New Bonds and the Severance March
Making new connections on what they called a "severance march" was always as grueling as a beggar's endless trek. Considering the vast Central Plains, Beihai to Pingyuan wasn't all that far—but it still meant camping overnight.
"Ugh... seriously."
Exhausted, I threw up a tent haphazardly and flopped down.
I figured I'd catch some solid shut-eye tonight... but suddenly, someone straddled me.
I could definitely feel the weight of someone pinning me down.
Fuck... This chaotic era really didn't give you a moment's peace to sleep.
Knowing that, I always kept my sword right by my head.
Shing.
My hand gripped the hilt, and I started to sit up.
The moment I opened my eyes to shove the intruder off with my body weight, I recognized her.
"K-Kim?! Y-You're awake?!"
Guan Yu stared at me with a startled look, hopping in surprise.
"G-Guan sis?" No. Sis. What the hell are you doing here?
"W-Well... I couldn't sleep."
Guan Yu fidgeted, glancing at me.
"So when you can't sleep, you just plop down on some random guy? Is that what the young master taught you?"
"Th-That... There's a stream nearby."
Guan Yu cleared her throat awkwardly and continued.
"Ah. I see."
Yeah, there were rivers around Beihai. A stream nearby made sense.
But what was with the awkward subject change?
"W-Wanna go wash up together?"
Guan Yu suddenly made the offer.
"N-No, sis. You and me... we're a guy and a girl. Bathing together is kinda..."
I looked at her and said.
"B-But... it's my feeling."
Guan Yu said that while still straddling me with her firm thighs. Must be from all the horse riding—those thighs were insane. I kinda wanted to stay pinned under them forever.
"Um... y'know."
Guan Yu mumbled, leaning in closer. That made the cleavage of her ample breasts come into sharp view.
My lower half had no choice but to react.
"This Xuzhou business. Getting involved is the right thing, but it's dangerous. Way higher difficulty than what we've done so far."
Guan Yu said.
Hmm. Classic Guan Yu. She had an instinct for knowing when something was risky.
She'd fought alongside Cao Cao's forces against the Yellow Turbans and joined the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, so she knew how strong they were.
And now they're even bulked up more than back then. By now, Cao Cao would've turned Qingzhou's Yellow Turbans into his own Qingzhou troops, squeezing the Hebei gentry for resources while bulking up. With Yuan Shao gripping northern Hebei as an ally, he had a safe base to build power.
This wasn't like scrapping with bandits or minor warlords. We could all get wiped out on this op.
"I... if I died like this, I'd regret it."
Guan Yu trailed off, staring straight at me.
"Tonight, I wanna spend time with you, Kim."
Guan Yu said.
"Uh... sure."
After all our time rolling together, I could tell she cared for me like a little brother.
No. This wasn't that.
Guan Yu and I locked eyes like a stud eyeing a mare. Instinct told me everything.
"...I'll apologize to Yong-hwa for you."
Cheating felt off, but the fire was already lit.
"Yong-hwa... talked about it last time. She said it's fine if I join as a concubine."
Guan Yu mumbled awkwardly.
"Yong-hwa did?" No way. Our jealous ball of Yong-hwa said that?
"I've known you longer, and I can just keep other women away from you at 'work.' That's what she said."
Guan Yu spilled something I didn't wanna hear!!
Looks like Bu Yong-hwa and Guan Yu had struck a deal to split me half-and-half.
This is the sorrow of a weak nation...!! I was like a puny country getting its territory sliced in half by Western powers!! This was the Qing Dynasty's plight...!!
"Me, Guan Yun-chang, as a concubine? It stings my pride a bit..."
Guan Yu seemed a touch hurt by that, but she shook it off.
"But in this era... I don't wanna do anything I'll regret."
Guan Yu said firmly.
"So... wanna bathe with me?"
Guan Yu asked.
"...Yeah, sis."
Fine. No regrets for me either.
In this fucked-up era, people clung to their instincts. Facing possible death, I wanted to spread my seed as far as possible.
We agreed, stayed true to our desires—this was pure love.
The nighttime stream.
Sticking to the "bathing" pretense, Guan Yu and I were washing each other amicably.
