The Excuse of Parental Vengeance

"Kim Gong seems like quite the hero from what I've seen over these past days," Liu Bei said with a benevolent smile. "Our thoughts align so well—would you not join me as a comrade in this endeavor and lend me your support?"

"Hahaha."

Fuck. What the hell was I supposed to do here?

The reason Liu Bei, who ignored anyone he hadn't personally acknowledged, kept talking to me was simple.

He wants to recruit me as a comrade...!

And now he was dragging the Peach Garden Oath into it—the volunteer army's toxic fine print. This was a crisis.

Born on different days, but die on the same. It sounded romantic at first glance, but behind those words lurked a slave contract. A lifetime of servitude to Liu Bei's army until death...!!!

I didn't know how much power human oaths held, but this one actually worked. Shortly after Guan Yu died, Zhang Fei followed, and Liu Bei eventually smashed his army at Yiling and croaked. And now me too? That meant I'd roll as Liu Bei's slave for life.

I have to escape...!

Liu Bei was the real deal—a total nightmare. Once in his army, I'd be cannon fodder on the battlefield, ending up as wild dog chow. No wife or kids meant starving to death alone and forgotten.

I started racking my brain for excuses. Who had successfully ditched Liu Bei?

Ah, Tian Kai.

He was obscure unless you were a Three Kingdoms nerd. Originally under Gongsun Zan, he and Zhao Yun admired Liu Bei and followed him. But judging that he wouldn't stick with Liu Bei forever, he bailed, citing the need to care for his aged mother.

Scholars agreed the "aged mother" bit was just an excuse. What happened to Tian Kai after? He joined Cao Cao's forces, rose through the ranks, racked up merits in campaigns against the Wuhuan, and secured an iron rice bowl.

And...Xun Yu!!

Right. The advisor Liu Bei tried to recruit before Zhuge Liang. Cao Cao had Xun Yu's mother send a fake letter, making him leave Liu Bei's side. But really, scholars say Xun Yu realized Liu Bei's faction had no future and bolted.

After leaving Liu Bei, Xun Yu faded from the spotlight. Probably just took care of his mom, got married, had kids, and lived comfortably. In the Three Kingdoms world, no news was good news.

Both cited the same reason: their mothers.

Yes...! This is a Confucian world!

Filial piety was huge. Even Yuan Shao gained fame early on by holding a three-year mourning period for his stepmother—not even his birth mom—and launched his political career. Enough said.

So, using mom or dad as an excuse usually worked. Perfect. I'd go with that.

I cleared my throat, steeling myself.

"Kuhk...!"

Tears welled up naturally as sad memories flooded in. Yeah, I had plenty of those.

"Kim Gong... what's wrong all of a sudden?!"

Liu Bei hurriedly grabbed my collar.

"The truth is... I came to this Central Plains to avenge my mother and father."

I spun the tale on the spot. Simple plot: A man named Kim Deok-su helplessly watched as mysterious bandits slaughtered his parents. Clutching a single sword, he set off on a journey of vengeance.

Straight out of a classic RPG.

"I don't know the man's name, but he was covered head to toe in scars, with glowing red eyes."

I stated it flatly. Did such a guy exist? Eh, realism sacrificed for impact.

"A villain like that must be out there bandit-ing or murdering somewhere, so I've been tracking leads."

I nodded firmly.

"...Such circumstances..."

Zhang Fei's eyes grew misty.

"I see... So that's why you cursed at me for having no parents. It was your own sore spot..."

Guan Yu's eyes shimmered too, as if she'd imbued my flame-pad lip with deeper meaning.

"I'd love to follow Lord Xuande, but avenging my parents comes first. I'll wander the Central Plains, hunting clues to the killer."

Okay. Legal escape route secured. Blocking this would make Liu Bei's crew the assholes.

Your move, Liu Bei!!!

"I understand. Such resolve deserves respect. But could we not at least swear brotherhood? Surely that's fine?"

Liu Bei was still pushing that forbidden spell, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Peach Garden Oath.

"...I'd love to bond as siblings with you all. But my path is perilous. The killer who took my parents was no slouch. If I die in some accident, you'd grieve a brother's loss. That would be unjust."

Yup, anticipated it. I shut down the oath angle with polite refusal.

