“Big Brother! Catch this!”
“Thanks!”
One of Miss Yeo Il-ye’s twin swords was thrown to Hyeok Gi-rin, who had lost his weapon.
I was hoping to witness Yeo Il-ye’s swordplay this time, but alas, it seems I won’t.
“I’m going first! Be careful not to break the chain!”
“Got it!”
As I ran along the iron chain, I pondered how to subdue the Red Blood Rat.
Entity.
It’s incredibly hard to catch an entity, even if you are a highly skilled expert, when you’re alone. Even if I polish my inner power with the best techniques, there’s still a substantial difference in the total amount of Qi.
Even if you wield the sharpest and strongest knife in the world, would it be easy to catch a cow with it?
A rather cheap iron-made large knife would be much better suited for that purpose.
That’s also the reason why formation techniques are necessary for hunting entities.
Even if the quality isn’t great, it’s essential to secure a minimum size to harm the opponent.
That’s the reason why we need formation techniques to face entities.
The Red Blood Rat possessed an ambiguous aura that made it hard to label it outright as an entity, but ultimately, I couldn’t pierce through its hide with just my strength.
In that sense, the ones who could take down the Red Blood Rat were already determined.
“Miss Yeo Il-ye, Hyeok Gi-rin! Can you set up a formation?”
“It’s possible! Just buy us some time!”
Right then, it was Yeo Il-ye and Hyeok Gi-rin.
As the only members of the same sect among our group, the two could deploy formation techniques.
Only those two, but considering the vast inner power of Hwa-gyeong’s Hyeok Gi-rin and Yeo Il-ye, they should be able to match enough striking force against the Red Blood Rat.
Kyaaaak!!
While the two were setting up the formation, me and the black cat had our job to do.
The Red Blood Rat was clawing at the iron chain tightening around its neck with its front paws.
I had to make sure it couldn’t break that iron chain.
“Keep applying pressure to make the noose tighten!”
“Of course!”
Even if it’s called the Tang So-yeol Iron Chain, it was highly likely to snap under the claws and teeth of the Red Blood Rat.
Holding on firmly and being cut by sharp claws and fangs are two different matters.
The chain was in a noose shape around its neck, making it unable to exert full strength, and it could only scrape the surface with its claws, so it was holding on. However, if it tried to bite or ensnare the chain with its claws, even the Tang So-yeol Iron Chain wouldn’t last long.
“Haah!!”
The black cat, gathering chilling energy in its two front paws, charged at the Red Blood Rat. The pressure seemed to have heightened from having to continuously exchange blows while being harassed by its tail.
Fwooom!!
Kiiieek!!
Having to constantly respond to the pulling force of Bicheongmacha, the Red Blood Rat used its hind legs to pull while countering the black cat’s attacks with its front paws and teeth.
Boom!!
Crash!!
Using the Minor Divine Skill that could withstand the claws of the Red Blood Rat, the black cat slipped past its claws while continuously infusing cold energy into its front paws.
The force it left on the Red Blood Rat’s front paw and those claws were powerful enough, but that was simplistic.
Average experts wouldn’t withstand that power and sharpness, but what do you expect from the martial arts I’ve trained?
It’s not just an ordinary skill; it’s the Minor Divine Skill, rumors claim it’s one of the best techniques in the world.
Due to its intricacy, the Red Blood Rat’s claws could barely make effective strikes and kept getting thwarted.
Seeing that, I also aimed for the back of the Red Blood Rat.
Rumble!!
The thunderous roar echoed as my Great Sword filled with sheer force attacked the Red Blood Rat’s back.
Sensing something wasn’t right, the Red Blood Rat turned its body, swinging its long snout to deflect my blade with its sharp fangs.
Bang!
The outcome was neutralized.
The Red Blood Rat’s face turned as my Great Sword bounced away. Indeed, sheer mass triumphs. I was driving forward from a distance, amassing speed, against the Red Blood Rat, which had just been exchanging blows with the black cat.
The Red Blood Rat staggered from the impact, but I, trying to endure with all my might by employing the Earthly Scale, was sent flying.
Like a rubber ball hitting a wall.
