Chapter 26: Ill Fate and Fated Ties (1)

So-mu’s complexion was pale, his body exhausted. This was the result of overexerting his internal energy.

‘Phew. It is finally complete.’

When he opened his eyes, he saw the back of So-so sitting cross-legged. She looked like a tiny, crouching squirrel. Cultivating martial arts at a young age meant the body was free of impurities, making the training twice as effective.

At the tender age of six, So-so had already had all the acupuncture points across her body cleared, save for the Conception and Governing Vessels, and was receiving direct instruction from a Sword Saint. Combined with her extraordinary natural constitution and innate talent, it was only natural that she was progressing at a speed unprecedented in the history of the jianghu.

‘Develop the strength to protect yourself, So-so. Never again let yourself be swept away by the storms of this world.’

Seeing Yoo-hwa’s tragic end in Baiyang County had taught So-mu a valuable lesson.

He could not always be by her side to protect her. The solution was simple: make her strong enough that she would never need protection.

Since the squad members had been sent to the training grounds, only So-mu and So-so remained in the barracks. So-mu entered a state of deep meditation to replenish his depleted internal energy. However, So-so had no intention of leaving him in peace.

Following her usual habit, So-so clambered onto So-mu’s shoulders.

“Father, look! I feel like a bird now!”

Interrupting someone who was actively circulating their qi through their meridians was strictly forbidden in the martial world. So-mu quickly brought his meditation to a close and spoke.

“So-so, didn’t I tell you that you must never touch someone who is regulating their breathing? You could cause them to suffer a qi deviation.”

“Who is Qi Deviation?”

“Well, it is not a person… It is a dangerous state where the energy in your body becomes twisted and uncontrollable.”

“What happens then?”

“You die.”

So-so’s face fell, her eyes welling with tears. “Waaaah… Is Father going to die?”

“Father is fine because he is strong. But you must never do this to your uncles. Understood?”

Leaping down from So-mu’s shoulders, So-so executed a neat flip in the air and landed squarely in front of him. She pressed her clenched fists to her chest and shouted at the top of her voice, “Yes, sir!”

A tiny child who barely reached his waist when he sat was acting like a disciplined soldier. It was a comical sight, but So-mu had grown used to it. He gently patted her head.

“The uncles will be back soon. Keep the fact that you feel as light as a bird a secret for now, alright?”

So-so crossed her arms and tilted her head back with a haughty expression.

“Hmm! I will think about it, depending on how Father behaves.”

“You little mischief. Who taught you that?”

“Uncle Il-gwang!”

“Sigh.”

At the very least, he was glad she hadn’t learned any profanity. Il-gwang did his best to watch his language when the child was around.

Just then, the members of the Wolf Fang Squad filed into the barracks, drenched in sweat from their light movement training. Il-gwang led the way.

Spotting them, So-so ran toward the entrance. Instantly, Il-gwang dropped into a low stance and began throwing playful punches down at her.

“Take this, So-so!”

So-so reflexively ducked and slipped past Il-gwang’s strike. But Il-gwang immediately followed up, throwing a punch from the opposite side.

Crouching low, So-so slipped inside his guard and began pummelling his stomach with her tiny fists.

“Yah! Yah!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Aaargh!”

Il-gwang clutched his stomach and collapsed, groaning dramatically. So-mu chuckled. It seemed Il-gwang had been teaching So-so basic close-quarters combat behind his back.

“Uncles, go wash up quickly!” So-so ordered.

The squad members filing past patted her head affectionately.

“We will, So-so.”

“Understood, Recruit So-so.”

“Thanks for beating up Brother Il-gwang.”

The men grabbed their clean clothes and returned about thirty minutes later. They were not given much leisure time.

One by one, they took their places and sat cross-legged, preparing to resume their tedious cultivation.

However, they were interrupted once more as an administrative messenger came rushing into the tent, panting.

It was the same young messenger who had declared So-mu his hero. He stood at rigid attention.

