Chapter 463 – Love-Hate Relationship
In the end, Sima Yi suggested that Tong should accept Zhuge Liang into the guild, but he should not give him the memory or the cultivation method just yet.
As the relationship between Tong and Zhuge Liang was not that close, the latter had a high chance that he would betray Tong for Liu Bei.
Tong agreed to Sima Yi's advice and took Zhuge Liang into the clan, hoping to brainwash this youth for a few years first before they could give him the memory.
Zhuge Liang: "Hi! Nice to meet you all! I'm looking forward to working with you!"
The teenager was optimistic about this development. Unbeknownst to Tong and everyone, he had always wanted to work with these immortals to learn from them.
Zhao Yun: "Welcome, Kongming! I'm glad I can work with you again!"
The white horse general was more than happy to see another Shu officer joining Tong. With this former pillar of Shu, Zhao Yun was confident that the current Han Dynasty's future was looking bright.
Wei Yan: "Welcome, chancellor. I hope your subordinates won't execute me again in this life. I really did not plan to betray Shu the last time after you died, and everything I did was a misunderstanding and miscommunication. I hope you don't mind about my past mistakes."
In the previous life, Wei Yan was slain because of a misunderstanding.
During the late year of 234, after Zhuge Liang died by illness during the campaign against Sima Yi at Wuzhang Plain, Zhuge Liang's subordinates, Jiang Wei, Fei Yi, and Yang Yi succeeded the strategist.
However, a misunderstanding occurred. As Wei Yan, who was leading the vanguard troops, was not on good terms with Yang Yi, both sides accused each other that they might betray Shu to Wei. In reality, Wei Yan never planned to surrender to Wei, but he wanted to continue fighting against Sima Yi and his generals while Yang Yi wanted to follow others and retreat.
Yet, the majority believed in Yang Yi's accusation over Wei Yan's words because Wei Yan's action was suspicious to others as well.
The general was branded as a traitor. Shu generals chased after him and killed him in the process. Also, All of Wei Yan's family members were executed.
Tragic as it might be, Wei Yan did not care about the injustice incidents anymore. After all, he of this world wanted to prove himself that he was a loyal man.
The civil war went well, and he had a good career under Tong's government. He did not want to be in a precarious position like the past anymore.
Zhou Cang: "Welcome, brother! Let's fight together again. I won't die ahead of you this time!"
As for Zhou Cang, he was once a retainer of Guan Yu. Unfortunately, he and Zhuge Liang did not have many chances to work together.
At the end of 220, after Zhou Cang learned about Guan Yu's death, he committed suicide.
After he obtained the memory of the other lifetime, Zhou Cang regretted that he did not believe in Zhuge Liang's advice and warned Guan Yu to retreat from Jing Province on time when the secret alliance between Cao Cao and Sun Quan happened.
Now, they got to work together again. Zhou Cang also hoped that Tong could convince Guan Yu to join him, too, so they could redeem themselves.
Despite all former Shu officers welcoming him, Zhuge Liang was confused because he had not obtained the other memory yet.
Zhuge Liang: "Eh? Do I know you?"
Zhao Yun: "I forgot. His majesty hasn't blessed you yet, right? Don't worry about it. You'll understand after you get it."
Zhuge Liang: "Blessing? What blessing?"
Sima Yi suddenly inserted himself into Shu Kingdom's conversation.
Sima Yi: "Something that makes you smarter. You're nothing but a stupid brat at the moment."
Zhuge Liang: "Hey! That's rude! I don't even know you, and I'm sure I never offended you. Why are you insulting me?"
Sima Yi: "Huhuhu. Silly upstart strategist like you has no idea."
Zhuge Liang: "What do you mean? I don't understand. Can someone elaborate on why this "Sima Yi" person is insulting me?"
Sima Yi: "Don't tell him. I want to see him cry."
Zhuge Liang: "Eh? You're cruel! I won't talk to you again."
Sima Yi: "You will definitely need to talk to me a lot. After all, I have an official strategist position in a legion while you're not."
Zhuge Liang: "Braggart!"
Sima Yi: "Huhuhu!"
Xu Huang: "…"
Zhang Liao: "…"
Zhao Yun: "…"
Zhang He: "…"
All elites and former participants of the early Three Kingdom Period was speechless by Sima Yi's childishness and bullying. Although the latter's action was somewhat harsh, they could sense happiness in Sima Yi's tone.
Tong: "… Tsundere."
Jia Xu: "What's tsundere, your majesty?"
Tong: "An immortal vocabulary. It depicts a cold person, but his heart can be the opposite. In this case …"
Jia Xu: "Ah, I get it! Someone with a mouth that doesn't go along with his heart."
Tong: "Something like that."
Sima Yi: "Your majesty. For some reason, I think you're discussing something rude about me. Are you secretly insulting me with your strange vocabulary?"
Sima Fang: "His majesty wasn't insulting anyone, but I will be insulting you! I'll visit Ganling in winter, and I want to see you there in one piece! Don't you dare running away, or I'll demote you myself, brat!"
Sima Yi: "DEAR FATHER, WAIT! THAT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING!!"
Afterward, Sima Fang used the clan chat to sermon Sima Yi for hours, which made all clan members laugh.
.
.
.
