Author's Notes: I've been re-watching both The Long Ballad and Love O2O lately due to recently getting Viki and watching the differences in translations. It gave me this little idea. I am going to pull things from various places and not stick to any one show or book storyline. The world will be in the game world but the characters would not be avatars but people with various skills along with some magical powers. The characters will not be limited to just a skill class (i.e. while Xiao Nai will be talented with the guqin he is not about to go into battle with one. He is going to use regular weapons like anyone else.) I will toss in other random characters from other Gu Man stories and possibly some characters from the Long Ballad. Why? Because I need more cast members then what I have and I've pretty much already earmarked all the named characters from Love O2O for rolls already. Anyways, I own nothing.

Chapter One

Only few knew that their tribe's princess, Weiwei, traveled ahead of her country's convoy to the Tsinghua Kingdom's capital city of Zhi Yi. That was because only a select few knew that their great leader had trained the princess of the Rising Jade Sea's tribes as if she was a man. Why? Who would be a better spy than one of the few people who knew both the intricacies of both male and female of different classes of life? Dressed in the preferred style of dress for the merchant class of the Tsinghua Kingdom, a futou hat and zhiduo robes Weiwei inconspicuously wandered down the main roads of the marketplace. She observed the guards who had been monitoring to make sure that there were no thieves about. Weiwei had to admit whomever who did the duty of the inner town magistrate does their job well. She couldn't find any obvious holes in defences so if her father ever decided to attack the capital city it would be quite the battle that she was not sure who would win. Looking across the road she gave a discreet signal to the merchant whom had been undercover in the city for months and then with a turn of her head she sent another person to purchase a steam bun where a message would be hidden within the paper holding the product. As she passed her spy they placed a small fold up piece of paper in her hand. With that she left for her rented room in the tavern.

When she was in her room she read the note. 'The game has been set for tomorrow. Shaoxiang to play main.' Weiwei rolled her eyes at the message Zhen Shaoxiang, is the son of General Zhen Gong of the Zhen Yi tribe who is the biggest thorn in her father's hide. While General Zhen was someone to be wary of his son on the other hand while a good fighter he was a lazy playboy who enjoyed using his father's achievements to get his way. She and Shaoxiang had clashed multiple times with her persona of the Red General of the Luwei tribe. In all honesty, Weiwei wanted nothing to do with either male Zhen with either persona. The oldest one had been trying to promote the marriage between his son and Weiwei so Shaoxiang would be the next in line to rule and the younger went from trying to jealousy instigating skirmishes between her tribe trying to make himself look like he was more capable than Weiwei was in battle to attempting to gain audience with her princess self in an attempt to seduce her. Thank goodness neither Shaoxiang or General Zhen have never seen either one of her persona's face or it would be all kinds of headaches for her. She sighed and went to her makeshift office and burnt the message and sighed. She knew if her tribe lost the game it would show her father's kingdom as weak but letting Shaoxiang play the whole game was not an option. It looks like she would need to send Kei Ouyang or as she affectionately called her most trusted warrior Kei Oh; undercover to arrange an accident mid-game. Weiwei called for the tavern keeper to have the cook prepare some xiaolongbao and have it brought up to her.

Weiwei was startled out of her thoughts when the door knocked. The disguised female called for the worker to enter. "Your xiaolongbao, my lord." the tavern's cook announced.

"Shut the door and bring it here." Weiwei commanded. The cook did as she commanded. When the steamer basket was settled on the table and the cook was bowing, did Weiwei look up.

"Kei Oh." Weiwei acknowledged.

"Your highness." Kei Oh bowed his head deeper. "How can I be of service?"

"Shaoxiang is here in the town staying with the Rising Jade Sea's Convoy. My sources tell me that the upstart chose to take the lead in tomorrow's cuju game instead of the pre-planned line up. I need an accident to be arranged sometime right after the second half starts so I can replace the fool and keep our tribe's honor." Weiwei informed her loyal warrior. "After the match I need you to find passage with merchants going north for me to return to the tribe. After a week passes I need for you to take the direct route to the temple Xue Shan where I am supposed to be officially. From there we will return to our tribe. Our other spies are to slowly trickle back to the tribe within a month. You have been gone too long my friend and I would like my war counselor by my side once more." Weiwei gave her friend a warm smile. "Time is short, return to your post and I will meet with you tomorrow."

Kei Oh nodded. "It will be done, my princess." The quiet warrior straightened up and left the room.

