A week later Pang Tong writes an invitation Gao Shun to his quarters for a pre-celebration drink with their upcoming victory before the battle starts. Gao shun although confused accepted immediately saying he would like to have a drink before the fighting starts in case they don't make it after the battle. It was late at night when Gao Shun knocked on the door. Pang Tong opened it up to see Gao Shun without his weapon.

'Ahh lord Gao Shun, please come in.' Pang Tong asked as he walks further into the building, Gao Shun closes the door behind him and followed him unable to conceal the sinister smirk until he reaches a large table with a go board with two sets of drinks. Pang Tong sits down on the floor with his legs crossed one one side and reaches his hand out to the other side.

'Please sit, I figure since Lady Mitsuko has grown to be more accustomed to you that we could play a game of GO if you think you can take me on after all.' Pang Tong chuckles as Gao Shun takes a seat, takes a sip of his drink and points towards him with a smug grin on his face

'You're on, but I warn you I'm smarter than I appear.'

'Oh I have no doubt about that all. Now then, lets begin shall we?' Gao shun didn't initially get it but something about the way that he asked that question made him shiver. Initially the game was going in Gao Shun's way. Pang Tong fell for his simple tricks on the board capturing some of his pieces in the process. Everytime Pang Tong hesitated to put down a piece, Gao Shun's grin grew wider. He never knew taking down this measly hermit would be this easy. Wasn't he supposed to be a strategist? As the game transitioned into the mid game Pang Tong seemed to panic as he seemed to put pieces very quickly at what seems to be random. Gao Shun couldn't believe it, he wondered why Chen Gong had so much trouble and why he was considered such a threat. He enjoyed seeing Pang Tong squirm but…something seemed strange. He saw the enemy panicking on the battlefield as they either flail their weapons wildly or drop them and flee. Pang Tong though was different but Gao Shun didn't know why. Well its not like he should care too much about that anyway. a panicked enemy is a battle won as far as he was concerned. At the late game Gao Shun's pieces held the majority of the centre as Pang Tong face palms his self and leans back and sighs with defeat.

'I cannot believe you beat a professional like me. My lord Gao Shun you are a most worthy adversary, although I have one piece left I cannot continue this bout anymore.' Pang Tong hangs his head in shame as Gao Shun and gloats in his victory.

'Haha! Goes to show you shouldn't have estimated me!' Gao shun quickly drinks the rest of his alcohol and wipes the leftover from the mouth as they drool out.

'Indeed not lord Gao Shun, you are just too superior for me. I am glad lady Mitsuko have a warrior like you at her side. Please accept one of these gifts.' He reaches behind him and brings out a large sack and opens it up. However when Gao Shun went to peek inside Pang Tong quickly closes the sack.

'Oh no you can't have a look what's inside here, that beats the element of surprise.' Pang Tong chuckled nefariously though Gao Shun didn't realise and agreed to close his eyes. Satisfied Pang Tong opens the bag again and Gao Shun this time reaches inside hoping to find that these gifts are worthwhile. He couldn't help but grin widely imagining him planting his dagger hidden in his garments after receiving one of the gifts and take the whole lot. Though he notices that the bag is larger than he thought. As he wildly explored the bag his fingertips felt something…smooth. He followed what seemed to be a trail on some kind…rope perhaps? This is the smoothest rope he ever felt. As he reached further in though and grabbed it with his hand he felt a pair of fangs suddenly pierced the back of his hand and some form of liquid starts to drip. One liquid trail at the back of the knuckle and the other about 5 centimetres away. The pain caused him to snatch his hand out of the bag and yell in pain as he falls backwards. He notices the trails of liquid were his own blood…but how? Suddenly Pang Tong opens the bag again and from that bag arose the head of a cobra covered in black scales. The face and the neck were bright yellow. The snake hissed from its broad, slightly triangular head with its fangs fully erected instead of being withdrawn like other snakes. Gao Shun's eyes widen in shock as it feels the gaze from its dark, golden eyes. Pang Tong chuckles as Gao Shun's astonished and dumbfounded face.

