Choi Yeom (3)
After Kim abruptly left, Cho Seon and Choi Yeom wore slightly flustered expressions.
Choi Yeom had agreed to teach her writing—and she'd pledged her life on it without hesitation the moment she heard the terms.
What an unusual man... Cho Seon found Kim peculiar.
She was well aware of her own beauty. Knowing Kim was just another man, she'd expected some sleazy demand. He might not dare touch her, with her powerful backing, but she figured he'd make such a request of her close friend Choi Yeom.
That's how men are in this era. They seize any woman they see, and once they gain the upper hand, they shamelessly reveal their lust. That was the kind of man she knew. As a beauty herself, she was hypersensitive to men's gazes.
He was like a block of wood. He hadn't cast even a lustful glance at her or Choi Yeom—just looked at them with kind eyes (purely her personal impression) while pondering ways to help people.
A true benevolent gentleman... Cho Seon had never imagined such a person existed, and it sparked considerable interest in her.
Choi Yeom shared the same sentiment.
They say a true hero practices virtue through actions alone, without flowery words—and that seems to be true. She was flustered at having encountered a figure straight out of legends or ancient tales.
That was when Choi Yeom and Cho Seon were lost in the same thoughts.
"Alright, let's get going. Head to the stables by the city gate, quick."
The golden-haired beauty Bu Yonghwa clapped her hands and led Choi Yeom along.
"Ah. Yes."
Even though this was a dangerous mission to sneak someone out of prison, Bu Yonghwa acted unfazed—like she was used to her husband's eccentric ways.
She's so different from me... a strong woman. Choi Yeom felt a strange pang in her heart at the sight of this woman calmly facing the chaos of the era and steadfastly supporting her husband through it.
That's why she can serve such a hero as her husband. Someone as self-pitying and weak-willed as herself could never stand beside such a fine man. Inferiority gnawed at Choi Yeom.
"More fragile than the slender branch bathed in moonlight..."
Choi Yeom murmured a sijo softly while gazing at the night sky.
"...?"
Bu Yonghwa felt an awkwardness she'd never experienced before. Why's she suddenly like this? It was just that Choi Yeom was so different from anyone she'd met.
Still... female scent. Bu Yonghwa was female herself, but she bristled at the peculiar feminine aura emanating from Cho Seon and Choi Yeom.
They might be after my Gaga... Better wrap this up quick and head to Xuzhou. In Bu Yonghwa's eyes, Kim was an unparalleled hunk, and she harbored a persecutory delusion(?) that every woman around was gunning for her man. Keep these two far from him, she resolved inwardly.
At that moment.
Finally tackling this beggar of a quest.
Considering quests usually involved wiping out bandits or beating down foes, this one felt utterly alien.
It was a stealth-action mission: infiltrate the government office in Chang'an and rescue Cai Yong unharmed.
RPG stealth sections were usually crude, but this one was different. It factored in shadows, footsteps, and a ton of detailed elements—a full-fledged stealth-action game. You could reasonably suspect the devs had referenced famous stealth titles while making it.
Worth a shot? There was the orthodox infiltration route, but also exploits.
Rub rub.
In the dead of night, a young man was rubbing his body furiously against the stone wall of the government office. That was me.
Keep rubbing against the wall here and jumping, and a glitch lets your character levitate. Use momentum to fly right to Cai Yong's position.
But no such luck.
Yup. Doesn't work. Even in a game-world setting, physics still ruled. No way a glitch defying reality would trigger.
I had no choice but to go the legit stealth route.
Any self-loathing from grinding against the wall all night? Buried for now.
"Hup!"
I scaled the office wall and slipped inside.
As the capital of Han, the city's defenses were tight. Torch stands lit up the area, and soldiers patrolled without blind spots.
Still, they were just rote guards. Their patrol routes were predictable. Memorize them, don't brain-fart, and you could slip inside easy.
Stealth had a related skill level that helped, but even without it, no biggie.
No point leveling it anyway. Unless you're going full ninja build, it was inefficient. This game favored head-on brawls. Better to pump strength than assassinate from shadows.
That said, maxing it wasn't useless—you could infiltrate enemy camps freely, which was fun.
Surprisingly, you can learn stealth from Sun Qian. The bureaucrat handling Liu Bei's logistics was a stealth master.
In the novel, he'd infiltrated Cao Cao's heavily guarded camp while with Yuan Shao to deliver a message to Guan Yu, earning high stealth specs.
But I hadn't learned it yet. No worries, though.
I had a foolproof plan to cheese this.
"Hup!"
