Babysitter Zhao Yun
Author's Note: I never expected this story to be longer than the first chapter, so if support continues the more I will update it, so my thanks for my guest reviewer and to my friend Mako-chan, the both of you are great. I will accept requests if it fits the story.
Many may be questioning the time-era of the story. This is a stand-alone AU story which I purposely made the time being a mix of ancient and modern. I did not want to make it confusing, but if this is going to be more than a problem then I will ask if any of you want the story to be based entirely in ancient times or modern times. This is the Dynasty Warriors universe, and I apologize for any confusion.
The ages of the kids will be as follows: Guan Ping will be ten, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao are eight, Jiang Wei would be seven, Guan Suo would be six turning seven, and Xingcai, Bao Sanniang, and Guan Yinping would be six. This also counts as a coming-of-age story if you think about it.
They're other parents but, well, they're not in this story. This story is centered on Zhao Yun watching them and being a mother hen.
Now that I got all of that out of the way: please leave any questions you have in your review after you read the chapter, and I will answer accordingly. Thank you for your patience. Forgive me if this chapter seems rather... hurried.
Again, how many would like to see Zhao Yun's own sons, Tong and Guang, come into the story?
It should have been his day off. He was even asked to take the day off. He was told to have a vacation, and today was that day. But just as he figured:
"I am so sorry Zhao Yun, this is last second I know but can you watch the kids for me." Zhang Fei came right on time to ask him as he always had.
Zhao Yun sighed and looked down on the two children at Zhang Fei's feet. They looked up to him with wide, hopeful eyes. It was too much. "Yeah, sure. I didn't have anything really planned today." It wasn't a lie. He was told to have the day off, but he didn't plan to have it or have anything set for the day.
Guess he was watching little dragons today. "Thanks man, you're the best! I completely forgot we had a football game today. Here's some snacks, some sodas, remember to turn the TV on and watch the game, and don't forget to cheer us on. You kids have fun." Then he was gone.
Zhao Yun sighed and looked down at the kids. "Come on in Zhang Bao, Xingcai." He looked at the snacks in his hands. "And… these are going back to Zhang Fei. Dragon Munchies… those are so high in calories, and these sodas are energy drinks! Does he want to make you kids hyper for an hour? These are horrible choices."
He had just set the snacks and sodas down when his door was knocked at again.
Zhao Yun just opened the door, expecting what he saw. "How can I help you Guan Yu?"
"Are you busy? I know this is last second and I'm sorry for asking you this again but can you…"
"Watch the kids," Zhao Yun raised an eyebrow at the taller man. "Sure thing, I'm already watching Zhang Bao and Xingcai, what would four more do to my sanity."
"You have my thanks." Guan Yu lowered himself to his children's level. "You four be good for Zhao Yun, he's had a rough night."
"You're telling me," Zhao Yun mumbled under his breath. The assassination of Pian Zi took longer than he would've liked. The man was heavily guarded with military officers that broke the laws, so Zhao Yun's biggest threat wasn't the target himself, but the lawless officers. He made sure to report them and have them dismissed. Pian Zi's death was ruled by being struck by a stray rock. Zhao Yun had hidden himself in the trees of the target's house and when he entered the bedroom Zhao Yun threw the rock at the base of the skull, ultimately snapping the neck using pressure. It was chaotic for a few days after words, but Liu Bei came down personally to assure everyone and to put Pian Zi's son, Qi, in charge with his mother as a guide. Once the young man healed that is.
Guan Yu stood up and looked Zhao Yun in the eyes. "I don't understand why our football season is set in early spring, but I'm surprised it left my mind. I know it's your day off and this is the third time this week you had to watch them, but my kids always beg for you to watch them. I hope they're not that much of a problem."
"They're not, so don't worry about it. The other day all eight of them got jealous because my attention was on someone else who needed it. Plus I'm convinced that they started stalking targets on their own."
"Really? Well that explains why there are a bunch of pictures drawn of you all over their walls in different places." Guan Yu rubbed his beard thinking.
"What!?"
"Oh, it's probably nothing. Just a phase may be."
"My kids are becoming little stalkers!"
"Don't be paranoid. I'm pretty sure it's just admiration they have of you." Guan Yu turned to leave. "It's a nice day, so going to the park would be nice. Have a good day mommy."
