Chapter 54: Rage Insect (2)

“Pull yourself together.”

Squirm—

Up until a moment ago, Jun Myung, who had been furiously thrashing about, was now pinned face-down on the ground with his nape gripped by Yi-gang.

The mountain was cold. His face smashed into the frozen, solid ground.

Considering Jun Myung’s weight and Yi-gang’s strength, it’s certain that his nose was broken.

As if to prove it, blood streamed down.

Yi-gang’s expression was colder than the winter wind. However, inside, hot emotions were churning.

‘Whoa, I just snapped.’

There’s a saying, “1000 jin for 4 liang.”

It meant to exert a thousand jin of force with very little strength. In essence, it referred to a martial art technique that utilized the opponent’s strength against them.

It resonated with the proverb that gentleness overcame strength. It’s an essential skill for Yi-gang, who was naturally physically weak and unable to use his inner power.

Yi-gang brilliantly executed the essence of “a big payoff for a small effort.”

He deflected the attack of Jun Myung, who was significantly stronger than him, and in return smashed his head.

“Ugh, guuuuuh…”

Jun Myung seemed to have completely passed out.

If it had been Yi-gang from his days staying at the manor, even in his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have imagined defeating such a giant using the Great Yin Flow. Though he might be considered a lesser talent compared to the likes of his younger brother Ha-jun or Moyong Jin, he’s undeniably a disciple of the Azure Forest.

It was only natural for Yi-gang’s heart to swell with pride.

「Humph!」

However, the Immortal Divine Sword admonished him with a scornful laugh.

「Don’t be so conceited. If this boar-like brute hadn’t lost his senses and charged at you, you’d have been the one to get beaten. You’re still too raw.」

‘Is that so?’

「Of course!」

Yi-gang wasn’t disappointed in the Immortal Divine Sword’s sharp rebuke. Because what it said was true.

This fact was soon demonstrated by the two boys rushing towards him.

“Ah! Brother Jun Myung!”

“Move, get out of the way!”

The two boys, previously introduced as Su-chan and Myung Geol, dashed in frantically.

One of them checked on the fallen Jun Myung, while the other lunged at Yi-gang.

Yi-gang instinctively employed the martial arts moves ingrained in his body.

However, the plump boy’s hand was swifter than Yi-gang’s. Just when Yi-gang thought he had deflected the oncoming hand, it followed a strange curve and instead grabbed Yi-gang’s wrist.

There was no doubt about it; it was the Azure Forest’s unique skill, a grappling technique.

Yi-gang had no choice but to twist his body to dodge.

“Back off!”

Fortunately, it seemed that the boy intended to make Yi-gang retreat rather than attack him.

Yi-gang glanced at his slightly strained wrist. A chill ran through his heart.

「No matter how skilled a martial artist one may be, if they lose their composure, they are no better than a third-rate. Similarly, if you maintain your calm even in the face of a blade, an opportunity will present itself.」

The Azure Forest’s level was indeed not to be underestimated.

“Look at him. He doesn’t seem okay.”

“Brother Jun Myung isn’t usually like this.”

Although Yi-gang was the first to attack, they didn’t seem to blame him.

It was Jun Myung’s fault for grabbing his shoulder and threatening him. Moreover, the way his eyes were bloodshot and how he screamed was clearly abnormal.

They laid the fallen Jun Myung down and checked on him.

“It’s true that Brother Jun Myung seems to have feelings for Sister Su-rin. But to act so recklessly…”

“Brother! Wake up!”

“Do we need to carry him down…?”

Jun Myung lay there, his eyes rolled back and mouth agape. Yi-gang approached him quietly and examined him.

The strange feeling he had since they first met seemed like it might finally make sense.

Yi-gang quietly pondered, ‘It feels similar to that time.’

「Which time are you referring to?」

‘Today at noon, when I was catching that Brush Eater.’

「Ah, you managed to detect them back then too.」

Yi-gang recalled hearing the small bug-like yokai munching on letters. However, he didn’t catch them just by the sound alone. Those creatures emitted a peculiar energy.

And now, he felt a similar malevolent aura emanating from Jun Myung.

Then, something caught Yi-gang’s eye.

‘A flea?’

From Jun Myung’s neck, something jumped and latched onto Myung Geol’s neck, who was standing close by.

“Ouch! Damn it!”

Myung Geol rubbed his neck. Yi-gang had missed tracking the flea’s movement. And in the moment everyone’s gaze shifted away from Jun Myung…

The unconscious Jun Myung sprang to life.

As he got up, he simultaneously struck Yuk Su-chan’s neck, who was beside him.

“Ugh!”

Then he immediately charged at Yi-gang again.

Yi-gang was already on guard. He planned to use Jun Myung’s strength against him, redirecting it just like he did a moment ago.

