The Man Named Zhang Liao
Zhang Liao? Wen Yuan?!
Seo Jun chewed on a piece of meat he had skewered with his dagger. The rich, savory flavor spread through his mouth, instantly lifting his mood.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The same sound echoed from multiple directions, ringing out like a chorus. It was the noise of a large group marching.
Seo Jun gripped his spear and rose to his feet, staring into the darkness where the sound originated. In the gloom, he could make out numerous shadows approaching his position.
“Halt!”
A figure on horseback at the front raised a hand and issued the command. The entire group stopped at once.
Clip-clop. Whoosh!
The apparent leader of the group rode up to the campfire, dismounted, and approached.
“Apologies if we startled you. We are soldiers under the Inspector of Bing Province, dispatched to Daeseong Fortress. Night fell while we were on the move, so we hoped to borrow some fire. We know it’s rude to approach like this, but…”
“It’s quite all right. You must have had a difficult journey. Feel free to use the fire as much as you need.”
Lighting a fire and setting up camp in the wilderness was quite a laborious task for soldiers. If they could simply borrow one, the men would be able to rest far more comfortably and quickly.
“Thank you so much. I am Zhang Liao, a military commander from Bing Province. We were suddenly ordered to reinforce Daeseong Fortress. Thanks to your kindness, it feels like this journey will be blessed with good fortune.”
Zhang Liao? Is this the Zhang Liao I know?
In Seo Jun’s memories of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Liao was one of the top five generals he admired most.
“By any chance, may I ask your courtesy name? Ah—I am Seo Jun, from Sakbang. My courtesy name is Baekryong.”
In this era, it was customary to introduce oneself by given name first. If one wished to build closer ties, they would then share their courtesy name. Normally, only elders, superiors, or childhood friends used one’s given name. People of similar status or subordinates would address each other by courtesy name as a sign of respect.
“Ah! My courtesy name is Wen Yuan. My name is Zhang Liao, courtesy name Wen Yuan.”
Wen Yuan? Zhang Liao… Wen Yuan? It really is the Zhang Liao I know!!
Zhang Liao seemed unfamiliar with the formalities of scholarly etiquette and answered Seo Jun’s question without hesitation.
It really is him! Not just someone with the same name. If this is the real Zhang Liao, this is incredible! To meet him in a place like this…
Only after the initial shock of encountering Zhang Liao subsided could Seo Jun truly examine the man’s face. He had sharp, well-defined features and a robust, powerful build—the kind of appearance that naturally inspired the word “handsome.”
“I turned twenty-one this year. May I ask how old you are, Wen Yuan?”
“I am nineteen this year. So you are my elder brother! I shall address you as Brother Baekryong from now on.”
For some reason, Seo Jun felt an immediate sense of closeness toward the Zhang Liao he had just met. It felt like the excitement of seeing a celebrity from TV in real life.
Having grown a bit more comfortable with each other, the two shared the food Seo Jun had prepared and continued their conversation. Their similar views on daily life and preparations for the future allowed them to connect remarkably well.
“Meeting you has put me in such a good mood, Brother Wen Yuan. To express my joy, I’ll offer the wild boar I hunted to your soldiers. Roast it and share it among yourselves.”
“Brother Baekryong must have gone through great trouble to catch it. Are you truly sure it’s all right?”
Their personalities matched perfectly, and they quickly bonded like old friends, laughing heartily as they began addressing each other as sworn brothers.
“My father and uncle are currently serving at Yishuse, enduring hardship there. Since you and your men will soon face similar difficulties, I cannot treat you as strangers. Please don’t refuse.”
“Haa…”
“Everyone, gather round and listen! My newly sworn brother Baekryong has offered us an entire wild boar! Let’s all show our gratitude by roasting it well and enjoying it to the fullest!”
“Yahoo!!!! Long live!!!”
“Thank you, my lord!”
As long as meat was involved, anyone could become “my lord.” Cheers erupted from the soldiers in every direction.
The chance for soldiers to eat meat came only once or twice a year at best, and even then they usually received only one or two small pieces. A whole wild boar from Seo Jun would provide plenty for nearly two hundred men to enjoy generously.
During a grueling march, such unexpected good fortune naturally lifted the soldiers’ spirits.
“This dispatch seems destined for good luck. I’ve even gained such a wonderful elder brother. If you ever pass near Daeseong Fortress, please visit anytime. I may not be able to offer fine delicacies, but I will certainly treat you to a bowl of thin porridge.”
