Beginning Of The End
Chapter 37
As night fell over the Nanman Lands and the group went to bed, Tiānshǐ and Zhu Rong continued to ride towards the area they heard the horn calling from.
As they got closer and closer, They could see torches and hear people talking in the distance.
Just before they entered the area, Zhu Rong said to wait.
" Hold a moment Tiānshǐ. It might be a trap. Let me go on ahead first to be sure. " Zhu Rong smiled slightly as Tiānshǐ nodded.
After nearly twenty minutes, Zhu Rong called to Tiānshǐ. Tiānshǐ! Come here! QUICK! "
Tiānshǐ drew her blades slowly as she entered the area, But what she saw made her jaw drop. Before her stood Zhu Rong and the remnants of every Nanman Tribe in china. At-least seven hundred could be seen huddled around small campfires. Zhu Rong was in tears as a large group of children ran forward and hugged her. One of the elders placed a hand on Zhu Rong's shoulder as she spoke. " I thought you were all dead..."
The elder smiled and spoke softly. " We thought so to. As the Mongol hordes descended upon us we thought it was the end. But we had warning. Someone helped us escape. "
Zhu Rong was speechless as she stood. " Who...who saved my people? Take me to this person! "
The elder smiled and helped Zhu Rong to her feet as Tiānshǐ put her weapons away and climbed down off her horse. After removing her helmet, The group of children tackled her happily. Tiānshǐ was laughing and crying happily as she hugged the children and greeted the friendly faces that she thought she wouldn't see again.
Tiānshǐ hadn't noticed that Zhu Rong had walked off with the elder but she was too busy with the children and villagers.
As the elder led Zhu Rong through the village, Happy voices and friendly faces greeted her at every step. Zhu Rong could not contain her happiness any longer and almost screamed in joy as her closest friends ran forward to hug her. There were so many faces she thought were gone forever now standing around her.
Before Zhu Rong could speak, A tall woman dressed in long magenta robes with plate armor on her shoulders and wrists stepped forward.
Zhu Rong looked at her carefully as tears continued to pour down her face. " Y...You saved my people..."
The stranger smiled before speaking. " Yes i did. It was the least i could do. "
Zhu Rong was astonished and as she motioned to speak, The eagle that led them here called into the night before swooping down and landing on the strangers shoulder.
" But...But why...Why would a stranger save my people? " Zhu Rong couldn't stand any longer and burst into tears again as she fell to her knees.
" A stranger to you perhaps. But not to your companion. Lady Tiānshǐ knows me very well. Please take me to her. " Zhu Rong stood slowly and nodded before turning and walking back towards Tiānshǐ. As they arrived, Tiānshǐ noticed Zhu Rong and walked towards her slowly.
" Zhu Rong where did you..." Before Tiānshǐ could finish, Zhu Rong stepped aside. Tiānshǐ's face went white as she fell to her knees. " S...Shi? You...Your alive..."
Xishi smiled slowly. " Hello little sister. I've missed you. "
Tiānshǐ almost screamed as she ran forward and hugged Xishi tightly. " You have no idea how much i have missed you big sister. I thought you were dead..."
Xishi smiled again as she held Tiānshǐ tightly. " I thought so to sis. But i was saved. He brought me back when all i could see was darkness. I owe him everything. He told me all about you and what you have achieved. I'm so proud of you. "
Tiānshǐ smiled before stepping back slowly." Who do you... " Before Tiānshǐ could finish, A familiar cold chill swept over her.
" Me. I saved her. " The cold dead voice of Zuo Ci filled Tiānshǐ's ears. As Tiānshǐ turned around, A shade of scarlet caressed her face.
" YOU KNEW SHE WAS ALIVE AND NEVER TOLD ME? WHY! " Tiānshǐ was holding Zuo Ci by the collar of his robe as he spoke slowly.
" I do apologise for that my dear. But you were not ready. You needed your pain to help you survive. " Zuo Ci placed a hand on Tiānshǐ's head as she slowly fell to her knees.
" I spent years in Wei...YEARS...believing that my family was dead and you knew my sister was alive...the person i love most in this world and you kept her from me...because i needed pain?! I could have survived either way but you wanted me to suffer under Cao Cao and Cao Pi's whips and torture devices...You should have told me..." Tiānshǐ burst into tears as Xishi sat down next to her and held her lovingly.
" I know you are hurting sister but look at all you have achieved because of what you have been through. I hate that you had to endure the torture of those filthy scum but...we are together now. And we will be together always. It hurt so much to not see you...it hurt so much to stay a secret...but I've found you now...ill never leave you again sister. " Xishi smiled as Tiānshǐ held her tightly and cried heavily. Zhu Rong was in tears of happiness and the villagers around them were all smiling.
