Finding My Land (2)
Sun Uk, Mun-yak. One day, she'll rise to the ranks of high officialdom. Buying land in her hometown is an investment. I poured every last coin I had into acquiring a manor, forging ties with the locals in the hometown of someone destined for greatness. I don't even need her personal favor—just being seen as some minor player living nearby would count as a smashing success.
That said, I might've gone a bit overboard while spilling all this to Sun Uk.
"I understand your intentions, Lord Hwang. But I must address what you've just said before we move on."
Sun Uk leveled the brush in her hand at me, her face deadly serious. Its sharpened tip gleamed like a spearhead.
"Blue Heaven is dead."
"As expected."
"Yellow Heaven shall stand."
"It wouldn't be strange to punish you for treason. You're not like the common folk, blindly shouting those Yellow Turban ravings in their rage. You know what those words mean."
"Yes. I knew exactly what I was saying."
I pushed her brush aside with my hand.
"It'll collapse. Just like Qin, like Chu, like Jin."
"Hey!"
"Keep your voice down. What if someone hears? You think only I'd get dragged off? Sun Mun-yak, just for having this conversation with me, you could be hauled in too. Your official career could end right there."
"Ha. For something like this? What if I turned you in?"
"You won't."
I stood and approached her. She froze in place, tense as a coiled spring, while I leaned in close beside her.
"Sis, you gonna snitch on me?"
"......Calling me that right now is low."
"You know I'm a lowlife."
I placed a hand on Sun Uk's shoulder. The fiery spirit she'd unleashed at me moments ago vanished; now she was hyper-aware of my touch, glancing sideways nervously.
"I trusted you enough to bare my soul, sis. You can't throw that back at me like that."
"Th-that wasn't my intention."
"Then why say you'd turn me in?"
"So you wouldn't go blabbing about it elsewhere..."
Thud. I grabbed her chin and pulled her face toward mine, close enough that our breaths mingled. Sun Uk clutched her hands tightly on her thighs, flustered beyond words.
"You think I'd share this with anyone but you? It's just for you, sis. Because you're special to me."
"Uh, ugh..."
Her face flushed crimson. I slowly tilted my head toward her, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Heh."
I covered her mouth with one hand, then pressed my lips to the back of it.
"Sis, why so tense? Do I strike you as the type to ruin someone's marriage prospects?"
"Mmph, mmph!"
"You too, sis. How's a girl aiming for high office gonna explain fooling around with a drifter like some roadside weed?"
"...You'd be there to help me out, right?"
Sun Uk mumbled, eyes downcast.
"I won't ask you to serve the Han court. Just... stay by my side? Can't you do that?"
"Nope, can't."
I patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"I'm the kind of guy who lives and dies for the Han dynasty. That's my fate. I couldn't survive in Han anyway."
"That's ridiculous."
"It's heaven's mandate. The destiny bestowed upon me."
I stroked her hair and took her hand in mine.
"Sorry, sis. I'm just a petty man who can't chase grand ideals. Too scared for my own skin to even commit to my own goals. Did I ever tell you? My parents abandoned me."
"...Yes. You said when they cast you out, you discarded your original name too."
"Right. So I can't live for the parents who bore me. That's how it is."
"What kind of nonsense is that? You're just rambling."
Sun Uk let out a deep sigh.
"Fine. If I have to embrace a petty man like you, so be it. But what if the Han court straightens itself out? Like back when Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang founded it—what then? If one hero sweeps away the Ten Attendants and restores the imperial dignity?"
"Well, you'd be climbing to some lofty post first, sis. With your talents, Grand Commandant seems within reach."
"And you could aim for Chancellor."
"Nah, not me."
I patted her back and rose from my seat.
"A pleasure meeting you, Sun Mun-yak. Next time you visit my manor, I'll treat you to a grand feast."
"...I told you, you can just call me Sun Uk."
She stood as well, bowing her head to me.
"But hey."
"Hm?"
"You really think you can just walk away like that?"
"...Huh?"
My vision suddenly swam. Sun Uk covered her mouth with her sleeve, chuckling softly.
"Sorry. But you're still such a kid. Can't let you go empty-handed."
"Y-you...!"
"Sorry. Just wanted a little memento before you leave."
"W-wait...!"
Riiip.
* * *
"......"
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. Just... the world's too scary. Can't trust a soul."
I'd joined a massive merchant caravan heading to Jingzhou. There, lugging my bundle, I chatted with a man selling silk down to Jiangxia as we traveled south.
"Who wouldn't find the world terrifying? Bandits could pop out anywhere, anytime."
"Jingzhou's safer, though, right?"
"Do thieves pick their spots? Once the chaos starts, they all swarm like flies."
The man sneered, mocking the bandits.
"People are the same everywhere. Jingzhou's no different. The only reason it's relatively bandit-free is the Governor actually puts effort into governing."
"The Governor?"
"He's a local. From one of Yangyang's prominent clans. Other places, governors just squeeze taxes dry—but here? All kin, right? Heh."
"Can't play the tyrant in your own backyard. Let's call it a good heart. Thanks to him, we travel safe."
Official soldiers escorting the caravan passed by. The traveler and I flashed wide grins and bowed.
"You're off to Jiangxia, you said?"
"Yep. Gonna unload this silk and make a killing. Sure, pirates prowl nearby, but it's still Jingzhou."
"I see..."
Should I tell him? Nah, he's just a traveling companion—no need.
"If pirates try to kill you, bribe 'em lightly and say this: 'Hey, if you kill me now, sure, you get my whole pouch. But think—if you just take a toll, I'll reach my destination and tell folks: "Eh, Jiangxia pirates just wanted a toll! Lucky to keep my skin."'"
"What's the point? Better to run without paying."
"That risks your life. Hear me out. Pirates'll think: 'Snatching this pittance now beats nothing later. Long-term, tolls from passersby are gold. Kill everyone, and the officials come knocking—but tolls? They'll chase bigger fish. Steady income, right?'"
"You some ex-bandit?"
"Just wits for survival. Heh. Not built for swinging spears or joining the army."
I rolled up my sleeve. Farming had bulked me up some, but not warrior material. Just your average peasant scholar.
"So what're you doing in Jingzhou? Becoming a ferryman?"
"Something noble."
I pulled a book from my bosom.
"Heading there to live off this."
"A book? Aiming for office?"
"Nah. Gonna teach the ones who will."
Why bother with bureaucracy, bowing and scraping?
"Tutor to nobles? You'd make a name. Haha!"
"You're too naive, friend."
"Am I?"
I spread my arms toward the distant Jingzhou horizon.
"I see far ahead. When the Central Plains erupt in war, where do folks flee? Right here to Jingzhou. I'll mentor the promising ones. Who knows? Might bond with a future Chancellor, swear brotherhood with a Grand Commandant. Uhahaha!"
"You fool."
The man shook his head, laughing at me.
"Getting drunk on cheap booze and losing your virginity to some girl—mmph?!"
"Hey now."