Chapter 380. Letter from the North Sea Ice Palace (4)
Four days had already passed since leaving the Hubei Province headquarters.
And I was keeping my word.
“Aigoo……”
“Isn't this too much, really?”
Right before my eyes, Jeong Ho hyung and the members of the Six Platoons were sprawled out, whining like babies.
It was the second day of sparring.
Just as I had promised, we sparred against Jeong Ho hyung and the Six Platoons again this morning after yesterday.
But it wasn't me taking the field this time—my guards stepped up front and center. They'd come to me with a request when I mentioned sparring with them.
“Let us take the forefront. Please grant our plea.”
“Is there a reason?”
“We are your guards, my lord. It means we must always stand before you. Besides, we want real combat experience too.”
Palgap spoke up as I pondered it.
“Young master, the boss always shows up last, you know.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
But calling me the boss felt a bit off in tone, didn't it?
Anyway, I accepted their request and got Jeong Ho hyung's permission.
He agreed right away with a grin, but… was it really a good idea?
If anything, my guards might be even harsher than I am.
Even if Jeong Ho hyung was a peak expert warrior, two of my guards were at that level.
The other four were top-tier among first-rate warriors.
Jeong Ho hyung couldn't last long against Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior's joint assault before collapsing, and the Six Platoons fell one by one to the remaining four.
They held out about half an incense stick longer than yesterday, but that still only pushed it a bit past one full stick.
They'd reorganized their mindset based on yesterday's experience, but my guards weren't ordinary by any stretch.
I approached Jeong Ho hyung.
“Hyung, you okay?”
“You bastard, don't offer your hand with that smirk!”
“Sorry. Can't help laughing, though.”
“Damn it!”
“Still, you lasted longer than yesterday?”
I was grateful to feel him trying to fight the way I'd hoped.
……
……
We had left Hubei behind and entered Henan Province before we knew it.
Hubei was firmly under the Eunhae Merchant Group's influence, so bandits didn't dare show their faces.
But not Henan.
It was the heartland of the Murim Alliance and Shaolin, but they only stepped in for their own or their allies. No point risking casualties for a full purge otherwise.
Knowing that, Henan's bandits only targeted those who wouldn't cause trouble—like merchant caravans, for instance.
Us, in other words.
“Killing intent.”
I sighed at Jin Yu Warrior's words.
“I see. Spread the word to everyone: hostiles ahead targeting us.”
“Understood.”
Jin Yu Warrior informed Ha Cheol Pyodu first, who then addressed the group.
“Battle stations!”
“Yes, sir!”
They usually took a toll and let you pass, but this thick killing intent meant no such luck.
We were cooked if we tried slipping by quietly.
They must know what we're carrying. Word sure travels fast.
With grain prices at an all-time high, no bandit would settle for a mere toll.
A moment later.
Thwack!
An arrow whistled through the air.
Slash!
Jeong Ho hyung's Blue Dragon Sword cleaved it in two. The fight was on.
“Charge! The grain's right there!”
At the shout from who seemed to be the mountain stronghold's chief, the bandits roared and rushed us.
We responded with calm precision.
“Don't let them take it!”
“Yes, sir!”
The escorts from Chang In Escort Agency fought fiercely, and our Eunpungdae held their ground just as well.
But…
“Argh! You bastards! You're really hitting us?”
“That actually hurts! You jerks!”
“Hyung! We had fun with Eunpungdae! We were happy!”
Was it my imagination, or was their rage aimed not at the bandits, but…?
I glanced at my guards with that thought.
“We might've gone a bit hard.”
I chuckled at Seo-u Warrior's words.
“No, keep it up just like that. Thanks to you, all that pent-up viciousness is draining out nicely.”
With that, I drew my own sword.
I ordered Palgap to guard Seo-hyang Sojeo, then joined my guards in battling the bandits.
They had numbers, but nothing compared to us.
Even without me, we had four peak experts.
Ha Cheol Pyodu was one too.
Half an incense stick later.
The skirmish ended, and we hurried away.
No point lingering where blood had spilled—it'd just attract beasts and flies.
We reached Luoyang and boarded a ship right away.
Heading to Shandong by boat, then north from there.
Hmm, boats really are comfy.
I lay on the deck, gazing at the sky. Spring skies had a way of lulling you into drowsiness.
“Seo-u Warrior.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Was sparring against Jeong Ho hyung and the Six Platoons helpful?”
He answered my question readily.
“Yes. It's teaching us how to handle multiples efficiently and use inner energy more effectively.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Shame we can't do group spars while on the boat.”
As I chatted with Seo-u Warrior, I reviewed the battle report Jeong Ho hyung had submitted.
I'd hounded him relentlessly, making him recap fights in reports.
I still couldn't forget his very first one.
Battle Report
Fought. Lost. Seo-ho was stronger than me. Still hurts where I got hit.
That day, Jeong Ho hyung endured an hour of my nagging and had to rewrite it.
After a few rounds, he finally produced something worthwhile.
And I could sense him starting to think during fights.
See? It's not that he can't—he just won't.
Jeong Ho hyung was grasping efficient combat faster than I'd expected.
His love for overwhelming blitzes had locked him into that style, but he wasn't dumb to begin with.
