Chapter 14. First Fire

  Dust surged on the left.

  A slanting wave of earth and wind.

  As sunlight dimmed, the control officer’s flag rose.

  “Prepare to fire!”

  “Ready!”“Ready!”“Ready!”

  Twenty heavy crossbows dropped at once.

  Steel cords were drawn taut.Feet set on strings.Bolts stood upright on shoulders.

  Waiting.

  Seongjin spoke first.

  “West–northwest, two hundred paces!”

  Almost at the same instant, Hwang Hyeon-pil shouted,

  “West–northwest, two hundred paces!”

  The echo rippled like a wave.

  The tension in Seongjin’s chest loosened—just slightly.

  Then the ground shook.

  Dudung— dudung—.

  Enemy drums.

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  Urgent.Harsh.

  Nothing like the cadence of a march.

  The signal officer raised the blue banner.

  No one knew why it was that moment.

  Only Hwang Hyeon-pil’s command mattered.

  “Fire!”

  Pipipipiping—

  A rain of bolts tore through the air.

  Steel shafts poured down at the same angle,the same direction—

  a black rain sinking into dust.

  A moment later, the enemy drums stopped.

  Far away, horses screamed.

  Only then did the soldiers breathe out.

  Seongjin closed his eyes.

  For the first time, death slipped beneath his skin.

  Not as fear.Not as thought.

  As weight.

  Bloodless tears ran somewhere inside him.

  Then another drum sounded.

  Closer.

  “Prepare to fire!”

  The signal officer raised the banner again—

  this time streaked with blood-red.

  “One hundred fifty paces!”

  Hwang Hyeon-pil shouted.

  “Same direction!”

  The echo burst out.

  “Fire!”

  The second rain of bolts fell.

  From beyond the dust came a wet, broken sound—

  half prayer, half wail.

  White Lotus believers.

  Only then did the order arrive from the main force.

  “Return fire!”

  Every bow turned west.

  The sky darkened.

  Shield-bearers rushed to the left wing.Spearmen followed.

  Wagons turned.Shields locked edge to edge.

  Palisades and carts blocked the cavalry.

  “Crossbowmen—keep firing!”

  Hwang Hyeon-pil’s voice was already splitting.

  Second volley.Third.Fourth.

  Only then did Seongjin see their faces.

  Even through dust, they were clear.

  Their eyes were wet.

  “Why…” he murmured.“Why are they crying?”

  Oh Jinchul answered quietly,

  “Everyone who comes to die cries.”