Chapter 59: Sometimes the Shell Matters More Than the Core

TL: FoodieMonster007

I knew two ways to avoid getting caught for using the Bloodeye Holy Water.

The first was Body Reformation. This method changed the body so completely that no one could tell the Bloodeye Holy Water had been used. It was as difficult as mastering the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, so I couldn't consider it.

The second method was to change only my eyes.

Can eyes be changed?

Yes. One person in this era could change my eyes. He was even in our Cult. The only problem was whether he would grant my request.

The man I sought greeted me, reeking of blood.

"Second Young Lord, welcome."

"Have you been well, Elder Demonic Physician?"

That person was the Demonic Physician. The blood on his clothes came from a patient.

"I'm always the same."

"Please don't overwork yourself. You look tired."

"Thank you for your concern."

I hadn't interacted much with the Demonic Physician before, but we met several times for work after I became the Sanzu Hall Director and built a friendly relationship.

"I came to see you to give you a medicinal herb I happened to come across."

I handed him the prepared gift. It was a rare herb I had bought from outside the Cult at a high price, not something found in the medical hall.

"Oh, such a precious herb. Thank you."

"It's nothing."

"Here, have some tea."

"……"

The Demonic Physician and I had tea.

After some small talk, he asked casually, "It seems you came to see me for a reason?"

"That's right. I actually came to ask for a favor."

"Speak."

"You're a busy man, so I won't beat around the bush. Please perform the Divine Eye Technique on me."

The Demonic Physician looked startled for a moment.

The Divine Eye Technique was a procedure that enhanced a martial artist's eyes. It dramatically improved normal vision and dynamic visual acuity. The eyes also became resistant to external influences. Light, darkness, water, or smoke, no environment could affect them.

As the name suggested, it was like being reborn with new eyes. Its effects were so outstanding that it earned the name Divine Eye Technique.

If I underwent the procedure, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader couldn't tell I had used the Bloodeye Holy Water, even if he examined my eyes. Unfortunately, the Divine Eye Technique was known as a long-lost secret art.

The Demonic Physician's expression turned grim.

"How did you know that I could perform the Divine Eye Technique?"

The Demonic Physician didn't feign ignorance, since I couldn't have said it by chance. He was curious how I knew.

I only learned that the Demonic Physician knew the Divine Eye Technique far in the future.

The Demonic Physician was already dead when I returned to the Cult for materials for the grand technique. His head disciple, Ho Baek, had become the Divine Physician, and I learned everything from him.

Ho Baek had offered the Divine Eye Technique to Ju Baekdo, the Cult Leader at the time. That incident revealed that the Demonic Physician had passed the technique and its ingredients to his disciple, Ho Baek.

I didn't say who told me. By staying silent, I knew the Demonic Physician would think of one person.

"Ah!"

His expression grew cautious. He would assume my father told me. There was a reason for this assumption.

According to Ho Baek's recollection, my father had refused the Demonic Physician's offer of the Divine Eye Technique. Because of that, the materials were passed down to Ho Baek, allowing him to perform it on the Cult Leader of that time. Ho Baek recalled that it was all thanks to the Master.

This was why the Demonic Physician would grant my request.

Even though my father refused the procedure, the Demonic Physician would interpret him telling me about it as a sign that I should receive it.

"Are you aware that the fruit of the Heavenly Antivenom Silk, one of the ingredients needed for the Divine Eye Technique, is extremely difficult to obtain, and thus the Divine Eye Technique can only be performed once in a generation?"

"Yes, I am."

"You still want it, knowing that?"

"I do."

The Demonic Physician fell into deep thought. I gave him time. I waited, quietly sipping my tea, until the Demonic Physician finally spoke.

"If I perform the Divine Eye Technique for you, Second Young Lord, what will you do for me?"

"Right now, I have nothing to give you, but…" I looked at the Demonic Physician, my eyes filled with conviction, and said. "I will become the Cult Leader."

"!"

"When I become the Cult Leader, I can grant you anything you desire."

The Demonic Physician's gaze wavered. I knew what he wanted.

He had desired it until his death, but my father never permitted it. That was why my father refused the Divine Eye Technique. If he had accepted it, he would have had to grant the Demonic Physician's request.

Unlike my father, however, I had no intention of refusing. I planned to grant the Demonic Physician's request.

"You'll grant it, no matter what it is?"

"Yes, but only one thing."

"One request is enough."

"I promise."

Now, the Demonic Physician had one last thing to decide.

"Are you confident you can become the successor?"

"I am." This time, I asked, "What do you think, Elder? Do you think I'll become the successor?"

The Demonic Physician must have been paying attention, given my recent actions.

"I believe your abilities are sufficient. They might even be more than enough. However… your eyes are too clear. I'm not sure if you're truly suited to be the Cult Leader."

"That's even better."

"What do you mean?"

"Please hide these clear eyes with the Divine Eye Technique. Make them into new eyes."

I said it jokingly, but the Demonic Physician didn't laugh. He faced the choice of a lifetime and knew it would determine his fate.

"It's an important decision, so please consider it carefully and contact me."

I stood up.

"Second Young Lord, let me ask one last thing."

"……"

"When you become the Cult Leader, how will you deal with the Murim Alliance?"

"That'll depend on the situation, but one thing is certain. Whether they're from orthodox or unorthodox sects, an individual or an organization, a man or a woman, if I judge them to be absolute evil, I will eliminate them."

