Tian Shui: Beauty
The day of beauty and the day of reckoning can all be said to be done, But to one who says that he wants to fight, it is beauty that he shuns, A bit of everything that a man can want can live but will always run, But everything that is he is always himself from day one...
Washing upon the shallow part of the river that had led to Tian Shui, was a long haired man. His long tendrils of jet black hair, fanning out behind his back like a giant paper spread, made the certain man look like a woman since all that he had on him was the bodysuit that covered him. His slim waist and his lean stature contributed for that and if it weren't for his voice, his mind, and his manly features, he would've already been deemed as a woman. Damn, the water had this affect on you. When he sat up, the man would look around himself. Nothing he could see but a forest. Wait, something was up. Behind the trees, he heard sounds, he saw light through the bushes, and the smell of food could definitely be heard. The man would stand up fully, the long hair obviously still down and behind him much like a woman's. He must get to civilization. His thoughts were only on food, and sleep. He would step through the bushes and into the civilization that lied behind it.
O O
"Xing..." Yu Chai murmured his name out as she knelt before the water. She had been there all night and through the morning, waiting in vain for her friend to come out. Her pole arm was impaled through a tree so that she need not worry about it, so she continued to wait for the man to at least "magically" rise out of the water and say some things about what her "idiocy" and her "unfaithfulness" would get her through.
"Chai? You're still here?" Qing Yuan, walking out of the gates, approached the kneeling Yu Chai. She came from the inn, obviously, her look being refreshed and her hair long hair, descending down from her head in an utmost neat fashion, the long locks cascading off from her shoulders and falling straight down to around her waist area. The black hair seemed to shimmer with the reflection of the sun in the water, but her normally bright hazels would have a look of pity and depression as she looked upon Yu Chai and then to the river. Her master-to-be was supposed to teach her. What had happened to the man who was supposed to lead these women into the depths of China to escape Wei? Where was he? It was not a good day for either of the two who had quickly befriended the young man, and it was certainly not giving them any help on how they were feeling right now.
"Xing, come out, say something about how I'm an idiot, say something about me being undisciplined. Just...come out..." Yu Chai seemed to have a droned expression, like she lost all of her feelings. Her fingernails dug into the dirt and her brown eyes never left the water, even at the question of the new person that was supposed to join them on their trek away from the Wei territories. "Please...come out..."
"Chai...he'll be all right. We just need to wait for him..." Qing Yuan tried to comfort the once carefree and bubbly Yu Chai, but the words seemed to go through the depressed soul of Yu Chai, as she just looked from the water up to the girl, and then turned her gaze back to the water, back to being droned once more.
"...Xing..."
"I know, I miss him too, who wouldn't miss the man?"
"You can yell at me..."
"He's strong...please...just come on...he wouldn't want us to be so mulled over on his disappearance. Please, just come into the inn." Qing Yuan went over towards Yu Chai, pulled her to her feet and then dragged her back into the city gates. Yu Chai, didn't put up much of a resistance, and just walked with her. Qing Yuan bowed her head in a silent prayer, thinking of the disappeared friend, hoping that he would come back soon enough.
"Zhao Xing. For her sake and mine, you have better come back." Qing Yuan would just say that one little thing, hoping her little prayer would bring Xing back to both of them. If Yu Chai was in hysterics, she would need to keep the cool head.
O O
"Kid, leave me alone..."
"No way! I thought you were Miss Lu Mai! I needed to run an errand for her and you made me late!" The girl would be grabbing on to the light sleeve of the man's red jumpsuit. Of course, since the suit was made of light material, the sleeve ripped away, exposing a lean arm, and fair skin. The man would look to his exposed arm and then to the girl, shrugged her off and continued on his way. From the banks of the river and into a city with a girl bothering him, what a way to end the day...
"I didn't do anything, no get away."
"Yes you did! My father's gonna need to pay off the man now! And I don't want to deal with a barrage of arrows if mom doesn't want to hold her feelings back!"
"Well that's your fault."
"Ah shaddap! Now it's yours for making me late!"
"Well, why don't you go whore yourself to one of the many desperate forty year old men that want a little old school action from a young blood like yourself? I'm sure you see the other little girls doing it around in the alley ways around here."
"I'm NOT a prostitute! What's wrong with your mind?!" The little girl steamed at the man now, at the thought that she, of all people, would be someone who would have sex for a job. That's not the type of person that she'd be glad to meet. She would wait for the man to respond, grabbing on to his thin arm. This would only scare her, as the man turned his hazel oculars towards her, the man's eyes all lifeless but beautiful eyes upon her as if he was going to kill her in a most torturous, yet glorious deaths possible.
"You have no idea...what goes on in my mind." He said, his facial expression never changing from the unfeeling state it was in. And there he went, away from the girl, walking from her.
"Well, you DO look like a woman!" She yelled back at the retreating form of the man. She was going to turn to leave, but all of a sudden, he heard some drastic noises, a strike, and running in the mud. She turned around once more, looking to the man, now surprised. He was surrounded by a gang of thugs; such was the life of the poorer but more determined people in Tian Shui. These bandits were here to take whatever he had, and if he didn't have anything that they wanted, they would surely kill him...
