Martial Wild West

“I reckon I done thought he’d kicked the bucket afore.”

Gazing out over the sprawling meadow, Jang Geon guided the horse at a leisurely pace while Lee Hwan, squinting in the sunlight, posed a question out of sudden curiosity. The boy swayed in sync with his father, who sat behind him.

“Ain’t it a darn odd thing? How’s a horse able to stick its tongue out so far and still catch some shut-eye?”

Jang Geon let out a chuckle. It seemed he had seen the horse, Jojo, sprawled on the ground with its mouth agape when he awoke earlier. He patted the horse’s neck and commented,

“He’s a real peculiar one, that’s fer sure. Caught me by surprise a time or two. One of these days, I aim to trade him in for a more ordinary steed.”

Seemingly understanding Jang Geon’s words, Jojo snorted contemptuously, as if he was exasperated and eager to be sold. Lee Hwan twisted around, eyeing the pair with a puzzled expression before craning his neck to look at his father.

“Don’t it remind ya of grandpappy and ol’ Geungun?”

“Geungun? The ox?”

“Yes, Geungun was like a human-like critter, now wasn’t he? Ol’ grandpappy used to give him a good talkin’ to quite often.”

Lee Yoon smiled, impressed by his son’s recollection.

“Your grandpappy’s been gone for over five years, and ya still recollect that?”

“Of course! Had me a heap of fun with grandpappy and Geungun. How could I ever forget?”

“…I reckon so”

Perhaps the reason childhood seems so lengthy is because those brief moments make up the entirety of a child’s existence. Observing Lee Yoon’s wistful smile, Jang Geon sensed that he longed to erase his memories of Central Plains. Many who journeyed from Central Plains to the New Continent likely felt the same – they yearned to replace their past suffering and disgrace with new memories in unfamiliar surroundings.

Jang Geon was no exception.

The boy reminisced about the old man and the ox as if the events had unfolded just yesterday. Lee Yoon played along lightheartedly, attempting to ignore the pain in his abdomen, while Jang Geon focused on the soft undulations of the distant hills and fields, listening intently to the boy’s tales. They seemed captivating as he listened.

“…So there Geungun plopped down, starin’ at grandpappy and lettin’ out a long, mournful holler like he was tellin’ him to quit it. Grandpappy looked fit to tan his hide right there and then. I was so all-fired scared of that whip, I fretted ’bout what’d happen if Geungun got himself struck. Y’know, that long whip’s a real stinger. Neither Geungun nor grandpappy seemed keen on backin’ down…”

Suddenly, Jang Geon halted Jojo by gripping the reins. Lee Yoon and Lee Hwan, oblivious to the stop, continued going until Jojo emitted a long neigh. Only then did they pause and glance back.

Lee Yoon inquired, his face etched with confusion,

“…We still got us a fair piece to travel ‘fore we hit that there village. What’s going on?”

Jang Geon remained silent, seemingly listening for something. Lee Yoon, gripped by an unexplained unease, tried to inquire again. However, Jang Geon acted first, dismounting from his horse, removing his hat, and pressing his ear to the ground.

As he watched, Lee Hwan mumbled,

“Dirt’s gonna get in your ears…”

Quickly rising to his feet, Jang Geon climbed back onto his horse and declared,

“A big ol’ group’s a-comin’.”

Without further explanation, he galloped toward the hill they had passed earlier, leaving Lee Yoon no time to react. Startled, Lee Yoon hastily followed him.

Reaching a vantage point slightly higher than their surroundings, Jang Geon narrowed his eyes, peering into the distance. Lee Yoon stood beside him, also squinting and scanning the area, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

“What’s comin’?”

“Over there!”

Puzzled, Lee Yoon looked in the direction his son was pointing. Only then did he spot the glinting specks on the distant horizon.

“You heard somethin’ from way out yonder?”

Jang Geon didn’t respond to Lee Yoon’s disbelief. Instead, he kept his focus on the horizon. The scene became clearer, revealing a group of people charging in their direction.

The menacing weapons they held and their grimy, angry faces suggested they weren’t coming with friendly intentions. Fear crept onto Lee Yoon’s face.

