Winter on the Liaodong Plain
From that day on, the wind changed.After leaving Geumseong and heading south, Yi In-jung's party had been wandering through snow-covered paths for three days.Unlike their journey north, a violent blizzard now swept over them.
The road was no longer a road.Cart tracks and human traces were buried beneath the snow, and all sense of direction was lost.The Liaodong plain was flat—but that very flatness erased every point of reference.
The sky remained gray all day long.The wind was erratic.In the morning it blew from the west, and by the time the sun slanted low it veered north.It was hard to tell which way was forward and which was back.The snowstorm lashed at their vision as if tearing it apart, and the boundary between earth and sky disappeared.
The scout riding ahead raised a hand.Beyond the blowing snow, black dots were moving.Men on horseback—perhaps fifteen or so.No banners, no formation.Their pace was uneven.
"Bandits, most likely."
At Park Seong-jin's words, Yi In-jung answered briefly."Probably. After a war, things like that always remain."
Winter in Liaodong starved horses and men alike.Groups like that wandered through the snow, stripping armor from fallen soldiers, prying rings from the frozen fingers of corpses.They killed to survive, and moved in order to kill.
"They're tailing us," Park Seong-jin said, drawing an arrow."They have the numbers."
Yi In-jung's voice was low and firm."Don't think of fighting. In snow like this, endurance comes before arrows. We evade for now. They're weak to the cold too."
They changed direction.The wind struck them from the side.Hooves sank deep into snowdrifts, throwing off balance.From behind came a rough shout.
"They're chasing us!"
Yi In-jung straightened in the saddle.His cloak flared and scattered into the blizzard.
"Don't slow down!"
At that single command, the horses found strength again.Hooves pounded through the snow, and the bandits' shouts behind them were gradually torn apart by the wind.
When night fell, the wind grew harsher.The snow showed no sign of stopping, and there was not even wood to be found for a fire.Ice clung to the horses' nostrils, and men's breath instantly turned to frost.The soldiers drew their cloaks tight and sat with their backs against one another.
Winter in Liaodong did not even allow for battle.It simply left behind only those who could survive.
At a glance, the pursuing bandits numbered around twenty.Scrawny horses, rusted spears, torn cloaks.Hunger and killing intent mingled in their eyes.People who had lost their way—common sights on the Liaodong plain.
Most had failed at herding and scattered, gathering in empty places to pass their days with drink, then going out to steal, seize, and fight when that was not enough.They lived like that until they collapsed first before nature's cruelty.
Yi In-jung let out a short chuckle."That lot is nothing."
But his eyes soon narrowed."The problem is the blizzard. Mobility's poor in weather like this."
He glanced at Park Seong-jin beside him."What do you think. Care to try?"
Park Seong-jin did not hesitate for a moment."By your command!"
With the brief reply, he pulled his reins and lowered his body.It looked as though he would draw his sword, but his hand went first to the quiver at his waist.A Goryeo soldier's equipment was always arranged so the bow came first—because it was the weapon used first.
He spurred his horse as if fleeing.Hooves kicked snow high into the air.As he twisted his body, his vision wavered—but his breathing did not.
Inhale—short.Pause—an instant.Exhale, and he released the string.
The snap of the bowstring was swallowed by the wind.
Yet in the distance, one horse staggered and collapsed, its rider flung into the air.To Park Seong-jin's eyes, the scene was as clear as a painting—so clear that there was no room for emotion to intrude.
He raised his bow again.
From a moving horse his posture was not perfect.Instead, he shifted to a trot to reduce the vibration.He twisted his upper body and took the stance of baesa, the backward shot.In a brief moment of held breath, he drew and released.
The second arrow.Then immediately the third.
Within the blizzard, three black shapes fell almost at the same time.The rest yanked hard on their reins and scattered.At first they looked ready to surge forward again—then they stopped.
Clear confusion passed through their eyes.These ones are not ordinary.
As that judgment spread, the pursuit ended there.
Yi In-jung caught his reins and laughed shortly."Simple enough."
Park Seong-jin answered while steadying his breath."Thank you… for the compliment."
Yi In-jung shook his head."It's not a compliment. This is combat."
His gaze lingered briefly on Park Seong-jin's shoulder."When the breath wavers, the arrow wavers. Today, your breathing was steady."
The blizzard eased for a moment.Through the opening, a red sunset spread across the frozen plain.Those who had fallen were already beginning to sink into the distant snow.
The steppe returned, as if nothing had happened, to the world of wind once more.