[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

4 – Searching for My Land (3) Place to Sleep

Hyungju!

This region, where the Yangtze river flows, has abundant fish and has wide plains, making it a good place to live. Except for the humidity being a little higher than the north, it’s not so bad.

The largest city in this region is Yangyang. Other than that, there is Gangneung, Gangha. To reach Yangyang, one had to cross the Yangtze river, and for Gangneung and Gangha, one needs to follow the river westward.

Therefore, where should I go?

To be direct, not the city.

Before crossing to Yangyang, right before crossing the Yangtze river coming from the Central Plains, I visited a small county. The reason for coming to Hyungju lied in that place having one ‘school’.

The place is called ‘Sinya.’

I visited Sinya, a fairly large school. This was the destination of my trip from the central plains to Hyungju.

In that school, I met a beautiful woman with Raven hair.

“It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

“……Alright.”

The middle-aged woman scanned me from head to toe. Her eyes seemed instantly judgmental as soon as she saw me, which wasn’t exactly pleasant, but I contained my discomfort thinking I could potentially build a good relationship with her. After all, she was someone worth building one with.

In stark contrast to my obscurity, this woman was a renowned figure whose nickname alone was known to every single person in town.

“I came here in search of someone.”

“Who are you looking for?”

“I’m here to find someone with the surname Sama, who goes by the honorific ‘Hwi’. I mean the owner of the Sukyung Academy.”

“Really? I’m sorry, but Master Sukyung —”

“I already know that the master is Master Sukyung.”

The woman scowled at me.

However, her beauty was such that even the scowl seemed becoming.

“Indeed. I am Sama Hwi, the principal of Sukyung Academy.”

Sama Hwi.

A tall middle-aged woman of beauty with her long black hair neatly tied up.

Her nobility was obvious, piercing through her purple robes, and the kindness in her heart was clearly visible. Her natural beauty mesmerizing, even without any excessive adornment, is enough to make many hearts flutter.

Her beauty is not the only thing she is renowned for, her scholarship and intellect – having produced numerous prodigal talents – is even more renowned, making her a celebrity not just within the town but in its vicinity as well.

Even the local officials, including the current magistrate, are said to have been her students. It’s said that even the royal patrols dare to visit this remote village due to Master Sukyung’s reputation.

For someone like me, who aspires to peacefully nurture students in the countryside, receiving the respect of the local gentry, she is someone I should look up to as an ideal.

“I wish to….”

“I’d rather you disappear. You can’t be my disciple.”

“……”

She turned me away instantly. My pride was hurt, but I clenched my teeth and once again greeted Sama Hwi.

“I am….”

“I can see you have two images. One is that of the Cintamani in the dragon’s grasp, the other is that of a scabbard devouring everything.”

The Cintamani and the scabbard.

“One is the Cintamani and the other is the scabbard, such extreme contrasts in your estimation.”

“Yes, I cannot accept a person like you as my student.”

Sama Hwi pointed at me with her fan and spoke.

“You’re someone who would use any teaching you receive just for your own benefit. You are not here to learn, because you don’t need to.”

A trenchant thrust!

Before even having a full conversation with me, Sama Hwi had completely unraveled me.

The truth was, just as she said, that I had not come to the Sukyung Academy to learn something new, and even if I had, I would have used it for my own gain.

I was far from the ideal student Sama Hwi was looking for.

“Considering these three reasons, I won’t accept you as my disciple.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It was a shame.

If I had become Sama Hwi’s student, just having that title would have meant celebrity status in other towns. If I had displayed a sign saying ‘Graduate of Sukyung Academy’ locals would definitely show interest.

“However, I didn’t come here to become a student.”

If one path is blocked, it’s just logical to find another.

“Please employ me at Sukyung Academy. I could be a teacher, a librarian, or even design textbooks. Allow me to stay at this academy, please.”

“Why? Why, of all places, Su-gyeong Academy?”

“Well, it is the most peaceful place to live.”

“I want to hear more about it.”

Sama Hwi’s ears perked up.

Thankfully, unlike before, he is now attuned to listen to my words.

With no connections, no delays, no academic affiliations, no blood ties, my only way of convincing Sama Hwi is my glib tongue.

“This place will remain peaceful with no wars for at least the next 20 years.”

“War? You certainly speak of interesting things.”

Flutter.

