novelraw Chapter 137 : Chapter 137
Chapter 137 : Chapter 137
Chapter 137 Star of the Grasslands (5)
Jaun, who had changed into the clothes given to him by the bearded man, handed all his own clothes and weapons to the bearded man, and took the spear of Thousand Households Commander Ma that he had brought.
"Finally, I get to see what you've been up to all night."
The bearded man, who had neatly tied all of Jaun's belongings to his saddle, looked at Jaun with shining eyes.
Jaun looked at the bearded man, grinned, and then closed his eyes and began to concentrate his energy.
─ CRACK. CRACKLE.
As time passed, strange noises began to erupt from Jaun's body. Soon, his arms grew longer, his legs became thicker, and strong lines appeared on his face.
─ CRACKLE.
As the noises continued, Jaun's appearance gradually came to resemble that of Thousand Households Commander Ma.
After a little while, Jaun let out a long sigh and opened his eyes.
"...Damn it. What did I just see?"
The bearded man let out a sigh as if he were dumbfounded.
"I-I have never seen such an elaborate Bone Shrinking Art. Actually, since we specialize in this field, I was going to offer some help..."
So-hyang approached Jaun with surprised eyes and began to touch his body here and there.
"How... on earth?"
Not only had his smooth skin become rough, but even the path of the energy flowing through his body had changed.
"With this level of transformation, even his own family wouldn't recognize him."
It was only natural, as he had added the illusion arts learned by the Illusion Demon to the Bone Shrinking Art that was passed down as a secret technique in the Demonic Cult.
'In this Central Plains... only I can do this.'
Jaun moved his awkward body here and there and then swung his spear once.
'So this is how he fought.'
The body of Thousand Households Commander Ma, with its sturdy bone structure, was much more solid than Jaun's own body.
'It's a shame that I've lost most of my flexibility... but if I'm using a spear, this kind of bone structure wouldn't be bad.'
Jaun checked his body's condition again and then turned his head toward the bearded man.
"Is it okay?"
"Is it okay, man? Even his own father wouldn't recognize him and would pass on his inheritance."
"That's a relief. This should be enough to hold out for a while."
"But it won't be easy since you've only changed your appearance."
"I memorized the information about Thousand Households Commander Ma that the two young ladies gave me all night, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If I tell them I've had some short-term memory loss due to the battle, I should be able to get past the minor differences."
So-hyang, who had been examining Jaun's body for a long time from the side, shook her head from side to side and stepped back.
"...For now, just looking at his appearance and aura, even we, who are experts in transformation, can't find a single strange thing. At this rate, it should be fine."
"That's a relief. Brother, you should return to the inn and tell Wol-i to continue her transactions with Prince Yeomseong's residence. After I infiltrate the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I will contact you through the Moyong Merchant Group."
"Hoo, I understand."
"I will report not only my situation but also the movements of the subjugation squad, so Miss So-hyang and Miss Chun-wol, please keep in constant contact with the tribe's warriors so that they don't encounter the subjugation squad for the time being."
"I understand. I will do that."
"Then... finally."
Jaun drew the Mangru Blood Sword tied to the bearded man's horse and held it in a reverse grip.
─ SWOOSH. SLASH. PLUNGE.
"Kyaaaack!"
"Eek!"
As Jaun slashed his own body, the faces of the bearded man and So-hyang turned pale.
"W-what is this...!"
"The clothes are covered in blood, but it would be obvious if my body were unharmed. I avoided any fatal wounds, so, hoo. It's fine."
"Oof, really... What do you mean, it's fine... Even if you asked me to do that Heavenly Demon whatever, I wouldn't be able to do it."
The bearded man shook his head from side to side. So-hyang quickly approached and handed Jaun a pill.
"Keep it in your molars, and once you have safely infiltrated, bite down on it and take it. It's a pill that can last for about a month in your mouth."
"Cough. Thank you."
Jaun pressed his hand against the wound on his side and let out a rough breath.
"You'd better get inside quickly. Tsk."
