Liu Bei POV
“Un…”
If she were not a weirdo, she would not choose to be a hermit scholar. But I do understand what Sima Hui means. Even though he said as much, he clearly hopes for me to go to meet Zhuge Liang. She is supposed to be an extraordinary talent after all and deserves a proper lord–
“So if Xuan De is willing, I can introduce you to Cui Zhou Ping and the rest. They are not inferior to Yuan Zhi at all.”
“… Eh?”
“Is there anything wrong?”
“No, no.” I hurriedly waved my hands, “Teacher Sima, why don’t you talk to me more about Zhuge Liang?”
“Why are you so interested in Kong Ming? Didn’t I tell you? She’s not interested in officialdom at all so it’s no use seeking her out.” Sima Hui said in the most plainest of words, “Compared to Kong Ming, you will have a better chance of recruiting the rest.”
No… Be that as it may… This is not supposed to be how this story should go…
“Ah… It’s because of what you said before that Zhuge Liang is a cut above all the rest. If possible, I would really like someone who is wise and talented.”
“Wise huh…” Sima Hui said as he smiled stiffly.
Eh? What’s with this reaction?
“Even though she is indeed better than the rest…” Sima Hui said hesitantly as he looked up slightly, not daring to meet my gaze, “Xuan De… Do you remember what I said to you before? About Kong Ming’s flaws?”
“Eh?” I was caught off-guard by this question and thought for a bit before I replied while doing a knocking gesture against my head, “Ah… Do you mean…”
Sima Hui nodded, “That is the reason why I don’t recommend you to go and seek out Kong Ming?”
Un… Speaking of which, is the historical Zhuge Liang an eccentric as well? From what I can remember, he seems like a cool and well-adjusted person. But I really do not know what to say when I see Sima Hui’s expression.
“Teacher Sima, you’ve already told me this much. I really am compelled to go and see Teacher Crouching Dragon.” I said as I met his gaze.
“… Hu.” After a while, Sima Hui sighed as he gave in, “Alright, if you must find Kong Ming, I won’t hinder you but… Why?”
“The reason is as we just discussed.” I said and took a deep breath before I spat it out, “Fate compels it.”
“Fate…” Sima Hui mumbled this word under his breath and sank into thought for a moment before chuckling, “Looks like the joke I made from before has come true huh?”
“Eh? What joke?”
“That Kong Ming has found a lord. Well then, though Kong Ming may be rife with problems, if Xuan De is able to tame her, there’s no telling what you can achieve.” Sima Hui said and opened up a blank bamboo scroll, “Xuan De, do you have ink and brush here?”
“Ah… Ah, yes!” I exclaimed when I realised what he wanted and scrambled to my table and passed Sima Hui a brush that was wet with ink, “Here.”
“Un,” Sima Hui grunted and began writing on the bamboo scroll, “It’s not too far to Longzhong from here. If you go on horseback, you can make a return trip within a single day. Additionally, Kong Ming hates crowds so try not to bring too many guards with you.”
“Un, I got it.” I said while Sima Hui spoke to me at the same time as he drew a map. even if he did not tell me that, I would have done so anyway.
“Alright, here.” He said as he handed me a map, “This is Xinye and this is Longzhong. If you gallop there, you can reach within 2 hours. For the exact address, just ask the locals. No one there hasn’t heard of Kong Ming.”
“Un un, I got it.” I said as I memorised the map and rolled the scroll.
“But are you certain you have to seek out Kong Ming?” Sima Hui asked and frowned while I rolled the scroll, “The individuals I named before are all talented as well.”
“No, my will is set.” I said as I kept the scroll, “I absolutely must find Kong Ming.”
“Un… Hai~” Sima Hui sighed once more and smiled as he looked at me, “Alright, I won’t talk about this any further. Since your fate is so intertwined with Kong Ming’s, then you should have some fate with Shi Yuan as well.”
Shi Yuan is… Pang Tong right…
Un… To be honest, even though this person’s name appears together with Zhuge Liang’s name, I do not actually know this person or what this person did in history.
“Alright, it’s about time I left. If it gets any later, I might not be able to return home.” Sima Hui said as he got up and made to leave.
“Ah, thanks for your time, Teacher Sima.” I said as I hurriedly got up, “Let me send someone to accompany you.”
“No need for that.” Sima Hui stopped me just as I was about to yell for someone and went out, “I came here alone so I’ll have to return alone.”
“Then let me send you to the doorway at least.”
“I’ll trouble you for that then.” Sima Hui said as he left with me beside him.
*Xu*~~~~~~~~~
Just as we left the room, a crisp and sonorous whistling sound could be heard. When I looked ahead, I saw that Sima Hui had made the sound.
