Luoyang Farming (1)
Yeo Po's elite Xiliang troops began their organized retreat all at once.
"Kihihihit!! Those bastards are running!!"
"Chase 'em!!"
The coalition forces, buzzing with maxed-out dopamine, immediately pursued the retreating Xiliang soldiers.
Pusshaaaak!!Puk!!
However, true elites stayed fierce even in retreat. Jang Liao and Go Sun, shadowing Yeo Po like bodyguards, swung their weapons to cut down the charging foes one by one.
Seeing more enemies rushing in, Yeo Po fluidly twisted her waist.
Pusshaaaaaak!!
With a single sweep of her Fang Tian Hu Ji, she tore the enemies to shreds.
No matter the retreat, taking these guys' heads was impossible. Knowing that, the coalition forces hesitated and halted.
Yeo Po's Xiliang troops swiftly crossed Hulao Pass, escaping the battlefield for now.
Everyone seemed a bit rattled by the insane momentum the Xiliang soldiers showed to the end, but the mood shifted when a man in golden armor stepped forward and bellowed.
"This is victory for us all!!!"
Yuan Shao shouted, sword raised high.
"......"
Uh. Yeah, the finale was a bit of a letdown on the gao front, but it was our collective win.
As if sensing it from Yuan Shao's cry, everyone erupted in cheers and roars.
Once the battle wrapped up.
"Liu Xuan-de!! I never dreamed you'd show such valor!!"
Yuan Shao laughed heartily as he addressed Liu Bei.
"Not at all."
Liu Bei smiled and shook his head.
"I acknowledge your efforts. Though not a feudal lord, I appoint you to lead the 19th volunteer army!"
Yuan Shao said with a grin.
"Thank you."
Liu Bei bowed his head in gratitude.
But... Liu Bei was giving Yuan Shao a sidelong glance, clearly hoping for some extra scraps now that he had the 19th army gig.
Fat chance. Yuan Shao was a hardcore authoritarian. Even in the game, he fixated on status for recruitment and alliances.
You got a nominal title—good enough, right? Yuan Shao seemed to think that was plenty, heading straight for the drinks with the other lords of his caliber.
They started boozing it up immediately.
Casually, Yuan Shao's cold gaze pierced our way.
'Sure, crash our party if you want, but know your place.' The intent oozed off him.
Liu Bei had his own pride too. He didn't push it and withdrew to our volunteer army tent.
But I caught it from the side. Flutter. Liu Bei's thick earlobes quivered faintly—his subtle sign of anger.
Gongsun Zan could've called us over, but he was deliberately ignoring us.
Right now, he was all-in on cozying up to Yuan Shao.
'Ji Province and You Province are tight.' Allies sharing the northern pot, plus Gongsun Zan wanted allies against Liu Yu in You Province. Yuan Shao was his pick.
Inviting Liu Bei to sit right beside would've been friendly, but Gongsun Zan pretended not to see us.
Feeling a bit snubbed.
We ranked 18th among the feudal lords' armies as the 19th volunteer force, but there was zero real reward. No extra troops, no provisions, no authority.
"Argh!! Acting like it's some big deal!!"
Zhang Fei exploded in frustration.
"What petty small-minded fools... I expected more from the fame of the Three Ducal Ministers' lineage. Such a letdown."
Guan Yu said, looking a tad downcast.
"We fought the best out there!! What the hell is this!!"
Zhang Fei cleared his throat mid-rant.
"I'll follow that Yuan Shao guy!!"
Oh. Sudden impression?
"Ahem. If I'd brought my champions Yan Liang and Wen Chou from Ji Province, this wouldn't have happened... What a shame."
Zhang Fei nailed it pretty well.
"Puhahaha!!"
Guan Yu burst out laughing despite herself.
"Those Yan Liang or Wen Chou guys are all talk anyway!! One swing from Lady Guan and they'd be done! Or me!!"
Zhang Fei declared flatly.
Uh... facts, no argument there.
Zhang Fei, you perfectly foresaw the future.
"Even a pack of small-timers gathered to crush rebels. No reckless moves."
Liu Bei cut in sharply.
"Aw... big bro."
Zhang Fei grumbled and plopped down.
"By the way, aren't we out of provisions?"
Guan Yu said, as if it just hit her.
"Ah. Right."
Yeah. Our Liu Bei crew started as a squad under Gongsun Zan, so we didn't pack much.
"Yuan Shu's handling logistics, but no word."
Liu Bei noted.
"Heard Sun Jian's army is hurting too."
Maybe from fighting alongside them briefly before—I added details without thinking.
Yuan Shu's stinginess was shining. Yuan Shao paired with him to check other lords' merits.
"This an army? Bro!! Sis!! Kim!!! Screw it, old-school style!!"
Zhang Fei's eyes blazed with rage.
"Sneak into Yuan Shu's camp!! Torch it, grab food in the chaos!! Masks on, no one'll know!!"
Zhang Fei invoked our old Takhyeon-style ops.
Planning GTA San Andreas, huh... Zhang Fei!!
"Zhang Fei. Old ways won't cut it."
