Huang Gai's Obsession
"Ah, Kim Gong. Good to see you again. Welcome."
Cao Cao greeted me with a hearty keh-keh laugh.
"Hrm. I've heard you've racked up some impressive feats. Came to praise you for it."
Yuan Shao was staring right at me from beside Cao Cao. Damn, he was a total pretty boy.
What a shame... Maybe because I'd seen so many genderbent Three Kingdoms generals lately, I'd half-expected Yuan Shao to be some sultry beauty in the Ah Young-ah style. Fat chance.
"Hmmm. Shame you're just some no-rank commoner, but you look useful enough."
Yuan Shu stroked his beard and smirked from the side. He was handsome too, but... you could just tell he had a shitty personality. That unmistakable villainous aura oozed out of him.
"Kim Gong, every hero's chanting your name! Where you off to in such a hurry, huh?"
Cao Cao grinned brightly and grabbed my hand.
"Let's have a drink first, at least."
He was inviting me to the banquet, more or less...
[Cao Cao feels deep admiration toward you.]
[Yuan Shao feels deep admiration toward you.]
[Yuan Shu feels deep admiration toward you.]
The status window messages gave me the gist. These guys were eyeing me for recruitment too.
Cao Cao was already in like mode, and Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu had that habit of scooping up anyone with high fame first and asking questions later. That must be why they were sniffing around.
"Sorry, I'm a bit worn out and want to rest today."
I turned them down as politely as I could.
Fuck. I just wanted to cuddle up in Bu Yong-hwa's arms and act spoiled till I fell asleep. That was my real mood.
"Hmph. And you refuse an invitation from this Yuan Gong?"
Yuan Shu's face hardened instantly.
"Well... yeah, if you're tired, no helping it!!"
Cao Cao looked a little awkward, then burst into keh-keh laughter.
"Hrm... Still, it'd be good to at least show your face."
Yuan Shao chuckled too, but his expression soured a bit. What a subtle boomer vibe.
Steel wall all the way. That was my stance.
Joining Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu's faction would be a terrible call. Anyone who'd played knew exactly why they never took the throne.
Yuan Shao's crew split into factions among the generals and advisors the second you joined. You got dragged into that mess, which sucked, and Yuan Shao himself was petty as hell.
Even if you busted your ass for promotions, the rewards were stingy. That was why he got filtered out no matter what faction-run cheese strat you tried. Cao Cao was at least better in that regard.
Liu Bei? Rewards were small, but the exp and fame gains made up for it—different issue.
And sometimes, if you pushed back even a little or gave advice, Yuan Shao straight-up purged you. He had a real habit of treating people like disposable tools.
Yuan Shu... just a total moron. Sticking with him tanked your rep on sight. When he got the imperial seal from Sun Ce and declared himself emperor of Zhong, players got slapped with the rebel label too. Big army on paper, but enemies everywhere—zero stability.
And above all, both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu obsessed over birth backgrounds. For a commoner like me, upward mobility? Limited as hell.
"Anyone bothering you gets it!! Go rest up!!"
Cao Cao laughed keh-keh, patted my shoulder, and smoothed things over.
Thanks to his cover, I could head inside and crash.
---------
I wanted to rest gazing at my pretty Yong-hwa's face. Humming to myself, I ducked into the tent.
But the world was out to screw me over.
"Hey, you. Kim, right?"
Huang Gai suddenly called out to me.
He gripped a massive iron club—sort of an angled bamboo staff vibe, an iron flanged mace.
Common translations called it a "whip" or "iron whip," but it wasn't a whip. Even for a fierce general like Huang Gai, a whip in battle? Nah.
Western equivalent? Steel mace. No slicing power like a sword, but it punched through armor with brutal impact. Medieval knights loved the damn things for good reason.
"Heard you took down Seo Yeong and now you're all cocky about it, huh?"
Huang Gai's face was flushed a bit.
Ah. Drunk as hell.
"Not cocky at all."
I met his gaze and said it straight.
"Huh?! That tone reeks of cockiness!!!"
Huang Gai blew up right away.
Seemed like he was pissed about me stealing the kill credit on Seo Yeong.
His lord Sun Jian had openly praised me, so yeah, bruised ego.
"You look pretty strong. Let's spar!!"
Huang Gai called me out on the spot.
"Ooh, a fight?" "Fight?"
Soldiers chowing down nearby swarmed us like they'd struck entertainment gold.
"We're allies in the coalition. Gotta save our strength for the Xiliang troops, right? If we get hurt dueling, it messes with the war."
Screw all that—I just wanted to see my wife's face.
"That attitude pisses me off!!"
Huang Gai roared and yanked out his iron mace.
Huang Gai
Level 20
Affiliated with Sun Jian's Army
Now he was around a level I could tangle with. Strong foes got red nameplates—his was yellow. My level was mid-teens, so just a bit higher than me.
