There Are People in the Borderlands Too - 4
The forces dispatched from Nanju by the Regional Commandant. The warriors from Gongdong Sect, led by Baek Joo-il, the sect's top disciple—not the branch manager anymore. Three hundred men had assembled, ready to surround and capture Maek the moment it entered their sights.
This should be more than enough. Searching for a wild beast somewhere in the wilderness would have required three thousand men, not three hundred. But thanks to Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i, they could skip the search entirely. For a simple encirclement and capture, three hundred was plenty. The real challenge was selecting which of these three hundred would actually make the grab.
Everyone had a grudge against Maek from all the grief it'd caused, so they'd all be clamoring to charge in first. Picking just a few out of three hundred wouldn't be easy.
Can't have all three hundred piling on for the capture. Even the classic group beatdown formation, the One Hundred Eight Arhats, only used 108 people. And this was a beast, spirit or not—three hundred going at it? One punch each would be three hundred hits. Maek would end up in paradise, not on the ground.
To ensure Maek's smooth and safe live capture, they needed to carefully select the capture team.
"Only first-rate experts and above for the capture. Everyone second-rate or lower, form the encirclement net."
Fortunately, the murim world had a clear classification system: cultivation realms. If anyone had complaints about the decision, they could advance their realm first.
"Understood, my lord."
"We'll relay the orders."
The commander sent by the Regional Commandant and Baek Joo-il both nodded at my declaration. They were both first-rate or higher themselves, so no reason for them to object.
"Alright, move out. We don't want to dawdle and miss Maek heading back to Nanju."
With that, the three hundred set off in unison. It was overkill for one beast, but considering it as the price for resolving Nanju's disaster, it was dirt cheap.
"You have to find it, got it?"
- Kki-ing!
I stroked Kki-ing-i's head, emphasizing its role once more. All you and Kki-ong-i have to do is find Maek. Then you'll be heroes. The Prefectural Governor and Regional Commandant might even heap on the dongpo pork. No—forget pork; this was merit worthy of full military rations. Protecting a city's peace deserved some inland seafood sincerity.
Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i strode forward without hesitation. They occasionally dipped their heads to the ground, sniffing—not wandering aimlessly, but tracking Maek's lingering energy or scent.
"Impressive. Even dogs couldn't follow Maek's scent, but it seems spirit beasts have their own way of communicating."
The commander watched, stroking his chin in admiration. It was indeed a marvel. Maek had eluded all of Nanju's—and Gansu's—efforts. Yet two deer tracked it effortlessly. How could that not be wondrous? Two deer accomplishing what hundreds or thousands of humans couldn't.
"That's why we call them spirit beasts—they do what ordinary animals can't."
I replied with pride, but then—
- Kki-ing?
- Kki-oong—
Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i suddenly tilted their heads.
What the hell. Don't go freezing up right after the commander praises you—it makes me look bad as your owner. But they ignored my anxiety, bumping heads and exchanging kki-ing, kki-oong cries.
"Looks like they've found something. Sharing information, maybe."
Baek Joo-il, who'd been silent amid the deer antics, offered his take.
"Yeah, seems like it."
"Tracking in a pair means cross-checking intel—essential. As expected of spirit beasts; so wise."
Baek Joo-il's words drew instant agreement from me and the commander. Honestly, I had no idea if it was info-sharing, but we'd go with that. Better for our sanity.
- Kki-ing!
Suddenly, Kki-ing-i bolted northwest, claiming everyone's attention. It had walked the whole time—first sprint now.
"That way! Don't lose it—follow!"
Nearly dragster acceleration, but the troops hurried after at the commander's order. Kki-ing-i's reaction confirmed Maek's location. And thoughtfully, Kki-ong-i stayed with the soldiers as backup, in case they lost the lead. Impossible to screw up now.
Best to fight spirit beast with spirit beast.
Just one hour into the search. In a mere hour, they'd corner the culprit shaking Nanju.
Great progress, sure. But...
Don't leave me behind while you run.
Regrettably, I was still mounted on Kki-ing-i. Tricky spot. If I encountered Maek one-on-one, I'd have to hold it off alone until backup arrived. Even with a super peak expert like Jo Wi-cheo, a mere first-rate like me facing a spirit beast? Yeah.
It's confident it can handle Maek alone...? I imagined myself nose-punched into the dirt and forced optimism. Kki-ing-i must be sure it could take Maek solo. Or scouting ahead to monitor from afar. Please be that. Otherwise, my dignity hits the floor.
Kki-ing-i stopped at an abandoned mine. Figures—metal-lover's home was a mine.
"It's in there, right?"
- Kki-ing.
I whispered just in case; Kki-ing-i nodded subtly.
Whew, good. Relief escaped me unwittingly. Maek might sense Kki-ing-i's energy and flee, like Kki-ing-i had sensed it. But trapped in a single-entrance mine? Easy to pursue.
You've got brains after all. I patted its head fondly. I'd worried it'd drag me to doom brainlessly, but it had planned ahead.
Simple surveillance? I could've—
"Kki-ing-i?"
- Kki-iing.
Kki-ing-i headed into the mine. Pride crumbled instantly. Mine trapped Maek from fleeing—but me too. Want to see your owner run from Maek and flop around?
Did I wrong you somehow? I even wondered if it planned to bury me legally here.
Hm?
Soon, I understood the bold move. Right after entry: fork. Right path led to a small clearing, where—
- Buoooong!
- Buoo?
- Buooo...
One hefty Maek deep in sleep. Beside it, a gaunt Maek eyeing me warily. And three tiny pups dwarfed by the adults.
"A family...?"
Five Maeks greeted me.
What is this? My mind blanked at the unforeseen family encounter. No one could've predicted this.
- Buoo~
- Buo! Buooo!
As I gawked, a curious pup approached—blocked by the gaunt adult's nose. The pup brimmed with curiosity, no fear of humans. The gaunt adult bore leg wounds. The sleeping one ignored the intruder entirely.
Is the sleeper the Nanju wrecker?
I calmed my whirling thoughts to assess. Reports said big Maek in Nanju—pups out. Wounded adult hobbled—out. Left: the sleeper.
...Gotta catch it. Perfect—sleeping. Sneak up, rope the legs. Other four nearby? Not threats. One gimpy adult, three fearless pups. Even a first-rate scrub like me wouldn't lose here.
- Kki-iing.
As I reached for the rope at Kki-ing-i's side—Kki-ing-i opened its mouth toward Maek.
- Buoo?
The gaunt Maek replied, like conversation. I forgot the rope, staring.
The spirit beast carrying Left Vice Inspector General Baek Joo-il was ridiculously fast. Gongdong Sect disciples and Nanju troops barely kept up.
Still, finding Maek thanks to it was encouraging. As the Inspector General said, only first-rates and above entered the mine.
- Kki-ing, kki-iing.
- Buooo...
And they beheld the bizarre scene.
"Oh, you made it?"
Deer spirit beast and Maek exchanging cries. Three tiny Maeks sniffing the Inspector General or nibbling his robes.
Chaos. They'd mobilized to capture Maek. Inspector General found and entered first.
But this? Not capture—playing with Maek. And not one Maek, but several.
"My lord. Are you alright?"
In the stunned silence, the Inspector Escort checked on him.
"Fine. No danger."
The Inspector General approached with the pups.
"The one I was gonna grab is sleeping."
Gazes turned to the soundly sleeping Maek.
That one's...
Minds cleared. That's it—the Nanju-upender, the beggar-maker.
"Don't hate it too much. It's not innocent, but seems it overdid it providing for family."
"Family" cooled hot heads fast. A father's sacrifice for kin was unavoidable.