"Hey you, hand over everything you got!" One of the bandits yelled at the long haired man. "Or else we'll chop your head off with our swordsmanship that is unrivaled!"
"You are only unrivaled in speaking. You have a big mouth and no skills, that's what I can observe right now by just looking at you." The long haired man would respond to him, mocking him and then looking away. The bandit leader wouldn't take this, and he was mad by the looks of things. Snapping his fingers, the other bandits drew their daggers and charged at Zhao Xing, simultaneously striking at him. "As I said, you have no skills."
His red jumpsuit would suddenly rip from across chest and back, tearing into shreds, leaving his upper torso exposed. He was leaner and slimmer than usual, his stomach was tight, but he had no muscles whatsoever. The others around him were muscle bounded men, clenching their pecks and bringing their arms down to show off their biceps. And to make matters even worst, each of them had in their grasp either a dagger or a sword.
"You got a big mouth! Let us cut that off for you!" The man raised his sword and dashed forward, his sword aiming for the kill, when all of a sudden, he wouldn't feel flesh contacting with his sword. It made a clash with two pairs of metallic fans, blue cloth covering the middle and the golden shape blocking his path of striking. "Little girl, get out of the way!"
"No way! Pickin' on people isn't gonna solve anythin'! If ya wanna fight, try me!" The young woman wasn't at all happy with the way they were treating the man, though the man was a jerk, no one should've been treated like that. Taking a fan, she pushed away the sword and glared at the men. "Well if you wanna fight my...uh...brother, you'll need to know that he's part of the local authorities!"
"The local authorities?!"
The young woman nodded to the men and laughed out a cocky and unrefined laugh.
"Better go before he calls in more of his colleagues!"
"Oh no, let's get out of here!" The bandits yelled and yelped, stumbling away from each other in a pathetic attempt to scatter. They weren't at all happy at the "Government man" that stood with the young lady and they weren't going to be in trouble with them now. Soon, the steps of the rapid beating of their feet running into the pavement would soon quiet, their bodies no longer visible as they were now at home, cowering in fear, hoping that no one would find them.
The girl stood triumphant and tugged at the man's arm. Her eyes looked to his back as now there was blood trailing down betwixt the shoulder blades, oozing down slowly down his whole back...She felt sorry for him and pulled him with her, the man obviously obliging with her since he also had walked in her direction.
"You shouldn't just stand there, mister. If I wasn't there, you could've been hurt. Or killed!"
"I...apparently don't care."
"Well, then I care! I don't like to see people getting hurt. Hurry up! I don't want you to sit out here half naked like that a moment later...UMPH! Hey!"
The man had stopped them, his hand still grasped by hers. She would turn back and looked to the long haired man as he slowly leaned forward, his hazel eyes upon her once more. Her light browns would look to the older man's eyes as they locked on with each other...It seemed the man was peering into her very soul itself and she wasn't at all too happy about it. And in fact, if it weren't for him needing protection, she would've been scared. After shaking her head and breaking their lock, she would groan and pulled him forward again.
"Don't look at me like that! It's not nice!"
"Qiao...You are a Qiao..."
Once again, they had stop, this time the girl was the one who had stopped them, the one that the older man had labeled "Qiao". Her eyes grew saddened and they were cast downwards as memories started to flood her mind. The man on the other hand, stepped in front of her, put a hand on her shoulder, and then grunted. He finally saw how she had looked like up close, and she was most definitely a Qiao sister. She had her black hair tied into two short ponytails, tied with white lace. Her dress was absolutely splendid as well; as it was elaborate as well say...the Wu kingdom's dresses. The red part of the dress that covered most of her petite looking form was buttoned by the collar on the top by the neck and the pink sleeves that were part of the dress were as graceful looking as spring flowers. They flowed whenever she moved her arms and were a very essential touch on the dress itself. The pink skirt also had beauty within its simplicity as the dress would come up and stop around just above her knees. She also wore pink light pink stockings that covered up her legs. On her feet were white shoes, seemingly made out of leather and a wooden bottom platform. She looked up to the man, her eyes almost pleading to him in silence.
"Please, don't tell anyone. You wouldn't know what they'd try to do to me." She said softly.
"I have no intention of doing that. But I believe there is a matter of my own health. Please..." Almost on cue after saying his words, a man came from behind, yelling at the long haired man with anger being the obvious emotion felt. The long haired one would duck down, pushing on the Qiao's shoulders at the same time to bring them both down at the same time. Overhead, a swift "WOOSH" was heard, the man missing his powerful punch from behind. Taking cue of this, the long haired man quickly stood up his long hair also coming up from its hip length and whipping the man in the face, causing him to reel back. The defender would also reach quickly into the attacker's pocket as he flinched and quickly turned back to the girl. "My name is Zhao Xing, take this money and rent us a room in the local inn. We'll talk about your problems later."
"Wow! I mean, uhm...Thank you! I am Lien Qiao, pleased to meet you, Zhao Xing." She said, taking a short bow and then turning around, running down the street towards the hotel.
