Episode 1294 This is just the beginning. (4)
After completing a short training session, Kwak Hwan-so opened his eyes.
As soon as he opened his eyes and checked his physical condition, Kwak Hwan-so had a gloomy look on his face.
‘Like this…’
Normally, he would have been able to relieve most of the fatigue accumulated in his body with just Sojucheon. But now it wasn’t like that at all. Although my strength had recovered to some extent, my body was still as heavy as wet cotton.
What was worse than that was the feeling that there was a fog inside my head that wouldn’t go away.
However, Kwak Hwan-so decided not to be more greedy and got up.
While they are doing this, the enemy continues to pursue them. The day you get stepped on like this is truly the end.
‘But… can you really run away?’
The actions so far have not been wrong.
No, rather, it is passing through the enemy lines at an astonishingly fast speed. Without the help of that volcanic wave, I wouldn’t have even dared to do it.
But because of that, my anxiety grew even more.
‘Even at this speed, we can’t outrun the enemy…’
Can we really reach the Yangtze River safely? Will we be able to maintain the same speed throughout the passage through Gangnam?
Kwak Hwan-so quickly shook off the anxious thoughts that invaded his head. It was not because of his mental strength, but because Lee Ja-yang, who was crying by his side, woke up just in time.
“Are you okay?”
“…your body is speechless.”
“okay. me too.”
Miss Lee took a deep sigh and looked around. There were many other disciples who were still praying. Miss Lee gently bit her lip and opened her mouth.
“execution.”
“Don’t think anything.”
Kwak Hwan-so shook his head.
“For now, let’s just think about escaping from their grasp.”
“…Yes, death penalty.”
Haenam’s disciples, who had finished praying, stood up one by one. Their faces also showed a deep sense of fatigue that they could not shake off.
“Are you okay priest?”
“…Yes, death penalty. I am okay.”
“There is no such thing as hell…”
Those who woke up first had to wait for those who had not yet finished their fortune telling to wake up. All they could do during that time was talk about their situation.
And neither Geumyangbaek nor Kwak Hwanso could stop this. No matter what was said between them.
“…How far have we come?”
“It’s only Guangdong now. “I barely passed the Dam River.”
“Just now?”
The person who asked the question was astonished and lost his mind.
Of course, it is not a short distance.
The distance from the coast where they landed to the Dam River was not much different from crossing Haenam. For ordinary people, this is a distance that would take more than five full days.
Since the distance was covered in less than half a day, this could certainly be considered a record-breaking achievement. But…
“just barely…”
Haenam’s disciples also know.
Gangnam is wide. And the distance they have passed now is only one-tenth of the distance they must overcome in the future.
okay. One tenth.
I had only barely covered that distance, but my stamina had already dropped to the bottom and I had lost as many as six executioners. Including those lost in Haenam, there were ten casualties to get here.
If so, just by simple calculation, there would be over a hundred casualties by the time the Yangtze River is reached.
no. That calculation is actually not correct either. As you advance, your enemies will become stronger, more persistent, and more vicious. Considering that…
having the power to think wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Those who were doing their best to somehow move their tired legs began to think about the situation when they had some breathing room.
What a reckless thing I’m doing right now, and what a terrible place I’m in.
While everyone was in a daze, someone opened their mouth in a frightened voice.
“Still… the enemy’s main force hasn’t even arrived?”
This was definitely the worst comment that could have been made in this situation.
“If there is a gang of ten people chasing you from behind, but a similar force comes from the front, won’t you just be surrounded and die?”
“Why are you suddenly saying that now? “It’s not like I didn’t know!”
“Oh no, I thought I knew…”
It was so different from just vaguely thinking about it and experiencing it myself. But I couldn’t bring myself to say those words out loud. Because it’s just like admitting that you were complacent.
I didn’t know. That a person could die so easily.
And that human death can be treated so insignificantly.
Ever since I was young, I had imagined dying a tragic death while fighting an enemy, but who would have imagined running away like this until the sky turned red and a sweet taste came out of my mouth, and then I got stabbed in the side and died while running away again? Even after death, they are left carelessly on the street and abandoned.
“If you’re going to do this, go to Haenam….”
“Stop.”
Kwak Hwan-so interrupted their conversation in a timely manner.
“It is not too late to tell useless stories after you have escaped the enemy’s clutches. “Save your energy for speaking now.”
“Death penalty… But….”
“Didn’t you hear about the death penalty?”
Miss Lee glared fiercely. Then the disciples bowed their heads. Guo Huanxiao sighed heavily.
‘It’s not something I would say.’
Because he thought the same thing a little while ago. No, actually, there is nothing special about it now.
At that time, the person who had been praying until the end stood up.
“Yangpo, are you okay?”
“…Yes, death penalty.”
Yangpo rubbed his blood-soaked thighs. The thigh where I had been pierced had not yet healed.
“The wound looks serious….”
“Can you walk?”
Other disciples around him flocked to him with worried faces. At a glance, the wounds that Yangpo suffered were not serious.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s okay!”
“No, the wound is not normal….”
“Damn it! “You can go!”
Suddenly, Yangpo started yelling and everyone was startled. Eyes were focused.
“You say it’s okay, but why are you doing this!”
“No, I just…”
“I can run! “I’m fine!”
Those who were speaking closed their mouths. I found out. What is Yangpo thinking now?
