[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

10 – Becoming a Teacher 5

Ahead is nothing but a feast of white.

Black smeared between the white jade is visible, but I was dazed in front of the overwhelming feast of white.

Hoo….

All I see is white jade, and all I feel is a strong constriction that makes my breath choke.

There’s no way out.

Despite trying hard to move forward against the pressure coming from both sides, the end is waiting for me like a tiger’s mouth.

It was predestined to be devoured the moment I entered.

From the moment I stuck my head in, this was a predetermined course.

Just surrender, willingly.

Sunwook just smiled and urged me to surrender.

Her darkly sunken eyes pressured me heavily, and I had no choice but to forcibly advance to overcome her constriction.

Bang! Hmm…. If there’s no way out, you can force your way through.

If you’re trapped in a wall and blocked on both sides, move forward.

Even if there’s a fence that can’t be crossed, just break the whole board! This is…Hmm.

What do you think, brother?

Surely this, huh, quite…deep inside.

Sunwook let out a deep sigh. It’s too deep.

Really, to the point of dying. It seemed like he was lamenting my attack,

looking pathetic, and facing a deadlock. Will you keep stabbing like that? That’s how it falls. It doesn’t fall, huh! No. It falls.

It should…. Bang! Didn’t it start to shake the moment you stuck your head in? Admit it, brother.

You’re shaking now. No. The shaking is…. The tip of Sunwook’s finger reaching out to me was trembling slightly.

Admit it. Accept it. You can’t stop the flow.

A long, thick black thing dug into the middle of the white jade.

It barely surrounds itself from the sides, trying to squeeze, but the head has already arrived at the waiting mouth.

Will I be devoured like this? No. Bang.

“Ah…!”

A surprise attack comes unexpectedly.

A single move that shakes the entire board, reversing the game. Like a rock, the black piece moves steadily forward, burrowing into the thin space between, finally opening the center and pushing beyond the fence into the vastness.

Checkmate, lit. no death.

Having gone over the wall, there is no roughness now.

“…Really, no mercy.”

“That’s my strength.”

“I thought you were the type to sit quietly…ugh!”

“I do move when it’s time to move. I just didn’t want to bother.”

Bang.

“The moment you touched my home, you should’ve been prepared. Ladies first.”

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy….”

“Please don’t assume too much. Your opponent is me. It’s natural that you lose. Accept it.”

“Yet… it’s not over yet.”

“!”

The body of the black piece began to tighten from the middle. What was thought to be a gap began to fill with white, and the pressure from both sides became stronger.

“I can’t…, huff, lose yet….”

Bang!

“Ah, a-ah…!”

Sook’s expression crumbled. She closed her eyes slightly, dropped her head with a face that gave up everything.

“…I lost.”

“It was a good game.”

I picked up a stone.

The game was my victory.

Late in the evening, I won a match against Sook, who had come to visit. Her white stones had surrounded my piece from both sides, but my piece burrowed ahead before being captured, successfully creating a living group.

“I was worried since it’s been a while since I played, but I’m glad I won. I thought I was going to lose without fail in the middle.”

“You truly are unpredictable. How you played that move…”

“Defenders can play well too. But it can’t be helped. My opponent is, me.”

I’m the one who has a 30% win rate against Master Sookyeong. In this neighborhood, if anything, I have a reputation for my go skills.

“A defender is someone who firmly protects their home. They are not good at attacking. The person’s nature is instantly revealed when you play go. Don’t you feel that way, defender?”

“Yes. You are…. like a bee that stings as soon as it is touched.”

“Huhuhu.”

Until I feel threatened, I am as mild as they come.

However, the moment I feel threatened, the moment my home is touched, from that moment on, I start taking action to eliminate the enemy.

Anyone who bothers me will suffer a serious blow.

“So what brings you here this late? You seemed to be still sorting out your thoughts.”

“I have sorted out my thoughts. I just wanted to confirm one last thing.”

“Through go?”

“Yes. About what kind of person you are.”

Just as I understood Sook through go, Sook also understood me through go.

“You really are a person sincerely dedicated to peace.”

“Yes, I am. I love peace more than anyone.”

“No matter how extraordinary your abilities are, you wouldn’t wish to utilize them for the world.”

“You’re right.”

