Sun Quan's Mercy
Sun Quan's children really were cut from Sun Jian's cloth. Perhaps it was the blood of Sun Wu, author of The Art of War, flowing through her veins, but Sun Quan had a natural talent for strategy.
"Uwaaaah! Get out of the way!!"
"Kim!! I'll clear the path, so you must escape!!!"
The encirclement was being battered by kids charging in with mad momentum.
As the art of war states, it's foolish to forcibly oppose momentum that's already formed.
"Everyone, open the way!! Don't block the path needlessly!!"
Sun Quan shouted in a clear, bright voice despite her youth.
In fact, even the historical Sun Quan at Yuan Ye had a strong spirit. It was none other than Sun Quan who rebuilt the faction after her father and brother's deaths. Look at how she carried out a great purge of those who'd once laughed and joked together to maintain power. She wasn't just any ordinary viper.
Shwaaak!!
The soldiers pretended to fight for a moment before immediately parting the way.
'We can't win anyway.' Sun Quan knew that. So she opened the path to minimize casualties.
'Even if they reach Xuzhou, there are other allies there.' That was Sun Quan's calculation.
You had to capture prey you could reliably hunt with encirclement.
For example…
"Kugh!! My lord!!"
Zhu Tai's cry came from somewhere, rolling in the dirt. Beyond him, Kim was sprinting wildly with sword in hand.
"Everyone, block him!!"
Sun Quan decided to capture Kim for sure right here.
Clang! Slash!!
Shield soldiers immediately raised their shields to bar Kim's path.
───────
Shield Spear Formation.
A technique where shields are planted, spears thrust out between them, and stances taken. The more people, the more devastating it was against cavalry.
What did that mean? For a lone mounted rider like me, it was an impenetrable wall.
"Sun Quan…."
And in the midst of it all was Sun Quan.
No. Were they seriously calling a child still at play age to command on the battlefield? The advanced lessons of this chaotic era were brutal.
"K-Kim oppa…."
Sun Quan looked up at me with a flushed face.
It felt like facing a slightly close acquaintance as an enemy on the battlefield. What was it like? Probably like Cao Cao meeting Guan Yu at Huayong—life and death in the opponent's hands.
"Oppa. Surrender quietly, please."
Sun Quan drew her sword with a grave expression.
But… it seemed there were no child-sized swords. The blade, heavy enough to double as a baton for Sun Quan, was too much.
"Hiiik…."
Sun Quan's arm drooped straight down with the sword.
"…."
Cute. In this dire situation, the tension melted away.
"If you surrender peacefully… I'll treat you really well, oppa."
Sun Quan said.
"How exactly would you treat me well?"
Her flustered attitude was oddly endearing, and I found myself asking without thinking.
"W-Well-treated means…."
Sun Quan hadn't expected the question and immediately floundered.
"I-I'll feed you delicious food every day… and give you anything you want…."
Sun Quan stammered on.
"A-And we'll play house every day, read books together…."
After that, Sun Quan rattled off what she wanted. No. She just wanted to be with me.
Anyway, her unexpectedly docile reaction gave me an opening.
'Playing house with Yong-hwa was a divine move!'
It started casually with Yong-hwa during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but it snowballed into this.
[Persuasion Start]
My built-up persuasion from original stats, plus miscellaneous knowledge from reading under Choi Yeom for days, put me at mid-50s now.
Higher than expected. Even Meng Da, known for eloquence, was around 60s on inspection—I wasn't hopeless at talking.
'Let's do this.' For survival, I'd attach a motor to my tongue!!
"C-Capture him alive…."
Sun Jian hardened her resolve to command, but I shouted loudly at Sun Quan first.
"Even if captured alive, I'll die anyway—why use the term 'capture alive'?"
I launched desperate persuasion at Sun Quan.
"E-Eh?!"
Sun Quan looked at me in panic.
"N-No. Father has admired you since the Yellow Turban days… He said he'd use you heavily if you surrendered."
Sun Quan said.
Zhu Tai watched me ambiguously, sword drawn. He'd follow Sun Quan's orders. Since she showed intent to talk, he wouldn't interfere—clear resolve. A true bodyguard.
"Sure, if nothing happened. But I killed your intelligence officer escaping here."
