Bring Me to Life
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
~*~*~*~
Chapter Fourteen
~*~*~*~
The last thing Lu Xun remembered was Xiahou Dun striking him, and the blow was enough to render him unconscious until he was brought back into the castle, where he woke up to see a pair of boots. He guessed, by the position he was laying in, that he was at Cao Cao's feet, and he groggily looked up to find that he had guessed correctly. Though, as he saw his stern face, he was not sure if he wanted to be right at all.
The emperor was more concerned with his conversation than to notice that the prisoner was awake now, and his voice was sharp like knives, sending throbs of pain throughout Lu Xun's skull. "Where was he headed exactly?"
"West, towards Shu I presume... there is a city along the way, about a day or two march from here." Xiahou Dun's voice was nothing compared to his cousin's, and Lu Xun could see his feet if he turned around a bit, though that brought too much pain. "And Lu Jun lives; he, Zhao Yun, and Zhou Yu have joined with other Wu and Shu generals there, where they seek refuge."
Of course, he left the part about the villagers and Da Qiao taking refuge in the city out, not wishing to explain his failure in that as well. Then he looked directly at Lu Xun with that one eye, but his voice remained the same calm river as it was before. "They are close enough to launch a counter attack, and will most likely attempt a rescue mission."
"Lu Jun, attack his own village? He doesn't care enough for his son to do such a thing..." Cao Cao hissed, swerving sharply to face Zhang Liao as he stood poised. "Gather the archers and have then rest on the walls tonight; tell them to keep a keen eye for any soldiers lurking about."
"Yes sir..." Zhang Liao said with a bow.
Cao Cao, not wishing to take his opposing forces lightly, then turned to his cousin and Zhang He. "Have the rest of the army on alert as well; I don't want a single one slacking! We can't afford to be pushed out of the village yet, so we must stay on strict defense."
Zhang He gave a most graceful bow, outdoing Xiahou Dun without even trying. "Of course my lord..."
Without warning, Cao Cao struck him, the powerful blow leaving one side of Zhang He's cheek bright red. Lu Xun could not help but gasp when the general hit the ground, and he winced more when Cao Cao shouted at him. "And why don't you keep a stricter eye on your prisoner? He has probably given too much information against us; how could you not tell that the soldier was really Zhou Yu? Are you blind?"
Sima Yi was quick to defend him, but Lu Xun was quicker, "He was distracted... and Zhou Yu is very cunning and resourceful. Of all people you should know this, Cao Cao..."
"You think I've forgotten Chi Bi?" Cao Cao turned his fury from Zhang He now, and released it upon Lu Xun with violent words, but daring not to lay a finger on him. "It was he who defeated me there... and it appears that once again we are in a direct line for attack!"
Almost smiling, Lu Xun tried his best to sit as comfortable as he could, feeling pride swell up, for the fact that Da Qiao was alive and that an army was truly going to come rescue him dwelled in him now. He was so smuggish, but he tried his best not to let it show. "It was a mistake to come here... because there is a river a few miles out East, and North lays a few mountains, though that may only slow you down..."
He need not say more, as Cao Cao knew the threats. He had not forgotten about the second son of Sun Jian, still resting at Jian Ye, nor the famous navy that Wu held. Surely they already knew of their arrival here, and were probably already dispatching units to this very location. They were trapped.
He then looked down at Lu Xun, as if pleading for help. "Do you think your lord will attack or negotiate?"
Now this Lu Xun had mixed feelings about, as he wasn't really sure about what Sun Ce would do at all. He was surely the kind of guy that would attack, but with Zhou Yu there, his friend could easily persuade the young lord's mind. And his father was another issue, but he tried to answer Cao Cao's question quickly, seeing him ready to strike. "Most likely he'll attack, but Lord Sun Ce is a very unpredictable man, so I am not sure."
"What your idea, my lord?" Sima Yi asked, curious and hurt to see that Cao Cao had taken the prisoner's advice without even asking for his.
"We have the resources, but as long as we stay within these walls we're trapped." Cao Cao stated the obvious, knowing now that coming here in the first place was a foolish idea. "If they want their strategist back, then let's see what they're willing to sacrifice for his life..."
Xiahou Dun grinned slightly, curling his lip with an almost evil thought. "Perhaps some territory or a few hundred soldiers would be worth his weight, but nothing special."
Grabbing Lu Xun's arm and forcing him to stand, Cao Cao gave the prisoner back to Zhang He. "You'll be surprised what fools are willing to sacrifice for a man of importance. Keep him fit and clean his wounds; if they should come to negotiate then I want him presentable!"
"And while you're at it why don't you bathe the creature..." Sima Yi growled, fanning Lu Xun and tickling him with the fluffy black feathers. "He'll make a horse faint and crows will fall from the sky if he is not washed soon!"
Zhang He only bowed, leaving with his prisoner with erupting laughter behind him. Lu Xun remained silent, not at all damaged by their insults, but he could see the pain in Zhang He's eyes for a split second. His cheek was swollen, but Lu Xun fought off any emotion of pity he felt for him. He was, however, taken by surprise when Zhang He asked, "You stood up for me... why?"
