Chapter 3: The First Birthday Blitz
Chapter 3: The First Birthday Blitz
In a state of despair, I crawled between blades that were larger than my hand—or at least larger than my head.
I had to pick one eventually.
What would a typical Peng family infant choose at a time like this?
Something interesting? Something flashy? Something small and easy to grasp?
Then, what should a reincarnator choose?
I scanned the shapes of the sabers with a sharp gaze.
It’s impossible to discern the meaning through shape alone anyway.
Since they had laid out sabers of all different shapes, they must have assigned a specific meaning to each one. That was the nature of a first birthday selection, after all.
Even if I hailed from the same Northeast Asian cultural sphere, it was impossible to predict every single nuance of this tradition. Discerning the meaning of the selection based solely on the shape of the saber was out of the question.
Therefore, if a reincarnator wanted to leave a deep impression, they had to transcend common sense.
Wiggle.
With a body I could finally manage to control, I stood up.
Toddle, toddle. Stagger, stagger. I struggled to maintain my balance as I walked.
Indeed, the typical age for walking is between 9 and 12 months. Being able to walk at the time of one's first birthday could hardly be called the realm of a genius.
However, what if I took it one step further?
The furthest one.
I ignored the small, flashy, and interesting-looking sabers. I ignored the short toy swords that were clearly meant to be grabbed.
My target was the one furthest away.
Toddle, toddle.
I marched forward with unsteady steps.
"Uh... Uh-oh...!!"
"The—the Young Lord!! Right now, that child is...!"
I gave a light smirk as I listened to the adults' shock.
I walked toward the furthest, largest, and most hideous-looking saber.
"Ppyah!"
I grabbed it.
A heavy, cold sensation. It was impossible to lift with my current strength.
If I were to hoist it over my head right now, I’d truly be called a transcendent prodigy, but there was no need to go that far.
I looked back at my brothers, my family, the retainers of the Council of Elders, and the numerous guests invited to my birthday party, and I smiled.
"W-woooooh...!!"
"Waaaaah!!"
"Young Lord, this is truly...!!"
Confusion, shock, admiration. Basking in those gazes, I hugged the hilt of the saber with my trembling hands.
I watched my father running toward me with a broad grin, my mother dabbing at her teary eyes, and my brothers cheering and clapping.
"Ppeuppa (Cr-crushed it)."
Ten months since my descent into this body.
I’d like to say the superstar of the Peng family just blitzed his first birthday party.
*
To summarize what I gained from this birthday party:
"It would be enough to call even one such person a pillar of the state, but how is it that the Peng family only produces such heroes!"
"Haha, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Where else would the talents of the Peng family come from?"
"This is truly a joyous day, Young Lord!"
I learned that my father was the Young Family Head.
In other words, I was currently in the position of something like the Young Lord of the Peng family.
The son of the Young Family Head. This meant the Family Head, whom I had yet to meet, was my grandfather.
And one more thing.
"What did you say I grabbed during my selection?"
"Ryung, didn't you grab a dagger?"
"Haha, this little one grabbed a great saber, so I look forward to seeing how he grows."
I had siblings. Older brothers, to be precise.
"Of course, he's your younger brother. So, where is Jeong? Wasn't he supposed to come with you?"
"He insisted on finishing his work before coming... he's probably running here now. He said he couldn't come to his brother's selection empty-handed. Haha!"
"I see. I hope he isn't too late. The Family Head will be here soon... Oh, look at me. Go and greet your father quickly."
"I'm actually just coming back from reporting to him as soon as I arrived. Father told me to go see the youngest. Hahaha."
Apparently, I had even more brothers.
As if noticing my gaze, my eldest brother smiled broadly and approached, gently stroking my head.
"You will become a great treasure of the family in the future. You need to grow up fast and share some of the burden with your big brothers."
"Ehe... Hehehe."
"Look at this little guy laugh. There's going to be an uproar when he walks down the streets of Beijing later."
My brother gave me a warm hug before leaving the room.
Let's reflect.
