Absolute Regression

The place the Demon Doctor headed to was not the medical ward.

He took me to his own residence, where a secret chamber had been set up underground for important procedures.

The shelves lining the walls displayed all sorts of medicine bottles and herbs whose contents were unknown. Even as an expert in herbs, I saw many that I had never encountered before.

“Since this is a dangerous procedure, there’s a lot to prepare.”

“Take your time.”

“What if we fail? You could go blind.”

I could tell he was testing my resolve. There was no chance of going blind from failing the New Eye Technique. If the procedure had such risks, he wouldn’t dare perform it on the Heavenly Demon.

“If a patient fails under the Demon Doctor’s care, it means my fate is just that unfortunate.”

At my confidence, the Demon Doctor chuckled and took out the necessary materials from a secret vault.

Soon, he burned incense to calm the mind and sterilized the needles. He mixed various drugs, some of which he boiled and then cooled.

Meanwhile, I lay on the bed with a warm cloth, scented with medicinal herbs, covering my eyes after removing my upper garment.

“Alright, let’s begin.”

“I leave myself in your care.”

He administered several substances into my eyes at different intervals. Some were as clear as water, others as red as blood. There was a green liquid that looked like poison and another as blue as my sword aura. I completely trusted the Demon Doctor, so I calmly entrusted my eyes to him.

After eye-dropping various drugs into my eyes, the Demon Doctor began acupuncture. He placed needles densely around my eyes, on my face, and even on my chest.

“Now, get some sleep.”

My eyes naturally closed. I spoke to the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique with my mind, telling it to relax and rest well today.

I had a deep sleep after a long time.

It had been so long since I slept so soundly.

When I awoke, the needles that had been placed on my face and body had already been removed.

The Demon Doctor was sitting at his desk reading a book, and as I awoke, he walked over to me.

“How do you feel?”

“Good.”

“And your eyes?”

“Even better.”

My vision was truly clearer. My already good eyesight had improved, and my field of vision was so clear it felt like I had come out of a fog. To exaggerate a bit, it felt as if I had been living with my eyes closed until now, and everything around me was vivid.

“Follow me.”

I exited the secret chamber with him and ascended to the first floor. We stood side by side by the window. The sun was at its zenith.

“Look at the sun.”

Looking directly at the sun should have been blinding, but it wasn’t at all.

“How is it?”

“It’s not blinding.”

“Now, look far into the distance.”

I could clearly see things that I wouldn’t have been able to see before. It was truly amazing. Moreover, when I focused my eyes, I could see things that shouldn’t have been visible.

“I can see well. I can even see the ants crawling on that branch over there.”

At my words, the Demon Doctor laughed.

“I’m not joking.”

“I know, I’m laughing because I’m happy.”

“Ah, it’s really incredible.”

“Now, follow me again.”

This time, the Demon Doctor took me to a dark room in the underground secret chamber.

The view that used to be faint even when I channeled my inner power was now clearly visible without any effort.

“I can see well. I can see the medicine bottles placed over there, the picture hanging on the wall, everything clearly.”

“Alright, the procedure was a complete success. Your eyes have been reborn.”

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

When I first desired the New Eye Technique, my main goal was to avoid the eyes of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Therefore, I hadn’t greatly anticipated the magnificent effects of this technique.

But the New Eye Technique was far more extraordinary than I had imagined. There was only one way to describe this state.

My eyes had achieved greatness.

When I stepped out of the dark room, I bowed deeply to the Demon Doctor.

“Thank you.”

The Demon Doctor, startled, lifted me up.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You have used a secret technique that you can only use once in a lifetime on me. I will repay this favor by keeping my promise.”

“Thank you. When you become the cult leader, I’ll tell you who I want dead.”

The Demon Doctor gripped my hand firmly, and I squeezed back.

As I left the Demon Doctor’s residence, everything I saw looked different. It really felt like a new world had opened up.

Suddenly, I had this thought.

‘The Blood Eye Essence and the New Eye Technique, both are entwined with my eyes and the Heavenly Wind Cult like fate. Anyway, thank you, Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.’

Thus, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader received a mysterious thank you.

* * *

I realized anew just how important it was for martial artists to have good eyesight.

My techniques became even more precise, and as they grew more precise, they also became stronger.

In fact, the greatest benefit would be in actual combat. I would be able to dodge attacks that were previously unavoidable and see opportunities that were previously invisible.

Additionally, it would be a significant advantage when running with Star Light Step. I had worried about whether my vision would keep up when I reached the peak of speed, but now that worry was gone. I had acquired the most powerful eyes a human could have, and they would improve again when I went through body rebirth.

After entrusting the affairs of the Underworld Pavilion to Seo Daeryong again, I spent some time secluded in the training hall, allowing my martial arts and body to adapt to my new eyes.

Immersed in martial arts training for a while, I eventually sought out Lee Ahn after a long time.

“Lee Ahn, let’s play!”

Lee Ahn was engrossed in martial arts training.

“No! I need to repeat this technique twenty times.”

“Why practice a technique twenty times in one day?”

“It’s sixty times a day. Evening practice is twenty times.”

“Goodness. You’ll get sick.”

“I’m already sick. If I don’t train, I can’t sleep.”

“Just rest today. If you come and drink with me, you’ll be able to sleep well.”

“After I’m done.”

“How many times left?”

“Eight times. If you keep interrupting, it’ll take longer.”

I pouted and watched her practice martial arts.

“Your waist isn’t turning enough.”

“Your left side is exposed.”

“This time, faster.”

