Chapter 136: Warrior of the Sanwa Tribe (1)
Uiseondang.
It was a grand and magnificent pavilion that served as a clinic within the palace of Chang’an.
Right now, a small shadow was loitering around the place, completely unaware of being followed.
Moving with steps that made no sound and agility as light as a feather, the figure was clearly a martial artist.
Yet, something was strange. The figure’s build was too small. Unless it was a master who had undergone rejuvenation, it was definitely a boy around So-so’s age.
The boy hid behind a tree, waiting for his opportunity. This was because two sentries were keeping a sharp eye on the entrance.
Before long, an opportunity presented itself.
As dawn broke, the sentries left their posts to change shifts.
At that moment, the boy’s figure shot forward like a gliding arrow. Given his age, his lightfoot technique was at an extraordinary level.
A moment later, the small figure slipped through the gap in Uiseondang’s window.
This scene was captured clearly by the eyes of So-mu, who was on the roof of the opposite pavilion.
Rather than the urge to catch the intruder, curiosity came first.
‘It seems he is trying to steal herbs. Why?’
It was hard to understand. Uiseondang was operated by Lieutenant Mo Cheong’s medical unit, and they provided medical treatment to civilians free of charge. Therefore, there was no reason to steal herbs.
In less than fifteen minutes, the boy slipped back out of the window frame.
The skillful way he came out holding a small bundle showed that this was not his first or second time.
‘To rob medicine belonging to the army. He’s got the makings of a master thief.’
The amount of herbs he took was not large. If so, the place of use would be limited. The backer was likely an individual rather than an organization.
Leaving Uiseondang, the boy ran quickly, blending into the shadows of the pavilions. Just as he passed the second pavilion and was about to slip into an alley, his lightfoot technique came to a sudden halt. A girl had suddenly appeared, blocking his way.
Narrowing her eyes, So-so asked:
“You’re a thief, aren’t you?”
Amusingly, the two were of the exact same height.
“What are you… Get lost if you don’t want to die.”
It was a harsh tone, hard to believe it came from a young child. Though anyone else might have been taken aback, So-so was not one to back down.
Crossing her arms, So-so glared at him.
“Tell the truth. Did you steal medicine?”
“What is it to you? I told you to move.”
“I am a patrol officer. Do you want to be scolded?”
The boy seemed to be in a rush. It appeared he needed to deliver the herbs to someone quickly.
In an instant, the glaring boy thrust his right hand forward, shoving So-so’s shoulder. It was a strike imbued with a decent amount of internal energy. He intended to knock her down in one go.
Thud!
“Ouch!”
Instead, the groan escaped the boy’s mouth. How could he match So-so’s strength? She was the successor of the Sword Saint and the disciple of the Jade Flower Saintess.
As if he had struck steel, the boy’s wrist began to swell. The boy blinked repeatedly in disbelief.
Just then, So-so raised a fist the size of a walnut above her shoulder. It was a gesture as if she were about to rap him on the head.
“Hmph.”
The boy reflexively flinched. However, as if he could not accept the situation, a stubborn look of defiance remained in his eyes. It seemed he had never met a match among his peers.
Not missing the opportunity, the boy thrust his hand forward once more. It was the joint-locking claw technique, aiming for her throat.
His fingers clawed toward her neck. But in So-so’s eyes, the movement was incredibly slow.
So-so leaned her upper body back slightly, letting the hand pass. At that moment, she snatched the wrist passing before her eyes and twisted it behind his back.
“Aaaagh!”
“You tried to hit me, didn’t you? My father told me never to use martial arts on just anyone.”
“W-what are you doing to me?”
The venom that had filled his pupils just moments ago turned to terror.
The helplessness felt before overwhelming force had triggered the child’s natural instincts.
“Why did you steal this?”
“Y-you don’t need to know. Let me go…”
Pondering for a moment, So-so drew the small club from her waist. The boy’s eyes trembled violently at the sight.
