Hero of the Streets
Choi Yeom(2) "What's so pretty about that old man who fawned over the traitors? Huh?"
"Hah. What a funny bitch."
The roughneck soldiers immediately surrounded Choi Yeom, picking a fight with her.
"Well, if you want to save your dad that badly... how about joining him in prison?"
"Yeah. We'll take good care of you in there. Right?"
Spouting lines straight out of a thug playbook, they roughly grabbed Choi Yeom.
The onlookers watched with pity, but they knew resisting armed soldiers would lead to nothing good, so no one intervened. It couldn't be helped. Staying neutral would get you by. That was wisdom in these times. That was life smarts.
But I had to step in. This was my chance to build a connection with Choi Yeom.
"Kyaaat... Don't do this!!"
Choi Yeom collapsed, her voice as frail as ever.
3, 2, 1... Now!!
"Hey. What's all the commotion?"
I strode into the street, hand on my sword hilt.
"Gaga, don't make too much of a scene."
Bu Yonghwa whispered from behind. I knew that much. Chang'an was in total chaos right now.
"Who the hell are you?"
"A guy with a sword... Suspicious character."
"Some ignorant barbarian runt. Scram."
The soldiers chuckled and surrounded me.
I simply drew the sword from my waist.
"I don't know the details, but let the lady go."
Aiming Nam Un Geom at them, I roughly gauged their strength.
These soldiers were around level 15. Yeah. Cannon fodder of cannon fodder. Extras faithful to their thug roles.
And here, I can kill them without issue. Killing city guards usually triggers a wanted poster and chases everywhere, but this special event was different. You could tell just by looking.
The blue blade gleaming with an ominous light, and my grip on it, made the soldiers hesitate.
"Alright!! Looking at you, you're clearly one of Dong Zhuo's remnants!!"
"Daring to defy His Majesty the King!! Die!!"
"For the Han!!"
They drew their swords and charged me.
Shiiing!
The blades came flying, but I didn't even need to parry.
Shring.
One step, one strike. I sidestepped with footwork, then slashed at the lead soldier's wrist.
Pfshaaaaak!!!
The foremost soldier's arm flew into the sky, severed.
"Wha...!"
"Kyaaak...!"
In the blink of an eye, the severed arm sprayed blood like a fountain high into the air. The bystanders let out hushed screams.
"Kwaaaak!! My arm!!!"
"B-Bro?!!"
"Damn...!!"
The soldiers' faces filled with panic. They'd figured I'd cower from a little intimidation and get dragged off to jail like some WWE chump. Big mistake. I'd aimed for UFC from the start.
"Come on."
I flicked the bloodied blade and beckoned them.
"Kh, ugh... Call for backup!!"
"There's a guy disrupting order in Chang'an...!"
The soldiers tried to call for reinforcements.
"Kkiyaaaak!!"
The armless one just screamed and rolled on the ground. A perfect collab of agony.
One woman restored order to the chaos.
A light pinkish robe fluttering ethereally, cherry blossom hair matching the fabric, and steps so graceful she seemed to float. A beauty rivaling a fairy drew every eye.
"What is this commotion?"
The beauty glared at the soldiers as she spoke.
"Ah, uh... Miss."
"N-No, it's..."
The soldiers panicked and clasped their fists in salute.
Cho Seon, right on cue. Wang Yun's adopted daughter, the famed beauty from Romance. With Wang Yun as the court's real power, her position was lofty. Here, Lu Bu was a woman, but even if male, her husband was Lu Bu—Chang'an's top dog. Wang Yun melted at her word.
"Are you harassing Minister Cai's daughter?"
Cho Seon asked.
"N-No... It's..."
"Th-That guy's a Dong Zhuo remnant over there..."
The soldiers pointed at me, trying to shift blame.
"I saw everything!! Punishing my father... Elder Cai was inevitable, but we decided not to hold his daughter accountable!!"
Cho Seon shouted.
"Th-That..."
The soldiers immediately cowered.
"I'll report every detail to my father. Leave."
Cho Seon glared at them.
The other soldiers awkwardly retreated. They left their armless comrade rolling on the ground without a glance. No loyalty there.
I checked on the armless guy...
Already a cold corpse. Lost too much blood, maybe. Just a hunk of meat with eyes rolled back. Pity. If Cho Seon's speech had been shorter, he might've lived.
"Great hero. Thank you. I didn't mean for swords to be drawn, but I won't press charges."
Cho Seon smiled brightly at me.
"Ah. Sure."
As I lightly bowed to her, Cho Seon pursed her lips and murmured something low. Lip-talking—ventriloquism. A talent that'd shine on modern kids' TV.
'Come to the Stone Tablet Pavilion tonight... I'll be waiting there with Minister Cai.'
Her words reached me. Quest conditions met. Head to the pavilion at night, and the save-Cai-Yong quest begins.
After the incident wrapped up.
I endured Bu Yonghwa's nagging—"I thought you'd get dragged to the yamen for sure"—while soothing her.
