Crossing Spears - Chapter 6
By: Yeu
I love Diao Chan, women who are beautiful and devious does that to me. To think she had two of the most powerful men in the Three Kingdoms time period wrapped around her fingers, man she must be good ^_^.
I guess people didn't like Chapter 5 that much from the lack of reviews. oh well, I hope I made up for it in this chapter. Oh and the surprise everyone's been waiting for? Next Chapter.
Koei and Omega Force own Dynasty Warriors, thank you guys!
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For a second he stayed silent so his battered brain can better digest the information, then out of nowhere, Jiang Wei purposely banged his head on the pole that he was tied to. He, however, forgot there was already a bad bump there and the assault only made him see more stars.
"What did my lord do that for?" The woman was surprised and she quickly examined the back of his head to make sure there were no further injuries. "Many people and famous generals have had such an experience and live to tell it. Why do you react so badly?"
"To remind myself of how stupid I really am." Jiang Wei replied, trying to blink the dancing stars away. "Damn! I can't believe I've let that person down again!"
Diao Chan studied him with her bright eyes. "It is interesting that you are worrying about letting someone else down when you are the one who is in more danger." She observed.
"Just been doing too many stupid things lately." Jiang Wei winced slightly as the song maiden applied the towel she had wetted to his head. "I've been stupid, immature, brash."
"No matter what you had done just please don't be excited right now." She replied as her soft hands applied some cooling medicinal paste on to the bump. "Injuring yourself farther won't do you any good in this situation."
He sighed and decided that she was right, and stayed still so the singer would have an easier time with tying the bandages. The young man was pleasantly surprised at how efficient and skilled the maiden was at treating his many injuries, most of which he still can't remember how he got them. But as his scarred brain start to work again, he was suddenly alarmed at how much he was at ease with the song maiden. The sudden realization made him remind himself the need to be hard, but a wide smile from the girl immediately melts the shell.
"So who is this person so important to you? Is it your wife that you left back at home?" Diao Chan asked gently, breaking the silence.
"No, I'm not married." Jiang Wei felt like he was in that position before.
"Well, that's a surprise. I would have expected someone as handsome as you to have a wife or two in addition to several concubines." The girl said. "Or maybe it is your lover that you are worrying about?"
"My what?" The young man can't help but laugh, even in his condition. "No, nothing like that, just a person that I'm trying to prove myself to." Even as he spoke the words, Jiang Wei's heart doubts itself; is that person really just a person and nothing more?
"Well, whomever it is, they seem to be very important to you." The girl was cleaning a gash on his leg. "It takes a lot of emotion to think about someone else while you are tie up somewhere with a uncertain fate."
"Thank you for reminding me." He said dryly.
"Oh, please don't misunderstand me, my lord." Diao Chan answered apologetically. "But I'm just trying to say that it is very fortunate of you to have found such a person. Who knows, maybe you have found the other end of the red string."
Jiang Wei stared at her, surprised by the comment, and then cracks a dry laugh. If she only knows whom he had been thinking about, then the singer would see how improper that comment is. Such things are looked upon with high disgrace in the society, even though in an almost all male army, there are many cases where people keep quite about. The young man had previously chosen to ignore those things back in Wei when rumors arise where more than a few of his subordinates are engaged in the unacceptable behavior. Although such things are grounds for immediate discharge, his opinion is that if they can perform on the field of battle that is all that he cares. They are in the army because they can fight, and as long as they can do their duty, he will turn a blind eye. But he never thought about himself being in that situation and the thought made him quite uncomfortable in some ways.
"Did I say something wrong, my lord?" The singer asked warily. "I apologize if I said anything that offends you."
"How come you are so skilled at treating wounds?" He asked her, effectively changing the subject. "I thought you were just a singer and dancer."
"I am." She replied as she worked on changing the bandages on his left arm. "But you know Lord Lu Bu, he always comes back with little things here and there."
Upon hearing the accursed name, the young general can feel his entire body jolt. Shivers running up and down his spine as sudden cold sweat poured forth, as sudden as lightning, he remembered how he got to where he is.
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Jiang Wei had hidden himself and what little troops he had among the trees and bushes alongside the road. The soldiers know that they are only here to delay, not to destroy and are to run as soon as the evacuation is complete. The young man pressed his aching left arm to his side, trying to at least alleviate some pain. His palms had become sweaty and he quickly wipes them on his sleeve and grips his spear even tighter.
