashed off like arrows and brought musicians from a nearby pleasure house.
Once the musicians arrived, Bih Sa-in descended to the first floor. Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang, who had been on the second floor, stood at the railing to watch.
The four who had been with Bih Sa-in followed him down.
All the martial artists drinking on the first floor turned to look at Bih Sa-in. Some were already quite drunk.
Bih Sa-in addressed them.
“To commemorate today’s historic Three-Way Summit, I will now dance in front of you all.”
Everyone was stunned. When the musicians had arrived and taken their places outside the tavern, they had assumed it was just to liven up the mood. But the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance was really going to dance?
The elite members of the Unorthodox Alliance on the first floor looked up. Baek Jagang, standing silently at the railing, simply watched, as if to show he had already given his approval. In that case, there was nothing more to say.
An old veteran of the Unorthodox Alliance asked,
“Then, are you planning to perform the Thousand Changes, Ultimate Death Dance?”
Thousand Changes, Ultimate Death Dance was a supreme martial art of the unorthodox path—none who had witnessed it survived.
“No.”
“Then is it the Primordial Soul-Stealing Dance?”
A dance known to drive the weak-willed mad just by witnessing it.
“No.”
“Then you mean to perform a standard sword dance?”
Among martial artists, the word ‘dance’ typically referred to a sword dance performed with a blade. 4
“No. I’m just going to dance the kind of dance ordinary people do. Like one you’d see at a feast.”
Not only the old veteran who had asked the question, but the others also didn’t understand his words at first. Just dance? What does he mean? A normal dance, like the ones common folk perform? Him? Here? Why?
Why?
“Our Young Leader is drunk.”
At the old veteran’s comment, the surrounding martial artists once again looked up at Baek Jagang. Their eyes asked if he really wasn’t going to stop this, but Baek Jagang only looked down silently.
Not only the masters of the Unorthodox alliance, but even the orthodox masters found this puzzling. Still, everyone had had at least a drink, and they were curious about what kind of dance the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance would perform.
The Demon Supremes turned their gazes not to Bih Sa-in, but to Geom Mugeuk.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head and scolded Geom Mugeuk with his eyes—Tsk, you rascal!—to which Geom Mugeuk replied with a wronged expression. Of course, not a single one of the Demon Supremes believed he was actually innocent.
In particular, the Poison King’s eyes were distant. Ah… I too was caught in that demon’s trap and barked like a dog in the sparring grounds. 5
The tavern’s windows swung wide open. Some watched seated, some standing, and others came out altogether to get a better look.
Bih Sa-in stood in the middle of the street outside the tavern.
“Oh no, how are we going to get through this…”
Even before it began, Jin Haryeong’s face had already turned red. She was even more embarrassed than he was.
“From now on, I suppose we won’t be able to look Young Leader Bi in the eye anymore. He might go into secluded training for a hundred years.”
Geom Muyang and Jin Hagun joined forces to confront Geom Mugeuk.
“You villain!”
“This time, you really went too far.”
“I told you, he made the promise by himself.”
There was no way Geom Mugeuk’s defense would work.
“Even so, did it really have to be now of all times that you brought it up?”
Geom Muyang cut right to the heart of the matter, but Geom Mugeuk had a decisive counterattack.
“So? You’re not going to watch then?”
“……”
Geom Muyang, Jin Hagun, and Jin Haryeong all turned their heads in different directions, pretending they hadn’t heard. 6
“Young Leader Bi! You’re amazing!”
As Geom Mugeuk clapped and cheered, the three beside him also joined in and applauded.
The old masters of the orthodox and unorthodox factions showed slight displeasure at the sight. They didn’t like seeing their heirs getting along like this.
But with Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang watching, none dared to openly rebuke them.
Bih Sa-in closed his eyes.
He felt completely alone—as if he had been thrown out into the world all by himself.
At last, the music began to play.
His body wouldn’t move from the tension. If this had been a battle, he would’ve been killed just now.