“Seo-u Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior. Starting tomorrow morning, spar one-on-one with Jeong Ho hyung daily.”
“Understood.”
While sailing, I planned to drill into him exactly what number battles meant.
***
Baek U-i, vice-leader of Eunpungdae's Six Platoons, was a veteran of fifteen years.
He'd held the post even before Eun Jeong-ho became platoon leader.
With all that experience, he'd always worried watching Jeong-ho.
Victory wasn't just about martial prowess.
But Jeong-ho had dismissed tactics as unnecessary, shouting “strike first, victory follows” and sticking to his gut.
As vice-leader, Baek U-i agonized over whether to speak up or stay silent.
Then, unexpectedly, it resolved itself.
Thanks to Eun Seo-ho So-danju, Jeong-ho's younger brother, advising him to use his head in fights.
The issue? To ingrain it, he'd dragged the entire Six Platoons into the beatings.
His leg still throbbed from Seo-u's strikes. His back ached from Jin Yu's.
But…
As spars continued, he saw the platoon's viciousness sharpen and skills rise.
Then it hit him.
Eun Seo-ho truly cared for Jeong-ho.
This training for them was all to help him.
Lost in that thought, he doubted his eyes.
Jeong-ho—that Jeong-ho—was reading what looked like a tactics manual.
“P-Platoon leader? That book you're reading… is it a tactics tome?”
“Yep.”
“Didn't you always say tactics were useless?”
“I did. But watching my men get pummeled because of me? It's driving me nuts with guilt. So I grabbed one before boarding.”
Come to think of it, he'd slipped off saying he had errands. Must've hit a bookshop.
“Haven't you learned tactics from the young master?”
“He taught me. But back then, it went in one ear and out the other.”
“……”
“Reading this is jogging my memory. Damn! And I'm seeing how stupidly I fought.”
Watching him, Baek U-i thought: a giant leap forward.
Jeong-ho's spearwork was already terrifying. Add brains…
He swallowed hard.
In Hubei, the name Eun Jeong-ho alone would be a mighty shield.
A powerful warrior to guard the Eunhae Merchant Group!
That must be Seo-ho's true aim. Baek U-i looked forward to Jeong-ho's future even more.
Then I need to get stronger too! Can't lag behind my platoon leader as vice-leader!
He clenched his fist.
“And Seo-ho says tomorrow morning, one-on-ones with Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior.”
Jeong-ho ground his teeth.
“This time, I'll smash those smug faces!”
And yet, Eun Seo-ho still baited them masterfully.
***
“Young master, we're at Shandong now.”
I nodded at Palgap's words.
“Time to prep for disembarking.”
The easy voyage was over. The grueling trek resumed the moment we stepped off.
Bandits would come sniffing for grain again.
Still, from Shandong to Beijing, the official roads were well-maintained, and no rebellions stirred.
Bandits might hesitate to slaughter common folk—it soured the mood.
We soon docked at Shandong and unloaded.
Watching the porters haul grain, I asked Ha Pyodu.
“Head out right away?”
“Yes. Tough, but necessary. One incense stick's march, and we'll hit a spot to wash and rest. Overnight there.”
“Got it.”
Horses fresh off the boat needed rest at an inn, but our situation forbade it.
Luckily, as he said, we reached a suitable site after one incense stick.
A gentle stream flowed nearby.
Arriving, I drifted into brief reminiscence.
In my past life doing merchant runs, I'd camped here occasionally.
Thinking back felt strangely nostalgic.
Camp setup was routine now.
The group split: half prepped the site, half went to wash.
The Yellow River we'd sailed was muddy silt, but this stream was crystal clear, bottom visible.
Potable, even.
Perfect campsite.
Soon, the washers returned with clean faces and swapped with the preppers for meal duty.
Preppers went to wash; about a meal's time later, they returned, and it was the women's turn.
Eunpungdae's Six Platoons and Chang In's escorts included women.
“Gwak Bukan, go wash up.”
“Yes, be right back.”
Seo-hyang Sojeo went with them.
I sat by the campfire, awaiting dinner. I'd wash after eating.
Priority to the weary.
In the lull, I read Jeong Ho hyung's latest battle report.
He'd gotten a tactics book recently, and the results showed.
Battle Report
Opponent: Seo-u Warrior. A practical sword style, likely from escort work. Habitually scans surroundings, protective instinct.
Judged unconventional tactics needed to win. This time, baited excessive movement to drain stamina via sustained attacks…
I chuckled and burned it.
Sharp analysis on his part—and best not to leave evidence.
Moments later, Seo-hyang Sojeo returned. Plum blossom scent wafted from her.
Come to think of it, she'd smelled sweetly of plums for a while now.
Wonder what perfume.
“Did you need to say something?”
“Do you use any perfume by chance?”
“Perfume?”
She shook her head.
“No, I don't. Too pricey, and no need.”
“I see.”
No perfume, yet that plum scent…
Bing Hae-rin So-gungju had orchid fragrance, recall.
Still no clue why.
After dinner, we prepped for bed.
Sleeping on the ground felt normal now.
As I headed to tell Seo-hyang Sojeo to rest, I froze.
Her eyes were unfocused.
Seeing the future?
Moments later, she looked at me gravely.
“So-danju-nim.”
“What is it?”