New Faces

Jo Hyeong personally took charge of Jang Saeng.

On one side of the training grounds he demonstrated every form of the Mount Chang Zhao family's spear arts, from the first through the twelfth. Jang Saeng mirrored each movement with effortless ease.

Whoosh—crack.

Crack-crack-crack.

Wooden spears clashed in a fierce exchange. Every so often Jo Hyeong's face showed open surprise at one of Jang Saeng's counters.

"Wow. Incredible. She's a natural at martial arts, just like Jo Un and Jang Bi. Born for it."

I clicked my tongue in admiration.

Jo Hyeong's instructional sparring. A ten-year-old already so complete in her martial skill that she had her instructor flustered.

Jo Hyeong's combat power has to be around seventy if I extrapolate.

His teaching ability was outstanding, yet he had been thoroughly outclassed in spars against Seop Yeong, so I had pegged his strength at roughly that level.

Jang Saeng… now I'm certain. She's on the same tier as those Five Tiger Generals—Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun.

If I had to name the strongest generals of the Three Kingdoms, wouldn't it be those four: Lü Bu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun?

Kids used to argue about it endlessly back when the anime was airing, so that was how I remembered it.

Crazy. Who the hell is Jang Saeng supposed to be? Cao Cao's side? The Sun family? Liu Bei's?

No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't place her. I simply shook my head and watched the spar in a daze.

Jang Saeng committed to a wide upward slash. Jo Hyeong deflected the spear and stopped his own point cleanly at her throat.

"I lose, Instructor."

Jang Saeng withdrew her spear with perfect courtesy and offered a formal fist-and-palm salute. Jo Hyeong had broken a heavy sweat, yet he laughed with genuine delight.

"Hahaha. No, no. To see talent like this again after Jo Un and Jang Bi…"

"I know. I never expected anyone to match our daughter's gift. Yet here we already have two more. The world really is vast."

Seop Yeong clicked her tongue in open wonder.

Talent equal to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jo Un. Easy to say. Having three such prodigies gathered in one place was almost absurd.

Just then Rinrin and Mimi appeared carrying trays of cups.

"Everyone, gather round. We'll serve the special peach tea of our house."

"Lady of the Manor, I'm grateful every single time. Once you leave, where am I ever going to taste this tea again?"

Jo Hyeong brightened and hurried toward Wang Yeon. Our family drank it almost daily, so we took it for granted, but Jo Hyeong only got a cup once every ten days. His eyes never left the tray in Rinrin's hands.

"You come too. This is a precious tea you can only drink here at the manor."

"Yes, Instructor."

Rinrin moved among them, handing out cups one by one. She served Jo Hyeong and Jang Saeng first, then came to us. Wang Yeon accepted a cup from Mimi and drank.

Jang Saeng took a single sip, eyes widening in shock as she glanced around. Then she drained the cup in one go.

"This… how can it be so sweet? And the fragrance… it really is pure peach."

"Jang Saeng, was it? You're family now, so you'll be able to drink it every day."

Wang Yeon even passed her own remaining cup to the girl. Jang Saeng finished it in an instant, smacked her lips, and accepted the empty cup with both hands.

"Thank you, Lady of the Manor."

She clearly loved the tea. This time she sipped slowly, savoring every drop.

Hmm. Still no ice, of course.

It was cool water, but the difference ice made to the flavor was enormous.

"By the way, Lady of the Manor—where on earth do you keep finding talents like Jang Bi and Jang Saeng?"

"Hoho. Did I go looking for them? Jang Bi is the daughter of my late husband's friend, and Jang Saeng walked here on her own two feet."

Wang Yeon stroked Jang Saeng's hair with fond pride. The girl did not seem to mind in the least; she simply leaned into the touch.

"Lady of the Manor. It is noon. And both of our guests have awakened; they are waiting in the reception hall of the annex."

"Mm. All right. Let's head to the annex. You come too, Jang Saeng."

"Then we'll return to the main house."

"Haha, well then—I'll take my leave as well."

Jo Hyeong downed three remaining cups of iced tea in rapid succession, then vanished as if embarrassed. Seop Yeong and Jang Hwa led Jang Bi and Jo Un toward the main building, while Wang Yeon, Jang Saeng, and I walked toward the annex.

"Young Master. The Lady of the Manor has asked me to serve as your personal guard. I look forward to working with you."

