The Wind that Blew into the Yi Gajang Forest
Yi Jinpyeong, who had raised his bare fists, No Gae, who lay dying on the ground, and Un Sa-nang, who supported him—all widened their eyes in shock. Even Ryeong-ju seemed taken aback. What had appeared with the wind were two brothers who resembled Yi Jinpyeong.
Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun. The two slender young men stirred up a gust of pung-gi as they positioned themselves on either side of Yi Jinpyeong.
Many in the forest were startled, but Yi Jinpyeong himself was likely the most surprised.
Yi Jinpyeong glanced at his brothers, his eyes conveying a clear message, though he didn't voice it.
How?
He had never told his brothers his whereabouts or about the battles he was fighting—not once. Partly because they hadn't grown strong enough yet, and partly because he judged these fights were ones he could handle alone.
Even when he'd planned tonight's trap to lure and eliminate the Mil-ja spies all at once, he'd only discussed and executed it secretly with Un Sa-nang. So how had his brothers suddenly appeared in this remote forest?
Reading his expression, Yi Jinun spoke up.
"Surprised? Of course you are. We knew you'd pull something like this on your own again. Isn't it fun fighting solo every day? Don't you feel bad for your big brothers?"
That wasn't all. His eldest brother, Yi Jingang, chimed in as if scolding him too.
"Little brother. How am I supposed to handle you sneaking out overnight without a word?"
Yi Jinpyeong was speechless at his brothers' brazen words. He stared at them like a mute who had eaten honey.
Yi Jingang slipped a sword that had fallen to the ground into Yi Jinpyeong's hand. He lightly patted the shoulder of his bewildered youngest brother.
"Come on, let's finish this quick and head home."
Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun stood side by side with Yi Jinpyeong in the center. They asked nothing—why he was in such a state, or who his opponent was. They simply aimed their swords at the foe Yi Jinpyeong had been facing down with his fists.
Yi Jinun on the left. He tilted his sword downward slightly and bent his front foot. It was the starting stance for Chaepung Ilgeom, Yi Gajang's swordsmanship that paired best with Pung Chwi Palbo.
Yi Jinun's form swayed as if a mere breeze would carry it away.
Ryeong-ju watched his stance in silence.
Yi Jingang stood on Yi Jinpyeong's right. He stepped forward with his right foot and extended his sword-holding hand straight ahead. It was the starting stance for Cheongcheon Ilro, which he had demonstrated against a Hwasan disciple at the Later Expert Tournament.
Incredibly, the sword Yi Jingang pointed at the demon-like Ryeong-ju still had its scabbard fully sheathed.
Ryeong-ju's gaze lingered on Yi Jingang's sheathed sword for a long, very long time.
Watching the scene, Yi Jinpyeong burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
His booming laugh echoed clearly through the deep forest.
He knew. How thickly goosebumps covered his second brother Yi Jinun's body, how awkwardly and stiffly he moved, how deeply Yi Jingang's voice trembled.
But Ryeong-ju wouldn't know. He couldn't possibly understand how arduously his brothers stood there, how barely they withstood his demonic qi.
Yi Jinpyeong was delighted. He didn't know how, why, or from where this courage and audacity had come, but having his brothers at his side felt so reassuring.
If they charged into a life-or-death battle in this state, they wouldn't actually help much. They might even disrupt his focus, leading to a quicker, more miserable collapse than fighting alone.
But look at them—shoulders aligned, staring down Ryeong-ju. Their attitude dismissed his identity entirely, their silent sword aims brimming with spirit.
What a convincing sight.
Vitality filled Yi Jinpyeong's eyes. Without deliberately circulating growth qi, a completely new energy surged from his dantian, racing through his eight extraordinary meridians and twelve principal meridians, granting him fresh strength against his foe once more.
Yi Jinpyeong thrust forward the sword Yi Jingang had given him. In his previous life, after reaching the pinnacle of the world, he hadn't favored any particular weapon. But now, standing sword-in-hand with his brothers against Ryeong-ju, a clear vision of the swordsmanship to unleash formed in his mind.
He lightly gripped the hilt with his right hand and pressed his left palm against the flat of the blade, straightening the sword vertically.
The light that always rises when darkness thickens. The flash that severs shadows.
The very stance he had used to behead the Cheonma in his previous life—Cheonyeong Ilseom.
The three Yi brothers of Yi Gajang stood shoulder to shoulder, each holding their swords differently. Their auras intertwined as one.
Chaepung Ilgeom, Cheongcheon Ilro, and Cheonyeong Ilseom.
Separate, they seemed to follow divergent paths, but invisible lines connected them into a perfect formation.
The energies at the triangle's vertices resonated, forming an unbreakable fortress no force in the world could shatter.
