Chapter 9 – Reversal of the Situation

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Jin So-myeong, who was trying to get as far away from the Dew Tree as possible, furrowed his brow.

Whether it was because of his intense movements or the rabid momentum of the insect swarm, maintaining the Breath Concealing Art began to rapidly grow difficult.

Even his concealment wavered unstably, as if it would break at any moment.

‘No!’

If his concealment art deactivated now, what would happen was obvious.

It would be a direct trip to the netherworld. Not only the tails but also the swarm of insects would never leave him alive.

Since he could never accept that, he resolutely made a wish.

Crack!

He consumed three of the remaining twelve Supreme Great Ability beads all at once.

The moment a mysterious ripple swept through his entire body.

“The bastard disappeared! I can’t track him!”

“That’s nonsense!”

The Breath Concealing Art regained stability. As if he had become an invisible man, even his presence grew faint.

“Don’t talk nonsense and look again! We must not let him escape!”

He brushed past the tails who were still shouting, unable to grasp the situation.

Although it was a golden opportunity to launch a surprise attack, he did not attack. He merely focused on widening the distance from the Dew Tree, using them as shields.

He had no time to waste on them. He poured all his focus into running.

How many seconds passed?

“W-Wait a minute! That guy isn’t what’s important right now! Those insects are strange. It’s unusual!”

“Good grief, what could mere insects possibly do… Huh?”

“B-Brother! Save m— Ahh!!”

A horrific scream filled with pain that gave goosebumps just by hearing it echoed, but it did not last long.

It disappeared, buried under the rabid momentum of the swarm of insects. They perished without even leaving proper traces.

At that moment.

Jin So-myeong, who was fleeing, turned his head unconsciously. This was because he could not contain his instinctive curiosity.

‘…Ha.’

His eyes widened. He was so astounded by the gruesome scene that he almost stopped his steps.

How much time would it take to turn his head? Naturally, it was an extremely short time of less than a second.

In that split second.

Two of the three disappeared, leaving only bones. No, even those bones could not hold out for long and turned to dust.

‘Crazy.’

Although he knew the venomous insects were dangerous, he did not know they were to this extent.

The response of the insects was particularly violent today. It seemed as if the anger they had accumulated while having their dew stolen by him for half a year had exploded.

Massaging the goosebumps that rose on his forearms, Jin So-myeong slowly halted his steps.

Since he had moved over fifty meters away, a safe distance was secured. Now he had to concentrate on the concealment art to regulate the consumption of the Supreme Great Ability.

He focused his gaze on the only surviving mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator.

“Mere insects dare!”

He was a muscular man with a fierce impression. Glaring at the venomous insects with eyes full of hatred, he pulled out a palm-sized golden disc.

Hum!

The moment spiritual Qi was injected into the golden disc, it expanded in an instant. He only blinked once, but it grew into a large shield with a diameter of one meter.

The change did not end there.

A golden energy flared up from the shield and transformed into a thick veil. A protective barrier made of Qi enveloped and protected the muscular man from all directions.

The barrier of Qi was thick and solid, just like a castle wall. It looked incredibly sturdy, as if it could not be pierced at all.

‘A defensive dharma treasure?’

Dharma treasures were special equipment used by cultivators. They could be called expensive treasures equipped with all sorts of mysterious abilities.

Just as the surprised Jin So-myeong flinched.

Boom!

The veil and the swarm of venomous insects collided.

An intense shockwave exploded, to the point that his hair fifty meters away fluttered.

A portion of the insect swarm turned to dust and poured down like rain. The domineering momentum that crushed everything was blocked.

Indeed.

The power of the dharma treasure was as great as rumored. The insects that did not give up charged several times, but it was in vain.

Every time a shockwave exploded, countless insects died.

‘This is troublesome. He is stronger than I thought.’

Jin So-myeong’s complexion darkened. The muscular man’s skill was even more outstanding than expected.

He was indeed a mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator armed with a dharma treasure. If they had fought head-on, he would not have lasted a single exchange.

‘What to do.’

The Dew Tree was the most powerful card he possessed.

If the situation ended like this, the pursuer would return alive, and he would surely take revenge on him.

Just as he was contemplating with narrowed eyes.

Buzz!

The swarm of venomous insects, blocked several times by the shield, milled about in confusion and backed away. It seemed as if they had given up.

Watching that scene, the man curled up the corners of his mouth and sneered.