"Guan Yu!" Zhao Yun called out but it went unanswered. "Gods…"
Zhao Yun turned to look at the six kids who stood behind him, looking at him with wide eyes. "Would you kids like to go to the park? It's a nice day."
They smiled. "Is it alright if we practice formation at the park today?" Guan Ping asked excitedly.
"Yeah that'll be good. Nice call Ping."
"Oh, can we also go to the park near the stadium! Please!" Zhang Bao nearly begged.
"I don't see why not. Let me pack a few sandwiches for a snack for you six later."
At that same park, another babysitter sat on a bench opposite of six children as well. Lu Meng yawned but covered it quickly. It came as a surprise to him that he was asked so suddenly to watch Gan Ning, Ling Tong, Zhu Ran, Sun Quan, Sun Shangxiang, and Lu Xun. Only because of the football game today between Shu and Wu. Lu Meng yawned again. He had a meeting planned for today as well. He hoped Zhao Yun was understanding of him not being able to join up with him.
The two of them were going to discuss the pros and cons of setting up a playdate. The ages of Zhao Yun's kids and his were pretty darn close, so it would be good for interacting with others of different kingdoms. Especially between Wu and Shu.
Lu Meng sighed and looked towards Gan Ning and Ling Tong. The two of them started up a brawl… again.
"I'm so sorry to have asked you so late Zhao Yun." Liu Bei had just caught up to Zhao Yun after the latter left the house with the six kids he had. "But I have no one else to turn to. I'm up to my neck in paperwork!"
"Its fine my lord. I'll watch the young lord." Zhao Yun lowered himself to his knees to the timid 4 year old near his lord's legs. In a soft, delicate voice, Zhao Yun spoke to the child. "It's alright Liu Shan. I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Zhao Yun."
The young child was encouraged by his father and the sweet words of the man before him enough to leave his father's side. He was picked up by the man.
"I hope you don't have too much on your plate there Zhao Yun. Liu Shan will have temper tantrums to get your attention." Liu Bei passed over a blue bag. "Everything you need is in here. Thank you again for this. I know it's your day off but, well…"
Zhao Yun just shook his head. "I told you its fine my lord. I've raised eight; what's one more going to do?"
The children around Zhao Yun, especially Xingcai, was staring at the younger boy in their sensei's arms in a very protective embrace. It sparked a jealous reaction.
Zhao Yun had to split his attention from child to child after his lord had given him Liu Shan to watch. The same child he saved years ago at Changban was now four years old and was smaller than he should be for his age. 'Then again,' Zhao Yun thought. 'He was thrown to the ground… twice…' Neither was his fault.
But Zhao Yun noticed almost instantly that the other six kids he was watching were getting rather… attention seeking. The jealousy was immediate, and most of it was from Xingcai. She became rather distant from him whenever the young child had his attention.
Zhao Yun sighed. This is going to be a long day.
As they neared the park Zhao Yun was mildly surprised to see Lu Meng being beaten down by two children. The sight was rather comedic to him. He was supposed to meet said man today either way for planning a "playdate" for the kids. Funny how things turn out.
"Lu Meng, fancy meeting you here. How are you faring today?"
The sudden question from a soft voice made Lu Meng look up in slight shock. "Z-Zhao Yun? I didn't expect to meet you here. I'm doing well." He stopped talking after he realized that Gan Ning and Ling Tong was still bouncing on him. "This must look rather humorous, doesn't it? A veteran being beaten by a couple of young kids."
"Nah, not really. Most people would either say it's sad, that veteran is letting them win, or the child is a prodigy. Either way though, would you like some help?" Zhao Yun reached his free hand to the other veteran.
"Eh, my thanks. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I was in the neighborhood too! I was told to watch these six at the last second." He pointed to Zhu Ran, Ling Tong, Lu Xun, Sun Quan, Sun Shangxiang, and Gan Ning. He then looked around Zhao Yun. "You said you watched eight kids yourself. I only counted seven."