“Commander! I bring a message from the General!”

“What is it?”

“The General has granted the Wolf Fang Squad a special five-day leave starting today!”

The moment the words left his mouth, a chorus of cheers erupted throughout the barracks.

“What?! Leave?!”

“Haha! Truly?!”

“We finally get to go outside!”

The men jumped up and down in excitement. So-mu was not surprised, having already received a quiet hint from Jang-yang.

“Make sure you do not get into any trouble, and enjoy your rest,” So-mu said with a smile.

The squad members were already packing their bags.

“We’re heading out first, Commander!”

“See you in five days!”

“Stay well, So-so!”

As the men filtered out, So-mu called out to Cheol-du.

“Cheol-du. You are short on money for your grandmother’s medicine, aren’t you?”

Before Cheol-du could reply, So-mu pressed a heavy pouch of copper coins into his hand.

“C-Commander, how can I accept this?”

“I have more than enough. The camp is my home, and my family is here. Use what you need, and pay it back whenever you can.”

With tearful eyes, Cheol-du gripped the pouch tightly. “Thank you, Commander…”

“Do not go home empty-handed. Buy her something nice.”

Within thirty minutes, the lively barracks fell into a quiet hush. Only four people remained: So-mu, So-so, Il-gwang, and Cheong-hae. They were the ones who had no homes to return to.

“Are you two not going anywhere?” So-mu asked.

“My hometown was destroyed by the Hui army, and I have no family left. Where would I go?” Il-gwang grumbled.

“I was excommunicated from the Mount Hua Sect, so I have no place to go either,” Cheong-hae added. “What about you, Commander?”

So-mu scooped up his daughter and placed her on his shoulders.

“Well, I plan to show So-so around the city.”

Watching the father and daughter prepare to leave, Il-gwang and Cheong-hae wore bitter expressions.

Seeing this, So-so waved from So-mu’s shoulders and called out, “Uncle Il-gwang! Uncle Cheong-hae! Let’s go together!”

Deep down, the two men were bored out of their minds. They had no reason to refuse.

“Ahem. Would that be alright?” Il-gwang asked, clearing his throat.

“If So-so wishes it…” Cheong-hae added quickly.

So-mu remained silent, having no objection. However, the two men still felt a little self-conscious as they followed him.

“I’m only tag-along because So-so insisted,” Il-gwang muttered.

“Me too…” Cheong-hae agreed.

***

Throughout their excursion into the city of Hanzhong, So-so was in high spirits. She was thrilled to be out with her father and uncles.

The central district was bustling with activity. Merchants lined the streets selling delicacies, and performers drew crowds with their acrobatic feats. Protected by the garrison, Hanzhong was full of life, a stark contrast to the rest of occupied Shaanxi.

“Uncle Cheong-hae! I want that!” So-so cried out, pointing a tiny finger from So-mu’s shoulders.

She was pointing at a vendor selling tanghulu—skewered hawthorn berries coated in hardened sugar syrup.

Cheong-hae immediately bought one and handed it to her.

“So-so, aren’t you full? We are going to eat a meal soon,” So-mu remarked.

She had already been snacking on various treats, but for her size, her appetite was truly monstrous.

“Nope! It’s delicious! Hehe,” she chirped.

A few minutes later, the group paused again, drawn by a street theater performance on a corner. A large crowd had gathered to watch.

Cheong-hae looked at So-mu. “It seems they are performing a scene from the Three Kingdoms. Shall we watch for a moment?”

“Sure.”

Three actors with their faces painted white stood on the stage. One was dressed as a general wielding a crescent glaive, another played a corrupt emperor with a padded belly, and the third portrayed a scheming eunuch.

The eunuch sneered at the audience. “You fools! How dare you approach without a bribe? Show proper respect to the Emperor!”

The actor playing the general turned to the emperor and roared, “Your Majesty Liu Shan! This is General Jiang Wei! This treacherous snake is eating away at our empire. I beg you to execute him at once! The enemy is at our gates; we must purge the corruption within!”

