Beast Slaying (9): Marriage, Suddenly?
Suddenly marriage? What an utterly bizarre question out of nowhere. But Jo Aman's eyes were deadly serious.
"Didn't you just ask how we plan to capture Lü Bu? I figured you'd follow up with specifics on the strategy."
"Your marriage matters more than that."
More important than Lü Bu? Guess even he had his day. What a shame.
"Marriage, huh. Fine, if you insist on dredging up my so-called 'flaws' for an excuse. Heard any rumors?"
"Plenty. The girls are all close friends of mine, after all."
"...In that case, I can't really say much."
If she'd already heard from them, she'd know just how two-faced I could be.
"Sorry. I turn into a beast when I drink."
"Oh? Not now?"
"This is just tea."
Even drunk as a skunk, I could tell when it was okay to go beast mode and when it wasn't. If I couldn't, I'd have been beheaded and strung up somewhere ages ago.
"Or... do you want me to drink? With you?"
A man had to test the waters. I extended my teacup toward Jo Aman, and she smiled sweetly, lifting hers.
"I'll drink with those loyal to my lady."
A polite refusal.
"Shame."
"Oh, for real? Enlist with Lady Cao's army right now, and we could share a cup... no, a whole bottle."
"Sorry, but I'm not enlisting. My mind's made up on that."
"Even after what you pulled? Didn't you just crush some traitors?"
She knew. Well, with her ties to Sun Uk, no surprise.
"Just chased off some bandits sent by rebels."
"I heard you used to hate even going to the front lines."
"Yeah, spot on. I was a total coward who couldn't even ride into battle. But..."
I pointed to the sky.
"The world won't leave guys like that alone, so I had to move. Just not as an official. I lack the talent for bureaucracy."
"Officials are made by the positions they're given, no? If Master Geum wants it, my lady might create a new post just for you."
"Haha, I appreciate the kind words—really. But..."
I drew a clear line.
"If you're after talent, I'll recommend the kids instead. Of course, I'd have to think it over based on my own standards at the academy."
"What are those standards?"
"I'll recommend them to whoever they want to serve. Even if Lady Cao offers a rank higher than Left General, if my disciple doesn't want to work under her, I won't push it."
"Hmm."
For example, I wouldn't recommend Zhuge Liang to Cao Cao. Not unless she shook off her grudge and chose to serve of her own accord. No matter the crisis in Han or her brilliance, I wouldn't introduce her.
"But if it got me on Lady Cao's bad side—hell, even threatened my life—and one of my disciples wanted to serve her, I'd write the letter. Probably borrow a bigger name than mine, or argue their case passionately to that person."
"You mean Master Sima Hui?"
"Yes. And I've got connections in Jingzhou. I'd lean on them."
For instance, if a disciple wanted to join the Sun family, I'd write a glowing recommendation—for their sake. But using my name? Their head might roll. So, indirect, through a respected figure.
"...So no plans to marry into Lady Cao's circle and settle in Heodo."
"I'll focus on raising disciples."
"Yes."
Pretty words, but truth was, I hadn't trained enough yet. Sima Yi was shaping up, but Seo Seo was too picky to serve, and Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong still had gaps for high office. More seeds to sow. Harvest now, and we'd eat today—but no fat crops tomorrow.
"Jingzhou's still livable for me."
"...I see. Pushing further would be rude. Thanks for sharing. But..."
Jo Aman grew serious.
"Nothing worse than making a woman of marrying age anxious."
"I know. But that's for ordinary folks. Sorry, I'm Geum Taeyang."
"What does that mean?"
"Age doesn't matter to me. I look at the heart."
I look at the face. But capable women were usually beauties inside and out. Age irrelevant. Heart matters. No lies there.
"So I want to be careful with marriage. It's choosing a lifelong partner, right?"
"Lifelong partner... Nice phrasing. Someone I know is hunting a woman to bear his brilliant heirs."
"Huh? Treating women like baby factories?"
"Yep. Arrogant, nose in the air. Total prick—"
"Did he say that to you?"
Her hand froze.
"...How'd you know?"
"Just a hunch. Your words dripped anger and annoyance."
"......Yeah. 'Only you can bear my kids,' he's been pawing at me forever. And the bastard's already got two wives."
"What a psycho."
"...Pfft."
Jo Aman let out a soft laugh. For the first time, her statue-like smile felt alive.
"Psycho?"
"Yeah, psycho. Thinks he's some hero, filling a harem."
"Said he'd make me principal wife."
"Empty words mean nothing. He'd ditch you if the heirs flop."
Whoever it was, if it won Cao Cao's daughter's favor, a little sacrifice might be nice. Each jab lit up her smile more—how could I stop?
"Usually, the two wives fight. Their kids bicker over who's better. Same roots, different bellies—resentment, jealousy. They say kids are like farming? He's a crop failure."
"...Most refreshing thing I've heard lately. Thanks."
She raised her cup, face bright.
"Now I'm curious about your family farming philosophy, Master Geum."
"Back to that? Sigh. What kind of man do you want to marry? You first."
Not fit talk for a lady. But same question over and over? I'd snap eventually. Haha, no way she'd say—
"I want kids, but not marriage."
"...Whoa."
Jo Aman, scary woman.
"What about responsibility...?"
"Kids should come from love. But I won't marry anyone less than me. Haven't met one yet. Instead..."
Her smile deepened.
"I wouldn't mind checking out men. But not casually. A 'vetted' one would do."
"Vetted?"
"Yeah. If a woman I respect chose him, I'd think, 'He's decent enough.'"
"Stealing him?"
"Not stealing. Joke. No marriage plans, but why suffer with an unvetted dud?"
She shrugged.
"So, who're you marrying, Master Geum?"
"...Don't make me say it."
A bit embarrassing.
"I'm ordinary. Have an ideal type, but something matters more."
Maybe age. My view of a 'lifelong partner' had shifted.
"I wanted a beautiful, capable, kind-hearted woman."
"Wanted?"
"Yeah. Now it's different. Living taught me..."
I did.
"I want to spend my life with the woman who stayed by my side in my darkest times."
Just ordinary thoughts, like anyone else.