Lu Bu's Gifts and Yuan Shu's Desperate Gamble
The days in Xiaopei passed in a lazy Squid Game routine—skipping out on duties when I could, sneaking peeks at The Art of War to boost my intelligence, steadily building my inner strength. It all repeated in comfortable monotony.
'When I first arrived in Xiaopei, I wondered how it'd go... but damn, it's peaceful.'
Thanks to Yeo Po not stirring up any major trouble, my job as her minder was a breeze.
Of course, other issues cropped up.
"Kim~"
While on patrol, Yeo Po called out to me.
"Kuhk."
She'd dragged in a bunch of street punks she'd nabbed from the alleys, beaten to a bloody pulp. Apparently, they'd been robbing folks.
"P-Please, spare us, Lady Yeo!" one of the thugs begged.
"What're you talking about? I'm not killing you, obviously. Gotta torture you first—why rush to death?" Yeo Po blinked wide-eyed at the thief.
"Keeheehee. Fresh toys after so long."
"Hurry up and take 'em away."
The Xiliang soldiers snickered as they hauled off the thieves.
'Barbarians through and through.' They say if you stare into the abyss long enough, it stares back. The Xiliang troops, hardened from endless fights with nomads in Bing Province, were as rough as they came. Even Seo Yeong, the guy I'd killed, was no joke. Never wanted to cross paths with that bastard again.
"Kim! Reading again today?" Yeo Po sauntered over every evening like clockwork.
"Yeah."
"Tch." "Hmph."
Bu Yonghwa and Guan Yu shot her looks that screamed they weren't fans.
But... Yeo Po's attitude was different this time.
She glared at Bu Yonghwa like a mortal enemy. Bu Yonghwa met her killing intent head-on without flinching—impressive.
'My wife's got spine.' Bu Yonghwa's aura was no joke. Even Guan Yu treated her like the second wife at home—you could tell.
Anyway, that weird bronze statue Chun Seol had brought home was bent out of shape. Wonder why.
"Kim. What do you think of this?" Yeo Po flipped her hair and leaned in.
Plump.
Bending forward emphasized the generous swell of her chest. She clearly wanted me to notice.
"Yeah. Impressive."
When someone's showing off something precious, you gotta react.
"Uhahat! Not that." Yeo Po giggled, then glanced at Bu Yonghwa.
"Prettier than that Xiongnu wench? Me?"
She lobbed a landmine question out of nowhere.
"Nah. My wife's the best." I fired off the model answer without hesitation.
'Picked the harem life... but can't be wishy-washy.' The principal wife was principal. I backed Bu Yonghwa's position. Gotta set the tone early to avoid drama later.
'Already approved Guan Yu as a wife.' Yeah. That put me in emotional debt already.
And if I played nice with Bu Yonghwa... maybe I could sweet-talk her into more beauties down the line. Trashy thought, but honestly? A man's instinct to collect wives.
"Tch." Yeo Po's red eyes burned fiercer.
"Wasn't talking about my chest. I meant this."
She coyly drew something from her belt with a flourish.
Shing.
A bronze sword gleamed with its distinctive murky luster. The blade bore the Big Dipper constellation etched in, inlaid with seven colored gems.
'The Seven Star Sword...'
One of the game's artifacts. Passed from Wang Yun to Cao Cao, then to Dong Zhuo, and now to Yeo Po.
'Pierces any defense, slices through anything.' Armor? Tough hide? Didn't matter. Pure penetration damage from insane cutting power.
Its signature trait—cleaving rock or steel like butter—earned it the nickname "Rose Blade."
'Wait, doesn't that make it better than Namun Sword or anything?'
Some might think so. But nope. Durability sucked. A few swings and the edge dulled. Bronze sword curse.
So, sub-weapon duty. Swap in against high-defense foes when your main couldn't cut it. Short blade made it perfect for that.
"Hehe. Got it from Dong Zhuo. Amazing sword. Called..."
"Seven Star Sword."
"Hah. Knew you'd recognize it, Kim—you're a warrior. The famous one."
Yeo Po immediately started humblebragging.
"..."
Should I brag about my Namun Sword? Legendary blade only heroes can wield—wanna taste it?
"Here, for you."
But Yeo Po casually handed over the sheathed Seven Star Sword.
"To me?"
I froze.
No way. Yeo Po, greed incarnate, giving away treasure?
"Yeah. I just need my Sky Piercer... Figured you'd like a sword."
She mumbled awkwardly.
"Why give away something this valuable...?"
Curious about her angle.
"Just... wanna get closer to you."
Yeo Po fidgeted, twisting her fingers like a shy girl.
Whoa, the gap moe hit hard.
"A-And... Xiongnu lady."
She turned to Bu Yonghwa.