"Gaga's always doing dangerous stuff... Nom nom."
I stuffed her nagging mouth with braised pork slices.
"Thinking you can buy me off with food is a mistake. Time to fix your bad habits for good... Nom nom."
When her nag cooldown hit, I shoved in honeyed jujubes to plug her again.
Feed her something tasty when she's mad. I'd learned that lesson.
"...Nom."
Bu Yonghwa puffed her cheeks, a bit miffed that food worked so well.
"Gaga. About that incident earlier."
She swallowed and looked at me.
"Everyone in town was talking about this elder named Cai Yong, sighing that his imprisonment was unjust."
"...Yeah."
Composing a poem for Dong Zhuo and facing execution was overkill—that was the scholarly consensus. The worst tyrant orders a poem; what choice did he have?
If Cai Yong's rep had been bad, folks would've piled on. But he had no major scandals. Wang Yun went too far—that was the prevailing view.
"That woman in mourning, crying... She's Cai Yong's daughter, right?"
Bu Yonghwa eyed me probingly and added.
"You're going to save her, aren't you?"
She hit me out of nowhere. How'd she know?
"Sigh. Gaga's such a busybody."
Bu Yonghwa sighed.
"You can't ignore people in trouble. That's why... you saved me."
Her face flushed.
A woman's intuition...? Wives know their husbands best, huh?
"But no more watching you risk your life from afar. I hate it."
Bu Yonghwa stretched my cheeks.
"From now on, I'll protect you right by your side. So take me with you."
She declared firmly.
"...Got it."
Her earnest eyes defeated me. Not the original plan, but she'd come along this time.
Night fell, and I headed to the promised Stone Tablet Pavilion—a famous spot in Chang'an with its picturesque pondside gazebo.
Usually for high officials' banquets, but Cho Seon had paved the way; Bu Yonghwa and I passed the gate easily.
In the pavilion's garden.
Two beauties under the moonlight: Cho Seon and Choi Yeom. Like twin flowers. But staring too long would draw Bu Yonghwa's glare, so I managed my gaze.
"Ah. The one who helped me before..."
Choi Yeom's eyes sparkled at me. She hadn't expected me.
"I remember you as a hero with burning righteousness in your eyes. I have no doubt those flames will dispel the chaos of these troubled times."
She recited poetically. Everyday chat like this was awkward to respond to. Cringe overload. But that was Choi Yeom's character; I rolled with it.
"Mm. Great hero, I've called you here for an important task."
Cho Seon nodded gracefully and smiled at me.
"It's dangerous, but... I'll give whatever reward I can. Minister Cai will too."
She eyed me tensely, sizing me up.
These girls had no caution. If I'd said, 'Both of you become my women. Eheh,' what then? Don't say you'll do anything lightly.
Of course, that'd fail the quest, so no.
"What's the job?"
Straight to business.
"Please rescue our father from his unjust imprisonment... Get him out of the yamen."
Choi Yeom pleaded with teary eyes.
"Storm the yamen, free Lord Cai, then escort him and my friend Minister Cai to safety. It's a tough ask, but... I believe a great hero like you will do it with fervent righteousness."
Cho Seon watched my reaction closely.
"Got it."
No way I'd pass this up. I accepted readily.
"...I don't doubt you, great hero, but your quick agreement worries me a bit. What reward do you want?"
Cho Seon seemed uneasy at my eagerness.
"Minister Cai."
I looked at Choi Yeom.
"...If you say to serve you as husband... I'd have no choice. In these chaotic times, isn't a woman's life to pledge herself to a man like a floating weed?"
Choi Yeom misunderstood. Overthinking much?
"I hear you compose poetry masterfully. Could you teach me your arts?"
I stated my demand directly.
"...!"
Choi Yeom fell silent, staring.
Whoosh.
Her face flushed bright red. Yeah, embarrassing, sure.
"Heh."
I felt Bu Yonghwa smirking superiorly behind me, but calling it out would embarrass her more, so I stayed quiet.
"Then let's get him out now. Minister Cai... Go with Yonghwa and prepare three horses outside the city gate. I'll wrap this up tonight."
To cover the awkwardness, I switched to business mode, feigning calm.
"Yonghwa. If anything suspicious happens, get Minister Cai on a horse and go first."
Plan B for safety.
"Yes, Gaga."
Yonghwa replied crisply, cutely clasping her fists. My wife's adorable...
"Ah. Please take care."
Choi Yeom finally cleared her throat, gazing skyward. Smooth recovery—impressive.
"I... can't openly help due to my position, but I'll draw the guards' attention as much as I can."
Cho Seon bowed gratefully.
[Cho Seon feels interest in you.]
[Cho Seon's favorability has increased by 15.]
Cho Seon's favorability rose... Quest trigger, probably auto-boost. Usually +5, but +15 meant I hit something special. Whatever.
"I'll bring good news."
I nodded and began plotting the infiltration of Chang'an.