Without Words

Chapter 1

The Composed Spirit, Ling Tairan

"Long, long ago, but not that long ago, perhaps only about 100 years ago, there lived a great warrior of impeccable strength and skill. A warrior that no other can compare to. A warrior so great that even the emperor, himself, during that time, entrusted the original imperial seal to. The emperor even gave his favorite concubine to him as his wife.

"He traveled across the land, beneath the emperor's sponsorship and wherever he went, he brought peace and ended suffering. Governors feared him, and when they act out of place or took advantage of their authority, the great warrior would bring them down and removed them from their corrupt power.

"His valor knew no bounds and his might seemed invincible.

"But they say that he died defending a village, not far from here, protecting the people from bandits and rebels. They say that that village has been covered in mist since then. And they also say that even until now, there is a warrior who stands guard at the southern entrance, clad in golden armor, with his sword down, piercing into the ground, ready to defend the village from any intruders that threatened to come near…

"His name is Ling Tairan."

"For a moment there, I thought you were talking about yourself, Zilong," Men around the campfire laughed as I laid a hand on the younger general's shoulder. "Except for the gold armor, that is."

Zhao Yun only laughed at me as he poked at the fire, drinking a cup of tea. "Of course I would never praise myself so greatly. But remembering that his tale is one that my mother would always tell me, I can't help but admire him."

"He stands for justice, I believe he is worthy of admiration." I nodded, pulling off my helmet.

There were other men around the campfire, soon, it seemed, the battle would be over, and we'd be free to go back to home. "So, Lord Zhao Yun, how is it that you know he stands guard at the village to this day, it sounds ridiculous!"

I agreed, "I don't believe it either, except for the fact that this is a part of this mountain range that is constantly covered in mist. It's strange…" It was cold out and the only thing keeping us all warm, besides our clothes and armor, is the fire.

"I wouldn't believe it either, but one of our men came back and claimed to have seen a figure in a mist while discovering what looks like a village." A soldier came by and collected the tea cups around the campfire, taking Zilong's as well.

"Really?" I quirked a brow, "Who?"

"Him, right there, shivering in fright."

We all turned our heads to the direction Zilong's index finger had pointed to and saw a young soldier, trembling and mumbling with the comfort of a friend of his. "He was standing there…in the mist…I called out and….and…arrows flew at me all of a sudden….and all he did was stood there…and the mist kept getting thicker and thicker…and there were sounds…sounds of screeching and echoing drums…like ghost laughing and playing music…I don't know what happened, but I tripped on my way back…just thinking about it, I don't think I can sleep tonight…"

I frowned a little and turned back to the fire, chuckling a little, "Maybe it's just a little prank from Cao Wei's forces."

Zhao Yun laughed aloud, "Perhaps it is! But we head for home in the morning, surely that's not the case. After all, we've just defeated them."

"Any man brave enough to test that theory?"

"Theory?" I quirked a brow to my younger cousin across from me. "Dai, only one man claims to see a ghost from the past!"

He laughed, "But the many stories of his great deeds and death, surely it's now become a theory."

"Well then, let us test that theory then," laughed Li Hui as he stood up and stretched.

"'Us', you say? Don't tell me you're afraid?"

"Well then, Lord Ma Chao, let us see who is the first of us to run away from such a ghost from the past," Li Hui smirked down at me, challenging me before I stood up and chuckled.

"Alright, my friend." I picked up my spear and carried it over my shoulder, a dangerous thing to do, but that's why one should watch out when around the mighty Ma Chao. "I'll take your challenge, who's in?"

The men around the campfire laughed and cheered, all agreeing to join in on this dare.

"I can't believe there's so much mist here…"

Quiet whispered murmured in the shroud of mist illuminated by the moon.

"I can't believe we went in on this dare.."

"Backing out now, I see?"

"Not a chance!"

"SHH!"

The quiet sounds of our feet clattered against the mountain's stony pathways.

"With so much mist in this area, are we sure we're going the right way?"

"The village is covered in mist, so surely we're headed in the right direction."

"And of course, the great Zhao Yun remains unafraid."

"No, it's not like that! All men are equal, you can say, perhaps I am just as afraid as any of you."

"What is that up ahead?"

Our group stopped in the shroud of mist, our faces looked as though they were dripping with sweat. But for me, I can say for myself, with so much mist, my face collected the water and they became drops on my skin.

