Sorry for the wait. I don't thionk I'll be able to update as often as I used to as I'm starting my first year of Uni. But I will definetely try to keep working on this story and focus on making chapters at least 2000 words long. Okay I hope you all enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 10

"Alright there you go." Zhang Bao handed back Ma Chao's spear. It had been repaired from the previous battle.

"Thank you young Blacksmith. I will repay you with my life one day." Ma Chao vowed.

"Gee sir that won't be necessary." The rather humble boy replied.

Ma Chao quickly glanced back at him. "This spear is my life, therefore I shall offer my life to the one who fixed my very reason to exist." And with that remark he descended through the town.

"He's a weird one, I'll give ya that." Gat Su slapped Zhang Bao on the shoulder.

"Hey Gat Su!" Zhang Bao smiled when he ever got the chance to meet his hero. Zhang Bao made a deal that he would meld his sword after every battle if he taught him how to fight in exchange.

"So you ready for this kid?" Gat Su took him over to an open courtyard on the outskirts of the city.

"Yeah sure boss." Zhang Bao nervously waved around his sword.

Gat Su held his sword – which was quite large for training purposes, down low so he could level with the boy. "Now just for starters I wanna see your own style, so just try and hit me and I'll make sure to block with this."

Zhang Bao gulped heavily and swung his sword in a horizontal arc. The blade connected with the Gigantic sword. He could feel the shockwaves vibrating through his entire body when his sword impacted with Gat Su's. He regathered his composure and slashed towards the other side, connecting with a formidable pile of steel.

"Oww!" Zhang Bao had to rub his arms after feeling the strain on his joints.

Gat Su laughed. "Only two strikes and you already feel pain?" Gat Su decided he may need to start with a more reasonable teaching apparatus. "You need to focus more on your speed and try not to overextend yourself when you go through each movement." Gat Su drew out a medium-sized dagger from his belt. "Now let's try again."

Zhang Bao bit his lip and ignored the pain as he slashed with more speed and fury than last time. Gat Su was impressed with his passion and ferocity. However it soon become clear to him that the boys emotions would eventually dull his blade.

"Grrh. Grrh. GRAAGGHH!" Zhang Bao swung wildly – so wild in fact he swung his blade across Gat Su's gauntlet arm. He was shocked to find half of his blade flung off and stabbed the ground twenty metres away.

"You obviously have some discipline problems for a kid your age. We'll work on that next time." Gat Su picked up his trademark weapon and left the exhausted student behind.

"Wow! Who was that guy?" Another young boy had been observing from the sidelines. His spiky black hair was held back by a white headband.

"His name is Gat Su, he is teaching me how to be a warrior."

The other boy was still in astonishment. "That man...his sword..."

…

MEANWHILE:

Sun Shang Xiang wrapped her arms around the Crusader of the Han. "Oh Liu Bei, I just can't stand spending more than one night away from you, the one who has shown me hope for a new future."

Liu Bei brushed back her short hazel hair. "My darling Shang Xiang, I don't know how much longer I can live this lie. I have allowed you to betray your brother and kingdom for my petty desires."

"No Liu Bei, I am not betraying my family's honour. I wish to seek an end to the bloodshed which has cursed this land for far too long. With this union, we shall overcome war and achieve true peace."

Liu Bei released his arms from Shang Xiang and walked over to the balcony, overlooking another million campfires in the heavens. "Shang Xiang, I am giving you one last choice, if you decide to stay with me, then I'm afraid you can never return to Jian Ye. If you leave, then I will harbour no bitter feelings towards you as it is your choice whether you wish to follow your brother's or my own ambitions."

Shang Xiang was placed in a precarious dilemma, stay with her beloved and fight against her own blood, or return to her brothers side only to inevitably face her lover once again on the opposing side of the battlefield.

Liu Bei did not wish to see her leave for the last time, instead he opted to fixate his gaze at the heavenly campfires. As a tear rolled down the side of his cheek, he felt someone wrap their arms around his back.

Shang Xiang sobbed. "Oh Liu Bei, I will never leave your side again. If it means cutting my ties to the Sun family than that is my sacrifice for the sake of my love..." She soaked Liu Bei's garment as she placed her face against his waist.

