Bring Me to Life
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
~*~*~*~
Chapter 21
~*~*~*~
Zhang He failed to see the point in this minor expedition, but he did not complain, at least not verbally. Instead, he appeared to be glad that he was joining Zhang Liao in the small task, though he hoped to get this over with as quickly as possible. He wanted to return to his charge, to protect him from the wrath of his angered love.
He feared that Sima Yi was horribly out of control, but what could he say on the matter? Sima Yi was his superior, after all, and he was already pushing it. He did not want his love to be so full of jealousy, but he did not want the little boy harmed as well.
So he obeyed the order and left little Lu Xun in the hands of Cao Cao and his cousin Xiahou Dun. He was much safer there as long as Sima Yi did not get near him.
'That man... so full of rage...' Zhang He thought sadly from his post, keeping his tired eyes open for the incoming Wu army. It would not be long before Sun Ce and his forces rode by, and they would easily fall into their 'trap'.
The thing that the traitorous soldiers feared were the arbalist unit that they had miraculously stolen from the Shu forces, and they had them nicely set up over the hills, easy killings for any trespassing units. However, if you were to draw closer to the deadly weapons, you could have seen that these were far to damaged lay a fatal blow, but from their safe distance, none could tell. They were only meant to scare off incoming troops... and that was exactly what they were doing.
They had spotted a few scouts run by, being weary of the arbalists' range and doing their best, and failing, not to be seen. Now the Wu forces would change their course...
Excellent.
And Zhang Liao was doing his task, keeping his party in a not so well hidden place, to trick the incoming forces into a fake ambush. They did not have enough men for such a thing to be effective, but it worked, scaring a direct approach from the cautious forces.
Now, with that accomplished, Zhang Liao and Zhang He returned back to the main force, doing their best not to lag behind as they risked a rather dangerous new route. It was the only way to avoid the enemy, as well as the river. They knew that a confrontation near the rivers would lead to certain defeat, and none of them were willing to repeat Chi Bi all over again.
Zhang He was more than happy to have his charge back, as he rode on the horse along with him, carefully tucking the boy within his grasp to keep him steady on the horse. Normally, Lu Xun would cling to the reigns or his hands, in fear of falling off, but now, he just sat there, limp and numb to the world. Did the news of the halt of his army truly depress him that much?
Lord Cao Cao rode at the front of his army, his cousin at one side of him and Sima Yi at his right. Rather he cared for the dangers along this pass, no one knew, as he spoke his plan aloud, wondering if Lu Xun could hear him over the thundering hooves. "It should slow them down, long enough until we reach the city of Du Ji. We'll be safer within the walls there, and perhaps send another decoy from there."
"The forces will not be separated for long, but now they're weak," Xiahou Dun pointed out, looking back at the lifeless boy and then back at his cousin. "Wouldn't it be best to just do away with him and destroy the Wu all together in one battle?"
"Don't be foolish... best not waste knowledge, and you underestimate our enemy." Cao Cao said without as much as a second thought. He did not see Sima Yi's eyes narrow, as he ducked a low branch from a lifeless tree. "We don't have the power for an all-out battle yet, and they still have the slight upper hand... for now, anyway, so let's not press our luck."
All Xiahou Dun did was give a nod as a reply, and now Cao Cao turned to Sima Yi. "This is almost too risky; you best be sure that this little ploy works."
The strategist gave a polite bow, his eye twitching slightly though unseen, "Of course, my lord! I would dare not think of failing you, especially now when all of our lives depend upon this!"
As he smiled, Cao Cao turned away, and Sima Yi only deepened his deranged grin, as he continued his calculations. Tonight, little Lu Xun would have his heart broken, and Sun Ce would simply fall for the ploy... "Soon, you little brat... you will feel what real pain is like."
"What was that?"
Afraid of Cao Cao knowing the truth, Sima Yi lied, using his quick thinking to brainstorm his way out of this. "I merely said, 'Noon, its such a rat! You will feel what real sweat is like.'"
That only gave him an odd look in response, but nothing more was said as they continued their quest, daring not to look back in fear of seeing their plans failed. The mere thought of the army combining and the lust for survival kept them going...
"Something seems to be bothering you, little Lu Xun..." Zhang He whispered softly, though how he could be heard over the booming hooves of the horse was amazing. Lu Xun pretend he could not hear him, but it failed, as the grip of the collar around his neck got tighter. "Tell me what it is, and I will try to make it seem better for you."
Even with the slight pain that rose, Lu Xun was numb, and he refused words, only lowering his gaze and sighing. 'So... this is my fate? To be left as a prisoner forever? It's the only thing left for me...'
Again, the grip tightened, and this time, Lu Xun could not help but gasp as Zhang He's voice was in his ears. "If you're upset about them halting their pursuit, then don't be. They are doing the wise thing to do; isn't that the goal of each strategist?"
"Of course it is..." He didn't even bother trying to hide his disappointment, but he tilted his head, resisting the tug of the thorn collar and sparing his throat to where he could speak without fear of quickening his life. His words were so cold and lifeless, as if his subconscious self forced the words through. "The safety of my lord Sun Ce is at hand, and you would actually think that Zhou Yu would allow his friend to be in any sort of danger that you fiends have lying about. They... they are merely regrouping."
Releasing his hold on the collar, Zhang He smiled to hear his slight coughing fit. "The minds of you children nowadays... perhaps, though, the wisest thing to do is the wrong thing, and the most rash of reactions are the best, considering the reasons."
Lu Xun's silence only added to Zhang He's personal victory, and then he spoke, the very last ounce of hope within him shattered. "But for a single man, the army and my Lord cannot be sacrificed... for all this war cannot be waged on the life of one person alone, man or woman."
~*~*~*~
For many people to see Lu Meng so emotional on the battlefield, one would have a heart attack to see it now. The usual calm and equaled officer was brought into a wave of fury, charging relentlessly on his midnight colored mount, swinging his heavy halberd about and slaying the overwhelming forces about him, letting them hear his battle cry as they fell into death.
What they were expecting was a small group of soldiers, but instead, somehow, as they were ready to approach the soldiers with peace, they came across what appeared to be literally THOUSANDS upon thousands of Wei soldiers, their army seemingly endless marching over the hills. It was a rather strange stand-off, as neither side did anything until Dian Wei, the most trusted bodyguard of Cao Cao, rose his axe and took the life of one of Wu soldiers and proclaimed it in the glory of his lord.
After that, it seemed like pure chaos! Lu Meng, Pang Tong, and their small 'expedition' unit were easily surrounded and had absolutely no chance of escape. The only thing that was left for them was to fight, and they did that well, putting up much more resistance then the Wei forces had expected. It was thousands verses a mere few hundred, hardly a fair fight.
Soldiers flew, feeling the might of Lu Meng as he fought viciously, protecting himself and the soldiers about him. He had long since lost Pang Tong within the chaos of the battlefield, but every now and then, he would hear the Shu strategist's shout, followed by a small explosion. Rather it was magic or trickery, Lu Meng was quite thankful to have the man on his side for once.
"I knew this was a horrible idea!" Lu Meng shouted to no one in particular. A officer cladded in blue tried to strike his blindside, but he fell from his steed, dead as the mighty poleblade pierced through his armor and slayed him on the spot. Turning his horse around, Lu Meng now focused on his eastern flank, daring any soldier to try to strike him. "We should have listened to Zhou Yu!"
Unfortunately, Zhou Yu wasn't here to back him up or gloat, and the small forces were getting smaller and smaller. From somewhere behind him, he could hear a high-pitched shout, as he saw Pang Tong spun about, thwarting the enemy forces with his staff as he threw small bombs, blinding a few as he struck the awestruck. He seemed physically unharmed, though with all the robes it was hard to tell either way.
