Chapter 3
Karma
The ability to choose and to face the consequences that come with the choice.
"You're an utter and absolute fool," barked Lu Meng.
Gan Ning scratched at his gravity defying hair. He glanced at the furious Lu Meng and gave a sheepish smile. It didn't do much to alleviate the situation.
"We are at war. We cannot have any turmoil within our ranks if we are to succeed."
The pirate turned away from Lu Meng and rolled his eyes. "Tch, doesn't matter if we like each other or not. We'll still get the job done." he stated as a matter of fact.
The tactician shook his head disdainfully, all gruffness had left his voice, it was quiet, almost foreboding, "Just know that we are all fair game on the field of war; if you cannot look to all your allies for support then we-" He pointed to everyone around them, "-are all doomed."
Gan Ning huffed his chest and glared at the ground. He hated how Lu Meng constantly mentors him on nearly every little thing he does. He especially hated how Lu Meng would always, always, turn out to be right. He looked up after a moment of sulking to see that the older man was gone. A frown clearly clung to his face as he roughly threw the flaps of his tent open and retreated into the dimly lit interior.
The single oil lamp in the center of his tent snuffed itself out. Gan Ning grumbled some complaints about how he had recently refueled it as he stumbled through the darkness towards it. In the velvety ink he tripped over an unknown item. He cried out in anger as he kicked the offending object out of his tent.
Little did he know, he too would soon follow the object's fate. In the corner of his eyes, he observed the faint glow of two floating orbs. The hair on the back of Gan Ning's neck stood up taught. A feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty washed over him.. They flew towards him and before he could comprehend what he was seeing, a shadow of a figure tackled him with such force that they both flew through the tent's drab cloth walls. In their wake, the support beams of the large tent gave out with a loud, splintering crack before collapsing into a pile of fabric and tinder.
He didn't have to look long to realize who his assailant was.
A really wet and disheveled Ling Tong immediately rolled off of him after their impact onto the springy grass laden ground. He stood extremely close to the ground in a crotch splitting horse stance, his arms were gracefully outstretched above and in front of him, ready to counter and attack.
Gan Ning vaulted himself off the ground in one swift and fluid motion. Out of habit, he reached behind his back and grasped onto an ornate handle that hung from a leather sheath, but quickly decided against it. After all, if Lu Meng was furious at Gan Ning for annoying the hell out of Ling Tong...well, he didn't want to find out how Lu Meng would react if he accidentally dissected the brat.
A pair of guards had quickly wound their way through the maze of tents to where Gan Ning and Ling Tong stood. They were shocked at the condition of the tent but not so much when they saw that it was caused by the dueling men. It was practically habitual for Gan Ning and Ling Tong to break stuff in their tiffs; the tent was the biggest thing so far. Grumbling at the false alarm, they trudged away and hoped that time would speed up so they can change their path of patrol.
Gan Ning stood mumbling to himself some nonsensical words. He struggled to follow what Lu Meng had advised and was at a loss with presenting himself as the peacemaker. Exasperated, he decided to wing it.
He cautiously approached Ling Tong. He quickly glanced the man over and felt that something was off though didn't dwell too long on it. His open palms were held up next to his head to prove that he possessed no ill will. "Hey," he drawled. "...you okay? Did ya fall off a cliff or something?" His joke was not well received so he awkwardly continued. "I know what I've done before was...pretty shitty." Gan Ning groaned inwardly. "But, er...I don't think it's worth fighting over..."
He stood an arm's length away from the crouching form of Ling Tong and extended a hand to help the taller man up. "So...as allies..." The words coming from his mouth sounded so alien to himself. "Lets work together to-"
Gan Ning was unable to finish his statement for Ling Tong grabbed the extended hand and used it to violently vault the standing man into the ground. Stunned, the pirate remained on the ground. At that angle he was able to see Ling Tong's face under the dark curtain of hair that was free from the ribbon that always had it under control.
Ling Tong was devoid of all emotion. His dull and unfocused eyes were looking down at, but truly beyond, the man on the ground. His lips were settled into a chiseled line. Most frightful of all was the pallor of his ghost white skin. Gan Ning rationally envisioned him as someone sick...or, as the creative side of his mind thought, someone who had been possessed by the unnatural.
Whatever the case was, pneumonia or demonic possession, it didn't matter, Gan Ning swung his legs over his head and knocked Ling Tong's feet off the ground. They struggled down there with Gan Ning snarling and cursing all the way. The ex-pirate, who was naturally stronger, managed to pin the unyielding man onto his stomach into the dirt and grass. Ling Tong refused to give up, he threw rib-bruising jabs, dizzying headbutts and flailed his legs as though he were a fish out of water.
