[A/N] Happy 20th chapter everyone and a (late) happy holidays and new year! It really feels like the time has flown (probably because of how fast I usually put out chapters) but thank you to everyone who has came this far with my story. I've always loved Dynasty warriors and I knew when I saw Xu Shu that he was going to become a new obsession for me. And i don't specifically remember what prompted me to ship him with Guo Jia, but it happened and here we are now. I just wanted to get my thanks and let you all know how happy I am that I AM MADE IT TO 20 CHAPTERS! It's honestly amazing because usually I drop fanfics quickly and never touch them again, but I guess from all the enjoyment and encouragement It kept me going. Anyways thank you again and ONTO THE CUTENESS!

[Guo Jia]

I knew the threat would elicit a negative response.

When Lord Cao Cao stepped out and stood in front of his loyal army, and spoke about how Wu has denied their option of surrender. I knew this would connect to more battles. I stood in front, beside Xiahou Dun, as I swallowed my concern. Lord Cao Cao's recent actions were becoming brash and reckless. But some reckless steps must be taken. I didn't question it...until he said that we are taking our naval fleet and heading for Chi bi.

With that declaration and him telling Jia Xu, Xu Shu, and I to make plans for battle, I knew this was a bad idea. But derailing Lord Cao Cao's mind when he makes a decision like this, is impossible. So I must go along with it.

But there's another person that wants me to go along with something.

"You're not coming." Xu Shu spouts to me, coldly.

My eyes widened, piecing together his out-of-character demand.

"Yuanzhi, you can't be serious."

He turns away from me and faces a painting on my wall. His arms crossed and I could see a wall of determination build itself in his eyes.

"FengXiao, you're sickly. If you come along with us to this battle, it will surely be bad for your health."

I stand up from the bed and turn to my supposed apprentice, attempting to change his mind.

"Yuanzhi, this battle is important! You will need a strategist."

"Jia Xu and I are going."

I shake my head, trying to get through to him. He didn't move, not in body or in decision.

"You don't have enough experience, and Jia Xu-"

"It's true I don't have much experience with making a strategy for a whole army. But Jia Xu does, and he's talented."

I take a step towards the younger man.

"Yuanzhi, Lord Cao Cao won't allow this."

"I already spoke to him about it. He said this is the perfect opportunity for him to test me."

He really thought this through.

As I go to open my mouth to retaliate again, he quickly shut me up.

"You need to have more faith in this army."

I froze, feeling as if I was whipped with his words. I stood there in silence, but soon I chuckle and place a hand on my waist, coughing a little and getting him to look at me.

His face softened and he immediately stepped forward.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No...no. You're right." I run a hand through my hair. Looking back up, to his chocolate brown eyes.

"Wei isn't only held together by me. Everyone does their part and that's what makes Wei so powerful. I will...leave this battle to you and Jia Xu."

Yuanzhi nods, happy that I've agreed to let him and Jia Xu handle it. I can't help but worry though, I mean, Yuanzhi could barely handle finding his sorcery, strategizing and leading a whole army is a big leap for him.

I can only pray that he is ready.

He put me back into my bed and I poke his nose.

"You've been treating me like a maiden lately. Do not forget who was the one who defeated you when we first met."

He chuckles and pokes my nose back.

"What of it? Even the strongest maidens need a chance to rest."

I lay down as he sat beside the bed and he kept me company. It was relaxing and honestly, his company was better than any other.

Whenever I looked at Yuanzhi I felt a weird sense of security. He is someone who rejected me but accepted me. Supported me but keeps me in line. He's kept his eye on me but grew on his own with or without me. And when he left my room today, It was the first time I truly felt fear.

I have felt fear before, every time I have a coughing fit I fear it will be my last, but….fear over another. Fear over losing someone, is very foreign to me.

I've never had much of a family, and whenever I did, I never truly relied or trusted them. Only when I joined Wei was when I learned the true feeling and meaning of companionship and family. That's why my every strategy is thought through so meticulously.