No, it was not a long battle indeed, as Lu Meng, Pang Tong, and a few of the lucky survivors were caged in, each back to back and still holding their weapons at the ready, clashing them against the ungodly sea of metal. It was Pang Tong that gave the suggestion, "Hey, if you just so happen to have an idea that'll get us out of here, be my guest to tell me, okay?"
"I only wish I had..." Lu Meng admitted freely, knocking away the weapons and killing a soldier or two just to have more appear in his spot. He fought with pure frustration now, angered slightly that he was to be defeated like this, in a battle for nothing. "Your thoughts?"
Wiggling his nose, Pang Tong allowed a soldier to hit air, as he drove the end of the staff into his gut and kicking him over. "Not really, but I do have a few little kegs of powder left... all I need is a good flame."
"What do you hide in there?" Lu Meng asked, somehow smiling though it seemed impossible to believe. "What's the cost of this?"
"Nothing but our lives, but it's sure to leave a huge hole in this unruly mob."
And as the soldiers drew ever so closer, Lu Meng only nodded, keeping his grin and willing to accept his fate, even as he hacked through the soldiers about him. "So be it, then... better to die for ourselves then to be slain by their unworthy weapons then!"
The winds suddenly changed, as a single horse flew over the soldiers, it's white body eclipsing the sun and his spear taking the Wei soldiers by surprise. Now, thought it seemed out of nowhere, the warrior Zhao Yun fought among the mob, showing them no mercy as he spun his spear about this away and that. Never once dropping his guard, Lu Meng gave a cry, "At last! Reinforcements!"
"I am sorry that I'm late, Lord Pang Tong!" Zhao Yun shouted over the death cries, as now more soldiers armed in red and green armor rode over the very hills the Wei soldiers once did. Within their ranks, they could easily see the mounted Lu Jun, a spear in one hand and a short, curvey sword in the other, and, running among the ground, Wei Yan. "However, we shall make up for loss time!"
Never had either of the two seemed so thrilled before in their lives to see, yet, another sea of soldiers arrive, and things slowly seemed to equal out between the two forces. Somewhere within the chaos, Lu Jun threw himself off of his steed to challenge the turban-wearing man, his spear and sword hardly a challenge for the strong Xu Huang.
"Wei scum! I'll have your head!" Lu Jun shouted, his eyes rimmed red as he swiped again and again. Xu Huang was impressed by his speed, though the general, wise beyond his years in the battlefield, could easily see the curse, just as he had seen it in a few rare occasions before. It would not take much to entice the man into a life or death duel, and though he was obviously much stronger, Lu Jun's fury was to be hard to matched.
Doing perhaps the wisest thing to do in such a situation, Xu Huang tricked him, turning his own ego against him as he lowered his axe, letting the sword drive into the ground as he leapt away from the spear, watching as Lu Jun lost his balance and toppled over.
"Leave this one to me!"
Turning about, Xu Huang could see the large, muscle-bound man, as Dian Wei came charging at the lord of Wujun, almost taking him by surprise with his brute strength. It was not long before the two got lost within the duel, every soldier knowing it was best to leave them alone, and though outmatched by strength, Lu Jun put up an excellent fight, relying heavily on his speed advantage and the fruits of his curse, to absorb blows and come back for more.
The battle seemed endless, as the midday sun rose high into the sky above the battlefield. Only now, after fighting for several hours straight, both forces grew weary, but neither one wished to back down first. Even by this time, Lu Jun and Dian Wei were still dueling, though how each men got their strength was truly astounding. Never had anyone seen two men got at each other so viciously after so many hours.
Blow for blow, axe-hatchet verses spear and sword, fist to fist, they were almost equally matched now. As soldiers fell from exhaustion around them, they fought one, and Lu Jun, though tired, had long since lost his sanity, striking with speed unmatched by anyone. "I must say... for a Wei scum... you fight well!"
Someone shouted for a fall back, though neither of the two could tell which force called for it first. Dian Wei replied, not knowing what the red eyes meant but he continued his battle against his foe. "I fight only for my Lord! All... who oppose him... shall DIE!"
Where he got the strength was still a mystery, and Dian Wei would have probably killed Lu Jun on the spot, had it not been for Xu Zhu's shout, "Dian Wei, we have to go! Xu Huang's orders!"
Without question, the monster of a man turned to leave, giving Lu Jun a worthy bow before leaving. He did not get far, though, as Wei Yan's voulge struck his blindside, leaving him with an injury as the Wei forces retreated north. They were not the only ones, as Lu Meng called for a fall back as well, not wanting to see anymore men fall this day.
Running alongside Xu Huang on his horse, Dian Wei grasped his wounded side, speaking through clenched teeth as he looked back at the retreating Wu and Shu forces. "They're too close north... what do you think brings them here?"
"I only wish I knew... but supposingly the Shu has requested Wu's aid." Xu Huang explained, now noticing that Wei Yan still pursued them, slaying any soldier that dared lag behind. He hadn't the strength to stop him, mentally apologizing to those soldiers as they fled. "We must find Lord Cao Cao and be swift then."
Dian Wei had no complaints, and the battle was officially over. Seeing his comrade pursuing the retreating forces, Zhao Yun called to Wei Yan, only to be ignored, "Wei Yan, fall back! That's an order!"
"Let him go..." Lu Jun leaned against his spear, letting his sword rest in the ground as he looked to the retreating forces. Though beaten, he gave a wide grin, licking the blood from his swollen lip and nodding. "He'll soon exhaust himself... I'll track him down. Don't worry about that."
Zhao Yun nodded, knowing he knew best, and as Lu Jun limped after the Bloodwrathed beast, the Little Dragon approached the two officers that had valiantly against the overwhelming forces. Pang Tong, like Lu Jun, leaned against his staff, though rather cockily, panting hard as the cloth over his mouth sucked in and out with each pained breath, and Lu Meng couldn't even stand, resting his bloodied halberd at his side as he was on his knees, gasping and choking on sweat. At first sight, they looked completely miserable.
Dismounting, Zhao Yun caught the weary strategist before he fell, letting his hat fall off and his jet black hair, damp with sweat, reveal itself. However, still keeping his face covered, Pang Tong rested his head against Zhao Yun's chestplate, absorbing the coolness with relief. "What happened Lord Pang Tong?"
"You tell me... one minute, blazing saddle after deserters of Wei... the next, all out battle!" Still, through his pain and exhaustion, the man kept his light humor, now thankful that Da Qiao was convinced into staying with the main force. He looked over at Lu Meng, who still sputtered for air as soldiers helped tear off his heavy armor. "Nice... little... ambush, though not quite one..."
Raising an eyebrow, Zhao Yun's question was answered before it was even asked, and Lu Meng explained, nearly collapsing as he knelt there with only his dull orange shirt on, his armor now resting on the ground, useless. "They... seemed JUST... as surprised... to see us... as we were... to them. Lost... many good men... damn them..."
He could say no more, and he collapsed onto the dead battlefield and fell into unconsciousness. It was not long before Pang Tong did the same, as Zhao Yun gave out orders, requesting the medical tent to be set up immediately for the wounded and exhausted. Zhao Yun spoke to the two, though he knew they could not hear him, "Don't worry, friends... I regret not showing up sooner, but we will make up for this loss. Just rest now."
And neither of the two could object to that.
~*~*~*~
The forces had long since separated, and Gan Ning led the forces, holding his sword out as they marched towards the end of the Nanman territory. He was mainly the decoy and watchman, scouting ahead and making sure the path was safe for all, and Taishi Ci stayed close to Liu Bei and his brother, trying to be the diplomat here.