We looked up a head and we saw what looked like some sort of tall fencing.

"Is it just me, or is the mist clearing up a little…?" Ma Dai chuckled a little but his breath got caught in a second. There, between the fences, stood a lone figure in a large suit of armor, watching us silently. I ignored the feeling of eyes on our group. Surely no one would be foolish enough to be out here all alone, let alone be able to survive in the mist by themselves.

"The rumors were true…"

"Don't be ridiculous!" I frowned a little, "It's only a trick." I scoffed and took a step forward.

"DUCK!" Zilong shouted and we all dropped down in time to barely dodge flying arrows.

Irritated, I stood up and shouted, "Who goes there!" My cousin pulled me down just right before a flying spear could pierce through my face.

A low beat echoed from the fences. "What is that…?" Chen Dao's voice slightly trembled before the sound of screeching could be heard, scratching at our ears. I won't admit it aloud…but…I was beginning to have goose bumps on the back of my neck. It was as though someone was breathing into my ear from behind me. And just then, the screeching and the beating of a drum stopped, echoing to an end, and instead, a soft melody began to play, slowly, plucking each string with care, echoing to a stop. "I…I'M OUT OF HERE!"

"Wait!" We all turned our heads to stop Chen Dao, but he already got up on his feet and ran off into the opposite direction. The strangest laugh echoed through the path and we all stared over to the figure in the mist who lifted up his sword, standing in a stance as though ready to run at us. And it did!

"Shit!" "Fuck!" We all got up on our feet and ran from it, screaming through the mountain as more laughs fluttered and echoed.

The dawn rose and the new day began, but that's not what had awakened me. I laid there, quietly, with my brows furrowed in thought before I pushed Dai's face away and covered his mouth and nose, to muffle up his snoring as I laid there, quietly, listening.

Dai choked, unable to breathe before pushing my hand away and turning the other direction.

It was a beautiful sky, I suppose, but what was even more lovelier, was the fact that I was hearing a soft woman's hum.

I listened carefully…hearing that same melody before…

Each note, hummed with care…

...plucking each string with care…

I immediately sat up, turning to my side. "Zilong, wake up! Do you hear that!?" I whispered harshly, trying not to wake up the others.

He only sighed a little before his brows wrinkled, "Qin, since when did you learn to sing…?" He was speaking in his sleep. I frowned a bit before knocking on his head, making him sit up in alarm. "What was that for?" He winced, rubbing his forehead.

I held a finger to my lips. "Listen." The silent humming continued, like that of those tales of female ghosts who seduce men and eats them. "Let's go!"

I got up, putting on my armor and grabbing my helmet as Zilong did the same, only more half heartedly, unsure of what the point was. "Maybe it's just one of Cao Cao's concubines?"

I scoffed to that as he followed after me. We trailed down the same path as the night before, only, there was less mist. "Then you're saying a concubine fooled and scared you all away last night."

Zhao Yun laughed, "If I remember correctly, Mengqi, you were quite afraid also." I glared over at him as he continued to laugh.

He stopped, and I pulled out my spear, as that one strange laugh echoed through our path, just as it did last night. A dark bird flew down and perched on a dead tree, cawing, it's caw echoing, just as the strange laugh did last night.

Don't tell me a raven's caw frightened us all last night…!

Seeing the raven fly away, Zilong immediately began laughing, but I scolded him to stop laughing as we continued down the path, walking through the lighter mist. There was nothing on the path. Not even the arrows and spear that had attacked us last night. Surely we couldn't have just imagined them. There, in front of us, stood the fencings, and a village was lightly shrouded in mist that brightened by the morning's light. But what was missing was the armored figured that stood at the center.

Zilong and I stood there, staring for a moment before looking to one another. Should we go and take a look or should we walk away. I took a step forward before Zilong held me back, "Perhaps we shouldn't disturb the village. The spirits may become angry with us." I stared back at the village, taking in his warning until the humming began once more. It was as though it was telling me to go! I stared down and noticed a string hung above the ground. My eyes narrowed at it.

I pushed away Zilong's arm and ran in, avoiding tripping on the string, "Wait!" The humming echoed to a stop as I passed through the fences, slowing to a stop. Skeletons laid around and the huts looked as though they were about to fall. I stared straight ahead of me, staring down at the ground before me. A fresh stab into the dirt, marking into the stone.

