Shadows of Defeat and Flames of Conquest
Yuan Shu's expedition, launched just to snag one measly prefecture, ended in utter failure. Not only did he squander 50,000 troops, but his most trusted fierce general, Yu Rang, was slain by Lu Bu.
Returning to Nanyang Commandery without even knowing how he'd made it back, Yuan Shu took to his bed for months on end.
He didn't convene meetings with his retainers, just holed up at home embracing his wife Lady Feng.
The defeat had hit too hard. But Yuan Shu's way of coping with it disappointed his subordinates even more.
In a world of men, that's how it worked. The moment a leader lost trust, they sensed it and bailed on the organization. Pick the wrong master in this era, and you were done for. The scholars and officers under Yuan Shu's forces across Nanyang and Huanan quietly began defecting one by one.
Yet Yuan Shu remained shut away, stubbornly refusing to emerge—treading a path eerily similar to that of his former ally Gongsun Zan.
At that very moment.
Jiangdong, below Nanyang and Huanan, buzzed with vibrant energy.
Sun Jian was expanding his power around Jianye, subjugating the Jiangdong region piece by piece and showcasing his might.
The nearby foes—powers like Yuan Yao and Yan Baihu—were large but lacked any real talent.
Yan Baihu had even gone so far as to declare himself the Virtuous King of Dongwu, committing treason. Plenty of justification to crush him.
Plus, Jiangdong itself was a remote frontier detached from the central chaos, and even the capital was in turmoil thanks to Li Jue and Guo Si. The perfect setup for Sun Jian to build his strength.
"Grrraaah!! What are you fools doing?! Block them! Block!!"
The self-proclaimed Virtuous King of Dongwu, Yan Baihu, snatched up his sword in panic at the ferocious momentum of the Jiangdong army.
"Yan Baihu!!! Let's clash as leaders of our bands!!!"
In that instant, a burly man wearing a tiger pelt as a helmet charged forward. It was Sun Jian.
"Kuh…!"
Yan Baihu desperately raised his sword to fend off Sun Jian.
But before he could, Sun Jian's blade sliced clean through Yan Baihu's shoulder and collarbone.
"Yan…."
As Yan Baihu tried to speak, Sun Jian's sword neatly severed the flesh of his neck.
"The enemy commander!! Has fallen!!"
Sun Jian bellowed, gripping his sword high.
With Jianye and Wu now both under his control, the moment had arrived.
Great undertakings always start with the right people. Sun Jian promoted capable talents from the surrendered bandits and brigands.
Two in particular: Zhu Tai, and Tai Shici from under Yuan Yao.
"General! With this momentum, what ambition can't we achieve?!"
Standing beside him, Huang Gai shouted with an ecstatic expression.
"Hmph. But we can't stop here satisfied."
Sun Jian laughed heartily, gazing beyond the sky.
"Next is Yuan Shu. After that, Xuzhou with Liu Bei."
Sun Jian patted his son Sun Ce's shoulder, eyes ablaze with ambition.
"Ce. Watch closely. This is the great undertaking of the Sun clan of Jiangdong."
Sun Jian looked upon Sun Ce with affectionate eyes.
A physiognomist had once said Sun Quan had the nobler features than Sun Ce, but Sun Jian personally favored his son Sun Ce over his somewhat effeminate daughter Sun Quan.
"Yes!! Father!!"
Sun Ce, sporting a tiger-skin helmet like his father, grinned in gratitude.
Back to Kim Gong's perspective.
"Alright, let's try some dictation. Just write down the passages I read."
Having returned to Xuzhou after a long time, I'd decided to study writing with Choi Yeom.
"Mm!! Bring it on!!"
It was a chance to tackle the grueling test of classical Chinese dictation. My brush hand trembled on its own.
"Heehee. 'Bring it on'? That's not a battlefield."
Choi Yeom giggled softly.
"Now then…."
Choi Yeom flipped through The Art of War casually, reciting passages for me to transcribe. The process repeated.
After finishing the dictation.
"Hm hm. Not bad for a first try. And the characters are nicely formed."
Choi Yeom seemed genuinely surprised.
"Heh. Whatever."
I'd picked it up piecemeal amid battles.
"Thanks to my excellent teacher."
I immediately cupped my fists in a bao quan salute to express my gratitude.
"Oh my…."
Choi Yeom smiled delightedly at my words.
"You're so quick-witted. Keep this up, and you'll be a scholar-warrior."
Choi Yeom encouraged her disciple right away.
"…Kim Gong is so cool."
Mid-sentence, Choi Yeom stroked the back of my hand.
"The way you never settle for the present and always strive to grow… it's so attractive…."
Suddenly meeting her heated gaze, I flustered despite myself. She really was pretty.
"…."
Our eyes locked briefly, but then we both realized how close our faces had drawn.
"…Uh, ahem! L-let's call it here for today…. Would you like some tea?"
Choi Yeom jolted back, creating distance with a fake cough.
