Warring States Survival Guide
Chapter 193 - 133 Wanjin People

Chapter 193: Chapter 133 Wanjin People

The Lunar New Year was approaching, and Wanjin Town was bustling with life.

Stone Bodhisattva stood a little dazedly on the main street, watching the crowds coming and going, unsure for the moment where he ought to go.

Because these new soldiers like him had been at it for almost a year now, they’d managed to save up a pile of copper coins. Harano, wanting to boost the economy and liven up the market, conveniently put a wartime readiness level into place. For now, it was at level four—no immediate risk of war, mostly focusing on training—so they started arranging for soldiers to take leave by shifts, urging all these fellows with money to go spend it. Whether they ate and drank or bought whatever junk struck their fancy, the best case would be if they returned flat broke.

It’s just that ever since Stone Bodhisattva was hauled back to Wanjin by a merchant caravan, he’d either been getting knocked around in the workshop or beaten up in the barracks, always living a collective life. He was used to that kind of life now. All of a sudden, given leave with nobody around to order him, he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.

He stood around for a while on the gravel-paved street, nowhere to go. In the distance, he spotted a Military Police officer on patrol coming his way, so he quickly turned in the opposite direction, slipped away from the officer, and started meandering aimlessly, figuring he’d just muddle through the day and get back to camp early. Just then, he heard someone call to him softly, "Is that... Brother Bodhisattva?"

He paused in surprise, turned to look, and saw a little girl of about six or seven he didn’t recognize. He hesitated, then grinned sheepishly. "Who are you?"

"It’s me, Ah Qi!" The little girl, certain she hadn’t mistaken him, broke into a smile and walked over briskly, reminding him, "Half a year ago, you were the one who got us on the boat. Do you not remember?"

Stone Bodhisattva suddenly realized. It came back to him—half a year ago, he’d followed the pots and pans crowd to a village to round people up, came across a mother and daughter who’d fallen, and he’d helped get them to the village gate. Later, he was ordered to help put these people on the boat, and he’d even carried the little girl a good long ways. Back then, though, she’d looked like a stick, her hair a wild mess and her face smeared with dirt—no wonder he hadn’t recognized her at first.

The past came back to life, hitting him straight in the soul. He quickly asked with concern, "How’s your mother?"

"My mom’s doing pretty well." Ah Qi walked closer, studying Stone Bodhisattva and finding that he too had changed a lot. Still as sturdy as ever, but now a good head taller, not quite looking like a stone pillar anymore. But there was also a thin scar on his left cheek—kind of scary, honestly. She blurted out in surprise, "Brother Bodhisattva, you got hurt?"

Stone Bodhisattva touched his face and grinned sheepishly. "Got scratched a bit, nothing serious. Got some extra food for the wounded too!"

This happened in the last battle. The enemy outnumbered them, and the Iron Cannon Banner squads were already split to both flanks to blast the enemy wings. As long spearmen, they had orders to push forward under a rain of arrows, head-on toward the enemy’s main force. He’d been right in the front row—couldn’t even remember how many arrows had hit him. His iron mask had been knocked off by arrows by the time they got close, and when they finally charged in and jabbed away, the enemy scattered. Only afterward did he discover a nasty cut on his face—some dying Samurai had jumped up and swung at him, but was killed by the guys behind before the blow properly landed. That Samurai died on the spot.

Wounded or not, he’d come out ahead. Back at camp, he got special treatment as a casualty, eating the sick rations solo for ten days, received injury pay, and for fighting so bravely—wounded but unyielding—he’d greatly boosted morale and earned a major merit. After the New Year, he’d be allowed to attend lessons at the Camp School, and he’d also managed to edge Guotai Lang, the Deputy Small Banner, out of his spot and was promoted to his squad’s Cross Shooter—the one who, under the others’ cover, stabbed sideways to open up a breakthrough. It was dangerous work, required special skill, and came with priority for commendations—a bit of an honor.

To be honest, he was pretty satisfied with it all. The sick rations tasted great, and with this scar, even the Military Police treated him with more respect now, like he was a proper decorated veteran, so that little blood loss had been well worth it. He found it all very gratifying.

Ah Qi didn’t really understand what fighting was about, but seeing how unconcerned he looked, she felt reassured and then asked with concern, "So what is Brother Bodhisattva going to do now?"

Mentioning this, Stone Bodhisattva’s bit of happiness instantly vanished, lost and helplessness rushing back in, and after a pause he finally answered, "I... I’m just wandering around."

Ah Qi immediately pressed, "Wandering where?"

"I don’t know..."

These days, Ah Qi had seen lots of soldiers wandering the town, so she offered eagerly, "Then let me show you around, Brother Bodhisattva! I know just where you like to go!"

"Alright!"

Stone Bodhisattva agreed right away, following Ah Qi along the street. They turned a few corners and still hadn’t arrived, even as more and more people around them headed in the same direction. He couldn’t help but ask, "There this many people in the village now?"

He’d been cooped up in the barracks, and even when the troops marched, they didn’t pass through the village. His impression of Wanjin was still that of nearly a year ago—it didn’t have this many people, didn’t have this many houses, and the streets used to be just dirt, not smooth and paved like now.

Just in this area alone, it seemed hardly any worse than Atsuta Port.

Having lived here ever since being hauled in, Ah Qi didn’t feel much about it day to day, but now smiled happily, "It’s probably because it’s almost New Year, so everyone’s come out."

So that’s why? Stone Bodhisattva nodded vaguely and didn’t ask further. It wasn’t really his business anyway. He just followed Ah Qi, and together they walked toward the docks at the edge of the town—Wanjin’s current expansion was in the direction of the harbor, and they’d just about filled the ground between the docks and the original camp.