Hidden Sages in Sacred Mountains -1
Yesterday was pretty damn depressing. I woke up hoping I'd feel better... nope, still sucks.
Dad tells me to just trust him, but honestly, I'm not sold. Still, I'm grateful he's got my back in this mess.
Love you, Dad.
Hiiiing!
The thunder of galloping hooves hit, followed by a bustle of activity right outside the house.
My life's over. Kaput.
"Soyoung! Get out here quick! What in the world is this?!"
"He's here. Gimme five minutes? I need to mentally prepare."
I'd gone overboard in front of those nobles yesterday. Sigh...
"For real, girl! I said come out!"
"Argh! Buy me some time! My heart's pounding like crazy!"
After those two left yesterday, I'd bawled like a moody teen and had a heart-to-heart with Dad about my future.
Conclusion: No running away, and even if I did, it'd just make things worse. Dad seemed to have some ace up his sleeve and reassured me not to worry.
I racked my brain too, but no bright ideas.
Shed a few tears for sympathy. Play dumb like I had no idea what I was doing. That level?
No CCTV or recorders in this era, so it might actually work surprisingly well. Please let my denial hold up.
"Soyoung! Come on out!"
"Coming! Geez!"
Why's he nagging me to come out? Does Dad have a plan too?
Whatever. Time to go. Play the pitiful girl. Wail about how unfair it is and struggle.
"Is anyone there?!"
The voice boomed like thunder. Wait, I know that voice. Sounds like it could belt out a ballad.
"Ow... Coming right nowww."
I peeked through a crack in the rickety wooden wall. There stood Zhuge Liang, impeccably dressed, white feather fan in hand, looking all imperious.
Gasp. Our eyes met, his stern gaze locking on.
He was livid, no doubt. Horses, people—he'd come to drag me off, evidence clear as day.
"How long do you plan to keep me waiting?!"
This wasn't in the script. I figured he'd just send a lackey to collect.
Sima Hui must've sent him, right?
Anyway... time to grovel. "Wh-what brings you all the way out here, sirrr?"
I bolted out barefoot and prostrated myself before Zhuge Liang.
"Why are you bowing to me like that?"
"This girl knows nothing! Please have mercy and spare my life!"
"Why would you think I'd harm you? I'm just here to pay for the sculpture."
"Pardon?"
Where's Dad, anyway? I glanced around—poof, vanished.
"Why are you looking around like that?"
"N-no reason. Did you... buy my sculpture, sir?"
"It's exquisitely crafted. I liked it. Was that wrong?"
"No, but... I worried I'd offended you gravely, so I thought maybe that's why you're here..."
"Why make such assumptions? That's not why I'm here. Lift your head already. How long will you stay down there?"
Phew. He's not pissed—just here for the sculpture payment!
Though the commotion outside is way too much for that.
"Then why come all the way here yourself? It's chaos out front... I can't even imagine what's happening."
"I value your talent and wish to pay its worth. Don't refuse."
"Sir? It's not refusal. Normally, payment means agreeing on a trade, right? But outside, it sounds like a massive construction project."
Horses whinnying, footsteps stomping, weird thumping noises echoing this far.
"I chose this one. Do you recognize it?"
Zhuge Liang pulled from his robes my masterpiece: Bahamut II.
Why was junk meant to rot in the corner coming out of his robes?
"Why's that in your robes, sir?"
"Didn't I say I bought it?"
No one wanted Bahamut II—too grotesque, like some barbarian demon mask.
Overheard yesterday: Dad mistook Zhuge Liang for a buyer and sold it then? Dad's got a knack for sales, huh?
"You liked that one, sir?"
Taste as unique as it gets. Not my business, though.
"Hmph... Planning to back out? Get up already."
"Yes, sir!"
I sprang up, gauging his expression. His downward gaze stung.
"You possess such exceptional skill, yet why belittle yourself?"
"It's just a minor handiwork of this girl. I don't see it as anything grand."
"Is that so? Then let me ask again. You lamented your lowly birth to me. True?"
"Yes. But I don't understand why bring it up now. Nor why you'd come personally to pay for a sculpture."
Zhuge Liang began fanning himself with the feather fan.
"Commoners don't study letters—they steal time from farming. What of your sculptures? Ornaments, jewels, treasures: useless for agriculture, no help to livelihood. Worthless for survival, aren't they?"
"Yes, but..."
Where would I get the strength to farm? I sell sculptures to eat rice.