When Sun Shang Xiang departed, Liu Bei wished her the best of luck, and though it seemed rather a usual response, there was something in those words that hinted at something, something that drove Gan Ning ahead, to be alone. Taishi Ci saw this and sighed. 'Poor Gan Ning... I'm sure he'll get over it, though...'
The only sounds they heard were the clip-clopping of the horses' hooves to the solid ground, and a soldier or two yawn. Something irked Taishi Ci, as he noticed Zhuge Liang's gaze lower slightly, his face alternating into one he had seen so many times before, one that Zhou Yu often wore when he knew something that others did not. And he wasn't the only one, as Liu Bei asked, keeping his gaze forward and speaking lowly, "We have a visitor..."
"Indeed... the pirate should find her."
It was not long at all, before they heard a familiar shout, and the forces halted, as Gan Ning, dismounted and quite furious, came to them, throwing the Nanman queen at the feet of Liu Bei's horse. "I thought people of the jungle were more quiet than this thing, heh!"
Zhu Rong slapped his hand away, shouting angrily and causing quite a fuss, "Unhand me, you sea-born ape! What nerve ya have to handle ME like that! Should be ashamed of yourself for treating a lady like that!"
"Oh, I'll be sure to let you know when I see one!"
"Enough, before you have her husband hear you," Liu Bei ordered, though it seemed more like a plea as he looked at the woman at his feet, wondering why on earth had she been following them and for how long. She looked to him, as she rose to look him in the eyes, "Queen Zhu Rong, why are you pursuing us, and where are your men?"
The amazon, once again, brushed off the pirate's hold, and she spoke with no fear, something that no one expected to hear from the likes of her. Either she was the bravest woman in the world or she was too stupid to be afraid even as she was horribly outnumbered (not to mention how close she was to the irritable Zhang Fei). "I came alone! Why drag men along when they'd just mess everything up! 'sides, my husband won't do a damned thing! As a matter of fact, HE'S the reason why I'm here!"
Raising an eyebrow, Zhuge Liang asked, "Has he kicked you out?"
"What gave ya that idea?" Zhu Rong asked with a stomp from her foot, but she did not scare anyone, crossing her arms and pacing back and forth in front of Liu Bei. "Ya goin' against Cao Cao, right? I'm thinking that you're a little low on supplies, and I want somethin' left of all of you so that one day I can kick your sorry asses."
Zhang Fei was the one who asked, "What? That's what the fuss is all about?"
Nodding, she, once again, knocked away Gan Ning's hold, coming OH so close to being manhandled by the angered pirate. "What else do you think I came here for? Little ol' me against the likes of you brutes? HA! Even I know when I can't win!"
"For once you are sensible," Liu Bei forced a smile, trying to show his gratitude. "Tell your husband that we are thankful for the-"
He was cut off, however, when Zhu Rong interrupted, "Don't thank that lazy goon of a husband of mine! He had nothin' to do with the offerings, so don't rest easy on that little thought."
"You stole the supplies to give it to us?" Zhuge Liang questioned, unable to stop his rising chuckle as she reluctantly gave in, telling the truth and nodding to confirm it. "As I thought, though I am curious as to why your husband sent you to us."
Now this seemed to anger her more, but as if looking for sympathy, she replied, "Well, after you guys left, he looked me straight in the eye, gave that dorky grin of his, and told me, 'Say, Zhu Rong, perhaps you could trouble them more with your confounded racket and put an end to the three kingdoms in one fell swoop of you volcanic voice!'"
It took so much for many not to laugh at this, and even the pirate struggled, as he tried to ask the next question seriously, "Well, you could do that, if you really think about it, Queenie. Bet you'd send Cao Cao packing into the northlands, then kill him with that voice-cause an avalanche and wipe them ALL out!"
Taishi Ci snapped, kicking Gan Ning in the shoulder, "Your manners, general!"
However, Zhu Rong did not seem to insulted, as she rather liked the thought of that, "Yeah, laugh it up while you can! Anyway, I've come with your provisions, as an apology for all the rough time, so take it and leave!"
"Wait, you're not coming with us?" Gan Ning asked, and when she turned, to question his question, he quickly defended himself. "Well, by the way you were carrying on, you sounded as if you want to go, that's all."
Spatting, she grabbed her daggers and fiddled with them, throwing a few in the air and knocking away the leaves that hid the provisions and supplies well within the trees. Those eyes told him otherwise, as well as her smile, "Yeah, would be fun, but my place is here. I mean, what do I care rather you get the kid back? That's your business, not mine. But have fun and don't get lost."
Without argument, the generals and soldiers in front of her parted, as the Amazon walked back towards her home, backtracking their way and giving them all her backside as she shouted to them. "Good luck with the fight; I'm sure you'll knock 'em dead, especially you, pirate!"
Seeing her leave was as heartbreaking as it was relieving, and Taishi Ci could not help but comment on her, as soldiers gawked at the offerings left by the Nanman queen. "I can see why Meng Huo has married her. She alone makes this place undesirable to invaders."
"So it appears," Zhuge Liang muttered, turning to face his lord. "We might want to keep a good eye on the Nanman in the future, my lord. It will only be a matter of time before they'll get reckless."
"Agreed, but let's not worry ourselves just yet." Liu Bei nodded, lowering his gaze slightly. "For now I suppose it's good to have them neutral rather than our enemies. Cao Cao is enough to be concerned with, and having her on our case would have been devastating."
It was not long before the troops continued their march, and Gan Ning, no longer guarding the front, rather lagged within the large group, his head hanging slightly. Taking notice, Taishi Ci slowed his steed down a bit, to ride side by side with him. "You seem disappointed."
Forcing a fake smile, Gan Ning shrugged, "Nah... just kinda eager to face Cao Cao and get Lu Xun back, that's all. She would have been a good asset to battle, but I think I'd find that fighting 'style' of hers far too distracting, don't you agree, eh?"
"Unfortunately so..." Taishi Ci said with a smile, raising his head eye to look at the setting sun. To think, so much has happened lately, and it would still be awhile before catching up with Cao Cao's forces. They had so far to go, and he feared that they weren't going to make it in time...
'Hopefully, Lady Sun will be able to contact Lord Sun Quan and we could cut the Wei off at the river... ride swiftly, Lady Sun...'
~*~*~*~
Lu Xun had to admit that the spot they decided to break at was rather peaceful, and he observed the area as scouts snuck about, making sure that the city was safe to rest for the night. It was abandoned, and many of the houses were damaged from a battle many years ago. Grass grew tall, and the abandoned buildings' floors were filled with dirt and dried leaves. Whatever happened to this old village wasn't too much on Lu Xun's mind, but it was something many looked forward to after an entire day or mad-dashing through the dangerous trails.
The horse came to a stop, giving a reluctant neigh as it refused to go any further. Knowing better than to argue with the steed, Zhang He dismounted, lifting one long, slender leg over the hunched over Lu Xun and slipping off with an almost silent grunt. Now the horse was spared a passenger, as it rattled its head and waited patiently for the clinging youth to decide to get off now.
For once in his life, Lu Xun was quite content to remain on the horse, and he only looked up when he felt Zhang He's hand grasp his own, gently caressing it and tricking him to release the horse's limp black hair. "I assume that you can walk now, correct?"
"Of course I can... I do not need another to help me walk, and I can dismount on my own." Lu Xun said with absolutely no emotions, as if he had become nothing more than a robot within the past sixteen hours. Devoid of emotions, he simply did not care anymore; why should he care when no one else did?
