Life was filled with surprises and by this point, Lü Meng of Wu had grown weary of them. Despite his constant grumbles and denial, he was simply getting too old to be able to handle life's constant barrage of twists, turns and mystery,
'You're not old,' he told himself, wiping the moisture of the rain from his eyes and pretending it didn't at all obscure his vision in the least. His horse shifted beneath him, annoyed by the seemingly endless downpour and the crowd of people congregating so close to him, but patient with his rider, as always. At least they were sheltered, not that a rogue gust of wind didn't do its best to make that effort pointless from time to time. Both of them were thoroughly tired of this rain but neither complained, as it was the way of one of Wu's pillars of strength. 'You're only 42. Hardly old at all. You're letting him get to you.'
He wanted to blame it on the weather, as the ongoing rain had worked wonders in dwindling the stone rock that was Wu's Chief-Commander. Or perhaps he could blame it on their current siege. Recapturing the Jing Province had all been careful, tedious, slow and meticulous, and who better to know its weight of that burden than Lü Meng? By now, the pressure to carry on this operation was pressing down on him from all sides into a perfectly maintained pincer attack, one that would have left any scholar or strategist envious, even the one at its mercy at that very moment. But he felt he was managing it well enough. When the soldiers looked to him, they saw a cold pillar of might and discipline. When the local farmers and villagers saw him, they saw a strict, but just commander that tended to their needs just as much as his soldiers. All was well. 'In appearance, anyway.'
So long as the last district remained under Shu's control, so long as Guan Yu held a tight control of his men and army, then Lü Meng would not know peace. However, as far as he knew, few had suspected a thing, and those that did knew better than to draw the matter out into the open. Not that it would be an invitation for him to drop his guard, especially now when they were so close. So it would figure that the day they stood on the precipice of the conclusion of their siege and merely waited for word from the scouts that they'd be visited by what the locals suspected to be a mystic. And that this mystic, who was revered so much that people clammered to the edge of the city's western entrance and those unable to make it to the opening peered through the creases in the wooden walls. Even when Lü Meng approached, they moved aside to let the Chief-Commander and his horse pass but remained there, all in hopes of maybe getting a glimpse of the one that wished to grace their city with a city. It was a wonder who was more excited about this turn of events, the locals or his soldiers. Lü Meng didn't feel any of it. No, he wasn't so much excited as he was curious and downright suspicious.
What would bring someone that was identified as a mystic here? He couldn't think of a reason, at least not one that wouldn't make make people stare at him strangely if he shared them anyway. He had very few experiences with mystics before and those times he did were not favorable to said mystics, nor himself. Assuming they were even mystics at all.
Assuming this one was. That had yet to be seen, and despite his suspicions, he kept it all to himself.
"Well, if their reaction is anything to go by, he seems like he's legit." The voice that called to him snapped him back to attention, never once realizing his mind had wandered until he heard Lu Xun from within the crowd. He offered the young officer a polite nod as he moved through the forest of people, and he was thankful to see Lu Xun return, seemingly unharmed and only a little drenched thanks to the weather. It wasn't his idea to send him out to investigate first, but he knew better than to argue with his student on the matter when it came up. He was as equal part involved in this operation as he was and deserved that respect, though he wished it didn't mean he'd have to go through the rounds along with him. He tried to focus on the task at hand and not the growing signs of weariness that shone in the youth's features. He could afford looking haggard, but Lu Xun still had many, many years ahead of him.
"Good. I'd hate to think a charleton got these good people worked up for nothing," Lü Meng said after a moment's consideration. He knew that even suggesting a fake 'mystic' might have ruffled feathers, but he made sure to keep his voice level and polite, not wanting those gathered around him to think he was ever insulting them or their intelligence. None seemed offended by his statement and so he pushed that thought aside. As far as he knew now, he would be dealing with a real mystic, though why and what would be discussed had yet to be determined. He was hoping that Lu Xun would have offered some insight on that and he wasted no time. "Did you get the chance to speak with him?"
"I did, but he would not tell me who he was or why he was here, besides to ask to see you, Master Lü Meng."
That wasn't entirely true. He, the mystic, had specifically requested to see the one in charge of the Wu forces that occupied the bulk of the Jing Province, and for all intents and purposes, it was Lu Xun. And Lu Xun had agreed to see him, but his return was as abrupt as his departure, which had meant that this mystic had known their ploy. And that was where Lü Meng's need for concern started. How much did this mystic know and could he be a problem to their operation?
'It's too early to tell,' Lü Meng told himself, reigning in any fears or concerns before they had a chance to manifest. He took slow, trained breaths, the same he'd practice before engaging the enemy, and managed to master such a skill by now to where it took him only a second to compose himself. All without a single one catching a glimpse of that momentary panic before it was whisked away from existence.
