Chapter 23 – The Sparrow Flies In (1)

Chapter 23 – The Sparrow Flies In (1)

Leaving behind the ten dismembered bodies, a black wolf stood tall on the hill. Between the pitch-black armor and helmet, quiet eyes were radiating brilliance. It was So-mu looking at the battlefield unfolding below the hill.

‘There’s no need to look any further.’

When our main base began to attack, the enemies panicked and tried to escape. The soldiers' eyes rolled back when they saw the residents being brutally murdered. Therefore, what happened afterwards was a one-sided massacre.

The situation ended in an instant. It was a natural result, as even the enemy's command center was destroyed in the confusion caused by the night raid.

So-mu's gaze, which was examining the battlefield, found the members of Wolf Fang Squad. Although they seemed somewhat exhausted from being caught up in the melee, no one seemed dead or injured.

So-mu moved to the village to join the corps. His expression as he silently walked down the street was not very bright. Witnessing the horrors of the battlefield firsthand was not a very pleasant experience. Corpses lying on the streets and the thick scent of blood. A village where residents lived just a day ago. It was hard to even imagine.

So-mu’s trudging steps suddenly stopped. This was because a small presence was detected in a private house on the left. A shabby house made of wood and mud. For some reason, my curiosity arose.

As I opened the door and entered, I saw a mess of disorganized furniture. Contrary to what I expected, no one was seen here. But he couldn't hide his superhuman senses. His eyes turned to the floor. When the flooring made of woven straw was lifted, a small wooden door was revealed.

‘There’s someone hiding here.’

So-mu opened the door carefully. At that moment, his movements stopped like ice.

Pitch-black darkness. Two small eyes were shining in the darkness without a single light.

Trembling eyes and flowing tore. It was the face of a child whose fear was at its peak. It was a natural reaction since I had been hiding alone in the dark for more than a day.

A girl who looked about six years old. The moment he faced that face, So-mu was overcome with passion. It was because he resembled a child he knew.

What kind of heavenly joke was this? His mouth opened and a trembling voice came out.

"oil painting……?"

This child has already died cruelly in Baiyang County.

It was the name of the child whom he was unable to protect.

Even though So-mu knew that fact, she couldn't take her eyes off him for a while.

After a while, he spoke again cautiously.

“I am a person from the Song Dynasty like you.”

The child still had his doubts in his eyes. However, I had no desire to force it out.

“You are from the Song Dynasty, and you are going to Hanzhong. If you want to go with me, come out. I won’t force you, so you can stay there.”

So-mu turned his back, leaving the wooden door on the floor open. It wasn't his choice.

So-mu came out of the private house and looked towards the sky. A deep sigh escaped me without my knowledge. He stood blankly in his seat for a long time, making no movement.

And after a moment passed. He was just about to take a step. Someone was running out of the house, panting. A faint smile appeared on So-mu’s face.

“Let’s go.”

The child walked next to So-mu. But an expression of doubt still remained on his face. So-mu, conscious of that, did not speak any more. When you're together, you open your heart. There was no need to rush.

So-mu, with slow strides, slowly moved to the chosen destination. A place that may have been used as a village hall. This site, measuring about 100 pyeong, was the gathering place for Wolf Fang Squad who had completed their mission. Cheong-hae arrived first, leading a crew of fifty.

“Who is this little boy?”

Cheong-hae blinked his eyes and asked.

“I found it in a private house. I’m taking it to Hanzhong.”

“So cute~. What’s your name?”

Despite Cheong-hae's question, the child kept his mouth shut. It was then. A loud shout was heard from behind.

“What! Are we late?”

It was Il-gwang. Blood was still dripping from his huge hands. I couldn't even imagine how many enemy soldiers I had beaten to death.

When the child saw the evil-looking Il-gwang, he was startled and hid behind So-mu's back. Il-gwang, who belatedly realized the situation and became embarrassed, squatted down and forced a smile at the child.

“Hmm. Peekaboo!”

Was that scarier? The child buried his head in So-mu's back and began to hang down, holding on to So-mu's collar.

“Stop it. I’m scared of you smiling like that.”

“People these days don’t know the standards of beauty. They don’t recognize such a handsome face.”

“If someone says you’re handsome, it’s probably because they’re scared. Anyway, I think this place is all sorted out now, right?”

“Well, everyone is gathering outside the village. We have to leave now.”

“Go right away.”

They were only able to arrive at the gathering place after a few more days had passed. About 7,000 of our soldiers had already completed their line-up. In one corner, about a thousand prisoners were lined up in a row. They formed a formation and prepared to move to Hanjungseong.

At that time, General Zhang Yang's face widened as he looked around. This was because they discovered Wolf Fang Squad, who can be said to be the biggest contributor to this battle. They completed their missions better than expected and showed no scratches.

Yang Yang approached them with a satisfied expression and encouraged them.

“You went through a lot of hardships. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this great victory. Even the enemy commanders were so surprised that they all ran away. It was perfect.”

So-mu responded with a slight bow.

“The general’s plan just worked.”

Zhang Yang's gaze turned to the child hanging down, holding Su Mu's arm.

“Hehehe. There’s no need to be humble. But who is this kid?”

“We found him in a private house. He is a child who lost his parents.”

“There were survivors in Hwawol-eup? We did a good job of rescuing them. When we return to Hanzhong, we’ll be able to find someone to take care of them.”

So-mu did not want to repeat the same mistake again. Still, I couldn't help but ask the child what he meant. When I looked down, I saw a child with big, watery eyes shaking his head excitedly.

“I don’t want to leave it to just anyone. Please allow us to take care of the child until he is ready.”