“Khehehe! Do you think mere insects can pierce my Gold Light Shield ! Get lost immediately!”

He thought the situation had ended like that, but it was not so.

The insects’ flight pattern changed. As if they had developed a collective intelligence, they began to draw patterns in the air.

Drawing bizarre trajectories, they began to merge into one, and an unusual energy wavered.

“…Hmm?”

The man holding the shield and acting triumphantly flinched.

He swallowed dry spit at the suddenly changed momentum of the venomous insects and then snorted. Believing in the power of the dharma treasure, he did not back down.

How many seconds passed?

The shape formed by the gathering swarm of insects turned into something like a sharp spear. A horrific feeling drifted from the violet aura wrapped around the spear blade.

It was to the point that even Jin So-myeong, who was far away, felt goosebumps.

The moment he felt that ominous thing was aimed at the shield.

Beeeeep—

Along with a ringing sound in his ears, the situation ended. No one could react to the light-like speed.

It was the same for Jin So-myeong, who was watching from afar.

His temporarily blurred vision came into focus, and he could not help but be shocked by the tragedy that had occurred before his eyes.

“Cough!”

The man who spat blood miserably tottered.

The shield he boasted of had long since shattered to pieces. The completely smashed fragments merely fell powerlessly to the ground.

His right arm, which had been holding the dharma treasure, was also gone, vanished somewhere.

It was truly a wretched sight.

‘…Crazy.’

At the absurd, insane power, Jin So-myeong shuddered in shock.

The dharma treasure that flaunted immense durability was pierced. Even his arm turned to dust, but no intermediate process could be felt.

This was because the speed of the spear blade was too fast. As if it had teleported, he had perceived nothing.

“Dammit!”

The pursuer, who was a mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, was also panicked by the strike of the insect swarm.

The hatred that was full in his eyes had vanished without a trace before he knew it.

“Why is such a thing at the entrance of Mount Red Yang!”

Only fear remained as he fled, screaming like a child.

He flew up into the sky riding a flying sword. He fled desperately, pursued by the angry swarm of venomous insects.

Boom! Boom!

Fireballs scattered from the man’s fingertips exploded. He struggled to escape from the venomous insects that clung to him relentlessly.

‘…Let’s follow.’

Jin So-myeong, who was watching while concealed, made a decision.

The flying sword the bastard rode was quite fast, but thanks to the obstruction of the insect swarm, it was worth pursuing.

At this moment, the positions of the hunter and the prey were reversed.

Since the plan that risked danger succeeded, it was time for the opponent to pay the price.

He followed carefully so as not to draw the attention of the insect swarm.

How long did he pursue the opponent who was fleeing while making all sorts of ruckus?

Mount Red Yang regained its tranquility.

This was because the venomous insects, having finished venting their anger, returned to the Dew Tree before he knew it.

*

Thump!

The muscular man, who was tottering while riding the flying sword, fell and rolled on the ground.

“Pant! Pant!”

His complexion turned pale, as if his spiritual Qi was exhausted.

Even though he crashed to the ground and became covered in dirt, he could not get up, looking completely drained of strength.

Immediately after barely escaping from the venomous insects, he had collapsed in exhaustion in a messy state.

“Ugh.”

Furthermore, his skin was stained violet here and there. He seemed to have been poisoned as well.

With an expression as if he would pass out at any moment, he only gasped for breath.

“Cough…! Wretched dog! Why did I end up in this state… That damn kid. Just you wait. I will find him and kill him no matter what.”

He violently distorted his face, which was a mess due to blood and mud.

Gritting his teeth, he fumbled his waist with his only remaining left arm. His expression brightened instantly upon finding a reddish pill.

Just before he could pick up the pill with his trembling hand and consume it.

Slice!

The broadsword imbued with a golden aura grazed past his wrist.

“Ah?”

The muscular man’s face turned blank. He only stared at his own wrist, which spun through the air and fell with a thud.

With a stupid expression and his mouth wide open, he could not move for a long time.

“Ugh.”

Was it because of the pain that arrived belatedly? The pale man gritted his teeth.

He glared with eyes as if he wanted to scream, but in the end, he only groaned and endured it.

This was because someone was already standing beside him.

“H-How did you…?”

The man looked up at Jin So-myeong, who was looking down with cold eyes, and realized everything that had happened.

