The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Just as the Immortal Divine Sword said, a martial artist who lost his sanity became no different than a powerful monkey.

If that body was imbued with the profoundness of martial arts, naturally incorporating strength into its limbs, then it might be different, but these were merely children. Controlled by the so-called rage insect, they blindly charged forward. At least, excluding Jun Myung, the other two did.

The chubby boy, Yuk Su-chan, was surprisingly the fastest. His innocent smile from moments ago had vanished. Drooling, he rushed towards Yi-gang.

With a wounded left leg, Yi-gang could hardly move and had to stand his ground.

He brandished a heavy sword without unsheathing it.

Unlike the others, Yi-gang’s mind was clear. The sword stance of Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique cast a shadow over Yuk Su-chan’s face.

Slash—!

The sword hit the part connecting the neck and shoulder.

At the same time as striking down his opponent, Yi-gang twisted his body with the recoil. Instead of biting Yi-gang’s face as Yuk Su-chan intended, he rolled roughly on the ground.

Next was Myung Geol. Though it wasn’t a proper combined attack, the mere act of charging simultaneously was threatening.

Yi-gang used his somewhat functioning right foot as a pivot. As he suddenly exposed his back and turned, Myung Geol let out a beastly roar.

And what Yi-gang exhibited wasn’t Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.

「You’ve put to good use what you learned.」

It was Shadowless Splendor, the secret technique of the Shadowless Sword Pavilion that he learned from Neung Ji-pyeong.

The figure of Yi-gang, who had shown his back just a moment ago, became blurred.

Myung Geol probably couldn’t clearly see the process of Yi-gang turning his body. The tip of the Shooting Star Fang sword precisely pierced Myung Geol’s throat.

“Gah!”

If it had been a real sword, it would have pierced through his throat, instantly killing him.

Yi-gang’s mastery of Shadowless Splendor had improved so much in the past month that it was incomparable.

“Huff. Huff.”

However, despite this, he hadn’t surpassed the physical limitations. Not being able to utilize internal energy was a fatal weakness for any martial artist.

Internal energy was like fuel. It flowed through the blood vessels, invigorating the body. The body became faster, the skin became tougher, and fatigue was kept at bay.

Hence, martial masters possessing internal energy were like superhumans, while Yi-gang, unable to utilize it, was merely a human bound to the earth.

Catching his ragged breath, he glared at Jun Myung.

The latter finally charged at him.

“After what you did to Su-chan and Myung Geol, you damn fiend!”

It seemed that once consumed by the rage insect, one’s vision blurred, seeing nothing clearly.

He probably couldn’t see at all. Yi-gang chuckled sarcastically, spitting out, “Crazy bastard.”

But Jun Myung’s actions weren’t those of a simple madman.

Unlike the two boys who just shrieked, the look in his eyes was alive. The fact he could speak already set him apart.

“Come at me!”

Yi-gang was taken aback by that sharp move.

It was a mistake to think only of the foolish movements from moments ago.

“Ah!”

His fingers converged, striking swiftly. Contrary to his appearance of being defenseless, it was clearly a high-level fist and feet technique.

From the back, Yu Su-rin, who was diligently maintaining a spell, shouted out, “It’s a feint! Be careful!”

Even without that warning, Yi-gang knew that the approaching right hand aiming for his eyes was a feint. The real threat was the left hand, trying to grab Yi-gang’s collar. Once caught, it would be over in an instant.

He was too close to block with a sword. But evading was equally impossible.

Yu Su-rin, positioned behind, couldn’t move as she was in the midst of maintaining a spell.

‘Then, I have to counter it right here.’

Yi-gang boldly bent his knee.

Crack—

Such a sound seemed to come from his left shin.

A pain so sharp it nearly whitened his vision surged through him.

「When pain peaks, there’s a moment when the agony is forgotten, and the mind becomes clear.」

Even in this place devoid of physiological knowledge about the human body, every martial artist knew this. They may not use medical terms like “neurotransmitters,” but they can sense it through experience.

Feeling a sensation as if floating, Yi-gang deflected Jun Myung’s right hand.

Then, stretching his bent legs wide, he lunged forward.

His hard head struck Jun Myung’s jaw with great force.

Crack—!

The impact was several times more forceful than when he had slapped with his palm earlier.

This time, Jun Myung too fell backward. As luck would have it, he seemed to have bitten his tongue, as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

“Haah, haah….”

Yi-gang caught his breath.

How much time had passed? A moment? No, not even that. Only a brief moment had elapsed.

「Roughly about one-third has passed.」

Was it saying that only about five minutes had passed? He thought he had trained his stamina well, but he was out of breath.

「Stop being stubborn and draw your sword.」

There was a reason the Immortal Divine Sword was urging him so.

Jun Myung and the two boys slowly began to rise.

It wasn’t easy for Yi-gang, who couldn’t use internal energy, to incapacitate them.

‘I never thought I’d see blood in the Azure Forest.’

It was the moment Yi-gang was finally about to draw his sword.

「No, it seems it’ll be alright.」

The Immortal Divine Sword chuckled, and Yu Su-rin shouted in joy.