That did not remove the hand, but he dismounted anyway, slipping off and nearly tripping as his foot got caught in the saddle. Fortunately for him, Zhang He had caught him, and Lu Xun wouldn't have minded the help, had it not been for the way he was being held still. Pressing his hands against the man's bare chest, he spoke again with his android-like tone, "Please... I am your prisoner, not your guest."
"I treat everyone the same, dear child," Zhang He stated, seeing the despair in those pained, golden eyes. He did not release him, but those hands were no longer holding him back. Lu Xun titled his head as the Wei general gave a sympathetic smile, as if to await his torment now. "I treat my Lord with just as much respect and care as I treat you now, as I do to all of my allies. You see, here is where no one is ever truly alone, not like your Wu. They've stopped their pursuit so easily... have they given up on you?"
That struck a nerve, and he could tell by the slight rise of pain in those orbs, no void of anything but pain and confusion. Not a single shine of hope was left... not even when he spoke, "By all means, I am dead to them, for though I will not give you any valuable information, they can not risk the lives of many to save me. Lord Sun Ce will never agree to your Lord's terms, and all of this is for nothing. To them, I am a lost cause, and I am better to die than the cost of rescue."
If he had known that the Wu forces were but a few miles away from them, he would have easily taken back his words. The scouts reported in, but they said their report in private with their Lord. By the expression on his face, he seemed displease, and he ordered for the tents to be set, but no fire was to be started. Lu Xun was suspicious, and even when Cao Cao proclaimed it was to prevent a fire hazard with the grass and dead leaves about, something told Lu Xun otherwise.
However, he had not the time to think about it, as Zhang He released him when Sima Yi strolled by, his icy glare sparing Lu Xun of its hatred as he gave orders to his subordinate. "General, you and Zhang Liao have the nightly watch. The boy will be in Xiahou Dun's custody for tonight if you don't mind."
Giving only a bow, it seemed that all connections were lost between the two, making Lu Xun's guilt rise slightly as Zhang He obeyed, "Of course, my Lord. Allow me to accompany him then."
He was denied, as Sima Yi held out his hand, expecting to be handed the rope to the thorn collar. The reaction from Lu Xun was almost surprising, as even Cao Cao could see how quickly the boy's eyes lit up, grasping Zhang He and giving a small shout, "No! Please, let Zhang He send me!"
"Is there a problem here?" Cao Cao asked as he arrived to them, and as Lu Xun scurried to hide behind the general, to free himself from their gazes, the lord could not help but wonder about his fears. Were they that deep?
"It appears that our prisoner doesn't particularly care for me," Sima Yi proclaimed, giving the boy a deathly look to make him hit his knees, nearly hanging off of Zhang He and weighing the gracefully bowing general down. "I was merely going to escort him to Lord Xiahou Dun, as you ordered my Lord."
Cao Cao's trickery was well-known, as even Sima Yi found it hard to tell rather he was playing along with the act or if he truly had feelings for the young boy as the lord looked to him. Seeing the collar, he began the orders, "Remove the collar; I believe he's learned his lesson and knows the costs of disobedience."
"Of course my lord..." Zhang He did that immediately, and as he threw it to the ground, he resumed his position, seeing how Lu Xun's arms had grown considerably weaker now. "Shall I accompany him to his destination?"
"No, I believe Sima Yi can do that." Cao Cao explained, and before Lu Xun could object, he turned those deadly eyes to Sima Yi, striking a nerve or two as he nearly hissed. "And pray I find no further injury upon him. I will want to speak with him alone later tonight if you do not mind, and I will have your heard if I should see a single scratch upon him, especially if it is inflicted by you."
Now that was almost too shocking to be true, and Lu Xun eyed Cao Cao with wondrous, golden eyes, ignoring Sima Yi's reluctant bow and his hesitant 'yes my lord.' Such compassion... was this the true Cao Cao, the one that no one had seen before? Or was it a hoax, to simply fool his mind? He did not care; for a little while, he was freed from the torment, as Sima Yi said nothing to him throughout the entire process. He walked behind the strategist, seeing his robes but not his smiling face.
This was truly a side of the Wei that Lu Xun had never seen before, and it almost gave him hope that perhaps this war could end? Though the thought alone was impossible for him to grasp, he did not object, but only grew suspicious of this sudden burst of kindness from them. What were they up to?
As he was lead into the tent, seeing the silhouette of the one-eyed general and the cunning strategist, he began to ponder about this. By the way Cao Cao and Zhang He was treating him, it was as if they wanted him to join them, but the thought simply passed through without a moment of hesitation. Lu Xun would never do such a thing, as his family was part of Wu, and he could never betray his kingdom and comrades. Surely they knew this...
"That's not good... how far away are they?"
Lu Xun looked to the outlines, seeing how Sima Yi held himself. He was angry, and though he shuttered, he prayed that whatever the problem was wasn't his doing. Cao Cao's words entered his mind, giving him some sort of comfort as Xiahou Dun replied. "If not for my cousin and lord requesting there be no fire lit, then they would be upon us this very moment. Even now they could have spies lurking about; they've camped just south of us..."
"Damn them! Won't they just give up their silly goose chase?! When will they realize his life is not worth the trouble?"
"Calm down... it's not like you to be upset." Xiahou Dun advised, neither of the two noticing how Lu Xun stirred within the tent. He knew that the boy could hear them, as they played along, wasting as much time as they possibly could to let the boy escape. He was growing rather impatient, and he rested his hand on the hilt of his blade. "I could take the child's life if you would blame it on a soldier... I would not wish for my cousin to think that I'd betray his orders."
The laugh that Sima Yi gave was almost frightening, and Lu Xun's natural instincts took over, as he searched for a way out. "And rid me of that demonic little imp? I would forever be in your debt, and not only will I blame a soldier if you would RID me of him!"
This was it... Lu Xun knew that the forces were close now, and as Xiahou Dun made for the tent's entrance, to slay him, he had to escape. He knew nothing of their plan, and, grabbing a sharp rock that he luckily found on the floor of his tent, he rushed to the furthest side of the tent, wasting no time and ripping away a hole that he could easily squeeze though. He had just slipped through when he heard Xiahou Dun's shout, cut off by Sima Yi's hand, "The prison-MMMM!"
Stumbling over himself, Lu Xun wasted little time, not staying to see Xiahou Dun rip apart the tent in a fury and trying to give chase. He was free from them, and he ran like a madbeast, not daring to look back as ran southward, praying to come across the Wu/Shu camp.
Xiahou Dun gave chase for about a few yards, before giving in and returning to the camp, sword sheathed and a slight grin on his sweat-damped face. Sima Yi, not to arouse suspicion from the soldiers that had also failed to catch the young prisoner, berated him, keeping his tone as low as it could get. "You let him escape? Why did you not grab your horse?"
"Too much time..." Xiahou Dun panted, eyeing the soldiers with his one deadly eye until they backed away. Seeing Cao Cao from a short distance give a nod, he continued, just in case of Lu Xun was still in hearing range. "He won't get far... I'll see to that."
Sima Yi gave a nod, not knowing if Xiahou Dun had winked or not, due to the missing eye, and as the general headed out, Zhang Liao approached him as the strategist made preparations for later that night. "What's happened? Did the prisoner escape?"
"Yes."
Alarmed, the general demanded, "You will send Xiahou Dun alone to retrieve him? What if he makes it to the enemy camp?"
Smiling, Sima Yi frightened him, as he turned away, "He won't. He'll be back before you know it..."
That left Zhang Liao confused, something he truly hated, but he said nothing when Cao Cao shook his head, requesting him to return to his duties. Obviously everything was under control, and, feeling a bit safer, Zhang Liao went back to his task, seeing a small light lit in the woods where a garden once was. That was exactly where Lu Xun was headed... but why was there light there?