That terrifying swarm of insects was that young bastard’s trap!

It was obvious that Jin So-myeong had noticed their tailing long ago!

It was too unfair. He had never imagined that trying to ambush a kid who was barely at Qi Condensation stage 2nd layer would result in this state.

“S-Spare me…! No, please spare me!”

The bear-like large man knelt down immediately, casting aside his pride. He did not hesitate to beg a young child.

He was curious about how the kid had noticed the tailing, but that kind of thing was not important right now.

Surviving.

That was the most important. There was hope of treating his severed arms someday.

“You want me to spare you?”

Meanwhile, Jin So-myeong, who looked down at the begging man, stretched out his hand.

Thud!

Striking the dantian, he injected the Supreme Great Ability into the bastard.

‘Seal!’

Two Supreme Great Ability beads were consumed, and the bastard’s spiritual Qi began to be sealed.

Only after detecting that the spiritual Qi flowing in the meridians had hardened like stone could he feel a bit relieved.

Spurt!

As he became unable to use spiritual Qi, blood spurted from his severed wrists and other areas.

“Ugh.”

A choking sound was heard. The muscular man looked as if he would die at any moment.

‘Oh no!’

The panicked Jin So-myeong injected spiritual Qi into the fellow.

He had captured him with difficulty, so he could not let him die like this. After using spiritual Qi to improve the bastard’s condition.

Swish.

He searched the fellow’s chest. This was because he worried about demonic beasts that might seek them out upon smelling blood. Fortunately, since he had Breath Concealing Talismans, he immediately used two sheets.

“Ugh. Spare me…!”

He spoke to the man who had recovered a bit of his complexion thanks to the injected spiritual Qi.

“If you answer my questions faithfully, I will consider it. Why did you chase after me?”

“Pant! Pant! Why did I chase you…?”

The fellow, who was catching his rough breath, paused. Rolling his eyes around, he spat blood and laughed.

“Heh! If you are curious, give me the detoxification pill on my severed arm there. I am going to die like this.”

“Just answer the question.”

“Hmph. I am going to die anyway, so why should I? Eat dirt!”

Frowning, Jin So-myeong closely observed the fellow’s eyes. The minute trembling showed that he was clearly afraid.

“Forget it.”

“W-What did you say?”

Who was the one in a hurry right now?

It was the opponent who was on the verge of death. There was absolutely no reason to be dragged along like a sucker.

“It must be some trivial reason anyway. I won’t care. Just die.”

The moment he sharply reduced the injection of spiritual Qi that was maintaining the fellow’s life.

The panicked fellow shrieked.

“W-Wait! Think carefully! If you kill me, Big Brother will take revenge!”

“Big Brother?”

“Yeah! My Big Brother is a late Qi Condensation stage expert! He is strong enough to cut down a bastard like you with a single strike!”

“Your Big Brother is a late Qi Condensation stage expert?”

“Hehe! Don’t you believe it? No, you just don’t want to believe it! Big Brother already knows that I am tracking you! If I do not return, Big Brother will make it so you can neither die nor live!”

“…Are those your last words?”

At Jin So-myeong’s low question, the man’s face turned white.

Whether he had truly become urgent, his speech grew faster and faster.

“If only you spare me, I will act as if nothing happened today! I will swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, so you do not have to worry about me breaking it. Please judge wisely. I will make up excuses for my dead brothers myself…”

Jin So-myeong’s eyes narrowed.

He closely observed the expression of the fellow who repeated threats and pleas, but he could not tell what was true and what was false.

Clang!

Watching silently, he pulled out his broadsword.

The moment a faint golden aura gathered on the crude blade.

“Huh? W-Wait! What are you doing… Ahh!!”

The broadsword pierced through his thick thigh in one go.

Contrary to its shabby appearance, it was extremely sharp, which was because he had reinforced its sharpness with the Supreme Great Ability.

“Stop talking nonsense and answer the question. Why did you follow me?”

“Gasp! Dammit! How dare a weak early stage bastard like you! If I were fine, would someone like you even be an opponent!”

“Haha. You seem to want to become a one-legged cripple. I will grant your wish.”

The moment he sharply tilted the broadsword. The bone and flesh were cut through as if they were tofu.

“Aaahh! W-Wait! I will talk! I will talk! I will tell you everything!”

He watched silently as the fellow grew polite in an instant, and the fellow’s mouth began to move without rest.