Chapter 23: The Sparrow Flies In (1)

Leaving behind the ten dismembered bodies, So-mu stood tall on the hill. Clad in pitch-black armor, his quiet eyes gleamed beneath his helmet as he surveyed the battlefield below.

‘There is no need to watch any further.’

The moment the main army launched its assault, the panicked enemy soldiers had broken ranks and fled. Fueled by the sight of the slaughtered villagers, the Song soldiers fought with savage fury. What followed was not a battle, but a one-sided massacre.

The clash was over in an instant. With their command structure annihilated by the night raid, the enemy stood no chance.

So-mu scanned the chaotic field for the Wolf Fang Squad. Though they appeared exhausted from the intense skirmish, none of them had sustained fatal injuries or died.

He headed down into the village to regroup with the main army. His face remained solemn as he walked through the ruined streets. Witnessing the grim aftermath of a battle was never a pleasant experience. The streets were littered with corpses, and the air was thick with the scent of blood. It was hard to believe that this had been a peaceful village just a day ago.

So-mu’s steady steps came to a sudden halt. He sensed a faint presence inside a nearby house to his left. It was a humble dwelling constructed from logs and mud. Urged by a sudden curiosity, he walked toward it.

Stepping inside, he found the interior trashed, with furniture and household items scattered everywhere. At first glance, the house seemed empty. But his superhuman senses could not be fooled. He looked down at the floor. Lifting the woven straw matting, he revealed a small wooden trapdoor.

‘Someone is hiding down there.’

So-mu carefully pulled the door open. The moment he did, he froze.

In the pitch-black space below, where not a single ray of light penetrated, two tiny eyes stared back at him.

Tears welled in the child’s trembling eyes. Her face was contorted with absolute terror. Having hidden alone in the dark for over a day, such a reaction was only natural.

She looked to be a girl of about six years old. The moment So-mu saw her face, a surge of emotion gripped his chest. She looked so much like a child he once knew.

Was this a cruel jest of fate? His lips parted, and a trembling voice escaped him.

“Yoo-hwa…?”

But Yoo-hwa was already dead, having met a brutal end in Baiyang County.

It was the name of the child he had failed to protect.

Even knowing this, So-mu could not tear his eyes away from the girl.

After a long silence, he spoke again, his voice gentle and soft.

“Do not fear. I am from the Song Dynasty, just like you.”

The child continued to watch him with deep suspicion, but So-mu made no move to drag her out by force.

“I am heading back to Hanzhong. If you wish to come with me, you may. I will not force you, so you can stay down there if you prefer.”

Leaving the trapdoor open, So-mu turned and walked back outside. The choice was hers to make.

Standing outside the house, he looked up at the sky and let out a deep, heavy sigh. He stood there silently, lost in thought.

After about fifteen minutes, just as he was about to walk away, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the house. A young girl came running out, panting. A warm smile spread across So-mu’s face.

“Let us go.”

The child walked next to So-mu. She still watched him warily, but So-mu did not press her. Trust would grow with time. There was no need to rush.

Slowing his pace to match hers, So-mu walked toward the squad’s designated gathering point. It was a wide courtyard that had likely served as the village square. Spanning several hundred square paces, the area was now filled with the members of the Wolf Fang Squad. Cheong-hae had arrived first, leading his fifty men.

“Commander, who is the little one?” Cheong-hae asked, blinking in surprise.

“I found her in one of the houses. I’m bringing her back to Hanzhong.”

“She’s adorable. What is your name, little one?”

Despite Cheong-hae’s friendly tone, the girl kept her mouth tightly shut.

“Are we the last to arrive?!” A booming voice roared from behind.

It was Il-gwang. Blood was still dripping from his massive hands, making it obvious he had beaten countless enemy soldiers to death.

At the sight of the fierce-looking giant, the girl gasped and scrambled behind So-mu, clutching his armor. Realizing he had terrified the child, Il-gwang awkwardly squatted down and tried to force a gentle smile.

“Ahem. Peekaboo!”

If anything, the display was even more terrifying. The girl buried her face in So-mu’s back, trembling as she gripped his collar.

“Stop it,” So-mu sighed. “Even I find that smile of yours frightening.”

“Kids these days have no appreciation for beauty,” Il-gwang grumbled, standing up. “They can’t even recognize a handsome face when they see one.”

“If anyone ever told you that you were handsome, it was out of fear. In any case, it looks like the cleanup is finished here.”

“Yes. The main army is assembling outside the village. We should head out.”

“Let us move.”

It took them about half an hour to reach the assembly grounds. The seven thousand Song soldiers, including the newly surrendered troops, were already lined up in neat ranks. In a separate area, about a thousand captured enemy soldiers stood under heavy guard. The army was preparing to march back to Hanzhong.

Scanning the ranks, General Jang-yang’s face lit up when he spotted the Wolf Fang Squad. They were the greatest contributors to this victory, and they had returned without a single casualty.

Jang-yang approached them, his face filled with pride.

“Splendid work, everyone. Without your squad, we could never have achieved such a resounding victory. The enemy officers were thrown into such chaos that they fled like sheep. It was a flawless execution.”

So-mu offered a respectful bow. “We merely executed your strategy, General.”

Jang-yang’s gaze then fell upon the little girl hiding behind So-mu’s legs.

“Haha, there is no need for such modesty. But who is this child?”

“We found her in the village. Her parents did not survive.”

“A survivor from Hawol Town? You did well to rescue her. Once we return to Hanzhong, we will find a proper family to take her in.”

So-mu did not want to repeat his past mistakes. He looked down at the girl. Her large, watery eyes looked up at him, and she shook her head frantically in protest.

