2.
"Are you sure?"
Thousand-Man Commander Yangjeong bit his lip hard.
"Yes. I am certain. Has it not already been four days past the date the military rations should have arrived? I sent my subordinates out of worry... and they discovered traces of the transport unit on a nearby mountain path."
"These bastards..."
The culprits would likely be residents of a nearby slash-and-burn farming village.
How dare they rob the military rations of the Imperial Army that guards the rivers and mountains of the Divine Dragon Emperor! Even the Green Forest bandits do not target military rations.
Yangjeong trembled with rage.
"Ignorant fools who know not the severity of the law, how dare they..."
"What should we do?"
"What should we do?! Send a Hundred-Man Company immediately to retrieve the rations!"
"But if a problem arises..."
"They are the ones who stole the rations meant to feed the soldiers of the Divine Dragon Emperor! By law, they could all be exterminated and have nothing to complain about."
"Th-then..."
"Tch, try words first. If they hand them over willingly, I will overlook them skimming a little off the top. However! The ringleaders must be captured. I shall have them executed publicly as an example and send a report up the chain of command."
"Ah, understood."
The subordinate's expression, which had been flustered at the thought of an order to kill them all, softened considerably. Because while it might be different for green-skinned barbarians, massacring farmers was a distasteful affair.
"Then I shall issue the order immediately."
The unit that received the military order to recover the missing rations was the 7th Hundred-Man Company of the First Army, to which Wicheonsaeng belonged.
"Rummage through the villages to find the rations..."
Gosang, the company commander who had received the order, chewed his lip. There were more than one or two slash-and-burn farming villages nearby.
Having received the order, if he failed to find the rations, the blame would fall squarely on his shoulders.
"We'll have to move in detached squad units."
Gosang's gaze turned to the squad leaders.
"Squad Leader Gu. Squad Leader Jo. Squad Leader Byeon."
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
The three squad leaders whose names were called answered in turn.
"You are to head to the villages immediately. Search every nook and cranny, and you must find out where the rations are. I will follow with the company. If you discover anything, send a messenger immediately."
"Understood!"
* * *
Throughout the journey to their destination, Wicheonsaeng's mind was filled with nothing but martial arts.
'In the end, it's distance. I have to control the distance. Far from the enemy, close to me. In the end, is it footwork?'
Without realizing it, Wicheonsaeng had begun pondering footwork and lightness skills.
'Last time, it was merely a fluke.'
The momentary openings revealed every instant during and after taking down an enemy.
Thanks to the Samjae Swordsmanship and the Heart Method he had learned from Gu Jangwon, he had been able to cut down countless Nokagwi, creatures he had once struggled to face even one of.
Everyone marveled at his battle achievements, but to Wicheonsaeng himself, there were far too many flaws.
"What are you thinking about?"
Gu Jangwon asked Wicheonsaeng, who had been lost in thought while walking.
"I was just thinking about how to seize an advantageous position."
"What kind of absurd nonsense is that?"
"Every time I felled an enemy, I felt like I was exposing my back to another enemy. So I was thinking about what method would let me move properly from the moment I strike one down, in order to resolve this issue."
"Ah! That's footw—"
"Squad Leader!"
Wicheonsaeng cut off Gu Jangwon.
"What is it?"
"There are tracks here."
Wicheonsaeng discovered wheel tracks on the ground.
"Damn it... Why did it have to be us who drew the short straw."
"Isn't this a good opportunity? If we find the rations, can't we expect some kind of special reward?"
"I don't want to hold a blade to the villagers' necks just to earn a penny..."
"Shouldn't we be worried about the opposite instead?"
"The opposite?"
"They're the ones who stole even military rations. Might they not point their spears and blades at us first?"
Wicheonsaeng had lived the life of a soldier from a young age. Because of that, his way of viewing the world was bound solely to a dichotomy of enemy and ally.
But that line of reasoning also sounded plausible to Gu Jangwon.
"Hmm..."
A starving farmer was no different from a prospective Green Forest bandit. It was a reasonable deduction. Just then, someone approached them.
"The Company Commander's insight was correct. He said this village was the most suspicious. And he said he would send his most trusted Squad Leader Gu Jangwon..."
It was Wonil, a man clad in a white dao robe unlike the other soldiers.
"Does this trace look like a military ration wagon to you, Ritual Master?"
Wonil was none other than a close aide to Thousand-Man Commander Yangjeong. He had come to the company on orders to assist in this operation. And the Company Commander had attached Wonil to Gu Jangwon.
As expected, it seemed he really had been keeping the closest watch on this place.
"Um... Can't you confirm it somehow with a spell?"
At Gu Jangwon's question, Wonil shrugged his shoulders.