I suddenly remembered the armor figure wielding a sword. But if it was truly a ghost, surely it wouldn't have left a mark where it stood. Zilong followed after me and stared down to what I was gazing at.

"It couldn't be…"

"It couldn't have been a ghost, that's for sure." I walked past him, looking around the village before something caught my eye inside a rather broken down house, the wood looking as though everything was ready to collapse. I stepped inside carefully and picked up the golden helmet with a crest on the forehead. "Zilong," I called. I stepped out of the building and showed him the helmet, making him stare at it in surprise. Just like the shape of the figure last night.

The sound of water, splashing, turned our heads. I carried the helmet as we made our way, quietly, towards that sound. Behind the village was a hot spring where steam rose from the bath. It was quiet and still except for the ripple that waved across the water. And before we could approach further, out from the water arose a slender figure, arching her back before she combed back her long and wet raven colored hair with her long and slender fingers.. I stared in awe, despite the scar that ran down her back, when she turned to look at us, she had quite a beautiful face and a lovely set of bosoms, perhaps sculpted so beautifully by the gods themselves. She covered her chest with her arms, her face glaring at us as she covered herself in the water. Those eyes, like a ferocious dragon, ready to cry out and attack.

As a man, I couldn't help but feel aroused.

That is until the woman arouse from the spring with knives in her hands before throwing them at us. Because I was the only one with a weapon, I had to defend Zilong and I and defect the knives as the woman quickly jumped out of the water, pulling on a large cloth and tying it on herself. She ran at me, unafraid of the spear that I pointed towards her, as she was weaponless, and she was able to quickly evade my charge. She grabbed me from behind and with all her strength, pulled me over her shoulder, pulling off my helmet, tossing it aside before charging at me once more.

I was surprised as to how quick she was, throwing punches at my face before picking up her knives, attacking me with them.

As a man, I could and should be able to quickly strike her down, she was starting to get on my nerves, but what would I do if I were to accidentally kill her and then take her down to Lord Liu Bei?

"Zilong!" I charged at her and pushed her back into the water. "What should I do?"

"I don't know?" He only laughed and watched, standing back. "She's only a woman, what can I do, you're already fighting her. It's unfair."

Just then, the woman pulled herself out of the water, jumping at Zilong, catching his head with her knees and flipping backwards to toss Zilong into the spring. Picking up a knife, she jumped in, reading to stab my comrade to death, only to be interfered by me, jumping in at her, holding her down under the spring as she tried to attack me instead. The spring was deeper than I thought, as I pushed her down to the bottom, trying to hold her there, having to stay submerged with her. I ignored Zhao Yun's, seemingly distant, calls. She glared up at me and bubbles of hair escaped her lips. I looked down at the knot of the cloth she covered herself in began to loosen and drift away from her. It was just me and this naked woman, what a beautiful body she had…I stared into her narrowed eyes, glaring at me with hate and fear. It's been so long since I've been with a woman, let alone a stunning one at that. Her eyes glowered at me, but all I did was stare as I held her and I submerged within the spring, her eyes weakened and small bubbles escaped her lips as her eyes closed and her body weakened.

I stared at her in shock before standing up and pulling her out of the water, holding her against the wall of the hot spring. Zilong laid on the ground before staring at us in shock as I used my body to hold her up. "What do you think you're doing to her?"

I only ignored him as I slapped the woman as lightly as possible. "Wake up!" I patted her face more, shaking her a little. "Wake up!" Shit! Did I just drown her? I got out of the spring and pulled her out before grabbing her cloth that floated around on the surface of the spring and covered her with that, pushing at her abdomen, trying to pump air back into her. "Wait!" I looked to Zilong. "Go and get so rope, and then I'll trying to bring her back to life." I only stared at Zilong with a stoic expression. There was no way I was going to risk being attacked by this woman again.

"You want me to do what?" He seemed shocked. "Save her while I get the rope, by the time I get back, she may already be dead!" He got up. "I'm counting on you, Mengqi, as a gentleman." He ran off and I only glared at his back.

"'As a gentleman'," I mocked. I sighed and stared down at the woman, looking a lot more vulnerable than before, before I laid my head softly on her chest, her heart rate was still there, but it was slow. I sighed in irritation before pushing at her abdomen again, trying to push the water out of her but it wasn't working.

