Whack-a-Mole (10)
Oh, come to think of it..... At my question, not only Ye Gwan but also several high-ranking officers who must have seen me before changed their expressions. When I removed the cloth wrapped around my head and raised the short spear, they recognized my face. The soldiers who had been charging at me froze in place. I pushed through the gap they left and found Sun Quan, who looked badly hurt. I pulled her out and whispered softly.
"Sorry."
With a bitter expression, I set the dazed Sun Quan down on the other side of the bridge and slowly walked toward the soldiers. This was how it had to end. I would reclaim everything that was mine, and that would be enough. The ending was a little harsh, but even this wasn't so bad. Thinking that, I tried to cross the bridge, but just before I could, someone grabbed my arm.
"From the beginning?"
When I turned my head, Sun Quan's fierce gaze burned with anger. In this situation, I wasn't sure if she would believe me... No, that was just greed. Even I wouldn't believe a story about losing my memories, so there was no way she would. Since things had come to this, it would be better to let her hate me fully and cut off any lingering attachment. With that thought, I answered her question calmly.
"That's right."
I worried she might suddenly draw her sword and stab me. Not just because it would hurt, but because I feared what would happen to her afterward, left alone to deal with the aftermath. I tried to pull away slightly, ready to dodge if necessary, but she lunged at me in an unpredictable way. She suddenly spread her arms, rushed forward, and wrapped them around my neck. Then she pulled my head down to her lips and whispered.
"It's a lie, isn't it?"
"No."
I didn't want to give her false hope. So I lied as casually as ever, but she rejected my answer with absolute certainty.
"No, it's definitely a lie. When you lie, the corner of your eye always twitches."
What?! I was shocked to learn I had a habit I didn't even know about and unconsciously touched the corner of my eye, then couldn't help getting angry.
"Liar, it doesn't twitch at all....."
"This much is fine. Compared to all the lies you've told."
Her gaze no longer held anger. Instead, she looked at me with gentle eyes. And then.....
*
"I can't watch this anymore."
My face flushed red and I turned my gaze away. Inside the crystal ball U Gil had offered, saying I should give it a try, I had seen myself singing a beautiful love song with Sun Quan. Unable to watch until the end, I returned the crystal ball to U Gil and had to fan my face with my hand even though it was midwinter.
"Why? Isn't it quite plausible? I think this is the best one. Personally, I like stories where everyone ends up happy."
"No, before we even get to whether it's plausible or not, this is....."
"But think about it carefully. If we follow this story, Sun Quan has no reason to hold a grudge against you. It also explains why Ju Tae is by her side. We can say everyone thought she was dead, but it turns out she was captured as a prisoner and remained as Sun Quan's protector. On top of that, more soldiers survive this way."
"That's true, but....."
It was different when you were the one actually living it! I wanted to snap at U Gil, but seeing her innocent, blank face drained me of the will to argue. Besides, out of all the alternatives she had suggested, this one was the best. It was certainly better than the version where I controlled Ju Tae like a puppet, had her burn the ships in the final scene, and cut the bridge so the soldiers were annihilated, leaving Sun Quan to die in perfect despair. In the end, I compromised with reality and agreed to her proposal, deciding to go with the story we had just seen.
"So how do we make Sun Quan accept this story?"
"The details fall under my secret techniques, but... to put it simply, we make her keep having the same dream. Then she'll gradually adjust the finer details to suit her own tastes through the dreams and eventually accept it as something she actually experienced. However, since I can't completely control this process, I can't pinpoint the exact timing. It should wrap up in about a month."
"A whole month...? Won't she find it strange?"
"I only need to intervene today. After that, she'll handle the rest herself."
If that was the case, then fine. Satisfied with U Gil's explanation, I left the rest to her and departed. Outside, the air was quite cold since it was the middle of the night, so I hunched my shoulders slightly and quickly headed toward my quarters.
"Hey, those immortals are really something, huh? I never thought something like that was possible."
- No, that wasn't her innate ability.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
I had started chatting to forget the cold while walking quickly, but Ser's unexpectedly serious reply made me stop.
"Not her innate ability?"
- It contradicts what Zuo Ci said. So that means.....
"Means what?"
- ...No, I think I need to check something. In that sense, I'll be leaving for a while. In the meantime, make sure you properly awaken your new ability. Pester that Chen Qun girl or do whatever it takes. Anyway, train like your life depends on it, got it?
"Uh, yeah....."
- Then.
After that, there was no response from her. What the hell was with that girl? She could've at least explained properly before leaving. I grumbled that I'd give her an earful when she got back, but Ser didn't return for a long time. About ten days passed like that. Instead, a reply came from elsewhere first.
"A messenger from Yuan Shao?"
"Yes. Someone named Guo Tu is leading the delegation and has arrived at the border. What should we do?"
"Let them through. I'll meet them."
I hurriedly began preparing to receive the envoy. If I couldn't resolve the current deteriorated situation with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Sun Ce on three fronts before spring arrived, we'd be trapped in a siege starting next year. To prevent that, I needed to handle this messenger well.
"Maybe I really should move the capital."
The distance between Qing Province and Xuzhou's Langya was close. The report came that they had arrived in Gongyang shortly after crossing the border, so I had to move busily. Fortunately, Man Chong and Gong Rong moved quickly, allowing me to finish preparations in time. As a result, I came face to face with the rumored Guo Tu.
"I am Guo Tu."
I looked at Guo Tu, who bowed her head in formal greeting, and assessed her appearance. To put it simply, she had a decent enough face and build. Her skin was quite good, with a slender jawline and deep eyelashes. She was handsome enough to be called a beautiful man. However, even though she looked to be in her late twenties, the pointed beard she had apparently grown with great care made her seem somewhat frivolous—that was the only flaw, if it could be called one. She probably believed it added dignity and kept growing it. Otherwise, she wouldn't unconsciously keep touching it.
After finishing my assessment of Guo Tu, I responded to her greeting.
"You must be tired from the long journey."
After exchanging the usual pleasantries, I tried to guide Guo Tu to her quarters.
"You must be exhausted. Why don't you rest today and we can talk tomorrow?"
"I appreciate the kindness," Guo Tu politely declined my consideration, "but one cannot use personal fatigue as an excuse when discussing state affairs. Since I have brought an important duty, if it is not too presumptuous, I would like to discuss matters first."
"Is that so....."
Though polite, this response still slightly damaged my pride, and the expressions of my subordinates nearby turned a little sour. I gestured for them to manage their faces and accepted Guo Tu's words.
"If that's the case, I suppose I should hear what this important business is. What brings you all this way despite the distance?"
"I heard a rumor....."
Guo Tu cut straight to the point without any preamble.
"That Lady Yuan Tan, your lord's eldest daughter, is staying under your command."
Was she looking down on me, or was this just her usual way of speaking? Faced with someone who asked the core question without any detour, I hesitated for a moment before deciding to simply tell the truth. If she was pressing this directly, she likely had some basis rather than mere speculation. In that case, lying clumsily would only give her a weakness to exploit. A lie only shone when hidden within nine parts truth. I nodded readily at Guo Tu's question.
"It's true. Various things happened."
"I see. Since you're being so straightforward, this should go quickly."
Seeming satisfied with my answer, Guo Tu moved to the main point.
"Return Lady Yuan Tan to us."