Meanwhile
Chao Xing couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned before sitting up slowly. As she sat up, Qǐ Shì lù yawned softly and opened her eyes slowly. " Chao? What's wrong? "
Chao Xing sighed softly before speaking. " I...I'm worried...about Tiānshǐ. What if something has..."
Qǐ Shì lù had sat up and kissed Chao softly. " My mother is one of the greatest warriors in all of china. Possibly the whole world. I have the utmost faith that she is not only fine but is capable of surviving more than any of us can imagine. Now come back to bed. I'm getting cold and you haven't cuddled me all week. " Qǐ Shì lù winked playfully before pulling Chao back into bed gently and holding her lovingly. They both fell asleep very quickly.
The Next Morning
Everyone awoke early and after eating breakfast, They all helped pack up the camp before heading towards Wu. At about midday, They arrived at the capitol with Sun Jian and Lu Xun awaiting them.
As Lu Xun was about to ask where Tiānshǐ was, Both Zhu Rong's and Tiānshǐ's horse rode through the gate and stopped in front of the group. Lu Xun immediately started stressing.
" Where the hell is she? WHY ISNT SHE WITH YOU? " Lu Xun looked very agitated but before anyone could answer him, Tiānshǐ's war horn and a large number of trumpeting elephants echoed through the capitol. As everyone looked out through the gates, They saw a line of what seemed like about twenty elephants on the horizon.
As the horn and trumpeting sound echoed again, Everyone noticed that there were more elephants than it seemed. No less than fifty decorated war elephants were stomping towards Wu. At the front, they saw Tiānshǐ and a stranger atop an elephant adorned in bone armor and heavy war paint. From between the elephants legs, Hundreds of villagers and children could be seen walking behind.
After nearly an hour, The elephants had been set up in the fields with enough straw to feed them all and the villagers were slowly streaming into the capitol.
Every lord in Wu was standing at the gate watching countless survivors enter the city. After several minutes, Xishi ,Tiānshǐ and Zhu Rong wandered through the gate laughing and smiling. Tiānshǐ almost screamed in shock as Lu Xun hugged her. " Where have you been? I've been worried out of my mind and then your horse just barrels through the gate without you? Do you have any idea how worried I've been?! "
As Tiānshǐ was about to speak, Xishi spoke. " This must be your husband. Lu Xun its a pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot about you and i must say...Tiānshǐ does not exaggerate...you are truly very handsome. "
Lu Xun stood in silence for a moment before speaking. " Thank you for your kind comments but...Who are you? "
Tiānshǐ spoke first this time. " Xun... This Xishi. My big sister. "
Almost everyone's jaw dropped as Shang Xiang spoke up. " But...But you said your family was murdered by Cao Cao... How did she survive? "
Tiānshǐ smiled brightly as tears of joy ran down her face again. " Zuo Ci saved her...She has been alive all this time... "
Tiānshǐ couldn't contain her happiness as Xishi put her arms around Tiānshǐ gently. " And now i have returned to you my sweet sister. Ill never leave you alone again. "
Tiānshǐ cried happily as Xishi kissed her head gently and held her lovingly. Lu Xun was still in awe as Shang Xiang screamed in excitement. " I don't believe it! I HAVE ANOTHER SISTER! "
Xishi almost screamed in surprise as Shang Xiang tackled her happily. As they sat on the ground laughing, Sun Jian spoke softly. " It seems our family continues to grow. Another daughter...Goodness knows how ill survive..." Sun Jian smiled playfully as both Tiānshǐ and Shang Xiang sneered at him playfully.
Xishi was in tears as well and breathed slowly before speaking. " This...This is so wonderful...I'm so happy...and sort of overwhelmed but mostly happy! I cant wait to get to know you all! "
Shang Xiang screamed again as Tiānshǐ held Xishi lovingly. " Welcome home sister...I've missed you.."
Xishi held Tiānshǐ tightly as tears rolled down her soft cheeks. " I've missed you too. More than you know..."
After everyone was in the city, Plenty of food and blankets were prepared for the survivors and as the sun set across the horizon there was only happiness and music echoing into the twilight sky.
A sister thought dead and survivors of The Nanman Carnage.
Is this a breathe of new hope?
Or the foretelling's of disaster?
Find out next chapter!
At long last...Chapter 47! Omg i am sooooo sorry it took forever. I promise I'm not abandoning my stories. Ive just been busy...and really slack haha.
Back now with a vengeance and i will do my absolute best to post new chapters and go through old ones and correct all my uh...*sigh* unfortunate typos and missed words xD
I hope you all continue to enjoy my stories!
Please Read and Review! ^_^