Zhao Yun sighed. "I do. Jiang Wei's with Xu Shu studying about trapping. They went bird hunting in a sense. Bao Sanniang is with Yueying helping her shop. Now, I have the new addition, the young lord Liu Shan here. Let me introduce you." Zhao Yun pointed at each kid, introducing them. "This one's the oldest of the whole group and my helper; Guan Ping. He'll be turning 11 soon. These two are Guan Xing and Zhang Bao. They may fight a lot but they'll stand together when it counts. They're both eight. These two lovely ladies are Xingcai and Guan Yinping. They're stronger than some boys so I'd be careful. Then this little guy is Guan Suo. He's slippery and quick so he's hard to catch at times. These three are all currently six. Last is Liu Shan here, who just turned four."
Lu Meng chuckled. "How cute. Hello young ones. I'm a friend of your… mentor… teacher… sensei? What do they call you?"
"Any and all of the above." Zhao Yun shifted his weight. He still had Liu Shan in his arms. "They even call me mommy at times or Yun-chan."
Lu Meng raised an eyebrow at him. "Got tired of correcting?" Zhao Yun simply nodded. Lu Meng shook his head and cleared his throat. "I see. Well, I'm Lu Meng. I should introduce these tigers as well. The blonde over there is Gan Ning… Gan Ning stop biting the chain on that swing; you don't know who touched it! Ugh, this one's Ling Tong, he's Gan Ning's age at eight. The oldest here is Sun Quan at 9 here and his sister Sun Shangxiang is six as well. Zhu Ran and Lu Xun are seven and they like playing with fireworks. Most of the time they're good but… Gan Ning will you stop harassing that tree!"
Zhao Yun chuckled lowly. "It appears you have your hands full. Okay kids, stay where I can see you and be nice to our guests from Wu. Lu Meng and I were planning out a playdate for you kids anyway so this was a coincidence. What do you do when an adult you don't know approaches you?"
"Come get you!" They answered in perfect union.
"Alright you kids can go have fun. Oh Guan Ping, before you go." Zhao Yun dropped to his knees after halting Guan Ping. "I'm going to be needing your help a lot today. My attention has to be divided between all of you but I have to keep an eye out for Liu Shan because of how young he is. I have to make sure he doesn't get into any unpleasant situations. If you can, can you keep an eye out for your comrades?"
Guan Ping looked back on the others. "You mean all of them or just my siblings and cousins?"
"What do you think?"
Guan Ping thought for a minute. "Well, if you're watching Liu Shan I guess I'll watch all of them." Guan Ping sighed.
Zhao Yun raised an eyebrow at him. "My attention isn't going to be only on Liu Shan. I have to watch all of you equally. It's just that Liu Shan's age makes it difficult for me to do so. I have to make sure he doesn't run right across the field to get hit by a swing."
Guan Ping smiled at that. He remembered in his own haste to getting across the playground he was hit by his brother on the swings. It left him a bruise on his side, a skinned knee, and a bump on his head. "Alright, I get it. I'll help sensei."
"That's my good little dragon." Zhao Yun ruffled Guan Ping's hair. "Help them practice formations okay. If you all get really bored."
Guan Ping agreed and joined the others in a game of tag. Zhao Yun joined Lu Meng on the bench and proceeded to put the blue bag Liu Bei gave him and his own green bag right next to them. Liu Shan just sat quietly on Zhao Yun's lap as he observed the older kids playing.
"Your kids are much more behaved than mine." Lu Meng placed one hand on his face and the elbow on his leg, leaning forward tiredly. "Not three minutes after getting here Gan Ning and Ling Tong found sticks and started a war. Zhu Ran and Lu Xun tried starting a fire, and Sun Quan and Sun Shangxiang get into a fight over who gets to go down the slide first."
Zhao Yun chuckled in sympathy for the fellow babysitter. "Sounds like what happened to me three days ago. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao were throwing their fists blindly at one another, fought over the slide, and I believe one of them decided to use one of my candles as an interrogation method. It took me about 12 minutes to explain that candles don't light up when you ask them to."
Lu Meng smiled and chuckled lowly. "Really now? Guess we're not so different after all."
"Hey old man! When's lunch?" Gan Ning called across the playground. Lu Meng dropped his head almost instantly.