Even though I was flung away badly, I was sufficiently satisfied.
“Haah!!”
The black cat’s dual strike precisely hit the Red Blood Rat’s torso.
Crack, crack!
In an instant, profound ice covered the Red Blood Rat’s chest. Feeling a chill throughout its body, the Red Blood Rat shivered.
Kyaaaak!!
The Red Blood Rat roared angrily at the black cat, who had attacked it, trying to charge forward. However, that action was thwarted.
Click!
The Bicheongmacha, connected to the iron chain, dragged the Red Blood Rat backwards.
Kyaak!
In a fit of rage, the Red Blood Rat wrapped its tail around the iron chain and yanked it hard.
At that moment, the taut iron chain loosened. My heart dropped, thinking it might have snapped, but the chain was taut again.
Judging the chain was in danger, Tang So-yeol released the strength it was holding back, disrupting the balance of the Red Blood Rat.
Swish!!
Then the chain tightened again. The Red Blood Rat, wobbling from the fluctuation in tension, lost its balance and faltered.
Though the Red Blood Rat dug its claws into the ground and regained its footing, I was able to buy time to re-engage after being flung like a rubber ball.
The Red Blood Rat rampaged incessantly but didn’t escape the encirclement.
Drawing out the Red Blood Rat’s openings, I attacked while the black cat struck through the exposed gaps with the Nine Yin. And with each of our movements, the Bicheongmacha continued to restrict the Red Blood Rat.
Each of us was limiting the Red Blood Rat’s actions in our own ways.
And as that was happening, the inner power wind from Hyeok Gi-rin and Yeo Il-ye was gradually intensifying.
As I charged again to contain the Red Blood Rat’s movements, I glimpsed Hyeok Gi-rin and Yeo Il-ye.
Yeo Il-ye had her hands on Hyeok Gi-rin’s back.
It was hard to determine whether they were forming a technique or simply amplifying the Qi with sheer force.
But one thing was for sure.
Whoosh!!
The tempest of Qi swirling around Hyeok Gi-rin was definitely growing.
Sensing the unusual vigor of Hyeok Gi-rin, the Red Blood Rat struggled even more fiercely. However, neither the black cat nor I would let it go, and the trembling iron chain was holding on as if it were about to snap but never did.
How long did that go on?
Shwhooosh!
I felt a massive flow of inner power change from behind. The power that had been slowly gathering now erupted freely.
“I’m going!”
Me and the black cat created an opening, and the frightened Red Blood Rat began to retreat. But it didn’t get far. Regardless of the direction it turned, it couldn’t escape the boundaries set by the Bicheongmacha.
“Chaaap!!”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s battle cry resonated. The massive inner power Yeo Il-ye held was amplifying Hyeok Gi-rin’s voice uncontrollably.
Hyeok Gi-rin launched forward.
As Hyeok Gi-rin accelerated, his stance lowered further. The swirling energies of Hwa-gyeong and Yeo Il-ye coiling together created an image reminiscent of an arrow.
An arrow that would bring down the sun.
Hyeok Gi-rin embodied the Falling Sun Arrow.
Kyaaaak!!
Did the Red Blood Rat sense it couldn’t escape Hyeok Gi-rin’s attack? Desperately attempting to escape the grip of the Bicheongmacha, it prepared to clash with Hyeok Gi-rin’s blade while releasing a cry.
They say a cornered rat will bite a cat.
The Red Blood Rat was cornered and pulled out its trump card.
Fwoosh!!
The Red Blood Rat’s aura poured forth, scattering the ice shards that had clung to its body, expanding in size.
Even with thick fur and skin on its limbs, the muscles bulged strikingly.
In an instant, the Red Blood Rat transformed into a muscular beast.
That Red Blood Rat glared fiercely at Hyeok Gi-rin as he charged in, then swung its front paw. The claws, now much longer than before, resembled a sword more than mere claws.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s blade collided with the Red Blood Rat’s claws.
With its whole body vibrating, the Red Blood Rat added power to its strike while Hyeok Gi-rin’s blade trembled slightly. A shockwave spread outwards from the brief resistance.
And in the next moment, I sensed the outcome.