"Thus, you're no commoner. Judging one's path by birth alone is folly. That's why I've come to pay—and appoint this place properly."
"But I still haven't heard what the payment is."
"The sage king's rule doesn't reach here, so I deem it right to name this area Soyang and administer it."
"Pardon? What does that mean out of nowhere?"
This is basically a lawless refugee camp.
Jingzhou's Yangyang frontier-of-the-frontier. Governing here is a waste—no profit, no population for admin. Salaries don't grow on trees dug from the ground. Why plant a flag in no-man's-land and claim it?
Ominous. Why say this?
"I'll build an office here and petition to appoint your father as magistrate of Soyang."
"Are you insane? Sir!!!"
Shock blew politeness out the window.
"Think about it, sir! My dad's a gambling addict! A government post? For what? Ah, this is it, right? What I'm thinking? If you're angry, take it out on me! I've committed a mortal sin!!!"
This is revenge. Sima Hui got pissed, grabbed the excuse, and roped us all in.
Insane. Magistrate? Same as county head, just different name.
Does he know Dad's ex-Yellow Turban?
"This is absurd! Please retract it!"
Zhuge Liang hid his face with the fan, unmoved.
"I've heard of local woes. Don't worry. They say you shared wealth and grain. True?"
"Rice from sculpture sales rots or gets rat-eaten if stored. Better to give to people than rats. But... seriously!!"
Skeletons litter this place occasionally. Before my sculptures got word-of-mouth, starvation spiked every winter.
Didn't share out of kindness.
More buyers than expected, higher prices too. But hoarding? 100% theft bait, so I distributed preemptively like charity.
What does that mean? Every wannabe bandit from 1 to 500 lives here.
I spread rice to avoid robbery.
Govern this? With Dad? Horrifying. The future terrifies me.
"We must build an office for governance, so you'll come with me."
"How can you do this, sir!!! This is outrageous! Posts aren't like handing out dog names next door!"
"You know me, don't you? Liu Biao, Inspector of Jingzhou and Emperor's uncle, has ties to my family. No need to fret."
"It's not about fretting!!! Give Dad a post, and this place is doomed!"
Tears welled up. Admin involvement means taxes; life gets harsher.
Scary that my mess hurts these people.
A gentleman's revenge is terrifying—drags innocents into collective punishment worse than any law.
"Sob... ugh..."
Back to square one: appeal to pity. End this farce. Plead to punish only me, spare others.
"I'm so sorryyy...! Please forgive my anger. This girl's shallow mind failed to grasp your intent. I beg you... don't do this."
"Why weep so bitterly? Isn't this your due?"
"Nooo!!! How can this be... how could you?"
When the strong draw swords, you can't fight or flee—just cling to pant legs and beg mercy.
I hate late Han. Hate my powerless lot.
"Your father will be busy henceforth. Last farewell? You won't see him awhile."
Zhuge Liang drew a firm line.
Ah. He isn't hearing a word.
"...See? My words ring true. You can toy with lowly lives so easily. Why punish only me, not spare my father too?"
"It's proper. Tiny forms are hard to see, faint voices unheard—that's why. Understand."
Nonsense.
Padding words changes nothing.
Family destroyer.
"No words of mine will sway you. Do as you will."
"That fine?"
My body floated up.
Zhuge Liang had scooped me under the arms, hoisting me effortlessly.
Legs dangling, swinging side to side.
"My hands are full—hold this fan."
"As you wish."
Gripped the feather fan. Probably a dozen more at home.
"Much to teach you, but first, you need grooming."
"As you wish."
"Then, let's go."
Beats me. Why's he playing house with me here? Why am I blankly in this cart?
Shock's got my soul on walkabout, I guess.
"Uh... how long you gonna hold me?"
"Road's rough—better this way. No bruises on your butt."
"As you wish."
Wonder where Dad is, what he's doing. Did my mess drag him in? Guilt floods me. All sorrys.
"Showed the statue to my wife—she took a keen interest. How'd you sculpt such?"
"Just... old memories. Made it on a whim."
"Old memories? What kind?"
"Dunno. Glorious tales from pitch-black nights, bright as day."
"Profound statue, born of your endless worries."
"Just imagination. Gone now. Doesn't exist in this world."
Zhuge Liang gently stroked my head.
"Yet the dragon is here. Ever heard of the Crouching Dragon? Dragons and drakes are kin, no?"