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
~*~*~*~
Chapter 21
~*~*~*~
Zhang He failed to see the point in this minor expedition, but he did not complain, at least not verbally. Instead, he appeared to be glad that he was joining Zhang Liao in the small task, though he hoped to get this over with as quickly as possible. He wanted to return to his charge, to protect him from the wrath of his angered love.
He feared that Sima Yi was horribly out of control, but what could he say on the matter? Sima Yi was his superior, after all, and he was already pushing it. He did not want his love to be so full of jealousy, but he did not want the little boy harmed as well.
So he obeyed the order and left little Lu Xun in the hands of Cao Cao and his cousin Xiahou Dun. He was much safer there as long as Sima Yi did not get near him.
'That man... so full of rage...' Zhang He thought sadly from his post, keeping his tired eyes open for the incoming Wu army. It would not be long before Sun Ce and his forces rode by, and they would easily fall into their 'trap'.
The thing that the traitorous soldiers feared were the arbalist unit that they had miraculously stolen from the Shu forces, and they had them nicely set up over the hills, easy killings for any trespassing units. However, if you were to draw closer to the deadly weapons, you could have seen that these were far to damaged lay a fatal blow, but from their safe distance, none could tell. They were only meant to scare off incoming troops... and that was exactly what they were doing.
They had spotted a few scouts run by, being weary of the arbalists' range and doing their best, and failing, not to be seen. Now the Wu forces would change their course...
Excellent.
And Zhang Liao was doing his task, keeping his party in a not so well hidden place, to trick the incoming forces into a fake ambush. They did not have enough men for such a thing to be effective, but it worked, scaring a direct approach from the cautious forces.
Now, with that accomplished, Zhang Liao and Zhang He returned back to the main force, doing their best not to lag behind as they risked a rather dangerous new route. It was the only way to avoid the enemy, as well as the river. They knew that a confrontation near the rivers would lead to certain defeat, and none of them were willing to repeat Chi Bi all over again.
Zhang He was more than happy to have his charge back, as he rode on the horse along with him, carefully tucking the boy within his grasp to keep him steady on the horse. Normally, Lu Xun would cling to the reigns or his hands, in fear of falling off, but now, he just sat there, limp and numb to the world. Did the news of the halt of his army truly depress him that much?
Lord Cao Cao rode at the front of his army, his cousin at one side of him and Sima Yi at his right. Rather he cared for the dangers along this pass, no one knew, as he spoke his plan aloud, wondering if Lu Xun could hear him over the thundering hooves. "It should slow them down, long enough until we reach the city of Du Ji. We'll be safer within the walls there, and perhaps send another decoy from there."
"The forces will not be separated for long, but now they're weak," Xiahou Dun pointed out, looking back at the lifeless boy and then back at his cousin. "Wouldn't it be best to just do away with him and destroy the Wu all together in one battle?"
"Don't be foolish... best not waste knowledge, and you underestimate our enemy." Cao Cao said without as much as a second thought. He did not see Sima Yi's eyes narrow, as he ducked a low branch from a lifeless tree. "We don't have the power for an all-out battle yet, and they still have the slight upper hand... for now, anyway, so let's not press our luck."
All Xiahou Dun did was give a nod as a reply, and now Cao Cao turned to Sima Yi. "This is almost too risky; you best be sure that this little ploy works."
The strategist gave a polite bow, his eye twitching slightly though unseen, "Of course, my lord! I would dare not think of failing you, especially now when all of our lives depend upon this!"
As he smiled, Cao Cao turned away, and Sima Yi only deepened his deranged grin, as he continued his calculations. Tonight, little Lu Xun would have his heart broken, and Sun Ce would simply fall for the ploy... "Soon, you little brat... you will feel what real pain is like."
"What was that?"
Afraid of Cao Cao knowing the truth, Sima Yi lied, using his quick thinking to brainstorm his way out of this. "I merely said, 'Noon, its such a rat! You will feel what real sweat is like.'"
That only gave him an odd look in response, but nothing more was said as they continued their quest, daring not to look back in fear of seeing their plans failed. The mere thought of the army combining and the lust for survival kept them going...
"Something seems to be bothering you, little Lu Xun..." Zhang He whispered softly, though how he could be heard over the booming hooves of the horse was amazing. Lu Xun pretend he could not hear him, but it failed, as the grip of the collar around his neck got tighter. "Tell me what it is, and I will try to make it seem better for you."
Even with the slight pain that rose, Lu Xun was numb, and he refused words, only lowering his gaze and sighing. 'So... this is my fate? To be left as a prisoner forever? It's the only thing left for me...'
Again, the grip tightened, and this time, Lu Xun could not help but gasp as Zhang He's voice was in his ears. "If you're upset about them halting their pursuit, then don't be. They are doing the wise thing to do; isn't that the goal of each strategist?"
"Of course it is..." He didn't even bother trying to hide his disappointment, but he tilted his head, resisting the tug of the thorn collar and sparing his throat to where he could speak without fear of quickening his life. His words were so cold and lifeless, as if his subconscious self forced the words through. "The safety of my lord Sun Ce is at hand, and you would actually think that Zhou Yu would allow his friend to be in any sort of danger that you fiends have lying about. They... they are merely regrouping."
Releasing his hold on the collar, Zhang He smiled to hear his slight coughing fit. "The minds of you children nowadays... perhaps, though, the wisest thing to do is the wrong thing, and the most rash of reactions are the best, considering the reasons."
Lu Xun's silence only added to Zhang He's personal victory, and then he spoke, the very last ounce of hope within him shattered. "But for a single man, the army and my Lord cannot be sacrificed... for all this war cannot be waged on the life of one person alone, man or woman."
~*~*~*~
For many people to see Lu Meng so emotional on the battlefield, one would have a heart attack to see it now. The usual calm and equaled officer was brought into a wave of fury, charging relentlessly on his midnight colored mount, swinging his heavy halberd about and slaying the overwhelming forces about him, letting them hear his battle cry as they fell into death.
What they were expecting was a small group of soldiers, but instead, somehow, as they were ready to approach the soldiers with peace, they came across what appeared to be literally THOUSANDS upon thousands of Wei soldiers, their army seemingly endless marching over the hills. It was a rather strange stand-off, as neither side did anything until Dian Wei, the most trusted bodyguard of Cao Cao, rose his axe and took the life of one of Wu soldiers and proclaimed it in the glory of his lord.
After that, it seemed like pure chaos! Lu Meng, Pang Tong, and their small 'expedition' unit were easily surrounded and had absolutely no chance of escape. The only thing that was left for them was to fight, and they did that well, putting up much more resistance then the Wei forces had expected. It was thousands verses a mere few hundred, hardly a fair fight.
Soldiers flew, feeling the might of Lu Meng as he fought viciously, protecting himself and the soldiers about him. He had long since lost Pang Tong within the chaos of the battlefield, but every now and then, he would hear the Shu strategist's shout, followed by a small explosion. Rather it was magic or trickery, Lu Meng was quite thankful to have the man on his side for once.
"I knew this was a horrible idea!" Lu Meng shouted to no one in particular. A officer cladded in blue tried to strike his blindside, but he fell from his steed, dead as the mighty poleblade pierced through his armor and slayed him on the spot. Turning his horse around, Lu Meng now focused on his eastern flank, daring any soldier to try to strike him. "We should have listened to Zhou Yu!"
Unfortunately, Zhou Yu wasn't here to back him up or gloat, and the small forces were getting smaller and smaller. From somewhere behind him, he could hear a high-pitched shout, as he saw Pang Tong spun about, thwarting the enemy forces with his staff as he threw small bombs, blinding a few as he struck the awestruck. He seemed physically unharmed, though with all the robes it was hard to tell either way.