Zhao Xing thought no longer of the attacker or the girl as all he needed now was to get acquainted with this small town of Tian Shui. He would ask for the inn later and meet up with the girl in the room. Going inside the local restaurant, he would smell the clean smell of rice mixed in with other appetizing scents, like roast duck, roast pig, fried vegetables and meat. In his opinion, the cluster of people eating and laughing loudly was way better than the smell of alcohol and drunks anytime...
O O
"Hey, Shi Liu, customer." The manager of the food store would point towards the long haired man that just entered.
"All right, sir...I will wait for the order and then cook it and serve it, as asked..." The woman would bow...there was a sense of sternness within the woman's voice and no one could've denied that, not even the woman herself. In fact, the woman didn't really looked that sociable at all, her large eyes, when she looked from beneath her long, jagged bangs, were a dark indigo color, had no emotion within them and her mouth was curved into a deep frown. Of course, she had a clear complexion to note, and her face was pretty. But the worst thing of it is was that she had the look of hate upon her mind and it didn't look like it was going away...Standing from her seat, she walked towards the man, normally, no taunting and raunchy way like the other woman in Tian Shui, and immediately the attention of Zhao Xing was turned towards the woman who was now standing before him...
"Can I help you...sir?" The woman didn't lift off the frown, as she just asked the man blankly, her eyes never engaging with his and her fists clenching to the side of the apron she was supposed to wear. Zhao Xing would take note of her appearance as well, noting that her jet black hair was tied into a tight braid and sort of wrapped around her neck, to limit the length...indeed she had long hair, but she had an interesting style of keeping her hair since her front part was untouched, the bangs hanging profoundly above her forehead and blocking her eyebrows. The clothes she wore were also peculiar. Very unlike a woman's in his opinion. The woman wore a jade green button shirt, with dark green trimmings at the edge, but nothing lace or fancy like the other women, just simplicity within the design. The clothes she wore on her lower parts were green pants, also peculiar since that they looked like they were a bit loose...but then it struck him...those were martial artists' pants...His eyes quickly dart from place to place, taking in the detail of her clothing, but what gave away she was a martial artist was her shoes. The shoes were the lightweight looking kind, the ones worn by the people who trained in the martial arts. This made Zhao Xing narrow his eyes as he looked to the woman who was going to serve him his order...
"...Yes...please give me some tea...I would like some duck, a small bowl of rice and a small cup of noodles..."
"Yes, sir...Right away sir..." The woman said responding, stepping backwards and disappearing behind the counter and into the kitchen...It looked like it was time for her to cook once more...
Once again, Zhao Xing was alone and was waiting...the people had long since cleared out from the restaurant and Zhao Xing was the only one left, waiting for his food...he had arrived at the latest that they would stay open, around 9:00, and since he was the last customer, he would be the only one allowed to await his food. The doors behind him though, would suddenly explode off its hinges and fly over his head, the room suddenly filling with people. The people were obviously the ones who had encountered Zhao Xing before, since most of them held daggers and swords. The only difference was that one now held a kunai with chain. Zhao Xing would just bring his hazel orbs around to scan the group; nothing has changed but the leader.
"We weren't finish with you! We found out you ain't part of the government."
"So, what? I am waiting for my food, please do not disturb me."
"DISTURB THIS!" The kunai wielder would throw the large star shaped blade at the sitting Zhao Xing, his feet placing upon the ground as he now kicked from the ground, allowing him to fall back with the chair, the kunai completely missing him and instead striking the table. The table cracked completely in half as the man stumbled forward, trying to re-gather the chain and the kunai itself, when Zhao Xing pushed himself off his chair and into a double drop kick, launching his feet into the man's face and throwing him to the floor. "OWCH! Grr, guys! Get this idiot!"
With a hearty "Yeah" the gang grabbed their weapons intently and headed towards the slightly fatigued man that was now backing up against the wall, his shoulder blades feeling the cold hard backings and his fingers trailing the wooden designs upon the wall. His eyes were their usual calm demeanor but his mouth was left open, breaths out of pace hissing in and out. When the men just about got to him, he closed his eyes, fearing the worst has happened when out of the blue, something happened...
"Sir, your food's ready...I'm not cooking for your friends..." The woman from before raised an eyebrow, her frown seemingly deepening, as she found more men inside the guest area of the restaurant, and with weapons no doubt... Her eyes alit in fury; she stamped her foot, indicating her anger. "If you're all bandits, you're not going to fight here during MY turn in the kitchen. People are supposed to eat here, not cause damage."
"So what are you going to do about it missy?" The gang leader with the kunai asked slyly to the girl with the long bangs and the single braided black hair. Flexing his large biceps, his chest also bulging out, he would do this in a display, as if actually showing off for the woman...The woman on the other hand, didn't seem pleased...she looked to the long haired man, scoffed at him, studying his body and face...he was tired, and he didn't exactly have a powerful body such as these men before him, more like lean rather than muscle. His face wasn't as rugged as these men either, having a softer complexion...A pretty boy, how cute that he would stupidly throw himself into a situation such as this...Idiot...