"There are methods, but I don't know them. What I can do amounts to a few talisman arts at best. I'm at a level hardly worthy of being called a Ritual Master."
While most people would exaggerate even a small skill, Wonil spoke of his own lack of talent without the slightest shame.
In any case, no one here looked down on Wonil. They had all clearly witnessed him scatter talismans and turn Nokagwi into piles of ash in the previous battle.
"So in the end, it's not certain until we take a look for ourselves."
"Yes. That's correct."
"Then let's keep moving."
Gu Jangwon's group began moving again.
"By the way, are you two master and disciple?"
Wonil looked at Gu Jangwon and Wicheonsaeng with an intrigued expression.
"Master and disciple... No. No. I just sold some meager skill for a bit of coin."
"But you are a martial artist. Surely a relationship involving the teaching of secret arts isn't that trivial, is it?"
"Keke, a martial artist? Not at all. It's true I scraped by as a wanderer in my youth... but you know this too, don't you, Ritual Master? To a real martial artist, someone like me is nothing more than a practice scarecrow, isn't he?"
Everyone had heard of the martial world and martial arts, but ignorant bumpkins raised in the countryside rarely had the chance to see a real martial artist.
But when one truly witnessed the martial arts displayed by a real martial artist, one's eyes would inevitably widen in awe. In the past, Gu Jangwon had personally witnessed a prodigy of a famous sect perform a miraculous feat, drawing flower petals in the air with a sword, and had resolved never to call himself a martial artist again.
"Well, by those standards, I don't really know either... but still, I witnessed the two of you cutting down Nokagwi left and right during the last battle. I dare say such skill is hard to find even at the company commander level."
"Ah, it's nothing."
If ranks were determined by martial prowess, not only Gu Jangwon but even Wicheonsaeng would be able to covet a company commander's position.
But where in the world does that happen? Unless one establishes some eye-catching merit, who knows... but if you get distracted by such things, you're just begging to lose your life to a stray arrow.
"Incidentally, how does one learn Ritual Arts?"
Wicheonsaeng, who had been listening quietly to the conversation, asked Wonil. At this, Gu Jangwon was the one who grew flustered.
"You! One does not recklessly ask another's secret techniques. I only teach you because it's me, and for a bit of money at that. It's a grievous discourtesy. Don't ever say such a thing out there. You'll be in big trouble."
Gu Jangwon delivered a severe scolding, worried that Wicheonsaeng might one day say such a thing to a real martial artist.
"Hahaha. No. There is no need for that. As I mentioned, my talents are truly nothing special. Are you interested in talisman arts?"
"If I could learn them, I think they would greatly help me survive."
"Yes. Indeed. It's a trivial skill, but it helps greatly at times. If you are interested..."
As he spoke, Wonil stared intently into Wicheonsaeng's eyes. Unlike martial arts, Ritual Arts placed importance on innate spiritual power.
Only a constitution that could receive the protection of spirits and endure it could enter the path of Ritual Arts. Thus Wonil gauged Wicheonsaeng's spirit through his eyes for a moment.
"...If you come find me later, I shall instruct you in a thing or two."
"Really?"
Gu Jangwon and Wicheonsaeng shouted in surprise simultaneously. They truly had not expected such a ready acceptance.
"Of course."
"Then... how much money..."
He had said he wanted to learn, but now that he was really being taught, he worried about money. He hadn't paid yet, but wasn't half of his monthly wage Gu Jangwon's share anyway?
"Puhah! Money? Not at all. Affinity is not something that can be bought with money. I shall only accept your sincerity."
"No, if you say that, what does that make me?"
Gu Jangwon grumbled with a sullen expression. After exchanging such talk and quickening their pace, the sight of a village located midway up the mountain came into view.
"Everyone, stay alert."
"What if they attack us?"
"What do you mean, what if..."
They were fellow subjects living in the rivers and mountains of the Divine Dragon Emperor, so he was reluctant. But if the other party revealed hostility, the story changed.
"If they show suspicious signs, kill them without hesitation. Any bastard who dies from needless compassion dies by my hand. Understand?"
"Yes!"
They answered in unison.
"What is the matter?"
An elderly village chief who looked as though he couldn't walk without a cane welcomed the party. The eyes of the villagers looking at the soldiers who had appeared out of nowhere were filled with fear.
'They seem to be afraid of us?'
'They're probably scared we might be bandits. We can't judge by this alone.'
Gu Jangwon stepped forward.
"The traces of an audacious group that pillaged a military ration wagon lead to this village. Do you know anything of this?"
"W-we do not."
"May we search this village? If you simply cooperate, nothing will happen. I promise."
At Gu Jangwon's words, the village chief turned and exchanged glances with the villagers.
"W-we truly know nothing."