At the back gate in the corner—usually for trash disposal—I started rummaging through the garbage.
"Urgh..."
"Guh..."
Soldiers were supposed to haul trash to the back gate, but discipline was shit, so piles sat untouched while they dozed off nearby.
"Heh heh... Lady Cho Seon..."
"Cho Seon..."
Seemed they were dreaming of her.
That's when it happened.
"Hey! Sleeping on the job?!"
The dozing soldiers snapped awake at the shout, frantically wiping drool—thinking the boss had shown up.
"There's a banquet at Lord Wang's mansion. Guards needed—come on."
He grinned and whispered.
"Lady Cho Seon herself is dancing. Heh. Front-row seats."
The others woke right up at that.
"No one comes through the back anyway. Leave inner security to others. What do ya say?"
"Hell yeah."
"Let's go."
They bolted out like fans rushing an idol concert.
Cho Seon's doing? Helping out for her friend Choi Yeom. Not a bad soul at heart.
Anyway, back gate clear—time to loot.
And there was a stack of folded paper.
Not modern cardboard, but bulky Hanji sheets patched together like a paper box.
Acquired
A revolutionary invention by Cai Lun, the eunuch who pioneered Hanji paper in the late Han. Folded from impure paper sheets into a box—far lighter than wooden crates, meant to ease commoners' lives. But the high cost of paper doomed it to obscurity.
A blocky explanation popped up over my status window.
Can be used as a container, but may have other purposes.
The devs had a specific use in mind for this box.
"Hup."
I unfolded it, flipped it over my head. Crouching made it just big enough to move comfortably.
It boasted near-perfect stealth-game performance. Enemies spotted you way slower while wearing it.
Partially because guard vision wasn't X-ray in the game system, and just carrying it boosted stealth proficiency.
No need to level stealth—box alone kept you undetectable.
Creep creep creep.
Crouched under the box, I shuffled toward the city's interior.
The prison was in the building's basement, so I needed to enter the main structure. I'd done this quest so much, I knew the path by heart.
Creep creep. Stop.
Two guards at the entrance. More disciplined than the outer ones.
Their eyes... unnaturally fixed on the box in the central hall.
"Ugh, more trash..."
"Damn, the outer guys slacked. Told 'em to empty on time."
"Hey, that box... the prick we accidentally iron-branded to death? Dumped him in the trash. They'll handle the body, right?"
"Not our problem. Back gate crew deals."
But they just chatted, staring at the box.
"...?"
This was the box's power. Just an innocent box. I exuded harmless vibes, biding my time. Don't move when they look—undetectable.
Through a hole in the box, I saw them glance around idly. The instant their eyes left, I closed in on one.
Basic swordsmanship: one step, one strike. Channel the slash into the footwork.
I lunged and drew my sword in one motion.
Shing.
Namun Sword flashed, severing the left guard's neck.
"Guhk."
No time for a scream—head separated, blood spraying everywhere.
"Wha—"
The right one stared blankly at the emerging intruder. I slashed from shoulder to heart.
Spluuurt!!
Blade plunged deep; he died screaming. Sharp sword—angle it right, and it carves clean.
Silent takedown on both. I rushed inside. Wanted to dump bodies in a corner, but the stone floor was already a blood pool—pointless.
So, I went for speed.
Creep creep creep.
Box on, heading to the basement prison.
At that moment.
Deep in the basement prison—it was a living hell.
"Gaaahhh!! Guh!!"
Screams everywhere: men seared with branding irons, beaten with clubs.
Wang Yun had rounded up Dong Zhuo's associates mercilessly, filling the cells to bursting.
The blatant cronies were already dead. Those awaiting execution had ambiguous crimes. No need for pre-execution torture, but tormenting them was the warden's joy in life.
"Hey, old man. You're famous, right? Write a poem praising my body."
The warden leered at Cai Yong.
"...?"
Cai Yong ignored him, gazing at the night sky through the bars.
"This fucker... ignoring me?"
Furious at the dismissive silence, the warden yanked open the cell door.
Then, a voice from behind.
"Mind if I write one?"
The warden turned instinctively at the unfamiliar voice.
Thud!!!
Behind him—a wild-eyed man with curly hair charged, sword drawn.
"Go join your mom!!!"
His roar unleashed a blue blade in an arc.
Splaaash!!!
Fat gut exploded—flesh and guts fountaining out.
"My... tongue..."
The warden gawked at Kim before collapsing face-first.
I smoothly snatched the keys from his belt and flung the door open.
"Old man!! Your daughter's request—let's go!!"
Kim grabbed Cai Yong and pulled him out.