"Leave my customer alone...Or I will stop you." She suddenly said after examining her customer's seemingly weak visage. The gang members would chortle out in laughter, some dropping their weapons momentarily and grabbing at their sides to hold themselves from exploding into insane laughter. It was too late for some of the others though as they would get on their knees and crossed their arms over their stomachs, tears pouring out of their eyes. The gang leader raised the corners of his cheeks and mouth, a toothy grin and snapped his fingers, as he did so; some of the men relinquished from the circle around the long haired man and stepped in front of their commander. Now stepping towards the woman with their swords raised, they charged at her to shut up her seemingly insane ramblings. "I warned you..."
When they were close enough to her, Shi Liu had stepped forward and smacked a steaming hot pan into one of the swordsman's face, causing him to fall backwards. Of course, since she had come out of the kitchen, she had all sorts of "weapons" to use against the likes of these bandits. When the next one came, she had set out the cup of noodles to the side table along with the rest of the customer's food and slid the duck to the table. Ducking down, putting the long metallic pan to her back, she only sighed when the sword clanged off of the pan and then turned around, hitting the shocked man in the side of the head with the kitchen ware. As he fell, she quickly dashed forwards and used him like stairs, climbing his falling body before he actually fell. Jumping above another mass of enemies, she finally landed next to the long haired customer, who would completely stop his breathing and then looked next to himself, at her...
"Hey, if you don't want to die, then get out of here while I take care of them!" She yelled to the man beside her...but he just sighed and shook his head. Sitting down quickly against the wall, the man barely missed getting hit by at least thirty daggers; all grouped up above his head in bunches. The woman raised an eyebrow to the man's actions...was that all coincidence? It probably is, she stated in her mind. Quickly kicking the chair at the table with her left leg, bringing it up, reeling it to her body, then releasing it into a full roundhouse kick, she kicked it towards the table. There were more coming from the door of the kitchen and the chair made contact with them. One of the people stumbled backwards and into a table, completely breaking it and launching the noodle into the gang leader's head, while the duck that was on the other side had landed next to five hungry men. Taking advantage of the situation and the rareness of getting such food like this, they disavowed their duties as part of the gang and took the food to their homes, leaving the scorched commander clutching at his cheek from the burning hot soup and noodles.
Shi Liu, the woman who knew these arts of fighting was the one defending of course, and her defense and her fighting stance looked rock solid, taking her time, she waded through the men, punching and kicking right and left, heading straight for the large commander. Performing a split kick in the air, knocking down two more guards, she had finally jumped in front of the gang leader (who was still cringing and moaning) and was ready to finish this and get these idiots out of her restaurant.
"You're gone..." She mumbled as she raised a hand to finish him off. But what she didn't know was that he was stronger than he looked, which with the muscle bound visage and all, he was strong to begin with. He pushed her back with one arm, sending her sailing over the knocked down men's heads, she closed her eyes and braced for impact...without warning, she felt something...it wasn't hard and cold like the floor or the tables, but it was something else. Opening her eyes, she looked up to see the pretty man holding her, and cradling her with his two arms, that droned expression still in his face. Setting her down slowly before regaining his normal posture, he slowly bent one knee, and extended his left leg out...No way, Shi Liu thought...no way he could know about...
"Crouching Tiger...To Flaming Fist of the North Winds..." he said almost as droned and drained as his constant expression on his face. Jumping to both feet, he immediately dashed forward and reeled his fist back. When he had been merely inches from one of the common gang members, he had pushed his fist forward in full momentum, striking the unlucky man on the forehead and sending him backwards, through a wall and lying outside, definitely dead or knocked out to the fullest and such. Shi Liu, surprised as she may be, kept her cool head and then walked out towards the new and improved stranger, who had struck a fighting pose.
"Well, at least you can fight well...fight for your food then, sir..." She said to him. She was still on duty as the chef and this customer seemed hungry enough. Both of them were slowly approached by the huge kunai wielder, who had seemed to throw his chained weapon into the table, crushing yet another wooden platform. His grin came from an evil one, to one that was downright psychotic. He stomped, seemingly causing a mini earthquake. Shi Liu lost her balance for a moment, falling forward and into the stranger's arms, who would again help her...But this was also frustrating her. "Stop touching me all the time!"
"You remind me of someone I know..." the man simply stated before he motioned to his right. Shi Liu's eyes followed his motion, seeing yet another band of the thieves before them, all chuckling and laughing as they raised their armaments. Taking one hand in his, intertwining the fingers and then wrapping an arm around her waist, he'd bow his head slightly to speak to the woman that he had touched again. "Follow my lead...literally."
"What?! Why are you doing this?! We shouldn't be dancing! I hardly know you, and we're surrounded! What's your malfunction?!" The woman was amazed at the man's audacity and bravery (Not to mention his idiocy), grabbing onto her like this. If she was hurt in anyway, this customer-
"Zhao Xing..."
"What?!"
"Pleasure to meet you, my name is Zhao Xing." The man said plainly before he dipped (Like in those Tango dances) her, both of their bodies going downwards as a blade sailed cleanly overhead, missing both of them. "Kick to your right and then step strong..."
