Finding Meteoric Iron and Meeting Wang Yi
After laughing foolishly for quite some time, Seo Jun finally calmed down enough to carefully wash the dirt from the black lump using water.
“I’ll have to head back with just this today.”
Although he hadn’t actually gone hunting, the smile never left Seo Jun’s lips after acquiring such an unexpected prize.
“Heh heh. It must have stayed hidden because people in this era don’t recognize the signs of a meteorite impact.”
Seo Jun remembered images and footage of pockmarked planets, so he could easily deduce that this was a meteorite crater. But for people of this time, understanding that a falling meteorite would create a large round crater from the impact was already difficult. Knowing that a meteorite was likely buried at its center was knowledge far beyond their scientific understanding.
“Let’s go, Blackie!”
After loading the meteorite securely onto the cart, Seo Jun turned back toward the official road and began his return journey.
“Lululu~ ♬♪♬♪”
A humming tune rose naturally from his lips. His heart felt light enough to fly.
But that buoyant mood of Seo Jun’s…
Rumble~ Rumble~ Rumble~
Screech!
…began to sink rapidly. Loud noises drifted from the official road ahead where he was headed.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
As he drew closer, the scene and sounds became unmistakable. A group of roughly a hundred people who appeared to be Han were desperately guarding their cargo while escorting the carts. They were surrounded and under attack by approximately three hundred mounted warriors who looked like they belonged to the Qiang tribe.
No one spared a glance for Seo Jun as he appeared on the flank.
“Send five men over there! We cannot let a single side collapse!!”
From the center of the Han group, a woman was calmly directing the defense and barely maintaining their formation. Yet their forces were so overwhelmingly outnumbered that it was impossible to say how much longer they could last.
“Today really has been eventful. I suppose I should help them.”
In truth, the ethnic distinction between Han and Qiang held little meaning for Seo Jun. His heart simply leaned toward aiding the Han caravan.
He unhitched the horse pulling his cart and tied it securely to one side so it could not run off.
With a sharp kick, Seo Jun drew his bow and urged Blackie forward until they were within a hundred paces of the Qiang force.
Neigh~
At a hundred paces, he yanked the reins hard, veering sharply, and began circling wide around the Qiang warriors.
Hah! Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang!
The arrows left his bowstring in rapid succession.
Thud! Aaaagh~ Thud! Urgh~ Thud! Crash!
Several Qiang who had been fiercely swinging spears and blades at the escorts suddenly collapsed as Seo Jun’s arrows punched through their bodies.
Twang! Twang! Twang!
Seo Jun kept riding in circles, loosing arrows without pause.
The Qiang leader watched the battle from the rear atop a large black warhorse, protected by roughly thirty guards. When he saw several of his men fall, he spotted Seo Jun riding farther back and firing arrows.
“Archa! Take ten men and kill that bastard!”
“Yes, sir!”
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
Ten cavalrymen charged furiously toward Seo Jun.
“Benefactor! Beware!”
The woman commanding the caravan also noticed the horsemen racing to pursue him and shouted a warning.
What is this feeling?
Seo Jun barely registered her cry. A tingling sensation tickled his chest. Exhilaration surged from deep inside. An excitement he could never obtain from mere hunting. Ignoring the woman’s shout, he drew his spear, wheeled his horse around, and galloped straight toward the pursuers. He needed to confirm the true nature of this long-forgotten emotion.
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
BOOOOM!
Hahap!!
Clang! Clang-clang-clang! Clang!
Like leaves scattering in an autumn gale. Every pursuer who collided with him lost their life the instant he moved, tumbling lifeless from their saddles and rolling across the ground.
“Hah!”
In mere moments Seo Jun had slain all ten pursuers and spurred his mount toward the enemy leader.
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
The Qiang chieftain Misumang’s eyes widened in shock.
“All of you, stop that man!! Hurry!!”
Terrified by Seo Jun’s dazzling martial display, the chieftain shouted at his guards with a twisted expression.
BOOOM! Clang! Clang-clang! Clang-clang! Clang!
Blocking, stabbing, dodging, slicing.
Man and horse as one. Seo Jun moved like a single living weapon, cutting and thrusting through everyone who rushed him as he closed rapidly on Misumang.
“You bastard! This is the end!”
Misumang’s desperate cry rang out as he raised his sword high overhead.