From afar, it might look like close siblings playing around. Up close, though, the truth was different.
A lustful female and a male exploring each other's bodies with caresses, gazing hotly into one another's eyes.
"I-It... doesn't feel cold even in this chilly water. Must be the heat rising in my body. Ahaha."
Sensing something embarrassing there, Guan Yu turned her head with a shy, dopey laugh.
Ah. Too cute.
"Sis, lemme wash deeper spots for you."
I pulled her into a hug, inhaling the scent of her exposed nape over her slightly lifted hair.
"Hmph, hngh... W-Wait... that spot smells..."
Guan Yu yelped loudly, flustered by my sudden lunge.
"Why? It just smells good..."
You tempted me first. I'm not stopping!!
"K-Kim smells... good too..."
Clinging to me from behind, Guan Yu started sniffing my skin. As she did, her sharp eyes softened mysteriously. Honestly, that face was killer too.
I hugged her tight and went straight for home base.
"W-Wait...! Kim?! Hnghyaa?!"
Guan Yu's shrill scream echoed loudly.
Probably no one else had seen a cutified Guan Yu's ahegao face but me.
Whatever. Beyond that, all I wanted was to leave my seed in the woman before me.
Guan Yu probably felt the same. Hearts aligned, we made our bodies one.
Of course, things didn't flow exactly as expected.
"Hnghyat... W-Wait... Kim...! Kim!!! Ah, you're still so full of energy..."
"J-Just a bit more, sis!!"
"N-No, I'm at my limit... Nnghot...?!"
Guan Yu tapped out quick, but I was already fired up.
"Mama!!! MAMAANG!!!!"
No matter what, facing Guan Yu who accepted all of me body and soul, maternal instincts welled up naturally.
"W-Wait... what's 'mama' mean... Hngoooh?!?"
Guan Yu's piercing scream rang through the whole valley. A sight to behold.
In truth, Guan Yu gathering her courage had another reason. A few hours earlier.
"Yun-chang. You fancy Kim, don't you?"
Liu Bei suddenly asked Guan Yu point-blank.
"H-Hyun-deok bro?! N-Not really..."
Guan Yu flailed her hands, yelling in panic.
"Ehehe. You kept circling around and ended up losing him anyway."
Zhang Fei teased with a grin.
Guan Yu promptly socked him one.
"Kuhak... That hurts..."
Zhang Fei clutched his head, groaning.
"Seriously, sis always hits for real..."
True to her top-tier martial prowess in the Three Kingdoms, her punch packed a wallop.
"This Xuzhou trip could be very dangerous. Don't do anything you'll regret."
Liu Bei smiled gently, patting her shoulder.
"Hyun-deok bro..."
Guan Yu's eyes sparkled at his thoughtful words.
Actually, Liu Bei's advice came from brotherly care, but it had its own ulterior motive.
Kim seems like he might leave. Liu Bei had that hunch.
Even in Pingyuan, Kim was scouting other opportunities. He felt like he'd vanish any moment.
To hold onto talent like Kim, family ties are key. If Liu Bei had a little sister, he'd offer her up... but he had his sworn sister Guan Yu instead.
If Guan Yu and Kim tied the knot, Kim wouldn't ditch Liu Bei's army easily.
There's Bu's girl too, but she's technically an outsider. If Bu Yong-hwa and Kim flew off together, Liu Bei'd have nothing to hold onto.
Pair her with Guan Yu... If Guan Yu becomes Kim's cherished wife, it'll change everything. That was Liu Bei's subtle scheme.
When it came to talents he coveted, Liu Bei played dirty as hell.
The next day.
We bathed together for a few rounds, then snuck back to the tent for more, wasting the whole night.
At morning mess, Guan Yu and I felt that awkward post-intimacy shyness, keeping a vague distance—but our hands gripped tight under the table.
Liu Bei and Zhang Fei seemed to catch on, watching us fondly.
Busted. This is why family-like companies suck.
Back in Pingyuan, I quickly confessed everything to Bu Yong-hwa and explained.
Since she and Guan Yu had already agreed, it went smoothly—but she pinched my cheek affectionately, grumbling.
"Seriously... I figured it'd end like this. Just me and Sis Guan. No one else."