"...A righteous man indeed."

"Kim Gong, you kept such ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thoughts hidden."

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei looked moved.

Okay, smooth sailing?

That's when it hit.

"So where do you plan to go, Kim Gong?"

Liu Bei asked.

".......No fixed destination."

Maybe hole up in a nearby county for local supplies, then head somewhere. It was the closest town in You Province. Or hustle to Julu. Both plagued by Yellow Turbans, so plenty of paid gigs. Grind cash, bolt south to safety.

And farm nearby.

Yellow Turban Rebellion had a meta: Enemies near big cities were weak. Standard play—settle in a city, level up, then move on.

That's my plan. Follow the meta leveling route.

"I don't doubt your skills, Kim Gong, but You and Ji Provinces crawl with Yellow Turbans. They're effectively blockading the area. Not the best time to travel."

Liu Bei smiled faintly.

That's when an ominous message flashed beyond my status window.

Liu Bei was launching a persuasion attempt. I felt the pressure...

"To travel safely, we must clear the Yellow Turbans here anyway. Let us help."

Liu Bei showed goodwill. But it wasn't. Just stalling my refusal.

"And your parents' killer might be one of the Yellow Turbans in You and Ji. We can hunt them together and gather intel."

Clever pitch.

Ah, shit... Did I pick the wrong angle?

I squeezed my eyes shut. Shouldn't have gone full weeb with the "avenge my parents" schtick. Could've just said my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mom was alive. But Liu Bei might've said, "Let's go pay respects together." So I went with dead parents... backfired.

Even "I'll mourn three years first" would've gotten "We'll fetch you after." Liu Bei was tougher than expected.

"Exactly!! We're already brothers!! If we can help, we must!!"

Zhang Fei slung an arm around my shoulders.

"Hm. You've already helped us outsiders in Zhuo Commandery. Let me assist too."

Guan Yu fixed me with blazing eyes.

"We'll surely find your parents' killer."

She sidled up beside me.

Yup. Fucked.

No choice—I ended up operating with Liu Bei's volunteer army.

--------

How much time had passed?

I came to my senses amid a cheering crowd roaring with laughter.

We stood at Zhuo's pride and joy: a massive peach tree.

Liu Bei raised his sword high before it—the blacksmith uncle's masterpiece after joining, the Twin Swords of Hero and Beauty. A matched pair in one sheath.

"We vow to exert ourselves for the people of the realm!!! And here, we swear our souls bound as siblings!!!"

Liu Bei bellowed, eyeing the whole volunteer army.

"Waaaaah!!!!"

Zhuo's commoners in the volunteers cheered wildly.

"This Guan Yun-chang vows to swing her blade solely for righteousness!!"

Guan Yu drew her massive curved blade, thrusting the crescent high.

Her signature: the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Also blacksmith-made.

Impressive.

Nearly a broad greatsword blade fixed to a polearm shaft. Required insane strength. A delicate, feminine beauty wielding it was striking.

A beauty with a huge weapon... total weeb dream.

Yeah, romantic.

"I don't get complicated stuff!!! But these folks are great!! I'll fight to protect 'em!!"

Zhang Fei shouted, brandishing a thin, snake-tongued spear.

Blacksmith's practical stabber: the Zhangba Snake Spear. Its wavy blade slipped chainmail gaps or armor joints. Even seen in Western cold weapons. Sharp edges on the curves allowed slashing too. Solid weapon.

Who the hell was this blacksmith uncle? Cranking out artifacts.

"Woooaaargh!!!!"

The volunteers roared, then turned to me on stage, grinning ear to ear. Creepy as hell. Reminded me of that horror flick Midsommar—cult villagers smiling beatifically during human sacrifice in the square. That's me now.

"I decline sworn brotherhood for personal reasons... but as your companion for now, I'll swing my sword for my siblings!!"

Damn me for pulling my blade to hype the crowd.

Shing.

Another blacksmith gift: the 'Far East Sword'. Solid weapon.

Way above my current specs...

Insane stats had me hooked. Gear matters big in this game. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Accepting it gave more reason to stick with Liu Bei temporarily—and boom, I stumbled into the historic Peach Garden Oath.

My life... what would become of it?