Situating himself on an outstretching branch of a tree, he peered though the leaves to study the unit that is fast approaching, and almost fell from the limb when he saw the leader. A large man with imposing air about him, blood thirst is in his eyes and death in his hands as a large spear with an extra blade shaped like a crescent moon. Jiang Wei had never seemed the man before, but the weapon cannot be mistaken for any other. Immediately without any doubt Jiang Boyue know he was looking into the face of the God of War, also known as Lu Bu.
The young general quietly sneaked back and sagged down against the trunk of the tree to let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding. He hid his head between his knees and held himself close.
"What is HE doing here?" He whispered to himself. "I thought he was dead! We can't hold against him. We'll just be increasing the body count."
Thinking quickly, he revamped his plans; taking inspiration from their recent experience. He ordered the soldiers who are still with him to gather as much as dry grass as they can, and then direct them to place them in a specific formation around the road. Working feverishly and secretly, the troops manage to complete the formation just before the pursuers entered the forest.
When the unit of the horseman entered the forest, all they found was a young man, a burning torch in one hand and a spear in the other. His handsome face was pale and determination as one would look when one's looking right at death.
Lu Bu let out a roaring laughter. "Can't wait to be squashed, worm?" He smirked and licked his lips. "Don't worry, there's enough death to go around for everyone."
"I might be a worm compare to you." Jiang Wei forced himself to look confident. "But sometimes even mice and win against an elephant."
"You have guts for an insect!" The large man roared. "And I shall give you a painless death as a reward!"
The God of War urged his horse forward; he had lost the Red Hare to Cao Cao and is now riding another horse. Although the animal itself still looks impressive, Jiang Wei is sure that it comes nowhere near the famous red horse.
"Well, worm, aren't you going to run away?" Lu Bu raised his spear. "Come on, scream loudly, otherwise it will be no fun."
The young man ignored the taunts, his eyes was focusing on an imaginary line on the ground.
"General," Zhang Liao whispered. "Don't you think it's strange that only one person is confronting us? This might be a trap."
"Ha!" Lu Bu laughed again, "What can one person do? Even if there is a trap, how much damage can it do?" And the giant man rode across the line.
At that very moment, the young strategist threw his torch into the bush right next to him; it caught on immediately as the bush was in truth a pile of dried grass. Fire traveled across it's prearranged routes and soon formed circles upon circles of fire, enclosing the two men in the center and burning the others nearby.
"Clever." The mighty general said to the young man. "But what can this little fire do?"
Jiang Wei only smiled, his fire, was in fact, a signal to the rest of his men who were hiding to start their share of the fire. The forest was soon engulfed by the red demon, and frightened screams from the horses and the dying shouts from the men fill the air.
"One fire might not be able to do much." The young man finally replied to the astonished giant. "But when there is a group of them together, it can destroy whole cities."
"Even if you have prevented me from pursuing your troops." Lu Bu's eyes burn of fury. "You are caught within the fire like us, there is no way out for you."
"Who said I wanted out?" The young man said sadly. "The meaningless loss of the troops are my fault, and I shall pay for it with my own life. My men has order to set the fire and run, you won't be able to touch them."
The God of War's wrath burned even brighter, as he sees the sincerely of the youth's words. Quickly he reared his horse around to try to escape, but Jiang Wei wasn't about to let the big fish escape. He quickly circled around and knocks the horse off its feet by hitting one of its knees with the dull end of his spear. The large animal tripped and toppled over, throwing its rider to the ground.
"I might get lonely on the way down." He mocked the fallen man. "I would love some companionship on the trip to hell."
"You little WORM!" The man quickly got up. "I will make your death as painful as I possibly can make it!"
"Take all the time you need. We are going down together!" The young general's eyes narrowed.
With a deafening bellow, Lu Bu charged at the youth, Jiang Wei managed to block the strike, but the force of the blow send numbness up his arms and his left wrist began to scream in pain. The next successions of strikes were so fast that the youth could only see blurs, and each time he managed to block the heavy spear at the last moment. But after the fifth or sixth time, the numbness got the better part of him and his weapon was knock out of his hands and into the fire while the Jiang Wei himself was knocked to the ground.
Lu Bu smiled like a beast about to tear the throat out of its prey, lips curling back to reveal his teeth. He purposely walked slowly up to the boy sprawling on the earth; the fires around him gave the man almost a devilish look.
