Chapter 35

Revisiting the Art of Swordsmanship

The 46th Battalion began to move at a rapid pace. However, when they reached the 140-li mark, the Mongol soldiers had already fled, leaving only traces behind. From this point on, Gwang moved more cautiously to ensure the horses did not tire too quickly, as exhausted horses would be unable to fight effectively in a future cavalry battle.

After about half an hour, the sound of swords clashing and commands shouting came from the front. Gwang, sensing that a fierce battle was indeed taking place, led his men forward. The 6th Battalion, which was leading the way, was about 6 li (approximately 2 kilometers) ahead. If they had been ambushed, the casualties could be significant. There were two squads nearby and one squad between them and the main force, but the unit Gwang was pursuing, though a remnant, still numbered 8,000.

Gwang, determined to save them, realized that the ambushing force was entirely infantry. The first thought that came to his mind was...

'Where are the horses?'

Mongol soldiers fought on horseback. Even in an ambush, some should have been mounted to block the retreat. However, the enemy was either engaging in close combat or responding with arrows... This observation gave Gwang a clue.

'Ah!'

Just out of the range of the arrows, Gwang shouted.

"Everyone, dismount!"

Gwang leaped off his horse and, using his maximum lightness skill, charged at the enemy. He did not forget to command Lim Chung.

"Lim Chung, take your men and lead the horses 3 li away and wait there!"

The remaining men handed their horses to the 46th Battalion and followed Gwang using their lightness skills. However, encumbered by heavy armor, they could not keep up with Gwang's speed. Gwang, shedding his armor as he ran, unleashed his full power, leaving his subordinates in awe of his lightness skill.

The ambushing enemy numbered about 1,000. The four squads caught in the ambush were fighting fiercely, but their horses were all dead, and the soldiers, with arrows embedded in their backs, were engaged in close combat. Despite their skill, the overwhelming numbers had already claimed several lives, and the survivors were severely wounded. Gwang, upon entering the fray, immediately unleashed his full martial arts prowess, believing that a swift and decisive battle was crucial. He was also concerned that if this battle dragged on, how many of the four squads would survive.

"Yah!"

With each swing of his sword, the sword qi grew stronger, eventually transforming into a tangible force. The enemies caught in the whirlwind of Gwang's sword qi were sliced into pieces and flew away. Swinging his sword with all his might, Gwang felt a mysterious power rising from his dantian, flowing through his meridians. He poured more power into his techniques, and at some point, he felt a sudden ease and smoothness in his movements. A fierce aura was emanating from his Qingcheng Sword.

'Is this the Art of Swordsmanship? Have I just realized it, or has it reappeared because I am using my full power...?'

Smiling faintly, Gwang thought.

'Probably something I already knew...'

Despite this, Gwang's fierce attacks continued, and he unleashed the essence of the imperial palace martial arts, sending sword qi in all directions and killing numerous enemies. Blood and flesh flew, and severed bodies scattered. The enemy's encirclement was broken, but Gwang moved like a madman, and his subordinates, seeing his demonic form, were terrified.

"Fall back! You might get hurt."

Gwang's command made them support the wounded and retreat. Gwang also shouted at his subordinates, who were trying to catch up.

"Don't come here! You'll just get in the way!"

Hesitating at such a crazy order, they eventually formed a formation to support Gwang if he faltered. However, they soon watched in amazement as Gwang fought. With no obstacles around him, he became even more ferocious, resembling a demon more than a warrior. Covered in blood, he moved through the battlefield, destroying everything in his path.

Swinging his sword with all his might, Gwang felt his rising inner strength and a growing calm. Despite the absurd 1-to-1,000 odds, he had no doubt he would win. He could use many imperial palace martial arts techniques he had only read about. As he unleashed these techniques, all thoughts, including his growing confidence, gradually faded. He focused solely on striking down the enemies before him, achieving a state of complete mindlessness.

Gwang's subordinates were shaken by his use of the imperial palace martial arts, which he used to fell countless enemies like rotten trees. He wielded his Qingcheng Sword in his right hand, used palm and fist techniques with his left, and kicked with both legs, killing the surrounding Mongol soldiers. Watching Gwang calmly from behind, Ma Hua proudly said to Lim Chung.