The bearded man looked at Jaun with worried eyes and then immediately turned his horse's head.
"I need to work harder too. Seeing this kind of thing... makes me feel frustrated with myself."
The bearded man turned his body and departed first, and the rest of the party bid farewell to Jaun and rode toward the outskirts of the gate.
Jaun waved his hand and then turned his body to look at the northern gate far away.
'It was Jeonjeong, Sangseong, Baekhoe, Danjung, Geogwol, Sangwan, Singwol, Gihae, and Hoe-eum, in that order.'
Jaun circulated his energy, following the traces left on Thousand Households Commander Ma's body. It would be difficult to perform proper martial arts, but he could at least put on a show of emitting the same kind of energy wave as the other Embroidered Uniform Guard members.
'Let's go.'
Jaun, who had taken a deep breath, kicked off the ground and began to run forward. A long trail of blood followed behind Jaun's running path.
***
"Yaaawn. The subjugation forces are late in returning this time, aren't they?"
"I know. They usually come back around this time."
The government soldiers who were on patrol at the gate post stopped their chatter at the same time.
From afar, someone was staggering and walking alone toward the gate.
The eyes of the government soldiers who had confirmed the martial artist walking slowly forward, leaning on his spear like a cane, widened.
"Is that... the uniform of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
"Uh, it is the Embroidered Uniform Guard. But what is going on? Why is a martial artist of the Embroidered Uniform Guard like that...?"
"Quick, send the medics!"
As the sentries waved their flags, the inside of the gate became noisy. Not long after, the gate opened and five horses galloped forward.
─ THUDUDUDUDU
Confirming the approaching horses, Jaun struggled to open his flickering eyes.
"Halt! State your affiliation and name!"
As one of the government soldiers on horseback shouted, Jaun's mouth opened with difficulty.
"Em... broidered Uniform Guard, 13th Army, Thousand Households Commander... Cough. Ma... Ryun-hoe. Quickly take me to the Embroidered Uniform Guard barracks..."
Jaun's staggering form collapsed forward.
"Thousand Households Commander Ma?"
The medic who had run up from behind examined Jaun here and there and then shouted to the rear with a pale face.
"B-bring a carriage at once! It is the commander-in-chief of the subjugation force!"
As soon as he finished speaking, four horses on the opposite side began to gallop at full speed.
***
"So only Thousand Households Commander Ma returned alive..."
"So they say. I heard the subjugation force was completely annihilated?"
"I can't understand it no matter how I think about it. They just went to catch a few nomads, so how could something like this..."
"I heard there are rumors that the Western Regions might have made a move."
"That's ridiculous. If the Western Regions made a move, why would the northern subjugation force be annihilated?"
"That's true, but... it must be bad for such rumors to be circulating. Since they can't find a reason, all sorts of rumors are flying around."
"Tsk. It seems this is going to get bigger. There's a rumor that the increase in the subjugation force was the sole act of some leaders in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot."
"Why would they bother to increase the subjugation force..."
"As always, isn't the grant money one of the reasons? The Imperial Court's support for the northern subjugation is so large."
"Anyway, I'd better be careful for a while. It's a sensitive time."
Jaun concentrated his mind and continuously stored the incoming information in his head.
'There's nothing special so far. It seems Prince Yeomseong's side has been managing the information quite well.'
─ CREAK
Once again, the medics came in, examined Jaun's body here and there, prescribed a few medicinal herbs, and left the room.
Jaun, who was lying down pretending to be unconscious, swallowed the decoction that the servant girl poured into his mouth.
'About half a day has passed, so it's about time someone related to this incident made a move...'
The tedious wait continued for a while. As he was quietly recovering his body in the meaningless noise, the murmuring of soldiers could be heard from outside.
"G-General Hwang is here!"
"General Hwang? You mean one of the Twelve Swords of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has come in person?"
"Quiet! Is there time for idle chatter? Everyone, line up in front! What are you all doing! Move quickly."
"H-hey, get rid of all that junk over there!"