The smooth job-change route was long gone.
"Y-You killed the intel officer?!"
Sun Quan seemed shocked by the news.
"Yeah. True story."
I nodded solemnly with utter seriousness.
The intel officer was Sun Jian's founding member and closest aide. Among generals, the calmest one—Sun Jian relied on her inwardly.
In the tag match of Sun Jian and intel vs. me and Guan Yu, the intel officer died to my blade.
No matter how passionate Sun Jian was about talent, she wouldn't kindly employ her aide's killer.
'I don't trust the Sun family.' They held grudges over trifles. Best case, poisoned food; average, excuses to kill me.
[Sun Quan is intrigued by your words.]
"Captured or fighting, I die. So I'll take the latter."
I declared resolutely, aiming my sword.
'Surprisingly, Sun Quan's affinity for me is high.' Kids remember little things well. Playing house with Yong-hwa must've left a deep mark on her childhood.
"K-Kim oppa dying… but what should I do…."
As Sun Quan floundered, I read the persuasion thread.
"Quan-ah… save me, please."
I sighed, making the pitifulest face possible.
"I don't want to fight you."
That persuaded her.
Emotional appeals worked on kids—or so I believed, backed by the status window.
Even shrewd Cao Cao appealed to emotion with Guan Yu. It worked subtly.
[Persuasion Success]
[Persuasion: 61]
"H-Hyaah…."
Sun Quan panicked, then weakly lowered her sword.
"…Go through."
Sun Quan squeezed her eyes shut and said.
"Quan-ah. Thanks."
I immediately thanked her.
"…Later, this favor…."
Sun Quan stared at me and said.
Then, mumbling, she added.
"Will we meet again someday?"
Sun Quan looked up at me with her blue eyes.
"If you're in trouble or danger, I'll save you."
I knew righteousness too, so I said it straight.
With Sun Quan stuck in Jiangdong, I'd have chances to help. Plenty of enemies for the Sun family. Mercenary work, dodging Sun Jian and Sun Ce's eyes. Yeah.
"G-Get out of the way…."
Sun Quan immediately ordered her soldiers.
"L-Little lord?!"
The surrounding soldiers looked at Sun Quan in shock.
"Open up! I'll take all responsibility!!!"
Sun Quan exuded unchildlike dignity.
"Ah…. Yes!!"
The soldiers hastily raised their shields, flinging the gate open.
"Little lord!!"
Zhu Tai cried in panic.
"It's fine. Let him go."
Sun Quan sighed, ultimately pulling a "Huayong" move.
"Thanks… really, thanks!"
I'll buy you a meal later for real!!
Clop clop!! Clop clop!!
I whipped Red Hare into the forest path.
Behind, the Jiangdong army's burning glares stung. Hope she doesn't change her mind? The thought made me nervous.
───────
"My lord!! That's clearly a deception!!"
Zhu Tai approached Sun Quan.
"Kim oppa doesn't lie. He'll keep his word."
But Sun Quan spoke with conviction.
"No, but…."
What made this girl so certain?
"But… if he lies like other adults…."
Sun Quan's blue eyes glinted dangerously as she murmured lowly.
"My heart would turn pitch black…."
Zhu Tai shuddered at the inexplicable killing intent in her words.
'Little lord… she's a tiger in this way.'
Zhu Tai was startled, glimpsing the darkness within Sun Quan.
───────
Clop clop!!
I galloped madly toward Xuzhou along the path the kids likely took.
Worried in the dark night, but traces were easy to find.
'They went all out spectacularly.'
Soldiers littered everywhere. Overwhelming force had shredded the front—obvious at a glance.
I was stunned seeing even rear trees slashed. With Three Kingdoms' human weapons Guan Yu and Yeo Po conspiring to break through, this was the scene.
Clop clop!!!
Galloping along, I heard presences ahead.
"Everyone!!!"
It felt like reuniting with comrades on Saebongdo Island—pure thrill.
"Kim!!"
"Young master!!"
"Kim!!!!!"
The kids, looking a bit ragged, welcomed me. They'd rolled hard.
"G-Gong… the fire…."
Bu Yong-hwa burst into tears, staring at burning Xuzhou. They'd entered and immediately set it ablaze. Beyond the soaring flames, weapon clashes echoed.
