Impressing the War Goddess and Yuan Shu's Treacherous Plot
Busy, so busy. Landing that one hit on Yeo Po seemed to have made quite the impact.
Not only did everyone else wear shocked expressions, but the favorability of the surrounding Yeo Po army generals and our own officers shot way up.
Above all, the one showing the biggest shock was Yeo Po herself.
"…."
Yeo Po stared at me blankly with her red eyes wide open.
"…Found you."
She kept muttering something like a chant from a ritual. What was with her? You're scaring me.
'Still, I can't be satisfied just because I landed one hit.' If it had been real combat, victory wouldn't have been guaranteed. It was a skill that granted invincibility for exactly five seconds, but once that time passed and she countered, it turned back into an even one-on-one fight.
Plus, this skill had an insanely long cooldown. You could pretty much count on using it only once per battle.
Thanks to the setting of a long-cooldown skill, just activating it put a strain on my body. Since it required focusing my inner energy, my eyes stung and ached.
"Kim. That was incredible!"
At that moment, Yeo Po closed the distance toward me.
"That just now—you completely read my technique and countered, right?"
Yeo Po's eyes sparkled as she spoke to me directly.
"Heh. That's me."
When the unparalleled Yeo Po praised me like that, how could I not puff up? I shrugged my shoulders smugly right away. It was a bit unsightly... but hey, shrugging was legal here.
"…You're strong."
Yeo Po looked at me with eyes that seemed to savor something, like she was licking her chops. Her gaze swept over me in a way that felt probing. What was it? Did she hold a grudge against me? I couldn't figure out this girl's thought process.
"Let's spar again sometime."
Her favorability had gone up, so maybe I could be a bit friendlier. With that thought, I placed a hand on Yeo Po's shoulder.
It was just a sweaty warrior gesture, patting shoulders like comrades—but Yeo Po's reaction was over the top.
"Hyaaah?!"
The moment my hand touched her, Yeo Po jumped back as if electrocuted, widening the gap. What? What kind of reaction was that?
"A-hem. Uh, touching so suddenly like that... it's a bit much."
Yeo Po cleared her throat awkwardly and bowed her head sharply.
"…."
What? This was the girl who calmly sliced through people on the battlefield? Suddenly acting all maidenly?
At that moment, Guan Yu approached Yeo Po, practice staff in hand.
"Bong-seon. Care for a quick spar with me too?"
Guan Yu stepped smoothly in front of me, blocking my view. With her back turned squarely to me, my lower body ended up pressed against her ample rear.
Guan Yu's firm, plump buttocks practically buried my precious parts.... Yeah. I could live here forever.
Yeo Po glanced at Guan Yu, shrugged, and put on a cheeky grin.
"Ah, I've had plenty of fun already. Think I'll call it and rest."
Yeo Po casually brushed off Guan Yu's invitation.
It looked like she was ignoring Guan Yu, which might piss her off—but surprisingly, Guan Yu stayed calm.
"Mm. Fair enough. You've got a lot on your plate, and we've already taken up too much time. Next opportunity, then."
Guan Yu responded with remarkably polite courtesy.
Considering Guan Yu's personality—turning into a raging beast if her pride got scratched even once—this was incredibly mature.
"That... Kim. It's over now, right?"
But I knew why Guan Yu was acting this way.
Guan Yu's face was flushed red.
"Later... tonight... you got time?"
Guan Yu looked at me with sparkling, eager eyes. Ah, she seemed all heated up.
But I had to head out at dawn to search for Yuan Shu's spies in the dead of night.... How was I supposed to make time?
I pondered briefly and reached a quick decision.
Squeeze.
I grabbed Guan Yu's butt noticeably.
"Can't wait till night. Let's do dinner instead."
I whispered to her like that. Handle the wives at dinner, then head out for work at night!
"H-haht…."
At my words, Guan Yu's face turned beet red.
"Mmm."
She replied shyly.
'Haa... and this is another worry.' I glanced subtly toward Mok Lan.
Given her history as an enemy of Yeo Po's army, Mok Lan might find this situation uncomfortable.
'Gotta talk it out properly with Mok Lan.' Make it work. Now that I had my own retainers, I needed to manage them too. Responsibilities were piling up from all sides.
'Take her along tonight when hunting Yuan Shu's spies and have a chat.' Efficient route—handle work and mental care in one go.
I was swamped playing husband and general.
'Our ancestors lived seriously tough lives....' I was starting to feel just how busy they must've been, making kids and handling work non-stop.
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After wrapping up the spars, Yeo Po's side suggested a group dinner, but we made excuses and bowed out. We had plans for dinner.
"Ah…."
Yeo Po looked at me with a dejected pout. I really couldn't read her intentions.
Then her expression shifted dramatically. She shot intense gazes toward Bu Yong-hwa and Guan Yu on either side of me.
Whoosh.
Flames seemed to rage wildly under her eyes.
Clink.
Caught off guard by Yeo Po's sudden killing intent, my hand instinctively went to my sword hilt.