Jiang Boyue could barely feel anything besides the pain shooting up his left arm; he had accidentally fallen on it when he landed. Fighting the tears of pain that threatens to escape and clenching his teeth to better bare the pain, he barely saw the overhead thrust in time and had to roll out of the way, feeling the sharp blade of the air going by his cheek.
Although the young man had never been too superstitious, the crimson light from the fire around them gave the mighty warrior the look of the devil, and it send chills down his spine. He tried to get back to his feet as quick as possible, but Lu Bu wasn't about to give him a chance to catch his breath. A wide sideswipe caught him in the thigh and he fell down again with blood gashing forth from the wound.
"You will regret the day you dare to challenge me!" Lu Bu roared over the cracking of the fire and stood towering above the downed youth.
"Which is today if your small mind can remember." Jiang Wei spat some blood on the ground. "Then again, that is too much to ask from an animal like you!"
Angrily, the giant again aimed his spear at the injured youth, aiming to kill. But Jiang Wei is ready for it this time, gather what little strength he has, he pulled the Blue Blade free from its sheath and neatly sliced through the wooden pole of the heavy spear. Lu Bu was momentarily shocked by the surprising turn of the event as he stared at the severed head of the bladeless pole. Then he suddenly brought the pole down right across the young man's arms, sending the famous sword flying out of the burning circle and out of sight.
Losing his last weapon, the youth is now left defenseless except for his sharp words. Cursing his own fragility, if only he had more strength, the young man might have been able to injure or even kill Lu Bu in his moment of shock, but he was too weak to move anymore, and laying on the ground like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"How DARE you destroy my weapon like that?" The mighty giant spat at Jiang Wei. "You will pay for that!"
"You won't need that where we are going." The youth weakly replied. "Unless you want to cut your own throat to save me the trouble of slaying a swine."
The youth wasn't sure if the redness on the God of War's face is of rage or is it simply the fire's reflection, but either way, it couldn't be good. Pulling back a leg, the large man delivered a swift and solid kick to the youth's abdomen. Jiang Wei could almost feel his innards changing positions from the force of the blow, and it brought up some unpleasant liquids that he threw up. But the man didn't stop there; he picked up the rugged youth with one hand and threw him hard, slamming him against the trunk of a nearby tree. Boyue crumbled at the root of the large plant, in his mind he scarcely remembers it's the same tree that he had hid in earlier. But what concern him more in the intense heat and pain he feels to the left side of his body, and as quickly as his abused body can, he rolled out of the burning shrub. Although his vision by now is too blurry to see the extent of his injures, his nose can smell the scent of burn hair, cloth, and flesh.
"Ready to beg for mercy now, you insect?" Lu Bu laughed with an expression nearing madness. He was enjoying this little session, but the young general wasn't about to give in.
"I didn't know you would understand if I spoken to you in the human tongue." Forcing the words out with a visible effort, Boyue clasped again to the ground. "I though you werejust a brainless ape."
Faintly the young man could see the blood vessel bursting from the warrior's forehead, he roughly pick the defeated youth up by the dark strands of hair and threw him back onto the ground. The young man landed heavily on the side of his head, causing a long gash in addition to countless others he had already received.
Through his failing vision, the former Wei general could see death advancing on him menacingly. But he forced a smile on his lips, a smirk that will push the single-minded man beyond the boundary of reasoning.
The man reached down and grabbed the young strategist by his throat, gathering strength behind his grip. Jiang Wei could feel his supply of sir being cut short and know that his time is near, his only wish is to make sure that the brute they call Lu Bu would go with him.
"General!" The youth could very faintly hear a voice call, but he wasn't sure if it is for him or not. His last thought because darkness overcame him was about how he had failed miserably and how many people he had let down.
Lord Zhao Yun, please forgive me.
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Zhao Yun awoke to the voices of his bodyguards, "Lady Nu Wa wish to have an audience with you," they said.
Still feeling faintly drowsy, he waved her in and motions her to sit down somewhere.
"Are you feeling better my lord?" Nu Wa asked sincerely as she sat down on a wooden chair covered with some kind of fur. "You were so pale I was ready to call the army doctor on you."
"I'm fine." The tiger general replied sourly, "Just surprised by the turn of events. The Prime Minister did not give instructions on what to do if something like this happens so I would have to think of something."
"Permission to speak my mind, Commander?" The woman general asked gravely. Which surprises Zhao Yun, although the young woman is quite polite, she rarely uses titles.
"Permission given."
