Sparring with Zhang Liao
Seo Jun spent the next few days doing nothing in particular, taking a rare break at home. Better to give it some time rather than rushing things, he thought. He was confident Yi Hyeon wouldn't go spreading rumors. With that in mind, he decided to wait for the right moment to explain everything to her properly.
Late one afternoon, after more than a week, Seo Jun went out hunting again. He had just loaded a wild boar onto his cart. Today's haul consisted of one wolf and one boar. Wolf pelts fetched a decent price, but the meat had a strong gamey smell and didn't sell well. The boar, by contrast, was far more marketable. All in all, aside from the wolf pelt, the day's earnings weren't particularly impressive.
I really need to save up some money this year. Am I actually going to have to play the righteous outlaw? Feeling a twinge of frustration, Seo Jun chose not to return home. Instead, he turned his cart toward Daeseong Fortress, where Zhang Liao was stationed. He wanted easy conversation, and Zhang Liao seemed like the perfect person for it.
Honestly, Seo Jun was curious about what kind of man Zhang Liao really was. He wanted to see whether the warrior lived up to the dashing, capable image from games and novels. Feels like I'm fangirling over a celebrity. I do want to get closer to him. Maybe share a drink from the liquor in my storage space.
As the sun dipped behind the western hills, Seo Jun stood before the wooden gates of Daeseong Fortress.
"Who goes there!"
"Seo Jun of Shangfang. I've come to see Brother Wen Yuan. Please inform him I'm here."
"Seo Jun? The White Dragon who gave us boar meat?"
"That's right."
One of the soldiers guarding the gate recognized him from the earlier visit.
"Wait here a moment. I'll report to the commander right away."
The sound of running footsteps faded as Seo Jun waited, glancing around the fortress walls. With a long creak, the gates swung open.
"Haha! Brother White Dragon, you've come! Welcome!"
Zhang Liao emerged and greeted him warmly.
"Wen Yuan. How have you been?"
Zhang Liao pulled Seo Jun into a hearty embrace, clapped him on the shoulder, and led him inside.
"I'm truly glad to see you. You have no idea how much I've wanted to meet you again, Brother."
Young though he was, Zhang Liao radiated quiet confidence and boundless energy.
"I missed you too, so I came by with some meat while I had the chance."
Seo Jun handed the liquor and meat over to the soldiers in charge of cooking. They cheered at the unexpected feast and began bustling about in preparation.
While the two men exchanged greetings in Zhang Liao's quarters, a soldier entered carrying a small plate of meat, two cups, and a modest bottle of wine.
"Commander, we only had enough liquor left for one round each after dividing it among the men."
"It's fine. We can't drink properly in a place like this anyway. Wetting our throats is enough."
Daeseong Fortress sat on the front lines; battle could erupt at any moment. No matter how good his mood, Zhang Liao had no intention of getting drunk and neglecting his duties.
As they talked, a question suddenly occurred to Seo Jun. In the history he knew, Zhang Liao had once followed Lü Bu. He wondered how a straightforward, exemplary man like Zhang Liao had ended up serving someone with such a poor reputation.
"So, what are your dreams?"
"To become a brave general who protects the country and its people. What else could it be?"
Despite the bold words, Zhang Liao's expression was complicated. He knew all too well that in a world where eunuchs bought and sold offices, talent without money or connections had no chance to shine. As a member of a minor clan from Yanmen Commandery in Bing Province, he understood how difficult it would be to rise any higher.
The longer they spoke, the deeper their conversation grew, and the more they found themselves in agreement.
"So you plan to stay with the Bing Province army?"
"For now, yes."
"I'm thinking of heading to Luoyang next year, come what may, and looking for opportunities there."
"Luoyang? Do you have connections in the capital? Without money or patrons, even a gatekeeper's post is hard to come by. You know that, Brother."
"These are troubled times. Opportunities will appear. If I stay in Luoyang and keep my eyes open, even a border warrior like me should find a chance. That's why I want to go before it's too late."
Seo Jun didn't remember every detail of the Three Kingdoms era, but he knew the broad strokes. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion was suppressed, the Ten Attendants' coup and Dong Zhuo's rise would follow within a few years. Because he understood the flow of events, he could speak with certainty about his own plans, yet he couldn't explain the details to Zhang Liao.
"That's impressive. A bold decision."
"Haha. If I manage to secure a position in the capital first, I'll make sure to pull you up as well."
"Haha. Even the offer is appreciated."
They continued talking as the meat and wine disappeared. Eventually Zhang Liao grinned.
"Brother White Dragon, would you spar with me? I heard a rumor recently from a merchant passing through from Chang'an about a warrior called Black Wind Seo, the White Dragon."
"Oh? What sort of rumor? I'm curious."
"They say he single-handedly broke through and defeated over three hundred Qiang tribesmen who were attacking a Han merchant caravan."
"Haha. There were caravan guards helping, so it wasn't all me. The story's been exaggerated."
Word of Seo Jun was already spreading among the Han, Qiang, and Di peoples near Sanfu, Anding, and Wuwei. A peerless warrior had appeared in Shangfang.
"I've been wanting to cross blades with you too. Perfect timing."
Ever since arriving in this era, Seo Jun had been curious how his martial skills would fare against the top warriors of the age. He had wanted to ask Zhang Liao for a match from the very beginning, but the right moment and familiarity had been lacking until now.
The two men fetched wooden practice spears designed for sparring and moved to an open training ground, mindful of possible injuries. News spread quickly among the soldiers. Though young, Zhang Liao had proven his ability time and again; the men trusted and followed him. Rumors of Seo Jun had also reached the fortress, and everyone was eager to see his skill.
"Hey, move aside!"
"I can't see if you sit there!"
Soldiers jostled for the best vantage points. In the center of the yard, both men adopted similar stances—left foot forward, right foot angled slightly back—and gripped their spears with both hands.
"Please go easy on me, Brother."
"Likewise."
The moment greetings ended, their weapons clashed with sharp cracks.
Shushuk! Shuk! Tadak! Tak! Tadadadak! Tak!
Seo Jun advanced with rapid thrusts. Zhang Liao deflected them with rotating parries and countered. Seo Jun answered with powerful downward presses that neutralized the attacks. Their exchanges grew faster as they circled, probing for openings. Both displayed advanced techniques—deflecting with the shaft, redirecting with precise angles—until the clash reached a fever pitch.
Zhang Liao's spearmanship was compact, stable, and efficient. Seo Jun's was flashy, destructive, and overwhelmingly powerful. As they fought, Seo Jun felt himself absorbing Zhang Liao's style, refining his own technique in the process.
Brother's skill really lives up to the rumors. And he's still improving!
Thrust! Block! Sweep! Strike! With a final unified shout, they sprang apart.
"Let's stop here, Brother."
"Huu… Very well."
"I learned a lot from you, Wen Yuan. You're truly formidable."
"Compared to you, Brother, I'm still far behind. You're incredible."
They exchanged compliments as the match concluded. Seo Jun had stopped it himself; continuing would have meant victory for him, but at the risk of injuring Zhang Liao.
I can't hurt Zhang Liao.
He's still young and not yet at his peak, yet this is the level of a top-tier warrior. With the Fighting God Body, I should be able to hold my own even against famous generals of this era—especially in large-scale melees.
After the soldiers dispersed, Seo Jun returned to his assigned room and sat on the bed.