No, it was not a long battle indeed, as Lu Meng, Pang Tong, and a few of the lucky survivors were caged in, each back to back and still holding their weapons at the ready, clashing them against the ungodly sea of metal. It was Pang Tong that gave the suggestion, "Hey, if you just so happen to have an idea that'll get us out of here, be my guest to tell me, okay?"
"I only wish I had..." Lu Meng admitted freely, knocking away the weapons and killing a soldier or two just to have more appear in his spot. He fought with pure frustration now, angered slightly that he was to be defeated like this, in a battle for nothing. "Your thoughts?"
Wiggling his nose, Pang Tong allowed a soldier to hit air, as he drove the end of the staff into his gut and kicking him over. "Not really, but I do have a few little kegs of powder left... all I need is a good flame."
"What do you hide in there?" Lu Meng asked, somehow smiling though it seemed impossible to believe. "What's the cost of this?"
"Nothing but our lives, but it's sure to leave a huge hole in this unruly mob."
And as the soldiers drew ever so closer, Lu Meng only nodded, keeping his grin and willing to accept his fate, even as he hacked through the soldiers about him. "So be it, then... better to die for ourselves then to be slain by their unworthy weapons then!"
The winds suddenly changed, as a single horse flew over the soldiers, it's white body eclipsing the sun and his spear taking the Wei soldiers by surprise. Now, thought it seemed out of nowhere, the warrior Zhao Yun fought among the mob, showing them no mercy as he spun his spear about this away and that. Never once dropping his guard, Lu Meng gave a cry, "At last! Reinforcements!"
"I am sorry that I'm late, Lord Pang Tong!" Zhao Yun shouted over the death cries, as now more soldiers armed in red and green armor rode over the very hills the Wei soldiers once did. Within their ranks, they could easily see the mounted Lu Jun, a spear in one hand and a short, curvey sword in the other, and, running among the ground, Wei Yan. "However, we shall make up for loss time!"
Never had either of the two seemed so thrilled before in their lives to see, yet, another sea of soldiers arrive, and things slowly seemed to equal out between the two forces. Somewhere within the chaos, Lu Jun threw himself off of his steed to challenge the turban-wearing man, his spear and sword hardly a challenge for the strong Xu Huang.
"Wei scum! I'll have your head!" Lu Jun shouted, his eyes rimmed red as he swiped again and again. Xu Huang was impressed by his speed, though the general, wise beyond his years in the battlefield, could easily see the curse, just as he had seen it in a few rare occasions before. It would not take much to entice the man into a life or death duel, and though he was obviously much stronger, Lu Jun's fury was to be hard to matched.
Doing perhaps the wisest thing to do in such a situation, Xu Huang tricked him, turning his own ego against him as he lowered his axe, letting the sword drive into the ground as he leapt away from the spear, watching as Lu Jun lost his balance and toppled over.
"Leave this one to me!"
Turning about, Xu Huang could see the large, muscle-bound man, as Dian Wei came charging at the lord of Wujun, almost taking him by surprise with his brute strength. It was not long before the two got lost within the duel, every soldier knowing it was best to leave them alone, and though outmatched by strength, Lu Jun put up an excellent fight, relying heavily on his speed advantage and the fruits of his curse, to absorb blows and come back for more.
The battle seemed endless, as the midday sun rose high into the sky above the battlefield. Only now, after fighting for several hours straight, both forces grew weary, but neither one wished to back down first. Even by this time, Lu Jun and Dian Wei were still dueling, though how each men got their strength was truly astounding. Never had anyone seen two men got at each other so viciously after so many hours.
Blow for blow, axe-hatchet verses spear and sword, fist to fist, they were almost equally matched now. As soldiers fell from exhaustion around them, they fought one, and Lu Jun, though tired, had long since lost his sanity, striking with speed unmatched by anyone. "I must say... for a Wei scum... you fight well!"
Someone shouted for a fall back, though neither of the two could tell which force called for it first. Dian Wei replied, not knowing what the red eyes meant but he continued his battle against his foe. "I fight only for my Lord! All... who oppose him... shall DIE!"
Where he got the strength was still a mystery, and Dian Wei would have probably killed Lu Jun on the spot, had it not been for Xu Zhu's shout, "Dian Wei, we have to go! Xu Huang's orders!"
Without question, the monster of a man turned to leave, giving Lu Jun a worthy bow before leaving. He did not get far, though, as Wei Yan's voulge struck his blindside, leaving him with an injury as the Wei forces retreated north. They were not the only ones, as Lu Meng called for a fall back as well, not wanting to see anymore men fall this day.
Running alongside Xu Huang on his horse, Dian Wei grasped his wounded side, speaking through clenched teeth as he looked back at the retreating Wu and Shu forces. "They're too close north... what do you think brings them here?"
"I only wish I knew... but supposingly the Shu has requested Wu's aid." Xu Huang explained, now noticing that Wei Yan still pursued them, slaying any soldier that dared lag behind. He hadn't the strength to stop him, mentally apologizing to those soldiers as they fled. "We must find Lord Cao Cao and be swift then."
Dian Wei had no complaints, and the battle was officially over. Seeing his comrade pursuing the retreating forces, Zhao Yun called to Wei Yan, only to be ignored, "Wei Yan, fall back! That's an order!"
"Let him go..." Lu Jun leaned against his spear, letting his sword rest in the ground as he looked to the retreating forces. Though beaten, he gave a wide grin, licking the blood from his swollen lip and nodding. "He'll soon exhaust himself... I'll track him down. Don't worry about that."
Zhao Yun nodded, knowing he knew best, and as Lu Jun limped after the Bloodwrathed beast, the Little Dragon approached the two officers that had valiantly against the overwhelming forces. Pang Tong, like Lu Jun, leaned against his staff, though rather cockily, panting hard as the cloth over his mouth sucked in and out with each pained breath, and Lu Meng couldn't even stand, resting his bloodied halberd at his side as he was on his knees, gasping and choking on sweat. At first sight, they looked completely miserable.
Dismounting, Zhao Yun caught the weary strategist before he fell, letting his hat fall off and his jet black hair, damp with sweat, reveal itself. However, still keeping his face covered, Pang Tong rested his head against Zhao Yun's chestplate, absorbing the coolness with relief. "What happened Lord Pang Tong?"
"You tell me... one minute, blazing saddle after deserters of Wei... the next, all out battle!" Still, through his pain and exhaustion, the man kept his light humor, now thankful that Da Qiao was convinced into staying with the main force. He looked over at Lu Meng, who still sputtered for air as soldiers helped tear off his heavy armor. "Nice... little... ambush, though not quite one..."
Raising an eyebrow, Zhao Yun's question was answered before it was even asked, and Lu Meng explained, nearly collapsing as he knelt there with only his dull orange shirt on, his armor now resting on the ground, useless. "They... seemed JUST... as surprised... to see us... as we were... to them. Lost... many good men... damn them..."
He could say no more, and he collapsed onto the dead battlefield and fell into unconsciousness. It was not long before Pang Tong did the same, as Zhao Yun gave out orders, requesting the medical tent to be set up immediately for the wounded and exhausted. Zhao Yun spoke to the two, though he knew they could not hear him, "Don't worry, friends... I regret not showing up sooner, but we will make up for this loss. Just rest now."
And neither of the two could object to that.
~*~*~*~
The forces had long since separated, and Gan Ning led the forces, holding his sword out as they marched towards the end of the Nanman territory. He was mainly the decoy and watchman, scouting ahead and making sure the path was safe for all, and Taishi Ci stayed close to Liu Bei and his brother, trying to be the diplomat here.
