Chapter 11

ShaoMao stared at the warrior in front of her with the pure jade armour. He was tall and around 20, with a long, well-kept ponytail braid the colour of midnight. His longer face and tight mouth, accompanied with his cold look, told her who he was. "Greetings, ShaoMao," the man said as he gave her a slight bow through his armour. I know that voive! ShaoMao thought as she continued to listen. But she couldn't hear anything, for the sounds that she heard was the crashing of long waves…

ShaoMao was crouched at the side of the deck, watching every single soldier with fear as she coughed hoarsely, her limbs too tightly bound by rough ropes. As she lay there, her vision foggy, her numerous wounds bleeding, washing the deck with blood, someone approached. He was tall, with strong footsteps he crossed the deck with every single soldier who passed by him bowing down sincerely. As he reached her, SaoMao shivered with fear, and curled herself up even more tightly. He knelt down beside her, glaring at every curious soldier who wanted to see what he was doing. ShaoMao couldn't help looking up at him through her sli eyes at the man. Half-blinded by AnGangSeh, ShaoMao could not look at the light or her eyes would sting, and she could only see faint black and white shapes of different tones and shades .

ShaoMao's vision was blocked by his long braid. The reflections of the sunlight onto the braid made black and white blotches with comparisons in scale. She guessed that it was a braid. She felt her binds being cut off cleanly by him, herself being picked up add carried into a cabin, and the luxurious softness that appeared below her. She heard the gentle, if not dreamy, voice of an old man, "I can't help her much, General TongLong, her wounds are too deep, but I can heal her wounds first…"She heard the metallic clang of a sword. "Yes, yes, TaiYi," TongLong's impatient voice turned gentle when he said, "Just make sure that she feels comfortable for the next few days." ShaoMao did not hear anything else. She had slipped into a deep, unconscious sleep…

"ShaoMao, imagine the wealth and the honour you will have when you join my ranks when I become the Emperor. You know that you have the potential to be the Queen of China..." ShaoMao shuddered, and looked at TongLong. She could see only affection in his eyes. ShaoMao shook her head and walked to stand beside CheengLong, who looked at TongLong with smoldering narrowed eyes. "Never, TongLong!" ShaoMao and CheengLong said in unison. SheMao saw TongLong's jaw tighten with anger as he unsheathed his straight sword from its ornate scabbard in a flash. "Then despair, and meet your death," ShaoMao winced at his suddenly cold, hard voice.

With a roar, CheengLong ran towards TongLong, sword in hand, glistening with blood. "No!" ShaoMao cried, but to no avail. The men closed in a tight circle around the two swordsmen, and ShoaMao was blocked out, with 5 men surrounding her, she could not help CheengLong or escape not. TongLong was a very skilled warrior, and ShaoMao knew that CheengLong would either be killed or seriously injured.

But all she could do now, was wait, and despair.