Extreme Regression Chapter 0 Extreme Regression Chapter 0

Prologue

The underground prison of the Murim Alliance.

Among them, a closed-off area on the third sublevel, where only the most heinous criminals with the highest risk levels were gathered.

Once you set foot in here, no one can leave alive.

All that is permitted to them is to become a body that is neither living nor dead, suffering until their final moment, and repenting for their sins.

Undead and Unliving.

Originally, only the most atrocious villains were supposed to enter this terrible place.

But right now, there is a figure here who was once called a hero.

A great hero of Crush the wicked and uphold justice, who saved the Orthodox Faction from crisis and defeated evil with a single spear.

His name is Han Cheong-un.

He was once a hero of the Orthodox Faction, known in the Jianghu as Heaven's Mandate One Spear.

But now, the hero's appearance is nothing short of wretched.

Limbs thinner than a young girl's.

A haggard complexion and a decaying body.

Disheveled and messy hair, unkempt and wild.

He had been subjected to Severing Muscles and Cutting Meridians, turned into a cripple, and was now spending his days in a prison cell.

What sin could he have possibly committed to end up like this?

* * *

Han Cheong-un, he was originally one of the many low-ranking warriors nurtured by the Murim Alliance.

He didn't stand out much at first, but with his exceptional talent for martial arts, he slowly began to accumulate achievements.

However, for the sole reason that he was a low-ranking warrior, his merits were denied and diminished.

His fame only began to spread after he turned thirty, when he played a major role in the war against the Eight Gates of the Evil Way.

Eventually, the Orthodox Faction created a separate armed battalion for him and appointed him as its Grand Master.

The Evil-Annihilating Squad.

Thus were born the heroes who, along with Han Cheong-un, came to be known as the natural enemies of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way.

They were strong.

United around Han Cheong-un, they miraculously overturned situations thought to be impossible time and time again, rampaging through the battlefields.

Thanks to them, the Orthodox Faction, which had been unilaterally pushed back like a candle in the wind, seized the opportunity to counterattack, empowered by Han Cheong-un's actions.

And the final battle.

The Evil-Annihilating Squad, led by Han Cheong-un, clashed with the elite of the Heavenly Demon Gate, which held a seat in the Eight Gates of the Evil Way.

“Open a path! Don't let the Grand Master be stopped!”

“Vice Grand Master! There are three Heavenly Demon Jiangshi. There are Blood Jiangshi and Iron Jiangshi too.”

“It doesn't matter. Focus only on opening a path for the Grand Master!”

That day, the Evil-Annihilating Squad fought with their lives on the line.

They believed.

Even if they were to die, they had to open a path.

As long as they opened a path, the spear of their Grand Master, Han Cheong-un, would surely lead this war to victory.

“Do not be afraid! What a warrior must leave behind is not a wretched life, but his will.”

One by one, they gave up their lives and became the cornerstones for the future. And…….

Crack…….

Han Cheong-un ran.

He did not look to his side, nor behind him.

He did not stop, even as he heard the dying screams of his squad members, who were like brothers to him.

The tears streaming backward were the only eulogy he could offer them.

Everyone was sacrificing their lives for victory.

As the Grand Master, there was only one thing he had to do to meet their expectations.

Something stood in the way of Han Cheong-un, who ran and ran.

Monsters with gray skin and black eyes.

Iron Jiangshi, five of them.

Powerful skin that could repel sword qi.

A deadly poison that could kill even a giant tiger.

Strength and speed comparable to a supreme master.

They were truly cursed demonic creatures. But…….

“Get out of my way!”

With Han Cheong-un's roar, the blade of his spear flashed.

[ Three Steps of the Spirit Realm: Lightning Flash Direct Kill ]

The next moment.

No one could read the trajectory of Han Cheong-un's spear. All they could see were the flesh pieces of the Iron Jiangshi, torn into dozens of pieces and falling to the ground.

Having dealt with the final line of defense in a single blow, Han Cheong-un finally shouted at the last enemy who appeared before his eyes.

“Dokgo Daaaaan!”

Heavenly Demon Star Lord Dokgo Dan.

The Sect Leader of the Heavenly Demon Gate who reigned at the pinnacle of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way, called the descendant of the Heavenly Demon.

A jet-black dark light gathered in both of his hands.

“Come.”

Kwwaaaaang!

* * *

“Cough……. Keuk…….”

Han Cheong-un fell to his knees.

Without leaning on his spear, which was deeply embedded in the ground, it seemed he would collapse immediately.

In that state, he looked around.

Corpses and corpses.

There were only corpses.

His comrades, with whom he had laughed and shared drinks until yesterday, were all lying on the ground as cold bodies.

“…….”

It was a battle with slim chances of victory from the very beginning.

It was a battle where victory was uncertain even if the full force of the Murim Alliance had been concentrated, yet only the Evil-Annihilating Squad had charged in.

So it was only natural that they all died.

“I’m at a loss for words.”

The one who spoke while looking down at the silently sobbing Han Cheong-un was the Heavenly Demon Star Lord, Dokgo Dan.