He was a good person. Well, this was the Hebei Peng family, after all.
The household of supporting characters who played the role of the 'strong and kind idiot brother' of the Orthodox Faction. The people themselves couldn't be bad.
In the first place, with this much of an age gap, a struggle for succession was out of the question.
It meant that from my eldest brother's perspective, I wasn't even a competitor.
If that was the case...
My mind is much more at ease.
A succession struggle among such good people?
I must have been too immersed in modern creative works.
Let's reflect. Perhaps I had too much prejudice against medieval China.
Come to think of it, weren't the Liu-Guan-Zhang trio, who went down in history for their brotherly love, also Chinese?
As the youngest of one of the Five Great Orthodox Clans, I can just live a decent life and have everything handed to me.
Thinking about it, wouldn't it be much more comfortable and safer to just live as the youngest attached to the household rather than performing the duties of the Family Head?
That pleasant thought vanished without a trace in what felt like ten minutes.
—DONG—!!
A bell rang.
"Eh?"
As I jumped in surprise, silence descended upon the once-noisy banquet hall.
I heard my mother, who was holding and coddling me, whisper softly.
"He's here."
He's here? Who...?
—DONG—!!
A guard atop the gate tower was striking the bell.
An alarm bell on the gate tower was something only rung during an invasion by foreign enemies.
Foreign enemies...? More than half of these people were martial artists, and this was the Hebei Peng family, located right next to Beijing. An invasion? Right now, of all times?
As I rolled my eyes in confusion, a shout erupted from beyond the gate tower.
[[The Sima Alliance Leader arrives!!!]]
What the fuck.
Why is he arriving?
Why on earth would the Sima Alliance Leader show up at the first birthday party of the youngest son of the Peng family's Young Family Head...?
Since all the nearby Orthodox sects were gathered here, was he planning an ambush?
—DONG—!!
[[The Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance Leader arrives!!!]]
Flutter! At the loud sound, I hurriedly turned my gaze to see two black flags already planted and fluttering in the courtyard.
The Black Path Demonic Alliance. A seal depicting a demon's face in red paint on pitch-black silk, with the character for 'Evil' (邪) clearly visible.
The Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance. Similarly, a white painting of a torn dragon was depicted on pitch-black silk.
The dragon's mouth, open as if screaming in pain, seemed to be staring right at me.
As I let out a small gasp and trembled, my mother began to slowly stroke my back.
"Oh dear, Hui. Don't be scared."
Was my mother also a member of a martial family? How could she not be scared when the Unorthodox Faction was swarming in on a day of celebration?
Looking around, I wasn't the only one.
Everyone had stood up, frozen, and was staring at the gate tower.
The tension was so thick it felt like it could cut skin.
It wasn't just mine; it was the tension radiating from every martial artist in the hall.
Dammit, it really was a revenge story after all.
Was my life's goal destined to be killing the Sima Alliance Leader?
Just then, my mother whispered softly.
"It's your grandfather, after all."
"Eh (Eh)."
[[The Great Hebei Peng Family Head arrives!!!]]
—BOOM—!!
The doors of the gate tower burst open with violent force.
A massive cloud of dust rose from the overwhelming momentum, obscuring the gate tower.
And then.
Thump.
Thump.
The sound of footsteps.
A black silhouette flickered into view.
It grew in number, forming a group.
I saw familiar faces.
The faces of the family elders who would occasionally find me when I was out for a walk in my nanny's arms, smiling and coddling me.
Now, they were dressed in black martial robes, their faces frozen stiff, radiating a sharp, murderous aura.
Thump.
The warriors in black robes walked straight across the banquet hall.
No one stopped them. No, no one could stop them.
As they drew near, people would jump in surprise and hurriedly clear a path.
The hulking men covered in scars, the ominous men who used to cackle darkly—every single one of them.
Thump.
The elders walked up to the dais, turned in unison, and knelt.
And along the path opened by the family elders, a giant was walking.
Thump.
He was a giant. His height was towering, and his muscles, prominent even through his worn clothes, were certainly impressive, but beyond those physical traits... the man himself seemed immense.