Their foe—Ryeong-ju—wore an unfamiliar expression. Hesitation.
It stemmed from many things. The battle dragging on too long. The first crack in his supposedly invincible body. The certain death he'd inflicted on No Gae, who proved far stronger than expected.
But above all, what made him hesitate was the burden of facing these scrawny brothers. Bluff or not, it would demand great sacrifice—potentially undoing much of his achievements and hindering the final step on his path to becoming Cheonma.
That was not what he desired.
Ryeong-ju took his first step backward. One step into the darkness, then another. White returned to his all-black eyes. His translucent skin regained its original hue. His throbbing heart, pulsing veins, and twitching muscles vanished beneath pristine white flesh.
"Yi Gajang. Yi Gajang."
Back to his beautiful male form, Ryeong-ju muttered. He remained naked.
No Gae squeezed his eyes shut.
"Hey, where do you think you're going? Scared now?"
Yi Jinpyeong asked without releasing his Cheonyeong Ilseom stance.
Ryeong-ju let out a dry laugh.
"Don't bluff when you have no intention of charging. I'm merely postponing taking your lives."
"Doesn't mean your own life gets extended, does it?"
At the provocation, Ryeong-ju silently raised his hand and opened his palm, as if ready to crush them all with Gongak Myeolsal.
Yi Jinpyeong flinched, and Ryeong-ju laughed heartily. But he didn't clench his fist.
"You're truly amusing. I'm curious—how much will you have grown by our next meeting?"
Crazy bastard, Yi Jinpyeong muttered inwardly. Curious about my growth? Telling me to come back stronger? What arrogant nonsense.
Daring to say it to Yi Gyeol, the world's greatest from his previous life.
But he said nothing aloud, wary of provoking him further and changing his mind.
Ryeong-ju's gaze swept over Yi Jinpyeong, Yi Jingang, and Yi Jinun in turn. Past the fallen No Gae, to Un Sa-nang watching wearily.
Whatever true feelings he'd once held for her, nothing remained in his eyes now. The same for her.
Ryeong-ju turned his back. He walked away defenselessly, ignoring the three Yi brothers still aiming their swords.
But none of them moved.
Soon, his form vanished into the forest shadows. Only a low chuckle echoed from the darkness.
"Stay alive. Grow as much as you can. The greater the hope, the deeper the despair."
And with that, he was gone.
Yi Jinpyeong knew Ryeong-ju had fully departed. Far stronger than the Demonic Cult leader he'd personally beheaded in his previous life, with endless potential... What would he become once complete? What of the Demonic Cult he led?
But he was Yi Jinpyeong. Yi Gyeol himself, the world's greatest a century ago, bearer of an unbreakable fate.
He was certain: challenging him to a growth race was Ryeong-ju's greatest mistake, no matter what he was.
He released his stance and looked around. Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun still glared ahead, swords pointed forward into the pitch-black forest long emptied of Ryeong-ju.
"Brothers. You can relax now."
"Puhah!"
Yi Jinun exhaled explosively. He'd desperately hidden his tension, but Yi Jinpyeong knew he hadn't taken a proper breath until now. His hands were pale from gripping the sword so tightly, his face ghostly white.
"Jinpyeong! What the hell was that monster? How does a person turn transparent like that—or make their heart throb visibly, eyes go pitch black...!"
"You charged in without even knowing who he was?"
"How was I supposed to know? You looked like you were struggling, so I jumped in blindly!"
"How'd you get here?"
"A huge fire broke out at the Dongbeonhoe! Figured you were the arsonist, so we came looking before we got arrested. Jingang hyung couldn't explain, but he just knew you were here and led the way."
Yi Jinun babbled in confusion as he collapsed to the ground.
Yi Jinpyeong turned to Yi Jingang. Even now, he held his stance, glaring ahead with the sheathed sword extended.
"Please take care of Jingang hyung. Looks like he's passed out with his eyes open."
"...Aigoo! Hyung!"
Yi Jinpyeong chuckled in disbelief. Yi Jingang had seemed far calmer than Yi Jinun facing Ryeong-ju. He'd even picked up the fallen sword and placed it in Yi Jinpyeong's hand himself.
Looking back, both brothers' acting was amateurish—the fact that Ryeong-ju retreated was a miracle. He must have been quite worn out too, though he didn't show it.
As Yi Jinun fussed over Yi Jingang's body, Yi Jinpyeong approached No Gae, cradled in Un Sa-nang's arms.
Meeting his eyes, No Gae grinned with yellowed teeth, chuckling raspily.
"Yi Gajang. As expected of Yi Gajang!"
Death's shadow loomed thick over his wrinkled face.