'My, my. You seem to have woken her up now my lord. The poor thing, she was just enjoying her nap. Well why don't we just let her sleep in the bag for just a moment.' Pang Tong closes the bag and puts it to one side.

'What the?'

'Oh I should probably explain shouldn't I? But firstly since you're a little too relaxed to get your present I should probably put down my piece just to finish the game no?' Pang Tong puts his final piece, Gao Shun widens his eyes in shock as his final piece made all of Pang Tong's pieces surround his.

'H-how?' Gao Shun questions as he rubs his chest as he feels some discomfort there that wasn't present before. However it doesn't do anything worthwhile. Little did he know that his wound is now starting to go red around the area where the fangs pierced him.

'How? Why its quite simple my lord. You got outplayed.' Pang Tong shoots him a sinister gaze while chuckling.

'What are you-?'

'Did you really think you were being sneaky? Did you really think that you this little well lets call it a deception to be generous was going to work? The great and loyal Gao Shun talking and getting friendly lady Mitsuko out of the blue? There had to be more to this than just simple conversation. While I'll give you credit for playing your part decently enough that you managed to convince the common soldiers that you cared. But everyone else…not so much even with your persistence.' Gao Shun was surprised to hear this, did this measly hermit really saw through this plan? He rubs his chest more as it starts to become more discomforting while also starting to develop a bit of a fever.

'Oh my lord you look unwell you should lie down and rest for a bit and let Chen Gong take over.'

'Chen Gong? But I assure you...everything I did was of my own volition, I had no malice or ill intent for lady Mitsuko or anyone of her forces.' Gao Shun protested his innocence. He rubs his chest more as it becomes more uncomfortable and starts to develop a bit of a fever it feels like. Either that or the room suddenly gotten hotter.

'Oh I'm sure you don't my lord. But just to be safe we kept you at arm's length for a reason. Lady Mitsuko included. No doubt you were probably annoyed at your…lack of progress infiltrating our ranks. So you and Chen Gong got a little desperate. However I must say using alcohol to persuade him that Lady Mitsuko was insulting him to his daughter? Now that was something I didn't really expect from Chen Gong.'

'What are you…talking about? I…ohh.' Gao Shun stopped himself as he started to have trouble breathing as he spoke aswell as a general ache in his stomach area as he clutches it tightly.

'Ahh I see the venom is starting to take effect now. Good.'

'That snake…'

'Ah ah ah. We'll get to it later.' Pang Tong interrupted, he takes a quick sip of his drink and continued.

'Did you think your celebration with Chen Gong gone unnoticed after that? Drinking lots of wine until daybreak like you just won a war?'

'How…how did you…know that?' Gao Shun exhaustingly replied. His throat starts to become sore aswell as he starts rub that. He wondered just what was going on with him? He was healthy as a horse before he walked in here!

'I have resources. While you two focus solely on myself I keep a close eye on everything. I have eyes and ears all around Xia Pi. I wouldn't be surprised to find you have a dagger hidden in your garments that you were planning to stab me with is that right?' Gao Shun couldn't believe it…he predicted everything even to the point of him attempting to assassinate him. How? No normal man, no normal strategist should see this one. Yet…looking at him now even Gao Shun knows this one was way different, he now knows why Chen Gong thought of him as a threat to be eliminated as soon as possible.

'Then there's no point playing this useless game…Die hermit of the serpent!' He yelled at he stood up and pulls his dagger out of his garments and went to attack him. But Pang Tong calmly sits there in silence and takes a drink. Gao Shun was infuriated with his arrogance and gleefully envisioned his dagger in his skull as a result. Though as he lunges in to attack his legs feel weak, the suddenness of it overcame Gao Shun he stumbled and landed on the table separating the two, splitting it vertically. Pang Tong could only laugh at this.