How was Lu Xun to truly answer? He didn't even know himself, and after he did not answer, they came to a stop. The exotic Wei general turned completely around to face him, to reveal his wondrous blue eyes, filled with slight confusion and a dab of pain. "Cao Cao could have done more back there, but you spoke up... I want to know why, Lu Xun..."
Forcing himself to look away, Lu Xun tried to answer, and it sounded weak, horribly weak. "I... I felt that Cao Cao was angry at the wrong person... and the innocents should not suffer with the bad."
"Silly boy... well, I do wish to thank you for standing up for me." Zhang He said with a genuine smile, one that Lu Xun would have adored if it wasn't for the fact of the situation they were in. Looking at him now, Lu Xun could almost forget all the pain this man gave him, but still, he tried to keep a passionate hatred burning for this man, though the flame... was it dying? "I should treat you with a meal, unless you wish to continue starving yourself."
Looking away again, Lu Xun spoke in a weak voice, knowing better than to refuse food now. What use was he if he could not have the strength to run? "To be honest, I hope that we can work out some kind of agreement here... I'd hate to see the entire nation fighting over one simple, insignificant thing."
Zhang He caught his chin with his finger and thumb, and once again, Lu Xun found himself lost in those damn hypnotizing eyes. Yes, he could easily forget such pain... "When will you learn that you are anything but simple and insignificant? Who has told you this, Lord Sun Ce? Zhou Yu? Your own comrades? What traitors they are then!"
What a complete turn around. Lu Xun almost found himself speechless, quickly speaking for their defense. "They have told me no such thing... yet..."
"Yet? You have doubts then..."
Lu Xun knew how desperate he sounded, but it was good enough to fool the exotic officer. "You're only trying to turn my words around; they care for me as much as you care for Sima Yi, or vice versa."
Tugging Lu Xun's hair a bit, Zhang He chuckled, "We'll soon see about that, little Xun-chan! First we need to fatten you up and clean your clothes! You'll send your lord into a three day resting period if he saw you like this!"
'Xun-chan?' Lu Xun's eyes widen slightly, looking up the smiling face before finding the will to walk again. No one had called him that before, and he was as confused as he was flattered. This Wei officer simply could not be understood he realized, so he tried to save himself from the headache and tried to dwell his mind on a different, more important matter. What was Sun Ce willing to give up for him?
~*~*~*~
"Do I know my village's weak spots?"
Lord Lu Jun was definitely a proud man, one so opposite of his son who would have gladly have given away any and all details about matters such as this. It was so obvious that he did not wish to degrade his village enough to aid the Allied Forces, and it only made Zhou Yu's temper burn more to hear him refuse. "Wujun is a secure village, with a mountain range not too far off to the north and a river to the east!"
It was hard to work with him, Pang Tong found out, as he tried to ease the rising tension. "Everything has a weakness, and if we're going to try to rescue your son and soldiers, using this knowledge would be-"
"What you want me to do is damage the city, and then who would repair it? Do you wish to pay for the damage, monk?" Lu Jun quickly countered, glaring at the oddly dressed man that sat across from him.
'This guy's a pain...' Pang Tong thought, shaking his head. Again, he tried reasoning with him, so that Zhou Yu nor Sun Ce would kill him. "Never said we had to damage anything; you jump to conclusions too quickly."
"Well, we have those two choices. Negotiate or an attack. Take your pick, sir." Sun Ce was sitting back in his chair, his boots nicely, though rudely, placed on the table, and he was more concerned with checking on Da Qiao than spending all night arguing with the proud lord. "Attack, and we risk damaging the city and harming your son. Negotiate and we lose some land and territories."
Now, for everyone who knew Lu Jun, he was not the man to willing surrender such possessions, however, his small amount of concern for his son took over him when he asked, "What are you willing to lose?"
Zhou Yu answered, unfolding a map. "Wu has always been protected by the great rivers, but if we should lose the river bordering the North, Cao Cao's navy will become a threat. He'll ask for the rivers and all lands bordering it, including your own."
"That's too much..." Lu Meng proclaimed, taking a look at the map as well. He growled, shaking his head. "But it's exactly what Cao Cao would want..."
Scratching his nose, Pang Tong gave a shrugged, stretching a little before speaking. "Eh... I really have no say so in this, considering the fact that I'm not losing anything, but it appears to be the only choice you have if you want your strategist back."
"But we can't give away the northern river!" Lu Jun explained. "It will give Cao Cao access tot he waterways and allow him to build up his navy!"
"Why... not... fight?" Wei Yan asked, getting annoyed by the conversation quickly. He was yearning for a fight, and he would have been content to just end this now. He did not care about Lu Xun, or Wu. He wanted a fight. "Kill... Cao Cao..."
Lu Jun sent him a look, as Pang Tong shook his head, lecturing his subordinate. "It's not that simple, Wei Yan... if it were we'd turn you lose, but we need to look at the basics before we go head first into trouble."
