Kai and Ba had arrived in Xuchang along with everyone else and the party was underway. The wine flowed and music rang through everybody's ears much to their delight. Kai was rather curious as to why Cao Cao had decided to throw a party if the battle was only a test but he wasn't complaining. He seemed to have inherited his father's love of wine. The teenagers were standing out on the balcony that overlooked the south of Xuchang.

"It's beautiful don't you think?" Kai asked as he leaned on the edge.

"I gotta admit...It is pretty cool to look at."

"Just imagine Ba, next year; we can join the army and serve Lord Cao Cao. Exciting huh?"

"Yeah! With my strength and your brains; we'll be unstoppable!"

Both boys cheered before Kai cut his off.

"Hey, what do you mean 'Your strength'? I'm strong too!"

"Yeah but i'm stronger." And so began a small contest between the two.

"I'm faster." Kai was certain of that. In a fight, he could run rings around Ba.

"I'm better-looking." He had to admit, Ba got far more female attention than Kai did. It wasn't that he was ugly but girls never really seemed to be interested in him.

"I'm smarter."

Kai was tempted to say that he was taller but he decided not to. He didn't want to hurt Ba's feelings and so said he was smarter instead. Which in itself; made Kai feel bad as it was still an insult. But Ba seemed to care. Or notice.

"I think we can do it you know. Take the world by storm. Get rid of Sun Quan and Liu Bei."
"Just us two?"
"Well perhaps not just us. Ning too but don't you see my point? We can really make a difference Ba." Kai was certain that he could make a difference, honour his father's memory and make Cao Cao's ambition a reality if he joined up and fought with everyone else.
"So I want to ask you. Urm…This is hard.." His heart began to beat faster and his mouth felt dry. Kai was never too good with rejection in any situation. But he wanted to ask this question and nothing would deter him.

"Ba, do you want to be...My sworn brother? Say yes…Please."

The son of Xiahou Yuan was taken a little aback. He was actually going to ask Kai but to have him ask instead saved him the awkward moment. But he could picture it in his head. The son of Xiahou Yuan and the son of Guo Jia fighting together until the very end. The pleasant thought made his heart feel funny.
"Well I gotta admit, I was actually looking for the right time to ask you so I guess you're the braver one."

Kai smiled before taking a hidden dagger out. His father had taught him to always keep one just in case. Even in the court. Kai looked at the dagger. It was double-edged with a dark blue hilt and gold pommel. As he admired the design of it, the conversation with his father made their way into his thoughts.

'You never know when someone could start a rebellion or stab from behind because he doesn't like you Kai. If you're ever in any danger, use this dagger. Here, tuck underneath your sleeve.'
'Who'd wanna kill Lord Cao Cao? Or me?'
'Kai, we live in dangerous times and I won't always be here to protect you. It's just a precaution okay?
'Yes dad. Thanks.'

Flashing back into the present, Kai looked at Ba and waved the dagger in front of him.

"Ba, stick out your hand."
"You're going to cut it aren't you? I don't want you to cut my hand!"
"Oh stop being such a baby! I'm going to cut your finger. Not your whole hand."

Ba looked at him skeptically but relented and stuck his hand out. Kai held his cup of wine beneath Ba's fingers before making a small cut. A drop of blood dripped into the wine. Kai had to admit, he wasn't exactly looking forward to drinking Ba's blood but he had read numerous books that stated that both men or women must drink the blood of the other person participating to become sworn siblings. Or at least, a drop of blood. But he couldn't ignore the close bond that he and Ba had and he felt that it was time to make that bond, unbreakable.

Moving over to Ba's cup of wine, Kai yelped quietly as he cut his own finger and let a drop of blood enter the wine. Licking the cut, Kai picked up his wine and watched as Ba's blood swirled around. He had his own reservations about it but he was 99% sure that his best friend wasn't diseased.

He held his cup out to meet Ba's.
"Okay i'm not good at speeches or whatever so i'll make it quick. Urm...May we drink this wine and be friends forever. As close as brothers by birth. How was that?"
"Eeeeh better than nothing."
"Well it's all I got. So drink up."
Kai stomach twisted with nerves at the thought of drinking the wine. But it was common for men and women to swear oaths of brother and sisterhoods with their closest friends. Taking their bond to the next step. Kai thought it was awesome that he was doing this. Closing their eyes; they drank their cups of wine in one go. Kai could feel the blood running down his throat as it was slightly thicker than the wine. Both boys had hoped that the taste of the wine would overshadow the taste of of the blood. However this was not the case as even though only a drop of blood was in the wine, they could still taste it.

