After the session ended.
Jin and Jong Bai-Ryun stood on one of the building rooftops in the palace and spoke for a while.
Bai-Ryun: "So… how did you know the truth about Elder Ming-Yu's role in the Council?"
Jin: "In the past few days, I conducted a comprehensive search on the Council members; the strangest among them is Ming-Yu."
"Contrary to the norm in the Cult, he is someone with a very ordinary background. Since joining the Council, he almost never participates in decisions, yet he is the primary factor in anything related to the Elders."
Bai-Ryun: "You have summarized a long analysis in those few words; you are truly remarkable."
They fell silent for moments, then Jin looked from the corner of his eye, a gaze filled with suspicion.
Jin: "So… I expected you to ask about the reason for his anger at the end of our conversation."
Bai-Ryun: "Huh? Why would I ask? Isn't what you said previously the reason?"
Jin's features changed to the look he wears when his suspicion is confirmed.
Jin: "Brilliant! My Lord Chairman of the Council, and the eldest son of the Heavenly Demon, do you want to convince me that you do not know the truth?"
Bai-Ryun's features shifted to suspicion and anger.
Bai-Ryun: "Demonic Dragon... do you not think you are being far too blunt in your words and crossing forbidden lines?"
Jin: "If I do not cross the forbidden… I will never move from my spot."
"Frankly… I am not the type who likes to prolong matters. Chairman, how much do you know about Regressors, and how much do you know about me?"
Bai-Ryun spoke in an explicitly threatening tone:
"Twelfth Elder, you are exceeding all bounds in this dialogue. It is best that you stop."
Jin: "If I were not confident that I am still in the safety zone, I would not have asked."
"First Elder, I already know that you know Ming-Yu is a Regressor, and my question is not about him."
"My question is… how much do you know about Regressors, and how much do you know about me.."
Bai-Ryun fell silent for moments, and his tone returned to calmness again.
Bai-Ryun: "The Cult Leader tested you at the highest peak, yet you still truly want to delve into those matters? Why?"
Jin fell silent for moments.
Jin: "It seems I misunderstood the reason for your silence. Forgive me; I thought you harbored malicious intent, not anxiety. I did not expect you to know the magnitude of the horror in that test."
Bai-Ryun: "Did I not warn you moments ago to stop speaking with absolute bluntness?"
Jin: "I am not in a political game right now, so I will not occupy my mind with that. Let us consider this a natural, friendly conversation."
Bai-Ryun fell silent for moments and thought to himself:
Is this boy mad or what? Where does he get such audacity? And why do I feel he is much older than his age?
Bai-Ryun: "Fine… I will tell you what you want to know directly; there is no use in sugarcoating words."
"What I know about Regressors is only the fact of their existence, and that each one of them regressed for different periods of time."
"And you? All I know is that the Cult Leader cares for you for an unknown reason. Only I and the Great Guardian know that he knew you were coming to Jianghu, and therefore he sent Jong Seo-Rin to look for you without telling him he wanted a specific person. Thus, it began and seemed as if your meeting with Seo-Rin was a coincidence; even he himself believes that."
The questions in Jin's mind increased further.
Jin: "Why does the Cult Leader even know me? And why would he let all this chaos happen because of me? Who in heaven's name am I for all this to occur?"
Bai-Ryun: "Believe me… I don't know either. It is truly strange. The idea that the Heavenly Demon himself would take interest in a random young man and change the Cult's laws specifically for him is something I cannot understand."
Jin thought to himself: It seems the matter is truly strange to him. Should I ask Ming-Yu?
Jin: "Let us stop talking about this matter; I am sorry for bringing it up in the first place."
"But… are you saying that Regressors differ in the time periods they regressed to?"
Jin thought for a bit: Myung-Yu made three leaps through his life—35 years ago, 22 years ago, and the last just 10 years ago.
This looks as if he regressed more than once! But he didn't know me, unlike that man I met before.
Bai-Ryun: "You are a wonder. You make people in the Murim, who speak in riddles and brevity, speak in detailed and clear words. Set that aside; it is better to show some manners when speaking with your elders."
Jin smiled and laughed a little.
Jin: "I am sorry, but my nature is truly like this. I cannot speak tactfully when I talk about matters like what we discussed. It happens involuntarily."
Bai-Ryun fell silent for moments while looking at him.
They did not speak again after that.
A while later, Jin went to look for Ming-Yu and finally found him.
Ming-Yu: "It is better that we avoid talking. You have already said enough."
Jin: "Why should we stop? I know that the Cult Leader already knows the truth, and I do not intend to spread such information. I will not ask you about the world or its protection; I will not ask you about the secrets of Regressors."
"My question is only one."
Myung looked for a moment, suspicion in his eyes.
Myung: "So... what is your question?"
Jin: "In your previous life… did you know anything about me?"
Myung's eyes widened, astonished by this question.
Myung: "What do you mean?"
Jin: "You already know that there are strange things happening around me. Were you present in the Cult in your previous life, or did I have a name in the world?"
Myung looked for a bit, astonishment appearing on his face.
Myung: "No. In my last regression, I heard nothing of you in the world, not just in the Cult. This is strange for someone with your talent and strength."
Jin: "Then… why is it that when I met a regressor a while ago, he knew me very well?"
Myung: "Young man, there are dozens of regressors in the world; each one of them returns differently."
"Perhaps two or three regress at the same time; perhaps one regresses 10 years and another 50 years."
"The cycle of time does not follow logic. There is no point in asking about such a matter again."
Sadness appeared on Jin's face.
Jin: "Thank you, and sorry for disturbing you."
The young man departed, his mind filled with questions, for the information he gained this time went against all logic.
End of Chapter