Unwittingly Becoming the Scholars' Queen Hornet - 5
Ma Su and I had reached a perfectly reasonable compromise by mutual consent.
Ma Su had whimpered that he didn't want to die, and seeing that softened my heart a bit.
Still, this wasn't something I could just sweep under the rug.
"This big sis is pushing you like this because I want you to become a great man someday."
"It's too hard!"
I channeled my inner soldier from that documentary I'd watched, putting on a stern face.
"You here to play at the academy? Think being a gentleman is a joke? Your head's all messed up from the start."
"Haa... haa... Sis, how is this studying?!"
I hoped Ma Su would learn that the pen is mightier than the sword—and that good kids take responsibility for their words.
By mutual agreement, we established a relationship of superior and subordinate, where the subordinate must obey the superior's commands without question—a truly fair and rational pact.
Just minutes ago, Ma Su had been grinning ear to ear, clearly thrilled with the deal.
"So the superior and subordinate are a community of fate, and the subordinate must uphold loyalty to the superior, right, sis?!"
"Hmm... yeah, you could see it that way. Spot on."
"A community of fate! How does every word from your mouth sound so profound?!"
That was the vibe.
Better than dying, I guess he figured. Good for him.
I'm a kind-hearted person at heart, so I think bossing people around like that is something only trash does.
Thinking about it, Ma Su really lucked out with me as his boss. Yep.
"Then give me your orders, sis!"
Ma Su's eyes sparkled with anticipation, so as the superior, I issued my command.
"Wanna give it a shot?"
"Give what a shot?"
Moving your body keeps your mind healthy too. Happiness is closer than you think, so I wanted Ma Su to find some.
I hoped he'd grow up into a sturdy guy who could hike mountains someday, so all I wanted was to teach him the basics of battling harsh nature.
On that note, I proposed a program to train body and mind, challenge his limits, and rebuild his weak spirit. Ma Su couldn't hide his excitement—he was practically bouncing.
Ah, time for pose number 11.
"Didn't I teach you? Number 11."
"Sis, that one's really tou—"
"Words too many?"
Ma Su hurriedly lay flat on his back and lifted his legs.
"How do you respond?"
"Gentleman!"
"That's right. Why so chatty? Sis really hates doing this. You call yourself a gentleman acting like that? With a mindset like yours, how're you gonna survive in the world? Gonna whine like a slacker even out in the field?"
"Gentleman!"
Ma Su's legs started trembling. I was deeply disappointed he couldn't hold for even a minute.
"Anyone else would've broken a bone. I'm going easy because it's me. Gonna quit? If you're that weak-minded, go ahead and quit."
"Sis! I don't want to quit!"
"Good. Now you've got the form. Even a seven-year-old would struggle with this—it's all about mental strength."
Ma Su trembled as he kept his legs raised.
Proud of him.
"What're you kids up to?"
Cui Juping looked utterly baffled at the sight of Ma Su shaking like a leaf.
Ma Su wasn't born evil, but growing up isolated from peers had given him a real rebellious streak.
Still, he acknowledged his own book-smarts, so he didn't argue the point—and now here he was, rolling in the dirt.
"First time meeting kids his age, right? That's how they grow up, isn't it?"
Shi Dao's gaze was fixed more on Chen Soyoung than Ma Su.
Extraordinary.
Chen Soyoung was the polar opposite of Ma Su in genius—a champion of practice over theory. Her rebuttal had exposed the flaws in Ma Su's debate, giving her argument wings.
Even so, advocating practice like that was no small feat.
Chen Soyoung spoke with the grim, weighty seriousness of a veteran who's weathered countless wars, like a grizzled general demanding a last stand. Ma Su had crumbled under that aura.
"Ma Su's in for it now. I get why Shi Dao rates that girl so highly."
Meng Jian's eyes were on the space between them.
Ma Su the theorist, Chen Soyoung the practitioner.
In a way, they were born opposites.
If Ma Su valued practice like her, he'd grow into a true man, the kind of general worthy of Han Xin or Xiang Yu that he boasted about.
