Chapter 8
'Now!'
Seong-jun quickly drew up the blood energy within his body.
'Blood Flow Acceleration.'
It was a martial art technique that everyone in the Blood Sect learned, but its effects weren't particularly impressive.
It merely used blood energy to circulate blood rapidly through the body, slightly sharpening the senses.
Of course, Seong-jun wasn't using Blood Flow Acceleration just to sharpen his senses now.
'I'll use the rapidly circulating blood to drive out the waste accumulated in my body from modern living.'
Naturally, it wasn't as easy as he thought.
To begin with, Blood Flow Acceleration wasn't considered a martial art technique with such outstanding abilities.
However, even the most insignificant Three Disasters Sword Technique could become as threatening and fierce as the Wudang Sect's Taiji Sword Technique when used by a martial artist hailed as the Sword Emperor.
While the ability of the martial art itself is important, its effect and power can vary significantly depending on who uses it.
'It certainly won't be easy...'
To be precise, given the lack of inner energy, it would be difficult even for Seong-jun to achieve this with Blood Flow Acceleration alone.
That's why he had prepared by pushing his body to the extreme to make his blood circulate rapidly.
'The preparation is sufficient.'
In other words, this was just the beginning.
From now on, he needed a sophisticated inner energy technique.
But there was no need to worry unnecessarily.
Seong-jun was a figure known as the Blood Demon at the apex of the Blood Sect, even called a Demon God.
'Handling inner energy is like breathing to me.'
As he concentrated and added blood energy to the blood flow circulating in his body, the blood that was already racing like a racehorse accelerated even further.
Bang-!
A sound like an explosion rang in his ears, but it didn't easily break through.
There was no need to panic.
It was the waste accumulated over 26 years, not a short time.
It had hardened like stones, completely filling his blood vessels.
He hadn't expected it to break through easily in the first place.
He would just keep pushing until it broke through.
Bang-! Bang-!
The blood vessels throughout his body repeatedly expanded and contracted as if they would burst.
It wouldn't be strange if the blood vessels burst at any moment.
It was at that moment when he was thinking this.
Boom-!
With a loud noise different from the previous stuffiness, the blood circulating through his body struck and broke through the waste blocking his body.
In that instant, he felt a pleasant sensation as if his eyes were sparkling, and the refreshing flow of blood racing unhindered through his body.
Ding-!
[S-rank skill, Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique has reached 2 stars.]
[The status 'Blood Energy' increases by 5.]
[Some of the waste that had been blocking your blood vessels for years has been expelled, increasing the recovery and usage efficiency of inner energy and blood energy by 2 times.]
It was the first time that a sound ringing in his head felt so good.
Seong-jun stopped running and sat down, exhaling rough breaths.
"Huff... Huff-!"
It was exhausting to the point of death.
But because of that, the sense of achievement was also great.
In reality, even though he was breathing so roughly that it wouldn't be strange if he collapsed right away, a bright smile was blooming on Seong-jun's lips.
'I did it.'
Feeling proud, Seong-jun looked at his body.
Yellow waste was seeping out with the clear sweat drops that were pouring down his entire body like rain.
It was an indescribable feeling, both unpleasant and refreshing.
But the emotion filling his heart right now was elation.
"Good."
He had achieved his intended goal.
Now all that remained was to select martial arts techniques that could utilize his trained body.
However, before that, there was something that needed to be dealt with first.
The waste flowing out with his sweat was emitting a stench that seemed to sting his nose.
'I should shower first.'
With that thought, Seong-jun immediately headed home.
* * *
After returning home and finishing his shower, Seong-jun suppressed his elation and finished his daily routine.
The reason was simple.
It was approaching 7 PM, the only time of day when he could have dinner with his family.
Although he had returned to Earth as he had longed for, there was little actual time he could spend with his family.
Chased by reality, everyone was living busy lives, so the only time they could all gather was at dinner time.
And for Seong-jun, the time when all family members gathered in one place for a meal was the most precious time.
It was because sharing each other's daily lives and emotions, feeling affection, and recognizing each other's preciousness at the family dining table made his heart more abundant than anything else in the world.
The next day, after spending such a short but happy time, all family members had gone to work and were busy with their daily routines.
However, even though the sun was high in the sky, Seong-jun was sitting on a dining chair in the living room, just staring at the smartphone his parents had newly activated for him a few days ago.
Of course, it wasn't because he was addicted to video media or had given up training because it was troublesome and tiring.
For Seong-jun, who had trained himself as naturally as breathing, training was literally like a daily routine.
There was no reason to feel any hardship at all.
He was just waiting for the registered mail delivery of the Returnee Registration Card, which could be called the key to changing the family's financial situation and the condition for becoming a Hunter.
'It should be arriving soon...'
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the doorbell rang.
Ding dong-! Ding dong-!
A smile spread across Seong-jun's lips.