But it's not the same with Yuanzhi. I feel a sense of priority when he's around, like he's the most important person in the land. He's the only one that cares deeply for me and is willing to do anything for me. I mean he stabbed Yuan Shao in the shoulder even though he was so apprehensive about injuring another person before. And he stabbed Yuan Shao with barely any thought for me. But still-

It scares me.

I'm truly terrified on what this battle might do to him.

On what it might do to us.

[Xu Shu]

I'm glad FengXiao accepted and is going to stay behind. But I am also very nervous on how Jia Xu and I are going to do on the battle strategies. I never strategized for an army before let alone for a naval battle, but I keep my confidence up for FengXiao's sake.

I knock on Jia Xu's door and he opens the door almost immediately.

"Done flirting with Master Guo Jia?"

I instantly flinch and stiffened, blushing at the comment. But I sigh and rub the back of my head with a chuckle. He chuckles with me and steps out from his room and closes his door.

"Ready to plan?"

I nod, with a determined mindset and set out to the war council room. I never truly entered this room before for its intended purpose. Usually FengXiao would pop into the room to get a map for us and tell me to wait outside. But this time-

I have to make the strategy.

The large empty room alone intimidated me. There was a large wooden table with over 10 seats at its edges. The chair at the head was very regal and obviously meant for Lord Cao Cao. nailed onto the table sat a large map on the land, with various colored picks into it. Mainly blue, red, and yellow pins stamped the map, probably representing the kingdoms and their lands.

Jia Xu casually walks to the table and looks over the map. He reaches and grabs one of the previously stamped red pins and pull it out.

"Chi bi, is extremely close to Wu territory. So we'll be playing on their field."

I nod, looking down at the map, then I lean over and place my finger over Luoyang, dragging out a path.

"However we must get to the dock area, so before we can even imagine the battle, we have to reach the dock to our east. Take a fleet, and then travel down to Chibi."

Jia Xu nods to my plan, but quickly looks back at me.

"What off the walking path there? It will take too long to transport our whole army."

I leans back and put my knuckles to my mouth, slightly gnawing on the tasteless skin. Jia Xu was right, plus, taking our whole army into enemy territory is reckless. If we are defeated that would drastically affect Wei.

"Jia Xu, what is our Cavalry and Foot units like?"

He stands up straight and put his hands on his hips, staring down at the map.

"Let's see," He paused for a moment, "Well, currently our cavalry is well rested and strong from some neglect. And Some Foot units could stand some action."

It hit me, almost like running into a wall.

"For this battle we'll only take our most impressive warriors and The cavalry and foot units."

Jia Xu looks at me, face stretched in a look of admiration...and a look as if I was crazy. He look down with a sigh and puts his hand over his face, dragging the hand down his face ending with a gently stroke to his facial hair.

"Xu Shu. you do realize we are going into enemy territory?"

I nod.

"Won't we need more allies?"

I look off, thinking more about my idea.

"Well, if we enter Chi bi, with our whole army that, will be good for hurting Wu's morale and confidence. However, It is a risky call due to we are playing in their yard. However-" My mind was calculating everything with every word I spoke.

"If we keep our main forces on the fleet, making Wu have to come after us. Then we can pincer them easily." More ideas hit me, like a brick wall.

"In fact-!" I accidentally shouted a little and slammed my hands onto the wooden table. I stare down at the section of Chi Bi, almost seeing the battlefield.

My mind perfectly carved out the hills and bases of Chi Bi from my last visit. Seemingly manifesting Wu soldiers from my imagination, they run towards the hoards of blue boats, following after a group of blue horses. The planks fall and a flood of red pour in, however they are quickly circled and exterminated.

I blink, being freed from my intense simulation from Jia Xu's hand tapping my back. My head sharply turns towards him and I see him flinch from my intense actions.

"Uh Xu Shu-"

"I have it….I-I think I have it."

He tilts his head and shrugs, taking a seat. I step slightly away from the table and begin pacing in front of my superior.

"Firstly, we do as I said and only bring The cavalry and advanced foot units. Maybe a few more for extra comfort and morale. Lord Cao Cao Will ride in the main boat with Lord Xiahou Dun protecting him. We will send Lord Xiahou Yuan with a small section of Cavalry on a smaller unit boat. They will reach Chi bi first. Understood?"

