The methods I know to avoid detection of the Blood-Stabilizing Essence in my «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» eyes are, to the best of my knowledge, two.

The first method is a complete transformation, where the body undergoes a total change, making it impossible to detect the essence in my eyes. However, this method is as difficult as mastering the Great Flame Demon Technique, so it's not something to consider at the moment.

The second method is to not change my entire body but just my eyes.

Can my eyes be changed?

Yes. There is only one person in this era who can change my eyes. And fortunately, he’s within the sect. The problem is whether or not he will actually agree to help me.

The person in question greeted me with the smell of blood in the air.

“Prince, welcome.”

“Hello, Elder Ma.”

It was Ma, the well-known healer. The blood on his clothes was from a patient.

“I’m always the same.”

“Please take care of yourself, Elder. You look tired.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

I didn’t have much interaction with Ma before, but after becoming the head of the Yellow Spring Division, we had a few professional encounters, and a certain bond formed.

“I happened to acquire some rare herbs, and I wanted to give them to you.”

I handed him the gift I had prepared. It wasn’t the usual herbs from the sect’s supply—it was something I bought at a high price from outside.

“Oh, such rare herbs. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Then, let’s have some tea.”

“Certainly.”

We shared tea, chatting casually, and after a while, Ma asked with a hint of curiosity.

“You came here because you have something you want to ask, didn’t you?”

“That’s correct. I actually have a request.”

“I won’t beat around the bush, as I know you’re a busy man. Please, perform the Shinan Technique on me.”

For a moment, Ma was taken aback.

The Shinan Technique.

It’s a procedure that enhances the eyes of martial artists. With the Shinan Technique, one’s vision, including dynamic vision, improves dramatically. Not only does it enhance normal sight, but it also protects the eyes from external influences—whether light, darkness, underwater, or smoke—nothing can affect them.

It truly is a rebirth of the eyes. Its effects are so remarkable that it is sometimes called the "Divine Eye Technique".

If I underwent the Shinan Technique, even if the sect leader of the Wind Sky Sect examined my eyes, they wouldn’t be able to detect the Blood-Stabilizing Essence. However, unfortunately, the Shinan Technique was known to be a lost art long ago.

Ma’s expression darkened.

“How do you know I can perform the Shinan Technique?”

It was not a question he could ask casually, so Ma didn’t deny it outright. What he was curious about was how I knew.

I would later find out that Ma had indeed mastered the Shinan Technique. But that story would only be revealed much later, after I had returned to the sect to retrieve materials for the Great Technique. By then, Ma was already dead, and it was his disciple, Hobak, who held his place. It was through Hobak that I learned all the details.

Hobak had presented the Shinan Technique to the sect leader at the time, Joobaekdo. It was revealed that Ma had passed on both the Shinan Technique and the necessary materials to Hobak.

I didn’t tell anyone where I had learned this information. I figured Ma would probably think of one person if I kept quiet.

“Ah!”

Ma’s expression grew more cautious. He probably thought that my father had told me. And there was a good reason for that.

According to Hobak’s recollections, my father had rejected Ma’s offer to perform the Shinan Technique. As a result, the materials for the technique had been passed on to Hobak, allowing him to present it to the sect leader. Hobak recalled that it was all thanks to his master.

Because of that, Ma would likely help me. Though my father had rejected the Shinan Technique, telling me about it could be seen as a signal for me to undergo the procedure.

“One of the materials needed for the Shinan Technique, the fruit of the Extreme Bliss Guanyin Herb, is extremely difficult to obtain. Do you know that the Shinan Technique can only be performed once in this era?”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“Knowing that, are you still requesting the Shinan Technique?”

“Yes.”

Ma fell into deep thought. I gave him time to consider. I waited quietly, sipping my tea, and after a while, Ma spoke.

“If I perform the Shinan Technique, what will you give me in return?”

“I have nothing to give right now. But…”

I looked at him with a determined gaze.

“I will become the sect leader.”

“!”

“If I become the sect leader, I will grant you whatever you wish.”

Ma’s eyes wavered. I knew what he desired.

Ma had wanted this all his life, but my father had refused. My father had rejected the Shinan Technique because it meant he would have to grant Ma’s request.

But unlike my father, I had no intention of rejecting Ma. I was prepared to fulfill his request.

“Will you grant me whatever I want?”

“Yes. But there is one condition.”

“One condition is enough.”

“I promise.”

Now, there was only one final thing Ma had to decide.

“Do you have the confidence to become the successor?”

“I do.”

This time, I asked him.

“Elder, what do you think? Do you think I will become the successor?”

With my recent actions, Ma had probably been keeping an eye on me.

“I think your ability is more than enough. It might even be excessive. But… you are too pure. I’m not sure if you’ll be suited to the position of sect leader.”

“That actually works out well.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I want you to hide my pure eyes with the Shinan Technique. Make them into new eyes.”

I said it half-jokingly, but Ma didn’t laugh. He was standing before the biggest decision of his life, and he knew it would determine his fate.

“This is an important decision, so think it over and let me know.”

I stood up.

“Prince, before you go, let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes.”

“If you become the sect leader, how do you plan to deal with the Martial Alliance?”

“That will depend on the situation at the time. But one thing is certain. Whether they are righteous or evil, whether they are individuals or organizations, whether they are men or women—if they are deemed absolute evil, I will eradicate them.”