She was red from embarrassment and the fact that she had to do THIS with a man she hardly even knew. But following his directions, she lifted her leg up and kicked to her right, her ankle driving right into one of the offender's chin. Leading the dance, Zhao Xing guided Shi Liu to the right, away from some of the bewildered enemies...
"Jump..."
Following his very word, she did jump, him lifting her up by the waist as he ducked low and extended his right leg out while he pivoted on his left foot...sweeping down three bandits by doing just that, each of them going upon their faces, he would let down Shi Liu and then quickly resumed the original dance position.
"Extend our arms to the...left." He said, Shi Liu quickly complying by bringing their intertwined hands to the left and smashing them right into a bandit, leaving his spit to fly out and a tooth to keep on the floor. After careful dance steps, they finally stopped, Xing stopping the dance all the way, and letting go of her, the rest of the gang defeated by the dancing. "That was a divine dance...Congratulations; we have successfully halted our deaths and had evaded their attacks."
"What? We shouldn't have even done that! I don't even know you! Why did you even touch me, you rude, rude man?!" She screamed at him, sounding like she hated him with every ounce of her body.
Zhao Xing shrugged her off and then brought up a hand to stop her talking, of course, offending her in the process. He didn't want to listen to what she was saying since he had lost his meal and he immediately left the premises, leaving an angered Shi Liu.
"Why you..." Shi Liu was about to follow the man, to knock some sense into him, but then her boss grabbed upon her shoulders and shook her roughly about. Turning to him, this time, she didn't frown, but her eyes had absolute fear in them. The shorter, stout man, was steaming like a demon when he closed his eyes, and when he opened his mouth, it was going to be a loud...
"You're FIRED! And you have to pay for all the damages...Or I'll make sure YOU'LL get the charge except for those little guys!" He shouted into her ears, making them ring from such loud speaking.
"Yes, sir...I'll come back..." She stomped out, looking she was ready to kill...she looked down the road, spying the walking form of the half clothed man, heading to another place. "I'll follow you to the ends of this world...You won't escape ME!"
O O
"Wow! I can't believe that you're from all the way out there!"
"Indeed I am, young Qiao, do not be so amazed." He would talk to the younger woman as if addressing someone he knew, but to some extent, he kept a lot of respect in his speaking for her.
"Yes, but I can't believe you're from the Wei territories!" She stated with glee, sitting down across from him from her own bed.
"Well, young Qiao, I am confused at why you are so happy to see an outsider treat you to this inn room, when I hardly even knew you. In fact, I thought you would see me as one of those sexually deprived older men and just run away from me."
"...You were half naked and your hair is longer than mine, what do you think I was thinking?" She retorted with half of the emotion drained from her tone. When they glanced to each other, they started to laugh both thinking about how ill-fated Xing was when they were outside, hours before.
"Well then, milady Qiao..."
"Milady?" She asked, almost wide-eyed from what he said
"You are of fair beauty and should be a lady beside your sisters...you know it should be!"
"Well...yes...but you don't need to call me-"
"Nonsense! You will be milady Lien Qiao, and I will be your humble servant, Zhao Xing! Please, we shall whisk you to the Wu kingdom and rejoin you with your sisters!"
"...Xing...that's the best thing I've ever heard..."
"Well, I knew you wanted to hear that...So don't worry, I know what happens when the Qiao sisters are away from each other...So what do you say?"
Lien Qiao nodded her head and jumped from her bed, in front of the taller Zhao Xing, who was smiling upon her as she looked up to him with determined brown eyes and her mouth and expression matching as well. Xing gave her a small pat on the shoulders before looking to her eyes, listening to what she was about to say.
"That's it! I'll go back to my sisters, and you'll help me too! We'll travel to the Wu kingdom and rejoin me with my older sisters!" She said, clenching a fist and then bringing it up, giving Xing a mock punch to the jaw, gently pushing the side of his chin. "You'll help me right?"
The sudden timid question exerted from her had made Xing laugh. He nodded his head in response and pointed to her bed...
"Get some sleep...your sisters...they will be found and you'll be known as a Lady Qiao, along with both of them." He stated broadly, Lien Qiao nodding to the older man and then jumping on her bed...she first flattened out her skirt, but soon something soft landed on her head...robes? Looking over to Xing, she found that he had thrown her one of the white bathrobes that were complimentary to the guests. Nodding in appreciation, she put it on so that she wasn't just clad in a short skirt that everyone can see under when they barge into the rooms for service or something of the sorts. Each would start to doze of to sleep before...
"YOU!" A sharp hiss emitted from her mouth, Shi Liu would burst into the room, with obvious anger in her eyes. Her indigo eyes were upon the now surprised and arisen Zhao Xing. He bolted up, his hair tossing wild- like and about as she now grabbed him upon the collar and brought him close to her, mere inches from her face. "PAY ME THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE!"
"...I have not caused the damage..."
"You were the only one I remembered! And you're the one who had knocked down the wall! You need to pay for THAT as well!" She seemed liable to bite the man's head off, but she didn't, just yelled into his ears.