And Sun Ce agreed, knowing the seriousness of the situation well. He wasn't willing to give up some territory, but he couldn't forsake his officer in the process. "Attacking Cao Cao head on would be foolish and just flat out stupid. Fun, yes, but as long as they have Lu Xun, they have the advantage."
"Don't care..."
That was a foolish mistake, as the masked warrior now found himself pinned to the wall at spear point, and Lu Jun threatened him, holding the blade within inches of his inch. His eyes were bright red in an instant, and his voice was just as cold, but not once did Wei Yan shimmer. "Take that back..."
"Never..." Wei Yan spatted, ignoring Pang Tong's silent orders. "Fight... now..."
And Lu Jun looked happy to oblige, but it was Zhou Yu's sword that separated them. If anyone could see the look in his eyes, they could read his obvious anger and frustration, and both men stopped to look at him, not taking his words lightly. "ENOUGH! Fighting among ourselves solves nothing, and if you two want blood so badly, leave and kill each other for all I care! But we are going to come up with a plausible solution to our problem, whether you two are here or not!"
The tension in the air could be cut with a knife, and no one dared to speak. Well, Pang Tong did, as well as Sun Ce's low whistling. "Good grief..."
It was Wei Yan who backed off first, saying nothing and leaving the tent. He could feel Lu Jun's wild eyes upon him with every step, and he loathed it. Still, even with one of them gone, the tension did not ease at all, and Pang Tong looked to Lu Jun, his expression unseen. "You'll have to excuse my disgruntled friend...he's having some serious issues if you can't tell."
"It's only so obvious... nevertheless he doesn't matter." Quickly forgetting about the incident, the ruler of Wujun retook his seat, trying to control his rage. "Losing that river would effect everyone, not just Wu...we can't afford to lose it."
Lu Meng then said, "Then we should attack... they know to stay clear of the rivers, and they will most likely retreat to the mountains. It'd be best if we attack now then later."
"Perhaps we should set up troops in the mountains, just in case if they get a head start." Zhou Yu suggested. "It would buy time for Lord Liu Bei and Sun Quan to catch up, and lower their morale."
Nodding, Sun Ce agreed, "Then we should waste no time! Zhou Yu, you, Lu Meng, and I will head towards the mountains, while Lu Jun leads the assault at Wujun. Don't damage the village, but draw them out and towards the mountains."
"Sounds good to me..." Lu Jun said, fiddling with the blade of his spear.
'Finally, we've all come to an agreement...' Pang Tong thought with a sigh, smiling under his cloth. "Wei Yan and Zhao Yun would be glad to assist you, and perhaps you can teach him how to control his curse a bit more. Sun Ce, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you in the mountains."
"No problem with that... Cao Cao's opened a can of worms, so we might as well go fishing with it." Sun Ce said this with pure confidence, curling his fist, as if to imagine the ambitious ruler's neck within his grasps. To be honest, he was excited to have some action, but he didn't exactly want anyone to be in the same danger as Lu Xun. Besides, if he helped save his officer, then perhaps Da Qiao would finally notice him for saving her childhood friend. "Anything else we need to address before the boring, planning stuff?"
A timid voice replied, making head turns to the wounded Da Qiao. She leaned against one of her bodyguards, and she asked, "What about me, Lord Sun Ce? I think I can still fight..."
"Da Qiao, what are you doing out of bed?" Zhou Yu was the first to her, but she did not need his help too much. He could see Sun Ce's concern, but he tried not to think about it, fearing that Lu Xun wasn't the only one who had a heart for her. "You're not well; you need more time to rest."
The look she gave frightened Sun Ce, "But, sir, I can't just sit here and do nothing!"
Lu Meng spoke against her coming openly, not really helping the situation at all. "No offense to you, Lady Qiao, but it would be best if you stay here, where it's safe. We don't want you to be harmed any further, and you've helped enough."
Still, she tried, but Sun Ce denied her services. It was final, "Under normal circumstances I would allow you to help, but you did your services and helped the villagers of Wujun to safety. Don't over exert yourself. Don't worry, everything's gonna be alright, Da!"
"Yes, sir..." Da Qiao felt defeated, and with Zhou Yu's and the bodyguard's help, she was guided out of the tent. Sun Ce watched her go, his heart fluttering at the mere sight of her. How brave she was, to want to join them in battle. But still, he wondered, if Da Qiao's feelings for Lu Xun were deeper than he thought they were.
'Nah... they're just really good friends!'
Da Qiao felt like crap. No, the wounds weren't her main source of pain, but it was more of the fact that she was denied that got her so down. Zhou Yu saw this and tried to comfort her, hating to see her so down. "Don't worry about it, Da... you've done so much already, and you've made Lu Xun very happy to hear that you're willing to share your life with him once we get him back."
She looked up at him, slight relief brushing across her tired, beautiful face. "Really? You've spoken with him, then? How is he?"
"He was alive..." Zhou Yu hesitated to tell her the truth, not wishing to tell her own horrible he looked. Instead, he changed the subject, "Don't worry, Da Qiao... I've promised to get Lu Xun back, and we will."
