Fires of Yiling

It was as Zhuge Liang predicted. Liu Bei, incensed at the death of Guan Yu, forsook the path of virtue and called upon his armies to attack Wu. Many welcomed the opportunity, but Zhao Yun feared Zhuge Liang was right. To leave Han Zhong now would set them back in the Northern Campaign against Wei. But he could not gainsay his lord.

Returning to Cheng Du to ready the invasion, Liu Xuande shut himself in his chambers in his grief and would see no one, not ever his beloved Sun Shang Xiang. Zhuge Liang offered to send the Wu Princess back after a letter from Sun Quan requested her return, but she would not leave, wishing only to help Liu Bei.

Zhao Yun and Diao Chan were reunited. During the days before the invasion they spent all their time together with Li. Neither mentioned the night before his departure to Han Zhong nor his letter. They seemed merely content to be together.

Finally their happiness ended as it became time to strike out for the Southlands. Sun Shang Xiang surprised everyone by riding at the side of her husband. And Diao Chan was well enough that she rode with Zhao Yun. Whatever might happen they would all face it together. Zhuge Liang returned to the north to prepare a defense against any Wei retaliation. He would follow later.

The early campaigns went smoothly enough but disaster came at the place called Yiling. Lu Meng, the main strategist of Wu who had brought about Guan Yu's downfall, had died mysteriously. In his place was now Lu Xun, a clever young man married to the daughter of Sun Ce. He took advantage of Liu Xuande's impulsiveness and launched a massive fire attack at the Shu camp. This sent the troops into panic. The Wu forces then began a sneak attack, forcing Liu Bei back into Shu territory, into the infamous Stone Sentinel Maze Zhuge Liang had designed as a deterrent to Wu invasion.

Zhao Yun and Diao Chan covered Liu Bei's retreat. During their own withdrawal they had come under heavy attack from the Wu officers Gan Ning and Ling Tong. These powerful foes pushed them to the breaking point. In single combat Gan Ning scored a deep wound on Zhao Yun's right side, while Ling Tong broke Diao Chan's left wrist with a merciless strike.

"Ha! Is this the best Shu's got?" taunted Gan Ning. "Guess you're nothing without ol' Guan Yu around, huh? Not that he was any problem for us either!" He advanced again, pushing back the injured Zhao Yun.

"No need to rub it in Gan Ning." advised Ling Tong as he broke a deadlock with Diao Chan and scored another hit on her shoulder, making her cry out in pain. "They know they're finished. Let's settle this quick so we can take out Liu Bei!"

"All right, all right!" groused his partner as he began to pummel Zhao Zilong with a series of dizzying attacks. Ling Tong did the same with Diao Chan.

"I… I cannot hold on much longer Lord Yun…" gasped Diao Chan, furiously struggling to block the relentless blows.

Zhao Yun began to slump. "I am at my limit as well…"

"It has been an honor fighting with you Zilong…"

"For me as well Diao Chan…"

"How sweet!" smirked Gan Ning, stepping back to laugh for a moment. "Looks like the lovers get to die together!"

"Brings a tear to my eye!" agreed Ling Tong. "Now let's finish this!" The two Wu generals unleased their double musou attack on their Shu rivals. The attack was powerful, and nearly killed them, but somehow Zhao Yun and Diao Chan stayed on their feet.

"Still alive?" jeered Gan Ning. "You're too stubborn! Just give up already!"

"Guess they can't give up on that little mute girl back in Shu!" Ling Tong smiled at the looks on the Shu warriors' faces. "Oh yeah, that traitor Sun Shang Xiang wrote her brother about your little family!"

"Heh, heh, guess we'll meet her when we take Cheng Du!" laughed Gan Ning.

That was the wrong thing to say. Diao Chan and Zhao Yun straightened up and readied Moonflower and Dragon Fang. Gan Ning did not notice them at first for he was too busy laughing. But Ling Tong did.

"Uh, Gan Ning, they're still on their feet!"

"Huh? Well, guess they want some more broken bones!"

"I don't like the look on their faces Gan Ning!"