“I’m truly glad to have met you too, Brother Wen Yuan. I’ll visit whenever I have the chance, so don’t treat me like a stranger.”
“Haha, please come often.”
Having formed this new bond, the two talked late into the night before finally retiring to their respective beds.
The next morning, after parting ways with Zhang Liao’s group, Seo Jun hurried back toward Sakbang. After spending a night outdoors, his body felt stiff, and he wanted nothing more than to return home, rest deeply, and shake off the fatigue.
Aigoo, truly, leaving home brings nothing but hardship.
It was slightly past noon when Seo Jun finally arrived home.
“Jun-ah, welcome back. I was worried when you didn’t return last night.”
Seol Ryeon had barely slept, consumed with worry over Seo Jun not coming home.
“Were you worried?”
Seo Jun naturally walked over to Seol Ryeon and pulled her into a tight embrace. Since their first time, they had shared a bed every two or three days. Now, whenever no one was watching, they behaved exactly like any other married couple, completely natural with each other.
During meals, the seat beside Seol Ryeon used to belong to Ju Hwi. Now the two children sat together while that spot had naturally become Seo Jun’s.
The children never said anything outright, but they seemed to sense, even if vaguely, the true nature of the relationship between Seol Ryeon and Seo Jun.
The family of four enjoyed a delicious dinner featuring the wild boar meat Seo Jun had brought and the other dishes Seol Ryeon had prepared. After the meal, they chatted for a while and spent time together before the children headed to their rooms to sleep.
Now alone, Seo Jun moved even closer to Seol Ryeon. One hand gently gripped her waist while the other lightly caressed her thigh. Seol Ryeon leaned her head against his chest, savoring his gentle touch. By now, her body had grown completely accustomed to accepting his hands.
“The weapon I mentioned, the one made from meteoric iron, was completed yesterday!”
“Really?”
“Yes. It turned out even better than I expected.”
“I see.”
While Seo Jun was excited, Seol Ryeon’s expression darkened slightly.
“Are you worried?”
“These days, whenever you go out hunting, my heart is always filled with anxiety.”
“A turbulent age is coming, Mother. A far more dangerous world than now will unfold. I’m building my strength to protect you, the children, and the rest of our family. So even if you worry, please endure it just a little longer and support me.”
“I understand.”
Chu. Chu. Chu.
Seo Jun held Seol Ryeon tightly, kissing her cheeks before gradually moving toward her lips. Seol Ryeon naturally wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss.
Slurp. Suck.
Their tongues intertwined, sucking and swirling, as the deep kiss continued for a long time. When their faces grew flushed and their breathing turned ragged, they finally parted their lips and caught their breath.
“Mother, let’s go to my room.”
His voice tickled her ear. Seol Ryeon shyly lowered her head and nodded, yet she naturally took his hand and followed him out of the room.
As the two left the house and headed quietly toward Seo Jun’s quarters next door, his aunt Yi Hyeon was approaching his home carrying some savory pancakes she had fried for dinner.
Yi Hyeon caught sight of the pair walking toward Seo Jun’s quarters.
“Ha…. Hup.”
Yi Hyeon, who had been about to call out to Seol Ryeon, quickly covered her mouth.
The sight of the two heading to Seo Jun’s quarters looked strange. While they had always been close, the way they held hands and gazed at each other as they walked didn’t look like a mother and son at all. It looked exactly like lovers who had just begun a romance.
Yi Hyeon’s footsteps unconsciously grew cautious and stealthy.
Gulp!
She hastily swallowed the saliva that had suddenly flooded her mouth.
Upon reaching the front of Seo Jun’s quarters, Yi Hyeon worried she might be seen and carefully peered through a gap in the crudely woven wooden door while straining her ears.
Should I get closer? I can’t see anything from here. Am I just imagining things?
Countless conflicting thoughts swirled inside her as she stood frozen in front of the wooden door, unable to move.
Still… I need to confirm. This isn’t something I can just let go.
Even if she knew the truth, there was nothing she could actually do about it. Yet a powerful curiosity and desire to satisfy the questions blooming deep within her heart had taken hold.
A great interest in what might be a forbidden love was awakening inside her.
Her mouth suddenly felt dry.
Stealthily, she moved toward her new target—the old, weathered window on one side of the room that had a small hole in it. She approached the window through which she could see inside.
“Haa… Haa… Haa…”
As she drew near the window, the sticky sounds coming from within made Yi Hyeon’s eyes widen.