Fate Points and Tearful Farewells
"Kim Gong. Has this Liu Bei perchance done something wicked?" Liu Bei eyed me carefully as he asked.
"No. Nothing like that."
I shook my head.
Fuck. No choice. Time to burn some fate points.
With no persuasion option in sight, what could I do?
"In this battle, I've realized how lacking I still am. I feel I need more training."
I said it straight away.
"Tra... training? Kim Gong is already plenty strong..."
Liu Bei shook his head, unconvinced.
A message popped up in my Status Window right away. Yeah, the minimum persuasion stat required was at least 90, so instant fail. That's when I picked the one choice only I could see.
No helping it—I selected the option.
"I am a warrior of my tribe. Even as wanderers who lost our clan, I must follow those laws."
I said it while burning the fate point.
"Well... I see."
But Liu Bei just sighed, his usual troubled expression unchanged.
"However, Xuzhou's situation is dire right now. We don't know when enemies might invade..."
Liu Bei said. He was fully in hemming-and-hawing mode.
Options remaining until success: 1/2
Fuck. Another failure. But this was expected. You need at least two fails before persuasion succeeds.
Yeah. Choices like this require burning multiple fate points.
In the game, to force a branch in major plotlines—like joining Cao Cao's core to stop the Xuzhou Massacre or Red Cliffs, or serving Liu Bei to avert Yiling, or being Sun Ce's general to save Yu Ji—you had to pay the price in fate points.
"That's exactly why I'm saying this."
Tears in my eyes, I burned another fate point.
Tears welled up as another point vanished. Fuck. This Liu Bei guy won't let me go easy.
"Facing all sorts of powerful foes with my sword, I've realized I'm still lacking. So, using General Cao's memorial as an excuse, I'll go train and come back. It won't take long. One month. I'll return within a month."
I said it right away.
"Sigh..."
Two fate points weren't wasted. Liu Bei's troubled look softened a bit.
"Kim Gong must have his reasons for saying this."
Liu Bei murmured, eyes closed.
"Mm. And while I'm at it, I'll scout the movements outside Xuzhou. Lu Bu's actions seem suspicious."
I added that for justification.
"Mm... Well, no helping it then."
Liu Bei bowed his head to me.
"I wish you luck on your journey, Kim Gong."
With both Cao Yun defecting due to mourning and me leaving, his heart must be heavy—but his tone held firm belief I'd return.
Of course I'll come back.
I've tied the knot with Guan Yu, after all. Even with Bu Yong-hwa as the first wife and Guan Yu second, Liu Bei knew I'd have to look after her.
With the matter settled, as I packed for the trip—
"Hubby!! What do you mean leaving me behind on your own?!"
Bu Yong-hwa spotted me packing, dropped her bundle nearby with a thud, and confronted me. She was packed too.
"Yong-hwa. You stay here. It's safe."
This late Han era was apocalypse-level chaos; the journey would be rough.
"No."
Bu Yong-hwa cut me off flatly.
"..."
She had a stubborn streak like this.
"Hubby. You make leaving for a month sound so casual."
Suddenly, she spoke in a low tone.
"A young wife left alone for a month... Beautiful women draw males in. There might be bad men throwing advances at me. A female without a protector is fragile, eventually ravaged by rough males..."
Bu Yong-hwa said it with theatrical flair.
"...Even your close friend Yide or Lord Xuande might suddenly make a move."
She pouted sulkily at me.
"No. Yide's tastes are... a bit off, and Lord Xuande's secretly dating."
I said it straight. Was it okay to spill? But Yong-hwa wasn't the gossiping type, so truth it was.
Last drinking party or whatever—guys wanted girls, so we called in courtesans. With Guan Yu glaring daggers beside me, I stuck to her, but the volunteer army's camp officers paired one-on-one with courtesans.
Zhang Fei had a pretty one next to him, but he looked bored, just chowing down meat. That's when I overheard him mutter about the courtesan.
"Tch... rotten luck. All old hags."
Zhang Fei's mutter confirmed it—his tastes from the original lore were canon here.
Zhang Fei's wife... Lady Xiahou was super young too.
The age gap screamed crime. Sultry women weren't his type. Probably not Bu Yong-hwa either—she'd be an old hag to him.