"We are doomed if we don't do something."
"Can I take the permission back?" He said sourly.
"If Lu Bu IS out there, there is not enough men in the world to take him down in a straight fight." She continued. "Not to mention the uncertain status of one of our own."
"If you are thinking about a certain strategist, yes, I'm aware of that." The answer comes out with more bitterness than he had intended to be.
"Well, this is where I would like to speak frankly, what are you going to do about him?"
"I don't know yet, and I think we can't do anything. He is on his own if he is still alive."
"You are just going to abandon him and the other camp?" The woman exclaimed.
"Do you think I want to?" The Little Dragon felt like hiding his face with his hands. "The Prime Minister said we would be getting no reinforcements, we'll have to make do with the men we have. And if Lu Bu IS out there, we'll need every single man we can get."
"So you are planning to sacrifice him and the men in the other camp then." It wasn't a question, but a statement.
Zhao Yun said nothing; the decision wasn't easy nor is it something he wants to admit to. He searched desperately through his brain for something, anything that can lead to another solution, but nothing comes up. No matter how unwilling he is to give up on the young man put into his charge, his biggest responsibility is to guarantee the campaign is a success, and that comes before the lives of many men.
"How can you think of such a thing!" Nu Wa practically screamed, "I know you have your responsibilities but you can not just desert others to die!"
"Then give me another choice!" Zhao Zilong angrily spat back. "You think I like making this kind of decisions? I would prefer to be out there on the battlefield instead of lock up here in a tent! But I have no other choice!"
"And if I do give you an alternative, would you take it?" The young woman suddenly smirked.
"Anything." He looked at her suspiciously, but still answered truthfully.
"Why can't you then, go by yourself?" She said seriously, "You are the equal of a thousand man, and it might be easy for you to act if you are alone."
"But I can't!" He said in a desperate tone. "I wish I could, but I'm the Commander and I have to stay. You know any officer who deserts his or her post is sentenced by death."
"But you wish you can, and would go if you could."
"Of course." He was annoyed, how many times is she going to repeat this?
The broad smile on the young woman's face was like the warm spring after a harsh winter. From somewhere in her shield she took out a letter and handed to him. "A new order from the Prime Minister." She laughed.
Puzzled, he took the sealed envelop. After studying to seal to make sure it is truly a genuine stamp, he opened the envelope and read it carefully. As he continues to read, his eyes grow wider in surprise and shock.
"When did you get this?!" He shockingly asked when he finishes reading the order.
"Lord Zhuge Liang actually gave it to me before we leave." She replied simply. "Told me if nothing happens then destroy it when we get back, but if the need arises, you know." She left it hanging.
"I don't believe this." Zhao Yun slumped back in his chair. "You should have told me sooner!"
"Where would the fun be in that?" She smiled again. "Well then, should we make this formal, my lord?"
"Might as well." He handed back the letter to her and kneeled on the ground before the young woman.
"Attention Commander Zhao Zilong." She read the letter out loud. "You have permission to do and make any decisions you see fit, including the need to temporary leave your post. At your absence, the command would be given to General Ma Chao and General Nu Wa to be shared equally. You will, however, return as soon as your mission is accomplish to take back the responsibilities."
"Order received, Zilong will obey the command to the best of his abilities." He took the letter from Nu Wa and stood up. "Well, I better get going."
"Don't worry too much about him," The woman general comforted. "He is a smart lad, he would know how to take care of himself.
"I know that." Zhao Yun answered, a bit strangely. "I'm not worried about him." Handing her the small flag that is the symbol of the Commander.
"If you say so," Nu Wa answered as she exited the tent, not letting the man see the strange smile on her face. "Just take it easy and do the best you can."
Ma Chao had just returned from the field of battle when he saw the Little Dragon racing off on his white horse.
"Where is our precious Commander going?" He asked the young woman, who is standing nearby. "Why didn't he take his bodyguards with him?"
"To rescue his princess." She laughed. "And such a task you always do alone."
"Huh?" The famous horseman was quite confused.
"Never mind," The woman general looked one more time at the cloud of dust that Zhao Yun's horse had kicked up as it sped off. "You need a quick update, and we have a lot of work to do."
To Be Continued.
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DEFINITION: In Chinese, two people who are destined to be together are said to be tied together with a red string on their pinky. Diao Chan was referring to this belief in her conversation with Jiang Wei. Obviously, she does not know who was Boyue thinking about, and only assume it's his other half.