Zhao Yun looked over the place before asking, "Do you want to go play Liu Shan?" The young child shook his head, thinking that it was much cozier on Zhao Yun's lap. He didn't want to get up. Besides, he was afraid of the short haired girl named Xingcai.
Zhao Yun ruffled his hair gently. His eyes were directed to Guan Ping who set the others into a basic formation he's taught them.
"Are your kids lined up in a military fashion, or am I imagining things?" Lu Meng asked.
"I was told to train them as well as raise and watch them. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei usually go to war without me and at the last second tell me to watch the little devils."
"They can't be that bad, can they? Have you seen mine? Sun Shangxiang would throw glitter at her brother if he even brought up the word dodgeball. Gan Ning and Ling Tong seem to enjoy the petty fights they have, and I'm beginning to think that Lu Xun and Zhu Ran are going to be pyromaniacs."
Zhao Yun smiled. "Bao Sanniang threw a baseball into Fa Zheng's window. Guan Suo was attacked by kittens when he went to a pet store because he accidentally spilled water on one. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao fight at least once a day over little things like asking for the same things and being first this and first that. Xingcai is getting slightly bossier around the others and Guan Yinping is without a doubt the physical strongest of them all. Jiang Wei plays tricks and sets traps for anyone he can get, and Guan Ping manages to climb trees but hit every branch on the way down."
Lu Meng laughed. "And what about Liu Shan? Anything from him yet?"
"I'm expecting him to run across the playground and get hit by a moving swing." Zhao Yun did a once over the entire area. "Three days ago we met a kidnapper at another park, and now there are reports of there being another, more careful one running around on the streets. I thought I should just let you know."
"A kidnapper? Here in Shu?" Lu Meng had a questioning look.
"It's a crime punishable by death, and not many risk that chance. Cases stopped for a bit when news got around but it started up again. Not to mention a certain sub-general of mine turned up ill suddenly. That same sub-general reported that his young daughter went missing last night. I've had my hands tied this week watching the eight and trying to balance my work." Zhao Yun put an arm over the bench and leaned back. Liu Shan leaned back into him in response. "Recently I got another job. This time I'm going undercover to search out a parasite within our forces."
"Parasite? What kind are we talking about here?" Lu Meng looked over to his kids, noticing that Guan Ping was aligning them in the same formation as the rest of the Shu kids. The formation was flawless despite suck little numbers. What Zhao Yun said struck him back into the conversation.
"A traitor. I have a feeling it's all connected, but I can't be too sure. My first priority though is making sure those kids don't wage a war against each other."
Liu Shan moved his legs back and forth in a bored trance. The two adults were having a conversation and he was getting restless. He needed to run. He got down from Zhao Yun's lap and started running across the playground.
"Wait! Liu Shan!" SMACK! He was free falling to the sand. "How come I knew that was coming!?" Zhao Yun was right next to the young child searching for bruising or bumps.
"Is he okay?" Lu Meng came up from behind him.
"He looks okay. How are you feeling Liu Shan?"
Liu Shan stood up and dusted the sand off of him. "I-I'm fine." His voice was cracking a bit.
"You should watch where you're running Liu Shan. You can get hurt that way." Zhao Yun's concerned voice and gentle touch moved Liu Shan to tears.
"I-I'm sorry…" Tears brimmed his eyes. He didn't feel the pain of the swing hitting him before, but now his side hurt. How far had he flown?
"Hey, it's okay, don't cry." Zhao Yun wrapped his arms around the small four year old and soothingly rubbed his back. "I'm just glad you're okay. That could've been much worse."
Liu Shan let the tears fall as he embraced the veteran. He was gentle and warm, and his hug was nice. He didn't want to let go.
Zhao Yun rubbed the tears from his eyes in gentle caresses. "There, there. You're okay." He didn't notice any injury, but there was sure to be a bruise on his side. Zhao Yun was too busy looking over Liu Shan that when he heard loud noises of fighting he was rather shocked to see a full out war with sticks and kids.
"Hey, what are you kids doing? We said play nice!" Lu Meng was the first over there to try and break up the fight.
Zhao Yun was about to get up when he noticed how tightly Liu Shan embraced him. "Liu Shan I have to go and fix something. I'll be right back."
"Promise?" Liu Shan's voice was still cracked.