Lu Xun now stood directly besides him and Ying, reaching for the reigns as Lü Meng dismounted. Ying, his grey stallion of many challenging years, objected with a belligerent whicker, but a few calming strokes to his thick, muscular neck soothed him. Lu Xun was alarmed as well, but he knew better, keeping his voice low though unable to hide the apprehension that that coated his words. "So, will you go out to meet him? What if it's-"
"A trap? Then better a willing sacrifice than an unforeseen massacre later on." Lü Meng put it bluntly, giving his horse another scratch behind his ears before retrieving White Tiger from its holster. No one objected or questioned the action, knowing that when meeting with an unknown entity that it never hurt to be prepared. Not that he or others thoughts that he would need it, but Lü Meng was seldom was not to err on the side of caution. He wore too many scars for that now. "Should anything happen, then you're to continue as instructed, to the letter. You do know the rest of the operation, don't you?"
It was a stupid question, and the look Lu Xun gave him threatened to break his carefully constructed stone mask. "You know I do, Master Lü Meng. I hope it won't be necessary."
"As do it," the Chief-Commander said with a mumble. He pulled away from both his student and his horse and made his way towards the fields to the west, where the mystic awaited his company. Along the way, he offered smiles and exchanged pleasantries with the locals, welcoming the chance to distract himself from the maelstrom of troubling thoughts that barraged his already exposed anxieties. It was hard to take a hold of hands when one carried such a heavy weapon with them, but Lü Meng wasn't willing to part with it just yet. He didn't want to think he would have to use his weapon, but should he need to ensure the safety of the operation, then he told himself he wouldn't hold back.
"I don't think you'll have much trouble with him, Commander." He was just out of the hearing range of the city when Zhu Ran called down to him from his post, and whereas most villagers or even soldiers might have panicked, Lü Meng knew exactly where to look. It didn't take long to spot the young officer in the tree above him and once their eyes locked, he finished his report. "He's just sitting under that decrepit peach tree just a bit aways. No weapons on him from what I can see, and he didn't so much as raise a finger when Lu Xun approached him."
This hardly surprised the Chief-Commander. "Because he didn't want Lu Xun. He wanted me. If he has some kind of 'magic' based plan, he may just be saving it for me."
"Makes sense. Why go for the minnow when you can go for the bream?"
"I wouldn't equate Lu Xun to a minnow, Zhu Ran. A catfish or sturgeon maybe." How nervous was Wu's Chief-Commander that he would ever waste time talking about fish? Still, Zhu Ran's metaphor was accurate in one way and helped ground him back down. "Thank you for keeping an eye on him."
"No worries. I know how much the mission relies on keeping him out of trouble…" Then he added in a tone that seemed to indicated that he didn't want Lü Meng to hear and yet he did. "Not to mention how much you dote on him."
Very few expected such a statement and fewer could deliver it in such a manner that Zhu Ran could, through a kind smile even when his eyes were biting fiercer than a tiger's jaw. And Lü Meng was neither surprised nor angry; he had no right to be since he had more or less raised Zhu Ran to be like that. A splitting image, minus the smiling part, others told him. "Groomed. I groom him, as I should, as he is my successor in Shu's eyes."
He couldn't get a good look at his face, but he could tell that he didn't care for the comment. He could practically feel him bristling from here the quiver of the branch he was camped on did exactly what he wanted it to do, pelting the Chief-Commander harmlessly with raindrops. More water to wither away at the stone…
"Yeah, how could I forget? Anyway, I'll keep an eye on this meeting from here. If he even looks at you funny, I'll decorate his forehead with a nice hat, courtesy of Wu."
"I don't think that'll be necessary, but I appreciate it." Lü Meng allowed his act to drop for a moment and he gave the young officer a smile, knowing that it'd be enough to placate that aggravation for the moment at least. Until the next time, anyways. There'd always be a next time with Zhu Ran and Lu Xun, Lü Meng thought to himself briefly before pushing the troubling thought to the side for later. Now he spotted Zhu Ran's face through the leaves and was content when he saw his smile was returned. He should have been more strict with the boy, but it wasn't high on his priority list right now. Talking with this mystic and seeing where his true intentions lied were…
He was easy to spot, even without Zhu Ran's directions. A lone figure in tattered white and grey robes sat beneath a decrepit peach tree, charred black and split into three parts by a rogue lightning bolt towards the earlier part of their occupation of the province months ago. White against charred black bark was extremely easy to see and once spotted, it was near impossible to cast his eyes anywhere else. Good for showing one's guest the proper respect, not so great when checking for traps.
"You will find none here, Lü Meng of Runan, none of which planted by myself." The voice that beckoned him was nothing as he expected. Though heavy, it did not waver and what it carried with it was not so much as age but instead wisdom. Wisdom to read the suspicion that Lü Meng was failing to hide, Lü Meng told himself, but wise to not hold that suspicion against him as it lacked that judgmental tone that might have been present otherwise. "Your weapon is also unnecessary, as my intentions are not to bring you harm."