"Fight!! Fight!!!" "Fight!!"
The soldiers hooted like idiots, full of bloodlust. Momentum had shifted to a duel. Backing out now would be tough.
"What's the commotion... Kim Gong?" "Hey! Kim! In trouble again?"
Liu Bei and Zhang Fei showed up hearing the noise. Hey, Zhang Fei—why you treating me like the troublemaker?
"Kim?! Who's that bitch?"
Guan Yu glared at Huang Gai, ready to jump in. Sis, you're way too overprotective.
Honestly, annoying situation. Beating him got me jack shit. Non-lethal spars only gave half the skill exp anyway.
But... a clever idea hit me.
That Wavebreaker Fist I just learned—test it out?
Taiji Sword's armor-piercing technique. Perfect chance.
I'd adapted well to this world, but practicing active skills in a safe spot? Smart move.
Fumble in real combat and you're dead.
"Fine, General Huang. One exchange, then."
I drew my sword and took stance.
"Ha!! Good!!! Let's see if you're all talk!!"
Huang Gai swung his iron mace like a maniac.
Fwooooosh!!!
Blocking would've drained my stamina; parrying would've halved it. I sidestepped nimbly instead.
"Ha!!!"
Heavy opener into a quick follow-up—I parried and riposted into a slash.
Boom!!!
Simple foot-stomp into overhead smash. But this was Wavebreaker Fist. I got the feel for amplifying vibrations through the blade.
Chiiiing!!!
Huang Gai blocked with his thick iron flanged mace.
Normally just stamina drain. But with Wavebreaker...
Ziiing.
I felt the slash pierce past the mace.
His stamina tanked hard, and I could see his health bar tick down. Armor-piercer perk. Even tough defenses whittled away steady.
Huang Gai's face stiffened as the numbing pain hit despite blocking. Something's off—he realized and instantly backed off. Unlike the game. Once a duel started, he didn't press blindly.
Still human at heart, huh. Treat game rules like physics, and it clicks.
Huang Gai's retreat gave me the angle to end it quick.
Awkwardly holding his mace at range? My chance. Close in, keep pressure.
I thrust straight for his throat.
Shing.
Blade halted clean at his neck.
"That enough?"
I chided him mildly.
"...Hic."
Huang Gai stared at the blade on his throat like he couldn't believe the loss. Stunned expression with hiccups—kinda cute. Sudden throat threat startled him into it.
Duel over. Clear win for me. Soldiers watched with awed murmurs.
Especially the Jiangdong generals' stares burned hot. Shocked faces glued to us. Yeah, their ace just got beat.
But if it'd dragged, I'd have lost. His fluster let me end it fast. Outsiders wouldn't know.
Whatever—Sun Jian's faction rep probably spiked more. Didn't matter. I saved face, time to bounce.
Sheathed my sword and bolted straight for Bu Yong-hwa. Honey, wait up!
"W-Wait a sec..."
Heard Huang Gai yelling something, but ignored. Duel done. No take-backs.
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"Honey!"
I flung open the big tent in Liu Bei's camp where Bu Yong-hwa was. Called her name.
"What's got you rushing in like that?"
Bu Yong-hwa beamed and welcomed me.
Yeah. Despite Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu chatting me up or Huang Gai picking a fight—back where I belonged. True north, baby.
"Tired today, huh?"
Bu Yong-hwa giggled, patting the bedding.
"Yeah. Missed you so much, Yong-hwa."
I flopped beside her, nuzzling into her chest.
"Oh my. Such a spoiled baby."
She laughed, stroking my hair.
War grime and all—I was filthy from a half-assed wash—but my wife accepted it. Loved her for that.
"Yong-hwa..."
Hot wife beside me? Lust kicked in. I caressed her softly.
"Seriously... even now..."
Bu Yong-hwa eyed me like incurable, but didn't stop me undressing her.
Thus, I basked in full battlefield healing.
---------
Meanwhile, as everyone laughed, partied, and made kids that night...
Huang Gai stood frozen, face blank with shock.
I... I lost...
His hand trembled on the iron flanged mace.
He'd prided himself as no slouch in skill—figured he'd crush some guy named Kim easy. But he'd gotten humiliatingly wrecked instead.
Fine. World is wide, strong folks plenty. Rationalize it, not that bad.
But Kim's gaze ignited pure rage.
He'd treated Huang Gai like he didn't exist—finished the duel and just walked off.
Won't... forgive that...!!
That utter disregard boiled his blood reverse.
Tomorrow's battle. I'll rack up bigger feats than that Kim bastard.
Huang Gai vowed it, plotting ahead.
Clash with Xiliang at Hulao Pass? He'd tail Kim's ass, compete for merits till Kim acknowledged him.
Far-future folks would call it "stalking." Lucky for him, his era was ancient. Huang Gai resolved to stalk legit. Whether it'd be Kim's tragedy or opportunity? No one knew.
