Months later word reached Lu Bu about Liu Bei and his betrayal. He felt compelled to fight Lu Bu despite trying to maintain his friendship with him. When he sees the people start to suffer under his rule, he knew he needed to fight Lu Bu. However he knew he did not have the necessary manpower to attack him alone. He didn't like to do this after his unhonourable attack on Tao Qian, but Liu Bei looked to ally himself with Cao Cao.

To say that Lu Bu was mad was an understatement. He was furious with his betrayal, Lu Bu looked to Liu Bei as a younger brother of sorts and he felt he did right by him after fighting Yuan Shu for him. To throw all that back into his face was inexcusable. The scouts report that Liu Bei was moving to Xiao Pei controlled by Cao Cao's forces. Lu Bu very quickly gathered his army to march upon Cao Cao's doorstep to show everyone in this land that Lu Bu is a man to not be trifled with. Unfortunately for Mitsuko the order was given earlier than the morning than usual. After she heard the knock she took her time like usual to dons her armour and equip her weapons.

However after she dons her armour she hears the sounds of …crowds? And yelling? She exits the room and sees what seems to be the whole army mustering and preparing for something big. Mitsuko saw Wu Zi in the crowd and immediately walks towards him through the crowd as he seemed to be helping directing them out

'Hey Wu Zi what's going on?' Wu Zi looks to his side and is surprised to see Mitsuko there and bows respectfully.

'Ah my lady good morning. Lord Lu Bu has ordered the army to move to Xiao Pei immediately.'

'Xiao Pei? Cao Cao's territory? Why now…and why so early aswell?' Mitsuko yawns loudly as she stretches her arms.

'Rumour has it Liu Bei has betrayed our lord, allying himself with Cao Cao and is now attempting to exact vengeance.' Wu Zi explains. They both hear a familiar chuckle behind them.

'We knew this was going to happen sooner or later, those two cannot co-exist, they walk two different paths…still to ally himself with Cao Cao of all people. He must really be desperate to get rid of our lord then.' Pang Tong hailed as he got closer to the two.

'Indeed, though his efforts will no doubt be met in failure once our armies clash.' Wu Zi responded.

'Of course, we can't let ourselves lose to Cao Cao again after Dingtao right?' Mitsuko chuckles to herself.

'Of course not. This time our forces will be victorious!' Wu Zi raises his sword high in the air as he announces this.

'Hehe while I admire the enthusiasm let's not underestimate our enemy. After all the enemy will have quite a few generals that won't be taken down easily.' Pang Tong warned him.

'But that's why I have you as my advisor, I'm sure you already have a strategy up your sleeves on how to deal with them.' Mitsuko replied.

'Hehe, I may have one or two but it would depend on our main strategist to see which one would be the most suitable to deploy. After all I would assume he would be the ones to choose where we our forces are in the battle line.' Pang Tong explains.

'But that's for another time, lets join our forces on the march shall we? I'm sure you don't want to be left behind my lady.'

'heh you're right I wouldn't want to miss this no matter what. Ok lets move.' Mitsuko smirks as she led the way to her forces with the other two following her.

After marching for two days they neared they setup the camp near the stronghold of Xiao Pei. The scouts they sent out in advance return to the camp and relay the information to Chen Gong who prepared a war council for the rest of the officers including Mitsuko to relay the plan of attack. There were two main attack paths for the army, one for a head on assault on the castle where a bulk of the army would also be along with a flanking force to strike from the right of the castle going through some mountainous terrain preventing a complete surround of the castle. However a path on the right side with defensible garrisons are present enabling the flanking force to infiltrate the castle and open the drawbridge which will more than likely be raised when the army approaches the castle.

They understood their orders however this would be the first battle since DingTao that LingQi and Mitsuko would be on different parts of the battlefield. They glanced at each other across the tent as Chen Gong was explaining his plan, not sure of what to make of this situation.

After the war council LingQi makes her way to the edge of the camp and looks up at the castle they will be fighting tomorrow, her mind on the traitorous Liu Bei and vengeance against Cao Cao. For some reason though her mind is also pre-occupied by Mitsuko, the realisation she won't be with her since dingtao. She maybe her friend but should she feel this…lonely without her? She hears footsteps behind her, she glances behind her and see Mitsuko with her signature scythe walking towards her. She turns back towards the castle as she stood next to her.

'I would've thought I'd find you sneaking off somewhere doing some last-minute training.'

'I do not train before a battle like this. Even I know it will impact my ability in the morning.' LingQi replied sternly with a serious look of determination.

'fair enough but I thought you may sneak an hour in anyway. So that's what we're going to claim tomorrow then eh?'

'Yes, held by Cao Cao and that fool Liu Bei, to think he would betray my father.'

'Well we did just take his castle from him when he was away. It would seem natural that he would try something like this to get it back. Especially since he originally helped us in the first place.' Mitsuko responded.

'My father helped him in his feud with Yuan Shu when he didn't need to, the inhabitants of Xia Pi should be grateful when my father took the castle from him, he was a weak leader of weak men as this battle will show!' LingQi surprised Mitsuko with her fiery resolve.

'Hehe I suppose when you put it that way we did everyone a favour and yet here he is still being a thorn in our side. Well either way this should be an easy victory for us a blow to both of them as long as our strategist does his bit.' Mitsuko stated.

'Indeed…however I must admit I have my doubts about this battle plan that Chen Gong has made.' LingQi's voice became more softer as she started to think about this plan again.

'Why is that then?'

'Because its your forces and yours alone that will attempt to infiltrate the castle through the mountains. Who knows what the enemy will have in store there, I may not like Cao Cao but it is as Pang Tong said he is a cunning warlord. That and…' she stopped herself temporarily wondering in her mind if it's a good idea to admit this to her but she can't stop herself now.

