Irregular at the Water Mirror Academy -4
"Don't ignore me! Can't you talk? Then say so. I'm mad!"
"I surrender. Can sis go to sleep now?"
"You just say you slept for no reason! Is sleeping the only thing you're good at?"
"Yup. So quit bugging me and let sis sleep—why don't you go play over there?"
"You! This isn't a joke! If you came to the Water Mirror Academy to study abroad like me, you have to listen!"
He's only seven, but damn, what a brat. This is a Confucian society, guardian—where's the discipline?
I rolled over and peeked at him. Whatever bugged him, his eyes were narrowed sharp as daggers.
"Learn some manners first, and sis'll like you."
"Do you greet old dogs? Do you bow to ancient horses? Why should I be polite to you?"
"Fine, no need for manners. Sis wants to sleep—why are you making my life hell? Bored?"
"You think you're in a position to say that? Everyone who's talked to me like that packed up and left. I'll make you pack too."
Honestly, whatever. I was half-forced here myself.
But this was getting interesting.
"Kinda curious, though. How'd you make 'em leave?"
I've been dopamine detoxing my whole life—perfect. Adrenaline-fueled ups and downs... yeah. Like hitting the jackpot or something?
"They realized their place. Got crushed by a kid in every way, so they knew better and left."
"A mere kid, you say? You're the kid."
"Hey!!! If you've got the guts to talk like that, counter properly. Why should I be polite to you?"
"I said you don't have to."
First rule of annoying people: repeat the same damn thing.
What now?
Ma Su, seeing I wasn't biting, switched to route B—his voice dropped low.
"Fine, let me ask. Why don't I need manners with you? You're dodging 'cause you're insecure, just making excuses."
"Sis is sleepy and can't be bothered. Come when I'm not, and I'll entertain you plenty."
"For real? Then let's do a public debate when you're awake."
"What's that? Sis is new here—oh genius, enlighten me?"
Ma Su finally got his hook—he beamed and started yapping.
"You'll do it if I explain? You're actually up for it? A girl daring to come here—outrageous."
How cute he says it.
"Do the public debate, and you leave sis alone to sleep?"
"Deal. You win, I do whatever. I win, you pack up."
"Or we skip it, and I concede now."
"Hey!!! You said you'd do it!!!"
Listening, he was kinda adorable.
Bouncing mad like my cousin three seconds from grandma's whooping.
What was this feeling?
Hate-love? Yeah, budding.
He seemed dead serious, so as the adult, I'd play along.
"So, what's this public debate? Explain sharp, genius. C'mon, prodigy."
"We debate a topic, academy folks judge right and wrong. Teacher decides who's right; supporters persuade him."
I sat up on the cushion.
Not like my yelling-match debates—needed to focus.
"Not majority vote? Unexpected."
"What's majority vote? Right 'cause most say so? Hundred dogs agree, human's wrong?"
"Well, if dogs could talk, yeah?"
"Barbarian. Such primitive crap! Two say it, doubt; three, invent tigers. You're thinking like a beast."
Ma Su was aggressive, but this was puppy play.
No sweat. Forged in pad-lip hell—I thrive in 0/8/0 politics.
"Fair, though? Sima... Water Mirror teacher might favor someone, judge wrong?"
"Your fault for not convincing. Beast who can't remonstrate."
"Remonstrate? Oh..."
Mock court. Fake minister nagging fake king—Water Mirror teacher—for my side.
Makes sense. Era's choices are king's. Ministers just suggest options.
"Topic?"
"You're the beast—pick."
"You pick. Sis won't lose anyway. You look like you'd get hate even winning."
"Game on? Fine. Military strategy."
"Art of war? Tactics?"
Ma Su glared triumphant.
Not scary. I could physically overpower him looking down.
"Yup. You look empty-headed, clueless. Change now if you want."
"Do your worst. Game of building factions? Sis?"
"Game? Calling it faction-building shows your vulgar tongue—but talented. Whenever."
"Tomorrow? No delaying. Quick is best."
"No takebacks. I'll tell teacher."
Ma Su stormed out.
"Hm..."
Whoa, fun. Lose or win, tastes sweet.
Art of war—fancy terms, tough talk? Dunno.
Ask Uncle Kongming at home.
"Lady Soyoung! Time to head home!"
Slept like a rock.
Packed scattered Huang-mom DIY kit pieces.
"Hey, coachman? Know how to tie bundles? Stuffed full, won't fit."
"I'll help, milady!"
*
"How was it?"
"How was what?"
"Water Mirror Academy tolerable? I'm dying to know your thoughts."
Uncle Kongming called me to the west pavilion—cozying with Huang-mom.
"More like, happy without me?"
"Haha. Didn't expect that from you. Missed you. You?"
"Slept mostly. Oh, met Uncle's friend. Asked what he does."
"Xu Shu and Yuan Zhi left recently—probably Shi Tao, Meng Jian, Ju Ping. Who?"
"All three. Cool dudes. Good way."
Uncle laughed loud.
Huang Yueying jumped in.
"Good you met them first—no harm. Knew you'd handle it! So? Academy fun? Worth it? Learned anything?"
"Stuff to learn... yeah. Gave me things to think about."
"Oh! Hubby! Our girl says there's stuff to learn!"
Uncle smiled sheepish.
"Guessed your take—bet with wife. I said nothing to learn; she said yes. I lost. What sparked interest?"
Grinned at them.
"Biggest hook? Public debate tomorrow—art of war. Lose, I pack. So doing it. Said now."
Three seconds silence.
Faces soured, machine-gun words.
"How so rash! Know what it means?!!!"
"Soyoung! Mom said stay low!!! How do you stress us!! You're your dad's spitting image!!!"
"Know art of war? Why accept? They underestimate girl, trapping you?"
"Soyoung! Who's the punk? You're blameless, poor baby. Jealous fools wrong. Steel yourself. Weak heart now bad. Mom says: be tougher than boys, sweetie."
"Wife? To academy."
"Me too. Can't ignore our only girl in trouble."
What drama queens.
Pulled chair, hopped up.
"Art of war's tactics? Swords, spears, bows clashing. Never discussed—gonna ask Uncle."
"I'll teach all night. Wife? Step out?"
"Yes. Trust hubby—prepping."
Huang Yueying left.
Prepping what?
"Topic art of war, but details? Tell me. What kind?"
"Just said art of war."
"Total trap. I studied there—listen. Debates assume scenarios, find best move. Army raised? Before? Fighting? Encamped? Siege? Foe's grand strategy? Only opponent knows."
"Eh, confident—told him go ahead."
"So arrogant! Who suggested?"
"Ma Su. One baby genius."
"...Baby?"
Yawn incoming.
Uncle's voice soothed drowsiness. Probably strummed guqin to shake Sima Yi like that.
"Wing it per situation. Got the vibe. Dinner when?"
"Done. I'll join—relax. Eat."
"...Coming?"
"I studied there—why not?"
Parent observation day day two? Sketchy.
"Like know thyself, hundred battles hundred wins; victory heaven's will on battlefield?"
"Not bad eavesdropping. Close. But victory heaven's will? Overheard chat?"
"Best win sans fight; siege needs fourfold troops? Yeah?"
"Former from Art of War; latter mangled. Listen. Sun Tzu says..."
Zhuge Liang's One-Day Crash Course: Core Art of War.
Completed.