Yahap! Seo Jun twisted at the waist to evade the downward slash, then swung his spear in a wide arc as he passed. The blade caught the chieftain across the neck.
Slice!
Roll, roll~
The massive, powerful-looking Misumang fell pathetically. His head, eyes and mouth still wide open, separated from his body and dropped from the saddle.
Thud!
“Your leader is dead by my hand! If anyone still wants to fight, step forward right now!!”
Seo Jun thrust his spear into the rolling head and lifted it high as he roared. A deathly silence fell over the battlefield.
“The chief has fallen! Everyone retreat!!”
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
No one could tell whose voice it was. At the loud shout, the Qiang scattered in every direction like startled animals.
Whoosh~
“Tsk. They’re quick to run away, I’ll give them that.”
The excitement that had boiled up during his first proper battle in a long time cooled instantly. Seo Jun felt a pang of disappointment.
What a shame.
The thirst that had tickled his chest felt as if it had almost been quenched, only to be left hanging.
I ran away because I hated these sensations… yet deep in my heart, was this what I truly wanted?
Crunch… crunch…
The sound of footsteps approached Seo Jun. The woman bowed deeply before him, expressing her gratitude.
“Benefactor, I cannot thank you enough. You saved our lives.”
Large, bright eyes, a straight nose, an oval face, tall stature, and a perfectly balanced figure. She was a captivating beauty. If Seol Ryeon and Yi Hyeon possessed mature, voluptuous charm, the woman before him radiated the fresh, intellectual allure of someone close to his own age.
“It was nothing. Hardly worth mentioning.”
“Nothing? You slew so many of the Qiang single-handedly.”
“Ah, the ones I killed are my share, so please handle them properly for me.”
“We will sort everything carefully and compensate you fairly.”
Wang Yi studied the man standing before her and wondered for a moment how she should respond.
A crude man who cares only for profit.
Though he did not appear particularly old, his martial prowess was extraordinary. Yet he showed no interest in etiquette or honor. He seemed like a simple mercenary who would be satisfied as long as he received his due reward.
“I am Wang Yi of Gaoling County in Zuofengyi. My courtesy name is Joyeon. Once again, I offer you my deepest thanks, benefactor.”
Although she found his attitude somewhat disagreeable, Wang Yi still bowed deeply in sincere gratitude.
This caravan was a desperate gamble by the Wang clan of Gaoling County, whose influence was slowly rising. Had they failed to repel the Qiang today, lost their goods, or been completely wiped out, the clan would have faced ruin in short order. Seo Jun’s intervention had saved them from that fate.
“I am Seo Jun, from Sakbang. My current profession is hunter.”
While the two exchanged introductions, the guards finished collecting the horses and belongings of the fallen Qiang and approached.
“Excluding the horses that fled, we recovered twelve from those the benefactor killed. We have also gathered their weapons and other items to one side.”
“Benefactor, if I may be so bold, our caravan is traveling to Sakbang to purchase horses. If you would sell these to us, we will offer you a fair price.”
Since they were already heading to buy horses, this was an unexpected opportunity. Wang Yi attempted to negotiate.
She’s an impressive woman.
Even though her side held the numerical advantage, she maintained proper courtesy and sought an honest transaction. Seo Jun felt genuine favor toward her.
By his standards she still looked quite young, yet she already carried herself with the maturity of someone who had undergone the coming-of-age ceremony. She was clearly a capable woman who led trading caravans beyond her home region.
“I’ll hand over all the horses except that black one. I intend to ride him from now on. There is also one horse pulling a cart on that hill over there. I would appreciate it if you could bring it along.”
“Of course. That is the least we can do.”
Contrary to Wang Yi’s expectation that negotiations might prove difficult after their first meeting, the matter was settled smoothly.
Seo Jun concluded the deal at once and walked over to the large black horse Misumang had ridden. The magnificent Ferghana horse had a healthy, glossy coat from excellent care.
“From now on, your name is Black Dragon.”
Seo Jun gently stroked its neck and gave the horse the name that had come to mind.
“A fine name. If you charge into enemy lines atop Black Dragon, it will look as though a black wind is sweeping over them. Their courage will surely freeze in their chests.”
“Black Wind White Dragon… that sounds rather good. Heh heh. It makes for an excellent nickname. Thank you for the fine title, Lady Joyeon.”
Seo Jun liked the image of a black wind. A dark gale that flowed freely wherever it wished without restraint. It seemed his heart now longed to become exactly that.