Escape from Chang'an with Two Beauties
I felt a twinge of guilt toward Cho Seon, but I spurred the horse wildly with her slung over it like luggage.
"Shoot!! Fire, damn it!!"
"B-but... what if we hit the lady...?"
"Fuck. You think I'll take responsibility if you miss?"
The guards floundered in panic, not knowing what to do.
In the meantime, we galloped toward the main gate.
"Ugh... Seal the main gate!!"
It seemed orders had gone out to the entire garrison; people scrambled to block the gate.
I wondered if Cao Zhen was behind it... but no worries. I had the highest-value hostage right here.
"Gaaahhh!!!!"
A monster roared, one hand gripping the reins, the other swinging a sword toward Cho Seon.
"If that gate closes... I might lose control and slice Cho Seon to pieces!!!"
I bellowed at the top of my lungs with a feral scream.
"Tch... a threat, eh?!"
"B-but if they just run like this..."
The soldiers jamming the gate and the pursuing palace guards groaned in indecision.
"Kkiyaaak!!!"
I swung the sword toward Cho Seon in a dramatic flourish, and the soldiers had no choice but to fling the gates open in a frenzy. These guys were bureaucrats through and through. If they screwed up and accidentally killed or injured her, the blame would fall squarely on them.
The moment the gates parted, I charged out of the city.
"Tch... Chase them!!!"
"After them!!"
Their chaotic shouts echoed behind us, but we'd already cleared the gates.
Wang Yun could only stamp his feet in helpless frustration.
Clop-clop!! Clop-clop!!!
How long had we been riding like madmen? We'd put quite some distance between us and Luoyang, tearing down the highway.
"Hubby. Won't they send pursuers from Chang'an or something?"
Bu Yonghwa, suddenly spooked, shot me a worried glance.
"Nah. No chance."
But from my perspective, knowing the future, it wasn't a concern at all.
Clop-clop.
Beyond the wind's howl, I faintly heard the distant clamor of military horses mobilizing.
Soldiers on the move. Subtle, but audible.
Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji—having turned back after following Yeo Po—were probably hustling toward Chang'an right now. Wang Yun's regime wouldn't last much longer.
Maybe I should send Cho Seon back here soon... think she'll head off on her own?
I pondered, then hesitated.
If I send her back to Chang'an now... she'll probably die.
Chang'an was about to turn into a warzone. Li Jue and Guo Si would unleash the same reign of terror their mentor Dong Zhuo had, then turn on each other, plunging the city into civil war.
In the world line where Yeo Po was a man, Cho Seon would've fled with her and been safe... but not here. She'd stay put and meet a grim fate.
"Cho Seon."
I reined in the horse, trying to set her down.
Squeeze.
But she clung to me like glue.
"...Cho Seon?"
I flailed my arms, trying to pry her loose.
"Ah... yes!"
Finally snapping out of it, Cho Seon slid down from the horse.
"You did well enduring such hardship."
I praised her first.
"No, this was just helping a friend, her father, and the fateful bond with you, Kim Gong. It's only natural."
Cho Seon smiled and shook her head gracefully.
"R-right."
Damn, she's way too good-hearted. Just a beauty born in the wrong era—that vibe.
"This might sound foolish... but returning to Chang'an isn't wise. It'll become a battlefield soon."
I couldn't just let someone this sweet go her own way, so I laid it out.
"...I know. The traitors are coming back, right?"
But Cho Seon was calm.
"Yes. Exactly."
She already knew the lay of the land.
"Yeo Po keeps Father's influence alive because she favors him, but the moment she weakens, the other traitors will rear their heads. I know that much."
Cho Seon gave a wry smile.
"And Father has already lost the people's hearts in Chang'an. No one will protect him."
Filial yet coldly realistic in her assessment.
"...You've already gotten tangled up in Choi Yeom's mess. Choi Yeom's a woman of rare talent, but always on the edge. I see my duty as following and supporting her."
Cho Seon beamed softly.
"...And part of me wants to run away somewhere."
She murmured, then quickly composed herself.
"Then come with us to Xuzhou? It's safer there. Probably."
Honestly, Cao Cao had trashed it pretty bad, but still better than Chang'an.
"Yes, let's go there. I've heard it's a fine land ruled by the benevolent Liu Bei. Even with recent troubles, Lord Xuande has reclaimed it successfully."
Cho Seon smiled brightly.
Yeah. Liu Bei's reputation runs deep.