Liu Bei reached his arms around to comfort Shang Xiang. "I'm grateful of your decision, it must not come easy for someone to betray a brother or a sister."

Shang Xiang wiped her face and gazed up. "I have realised the only way to achieve peace in this land, is to follow you, my love."

"So the great Liu Bei has finally conquered his true desires..."

Liu Bei turned and gripped his sword. "Who's there?"

Shang Xiang was confused by Liu Bei's behaviour. "Um...there's no-one-"

"Didn't you hear that voice?" Liu Bei was trembling. "It filled the entire room, it was as if it was cast by the breeze itself."

"I'm sorry Liu Bei but I didn't hear anything." Shang Xiang got herself back up and went by Liu Bei's side. "Perhaps you should get some rest."

"Yes...perhaps I have been overworked since becoming a leader of an entire kingdom." Liu Bei fell back on the side of his bed. "Please take care Shang Xiang." Liu Bei offered her one last kiss before he closed his eyes.

I shall return my love...but I must do the honourable thing and say one last goodbye to my Brother...

…

?

Liu Bei was entangled in an array of strange tentacle like vines. He shrieked as he realised the rather terrifying predicament he had encountered.

"What on earth's happening here?" Liu Bei orated in his commanding voice.

"Everything you currently possess will perish in flames...This ideal world you desire will never be achieved unless you open your heart."

Liu Bei heard the voice again. "Who are you? Why are you haunting me?"

The voice scoffed. "It hasn't taken long for you to forget about me has it? You really are deluding yourself on a path to tragedy..."

The vines gave way and revealed a city in flames. Men, women and children were being scorched into crying skeletons of ash. Their terrifying screams carried on through the breeze and hammered Liu Bei's ears as he was soon overcome by this slaughter.

"AAAAGGHHHH!"

"...AAAGGHHHH!" Liu Bei awoke from his nightmare. Gat Su was now by the side of his bed.

"I heard some loud noises coming from your room, are you okay me-Lord?"

Liu Bei felt his pounding chest as if his heart were trying to escape its cage. "Yes it appears I was just having a bad dream...thanks for checking though.

"Well at least you haven't been hurt." As Gat Su tried to leave Liu Bei grabbed the end of his cape.

"Gat Su..." Liu Bei was still quite shaken from before. "This may sound like an odd request, but could you guard my chambers just for this night."

Gat Su was puzzled by his request. "Don't you already have guards at your doorway?"

Liu Bei tugged harder on his cape as he whispered. "I'm afraid that my greatest threat may be internally...You are the only one I can trust right now so please if it doesn't trouble you..."

Gat Su shrugged his shoulders. "I'll make sure to keep the ghosts away tonight hmm...?" He said in a rather patronising tone.

"Thank you Gat Su, I am in your debt..." Liu Bei managed to calm himself enough to get some more sleep."

Gat Su sat against the wall as he held his gigantic security blanket around his arms. I suppose I'm putting my bodyguard skills to good use...

…

MEANWHILE...

Shang Xiang had returned to Jian Ye to meet the leader of Wu – whom also happened to be her older Brother.

Sun Quan rested in his chair as he was being fanned by a couple of female servants. "Ah...Shang Xiang what brings you here?" He spoke in a rather condescending tone.

The young warrior couldn't bear to see her brother's face for the guilt she had felt at that moment carried a heavy burden on her shoulders. "My brother...I..." She slowly raised her head when she noticed her brother's feet in front of her.

Sun Quan held a scowling gaze. "I know everything about your affairs with Shu...You are no longer my sister!"

Shang Xiang felt like she was being choked by his words. She couldn't utter the slightest of a response. "Brother...I..."

"Have you come crawling back for forgiveness? Or are you fed up with being Liu Bei's lap-dog for today?" Sun Quan spat his words.

Shang Xiang closed her eyes tight, trying to hold back the flood of sorrowful tears. "I am terribly sorry for this dishonourable act, but I'm afraid I cannot fight by your side any longer...So I came here to say goodbye."

Sun Quan turned his back, not wishing to expose himself to the betrayal before his very eyes. "Get out of here now...If it weren't for our common blood I'd have you executed by now." Shang Xiang was mortified by his words. She had hoped for a peaceful goodbye yet her Brother had already decided to break his ties with his one surviving sibling. He fanned his hand back to her. "Away with you common swine, before I change my mind."