If Chen Soyoung valued theory, she'd become a woman of talent and beauty like the one Kongming would reach for in his later years, fit to support a conqueror of the realm.
But heaven had made them as they are—Ma Su and Chen Soyoung.
Heaven's will eludes even Kongming, but these two were clearly fated for trials and tribulations as they grew.
"Soyoung, you're killing him. Go easy."
Juping plopped down beside the gasping Ma Su and knelt.
"Uncle Juping, thank you for the blanket. I meant to greet you properly, but you left suddenly—here's my thanks now."
Ma Su bellowed in rage.
"This is my choice! I've felt my own small vessel, so this is how I face it!! Sis said a true gentleman emerges when you confront your limits!!!"
"You sound like you're dying. Hey, Soyoung? But can I ask something? Ma Su's got a stubborn streak a mile wide—how'd you break him?"
"That's because... we made a super fair and reasonable contract, so Ma Su's smart enough to get my intent."
Juping chuckled and propped up Ma Su's trembling legs with his arm.
"You're lucky you were born a girl. Look how he's pinned by your aura. Ma Su, why'd you fold?"
Ma Su caught his breath slowly.
"Because she was right. I thought it over deeply before answering, you know? Felt like a total idiot. But sis said theorists are idiots too. She said it first. Could I have convinced Master if I'd said it? Of course I lost."
Shi Dao rushed over, helped Ma Su sit up, and brushed the dirt from his back.
"Lady Soyoung. Mind if I ask something?"
"Sure, Uncle Shi Dao. Things were getting boring anyway. Did you bring the answer to that question from last time?"
The vessel is the essence—Chen Soyoung's reply. Watching her debate made further details seem unnecessary.
"No need. You said recognizing such differences is the mark of a mature scholar, right? Seeing you debate today, I can't say I fully get it, but I've got a sense. I understand now why you said that."
"Really? Uncle Shi Dao's got that... something."
"Something?"
Shi Dao's eyebrow arched slightly.
"Nothing. Just... I had some biases. Kinda rigid, maybe. They say scholars are stubborn, right? But him and you... I've noticed something."
"Is that so? Glad if it helped. Anyway, may I ask something?"
"Sure. Go ahead."
"Why push that argument this time? It's my first time meeting someone like you—got me curious, which isn't usual for me. But curiosity's like a dagger in the pocket; it pokes through no matter what. So I'm asking you."
Chen Soyoung straightened up and smiled faintly.
It was like a flower blooming.
"Because it's obvious. I just stated the obvious. See, I hate armchair theorists holed up in their rooms. Frustrating narrow-mindedness? Can't stand people spouting knowledge pretentiously. You need resolve to die to set up a death trap formation, but I'm a coward. Can't do it. A commander ruling troops should write from the front lines, assuming they're there."
Shi Dao nodded instinctively at her words.
"I grasp your intent now. And why you swore off the Classics—it makes sense in context."
Because she can't comprehend sages on her own. She feels it herself.
So Chen Soyoung expands and observes herself. Who could understand such intent? That mindset makes her seem even more extraordinary. As Shi Dao pondered, Meng Jian sauntered over with a swagger and flashed a gold ingot.
"Bold and witty. Thanks to you, Lady Soyoung, we made a killing."
"Uncle Meng Jian. Killing on what?"
"Gold. We bet on you three-to-one."
"How much? Underdog odds?"
"...Underdog? Multiple against the odds? Yeah, that's it. Didn't bet big, but won handsome. Don't hang just with Ma Su—let me treat you all."
Meng Jian was in high spirits. He'd always lost on debates, but this payout covered it.
Meng Jian was a man's man. Lived for underdog bets.
"Sounds great. Honestly, no one came near me earlier—I was getting nervous. Thought I screwed up."
"Nervous? Anyway, no need to tell Kongming, right?"
"Nah. If he says anything, I'll just cry. Then he goes, 'Ah, I see,' and comforts me."
The three didn't quite get it but let it slide.
Shi Dao was curious, though.
"That Kongming?"
"Yeah. Total pushover."