"Your blood tastes like iron. I think that's a good sign...Brother Kai." The fact that they now had to address eachother as brothers was surreal and yet, pleasant.
"Thanks...Brother Ba. Your blood tastes really salty. Lay off the salty meatbuns." Both of them chuckled before putting their cups down and walking back in.

"Well we're officially sworn brothers now Ba. Now what do we do?"
"Eat. Well I want to, i'm hungry."

Kai looked back at the night sky and then down at Xuchang before noticing someone skulking around by one of the alleyways.
'I wonder who that is? Its not safe to be wandering around alone at this time of night.'

Walking into the hall and past Wang Yi, Kai was amazed by how many jugs of wine she had put away. She was competing with Xiahou Yuan and it was clear as crystal that he was losing. Sima Yi was also watching. Kai's hadn't really interacted with Sima Yi enough to form an opinion and never really payed him any attention.

Walking in and through the crowds; Kai stopped by his family and smiled at his mother.

"You okay mum?"

"Yeah; i'm fine honey. A little hungry though. I think some cheese would go lovely with a beef meatbun." Kai believed his mother was going through something called 'Cravings'

"Have fun trying to whip that up."
"Okay honey, don't get too drunk now."
"I won't!" Kai smiled and gave his mum a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you mother."
"I love you too Kai. What brought all this on?"
"Oh nothing." Xujie lovingly took Kai's hand and held it for a little while before letting go and allowing Kai to sit down.

It was March 6th in the year 218 and Kai had explicitly stated that he did not want any party or banquet for his birthday, preferring something quiet. However Jin and Xujie were adamant that Kai should at least have a small get together and as such, invited Li Dian, Yu Ning, Cao Cao and Xiahou Ba round to celebrate. At first, Kai was not pleased with either of them but it was now the middle of the night and Kai had slowly began to enjoy himself. Mainly due to the wine. He wasn't drunk but he felt more relaxed. Xujie was in the final months of her pregnancy and was expected to be giving birth to Yue Jin's child soon. Everyone in the house was excited and with Jin, Yi, Kai and Fenxia around, everyone was sure that the birth would go swimmingly.

Li Dian had left early to go back home to his son. Li Zhen actually liked Kai but the two never really spoke much. Cao Cao and Yue Jin were talking about the ongoing chaos and the dwindling Han. Ning and Ba were outside discussing 'Important matters'. Yi was busy enjoying his wine whilst Fenxia was next to her stepfather; eagerly listening in on his conversation.

Kai stared at his armour and sword and shield, mounted on the wall when he turned around to see his mum standing behind him.

"Enjoying your birthday?"
"Well I would have preferred something quiet but its nice to have you guys here so I suppose it's not too bad."
"Well if you're happy, i'm happy son. Now I have something to give you."
"A present?"
"Not quite. Now that you're 18, Cao Cao is officially letting you join us."

Kai's mouth opened into a wide smile and he leapt off his bed.

"Alright, me! Loyal soldier of Cao Cao!"
"I figured you'd be happy…" Xujie trailed off and looked away with a sad aura emanating from her.
"What's wrong mother?"
"I know you're strong Kai. And you've definitely got your father's smarts. That's for sure. But…"

"You're worried about me getting hurt aren't you?"

"Well yes. I mean, with your father, I never really worried since beneath that slim physique was a lot of muscle. With Yi, he was always defending himself from bullies in school and after the victory at Hefei, I know he can handle himself. But you Kai. You was always the baby of the family. Even with Fenxia here. So now…"
"I had to grow up sometime mother."
"I know but...Kai, when you're on the battlefield. Please be careful."

"I will. I promise." Kai hugged his mother and Xujie had to think of the time when Kai would be hugging her waist. Not being taller and hugging her properly.

Letting go of her son, she reached into her pocket and took out a folded piece of paper and gave it to Kai.

"This is from your dad. Happy birthday son."
"From dad?"
"Yes. he wanted me to give it to you on your eighteenth birthday. So here it is."

"Thanks mum." Xujie smiled before walking out and grabbing another cup of wine.

Unfolding the letter, Kai sat down and began to read its contents.