Jang Saeng offered a crisp, formal salute. Her cute face stood out all the more.

She's going to grow into an absolute beauty.

Her features were already sharp and striking. Her hair, especially, was long and silky, cascading all the way to her hips. Even tied back it swayed with every step. How she managed such care in this era was impressive.

"Yeah. Looking forward to it, big sis."

"Yes."

We entered the reception hall.

Jia Xu was already waiting to greet us.

The floating label above her head confirmed it was her. She stood roughly 175 cm—quite tall for a woman. Up close her figure was pure Jeong-mi: F-cup breasts and hips nearing forty inches.

"I'm Jia Xu Munhwa. Pleasure to meet you, Young Master."

Her first greeting. She addressed me with natural ease, as if her affinity were already maxed out.

"I am ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jang Mi, mother of Jang Saeng. We are in your care, Lady of the Manor, Young Master."

A woman in her mid-160s with a compact, athletic build offered a formal salute—a beauty who clearly shared her daughter's blood.

"Welcome, all three of you. I am Wang Yeon, head of this Lee family manor. This is my son, Lee Ian."

"A pleasure. Master Jia Xu, Warrior Jang Mi, and big sister Jang Saeng."

I returned the salute; the three of them answered in kind, and we took our seats.

Just as expected, Chaehyang poured out. I had deliberately guided them to this reception room—no windows, a perfect sealed chamber.

"Interesting. Ian? You're the real master of this manor, aren't you?"

"…"

I couldn't answer. I looked at Wang Yeon; she too seemed startled, glancing back and forth between Jia Xu and me.

"What makes you think that, Lady Munhwa?"

Wang Yeon's voice stayed calm. Jia Xu nodded.

"When I spoke with you yesterday, Lady Wang Yeon, I realized you were not the sort of person who would draft the plans in that letter. So I surveyed the manor. Seop Yeong, Jang Hwa, even the maids—none of them looked capable of devising those schemes. That is why I watched the training grounds earlier."

She smiled and took a sip of the tea set before her. Still smiling brightly, she studied the cup, then locked eyes with me.

It felt as though she were staring straight into my soul. Her gaze sharpened as it dissected me.

"On the training grounds, every woman except the man named Jo Hyeong and Jang Saeng kept looking at you—as if seeking permission. I confirmed that a mere five-year-old holds absolute authority. And that look in your eyes… the look of someone who already knew me. That intensity left me, Munhwa, no choice but to yield."

"Hmm…"

Jang Mi and Jang Saeng were staring at me in open shock. They clearly trusted Jia Xu's abilities and took her words as truth.

"Master Munhwa… are you truly saying that this young Young Master is the center of the entire manor?"

Surprise colored Jang Mi's tone. The composed woman had blurted the words in a high pitch before catching herself.

Wang Yeon looked at me. Damn it. That single glance of hers gave everything away. Jia Xu was already smiling at the exchange.

"Hohoho. And on top of that, a five-year-old swept his eyes over Jang Mi, Jang Saeng, and even me with pure lust. The brilliant talents Jo Un and Jang Bi will of course become principal wives. You kept glancing between me and Jang Saeng… were you weighing us for the third principal-wife seat?"

Damn.

She saw that far? Was I really that transparent?

I had no choice but to nod. Jang Saeng flushed scarlet and lowered her head. Beside her, her tightly clenched fists trembled.

Jang Mi was the same. Even Jia Xu's face had gone red. No matter how brilliant she was, escaping Chaehyang was never going to be easy.

I decided to brazen it out and nodded again.

"Hohoho. I have no interest in a principal-wife seat. Simply treat me as a wife and that will be enough. A principal wife's position carries duties equal to its privileges. It does not suit my temperament."

"…You're saying we may elevate Jang Saeng to third wife, Master Munhwa?"

Wang Yeon asked in surprise. Jia Xu nodded.

"If your plans proceed, within two hundred years you will hold at least the governorship of Yi Province, or at minimum the commandery of Ba. In that case I decline the principal-wife seat. Better to remain a hidden wife operating in the shadows. Give the principal seat to Jang Saeng. Even as a scholar I can see her talent is radiant. And she is a proud young lady, that one."

"Master!!"

Jang Saeng raised her head and cried out at Jia Xu's words. Jia Xu only smiled gently and nodded to her.

"Shall I call you big sister Jang Saeng, little lord?"