I knew it was the perfect answer for him, so I left with a comfortable heart.

Three days later, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon visited the medical hall.

The Demonic Physician sat blankly in his consultation room. The worries of the past few days showed as fatigue on his face.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon entered the room and said, "Is it your time to die? Why are you doing something you never do?"

The Demonic Physician had secretly sent for him. That was why the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had come so quietly at this late hour.

"Our time to die isn't far off."

"Cut the unlucky talk. Or stop using the word 'our'."

"Why do you have so many lingering attachments to this world?"

"The ones who claim to have no attachments are the ones with more hell inside."

Few people knew the two were such close friends.

"What is it? Since you called me, are you tired of saving people now? Should we go kill some people together?"

The Demonic Physician smiled faintly. He got along surprisingly well with the unfiltered Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The saying that opposites attract made sense when considering his relationship with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He had even thought about wanting to live like the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, saying whatever he wanted.

"I called you because I wanted to ask something."

"What is it?"

"Why did you choose the Second Young Lord?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared intently at the Demonic Physician for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"That kid really gets his hands into everything. To think he's even dragging a scholar from the medical hall onto the battlefield. Why are you asking, anyway?"

The Demonic Physician paused before answering. "Just as you said, it seems I've grown tired of saving people."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon laughed heartily, but the Demonic Physician's expression remained serious.

"Why the Second Young Lord?"

"Why? I chose him because it looks like he'll become the Cult Leader."

The Demonic Physician nodded. He misunderstood and thought the Cult Leader had told Geom Mugeuk about his Divine Eye Technique.

Based on that, the Second Young Lord's chances of becoming the successor seemed high.

But the Demonic Physician needed more. He was at a crossroads, deciding whether to use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. His lifelong wish depended on it.

"So what's the reason?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's honest answer was simple.

Somehow, I got swept up by the kid. When I came to my senses, I was putting the Celestial Elixir in his mouth.

He couldn't bring himself to say that.

"The Second Young Lord said something. That in his demonic way, he doesn't break tables at an inn. That's why I chose him."

the Demonic Physician stared blankly at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He hadn't expected such an absurd answer, but strangely, he felt he understood the sentiment behind it. He understood both Geom Mugeuk's heart and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's.

"Well, it's about time you stopped breaking them."

The Demonic Physician stood up.

"Where are you going? You called me here, we should have a drink."

"Next time. I'll treat you then."

"What 'next time'? There is no next time for old men like us. Treat me today!"

But the Demonic Physician had already left.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon watched him go and let out a dry laugh.

"He's so diligent, he won't die easily."

Of course, he wasn't talking about the Demonic Physician. He was talking about Geom Mugeuk.

I opened my eyes in the middle of my sleep.

The Heavenly Demon Defense Art had alerted me to a visitor.

I got out of bed, strapped on my sword, and went outside. the Demonic Physician stood in the courtyard.

"Elder, you've come?"

"I didn't emit any demonic qi. How did you know I was here?"

"I was sleeping and my eyes just opened. As if it were destiny."

I deliberately used the cliché word 'destiny' because it worked so well on older people. At their age, many things were hard to sort out unless one simply called it fate.

"I've spent my entire life saving people."

"That's a noble thing."

The Demonic Physician shook his head. "I'm not a self-sacrificing person. I saved people because I want to kill one person."

"What do you mean?"

I asked as if I didn't know, but I already knew. It was the same reason the Demonic Physician had joined our Cult because of the God of War.

"For a physician to kill someone is to go against heaven's will. That's why. I tried to save one more person to wash away even a little of that sin."

After a long sigh, the Demonic Physician asked. "When you become the Cult Leader, will you kill that person for me?"

"……"

"Why don't you ask who it is?"

"If it's someone the Elder wants to kill, he must be a villain. I trust you, Elder."

"How do you know what's inside me?"

"I believe there are times when the shell is more important than the core. The shell of 'the Demonic Physician' isn't one that can be easily obtained. I trust the effort it took to create that name."

Of course, my trust wasn't based on that alone. I trusted him because I knew everything about him, from his life and death to the person he wanted to kill. If I didn't, I would never entrust my eyes to him.

"Killing him won't be easy. If it goes wrong, many people could get caught up and die. That's why my wish is to kill only him, without any other sacrifices. Can you promise that?"

This must be why my father refused. To grant his request, my father would have had to act personally. The position of the Heavenly Demon was too heavy to move for one individual's grudge.

"I'll become stronger and kill only him, without any unnecessary sacrifices."

"Will you promise me?"

"……"

"Even if I die first, will you keep this promise?"

"I promise. When I thrust my sword into his heart, I'll whisper to him that it's the sword sent by Elder Demonic Physician."

A smile formed on the Demonic Physician's lips. He seemed to feel good just thinking about it.

Finally, the Demonic Physician made his decision.

"Very well, I'll perform the Divine Eye Technique on you."

"Thank you so much."

I bowed deeply to show my respect.

"Save your thanks for after the procedure is finished. Now, let's go."

"You're going to do it now?"

"When you've made up your mind, you should act immediately. Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow? Why? You don't want to?"

"Of course not. Let's go."

I followed the Demonic Physician as he strode forward.

As I followed, I looked around carefully. This was the last time I would see the world with these eyes.