He was the only one on the battlefield standing on two feet.

However…….

“To think that I would lose…….”

There was a large hole pierced through his heart. Although Dokgo Dan was slowly dying, there was neither anger nor anxiety on his face.

All that was there was admiration for the man before him and…….

“In the end, is my wish not to be fulfilled?”

There was only sorrow.

That's right. Although his appearance was wretched, the victor was undeniably Han Cheong-un.

While simultaneously facing the number one of the Unorthodox Faction and three of the cursed demonic creatures known as Heavenly Demon Jiangshi, he had managed to win.

“Excellent…… you…… are.”

With those last words to the hero who had defeated him, he closed his eyes.

And…….

“Han Cheong-un. Cheong-un, are you alright?”

He heard a voice calling him from a distance.

“Alliance Leader……nim.”

His strength gave out with a sigh of relief.

He could see figures rushing over from a distance; they were clearly allies. Led by the Murim Alliance Leader, True Master Cheongheo, he could see them hurrying over.

They were the ones who had opposed this battle until the very end, but it seemed they had a change of heart and came, even if they were late.

After asking them to take care of his comrades' bodies, he would now…….

Puk!!

It was then.

A cold blade pierced into Cheong-un’s lower dantian.

It was a Songmun Ancient Sword, used by the warriors of the Wudang Sect.

“Alliance…… Keuk!”

Han Cheong-un's eyes widened in disbelief.

True Master Cheongheo said to him.

“Tsk tsk, you should have just died. Why did you have to survive?”

“Alliance…… Alliance Leader…….”

“Thanks to you, I have to needlessly dirty my own hands, don't I? Tsk, this is why one shouldn't get involved with rootless bastards.”

“…….”

“It can't be helped. Still, you will remain a hero of Murim. Consider it an honor and die in peace.”

“Alli…… ance…….”

Unable to finish his words, Han Cheong-un collapsed. Bloody tears streamed from his fallen eyes, soaking the earth.

* * *

The hero of the Orthodox Faction Murim, Heaven's Mandate One Spear Han Cheong-un.

He disobeyed the Alliance's orders and, on his own authority, led the Evil-Annihilating Squad into a reckless battle.

Due to his misjudgment, the Evil-Annihilating Squad was annihilated, and he too died.

Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of the relief forces led personally by the Murim Alliance Leader, they were able to defeat the Heavenly Demon Gate and strike down the Heavenly Demon Star Lord Dokgo Dan.

This was the "truth" that was made known to the world.

It was a hideous lie that completely twisted the truth, but people believed it to be true.

And Han Cheong-un, who was said to have died.

He was not dead.

For reasons unknown, the Alliance Leader did not kill him but instead imprisoned him in the deepest part of the prison.

And now…….

“…….”

Just how much time had passed?

For a long time, Han Cheong-un thought.

He thought and thought again.

There was nothing else he could do.

Anger, hope, despair, resignation…….

Numerous emotions churned through his mind one after another, and now, the only emotion that remained was just one.

Regret.

‘Was it for this result that I dedicated and worked so hard? For such a miserable outcome?’

He regretted everything.

If he had known it would turn out like this, he would never have dedicated his life to the illusion of justice.

He would never have done this.

Krrrrrrng.

It was then.

A cracking sound began to emanate from the ceiling of the prison.

‘An earthquake?’

That was what he first thought.

But it was different.

The chain of rupturing sounds and the massive energy that was gradually approaching this way…….

‘This is?’

Although he had lost his martial arts and become a cripple, his ability to sense qi remained.

More importantly, the identity of the energy Han Cheong-un was feeling now was something that should be impossible. This was…….

Kwwaaaaang!

It was then.

Sunlight shone down, breaking through the ceiling.

Bathed in that sunlight, a slender figure slowly revealed itself.

Skin so white it was pale.

Jet-black hair.

The skin that was revealed was densely covered with mystical mantras.

Above all, those crimson eyes that were emitting a distinct, eerie light even in the darkness.

‘Impossible.’

Han Cheong-un knew that existence well.

Although it was different from what he had seen before, the girl's appearance was unmistakably…….

“Heavenly Demon…… Jiangshi…….”

He couldn't have seen it wrong.

There was no way he could fail to recognize that being.

But how?

He had personally disposed of all the last Heavenly Demon Jiangshi.

He had also personally killed Wonpyeong, Ghost Spirit King, the one who could create the Heavenly Demon Jiangshi.

So why had that being appeared before him again?

The Heavenly Demon Jiangshi that now appeared before his eyes was a woman with a slender figure.

She cast an indifferent gaze towards him. A gaze…….

‘Wait, it has a will?’

How could a Jiangshi have a will?

It was impossible.

The Heavenly Demon Jiangshi he knew were fundamentally…….

Puk!

He could not continue his thoughts any further.

When he came to his senses, the Heavenly Demon Jiangshi's hand-blade was piercing his heart.

“…….”

Not even a scream came out.

As his consciousness gradually faded, Han Cheong-un thought.

‘Damn it… this kind of… death… I cannot accept.’

That was his end.