It Wasn’t a Martial Arts World, but the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 46. Heavenly Extreme Linked Illusion Sword Technique (2)

A heavy silence filled the hall.

Gongsun Zan stared at me intently without saying a word.

It was his adjutant who broke the silence first.

“How dare you utter such vulgar words! You’re not some ignorant brat who knows nothing of propriety!”

“Well, my apologies.”

Up until now, I had been making futile efforts to avoid altering a history I barely knew, wasting time on battles that hadn’t even come close, and getting caught up in trivial nonsense.

But that’s just how I am. I’m a hidden martial artist thrown into the world of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

That’s my position.

“Even so, I cannot accept your lordship’s proposal.”

“Then, what do you plan to do now?”

“Father! Are you truly going to forgive this man’s insolence?”

“Enough. Are you trying to bring shame upon me?”

“But still…”

“Whatever the case, you should remember that the man before you is one who has altered the course of this entire world. Now is the time to be serious, not to get caught up in petty matters.”

“…”

Why is he glaring at me? Does he want to die?

The adjutant clenched his teeth and glared at me as if he could kill me on the spot.

I slowly raised my middle finger.

Of course, he didn’t know what it meant and just tilted his head in confusion.

“I think I need some time to organize my thoughts.”

“…I see. Perhaps my proposal was too sudden. If I offended you, I apologize. I too overstepped by calling you a traitor. Let’s put this behind us.”

He was unexpectedly straightforward.

“Let’s do that. I apologize as well for any offense.”

“Good. I pressed you too hard. As I said, today is a day meant to honor you, so forget what I said and enjoy yourself. When your thoughts are clearer, feel free to visit me anytime.”

With that, Gongsun Zan rose from his seat. His adjutant, still fuming, glared at me until the end before finally leaving.

It had been a long time since I had fully revealed my true personality.

This is who I truly am.

I can no longer stand anyone, no matter how high their rank, evaluating me at their whim.

“Wow, I see you in a new light, brother. That was bold! I bet he’s secretly furious, even though he acted like he didn’t care. That felt good! Really good!”

Zhang Fei slapped my back with a loud laugh. Her strength was ridiculous, and it hurt like hell.

I turned my head and saw Zhao Yun smiling faintly.

“How are the recruits doing lately? Are they improving?”

“Yes, they’re making progress. Everyone is full of determination, so I believe they will achieve great things soon.”

“Good. You’ve worked hard.”

“What will you do now?”

She was asking about our next destination.

Since we had been holed up in the mountains for so long, I hadn’t really thought about it.

But I couldn’t stay idle any longer.

Even if I remained confined in that small world, the real world was still filled with the stench of blood.

I couldn’t bear to witness another burning Luoyang.

“Prepare yourself. There will be no time to rest from now on. But are you sure you’re up for it? I’ll warn you now—it won’t be a comfortable life. I’m a wanderer by nature, and I might not find a place to settle down. Will you still follow me?”

“I have already decided to serve you as my master. Besides, I have yet to grasp the essence of martial arts. How could I run away in fear? I will simply follow your path.”

“No need for grand ideals. Listen well.”

I helped the beggars in front of me.

I cut down the bad guys.

I tried to keep my promises and even walked the path of success, which didn’t suit me at all.

I did it because it felt like the right thing to do.

“I won’t care about such things anymore.”

That’s right, this isn’t a martial arts world.

There’s no need to be obsessed with that.

There were things I had to protect, and things I had to do, so I just moved forward.

Whether that was martial arts or something else didn’t matter.

That was the path I had walked until now.

“From the beginning, I’ve never been someone connected to history, martial arts, ideals, or loyalty. So, I’ll just take back what I must.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I answered.

“The right way things should be.”

The way of Jianghu.

That foolish ideal I had boasted about to my brothers from the start.

“I made a promise to those guys. It’d be shameful not to keep it.”

“I see.”

Zhao Yun quietly nodded.

“Let’s go, Yuna.”

“Yun…?”

“Hey, wouldn’t it be nice to have a nickname between master and disciple?”

“…It does have a nice ring to it.”

I stood up.

“Let’s go, Master.”

And Zhao Yun followed closely beside me.

We moved forward.

Onward.

***

Sima Yi, who couldn’t drink alcohol and had no one to talk to, watched the idlers with a bored expression.

