The Third Human Weapon
Yuan Shu had been told that three extraordinary talents would come to him. Now two of them were already in his service. One was the demon of the Islamic armies, the brat of Satan acknowledged by Saladin himself—Richard the Lionheart, who charged headlong with an axe in hand and shattered an army of sixty thousand. The other was the ultimate human weapon of China, the mad monster who single-handedly carved through hundreds when five thousand cavalry charged him, the original one-man army whose sheer might made even kings hesitate to approach until he chose to end his own life—the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, Xiang Yu, whose strength could topple mountains and whose presence shook the world.
The most amusing part was that these feats had actually happened in real history. In this half-fantasy world full of variables where nameless nobodies could fight a hundred men at once, how much greater would these genuine monsters prove to be? That, too, was something worth looking forward to. After all, it wasn't uncommon for a single general to carve out terrifying achievements through sheer personal might alone.
...Though, come to think of it, the population here seemed far larger as well.
"Those brats sure have energy this early in the morning."
It would be quite some time before these reliable little sisters of his could truly shine on the battlefield, so for now he was simply passing the time. What was he doing today? Watching a fight that had broken out in the training grounds. If there was anything more entertaining than personally crushing someone in a duel, it was watching other people fight—especially when the matchup was a clash of absolute equals at the very peak of heaven. There was no reason not to enjoy it. Honestly, any aspiring general ought to see this at least once.
As expected, the ones currently fighting in the training grounds were Richard and Xiang Yu. Those two had been going at it every single day, supposedly to settle their hierarchy.
"Hey, you beastly wench! When the hell are you gonna start showing proper respect to your great senior?! What kind of junior doesn't even bow their head?!"
"What? What the hell is some weird-faced Western wench yapping about?! Who are you calling junior? You look like you'd snap if someone so much as poked you!"
Both were proud geniuses whose tempers and strength were second to none. Naturally, they clashed every day. Fights like this only ended when one side bent, but neither of these girls was the type to lower their heads so easily. Especially not when they were swinging real weapons at each other every single time. Watching them was genuinely thrilling.
"You rat-faced bitch!! What do you think you're gonna accomplish just dancing around like that?!"
"You pig-brained sow, you think fighting is just about brute strength?! Your head's full of nothing but air, you Western hag!"
"You only run around because you're too weak to trade blows, don't you? Typical foreigner, no common sense!"
"If all you're gonna do is swing wildly, go hit a training dummy instead! Teaching a thick-skulled junior like you is exhausting!"
Their mouths were just as sharp as their blades. In a proper brawl, skill alone wasn't enough to draw a crowd—you needed a wicked tongue to really sell it.
"Who needs side dishes when you've got this? Hah!"
Yuan Shu watched them with the same casual enjoyment one might feel watching an idle game grind. The wine tasted excellent. Good drinks really did need good entertainment to go with them. Not that either of them was going to win anyway. He'd just step in later tonight and settle things himself. Their strengths were so overwhelmingly distinct that a clean victory was nearly impossible.
"Ahh, the training ground's going to be wrecked again today... I'll have to stay up all night fixing it..."
"Still, the extra pay's nice... If I buy some pork with it and bring it home, the kids get so happy... Haha."
Every time blades flashed, the stone floor of the training ground was carved apart, leaving the servants with no rest. Fortunately, the Yuan household had so many retainers that it wasn't a real problem.
"Hey, watching the fight's fine, right? Have a drink while you're at it."
"Ah, thank you, young master."
When Yuan Shu offered his cup, the burly man standing beside him bowed deeply and accepted it. Yuan Shu poured the wine himself. This fellow was a general his father had assigned to him as a subordinate. A local strongman with some military achievements and decent martial skill. More importantly, his name was one Yuan Shu actually recognized from the records.
"So, what do you think of their skill?"
"Hmm... They're monsters, plain and simple. Far beyond anything I could hope to judge... My apologies."
"Forget it. I was just asking out of boredom."