Sama Hwi gave me a sharp look as he unfolded his fan.

“While the royal house may be precarious, the rebellions will soon be suppressed. The Geum Province is not an environment where rebellions would occur, and yet you speak of war?”

“Yes. Are you, Master Sookyeong, not also preparing for war?”

“…What?”

“Your act of selecting disciples here is evidence of that.”

To provoke while guessing a man’s intentions is risky, but shedding light on a bit of audacity like this makes it easier to live moving forward.

“Master Sookyeong isn’t simply raising talents. You’re grooming them to bring peace to this world in the midst of upcoming wars and chaos.”

“‘I’ raise apprentices for the era of chaos? You’re wrong. I merely teach those who I wish to teach.”

“They are indeed the ones who will serve the royal house according to Master Sookyeong’s teachings.”

“Yes, some may walk the path of scholars, and some may attain official positions to receive national treasury, but none of it is for the era of chaos.”

Just as I thought. He doesn’t reveal his intentions easily. Then, I must continue to peel off the facade until they are revealed.

“Geum Province is a wonderful place to live. It may seem far removed from the Central Plains, but compared to places like Ikju, it is significantly closer to the Central Plains. Especially as it is a region where the Jang River flows.”

“And so?”

“In the future, many will come down here to avoid the chaos in the Central Plains. At that time, you will scrutinize those who settle down in Geum Province and intend to take them as your disciples. Whether it’s civil rebellion or war, you have intentions of taking in and teaching those who can’t survive in the Central Plains and have come down to Geum Province.”

“This is your evidence that I’m preparing for war?”

“This is evidence that Master Sookyeong is working for the peace of this world.”

“hahahaha!!”

Sama Hwi threw his head back and laughed.

“I thought you were spouting nonsense, but you’re a truly curious fellow. Fine, let’s say it is so. But isn’t that no reason for me to accept you?”

“For that, I appeal to your appraisal. After all, I’m also someone seeking the peace of this world.”

I, Hwang Wolyeong, have a genuine desire for a peaceful world.

“Only when the chaos ends and reign order sets in, can I live comfortably without any concerns of being conscripted into the army, right?”

“…I truly can’t understand.”

Sama Hwi shook his head.

“Why would a person with the ability to fly with a dragon want to live as lowly as a field flower?”

“There are men like this in the world.”

“You enjoy the peace of this world by standing behind others and ordering them around?”

“Why should I stand out when there are more than enough people who want to? And…I don’t have a body that can stand out.”

Having said that, I took off my hat.

Sama Hwi looked at my hair and was taken aback.

“That is….”

“I’ve had this hair since birth. I was abandoned by my parents and taken in by an elderly person. Now he’s gone, I have nowhere to go.”

I gave Sama Hwi a deep bow.

The rest now was a matter of pleading for mercy.

“Even if I do odd jobs, it’s fine. Please let me work here.”

“……Raise your head.”

Sama Hwi pointed a fan towards me.

“You can’t just come here. I’ll give you a quiz. If you answer correctly, I’ll consider you as a family member of our academy.”

“Just tell me.”

“After the rebellion of Hwang Geon Jeok, who do you think will assume power?”

“…..Can there be multiple correct answers?”

Sama Hwi nodded.

I took a deep breath and answered.

“Neither the Ten Saints, the Royal Family, nor the exiled ones will have the power.”

“Then who?”

“Well, we’ll have to see the end of Hwang Geon’s rebellion, won’t we?”

“Hwang Geon’s rebellion?”

“Yes. After the rebellion is over, we can tell who will receive appointments from the palace.”

I am confident about that.

“So, who do you think it will be?”

“Those who have made their marks as state officials. For example…”

I mentioned the names I had heard on the go.

“Dong Zhongying, Yuan Bencho, Jo Maengdeok, Son Mundae.”

“Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Sun Jian. All the names I’ve never heard. I heard quite a lot about Yuan Bencho. Then Jo Maengdeok. I’ve never heard of Dong Zhuo.”

“You’ll hear them often in the future. What catches your eye, after all.”

I saw the ambition in their movements, to take over the Royal Family and position themselves at the top.

“They will destroy Han.”

One trashes know another, after all.

“Then you should support Jo Maengdeok.”

“Why should I support him?”

“Because.”

Sama Hwi tilted his head and answered as if it was obvious.

“She’s the only woman among the four.”