"Again, I didn't do anything...and you're going to wake milady Qiao..."
"I don't give a damn if you brought with you Princess Sun! I want YOU to pay!"
O O
Amidst all the chaos and such that was happening inside the room of Zhao Xing's, Xing had finally explained to the woman that he didn't have any money. But Shi Liu didn't want any of his excuses and promised that she would follow him to the ends of the earth to get money from him. Xing being the most cool headed of the two decided that they needed to sleep before more discussion, so he gave her his bed, leaving him on the cold floor. The next morning, all three occupants of the room are now awake, including Lien Qiao, who was now staring at Shi Liu.
"...Mister Xing? Why is this lady here? And why does she look so depressed...?" Lien Qiao was saddened a bit by the woman's facial expression, but that only ended in earning a glare from the near-vicious Shi Liu...
"She wants money. I'm broke, personally, but she only wants to follow us till I do come into some currency."
"Damn right...remember...as long as needs to be..."
"Right, right, stop telling me..." He said to her as he stood up straight, grabbed Lien Qiao's hand and pulled her out the door, leaving the steaming Shi Liu by herself. Not wanting to be left completely behind, she also stood up and proceeded behind them to keep her self up with them. Zhao Xing didn't seem to mind the presence of the ever hateful stare upon his shoulders, and just looked down towards the happier Lien Qiao beside him. "We're going to Wu...let's go..."
O O
"Lost him? What do you mean, "Lost him"?" Cao Cao seemed to be on the verge of destroying someone when Sima Yi had bowed before him again. Cao Cao was actually in a good mood, having Cao Pi and Xu Huang massacre a Shu scout troop just moment before the strategist came in, but now it turned completely...
"My lord, your son had thrown him into the river! We could not have known that your son would do that!" Sima Yi raised his fan to his face and hid behind it, literally cowering in fear "PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!!!"
"You are a coward, you are a coward! Neener neener neener!" Dian Kamo was at Cao Cao's side again, as was her big and burly uncle. She was in the robes that her uncle gave her, which made the man seem a bit happier. If one looked hard enough, they might say that he was actually "smiling" about something else rather than the bloodshed that he had always enjoyed. Of course, Dian Kamo didn't at all like Cao Cao. She thought of him as a rather ignorant, mean and unforgiving man...She hated that...But as long as uncle Wei is under him, she had to 'respect' the man.
"A coward he is, Dian Kamo...He will never match up to Guo Jia in terms of bravery and wit in any case. And his intelligence is several degrees below the great Sleeping Dragon's. Obviously, if he wishes to continue as an officer under my regime, you will make us a plan to get rid of that son of mine, and get that Zhao Xing back to me, alive!"
"Yes sir! Right away sir...In fact...I've done just that recently...it concerns...the Wu...I've already negotiated a temporary peace treaty with them, and if they follow with my plans, your wishes will come true."
"Excellent Sima Yi! You are not a fool in my eyes any longer...you're just a cowardly, sniveling, poor excuse of a man now! Get out of my face and make sure this plan follows through, NOW!" Cao Cao seemed to bellow as he pointed out the strategist. Sima Yi, on the other hand, stumbled to his feet and rushed out the door, jumped upon a random horse and rode it out towards the country side. Cao Cao's wishes must come true...if he wanted to become the world's greatest strategist.
O O
"Hold it Zhao Xing...where do you think you're going?" A man's voice rose into the ears of the three departing people at the gates of Tian Shui. The group turned around to see a man dressed in elaborate clothes...something of higher status and of higher learning. Velvet robes that were so carefully interwoven and such that one might not want to wear it but display it and show it off. "Hmm, that's what my brother would say, if he were to find you here...where's my manners? My name is Yu Xue, styled Shiming! And I already know who you people are! Hahahaha!"
"His voice...is full of mirth and happiness..." Shi Liu seemed sort of disgusted as she mentioned this to the others. Of course, Lien Qiao didn't seem to mind it. She was smiling back at the man titled Yu Xue with an expression of happiness to match his own. Zhao Xing looked to Yu Xue with an eyebrow raise, his lips parting as he would speak to him.
"How do you know my name?"
"Easy, you've been identified as someone who is a menace to the Wei kingdom. It just so happens that I don't want to attack you, but rather talk to you...and you look to be a nice enough person, even if you do have a bounty on your head."
"Really?" He narrowed his eyes as he stomped down his left foot and struck a stance before Lien Qiao. Shi Liu did the same, stomping down her right foot and then striking a different stance, opposite of Zhao Xing. This only made Yu Xue laugh as they readied themselves to fight with him.
"Ah, you must be Yu Chai! Always fighting by this man's side, protecting him and all...Hey, I bet you two have a special relation or something!" He said cheerily, unaware that he was talking about Shi Liu in particular. Shi Liu started to turn red, but not because of embarrassment but because of anger...her fists clenched as she started to walk towards Yu Xue.
