Chapter 7: Fire with Fire

Later that evening…

Fa Zheng gaped at him. "Out of all the things that went through my head, that would have never crossed my mind". Fa Zheng blinked twice and Guan Ping smiled awkwardly and then transitioned to a frown

"I'm just trying to fix what I've done, commander Yu Jin won't give me the chance to, he wants me dead, he doesn't talk things through" Guan Ping pointed out.

Fa Zheng tapped Guan Ping on the forehead. "So, you're telling me, the commander covered up for you and now he wants you dead for it?" Fa Zheng's eyebrows knotted as he leaned against Guan Ping.

"You're not telling me the full story, that does not make the slightest sense Guan Ping" Fa Zheng looked expectantly.

Guan Ping swallowed hesitating before he spoke. "I-I knew the captain a few years back, he looked after me back then, I think commander Yu Jin covered it up for his sake, but they want me to leave, but I have nowhere to go Fa Zheng" Guan Ping confessed. "I've lost both my parents, I have no one left in this world, I came here just like everyone else, I wanted to do something good, to have a purpose that's more than getting by, I want to survive for more than just not wanting to die"

"Hey, hey, you don't have to leave anything" Fa Zheng put his hands on Guan Ping's shoulders reassuringly, and then paused to think. Guan Ping raised his brows.

"Listen, the first step to keeping you safe is you need to stick to the crowd, they say people in places of power always have someone else to do their dirty work got it?" Fa Zheng instructed and Guan Ping nodded. "That way it'll be harder to get to you, but even so, it's likely that someone like commander Yu Jin won't concern himself with petty matters like yourself, so if he doesn't get caught, he won't bother to come for you"

Guan Ping nodded in agreement though tilting his head to ponder on the fact he just called him a petty matter and whether he should be offended.

"Now these are just precautions, we'll need a solid plan if we want to ensure your safety" Fa Zheng pouted rubbing his own cheek as he pondered.

Guan Ping stared impressed at Fa Zheng's quick thinking, and grateful that he'd confided in him.

Where have you been all this time?

"For now, we also need to get out of here, you can't come to your room again, you'll get murdered in your sleep and no one will find you till it's too late" Fa Zheng pointed out, and Guan Ping swallowed, a panicked look on his face, whilst Fa Zheng spoke about it so casually. He rises to his feet after him. "Bring your things, you can stay with me for the time being" Fa Zheng offered, and Guan Ping followed him agreeing. They watched that they weren't followed and relocated to Fa Zheng's room.

"I always thought this place would have more cracks in it than it showed, but this is something out of a story book" Fa Zheng admitted as he lay in the bed next Guan Ping looking amused.

Guan Ping laid next to him on the bed, his stomach resting on the mattress.

"My father used to tell me about the army, he said it was were the greatest of men came together to be our protectors" Guan Ping looked out of the small window where the light of the moon shone through between the darkness.

"You father was a soldier?" Fa Zheng asked as he watched it too.

"Yes, he died a few years back" Guan Ping said quietly, laying down onto his back and staring at the ceiling. "I want to continue what he started" He adds.

"Well let's keep you alive and away from the hands of commander 'I'll kill anyone who steps in my way', seriously who does he think he is?" Fa Zheng swivelled so he was lying on his side. "This bastard thinks he can do anything he wants whenever he wants like there's no higher power, someone's got to stop him" Fa Zheng ranted on, looking rather excited than annoyed.

"As much as I want to agree with you, he didn't kill commander Han Dang, that was my fault" Guan Ping reminded with a frown.

"You're an insolent person Guan Ping" Fa Zheng threw his head back on the pillow sighing.

"Am I? Why" Guan Ping turned to him concerned.

"You can't just go around thinking everything is your fault, bad things happen to bad people, that's his bad karma catching up with him" Fa Zheng shrugged, his head tilting to Guan Ping. "Besides quit the self-pity, get over it"

"I'm not self-pitying, I just, I'm not proud of what I did" Guan Ping continued to look sullen. "I wish there was more I could have done"

"Idiot." Fa Zheng laughed at Guan Ping's stressed appearance. "There you go again".

Fa Zheng's moral compass was questionable, but I think his heart's in the right place.

Fa Zheng turned suddenly leaning close to Guan Ping. "You said you knew the captain a few years back, how did you meet him?" Fa Zheng pressed curiously. A sly expression paints his face, as his black hair strands shadow over his forehead.

