I walked into Master Guo Jia's tent, to find him relaxing. Instead of his usual regal-looking clothes, he adorned a plain white robe. He sat in his chair, with his legs effortlessly crossed and as he reads a book on strategy.

I step in quietly, in an attempt to not disturb him.

"Ah, I'm glad my message got to you."

I bow to his respectfully, and watch as he closes the book and lays t back down on the desk.

"What did you need Master Guo Jia?"

He reaches and pulls out a drawer from his desk, pulling out a long sheet of paper. He lays it on his desk and makes a motion for me to come over.

I come over, and look at the paper, It was a map of the land. Master Guo Jia stands and points to the province of Xinye, where we are now.

"Xu Shu, as a traveller you know many shortcuts throughout the land correct?"

"Well, I know of many shortcuts throughout the north. "

He smiles at me, and hold his finger on our place on the map.

"Do you know of any, shortcuts, towards LuoYang," He slide his finger on the map to the province of Luoyang and I observe the map.

Well, Xinye and LuoYang aren't too far apart, It's a bit of a ways due to the provinces in between. Since LuoYang sits in the northern center of the land, It's slightly harder to reach, but it's still accessible. There are some roads off of the forest than can quicken the journey if need be, but those tend to be more littered with more problems than solutions. I dig into my memory, there must be a way, to get through to LuoYang quickly.

But then it clicked, the road off of the village. If you continue to follow it leads to more paths that connect to LuoYang easily. It's wide enough to move an entire army but narrow enough, to not be the smartest place for large battles. And there are plenty of places for strategic ambushes.

"Well, if we were to head west from here, we would come to the remnants of a small village," I use my finger and drag it to the area I speculate the village could be on the map, "Once we pass through it we can cross these woods and follow the northwest path to the borders of LuoYang."

I repeat the path in my mind, imagine the luscious forest and the green of nature. I can see the path and it certainly makes sense.

I see Master Guo Jia pushed his index finger to his lips and he nods. He looks much more serious than usual, is this how he normally is?

"I see. Xu shu, are there any hills or valleys?"

I nod, "Sometimes the path derails onto higher ground, I think those would be smart places to put certain squadrons to avoid a wide scale ambush."

He nods in agreement, "Precisely, that's what I think so too. But we should also have a squadron behind the army, in case of pincer attack. If we were to be attacked from any side while traversing, that would cause panic and it would drastically lower the army's morale."

I watch as he calculates everything precisely in his mind. He barely moved, seemingly like a colored statue.

"Even more so we need Lord Cao Cao to be with the main army. To keep up their morale, with incentive as well."

I nod, as I watch him. He looks to me and smiles.

"Xu Shu, you and Xiahou Dun's squad will be on the up hill to the east. I will pair everyone up accordingly and when the war council happens I will inform the others.

"Yes, Master Guo Jia."

I then pick up the map looking at it one more time. It's very flimsy and has a few tears in the paper. But it's still accurate and usable.

"Thank you for your assistance Xu Shu."

I look up from the map and turn to MAster Guo jia.

"Oh no, I was only trying to he-"

Huh?

I feel something soft, but firm. It was pressing against my lips and I reflexively, attempt to close my mouth. Though, when I did that it changed to being slightly wet. The surface dragged across my lips and it made me shiver. I finally seem to piece together my logic and truly look. Shock had filled me.

Master Guo Jia is-!

My body moved on its own. I roughly pushed him away. The map had flown out of my hands and drifted onto the floor. Master Guo Jia tried to catch himself but he ended up falling onto the floor. I step back, unable to piece together what had just happened. Reflexively, I use my hand to cover my mouth.

I see Master Guo Jia, struggling as he weakly, pushes his body up from the ground. His usually perfectly done blonde hair now messy, from the landing. He turned to me, his bangs laying in his face, wildly. His hazel eyes peeking from under them.

He lets out a quiet chuckle, and I step back again cautiously. My eyes were glued to him, and my body couldn't help but move away.

"Didn't enjoy that puppy?" his voice seemed to hold some pain into it.

I bolted out of the tent, not knowing where to go or what to do. The camp was dark, as the night sky loomed over my head. Though, my mind couldn't focus on what I was doing. It was too busy racing from the fact that Guo Jia kissed me!

Guo Jia kissed me!

I ended up stopping and leaning against a nearby tree. I struggle to catch my breath as My hands rub against my lips. I couldn't believe what had happened and how fast it had happened.

What….do i do now?

Days had passed and Master Guo Jia never brought up the kiss. I couldn't help but attempt to avoid him. He already usually made me cautious or nervous but now I could barely handle being in a room alone with him. My routine had changed from being with him every second, to trying to find any excuse to not be in the same room with him. But whenever we were forced into one room together, he acted normally, but I couldn't do the same.

And the war council had only made it worse.

Due to me helping him come up with the strategy, I had to explain the route to the warriors and the basic essence of the plan. Everyone was kind enough to give me their undivided attentions and they asked questions. I felt like a teacher a little.

Master Guo Jia had separated everyone into their groups and like i expected,Lord Xiahou Dun and I were in a group. Upon hearing the arrangement, he had turned to me and nodded to me. Making me tense up alittle but nod back.

After the council, everyone had dispersed and I quickly left the room. I don't know how i am avoiding Master Guo Jia so well, but I somehow make it work. But i'm sure everyone has noticed me doing this.

Just then I feel a hand slap the back of my head. I jerk a little, but turn to see Jia Xu and Zhang He. The former looking at me with bored eyes and the latter dancing to his 'audience '.