“Reckon they’re in cahoots with them no-good varmints we crossed paths with yesteryear? If they ain’t all…”

Jang Geon considered the possibility. If true, it meant they were facing a large gang of nearly forty bandits. It seemed unlikely the Martial Alliance would ignore such a sizable group, but if they were a recent development, it was possible.

Among the approaching figures, one face was familiar.

“That fella…”

The man with a bandaged nose was Jin Yang Seok, whom Jang Geon had dealt with in the village. He couldn’t see the older brother’s face, but it was puzzling how the seemingly inept younger brother had escaped. Perhaps the village chief had let him go.

“Ah, no. Might just be some folks travelin’ the same dusty trail. Best not get our britches in a twist too soon.”

Hoping for a brighter outlook, Lee Yoon anxiously eyed the distant specks. Jang Geon understood his feelings. Just the day before, Lee Yoon had been assaulted by bandits and sustained a stomach wound. Naturally, he wanted to think positively.

Yet even Lee Hwan, standing nearby, appeared to sense the tension in Lee Yoon’s trembling voice, as he glanced back and forth between Jang Geon and his father, his eyes wide with fear.

Jang Geon chuckled at the boy’s innocent gaze.

“Judgin’ by them swords and spears they’re totin’, they don’t strike me as yer run-of-the-mill wayfarers.”

“Then, all them people…!”

A quick estimate suggested there were over thirty of them. Lee Yoon looked at Jang Geon, his face etched with worry. He knew Jang Geon had defeated ten bandits, but the group now approaching was three times that size.

“Shouldn’t we skedaddle to that there village?”

“With a pack that size, they’re liable to plunder a small village like it’s nothin’.”

“Let’s hightail it outta here right quick. We got a fair bit of distance ‘tween us; we can shake ’em off.”

“In your shape? If you ride too long, that wound’ll bust open. We ain’t had the proper needle to sew it up. If it starts bleedin’ again, you’ll be pushin’ up daisies.”

Despair washed over Lee Yoon’s face at the disheartening response. While Jang Geon, as a skilled fighter, might manage to stay safe among the thieves, a single errant sword stroke could end both Lee Yoon’s and Lee Hwan’s lives. Desperation surged within him.

The more Jang Geon observed his expression, the more it reminded him of his initial impression upon meeting Lee Yoon: his face revealed his emotions all too clearly. Jang Geon found this amusing and chuckled to himself.

“Hightail it to the village with the young’un. I’ll hold ’em off and follow at a slower gait.”

“Really? On yer lonesome?”

“I was flyin’ solo yesteryear too. Y’all just get a move on.”

Lee Yoon looked conflicted, unsure of how to proceed.

“But, ain’t that a heap of danger? There’s a whole passel of ’em.”

Was it because he had just arrived from the Central Plains that he couldn’t confidently flee a dangerous situation? No, that couldn’t be it, since there were plenty of ruthless individuals in the Central Plains as well. After studying his face for a moment, Jang Geon quickly donned his hat to conceal his expression.

“Look after the young’un and keep yer wits about ya. Once y’all get to the village, rustle up a doctor.”

Speechless, Lee Yoon hesitated briefly before taking the reins and leading Lee Hwan away. Their pace was slow, likely due to the injury. However, they soon stopped and turned back to ask:

“Why don’tcha just vamoose? You’re fit as a fiddle, so you could easy make tracks on horseback.”

Jang Geon didn’t even turn around to respond.

“Didn’t you promise to pay me for bein’ your escort? Quit jawin’ and get a move on.”

“…We’ll ride on ahead and wait for ya. We’ll fix up lodgin’ and grub, so make sure you high-tail it.”

No longer hesitating, Lee Yoon turned away and picked up the pace. Lee Hwan peered back from behind the hill, gazing at Jang Geon standing atop it. Under the blue sky and hazy clouds, his solitary and determined figure was visible. Lee Hwan sensed both loneliness and strength in that silhouette.

After a while, Jang Geon raised his head, feeling that Lee Yoon and his son were far enough away. Meanwhile, the approaching bandits had come much closer. With stern expressions, they slowed their horses upon noticing Jang Geon on the hill.

One middle-aged man among the thieves, positioned at the base of the hill, stepped forward and called out to Jang Geon.