“This is…”
“Un?” Sima Hui noticed my gaze and smiled stiffly, “Hoho, sorry about that, I like to whistle when I’m in a good mood. It’s actually rather popular amongst the hermit scholars in this area.”
As he said so, he blew again–
*Xu*~~~~
This time, the sound he made was sharper.
“How is it? Is it nice? Hehe~” He asked as he chuckled. Why is he so playful even though he’s already an old man?
“Un, it’s good.”
“Ah yes, speaking of which, Kong Ming is the best amongst us when it comes to whistling.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Un, even though this is a skill that’s only used for leisure and killing time, it can help to calm one’s emotions.” Sima Hui said as his expression eased, “If you are willing, you can learn it as well.”
“Haha, I doubt I can do it.” I said as I mimicked him and whistled.
*Huhu*
In the end, all I could do was mimic his motions but not the sound.
“Hahaha,” Sima Hui laughed again, “Take it slow. No one can do it from the start. Practice more and you’ll get there. In any case, if you have the chance, do listen to Kong Ming’s whistling. She might even teach you too.”
I do not think that is likely but I still nodded and bore this in mind anyway.
“Here is fine.”
“Eh? But this is just the inner courtyard.” I said as I looked ahead and saw that there was still some distance to the door.
“The inner courtyard is fine. No need to send me to the doorway.” He said as he tidied his clothing and shot a glance to the attendant by the doorway who went to get his horse, “If you really are able to get Zhuge Liang, then it’s likely that the fate between us ends here.”
“Eh?” I began to panic when I heard this, “How could that be, Teacher Sima is–”
“I’m a hermit scholar.” He said as he turned back to look at me, “As I said before, I’m already over 40. It will be nigh impossible for me to return to partake in wider society. Unlike Xuan De. Xuan De still has a long way to go and you can take control of your path.”
“Un…”
Take control of my path huh…
“Don’t wait till you’ve lost it to regret it. *Pa* *Pa*” Sima Hui said softly as he patted my shoulders. When I looked up, I saw that he had begun walking again. At this time, his horse had already been brought here.
“Well then, farewell!” Sima Hui said as he saluted before mounting his horse.
He did not say ‘may we meet again’ or ‘see you again’. Perhaps it was indeed as he said, that the fate of our relationship had come to an end.
Just like mine and Yuan Zhi.
Liu Bei POV
“Un…”
If she were not a weirdo, she would not choose to be a hermit scholar. But I do understand what Sima Hui means. Even though he said as much, he clearly hopes for me to go to meet Zhuge Liang. She is supposed to be an extraordinary talent after all and deserves a proper lord–
“So if Xuan De is willing, I can introduce you to Cui Zhou Ping and the rest. They are not inferior to Yuan Zhi at all.”
“… Eh?”
“Is there anything wrong?”
“No, no.” I hurriedly waved my hands, “Teacher Sima, why don’t you talk to me more about Zhuge Liang?”
“Why are you so interested in Kong Ming? Didn’t I tell you? She’s not interested in officialdom at all so it’s no use seeking her out.” Sima Hui said in the most plainest of words, “Compared to Kong Ming, you will have a better chance of recruiting the rest.”
No… Be that as it may… This is not supposed to be how this story should go…
“Ah… It’s because of what you said before that Zhuge Liang is a cut above all the rest. If possible, I would really like someone who is wise and talented.”
“Wise huh…” Sima Hui said as he smiled stiffly.
Eh? What’s with this reaction?
“Even though she is indeed better than the rest…” Sima Hui said hesitantly as he looked up slightly, not daring to meet my gaze, “Xuan De… Do you remember what I said to you before? About Kong Ming’s flaws?”
“Eh?” I was caught off-guard by this question and thought for a bit before I replied while doing a knocking gesture against my head, “Ah… Do you mean…”
Sima Hui nodded, “That is the reason why I don’t recommend you to go and seek out Kong Ming?”
Un… Speaking of which, is the historical Zhuge Liang an eccentric as well? From what I can remember, he seems like a cool and well-adjusted person. But I really do not know what to say when I see Sima Hui’s expression.
“Teacher Sima, you’ve already told me this much. I really am compelled to go and see Teacher Crouching Dragon.” I said as I met his gaze.
“… Hu.” After a while, Sima Hui sighed as he gave in, “Alright, if you must find Kong Ming, I won’t hinder you but… Why?”
“The reason is as we just discussed.” I said and took a deep breath before I spat it out, “Fate compels it.”
“Fate…” Sima Hui mumbled this word under his breath and sank into thought for a moment before chuckling, “Looks like the joke I made from before has come true huh?”
“Eh? What joke?”
