Chapter 60: I Have Many Hidden Tails
Chapter 60: I Have Many Hidden Tails
The Demon Doctor didn't head for the infirmary.
Instead, he led me to his private residence, where a secret room for important procedures was tucked away in the basement.
Cabinets lined the walls, filled with an array of medicine bottles and herbs of unknown origin. Even with my own expertise in herbology, there were many I was seeing for the first time.
"This is a dangerous procedure, so there is much to prepare," the Demon Doctor said.
"Take your time."
"What will you do if I fail? You could go blind."
I could tell he was testing my resolve. I knew that failing the New Eye Technique wouldn't actually cause blindness. If the procedure carried such a risk, no one would have dared offer it to the Heavenly Demon in the past.
"If a patient fails under the Demon Doctor’s care, then it is simply my ill-fated destiny."
At my show of faith, the Demon Doctor let out a short laugh and began pulling the necessary materials from a hidden safe.
Soon after, he lit incense to calm the mind and sterilized his needles. He mixed various medicinal fluids, boiling some and letting others cool.
During the preparations, I lay on a cot with my shirt off, a warm cloth smelling of medicinal herbs draped over my eyes.
"Now, let us begin."
"I leave it in your hands."
He began administering various liquids into my eyes at specific intervals. Some were clear as water, others red as blood. One was a green liquid that looked like poison, and another was as blue as my own sword force. Because I trusted the Demon Doctor completely, I kept my mind at ease and let him work.
After injecting the various medicines, he began the acupuncture. He placed needles densely around my eyes, across my face, and even down to my chest.
"Now, take a nap."
My eyes closed of their own accord. I communed with the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art within my mind. You should relax and sleep deeply today, too.
I slept well for the first time in a long while.
It was such a deep, peaceful slumber that I wondered when I had last rested so soundly.
By the time I woke up, the needles in my face and body had already been removed. The Demon Doctor was sitting at his desk reading a book, but he walked over as soon as he saw me stir.
"How do you feel?"
"Good."
"And your eyes?"
"Even better."
My vision was remarkably clear. My eyesight, which had already been excellent, had sharpened further, and my field of vision felt incredibly bright. It was as if I had stepped out of a thick fog. To exaggerate slightly, everything was so vivid that it felt as though I had been living with my eyes closed until now.
"Follow me."
I followed him out of the secret room and up to the first floor. We stood side by side by the window. The sun was high in the sky.
"Try looking at the sun."
I looked directly at the sun, but despite the direct glare, there was no discomfort. My eyes didn't sting at all.
"How is it?"
"It’s not blinding."
"Look into the distance."
Things that would have been invisible before were now sharp and clear. It was miraculously effective. Furthermore, when I focused strength into my eyes, I could see things that should have been hidden.
"I can see everything. I can even see the ants crawling on that branch over there."
The Demon Doctor chuckled at my words.
"I’m not joking."
"I know you aren't. I’m laughing because I’m pleased."
"Ah, this is truly incredible."
"Now, follow me again."
This time, the Demon Doctor led me to a pitch-black room in the basement. Previously, I would have needed to circulate my internal energy to see even faintly, but now I could see clearly without it.
"I can see perfectly. The medicine bottles over there, the painting on the wall... I can see it all."
"That’s enough. The procedure was a perfect success. Your eyes have been reborn."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
When I first sought the New Eye Technique, my primary goal was to evade the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s gaze. Perhaps that was why I hadn't expected much from its other effects.
However, the New Eye Technique was far more magnificent than I had imagined. There was only one way to describe this state: My eyes had reached Great Achievement.
After leaving the dark room, I bowed deeply to the Demon Doctor.
"Thank you."
Startled, the Demon Doctor hurried to pull me up.
"What are you doing?"
"Elder, you used a secret art on me that can only be performed once in a lifetime. I will surely repay this debt by keeping my promise."
"I appreciate that. Once you become the Cult Leader, I’ll tell you who I want killed."
The Demon Doctor gripped my hand firmly, and I squeezed back.
As I left his residence, everything I saw looked different. It felt as if a whole new world had unfolded before me. A thought suddenly occurred to me.
Between the Blood Eye Purifying Water and this New Eye Technique... it seems my eyes and the Pungcheon Cult were destined to be entangled. Regardless, I thank you, Pungcheon Cult Leader.
And so, the Pungcheon Cult Leader received a mysterious word of thanks.
*
I realized anew how vital keen eyesight is to martial arts.
My forms became more precise, and that precision translated into power. In truth, the greatest benefit would be in actual combat. I would be able to dodge attacks that were previously unavoidable and see openings that were once invisible.
It would also be a massive help when using the Rapid Speed Step. I had worried whether my vision could keep up with extreme speeds once I reached Great Achievement, but that worry was now gone. I had obtained the most powerful eyes a human could possess.
After leaving the affairs of the Huangquan Pavilion to Seo Dae-ryong, I spent some time holed up in the training grounds, allowing my martial arts and my body to adapt to my new eyes.
After being immersed in training for a while, I went to visit Lee An.
"Lee An, let’s play!"
Lee An was focused on her training.
"I can't! I have to practice this form twenty more times."
"What kind of form do you practice twenty times a day?"
"It’s sixty times a day, actually. This evening session is just the last twenty."
"Good grief. You’re going to make yourself sick."
"I’m already sick. I have the 'can't sleep unless I train' sickness."
"Let’s just rest for today. If you come have a drink with me, you’ll sleep just fine."
"After I’m finished."
"How many are left?"
"Eight. If you keep distracting me, it’ll take even longer."
I pouted playfully and watched her practice.
"Your waist didn't rotate enough."
"Your left side is open."
"Faster this time."