Weiwei was left to her thoughts and soon enough after a short rest the night had passed. When Weiwei rose she quickly got ready for the day, binding her chest, pulling her hair into a simple top knot, and downing her clothing. As she left the tavern she gave a discreet nod to Kei Oh as she walked out of the main room and exited to the market street. As she walked down the road she watched the people going about doing their business when she recognized a familiar face making a scene. Cao Guang of the Weiguang tribe, the only son of the ambassador and another fool who has been attempting to woo her by spreading bad rumors to potential suitors and then attempt to use flowery words to win her heart much to Weiwei's annoyance. The fool was actually attempting to start a fight with a group of men that were all dressed in fine clothing. Couldn't the fool tell that the person in the center of the group dressed in white was obviously someone in high position? If the clothing didn't give it away the noble mein should be obvious. She had to smirk as she watched the man in white snub the idiot. Weiwei continued on her way to the game fields to find the optimal place to hide until it was time to switch places with Shaoxiang.

The city drums rang the time of shang wu and Kei Oh appeared next to her. "I have had the word spread that it was Zhen Shaoxiang and not Weiguang pup who was attempting to harass the crown prince this morning. The prince's men are out for blood. I doubt young Zhen will be unharmed before the first quarter." Kei Oh reported with a dip of his head.

"The man dressed in white was the crowned prince?" Weiwei asked, surprised. She figured that the crowned prince would be closer to her father's age instead of her's..

"Yes, the Prince Yixiao or his given name of Xiao Nai is hailed to be a brilliant tactician from a young age. He was given his title due to his calm smile during any situation. From what has been praised in the city he might be trouble going against. Even for you, princess. I've not heard any negative remarks about him with any vices. Only positive. If your father does decide to honor the marriage treaty that your great grandfather wrote he will not be a terrible choice; unlike the two fools that are currently trying to gain your hand in the tribes." Kei Oh faithfully reported. "He and his men have been the ones in charge of city defences for some time now. It has made it hard to send out reports due to his careful eye."

"Interesting." Weiwei admitted. The reason why her father had sent her and a few other of their trusted advisors to Tsinghua's capital was to see if the peace treaty should be renewed or should the two countries go to war. So far from her reports from what her subordinates and from what she has observed it would be foolish to start a war with Tsinghua. She had already sent message with her observations to her father. With what Kei Oh has reported it put her more at ease with what she wrote. Hearing people coming she motioned for Kei Oh to join her in the shadows watching as their country men walking into the tent to prepare for the upcoming cuju match. She shook her head when she saw that both Zhen Shaoxiang and Cao Guang walk into the tent, each one trying to be the one to play the lead on the team. To bring perceived honor for her hand in marriage, no doubt. Weiwei mentally sighed and signaled Kei Oh to take one of them out and replace them. Kei Oh nodded and started to follow Cao Guang and waited for his chance.

As her country men left the tent Weiwei wasted no time stripping down and changing into her country's cuju uniform and dawned the one thing that could give one of her identities away, the fiery red mask covering her lovely features. She waited behind the tent flaps as she watched the game take place. As she had figured, Zhen Shaoxiang was making a mess out of things and she debated if she could turn this game around. She put her main focus on the lead on the opposing team's leader and she was impressed she could tell that the leader had studied 'The Art of War'.

Shortly before the drum signaling the end of the second quarter Weiwei saw a member of the opposing team knock into Zhen Shaoxiang and tangling his leg with his own causing a loud crunch. Weiwei waited for the Zhen Shaoxiang to be carted off the field before joining her tribesmen. She signaled her tribesmen to her and waited for them to come. "You know who I am," She bluntly stated in a low voice. "Follow my signals and we will get this mess turnt around." the men nodded and waited for her next command. "We will be crossing the T formation. Wait for my signal. Now get in formation!"

Xiao Nai watched from his place on the field and smirked. "This new player has also studied 'The Art of War'. This should be interesting." He signaled to his team to be ready and waited for the ball to drop. Both teams rushed for the ball with the leaders leaping into the air to take control of the ball. Xiao Nai underestimated his new rival's leaping abilities and the Rising Jade Sea clan was able to not only take control of the ball but score. Soon enough both sides were tied and there was only time for one more play. Xiao Nai eyed the lith form in the red mask. 'Was this the famed Red General of the Rising Jade Sea?' The white prince signalled the last play of the game and prepared for the ball to drop for the last time. The game was ferocious and soon Xiao Nai and the red masked person faced off head to head with a twist of his wrist his second in command Yu Banshan knocked the person in the red mask to the ground and dislodged the mask. Xiao Nai's eyes widened. The person behind the mask was no man but a very beautiful woman masquerading as a man. He watched as she put her mask back on and one of her country men helped her up and followed her closely making sure the woman was not harmed. The red mask's guardian gave Xiao Nai a deadly glare as the two moved to intercept the ball. 'The other player must know her identity.' Xiao Nai shook his head and focused on the ball. He could not let his side lose. It was a tough battle which Xiao Nai had to admit to himself if the woman in the red mask had been playing for the whole game the other side would have won already. It was pure luck and Hao Mei's unpredictability that his side won the match. Xiao Nai smiled at the person in the red mask and told them good game. He watched her nod and leave the field. Wondering when would they cross paths again, if ever.