"I-um, I- why does that matter? I was young he looked after me out of sympathy, nothing more" Guan Ping brushed off avoiding eye contact.

Fa Zheng's eyes narrowed as he glared unconvinced. "Oh yeah? Then why has your face turned red?"

Guan Ping panicked increasing Fa Zheng's suspicion. "My um, no, no my face is not red, I – just wanted to become a soldier at the time, he used to frequent the city, he'd tell me about his battles outside the city" Guan Ping waffled unconvincingly.

"Oh and when he shared his knowledge with you about the outside world, was this with clothes on or without" Fa Zheng poked Guan Ping's arm pestering. Guan Ping's already red face became more flustered.

"I did not have sex with him!" Guan Ping protested sitting up worked up and embarrassed.

"Pfff, so boringgg…" Fa Zheng yawned, placing his arms behind his head.

Guan Ping pouted narrowing his eyes at the man's brazenness.

"I mean I can imagine, you probably went home every day and wrote in your pathetic little diary about how he gave you butterflies, I'm going to puke just thinking about it" Fa Zheng yawned again, his eyes narrowed to express disinterest.

"You're so fucking insensitive Fa Zheng, I already told you I didn't have a home" Guan Ping muttered folding his arms and rolling his eyes.

"You could have had the time of your life" Fa Zheng smirked again. "Naivety won't get you anywhere brother" He pulled Guan Ping's headband down onto his eyes and relaxed back on the bed chuckling.

Guan Ping huffed as he removed his headband off his head. "I'm not naïve" He defends prodding his index fingers together. "We kissed a few times…" Guan Ping blushed as he admitted.

"Keep talking and I'll throw up, you sound like a 13 year old school girl" Fa Zheng gestured his finger in front of his mouth and pulled his tongue out pretending to puke again. "I don't want to hear your kissing stories, tell me something like I-"

Guan Ping shoved his hand on Fa Zheng's mouth. "Shut up. Not another word" Guan Ping's mouth and brows straightened.

Fa Zheng moved Guan Ping's hand and laughed.

"You've slept with other men?" Guan Ping asked quietly.

"Are you asking me if I've withheld this sexy piece of human from humanity? No, I wouldn't be so cruel" Fa Zheng jested and Guan Ping smiled lightly, Fa Zheng's self-assuredness was nice. He was smart and devilishly handsome, with a smile that's hard to not smile back at.

Talking to him made me wonder, would Dun have stayed if I let it happen? I was too scared at the time, I still am now, and it's not that I don't think about him like that, but I get so shy when I'm near him…

Fa Zheng what have you done? I told myself I was mad at Dun, now I'm imagining him naked on top of me… oh for fucks sake

Fa Zheng bit his own lower lip and moved closer to Guan Ping resting his chin into Guan Ping lap.

"Listen, we'll get you your man" Fa Zheng smiled fluttering his eyes and Guan Ping shoved his hand in his face moving him away.

"You're unbearable, shut up" Guan Ping narrowed his eyes adjusting himself into the blanket to sleep.

What I mean is I wonder what it would be like to be you.

"Good night to you too" Fa Zheng rolled onto the other side highly amused. There were a few minutes of quiet. "I can't believe you didn't fuck him" Fa Zheng pouted disturbing the silence.

"Another word and I'll suffocate you with this pillow" Guan Ping warned folding his arms in annoyance, and Fa Zheng snickered next to him. Guan Ping rolled his eyes and then rolled onto his side, then lightly smiled before closing his eyes.

Is this what it feels like to be accepted? No judgement? It was this moment I knew I wanted to know you for the rest of my life.

…..

The next morning came by, the first drill of the day was led solely by Xiahou Dun, he demonstrated the use of a sword and different techniques to swing and hold it firmly.

"Think of your sword as a part of you, familiarise yourself with handling, each person here will have their own way of doing things, and that's fine, the only wrong way is not trying" Xiahou Dun paced down the line of recruits. His brow lightly bounced when he noticed Guan Ping, he looked irritated but walked on.

"You're probably already thinking about his sword" Fa Zheng whispered with an innocent smirk on his face.

Guan Ping flared his nostrils as his lips straightened. "Fa Zheng I'll cut you" Guan Ping warned, his gaze wandered into the distance.

No Yu Jin?

"Are you listening?!" Xiahou Dun scolded, and Guan Ping's heart jumped when everyone's eyes turned towards him. Xiahou Dun scowled at him and then continued.