"Hmph. What's with the courtesy now?"
Bu Yonghwa stroked her belly, tone sharp.
Still early pregnancy—no bump yet—but she kept caressing it lovingly. Overkill? Nah, too cute. I just smiled warmly.
"This is a prayer bead from Chang'an. Pregnancy gift."
Yeo Po pulled out a fist-sized orb, shimmering with seven colors. Obvious treasure.
"Oh... Seven-Colored Bead...!"
Bu Yonghwa's eyes sparkled. Women and jewels, huh.
"Take it."
Yeo Po spoke politely, a bit edgy but showing goodwill.
"Hrm. Fine. Thanks."
Bu Yonghwa eyed her warily.
What the hell? Did she eat something weird? Kinda scary.
-----
'Teacher Jin said bow low first.'
Yeo Po eyed Bu Yonghwa, thinking that.
'Kim's got two wives already, great chemistry—no room to wedge in. Gotta play nice, be sisters.'
Jin Gung's words.
'Heroes love women. Heroes have three wives, four concubines. Mess up relations, and even if I win Kim, I'm just a concubine.'
That woke her up. Yeah. Act like shit, stay a concubine. Better to cozy up and aim higher.
'Play nice here, snag wife status—then climb to first wife.'
Jin Gung's advice set her goal.
'Jin's the best! Thanks!!'
'Lady Fengxian, anyway—plans to hit Cao Cao...'
'Heading to Kim now!'
Jin Gung's rest was already forgotten.
------
Chilling peacefully in Xiaopei, my intelligence hit 60, The Art of War half-read. Basic stratagems down pat. No more panicking in war.
Kim Squad had inner strength now—could slack on duties. Leave Mok Lan, Gu Ryeokgeo, Guan He to manage the kids; it worked out.
"Y-Your Excellency... got the rumors."
Chun Seol approached with a fist salute while I read.
I'd learned her hidden talent. Great at intel. Fenced stolen goods, networked with info brokers.
'What's her real deal...' Underworld vibe, but whatever—no need to pry.
"Gongsun Zan lost."
"Yuan Shao's general Guo Yi took his head; You Province fully routed..."
Chun Seol mumbled, avoiding my eyes.
"Hm. Got it."
Gongsun Zan, hunkered in Yekyung Tower hoping for a turnaround, burned with it.
Liu Yu, former Youzhou governor, dead too. Gongsun Zan's final flex backfired, tanking what little public support he had.
Smart retainers fled; his clan generals held but failed.
Yuan Shao now dominated Ji and You Provinces— all Hebei in his grip.
'Okay. Yuan Shao's king for now.' This balance lasts years.
"And... chaos in Nanyang and Shouchun under Yuan Shu. Massive famine..."
Chun Seol briefed on Yuan Shu too.
Yeah. Yuan Shu's downfall arc started here. All-in on Gongsun Zan coin, praying for a meteor. Nope. Yuan Shao solidified, leaving Yuan Shu isolated.
Was allied with Tao Qian in Xu; now Liu Bei ate Xu—they're enemies.
Liu Bei foe, Yeo Po under him foe, Yuan Shao foe, Cao Cao (Yuan Shao faction) foe. Broke the chaos rule: more allies than enemies.
Self-proclaimed emperor made him everyone's target, but diplomacy was trash before. Emperor bit was "fuck it" desperation.
Heaven abandoned him too. Unprecedented famine in Nanyang-Shouchun—cannibalism levels.
'Yuan Shu won't hit here soon. Good.'
Relief was my complacency. Desperate men do mad shit.
Yuan Shu went all-in Squid Game.
"Yuan Shu's army swarming Xiaopei and Hefei!!"
Chun Seol's urgent report forced me into armor in a rush.
"Numbers."
Voice calm despite the weirdness overload.
"30,000 on Xiaopei!! 20,000 on Hefei...!"
50k total. Every last soldier.
Famine stalled growth, diplomacy dead—eat Xu for survival. Xiaopei-Hefei buys a year; whole Xu two. Desperate math.
"Those lunatics..."
Guan Yu clicked her tongue, Green Dragon Crescent Blade ready.
"We stop 'em."
Words said, but my mind plotted bigger.
"Nah. We take Yuan Shu's head here."
Aim: wipe his faction. No Yuan Shu, east Xu safe.
'Time for The Art of War strat.' Brain upgraded—wanna pull off a killer scheme.
"So manly... so cool..." "Yeah, cool..."
Bu Yonghwa and Guan Yu murmured dreamily. Good wives boosting hubby's ego.
"Who's defending Hefei?"
Xiaopei fine; Hefei worried me.
"General Mi Fang, sir!" a soldier said.
"..."
Ah. Right. Sigh. Kinda uneasy.