What happens if you can’t run properly, if your injury is so deep that you can’t keep up with the speed of your group? Would you like someone to carry you and run for you?
Others are also exhausted. It is not an easy situation to lead my body alone. In the meantime, there is no way we can afford to take care of the injured.
If you are retreating in an orderly and systematic manner, you can take the wounded with you. However, when being chased by the enemy and running away, the wounded are usually the first to be abandoned. No matter how loyal they are, how many people would give up their lives to save others?
“What are you thinking! “You crazy bastard!”
You can tell just by looking at those bloodshot eyes. Now Yangpo is afraid of being abandoned. He was so scared that the executioners he had worked with all his life would regard him as a burden and leave him alone.
“No way, we…”
Those who were trying to get angry at him for his doubts and fears fell silent for a moment, unable to continue their words.
Because I was scared.
Even if I die, I will die with you because I will never abandon you.
Normally, they would have been able to rant casually, but now they know. The word ‘usual’ has no meaning now. Everything they have protected is not worth a speck of dust here.
That’s why I was afraid. I’m afraid that I might end up in a situation where I go against what I said out loud.
“What? “What do you want to say?”
Yang Po shouted, spitting hysterically. Then a calm and firm voice intervened.
“Please get out of the way.”
Before I knew it, Dang Soso was standing there, taking out several tools from his arms.
“Aren’t you going to get out of the way?”
“Are you a member of the National Assembly?”
“yes. “Because I come from a Tang family.”
“Ah…”
The people surrounding Yangpo rushed to the left and right. Then, Dang So-so walked up to Yang Po at a quick pace and examined the wound.
“hmm. “It’s gotten even bigger.”
In fact, it was a penetrating wound that would have reached some level of recovery by now if he had not moved since receiving it. However, because I continued to run even after receiving the wound, the wound became wider than before. It’s fortunate that it hasn’t festered yet, but it needs immediate treatment.
“He who has clean water.”
“I’m here.”
Tang Soso took the water bucket that someone had offered him and looked at Yang Po.
“Hold on.”
“yes…? What is that…. Ahhh!”
At that moment, a scream came out of Yang Po’s mouth.
She opened the wound on the cloth with her fingers and poured water into it. Then he clicked his tongue with a disapproving look on his face.
“…I don’t think this will work.”
Those damn Sapa bastards don’t manage any of their weapons properly. Because members of the political faction are taught to treat their loved ones as their lives and manage them, their weapons are often clean even during battle. Therefore, wounds do not easily heal.
However, in many cases, the Sapa’s weapons are rusty or covered in dirt. That’s why wounds often fester. If it is not washed off properly, the blood will rot and become irreversible.
“execution! Cheongmyeong execution!”
Cheongmyeong, who was far away, frowned at Tang Soso’s shout.
“why?”
“Do you have alcohol?”
“Tsk.”
Cheongmyeong threw the liquor bottle hanging from his waist at Tang Xiaoso. She snatched up the bottle and immediately uncorked it and smelled it.
“Ugh, read it.”
The smell of alcohol pierced my nose to the point where I frowned.
“Anyway, even if you try to stop that guy like that, he only drinks strong alcohol.”
But it really helps in times like this. Tang Xiaoxiao looked at Yang Po and spoke firmly once again.
“Hold on.”
“yes?! What, what, what again…. Aaaaaaaaaaa!”
This time, Yangpo just rolled his eyes and walked backwards.
It is a strong liquor that makes you feel like your throat is burning even when you drink it with a clean mouth. Since it had entered the pierced wound, the pain would have been so intense that it would have been difficult for my sanity to bear it.
“it’s okay.”
Dang So-so put down the bottle and applied salve to the wound and quickly began sewing it up with a needle and thread.
“Kwa…
Kwaeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu … The gaping wound closed in an instant and disappeared.
“I endured it well.”
Tang Soso nodded as he took out a cotton cloth and wrapped it around the stitched area. At this level, there won’t be any problems. The alcohol that Cheongmyeong carries around is so strong that it can be disinfected just by pouring it in.
“But… I don’t think I’ll be able to use my legs for a while.”
Everyone turned to each other with white faces at her words.
How can you not use your legs in this situation? This was even more frustrating than the news that the wound could not be treated.
“Someone has to carry me.”
Haenam’s disciples looked at each other.
Of course, the desire to carry an injured colleague is like a chimney. However, he hesitates because if he makes that choice, he could even kill Yangpo.
“Then I…”
Kwak Hwan-so, who had been watching the situation, was about to take a step forward, but Dang So-so suddenly turned his head and called out to someone.
“Monk Hyeyeon.”
“Yes sir.”
“You need to carry me for about an hour. “You can do it, right?”
“Amitabha Buddha. of course.”
“Please try not to shake as much as possible. “If the wound opens, it’s a pain.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hyeyeon’s face was peaceful. Haenam’s disciples were embarrassed and looked at him blankly.
‘That person… how can he take this for granted?’
How can someone who has nothing to do with Haenam….
“And again.”
At that time, Tang Soso’s voice caught their attention once again.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a minor injury or something. “If you have any injuries at all, don’t waste time and come quickly. If the injuries worsen later, it will be the worst.”
“….”
“What are you doing, quickly!”
“Then, I hurt my arm here….”
“I hurt my leg too.”
One by one, the injured people began to flock to the area around the party.