By: Yeu
I love Diao Chan, women who are beautiful and devious does that to me. To think she had two of the most powerful men in the Three Kingdoms time period wrapped around her fingers, man she must be good ^_^.
I guess people didn't like Chapter 5 that much from the lack of reviews. oh well, I hope I made up for it in this chapter. Oh and the surprise everyone's been waiting for? Next Chapter.
Koei and Omega Force own Dynasty Warriors, thank you guys!
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For a second he stayed silent so his battered brain can better digest the information, then out of nowhere, Jiang Wei purposely banged his head on the pole that he was tied to. He, however, forgot there was already a bad bump there and the assault only made him see more stars.
"What did my lord do that for?" The woman was surprised and she quickly examined the back of his head to make sure there were no further injuries. "Many people and famous generals have had such an experience and live to tell it. Why do you react so badly?"
"To remind myself of how stupid I really am." Jiang Wei replied, trying to blink the dancing stars away. "Damn! I can't believe I've let that person down again!"
Diao Chan studied him with her bright eyes. "It is interesting that you are worrying about letting someone else down when you are the one who is in more danger." She observed.
"Just been doing too many stupid things lately." Jiang Wei winced slightly as the song maiden applied the towel she had wetted to his head. "I've been stupid, immature, brash."
"No matter what you had done just please don't be excited right now." She replied as her soft hands applied some cooling medicinal paste on to the bump. "Injuring yourself farther won't do you any good in this situation."
He sighed and decided that she was right, and stayed still so the singer would have an easier time with tying the bandages. The young man was pleasantly surprised at how efficient and skilled the maiden was at treating his many injuries, most of which he still can't remember how he got them. But as his scarred brain start to work again, he was suddenly alarmed at how much he was at ease with the song maiden. The sudden realization made him remind himself the need to be hard, but a wide smile from the girl immediately melts the shell.
"So who is this person so important to you? Is it your wife that you left back at home?" Diao Chan asked gently, breaking the silence.
"No, I'm not married." Jiang Wei felt like he was in that position before.
"Well, that's a surprise. I would have expected someone as handsome as you to have a wife or two in addition to several concubines." The girl said. "Or maybe it is your lover that you are worrying about?"
"My what?" The young man can't help but laugh, even in his condition. "No, nothing like that, just a person that I'm trying to prove myself to." Even as he spoke the words, Jiang Wei's heart doubts itself; is that person really just a person and nothing more?
"Well, whomever it is, they seem to be very important to you." The girl was cleaning a gash on his leg. "It takes a lot of emotion to think about someone else while you are tie up somewhere with a uncertain fate."
"Thank you for reminding me." He said dryly.
"Oh, please don't misunderstand me, my lord." Diao Chan answered apologetically. "But I'm just trying to say that it is very fortunate of you to have found such a person. Who knows, maybe you have found the other end of the red string."
Jiang Wei stared at her, surprised by the comment, and then cracks a dry laugh. If she only knows whom he had been thinking about, then the singer would see how improper that comment is. Such things are looked upon with high disgrace in the society, even though in an almost all male army, there are many cases where people keep quite about. The young man had previously chosen to ignore those things back in Wei when rumors arise where more than a few of his subordinates are engaged in the unacceptable behavior. Although such things are grounds for immediate discharge, his opinion is that if they can perform on the field of battle that is all that he cares. They are in the army because they can fight, and as long as they can do their duty, he will turn a blind eye. But he never thought about himself being in that situation and the thought made him quite uncomfortable in some ways.
"Did I say something wrong, my lord?" The singer asked warily. "I apologize if I said anything that offends you."
"How come you are so skilled at treating wounds?" He asked her, effectively changing the subject. "I thought you were just a singer and dancer."
"I am." She replied as she worked on changing the bandages on his left arm. "But you know Lord Lu Bu, he always comes back with little things here and there."
Upon hearing the accursed name, the young general can feel his entire body jolt. Shivers running up and down his spine as sudden cold sweat poured forth, as sudden as lightning, he remembered how he got to where he is.
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Jiang Wei had hidden himself and what little troops he had among the trees and bushes alongside the road. The soldiers know that they are only here to delay, not to destroy and are to run as soon as the evacuation is complete. The young man pressed his aching left arm to his side, trying to at least alleviate some pain. His palms had become sweaty and he quickly wipes them on his sleeve and grips his spear even tighter.
