[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

6 – Becoming a Master (1)

The Sama family.

Though they were not quite on par with the originary southern families like the Wonboncho or Wongoonro, the Sama family is a very powerful house.

Although they were not able to settle in the capital Nakyang themselves, the simple fact that they were able to establish their roots right next to Nakyang and flaunt their family’s prestige as local stewards holds a considerable amount of power.

If Hyungju’s nobility are referred to as the snake’s tail, then the Sama clan in Hanle is a family that is undoubtedly not the head of the dragon, but it is at the position of the dragon’s arm.

– Isn’t Master Sukyung a member of the Sama clan?

– That’s both correct and incorrect.

– What do you mean?

– Just because they belong to a clan, doesn’t mean they only live in that particular region.

Master Sukyung, Sama Hwi, bears the name of the Sama clan, but has a rather peculiar status within the family.

– Clan? I’m not sure about that, but I’ll do as I please!

Most of them tend to wield their power in the regions where their clans are rooted. In prestigious roles such as the regent or an important official, it’s not unusual for a son to inherit the position when his father dies.

Despite living in a society that values lineage and clan allegiance, Sama Hwi left home.

– I’m going to leave the Samas! …Well, not exactly, but I just can’t live here anymore!

When she was young, Master Sukyung was said to be quite spirited. Having left her suffocating clan with a small inheritance, she descended to Hyungju and established her roots anew by setting up a school.

While her rebellious lifestyle didn’t sit well with many in the clan, it seems they didn’t particularly care about what Sama Hwi did.

At the outset, she came from a side branch of the clan and was a fairly distant relative, so the clan did not overly interfere with her activities. She was essentially an untamed child that bore the name of the Sama clan, but was largely ignored by the family.

That same girl had become a ‘Master Sukyung’, a teacher to the children of influential families in Hyungju.

It must’ve been a blow to her parents – their daughter living so far away and establishing her own roots there.

But since she’d become a renowned scholar in Hyungju, it could only be a cause for celebration for the Sama clan.

If she’d failed, it might’ve been a different story, or if she had sullied the name of the clan, but succeeding as Sama Hwi had, the clan would naturally view it in a positive manner.

Thus, she never completely severed ties with her clan. Her connections with the Sama family haven’t ended entirely. It wouldn’t be strange if Sama Hwi decided on a whim to take a trip back to Hanle, leaving her academy in care of others.

Likewise, it wouldn’t be odd if someone from the clan sought to visit Master Sukyung’s academy, either out of admiration for Sama Hwi’s success, or from their desire to learn from her.

The only thing I’m curious about is why they would send a child from the ‘direct line’ of the clan, barely ten years old, to Sama Hwi at this time.

‘With the clan in no immediate danger, why?’

The Hanle region where the Sama clan has its roots is located near Nakyang.

As Nakyang is located in close vicinity to the capital, it isn’t a region where the Yellowband rebels are active, nor is it a place where the remnants of the rebels would likely cause disturbances, given its proximity to the plains where the Yellowband rebellion was once in full swing.

There is no reason why the child should come all the way to this remote Hyungju, where regents are being appointed to stabilize each region in these times.

In other words, this child has a story.

The girl’s black hair and distinct features hinted at an intense spirit. It gave off the potential of a beauty that would one day outshine even Sama Hwi.

‘She’s a nobleman’s child!’

It remains to be seen if she’ll rise to high ranking office, but with her looks, she can be quite successful in politics. After all, her clan being the Sama clan, she can climb quite a bit if she takes the path of a scholar.

She’s come from afar.

Coming from a respectable family of scholars and having a connection to Sama Hwi is a good exposure. It isn’t bad at all.

‘But why does her gaze look like that?’

The look in her eyes was of someone who, when grown up, could consume a person, no, a whole nation. It wasn’t the gaze a ten-year old girl should have. I began to understand why Master Sukyung was reserved around her.

‘She’s a bright child.’

I must watch my language around her. I must be careful in my behavior. Even if she overhears our conversation, she’s a child with the brains to understand much of it.

Bright children are easy and comfortable to teach, but if they hear what they shouldn’t, it could negatively affect their upbringing.

Yet.

Who are you, sir?