I stared down at her face and watched her lips, smirking a little, scoffing a bit in amusement before leaning in on her, taking in some air before meeting her lips with mine, breathing into her. I sat up and pushed onto her abdomen once more. Nothing happened. I glared at her. "Stubborn girl, you only want more, don't you?" My eyes narrowed a little more as I inhaled in more air and breathed into her once more. I got up and pumped her abdomen once more and she coughed out water, using her hands to try and dry herself.

She stared over at me and glared once more, but her gaze was weakened. As she tried to attack again, I pinned her arms down. She was much more weakened. As I hovered over her, almost straddled, I stared down at her and inspected her face. The shape of her eyes, the way her brows arched, the smoothness of her nose and the curves of her lips. She only glowered up at me, breathing in as much air as possible. Her chest heaved up and down, her collar bones shown beneath her skin. She only laid there as my eyes continued to travel down further, hitting to where her body met the scrap of fabric that hid her assets. She took that moment to kick me in the crotch as I groaned as silently as possible, laying closer on top of her.

"You don't know what I'm going to do to you when I have the chance to do it…"

This woman…how dare she…

"I'm back, Lord Ma Chao!" I glanced up at Zilong in pain as he only stared at us in shock before dropping the ropes. "I'm, I didn't, I wasn't here!" He ran off as I growled in annoyance.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that's what had happened…" Zilong laughed quietly as he trailed behind me.

I pulled a rope along as the girl was tied to the other end. No worries, she was dressed, however, lightly. There was simply nothing in that village except for the armor and her little booby traps. Even so, I was still annoyed. Having to travel in wet clothes, weighing me down even more than the armor I wore.

As we walked back into camp, men stared at us in surprise, some of them laughing in amusement. "Looks like Lord Ma Chao got busy with a woman, eh!?" I ignored their laughs, pulling the girl along, ignoring her glowering.

It was morning and everyone was awake now, breakfast was being served. I pulled her over to Lord Liu Bei's tent and pushed the girl in, onto the ground.

"What is this?" Lord Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang stared at us in surprise as Zilong and I followed in after the girl.

"We found this young woman out on the mountain this morning," Zilong smiled.

"She attacked us last night and this morning." I frowned at Zilong.

"Only because we invaded her village." Zilong laughed, making me annoyed with how he was trying to defend her.

"The village is empty, she's the only exception."

The woman stood up and held her head up high as Lord Liu Bei approached, inspecting her as well. "A woman, alone in a village?"

"She could be a spy from Cao Cao's forces!"

Our lord held his hand up to silence his generals as he stared intently on the girl. "Tell me, who are you?"

She only glared at him before turning around and walking up to me. I only stared down at her, glaring back at her. Our faces were so close to one another's. My eyes narrowed even more before she spat at my face. Immediately, I raised a hand to strike down on her, but Lord Liu Bei stopped me, pulling her towards him.

"I asked, 'who are you'?" She only stared at me before holding her tied up hands to him. He only quirked a brow, confused as her eyes narrowed in annoyance and she used her tied up hands to pound against her throat lightly before holding her arms out to Lord Liu Bei once more. She stood there silently.

It was quiet until Lord Zhuge Liang let out an 'ahh' of realization. "I see, she's a mute." The girl only looked over to our strategist before looking away. Was he right?

"Ma Mengqi, unbind her hands." I tried my best not to roll my eyes, pulling her over to me, watching her hold her hands to me. I stared down at her, glaring into her eyes as she did mines, untying her hands slowly. As soon as her hands were free, a stinging sensation marked my cheek but my reaction was stopped, once more, but this time by Zilong.

"She's only a woman."

"Can you tell me who you are?" Lord Liu Bei asked her once more. Her eyes looked around and spotted a tea pot. She pointed to it and we all stared. "Tea pot?" She shook her head, walking over to the pot of tea and pouted a cup as we all watch. Her body was straight and tall. I watched the curve of her neck as she turned her head slightly to glared at me. My eyes only narrowed in response. She poured a cup of tea. "Tea?" She looked to Lord Liu Bei and shook her head, pointing to what's in the tea.

"Her name is Cha Ye." Zhuge Liang deciphered before we all watched her hands and fingers motioning back and forth. "Cui Cha Ye."

"Cha Ye?" I scoffed in amusement, unable to keep my comments to myself. "Tea leaves?" I laughed, only to be surprised by hot liquid splashing at my face. This woman! I glared at her, watching her hands sign things out to me before she gave me a vulgar face.