"It's a lie! The culprits are definitely here!"
Wonil suddenly shouted. Then he scattered several talismans into the air. The talismans fluttered like butterflies and flew toward the youths hiding among the villagers.
"Tch!"
A young man concealed among the villagers drew his sword and split the flying talisman.
"Run!"
At the young man's shout, five young men and women abruptly began to flee.
"After them!"
"Ah, no!"
The villagers blocked Gu Jangwon's path.
"S-Squad Leader! What should we do?"
"Damn it... Don't kill them!"
As the order was given, the squad members, including Wicheonsaeng, swung their spear shafts and struck the villagers. It was too much for unarmed villagers to oppose strong soldiers.
But while the scuffle was happening, the young people had escaped.
"I shall return later to hold you accountable!"
Gu Jangwon growled a warning at the villagers. Yet inwardly, he rather hoped they would get away.
Thus the pursuit began.
"Did you see the sword when it cut the talisman? Its trajectory was swift and fluid."
At Wicheonsaeng's words, Gu Jangwon nodded with a dark expression.
"Yeah. I saw. Damn it..."
He had hoped they were at best third-rate wanderers like himself. But the appearance of the young man who cut the talisman was worrying.
Unlike the villagers with rough skin from malnutrition, he had a lustrous and refined appearance.
Wasn't it exactly the same feeling as the prodigy of a famous sect he had seen in his wanderer days?
"Huff... huff... If you just draw their attention a little, I can subdue them with Binding Talismans."
Wonil seemed to be having trouble keeping up with the soldiers' speed. But they couldn't slow down to match his pace.
"We cannot slow down, so please do your best."
"Y-yes. We mustn't let them escape."
The opponents were lightly dressed compared to the armored soldiers and looked nimble.
The pursuit did not look easy.
"Two of the footprints belong to ordinary people. And one person's gait is unsteady. He appears injured. But the other two... These are queer. I only know one person with a stride like this."
Wicheonsaeng said as he examined the traces.
"I felt it earlier too, but did you learn tracking arts?"
"I learned from a comrade who used to be a hunter."
"As expected of a sly brat, you sure swallow up knowledge easily. So. What about the other two strides?"
Wicheonsaeng looked at Gu Jangwon.
"They're similar to yours, Squad Leader. Regular and excessively straight strides."
"Damn it... I was hoping they weren't martial artists..."
If these were disciples of a famous sect, it was clear they would be unable to handle them. But since the order had been given, they could not stop the pursuit.
'Ritual Master Wonil... I trust only you.'
He could only hope that while they held the thieves' attention, Ritual Master Wonil would subdue the enemies with his miraculous arts.
"Wait!"
Suddenly Wicheonsaeng stopped and shouted.
"What?"
"It's an ambush."
"An ambush?"
It was then. Swish! A stone flew through the air, splitting the wind.
-Clang!
Wicheonsaeng hastily raised his spear and deflected the stone.
"How did you— No! Form ranks!"
At Gu Jangwon's shout, everyone formed a circular defensive formation.
And at that moment, the young people who had fled revealed themselves.
"You guys go first!"
The young man who had cut the talisman shouted to his comrades.
"B-but..."
"This happened because of me. I'll take responsibility. And please look after my younger siblings."
"We could escape together!"
"Shaking off the soldiers' pursuit in my condition is impossible. So stop talking and go!"
With a final shout, the young man charged.
'Fast!'
Wicheonsaeng's eyes widened in surprise at the young man's speed. A movement that fiercely charged like an arrow loosed from a bowstring!
It was Gungsin Tanyeong, an ascending lightness skill.
"Keok!"
One of the closest soldiers failed to react and allowed a blow to his chest.
"You bastard!"
Enraged, Gu Jangwon drew his sword and met the young man.
-Clang! Clang! Clack!
Three exchanges passed in an instant.
'This guy... he's the real deal!'
He could tell from the first exchange. The swordsmanship of the young man, who hadn't even lived half his years, was far superior to his own.
But the reason their exchange could continue nonetheless was that the young man was distracted by the other soldiers, and that he was unaccustomed to real combat.
"Cheonsaeng! Ganho! You two pursue them! The others won't be a match for him!"
It wasn't a lie, but it was actually a ruse to break the young man's concentration. Wicheonsaeng and Ganho, who saw through it, immediately dashed after the fleeing group.
"You won't go!"
The young man urgently thrust his sword to block Wicheonsaeng's path.
-Whoosh!
"Huh!"
A movement shooting out to the side like an arrow! It was the same Gungsin Tanyeong technique the young man had displayed moments ago.
Gu Jangwon, who was watching, exclaimed in disbelief.
"Hyah! That crazy bastard..."
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Is he smiling?