“Howdy!”

Jang Geon, holding his horse’s reins, didn’t reply and simply stared at the man. Undeterred, the man shouted again.

“I’m Gam Sang Cheong! Mind if I ask y’all a question?”

He didn’t wait for Jang Geon’s response.

“We’re on the hunt for the varmint who done killed my younger brother! Right in the direction you’re standin’! What ought I make of this? If you know somethin’, best be spillin’ the beans now!”

Fury laced the swiftly spoken words of the middle-aged man, Gam Sang Cheong. Jang Geon, who had been observing him, suddenly asked.

“Was your brother named Gam Sun Deok?”

The eyes of Gam Sang Cheong at the bottom of the hill widened. The thieves behind him unsheathed their swords and spears, glaring at Jang Geon.

“…How’d you come to know my brother’s name?”

Jang Geon hurled Gam Sun Deok’s head, which had been tied to Jojo’s saddle, down the hill. Wrapped in layers of cloth, the head rolled towards Gam Sang Cheong. With wide eyes, Gam Sang Cheong watched the rolling head before dismounting his horse. Carefully, he picked up the cloth bundle and unwrapped it, revealing a lifeless, blue face. He stood frozen for a moment.

Silence ensued, and the bandits behind him glanced at Jang Geon as it lingered. A man cautiously approached Gam Sang Cheong and spoke.

“…Boss. Looks like it’s Sun Deok. What should we do?”

Gam Sang Cheong remained silent, merely staring at his younger brother’s face. Then, a man with a bandaged nose spoke up.

“Hey, fellas. That’s the hombre. The one who bushwhacked my brother.”

The man who had addressed Gam Sang Cheong looked at Jang Geon.

“The one who took down Jin Cheong Seok in a single move?”

“If it hadn’t been for the ambush, my brother wouldn’t have been done in so easy. It’s all ’cause that no-good scoundrel attacked from the shadows…”

“You lost, you lost. That’s the long and short of it.”

“Ah, yes. Reckon so.”

Jin Yang Seok shrank back. His brother, Jin Cheong Seok, had narrowly escaped through a deal with the Martial Alliance branch chief. Since then, Jin Yang Seok had sought out the bandits to exact revenge on Jang Geon and eliminate the Martial Alliance branch. The bandits had quickly assembled to help him, which led them to promptly confirm Gam Sun Deok’s demise.

At that moment, Gam Sang Cheong carefully rewrapped the cloth around the head and cradled it against his chest.

“Lee Ho, the third leader.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Don’t kill him. Catch him alive. I need to hear him beg for mercy and find out who’s pullin’ the strings.”

Lee Ho, the third leader, nodded solemnly. Drawing his sword, he shouted.

“Boys! Let’s ride! Let’s get some payback for our fallen leader and our brethren!”

“Yeehaw!”

The bandits galloped forward, screaming and brandishing their weapons. Lee Ho led the charge, his sword held horizontally as it sliced through the wind. The blade shimmered with a bluish tint.

From the top of the hill, Jang Geon slowly drew his sword and urged his horse, Jojo, onward. Jojo reared up and charged down the hill. Harnessing Jojo’s speed and the downhill advantage, they rapidly closed in on the bandits.

Seeing Jang Geon rushing towards him, Lee Ho sneered. He thought Jang Geon was overconfident for defeating the weakest of the three leaders. Lee Ho’s eyes flashed red as he swung his sword, yelling.

“Dumb as a bag of hammers!”

As they crossed paths, a sharp sound echoed. Jang Geon’s hat, released by its chinstrap, soared through the air, followed by Lee Ho’s severed head.

The charging bandits stared in disbelief. They saw Jang Geon, a small cut on his forehead, hurtling towards them and Lee Ho’s headless body toppling to the ground. Before they could react, Jang Geon had already passed through their ranks and vanished.

“…What? What in tarnation just happened?”

“Where’s that fella headin’?”

The bandits faltered in bewilderment as Jang Geon sped past them and raced onward. Gam Sang Cheong, cradling his brother’s head, stared wide-eyed at the lifeless body of Lee Ho, the third leader. Seeing the disoriented bandits, he bellowed furiously.

“You numbskulls! Give chase!”