Liu Bei... He kept it secret, but he visited Mi Zhu's place daily for secret meets with Mi Zhu's sister. I'd seen it by chance... kept it hush.
Everyone has secrets.
Even back in Pingyuan, he was hot and heavy with Lady Gan...
Later plot had Lady Gan arriving. Gan-Mi catfight showdown. Looking forward to that... but if it happens while I'm gone, I'll miss it.
Anyway, he was in passionate romance mode—pass.
"There are other soldiers too. Prime of life, single, starved for women... Those barbaric types see a beauty like me—think they can hold back?"
Bu Yong-hwa gazed at me dreamily.
Bu Yong-hwa... stolen by someone. The thought tensed my body instantly.
At first, her tagging along annoyed me like with me, but imagining her ensnared by some creep? Body went rigid.
"I won't give Yong-hwa to anyone!!"
I blurted honestly, pulling her into a hug.
Felt like losing, but love means the smitten one loses. Best to admit defeat like a man. No mind games—that's for pussies!!
"Kyaa! Hubby!"
Bu Yong-hwa giggled, nestling into my arms.
"Let's go together. Honeymoon... sort of."
I said.
"What's a honeymoon?"
She kissed my cheek from my embrace, asking.
"Ah. A trip to somewhere nice to celebrate marriage."
Not a concept here, huh.
"Oh my. So romantic."
Bu Yong-hwa giggled.
"I love how romantic you are, hubby."
We rubbed cheeks, reaffirming our love. Then she briskly packed properly. No doubt she'd follow.
With Bu Yong-hwa coming too, I glanced toward the kitchen.
Clink. Clink.
Guan Yu was awkwardly washing dishes there. Since tying the knot with me, she'd been learning housework bit by bit around Bu Yong-hwa, despite the awkwardness.
Damn. Guan Yu's back view was killer. Bu Yong-hwa had a sexy one too, but Guan Yu's was honed muscle beauty.
Sneakily, I approached from behind for a back hug.
"Don't."
Guan Yu said coldly, trying to push me off.
But gently. Yet she subtly wiggled her hips, rubbing her ass against my lower half.
She knew her charm— that firm, plump peach... Guan Yu!
Squish. Holding her, I kneaded her breasts.
"Hngh... Ahh..."
Guan Yu started with an angry groan, then melted into sweet moans.
Fun watching her ears flush redder.
"Nu-na. Sorry. For deciding to head out on my own."
I apologized to her right away.
"Always doing whatever... I have to stay and guard here."
Guan Yu sounded pained at being separated.
Guan Yu can't tag along like Yong-hwa.
With Liu Bei as lord, she had duties defending Xuzhou. Guan Yu was dutiful like that.
"Sorry, nu-na. But I wanna get stronger too..."
I persuaded while kissing her neck and cheek nonstop.
"Mm... That's what makes you great... but I hate it."
Guan Yu's tone shifted to high-pitched coquetry already.
Rude thought, but... Guan Yu was easy. Tonight, we'd spend it all lovey-dovey pure.
I turned to Bu Yong-hwa for permission. Official wife-approved lady and all. Bu Yong-hwa discreetly stepped aside.
After soothing the wives roughly, I met up with the Kim Squad members and Bu Yong-hwa, then Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun greeted me in white mourning garb.
"Ah, Kim Gong."
Grateful eyes for accompanying him to the mourning house.
"We agreed to go to Shangshan together. Gotta keep promises."
I smiled at him.
"Ahh..."
Zhao Yun blushed hard.
"...Remembering even small promises like that. As expected of a hero, Kim Gong."
He said, face red.
Gotta learn Shangshan Sword Style.
Why miss a spec-up chance? Plus, train the Kim Squad kids in Shangshan too.
Bringing them was for porter duty, but also spec-ups. I think ahead before acting.
"Hehe. Then let's go. I'll lead the way."
Zhao Yun mounted up front, smiling back at us.
Watching him, I got on my horse with Yong-hwa aboard too.
Squeeze.
Then Bu Yong-hwa pinched my cheek affectionately.
"Ow. Why?"
I protested to her.
"No reason. Just thinking you're seducing women without realizing..."
Bu Yong-hwa said with a dissatisfied look.
What? When did I ever seduce a woman.