Gan Ning had no choice. Steel slithered out of a leather confinement to reveal an over sized dagger. It glinted coldly and menacingly in the warm light of the setting sun.
The recently sharpened blade stifled all movement from the resisting man as it rested between the crook of his neck and the ground. "I don't know what the hell has gotten in to you nor do I give a shit. But you better cut the crap if you know what's good for you," Gan Ning threatened.
Ling Tong turned his head as much as the blade permitted to get a better look at Gan Ning. It wasn't much but it allowed him to see the man on top from the corner of his eye. He gave a toothy grin. "Do you ever think of the consequences when you wave your blade around?" His normal voice bore an unnaturally deep tone that reverberated at the end of each word. "Especially at an ally..."
Gan Ning scoffed.
Ling Tong continued, "You should consider removing it...unless you want to hurt Ling Tong."
His brows furrowed in confusion when Ling Tong referred to himself in third person. Though it didn't do much to deter Gan Ning's will. He continued to maintain his grip and blade upon the man on the ground. "Not a chance."
The pinned man gave a thoughtful look. "How about this: I'll count to three and hopefully during that time, you'll reconsider. And after that... well, lets just say, you reap what you sow."
"Tch..." Gan Ning scoffed.
"One..." Ling Tong said in a sing-song voice.
"Count all ya want, when my mind's made up, it's made up."
"...Two..." Ling Tong clicked his tongue. The grin returned. He looked almost maniacal as it stretched from ear to ear. There was no laughter in his eyes.
"Ya know...you're kinda freaking me out..."
"...Three..." It was barely a whisper yet the gravity of the simple word was palpable. Ling Tong's amber eyes flashed gold. An aurulent aura surrounded the two men. It flickered menacingly and forcefully ejected Gan Ning from his perch atop Ling Tong. Gan Ning held his breath, his eyes grew wide and he could feel time around him slowing down. He felt the blade penetrate the naked flesh of Ling Tong's neck. It slid with ease through the tough muscle.
He expected much blood to be splayed. There was none.
Gan Ning could only observe the alien site as he was blown away. A ghost of a fire slithered across Ling Tong's torso, it turned his shirt to soot, and revealed a naked torso ripped with musculature. The flame trailed across his pale flesh and left in its wake glowing bronze skin. It stripped Ling Tong's hair of its chestnut brown color to replace it with wild flaxen hair that shimmered like golden silk. His powerful arms flexed as they gripped his sanjiegun with great precision. His long legs remained clothed but the barrier failed to hide the power within as they dug into the ground. The flickering flame alighted upon his shoulders.
Now he understood why the former Ling Tong referred to himself in third person. "Who are you!"
His loveless face was contorted with hatred as he struck a violent pose. The figure flew towards Gan Ning. In a show of mastery he gracefully spun his sanjiegun in wide sweeping arcs. Gan Ning only scoffed. Anyone can spin a stick around. Despite his more stocky physique, he moved at a speed that nearly rivaled Ling Tong's. His large hands gripped the ornamental hilt of his other dagger and pulled it out at the most precise moment, successfully deflecting the blow of the other man's weapon.
"Do you ask that same question to all of those who are your opponents on the battlefield? After you mercilessly strike them down do you go to each of their families after the battle and say 'I am sorry for murdering your husband' You don't. So what does it matter who I am?" His opponent sneered as he deflected a staggering blow and planted a firm foot into Gan Ning's armored stomach that sent the pirate reeling back. "Why don't you just treat this like any other normal, good fight, eh?"
Gan Ning replied with a rumbling growl coupled with a flurry of furious daggers. He would not let the creature toy with him. "Answer my damn question!"
He gave a sigh, "If I must..."
The bright orange fire at the top of his shoulders burst into a bright blaze. He swung his staff atop his head before swiping at the ground. A burst of energy was released from the wave of the three sectional staff. Blades of grass were ripped from their roots and brightened the orange sky with dazzling green. It sent tents toppling over. An innumerable amount of them were razed before their owners, who were currently residing in the mess hall, even realized what all the commotion was about.
"I am the will of Ling Tong. The fire of his passion. The enduring flame in a sea of darkness. Fury incarnate. I am Bao Nu."
Gan Ning wanted to tear his ears off. He was embarrassed to hear such a corny statement. Not only was the bastard annoying, he was ridiculously egotistic. Regardless of what had just transpired, he flew back into ass-kicking, fight mode and in a show of brute force, he dashed towards his opponent, leaped high in the air, high enough to block out the sun above Bao Nu, and aimed to land with his blade impaled into the creature's chest.
