Returning the Runaway Girl (3): Marriage
Marriage. Naturally, in the Three Kingdoms world, any gamer worth their salt harbored the desire to romance a parade of beauties and build the Great Wall itself. That's why the developers had tossed in marriage content. The downside was how damn tough it was to actually tie the knot, but once you did, it was pretty fun. Base-building your home, raising kids—the daily life stuff was implemented spot-on.
'And there's even a child-rearing system.'
That was the real hook. The child's talents were determined by the player's current stats and proficiency, plus the spouse's stats. Endless depth to min-max there.
'The key is spawning top-tier heirs to carry on your legacy.'
Players had finite lifespans, and when yours ran out, your kid became the second-generation protagonist. Marrying a stud spouse and grinding out monster-stat offspring? That was the true endgame.
Problem was, the early and mid-game were such a brutal slog that most players never made it that far. Hence, it flew under the radar.
You have formed an unbreakable bond with Bu Yong-hwa!
"Oh my... dear. Staring like that so intensely."
Bu Yong-hwa's face flushed crimson as she coyly turned her head away. The way her cheeks lit up like cherries was ridiculously cute... no. Almost slipped there.
Biography: Daughter of a Xiongnu chieftain. A fictional character from secondary Three Kingdoms fanworks. In some versions, she's a famed beauty from Youzhou and Jizhou, rescued from near-rape by the monstrous bandit leader Zhang Yuanzi by Liu Bei's crew. Sometimes conflated with Lady Gan, Liu Bei's second wife, but purely imaginary regardless.
Oho. Hadn't clocked that. In-game lineages stuck to originals, so this was fresh.
Maybe because we'd married, but her stats were now visible.
S-Rank. The numbers in her spouse stat slot hit like a gut punch. Top-shelf wife material, no question.
This game graded characters by rank. S-rank spouses boosted odds of S-rank kids; lower tiers followed suit. Bu Yong-hwa was straight-up S.
If I grinded to S myself, we'd be an S-rank baby factory. Er, bad phrasing. Anyway, her base stats were sky-high, befitting S-tier. Born a Xiongnu noble's daughter or not, she'd have shaken the world otherwise.
'Makes sense why she's got the guts to chase after some no-name wanderer.'
I got it instantly.
Virtuous Wife
The epitome of a perfect spouse. Devoted to her husband, excels at child-rearing. Your children absorb strong traditional virtues and family values.
Offspring born to you gain base stat and EXP acquisition bonuses.
While Bu Yong-hwa is your principal wife, you receive all-stat bonuses. (Duration: 7 days)
S-rank skill for an S-rank wife. Prime child-rearing trait. And buffs for me too—solid wife perks at home.
'Bu Yong-hwa... might just be the ultimate spouse.'
No need chasing Cho Seon or the like. Pure efficiency? She crushed.
"Hee hee. Dear, let's build a beautiful home together from now on."
Bu Yong-hwa beamed at me, eyes sparkling.
"Y-yeah."
In the end, I was just another efficiency-obsessed gamer. I accepted the marriage.
Post-ceremony came the feast... but circumstances being what they were, no time to kick back.
Gongsun Zan—Liu Bei's big connection—was in dire straits.
'Can't abandon him outright.'
Liu Bei could hold Pingyuan thanks to Gongsun Zan backing him. Sure, Gongsun Zan crashed eventually, but right now? He ruled the north. Skipping this coin flip was a loss.
'Gotta hold till Jieqiao Battle.'
That was prime time to link with Zhao Yun—one of the game's broken units alongside Guan Yu and Zhang Liao. Early bond meant big gains. Plus, Fate Points for destiny tweaks—Gongsun Zan ties were mandatory.
Fate Point Event: Rescue the White Horse General trapped by the Wuhuan hordes.
Fate Point Event: Join Gongsun Zan's forces in the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition.
Fate Point Event: Witness a man's embrace of tyranny.
Three hard-to-farm Fate Points just for sticking with him. Non-negotiable.
"We must save Brother Gongsun at once!"
Liu Bei declared flatly. Fellow disciple under the same master—natural worry.
"Everyone."
Bu Yong-hwa shot to her feet, scanning the guests. Sharp tone, worlds from her spoiled act with me.
"It ill suits the groom to miss his own wedding feast, but my husband faces grave matters. We'll take our leave together."
She bowed crisply to the attendees.
"Oh my."
"Sharp girl. Perfect bride material."
Her husband-first vibe warmed the guests.
"Dear, big things ahead, right? Let's go."
She grinned at me after.
"A-ah... yes. Let's, Lady Bu."
Answering, one thing crystallized: Zone out, and I'd fall for her for real.
"Hngh..."
Guan Yu kicked a nearby rock, face twisted. Sis, why?
Word of White Horse General Gongsun Zan's defeat had spread through most of Youzhou's camps.
Who was he? A living nightmare to barbarians. Everyone assumed his host would steamroll. They'd cheered his mad charge beyond the Great Wall.
His cavalry smashed Wuhuan settlements, breakthrough power insane. Over a thousand captives.
Clang.
Gongsun Zan gripped his sword—ordinary white-maned steed aside, hilt and guard pure white. His obsession showed.
Squelch!! Thunk!
He personally beheaded captives one by one. Beyond the Wall, headless corpses rolled in hellish fields.
"Mercy!! I have wife and kids!!"
One Wuhuan begged in broken Han tongue.
Splurt!!
Gongsun Zan swung stone-faced, executing him. His White Horse troops were barbarian-hardened, but some rank-and-file questioned the overkill.
"See!? This'll scare 'em straight—no more rebellion!!!"
Gongsun Zan rallied with a high-pitched roar.
"Half the fleeing bastards ditched their horses!!! Follow me!!! Wipe the Wuhuan name from the Central Plains!!!"
He mounted imperiously. Handsome face, ironclad leadership—troops followed without bitching.
Deep down, Gongsun Zan believed his path absolutely right. Life was a stage for him. Easy mode.
No pedigree? No problem—he turned it into his vibe. Looks turned heads; girls flocked with a smile. Friends whined about love? He didn't get it.
Leveraged that into marrying a hotshot Xiongnu girl. Launched his rise. Martial gift too—smashed barbarians with first cavalry command in Youzhou.
Foes dying by his blade? Mere stepping stones to glory.
'Humans are like horses. It's all about bloodstock.'
And his was elite.
'Beautiful.'
He gazed at the blood-river of mangled Wuhuan dead by his riders. From afar, a red royal road to success. Follow it to the throne.
Drunk on it, he charged the van.
Lifetime winner, he never learned: Unlucky breaks exist. Others grow slowly too.
Endless clashes with Gongsun Zan? The Wuhuan under Qurijiger had his number.
They ambushed his pursuit in a copse. Month-long siege was pure horror.
Half his men starved; warhorses—lifeblood of cavalry—devoured. Still short, they gnawed shield-leather.
Gongsun Zan stared hollow-eyed beyond the encirclement. First defeat's shock? Indescribable.
His riders could only pray for relief. No other play.