“Sage Do Seon!”

Someone gently touched Yi-gang’s shoulder.

Suddenly, an old man wielding a sword appeared behind Yi-gang.

It was the same scenario when the Azure Forest Lord had appeared. A quiet movement technique as if descended from the heavens.

“It’s a Taoist tool. Your magnanimity to avoid shedding blood even in dangerous situations.”

If one bore the character Do of the first-generation disciples, they are among the best martial masters of the Azure Forest, one generation below the Forest Lord.

“I’m grateful for your merciful heart.”

“Ah, yes…”

He decided not to mention that he was actually about to draw his sword right then.

And then, Yu Su-rin retracted the radiant spell she was casting.

As the intense light disappeared, darkness enveloped them. The view was completely blackened.

In such darkness, one couldn’t see anything.

It seemed Yi-gang was the only one who thought so.

Three screams were heard from within the darkness.

“Aaaah!”

“Kkuk!”

“Huff!”

These screams came from Jun Myung, Yuk Su-chan, and Myung Geol.

It was astonishing. The screams almost sounded simultaneously.

Yet, there was no sense of the presence of the person who had subdued them.

“Please, turn on a light.”

A voice resonant with age but filled with strength echoed in the darkness.

Next to Yi-gang, Sage Do Seon flicked his hand from bottom to top.

Then, without any incantation, a spell was activated.

Fwoosh—

Dozens of flames, similar to will-o’-the-wisps, lit up at once. The surroundings became as bright as day. This was a spell of finesse, incomparable to Yu Su-rin’s.

The three boys lay unconscious. Beside them stood an old man. He wore a sword, but it seemed he had subdued them with his bare hands.

A stubborn-looking face with thick eyebrows.

Recognizing him, Yu Su-rin exclaimed in surprise, “Sage Do Gang too!”

Yi-gang recognized the name as well. It was one of the famous martial masters from the Azure Forest. A swordsman who was once rumored to have single-handedly dismantled a sect of the Unorthodox Union in Jianghu.

“Are you the boy named Baek Yi-gang?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I heard you can’t use internal energy.”

Sage Do Gang gazed at Yi-gang with his piercing eyes.

Eyes that seemed to see right through him.

“That’s correct.”

“…Quite remarkable. With such a scrawny body, you managed to fend off these boys.”

Saying that, he folded his arms.

“Come to Blue Flower Palace.”

“…”

“I’d like to see how well you can be trained.”

It seemed he was aware of Yi-gang’s intention to join the Azure Forest. Still, the offer was rather abrupt.

Seeing Yi-gang remain silent, Sage Do Seon clicked his tongue.

“His leg is severely injured. What are you talking about, leaving an injured child like that?”

“What? His leg… he was in such a wounded state?”

“It’s fortunate that Junior Do Gyeon is in the Forest. It must have been very painful; you’ve endured a lot.”

“With that kind of mental strength, even better. Come to Blue Flower Palace. I was in need of a sword apprentice anyway.”

Upon seeing the state of Yi-gang’s leg, Sage Do Gang became even more insistent.

Luckily, Yu Jeong-shin appeared just in time to divert the attention of the two sages.

“Ah! Su-rin! Yi-gang!”

In his hand, he held a jar made of glass. Something the size of fleas buzzed inside. It was clear that it was the rage insect.

“Are you okay?”

“Tsk, the youngest one. Can’t even properly take care of the Treasures.”

Yu Jeong-shin, who looked much younger compared to the two martial masters, seemed to be the youngest disciple among the first-generation disciples. It appeared he hadn’t received his Taoist name even though he was married.

“Ah! His leg!”

Ignoring the scoldings of the two senior brothers, he examined Yi-gang’s leg.

“It’s because of me!”

His eyes grew moist, just like the father of Yu Su-rin would have reacted.

“It will be okay after treatment.”

“I… I’ll do something.”

What he planned to do was uncertain, but Yu Jeong-shin made that promise.

While the senior martial masters were examining Jun Myung’s condition and investigating the sequence of events, Yi-gang slumped down on the ground.

“Ugh.”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t feel the pain. Once the fight was over, the pain in his leg became even more pronounced.

As he was touching the ground, someone placed a hand over Yi-gang’s.

“What?”

“Thank you.”

It was Yu Su-rin.

“It was all thanks to you.”

“Well, I can’t use sorcery, so we just divided our roles.”

Though he was sincere, Yu Su-rin seemed even more moved.

“Also, thanks for the encouragement earlier.”

“Encouragement? …Ah.”

Yi-gang recalled what he had said to Yu Su-rin.

“Yes, I’m good with the sword and also with sorcery. I won’t be disheartened and will continue to work hard.”

Calling it an “encouragement” might be a stretch, but sometimes the recipient’s attitude towards such words mattered more than the words themselves.

“I won’t cry anymore either.”

“Good.”

Yu Su-rin quickly wiped away the moisture forming in her eyes and nodded resolutely.

While she stood up to assist the sages, Yi-gang quietly reflected.

‘Well, if it’s tough and sad, one can cry.’