Lü Meng didn't bother to ask how this supposed mystic knew his name and home district. Anyone could have figured that out through word of mouth, the Chief-Commander reminded himself, and though he was beckoned to abandon his weapon, he did no such thing. He did, however, stop in his advance and offer the mystic a bow of his head, before lowering the weapon into a more relaxed position. "If it is all the same to you, I'll be keeping it close to me."
"Of course." The mystic said, his smile polite but Lü Meng couldn't help but catch a hint of scorn in the undercurrent of that voice. But he did not argue nor did he look to be insisting on putting the weapon away, Lü Meng noted, seeing how the man's peculiar eyes never once left him. A dark circle eclipsed the right eye, not entirely as skin could be seen still, but in a circular pattern- water from the rain hit Lü Meng's gaze and forced him to wipe his own, distracting him from the mystic's gaze as the old man addressed him. "That weapon is an extension of you and has been for so long that you are simply unable to part with it, even when the situation calls for a more delicate solution. I could no more ask you to part with your weapon than I could ask you to part with your arm."
Lü Meng wasn't sure he was prepared for such a barrage of words and though they never carried louder than a casual conversation would between two friends. Yet, there was something that carried in his voice, a tone that Lü Meng was no stranger to and immediately tried to pushed him into a state that he often felt in his younger years. Vulnerable, mocked, ridiculed, and that was a state he had worked hard to dig himself out of. He couldn't stop the feeling of indignation that swelled within him, but he knew better than to react hastily. Despite how the rain and tension from their current operation caused his patience to dwindle, he scrounged up as much as he could and managed to hide it behind a forced polite smile, as he sought to mimic the same calm, composed tone that he'd use when addressing his troops. "Exactly. I'm afraid I've been involved in this war far too long now to set down my weapon for now. I'm hoping there'll be a day when I can rest it against its pedestal and never use it again."
"Many times have I heard men of war proclaim this, and yet how often do they hold true to it? They wish to lay down their arms and free themselves from the burden and clean themselves of the bloodshed, but the moment there is a window, they suit up and leap through it without thought or hesitation. I wonder, Lü Meng, if your proclamation holds any more weight than theirs. Does your words ring true, or are they merely something to tell your lord and yourself to ease your conscious?"
The mystic's diction carried itself in a manner that most people might have felt threatened by, and Lü Meng couldn't deny that he could feel intimidation scratching at the back of his throat, but he swallowed it down. Years of throwing himself into battle and talking with the likes of his predecessors had steeled him to handle such matters. Words weren't his strong suit, but he found that those who chose to speak in such a manner were often times than not compensating for lack of physical strength and used their stronger assets to get the advantage over their opponent. Which had meant that this man's presence wasn't entirely as 'peaceful' as he was letting on, if he felt threatened by his presence. In a fluid movement, he drove White Tiger downwards and planted the weapon into the ground, the display meant to ensure his guest that it would remain with him but out of play, and to Zhu Ran to keep his eyes peeled for trouble. The mystic's gaze never left him and he took a seat before him, mimicking his stance as best he could. Legs crossed and his hands planted firmly on his knees, in the mystic's line of sight and for the moment, weaponless, but not helpless. "That remains to be seen, I'm afraid. I don't have the ability to see into the future like others claim to. Times change, situations change, and people change. They have to."
"And you would know much about change, would you not?"
Now this made Lü Meng uncomfortable and it showed in his eyes. His brows narrowed slightly, but he tried to keep his voice level and polite, as he was trained to do. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I would. If you knew me, in which you apparently seem to, you'd know that to be true. So, who are you, and what are your intentions here today?"
"I am surprised you did not ask sooner," the mystic said, never moving, never shifting. He couldn't even see if he blinked, as every time he tried to look into the mystic's eyes, rain water would find its way into his own and force his gaze to his forehead or cheeks instead. "My name is Zuo Ci, servant of the Han, and my intentions here today are to dissuade you from the path of destruction you and your lord's army are currently on."
Somewhere, a lightning bolt struck, unseen to either men but its presence known from the thunder the rolled across the sky in its wake. Had Lü Meng not just feel as though his entire operation was just threatened, he might have been humbled by the timing on that lightning strike, but there was no such feeling of humor within him. Only terror, but just barely contained, as the only outward sign he'd allow to slip through his defenses was the deepening of his scowl. "So, you know what our intentions in Jing Province are, do you?"