Not the kind of attention I wanted.

"I want you all to take a sword and begin practicing on the hay sacks hanged around the field. Don't think of this as some game, what you put in today will be the deciding factor for your survival in battle, make the most of it" Xiahou Dun instructed, his eyes on Guan Ping as he finished the sentence.

Guan Ping walked slowly to get a sword, he hesitated knowing he couldn't retrieve it without passing Dun. He walked on and Xiahou Dun didn't say anything till he was behind him at the weapons rack.

"I thought I told you to stay put" Xiahou Dun reprimanded without facing him, his hands behind his back as he watched the recruits begin their training.

Guan Ping paused but didn't say anything back.

"You're always looking for trouble" He remarked turning to face him, he glances at him and then glances forward again.

Guan Ping glanced back at him. "No… it seems like trouble follows me wherever I go" Guan Ping shrugged and then looked at the sharp weapon in his hands to avoid Dun's gaze in case he turned back. He then glanced back up but that was when Dun turned again.

Xiahou Dun smiled. "Go train with your comrades"

Guan Ping's brow twitched, he blinks softly, smiles back and walks away quickly.

You are the trouble that follows me.

"Guan Ping!" Fa Zheng called out, and Guan Ping strolled over to him. "This is Lu Lingqi, Ma Dai, and naked Ning" Fa Zheng introduced.

"Hi there! Now can we practice on each other already?" Ma Dai greeted with the sweetest smile contrasting his suggestion to cut him apart two seconds after meeting him.

Guan Ping smiled nervously hoping he was joking. He'd recognised him, the man with the curly brown hair, his room was two rooms down from his own. He holds the sword like he already knows how to wield it.

"Gan Ning dammit, stop going around telling everyone that's my name" Gan Ning protested annoyed and then transitioned to a friendly smile. "Hey! Guan Ping right?"

Guan Ping nodded smiling politely. He remembered him too, the guy with the un-ironed clothes Lu Bu commanded to undress every time he'd notice a crease on his garments. Guan Ping turned to the last member of the group.

Lu Lingqi stared back with a blank expression.

Am I meeting a female Yu Jin?

Fa Zheng put his arm on Guan Ping. "So… we were planning to take a look over the walls tonight, are you in?" Fa Zheng smirked like a fox, and Gan Ning did too, Ma Dai beamed and Lu Lingqi's eyes may have twinkled but it's hard to say.

Wasn't she going to say hello?

"But aren't we going to get in-" Guan Ping almost refused the idea but Gan Ning smacked him on the back.

"Come on! Don't tell me you're scared?!" Gan Ning teased. Guan Ping's eyes widened feeling as though he may have pulled a muscle with the hard smack.

"He looks scared, I think he's scared" Ma Dai shrugged trying to wind him up.

"Pussy" Lu Lingqi mumbled.

Guan Ping felt a dagger stab his heart, that was the first word she'd said to him.

"Okay! Let's do it!" Guan Ping exhaled, feeling the pressure and Ma Dai and Gan Ning leaned over his shoulder smiling cheekily. Fa Zheng smirked and Lu Lingqi looked to the side and smiled lightly.

Guan Ping furrowed his brows as his eyes moved between the group.

"Come on!" Gan Ning raced with the sword in his hand. "I'll race you all to 50" He bragged.

"Like you'll get 50" Lu Lingqi rolled her eyes, and quickened her pace to a run.

I guess she does talk… probably not much to strangers.

Ma Dai ran after the two and Fa Zheng seemed to stay at a slow pace intentionally for Guan Ping to catch up. He turns as Guan Ping is on his heel.

"You okay?" Fa Zheng asked appearing serious suddenly. Guan Ping nodded observing him intently.

"What?" Fa Zheng asked noticing Guan Ping staring.

"I thought you don't do friendships, friend" Guan Ping teased and Fa Zheng rolled his eyes.

"Think of them as your allies, you want to wage a war you need allies" Fa Zheng explained shoving him and Guan Ping paused his brows furrowing.

"Fa Zheng, I'm not trying to wage a war against Yu Jin" Guan Ping frowned intensely, and Fa Zheng scoffed.

"You already have" Fa Zheng shrugged "Hey, I think they like you" He reassured putting his arm on Guan Ping's shoulder and leading him to walk on.

Fa Zheng was too good to be true, it was strange to me… and a little bit too obsessed with Yu Jin?

….

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~Flowergirly