When Sun Shang Xiang departed, Liu Bei wished her the best of luck, and though it seemed rather a usual response, there was something in those words that hinted at something, something that drove Gan Ning ahead, to be alone. Taishi Ci saw this and sighed. 'Poor Gan Ning... I'm sure he'll get over it, though...'
The only sounds they heard were the clip-clopping of the horses' hooves to the solid ground, and a soldier or two yawn. Something irked Taishi Ci, as he noticed Zhuge Liang's gaze lower slightly, his face alternating into one he had seen so many times before, one that Zhou Yu often wore when he knew something that others did not. And he wasn't the only one, as Liu Bei asked, keeping his gaze forward and speaking lowly, "We have a visitor..."
"Indeed... the pirate should find her."
It was not long at all, before they heard a familiar shout, and the forces halted, as Gan Ning, dismounted and quite furious, came to them, throwing the Nanman queen at the feet of Liu Bei's horse. "I thought people of the jungle were more quiet than this thing, heh!"
Zhu Rong slapped his hand away, shouting angrily and causing quite a fuss, "Unhand me, you sea-born ape! What nerve ya have to handle ME like that! Should be ashamed of yourself for treating a lady like that!"
"Oh, I'll be sure to let you know when I see one!"
"Enough, before you have her husband hear you," Liu Bei ordered, though it seemed more like a plea as he looked at the woman at his feet, wondering why on earth had she been following them and for how long. She looked to him, as she rose to look him in the eyes, "Queen Zhu Rong, why are you pursuing us, and where are your men?"
The amazon, once again, brushed off the pirate's hold, and she spoke with no fear, something that no one expected to hear from the likes of her. Either she was the bravest woman in the world or she was too stupid to be afraid even as she was horribly outnumbered (not to mention how close she was to the irritable Zhang Fei). "I came alone! Why drag men along when they'd just mess everything up! 'sides, my husband won't do a damned thing! As a matter of fact, HE'S the reason why I'm here!"
Raising an eyebrow, Zhuge Liang asked, "Has he kicked you out?"
"What gave ya that idea?" Zhu Rong asked with a stomp from her foot, but she did not scare anyone, crossing her arms and pacing back and forth in front of Liu Bei. "Ya goin' against Cao Cao, right? I'm thinking that you're a little low on supplies, and I want somethin' left of all of you so that one day I can kick your sorry asses."
Zhang Fei was the one who asked, "What? That's what the fuss is all about?"
Nodding, she, once again, knocked away Gan Ning's hold, coming OH so close to being manhandled by the angered pirate. "What else do you think I came here for? Little ol' me against the likes of you brutes? HA! Even I know when I can't win!"
"For once you are sensible," Liu Bei forced a smile, trying to show his gratitude. "Tell your husband that we are thankful for the-"
He was cut off, however, when Zhu Rong interrupted, "Don't thank that lazy goon of a husband of mine! He had nothin' to do with the offerings, so don't rest easy on that little thought."
"You stole the supplies to give it to us?" Zhuge Liang questioned, unable to stop his rising chuckle as she reluctantly gave in, telling the truth and nodding to confirm it. "As I thought, though I am curious as to why your husband sent you to us."
Now this seemed to anger her more, but as if looking for sympathy, she replied, "Well, after you guys left, he looked me straight in the eye, gave that dorky grin of his, and told me, 'Say, Zhu Rong, perhaps you could trouble them more with your confounded racket and put an end to the three kingdoms in one fell swoop of you volcanic voice!'"
It took so much for many not to laugh at this, and even the pirate struggled, as he tried to ask the next question seriously, "Well, you could do that, if you really think about it, Queenie. Bet you'd send Cao Cao packing into the northlands, then kill him with that voice-cause an avalanche and wipe them ALL out!"
Taishi Ci snapped, kicking Gan Ning in the shoulder, "Your manners, general!"
However, Zhu Rong did not seem to insulted, as she rather liked the thought of that, "Yeah, laugh it up while you can! Anyway, I've come with your provisions, as an apology for all the rough time, so take it and leave!"
"Wait, you're not coming with us?" Gan Ning asked, and when she turned, to question his question, he quickly defended himself. "Well, by the way you were carrying on, you sounded as if you want to go, that's all."
Spatting, she grabbed her daggers and fiddled with them, throwing a few in the air and knocking away the leaves that hid the provisions and supplies well within the trees. Those eyes told him otherwise, as well as her smile, "Yeah, would be fun, but my place is here. I mean, what do I care rather you get the kid back? That's your business, not mine. But have fun and don't get lost."
Without argument, the generals and soldiers in front of her parted, as the Amazon walked back towards her home, backtracking their way and giving them all her backside as she shouted to them. "Good luck with the fight; I'm sure you'll knock 'em dead, especially you, pirate!"
Seeing her leave was as heartbreaking as it was relieving, and Taishi Ci could not help but comment on her, as soldiers gawked at the offerings left by the Nanman queen. "I can see why Meng Huo has married her. She alone makes this place undesirable to invaders."
"So it appears," Zhuge Liang muttered, turning to face his lord. "We might want to keep a good eye on the Nanman in the future, my lord. It will only be a matter of time before they'll get reckless."
"Agreed, but let's not worry ourselves just yet." Liu Bei nodded, lowering his gaze slightly. "For now I suppose it's good to have them neutral rather than our enemies. Cao Cao is enough to be concerned with, and having her on our case would have been devastating."
It was not long before the troops continued their march, and Gan Ning, no longer guarding the front, rather lagged within the large group, his head hanging slightly. Taking notice, Taishi Ci slowed his steed down a bit, to ride side by side with him. "You seem disappointed."
Forcing a fake smile, Gan Ning shrugged, "Nah... just kinda eager to face Cao Cao and get Lu Xun back, that's all. She would have been a good asset to battle, but I think I'd find that fighting 'style' of hers far too distracting, don't you agree, eh?"
"Unfortunately so..." Taishi Ci said with a smile, raising his head eye to look at the setting sun. To think, so much has happened lately, and it would still be awhile before catching up with Cao Cao's forces. They had so far to go, and he feared that they weren't going to make it in time...
'Hopefully, Lady Sun will be able to contact Lord Sun Quan and we could cut the Wei off at the river... ride swiftly, Lady Sun...'
~*~*~*~
Lu Xun had to admit that the spot they decided to break at was rather peaceful, and he observed the area as scouts snuck about, making sure that the city was safe to rest for the night. It was abandoned, and many of the houses were damaged from a battle many years ago. Grass grew tall, and the abandoned buildings' floors were filled with dirt and dried leaves. Whatever happened to this old village wasn't too much on Lu Xun's mind, but it was something many looked forward to after an entire day or mad-dashing through the dangerous trails.
The horse came to a stop, giving a reluctant neigh as it refused to go any further. Knowing better than to argue with the steed, Zhang He dismounted, lifting one long, slender leg over the hunched over Lu Xun and slipping off with an almost silent grunt. Now the horse was spared a passenger, as it rattled its head and waited patiently for the clinging youth to decide to get off now.
For once in his life, Lu Xun was quite content to remain on the horse, and he only looked up when he felt Zhang He's hand grasp his own, gently caressing it and tricking him to release the horse's limp black hair. "I assume that you can walk now, correct?"
"Of course I can... I do not need another to help me walk, and I can dismount on my own." Lu Xun said with absolutely no emotions, as if he had become nothing more than a robot within the past sixteen hours. Devoid of emotions, he simply did not care anymore; why should he care when no one else did?