Situating himself on an outstretching branch of a tree, he peered though the leaves to study the unit that is fast approaching, and almost fell from the limb when he saw the leader. A large man with imposing air about him, blood thirst is in his eyes and death in his hands as a large spear with an extra blade shaped like a crescent moon. Jiang Wei had never seemed the man before, but the weapon cannot be mistaken for any other. Immediately without any doubt Jiang Boyue know he was looking into the face of the God of War, also known as Lu Bu.
The young general quietly sneaked back and sagged down against the trunk of the tree to let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding. He hid his head between his knees and held himself close.
"What is HE doing here?" He whispered to himself. "I thought he was dead! We can't hold against him. We'll just be increasing the body count."
Thinking quickly, he revamped his plans; taking inspiration from their recent experience. He ordered the soldiers who are still with him to gather as much as dry grass as they can, and then direct them to place them in a specific formation around the road. Working feverishly and secretly, the troops manage to complete the formation just before the pursuers entered the forest.
When the unit of the horseman entered the forest, all they found was a young man, a burning torch in one hand and a spear in the other. His handsome face was pale and determination as one would look when one's looking right at death.
Lu Bu let out a roaring laughter. "Can't wait to be squashed, worm?" He smirked and licked his lips. "Don't worry, there's enough death to go around for everyone."
"I might be a worm compare to you." Jiang Wei forced himself to look confident. "But sometimes even mice and win against an elephant."
"You have guts for an insect!" The large man roared. "And I shall give you a painless death as a reward!"
The God of War urged his horse forward; he had lost the Red Hare to Cao Cao and is now riding another horse. Although the animal itself still looks impressive, Jiang Wei is sure that it comes nowhere near the famous red horse.
"Well, worm, aren't you going to run away?" Lu Bu raised his spear. "Come on, scream loudly, otherwise it will be no fun."
The young man ignored the taunts, his eyes was focusing on an imaginary line on the ground.
"General," Zhang Liao whispered. "Don't you think it's strange that only one person is confronting us? This might be a trap."
"Ha!" Lu Bu laughed again, "What can one person do? Even if there is a trap, how much damage can it do?" And the giant man rode across the line.
At that very moment, the young strategist threw his torch into the bush right next to him; it caught on immediately as the bush was in truth a pile of dried grass. Fire traveled across it's prearranged routes and soon formed circles upon circles of fire, enclosing the two men in the center and burning the others nearby.
"Clever." The mighty general said to the young man. "But what can this little fire do?"
Jiang Wei only smiled, his fire, was in fact, a signal to the rest of his men who were hiding to start their share of the fire. The forest was soon engulfed by the red demon, and frightened screams from the horses and the dying shouts from the men fill the air.
"One fire might not be able to do much." The young man finally replied to the astonished giant. "But when there is a group of them together, it can destroy whole cities."
"Even if you have prevented me from pursuing your troops." Lu Bu's eyes burn of fury. "You are caught within the fire like us, there is no way out for you."
"Who said I wanted out?" The young man said sadly. "The meaningless loss of the troops are my fault, and I shall pay for it with my own life. My men has order to set the fire and run, you won't be able to touch them."
The God of War's wrath burned even brighter, as he sees the sincerely of the youth's words. Quickly he reared his horse around to try to escape, but Jiang Wei wasn't about to let the big fish escape. He quickly circled around and knocks the horse off its feet by hitting one of its knees with the dull end of his spear. The large animal tripped and toppled over, throwing its rider to the ground.
"I might get lonely on the way down." He mocked the fallen man. "I would love some companionship on the trip to hell."
"You little WORM!" The man quickly got up. "I will make your death as painful as I possibly can make it!"
"Take all the time you need. We are going down together!" The young general's eyes narrowed.
With a deafening bellow, Lu Bu charged at the youth, Jiang Wei managed to block the strike, but the force of the blow send numbness up his arms and his left wrist began to scream in pain. The next successions of strikes were so fast that the youth could only see blurs, and each time he managed to block the heavy spear at the last moment. But after the fifth or sixth time, the numbness got the better part of him and his weapon was knock out of his hands and into the fire while the Jiang Wei himself was knocked to the ground.
Lu Bu smiled like a beast about to tear the throat out of its prey, lips curling back to reveal his teeth. He purposely walked slowly up to the boy sprawling on the earth; the fires around him gave the man almost a devilish look.
