Capítulo 41: Part 41
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For three days now, Sun Ce's squad had been scouring the suburbs of Lu Yang in search of any clues. Several Yuyang trackers and local hunters had led them to the footprints of the unknown, but each time they had failed. The footprints would lead to the river or disappear midway. Such disappearances suggested thoughts of conquering the land. Yuu's skill was not yet enough to recognise the effects of magic without clear evidence.
Ce didn't want to go deeper into the forest, the hastily recruited squad didn't inspire him with confidence. But the lack of any evidence forced the heir to go to the centre of the thicket. The thick and dark forest stood on many hills, making an already difficult path difficult. Compared to Baru or Haiho, it was a small patch of vegetation for a couple of days' journey, but that knowledge didn't make it any easier.
Another day of futile searching was over, and Tse's squad camped near a beaten path. The tiny path that allowed the men to make their way through the forest twisted at the most obscure angles. Drawing pirouettes through the forest, it supposedly led through the thicket.
Pushing thoughts of the road aside, Tse crouched down on a fallen log. A small orderly chaos had begun around him. Everyone was busy with the tasks they had distributed back on the first night. Gathering kindling, cooking, tents and patrols around the car park. Seated next to the heir sat his first aide and deputy, Kun Jun. Raised in a good and noble family, the young man had admirable manners and tact. Even Yu was treated favourably by him long before the orphan officially became Tie's bodyguard.
'Or maybe he foresaw such an outcome and prepared himself.' Often, the Fire Giant's son asked himself this question, but never found an answer. Zhong was an excellent warrior and not a bad diplomat, his mind was sharpened like a good blade. Many questions of the organisation of their squad Tse could safely pin on his comrade.
-At this rate, we won't find anything...
-I agree,' he exhaled a tiny flame and warmed his frozen hands, 'maybe we should split up. I'll take one squad and you take the other?
-I don't know... It sounds too dangerous, the patrols are disappearing near the forest, and we're heading towards the centre of it. I'd rather keep everyone together, but you're the commander, it's your call.
Folding his hands under his head, the lieutenant covered his eyes, mulling over the idea. Their squad already left much to be desired in terms of combat effectiveness, but at this rate they'd never find any attacking patrols in the forest.
-We'll split up. You take second platoon, I'll take first. I'll take my trackers who trained with us and the locals, and you'll take the Yuans. You'll follow the trail, and we'll go sideways through the gullies, about a kilometre from you.
-If you say so,‖ Zhong rose to his feet and shook his head sceptically, -I hope nothing happens. I'll go to mine.
With a final nod, the deputy left. His tense back and jerky gait gave away his real thoughts, but natural politeness and subordination prevented Jun from speaking out.
In the evening, as the camp was getting ready for bed, a couple of sentries who had been guarding the trail came out of the forest. Under their arms they dragged a gaunt old man who looked in horror at the soldiers' camp unfolding before them.
His straw hat, held on by a couple of ropes, had fallen off his head and was dangling in the air, revealing a shiny bald spot covered with birthmarks. His grey, flimsy beard was sticking out in wisps, and a luxuriant moustache was growing out of his nose hair. Dressed in an old robe and with a sack on his back, his grandfather threatened to fall apart at any touch.
Putting him before the eyes of the commander, the soldiers held the old man by the shoulders, preventing the latter from falling to his knees. Shaking with fear, he stared at his feet, afraid to look up.
-And who is this?
Sun Ce's disgruntled voice echoed around the camp, which fell silent. Everyone who was getting ready for bed put aside their business and waited for developments.
-Walked along the path, Master. He was alone, without a torch or other source of light. So we took him.
-I see,‖ Tse rubbed his eyes, held back a tired groan, and stood opposite the old man. - What about you? Why are you wandering around in the dark like a thief?
The old man struggled to pull himself together and said that he was always travelling through the forest. He has no money, but the herbs he smears on himself help scare away wild beasts. Only after saying this did Tse smell a strange, cloying odour coming from the old man.
-Where do you go so often? They say that there are bandits in the forest, but they don't touch you?
-Yes, I tell you, sir, I have nothing. My bag's a hole in it. What can the thieves take from an old man?
-Tse ignored the rest of the old man's speech. 'Tie him to a tree, we'll deal with him in the morning.
Holding back a yawn and sleepy eyes, the lieutenant gave his last order and retired to his tent. Yu Yu, who was watching this, pressed his lips together in displeasure and followed the soldiers who were taking the wanderer away.
After tying the old man to a tree near the camp, but within sight of the sentries, the soldiers returned to their post. After waiting for the two lads to leave, Yu walked out from behind the tree and stood in front of the slumped grandfather. His clothes were bunched up and it looked like the ropes were about to break his frail body, but as he took a couple of steps closer, Yu met the old man's gaze. With a sharp jerk of his head and a squint, the grandfather peered at the silhouette until the orphan came close.