That did not remove the hand, but he dismounted anyway, slipping off and nearly tripping as his foot got caught in the saddle. Fortunately for him, Zhang He had caught him, and Lu Xun wouldn't have minded the help, had it not been for the way he was being held still. Pressing his hands against the man's bare chest, he spoke again with his android-like tone, "Please... I am your prisoner, not your guest."
"I treat everyone the same, dear child," Zhang He stated, seeing the despair in those pained, golden eyes. He did not release him, but those hands were no longer holding him back. Lu Xun titled his head as the Wei general gave a sympathetic smile, as if to await his torment now. "I treat my Lord with just as much respect and care as I treat you now, as I do to all of my allies. You see, here is where no one is ever truly alone, not like your Wu. They've stopped their pursuit so easily... have they given up on you?"
That struck a nerve, and he could tell by the slight rise of pain in those orbs, no void of anything but pain and confusion. Not a single shine of hope was left... not even when he spoke, "By all means, I am dead to them, for though I will not give you any valuable information, they can not risk the lives of many to save me. Lord Sun Ce will never agree to your Lord's terms, and all of this is for nothing. To them, I am a lost cause, and I am better to die than the cost of rescue."
If he had known that the Wu forces were but a few miles away from them, he would have easily taken back his words. The scouts reported in, but they said their report in private with their Lord. By the expression on his face, he seemed displease, and he ordered for the tents to be set, but no fire was to be started. Lu Xun was suspicious, and even when Cao Cao proclaimed it was to prevent a fire hazard with the grass and dead leaves about, something told Lu Xun otherwise.
However, he had not the time to think about it, as Zhang He released him when Sima Yi strolled by, his icy glare sparing Lu Xun of its hatred as he gave orders to his subordinate. "General, you and Zhang Liao have the nightly watch. The boy will be in Xiahou Dun's custody for tonight if you don't mind."
Giving only a bow, it seemed that all connections were lost between the two, making Lu Xun's guilt rise slightly as Zhang He obeyed, "Of course, my Lord. Allow me to accompany him then."
He was denied, as Sima Yi held out his hand, expecting to be handed the rope to the thorn collar. The reaction from Lu Xun was almost surprising, as even Cao Cao could see how quickly the boy's eyes lit up, grasping Zhang He and giving a small shout, "No! Please, let Zhang He send me!"
"Is there a problem here?" Cao Cao asked as he arrived to them, and as Lu Xun scurried to hide behind the general, to free himself from their gazes, the lord could not help but wonder about his fears. Were they that deep?
"It appears that our prisoner doesn't particularly care for me," Sima Yi proclaimed, giving the boy a deathly look to make him hit his knees, nearly hanging off of Zhang He and weighing the gracefully bowing general down. "I was merely going to escort him to Lord Xiahou Dun, as you ordered my Lord."
Cao Cao's trickery was well-known, as even Sima Yi found it hard to tell rather he was playing along with the act or if he truly had feelings for the young boy as the lord looked to him. Seeing the collar, he began the orders, "Remove the collar; I believe he's learned his lesson and knows the costs of disobedience."
"Of course my lord..." Zhang He did that immediately, and as he threw it to the ground, he resumed his position, seeing how Lu Xun's arms had grown considerably weaker now. "Shall I accompany him to his destination?"
"No, I believe Sima Yi can do that." Cao Cao explained, and before Lu Xun could object, he turned those deadly eyes to Sima Yi, striking a nerve or two as he nearly hissed. "And pray I find no further injury upon him. I will want to speak with him alone later tonight if you do not mind, and I will have your heard if I should see a single scratch upon him, especially if it is inflicted by you."
Now that was almost too shocking to be true, and Lu Xun eyed Cao Cao with wondrous, golden eyes, ignoring Sima Yi's reluctant bow and his hesitant 'yes my lord.' Such compassion... was this the true Cao Cao, the one that no one had seen before? Or was it a hoax, to simply fool his mind? He did not care; for a little while, he was freed from the torment, as Sima Yi said nothing to him throughout the entire process. He walked behind the strategist, seeing his robes but not his smiling face.
This was truly a side of the Wei that Lu Xun had never seen before, and it almost gave him hope that perhaps this war could end? Though the thought alone was impossible for him to grasp, he did not object, but only grew suspicious of this sudden burst of kindness from them. What were they up to?
As he was lead into the tent, seeing the silhouette of the one-eyed general and the cunning strategist, he began to ponder about this. By the way Cao Cao and Zhang He was treating him, it was as if they wanted him to join them, but the thought simply passed through without a moment of hesitation. Lu Xun would never do such a thing, as his family was part of Wu, and he could never betray his kingdom and comrades. Surely they knew this...
"That's not good... how far away are they?"
Lu Xun looked to the outlines, seeing how Sima Yi held himself. He was angry, and though he shuttered, he prayed that whatever the problem was wasn't his doing. Cao Cao's words entered his mind, giving him some sort of comfort as Xiahou Dun replied. "If not for my cousin and lord requesting there be no fire lit, then they would be upon us this very moment. Even now they could have spies lurking about; they've camped just south of us..."
"Damn them! Won't they just give up their silly goose chase?! When will they realize his life is not worth the trouble?"
"Calm down... it's not like you to be upset." Xiahou Dun advised, neither of the two noticing how Lu Xun stirred within the tent. He knew that the boy could hear them, as they played along, wasting as much time as they possibly could to let the boy escape. He was growing rather impatient, and he rested his hand on the hilt of his blade. "I could take the child's life if you would blame it on a soldier... I would not wish for my cousin to think that I'd betray his orders."
The laugh that Sima Yi gave was almost frightening, and Lu Xun's natural instincts took over, as he searched for a way out. "And rid me of that demonic little imp? I would forever be in your debt, and not only will I blame a soldier if you would RID me of him!"
This was it... Lu Xun knew that the forces were close now, and as Xiahou Dun made for the tent's entrance, to slay him, he had to escape. He knew nothing of their plan, and, grabbing a sharp rock that he luckily found on the floor of his tent, he rushed to the furthest side of the tent, wasting no time and ripping away a hole that he could easily squeeze though. He had just slipped through when he heard Xiahou Dun's shout, cut off by Sima Yi's hand, "The prison-MMMM!"
Stumbling over himself, Lu Xun wasted little time, not staying to see Xiahou Dun rip apart the tent in a fury and trying to give chase. He was free from them, and he ran like a madbeast, not daring to look back as ran southward, praying to come across the Wu/Shu camp.
Xiahou Dun gave chase for about a few yards, before giving in and returning to the camp, sword sheathed and a slight grin on his sweat-damped face. Sima Yi, not to arouse suspicion from the soldiers that had also failed to catch the young prisoner, berated him, keeping his tone as low as it could get. "You let him escape? Why did you not grab your horse?"
"Too much time..." Xiahou Dun panted, eyeing the soldiers with his one deadly eye until they backed away. Seeing Cao Cao from a short distance give a nod, he continued, just in case of Lu Xun was still in hearing range. "He won't get far... I'll see to that."
Sima Yi gave a nod, not knowing if Xiahou Dun had winked or not, due to the missing eye, and as the general headed out, Zhang Liao approached him as the strategist made preparations for later that night. "What's happened? Did the prisoner escape?"
"Yes."
Alarmed, the general demanded, "You will send Xiahou Dun alone to retrieve him? What if he makes it to the enemy camp?"
Smiling, Sima Yi frightened him, as he turned away, "He won't. He'll be back before you know it..."
That left Zhang Liao confused, something he truly hated, but he said nothing when Cao Cao shook his head, requesting him to return to his duties. Obviously everything was under control, and, feeling a bit safer, Zhang Liao went back to his task, seeing a small light lit in the woods where a garden once was. That was exactly where Lu Xun was headed... but why was there light there?