The Yuanrang Monster Hunter
1. Yuanrang, Miaocai and Mengde
“About where the giant centipede is hiding, Mister?” asked Yuanrang to one of the villagers.
The village resident who was busy packing up replied in panic, “In the northern forest. About three li from here. There is a large cave there. Flanked by many bamboo tree formations.”
“You sure, Mister?”
The forty-year-old looked down for a moment then looked into Yuanrang's eyes again,
“To be honest I don't know. I'm just a craftsman, son. Not a wood-finder or a hunter. But my neighbor who was a woodcutter told me that. Five days ago, my neighbor tracked the creature back to its nest. The giant centipede went into the cave. Of course my neighbor didn't dare to follow him that deep. He went straight home, told and reminded us all.”
“Good, thanks for the information, Sir. Instead, let us help you pack. Which one should we pack.”
“Ah .. yes .. thank you,” said the slightly confused craftsman.
The craftsman man stared at the appearance of these two teenage children standing before him. Yuanrang who wears armor. Yuanrang's right hand grasped the iron sword which looked quite sturdy. While the young man who stood on the right side of Yuanrang also wore war clothes that were not much different. Only the weapons he was wearing were different. The young man from earlier did not say anything was grasping a spear equipped by a bow and a collection of arrows. The man sighed. The craftsman was very confident in the information that had just been revealed. But these two young people don't look convincing. More likely to carelessly deposit lives. Even so, the craftsmen as much as possible did not want to offend the goodwill of these two teenagers.
“What will you do?” actually this man knew their intentions. Just a little pleasantry.
“Clearly. We will kill the giant centipede that attacked this village,” said the young man on Yuanrang's right side excitedly.
Craftsman forced a smile, “Two of you huh?”
“Actually the three of us. The other one is still not coming,” Yuanrang said.
“Where are you from?”
“We are from Qiao area, Sir,” said the young man on Yuanrang's right side.
“Son, the three of you are very brave. But why don't you just wait for the soldiers to make your job easier?” craftsman words. Very precise word selection. Very not offensive.
“Ruler contact our teacher. Ask our teacher to help kill the giant centipede. Then, the teacher ordered us to kill the giant centipede. Rulers are unwilling to lose their army,” Yuanrang replied.
This sentence of the boy named Yuanrang sounded out of logic. The craftsmen were silent. How could a ruler entrust this mission to three strange teenagers? It was even more trusting of these three teenagers than a group of soldiers who were basically trained to fight and were mentally more prepared to die. “The ruler does not want to lose the army?” they say. Sounds like crap. But the craftsman would not argue. The craftsman immediately completed the work of packing and thanking these two teenagers.
“My wife, can you please prepare three food and three bottles of water for them?” ask craftsmen.
“Good, dear,” said the wife of the craftsman who immediately stood up and walked to the back.
“Please wait a minute yes,” says the craftsman on two young men.
“One more time, thanks for the information and supplies.”
Yuanrang came from the Qiao region of Pei State, during the Han Dynasty. He studied with a man named Yudhishthira. A hermit who came from a distant land called India. Yuanrang set out to hunt down the giant centipede as he had already demonstrated his ability in metal controlling to the local ruler. Later, when China entered the Three Kingdoms Era, Yuanrang was known as Xiahou Dun.
The young man who had been accompanying Yuanrang was named Miaocai. He was from the same area as Yuanrang. Miaocai has also shown his ability in sword, archery and his special ability to control ice. Later, when China entered the Three Kingdoms Era, Miaocai was known as Xiahou Yuan.
Appeared the wife of the craftsman who brought three sets of supplies each wrapped in cloth, “This supplies you and one for your friends.”
“Thank you, Madam,” replied Miaocai
“You're leaving now?” ask craftsmen.
“Iya, Sir,” Yuanrang said.
“Send our greetings to the friends you will meet,” said the craftsman, “Be careful. Giant centipedes already eat a lot of people. Either the people here or the merchants. Good luck to you guys.”
“Good, Sir,” says Miaocai. The two young men said hello.
Yuanrang and Miaocai walked to the north of the village. The direction they were walking was very opposite to the direction of the villagers. The villagers hurried south. Seeking refuge in the fortress of the ruler. They brought carts, horses and makeshift supplies. Some toddlers cry in the arms of mom and dad. It was as if they understood this panic. They do not want to be torn apart and become food giant centipedes.
“About later Mengde will bring what huh?” ask Yuanrang.
“Hopefully enough logistics. Like food, tents, firewood, arrows, horses and carriages that have roofs,” said Miaocai.
“Well, hopefully according to what was promised to us,” Yuanrang sighed, “I would also be happy if the facilities were complete as you told me.”
Yuanrang and Miaocai did not directly leave for the forest. They met Mengde first in the rice fields on the north side of the village. Must coordinate first, check supplies and make provisions planning. Because this mission will probably take a few days. It must be as effective as possible so that they do not starve until they have returned to the place of Master Yudhishthira.
The northern area of the village was already very deserted. Only the vacant houses of the farmers were abandoned. There's no one there. At the northern end of the village, only a teenage boy is seen lying on the back of a horse. From a distance, Yuanrang and Miaocai were excited as everything was as promised.