"If you think I'd befriend that pretty boy over there, that idiotic, pompous jerk! I wouldn't do it in my life! My name is Shi Liu! Not some name like Yu Chai! You idiotic, stupid, piece of-" her ranting was cut off by the cheery Yu Xue, putting up his hands in defense and smiling at her.
"No, madam! I just thought you were someone else! My apologies..." He said, giving a short and quick bow to her before turning his eyes towards the woman behind the now confused Zhao Xing. "I'm assuming that's not Qing Yuan, either..."
"Yes...as I was saying, I was belittling your intelligence..."
"Oh, I am quite intelligent...In fact, some might compare me with Jiang Wei...but ah, no, alas he was chosen to go to Shu and here I am, one of the two geniuses of Tian Shui...Minus one of course."
"Oh, so witty." Shi Liu rolled her eyes at the man's attempt in improving his image in her eyes...she might as well make the most of it and kick the teeth out of this guy...
"Shi Liu, no..." She was going to give the man a quick kick into his midsection, but the strong voice of Zhao Xing came out and stopped her...why was she listening to him?! Of all people...grr...
"Maybe I want to? How about I take this out of what you owe me?"
"Or not? Let's not get too hasty..." Xing said, grabbing Shi Liu's shoulder and pulling her back to Lien Qiao and himself. Yu Xue also stepped forwards, using this as a perfect opportunity to speak.
"Well, I've just been wondering...why do you, the son of Zilong, fight against the super powers known as the kingdoms? It just doesn't make any sense..."
"Well..." Xing stepped forward, towards Yu Xue, closing the gap between them...they were now face to face as if they were going into a confrontation. "For myself...I want to make them pay for what happened...Wei, and whatever they throw at me, will not live to see another day. You got that?"
"Indeed...no need to justify yourself further...I know where the great Zilong was from...and how his village was massacred...hmm, indeed so...Just be careful out there..." Just when he was done, he flicked back his long black hair that had went around his neck and turned around, walking away from the group he had just acquainted himself with...but he went no further when he heard a struggle behind him...He turned around, a concerned expression coming about his face when he saw what had happened in the short seconds that he had started to walk away from them.
Zhao Xing had two men restraining him, while another was repeatedly clubbing him in the stomach with a club. They were dressed in red, the flag of Wu.
"What is this? Why is Wu after him?! This is just evil!" He looked on as Shi Liu and the Lien Qiao were too busy dealing with another group of men to help their comrade. "Child of Zhao, I shall help you!"
"No!" Zhao Xing shook his head quickly before head butting his captor and flipping him over. He looked to Yu Xue with a more than tired and fatigued face. "I can't get anyone involved with me anymore..."
"Really? Who do you call those two women?" Yu Xue tried to make a point with the somewhat desperate Zilong spawn. Xing did succumb, lowering his tensed shoulders and his face set to the ground, his eyes checking to the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Good, now if you'll allow me to help you, I can either be your best friend, or just some savior that will help you and you still will be killed. Are you going to listen to me now?"
Zhao Xing had no choice. As soon as he had heard Lien Qiao deliver a final spinning blow with her fan to the next man and Shi Liu jumping down next to him, he nodded his head, accepting the help.
O O
"How pathetic..." Yu Chai, wasn't at the river, but she was moping around in the nearby bar. The bartender had recently stopped the drinks in fear of her getting too drunk. Well, at least the Tian Shui bartenders weren't as stupid as others. Shen Xiu had approached the depressed Yu Chai from behind, her spear in hand. "Still depressed about your man?"
"My man? -hic-?" Yu Chai turned, her curly brownish locks falling behind her shoulders as she lifted her head from the bar table, eyeing evenly (actually, not so evenly since the drinks distorted her vision quite a bit) "He was a good friend...-hic-...but not a boyfriend...you dolt...what're yah thinkin'?"
"Don't insult me...now get out of this bar...if you want to get your friend back, we should depart. And I think I may be having some help...If you'd take it that is..."
"Heyyyy....don' think I'm weak...yah...yah...whatever the hell you are..." She didn't take to kindly to the help that was being offered. She had long gotten over the depression over Xing. Now she was going to show that she could be a good leader. Who need Xing anyway?
"Why don't you shut up and listen to me?" Shen Xiu tried to convince her to listen, but the other was captivated by a handsome customer that had just waltzed into the bar, followed by several lackeys. It was a tall man, who seemed to be vain as he was intelligent in his walk. The tall man had long flowing locks of black hair that was neatly framed upon him with a red headband. Shen Xiu arched an eyebrow at what he wore. He had a Wu chest plating on him, the red and gold symbols coming together to form the Wu symbol. Shen Xiu had to admit that the fellow was handsome, but still remained a threat if he was who she thought he was.
"Excuse me bartender. Some fine wine..." the man said, tapping on the bar courteously and then leaving some money. The money was immediately snatched by the bartender, whom counted the extra monetary units.
"Sir...you gave three thousand extra!"
"Do not worry, my good man. It's so this bar can become even better..." The man flicked a long black strand of his hair back behind his ear and looked behind him. He had a pretty face, even more so than Zhao Xing, as obvious by Yu Chai's sitting down and just plain gawking at him. And his complexion was soft, any softer and it would be a woman's. He had large shoulders holding up his shoulder padding though, and his dark chocolate brown eyes accented the golden pads. He had a small violet sash tied around his slim waist, which seemed to hold up his large weapon fairly well.