“But, what if war reaches your land, your home, your dining table?”

“Of course, that would be different.”

The public really only cares about filling their own family’s bellies.

But even if I starve, I cannot bear to watch my parents, my children, my companions starve.

That’s why the people used the opportunity of the Yellow Turban Rebellion to cause a riot.

I am no different.

“If I thought Dong Zhuo could truly bring peace to the world, I would have rushed to Luoyang to sabotage the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition.”

“But according to your judgment, Dong Zhuo isn’t the one?”

“Of course.”

“Then our goals coincide.”

Sun Wook, for the Royal family.

I, to punish Dong Zhuo.

“I intend to support the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition when I return to my hometown pro tempore. Even though it’s a short time, I aspire to serve someone influential from the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition who can work for the Royal family.”

“The candidates for the influential positions have already been discussed. Have they been decided?”

“I have planned to approach Yuan Shao first.”

Yuan Shao.

The most reputable existence.

“There already are many people near Yuan Shao. Even if you go, you probably won’t be received.”

“Reception isn’t important. What matters to me is whether the person I serve genuinely serves the Royal family — That’s it.”

“They could potentially take advantage of your sincerity.”

“Yes. That’s why I changed my mind after talking with you. If they recognize the legitimacy of the Royal family, if they aim to maintain the Royal family, I will plead to them once by the side to sustain the Royal family.”

“……”

I realized from Sun Wook’s eyes that she had determined her direction.

Even till she came to Sukyeong Academy, she was wavering—but with our conversation alone, she had already made up her mind.

“It might not work.”

“That’s okay. Sincerity tends to get across.”

“You could be treated as a fool later. It’s possible they will take advantage of you after some time, just like Han Shin.”

“If that happens, it would be my destiny. Or the destiny of the Royal family that I cannot change myself.”

There was some longing in Sun Wook’s eyes. I understood the meaning of the glance she gave me immediately, but I quietly shook my head.

“I am a humble being. I can’t help you. However, I know a way I can.”

I spread out a document, wrote some characters and handed it to her.

“What is this…?”

“It’s a donation certificate.”

“What?”

“It’s a document, stating that you donated to the operation of the Sukyeong Academy. I plan to make another one later and erect it next to the school notice board.”

“Is this a way to help the Royal family?”

“Exactly, it’s to help Moon-Yak.”

I pointed to the signature box in the document.

“When someday you acquire a lord and establish your foundation, Moon-Yak will certainly rise to prominence. And then, some day, young people will come seeking Moon-Yak. ‘Where did you come from?’ ‘I came from the Soo-Kyoung academy.’ Inspired by and admiring Professor Moon-Yak who generously donated to the academy, I would like to work at the same place.”

“Talent.”

Soo-Wook opened her mouth in surprise.

“You aim to foster talent. Here…!”

“Well, it doesn’t necessarily have to be with Moon-Yak. Ultimately, they have the freedom to choose their lord. However…”

I stood up from my seat and held Soo-wook’s hand.

“If there is a child who wants to work for our royal family. If there is someone who has the same concerns as Moon-Yak does now. I would tell them Moon-Yak’s story, standing in front of a signboard bearing Moon-Yak’s name. And then that child will…”

“Clever, aren’t you.”

Clever, indeed. Soo-Wook’s eyes curled into crescents.

“I’ve been made a fool, your disciples use me to secure their official positions, and then you, you sit back and relish in being the teacher of countless government officials, don’t you?”

“That’s right.”

I pointed downwards.

“That’s why I came to this academy.”

“…You really are a wicked person.”

Moon-Yak lowered her head and gave a bitter smile.

“Alright. Let’s write the document first, and then go back to my hometown to send the donation. Please take care of it, Geum-Tae-Yang.”

“Of course, Soo-Moon-Yak.”

The east party will fall.

I recommended those with potential among the United East Party.

And decided to expect the future.

“Now we have to stamp it….”

“Wol-Young.”

Soo-Wook, holding my hand, pulled me closer.

“We need to make sure to stamp it.”

“Eh? Oh, wait-“

Crash.

The ambitious night.

Under the moonlight serenaded by insects.

The fireflies floating over the tranquil and clear lake closed their eyes quietly under the faintly glimmering shadow in the darkness.