But the moment she saw me, Yeo Po's glare softened instantly.
'People say she's fickle and moody—and it's true.' Without the status window revealing all her mental states, I had to read her myself.... Not easy.
"W-well, see you tomorrow."
She suddenly smiled shyly at me and waved. The disconnect was jarring.
What's with her?
-------
Back at base in Xiaopei, we immediately barred the doors.
The moment the doors shut, Yong-hwa and Guan Yu unfurled the bedding like they'd been waiting. They were totally geared up for it—spreading mats at blinding speed, stripping off their armor like it was nothing.
Honestly, we still needed dinner and other stuff... but wives first. Seeing their beautiful bare forms made that thought hit first.
"Tonight, I'll make sure you two get pregnant."
I hugged Yong-hwa and Guan Yu tight and dove straight into the bedding.
"Kyaa?!" "Hee-hee. Kim, you're so aggressive."
Their coquettish laughter filled the room.
That night, I made slow, sweet love to Yong-hwa and Guan Yu.
Then, at dawn, I opened my eyes in the center of the bed. Yong-hwa and Guan Yu were curled against me, so warm I didn't need blankets.
"…."
I wanted to sleep more, but it was time to get up.
'Hoo….' Getting up felt like a chore. Every bit of energy drained from my body.
'Yong-hwa and Guan Yu... they were super aggressive tonight.' How to put it—they were dead set on getting pregnant, and it was kinda scary.
Still, it was less taxing than rolling on the battlefield. I recovered quickly, slipped on my armor quietly, buckled my sword, and snuck out.
-------
Next, I headed to the barracks where our guys were bunked.
'Wake Mok Lan and take her along.' We'd need manpower to catch Yuan Shu's spies anyway. Plus, chat with her on the side.
After marching from Xuzhou to Xiaopei, everyone was dead asleep.
But voices came from the courtyard at the entrance.
Whoosh. Thwack.
Whoosh. Thwack.
Someone was shooting arrows.
Mok Lan was firing with perfect form, like a painting come to life.
Her arrows clustered neatly on the wooden target.
Clap clap clap.
I couldn't help applauding as I approached Mok Lan.
"Ah. Kim."
Only then did Mok Lan turn, greeting me with a slightly embarrassed look. No mask at night, huh.
"I was coming to talk, but your door was shut. Looked like a 'no guests' policy."
Mok Lan said.
"Ah…."
Yeah. Busy baby-making.
"I had something to say to you too."
I smiled at Mok Lan.
"Something to say…."
Mok Lan blushed faintly, looking my way.
"Let's head out first. Got work to do."
I nodded toward the outside.
"Ah…. Yeah."
Mok Lan looked flustered but slung her bow at her waist and followed.
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Meanwhile, in Shouchun.
"Argh!!"
Yuan Shu hurled his wine cup and slammed the desk.
His ambitious Xuzhou Castle assault had backfired spectacularly. Most of his troops got shredded, and his relationship with Sun Jian soured.
After that fiasco, Sun Jian hadn't said a word to Yuan Shu and just retreated to his base in Jiangdong. Reports said Sun Jian vowed to tear Yuan Shu apart, but Yuan Shu's orders to withdraw fell on deaf ears.
And now word that Yeo Po had joined Liu Bei's forces. Seizing Xuzhou Castle seemed hopeless.
"My lord."
Then, Yuan Shu's advisor Yang Hong approached with a fist salute.
"Ah, Yang Hong. What is it?"
When in a good mood, Yuan Shu called him 'teacher' with respect. Now, bad mood meant condescension. Yuan Shu's fickle nature showed here.
"Actually, Yeo Po entering Xuzhou is a good omen."
Yang Hong smiled brightly.
"Good how? Doesn't Liu Bei—who's already a beast in battle—now have Yeo Po too?!"
Yuan Shu snapped immediately.
"Yeo Po loves betrayal and lacks loyalty. She'll flip on anyone for gain. Send her a secret letter tempting her, then we coordinate: she strikes from inside, we from outside. Xuzhou falls in no time."
Yang Hong's plan went like this.
Pledge Yeo Po supplies and troops, dangle the chance to take Xuzhou. She bites, plots against Liu Bei—meanwhile, Yuan Shu arrays his army before the castle. Yeo Po revolts from within, and they crush Liu Bei's forces like rats in a trap.
No matter how fierce Liu Bei's generals, encirclement left them helpless. Yuan Shu loved these schemes; it seemed perfect.
"But won't we be helping Yeo Po take Xuzhou?"
Yuan Shu asked.
"Hee-hee. Then we use our superior numbers: seize the castle first and drive her out."
Yang Hong's idea seemed feasible.
"Brilliant!! Send an envoy to Xiaopei at once!!"
Yuan Shu slapped his knee, laughing.
"My lord is wise."
Yang Hong flattered with a forced smile.
And so, Yuan Shu dispatched a renowned secret envoy to Xiaopei.