It might have gone to plan if he moved a second sooner. It may have ended better if he had not leaped into the air and left himself wide open for attack. There was no room in battle for regret. With a great shrill howl, he accepted his punishment.
Gan Ning was roughly grabbed by the neck at an arm's length by Bao Nu. The blades in his hand were easily knocked away in blinding speed and quickly joined the debris littering the field. The flames licked at the trapped man, yet to his great surprise they did not singe skin. Gan Ning vehemently struggled to free himself from the bruising grip, he kicked with his steel-toed feet, and clawed ferociously in vain. Regardless, he continued his onslaught until he was carelessly flung to the side of a fallen tent.
Bao Nu dashed towards the fallen man within seconds. Eerily glowing eyes burned brightly, a sadistic smile twisted itself onto what was once Ling Tong's face.
A sickening lump formed in the pit of Gan Ning's stomach. Sweat dripped down his brow as he glared up in defiance. Of all the people he had to fight, Ling Tong would be the last man he would ever run from. The staff swung up high. A rush of air caused by the weapon disturbed the serenity of nature. Gan Ning growled at his helplessness. Down it fell, with crushing force, towards the brazen man's forehead.
Sparks flew. The crippling blow never found its target. Standing in front of Gan Ning was a Lu Meng in deep concentration. His pike swung high and far in a controlled fashion. It deflected Bao Nu's attack and easily sent him stumbling back..
Every able bodied officer was there in the new clearing. There weren't many but nonetheless they were a force to be reckoned with. Zhou Tai appeared behind Ling Tong. His features were hard and stony, his blade was held out and was poised to strike. Zhou Yu appeared by Lu Meng, they nodded in agreement to whatever surprise they had planned. A hesitantly approaching Sun Shang Xiang was to the side. An arrow aimed directly at Ling Tong was drawn against her bow.
Lu Meng spared a downward glance at Gan Ning. "Stand up," he firmly commanded.
"Way ahead of you," grinned Gan Ning as he hastened to stand across Sun Shang Xiang with his fists as his weapons.
A pregnant silence hung in the air. The situation was incomprehensible to them. They all wore the same colors, hailed from the same land and spoke the same dialect of gently rolling Wu. Yet, as they observed who they thought to be Ling Tong, they saw nothing of their former comrade. The immense hatred and hostility he bore made him more akin to a creature desperately in need of slaying.
Bao Nu folded his weapon and relaxed his stance. "I have no quarrel with any of you but Gan Ning."
"You attack one of us..." Zhou Yu began.
Lu Meng continued the previous statement, "Then you have attacked all of us..."
"Drop your weapon and get down on your knees," Zhou Tai gravely ordered.
"Or I'll pin all of your limbs to the ground!" Sun Shang Xiang chimed in with a small bounce on the balls of her feet.
Bao Nu chuckled. What would he, should he, ever do? He was confident in his ability to easily blow them all off their feet and away. It would be fun and also accomplish his goal and more, or, he could just dash towards his target and quickly end it. His host's body may be irreparably damaged that way if all the surrounding officers attacked but it was of no concern to him. He enjoyed the former idea more but the latter was more practical in regards to his task.
Just as he was about to move, a powerful force stopped him. He twitched violently in place. A duel of will was conjured within his mind against body.
There was no time to stop, he was almost done.
"Let me go," he hissed through gritted teeth.
Dao's soft voice whispered to him mantra-like. 'Calm down. Take it slow. It's been so long since we've last been free. Let us enjoy the time.'
Bao Nu's breathing was labored as he continued to struggle, "But our goal is to do that which is wished by our host."
He heard laughter and amusement in her voice, 'Yes yes, but, why resort to gruesome violence all the time? Won't you let me try something out?' After a moment's pause she added a heartfelt plea, 'Please?'
Bao Nu mentally rolled his eyes. He gave one final harrumph before relaxing himself. How could he deny her wishes?
The body was once again under his control. He loudly sucked in a deep breath. "What will I do? I guess I have no choice," he dramatically moaned to the crowd surrounding him. A free hand clutched at his chest to add further emphasis.
The crowd was unamused. Bao Nu sighed. No one but Dao understands him. Alas, she does not count for they are part of each other: two halves of a whole.
Slowly he raised his long borrowed arms high above his head. The roaring flames died down and his knees slid to the ground. In one final act of surrender, he chucked Ling Tong's sanjiegun far off to the side.
A/N - Whoohoo! Fury Ling Tong. Love that form of his in Strikeforce. Anyways. I have to say that I am very proud of this chapter. Things are getting interesting, progress is being made, character personalities are being fleshed out...yeah. Tell me what you think by leaving a review.
~Arrivederci!