Zhao Yun smiled at him gently. "I promise okay. Can you stay here for a bit for me though?" Liu Shan nodded, and reluctantly let him go from his little arms. Zhao Yun ruffled his hair in response. "I'll be back."
He stood up and joined Lu Meng in settling down the kids. They were mildly surprised at their comments though.
"But we were just playing! Old man you never let us do anything fun!" Gan Ning pouted, sticking his tongue at Lu Meng.
"Yeah, we were just play fighting. We have a story for the battle and everything!" Guan Yinping waved her hands up and down. "And we were using sticks!"
"Sticks could hurt just as much as swords Yinping." Zhao Yun lowered himself to her level. "And you don't know your own strength. You could pick up a boulder just as easily as a child and pick up a toy. There would've been injuries if you have fought more than you have done."
"I know Gan Ning and Ling Tong would fight each other with sticks, but Zhu Ran and Lu Xun gather sticks to try and make fire. This was odd." Lu Meng looked them over one-by-one to see any injuries. "None of you seem to have injuries."
"Well yeah!" Ling Tong took a step back from being checked. "We just started until you broke it up!"
"Father goes to battle everyday too Lu-Lu!" Sun Shangxiang crossed her arms. "You don't break those up!"
Lu Meng sighed and sat down onto the ground. "Zhao Yun, by training them as you mentioned before… does that mean you actually trained them militarily?"
Zhao Yun was assessing his own kids' injuries when the question was brought to him. "Indeed. My apologizes for not clearing that up Lu Meng. This is entirely my fault for I have taught them how to form a basic formation. I didn't expect them to have a mock battle with their guests. I'll have to discipline my kids more." He looked into the eyes of his kids. They all looked at the ground sheepishly, not one looked him in the eyes.
Until Guan Ping stood forward, his head raised enough to look at him. "Um, sensei you don't have to say sorry. I'm the one who taught the others on how to stand in that formation. And I was the one who asked for the mock fight. So it's my fault." He looked down again. "I'm sorry sensei!" his voice cracked a bit. Having his mentor apologize to another for something he did sent a clutching feeling to his heart. And he felt like he was losing his breath.
His mentor sighed quietly, and very gently caressed his face. "I'm not mad Guan Ping. You have the talent of being an excellent commander, I know it! But you'll have to learn that even mock battles can be dangerous, especially when you don't know how to hold back. It would have been fine if these children were also taught in military matters, but as far as I'm concerned they weren't. I want you to be careful next time or ask me before you plan a mock battle, okay. I'm not mad." He ruffled Guan Ping's hair, smiling lightly.
Guan Ping could feel tears come to his eyes, but held them back. His voice cracked again. "I-I will next time sensei." Some tears ran down his cheeks.
Zhao Yun smiled and rubbed the stray tears away. "That's my good little dragon," he quietly said. He embraced Guan Ping once before letting go. He stood up. He turned toward Lu Meng and bowed lowly. "I'm truly sorry about this Lu Meng. I never expected this to happen."
Lu Meng waved it off. "Oh, it's fine." He bowed in turn. "I should have told you before that my kids are very eager to learn how to fight themselves, and that they are easily influenced. Any new idea that comes across them they can't resist the urge to try it. One time they thought fireworks and water mixed."
"How'd that work out?"
"It didn't. There was nothing but a bucket of soaked fireworks that broke apart."
Zhao Yun smiled and turned to his kids. "A good warrior takes responsibility for his actions. Is there something you should be saying to Lu Meng, Guan Ping?"
Guan Ping gulped and moved forward, past Zhao Yun. He stood in front of Lu Meng and bowed as low as he could. "I-I'm sorry for the trouble I caused sir. I promise it won't happen again."
Before Lu Meng could even answer Guan Ping there was a loud cry. "HELP! PLEASE!"
It was a blur, but Lu Meng was conscious of the fact that Zhao Yun wasn't behind Guan Ping anymore. He turned quickly in time to see Liu Shan running to the group of his fellow Shu kids and hid behind Xingcai. His eyes were wide in fear. Lu Meng turned his head back to see Zhao Yun hold the hand of another man in a deadly grip. Lu Meng was frozen in fear of the sight before him.
Zhao Yun's sudden burst of anger was frightening.
