53 Guard 3 (1/2)
The place that Yeoni had pointed at was the only place without any smoke rising up. It meant that it might be a safe place.
”Okay, let's go. How long do you think it will take?”
”Sorry, sir. I don't know.”
”If we can arrive there before sun sets, it will be good.”
”Yes.”
”Can you walk?”
”Yes, sir.”
Yeoni tried to take steps while smiling. He was sure that her legs would function normally, but she must be having some pain.
”Would you like to be on my back?”
”No, sir.”
”Then… use this.” Ganghyuk picked up the sword from the floor and gave it to her. Although it was a little bit short, it could be used as a cane. If she used two swords, holding one in each hand, they might function as crutches.
”This?”
”Yes, you can use them as canes.”
”Ah, yes!”
Yeoni used the sheaths as canes and walked diligently. He did not need to slow down, as she followed him closely.
…
After walking for a while, like that, they could finally see the end of the forest. There were rice and vegetable fields in their sight. Although there was n.o.body to be seen, there were no corpses and fire either, which was a good sign.
”The place you are talking about is that village, right?”
”Yes. As far as I remember, there was a big village here.”
”Yes, you are right. It seems like a big village indeed.”
It seemed to have more than 500 households.
Although the size of the j.a.panese bandit group was big, they might not have been able to attack such a big village.
”It looks fine from here. But, it is better to be cautious.” Yeoni stuck her head out of the forest and said.
”Shall we move after it gets dark?”
”Yes, I think that would be better.”
”Ok. It is easier to be spotted now.”
If they could run, even being spotted would be have had been fine. But, Yeoni was in no position to run.
As they knew there was a village right here, it would not do any harm if they took some rest.
”I should have brought some food.”
”Ah, I have some.”
Yeoni took off her rucksack from her back. It was the bag that had been distributed to the soldiers.
She must have saved one.
But, the contents inside were not good at all. There was some unknown powder with a strange color.
What is this?”
”I think it is the pine tree leaf powder.”
”Pine tree leaves? Do you eat it?”
”Yes! We can eat it by mixing it with rice powder.”
”Ha…”
They were no pine caterpillars. Why should they eat pine tree leaves? Ganghyuk was at a loss for words because of the embarra.s.sment.
'She is really eating it.'
It did not seem to have much moisture, so it might choke the throat; however, she ate it just fine. The worst thing was that he was very hungry, and could not stand it anymore.
Rumble!
She smiled on hearing the rumbling sound from Ganghyuk's stomach and gave him some powder using the unwashed hand.
”Sir, try this.”
”Ok.”
There was nothing else that he could do. He could not ask Yeoni to hunt, as she was a patient. And he himself did not know how to hunt. He would surely get lost in the forest if tried.
'There is nothing that I can eat in the forest.'
He saw some mushrooms on the way here, but they looked poisonous. He did not want to be intoxicated in the forest for sure.
'Hu...'
Ganghyuk took the mixture of pine tree leaf powder and rice powder with a sigh.
”Eok.” He screamed right after trying to consume it. As it was an extremely dry powder, it stuck to the mucus in his mouth.
Cough cough!
”Are you alright sir?” Yeoni said while patting his back.
”O…kay… Wa…t…er.”
”We have only this.” Yeoni gave him the saline. He did not know he would have to drink this again. Moreover, he drank it voluntarily this time.
'My G.o.d…!' Ganghyuk received the saline while swearing. The saline was waving in the plastic, which was similar to his state of mind right now.
”Eu….”
The taste was strange. Although it was his second time, he could not be accustomed to it. If it were not for the powder, he would have spat it out immediately.
”Sir, you must eat to live.”
”Yes…”
”You might feel the sweetness while chewing it.”
”Ok, I will try.” After some efforts, he could finally manage to eat the powder.
…
The sun went down; there was still some light, but it was not so bright.
”Let's go.”
”Okay. Are you alright?”
”Yes, sir… Much better.”
As he had changed the dressing and bandage, she could move better. It would be better if she did not run.
Yeoni had changed her hairstyle already, looking like a good servant by now.
”You are lucky that you did not have your joints injured. Let's go.”
”Yes, sir.”
With that, the two left the forest.
There was no sign of people in the village. They pa.s.sed the rice fields and arrived at the entry of the village, but they could not see anyone still.
'It is very strange.'
It was a very quiet village. It looked quite peaceful and lovely actually; they would have liked to admire it for a long time if it were not for the j.a.panese bandits.
However, something was strange here. He felt a disharmony that he could not feel from other villages which they had pa.s.sed.
”Wait... Wait a moment!”
”Yes, Sir?”
He hid himself under the wall at the entry of the village, and Yeoni followed him. As she was small, it seemed like she was hiding in his bosom.
”Why are you doing this?”
”Smoke. There is no smoke/”
”Isn't it because the j.a.panese bandits did not arrive here yet?”