"Whats going on with you? You dashed out of the council room so quick."

I awkwardly chuckle and smile at him. "Well it was my first council,It made me nervous."

Zhang He twirls and faces me with a seemingly orchestral pose.

"Doesn't seem like it. You weren't beautiful but you spoke clearly and understandably. But you left the council most ungracefully.

I look away trying to find a way to change the subject.

"Youve been avoiding Lord Guo Jia too." Jia Xu's voice was laced with concern.

I knew they noticed, Of course they would notice. Master Guo Jia isn't exactly unknown. There was no way out of this topic, I know that. Jia Xu has his ways of prying and Zhang He isn't exactly slow either.

I sigh, looking at them both as they pause and stare into me. I awkwardly, rub the back of my head and look to the side.

"Um, well…"

I feel a pat on my back and I turn to see-

"Xu Shu, a word about the plan."

"M-master Guo Jia." I step back, a bit caught off guard by his presence. I can't help but look back at Jia Xu and Zhang He, who were now observing my actions deeply. I stand straight and nod to Master Guo Jia and bow to them both.

He led me off, while he held his scepter. I awkwardly followed him, as he led me elsewhere. Before I knew it we were in the forest. Was this another 'surprise'?

He turns back to me, and flashes his usual smile.

"I heard Lord Xiahou Dun had assisted you on unlocking your sorcery."

I nod, keeping my eyes on the shorter blonde man.

"I know I originally said that I wouldn't help you, However, I don't think Xiahou Dun was the ideal tutor."

He really wasn't.

"What did he tell you?"

I blink and recall the events of that day.

"Well, He told me to focus on myself and my surroundings, but also block out my surroundings. And don't let anything disturb me."

Master Guo Jia held the specter as he crossed his arms and put his free hand on his chin. He thought and looked to the side to do so. I can't help but be cautious of him, staring at his figure.

My eyes traversed his face, scanning the soft texture of his hair, the smooth paleness of his cheeks, then to his lips. His lips seemed to be the source of his manipulation 'aura', He has this way of talking in a sweet coo that lured in people. Even his smiles seemed manipulation enduing.

"Well then, His advice isn't useless, but there is surely more to it. Sit with me."

I rip my eyes away from his face, to find him sitting on the grass calmly. I quickly follow his actions, having pieced together what he had said.

"Now, Xu Shu, you mustn't think. Tapping into your soul should come naturally, with no need for artificial thoughts."

I closed my eyes, attempting to blank my mind.

"Good, now recall who you are. Explore the memories in the deepest crevices of your mind. Recall your discrepancies and your victories."

Memories flooded in. I see Shan Fu, a young boy, using a small branch as a sword. He slashes wildly and childishly at bushes. His mother comes after him, lifting him up into the sky. It skips, he is older now, holding a real sword that's made for fencing. His stance is better and he moves very quickly, even for his age. He is praised by a local man. Another skip, he is covered in blood, a dead body lays in front of him and he dashes out of an aristocrats room. The soldiers find him. Another skip, He is chained and tied onto a carriage, the soldiers drag him around town. Shouting obscenities and questions for his identity, no answer, but a crying woman. Another skip, he leaves her side, cuts his hair and now wanders the roads.

"Recall all the things that made you who you are. Then try to add it all up to one word"

I see Xu Shu, studying and taking up a whole table at a library, he smiles and enjoys the new array of books. Skip, I then see him fighting off bandits, they attempt to slow him down, but his speed is above all. He defeats them easily, without taking a single life. Another skip, I see Zhuge Liang, he and Xu Shu play strategy games. Even though he never wins he enjoys himself even more. Zhuge Liang also seems happy. Skip, He enters a small village, everyone seems nice and he makes friends quickly. He meets Lu Huang and his family. He even meets and enjoy Pang Tong's company. Skip, Fire. All he saw was fire, death and flames and a small girl named Mei. She cried and Xu Shu had almost died to save her.

"Xu Shu?"

He encounter Lu Shan, he graciously saves his life. He goes on for months living with him, again enjoying his company, even in mourning.

"Hey, Xu Shu."

Skip, he leaves Lu Shan and Mei behind. Though it ends up with a confrontation between him and Lu Shan. He defeated him, but at what cost?

"Xu Shu!"

My eyes snap open, I feel the wetness on my cheeks My vision was blurred, and I realized I was crying. I didn't move at all, because it finally pieced together.

"Woe.." My voice was weak and the word cracked.

Master Guo Jia stares at me with concern and scoots closer and take his hand close to me. I blink and realize what was happening and I swat his hand away reflexively.

I use the same hand to wipe my face and regain my composure.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed you aw-"

"No...I'm sorry."

I look at the blonde man silently, his hazel eyes and usual smile seemed to be different. They were twinged with something, akin to pain. He rises from the grass and begins to walks past me. I watch him walk off.

"Now all you must do is apply 'woe' into a physical form. That's the secret. Good luck."

And, like usual, he was gone and I was left with nothing but tired eyes and a confused expression.

"Apply woe into a physical form?"

How could I possibly do that?

[A/N] WELP! You do not know how happy I am that I could finally have that kiss scene happen! I know it's isn't exactly typed in such a 'world-breaking way' but That's the point! Xu Shu's eyes seemed to falter and he couldn't exactly comprehend what was happening! I LOVE IT! Meanwhile a further dip into the 'Soul tapping mission' here's some more about 'His first Life' (get it ^^) Wish our puppy some luck! See you next chapter!