As for the man in Zhao Yun's grip, he wasn't faring too nicely. He was about to take a young child of very young age who was just staring at the young group. He would have done so easily if it wasn't for the child's loud cry for help. He had just covered the kid's mouth and began to run when his hand was suddenly grabbed in a tight hold and sharp pain made him release the kid.
Now face-to-face with the man who caught him, he didn't like his chances of escaping. He tried puling his hand away, but it was held fast.
"Is there a reason for your action?" It was a calm voice, but it held a hidden edge. An edge that made the man shiver a great deal. He made the mistake of looking into Zhao Yun's eyes. They were a swirl of bright cyan, so intense in color that the man felt his breath catch in his throat. It froze the man.
The color was turning a chaotic shade of purple as Zhao Yun grew less patient. No one could say he didn't have any reason to harm this man! "I'll ask again." His voice was raised only loud enough for the man to hear. "Do you have a reason for your action just now?" It was a near hiss wrapped coolly within a growl.
Zhao Yun tightened his grip on the man's wrist. The pressure point there was accurately being attacked. The pain made the man flinch. He somehow found the voice to speak. "H-hey man come on! I-it wasn't like I was planning to take the kid! I just wanted to ask if he was lost or not! T-then he yelled help!"
Zhao Yun twisted the wrist and the arm of the kidnapper so that the kidnapper had his back to Zhao Yun and his arm was painfully pressed to his back. The pain the man felt encouraged him to not struggle. "You came up to him and grabbed him. You laid a hand on one of my kids! If it weren't for them being so young I would have killed you right now!" Zhao Yun's low growl sent shivers down the man's spine. "A liar can't run forever. I will let you go. I will give you a head start. But once I catch up," Zhao Yun's voice became more delicate and quiet. "I will execute you where you stand. If you have any value of your life coward take my advice… don't stop running!"
True to his word, Zhao Yun pushed the man away from him, releasing him. The man wasted no time in getting away, knowing full well that the man he just met will hold true to his word.
Zhao Yun took a deep breath, and turned around to walk toward his kids. He kneeled down in front of Liu Shan. "Are you alright young lord? Did he leave a mark on you? I must apologize for my lack of attentiveness." His concerning eyes looked over Liu Shan very gently.
Xingcai had to step aside so Zhao Yun could see him more clearly. She was rather shocked by what had happened. "Sensei, why did you let him go? He hurt Liu Shan!"
Zhao Yun chuckled lowly. "Don't worry about him. I promised him something in return for touching Liu Shan."
Liu Shan looked up into Zhao Yun's eyes. There were bright traces of cyan but they faded quickly. "I-I'm alright. I'm sorry."
Zhao Yun shook his head. "You did what you could Liu Shan. You called for help. You do that when in trouble." He ruffled the young lord's hair. "I'm just glad you're okay." The calm, gentle voice brought a smile to Liu Shan's face.
"T-thank you, s-sensei."
"I'm sorry for you having to see that Lu Meng. Do you need anything before you go back to Wu?"
Lu Meng was honestly still shaken up for what he witnessed. He's never seen Zhao Yun so… frightening. The calm, gentle man he came to know inspired a powerful, freezing anger. "I didn't know the depths of your temper Zhao Yun. You hide it well and it didn't control you. That's saying a lot since most others have their anger control them." Lu Meng looked back at his kids. They were all saying goodbye to their new friends. "But I would like to know when we can set up that playdate. How about we have it in Wu?"
Zhao Yun smiled lightly. "I wouldn't blame you. I'll see what I can do. You have a safe trip back Lu Meng. You and the kids."
Lu Meng laughed. "Yes, well, they're going to be the reasons if I end up missing. Until we meet again Zhao Yun."
"Farewell." Zhao Yun bowed his head toward the Wu veteran. He turned around to gather his seven kids.
"So what are you planning to do with that guy?" Fa Zheng has one eyebrow raised in amusement.
Zhao Yun took a deep breath as he took a sip of Black Dragon Tea. The strong flavor calmed his senses, but alerted them. He had made sure that the kids got to their respected fathers without delay. After the football game all three of the brothers came to pick their kids up. He had to explain what had happened earlier today and they asked the same question Fa Zheng just did.