Jin Haryeong, watching, covered her eyes.
“Ah, I just can’t watch this.”
“Me neither.”
Even Geom Mugeuk covered his eyes, prompting Jin Haryeong to scold him.
“Why are you covering your eyes?”
“Now that I’m about to see it… I honestly can’t bear to.” 7
“Killed someone and now scared of the blood, huh?”
The musicians resumed their performance. One could only imagine how shocked they must have been. They had suddenly been called in to play, only to find the Cult Leader of the Demonic Path, the Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance, the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, the Demon Supremes, and the greatest masters of the orthodox and unorthodox factions all gathered—
And more astonishingly, the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance was about to dance to their music. The musicians were just as stunned as Bih Sa-in himself. This must be a dream we’re all having together.
As the music flowed again, this time Bih Sa-in began to dance. 8
“Huh?”
Jin Haryeong moved her hand away from her eyes.
Bih Sa-in was dancing better than she had expected.
Even Geom Mugeuk, who had been peeking through slitted eyes, widened them in surprise. He was the one who had provoked this, yet he was just as embarrassed and anxious.
“He’s… good?”
He was dancing impressively well. It wasn’t just flailing around—his hands and feet followed the rhythm quite naturally.
In fact, Bih Sa-in had learned this dance from one of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance, specifically from the Eighth Wolf. That man, who once stirred up the backstreets of Hangzhou, had passed down a secret dance technique to him. 9
Bih Sa-in had practiced that dance diligently whenever he had time. After his foolish promise, he had anticipated a day like this might come. He just hadn’t known it would be today.
And Geom Mugeuk could tell that Bih Sa-in had practiced—again and again.
That was the kind of person Bih Sa-in was. The kind who kept his promises no matter what, and if he was going to do something, he’d try his best to do it well.
But Bih Sa-in’s dance soon hit a limit. He hadn’t been born a natural dancer, and it was a dance he’d learned in a rush. He hadn’t had enough time to practice.
As his movements began to repeat, the embarrassment crept in. His limbs started to falter. This was when he needed to be shameless, but he couldn’t. His body shrank, and his real skill—or lack thereof—started to show.
His flailing gestures conveyed his loss of composure to everyone watching.
Geom Woojin tilted his head slightly to gaze up at the sky. Jin Paecheon let out a dry cough.
Baek Jagang slowly closed his narrow eyes.
‘Should I have come alone?’
Just when everyone, including Jo Chunbae, was starting to feel pity—
Someone suddenly leaped into the dance floor.
“Let’s dance together!”
It was Geom Mugeuk, who had jumped in like a rogue. 10
He began to mimic Bih Sa-in’s movements. Though it was his first time dancing today and nothing about it was refined, Geom Mugeuk followed the steps with effort.
He deliberately exaggerated and made his movements more ridiculous, causing laughter to erupt all around.
“This is such a fun dance!”
Then, perhaps caught up in the moment, Geom Mugeuk shouted,
“A faster tune, please!”
The musicians played a quicker song.
Geom Mugeuk’s joints twisted and bent in bizarre directions. It made everyone wonder, Where in the world did he learn such a dance? It was strange and absurd beyond belief.
More laughter burst out again, and this time, Bih Sa-in followed the same dance.
Bih Sa-in’s already-flushed face turned even redder with excitement.
No one would ever know just how happy he had been when Geom Mugeuk jumped into that dance with him.
Surrounded on all sides by enemies, on the brink of death—had someone jumped in to save him then, even that might not have made him this happy.
“Brother, come dance with us!”
Geom Mugeuk rushed over to drag Geom Muyang into the dance by force.
Slrnng.
Geom Muyang’s sword came halfway out of its sheath.
Geom Mugeuk quickly changed course and tried to pull Jin Hagun instead.
Srrrrrng.
That sword came out even further. 11
Just then, someone jumped in of their own accord.
It was none other than Jin Haryeong.
