—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Sima Yi and Jegal Liang.
Strangely, these two lived similar yet different lives.
Sima Yi’s hometown was devastated by the battle between Dong Zhuo and the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, forcing him to wander as a refugee.
Jegal Liang’s hometown was invaded by Cao Cao, and he had to flee to Jing Province after the Xuzhou massacre.
When Sima Yi came of age, many praised him, saying he was “intelligent, decisive, and possessed extraordinary talent.”
But his older brother, Sima Lang, disagreed, saying…
“My younger brother is cunning and narrow-minded.”
Sima Yi was humble and polite, and he often spoke of his concern for the chaos in the world.
In contrast, Jegal Liang openly boasted, comparing himself to Guan Zhong (a famous chancellor of the Qi state during the Spring and Autumn period, a representative kingmaker of the Central Plains) and Yue Yi (a famous general of the Yan state during the Spring and Autumn period, a master of conquering cities).
But at the time, many people disagreed with him, saying…
“Hey, Mr. Jegal! Stop with the nonsense and go back to farming!!”
They considered him a strange man. Jegal Liang farmed to make a living, but he never neglected his studies and never gave up his ambitions.
Only his master, Sima Hui, his friend, Xu Shu, and his family recognized his greatness.
His path to officialdom was also the opposite.
Cao Cao, the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, tried to recruit Sima Yi after hearing of his talent, but…
Sima Yi declined his first offer, feigning illness.
Cao Cao then sent a second person to watch Sima Yi, but Sima Yi pretended to be ill and avoided Cao Cao’s summons.
At the time, Cao Cao was in conflict with the powerful Yuan Shao, so he was hesitant and cautious.
After Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao and became the Chancellor, he tried to recruit Sima Yi for a third time, ordering…
“If he hesitates again, throw him in prison.”
Sima Yi, startled and afraid, submitted to Cao Cao.
He joined Cao Cao when his power was at its peak.
In contrast, Jegal Liang joined Liu Bei when his power was weak.
After the famous three visits to the thatched cottage,
Liu Bei, who had a great reputation but no power, personally humbled himself and visited Jegal Liang.
Jegal Liang presented his various strategies, and the two had a deep conversation.
Heroes recognize heroes.
Liu Bei, a mere guest general, who never gave up his dream of restoring the Han Dynasty.
Jegal Liang, a proud genius who compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, even when others mocked him.
The two heroes were deeply drawn to each other and formed a bond of lord and subject.
Jegal Liang was appointed as a military strategist at the young age of twenty-seven, a position so close to Liu Bei that it made Guan Yu and Zhang Fei jealous.
After living their separate lives, the two finally clashed during Jegal Liang’s northern expeditions.
They fought a battle worthy of the name “rivals”, racking their brains and enduring hardships.
In the end, Sima Yi won.
But did he defeat Jegal Liang? Not exactly.
Si Kongming zou sheng Zhongda – A dead Kongming drives away a living Zhongda.
Sima Yi, pursuing the retreating Shu Han army after Jegal Liang’s death, was startled by a wooden statue of Jegal Liang and fled.
Sima Yi’s greatest humiliation.
If Jegal Liang had been alive, he could have gotten his revenge, but he was dead, so he couldn’t.
According to unofficial history, Sima Yi cried his eyes out, so ashamed and embarrassed.
“People will laugh at this for a hundred years!”
And he has been laughed at for much longer than a hundred years.
A tenacious bond that has been passed down through the ages.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The garden of the Jegal Family mansion near the Martial Alliance headquarters.
On a pavilion built for guests and banquets,
the daughter of the North Sea Dragon King, the young lady of the Jegal Family.
“Uhm…”
Gwahae’s beautiful blue eyes focused on a white scroll.
Her slender fingers held a brush, dipped in black ink, and she wrote with a delicate yet powerful hand.
Man tian guo hai – Deceive the heavens and cross the sea.
The balance of dots, lines, and strokes was so perfect that it could be called a masterpiece of calligraphy.
Gwahae seemed pleased with the result.
“Yes… it’s perfect.”
She nodded in satisfaction and put down her brush.
“Jjaek-bong, Jjaek-hwang.”
“Chirp! Chirp-chirp! Chirp-chirp!”
At their master’s command, the plump sparrows chirped happily, picked up the finished scroll with their small feet, and flew up.
They hung it on the wall near the table where the two families would gather, decorating the space beautifully.
It was a declaration that Mancheon belonged to Gwahae.
“Yes… I’m the main wife.”
Gwahae’s eyes sparkled with determination as she looked at the scroll.
Today was the engagement ceremony of Mancheon and Gwahae,
arbitrarily organized by Jegal Liang, the great elder of the Jegal Family, one of the Ten Great Masters.
It was a meeting of the Sima and Jegal families.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A person must take responsibility for their words and actions.
That was what my second master, Muk-gang, the genius who deceived even the heavens, had told me, and it was a lesson I was constantly relearning.
I never thought a kiss, driven by desire, would lead to this.