"See, I told you about the imperial palace martial arts..."

Feeling a bit jealous, Lim Chung gruffly replied.

"I never learned the imperial palace martial arts, but they are impressive. Using sword qi and the Art of Swordsmanship... I might need to learn some imperial palace martial arts. I never knew they were this powerful."

"Me neither. When my father insisted on learning only the imperial palace martial arts, I was unhappy because it had never produced a famous martial artist. But today, I see that even seemingly simple techniques can become deadly with the right level of skill."

Watching Gwang's incredible techniques, Lim Chung whistled.

"Really impressive. What kind of training does it take to become such a master?"

Ma Hua chuckled.

"Who knows? It's just that our leader is a bit... odd. He talks about morality and why killing is wrong, but when he sees blood, he loses control..."

After about two hours, the 1-to-1,000 battle was almost over. The Mongol soldiers, terrified by the demon who cut them in half with a single swing and deflected their arrows, began to retreat. Some started to back away, and soon the rest followed, fleeing en masse. When the Mongol soldiers fled, Gwang, regaining his senses, stood still, staring at the blood dripping from his sword. Noticing that his subordinates were watching him intently, he hesitated for a moment before shouting awkwardly.

"Chase them and annihilate them!"

Everyone let out a battle cry and charged forward. However, Ma Hua did not join them. Instead, he led Gwang's horse and approached the still dazed Gwang with a pale face. Ma Hua took a towel from behind his saddle and handed it to Gwang.

"Don't look so terrifying. Clean the blood off."

Gwang took the towel and wiped the blood off, then put on his armor, which was on the saddle. As he watched Gwang put on his armor, Ma Hua asked.

"Why are you like this today? Did you decide to die, or... seeing you today, I don't think anyone can kill you."

"Well, at first, it was anger and sorrow, but later, after seeing so much blood, I didn't think about anything. Was it that scary?"

Ma Hua replied nonchalantly.

"Not really scary, just demonic."

Gwang threw the blood-soaked towel away.

"Demonic... I guess. This towel is ruined, so I'll need a new one later."

With his armor on, Gwang mounted his horse.

"Let's go."

The pursuit lasted less than half an hour. They killed all the ambushing Mongol soldiers, but the aftermath was bitter. Gwang looked at his gathered subordinates after the pursuit.

"It's a complete failure. This ambush squad was a sacrifice to allow the remaining 7,000 to escape. But they fell to us... Their sacrifice is pitiful."

"What do you mean?"

"They were more focused on destroying our horses than on killing us. With our heavy armor, without horses, we couldn't catch the retreating enemy. They probably started the fight because they were discovered by our scouts, but they intended to quickly finish us and wait for new prey. However, the follow-up force arrived faster than expected, and we couldn't be easily defeated, disrupting their plan. We lost about 60 horses, so we can't pursue the main enemy force anymore. We also can't complete our vanguard mission, and we have many wounded."

Pausing, Gwang looked around at his subordinates and organized his thoughts.

"Let's return. Ma Hua, lead ten men to protect those who lost their horses and explain the situation to Commander Guanji. Then, return to the main force. Thirty men who are on horses will follow me to continue reconnaissance. Direct combat will be difficult, but we can still perform reconnaissance."

Initially, it seemed Ma Hua would return with Gwang, but he objected when Gwang said he would lead 30 men to continue reconnaissance.

"Commander, I'll stay. Send someone else..."

"You go. Protecting the retreating subordinates is a crucial task. Let's part here. Let's go!"

Gwang thought they had spent too much time in the ambush. They had mobilized almost immediately after receiving orders from Commander Guanji in the morning, and the main force and the other two thousand-man battalions had also set out. The journey to the 140-li mark was at a high speed, but the time spent in the ambush had narrowed the distance to the main force. The main force was now at least 10 li and at most 40 li behind Gwang's 46th Battalion. If the distance narrowed further, Gwang's 30 men would not be able to conduct proper reconnaissance. Therefore, he urged his exhausted soldiers to move quickly.