'and even though you are here next to me I cannot help but feel your absence in the battle ahead. It will be our first time not fighting side by side since DingTao.' LingQi didn't know how to explain this feeling. This feeling of loneliness she hasn't felt in a long time…ever since that night. But instead of fearing for her safety she's fearing for Mitsuko's. She's not there to support her friend in the next battle, to not know what will come her way frightened her in a way she never experienced before. During this Mitsuko stayed silent for a while unsure of what to say before speaking up.

'Yeah I know what you mean. To be honest there's no one else I would rather have at my side than you. Its going to feel weird not having you there next to me. But there's nothing we can do about that since its already been settled. Plus I don't think Chen Gong likes me, I mean I'd prefer to be in the main fight myself at times but I'm still the flanker. But you shouldn't really worry about me, I can handle myself and I got Pang Tong to help me out he should be able to spot any surprises the enemy may have. Trust me it'll all work out.' She wear a confident smirk on her face. LingQi remained quiet before suddenly smiling at her which confuses Mitsuko.

'Indeed, you are right. This is something we cannot control and it is quite silly of me to worry about you of all people especially when you've proven yourself to be capable along with your strategist.' She couldn't explain herself but something about talking to Mitsuko about something elevates her mood, it wasn't like talking to someone close like her father it was something more…special than that. To describe it to someone would be impossible for her. Though she is glad to have had this feeling with someone, with Mitsuko.

'Though I would like to request something from you.'

'Erm…sure I guess.' Mitsuko wasn't sure what this request was going to be.

'Promise me when tomorrow comes you have a great battle and come back.' LingQi smirks at her which Mitsuko answered with the same smirk on her lips.

'Ok but on one condition…that you do the same.' LingQi laughs softly at this and raises one of her crossed pikes in the air.

'Ok I accept your terms.' LingQi states as Mitsuko raised her scythe and crossed blades with LingQi's pike.

'It's a deal then.' The two of them stay there for a few seconds before dropping their weapons laughing at the officialness of just a simple promise to stay alive through a battle. Little did they know they were being watched from afar by a certain strategist. Pang Tong chuckles at the sight of them getting along well before closing the veils of his tent and returns to a table setup similar to the table in the war council with a map of the battlefield.

'Hehe my lady you are doing a great job with your friend. You may not realise this but this is very beneficial for you in the future. It will lead to a most worthy officer in your ranks.'

'Master Pang Tong I have returned' Zang Ba barges in interrupting his thoughts for a second.

'Ahh I was waiting for you but please no need to call me master just Pang Tong is fine, we are after all comrades in arms now.'

'I see…well in any event the scouts I sent out returned and it seems like you were right. Reinforcements from Cao Cao's forces are set to come in they estimate as we hit the mountain gates at the second garrison. This wasn't information wasn't given at the war council.' Zang Ba informs him. Pang Tong chuckles at this.

'Is that so? Well looks like Chen Gong made the first move.' Zang Ba was taken aback by this.

'Wait really? You think he withdrew this information on purpose?' Pang Tong nods.

'Of course, he thinks he's crafty like that. The plan would be for us to get caught in the pincer attack while he found a way to attack the castle from the front, we'd just be delaying a flanking attack on their forces while they win the day.'

'Do you think he knows what we're doing?' Ba questions worriedly.

'He may have an inkling but its more being cautious more than anything else, that would be why he split up Lu LingQi and our lady. If he gotten Lu Bu's daughter killed because of his paranoia I wouldn't expect him to live much longer.'

'Then what do we do about them?'

'Simple, we play our pieces on the board. Once we take the first garrison, the reinforcements will not expect that. Once they enter we spring an ambush making them flee. If they are Cao Cao's reinforcements, they most likely will not bother to fight for too long as its likely Cao Cao himself isn't at the castle or at the very least has an escape planned out.'

'Do you think a simple ambush can work?' Ba asks.

'Of course, it is perhaps a simple strategy but it is effective. Chen Gong thinks he wins either way if we live or die. Either we die and the castle is taken anyway or we live and infiltrate the castle without any of the glory going to our lady leaving her anonymous. However instead this can work to our advantage.' Pang Tong did his signature chuckle.

'How? Your forces are few and if that ambush fails the enemy can simply overwhelm you, even if you do win that engagement it will be difficult to breach that gate to the second garrison.' Ba explains however Pang Tong simply laughs it off.

'Hehe you're forgetting we have our lady and myself. Plus, they no longer have the element of surprise but we do. Have faith Zang Ba our forces will triumph you will still have a lady worthy of serving.' Pang Tong's chuckle this time was more sinister.

'I do hope your right, due to your request to not officially show my support for her they put me in with the main army. I wish I could only be on the battlefield alongside you both. I pray for your success.' Zang Ba bows politely.

'Haha do not worry prayers will not be necessary, after all even though her forces are small the serpent's soldiers are not to be underestimated.' Pang Tong laughs as he takes a drink from his bottle.

On the eve of dawn, the soldiers readied up and prepared to move out. When everyone was suited up ready for battle on Mitsuko's side they faced away from the main army and into the mountains looking at a path that leads to their destination. The soldiers stand at attention ready for the serpent to give them the order. Mitsuko walks in front of her force and examines them before looking at the same path.

'Ready my lady?' Pang Tong questions next to her.

'As I'll ever be.' She turns towards Wu Zi who was also standing next to her on the opposite side.

'Everyone accounted for?'

'Yes my lady everyone is present and waiting for your orders.' He politely bows towards his lady. She smiles confidently and turns towards the front.

'Excellent. Everyone advance!' She yells pointing her scythe in front of her as she and her platoon starts to make their way towards their objective.