“That Kong Ming has found a lord. Well then, though Kong Ming may be rife with problems, if Xuan De is able to tame her, there’s no telling what you can achieve.” Sima Hui said and opened up a blank bamboo scroll, “Xuan De, do you have ink and brush here?”
“Ah… Ah, yes!” I exclaimed when I realised what he wanted and scrambled to my table and passed Sima Hui a brush that was wet with ink, “Here.”
“Un,” Sima Hui grunted and began writing on the bamboo scroll, “It’s not too far to Longzhong from here. If you go on horseback, you can make a return trip within a single day. Additionally, Kong Ming hates crowds so try not to bring too many guards with you.”
“Un, I got it.” I said while Sima Hui spoke to me at the same time as he drew a map. even if he did not tell me that, I would have done so anyway.
“Alright, here.” He said as he handed me a map, “This is Xinye and this is Longzhong. If you gallop there, you can reach within 2 hours. For the exact address, just ask the locals. No one there hasn’t heard of Kong Ming.”
“Un un, I got it.” I said as I memorised the map and rolled the scroll.
“But are you certain you have to seek out Kong Ming?” Sima Hui asked and frowned while I rolled the scroll, “The individuals I named before are all talented as well.”
“No, my will is set.” I said as I kept the scroll, “I absolutely must find Kong Ming.”
“Un… Hai~” Sima Hui sighed once more and smiled as he looked at me, “Alright, I won’t talk about this any further. Since your fate is so intertwined with Kong Ming’s, then you should have some fate with Shi Yuan as well.”
Shi Yuan is… Pang Tong right…
Un… To be honest, even though this person’s name appears together with Zhuge Liang’s name, I do not actually know this person or what this person did in history.
“Alright, it’s about time I left. If it gets any later, I might not be able to return home.” Sima Hui said as he got up and made to leave.
“Ah, thanks for your time, Teacher Sima.” I said as I hurriedly got up, “Let me send someone to accompany you.”
“No need for that.” Sima Hui stopped me just as I was about to yell for someone and went out, “I came here alone so I’ll have to return alone.”
“Then let me send you to the doorway at least.”
“I’ll trouble you for that then.” Sima Hui said as he left with me beside him.
*Xu*~~~~~~~~~
Just as we left the room, a crisp and sonorous whistling sound could be heard. When I looked ahead, I saw that Sima Hui had made the sound.
“This is…”
“Un?” Sima Hui noticed my gaze and smiled stiffly, “Hoho, sorry about that, I like to whistle when I’m in a good mood. It’s actually rather popular amongst the hermit scholars in this area.”
As he said so, he blew again–
*Xu*~~~~
This time, the sound he made was sharper.
“How is it? Is it nice? Hehe~” He asked as he chuckled. Why is he so playful even though he’s already an old man?
“Un, it’s good.”
“Ah yes, speaking of which, Kong Ming is the best amongst us when it comes to whistling.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Un, even though this is a skill that’s only used for leisure and killing time, it can help to calm one’s emotions.” Sima Hui said as his expression eased, “If you are willing, you can learn it as well.”
“Haha, I doubt I can do it.” I said as I mimicked him and whistled.
*Huhu*
In the end, all I could do was mimic his motions but not the sound.
“Hahaha,” Sima Hui laughed again, “Take it slow. No one can do it from the start. Practice more and you’ll get there. In any case, if you have the chance, do listen to Kong Ming’s whistling. She might even teach you too.”
I do not think that is likely but I still nodded and bore this in mind anyway.
“Here is fine.”
“Eh? But this is just the inner courtyard.” I said as I looked ahead and saw that there was still some distance to the door.
“The inner courtyard is fine. No need to send me to the doorway.” He said as he tidied his clothing and shot a glance to the attendant by the doorway who went to get his horse, “If you really are able to get Zhuge Liang, then it’s likely that the fate between us ends here.”
“Eh?” I began to panic when I heard this, “How could that be, Teacher Sima is–”
“I’m a hermit scholar.” He said as he turned back to look at me, “As I said before, I’m already over 40. It will be nigh impossible for me to return to partake in wider society. Unlike Xuan De. Xuan De still has a long way to go and you can take control of your path.”
“Un…”
Take control of my path huh…
“Don’t wait till you’ve lost it to regret it. *Pa* *Pa*” Sima Hui said softly as he patted my shoulders. When I looked up, I saw that he had begun walking again. At this time, his horse had already been brought here.
“Well then, farewell!” Sima Hui said as he saluted before mounting his horse.
He did not say ‘may we meet again’ or ‘see you again’. Perhaps it was indeed as he said, that the fate of our relationship had come to an end.
Just like mine and Yuan Zhi.