“A promise, huh…”

Then, she looked up at the moon outside the window. It was partially obscured by clouds, unable to shine fully.

“How pathetic. I can’t believe how pathetic this is.”

A hero should hold great ideals and take action without hesitation, never becoming an indecisive person.

Even if their path led to hell, they would push forward with their will. But the Unryong she had seen so far…

The heroic qualities that Sima Jun and Sima Lang had questioned.

He certainly didn’t possess them.

“What do I do now? Think, Sima Yi.”

Should she change course now and rely on another lord?

Or should she wait for the right moment to manipulate him?

But to do the latter, she hadn’t seen firsthand how strong he really was.

Swinging a sword without knowing its edge was absurd.

It made no sense.

“What are you so deeply troubled about?”

Unsam, seeing the serious expression on Sima Yi’s face, asked.

“…It’s nothing.”

Sima Yi just sighed.

Although countless strategies flashed through her young mind, she couldn’t settle on one.

So, at least until a plan was formed, she would have to stay here.

“Sigh…”

Just as Sima Yi, too young to be sighing so heavily, let out a deep breath—

“What’s a kid like you frowning about already?”

Before she knew it, Unryong was standing behind her.

“…Uncle.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Is the conversation already over?”

“Well, yeah.”

Unryong shrugged his shoulders.

“Bro, you’re back.”

“Yeah, by the way, you’ve been drinking less lately?”

“There’s training tomorrow. If I drink too much, I’ll just throw it all up.”

Even Unsam and the others had silently waited for the right time.

They had sworn never to just follow behind him again.

They simply wielded their swords in silence.

“I see.”

Unryong nodded.

“You seem fine yourself.”

“Tch, I’m getting tired of it.”

Unryong glanced toward Sima Yi.

“Kid.”

“What is it, Uncle?”

“Didn’t your family say they’d support us?”

“They did.”

“Then, can you gather some private soldiers with that?”

“…Private soldiers?”

Sima Yi tilted her head almost to the point of breaking her neck.

It was such a sudden question.

“Why do you need private soldiers?”

“I’m going to raise an army.”

“…An army?”

“Yeah, two hundred men won’t be enough. As you said, we need more power to get anything done.”

Unryong knew who Sima Yi was.

Even if he didn’t know the details, she was, at least, the rival of Zhuge Liang.

History didn’t matter.

If he had a card to play, he would play it.

There was no way to restore a broken flow.

“From now on, you’ll manage the finances and the troops.”

“…”

“And teach Haryeong a bit too. She’s still sulking and hasn’t come out of her room.”

“…What are you planning? Why are you suddenly gathering private soldiers?”

“It’s time to retrieve it. The way of Jianghu.”

The way of Jianghu, that damned way of Jianghu!

Sima Yi still didn’t know what it meant.

“What exactly is that, and why do you keep mentioning it?”

With a hint of irritation in her voice, she asked.

Unryong replied.

“At the very least, so that the children don’t starve… No, so that those without power don’t starve. Since the higher-ups still only think about war while stuffing themselves with government money, someone has to find the right way.”

“A world where all are well-fed? Are you planning to change the world?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

“…What?”

What’s with this idiot?

He’s not joking—he’s saying this with complete sincerity?

This same guy who was lazily picking herbs in the mountains just a few days ago?

Leaving the deeply perplexed Sima Yi behind, Unryong turned to Unsam.

“And tonight’s feast ends here. Haven’t you had enough fun?”

“So where are we headed now?”

“We’re training. Martial arts training.”

Unsam sighed in exasperation.

“…Seriously? That again? At this rate, I’m going to die young.”

“Quit whining and follow me. Do you want a lesson?”

“Damn it, if I get hit by you, I won’t be able to move for days.”

Unsam picked up his sword and stood.

“So, go easy on me.”

“Stop complaining.”

Unsam shook his head, chuckling in disbelief.

Then, he said,

“You’ve returned.”

“Yeah.”

“I thought my neck would break waiting.”

“Sorry about that. But you’re partly to blame.”

“I know, that’s why I didn’t say anything. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have stayed quiet.”

“Such bravado.”

“That’s what it means to be a man.”

The two laughed as they faced each other.

August 190.

Unryong finally arrived in You Province.