「Be careful!」

However, there was a problem: Jun Myung’s condition was different from before.

His face was flushed red, and his muscles bulged significantly. It wasn’t just sheer strength; he was incredibly fast.

The clear image of Jun Myung that was right in front of him became blurry, and in an instant, he sprung up as if launched into the air.

Yi-gang quickly sidestepped.

And then, he countered the charging Jun Myung.

Thud—!

As he struck Jun Myung’s arm, the ominous sound that resulted came surprisingly from Yi-gang’s own shin.

Yi-gang rolled backward, regaining his stance.

“Damn it.”

Something was wrong with his left leg. It didn’t seem like a bone had broken, but at the very least, it felt sprained.

「Such ridiculousness…」

It was absurd that the one who delivered the kick was the one injured.

Sympathizing with that sentiment, Yi-gang glared at Jun Myung. Jun Myung’s eyes had turned completely red, and muscles all over his body twitched restlessly.

It was as if he was possessed by a demon or yokai. No other thought came to mind.

‘Is it something like a tiger ghost?’

Myung Geol, who was bitten by the flea earlier, also had a face that was turning bright red.

“Ugh, my body is burning—!”

Would he transform like Jun Myung?

Yi-gang wasn’t given time to contemplate.

“Arrrggghhh!”

Because Jun Myung was charging at him again. There seemed to be no rationality left in him as he screamed wildly.

Yi-gang chose not to dodge and stood his ground.

「Stay calm.」

There was no sense of danger in the voice of the Immortal Divine Sword. And indeed, Yi-gang, waiting patiently for Jun Myung, was the embodiment of calm.

Initially, Jun Myung might not have been using his full strength.

‘The same goes for me.’

But then again, neither had Yi-gang.

Should he dodge, block, or deflect?

Yi-gang chose the third option.

Drawing his sword, he aimed to cut Jun Myung’s charging neck.

Thud.

But the neck wasn’t severed.

The blade was inside its sheath.

Thwack!

The Shooting Star Fang made of meteorite was incredibly heavy. Having been struck in the neck with it, Jun Myung couldn’t have been alright.

Losing momentum, Jun Myung staggered and toppled over to the side.

「Should’ve drawn the sword earlier.」

Regardless of anything else, Yi-gang was a descendant of a sword clan. He was several times stronger with a sword in hand than when barehanded.

“Kkuk… Grrrrr…!”

The issue was that Jun Myung was still trying to get back up despite his condition.

「Should’ve severed his neck.」

‘I couldn’t do that.’

He might be initiated, but he couldn’t kill a disciple of the Azure Forest. Of course, if he truly felt his life was in danger, he would have to make the cut.

「But maybe that’s what needs to be done.」

The conditions of Myung Geol and Yuk Su-chan, who were trying to stop Jun Myung earlier, had also deteriorated. Their faces had turned red, and they were trembling uncontrollably.

Slowly, Myung Geol took steps toward Yi-gang.

And then, someone burst out from the bushes, kicking him in the back.

“Kkiek!”

“Myung Geol, you crazy bastard!”

It was Yu Su-rin.

“Why didn’t you come… Yi-gang!”

“Oh, you’re here.”

Her eyes were bright red, as if she had been crying.

Fortunately, she seemed to be in her right mind.

“We need to get out of here.”

And her judgment didn’t seem impaired either.

Instead of attempting a conversation with the clearly afflicted Jun Myung and the boys, she grabbed Yi-gang’s hand and started running.

“It’s odd. They don’t seem to be in their right minds.”

“Do you know why they’re behaving like this?”

“From what I know, these symptoms appear when bitten by the Jinu insect, the rage insect. I have no idea why such insects would be here, though.”

“Rage insect?”

“Yes. When bitten, they say you lose your reason and are consumed by anger, hence the name ‘rage insect.’ Just a bit further down and we’ll be safe. There are many who can help.”

That would be the case, as the main mountain wouldn’t be too far off.

But Yi-gang had no choice but to stop while still holding Yu Su-rin’s hand.

“What’s going on? We need to move fast!”

“I… I can’t.”

Jun Myung, Myeong Geol, and even Yuk Su-chan were charging towards them from behind.

“What? Why?”

“If I run any more, my leg might break. Or it might already be broken.”

Yi-gang bent down and lifted the hem of his left trouser leg to inspect.

It was the spot that had been injured when he had collided with Jun Myung earlier.

Yu Su-rin’s face turned pale.

“You’ve been running on it this whole time?”

Yi-gang’s shin was in a horrendous state.

It was swollen and red, and at the center, there was a purple bruise, a clear sign of congestion. It was clearly not in a condition to run on.

It was hard to believe he’d been running even when Yu Su-rin had grabbed his hand and pulled him along. Seeing his condition, she began to break out in a cold sweat.