“I would rather not leave her with strangers, General,” So-mu said. “Please allow us to care for her until she is older.”

“Hmm. That is a difficult request. The military has strict regulations. We cannot have a civilian child living in the soldiers’ barracks.”

“I beg of you, General.”

Jang-yang fell silent, contemplating the matter. Although he was a stickler for military discipline, he could not easily dismiss a request from So-mu, the man who had just delivered their greatest victory.

“Come to think of it, the administrative division has been overwhelmed lately. We are permitted to hire civilian assistants for administrative duties. What say you to that?”

Of course, Jang-yang had no intention of putting a young child to work; he was merely providing a legal justification. A grateful smile touched So-mu’s lips.

“Thank you, General.”

***

A month passed since the Battle of Hawol Town. The miraculous news of Hanzhong’s sweeping victory against the Hui army spread across the land, defying all expectations.

Amidst the celebration, another piece of great news arrived. The allied forces commanded by General Yue Fei had successfully defended Xiangyang.

With these victories, the war entered a temporary lull. However, the garrison at Hanzhong used this time to accelerate their training, preparing for the even greater threats to come.

So-mu focused the Wolf Fang Squad’s training on cultivating internal energy. To truly elevate their combat power, they needed to be able to manifest sword qi, which required at least thirty years of cultivated internal energy.

Since most of their training took place within the barracks, So-mu secretly guided them in their breathing exercises. The squad members were permitted only two hours of sleep each night, making their rest periods the most precious time of the day.

“Wake up!”

A high-pitched voice broke the silence, prompting Il-gwang to crack one eye open. A little girl of about six years old stood by his cot, hands on her hips, staring down at him with wide, serious eyes. Exhausted, Il-gwang closed his eyes again and mumbled weakly, “I’m not sleeping, little one. My eyes just hurt, so I’m resting them.”

Unforgiving, the child climbed onto his back and began shaking his shoulder with her tiny hands.

“The other uncles are already awake!”

With a heavy sigh, Il-gwang reluctantly sat up. “Alright, alright. I’m up, Chief Administrative Officer.”

“Wash your face quickly!”

With her tiny frame and big, round eyes, she looked and sounded exactly like a chirping sparrow.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the girl had no memory of her past. The trauma of that horrific night had completely wiped her mind.

After much deliberation, the squad decided to name her So-so. It was partly derived from So-mu’s name, but they chose characters that meant ‘laughter’ (So) twice, wishing for her to grow up bright and happy. The arrival of this little sparrow completely transformed the grim atmosphere of the wolves’ barracks.

As dawn broke, their daily cultivation began. The squad members sat cross-legged, entering deep meditation to regulate their breathing. Seeing this, So-so waddled over to So-mu’s side, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes in imitation.

She had no concept of internal energy; she was simply copying what the men were doing.

After about fifteen minutes, a soft snoring sound echoed through the quiet barracks. So-so had fallen fast asleep, slumping onto the floor. Watching her sleep peacefully, So-mu called out to one of his men.

“Cheol-du!”

Ending his meditation, Cheol-du quickly stood at attention. “Yes, Commander!”

“Once So-so wakes up, teach her the basic breathing techniques of the Diamond Sutra.”

“Pardon? You want to teach internal cultivation to So-so, Commander?”

“She seems eager enough. It will be good for her health, if nothing else.”

“Understood, sir.”

From the moment he first saw her, So-mu had recognized that So-so possessed an extraordinary natural constitution. With the right training, she had the potential to reach the peak realm. He could not let such talent go to waste.

Leaving the barracks, So-mu walked into the streets of Hanzhong. After a short walk, he arrived at a building bearing a wooden plaque that read ‘Ui-gun Hall’. This was the military outfitting workshop, which specialized in manufacturing uniforms and armor. Materials were supplied from local smithies and tanneries to produce the finished gear. The Wolf Fang Squad’s custom black armor had been crafted here.

Peering through the entrance, So-mu saw a hundred workers lined up, busy with their needlework. A middle-aged clerk wearing a blue robe spotted him and smiled warmly.

“Ah, Commander! Welcome.”

“Yes. Is the item I ordered ready?”

“Right away. I have it prepared.”

The clerk scurried up to the second floor and returned carrying a tiny set of clothes and miniature boots. The uniform was so small that only a child could possibly wear it. He also presented a tiny helmet the size of an adult’s fist and a wooden toy sword.

“If I may ask, what is this miniature training uniform for…?”

“We have a very small administrative recruit in our unit,” So-mu replied with a straight face.

The clerk tilted his head in confusion but refrained from asking further questions.

So-mu reached into his robe and pulled out a pouch of copper coins. The custom-made outfit had not been cheap, costing him half of his monthly salary. However, the clerk pushed the coins back, shaking his head.

“We cannot accept your money, Commander. We heard of the great deeds your squad performed in the battle. Please accept this as our token of appreciation for keeping us safe.”

So-mu tried to insist several times, but the clerk steadfastly refused to take the money.

Returning to the barracks, So-mu placed the small uniform next to the sleeping So-so and sat down to begin his own cultivation. After about half an hour, he opened his eyes and glanced down to his left.

So-so was crouching like a squirrel, staring intently at the new clothes. She was hesitant to touch them, unsure if they were truly meant for her.

So-mu spoke softly. “Recruit So-so. If you wish, you may join us at the training grounds starting tomorrow.”

So-so’s eyes went wide, and a radiant smile spread across her face.

“Is this really mine?”

Clutching the uniform to her chest, So-so began jumping up and down in sheer delight.

“Haha! Yay! Thank you, Father!”