I am sorry for my slow updates. Kinda hard to attract readers to a new story when you don't update haha, but I've been busy with my finals! But Friday is my last one, so for my XMas break I hopefully can get cracking on both stories. Thanks for reading and any comments you can provide!


Chapter 2: New World

Jumping off his horse, he quickly handed the reins off to the closest servant and rushed through the castle exterior. He ignored all the cries and the calls of his name, only having one target in sight. It was still early in the morning, for the sun had not even risen, but he was eager to see her again. He had missed her for all these weeks, those five weeks of torture of not knowing if she was being treated properly. When he heard of her release, he knew he had to make it back as fast as possible, to make sure this never happened again. "Master Guan!" the guards outside of Wen Qin's estate were quick to salute one of their commanders.

"Is Lady Li inside?"

"She is…sleeping." They said, not trying to undermine the affection he had for her. Everyone knew in the castle of Ping and Wen Qin's relationship. They were the couple of all couples, rivalling the love of Zhuge Liang and Huang Yue Ying itself.

"I just wanted to know if she was safe." Ping took a deep breath, "But knowing she's in there…I'm content." He took a seat in front of the doors.

"You could go in and wait for her in the living room." One of the guards suggested, finding it awkward that they'd have to do their duty being watched.

"No." he shook his head. "I'm content here."
---

Wen Qin had an urge to wake up earlier that morning, her body was still tired but her mind refused to sleep in any longer. Deciding on using the expensive teas to her advantage, she stepped out to her living room and was greeted by her two guards. "Feng, Shen." She looked at their tired eyes, "What's wrong with you two?" They replied in a yawn and pointed towards a coiled lump outside her front doors. Wen Qin recognized the figure right away and let out a giggle. Walking over to him, she bent down on her knees and parted his hair from his face. From the way he was dressed… and smelled, she guessed he traveled non stop to get here. "How long has he been here?" she asked them.

"Before the break of dawn." She nodded and began to poke him on the cheek. Ping stirred for a bit before his eyes went open.

"Am I dreaming?"

"I hope not." She replied, prompting the sit up.

"You're real." He stuttered and suddenly lunged forever to give her a hug. "You're real!"

"And you smell." She gasped for breaths. Ping let go and smirked.

"And you're the same." Adding a quick "Thank the heavens.", under his breath.
---

They sat across each other at the dining table, the maids bustling around them, trying to seat up breakfast. Their fingers continued to lock with one another as it swung freely under the table. With a smile, Wen Qin picked tried to slip away to eat, but found Ping holding on tighter. "Ping…" she blushed, "This is my eating hand."

"I know." He said to her, his grip the same.

"I'm safe now." She sighed, knowing the reason why he was doing this. "I'm here now."

"I know." He repeated and looked at her, "I just don't want to."

"I can take care of myself." she laughed, "You seem to forget that I..."


"I am trained in fighting," she said, "I can go get the mistress!"

"That's suicide Wen Qin!"

"You all keep safe." She grabbed the horse and hopped on, "I'm not leaving without our mistress." Determined, she tapped her foot and galloped away.

The entire city was engulfed in chaos and flames. The death of Liu Biao had happened so suddenly, and now Cao Cao's army was closing in on everyone. She had lost contact with almost everyone in the castle, as they were all scattered in hopes of staying alive. Even outside the perimeters of the castle and city, she could hear the screams of terror and the overwhelming smell of death. With the pit of her stomach tied in a knot, she momentarily abandoned her horse and decided to go by foot. This way, she could use the secret entrance to the servants quarters and hopefully not be detected by the soldiers who decided to stay in this area. She had heard rumours that Cao Cao had send a mass majority of his men to chase after Liu Bei, and all the villagers he was trying to aid to safety. Ping had joined his father a week ago, and she could only assume she was by his side, awaiting everyone's arrival. "Please be safe." she prayed quickly before stepping through the gates.

The castle was empty, with most of the place trashed and robbed by the soldiers. She tried to hold hear tears back as she saw various servants, guards and even nobles strewn across the battlefield, with no mercy thrown upon them. Running into the mistresses quarters, she searched high and low but there were no signs of them. "Wen…Wen Qin…" a voice called out to her and Wen Qin saw the body of one of her fellow maids.

"Jing!" she cried and held her friend in her arms, "Jing…" she saw the wounds and the blood.

"The lady…" she whispered, "They escaped to the city. Go..."

"I'll take you with me!"

"No. I'm already going to die. I know…please…" Jing began to choke as her internal injuries began to clog her throat with her own blood. Wen Qin closed her friends eyes and stood up,

"I promise he will pay." She muttered and quickly ran off to find her mistress.
---

There were even more bodies all throughout the city, as people who could not escape paid with their lives. Wen Qin had to be very careful here, as she heard the voices of soldiers. She tried to be as careful as she could be, when she spotted a familiar figure lying near the villages well. "Lady Gan!" she recognized the young woman as Liu Bei's wife. "Lady Gan!"