I knew that this answer would be the model response for Ma, so I left feeling at ease.

Three days later, Hyeolcheon Doma visited the medical office.

Ma was sitting quietly in the room, looking weary from several days of contemplation.

As he entered the room, Hyeolcheon Doma spoke.

“Are you dying already? Why are you doing things you’ve never done before?”

Ma had secretly sent for him. That’s why he was visiting at this late hour.

“We’re both near the end.”

“Quit with the bad talk. Stop saying ‘we.’”

“Why do you have so much attachment to this world?”

“Those who say they have no attachment are usually the ones with the deepest hell inside them.”

Few knew that the two of them had such a close, unguarded relationship.

“What is it? You called me, so you’re tired of saving people? Shall we go kill someone together?”

Ma smiled faintly. He got along well with Hyeolcheon Doma, who spoke whatever was on his mind. Their contrasting personalities were what made their friendship work.

I had once thought about living like Hyeolcheon Doma, speaking freely.

“I called you because I wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you choose the Prince?”

For a moment, Hyeolcheon Doma stared at Ma in surprise. Then he started laughing.

“That guy really has his hands in everything. He even drags a healer into the battlefield. Why are you asking that?”

Ma paused before answering.

“Like you said, I’m getting tired of saving lives.”

Hyeolcheon Doma laughed heartily, but Ma remained serious.

“Why the Prince?”

“Why else? I chose him because I think he will become the sect leader.”

Ma nodded. He had assumed that the Prince would be taught the Shinan Technique by him, as if the Prince’s rise to power was already certain.

But Ma needed more than that. He was standing at a crossroads, deciding whether or not to use the one chance he had in his life. It would decide whether he could fulfill his lifelong ambition or not.

“So, what’s the reason?”

Hyeolcheon Doma gave a blunt answer.

“Somehow, I got caught up in his plans. And before I knew it, I was feeding him the Heavenly Demon Essence.”

I couldn’t say that outright, though.

“If it’s as you say, then I guess it’s because the Prince didn’t break the table at the inn. That’s why I chose him.”

Ma stared at Hyeolcheon Doma for a while in confusion. He didn’t expect such an absurd answer, but somehow, he seemed to understand. He understood both the Prince’s heart and Hyeolcheon Doma’s.

“I guess it’s time for you to break something.”

Ma stood up from his seat.

“Did you call someone here and then leave? We should drink.”

“Next time. I’ll pay then.”

“There’s no ‘next time’ for old folks. Today’s the day!”

But Ma had already left.

Looking at his back, Hyeolcheon Doma let out a bitter laugh.

“He’s too diligent. He won’t die easily.”

Of course, this was a comment about the Prince, not Ma.

I woke up suddenly.

The Heavenly Demon’s spiritual energy had alerted me to someone’s presence.

I got up from my bed, strapped on my sword, and went outside. There, standing in the yard, was Ma.

“Elder, you’ve come?”

“I haven’t used any magical energy, how did you know I was coming?”

“I woke up from my sleep and opened my eyes. As if it were destiny.”

I added the word “destiny” because it was the kind of thing that elderly people tend to like. It’s hard to explain the things that happen at this age without attributing them to fate.

“I’ve saved people my entire life.”

“An admirable thing.”

Ma shook his head.

“I’m not a sacrificial person. The reason I saved people was because I wanted to kill one person.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I pretended not to understand, but I already knew. This was why Ma had thrown himself into the sect.

“Being a healer and killing people goes against Heaven’s will. So, to atone for that sin, I’ve tried to save at least one more person.”

With a long sigh, Ma asked me.

“If you become the sect leader, will you kill that person for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you ask who it is?”

“If it’s someone you want to kill, I trust they must be evil. I trust you, Elder.”

“Do you know what’s inside me?”

“Sometimes, the shell is more important than what’s inside. The shell of Ma is not something that’s easily obtained. I believe in the effort it took to create the name of Ma.”

My trust wasn’t based on that alone. I knew everything about his life and death, and the person he wanted to kill. That’s why I trusted him. If I didn’t, I would never have trusted him with my eyes.

“It won’t be easy to kill him. If you mess up, many people could get caught up and die. My wish is to kill him without any other sacrifices. Can you promise me that?”

My father had probably rejected this very thing. To grant Ma’s request, he would have had to act personally, but the position of Heavenly Demon was too weighty to take action for a personal grudge.

“I will become stronger and kill him without unnecessary sacrifices.”

“Will you promise me?”

“Yes.”

“If I die before you, will you still keep this promise?”

“I promise. When I stab my sword into his heart, I’ll whisper in his ear, ‘This sword was sent by Ma.’”

Just thinking about it seemed to bring a smile to Ma’s face.

Finally, Ma made his decision.

“Alright, I’ll perform the Shinan Technique on you.”

“Thank you so much.”

I bowed to him, showing my respect.

“Thank me after the Shinan Technique is completed. Now, let’s go.”

“Are you going to do it now?”

“If I’ve made up my mind, I’ll do it right away. Do you think I’ll change my mind tomorrow? Why? You don’t want it?”

“Of course not. Let’s go.”

I followed Ma, walking briskly behind him.

As I walked, I observed my surroundings carefully. This was the last world I would see with these eyes.