Then she smiled, though it seemed forced. "Thank you... I only hope that I get well soon enough to be there when we do..."
Zhou Yu gave her a gentle squeeze, careful not to harm her any further. Just earlier that day he had hugged Lu Xun, and it gave him the same effect. He was determined to get them together now, even if it had to break his closest friend's heart. 'How do I tell Sun Ce? When the time comes, who will she chose?'
He only hoped that the time for that would not come until much, much later. He did not want to truly be there when she had to make that choice, but he would gladly support whomever she chose. One man would be left broken hearted... who would it be?
~*~*~*~
Back at Shu, things were actually quite peaceful. They had long since driven the invading Wei forces out of their land, and now, as yet another day went by, Zhuge Liang grew worried for his lord.
He was against the idea of his lord chasing the Wei forces towards the east, as he was weary of the fact that it could have been a possible ploy by Sima Yi. And the presence of Wu dwelled on his mind as well. He had sent a letter to them a few days, informing them of the situation, but he had yet to receive an answer.
He did not like this at all, as he sat at the throng at the Shu capital of Cheng Du. He knew that so much was going on, so much that he knew nothing about. He hated that. He sent out scouts already, and he only waited for their reports.
However, Zhuge Liang seemed to be the only one with patience, as the doors swung open to reveal a ranting, drunken lunatic. He sighed, angered that the silence was broken, "Good evening, lord Zhang Fei... how are you?"
Zhang Fei was only one of the three Peach Garden Brothers, but he was not one to be overlooked. He was a muscle of a man, and many feared him in the battlefield as well as at the dinner table, for he could down many barrels of wine within seconds. And he was in one of his drunk stages, as he shouted hastily. "How can you just sit there when my brother is in danger? Aren't you concerned at all?"
"Lord Zhang Fei, I know this may come out as unworried to your ears, but please understand that there isn't anything we can do unless we are given enough information." Zhuge Liang spoke nonchalantly, one never to lose his temper. That was what made him so dangerous, and this wore on the ill-tempered man's nerves. "For all we know, Lord Liu Bei could be off running around naked in the middle of the poison marches singing about the new year's daisies..."
If Guan Yu would not have arrived, a fight would have broken out between the two. The taller of the two men held his sworn brother back, and he gave Zhuge Liang a nod, his long beard brushing against his chest slightly. "If that were the case then we would have nothing to fear, however... I have a feeling that he is in grave danger."
And that was something Zhuge Liang could agree with. "I fear the same... however, unless we are sure about what we're getting ourselves into, we must wait. I too fear for our Lord and your brother."
What was worse was that Zhao Yun and Ma Chao were missing with their lord as well, and Zhuge Liang had recently lost contact with his fellow strategist. He was not concerned with Wei Yan in the least, knowing that he was off with Pang Tong, in bliss if there were many soldiers to kill.
"But what if something happens before we can act? Then what?" Zhang Fei asked, slurring the last part horribly, though his speech was still understandable.
"Then let us hope that nothing does happen..."
As if on queue, a scout ran through the opened doors, bowing gracefully to his superiors. Zhuge Liang nodded, sending Zhang Fei a look. "Good, the scouts have arrived. What information do you bring about our lord?"
The scout spoke quickly, somewhat out of breath. "He, Ma Chao, and some Wu officers are being held prisoners by the Nanman."
"What?" Zhang Fei nearly exploded, and not even Zhuge Liang could hold back his slight look of surprise. The scout trembled under the drunken man's voice, though it was not addressed to him at all. "What are you going to do about that, eh? While we're sitting here on our asses we should have been going to the aid of our lord!"
Once again, Guan Yu was there to defend the strategist. "Rushing head-on wouldn't help the situation at all, brother Fei."
Zhuge Liang nodded, and the scout continued, "And there is more, my lord. The Wei forces have camped at Wujun-"
Once again, he was interrupted by Zhang Fei. "Wujun?! Isn't that Wu territory?! Are they offering those scum refuse?!"
"Most likely not..." Zhuge Liang murmured, raising a hand to his rough chin, motioning for the scout to continue his report.
"Well, it appears they're holding the Wu strategist hostage there." Now this caught Zhuge Liang's attention well, but he did not say a word, waiting for the scout to finish his report. "It is the one they call Lu Xun, sir..."
Guan Yu repeated the name, "Lu Xun... is he not that child they recruited not so long ago?"
Nodding, Zhuge Liang confirmed this, "That's him, but don't let his youth fool you. He is young but he is clever, one not to be underestimated."
"But what would Cao Cao want with him?" Zhang Fei asked out of pure curiosity, apparently not really concerned with the situation involving Lu Xun at all. "He has Sima Yi..."
"Yes, but if he had Lu Xun on his side, then he'd be more of a threat, or he's trying to bargain for some territory..." Zhuge Liang suggested, rising from the chair and bowing to them both. "You must forgive me... I need some time to think this over, and by morning we shall head out."
As he was leaving, Guan Yu asked, "But to where?"
Zhuge Liang only gave him a look before leaving the rooming completely, his sly smirk meaning trouble. "Wait until the morning and we shall see..."