Bu Yong-hwa glared murderously.
"Ah... yeah. Guan sis and I go way back, shared hardships... special case. Won't happen again. Promise."
I smiled.
"Yeah. I hope so."
Bu Yong-hwa smiled sweetly, but her eyes were terrifying. I glimpsed the Xiongnu ferocity there.
With family matters sorted...
Liu Bei hurried to get Gongsun Zan's permission. Being under his command meant getting approval for major deployments.
Surprisingly, Gongsun Zan was receptive.
"Ah, Cao Cao going after Tao Gong? Big trouble. Count on me for that."
Gongsun Zan chuckled.
Well, as a Yuan Shu ally, helping fellow faction member Tao Qian was smart.
Or maybe he's too focused elsewhere. In northern Pingyuan where Gongsun Zan was, a massive fortress was rising—Yeo-gyeong-ru, self-named, with fields inside for logistics. Theoretically, it could hold out over two years—a fortress city.
Planning to hole up and counterattack if Yuan Shao came, Gongsun Zan poured everything into it.
This'll win it. Seemed like an obsession.
"Hey!! Move it!!"
Of course, robots weren't building it. He forcibly conscripted farmers, whipping them mercilessly alongside his troops for the earthworks.
No need to explain Youzhou's crumbling public support.
"But 1,000 troops feels shaky."
Liu Bei broached wistfully.
"Sorry, brother Hyun-deok. Can't spare more—these are all going into Yeo-gyeong-ru."
Gongsun Zan hardened immediately.
"I get it. Just give me one general, and I'll deliver results."
Liu Bei smiled.
Even as he spoke politely, you could tell his fondness for Gongsun Zan was tanking. Asking for troops and seeing that instant scowl? Infuriating.
"A general? Ah, that much is fine."
Gongsun Zan beamed affably.
"Zhao Yun would be solid."
Liu Bei said flatly.
"..."
Nearby, Zhao Yun's eyes lit up at the words.
Bottom rung, huh. Maybe from his half-hearted attitude toward Gongsun Zan, or the nepotism favoring Gongsun clansmen. Zhao Yun got oddly sidelined despite his skills.
"Ah, Zhao Yun! Yeah!! He's always followed you well."
Gongsun Zan, his affection cooled over time, readily released Zhao Yun.
"Jeon Ye too—solid guy. Take him."
Feeling bad for his initial pettiness, Gongsun Zan tossed in Jeon Ye. Liu Bei twitched with emotion. Yeah, Jeon Ye was prime goods.
"I'd love to join, but sorry."
Jeon Ye cleared his throat, scratching his head.
"My ailing mother needs me in Youzhou."
He pulled the mom card.
Indeed. Admired Liu Bei but distinguished ideals from reality—that was Jeon Ye.
My type... Wish I could cut ties that coolly...
"Ehehe."
Guan Yu smirked dopily, fiddling with my hand. Couldn't bolt with her glued to my side.
With Gongsun Zan's okay, Liu Bei showed his true colors.
He rallied everyone from Pingyuan.
"Gan Ong, Sun Gan—you too."
He even dragged in Gan Ong and Sun Gan, the home-guard crew.
"Huh? Thought it was a quick in-and-out?"
Gan Ong asked.
"Hmm. What about Pingyuan then...?"
Sun Gan said dubiously.
"Trust me."
Liu Bei said flatly. Something compelling in his words—everyone packed up to march.
Liu Bei ditched Pingyuan for full Xuzhou investment. Chills at his peak-cut timing. Peak detector Liu Bei.
"Let's go. Yeah?"
Bu Yong-hwa smiled at me, unquestioning.
Amazing. This era's women. Follow hubby anywhere, huh? Grateful to Bu Yong-hwa inwardly.
"Kim Gong!!! Finally fighting on the same battlefield!!"
Then Zhao Yun wedged between us, beaming innocently. If he had a tail, it'd be wagging like crazy.
"Rescuing Xuzhou's suffering masses... that's chivalry!"
Zhao Yun yelled, glued to me.
"..."
Guan Yu and Bu Yong-hwa's glares burned, so I played it cool.
And so, Liu Bei's full force marched to Xuzhou with no way back.