WHAT HAPPENED?

SLASH ZL x ZY

Disclaimer: Koei knows who all the rights belong to, and it certainly isn't me. I don't speak a lick of chinese.

Uh-oh, Zhuge's got a secret. Too bad Liu Bei noticed...

Last time:

"That's a relief, and here I thought you actually remembered something relevant," Zhuge Liang frowned, "I'm going back to my tent, that was far too much excitement for this scholar..." Zhou Yu looked over at Zhao Yun who was still staring at them in mirth.

10- Surreal

When his lord called him to his quarters later the hermit knew he was in trouble. Zhao Yun had witnessed something that most people didn't know he could do... The amount of power he had to conceal, plus the amount of Chi controlled during his attack might have caught the attention of the whole camp...

"Master Liang, how soon will your plans be ready?" were the first words out of his mouth. The Shu Scholar relaxed visibly, he had expected a comment concerning the earlier spar.

"The most crucial factors will be done soon my Lord, all that remains is with Wu's portion of the forces," Zhuge Liang brought forth a copy of the Chi Bi schematics that he had edited, still retaining Zhou Yu's original colors across the map, "Wu has the ships ready, the most pressing factor left which is what we are waiting on is Cao Cao's declaration of battle. Which given the instigator we sent their way shouldn't be longer than a couple more weeks."

"I assume you mean the fledging phoenix?" Liu Bei inquired looking over the plans again, Liang nodded, "well that's promising. Master Liang, I also heard a curious statement earlier." The Shu lord certainly had a way of creating stress for him, Liang raised an eyebrow trying not to show any of the nervousness he was feeling at present. "Zhao Yun told me that was your chi I felt earlier." Oh boy, that was not good...

"Even if it was Master Liang, that is your business and if you have a reason for not using it I trust you. I would however like to know how I am supposed to explain the amount of Chi you released to the other generals." Liang let his shoulders relax, he was glad that he had accepted Liu Bei's request. While the man knew how to stress him out he also knew the delicacy of such secrets in war times.

"Well we certainly can't claim that it was Lord Zhou Yu's, that would make the entire camp nervous... I would prefer that it came across as a fluke overall," the Shu Scholar thought about the circumstances. There weren't a whole lot of options in dealing with it, "perhaps we could say it was a new recruit that ended up dying by over extending his chi?" The Shu lord looked somewhat amused by the Scholar's suggestion.

"Rebel soldiers that interrupted Zhao Yun's and Lord Zhou Yu's training, and brother Fei killed him when he arrived?" Liu Bei suggested, "he won't say anything Master Liang. Just give him a lot of drinks as thanks and that should be enough. I know Zhao Yun will not repeat his statement to anyone else. Just let him know the story." The Shu lord smiled lightly for a second, "did Lord Zhou Yu really believe you two were Yellow Turbans? I also heard from Zhao Yun when you interfered he thought you were Zhang Jiao." the Shu Lord's mirth was obvious at the thought.

"Unfortunately, I still don't see how the preacher came to mind when I interfered," Zhuge Liang trailed off to a low mutter, "as for the Chi, it most likely won't happen again my Lord. Normally I'm not using magic and sparring with people like General Zhao Yun and Lord Zhou Yu. It was probably the combination of magic and..." Liu Bei held up a hand.

"That was not just from the magic Master Liang, the Chi you were releasing is quite specific to magic in some ways yes," his lord looked at him with a small frown, "it corresponds to the fact you are the Sleeping Dragon Master Liang. Your spiritual energy is far beyond the comprehension of most men, but it is very similar to Lord Zhao Yun's. When you awaken your energy from its dormant state it will always come across as terrifying to others because it is a divine energy." While the Shu Scholar had known about it somewhat, he had not in fact researched about why his spirit energy was quite so... huge? To hear that the Shu Lord actually had compiled some knowledge on the matter only made him less worried.

"I will approach you again to discuss this matter my Lord, for I have not yet looked into it," he announced, "as for now I have work yet to accomplish, if you will excuse me."

Liu Bei nodded watching the man go, he could see the Chi still lingering around Liang's form. It appeared that something had changed with the Scholar, the Chi was flickering subtlety enough that only a trained eye could spot it.

Liu Bei however did not understand why it was flickering that way, he had seen the former Lord Sun Jian's chi do that as well. It did not bode well to the Shu Lord to see his strategist displaying his Chi in that manner.