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
~*~*~*~
Chapter Fourteen
~*~*~*~
The last thing Lu Xun remembered was Xiahou Dun striking him, and the blow was enough to render him unconscious until he was brought back into the castle, where he woke up to see a pair of boots. He guessed, by the position he was laying in, that he was at Cao Cao's feet, and he groggily looked up to find that he had guessed correctly. Though, as he saw his stern face, he was not sure if he wanted to be right at all.
The emperor was more concerned with his conversation than to notice that the prisoner was awake now, and his voice was sharp like knives, sending throbs of pain throughout Lu Xun's skull. "Where was he headed exactly?"
"West, towards Shu I presume... there is a city along the way, about a day or two march from here." Xiahou Dun's voice was nothing compared to his cousin's, and Lu Xun could see his feet if he turned around a bit, though that brought too much pain. "And Lu Jun lives; he, Zhao Yun, and Zhou Yu have joined with other Wu and Shu generals there, where they seek refuge."
Of course, he left the part about the villagers and Da Qiao taking refuge in the city out, not wishing to explain his failure in that as well. Then he looked directly at Lu Xun with that one eye, but his voice remained the same calm river as it was before. "They are close enough to launch a counter attack, and will most likely attempt a rescue mission."
"Lu Jun, attack his own village? He doesn't care enough for his son to do such a thing..." Cao Cao hissed, swerving sharply to face Zhang Liao as he stood poised. "Gather the archers and have then rest on the walls tonight; tell them to keep a keen eye for any soldiers lurking about."
"Yes sir..." Zhang Liao said with a bow.
Cao Cao, not wishing to take his opposing forces lightly, then turned to his cousin and Zhang He. "Have the rest of the army on alert as well; I don't want a single one slacking! We can't afford to be pushed out of the village yet, so we must stay on strict defense."
Zhang He gave a most graceful bow, outdoing Xiahou Dun without even trying. "Of course my lord..."
Without warning, Cao Cao struck him, the powerful blow leaving one side of Zhang He's cheek bright red. Lu Xun could not help but gasp when the general hit the ground, and he winced more when Cao Cao shouted at him. "And why don't you keep a stricter eye on your prisoner? He has probably given too much information against us; how could you not tell that the soldier was really Zhou Yu? Are you blind?"
Sima Yi was quick to defend him, but Lu Xun was quicker, "He was distracted... and Zhou Yu is very cunning and resourceful. Of all people you should know this, Cao Cao..."
"You think I've forgotten Chi Bi?" Cao Cao turned his fury from Zhang He now, and released it upon Lu Xun with violent words, but daring not to lay a finger on him. "It was he who defeated me there... and it appears that once again we are in a direct line for attack!"
Almost smiling, Lu Xun tried his best to sit as comfortable as he could, feeling pride swell up, for the fact that Da Qiao was alive and that an army was truly going to come rescue him dwelled in him now. He was so smuggish, but he tried his best not to let it show. "It was a mistake to come here... because there is a river a few miles out East, and North lays a few mountains, though that may only slow you down..."
He need not say more, as Cao Cao knew the threats. He had not forgotten about the second son of Sun Jian, still resting at Jian Ye, nor the famous navy that Wu held. Surely they already knew of their arrival here, and were probably already dispatching units to this very location. They were trapped.
He then looked down at Lu Xun, as if pleading for help. "Do you think your lord will attack or negotiate?"
Now this Lu Xun had mixed feelings about, as he wasn't really sure about what Sun Ce would do at all. He was surely the kind of guy that would attack, but with Zhou Yu there, his friend could easily persuade the young lord's mind. And his father was another issue, but he tried to answer Cao Cao's question quickly, seeing him ready to strike. "Most likely he'll attack, but Lord Sun Ce is a very unpredictable man, so I am not sure."
"What your idea, my lord?" Sima Yi asked, curious and hurt to see that Cao Cao had taken the prisoner's advice without even asking for his.
"We have the resources, but as long as we stay within these walls we're trapped." Cao Cao stated the obvious, knowing now that coming here in the first place was a foolish idea. "If they want their strategist back, then let's see what they're willing to sacrifice for his life..."
Xiahou Dun grinned slightly, curling his lip with an almost evil thought. "Perhaps some territory or a few hundred soldiers would be worth his weight, but nothing special."
Grabbing Lu Xun's arm and forcing him to stand, Cao Cao gave the prisoner back to Zhang He. "You'll be surprised what fools are willing to sacrifice for a man of importance. Keep him fit and clean his wounds; if they should come to negotiate then I want him presentable!"
"And while you're at it why don't you bathe the creature..." Sima Yi growled, fanning Lu Xun and tickling him with the fluffy black feathers. "He'll make a horse faint and crows will fall from the sky if he is not washed soon!"
Zhang He only bowed, leaving with his prisoner with erupting laughter behind him. Lu Xun remained silent, not at all damaged by their insults, but he could see the pain in Zhang He's eyes for a split second. His cheek was swollen, but Lu Xun fought off any emotion of pity he felt for him. He was, however, taken by surprise when Zhang He asked, "You stood up for me... why?"
