Heya people, another chapter done! Hope you all enjoy. Don't forget to review, thanks! And thank you to Darkmoonflute288, Malz, Cassandra, Musou, Shangxiang10, Crirawen, LoopyPooky, Touga, Guan, Sakura Loire, Blackangel04, Cenasgirl456 andreymysterio619 for all the feedback you've given me!
"My Lord, the battle has already started. Tell each of your officers to leave 10,000 men in reserve. Xiahou Yuan, Zhang He and Guan Yu should go to aid Yuan Shao, Yuan Tan and escort Yuan Xi to his troops in the east of the field. Xu Zhu, Cao Ren and Xu Huang should go aid the officers to the west and Xiahou Dun, You and I should go straight ahead." Zhen Ji had rode up to Cao Pi to remind him of the plan.
"And what of Da Qiao?" Asked Cao Pi, eying the girl suspiciously. "Are you sure it's wise to let her fight? She might try to escape."
"She won't, she's given me her word, and I trust her." Dropping her voice, she added, "And what else can we do? I personally don't trust one of the great beauties of China with a group of soldiers."
Cao Pi grimaced. "I see your point. Just make sure she doesn't get hurt."
"As you wish Cao Pi."
"If you insist upon being informal you could at least use my Pinyin name."
"As you wish, Zihuan." Zhen Ji watched Cao Pi's eyes widen as his expression faltered. He wasn't expecting that. She smiled and rode back to her troops.
"Reserve troops wait here. The rest of you, prepare to march." Zhen Ji turned her horse around and rode up to Da Qiao and Tong Xia.
"You two ready?" Zhen Ji asked, looking from one to the other. They both gave curt nods. "Let's go then! Troops, FORWARD!" Zhen Ji took off into the battle, leaving the rest of the Wei army to receive their instructions from Cao Pi.
As her men engaged the enemy in battle, Zhen Ji ignored the troops, only blocking attempts to kill her or throw her from her saddle. The only thing on her mind was the side quest she had to embark on, to save yet another soul. She spurred her horse on, her eyes narrowed in determination, seeking her target.
"What are you doing?" Tong Xia demanded, riding up next to Zhen Ji.
"Where are we going?" Da Qiao asked, riding up the other side.
"We are going to find Diao Chan. She is going to be killed-"
"And so she should be, she's the enemy's mistress!" Tong Xia cut in.
"But it's her own army that's going to kill her!" Zhen Ji continued, as if uninterrupted.
"NO!" Da Qiao screamed and veered left. Her sister had been surrounded and although she was fighting superbly, she was losing the battle. Da Qiao tugged on her horse's reins but didn't wait for the beast to stop. She manoeuvred herself into a crouching position on the saddle, then launched off and landed gracefully next to her sister. Wordlessly, they stood back to back, killing soldiers as they tried to engage them in combat.
"We should help them!" Tong Xia shouted.
Even though she developed strong feelings towards the Qiaos, Zhen Ji knew she couldn't deter from her quest. She had faith in the skills of both the Qiaos and her bodyguard. "You go; I need to find Diao Chan!"
"Will you be alright alone?"
"Yes, help the Qiaos."
"As you wish." Tong Xia turned around to help the girls.
Zhen Ji rode on, searching, until her eyes came to rest on the lithe figure of the songstress. Zhen Ji leapt off her horse, which stopped as soon as it felt its rider depart. She cut her way through the soldiers, hitting, kicking, punching and slapping soldiers out of her way effortlessly towards the songstress.
"Diao Chan, I request an audience with you!" Zhen Ji shouted when she was within earshot. At this the soldiers around the two women stopped fighting each other, moving back behind their respective general.
"You are my enemy, why should I grant your request?" Diao Chan's usually soft voice was surprisingly hard and cold.
"Your men are planning to kill you because your influence on Lu Bu is too great!"
Diao Chan wasn't expecting that. She momentarily faltered. A sergeant saw his opportunity and ran for the songstress. He never reached his destination. As he was about to plunge his sword into the songstress Zhen Ji stabbed him in the back of the neck with the sharp mouthpiece of her flute. She gave the rest of her troops a glare that challenged them to try anything like that again. She then turned back to Diao Chan and the corpse.
"Did your mother not tell you that it's rude to interrupt a conversation?" Zhen Ji asked the corpse of the sergeant she had just killed.
Diao Chan looked from the dead body at her feet to Zhen Ji.