It worried him. Months they've been here and thus far, not a single local felt threatened, those able to fight back were easily subdued or won over with minimal effort. Contact with the outside world and the rest of the Shu forces led by Guan Yu were kept intact, but none suspected the truth of their presence here. For months they kept this act up and soon, Lü Meng hoped, they'd be reaching the climax of their operation, with minimal, if any, casualties at all, and the thought of it coming undone here…
"Please, do not be so quick to pass me off as a threat, Lü Meng." Zuo Ci must have seen past his defenses, and despite its uselessness, the Chief-Commander was determined to keep his wits about him, all the while devising a way around this sudden predicament. "I have been observing your actions here in Jing Province from afar for some time now. You are very meticulous, very precise. Your invasion thus far has been seamless and I can assure you that, at this rate, the last province is well within your reach."
It took a little off his mind, but not enough for him to drop his defences. If anything, it made him more suspicious to know that this mystic's been watching them… no, not them. Him. He made a point to stress the difference between himself and the rest of the army before. He was being spied on, personally, and that bothered him almost as much as the thought of their occupation going up in flames. "And yet you summon me here to stop me. Why did you wait so long to do so? And how do I know you haven't been sending reports to Guan Yu?"
"I summon you here to dissuade you from your current path- I cannot force you to stray from your path but I can persuade you away from it."
"More like lure me away," Lü Meng said, unable to hide his suspicions now.
"You could choose to think of it like that, I suppose. However which way you decide to see it, it does not change my intentions in the least, Lü Meng."
"So why now? You claim you have been observing me for awhile now, and yet only now have you decided to step in to stop me. Why?"
Lü Meng wished he could have afforded to drop his act, but even now, even when he was filled with apprehension and well-justified anger, he knew he had to keep his head on his shoulders. He owed it to his men, his lord, and especially to the Chief-Commanders that came before him. He couldn't afford to lose his head, not here, not now. And yet despite his best efforts, he suspected that the mystic already knew just how unraveled his proclamation made him, and had the nerve to act kind and understanding towards him? "Because I wished to get to know you before I made my move. I wanted to see what kind of man you were through your actions here in the Jing province, so that I would know just who I would be dealing with when the time came. I've learned much about you, though there is much I don't know still, should that sooth you some. I wanted to see what it was that had even the God of War weary of your presence before he mobilized his forces onward to Fan Castle."
It was gratifying in a way, to be told that one was considered a threat, especially to one dubbed the God of War almost unanimously by not only his peers but by his enemies as well, but it wasn't enough to sooth Lü Meng's rising anxieties. Despite his flattering his words were, this man was still here to stop him and Lü Meng didn't appreciate that in the least. "And? Have you found your answer?"
"Yes, and no. I've learned much from you from my observations alone, but there is still much I do not know, and that is part of why you are here. I was hoping to speak with you personally and fill in the blanks that you purposefully keep hidden away from the people here at Jing Province."
Lü Meng let out a sigh, tilting his head down slightly in a rare moment of weakness before sitting up straight once more. It was a small relief, but a relief nevertheless. "And tell me, what does learning more about me have to do with your efforts to dissuade me from my path? What does it matter?"
"It would tell me what kind of man you are, Lü Meng, and to see if you can be convinced or not. It would tell me if my efforts to try and dissuade you would be a worthy endeavor, or if I should save my energy for preparing for the fallout of your actions. I wish to ensure that the Han remains intact and its followers on the path of virtue, and I fear that you have become a threat to that cause," Zuo Ci said, and only now did Lü Meng catch the slightest wavering of his voice. Curious, Lü Meng tried again to peer into the mystic's eyes without the rain trying to interfere, and this time, the gleam he saw in them threatened to unnerve him in an instant. There was a hint of sorrow in those eyes, as though he had witnessed his fair share of misery, but Lü Meng refused to succumb to it and kept his mind focused. "Will you humor an old man, Lü Meng of Runan? Will you let me know who you truly are, for the sake of your mission?"
"That's a big order you're requesting from me, I'm afraid," Lü Meng said, keeping his eyes locked with the mystic and refusing to release them now that he caught them. It was a small victory in a way and one that he'd hold onto for as long as possible. "Seeing that you're here to stop me from completing my operation, that more or less makes your my enemy, doesn't it? Sharing such personal information with an enemy seems like it'd be a bad idea."
Their eyes remained locked, but Lü Meng wasn't a fool. He could tell that something had happened, that something had changed and was changing all around him. The rain that once bothered him, kept him and his men miserable and prevented him from locking eyes with the mystic for so long, seemed to become nonexistent and yet he could still hear it cascading in sheets around him. He tried to look but his gaze would not… could not leave Zuo Ci's. And the mystic, who hadn't moved anything more than his lips and jaw, appeared distant, yet his voice remained just as predominant as ever, curling into his ear and making itself comfortable as the world shifted around him, into a more familiar surrounding, one he had not been to since…
"And sneaking into battle for seeking fame and fortune was?"