“Let’s just get over there.”

Yi-gang didn’t utter a single groan. Instead, holding onto Yu Su-rin’s hand, he limped forward.

The place they hurriedly took cover was in front of a large boulder.

“We’ll have to fend them off here.”

After all, they couldn’t run in their current situation.

Yi-gang recalled a moment when Jin Ri-yeon had carried him briefly when he sprained his ankle.

「I wonder if you’ve stepped on a curse here in Mount Heng. You seem to have bad luck with injuring your legs often.」

‘Exactly my point.’

Being carried again wasn’t an option, and running away wasn’t feasible either.

It was best to stand in front of the boulder and block the way.

Yu Su-rin said in a desperate voice, “We can’t stop those three. People bitten by the rage insect become stronger at the expense of their sanity.”

“We’ll need to find a way.”

Yu Su-rin felt an extreme sense of urgency. Yi-gang’s peculiar calmness was the only thing that kept her slightly grounded.

And eventually, they were caught up.

“Grrr… You two!”

Jun Myung stood in front with the two boys. The veins on his face were frighteningly pronounced.

“Why are you two together?! Grrr!”

“What nonsense are you spouting, idiot!” Yu Su-rin exclaimed in disbelief.

Jun Myung flinched for a moment, then began to shake violently.

“I’ll give you a beating if you don’t move by the count of three!”

“It’s clear that getting bitten by that bug makes you stupid.”

The last remark was Yi-gang’s observation. Clearly, something was off with them.

Yi-gang looked up at the sky.

It had grown dark. The mountain at night was pitch-black, making it hard to find the way. It didn’t seem like someone would come across them and help.

He then looked at the Shooting Star Fang.

‘Should I draw my sword?’

If he drew the true sword and prepared to fight, even if it meant going for their necks, it might be fine.

It would be a pain for him to cut down the disciples of the Azure Forest, but if it’s for survival, that much was acceptable.

Yi-gang turned his gaze to Yu Su-rin.

Her face was full of fear. She also had a sword, but would she really be able to slash at friends she had grown up with?

「Don’t rely on others.」

‘Didn’t you say one can’t live in this world alone?’

「Indeed. However, in this situation, it’s something you can handle on your own.」

The Immortal Divine Sword seemed confident that Yi-gang could fend off the three.

“Three!”

Jun Myung started counting.

Yi-gang made up his mind.

“Can’t you solve it with sorcery?”

“Sorcery isn’t omnipotent.”

“Can’t you do something like throwing a fireball?”

“I’m not a divine immortal. How can a human do that?”

He asked just in case, but as expected, that was the case. Sorcery wasn’t truly magical. It seemed Yu Su-rin’s limit was just causing strong winds or startling birds.

“Then, do you have a spell that makes a loud noise or emits a bright light?”

“Um… I do have a spell that produces light.”

“Not just a fleeting flash. It needs to constantly emit light.”

“It’s possible, but I’ll need to concentrate fully, so I won’t be able to move during that time.”

It would have been better if they had a flare. With that thought, Yi-gang suggested, “Do that. So others can see and come to our aid.”

“Ah, got it!”

Realizing Yi-gang’s intentions, Yu Su-rin quickly nodded in agreement.

If they emitted a bright light near the Five Flower Grand Library, it would be visible even from the main mountain. The first-generation disciples or the second-generation ones would notice the anomaly and rush over immediately.

“One and a half—!”

“He’s counting awfully slow.”

“Half of two—!”

Half of two is one, isn’t it? It seemed that when possessed by a yokai, they became somewhat foolish.

“I’ll hold them off in the meantime.”

Yi-gang drew his sword and stood firmly on both legs, leaving his scabbard aside.

Yu Su-rin, with all her might, began to cast spell.

“One and a half!”

“What calamity cannot be eliminated, control the heavens. Jiji-ru-luling!”

Then, behind Yi-gang, Yu Su-rin shot a beam of light into the sky.

“One and a… “

Swoosh!

“…half.”

With a sharp noise, Yi-gang, holding his sword, was silhouetted against the backlight.

The light was bright enough to be seen from a distance.

“I’ve heard you’re skilled with the sword, and you’re quite adept with sorcery too.”

At Yi-gang’s sudden praise, Yu Su-rin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You’re better than them if you can just kick the habit of shedding unnecessary tears.”

“…”

Uncertain if that was praise or a sarcastic comment, Yu Su-rin couldn’t respond.

「Was that supposed to be encouragement?」

‘…’

Honestly, even Yi-gang found his own words somewhat puzzling.

“These wicked people! Acting all sweet just the two of you! Wrong!”

Jun Myung certainly seemed angry.

Charging towards them, Yi-gang thrust out his sword.

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