The man downed the cup respectfully and answered. His name was Ji Ling—the very same Ji Ling who served under Yuan Shu in the historical records. In games he'd seemed surprisingly capable, so Yuan Shu had looked him up and found he only appeared in a single scene in Lü Bu's story. That was the historical version, though. In his experience, this world aligned more closely with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where Ji Ling had a more prominent role. There, he could trade thirty blows with Guan Yu and later lasted ten against Zhang Fei before losing his head. Among B-rank generals, he had the potential to lead troops. Of course, even a Yellow Turban bandit like Guan Hai could last dozens of exchanges with Guan Yu, so the evaluation wasn't absolute. Still, battlefield combat was never fixed—today's outcome could easily differ from tomorrow's depending on circumstances.
Though it's hard to imagine Richard or Xiang Yu crumbling just because the situation turns against them.
What kind of disaster would these monsters, who already created small calamities just by fighting each other, unleash once they were unleashed on an actual battlefield? The thought alone was fascinating. And they still hadn't finished growing yet. Neither had he, for that matter.
"Oi, you lot! Stop fighting and come have a drink!"
After another cup, Yuan Shu called out to them playfully. The two immediately ceased their duel and approached, wiping sweat from their brows.
"Tch, I was just about to settle this for good."
"Haa... A little longer and I'd have taken her head."
"You two sure love talking big, don't you? Hahaha."
Ever since their hierarchy had been roughly established, the two had become noticeably more obedient toward him. He spent quite a bit of time with them as well. When he poured them drinks, they accepted without complaint.
"Ooh, this wine's good. What is it?"
"They called it Nuerhong, I think."
"Damn, it goes down smooth!"
Seeing the two who had been trying to kill each other moments ago now sitting before him, laughing and drinking, was oddly pleasant. Nuerhong was a wine buried when a daughter was young and dug up once she came of age—usually aged at least ten years. As long as it tasted good, that was all that mattered.
"Now that we've warmed up, how about I—"
His blood was boiling from watching, and he was about to join in when a servant approached with hurried steps and called out respectfully.
"Pardon the interruption, young master. The family head has requested your presence."
"Father? Tch, guess it'll have to wait."
Yuan Shu clicked his tongue and stood up.
"Take Ji Ling and go eat first. I'll probably be dining with Father."
"Understood~."
"Hey, Ji Ling, what's for dinner today?"
The two girls draped their arms over Ji Ling's shoulders and headed off for a meal. Regardless of their standing with each other, they had clearly established their hierarchy over Ji Ling. Maybe they were sharper than they looked. Yuan Shu followed the servant to his father, wondering what this was about.
Yuan Feng was seated at the table waiting for him, with his mother present as well.
"Have you been waiting long, Father, Mother?"
"Not at all. I only just arrived myself. Now, before you receive your gift, let's eat together first."
Yuan Feng welcomed his son warmly and had him sit. The meal proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere. The gift seemed secondary—his parents simply wanted to share a meal. Yuan Shu's stories of living life to the fullest were novel and entertaining to parents who had walked the predetermined path of a prestigious family, so the mood remained cheerful. To Yuan Feng, who already believed his son was destined to become a great general, these vigorous days were simply the natural boldness a future hero should possess. ...Though parental bias might have played a role as well. Yuan Shu hadn't caused any truly catastrophic incidents, and given his background, even his more reckless actions were framed positively by scholars and local elites. More importantly, his martial prowess was genuinely extraordinary—enough to captivate even his father, a man who had lived his life as a civil official and powerbroker.
Eventually, as they sipped tea with dessert, Yuan Feng finally addressed the reason for the summons.
"Shu, I mentioned giving you a gift, didn't I? Here—take it. It should prove useful in your life going forward."
At Yuan Feng's gesture, a servant carefully brought someone in from beyond the door. This was apparently the gift.
"A retainer family offered their adopted daughter. She carries Dongyi blood and took her mother's surname. They wished to present her to you, believing your heroic qualities deserved such beauty."
Yuan Feng took a refined sip of tea and smiled gently.
"There's a saying that heroes are fond of beauty. For a bold man like you to have multiple wives and concubines is no flaw—it's only natural. However, you must never allow yourself to be swayed by beauty or let your consorts control you. This girl is exceptionally beautiful yet quiet and obedient, making her suitable for you to gain experience in such matters."