As I corrected her posture, I felt once again that Lee An had remarkable talent for martial arts. She understood quickly and learned well. I watched her forms a couple more times, and realizing I had nothing more to say for the day, I drifted into my own practice of the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art.
The Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art was the technique I had practiced most while dealing with the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord. The more I learned it, the fresher it felt. As always, it resonated deeply with me. It felt as though I were learning a living martial art. I suppose it made sense, given that it resonated deeply enough to wake me from my sleep.
How many times did I repeat the cycles of the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art?
When I opened my eyes, Lee An was watching me from a short distance away.
"Are you finished?"
"Yeah. I did all twenty reps."
"Let’s go get a drink! I’m starving."
"Of course you are. You’ve been fasting for three whole days."
"What? Three days?"
"Yes. You’ve been in a state of meditation for three days straight."
"I have?"
"You came to see me three days ago. You seemed to have entered a trance, so I didn't dare disturb you."
I was shocked. It hadn't felt like even a single hour had passed, let alone several.
"I guess I fell asleep?"
"I checked to see if that was the case, but you weren't sleeping. You were even mumbling something to yourself."
I really must have entered a trance. I couldn't remember the details of my training at all.
"Wait a second."
I sat down and activated the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art once. My true qi circulated far more smoothly and accurately than before. I stood up with a bright smile. There had been a significant advancement in the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art. It seemed the accumulation of my constant training had finally triggered a breakthrough in my realm through this trance.
"You made progress, didn't you?"
She could tell just by looking at my face. I nodded with a wide grin.
"Enough to treat you to a magnificent meal."
"Congratulations, Young Master."
"Thanks. It’s all thanks to you."
"Why me?"
"If you hadn't insisted on finishing your training, I wouldn't have sat down next to you and fallen into that trance."
"Ah, you’re right! Buy me dinner!"
"I will. I’ll buy you whatever you want to eat!"
I hurried out of the training grounds with Lee An.
"You fasted too, didn't you?"
"No, I ate."
However, Lee An’s stomach let out a loud growl right then. She wasn't the type to eat while I was sitting there in meditation. She had likely even stopped her own training for those three days to avoid disturbing my trance.
"You stubborn bear."
"I'm not. If I were a truly stubborn bear, I wouldn't have let you catch me being hungry. I’m showing it off like this to demonstrate what a loyal subordinate I am. I’m using this as a golden opportunity to earn points."
"You’re a fox, a total fox."
"Of course. I still have many hidden tails."
I laughed heartily.
"It’s been a while since I’ve walked like this with you, Young Master."
"I suppose it has."
"It’s nice, as expected."
That little addition of "as expected" made me feel quite good. It’s nice for me too, Lee An.
I entered the Pungryu Tavern in Ma Clan Village with Lee An.
"Welcome! It’s been a while, Pavilion Master."
Seeing Jo Chun-bae greet us so warmly made me even hungrier as I thought of his cooking.
"Bring the food out quickly!"
"Yes, sir! I’ll run to the kitchen with my lightness skill!"
Jo Chun-bae rushed to the kitchen after serving the alcohol first. We started with a drink on our empty stomachs.
"Kaaah! That hits the spot."
"Ugh! It’s too strong. It’s going to kill me."
When the food arrived a moment later, we devoured it ravenously, heedless of anyone watching. Once our bellies were full, we shared drinks and talked about martial arts. She asked me everything she had been curious about, and I answered as best as I could.
My Flying Heaven Sword Art had been stagnant since the 10-star Great Achievement was broken, and I hoped the New Eye Technique would have a positive influence on it. As we talked about martial arts, the conversation naturally shifted to Seo Dae-ryong.
"By the way, how is Investigator Seo doing?"
"He’s fine, I assume. I haven't seen him much lately because of my training."
"Everyone is so busy."
"I’m sure he’s doing well, both with work and his training."
"It’s amazing to see Investigator Seo getting along so well with Elder Blade Demon."
"I don't know if they're 'getting along.' He might be getting scolded so much that his pillow is wet with tears every night."
Lee An burst into laughter.
"I doubt that. Deep down, Elder Blade Demon seems like a good person."
"Don't let your guard down. Just because he’s a good person to Investigator Seo doesn't mean he’ll be one to you. He is a Demon Lord. Be careful."
"Yes, I’ll keep that in mind."
"One day, you’ll have to surpass him with your own skill."
Lee An flinched for a moment.
"Me?"
The words "How could I ever defeat a Demon Lord?" didn't come out like they used to. Since she had inherited the Flying Heaven Sword Art, saying such a thing would be an insult to both me and my father.
"I’ll work hard."
"You know, right? Half-hearted skill is the first thing that gets you killed. Since you’ve stepped onto this path, you have to go all the way."
"Yes!"
I raised my glass, and she drank with me.
"And once your Flying Heaven Sword Art reaches a certain level, let’s start gathering the members of the Ghost Shadow Squad in earnest. If we can recruit the team leaders properly, the rest will be easy."
"Do you have anyone in mind?"
I nodded honestly.
"One or two. I’ll have to go and hire them myself later."
"Who are they?"
"You’d only be shocked if you knew now. I’ll tell you when the time is right."
"Hearing you say that makes my heart race already."
"When that happens, alcohol is a great solution, isn't it?"
The sound of our clinking glasses was as cheerful as our mood.
"Let’s order more drinks and more snacks."
"I’d love to, but I think we have to stop drinking for today."
Lee An followed my gaze down to the first floor. Seo Dae-ryong had rushed into the tavern and was heading up to our table on the second floor to report on the new guest I would soon have to deal with.
"The Pungcheon Cult Leader has just arrived at the Main Cult."