I woke up this morning and was told I was getting engaged to Gwahae.
I had planned to take responsibility and marry all of them since I had declared I would have three wives and four concubines, but… this was a bit faster than I had expected.
I don’t have any personal savings yet… it’s too early to get married…
“I heard you took care of my son when he was injured. I should have visited you in person to thank you, not just send a letter. I apologize for the delay.”
“No, we’re both busy people. Don’t worry about it. And he’s going to be our Jegal Family’s son-in-law, so we have to take good care of him.”
I glanced at my father, with his friendly face, and the eccentric old man, Jegal Liang, who were having a pleasant conversation.
“Hahahaha! Us, a mere merchant family, marrying into the Jegal Family? You’re too kind.”
“Hahahaha! Don’t worry! It’s not a joke!”
Watching them, I felt a pang of jealousy. I didn’t want to watch for long, so I turned my head.
My eyes naturally met Gwahae’s, who was sitting across from me.
Instead of her usual practical martial arts clothes, she was wearing a beautiful, yet somewhat restrictive, formal dress, befitting a young lady of a noble family.
I smiled and waved, trying to lighten the stiff atmosphere.
“Uhm…?!”
Remembering yesterday, a blush spread across Gwahae’s face.
She lowered her gaze and fidgeted with her fingers, which were resting on her lap.
‘Damn… she’s so cute…!’
I liked the calm Gwahae, but the shy Gwahae was the best.
I wanted to pick her up and shower her with affection right away.
Anyway, Sima Bu and Jegal Liang’s conversation continued, a little more to Jegal Liang’s taste.
At Jegal Liang’s signal, a servant placed a Go board on the table.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Sometimes, a single game of Go says more about a person than a thousand words.”
He calmly passed the Go stones.
“You can go first.”
I didn’t know what he was plotting, but Sima Bu’s stance remained unchanged.
“I appreciate you thinking so highly of my foolish son, but…”
Sima Bu’s black stones built a solid territory, rejecting his opponent.
“…he still has much to learn.”
But Jegal Liang’s white stones relentlessly attacked.
“That’s fine. He can spend his newlywed life at the Jegal Family’s estate. I’ll teach him well.”
Sima Bu’s brow twitched. He took a sip of tea to hide his expression.
“Tch…”
Of course, Sima Bu didn’t think Mancheon was a foolish son.
He was a precious and proud son. He had only humbled himself to politely decline the offer. He had been modest.
But he had taken his words literally… how absurd.
‘I expected it, but the rumors about his eccentric personality were true.’
If his opponent was being direct, he would be direct as well.
“Since you put it that way, I’ll be honest. I oppose this engagement.”
-Clack!
Sima Bu’s move on the Go board became aggressive.
“Cheoni almost died when he was young. It was when he was studying at the Jegal Family’s estate.”
“Ah…!!”
At his words, Gwahae’s face turned pale, and her eyes widened.
“That was an accident.”
“Yes, I’m not a martial artist, so I don’t know the details, but I heard she went berserk due to qi deviation.”
Jegal Liang’s nonchalant reply was useless. Sima Bu wasn’t talking to him.
“But can you guarantee that she won’t go berserk again?”
On the Go board, a black stone invaded the territory Jegal Liang had built.
“He may be a cripple who spouts strange words in the eyes of others, but to me and my wife, he is our precious son.”
Sima Bu’s words were like daggers, piercing Gwahae’s heart.
“I cannot allow my son to live under the same roof as a dangerous being who could go berserk at any moment.”
“Father-!!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Mancheon tried to interrupt, but it was no use.
Jegal Liang, a renowned master of the Ten Great Masters, was surprised twice.
First, Mancheon, like his father, was a rare person who would speak his mind in front of him.
Second, Gwahae, who had been looking forward to the engagement and who was as hot-tempered as he was, was silently enduring his words.
That’s right, Gwahae was enduring it.
She said nothing, enduring Sima Bu’s verbal abuse, which was a veiled accusation that she was a monster.
After all, she had hurt the man she loved.
She had nothing to say. She had no right.
Then, Mancheon stood up all of a sudden, his face went all stiff.
“Get up.”
He grabbed Gwahae’s wrist and forced her to stand. Her sad blue eyes, filled with small tears, were revealed.
Seeing her like that, his anger flared.
“I told you clearly that nothing happened. You never hurt me. So why can’t you say anything? Are you stupid?”
“You even wrote ‘Man tian guo hai’ on that scroll! Why can’t you say anything?!”
He grabbed Gwahae’s hand and placed it on his chest, letting her feel his heartbeat.
He shouted a famous line, receiving all the attention.
“Why! Can’t you say! This man is my man-!!”
“Hng…!!”
Gwahae’s blue eyes widened. Light returned to them.
She no longer held back. She leaped onto the table and into Mancheon’s arms.
She hugged him tightly and spoke her true feelings.
“Yes… he’s mine.”
They felt each other’s warmth.
Mancheon and Gwahae.
For them, the stories of their families were no longer necessary.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