At the same time, he was an old man. His snow-white hair was tied back loosely, and his short-cropped beard grew coarse and sturdy.
Scanning the hall with eyes full of killing intent, he took one more step forward.
Thump.
The thousands present here willingly knelt and held their breath.
My mother, my father, my brothers, and the other retainers—everyone knelt on one knee to welcome the giant's entrance.
As his massive aura swept across the banquet hall, my lips grew parched and my eyes felt dry as his shadow approached. Just from the pressure of one man...
"Hmm."
The giant, who had approached before I knew it, looked down at me and exhaled.
"Eh..."
Think. Think.
Damn this baby brain! Now is not the time to be dazed!!
The Hebei Peng Family Head is the Sima Alliance Leader...
Okay, keep following the logic. Faster, faster!!
My father is the Young Family Head. In other words, the Sima Alliance Leader is my grandfather.
I've confirmed this much. So, what do I need to do now?
An infant would definitely burst into tears in this atmosphere. Should I act like a baby?
You idiot. Not that. Again...!
A young child—no, even an adult—would be tense and wary before such a person. Should I show that I'm nervous?
No way! I'm a reincarnator. On top of that, I'm this man's biological grandson. There's only one thing to do!
A reincarnator, in this situation...
"Ebehe—!"
Smiles. Brightly.
I reached out both arms and acted cute toward this terrifying old man.
"..."
"Ehehe—!"
I did my best to smile, trying to hide my stiff, twitching lips.
A strange light flickered in the eyes of the old man looking down at me.
"The current Peng family is blessed with sons."
A massive hand pressed down on my head.
A hand that felt like it could crush my skull with a single light gesture moved slowly.
It stroked me.
Gently.
"Is it instinct... Impressive. If one is born a tiger cub, one must know when to hide and when to unsheathe their claws."
The old man smiled and turned around.
The pressure that had been crushing my entire body vanished like smoke in an instant.
"He... smiled...?"
I heard my brother's shock.
"Ry-Ryung, did he smile back then too? Did he?"
"No way... There wasn't a single child who didn't cry when Father appeared."
"My goodness..."
My parents' whispers went back and forth.
Whether he heard them or not, the sound of the old man's low chuckle echoed as he walked to the end of the dais.
As the old man's laughter lingered in the hall, the sound of the guests' sighs of relief followed.
The Hebei Peng family is a Sapa sect...?
Everyone was smiling sincerely.
They were praising my courage and congratulating the old man.
It was the completion of a world where only I was unhappy.
What kind of world have I fallen into...!
*
"What about Hui?"
"He's fast asleep. He must have been very tired."
"I suppose so. You've worked hard as well."
Listening to my parents' voices, I kept my eyes closed and organized my thoughts.
This was a Murim world, and I had fallen into a world where the Hebei Peng family was a Black Path sect.
At least in the novels, games, movies, or dramas I had seen in my previous life... there was no such case in any medium.
It might have existed, but at least it wasn't one I had seen.
It wasn't a book or game possession. Did I really just fall into a world with no context at all?
Reincarnation itself is a contextless event, so it wasn't strange, but it meant that most of the knowledge I possessed had become useless.
As soon as I was reincarnated, I had scraped together as much knowledge and plot points from the wuxia novels I'd read, but things had gone awry from the very first step.
Damn. Of all places, Hebei.
As long as the Peng family was a Black Path sect, this could no longer be considered a "Super Bowl" start.
It felt reassuring when I thought we were part of the Five Great Orthodox Clans, but now, shouldn't I consider the imperial army, civilians, and the Orthodox Faction as potential enemies?
The Hebei Peng family is, as the name suggests, in the land of Hebei.
Hebei means north of the Yellow River—the North China region.
It's the heart of the Central Plains, where Beijing is located. And in Beijing, there is usually the Chinese Imperial Court, regardless of the era.
From the Imperial Court's perspective, an armed warlord exists right under Beijing's nose.