After that, Cho Seon joined us for tea.
But… something was off with Cho Seon.
"…."
She kept her head down, gazing at the floor with a faintly sorrowful expression.
'….'
They say a beauty's smile is her finest expression, but seeing Cho Seon like this—sad and vulnerable—packed a devastating punch. Any man would instinctively want to protect her. A bewitching look worthy of her title as a kingdom-toppling beauty.
But setting aside her looks…. She seemed worried about something.
"Lady Cho. Got something troubling you?"
I asked her directly.
"Ah…."
Cho Seon lifted her eyes. Choi Yeom knew but hadn't pried.
"Um…. Kim Gong. Are you free later?"
Cho Seon hesitated before asking me.
'Affinity event, huh.'
Once you got close enough, the heroines sometimes made requests like this.
"Of course."
But screw the game system—since I'd brought Cho Seon to live in Xuzhou, it was partly my fault. I had to take responsibility. If something was bothering her, I'd help.
"Heehee. Thank you."
Cho Seon gave a weak smile and brushed back her hair.
With some free time after, I rode out with Cho Seon toward a nearby forest in Xuzhou.
"My foster father, Lord Wang Yun…. was killed by Li Jue and Guo Si."
Cho Seon finally spoke of the event that had unfolded as in the original history.
"Ah."
Now it made sense.
Wang Yun's iron-fisted rule ultimately fell to Li Jue and Guo Si, who had seized Chang'an. Seeing Lu Bu's defeat, Wang Yun took his own life.
"I'm sorry."
It was because I'd brought her here that Cho Seon couldn't even hold a funeral for her father.
'Honestly, if she'd stayed there…. she'd have suffered far worse at the hands of those western barbarians.'
But she wouldn't accept that reasoning.
"No, don't be sorry. If I'd stayed, I'd have faced even greater horrors from those beasts of the northwest. Even if it was coincidence, you saved me, Kim Gong."
Cho Seon looked at me gratefully.
"Lady Cho…."
She understood.
"I want to go to Chang'an, retrieve Father's body, and give him a proper funeral…. But that's impossible. With no body, I just want to hold one here properly."
Cho Seon said earnestly.
"Mm. I see."
Yeah. Proper mourning matters. Skip it, and the regret festers into lifelong gloom.
"I'll help. I don't know rituals, but I'll stand by your side."
I told her.
"Thank you."
Cho Seon smiled faintly, then set light wine and refreshments before a broad rock facing Chang'an's direction in the sky.
I stood beside her and joined her in a light prayer, hands clasped.
No incense, so it was a bit makeshift—we lit a bonfire nearby.
Gazing into the crackling flames, Cho Seon and I stood silently.
Then, Cho Seon leaned her back against my shoulder.
"Choi Yeom and Lord Cai…. good people by my side…. but now, I'm practically an orphan of the world."
Cho Seon murmured.
"…."
Heartbreaking. Nothing to say. This brutal era was to blame.
"I don't want to burden you, Kim Gong…. but your presence means so much to me."
She turned to me.
"Please…. keep protecting me. If even you leave, I don't think I could endure."
My reflection shone in her eyes.
"Yeah. I will. Definitely. Gotta take responsibility for saving your life."
I took her hand.
"Yes…."
Mid-sentence, Cho Seon suddenly struck with a surprise attack.
*Smack.*
She boldly thrust her face forward for a kiss.
"…."
So sudden, my reaction lagged. She'd caught me completely off guard. If she'd trained in swordsmanship, she'd have been a prodigy. The thought crossed my mind unbidden.
"…Make me a woman. So I can feel safe."
Her words left me speechless.
"…."
I wanted to tell her to calm down, but was it her beauty's spell? My fumbling hands reached to embrace her.
As the standoff stretched.
"Lady Cho. Keeping such worries to yourself? How heartless."
Cai Yong arrived on a donkey, shaking a wine bottle.
"Exactly. We're close friends. You should have told us."
Choi Yeom appeared too, snacks in hand.
The mood snapped back to normal. Cho Seon and I quickly pulled apart.
"Wang Yun…. he tried to kill me once, but he wasn't some irredeemable villain. Just caught in the storm of chaos. Let me compose a elegy for the mourning."
Cai Yong chuckled, stroking his beard.
"Let me offer condolences too. Enemy or not…. he's my dear friend's father."
Choi Yeom smiled warmly.
The funeral grew a bit lively.
'Whew, good thing.'
Hugging her thoughtlessly there might've hurt us both somehow.
After properly concluding the mourning, I led everyone back to Xuzhou city.
Affinity with Cho Seon has reached 'Beloved'.
Affinity with Choi Yeom has reached 'Beloved'.
Affinity with Cai Yong has reached 'Beloved'.
Felt like affinities had shot up across the board.
'These are people I brought here…. Gotta protect them right.'
Game system aside, I was starting to feel real responsibility for their lives.