Crack!
Several cracks appeared on the Red Blood Rat’s claws. Seeing this, the Red Blood Rat twisted its claws to hold onto Hyeok Gi-rin’s blade with its remaining three claws.
However, that alone wouldn’t suffice.
Just applying pressure to the side of the blade couldn’t stop Jeomchang’s sword.
Boom!!
Once again, Hyeok Gi-rin’s foot crashed into the ground. The earth cracked, and fragments shot into the air upon impact.
As that happened, Hyeok Gi-rin’s blade fully extended.
Unable to handle the force, the Red Blood Rat’s claws shattered completely, and its strong muscular arm was pushed back. The tempest-like energy that hadn’t been stored in Hyeok Gi-rin burst forth through his arm and into the blade.
And then.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s blade pierced through the fur of the Red Blood Rat, burying deep into its neck.
Fwoooosh!!
The blade completely penetrated the Red Blood Rat’s neck. The huge aura bursting forth caused a stream of blood to shoot high into the sky.
Boom.
The Red Blood Rat’s body fell sideways. It bled profusely from the wound, taking several deep breaths before it ceased all movement.
I crawled over, wounded and scraped up from the collisions.
The deceased Red Blood Rat’s body was gradually shrinking.
It was adapting back to a size smaller than its bloated form at the last moment.
Perhaps its true size was less than this, and that bloating was a characteristic it possessed as an entity.
Who knows?
The Red Blood Rat’s corpse finished its transformation, shrinking slightly back to its original size, and of course, it no longer moved.
“It’s over.”
“Yes…”
I sighed and reached for my sword’s sheath, only to realize I had tossed it earlier. I let my arm drop.
This started as a mission to draw out Jeong Cheol who was hiding.
One unexpected event after another.
“Sister! Look at this! The cart’s axle is bent! Please fix it immediately!”
“Shut up. My whole body is sore; I’m going to rest for a few days without doing anything.”
“Kyyaaaak!! The body of the ancient Bicheongmacha that has been in use for five years!!”
Tang Do-yeon, curling her body and screaming with both hands on her cheeks, was quite a sight, which made Hyeok Gi-rin chuckle lightly.
“Haha… I guess we’ll have to walk back.”
“Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.”
I too couldn’t suppress a weary smile.
“Our horses have worked hard; they should get some rest.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Covered in dirt from rolling and colliding, me. The black cat, whose attire became tattered after continuously exchanging blows with the Red Blood Rat. Yeo Il-ye, who became pale after using all her inner power in the formation. And Hyeok Gi-rin, who looked like a porcupine with his hair standing on end from the massive energy that passed by him.
“Let’s head back.”
As I said this, the party nodded and moved forward.
“Ugh! The cart is such a mess! This is the greatest shame of Tang Do-yeon’s life!”
“Be quiet. Just drive the cart.”
While Tang Do-yeon mumbled incessantly, Tang So-yeol observed her with tired eyes, smoking his pipe.
Hearing their bickering, I walked along the tracks left by the Bicheongmacha.
-This way!
-Hurry! The commotion has ceased!
Before long, I began to hear the sounds of the Moyong Clan’s pursuit team approaching.
Seems they’re rushing to settle the situation.
I gazed at the shadowy figures of the Moyong Clan martial artists appearing in the distance.
Will everything go according to Moyong Yeon-hwa’s wishes?
That was something I wouldn’t know.
Having endured so much, I could only hope for a positive outcome.
Of course, from the Moyong Clan’s perspective, the issues I’ve resolved would only be the beginning. The problems surrounding the Shengsu Faction and the mines are just kicking off now.
But I had finished my part.
I had honored the promise with the Moyong Clan and did everything to the best of my ability to accept any outcome.
So now, regardless of what conclusion the Moyong Clan reaches, I should humbly accept it.
I raised my voice, calling out to the figures of Moyong Yeon-hwa, Moyong Seo, and Moyong Mo standing at the front of the pursuit team.
“Younger Brother! Over here!”
It was simply a place that seemed suitable for the group to convene – Shengsu.
That day, unexpected events occurring in Shengsu reached a conclusion.
