Chương 43: Chapter 40 - The Goat Pulling Game

["Sooo, what are we playing? Is it a sport? Are you good at it?"] Cyrus asked, so excited that Song could practically hear him vibrating. The Canadian seemed obsessed with sport, a fact Song found entertaining. Why care so much about mere idle amusement?

"It's Kokbar," Song explained under his breath while he sent Bongbong trotting after Wook and Tae, Dami right behind him.

"The Goat Pulling Game. It isn't played too much in Changpo because, well, we Lees are just so much better at it than anyone else in the village. It requires good strength and experienced horsemanship. I've played it several times with my brothers, but it's generally more popular with our martial cousins who aren't cultivators." ["Goat…. Pulling?"] Cyrus said incredulously. ["Please tell me that it's appropriate for children."] What an odd question. Song replied, "Yes?" ["What is it?"]"It's meant to hearken back to the day when we survived by raiding other tribes or villages. We'd send in bands of raiders and cultivators on horseback to steal goats and sheep, then deliver them home. Traditionally, the game is played using a goat carcass with the head and hooves removed, to prevent more serious injury. It's still dangerous though – the last time we played it, I broke my leg and mother was yelling at Wook for a month."

Song's gaze was wistful at the thought, as he stared at his older brother's back. That'd been just last year, and yet it felt like a lifetime ago. ["You use a dead goat as the, what, goal? Ball? McGuffin?"] Cyrus choked. ["Please tell me that wasn't what you just sent Jinu to go get!"]"Ball, sort of. And not really. After Nakjo was absorbed into the empire about four hundred years ago, there wasn't a need to go raiding anymore.

When times were hard, the Imperial army would just conscript more of our warriors, and repay us with food or supplies. There's always a need for more people to fight against Demonic Beasts or rogue cultivators. It's not quite the same when you're using your own livestock though, so these days we still use the goat, but just to bless the dummy, which is a goat pelt stitched full of wood sod." Cyrus breathed a sigh of relief. ["Oh, that's good. I was worried I was about to witness a crime."]"And then we eat it."

Song grinned.

"No sense in wasting a good goat. The game lasts until it's finished cooking. The winners get the choicest meats."] ["Still better than the alternative."] Cyrus sighed. ["Your mom cooks a mean goat. Speaking of – "]"No. I won't let you eat it. I told you to wait," Song snipped.

"The game is simple enough. We make a large ring of rocks in the center of a field, and place two flags a good distance away on opposite ends. Players compete to pick up the goat, then run around the flag before returning to toss the goat back into the circle at the center." ["Kinda like capture the flag…"] Cyrus mused. ["Any other rules? Bounds?"]"No." ["But what about fouls? Or penalties?"] Song scoffed. ["The only rule is not to use qi techniques. Kokbar isn't like football. or any of the other weak Imperial sports. It's a game played by true warriors of Nakjo."] If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. ["Oh? Then how did you get injured doing it?"] Cyrus mocked.

"Tae already used that line," Song sniffed.

"Your words are as empty as your head." ["Bruh..."] There were two dozen Lees waiting at the far edges of the horse herds when the three brothers and Dami trotted up – a mix of young men and women of the warrior persuasion. At their helm sat Seojoon and Juwon. A few onlookers from the Jo family, free from their shepherding duties for the day, sat lazily a good distance away from a large circle of stones.

They were sharing waterskins, likely filled with airag, and chewing on hunks of dried meat while they waited for the game to begin. Song's eyes swept the crowd for Hamin and he let out a breath of relief when he didn't see the man.

"Ah, we're finally all collected. Has the young Jo been sent to collect our reward?" Seojoon asked, grinning. He sat tall upon his sleek black stallion, looking every bit the heroic Nakjo warrior that he was. He was dressed in a bright blue deel today, set with white fox fur and golden stitching. The dozen warriors arrayed behind him had also put in an effort to wear some form of blue, whether it was a sash or hat or what-have-you.

"Only if you win." Juwon said, sending his horse into a rearing whinny. Song's eldest brother's fine red deel was set with onyx stones; it no less richly appointed than Seojoon's. He tossed Song and Dami a red sash and said pointedly, "You're on our team. Maybe this time, don't get us yelled at by Mother?"

"Of course!" Song said, grinning. He threw the sash over his shoulder and rode with Wook, Dami, and Tae to join the others of their team. They were all his elder cousins, and he greeted them all by name before taking his place at the rear. Their greetings for Dami were a bit more muted, though they were polite and respectful to the daughter of the Yu family Patriarch.

"I hope that Jo Jinu doesn't take too long." Dami sighed.

"Or get distracted. He is a Jo."

"Now now, Jinu's not that bad. He's no Doyoon. In fact – yes, I see him now!" Song called, raising tall in his saddle and waving. Jo Jinu was indeed galloping towards them, a trussed up goat lying over the back of his gelding. He waved back, shouting, "Father gave us one of the fattest in the herd! We'll be in for good eating!" There was a cheer from the players at that, and they all dismounted and crowded around Jinu when he arrived breathlessly on the field.

He pulled the goat down reverently and laid it at the center of the circle of stones, then placed a pair of golden statues on either side of the unconscious animal. Another Job placed down an oversized dummy of stitched furry goathide with four limbs that flopped about bonelessly – the 'goat' that would serve as the ball for their game today. A couple of the other Jos laid out sticks of incense and kneeled in prayer. Several of the Lees stepped back from the circle, looking uncomfortable, but most remained.

A few even took their toortsog hats off or bowed their heads respectfully. ["What're the statues for?"] Cyrus asked.

"That's Bulgasari, the divine beast of the East," Song whispered.

"The indestructible iron-eater. They're performing a ritual to the Golden Emperor." The statues were of unearthly workmanship, and gleamed too-brightly in the late afternoon sun. A raging maw roared at the heavens on the face of a vicious beast with an elephantine trunk and horns. It had the body of a bear with each prehensile foot tipped with sharp claws, and upon its back was the thick spiked shell of a turtle.

It was in no way any less discomforting than the statue of Simhae-nim that they'd seen back at the Yu's. Jo Jinu lit a small bonfire using argal, then took a long golden ceremonial knife in his hands and bowed his head in prayer. On either side of the goat, the golden statues sat solidly against the flickering fire in a way that was uncomfortable to behold. Like they somehow belonged, while all the rest of this was just a dream.

Jo Jinu raised his hands and his voice rose in volume, his words completely unintelligible to Song. The other Jos around him joined in, matching his words and gestures. The wind seemed to pick up, howling across the plains to batter against the statues and try to force them to fall, but they held immovable against all outside forces. And then the knife fell. Red patterned goat, dummy, and field. And the slowly setting sun glowed red in response. Cyrus squeaked. ["Gross."] There was a gasp of relief from some of the assembled players, followed by a yelp as Seojoon smacked any Lee so cowardly to be frightened by a mere ritual of thanks. Then Jinu raised the dead goat above his head and shouted, "The Golden Emperor has blessed our meal! Let's see who's worthy to eat it!" The players all cheered, then ran to get their horses. It was time for some Kokbar!