Zhuge Liang laughed. "'Iit's better than having a name that sounds like a horse' she says." The rest of the tent laughed as I fumed, pulling the girl out by her hand and tossing her out onto the ground. She turned her head, blowing away strands of hair and glared up at me.

"I'm not gentleman, wench, but I fight for justice, and you've done me none." My lords followed me out of the tent as I circled around the girl. "Do you think that just because you're a mute, I'm going to let you off easily?"

"Lord Ma Chao, come on, don't let a woman get under your skin." Zilong approached, but I only pushed him away.

I watched as she stood up, holding her arms up in front of her in defense. "Perhaps you're a spy for Cao Cao's troops." I watched her eyes widen at that name. Am I right? She glowered at me before signing at me. I scoffed at her. Either way, it's not like I could understand.

"Wait!" Zhuge Liang halted us. "You hate Cao Cao?" I didn't believe her. "Why do you live here, on the mountain, on your own?" She used her hands to make signs and gestures. "So I see." Zhuge Liang turned to whisper into Liu Bei's ear.

My eyes narrowed as I watched them. "So I see," I heard Liu Bei mutter lightly. "Lady Cui Cha Ye, I invite you to come home with us." She took a step back. "There is no life living alone on a barren mountain. It's a wonder how you're able to survive. Down the mountain, there is a land that flourishes with good people, I hope that you will join us and make a living there as well."

She seemed to have considered the thought, bowing her head before glaring up at us. It was quiet. We all stood around, waiting for her to make a move until she turned and sprinted away from us.

"Lady Cui!"

There was rummaging without the abandoned village, a suit of armor laid out in the center of the village with a large sword, a very old and antique looking sword it was. I looked over to the house that seemed as though it would collapse at any minute and looked inside to see Cha Ye frantically looking for something, pushing things around and searching on the ground, sitting on her knees. I only sighed, and hearing me, she stopped and frowned at me before continuing her search. I approached cautiously before squatting next to her. "What are you searching for?" She looked up at me, her eyes glossed, before she used her hands to try and use some sort of sign language on me. I only stared at her blankly, watching her huff in irritation before she continued her search. "Whatever it is, you're not going to find it in this mess, let's go. Be thankful Lord Liu Bei asked me kindly, in your honor, to bring you home with us." I laid a hand on her shoulder, only for her to shrug it off as she moved away from me, continuing her search through pots and hidden doors. Annoyed, I grabbed her and carried her over my shoulders. "Let's go." She frantically began trying to release herself from my hold as I walked out of the little house, accidentally knocking her head against the doors frame. I didn't even dare to apologize. If anything, her trouble was far enough. I turned my head over to the side, remembering how I saw her emerge from the hot spring and there, on that path, I saw a glint.

I walked towards it and carried her over before squatting down to pick it up, a little silver bracelet. The little bells rung and she stopped struggling.

"Is this what you're looking for?" I held it out over to her, showing it to her before setting it down and holding it out to her. "This is what you're looking for, isn't it?" It was a tiny bracelet, surely only fit for a child's wrist. She took it and stared down at the ground, slightly sniffing a little. Her cheeks grew a rosy color and I smirked down at her. It must be really important, I'll assume. I pulled her up by the chin and stared into her eyes, hoping she can communicate with me through them. "Do I get a reward for such a good deed?" I smiled, leaning in closer as she turned her face away and slapped me. I looked at her, annoyed before she glared at me. I didn't understand her sign language, but from her eyes, I knew that I was in the wrong, for approaching her in such a way. I watched as she sighed, walking away as she began assembling the armor on a tall wooden cross. Making it seem as if there was really a person, standing inside the armor, with his sword out, piercing the ground. I watched as she got on her knees and bowed to the suit of armor three times before standing up and bowing once more. She walked to the exit of the village and turned to look at me with those eyes of her. Strong eyes. She pointed down the path and I nodded, taking the notion to lead her down. She followed after me on her bare foot. I looked behind and noticed the little expressions of pain that she'd make from time to time. I looked down, there were sharp rocks and petals. I side, allowing her to walk into my back before taking that chance to grab onto her and carry her.

"I'll carry you down the rest of the way."

She seemed unsure at first, but I felt the warmth of her body lay against my back and slowly, her arms began to wrap around my neck.