'Oh my, lord Gao Shun you seem to be a bit clumsy please stay there, you don't want to hurt yourself now.' Pang Tong casually stands up and takes a couple of steps away from him. Gao Shun growled at him.

'Wh-what did you…do to me!?' He demanded to know in a raspy voice. He felt his throat become even more sore and coughs violently as result. The fever starts to become a bit unbearable as his vision starts to blur as he looks at Pang Tong.

'Me? I didn't do anything. You were the one that reached into a big with the snake in there. Which I think is a good pet for my lady, after all if you're going to have a theme you may as well go all the way.' Pang Tong chuckled before continuing.

'Besides you did this to yourself. Well its only fair I should tell you about that particular serpent. That is a Zhoushan cobra. A most deadly serpent where you already feel the venom's effect. Its packs quite the punch let me tell you. I could tell you where I got it from but that's not really important. What's important is that you don't have that long to live.' Pang Tong chuckled sinisterly accompanied by a sinister gaze.

'When Lady LingQi hears of this, she will take both of your heads now as punishment for your betrayal!' He declares as he musters up the strength to laugh arrogantly though it was painful for him.

'Really? That is funny I must say for a simple reason. Who do you think it was that gave me her blessing for this?'

'Wh-what!?' Gao Shun was shocked to hear this, her lords daughter..willingly allowed this to happen?

'I believe the conversation went something along like this.'

'So you're telling me that the reason for my father attacking Mitsuko like that…was Chen Gong and Gao Shun?' LingQi questioned, crossing her arms and looking generally displeased. Pang Tong previously had invited her to his quarters to discuss this matter more privately.

'Indeed I am my lady, as hard as that may be to hear.'

'Why? I don't understand it. After Hao Meng I thought Chen Gong would see sense.' LingQi just didn't understand it, it should be Cao Cao they're fighting not Mitsuko'

'I think Chen Gong is getting a bit too desperate and desperate people tend to pull risky stuff like this needlessly. Manipulating your father to hurt Mitsuko of all people? Unforgivable I think.' Pang Tong notices LingQi's hands are clenched into fists and tightens them as hard as she can.

'I see, well if you excuse me I need to pay them a visit.' She stands up and about to leave but Pang Tong rushes to be in front of her.

'Woah there my lady. I know you may be rightly feeling infuriated at them however you must remain calm.'

'Calm? How can you expect me to be calm at a time like this!? They're still walking the streets freely when they should be punished by death for their incursion!' LingQi yells back with hatred clearly present in her eyes…aswell as pain.

'Indeed and they will be receive their punishment in due time my lady however you slaying them would make things more complicated.'

'I'd rather make them complicated than stomach the idea of them walking around for another minute pretending to be loyal when they're just disobedient dogs looking out for themselves!' She shouted her arms now shaking with rage.

'That maybe so but I only ask this because I have a plan I-'

'No I can't get behind your plan that relies on waiting…not when they hurt Mitsuko like that. Not when I had to harm my father to get him to see sense.' She wiped a tear that was threatening to escape her left eye as she remembers the pain expression she had as her father attempted to strangle the loving life out of her. The idea of herself and her father being just play things to Chen Gong enraged her greatly. They were not his pawns to use against anyone he doesn't like! Pang Tong pats her on her shoulder which shook her out of her blood boiled trance.

'Believe me I do understand greatly. I too hate the idea of those two getting away with this, however we need to do this delicately. If we do not Mitsuko could be in more danger. We need to make sure Chen Gong knows we can get him when we want. And we do that with Gao Shun but we can't physically harm him. That would be too easy for him to pin on us. After all its his word against a hermits, I'm not exactly popular here am I? hehe. No we do it in a way so that Chen Gong knows we can come after him anytime he wants and he can't do anything about it. That way he knows the very meaning of fear.' Pang Tong explains which helps calms LingQi down enough to make her see sense again.

'All right, so how do we do that?'

'Leave that to me, do not worry I'll make sure everything goes to plan.'

