Chen Rising Chapter 4
The Shu-Chen Alliance: Beginning of an Era
Son Mia walked through the halls of Tian Shui. She was on night guard. She had got the midnight shift, and she was tired. Then she heard it. It sounded like someone in battle. She walked towards the source of the sound. She looked into the courtyard and saw Zima Shi. He was training even though it was the dead of night. Son Mia continued to watch as he fought with imaginary opponents, not stopping for a minute. She slowly entered the courtyard, still hiding. Suddenly, he sheathed one of his swords and flung something towards her. The object struck a tree next to her. It reverberated when it struck. 'You shouldn't sneak up on people. It's not healthy.' Zima Shi said. Son Mia looked at what he had thrown and saw it was a throwing knife. 'For all I knew, you could've been a spy, an assassin, or a thief.' Son Mia jumped up. 'I see your point. But still, you should check who's sneaking up on you.' Zima Shi, without breaking his training, said 'If you were an assassin, would you give me the chance to see you?' Son Mia shook her head. 'I suppose your right.' She sat down under the tree as he continued to train. 'Aren't you on the night shift?' He asked. 'I was, but it's Huan Xong's shift now.' He sat down next to her, finally tired after his workout. 'So what's your story?' Son Mia asked. 'What?' Zima Shi asked. 'Why'd you get involved? Why'd you join Shu?' Zima Shi thought for a minute. 'It all happened three years ago. I was an apprentice under a swordsman. Before he took me in, I had no family, no friends. I was just a kid going around stealing from travellers. Anyway, I made the mistake of attacking this swordsman, and he knocked me to the ground without drawing his sword. Back when he took me in, I was arrogant. He was determined to get rid of that part of me, so he decided to train me. I saw it as a chance to avenge my loss, so I accepted his offer. When I got to his home, the training was non-stop. If I wasn't eating or sleeping, I was training. The swordsman had a daughter. She was nice, but I didn't like her when I first arrived. After awhile, I started to regard her as a sister, and the swordsman as a father. By the time I had finished my training, all thoughts of getting him back and avenging my loss had died. I continued living with them, and my relationship with his daughter grew more romantic. Then, three years ago, it happened. I asked the swordsman if he would allow me to marry his daughter. He said it was fine with him. I had gone out hunting to get food for the feast to celebrate, but when I returned, the village was burning. I saw my master fighting some Wei soldiers. He cut them down easily, but collapsed from a wound on his side. I asked him what had happened, and he said that Wei soldiers had destroyed the village. I asked him about his daughter, and he said she had escaped. My master then died. I began to search all over for her, but I never found her. I then decided to join Shu and destroy Wei for what they had done.' Son Mia whistled. 'Whoa. Looks like you've had it hard.' She said. 'You have no idea.' Zima Shi thought. A few minutes passed in silence. Zima Shi looked over to see that Son Mia had fallen asleep. 'Why does she look so familiar?' he thought. His face slowly inched closer and closer to hers, until their faces were mere centimeters away. Suddenly, someone yelled 'Open the gate! I have an urgent message for Lord Zima Shao!' Zima Shi pulled his face away. 'This can't be good.' He said. He got up and looked at Son Mia, who was still asleep. He picked her up and carried her to his room. He laid her down on the bed. He then walked to see Zima Shao.
'You're sure about this?' Zima Shao asked the messenger. 'Yes Lord Zima Shao! The Wei army has begun advancing! They passed through The Han Gu Gate and are heading towards Hong Nong!' Xiahou Shang heard this, but started to laugh. 'I'm assuming by that laugh that you have a plan Xiahou Shang?' Zima Shao asked. 'Yes Lord Zima Shao. Before coming to Tian Shui for this battle, I took precautionary steps in case Wei did invade. We need not rush to Hong Nong. The forces there can hold up for the time being.' Xiahou Shang said. Zima Shao didn't look at all surprised. 'And what forces would that be? Our entire army is here in Tian Shui.' Xiahou Shang shook his head. 'Not all our forces. I recruited two men and gave them an army of twenty thousand. They should be able to hold on. For now, our main concern should be the peace negotiations with Shu.' Xiahou Shang said. 'Lord Liu Bei wants peace. All he awaits is your answer.' Zima Shi said, entering the throne room. 'Ah, Brother! You're awake.' Zima Shao said. 'I've decided I will accept Lord Liu Bei's offer for peace.' Zima Shi nodded. 'Good. I've heard of the threat Wei currently posses to you're eastern cities and, if they capture Hong Nong, you're capital. So, I've come to suggest that Shu and Chen form an alliance against Wei.' Zima Shi said. Zima Shao nodded. 'That would be a good idea.' The next day, an alliance was formed between Chen and Shu. When the evening came, the two armies feasted. 'So you are Zima Shi's brother. It's good to meet you on peaceful terms.' Guan Yu said. 'And you must be the great Lord Guan Yu. I've heard many stories of your strength.' Zima Shao said. Liu Bei sat down next to Guan Yu. 'Without your older brother, I doubt this would've been possible.' Liu Bei said. 'Older?' Zima Shao asked in surprise. 'Yes. When he joined me, he said he was twenty- five. You look no older then eighteen.' Liu Bei said. 'Well my brother lied. We're twins. We're the same age.' Zima Shao said. 'Speaking of my brother, where is he?' Ma Chao walked up. 'I saw him walking towards the courtyard.'
