A Strange Habit is the 199th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
With Mou Bu's arrival, Mou Ten tries to leave. However, Mou Bu asks him where he is going. He then turns around and addresses Mou Bu as his father. Shin is shocked to hear that Mou Bu is Mou Ten’s father. He doesn't notice any similarities between them. Mou Bu then directs himself to Shin. He asks him about Ou Ki's podao that Shin received. Shin says that it's still a bit too heavy for him to wield at the moment.
Mou Bu responds that if he's not going to use it in his lifetime then he should hand it over, but Shin tells the general there's no way in hell that he will. Mou Ten doesn't know about Shin having Ou Ki's podao. He then asks his father on what brings him here. Mou Bu isn't meant to participate in this campaign. He states that he is here to pass a message from Shou Hei Kun. Concerning the exact same thing they were talking about earlier.
At Mou Gou's HQ, Mou Bu tells the officers that Ren Pa will appear as the enemy Great General. However, the officers are in disbelieve as the Wei King shouldn't consider him trustworthy enough. They know from past experience that this isn't good. Even Haku Ki wasn't able to defeat him. Mou Gou says that there is no need to become so flustered. The appearance of Ren Pa wasn't something outside their predictions. He states that even his vice generals have been thinking of counters to deal with Ren Pa. This lessens the worries a bit. He then steps outside for a walk. He tells his son, thanks for coming all the way to tell this.
He is monologuing that the war counsel will run for a while. He will select some of his liqueur to slake their thirst. The officers are re-leaved that Mou Gou is unfazed of Ren Pa name. However, in reality he is shaking.
Once outside Mou Bu tells his own officers that Mou Gou being unfazed is a bluff. He says that this isn't the first time his father has crossed swords with Ren Pa. The officers says that this shouldn't be possible. Mou Bu tells that both his father and him used to be citizens of the state of Qi. He states that his father and Ren Pa are from the same generation, ever since their youth, they've fought each other numerous times in the Zhao/Qi wars. All the way from squad leader to 100, 300 and 1000-Man Commander, at every single rank. However, Mou Gou has never defeated Ren Pa even a single time. Hence, his father military career in Qi came to a dead end, so he took his son ad together, they drifted to Qin. After moving to Qin, Mou Gou finally managed to achieve a successful career. But he has never fought Ren Pa again since then. Chances are that Ren Pa doesn't even remember going up against Mou Gou. For his father, Ren Pa is a wall that he never could overcome no matter what.
The night has fallen. Mou Gou is going for a walk. However, he had a strange habit. Whenever he was under great pressure, he would strip off his armor and change into the guise of a dirty old foot soldier to amble around the army camp. He then lies down on a silent grassy plain and simply empty his head of all thoughts. Shin as out as well. He went hunting after rabbits as he then caught one. Not knowing someone is laying down in the field, Shin accidentally steps on Mou Gou head.
Both Mou Gou and Shin are sitting at a campfire. Shin apologizes to the unknown man for stepping on his head. Shin shares some of the food he captured. Shin states that the rations alone aren't enough to fill you up. Shin is about to give the unknown man a rabbit bout as he then notices that the man next to him is huge. He tells the man that he never has seen such a huge man in the Infantry. Mou Gou, the unknown man to Shin says that he never seen such young foot soldier before. Shin however tells that he isn't a foot soldier. He states his name to be Shin of the Hi Shin Unit. Mou Gou remembers that name. Shin then asks the old man what he is doing here. Mou Gou tells that he is escaping reality for a bit. Shin then mentions that even after becoming an old timer, you still have stuff to worry about. The old man tells that how older you get, the heavier your worries become. Shin tells he is all ears.
Mou Gou starts telling Shin what troubles him. Back in his younger days, there was a man that he often fought against and every single time, it would always end with himself getting trounced by him. Now though they have become old and grey, for some reason he has to fight him once more. What's even worse, even after becoming an old timer, his strength hasn't withered at all, if anything he is still in his prime condition. Shin tells he has no idea why the old man is worrying about at all.
Mou Gou asks if he was listening at all to what he was saying. Shin tells he heard him. He tells fighting that monster again, shouldn't that be really good for him. Mou Gou is confused. Shin tells because now you have a chance to make a huge turnaround. The last man standing is the winner. Shin tells the only thing he needs to do is win the next fight, then just keep running away from him. The last laugh will belong to him. Mou Gou is happy about this.
Characters
Qin
- Mou Gou Army
- Mou Gou (flashback and main story)
- Vice general (mentioned)
- San You (mentioned)
- Unnamed officers
- Hi Shin Unit
- Shin
- Unnamed members
- Gaku Ka Unit
- Hi Shin Unit
- Unnamed others
- Kan Ki Army
- Kan Ki (indirect mention)
- Kan Ki Army
- Strategist Academy
- Shou Hei Kun (mentioned)
Wei
- Royal Palace
- King Kei Bin (mentioned)
- Ren Pa Army
- Ren Pa (mentioned)
High Points
- Mou Bu is reveled to be Mou Ten's father. And Mou Bu is reveled to be Mou Gou's son.
- Mou Ten didn't know that Shin received General Ou Ki's podao.
- Mou Bu tells Mou Gou's HQ officers that Ren Pa will be their enemy general.
- Mou Gou and Mou Bu were originally from the state of Qi.
- Mou Gou had various battles against Ren Pa since their youth.
- Mou Gou never won a single battle against Ren Pa.
- Mou Gou has the habit of goes for a walk as foot soldier whenever he feels pressured.
- Shin goes hunting after food at night and accidentally steps on Mou Gou's head.
- Shin and Mou Gou are sitting together at a campfire. He introduces himself to Mou Gou.
- Shin cheers Mou Gou up.
Trivia
- The entirety of the Mou Family is shown.
- San You is mentioned for the first time.