And he's the only one being amused by it.
Zhao Yun tapped his fingers on the desk. He said he would give the man a head start. Zhao Yun took the time to memorize the face of the kidnapper. "Two kidnappers caught in a week. You're a kidnapper trap my lord."
Zhao Yun looked into Fa Zheng's amused orbs. "I ended up killing one, and now there will be a second. I am a man of my word Fa Zheng, and you know it well." He took another sip. "Besides, if I'm a kidnapper trap, then that's an issue. I can't have the kids around me anymore if this continues. This can't be a coincidence that my kids were targeted twice in the same week!"
The thought of having the kids ripped from him was just as bad to him as it was him disappearing to the kids. He would have to be even more careful from now on… more alert…
"Hold on there my lord. You have to worry about your health and safety just as much as the kids." Fa Zheng leaned over to the veteran. "Besides, now you have two things to worry about tonight. Overexertion leads to collapsing due to exhaustion."
Zhao Yun sighed. In light of everything he knew that what Fa Zheng said was true. We was running down the dangerous path of collision with no stop in sight. He worked for all three of his days off.
"You need a vacation. After tonight you are to take a break from babysitting. Nothing much is going to happen to them. I know you just stated training them, but I think they need a break too." Fa Zheng smiled at the veteran. "You want to get this guy back for actually laying a hand on one of your kids, not to mention that kid was our young lord. You have control over the army just as much as the other Five Tiger Generals, so why not make a hunting party out of it?"
"I said I would be the one to kill him. That's why." Zhao Yun finished his tea.
Fa Zheng gave a short whistle. "You actually said you were going to kill him? The worse thing that can happen to anyone here would be angering one of our Five Tiger Generals. It's either instant execution or life-long torture." He laughed. "And you promised execution. I would honestly call myself lucky to be in his place."
Zhao Yun sighed heavily and stood up. "I should be going now. I think I gave him enough of a head start."
"Let me know how it goes, my lord." Fa Zheng called back. "I would like to know how he fares against being executed after running all day."
Zhao Yun smiled. "He would be weary, and not see it coming."
Zhao Yun knew he had to heed Fa Zheng's advice. Overworking himself might cause more harm than good to not only himself, but everyone else as well.
He sighed as he thought of the kids and what transpired today. There was definitely a connection between him being with the kids as they are targeted by kidnappers. There just had to be! Zhao Yun was more worried about the kids than his own health. He showed no signs of collapsing, but there are signs of the kids being purposely targeted. He didn't know if it was him being around them or not.
If he wasn't there to watch the kids and protect them, who will? Sure, the kids are pretty friendly and will listen to Yueying, but that's where it ends. They were literary raised by him. They wouldn't be listening to anyone else for a long time.
Zhao Yun went to visit Guan Yu and was about to knock on the door before it opened. The tall Tiger General raised an eyebrow at his comrade.
"Zhao Yun, what are you doing here at this time of night?" Guan Yu stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
"I would have to ask you the same question, but," Zhao Yun took a deep breath. "Either my paranoia is catching up or my health's failing. Either way, I'm not going to be able to watch any of the kids for a while. Fa Zheng's advice."
"Really now?" Zhao Yun nodded. Guan Yu rubbed his beard in thought. "Is this about the kidnapper earlier today, and how you think there's a connection?" Zhao Yun nodded again. Guan Yu sighed. "I don't blame you for being a little bit paranoid Zhao Yun. But I have to agree with Fa Zheng. You're pushing yourself too hard. I have a day off tomorrow so, I guess I'll watch the kids for you."
Zhao Yun raised an eyebrow at his older comrade. "Really? You don't even know what your own kids like! Nor do I think that you can keep an eye out for eight of them daddy. I can guarantee you that they'll drive you up the wall in an hour. And Zhang Fei won't do much better."
"Wasn't it you that wanted to give the kids to other veterans so they can learn from them as well? If I recall correctly I'm also a veteran." Guan Yu smiled lightly toward his younger companion.
Zhao Yun just growled. "I'll give you a list." He began to walk away.
"How bad can they be mommy?" Guan Yu asked.
"If you really want to know," Zhao Yun started, turning back. "Keep your eyes open daddy."