How was Lu Xun to truly answer? He didn't even know himself, and after he did not answer, they came to a stop. The exotic Wei general turned completely around to face him, to reveal his wondrous blue eyes, filled with slight confusion and a dab of pain. "Cao Cao could have done more back there, but you spoke up... I want to know why, Lu Xun..."
Forcing himself to look away, Lu Xun tried to answer, and it sounded weak, horribly weak. "I... I felt that Cao Cao was angry at the wrong person... and the innocents should not suffer with the bad."
"Silly boy... well, I do wish to thank you for standing up for me." Zhang He said with a genuine smile, one that Lu Xun would have adored if it wasn't for the fact of the situation they were in. Looking at him now, Lu Xun could almost forget all the pain this man gave him, but still, he tried to keep a passionate hatred burning for this man, though the flame... was it dying? "I should treat you with a meal, unless you wish to continue starving yourself."
Looking away again, Lu Xun spoke in a weak voice, knowing better than to refuse food now. What use was he if he could not have the strength to run? "To be honest, I hope that we can work out some kind of agreement here... I'd hate to see the entire nation fighting over one simple, insignificant thing."
Zhang He caught his chin with his finger and thumb, and once again, Lu Xun found himself lost in those damn hypnotizing eyes. Yes, he could easily forget such pain... "When will you learn that you are anything but simple and insignificant? Who has told you this, Lord Sun Ce? Zhou Yu? Your own comrades? What traitors they are then!"
What a complete turn around. Lu Xun almost found himself speechless, quickly speaking for their defense. "They have told me no such thing... yet..."
"Yet? You have doubts then..."
Lu Xun knew how desperate he sounded, but it was good enough to fool the exotic officer. "You're only trying to turn my words around; they care for me as much as you care for Sima Yi, or vice versa."
Tugging Lu Xun's hair a bit, Zhang He chuckled, "We'll soon see about that, little Xun-chan! First we need to fatten you up and clean your clothes! You'll send your lord into a three day resting period if he saw you like this!"
'Xun-chan?' Lu Xun's eyes widen slightly, looking up the smiling face before finding the will to walk again. No one had called him that before, and he was as confused as he was flattered. This Wei officer simply could not be understood he realized, so he tried to save himself from the headache and tried to dwell his mind on a different, more important matter. What was Sun Ce willing to give up for him?
~*~*~*~
"Do I know my village's weak spots?"
Lord Lu Jun was definitely a proud man, one so opposite of his son who would have gladly have given away any and all details about matters such as this. It was so obvious that he did not wish to degrade his village enough to aid the Allied Forces, and it only made Zhou Yu's temper burn more to hear him refuse. "Wujun is a secure village, with a mountain range not too far off to the north and a river to the east!"
It was hard to work with him, Pang Tong found out, as he tried to ease the rising tension. "Everything has a weakness, and if we're going to try to rescue your son and soldiers, using this knowledge would be-"
"What you want me to do is damage the city, and then who would repair it? Do you wish to pay for the damage, monk?" Lu Jun quickly countered, glaring at the oddly dressed man that sat across from him.
'This guy's a pain...' Pang Tong thought, shaking his head. Again, he tried reasoning with him, so that Zhou Yu nor Sun Ce would kill him. "Never said we had to damage anything; you jump to conclusions too quickly."
"Well, we have those two choices. Negotiate or an attack. Take your pick, sir." Sun Ce was sitting back in his chair, his boots nicely, though rudely, placed on the table, and he was more concerned with checking on Da Qiao than spending all night arguing with the proud lord. "Attack, and we risk damaging the city and harming your son. Negotiate and we lose some land and territories."
Now, for everyone who knew Lu Jun, he was not the man to willing surrender such possessions, however, his small amount of concern for his son took over him when he asked, "What are you willing to lose?"
Zhou Yu answered, unfolding a map. "Wu has always been protected by the great rivers, but if we should lose the river bordering the North, Cao Cao's navy will become a threat. He'll ask for the rivers and all lands bordering it, including your own."
"That's too much..." Lu Meng proclaimed, taking a look at the map as well. He growled, shaking his head. "But it's exactly what Cao Cao would want..."
Scratching his nose, Pang Tong gave a shrugged, stretching a little before speaking. "Eh... I really have no say so in this, considering the fact that I'm not losing anything, but it appears to be the only choice you have if you want your strategist back."
"But we can't give away the northern river!" Lu Jun explained. "It will give Cao Cao access tot he waterways and allow him to build up his navy!"
"Why... not... fight?" Wei Yan asked, getting annoyed by the conversation quickly. He was yearning for a fight, and he would have been content to just end this now. He did not care about Lu Xun, or Wu. He wanted a fight. "Kill... Cao Cao..."
Lu Jun sent him a look, as Pang Tong shook his head, lecturing his subordinate. "It's not that simple, Wei Yan... if it were we'd turn you lose, but we need to look at the basics before we go head first into trouble."