'Should I really bail?'
Plans to leave Liu Bei's army crept up.
If I took Yong-hwa, the squad, Yeo Po… and somehow convinced Guan Yu, then flew to Jingzhou for an easy life—what then? The thought slipped in unbidden.
'But Guan Yu won't follow.' Man or woman, she had loyalty. She wouldn't abandon Liu Bei and Zhang Fei lightly.
"Hiiihiiing."
But Red Hare headed toward Xuzhou on its own. Even without my control. Wait, why? Don't go there. No.
Yeah. This guy pushed my back.
'Takhyun is my hometown.'
Yeah. After possessing here, Takhyun was where I first formed real bonds. All of Takhyun was in Xuzhou.
'Bailing now… would ruin ties with Zhao Yun and the others.'
My ideal resignation wasn't chased by hunters—it was amicable parting.
'Plus Choi Seon, Choi Yeom, Cai Yong.' People I saved, whom I wanted to protect.
"Everyone!!! Just a bit more! No need to overfight!! Break through!! Save Hyeondeok-gong, Ikdeok, Zhao Yun!!"
I shouted to the kids, scanning around.
"…Kim is impressive as always. Unbroken even here."
Guan Yu smiled at me.
"Yeah. Rallying everyone in this— that's a hero."
Mok Lan nodded in agreement.
"Cool…."
Yeo Po repeated like a broken recorder.
Screw it. Whatever.
Tai Shici, Sun Ce—whoever, come at me.
"Charge!!!"
I swung the blue blade of Nam Un Geom, heading straight for Xuzhou.
──────
At that moment.
"Eyyyit! Die!!"
Zhang Fei wildly swung his Zhangba Snake Spear, clearing a path.
"Kuhuk!!"
"Gahk!!"
Soldiers blocking him flew from the spear. Incredible strength.
"My lord!! Let's get out first!!"
Zhao Yun leaned on his bloodied spear like a staff, breathing raggedly.
"Yes…. Everyone!! Follow me!"
Liu Bei sighed with anguish and shouted.
As they barely led a few thousand soldiers out of Xuzhou.
"Hyeondeok-nim!! Don't abandon us!!"
"We felt safe when you came…."
Commoners clung to Liu Bei and the soldiers' legs.
When Cao Cao massacred, turning Xuzhou into hell, it was Liu Bei who extended a hand. Expectations were high.
"…Brother!!! Civilians or not, we gotta go!! Rats everywhere!!"
Zhang Fei shouted.
"…."
Liu Bei agonized, then declared resolutely.
"Everyone!! Follow! Soldiers!! Protect the civilians!!"
Liu Bei decided.
All were stunned—too busy fleeing, yet taking civilians?
But that was Liu Bei.
"Eyyyit!! Can't live long with brother!!"
Zhang Fei swung his spear wide, then roared ahead.
"Tai Shici?! Sun Ce!!! Whoever, come out!!!"
Zhang Fei bellowed like a flood.
Even shouting, Zhang Fei thought of one man.
'Kim… Guan sis.' With those two here, no enemy would scare him.
Beyond blocking soldiers emerged a young general with boyish handsome features, downy hair not yet shed.
"I'm Sun Ce!!! Come at me!!"
Sun Ce drew his sword boldly. Beside him, a familiar face to Liu Bei's side: Tai Shici, met requesting aid from Kong Rong.
"Hey!! Tai Shici!! Repaying our grace with enmity?!"
Zhang Fei raged instantly.
"…No personal grudge."
Tai Shici averted his gaze.
"Charge!!"
As Sun Ce shouted and clash loomed.
Shiiiing!!!
Jiangdong soldiers behind Sun Ce suddenly attacked Sun Ce and Tai Shici.
"Kuh…!"
Both elite warriors, they reacted swiftly to the ambush.
Chaaang!!!!
The Jiangdong group aimed weapons at Sun Ce en masse.
"Who are you…?!"
Sun Ce, noticing unfamiliar faces, quickly turned his sword on them.
"Who else?"
The soldiers removed helmets, revealing themselves.
It was Kim, Guan Yu, Kim Squad members, and Yeo Po leading Xiliang troops.
"Here to shove this up your ass!!"
Kim charged with sword raised, thick-tongued roar echoing.