Jiang Boyue could barely feel anything besides the pain shooting up his left arm; he had accidentally fallen on it when he landed. Fighting the tears of pain that threatens to escape and clenching his teeth to better bare the pain, he barely saw the overhead thrust in time and had to roll out of the way, feeling the sharp blade of the air going by his cheek.
Although the young man had never been too superstitious, the crimson light from the fire around them gave the mighty warrior the look of the devil, and it send chills down his spine. He tried to get back to his feet as quick as possible, but Lu Bu wasn't about to give him a chance to catch his breath. A wide sideswipe caught him in the thigh and he fell down again with blood gashing forth from the wound.
"You will regret the day you dare to challenge me!" Lu Bu roared over the cracking of the fire and stood towering above the downed youth.
"Which is today if your small mind can remember." Jiang Wei spat some blood on the ground. "Then again, that is too much to ask from an animal like you!"
Angrily, the giant again aimed his spear at the injured youth, aiming to kill. But Jiang Wei is ready for it this time, gather what little strength he has, he pulled the Blue Blade free from its sheath and neatly sliced through the wooden pole of the heavy spear. Lu Bu was momentarily shocked by the surprising turn of the event as he stared at the severed head of the bladeless pole. Then he suddenly brought the pole down right across the young man's arms, sending the famous sword flying out of the burning circle and out of sight.
Losing his last weapon, the youth is now left defenseless except for his sharp words. Cursing his own fragility, if only he had more strength, the young man might have been able to injure or even kill Lu Bu in his moment of shock, but he was too weak to move anymore, and laying on the ground like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"How DARE you destroy my weapon like that?" The mighty giant spat at Jiang Wei. "You will pay for that!"
"You won't need that where we are going." The youth weakly replied. "Unless you want to cut your own throat to save me the trouble of slaying a swine."
The youth wasn't sure if the redness on the God of War's face is of rage or is it simply the fire's reflection, but either way, it couldn't be good. Pulling back a leg, the large man delivered a swift and solid kick to the youth's abdomen. Jiang Wei could almost feel his innards changing positions from the force of the blow, and it brought up some unpleasant liquids that he threw up. But the man didn't stop there; he picked up the rugged youth with one hand and threw him hard, slamming him against the trunk of a nearby tree. Boyue crumbled at the root of the large plant, in his mind he scarcely remembers it's the same tree that he had hid in earlier. But what concern him more in the intense heat and pain he feels to the left side of his body, and as quickly as his abused body can, he rolled out of the burning shrub. Although his vision by now is too blurry to see the extent of his injures, his nose can smell the scent of burn hair, cloth, and flesh.
"Ready to beg for mercy now, you insect?" Lu Bu laughed with an expression nearing madness. He was enjoying this little session, but the young general wasn't about to give in.
"I didn't know you would understand if I spoken to you in the human tongue." Forcing the words out with a visible effort, Boyue clasped again to the ground. "I though you werejust a brainless ape."
Faintly the young man could see the blood vessel bursting from the warrior's forehead, he roughly pick the defeated youth up by the dark strands of hair and threw him back onto the ground. The young man landed heavily on the side of his head, causing a long gash in addition to countless others he had already received.
Through his failing vision, the former Wei general could see death advancing on him menacingly. But he forced a smile on his lips, a smirk that will push the single-minded man beyond the boundary of reasoning.
The man reached down and grabbed the young strategist by his throat, gathering strength behind his grip. Jiang Wei could feel his supply of sir being cut short and know that his time is near, his only wish is to make sure that the brute they call Lu Bu would go with him.
"General!" The youth could very faintly hear a voice call, but he wasn't sure if it is for him or not. His last thought because darkness overcame him was about how he had failed miserably and how many people he had let down.
Lord Zhao Yun, please forgive me.
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Zhao Yun awoke to the voices of his bodyguards, "Lady Nu Wa wish to have an audience with you," they said.
Still feeling faintly drowsy, he waved her in and motions her to sit down somewhere.
"Are you feeling better my lord?" Nu Wa asked sincerely as she sat down on a wooden chair covered with some kind of fur. "You were so pale I was ready to call the army doctor on you."
"I'm fine." The tiger general replied sourly, "Just surprised by the turn of events. The Prime Minister did not give instructions on what to do if something like this happens so I would have to think of something."
"Permission to speak my mind, Commander?" The woman general asked gravely. Which surprises Zhao Yun, although the young woman is quite polite, she rarely uses titles.
"Permission given."