As I corrected her posture, I once again realized Lee Ahn’s exceptional talent in martial arts. She understood and learned quickly.

After watching her technique a couple more times and feeling I had nothing more to add, I delved into training the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique.

During the process of confronting the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, the martial art I trained in the most was the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique. The more I practiced it, the more refreshing it felt.

It always resonated deeply with me. It felt as though I was mastering a living martial art. No wonder it awakened me from my slumber with such deep resonance.

How many times did I repeat the training of the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique?

When I opened my eyes, Lee Ahn was watching me from a short distance away.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes. I completed all twenty times.”

“Let’s go, for a drink! I’m starving.”

“Of course. You haven’t eaten for three whole days.”

“What? Three days?”

“Yes. You’ve been circulating your energy and breathing for three whole days.”

“Me?”

“You came to see me three days ago. You seemed to be in a trance, so I didn’t interrupt you.”

I was taken aback. It seemed like I hadn’t trained for even one hour, let alone several.

“Did I, by any chance, fall asleep?”

“I thought you might have, so I checked, but you didn’t. You were mumbling to yourself.”

I must have been in a trance. I couldn’t remember any part of my training.

“Hold on.”

I sat down and performed the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique once. My qi flowed much more smoothly and accurately than before.

As I stood up, I was smiling brightly. There had been significant progress in the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique. The continuous training I’d been doing had accumulated and resulted in an increase in my level through this trance state.

“You’ve made some progress, right?”

You could tell just by looking at my expression. I nodded with a wide smile.

“Enough to treat you to a nice meal.”

“Congratulations, young master.”

“Thank you. It’s thanks to you.”

“Why is it because of me?”

“If you hadn’t insisted on completing your training, I wouldn’t have sat next to you and fallen into a trance.”

“Oh, that’s right! Buy me a good meal!”

“Of course, I’ll buy you everything you want to eat!”

I hurriedly left the training ground with Lee Ahn.

“Have you been starving too?”

“No. I ate.”

I could hear a growling sound from her stomach.

While I was practicing qi cultivation on an empty stomach, she wouldn’t have eaten alone. She probably even stopped training for three days to avoid disturbing my trance.

“You silly bear.”

“No, if I were really a silly bear, I wouldn’t have let you know I was hungry. Instead, I subtly let you notice, showing how loyal of a subordinate I am. I took this as a perfect opportunity to score some points.”

“You’re sly, a fox.”

“Of course, I have many more hidden tails.”

I laughed cheerfully.

“It’s been a while since we’ve walked together like this, young master.”

“Indeed.”

“It’s nice, as expected.”

That added phrase, ‘as expected,’ really lifted my spirits. I felt good too, Lee Ahn.

We entered the Flowing Wind Tavern in Maga Village together.

“Welcome! It’s been a while, my lord.”

Seeing Jo Chunbae greet us warmly reminded me of his cooking, making me even hungrier.

“Bring it quickly!”

“Yes, I’ll rush with the lightness skill!”

He first served the liquor, then dashed to the kitchen.

We had a drink on our empty stomachs.

“Ah! This is killer.”

“Ugh! It’s strong. I feel like I’m dying.”

A little later, the food was served, and we devoured it ravenously without minding anyone else’s gaze.

We patted our full bellies and talked about martial arts over drinks. She asked me everything she had been curious about, and I answered as best as I could.

My Soaring Sword Art had been at a standstill ever since I broke through to Ten Star Greatness, but I hoped the new eye technique I had received this time would have a positive effect.

As we continued our conversation about martial arts, the topic naturally shifted to Seo Daeryong.

“By the way, how is Investigator Seo doing?”

“He should be fine. I haven’t seen him lately because I’ve been training.”

“Everyone’s busy.”

“Even if I don’t know, he’ll do well. Both in work and training.”

“It’s amazing how Investigator Seo gets along with Elder Blade Demon.”

“We don’t know if they’re getting along well. He might be getting scolded all the time and crying into his pillow every night.”

Lee Ahn laughed heartily.

“I don’t think so. Elder Blade Demon seems like a good person.”

“But don’t let your guard down. Just because he’s good to Investigator Seo doesn’t mean he’ll be good to you. The opponent is the Demon Supreme. Be careful.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“One day, you’ll have to defeat him with your own skills.”

For a moment, Lee Ahn flinched.

“Me?”

She didn’t say, “How could I ever defeat the Demon Supreme with my skills?” like she used to. Now that she had learned the Soaring Sword Art, saying that would be an insult to me and my father.

“I’ll try my best.”

“You know, half-baked skills get you killed first. Once you’ve start something, you have to see it through to the end.”

“Yes!”

I raised my glass, and she drank with me.

“And once your Soaring Sword Art reaches a certain level, let’s start gathering the Haunted Shade Corps members in earnest. Once we properly gather the squad leaders, the rest will be easy.”

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

I nodded honestly.

“One or two. We’ll go and hire them later.”

“Who are they?”

“If I tell you now, you’ll just be surprised. I’ll let you know when the time comes.”

“Just hearing you say that makes my heart race.”

“When that happens, there’s always a good solution: alcohol.”

The sound of our glasses clinking was as cheerful as our mood.

“Let’s order more drinks and side dishes.”

“Unfortunately, I think we have to stop for today.”

Following my gaze, Lee Ahn looked down to the first floor.

Seo Daeryong had entered the tavern quickly and was coming up to our table on the second floor to report on a new target I had to cook for.

“The leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult has just arrived at the gate of the Cult.”

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