Jaun, who was watching the bustling situation outside, sensed a massive energy approaching and reduced his senses.
It was a rough and ferocious energy. Jaun reduced all his senses except for his hearing to the minimum.
Just before infiltrating, Jaun, who had received detailed information about the Embroidered Uniform Guard through So-hyang and Chun-wol, reorganized his memories in his head.
The two had said that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was composed of a total of twenty thousand men. The one who commanded the twenty thousand Embroidered Uniform Guard members held the title of Commander, and under him were ten generals, and under each general were two thousand household commanders.
Among them, the two martial artists who directly guarded the Commander and the ten generals were called the Twelve Swords of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the one who was entering now was General Hwang Pyeong-il, one of the Twelve Swords and Thousand Households Commander Ma's superior.
─ THUD. THUD. CRASH!
Following the rough footsteps, the door of the pharmacy burst open.
"...It is indeed Thousand Households Commander Ma."
"That is correct, General. His belongings and appearance have all been confirmed."
The man who had walked in roughly poked Thousand Households Commander Ma's side without mercy.
Even though he had reduced his senses to the minimum, Jaun's body trembled from the pain that spread as if he were being seared by fire.
"It's a wound inflicted by a sword. It's not the work of the northern nomads."
"Could it be... if it's a sword."
"It definitely wasn't General Gwak's side. The other generals also showed no movement. In that case... is it the Eastern Depot?"
"The movements of the Eastern Depot bastards were suspicious. I heard that a squad leader-level figure participated as a supervisor for this subjugation force."
"That's right. But he's dead too. The Eastern Depot bastards are as cunning as rats, but their internal unity is strong. There's no way they would eliminate a squad leader-level figure on the battlefield like this..."
The sound of someone sitting down with a thud was heard from the table next to him. From the loudness of the sound, he could roughly guess the size of the man called General Hwang.
"The one who was in charge of that matter was Thousand Households Commander Ma, right?"
"Yes, that is correct. Thousand Households Commander Ma was in charge of all direct communication."
"Of all people, it had to be Thousand Households Commander Ma. Surely the plan hasn't been leaked, has it?"
"That's impossible. We haven't even made contact with the other generals yet, aside from the two generals who have already agreed to join our cause."
"Yes, that was supposed to be Thousand Households Commander Ma's job... This has become troublesome."
Silence filled the pharmacy for a moment.
"How long did they say it would take for him to recover?"
"They said the wounds are not as deep as they seem, and he will fully recover after using elixir and resting for a month or two. However, he has not yet regained consciousness..."
"Tsk. There's no time. We cannot let the grand plan go awry, so I will take charge of persuading General Myo. The rat bastards from the Eastern Depot have completely come over, haven't they?"
"Yes. Since they have already lost the Emperor's trust, they probably did not have many options."
"The remaining eight bastards will never move. In reality, most of the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard rests with them, so even if the entire Eastern Depot joins us, our chances of victory are not even half."
"Considering the Red Blood Art..."
"If it weren't for that, we wouldn't have even dreamed of it. Even if that strange martial art is of some help, the martial prowess of the Emperor's personal guards, the Five Swords, is beyond imagination. We must never let our guard down."
"We will exercise the utmost caution, General."
"...For now, send Thousand Households Commander Ma to me when he wakes up. Hoo. It doesn't seem like a good omen. Strangely, obstacles keep popping up."
General Hwang, who had risen from his seat with a groan, looked down at Jaun again.
"Tsk. Who on earth is doing this... It will be difficult to execute the grand plan before we clearly identify the enemy. Start over from the beginning and comb through everything."
"I will do so, General."
─ CRAAASH
The footsteps of General Hwang, who had flung open the door, gradually faded away.
When the energy was far enough away, Jaun slightly opened his eyes and touched his wounds.
'Hoo.'
Jaun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and bit down hard on the pill hidden in his molar.
'First, I need to recover, then make a move. If his superior, General Hwang, can't recognize me, it should be enough to move around.'
Jaun accepted the medicinal energy spreading through his body and began to focus on his recovery.