And Sun Ce agreed, knowing the seriousness of the situation well. He wasn't willing to give up some territory, but he couldn't forsake his officer in the process. "Attacking Cao Cao head on would be foolish and just flat out stupid. Fun, yes, but as long as they have Lu Xun, they have the advantage."
"Don't care..."
That was a foolish mistake, as the masked warrior now found himself pinned to the wall at spear point, and Lu Jun threatened him, holding the blade within inches of his inch. His eyes were bright red in an instant, and his voice was just as cold, but not once did Wei Yan shimmer. "Take that back..."
"Never..." Wei Yan spatted, ignoring Pang Tong's silent orders. "Fight... now..."
And Lu Jun looked happy to oblige, but it was Zhou Yu's sword that separated them. If anyone could see the look in his eyes, they could read his obvious anger and frustration, and both men stopped to look at him, not taking his words lightly. "ENOUGH! Fighting among ourselves solves nothing, and if you two want blood so badly, leave and kill each other for all I care! But we are going to come up with a plausible solution to our problem, whether you two are here or not!"
The tension in the air could be cut with a knife, and no one dared to speak. Well, Pang Tong did, as well as Sun Ce's low whistling. "Good grief..."
It was Wei Yan who backed off first, saying nothing and leaving the tent. He could feel Lu Jun's wild eyes upon him with every step, and he loathed it. Still, even with one of them gone, the tension did not ease at all, and Pang Tong looked to Lu Jun, his expression unseen. "You'll have to excuse my disgruntled friend...he's having some serious issues if you can't tell."
"It's only so obvious... nevertheless he doesn't matter." Quickly forgetting about the incident, the ruler of Wujun retook his seat, trying to control his rage. "Losing that river would effect everyone, not just Wu...we can't afford to lose it."
Lu Meng then said, "Then we should attack... they know to stay clear of the rivers, and they will most likely retreat to the mountains. It'd be best if we attack now then later."
"Perhaps we should set up troops in the mountains, just in case if they get a head start." Zhou Yu suggested. "It would buy time for Lord Liu Bei and Sun Quan to catch up, and lower their morale."
Nodding, Sun Ce agreed, "Then we should waste no time! Zhou Yu, you, Lu Meng, and I will head towards the mountains, while Lu Jun leads the assault at Wujun. Don't damage the village, but draw them out and towards the mountains."
"Sounds good to me..." Lu Jun said, fiddling with the blade of his spear.
'Finally, we've all come to an agreement...' Pang Tong thought with a sigh, smiling under his cloth. "Wei Yan and Zhao Yun would be glad to assist you, and perhaps you can teach him how to control his curse a bit more. Sun Ce, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you in the mountains."
"No problem with that... Cao Cao's opened a can of worms, so we might as well go fishing with it." Sun Ce said this with pure confidence, curling his fist, as if to imagine the ambitious ruler's neck within his grasps. To be honest, he was excited to have some action, but he didn't exactly want anyone to be in the same danger as Lu Xun. Besides, if he helped save his officer, then perhaps Da Qiao would finally notice him for saving her childhood friend. "Anything else we need to address before the boring, planning stuff?"
A timid voice replied, making head turns to the wounded Da Qiao. She leaned against one of her bodyguards, and she asked, "What about me, Lord Sun Ce? I think I can still fight..."
"Da Qiao, what are you doing out of bed?" Zhou Yu was the first to her, but she did not need his help too much. He could see Sun Ce's concern, but he tried not to think about it, fearing that Lu Xun wasn't the only one who had a heart for her. "You're not well; you need more time to rest."
The look she gave frightened Sun Ce, "But, sir, I can't just sit here and do nothing!"
Lu Meng spoke against her coming openly, not really helping the situation at all. "No offense to you, Lady Qiao, but it would be best if you stay here, where it's safe. We don't want you to be harmed any further, and you've helped enough."
Still, she tried, but Sun Ce denied her services. It was final, "Under normal circumstances I would allow you to help, but you did your services and helped the villagers of Wujun to safety. Don't over exert yourself. Don't worry, everything's gonna be alright, Da!"
"Yes, sir..." Da Qiao felt defeated, and with Zhou Yu's and the bodyguard's help, she was guided out of the tent. Sun Ce watched her go, his heart fluttering at the mere sight of her. How brave she was, to want to join them in battle. But still, he wondered, if Da Qiao's feelings for Lu Xun were deeper than he thought they were.
'Nah... they're just really good friends!'
Da Qiao felt like crap. No, the wounds weren't her main source of pain, but it was more of the fact that she was denied that got her so down. Zhou Yu saw this and tried to comfort her, hating to see her so down. "Don't worry about it, Da... you've done so much already, and you've made Lu Xun very happy to hear that you're willing to share your life with him once we get him back."
She looked up at him, slight relief brushing across her tired, beautiful face. "Really? You've spoken with him, then? How is he?"
"He was alive..." Zhou Yu hesitated to tell her the truth, not wishing to tell her own horrible he looked. Instead, he changed the subject, "Don't worry, Da Qiao... I've promised to get Lu Xun back, and we will."