Sir.

Oh, that’s you, sir….

“Uncle? I’ve just crossed the threshold of the so-called adult age this year.”

“So, aren’t you an uncle?”

“Do you know what that threshold really means?”

“I know, it means you’ve passed twenty.”

Sama chuckled as he blinked and asked.

“Dad says once you turn twenty, people get married and stuff. Are you married?”

“Who on earth says you get married at twenty?”

“The servants in our home all got married. Did you not have anyone to marry, or…?”

“You little…”

Sama locked his fist into his brother’s hair. Confused by the sudden punch, he instinctively reached for his head.

“Why…did you hit me? I’ve never even been hit by my father!”

“You being touched by your father is abuse. His hands are that rough.”

“Did you fight my dad?”

“Yup. Didn’t you hear him say it? He slapped me across the cheek when I was young, and retaliated with ten times. That’s me.”

“….”

The Sama family line resembles the side of Sama, surely.

“As the one trusted by your father for your ‘education’, I must teach you by any means necessary. Without manners, you won’t even get a meal here.”

Sama smirked as he messed up his brother’s hair.

“Let’s correct it, one by one. What’s this calling your teacher an uncle?”

“My…teacher?”

“You? My?”

Am I supposed to be the teacher of this little boy?

“Yes, you teach this kid. You’ve lectured in groups beforehand, but you have not tutored someone individually. Since the students all returned home, teach this kid for once.”

“But at this time of the…”

“Because it’s this time.”

Sama winked, and I bowed my head in silent agreement.

“I will, teacher.”

“This uncle is my teacher?”

Okay, I get it. I’ve understood why Sama lacks manners.

Short wording from Sama, instant response from someone like me.

“I suspect by default you have no manners, and do you judge by appearances?”

Moreover, I had a mop in my hands, as I came out taking a break from cleaning the academy. He must have mistaken me for a servant.

While I understand misunderstanding, habits need to be corrected.

“Nice to meet you. I go by Kim Tae Yang while teaching at the Su-Gyeong Academy.”

My real name, Hwang Wol Young, will be put aside for now. I’ll live as Kim Tae Yang while serving as a lecturer at Su-Gyeong Academy.

Speaking out my real surname, Hwang, might get me killed in this era.

I choose Kim, which is similar to yellow, Hwang, thanks to the infamous Hwang Gun. If anyone insists that gold is a imperial color, I should say that my gold is metallic.

“Kim Tae Yang…? How can a person’s name be Kim Tae Yang?”

“Sun is not my name. ‘Tae Yang’ is my sobriquet.”

I placed the broom against the wall.

“My surname is Kim, my name is Wol-Young, and my nickname is Sun. If it’s too hard, just call me Geummo.”

“So, Mr. Geummo?”

“Mister?”

“Yes. You’re not my master yet.”

Sama-ui shook his head stubbornly.

“I decide who my master is.”

“……”

Is it because he couldn’t handle it up there? I felt disappointed, but I didn’t need to swallow my pride and prove an otherwise.

Soon enough, all my pride would be broken living here anyway.

“Uija, go unpack. Your room is inside there.”

“Understood…”

Sama-ui succumbed to the violence.

Seeing his raised fist with a smile, I quickly acknowledged and went in to unpack my belongings.

“Have you come here to learn?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Samahwi winked at the young kid and nodded heavily.

“Don’t you want to ask why he brought you here?”

“He must have had his reasons for bringing me here for sure. With the aftermath of the civil unrest, famine overlapping the local products, the Hyungju is not a livable place now, there’s no reason for a direct female descendant to attend the water-reflect school, isn’t it?”

“Pretty sharp.”

“That’s the reality. What’s the matter?”

Samahwi rarely frowned.

“Do you know that the situation is very bad in the center?”

“Of course. The capital is in complete chaos, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Even the local government is affected. The newly appointed county governor… There were rumors he came with an eye on the daughter from the Sama family.”

The daughter from the Sama family.

A direct descendant.

Sama-ui.

“Isn’t she a ten-year-old child?”

“Exactly.”

“……”

It was ridiculous.

“Isn’t he a mad man?”

“Exactly.”

“……”

It’s chaos, total chaos.