'Please do not keep bearing burdens like this, allow me to help. I can maybe hold him down or something.' LingQi offers however Pang Tong shakes his head.

'My apologies but this is something that I should do alone due to my…talents lets say. Besides you've done more than enough for me and Lady Mitsuko.' LingQi hates the idea of someone else doing this however she trusts Pang Tong enough to see this task through.

'All right, fine. I trust you enough to get this done.' LingQi sighs.

'Do not worry everything will be fine.' Pang Tong reassures, LingQi gives him a small smile.

'I do hope so, we have Cao Cao to worry about, we may need all the help we can get but as long as those two are around I cannot completely trust my back won't be stabbed.'

'I know what you mean. So do I have your blessing for this then my lady?'

'You do…make sure Gao Shun suffers for his insubordination!'

'Oh when I looked into her eyes I could see the hatred festering within them, compared to letting Lady LingQi get her hands on you this can be a kindness. She can get scary when she's angry.' Pang Tong chuckled as Gao Shun's vision starts to get even blurrier with the edges of his sight darkening. His throat so sore he can't talk, he can barely even breathe. His limbs completely numb. The only thing he can do now is listen to him as hard as it was. The venom burns through his veins causing tremendous pain but he can't scream.

'C'mon my lord, you have to join in on the conversation aswell, what's the matter? Serpent got your tongue?' Pang Tong sinisterly questions as he grabs his chin and makes him look at him in the eye.

'No one lays a hand on Lady Mitsuko and gets away with it. Chen Gong will meet his end soon but I must say you both played your parts well.' Pang Tong nefariously chuckles as he lets go and sits down in front of him. Wait…played our parts? What did he mean by that?

'Oh yes, if it wasn't for you manipulating lord Lu Bu like that LingQi would never have made that choice. As a result her chains are completely shattered and she doesn't realise it, nor anyone else for that matter. As for Mitsuko one more push is all that is needed which I think it'll happen sooner rather than later, so thank you for helping me with my plans my lord.' Pang Tong chuckled as he bows his head respectfully. Gao Shun let out a rough, sharp gasp out. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, he anticipated everything and let everything happen while plotting in the shadows. He was always brave and courageous on the battlefield, he always had a weapon, he could move and can protect himself. But here, now he's completely at the mercy of this…monster. He concluded he can't be a normal strategist, no man can anticipate things this far. He was powerless, he can't call for help and he can't defend himself. That terrified him to his core as Pang Tong chuckled yet again. Gao Shun could feel his sinister smirk from behind his veil.

'Ok Zang Ba come on out.' Gao Shun blurry vision could only make out a figure walking and crouches next to Pang Tong.

'You called?'

'I did yes, now is the next part of the plan. Now that Gao Shun will be taken care of by the venom you need to take off his armour and garments and wear them. Carry Gao Shun in one of the large sacks and pretend to be him. At a distance you should fool everyone. Once you reach his quarters take off his armour and put it on him again. Once you do that you should be good to wear your usual attire as you yourself won't attract too much attention or suspicion. And then come morning Chen Gong will have quite the surprise when Gao Shun doesn't show up as requested.' Pang Tong did his signature chuckle as Zang Ba pounded his chest.

'Leave it to me.' At this point Gao Shun's vision is all but darkened as he feels the last tiny drops of his strength waste away into nothing.

'Excellent. You should get a move on, the quick you get him out of here the sooner I can gather the pieces of the game.'

'Haha, of course.' Zang Ba heartily responds as he carries the newfound corpse of Gao Shun over his shoulder and goes into another room. Pang Tong smirks behind his veil.

'Lady Mitsuko the deed is done, maybe now Chen Gong will stop trying temporarily however knowing his stubbornness that's unlikely. Haha. I know you're raring to go but I ask that you wait for a little while longer while Chen Gong and Lu Bu help you break your final chain. Once that's done the age of the serpent can begin. Oho that sounds a bit ominous doesn't it? Hehe maybe that's not so bad especially when they realise you're the most capable of leading this land.'