Slash. Block. Stab. Zima Shi trained hard, even though it was an evening to celebrate. Talking to Son Mia the previous night had made him remember who his master's killer was. Even though he was training, the scene flashed through his mind. His master, lying on the ground, blood all around him, several Wei soldiers on the ground dead. The place he had called home in flames, and his master's daughter nowhere to be seen. 'Master! Who did this?' His master coughed. 'He..said his name was Cao Sai..of Wei.' Zima Shi nodded his head. 'Zima Shi..my daughter still lives.. Please.. Find her.' With these words, his master died. 'Cao Sai.' He spat the name like it was venom. He knew what he would do when he found him. More memories flooded his head. The final day of his training. Learning the ultimate attack of the twin broadsword style. Again, he saw his master. 'Zima Shi, this is the ultimate technique. A foreigner taught it to me. It is called the Oni Giri.' Zima Shi nodded. 'You hurl your swords and use your chi to control and guide them towards your opponent. It has taken me years to master it. Now watch.' The swords began to glow red. Suddenly, he threw them. Instead of going a few feet and falling to the ground, they flew forward, slicing through a tree. They circled once, and returned to the old man's hands. 'Now you try.' He said. Zima Shi nodded. He threw the swords, but all they did was fall. 'Don't worry. No gets this on the first try. It will take you awhile to learn.' Now, the words made sense to him. He stopped training and began to concentrate. Unknown to him, the swords began to glow a pale red. 'ONI GIRI!' He threw the swords and, to his surprise and delight, he had control of them. He no longer saw from his eyes, but from the swords. It was as though his consciousness had shifted to them from his body. From the swords, he saw several people watching him. He paid no attention though, as he had the swords circle above the courtyard. Finally, he felt his energy being drained. He willed the swords to return to him, and they did. His eyes snapped open, and he turned around to see several Shu and Chen officers looking at him in shock. He grinned. Suddenly, He collapsed. 'Zima Shi!' The people began to run towards him. Th last thing Zima Shi saw was the group running towards him, with Son Mia in the lead.
Son Mia walked through the halls of Tian Shui. She was on night guard. She had got the midnight shift, and she was tired. Then she heard it. It sounded like someone in battle. She walked towards the source of the sound. She looked into the courtyard and saw Zima Shi. He was training even though it was the dead of night. Son Mia continued to watch as he fought with imaginary opponents, not stopping for a minute. She slowly entered the courtyard, still hiding. Suddenly, he sheathed one of his swords and flung something towards her. The object struck a tree next to her. It reverberated when it struck. 'You shouldn't sneak up on people. It's not healthy.' Zima Shi said. Son Mia looked at what he had thrown and saw it was a throwing knife. 'For all I knew, you could've been a spy, an assassin, or a thief.' Son Mia jumped up. 'I see your point. But still, you should check who's sneaking up on you.' Zima Shi, without breaking his training, said 'If you were an assassin, would you give me the chance to see you?' Son Mia shook her head. 'I suppose your right.' She sat down under the tree as he continued to train. 'Aren't you on the night shift?' He asked. 'I was, but it's Huan Xong's shift now.' He sat down next to her, finally tired after his workout. 'So what's your story?' Son Mia asked. 'What?' Zima Shi asked. 'Why'd you get involved? Why'd you join Shu?' Zima Shi thought for a minute. 'It all happened three years ago. I was an apprentice under a swordsman. Before he took me in, I had no family, no friends. I was just a kid going around stealing from travellers. Anyway, I made the mistake of attacking this swordsman, and he knocked me to the ground without drawing his sword. Back when he took me in, I was arrogant. He was determined to get rid of that part of me, so he decided to train me. I saw it as a chance to avenge my loss, so I accepted his offer. When I got to his home, the training was non-stop. If I wasn't eating or sleeping, I was training. The swordsman had a daughter. She was nice, but I didn't like her when I first arrived. After awhile, I started to regard her as a sister, and the swordsman as a father. By the time I had finished my training, all thoughts of getting him back and avenging my loss had died. I continued living with them, and my relationship with his daughter grew more romantic. Then, three years ago, it happened. I asked the swordsman if he would allow me to marry his daughter. He said it was fine with him. I had gone out hunting to get food for the feast to celebrate, but when I returned, the village was burning. I saw my master fighting some Wei soldiers. He cut them down easily, but collapsed from a wound on his side. I asked him what had happened, and he said that Wei soldiers had destroyed the village. I asked him about his daughter, and he said she had escaped. My master then died. I began to search all over for her, but I never found her. I then decided to join Shu and destroy Wei for what they had done.' Son Mia whistled. 'Whoa. Looks like you've had it hard.' She said. 'You have no idea.' Zima Shi thought. A few minutes passed in silence. Zima Shi looked over to see that Son Mia had fallen asleep. 'Why does she look so familiar?' he thought. His face slowly inched closer and closer to hers, until their faces were mere centimeters away. Suddenly, someone yelled 'Open the gate! I have an urgent message for Lord Zima Shao!' Zima Shi pulled his face away. 'This can't be good.' He said. He got up and looked at Son Mia, who was still asleep. He picked her up and carried her to his room. He laid her down on the bed. He then walked to see Zima Shao.