"Why did you do that?"
"I wish to speak to you."
"Speak."
"Lady Diao Chan, it is widely known that your influence led Lu Bu to kill Dong Zhuo. Lu Bu's officers are fearful of your power, and mean to kill you. Their archers are ready to kill you where you stand."
"But it wasn't me who led him to kill Dong Zhuo. I told him repeatedly not to. And Lu Bu loves me; he would never allow them to kill me. He's planning to marry me."
"Lu Bu doesn't know of this plan." Zhen Ji interrupted. "His officers have resorted to treason. That is how much they fear your power within Lu Bu's court."
Diao Chan's head was whirling. This couldn't be true. The generals couldn't plot to kill her behind Lu Bu's back. Lu Bu had to know of the plan if the enemy knows, and if he knew, then that meant… "You lie!" Diao Chan was doing what Zhen Ji was afraid she would do. She didn't believe her.
"I assure you that-"
"Zhen Ji, I challenge you to a duel, you will pay for lying to me!"
"Very well Diao Chan, let us fight." Zhen Ji readied herself as Diao Chan launched at her, maces flying wildly, each attack successfully blocked just in time.
As Zhen Ji and Diao Chan fought, the soldiers, having lost all interest in fighting each other, formed a circle around the pair, eager to see the victor.
Both enchantress and songstress fought fiercely, each attack executed with perfect accuracy, only to be blocked gracefully. They fought as if dancing, and all who witnessed the scene were watching in awe. Zhen Ji had to give Diao Chan credit, she had been taught well. No one had fought this well against her. Diao Chan's maces flew wild and fast, but Zhen Ji had no trouble blocking them with her flute. Zhen Ji kicked at Diao Chan, who blocked the kick and swung a mace at her. She ducked, and thrust her flute towards the songstress' abdomen. Diao Chan blocked this and again swung her maces. Zhen Ji rolled over and leapt to her feet. She then charged Diao Chan, who blocked the attack. Then suddenly an arrow, seemingly from nowhere flew through the air and embedded itself into the ground next to Diao Chan's left foot. Another landed on Zhen Ji's right. They both looked around, the duel forgotten, looking for the archers responsible for the volley which was approaching them.
Both Diao Chan and Zhen Ji made their way forwards, blocking arrows as they walked, both with their weapons and enemy soldiers, slowly but surely making their way towards the archers clad in purple armour, who were situated at the top of a tower on a deserted part of the battle field. As they came into view, Diao Chan faltered, and arrows pierced her left shoulder, right thigh and the ornate flower in her hair, the force of the blow knocking her to the ground. Zhen Ji saw this and, grabbing an unfortunate private, she made her way over to Diao Chan, using the private as a human shield. Zhen Ji stood in front of the screaming Diao Chan, the private in her hands being pumped full of arrows, his screams drowning out those of the songstress as his life left him, whilst she contemplated her next move. Out of the corner of her eye, Zhen Ji saw rapid movement, and she turned her head to see Xiahou Yuan firing arrows in quick succession at the archers.
As she watched in awe the corpse of the private in her hands dropped, exposing her to the few archers left. Three arrows came flying at her, but she noticed too late to block them all. She blocked one, then another, but the third hit its mark, embedding itself into Zhen Ji's lower torso. She dropped to her knees from the pain and impact of the arrow.
"Lady Zhen Ji, are you alright?"
Zhen Ji didn't need to look up to know who was speaking to her. "I have an arrow in my stomach, I couldn't be better." Zhen Ji retorted, her voice filled with biting sarcasm as she had just been shot and was in no mood for stupid questions. She felt strong hands on either side of her rib-cage helping her stand. She let out a cry as she was gently forced to stand upright. She looked into the eyes of her helper, and noticed something flying towards them.
"Dun, look out-" As Zhen Ji said this Xiahou Dun let go of her and turned around. She fell back onto her knees, taking in a sharp breath as she did so, and heard a sickening sound of an arrow embedding itself into a soft, moist place, followed moments later by loud cursing, and a few seconds later she felt a warm, gooey liquid hit her head. As she looked up slowly, the sight she saw chilled her to the bone. Xiahou Dun stood before her, his face twisted in pain and anger, his left eye gouged out, blood spurting from the empty socket, and Xiahou Dun putting the eye into his mouth. She then felt a strong pair of hands lift her up. She looked at her saviour and said one thing to him before she passed out.
"Help Diao Chan…"