Handing over a foreign child to a prestigious family as tribute... What a novel form of bribery. Still, regardless of the circumstances, Yuan Shu found himself drawn to this girl. Her beautiful purple eyes, her well-groomed appearance, her milky-white skin. Her quiet, composed demeanor was truly lovely, but...
That's not what matters here. This girl... she's the last of the three talents.
If he'd been attracted by appearance alone, he would have felt the same about Richard or Xiang Yu. They might act like tomboys, but both were quite beautiful in their own right.
"Of course, how you use her is entirely up to you now that you're her master."
"Ufu fu... Enjoy your time together."
With those words, his parents rose and left, leaving Yuan Shu alone with the quiet girl before him. To anyone else, she would appear merely beautiful. But he could see it—the monstrous flame burning behind those eyes.
"Hiding your true nature behind that expressionless face like a stone Buddha, are you? Or perhaps you've simply never had reason to show it."
"......"
"What's your name?"
"My surname is Choe, and my name is Jun-gyeong. I have been assigned to serve you, Young Master Yuan Shu."
"You were sent here for something as trivial as earning a single line in the history books, but you're not the type to end so insignificantly!"
He ordered a servant to bring his sword and handed it to the girl who had introduced herself as Choe Jun-gyeong.
"Take it."
Choe Jun-gyeong accepted the sword respectfully and drew it. Shrrrng... The blade slid free with a clear ring, reflecting her eyes. On the pristine edge of the famous sword, those eyes gleamed with raw, unfiltered killing intent—nothing like the disposable pawn she was supposed to be, offered as mere tribute.
"There's fire in your eyes. Your heart is racing. How does it feel to hold a blade?"
"My chest is pounding. Excitement is surging through me. It feels like I'm truly alive."
"That's the real you. Follow me. I'll show you how enjoyable life can be."
Yuan Shu had a servant summon Ji Ling to the training grounds and ordered Choe Jun-gyeong to face him.
"Kuaaaagh!!!"
Ji Ling was defeated in a single breath, sent flying through the wall and knocked unconscious.
"Oh?"
In an instant, she had severed Ji Ling's spear shaft twice, then struck him with the flat of her blade in one fluid motion. He hadn't stood a chance. The gap in skill was overwhelming. If Richard specialized in beast-like speed and precision, and Xiang Yu in absurd, world-shattering strength, then this girl's specialty appeared to be godlike technique rooted in innate genius.
And as expected, Ji Ling simply wasn't on the level of these monsters. That didn't mean he was useless, of course.
"I refrained from killing him since you seemed to value him."
"That's fine. How was it?"
"It was the greatest joy I have ever felt in my life. The urge to behead him and pull out what lay inside was so strong it nearly overwhelmed me."
"Hahaha! You look so refined, yet there's a demon inside you!"
Honestly, none of the talents sent to him seemed normal. Yuan Shu gestured for Ji Ling to be treated and spoke to Choe Jun-gyeong.
"Work under me. I'll make sure your life is anything but boring. Along the way, you might even carve your name deeply into the history books."
"I was ordered to live a life beneath that of a concubine, yet my master, Lord Yuan Shu, has instead granted me new light."
Choe Jun-gyeong knelt respectfully before him.
"You have given me a sword. From now on, I shall live as your blade, Lord Yuan Shu."
"Do whatever you want with that. Call me whatever you like—elder brother, lord, just don't say 'Lord Yuan Shu.'"
"Understood, my lord."
"Good, good."
Yuan Shu smiled at Choe Jun-gyeong.
Somehow, every single person who's come under me so far is an absolute monster when it comes to combat.
But he liked it. Strategists could be recruited through the Yuan family's network. True peerless warriors, however, were far harder to obtain. Schemes came from learning, but a warrior's strength was overwhelmingly a matter of innate talent. Having acquired three generals worthy of being called the greatest warriors in history, Yuan Shu laughed with genuine delight.
With this, the three talents who were meant to serve him had finally gathered in one place.