Zhang Fei Has Remarkable Patience (1)
The world divides into two kinds of people: those who can't endure, and those who can.
Kang Minju had spent his whole life among the latter.
When group project teammates ghosted him, or his part-time boss dumped a last-minute shift on him, his response was always, "Yes, got it."
It wasn't kindness. He'd just learned too early that getting angry never paid off.
But the world mocked those who endured.
That day, crossing the crosswalk after checking the professor's unilateral announcement about presentation order, his last memory was the blinding glare of headlights.
Ah, finally some rest.
Even feeling wronged seemed exhausting. All he wanted was sleep.
But...
"General! General! Are you coming to?"
A scream that tore at his eardrums wouldn't let him be.
Forcing his eyes open, he was hit by the stench of damp earth, thick blood, and acrid horse sweat. Nothing like the musty paper smell of a library—this was raw battlefield.
"...Huh?"
He tried to speak but froze. His body felt heavy. Not just tired—heavy, like a massive boulder crushing every inch of him.
Kang Minju looked down at his hands. Callused and rough, fingers thick as a beast's, veins bulging along forearms like ropes. No one would mistake these for a college student's hands.
These were the hands of a killer, stained from cleaving enemy throats thousands of times.
"General! I'll fetch water! Just hold on!"
General?
Lightning-like impulse surged through Minju's confused mind.
Get up.
Get up now and smash those bastards' heads...!
Hot magma bubbled from the depths of his chest. Not his emotion—this massive body's ingrained instinct. Pure, beastly rage that knew nothing of restraint.
Then the tent flap flew open.
"Yide! You're alive!"
A booming voice shook the tent. The man who entered froze Minju's thoughts.
Ears nearly to his shoulders, kind yet deep eyes. Behind him stood a giant with a phoenix-red face and beard trailing to his chest.
At the sight, instinctive memories exploded in his head.
The Peach Garden Oath. The scene in Tak County's peach grove: "Though born on different days, we vow to die on the same!"
Yes—these were the Liu Bei and Guan Yu from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms he knew.
Which meant this body was...
No way. Zhang Fei?
Minju bit his lip. More terrifying than the absurdity was the 'Zhang Fei' temper rising to his throat right now.
Explosive fury demanding he smash the table and roar to vent it.
But Minju closed his eyes. And drew on his lifelong specialty.
Endure.
Whoosh— one deep breath settled the boiling blood.
This isn't my emotion. Just a physical reaction.
Inhale—another breath. The burning rage in his chest was miraculously suppressed.
"Zhang Fei, why so quiet? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Liu Bei approached, worried. Normally, Zhang Fei would roar, "Brother! Those bastards did this to me! I'll go kill them all right now!"
But Minju slowly raised his head. And spoke... very, very calmly.
"I'm fine, brother."
The tent's air froze at the unexpectedly gentle tone from Zhang Fei.
The soldier with the water bowl nearly dropped it.
"...What did you just say?"
Liu Bei narrowed his eyes. Guan Yu stroked his beard, puzzled.
"I'm fine. Sorry to worry you."
"......"
Silence fell.
Guan Yu murmured low. "Yide, you saying 'sorry'? You must've hit your head hard."
"No. I just... had a realization after nearly dying."
Whatever this was, Minju decided to play along, pretending he knew he was in this dream world. He'd resolved not to act suspicious.
Zhang Fei rushed to his death because of that temper.
Minju wasn't a fanatic, but he knew the basics of the Three Kingdoms—and Zhang Fei's start and end.
Dream or not, he didn't want to draw suspicion with weird behavior. Explaining would be a hassle.
Still not fully adapted, his body shuddered.
Liu Bei eyed him worriedly. "What's wrong, Zhang Fei? Did you suddenly piss yourself?"
"No, brother. Just... a bad thought gave me chills."
Minju braced the massive body and stood. A grunt of "Hup!" escaped naturally.
Meanwhile, Guan Yu, who'd watched silently, asked to confirm. "Yide. You're really the Zhang Fei Yide I know?"
"......"
As expected from Guan Yu. Sharp intuition.
But even he couldn't dream another soul had entered Zhang Fei's body.
Minju forced a Zhang Fei imitation. "Y-yes, brother! It's me!"
"......"
Guan Yu's suspicious gaze lingered.
The tragedies ahead in the Three Kingdoms. Countless opportunities ruined by Zhang Fei's 'impulsive temper.'
If Minju kept this body... if Zhang Fei learned patience...
History would change.
A faint smile touched Minju's face. A soft smile on Zhang Fei's fierce features.
The soldiers recoiled in terror, but Liu Bei's eyes lit up.
"I've learned to win battles, but now I learn to endure. Don't worry, brother."
As Guan Yu opened his mouth to respond—
"Report!"
A soldier burst in. "The Yellow Turban vanguard is almost upon us!"
Hoofbeats thundered with the shout.
Zhang Fei's body stirred again. Adrenaline surged, muscles tensed. A craving to grab the Zhangba Snake Spear, charge the enemy lines, and unleash a bloodbath.
Minju gently crushed it.
"Yide, you're not fully recovered. Rest here."
As Guan Yu stepped forward, Minju stood first. The air compressed under his massive frame.
"No, second brother."
He snatched the huge weapon from the corner. And strode toward the battlefield.
"Give me a chance too."
It was a dream anyway. When else could he rampage as Zhang Fei?
This aggressiveness was opposite his nature, but...
Can't do it in reality, so might as well in the dream.
Guan Yu eyed him. "You sure?"
"Yes, brother. Fully recovered."
"...If you say so."
Guan Yu glanced at Liu Bei. "Eldest brother. Our little brother's insisting—shall we let him?"
With Guan Yu's backing, Liu Bei reluctantly nodded, granting the stage.
Minju pressed his lips tight.
Alright then.
A cold smile curved the lips of Kang Minju—no, Zhang Fei.
"Let's see you rampage!"
New footsteps of Zhang Fei echoed into the battlefield's roar.
Kang Minju had never fought in his life.
But this was Zhang Fei's body, after all.
He'd never thrown a punch, yet it felt strangely light.
And...
Never ridden a horse either.
But his body remembered. Minju mounted effortlessly, gripped the reins, and galloped with the soldiers.
Leaving the tent, Yellow Turban remnants appeared ahead.
In his right hand: the Zhangba Snake Spear, Zhang Fei's trademark.
"Hyah—!"
His horse plunged into the fray. Swinging the 60-catty spear one-handed, Yellow Turbans scattered like falling leaves.
Oh, not bad?
One thing nagged, though.
For a dream... isn't it too real?
It bothered him, but whatever.
For the first time in his life, he let instinct override reason and swung freely.