Chương 83: Book 2, Chapter 5: Princes and Paupers

They left the waystation early the next morning, heading out as soon as the sun first began forcing itself through the thick clouds. They had a long journey ahead, and Eunji didn't believe in wasting time. The scenery was bleak and grey, with nothing but heavy rain and wet rice paddies as far as the eye could see. Even Cyrus was silent, the only sound in Song's ears the beating of hoofprints on wet road. After an hour or two they reached a dilapidated crossroads.

The paths east and west were well-maintained, but the path to the north was overgrown with weeds and thick grasses. Any signage had long been destroyed by the elements. It was clear; nobody took this path anymore.

"Are you certain you still want this, Lee Song?" Eunji asked, her face sour. Song nodded resolutely.

"Yes, Elder."

"It might be interesting…" Dami echoed, though the tremor in her voice gave away her true feelings on the matter.

"It's just history, children. Nothing to be fearful of," Jii encouraged. But even he adjusted his nose spectacles nervously. Eunji scoffed, and kicked her horse into a cautious trot. They followed her in a path that took them in a long arc around flooded farmlands.

"The Sima clan owned all of this, once upon a time," Jii explained, gesturing at their surroundings.

"Nearly all the lands from here to Chengdu. And more in the south besides. They were a power matched only by the royal family itself."

"And so they sought to overcome the mandate of the First Son Of Heaven," Dami whispered.

"I've read it was in response to the horrors of the Mad Emperor," Tae suddenly spoke up.

"There may be some truth to that, though I'd never repeat it where the censors could hear," Jii said seriously.

"Whatever the reason, they did as they did, and all they once owned now lies in ruin." They continued in thoughtful silence for a few hours, punctuated only by the occasional wild animal or vain attempt at small-talk. Their journey through the rice paddy fields eventually took them near a small peasant village, though they purposefully skirted around it.

The constant rains had turned the well-trodden ground around the ramshackle huts into a muddy quagmire, and Eunji had little interest in pushing the horses through it. Unfortunately, they were still close enough to smell it.

"Agh, what's that stench!?" Tae hissed, batting at his nose.

"We work with horses all day, it isn't that bad," Eunji replied tartly. But she too curled her nose distastefully.

"Dried house dung is spring flowers next to this!" Tae protested.

"It's always flowers with you," Wook teased.

"You've never gotten over being forced to get your hands dirty transplanting changpo flowers as a child, have you?"

"It's his one great trauma," Song nodded. Everyone laughed vigorously, though Yu Dami daintily held the sleeve of her deel over her nose while she did so. ["Does it really smell that bad?"] Cyrus asked curiously. ["And is that kid over there just… taking a dump in the middle of the street?"] Song looked to where a child was indeed standing in the middle of the village road. He'd lifted the triangle piece of cloth secured at his nape and waist and was squatting with a look of concentration on his face.

His mother came running out of a nearby hut and scooped him up mid business to yank him back inside and out of sight.

"Peasants," Song mumbled aloud dismissively. ["Huh…"] Cyrus's tone was thoughtful. ["They just go in the ditches outside. Then gather it to put in the fields. It's much worse when it rains like this and it gets everywhere."] ["Ugh, that's gross!"] Song agreed. He knew that the city-folk referred to the proud warriors of Changpo as 'barbarian Nakjin', but at least they had the decendy to do their business outside the village in the latrine. When they weren't drunk on airag, of course.

Though to be fair, there were a lot more cultivators in Changpo than the average Nakjo village… Song considered other roving tribes of the plains that they'd run into and frowned. They were just rounding the outside of the village when Yu Jii offhandedly commented, "I see someone at the edge of town. They're waving us down."

"Ignore them," Eunji said crisply, "I want to get this out of the way."

"It could be important," Jii shrugged, the tentacles under his cloak lifting the garment slightly as he did so.

"And as righteous cultivators of the Gangho, we should help those in need." Eunji barked a laugh.

"We're not some passing cultivators of an orthodox sect chained to our Virtue, Jii. We can just ignore them."

"But we're also not tied to a Vice. We can do some charity. And besides, wasn't half the point of this trip to teach the children the ways of the world?" Jii's gesturing arm took in the three brothers, as well as his own daughter and Jinu.

"This is an opportunity for them to see." Wook looked decidedly amused at the thought, though Song bristled at being called a 'child'. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"It could be interesting–" Jinu said, dropping to a mumble as he looked around at all the pinched faces.

"They could just be trying to get us close so they can ambush us and take our horses," Eunji frowned, squinting her eyes as she swept her gaze over the rows of small wooden huts.

"You can't trust these little villages in the middle of nowhere." ["Really?"] Cyrus scoffed from inside Cyrus's mindscape. ["Is the big bad cultivator scared? And I see kids in there. It's just a village."] ["Bandit villages where everyone is a bandit are a normal thing, Cyrus,"] Song admonished. ["That's how you get a child's knife in your back. Eunji's care is correct… still, I think you're right – this is just a normal peasant village."] For one thing, the peeping eyes felt more curious than covetous.

And for another, Song could see tools for rice farming propped up against the walls of several huts Eunji likely came to a similar conclusion.

"Fine," she growled.

"But if they shoot arrows at us, I expect you to put your smug face out to block them." They pulled on their reins and headed towards the figure in the straw hat waving at them. There was a small group of people standing behind him, staring wordlessly as the party approached, their eyes wide and unblinking. ["That's kind of creepy…"] Cyrus muttered. ["Lowkey horror movie, for real. Why are they just… staring like that?"] ["It's fear. Because we could be bandits, too,"] Song replied, feeling a bit self-conscious to see himself reflected in another's eyes in such a way. Respect was one thing, but this… The peasants were all in similar disheveled attire. A few who'd possibly just returned from the fields only wore a bundle of cloth wrapped around their hips and a hat on their head. A few carried pitchforks or spades in a show of 'force'.