Shang Xiang slowly picked herself up, her legs felt numb and her body felt heavy. She gave one last glance at the back of her brother's head before she raced out of the room and jumped on her horse. This time she would not look back, she would only feel more regret if she looked at the place she was leaving behind.

He said I was no longer his sister. Father...Brother Ce...And now Brother Quan...I have no family left...

She rustled the reigns of her horse as she sprinted back to the one thing she had left to follow.

My mind is clear...My future lies with Shu.

…

A MONTH LATER...

"Grghh, Grrrghh...GRRAAGHH!" Zhang Bao overextended his final attack and face-planted into the muddy ground. He had trained almost every day with his mentor and was improving with each day, with each swing of his sword.

Gat Su wiped the sweat of his forehead. "Well done Bao...I must say you had me work hard for a minute their, maybe one day Liu Bei will let you fight on the battlefield." Gat Su ruffled his student's hair as he walked off to grab a drink from the well.

He could hear high pitched grunting noises nearby, he noticed Shang Xiang, who now wore a green set of tights and breastplate armour, sparring with another young girl whom he hadn't seen before.

Gat Su scratched the back of his head as he walked over to them. "You two certainly show the boys how it's done."

Shang Xiang only focused on her sparring partner. Gat Su could sense the burning rage in her eyes. She had still harboured the resentment of being disowned by her family and no matter what colour clothes or what flag she fought under, she was still in heart, a warrior of Wu.

"Say why don't you take a break and let me take over?" Gat Su tried to communicate to her but she wouldn't acknowledge him. She slashed her blades harder and with more ferocity. Her smaller opponent was being pushed back into the ground.

"Hey...Shang Xiang..." She bore her teeth as she continued slashing wildly across the poor girl's shield. "Shang Xiang...HEY STOP IT!" She roared like a beast as she connected with flesh. The young girl let out a shrill scream.

Shang Xiang was brought back her senses only after she noticed she had drove her blade into someone's shoulder. Gat Su had taken the hit as he stood between the tigress of Chang Jiang and the victim of the tigress' rage. He gritted his teeth and placed his hands over Shang Xiang's shoulders. "I know it's tough...but you can't take your grief out on young children."

Shang Xiang's knees wobbled as she collapsed onto Gat Su's chest. "It's been a whole month, yet I still hold the false hope that I can make peace with my brother again...I'm so foolish?" She sobbed into the Black Swordsman's chest.

"No...he was foolish for hurting his younger sister..." Shang Xiang stopped crying and looked up at Gat Su's rather compassionate eyes. "If he were a genuine older brother, he would still look after you and protect you, no matter which army you fought with...He's the fool..." Gat Su offered a rather strange, but comforting smile.

Shang Xiang pushed herself back from Gat Su and picked up her weapons. "I have to prepare my troops, if you'll excuse me."

Gat Su made sure the young girl was okay. She had medium length black hair and sea blue eyes. "Um...Thank you kind sir." The young girl spoke in a squeaky voice before she ran off as well.

As Gat Su gathered his belongings he heard a report from a young messenger that Shu would be waging war on the Wei forces currently situated at Fan Castle. Guan Yu would command the battle which meant there would only be a relatively small amount of forces remaining here at Cheng Du.

"You will not be dispatched for the next battle." The messenger said bluntly.

Gat Su felt disappointed a the fact he would not get to wear out his blade for another battle. "It has been a month since we last fought anyone, why wouldn't Liu Bei require my services in the next battle?"

"Lord Liu Bei instructs that you are required to fortify Cheng Du whilst our main forces are absent." The messenger concluded before he left.

Gat Su looked back over the hill at the place he had established as his home. The children were able to smile and play in the street. This was a land of peace. However Gat Su knew deep down this was only a temporary peace, for the only way to achieve true peace, was through battle.

He jumped on his horse and rode in a direction away from Cheng Du. "I can't stay here whilst my brother's fight on the battlefield..." Don't worry Liu Bei...Soon we will witness an age of peace throughout the land...

For the sake of peace, Gat Su makes the decision to take up the sword after a brief slumber. With all that has happened lately, will Gat Su and Shang Xiang be able to fight at their full potential? Don't miss the next thrilling chapter!