"Haa. Let's settle it. Jang Saeng becomes third wife. But Jang Saeng—can you serve Jo Un and Jang Bi as your elder sisters?"

Since things had already come this far, I dropped the formal speech. Jang Saeng looked at me with trembling eyes, then nodded in relief.

"My lord. Yes!!! If you will only accept me, I will serve Un unnie and Bi unnie with the utmost respect."

She pressed her forehead to the table and did not lift it again.

"Good. Jang Saeng, from this moment you are the third wife. Wang Yeon—go explain my condition to them."

"Yes, Husband."

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠word "Husband" falling from Wang Yeon's lips left the mother and daughter—everyone except Jia Xu—staring with mouths open. Even Jang Saeng lifted her head, stammering, before Wang Yeon led her away.

"The condition Hua Tuo spoke of, I presume? That you must not have relations with any woman who has not yet turned nineteen?"

Jia Xu. She had clearly investigated thoroughly before coming here. Jang Mi looked at me in fresh shock at the words.

I nodded.

"Jang Mi becomes a concubine. I accept women who have already been married only as concubines. Even my own mother Wang Yeon was taken as first concubine without exception. Well, Jang Mi—can you accept that?"

"…Yes! Young Master. If you will only accept me, I will serve even Jang Saeng as my elder sister."

How far did Chaehyang's affection boost reach? After only a brief exposure she was already willing to become my concubine and place her own daughter above herself. I nodded.

"Good. Above you stand First Concubine Wang Yeon, Second Concubine Seop Yeong, and Third Concubine Jang Hwa. You will be appointed Fourth Concubine. Go outside and have Wang Yeon introduce you to the other women."

"Yes, Young Master. Thank you."

Jang Mi offered a formal salute, bowed, and left the reception hall.

Only Jia Xu and I remained.

She studied me with open fascination.

"A man of demonic charm, is it? Remarkable. To capture the hearts of Jang Mi and her daughter in an instant… and even shake this Jia Xu's heart."

Jia Xu's face was now thoroughly flushed. She had been holding it in until now; alone with me, she no longer hid her affection.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she raised a hand to stop me. She took another sip of tea, set the cup down, and continued.

"This tea is mysterious as well. You must be hiding a great many things. How might I persuade our little lord to reveal everything to me?"

I smirked.

"Declare yourself my slave. Then I'll tell you everything."

I spoke with full confidence. Jia Xu's eyes curved into crescent moons.

"Oh? Planning to place some kind of spell on me?"

I nodded.

"It's my ability. The moment you call yourself a slave, you will never be able to escape me."

"Hohoho. Amusing. Very amusing. If that ability is real, then of course I must. A hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times. An ability that binds every woman in the world with a single sentence… I, Jia Xu Munhwa, will become Ian's slave."

The smiling motion of her eyes froze.

Jini's voice, the same one I had heard at dawn, echoed once more.

"Wife rank."

The mention of a tail brought back last night and the traits the maids had received.

Unlike the first timing when Wang Yeon obtained Predator, the four maids had all received the assassin trait Predator's Footsteps, which erased presence. Seop Yeong had gained Tiger's Strength—the might of a tiger. Jang Hwa had gained Tiger's Roar—the cry of a tiger. Power and a stun ability, from what I could tell.

This was the first time I was setting a Nine-tailed Fox Tail, so I was eager to see the result.

Jia Xu's naked form materialized before my eyes.

175 cm, 51 kg—quite a slender frame. Yet you would never notice the thinness: 75G breasts and a 41-inch pelvis.

Not F-cup after all?

Enormous breasts, larger even than Jeong-mi's, sat with perfect firmness. No sag at all despite that size.

And a pure white pussy.

The first pure white I had seen since arriving in the Three Kingdoms era. Pink areolae, pink labia minora, pink anus—perfect Caucasian pink throughout.

I slipped a finger into the model's entrance.

And a Myeong-gi on top of it? Damn, she hit the jackpot.

A Myeong-gi that no one else here possessed. Jia Xu had it.

I set every option without exception: slowed aging, lactation, maintained tightness, maintained elasticity, color preservation, and lush hair.

Then I inscribed the tattoos—one above the pussy, one above the cleft of her ass—and the points were spent.

"Complete."

Soul Eyes.

Jia Xu's body blazed with light, then the light faded.

Time passed. Her tail vanished, and Jini's voice returned.