“No! Haryeong, don’t!”
Before Jin Paecheon could stop her, Jin Haryeong was already moving with the rhythm.
It wasn’t because she was a good dancer. She, too, was someone who found it excruciatingly embarrassing to step into something like this.
But Geom Mugeuk had stepped up for a friend like that. She wanted to help too. She wanted to share that embarrassment. Once she had that thought, her body moved on its own.
With her joining in, the mood lit up. She swayed with a gentle grace, Geom Mugeuk danced with high energy, and Bih Sa-in, utterly dazed, danced every which way. The musicians, catching the energy, began playing even more enthusiastically.
It was the first time for a Three-Way Summit, but it was also likely the first time in the history of the martial world that warriors from the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic paths danced together. 12
The Demonic Buddha’s body began to glow more radiantly. Having once traveled across the entire martial world, he tapped his feet to the beat as if saying, I used to have my fun too. If no one had been watching, he might’ve jumped in himself.
Even the stoic masters of the orthodox and unorthodox factions, who had looked displeased at first, now began to soften their expressions. The youthful display was starting to feel like watching children’s play.
Baek Jagang was watching Bih Sa-in dance with fervor.
Jin Paecheon had seen that expression many times before. The look that said, No matter how great someone else’s child is, mine’s the best.
This time, Jin Paecheon turned to the other side to look at Geom Woojin.
He, too, was silently watching Geom Mugeuk dance.
‘I hope you’ll let your son win. If your first defeat is to your own child… that wouldn’t be so bad, would it?’
Jin Paecheon’s gaze returned to the kids dancing.
“Even when members of the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions have gathered, it's this joyful.”
So this is what youth is… Why didn’t I ever enjoy myself like this when I was young? Just fighting, killing, again and again. Who did I kill this time, and who’s next? I spent my whole youth like that, endlessly repeating. Never once smiling like that, never once playing like this.
Then Baek Jagang spoke.
“Perhaps… it’s because they’re young that they can enjoy it even more.”
Jin Paecheon nodded.
Jin Haryeong, as if showing them how, made a cute motion with her hands and waist. Geom Mugeuk and Bih Sa-in followed her steps. The three of them moving in sync looked like a coordinated dance troupe.
Bih Sa-in wasn’t aware of it. He, who had always hidden his grotesque face and never smiled properly, was now smiling brighter than he ever had in his entire life.
Lost in the ecstasy of the dance, Geom Mugeuk shouted,
“With a more exciting tune!”
Was it the spring breeze, carrying warmth and cooling their sweat, that made them feel so light?
The three dancers showed no signs of tiring. 13
1 : No one could. Not if you could mess with Mugeuk XDXDXD
2 : You’re gonna need a lot more drinks XDXDXD
3 : You see that plump cat who's eaten the neighbor's fish and looks smugly at him, fully knowing he can do nothing to punish him ? Yeaaah, that’s the same expression XDXDXD
4 : Not gonna lie, a sword dance would have been cool too. I hope we’ll get to see one in this novel ^^
5 : *Pats in the back* Good times…..
6 : Hypocrites, all of them !!! XDXDXD
7 : You’re not even a single bit convincing you know ? XDXDXD
8 : *Jimmy Somerville - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) starts playing in the background*
9 : Bro saved the honor of the Unorthodox Alliance all by himself, respect.
10 : “If you’re gonna be embarrassed, let’s be embarrassed together !!! After all, I’m your friend !!! (and I also hold a tiny part of responsibility in this)” XDXDXD
11 : Lol, both of them showed absolutely no hesitation XDXDXD
12 : Rather than a boring meeting, it’s this dance that people will remember in the future when they talk about this event. It’s precisely because it’s ridiculous that it’ll become a precious memory.
13 : That’s the big difference Absolute Regression has with other novels in the genre. They try to have *fun*. The rest are focused on politics, cultivation and fight scenes. Not that they’re wrong for doing that, but they’re definitely missing something important.