Liu Bei eyed him seriously.
"Aw... you could if you wanted, bro."
Zhang Fei sulked.
"We do our part. Yuan Shu pulls this, word'll spread among the lords. Then we claim our fair share."
Liu Bei stood, ending the talk.
"Tomorrow morning, full assault on Hulao Pass. Head to Luoyang first, rally local support, then negotiate."
We wrapped up, drifting off with uneasy vibes.
Tried sleeping in the tent, but no way it was a straight snore-fest.
Dawn. As exhaustion weighed on the tent, I snapped awake.
"Snooo...."
Bu Yong-hwa slept obliviously beside me. To slip out quietly, I'd gone extra hard with her, knocking her out cold midway.
'Sun Jian sneaks over Hulao at night.'
Day after Yeo Po fight. Sun Jian's crew moves infantry silently at dawn, first to Luoyang. Mandatory event.
Sun Jian's desperate bid for first glory.
High enough affinity, you tag along. Luoyang farming condition.
Swish.
Slipped up quietly, belted my sword loosely, dashed to Sun Jian's camp.
But obstacle.
"Snooo...."
Clutching her Green Dragon Crescent Blade like a teddy, Guan Yu squatted asleep right outside our tent—me and Yong-hwa's.
Why not inside...? Sleeping pathetically out front. Full armor too.
'Never gets less weird.'
Yeo Po's fine, but Guan Yu's getup was too fanservicey. Straight out of a Japanese RPG armor skin.
This ain't Romance of the Three Kingdoms...!!
Tried raging, but honestly, it looked good—had to admit.
Planned to sneak past undetected, stepping softly.
But Guan Yu's eyes flicked open, locking on me.
"K-Kim's scent...."
She glared murderously.
Sniffed me out? What's my smell?
"K-Kim! Where to?!"
Guan Yu grinned dopily, then blushed shyly, wiping drool from her mouth.
Sigh. Busted is busted.
"Nu-na. Let's do a salty gig."
I roped her in. Famous duo that took Zhang Jiao's head last time. One more job.
"Mm. Sneaking around just us two?"
Guan Yu flushed, murmuring.
"Yeah. Big score. For our Liu Bei army too."
Dead serious, hand on her shoulder.
"Uh, yeah. Salty gig...."
Guan Yu stared at my lips, blurting fanservice gold.
"Kim's lips look super salty too."
"N-Nu-na?!!"
What otherworldly line was that?
"N-No!!! Sorry, must be tired."
Guan Yu panicked, shaking her head.
Ah... right?
"Then us two, quick...."
Party with Guan Yu set, but another snag.
"Ho, hoeet...."
Some sentimental night-stroll vibe, gloomy beauty staring skyward all emo—ran into Chun Seol.
"Uh, um... hey..."
Chun Seol eyed me and Guan Yu awake at dawn, imagination filter spinning.
"...Chun Seol. You too."
To avoid her gossiping later, roped her in.
'Need living inventory for farming anyway.'
Inventory shuttle at least.
"Ah, y-yes, yep!!"
Chun Seol replied, then blushed hard, staring.
"Th-three of us...?"
Total misunderstanding bait.
"Yeah. Three. One 'operation.'"
Quick fix on the wording.
"Ah.... Yep...."
Chun Seol grabbed her spear, scrambling after us.
Plan derailed, but three-man party it was.
As expected. Sun Jian's crew crept over Hulao walls, no torches.
"General Sun."
Joined 'em, hailed Sun Jian.
"Guh... Kim Gong?"
Sun Jian startled, busted awkwardness plain.
"Heading to Hulao first, I see."
Grinned friendly at him.
Affinity with Sun Jian smoothly guides the conversation.
Eloquence: 45
Affinity and eloquence bonuses kicked in, per the status window.
"Kim Gong. Keep quiet from others."
Sun Jian sighed.
"Ah... got it. Just me, Yun-chang nu-na, and Chun Seol. Personal thing. Unrelated to the lords."
Grinned cheekily.
"...Wanna tread Luoyang soil first. As loyal Han servant."
I smiled.
'Luoyang's probably a sea of flames by now.'
Dong Zhuo was mid-Luoyang run.
"Ahh... Kim Gong, true loyalist."
I covered his ambition first; Sun Jian relaxed instantly.
"Mm. Reliable warrior. Join us. Step on Luoyang together."
Affinity and eloquence smoothed it—free pass.
Me, Guan Yu, Chun Seol tagging Sun Jian's detachment.
Farming targets: three categories.
One: Imperial Seal.
Two: Nam Un Geom artifact. Perfect upgrade over my Eastern sword, OP weapon through mid-late game.
Three: Precious metals scattered in burning Luoyang. Sell for cash—my escape fund post-Liu Bei army.
Pressure to snag 'em all hardened my face.
"I see... Kim's a Han loyalist. Couldn't sleep fretting over Luoyang."
Guan Yu misinterpreted my seriousness, nodding.
"...C-Cool..."
Chun Seol stared at my profile, nodding vigorously.
Fine. Buy the misunderstanding—suits me.
Already used to the misreads. Whatever.