'You're sure about this?' Zima Shao asked the messenger. 'Yes Lord Zima Shao! The Wei army has begun advancing! They passed through The Han Gu Gate and are heading towards Hong Nong!' Xiahou Shang heard this, but started to laugh. 'I'm assuming by that laugh that you have a plan Xiahou Shang?' Zima Shao asked. 'Yes Lord Zima Shao. Before coming to Tian Shui for this battle, I took precautionary steps in case Wei did invade. We need not rush to Hong Nong. The forces there can hold up for the time being.' Xiahou Shang said. Zima Shao didn't look at all surprised. 'And what forces would that be? Our entire army is here in Tian Shui.' Xiahou Shang shook his head. 'Not all our forces. I recruited two men and gave them an army of twenty thousand. They should be able to hold on. For now, our main concern should be the peace negotiations with Shu.' Xiahou Shang said. 'Lord Liu Bei wants peace. All he awaits is your answer.' Zima Shi said, entering the throne room. 'Ah, Brother! You're awake.' Zima Shao said. 'I've decided I will accept Lord Liu Bei's offer for peace.' Zima Shi nodded. 'Good. I've heard of the threat Wei currently posses to you're eastern cities and, if they capture Hong Nong, you're capital. So, I've come to suggest that Shu and Chen form an alliance against Wei.' Zima Shi said. Zima Shao nodded. 'That would be a good idea.' The next day, an alliance was formed between Chen and Shu. When the evening came, the two armies feasted. 'So you are Zima Shi's brother. It's good to meet you on peaceful terms.' Guan Yu said. 'And you must be the great Lord Guan Yu. I've heard many stories of your strength.' Zima Shao said. Liu Bei sat down next to Guan Yu. 'Without your older brother, I doubt this would've been possible.' Liu Bei said. 'Older?' Zima Shao asked in surprise. 'Yes. When he joined me, he said he was twenty- five. You look no older then eighteen.' Liu Bei said. 'Well my brother lied. We're twins. We're the same age.' Zima Shao said. 'Speaking of my brother, where is he?' Ma Chao walked up. 'I saw him walking towards the courtyard.'
Slash. Block. Stab. Zima Shi trained hard, even though it was an evening to celebrate. Talking to Son Mia the previous night had made him remember who his master's killer was. Even though he was training, the scene flashed through his mind. His master, lying on the ground, blood all around him, several Wei soldiers on the ground dead. The place he had called home in flames, and his master's daughter nowhere to be seen. 'Master! Who did this?' His master coughed. 'He..said his name was Cao Sai..of Wei.' Zima Shi nodded his head. 'Zima Shi..my daughter still lives.. Please.. Find her.' With these words, his master died. 'Cao Sai.' He spat the name like it was venom. He knew what he would do when he found him. More memories flooded his head. The final day of his training. Learning the ultimate attack of the twin broadsword style. Again, he saw his master. 'Zima Shi, this is the ultimate technique. A foreigner taught it to me. It is called the Oni Giri.' Zima Shi nodded. 'You hurl your swords and use your chi to control and guide them towards your opponent. It has taken me years to master it. Now watch.' The swords began to glow red. Suddenly, he threw them. Instead of going a few feet and falling to the ground, they flew forward, slicing through a tree. They circled once, and returned to the old man's hands. 'Now you try.' He said. Zima Shi nodded. He threw the swords, but all they did was fall. 'Don't worry. No gets this on the first try. It will take you awhile to learn.' Now, the words made sense to him. He stopped training and began to concentrate. Unknown to him, the swords began to glow a pale red. 'ONI GIRI!' He threw the swords and, to his surprise and delight, he had control of them. He no longer saw from his eyes, but from the swords. It was as though his consciousness had shifted to them from his body. From the swords, he saw several people watching him. He paid no attention though, as he had the swords circle above the courtyard. Finally, he felt his energy being drained. He willed the swords to return to him, and they did. His eyes snapped open, and he turned around to see several Shu and Chen officers looking at him in shock. He grinned. Suddenly, He collapsed. 'Zima Shi!' The people began to run towards him. Th last thing Zima Shi saw was the group running towards him, with Son Mia in the lead.