"You…you are that maid." She looked up and smiled, a small bundle hidden between her clothing. "I am glad to see you." She struggled to pull a baby out, "Please, protect my son."

"I can escape with you too!" she held the young Liu child in her arms, "Please, Lady Gan, if we just hurry we can."

"There she is!" The soldiers from earlier appeared, "With that little bastard too!" they noted Wen Qin, "Who is that?"

"Does it matter? Rout them all!" One of the men roared and they began to approach them slowly. Wen Qin pulled out her sword and held it in front of Lady Gan in a protective gesture. "Oh look how precious that is." The men teased.

"She's cute." One of the men slowly approached her with a sly face, "Maybe I can have fun then kill her?"

"Stay away." Wen Qin's eyes narrowed and when the man stepped closer she threw her sword forward, thrusting it deep into the man's stomach.

"You bitch!" The others roared and all charged towards her when the sound of a galloping horse arrived there way. Wen Qin saw a gallant warrior ride towards them at full speed, his spear striking left and right before his horse stopped in front of the women.

"There is no justice in bullying women and a child." He shouted bravely, "Lady Gan, are you okay?"

"Zi Long…" the woman looked relieved to see him. Wen Qin looked up and blinked as the famous Tiger General, Zhao Zi Long. She had heard of his great heroics, but this was the first time she had seen him and it was safe to say that the rumours about him were true.

"Call for back up!" the men screamed and they all scattered with what power they had left.

"Hurry, we must go!" Yun turned towards them, "Give me the babe, and help Lady Gan on the horse."

"No." Lady Gan said, "I will just be a burden to your both…please. Take Shen to my husband…and tell him I love him." She suddenly turned and Wen Qin reached out as fast as she could.

"Lady Gan!" Wen Qin screamed, her fingers barely grabbing onto Lady Gan's wardrobe as she threw herself into the well they were beside. With her hand over her mouth in horror, Wen Qin stared at the well speechless.

"Lady Gan…" Yun dipped his head low for a quick prayer before turning to Wen Qin, "You, young maiden, we must hurry."

"But…but I…"

"If Lady Gan saw that your life was more valuable than hers, than you must make it out of here alive. Quickly, get on my horse." He placed the baby inside his shirt, "Hold on tight." He told her and with his spear held high, they began their fight with death...
---

Ping paced back and forth impatiently as they were waiting the arrival of his Uncles and the villagers. "Why can't I go and help them Father?" he said to Guan Yu, who was standing on the docks and watching the waves.

"You must believe in your Uncles. They will be here."

"I…" Ping threw his fist at a tree, he was actually more worried about Wen Qin. If he only knew…

"They're here! They're here!" scouts reported and Ping watched in amazement as thousands upon thousands of people were heading their ways.

"There's…no one after them." Ping said, amazed.

"I told you, you must believe in your Uncle." Yu smiled proudly at his son, "He will lead us into a greater China."

They loaded all the people they could on the boats, with Ping looking at every female face clearly with no avail. "I am sorry Ping." Bei walked up to his nephew, "I could not protect Wen Qin, nor could I even protect my old child or wife. I have lost my greatest general…I am such a failure."

"You can not say that Uncle, you protected all these people. All their wives and children, you have their hearts." Ping tried to make him feel better when he squinted and saw a horse galloping their way. "Is that…Master Zhao?"

"Zi Long?" Bei turned around in excitement, "It is him!" They all hurried down the boat ramp towards the docks.

"My lord!" Yun announced triumphantly as the horse stopped abruptly. Yun hopped off the horse and held his hand out to Wen Qin, who had climbed down warily.

"Wen Qin?" Ping exclaimed.

"Ping…Master Liu, you're all okay. Thank the heavens." She cried.

"My lord," Yun pulled out the small bundle out of his shirt, "I am sorry to say that Lady Li and I could not protect Lady Gan." Wen Qin's expression died as she looked away in shame. "But she wanted us to protect Ah Dou, and with the young maidens help, we were able to make it out alive." Bei looked at his sons sleeping face and held the child closely towards his chest.

"I may have lost my wife, and my child may have lost his mother. But I have gained back my greatest general and my best friends daughter. I will take this as a sign from the heavens to help all these people reclaim what they have lost…" he paused, "I rightfully claim my right to the Liu clan."


Yeah so the father-son reuinion is a tad different. Y'know why? CAUSE I DO NOT SUPPORT BABY THROWING AND NEITHER SHALL YOU!
Good night :)