'It's finally here.'
Seong-jun's pupils dilated as he opened the front door wide with an excited heart.
It was inevitable because the man standing in front of the door couldn't be seen as an ordinary delivery man.
The aura emanating subtly, the disciplined movements, and the sharp gaze indicated that he was not an ordinary person.
Moreover, decisively, there was a man in his late 20s wearing a black suit with a tiger embroidery symbolizing the Korean Hunter Association on his chest.
"I'm from the Association Headquarters. Are you perhaps Returnee Seong-jun Lee?"
"Yes, that's correct."
As soon as he nodded in affirmation, the man continued speaking.
"Hello, I'm Kim Sung-hoon from the Returnee Management Team at the Association Headquarters. I've come to deliver the Returnee Registration Card you applied for."
Unlike Kim Sung-hoon, who spoke with a faint smile on his lips, Seong-jun's expression was hardening like a plaster statue.
'I thought it was strange that it was sent earlier than I had heard...'
It was rare for a Korean public official to process work faster than the date they had mentioned, without any special connections, academic ties, or blood relations.
Moreover, the person delivering the registration card was also unusual.
The current Earth was a world where numerous Returnees were active.
As many Returnees had somewhat peculiar personalities, there would be quite a few individuals who needed to be watched.
But it was unlikely that a capable person belonging to the Association Headquarters would visit just to deliver a registration card.
Seong-jun narrowed his eyes and asked in a cold voice.
"You came to deliver just one registration card in person?"
"There's no special business. We're just delivering it in the fastest way possible because Returnee Seong-jun Lee requested prompt delivery."
"This is quite different from what I've heard."
It was known that the Association Headquarters placed great importance on principles and rules.
It was inevitable as they had to deal with all sorts of Hunters.
Ordinary Awakened ones didn't cause much trouble, but among the Returnees who had enjoyed strong power and privileges in other worlds, many were dissatisfied with how the Association Headquarters handled things.
Therefore, the Association Headquarters processed all matters according to principles and rules without exception.
After all, if kindness continues, people start to think it's their right.
If they gradually provided conveniences, people would expect more and more, and eventually, Hunters might appear who try to break free from the Association Headquarters' control.
That's why the Association Headquarters was famous for handling matters more strictly than any other government agency.
But the Association Headquarters he was seeing and experiencing now was completely opposite to its public image.
"Didn't you take down a D-rank monster, a troll, with a single blow right after your return? The world of Hunters is basically based on meritocracy. It's natural to receive treatment according to your skills or talent."
Kim Sung-hoon, with a business smile on his lips, stretched out his right arm to hand over the Returnee Registration Card.
"So you can accept it comfortably as it is."
To be honest, although Seong-jun was currently just an F-rank, which couldn't be considered an outstanding force at the moment.
But what the Association Headquarters was looking at was the distant future, investing while anticipating the appearance after completing growth.
The current Earth is an era where the strength of Hunters directly translates to national power.
Just the existence of strong Hunters can bring considerable diplomatic benefits, so it's natural for the Association Headquarters, as a government agency, to cherish talented individuals with potential.
In other words, there was no need to question or be wary of receiving this level of treatment.
A smile naturally spread across Seong-jun's lips as he received the Returnee Registration Card.
"That's good."
Although it had only been a week, it had been heartbreaking to constantly watch his family leave the house with sleepy eyes from early morning.
But thanks to the special treatment from the Association Headquarters, he could go hunting and earn money a little faster.
"If you don't have any special business, then I'll..."
As soon as he received the registration card, Seong-jun was about to leave the house immediately when Kim Sung-hoon asked a question.
"Are you going hunting right away?"
Seong-jun nodded silently instead of answering.
It wasn't for nothing that he had been waiting for the Returnee Registration Card since early morning.
He planned to go hunting right away to earn money that could help improve his family's financial situation.
"If it's alright with you, may I accompany you? I absolutely won't get in your way, and of course, you can keep all the earnings."
Kim Sung-hoon's purpose for accompanying could be easily guessed.
He probably wanted to judge with his own eyes, not just based on hearsay, what kind of potential Seong-jun had.
Seong-jun nodded readily.
"By all means."
There was no reason to hide his hunting abilities.
Rather, it was a good opportunity.
He needed to prove his abilities and attract attention as soon as possible.
Only then could he quickly earn a lot of money and relieve his family from their daily hard labor as soon as possible.
In other words, it meant he could hasten the happy life with his family.
Therefore, Seong-jun intended to reveal his existence without filtering.
Of course, some people might become wary of his rapid growth rate, but there was no need to worry about that.
Among the Awakened ones and Returnees who are currently famous on Earth, there was no one revered as having reached godhood.
'There's no one capable of gauging my potential.'
While the existing privileged class was wasting time being wary, measuring, and pondering what judgment to make, he planned to grow rapidly and stand at the pinnacle of all Hunters.