"Ho! Travelers!" The old man shouted when they were within earshot. He wore a pair of simple brown linen trousers and a grass cloak. His head was bald and spotted with age, and he sported a short white goatee. He must've seen their horns, because his tone suddenly changed and he kowtowed, heedless of the mud.

"Oh Lord and Lady Cultivators! This menial one is sorry for having disturbed your travel."

"It was important enough to call out to me," Eunji said imperiously.

"And I'll decide if it was worth deviating from my path." She placed her hand on the pommel of her sword.

"Or if I take off a limb for your audacity."

"We saw that the illustrious ones were headed for the old Sima clan holdings," the old man stammered. He shivered, and not just from the cold.

"This one wished to warn the Lords and Ladies that bandits have taken up residence there. We sent word to the magistrate, but the army hasn't come yet."

"You think we can't handle some bandits?" Eunji said, her eyebrow arching.

"No! I mean yes! Lady Cultivator!" The old man choked.

"If we'd known you were cultivators, we wouldn't – ""You wouldn't have warned us?" Eunji roared.

"You'd have let us walk into a trap unknowingly!?" The old man practically gibbered, making obsequities and apologizing for presuming. The other peasants behind him were clearly deciding between throwing down their tools and running or trying their luck at kow-towing as well. ["Why's she giving him such a hard time?"] Cyrus protested. ["He was just trying to help. Low key cringe, no cap."] ["It's not like that."] Song tried to rise to his aunt's defense.

He wasn't sure what 'cringe' or 'no cap' meant, but he could guess. Song could tell from her tone that Eunji wasn't really angry. If she was, she would've been more cold. If anything she was probably just annoyed by the situation and enjoying watching the man squirm. Behind her, Wook was grinning, and Tae was holding back a chuckle. Even Jinu looked amused, though Dami just looked disgusted. As for Song… For just an instant – the barest moment. He saw the man before him perhaps how Cyrus saw him.

Old – because if they killed him first, it would give a chance for the young to flee. Educated – Because his silver tongue and manners indicated that he at least knew of the niceties. Kind – He'd taken a great risk to save some travelers he had no responsibility for. Almost unbidden, and before he could stop them, the words came to Song's lips.

"Thank you." The old man's mouth widened as he stared up at Song in shock. Eunji's mouth snapped shut with an audible clack and she turned disbelieving eyes on Song as well. Song's cheeks grew hot, and he feared they were reddening. ["Woo! You got this, Song!"] Cyrus cheered from his head. ["Whatever it is!"]"Thank you," Song stammered, then forged onward.

"For warning us. We were indeed headed to the Sima Clan ruins. And while we're strong enough for a hundred bandits, it's nice not to be surprised." The old man blinked, looking between Eunji and Song. Something passed across his eyes, for just the briefest moment, but then he pressed his forehead into the mud deeply.

"Thank you, Lord Cultivator. For showing mercy to this old man." Eunji looked like she wanted to give Song an earful for interrupting her, but she wasn't going to appear divided in front of a bunch of outsiders.

"Have the bandits been bothering you?" Yu Jii asked curiously, his face his usual smiling mask.

"Not overly much, Lord Cultivator. They've snatched a few sheeps and pigs in the fields. Mostly they've been striking merchants on the road. But with the rains we're worried they'll come after us soon. For sport, or…" the old man's eyes glanced at Dami and he swallowed the rest of what he'd been about to say.

"What do you say, Eunji? We were headed there anyways. Should we give the children a chance to see some combat?" Eunji curled her lip, but considered it. She looked Song, Tae, and Wook up and down, then out into the rains in the direction of their destination.

"How many bandits?" She asked.

"No more than a dozen," the old man replied.

"If you're wrong, I'll come back and pull out every last tooth you have in your wretched lying mouth." Eunji snapped. She spun her horse around and harrumphed.

"Come on, you lot. Yu Jii, you're responsible for Dami and Jinu. If they die it's your problem."

"My Dami can take care of herself, Eunji," Jii chortled. Song nodded a goodbye to the old man and the other villagers, but as he turned to go, the old man rose to his feet and called, "Young Master. May this unworthy one know your name?" Song stiffened. Had the old man been referring to him?

"Lee –," he began, then paused. He drew himself up.

"Haksaekki."

"Lord Haksaekki. This one thanks you for your generosity and righteousness." He bowed once more, this time at the waist.

"I pray the immortals and the Great ones look kindly upon you. And… please be careful. The Sima clan may be gone, but their vile betrayal remains. It stains their lands with malice and foul luck. We don't go near them for a reason." He said the last in a hoarse whisper, the fear in his eyes even more intense than it had been when he'd spoken to Eunji. Superstitious nonsense. Song thought, but he nodded to the old man and trotted to rejoin the rest of the group.

"Hak saeekki!" Tae drawled as Song approached.

"Come save us from the bandits, Lord Haksaeeeekki!" Wook joined in.

"Oh! Help! I've been kidnapped! Oh where is my Lord Haksaeekki!" Dami swooned, then giggled.

"Not you too," Song groaned. They all laughed, as they headed uncaring back out into the rain. Song considered the fight to come, and what it meant. Not all monsters in the Gangho were Demons.