Son

Happy birthday! I'm sorry that i'm not here to enjoy it with you and see you get drunk for the first time. Are you okay son? I have no doubt that you've done exceptionally well in school and i'm proud of you every step of the way. So I made arrangements with Lord Cao Cao before my...You know...Death and you are now officially part of his forces. Assuming the chaos is still going on. Granted, if you don't want to, you don't have to be a part of his forces. You don't have to fight. But I figured that if you want to be like me, this is where to start.

Now you never really seemed like the ladies man but I know you. I know that you will treat any ladies you are with right. So Kai, if you have a girlfriend; keep doing what you're doing. If you don't have a girlfriend, get a girlfriend.

Kai had to giggle at that part. He didn't have a girlfriend and there weren't any girls that caught his eye but it made him feel proud to know that his father trusted him to treat women well. Not that Kai would ever treat them badly. Some boys in his neighbourhood thought that he was odd for not wanting to have sex with a girl straight away or have many concubines but those thoughts never really entered his mind. That wasn't to say that Kai never had any sexual thoughts but when he saw a pretty girl; he thought about taking them out on a nice date first rather than trying to woo them to his bedroom. Cai Wenji had noted that Kai was a 'Rare type of man'. Turning his gaze to the letter, he continued reading.

Now to get a little depressing son. There are so many things I wanted to say to you. So many things I wanted to teach you. Even now I just coughed up a bit of blood. I knew I couldn't fight my illness no matter how hard I tried. I'll never see you get married. Or have children.

So I just want you to know a few things.

I love you so much son.

That sentence was the drop that made the cup overflow as Kai started crying quietly.

"Daddy...I love you too." he whispered.

Be it on earth or in the heavens, my love for you will never stop and I am always watching you. Well apart from your more...Intimate moments in your life...Moving on…
When you're on the battlefield, please please please please please DO NOT try to be a hero. No matter what pretty lady may be in danger or whoever is caught in an ambush, don't rush in to save them without thinking it through first got it?

Another thing I want to teach you whilst I write this is killing.

Kai, killing isn't easy and it never will be. Only a wild animal kills without feeling. So I will only tell you this; if someone is coming at you with a spear ready to kill you or someone you love, you know what you have to do. Even if it tears you apart inside, you have to do it. We...You live in harsh times and no doubt you've been exposed to war and death so remember to do what you must.

The emotions and thoughts that come after you've killed someone never get easier to deal with. You simply stop paying them due.
Which makes my heart ache even more than it already is. I don't want you to turn into a killer. Not you or Yi or Fenxia and yet, I feel that it is the only path in today's world. I have to wonder son, are we raising killers?
Its for reasons like this ongoing chaos that I urge you to live your life to the fullest. You never know when it will abruptly end son.

If Master Jia Xu has taught you well, you probably know to stay 4 steps ahead of your opponents when it comes to strategy. Just in case you don't know, stay 4 steps ahead of your opponent. Let me give you some words from the The Art of War which you probably already know.

'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle'

Take that saying to heart son. It will save your life.

Well Kai, that's all i've got to say. Someday me and you will meet again and you can tell me stories of your life. Be them good or bad. Know that no matter what you do in life, i'll always love you and accept your choice.

I love you.

Dad

P.S I noticed that you've taken a liking to my outfit. Well as my birthday gift to you, I ordered you one in your size. It should arrive on March 7th 218. How do I know you'll be that size in 10 years time? Lets just say that I, Guo Jia, know these things.

As Kai stored the letter away in a box of his most precious items, he felt a flurry of emotions running through his mind. Joy. Grief. Anxiety. But one emotion overtook his mind completely.

Pride.

The one man that Kai always admired was Guo Jia.
Always loved was Guo Jia.
The one man that he idolized was Guo Jia.

And so a thought passed through his mind. Something that he should have done quite some time ago. For 18 years, he has honoured his birth mother's memory. Now was the time that he honoured his adoptive father's memory.
Walking out of his bedroom, he walked over to his mum who was sitting with Cao and Jin.

"Mum?"
"Yes honey?"
"Can I ask you something important?"

"Sure. What is it?"
"Can I change my name?"
"Well...Yes...But to what?"

"Guo Kai." A small smile slowly made its way onto Xujie's face.

Author's Notes: Well I had a very eventful few weeks or so. I don't want to go into detail but they were very...Negative. But I am very happy to have submitted this chapter for all of you to read. So please, read, enjoy, review and have a fantastic day! - Golbez