I turn to the man in a chair as he intently nods. I nod back and collect more words and continue.

"They will be used as a distraction. They can take a base or two and get Wu's attention. When Wu soldiers starts gathering around them. We will send Cao Ren and Zhang He to 'save them'. Then they will lead them back to the fleet, while we lower our planks. Obviously then we let the Wu soldiers on and pincer attack them."

Jia Xu's face didn't falter and I lick my drying lips in nervousness. He lowers his head and I flinch.

"You really are Guo Jia's apprentice."

I tilt my head as the shorter man stands and walks to me. He uses the back on his hand and lightly pats my chest

"It sounds crazy but….doable. We'll go with that as a battle starter."

I smile and nod, proud of myself.

Your teachings didn't go to waste FengXiao.

Jia Xu and I spent hours upon hours talking and coming up with then rejecting strategies for the full length of the battle. My mind seemed to be racing and flooding itself with the numerous self-given lessons and well-taught lessons from FengXiao. We lay down the piece for every puzzle, and move each soldier unit according to their strengths.

Jia Xu looked at me as the final piece had been set, Lord Cao Cao's placement in all this. We will be looking into if either he or Xiahou Yuan should be the initial distraction.

It's a risk, but a risk I know he's willing to take.

We decided to leave that role to be decided at the War Council. Jia Xu yawned loudly and I followed suit, our eyes meeting with a joyful chuckle.

"Man it's been a long time since I pulled a nighter for a strategy." He stretches.

I turn to him a little, "You and Fe- Master Guo Jia haven't done this before?"

Jia Xu smirks at me catching my speech falter. I look away nervously but look back when he speaks up again.

"Nope." He flops back down into the chair and taps his foot.

"In fact, most of the strategizing if done by Guo Jia. Whenever we needed a strategy like this, he would take it upon himself to come up with the huge overall plan. While I planned for the smaller units within it."

I lower my head, remembering what FengXiao said today.

Wei isn't only held together by me. Everyone does their part and that's what makes Wei so powerful.

FengXiao…

"In fact," he continued, "Whenever we strategized together and it started to get late, he would order me to leave and rest. I always assumed it was a motherly instinct type of thing."

"Motherly instinct?" I reply, confusion plain as day.

Jia Xu looks up at me from under his bangs and chuckle a little.

"You haven't noticed? Guo Jia is a very selfless man under a selfish guise."

It all begins to click, everything. How he fought me when we first met, how he treated me when I first joined, all his flirting with women and me, all of his hard work.

FengXiao is lonely and wants someone there with him. Even though it won't be for long.

My eyes had widened and I look down. FengXiao works so hard for Wei because he appreciates all of the people within it and wants to hold them close. FengXiao-

Is just like me.

I lift my head and smile at Jia Xu, striding to him with as much pride that I could muster. He looked up at me a little confused, even more so when I held out my hand.

"Let's show Guo Jia that he doesn't have to bear this burden on his own. With this battle we will prove it to him"

He looks at me, at first with a very lukewarm reaction but then chuckled and took my hand. Using my strength to help him stand, he nods to me and smirks.

"Yeah, let's do it."

Don't worry FengXiao, after all this fighting, we will stay together. You will live to fulfill your promise, and I will show you there is always time for companionship.

We leave the War Council room, walking back to our rooms calmly, not wanting to walk anyone. I sigh as I enter my room and prepare myself for bed. My robe falls loosely to the ground and I almost flop onto my bed. Using the thin covers to hide my body.

I can't help but smile, ready to show FengXiao what I can do.

I'm ready. I'm ready to move forward FengXiao. And you will not be left behind.

[A/N] *SCREAMS 6EVER* Can I just tell you how much I love Xu Shu and Guo Jia, cause I love Xu Shu and Guo Jia! Jia Xu is the best wingman too! But a Wei story isn't ever done without a Battle of Chi bi…*sigh*...BATTLE OF CHI BI WE'RE SLOWLY COMING! Anyways, See you next Chapter! Happy new year!