Their silent glance lasted for a few seconds before the traveller turned away. The uncomfortable silence continued. The bodyguard took out a flask of water and brought it to the old man's mouth under his captor's scrutiny. The captive sucked greedily on the flask. After drinking almost half of it, he smiled tiredly and looked at the young man again.
-Thank you, young man. I didn't bring any water with me, I had hoped to drink at the stream that flows not far from here.
-You're welcome.
Not knowing what else to say, Yu was about to leave the man's company when he spoke again.
-You're still so young, isn't it a bit early for you to go to war? -No, I don't think so.
-No, I guess not. I've made my own choice,' Yu decided not to hover over the prisoner and sat down on the ground with his legs folded in front of him, 'I have power, why not use it for the good of the people?
-Well said, my young friend,' the old man smiled and showed surprisingly straight and white teeth, 'I myself once served in the army of our great nation.
-Oh! You must have seen a lot, tell me some of your exploits.
-Moves, yes,' the old man hummed sadly, and looked at me strangely for a moment to bring a smile back to his face, 'I have a couple. Ah, how rude of me. My name is Ram, petty officer of the special task force - the Red Corsairs.
Opening his mouth in delight, Yuu took a different look at the old man. He had encountered mentions of similar groups. For example, Prince Airo's Martial Rhinos or Viceroy Tao Qian's Cranes. They were the best, the ones who could change the course of battle on the whole front with a small unit. Even the Shrews and Watermen had similar troops.
-Wow, please, tell me more about it! -Wow!
Listening to the old warrior's stories, Yu shook his head in shock. The success of the Corsairs was astonishing. Constant battles with the troops of the Northern Water Tribe or on the coast of the Earth Kingdom. Their entire group consisted of true masters of their craft. Raids and sabotage, as well as the elimination of enemy specialists.
The exploits of Rem and his comrades will never go down in history, they will forever remain outside the dusty folios and textbooks. Only their current commanders, the survivors, would know their names. With each new story Yuu saw the old man's face change. Whereas at the beginning he felt incredibly proud and elated, by the end he was ready to burst into tears of pain and despair. All his friends and comrades were dead, and the last of them had died only six months before from an unknown disease that burned the poor man from within.
The narrative of his merits lasted until the morning, when the two interlocutors were already asleep on the move. The bright rays of sunlight were breaking through the green crowns when Ram finally came to the end of his narrative.
Rubbing his eyes, Yuu tried to regain consciousness, but fatigue, hunger, and sleep deprivation were taking their toll. When the boy tried to stand up, he realised that his legs were stiff and refused to move. As he kneaded his stiff muscles, the orphan did not notice the old man's silence. Deciding that the old man had fallen asleep, Yu wanted to carefully leave so as not to disturb his sleep, when the old man's voice sounded completely different. Cold and shivering, it made his whole body tense up and he grabbed his weapon. The drowsiness was washed away as if Yui had been dipped in an icy river.
-I wouldn't advise you to leave, Yu. Sit with the old man, listen to a few more stories.
Turning slowly, Yu expected to see anything but a heel flying at his head. Leaning backwards, the young man fell to the ground and was forced to somersault sharply to the side. Ram's foot came down where he stood, crushing the ground and scattering clods of earth in every direction.
Instead of the kindly grandfather who had entertained his grandson, a member of the Special Forces stood before him. Ripping off his tattered robe, the old man stood in a fighting stance. Covered with scars all over his wiry body, Ram inspired fear. Without taking his gaze off the young man's face, he darted forward with terrifying speed. Like a blurred silhouette, the man was in front of the teenager's face. Throwing forward his nimble and flexible arms, more like snakes, Rem pierced the void. Without changing his facial expression, he continued to attack.
Yu wanted to shout and sound the alarm, but battle cries were heard from all sides and arrows and boulders flew towards the camp. The screams of the dying and the crunching of the bones of those unlucky enough to be in the path of the boulders came through his ears.
Distracted by the noise, the young earth mage looked away from his opponent for a second, and paid for it. A failed new somersault brought him to the tree where Rem was tied up. Rising to his feet and summoning his conqueror's strength, Yu didn't have time to orientate himself when a brisk old man was right in front of him. The teenager received a series of blows to his body that made his arms hang like whips. As he slumped face-first, he saw Rem's face frozen like a wax mask. At the last second, the old man caught him by the collar and kept him from crashing to the ground.
-Sleep.
Just one word, and Yu felt a blow to his neck that sent him into unconsciousness. There were screams and swearing in the background, the roar of all-consuming flames and the rumble of rocks, but the orphan could hear nothing more.
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