Xiangyang City
Ju Shou was interested in this Zhuge Liang and the story behind his deeds in the other life. As someone who died early, he was curious about how the land fared after his death.
Since he had learned that Zhang He was the only one here who managed to live and see the birth of the Three Kingdoms Period, Ju Shou visited Zhang He, hoping to learn about Zhuge Liang and the war between Wei and Shu.
Along the way, Ju Shou ran into Gao Shun and Lu Bu, who had just finished their daily training routine.
"Strategist Ju? Where are you going? Are you dining out today?"
It was almost 6 PM, so Gao Shun thought that Ju Shou was visiting the city for dinner.
"No, I'm visiting General Zhang today. I'm curious about the other world. You see, I didn't live long enough to see the birth of Wei, Wu, and Shu Dynasty."
Lu Bu's interest piqued, "Mind if I tag along?"
"Sure. The more, the merrier!"
The gang visited Zhang He, who was having dinner with his family in his new household.
.
Last year, Zhang He married a daughter of a local noble from Kuai House, who was a subordination clan of Liu Biao.
As this young general had been camping in foreign lands for a long time, his natural desire for a family came to him. Also, because Zhang He had to contact Liu Biao's executive officers for their cooperation in supply and military training, he got to meet the two advisors of Liu Biao, Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang.
The two advisors took a liking of this bachelor general, so they tied him with their family by wedding Kuai Liang's daughter to Zhang He.
Now, both Zhang He and Kuai House became relatives, and the former had something to protect in this city.
.
"My lord, you have visitors," A servant came to inform Zhang He and lady Kuai about their untimely visitors.
It was rare for Zhang He to have guests as he was a workaholic, so the wife ordered her maids to prepare extra dinners for the visitors.
A few minutes after Zhang He had told the servant to fetch the guests, Lu Bu, Ju Shou, and Gao Shun arrived.
"Senior Lu, Sir Ju, Sir Gao? What bring you all here? Come, take a seat."
…
The gang ended up having dinner at Zhang He's house. After they exchanged pleasantries and Zhang He's wife retreated, the three curious returners got to the point.
"Junyi, we want to ask you about the Three Kingdoms Period. Can you tell us the story after the land had divided into three in the other world?" Asked Lu Bu.
Zhang He was amused, "Oh? You're here because of that?"
"I read the clan chat, and I'm curious about this Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi's relationship. What happened between these two?"
Zhang He laughed. As someone who died trying to capture Zhuge Liang, the general told his Three Kingdoms story from his point of view.
…
An hour later, Zhang He finished his story, which ended in the year 231, three years before the death of Zhuge Liang.
"You died by an arrow to the knee?" Gao Shun, Lu Bu, and Ju Shou were astonished.
"A silly death, right? I was on Qi Mountain at that time, and we didn't have a proper wound dressing. I think it was because of wound poisoning."
Lu Bu shook his head and laughed, "No, your death was an adventurous one. You died in the middle of a battle, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Gao Shun and I got hung by Cao Cao. Strategist Ju got killed by Cao Cao's men. Heck, none of us got to die fighting."
Gao Shun nodded, "Indeed, we should be the one embarrassed. Say, since this Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang were rivals in the previous life, will they get along this time?"
"I don't know. We have to ask his majesty or Sir Li Feihong. Senior Lu, you are close to Sir Li, right? You should ask him for his other version of the Zhuge-Sima relationship. He should know about this."
Lu Bu chuckled, "I might as well ask Tong for it."
"His majesty probably won't tell you in the clan chat. Zhuge Liang is still there, and I think he has a reason for not giving this new guy a cultivation method yet."
As Zhang He, Gao Shun, and Lu Bu discussed otherworlder's versions of the Three Kingdoms Period, Ju Shou reread the old log and figured out the absurd relationship Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi had.
"I think they saw each other at that time as a nemesis in the previous life, but Sima Yi is treating the new guy as a competitive rival now. The softcore bullying is the proof."
Everyone got interested, "Are you sure?"
"Yes. His majesty hinted with this "Tsundere" word and a short explanation. I think Sima Yi didn't mean to bully Zhuge Liang, but he is treating him like an old friend."
The gang got the idea and burst into laughter.
"Sima Yi is too childish!"
"He's cute, though!"
Because of the mood and the alcohol, Zhang He's tongue slipped, "Their relationship reminds me of how his majesty treated senior Lu recently. Aren't they the same?"
.
.
.
The laughter stopped as the atmosphere went silent.
.
.
.
*RUMBLE*
.
.
.
Cold air enveloped Zhang He. Even though winter had not arrived yet, Zhang He's teeth were clattering.
Lu Bu's face turned dark, "Junyi…"
Zhang He's face also darkened, but he sweated bullets, "… I'm sorry, senior."
"Let's have an evening spar, shall we?"
"I'm still too full and too drunk. I don't think I can lift my halberd in this condition…"
"Enemies won't wait for us to sober! Get your ass over here!"
"I'M SOWWWWWWYYYYYYYYY!!!"
Lu Bu dragged Zhang He to an empty plot and began pummeling him with his detached souls.
Gao Shun and Ju Shou gazed at them as they held their hands and prayed.
"Rest in peace."
"May you reincarnate to a better world."
Both of them vowed that they would remember Zhang He's death date.
Zhang He heard it and screamed in tears, "I'M STILL ALIVE!!!"