Zhao Yun and Diao Chan unleashed their own double musuo attack. By the time the dust settled the Wu warriors had been forced back and were barely on their feet. Their Shu enemies did not let up. Zhao Yun battled Gan Ning until he pierced the former pirate's heart with his spear, while Diao Chan lopped off Ling Tong's head with her bladed chain whip. They stood over the bodies of their fallen rivals with fierce looks on their faces.

"Guess we got a second wind." observed Diao Chan.

"Guess so." agreed Zhao Yun.

"Let's make for the Wu Main Camp!" cried the dancer, jumping on Black Spider.

Zhao Yun followed suit, and the two galloped off to find Sun Quan.

WP

Zhuge Liang and Yue Ying arrived just in time. With their forces added to Liu Bei's the Wu assault was broken and Sun Quan captured. Lu Xun had fled the battle but Wu was finished. However Shu was badly weakened as well and could only retake Jing, lacking the strength to proceed either into the Southlands or Wei.

Even worse Zhang Fei had been killed by the Wu forces while protecting his sworn brother. Many others had also died or were badly injured. Though a victory, the loss of manpower and leadership was a crippling blow to their crusade to restore the Han.

At the Wu camp Zhao Yun and Diao Chan had arrived to find Sun Shang Xiang pointing an arrow at her brother. Before she let fly, though, Liu Bei had appeared and stopped her. Declaring his love for her, he spared Sun Quan. The Wu King was now made a vassal of Liu Bei, and was ordered to keep his original vow to attack He Fei. Realizing Xuande was indeed a great man, he agreed to continue the attack after he regained control of the Southland and replenished his army. Sun Shang Xiang surprised her husband and her brother when she declared she would go to Wu to help Sun Quan.

The Shu forces prepared to march back to Cheng Du. It was all they could do for the moment. They did not possess the strength to attack Wei through Jing. For the moment Cao Cao was in a position of great strength despite the renewed Shu-Wu alliance.

Still Liu Xuande wished to continue the Northern Campaign. But Zhuge Liang advised him that was impossible now, for rebellion was forming with the region of Nan Zhong. This southern part of Shu was an important source of trade and materials and could not afford to be lost.

Zhao Yun and Diao Chan were not part of this discussion. After finding Liu Bei and Sun Quan they had nearly succumbed to their wounds and were in bad shape. They would recover by the time they reached Cheng Du thanks to Yue Ying, but for now they must rest.

That night, in the infirmary tent, Diao Chan turned to look at Zhao Yun and smiled. "Well, we won."

Zhao Yun smiled back, weakly. "But not without cost."

"I would not have made it without you by my side."

"Nor I, Diao Chan."

The dancer studied him in the moonlight, his face bruised and his body battered. Yet to her he never looked more handsome. "Did you mean what you wrote in that letter? Never mind." She stopped his from answering. "You always mean what you say."

Zhao Yun said nothing but turned to look at her, her flawless face making his heart ache.

"I keep thinking I should be nicer to you." She blurted out suddenly.

Zilong shrugged. "I like you as you are."

"You are stubborn. You won't go and find yourself a suitable girl." Zhao Yun's mouth dropped open hearing her speak like this. "So I guess that means I have to take care of you."

"Take care of me?"

"Well, you don't have enough sense to find a suitable wife. I can't leave you on your own. Li would be upset if something happened to you."

Zhao Yun could barely find his voice. "Diao Chan, what are you saying?"

"What, you weren't listening?" She shakily rose from her pallet and laid down next to him. Zhao Yun's heart began to beat very fast. "You need someone to take care of you." She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Since you can't find another I guess it's up to me."

"I guess so." Zilong smiled happily at her. "Sorry to cause you trouble."

"You should be." This time Diao Chan leaned in and kissed him with incredible passion. Despite their injuries they both threw themselves into the kiss. "Since I met you, nothing but trouble." She finished breathlessly as they broke apart.

Zhao Yun pulled her gently towards him and kissed her again, showing her what was in his heart. Diao Chan's eyes began to tear as she felt his love for her.

"Zhao Yun, my lord, I must tell you…"

"Diao Chan…" he interrupted her.

"What is it?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Let's stop talking now." Pulling her even closer, he began to kiss her again. Diao Chan laughed a little into the kiss and responded. Finding energy neither believed they had, they joined themselves forever that night.