“Do you want to get beaten?”
A pretty girl of his own age was glaring at him with wide eyes. He had absolutely no desire to get hit.
“No…”
“Then raise your hands.”
After a brief hesitation, the boy reluctantly raised both hands in the air.
With her hands behind her back, So-so paced back and forth with a serious expression, contemplating what to do with him.
First, she needed to see what he had stolen.
Crouching down, she rummaged through the bundle.
Inside were herbs that looked like deer antlers and some leaves. Of course, she had no way of knowing what they were just by looking.
“Were you hungry?”
“……”
She tore off a small piece and tasted it, but the bitter taste that hit her tongue made her groan.
“Urgh. What is this?”
“It’s medicine for my father…”
Suddenly, So-so’s voice softened a bit.
“Is your father sick?”
“Yes. I have to go quickly…”
So-so rested her chin in her hands and fell into deep thought.
“What should I do…”
Taking him to the headquarters felt wrong since his father was sick.
Yet, she couldn’t just let him go. While she was struggling with the decision, the boy seized the moment when So-so was distracted and bolted. He seemed extremely desperate, running for his life without looking back.
Left alone, So-so stood puzzled, clutching the bundle of medicine.
“Aren’t you going to take this? You said your father is sick…”
She, too, had a father who was her everything. Seeing the boy run off empty-handed made her feel somewhat guilty.
After a moment of hesitation, So-so dashed in the direction the boy had vanished, carrying the bundle. So-mu followed stealthily behind her.
The difference in lightfoot speed between the boy and So-so was like heaven and earth. Before long, her target came into view.
Instead of catching him immediately, So-so began to tail him secretly, curious to see what was going on.
The boy ran straight through the open city gates.
Startled, the sentries shouted:
“W-what is that kid?”
“How is a brat so fast?”
Before their surprise could fade, So-so ran past, shouting:
“Hello!”
The sentries exchanged bewildered looks.
“What are they doing?”
“How should I know? So-so is one thing, but who is that boy?”
“I’ve never seen him before. Well, they’re just kids, so it should be fine.”
The children were already vanishing from sight.
The boy dashed toward a nearby village. It was a small settlement called Hwareung Village.
Scanning the area quickly, the boy headed toward a shanty belonging to beggars on the outskirts. Surprisingly, it was a place where disciples of the Beggars’ Sect resided.
Two one-knot disciples and one three-knot disciple were sitting around a pot, boiling porridge.
“My stomach is sticking to my back! Gwang-chil, is it not ready yet?”
“It is ready now.”
“You said you put meat in it today?”
“Yes. There’s a bit of duck meat I begged for yesterday. Hehe.”
“The meat is mine, so don’t you dare touch it.”
Just as one of the one-knot disciples was about to scoop the porridge from the pot, a small shadow shot past them.
Whoosh!
Startled, the Beggars’ Sect disciples scrambled backward. The way they reacted reflexively showed that every one of them had trained in martial arts.
“W-what was that just now? What happened?”
When the disciples realized what had occurred, their mouths fell open. A young brat was running away with the pot of porridge they had been boiling.
“What is that kid doing? Catch him, quick!”
The Beggars’ Sect disciples all practiced martial arts.
Grabbing their wooden staffs, they began to chase the boy.
“You little brat! Of all things to steal, you steal from beggars?!”
Even though he was young, the boy’s lightfoot technique was extraordinary.
However, the disciples who knew the geography of this place were not easy to shake either. The three-knot disciple had already taken a shortcut and blocked the boy’s path.
“I can tolerate anything else, but I can’t tolerate anyone touching my food. You are dead today.”
Clutching his staff, the three-knot disciple strode forward.
Clutching the pot of porridge, the boy looked around, his face turning pale. His retreat was completely cut off.
“I am sorry. I will return it, so please let me go…”
“Ha? Look at this brat. Let’s talk after you take a beating first.”
As the three-knot disciple brandished his staff, his aura shifted. Even at a glance, it was not a level the boy could handle.