「That’s right.」

Surprisingly, the Immortal Divine Sword agreed.

Yi-gang admired the night forest, with will-o’-the-wisps floating about.

A white mist dispersed from the corners of his mouth.

---

Despite her vow in front of Yi-gang,

Just a day later, Yu Su-rin shed a few tears.

“Ugh.”

In the Azure Forest main mountain’s Kuiying Hall, the place where the major decisions of the Azure Forest were made, she was in a horse stance.

Heavy weights were placed on both her hands.

She had been receiving this punishment for over two hours now. It was fortunate that her tears were indistinguishable due to the sweat pouring down.

Yi-gang looked at Yu Su-rin’s face with concern.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t cry.”

“Ugh.”

Yu Su-rin didn’t respond, only letting out a groan.

Then, one of the second-generation disciples standing behind her struck Yu Su-rin’s shoulder with the flat of his sword.

Smack—!

“Silence.”

It might not be painful, but it would be unbearably sore.

That’s what Yi-gang thought.

‘She’s being punished because the rage insect emerged from her body.’

「Didn’t they say she was a Taoist flower disciple? You should have realized sooner. She did abandon her duty when she decided to guide you, after all.」

‘Right.’

When an incident occurred, someone had to take responsibility. It might have been a series of coincidences, but it seemed Yu Jeong-shin, the Grand Library Master, had also received quite a severe punishment.

Hence, he couldn’t come to Kuiying Hall.

The Forest Lord and all of the first-generation disciples were gathered in Kuiying Hall, probably because of yesterday’s events.

The yokai insect leaked from the Azure Forest’s Grand Library bit three young third-generation disciples.

Those bitten by the rage insect attacked the guest from the Baek Clan.

The Baek Clan was not something even the Azure Forest could take lightly. It was a significant matter.

“What on earth is this? Is this, how the Azure Forest treats its guests—!”

Standing in front of Yi-gang and yelling vehemently was none other than Neung Ji-pyeong.

Upon seeing Yi-gang return with a splint on his leg, his eyes almost popped out.

“His leg was cracked. This is Young Master Yi-gang, who possesses a heavenly punishment called Great Yin Meridian Blockage. How could they put someone frail in such danger!”

Although Neung Ji-pyeong was an outsider here, all of the first-generation disciples present were older than him. In terms of their positions in the martial arts world, as well as their actual skills, they surpassed Neung Ji-pyeong by a significant margin.

Yet, Neung Ji-pyeong didn’t hesitate to raise his voice.

‘That’s a bit unexpected.’

「He’s quite admirable. If he’s going to be a subordinate, he should indeed act like that.」

Yi-gang felt a weight in his heart. He never expected Neung Ji-pyeong to be so outraged on his behalf.

“This is unacceptable!”

“I apologize, Swordsman Neung. It’s clearly our fault, and we have no excuses.”

The Forest Lord Im Gi-hak quietly bowed his head.

Neung Ji-pyeong was also taken aback for a moment.

Seeing the leader of the major sect Azure Forest speak in such a manner, he could no longer stay angry.

Yi-gang timely intervened.

“Squad Leader Neung, I am fine.”

“…I apologize. I let my emotions get the better of me.”

Neung Ji-pyeong stood protectively behind Yi-gang.

Forest Lord looked at Yi-gang.

“I’m sorry, Yi-gang.”

“It’s okay.”

Yi-gang replied with a smile.

“I heard you faced the three kids bitten by the rage insect alone.”

“That’s how it turned out.”

“It seems a born talent in the sword can’t be hidden even by physical ailments.”

“You flatter me.”

“Flattery, huh? It’s the first time I’ve seen Do Gang and Do Seon spewing praises for someone like that. Heh.”

At that, two of the seated first-generation disciples coughed awkwardly.

Sage Do Gang was the pavilion master responsible for Wisdom Sword Pavilion of Blue Flower Palace, and Sage Do Seon was the pavilion master of Bright Sun Pavilion of Snowflake Hermit Palace. Both were quite influential figures.

“So, is your leg alright?”

“Yes, Forest Lord.”

“Let me take a look.”

Though he said he was fine, Yi-gang’s leg was still noticeably swollen.

“Indeed, it’s our fault.”

“…”

“We have to take responsibility somehow.”

Yi-gang silently looked at Forest Lord’s lips.

“Do Young, are you there?”

“The disciple heeds your call.”

“Bring that to me.”

The Adam’s apple in Yi-gang’s throat moved slightly. Sage Do Young was the head of Grass Flower Hall.

Yi-gang knew what kind of work Grass Flower Hall was involved in.

“What are you referring to?”

“Since he’s hurt, I must give something to heal him.”

Grass Flower Hall means “house of grass and flowers.”

It’s the place that Jin Ri-yeon mentioned, the place that gathered precious medicinal herbs and elixirs.

“Do you still have that Red-White Tuber Fleeceflower? Bring it.”

Sage Do Young’s face turned pale. This indicated how precious that elixir was.

‘Yes!’

「Exactly!」

Yi-gang and the Immortal Divine Sword shouted in joy at the same time.

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