“Huh. This is really embarrassing. There are rules in the corps. Civilians cannot stay together in the soldiers’ barracks.”

“Please do me a favor.”

Yang Yang seemed to think for a moment and closed her mouth. Although he strictly followed the corps' ruled, he could not ignore So-mu's request. Because he was the captain of Wolf Fang Squad who made the greatest contribution in the battle.

“Now that I think about it, I heard that the Corps is a bit busy with administrative work these days. It is possible to appoint civilians as administrative assistants. What do you think of my proposal?”

There was no way Zhang Yang would have given the child direct work. It would provide justification. A smile appeared on So-mu’s face.

“Thank you, General.”

* * *

A month has passed since the battle of Howol-eup. The miraculous news that Hanzhong had won a landslide victory over the Hui Dynasty spread throughout the country. It was a reversal of victory that no one expected.

And while everyone was encouraged, another piece of good news arrived. The allied forces led by General Ae Fei won the defense battle of Yangyang.

It seemed like the war was entering a lull for a while. However, Hanzhong were accelerating their training in preparation for the greater danger to come.

So-mu, who was in charge of Wolf Fang Squad, organized the training of the members with a focus on internal attack training. This was because unleashing sword energy was essential to raise their combat power. In ordered to unleash sword energy, you must have at least half a degree of internal energy.

While most training took place in the barracks, So-mu secretly helped the members with their internal attack training. The sleep time given to them was only one hour. This was the most enjoyable time of the day.

“Wake up!”

One of Il-gwang's eyes opened slightly at the sudden high-pitched sound. A girl who looked to be about six years old had her hands on her hips and wide eyes. Il-gwang, as if his fatigue had not gone away, closed his eyes again and spoke in a dying voice.

“I’m not sleeping. I’m just closing my eyes for a moment because it hurts.”

The child who was standing at Il-gwang's bedside lit a double wick and climbed on his back. Two small hands grabbed the hem of Il-gwang's clothes and began to shake them.

“The other uncles are already awake!”

Il-gwang reluctantly got up and sighed.

“Ugh. Yes, I got it, little administrative officer.”

“Wash up quickly and come back!”

With its small body and big, round eyes, it chirped like a sparrow.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the child could not remember his own name. Starting from that cruel day, all previous memories were erased.

After much deliberation, Wolf Fang Squad decided to call this child So-so . It was named after So-mu, who brought the child, but it also contains the meaning of smiling brightly by adding the cow twice. When a sparrow entered the drab barracks of the wolves, the atmosphere changed significantly.

As soon as the day dawned, the internal training began again. One by one, the members sat cross-legged and fell into a state of fortune. Then, So-so came up next to So-mu and began to imitate the lotus position and close her eyes.

This was a child who doesn’t even know what strength was. I was just imitating my uncles doing something.

After a moment passed. Suddenly, the sound of snoring began to echo throughout the barracks. Before I knew it, So-so had fallen asleep. The child, lying down, was falling into a deep sleep, oblivious to the world. So-mu, who was watching the scene, pointed out someone among the crew.

“Cheoldu!”

Cheoldu hurriedly finished his fortune-telling breakfast and stood in front of So-mu.

“Yes, sir.”

“When So-so wakes up, please teach me the breathing method of the Diamond Sutra.”

“Huh? Are you really going to let So-so practice inner strength?”

“It seems like you have the will. It would be good to learn it for your health.”

“Oh, yes, I understand.”

The moment they first met, So-mu recognized at a glance that So-so had natural muscles. If you had the qualifications, you could rise to the peak level. I couldn't help but give it a chance.

So-mu left the barracks, leaving the crew behind. The place he headed was the streets of Hanjungseong. After walking around a corner, he arrived at a pavilion with a plaque engraved on it saying, “Uigundang .” It was a factory that specialized in making and supplying military uniforms and armor for the government army. It was a place where materials were supplied from blacksmiths and tanneries and final production was carried out, and Wolf Fang Squad's black armor was also created here.

When So-mu glanced through the open door, he saw about a hundred workers sitting in a row sewing. At that time, a middle-aged man wearing a blue jangsam spotted So-mu and was delighted.

“Oh my, is the centurion here?”

“Yes. What happened to the items I ordered?”

“Just wait a moment. I have it ready.”

The middle-aged man, who had climbed up and down the second floor of the building, was already holding a military uniform and shoes in his hands. However, the size of the military uniform was so small that it seemed impossible for anyone but children to wear it. In addition, there was a helmet the size of an adult's fist and a toy-like weapon.

“But what are you going to use this little training uniform for?”

“There is a little administrative soldier in our military.”

The middle-aged man tilted his head, but did not ask any more questions.

So-mu held out a bundle of coins she had prepared in her arms. The total price of this specially made military uniform was not cheap, amounting to half of So-mu's monthly salary. However, the middle-aged man did not accept the coin but waved both hands and said.

“The money is okay. I heard that the centurion made a great contribution in the battle. I would like to repay you for protecting us in this way, so please give it to me.”

So-mu tried to pay the price several times, but ultimately failed.

He returned to the barracks, put down his clothes by So-so's bedside, and began to sit cross-legged. That's what the meal was like. So-mu's eyes gently opened and looked to the lower left.

So-so was squatting down like a squirrel, looking at something closely. But he couldn't touch it because he wasn't sure if it was his. At that time, So-mu’s mouth softened softly.

“Trainer So-so. If you want, you can come to the training ground with your uncles starting tomorrow.”

As soon as So-mu finished speaking, So-so's eyes opened round and a bright smile appeared.

“Then is this mine?”

So-so, with his face buried in his training uniform, started jumping around the barracks.

“Haha. Hahaha. Thank you, father!”