Seeing as the Peng family has been maintained until now, some kind of collusive relationship must have been formed... but traditionally, collusion with the Central Plains Imperial Court tended to fall apart once every generation.
I need to find out what era this is.
The Peng family is Han Chinese.
And being able to exist as Han Chinese in Beijing means it's likely not the Song Dynasty, nor the early Yuan Dynasty.
It would have to be the late Yuan or the Ming Dynasty for a Han Chinese warlord to be formed in the North China region.
The problem is, the Ming Dynasty... these guys, the last Han Chinese dynasty, changed their policies every time the Emperor changed.
To be precise, they had the power to do so.
The Ming Dynasty was the state with the strongest imperial authority in Chinese history.
Sigh...
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
If I had started in the Namgung family of Anhui or the Sichuan Tang family, I wouldn't have had to care about the central government's whims in the first place. Why did it have to be right next to Beijing?
China traditionally had strong regional decentralization.
Because administrative power couldn't reach everywhere, the central government usually overlooked local gentry as long as they paid their taxes and didn't attempt rebellion.
In such a situation, if I had started my reincarnation life in a sect belonging to the Orthodox Martial Alliance, which was responsible for public safety, I could have led a fairly comfortable life.
On the other hand, the Hebei Peng family, even to my one-year-old eyes, was currently 'walking a tightrope.'
They had to keep their distance so as not to offend the Imperial Court, while simultaneously being strong enough that Black Path gangs wouldn't dare attack, and solid enough that Orthodox forces couldn't encroach.
From the Imperial Court's perspective, they were an armed warlord teetering on the line of legality and illegality.
From the perspective of Black Path gangs, they were a tempting fruit reigning over the prime land of North China—but a fruit that was difficult to challenge, one that would ignite a desire to challenge at the slightest hint of a gap.
From the perspective of the Orthodox forces, if they could just push them out, they could seize control of the inland civilian water transport centered around the Yellow River in North China, and they would be granted the honor of having defeated the greatest power of the Black Path.
It's a mess.
Maintaining this level of prosperity was close to a miracle.
And since I had no intention of dying young after finally being born into a wealthy family, I had to maintain that miracle until my generation.
The adults of our family couldn't possibly be unable to think of what even a baby can, right?
That was my one consolation.
If I could realize the geographical disadvantage and the complex political situation of the Hebei Peng family after only ten months of reincarnation, there was no way the elders who were born and raised in the Peng family wouldn't know.
It was six years later that I finally learned what this family's survival strategy actually was.
"Most problems are solved if you are strong."
"What."
Come to think of it, these guys were the Hebei Peng family.
The 'kind idiot brother' type—not very bright, just strong, but good at taking care of their own.
* * *
Time moves slowly for a baby. The idea that they grow noticeably every day is just the narrow perspective of adults.
If you were trapped in a baby's body with an adult's mind, you would realize how disgustingly slow time flows.
Because that was me.
"I've met the minimum requirements for a genius in a medieval Confucian cultural sphere."
I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction in my tongue, which was now moving clearly.
Three years old. A time when others are just memorizing a few words and babbling all day.
This body. Thousand Character Classic, mastered.
"They say Choe Seung-ro, Yi I, and Kim Si-seup were called geniuses for mastering the Thousand Character Classic at age three."
In the Confucian cultural sphere, whether an infant is a genius or a fool is determined by one thing: how quickly they can perform simple rote memorization of Chinese characters.
Application only becomes important after the Four Books and Five Classics.
And any South Korean student who has properly gone through the regular education curriculum can show some prominence in the field of simple rote memorization.
I could only attribute this to the bonus points I got for being a liberal arts major.
It helped a lot that I had already attained a Level 7 certification in my previous life.
In the first place, the Thousand Character Classic is a scholarly book for beginners, where basic common characters make up more than 70%.
As long as you memorize a few difficult characters, there's nothing inherently hard about it.
Now, if I just start lightly with the Elementary Learning and master the Three Classics (Odes, Documents, and Changes), I can become the top intellectual of the Peng family.
I'll have it in the bag by age ten.