However, how could the boy just stand there and take it?
Clutching the pot of porridge with his left arm, the boy thrust his right palm forward, taking a stance.
Since his wrist was swollen, it was doubtful if he could even execute his martial arts properly.
“So you’ve trained in palm techniques. We have a rule in the Beggars’ Sect. If you defy your seniors, you get beaten even harder.”
Trapped, venom returned to the boy’s eyes.
Just as the three-knot disciple was about to launch his attack.
Suddenly, a girl’s battle cry echoed from behind.
“Hiyah!”
Right then.
Two pebbles flew like lightning from somewhere, striking the three-knot disciple’s ankles. The speed was so incredible that it was impossible to dodge.
Thud!
The three-knot disciple fell awkwardly to the ground, groaning. Since it hadn’t hit a vital spot, he wasn’t severely injured, but the pain was significant.
“Urgh! W-who is it? What bastard launched a sneak attack…”
The fallen three-knot disciple and the one-knot disciples scanned the surroundings, but no one was there. So-so, who had thrown the pebbles, was already hiding behind a nearby tree.
Taking advantage of the gap, the boy began to run again.
The fleeing boy was no longer the disciples’ concern. They continued to scan the area, on guard against the person who had ambushed them.
Leaving them behind, the boy ran toward a nearby hill.
After running for about seven minutes, he arrived at a shabby log cabin.
“Baek-a, your brother is back…”
The worn door opened, and a girl about five years old appeared. As if she hadn’t eaten properly, she looked thin and disheveled with hollow eyes.
“I’m hungry… Why did you take so long?”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t get the medicine.”
“What do we do? Is our father going to die then?”
“No. I will go back again tomorrow.”
Baek-a’s gaze fell on the boy’s wrist. Even at a glance, it was red and swollen.
“Did you hurt your hand?”
“Yes… I fell. You’re hungry, right? Eat this first.”
Most of the contents had spilled out during his frantic escape.
Receiving the pot, Baek-a drank the meager amount of porridge left inside. She drank sparingly, as if reluctant to see it disappear. Then, she suddenly stopped and asked:
“You have a bite too, Brother.”
“I’m fine. I already ate. How is Father?”
“He is in a lot of pain…”
“Whew.”
At the boy’s sigh, tears welled up in Baek-a’s eyes.
Just then, So-so, who had been watching from her hiding spot, stepped forward, feeling guilty. She approached hesitantly, clutching the bundle of medicine.
“Who is that sister?”
The boy nudged his swollen wrist and said quietly:
“She says she’s a patrol officer… Go inside.”
“Why?”
Baek-a let down her guard and approached So-so. The way So-so offered the bundle with an awkward expression did not make her seem like a bad person.
“What is your name, sister? I am Baek-a.”
“I am So-so. Is your father sick?”
“Yes…”
After handing over the bundle, So-so reached into her pocket. She always carried emergency snacks there.
“You’re hungry, right?”
Receiving the yugwa, Baek-a tilted her head and turned it over in her hands. It was a snack she had never eaten before.
“Is it food?”
“Yes, it’s delicious. Try a bite quickly!”
Taking a bite, Baek-a’s face brightened.
“Hehe. It’s delicious. Thank you, sister.”
Seeing Baek-a happy, So-so smiled warmly.
Meanwhile, the boy, who had taken the bundle, was opening the cabin door.
Creak!
“Father… I brought the medicine.”
Looking through the gap in the door, So-so was quite shocked. And So-mu, who was watching from somewhere, felt the same.
Inside the cabin, which was filled with straw, a middle-aged man lay groaning. His left arm was severed, and the wound was rotting.
So-so stood blankly for a moment.
However, the reason for So-mu’s surprise was different from his daughter’s.
Discarded in a corner were a suit of armor and a helmet. It was unmistakably the armor of a Jin Dynasty general. Judging by the decorations on the helmet, he was a high-ranking officer.