"Then let's all head out together."
I hadn't planned on bringing Cho Seon along, but this was an unexpected windfall.
"Father..."
I tensed, half-expecting her to say, "I want to bring Father too~" No way that could work.
"I know. You have your limits, Kim Gong."
Cho Seon offered a faintly sad smile. Yeah, that shut me up. She'd accepted it on her own terms.
Her resolve was set long ago. Time to move.
The road from Chang'an back to Xuzhou was as long as before. We decided to camp nearby for the night. Staying in a village would've been comfier, but we risked running into patrols, so wilderness it was.
No one was used to field life, so I ended up pulling half-asleep night watch.
"Hubby."
Bu Yonghwa slipped awake and sidled up beside me.
"Ah, Yonghwa."
You're supposed to be sleeping. Why're you up?
"Hubby. Doesn't Cho Seon remind you of me a bit?"
Yonghwa dropped the random line out of nowhere.
"Yeah, she's a beauty like you."
No slouch in looks herself.
"Heehee."
She giggled happily, then straightened her face. Women love hearing they're pretty.
"No!! Not that... our stories overlap!!"
She fixed her expression and exclaimed.
"Stories?"
What's with the tiring talk?
"Look! She grew up pampered like a golden flower, then suddenly ran away! Just like me!"
Bu Yonghwa sensed a threat to her character arc.
"You're you, Yonghwa. My one and only wife."
I soothed my lady with a stroke.
"Really..."
She melted into me flirtatiously, then added,
"But seriously, don't touch Cho Seon."
Bu Yonghwa suddenly glared with axe eyes.
"What, you think I'm some skirt-chaser?"
Guan Yu nu-na was a bit of an unfair hit.
"Hmmm..."
Bu Yonghwa eyed me skeptically, then leaned in closer.
"Won't do. Gotta drain your strength first, or your wandering eye won't quit."
She murmured, stroking my thigh.
"...Wanna make a baby?"
And just like that, she proposed outdoor fun.
"O-outside?"
As I protested, Bu Yonghwa sealed my lips with hers.
Catching the mood, I ended up enjoying a private, leisurely watch with her.
Meanwhile, inside the tent we'd pitched for camp.
Cho Seon and Choi Yeom both lay with eyes closed, but neither could sleep.
To think I'd run away like this...
Cho Seon trembled with inexplicable excitement. She'd secretly yearned to escape her stifling routine for some pulp novel adventure, never dreaming it'd actually happen.
Honestly, she felt a spark of anticipation for this new life. She owed her adoptive father Wang Yun a lot and felt guilty, but the feeling was real.
Kim Gong... what an unusual man.
Before long, Cho Seon found herself thinking of the foreign swordsman named Kim.
Choi Yeom was in a similar state.
The thrill of saving her father mingled with flushed thoughts of the man who'd saved her. Straight out of a romance novel. She shared the sentiment with her dear friend Cho Seon.
I asked him to teach me writing.
Honestly, he'd bestowed a grace she'd never repay in a lifetime, yet his modest request intrigued her deeply.
I want to know more.
Traveling to Xuzhou with him, staying by his side—maybe she'd learn all about him. Choi Yeom smiled to herself.
Yeah, no need to belabor it. The suspension bridge effect was in full swing.
We rode hard all day and finally reached Xuzhou territory.
At the gates, Mi Fang gawked from the walls and welcomed us.
"G-Guan General!!! Lord!! Z-Zhang General!!! Zhao General!!! Kim Gong and company have arrived!!"
Mi Fang yelled back urgently, and a huge commotion erupted.
Rumble!!
The gates swung open, and Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun rushed out to greet me.
"Kim Gong!!! You're back!!"
Liu Bei beamed, flapping his ears as he ran up.
"What'd I tell ya!! Nu-na!! She didn't bolt!!! Damn!! Kim!!! I believed in ya!!"
"Tch... Kim!! You had us worried!"
"Kim Gong!! You're safe!!"
The whole Liu Bei crew mobbed me in a group hug, spinning like a circle dance. Whoa, that happy?
"...Lord Xuande. Something happen while I was gone?"
I asked Liu Bei sidelong.
"...Er. Let's talk inside."
Liu Bei cut his joy short, averting his eyes with a cough.
Fuck. Something did go down. Xuzhou never caught a break.
Well, heading in... time to fill them in on Cho Seon, Choi Yeom, and Cai Yong too.