"We are doomed if we don't do something."
"Can I take the permission back?" He said sourly.
"If Lu Bu IS out there, there is not enough men in the world to take him down in a straight fight." She continued. "Not to mention the uncertain status of one of our own."
"If you are thinking about a certain strategist, yes, I'm aware of that." The answer comes out with more bitterness than he had intended to be.
"Well, this is where I would like to speak frankly, what are you going to do about him?"
"I don't know yet, and I think we can't do anything. He is on his own if he is still alive."
"You are just going to abandon him and the other camp?" The woman exclaimed.
"Do you think I want to?" The Little Dragon felt like hiding his face with his hands. "The Prime Minister said we would be getting no reinforcements, we'll have to make do with the men we have. And if Lu Bu IS out there, we'll need every single man we can get."
"So you are planning to sacrifice him and the men in the other camp then." It wasn't a question, but a statement.
Zhao Yun said nothing; the decision wasn't easy nor is it something he wants to admit to. He searched desperately through his brain for something, anything that can lead to another solution, but nothing comes up. No matter how unwilling he is to give up on the young man put into his charge, his biggest responsibility is to guarantee the campaign is a success, and that comes before the lives of many men.
"How can you think of such a thing!" Nu Wa practically screamed, "I know you have your responsibilities but you can not just desert others to die!"
"Then give me another choice!" Zhao Zilong angrily spat back. "You think I like making this kind of decisions? I would prefer to be out there on the battlefield instead of lock up here in a tent! But I have no other choice!"
"And if I do give you an alternative, would you take it?" The young woman suddenly smirked.
"Anything." He looked at her suspiciously, but still answered truthfully.
"Why can't you then, go by yourself?" She said seriously, "You are the equal of a thousand man, and it might be easy for you to act if you are alone."
"But I can't!" He said in a desperate tone. "I wish I could, but I'm the Commander and I have to stay. You know any officer who deserts his or her post is sentenced by death."
"But you wish you can, and would go if you could."
"Of course." He was annoyed, how many times is she going to repeat this?
The broad smile on the young woman's face was like the warm spring after a harsh winter. From somewhere in her shield she took out a letter and handed to him. "A new order from the Prime Minister." She laughed.
Puzzled, he took the sealed envelop. After studying to seal to make sure it is truly a genuine stamp, he opened the envelope and read it carefully. As he continues to read, his eyes grow wider in surprise and shock.
"When did you get this?!" He shockingly asked when he finishes reading the order.
"Lord Zhuge Liang actually gave it to me before we leave." She replied simply. "Told me if nothing happens then destroy it when we get back, but if the need arises, you know." She left it hanging.
"I don't believe this." Zhao Yun slumped back in his chair. "You should have told me sooner!"
"Where would the fun be in that?" She smiled again. "Well then, should we make this formal, my lord?"
"Might as well." He handed back the letter to her and kneeled on the ground before the young woman.
"Attention Commander Zhao Zilong." She read the letter out loud. "You have permission to do and make any decisions you see fit, including the need to temporary leave your post. At your absence, the command would be given to General Ma Chao and General Nu Wa to be shared equally. You will, however, return as soon as your mission is accomplish to take back the responsibilities."
"Order received, Zilong will obey the command to the best of his abilities." He took the letter from Nu Wa and stood up. "Well, I better get going."
"Don't worry too much about him," The woman general comforted. "He is a smart lad, he would know how to take care of himself.
"I know that." Zhao Yun answered, a bit strangely. "I'm not worried about him." Handing her the small flag that is the symbol of the Commander.
"If you say so," Nu Wa answered as she exited the tent, not letting the man see the strange smile on her face. "Just take it easy and do the best you can."
Ma Chao had just returned from the field of battle when he saw the Little Dragon racing off on his white horse.
"Where is our precious Commander going?" He asked the young woman, who is standing nearby. "Why didn't he take his bodyguards with him?"
"To rescue his princess." She laughed. "And such a task you always do alone."
"Huh?" The famous horseman was quite confused.
"Never mind," The woman general looked one more time at the cloud of dust that Zhao Yun's horse had kicked up as it sped off. "You need a quick update, and we have a lot of work to do."
To Be Continued.
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DEFINITION: In Chinese, two people who are destined to be together are said to be tied together with a red string on their pinky. Diao Chan was referring to this belief in her conversation with Jiang Wei. Obviously, she does not know who was Boyue thinking about, and only assume it's his other half.