Then she smiled, though it seemed forced. "Thank you... I only hope that I get well soon enough to be there when we do..."
Zhou Yu gave her a gentle squeeze, careful not to harm her any further. Just earlier that day he had hugged Lu Xun, and it gave him the same effect. He was determined to get them together now, even if it had to break his closest friend's heart. 'How do I tell Sun Ce? When the time comes, who will she chose?'
He only hoped that the time for that would not come until much, much later. He did not want to truly be there when she had to make that choice, but he would gladly support whomever she chose. One man would be left broken hearted... who would it be?
~*~*~*~
Back at Shu, things were actually quite peaceful. They had long since driven the invading Wei forces out of their land, and now, as yet another day went by, Zhuge Liang grew worried for his lord.
He was against the idea of his lord chasing the Wei forces towards the east, as he was weary of the fact that it could have been a possible ploy by Sima Yi. And the presence of Wu dwelled on his mind as well. He had sent a letter to them a few days, informing them of the situation, but he had yet to receive an answer.
He did not like this at all, as he sat at the throng at the Shu capital of Cheng Du. He knew that so much was going on, so much that he knew nothing about. He hated that. He sent out scouts already, and he only waited for their reports.
However, Zhuge Liang seemed to be the only one with patience, as the doors swung open to reveal a ranting, drunken lunatic. He sighed, angered that the silence was broken, "Good evening, lord Zhang Fei... how are you?"
Zhang Fei was only one of the three Peach Garden Brothers, but he was not one to be overlooked. He was a muscle of a man, and many feared him in the battlefield as well as at the dinner table, for he could down many barrels of wine within seconds. And he was in one of his drunk stages, as he shouted hastily. "How can you just sit there when my brother is in danger? Aren't you concerned at all?"
"Lord Zhang Fei, I know this may come out as unworried to your ears, but please understand that there isn't anything we can do unless we are given enough information." Zhuge Liang spoke nonchalantly, one never to lose his temper. That was what made him so dangerous, and this wore on the ill-tempered man's nerves. "For all we know, Lord Liu Bei could be off running around naked in the middle of the poison marches singing about the new year's daisies..."
If Guan Yu would not have arrived, a fight would have broken out between the two. The taller of the two men held his sworn brother back, and he gave Zhuge Liang a nod, his long beard brushing against his chest slightly. "If that were the case then we would have nothing to fear, however... I have a feeling that he is in grave danger."
And that was something Zhuge Liang could agree with. "I fear the same... however, unless we are sure about what we're getting ourselves into, we must wait. I too fear for our Lord and your brother."
What was worse was that Zhao Yun and Ma Chao were missing with their lord as well, and Zhuge Liang had recently lost contact with his fellow strategist. He was not concerned with Wei Yan in the least, knowing that he was off with Pang Tong, in bliss if there were many soldiers to kill.
"But what if something happens before we can act? Then what?" Zhang Fei asked, slurring the last part horribly, though his speech was still understandable.
"Then let us hope that nothing does happen..."
As if on queue, a scout ran through the opened doors, bowing gracefully to his superiors. Zhuge Liang nodded, sending Zhang Fei a look. "Good, the scouts have arrived. What information do you bring about our lord?"
The scout spoke quickly, somewhat out of breath. "He, Ma Chao, and some Wu officers are being held prisoners by the Nanman."
"What?" Zhang Fei nearly exploded, and not even Zhuge Liang could hold back his slight look of surprise. The scout trembled under the drunken man's voice, though it was not addressed to him at all. "What are you going to do about that, eh? While we're sitting here on our asses we should have been going to the aid of our lord!"
Once again, Guan Yu was there to defend the strategist. "Rushing head-on wouldn't help the situation at all, brother Fei."
Zhuge Liang nodded, and the scout continued, "And there is more, my lord. The Wei forces have camped at Wujun-"
Once again, he was interrupted by Zhang Fei. "Wujun?! Isn't that Wu territory?! Are they offering those scum refuse?!"
"Most likely not..." Zhuge Liang murmured, raising a hand to his rough chin, motioning for the scout to continue his report.
"Well, it appears they're holding the Wu strategist hostage there." Now this caught Zhuge Liang's attention well, but he did not say a word, waiting for the scout to finish his report. "It is the one they call Lu Xun, sir..."
Guan Yu repeated the name, "Lu Xun... is he not that child they recruited not so long ago?"
Nodding, Zhuge Liang confirmed this, "That's him, but don't let his youth fool you. He is young but he is clever, one not to be underestimated."
"But what would Cao Cao want with him?" Zhang Fei asked out of pure curiosity, apparently not really concerned with the situation involving Lu Xun at all. "He has Sima Yi..."
"Yes, but if he had Lu Xun on his side, then he'd be more of a threat, or he's trying to bargain for some territory..." Zhuge Liang suggested, rising from the chair and bowing to them both. "You must forgive me... I need some time to think this over, and by morning we shall head out."
As he was leaving, Guan Yu asked, "But to where?"
Zhuge Liang only gave him a look before leaving the rooming completely, his sly smirk meaning trouble. "Wait until the morning and we shall see..."