“Already. Don't be fussy,” said Yuanrang who handed over provisions, “This is for you, jerk.”
“Ah, food,” Mengde's face changed from sullen to wide smile, “Your slowness I forgive.”
The third teenager was named Mengde. Almost every time he showed a relaxed and serious expression simultaneously. He carried a sword with two eyes. Pretty big. About a year ago Mengde. Like Yuanrang and Miaocai, Mengde was from the same place. He can control fire. Later, Mengde would be known as Cao Cao. Founder of Cao Wei Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms Era.
“When are we leaving?” ask Miaocai.
“Now. We go to eat. You two just sit in the wagon. Let me be on horseback,” said Mengde, “By the way how far is the forest from this village?”
“The word of the villagers, the centipede hid in the forest which is about three li from the north of the village,” replied Yuanrang, “There is a cave around the bamboo tree. That's where the nest is.”
“Means valid, yes. I also asked some villagers and they gave the same answer.”
Speaking of li, li is a unit of distance commonly used by Chinese people in ancient times. When compared to modern measurement units, one li is equal to half a kilometer. If the distance of the forest was three li, then it was equal to one and a half kilometers. Not too far from the village.
While eating, Mengde discussed how the combat formation would be if it was faced with a giant centipede. Yuanrang acts as the spearhead of the fight. Being on the front line with Mengde. Two things at once: defense and attack. Yuanrang got this role because he had physical abilities and close combat abilities that were greater than Mengde and Miaocai. While Mengde played as a strategist. Because Mengde was the most astute among the three of them. He would be standing at the forefront with Yuanrang. Miaocai is in the back. Ploughing down enemies with arrows. This was because Miaocai's talent in long and medium range combat stood out the most among the three of them.
“Consider also worst possibility. I mean if it turns out that there's more than one centipede or that centipede has a baby,” Mengde said.
“Good centipede baby burned?” ask Miaocai.
“Definitely crispy. Aye right?” laughter Yuanrang.
“Hey, hey, hey .. don't be an all-eater. Who knew the centipede was poisonous, right?” said Mengde.
“Indeed very,” smile Yuanrang.
Mengde sighed, “What do you mean ‘very Mengde’?”
“Not Mengde if not alert and there is no preparation to face all possibilities,” Yuanrang said.
“Hah? Doesn't it have to be like that in life?” said Mengde, “There's only you, Yuanrang.”
“What more possibilities do you think of?” ask Yuanrang.
“In general, do not fight in enemy cages. The forest is the enemy's cage. Especially in the cave,” said Mengde, “We just prepare a trap on the south side of the forest. Then we lure him out and bring him to the trap.”
“How are our supplies preparation in these few days?” ask Miaocai.
“I brought a lot of fish, plants and firewood. I put it in a box. Calm. It will all last. We use your ice-control abilities to preserve our groceries, Miaocai,” Mengde said.
About an hour later, the three teenage fighters had reached the southern side of the forest. The forest they were targeting was about a hundred steps ahead. There are differences in environmental conditions that are felt. The forest looks so thick and dark. It was as if the sunlight could not penetrate the darkness of this forest.
“This us is in which region exactly?” ask Mengde suddenly.
“How could such a stupid question come out of the mouth of someone as smart as you,” Yuanrang said.
“Which amazes me, this region should be safe. Even if there was a strange creature, it must have been settled by local fighters. This centipede was no ordinary strange monster. According to the information I got. Ten local fighters have been killed. This is no ordinary monster. Hard monsters usually came from the northern region. I have a friend from the Hun tribe who lives far north. As you know, the Huns were nomadic. During the nomads, my friend once faced a giant centipede.”
“Continue? We are in the north,” said Miaocai.
“Yes but not as far as the Huns. I mean, what I want to emphasize. Why did this giant centipede suddenly appear? What made him come here?” said Mengde, “Misterinya, what's north?”
Yuanrang and Miaocai fell silent listening to Mengde's question. They both trusted their cousin. His intelligence and fighting instincts were quite sharp. If a Cao Mengde suspects a condition, it means that there is likely something wrong. Winds gusting from the north. The rustling sound of leaves sounded loud.
“Ya. We think about it later after becoming an insect repellent,” said Mengde, “We will look for information after in the north after the giant centipede is destroyed.”
“How now? We set a trap?” ask Miaocai.
“Use your ice control to create ice spikes. Also mark the tree so we know the way home,” said Mengde.
The three teenage warriors entered the bamboo forest through a path. Yuanrang was at the very front. For a while, Miaocai did not install ice markers because it was still a walkway. The more they entered the forest, the more they were alert. The situation is quite calm. However, if it gets quieter then it gets more suspicious. Wouldn't crocodiles prefer to live in calm waters?
Yuanrang stopped his steps. Of course this made Mengde and Miaocai astonished. Wordlessly, Yuanrang gave the code to Miaocai. The code is the index and middle fingers. Suddenly Yuanrang pointed to the east side. Already understood, Miaocai immediately took the bow, took the arrow and shot according to Yuanrang's instructions.