After pursuing about 250 li (approximately 100 kilometers), they finally caught up with the enemy's rear. Gwang maintained a 20-li (approximately 8 kilometers) distance from the remnants and led the secretly following main force. The enemy moved another 100 li and camped in a Mongol village with about 3,000 households. The main force of Commander Guanji joined Gwang's reconnaissance unit that evening.

Commander Guanji, realizing that the enemy had slowed their retreat due to the 1,000-man ambush, praised Gwang's quick action and began discussing the battle with his subordinates. They planned to have five battalions ambush the enemy's expected retreat route and the remaining 25 battalions launch a surprise attack at dawn. Gwang's 30 men would join the ambush as requested.

At dawn, Gwang watched the surprise attack of the 25 battalions from a distance, lying down with his horses on the grassland. Flames rose from all directions, and the battle began. The Mongols, who were not skilled in martial arts and were caught by surprise, were doomed. It was not a battle but a one-sided slaughter. The Chanhuan Black Wind Corps eliminated the remnants and the village that helped them. The enemy fled in all directions, but the five ambushing battalions did not let them escape.

When the battle ended, the sun was high in the sky. On the orders of the three thousand-man battalion commanders, all wounded and captured Mongol soldiers were executed. The villagers who helped them, except for young women and children, were also killed. Murder, arson, rape, and looting were rampant. The village became a hellish scene, a graveyard of countless bodies.

Gwang, with his 30 men, remained at a distance from the village, still in their ambush position. He had not expected the Chanhuan Black Wind Corps, the elite of the Song Empire, to be so brutal. Even from a distance, he could clearly see what was happening, and smoke still rose from various places. Folding his arms, he gazed at the scene and muttered to Lim Chung, or perhaps to himself.

"Is it really necessary to wage war to this extent..."

Lim Chung, as if understanding his thoughts, replied.

"It's necessary. The Mongols are a very resilient people. If we don't show them the harshness, they might rebel again."

"Still, to go so far as to kill civilians who are not soldiers..."

Noticing Gwang's expression, Lim Chung changed the subject. Continuing such a conversation would be a waste of time.

"Commander, what should we do? The other battalions have all joined the looting. We are the only ones left out."

"Hmm..."

Gwang thought for a moment and then asked his subordinates loudly.

"Does anyone want to join the looting?"

They all looked at each other and shook their heads. In truth, few wanted to loot the Mongols, who were not wealthy, and the women were not particularly attractive, nor did they bathe often due to the cold. Gwang scanned their faces.

"Staying here won't accomplish much. Let's inform Commander Guanji and return to the main force. It's better to rest and have a good drink with the main force. I've already told Ma Hua, so we might get to enjoy some good drinks. Is Commander Guanji's force still stationary?"

The prospect of a good drink made everyone salivate, and they looked at Gwang with admiration. Lim Chung, standing next to Gwang, smiled and answered.

"Yes, they are still stationary."

"Send a messenger to Commander Guanji. Tell him we are returning. Mention that it's to prepare for any potential ambush. He will understand."

"Yes."

"Also, ask when we will leave this hell. I need to report to the general."

"Yes."

When the messenger returned, Gwang immediately set off for the main force, eager to leave the blood-soaked place. Unlike the pursuit, he did not push his subordinates during the return, but the prospect of a good drink and a comfortable rest naturally made them move faster.

After traveling about 400 li, Gwang caught a strong smell of blood.

"Is it far to the place where we were ambushed?"

"Yes, we've traveled about 400 li, so it's still..."

"Then what is this smell of blood? I don't remember any battle in this area."

"What? The smell of blood? I don't smell anything."

"Really? I can't be wrong... Anyway, let's move faster."

Gwang led his men for about 5 li and found numerous bodies, burned carts, dead horses and sheep, and scattered belongings. Gwang stared at the scene, and Lim Chung, realizing what had happened, nodded.

"It's the Tajik tribe we met. It seems the follow-up force of Commander Guanji did this. They probably sent a few people with the captives and loot to the main force."

"..."

"Can we do anything here? We can't bury all these bodies. Let's move on."

"Let's go..."