The eunuch quickly interrupted. “Your Majesty! I have consulted the shamans and read the fortunes. The State of Wei has no intention of invading. This incompetent general is merely paranoid. You should replace him with someone more loyal!”

The actor playing Liu Shan stroked his chin, feigning indecision. “Hmm… But is Jiang Wei not the chosen successor of Zhuge Liang? I grow tired of his nagging, but we cannot replace the commander-in-chief so easily.”

“Your Majesty, leave the affairs of state to me and enjoy your rest! I have prepared the ultimate pleasures for you tonight!”

“Haha! Indeed, you are the only one who truly understands my heart, Minister!”

The play concluded with the general swinging his crescent glaive, miming the execution of both the emperor and the eunuch, to the cheers of the crowd.

So-so giggled merrily at the performance, but So-mu’s expression remained grave.

The hidden meaning of the play was obvious. They were satirizing the current imperial court of Song.

Rumors had recently reached Hanzhong that General Yue Fei had been stripped of his command and imprisoned. This shocking news had spread rapidly among the soldiers and civilians alike, stirring deep public unrest.

Yet, there was a bitter truth the common people did not know—the reality in the Song court was far more absurd than the fall of Shu Han they had just witnessed on stage.

“Let us go eat,” So-mu said quietly.

They headed to the Hwayang Tavern, the largest tavern in Hanzhong. They frequently dined there because the food was excellent.

However, the atmosphere today was different. Unlike their previous visits, the tavern was packed, and the majority of the patrons were martial artists from various sects. Usually, when so many jianghu figures gathered in one place, it meant there was major news.

Sitting at a table near the entrance, they ordered eight different dishes, a necessity given Il-gwang’s massive appetite. When the food arrived, they began eating hungrily. So-so copied Il-gwang, stuffing her face with surprising speed.

Just then, Cheong-hae glanced out the window.

“Isn’t that Brother Cheol-du?”

Walking down the street with his disabled grandmother on his back, showing her the sights, was indeed Cheol-du.

“It is,” So-mu noted.

“The kid has finally grown up,” Il-gwang muttered.

So-so leaned out the window and shouted, “Uncle Cheol-du!”

Spotting them, Cheol-du waved with a bright smile. For a moment, the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.

But the mood quickly shattered as the conversation from the neighboring table drifted over. Il-gwang pricked up his ears, while Cheong-hae’s face drained of color, his body freezing.

“How could the Mount Hua Sect fall overnight?”

“I heard the Eighteen Plum Blossom Sword Guards were completely wiped out.”

“This is insane! The Mount Hua Sect is one of the pillars of the orthodox sects, not some third-rate local gang! Who could have done this?”

“I don’t know. A single Taoist priest managed to escape, but they say he went half-mad. The only certain thing is that the Hui Dynasty is involved.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The Hui military is blocking all access to Mount Hua, and they’ve rejected the Martial Alliance’s demands for an investigation.”

“And the Martial Alliance is just sitting on their hands?”

“Things are different now. The Martial Alliance is a shadow of its former self. After the ten-year war between the Orthodox and Demonic factions, most of the top masters are dead, and the Sword Saint has long since retired.”

“So all the Taoists of Mount Hua are dead save for one?”

“Who knows? Some might be hiding in the mountains. But with the Hui blocking the path, there’s no way to find out.”

It was shocking news.

Seventy percent of Shaanxi was occupied by the Hui Dynasty, and Mount Hua lay within their territory. Yet no one had expected them to blatantly destroy an orthodox martial sect.

So-mu was deeply shaken. Even though the Mount Hua Sect’s strength had declined since their greatest master fell in the war, for a legendary sect to vanish overnight was almost unbelievable.

Sweating coldly, Cheong-hae stared blankly ahead. So-so placed her tiny hand on his forehead and asked, “Uncle Cheong-hae, does it hurt?”