"Wait a minute..." Shen Xiu's eyes widened at the man's form all of a sudden. "That's Zhou Yu!"
What was he doing here? Why was he here? He couldn't have come to a public place for no reason...and why was he eyeing Yu Chai by the corners of his eyes? Wait...no...It can't be...
O O
Qing Yuan walked along the small village path. Of course, she had been thinking about her friend and master Zhao Xing. Trying to reassure Yu Chai had gotten to her, and she thought about something. There wasn't anyone to reassure her. Though cold the man Zhao Xing was, he had a heart of gold and he fought with his soul. The uncaring personality was just coupled with his history, that's why he had been so angry before he fell into the river. Her Chinese slip dress with the fancy designs upon the back and front slips made her look quite elegant as she traversed the stone paths during the late hours, and the fireflies that hovered around gave it atmosphere...
"Zhao Xing...master, will you come back?" She asked to no one in particular, knowing that no one in particular would respond as well.
She had tried to mimic the stances that Zhao Xing had done, but it was only stances. What good are stances when you can't attack with them? Her long black hair, down and loose as always, was flowing behind her as she walked, a near fluidity in every part of her body. So graceful was she today, and she didn't even noticed that she was doing it. Her form suddenly stopped, both of her feet not moving any more. Her head directed up to the night sky, her brown eyes looking to the stars longingly. What was wrong with her...thinking about a man that she knew for three days? It's not like...
"I'm injured. I would've shown you myself, but I'm all tied up at the moment."
"Ah, I see." She said, now shifting her position, crossing her legs while looking to him. "Perhaps you could teach me?"
Xing's eyebrows would shift their position as he would first furrow one brow deep in thought and then raised one of them as he would slowly nod his head to her.
"Sure. I've always wanted a student. And a female student would be somewhat revolutionary."
"Ah, all right then. Well. As soon as you're better, you have to promise you'll teach me some."
"What?"
"Promise!" she said, getting a bit giddy, turning to him and giving a pleading look and a smile.
"All right, promise. I'll teach you whatever you want to be taught."
She smiled at the thought of how she first had gotten to met him. It made her blush that she had been lulled over by how he fought people with weapons with just his hands. That and how he looked kept her thinking about him. She wondered how it would feel like to actually see him smile upon her and have him keep her in his arms. She crossed her arms to warm herself from the slight gust that blew by, but she didn't feel her own arms...no one was there, but she felt the same warmth when she had embraced Xing the previous night before. The warmth was lovely and welcoming, but it only lasted a few seconds before it disappeared. Like the night that he yelled at her, she stepped away from the warmth and stepped into the cold again.
But something was wrong...her eyes went from their usual, cheerful expression to one of pure sadness...it hit her. The thought of Master Zhao Xing not coming back was something that Yu Chai was thinking about all along. She didn't want to bear that! No way was she going to let him break the promise. She needed to see him again. She needed to talk to him again. And with the sudden run of Qing Yuan, the gorgeous scene focusing around the woman had been broken. She was heading towards the river, and was going to follow the river to him. Qing Yuan couldn't explain it, but she needed to have him around her...
O O
Zhou Yu had drawn his sword, pointing at the now surprised Yu Chai.
"Ah, one of the members of his thugs...I will vanquish thee, heathen!" The large sword had now been position under the surprised girl's chin.
"Well, do tell! Haven't been doing anythin' wrong pretty boy! But hey, if you're gonna kill me, you better catch me!" Yu Chai taunted the man since she had taken quite a cue from Zhao Xing himself, flipping backwards off her seat, springing from the floor and crashing through the window. Footfalls would sound as she started off at a dead run, away from the identified Wu Strategist. She knew who he was since she got a better look, but why were the Wu chasing her? She stopped before a confused Cao Kai, who was sitting atop a gate before the river.
"Why do you confront me, woman?"
"Oh shut up with your power trips. Why's the Wu chasing us?"
"How should I know?!"
"Maybe it's one of your 'tests' again?"
"No..." Cao Kai looked over towards the bar where he saw the Shen Xiu woman running out, jumping over carts to avoid slashing Wu guards. At the middle of the Wu troop was Zhou Yu himself. Cao Kai opened his mouth in slight awe at the efficiency of their crude and blunt tactics, but Zhou Yu must've been looking for Zhao Xing. "Yu Chai, here they come..."
"Oh great...But I don't want to fight them..." She replied, instead eyeing the woman that was jumping ahead of the Wu soldiers. Jumping up, throwing her cape off, she brought her pole arm up to bring the long handle to push into Shen Xiu's midsection, pushing both of them down a hill, leaving Cao Kai to deal with Wu soldiers and Zhou Yu. He adjusted his navy- blue turban with the faded Wild Cat symbol on it and then moved his hands to rest upon his weapon. Digits wrapping around the steel spear, he jumped down to take on the small group of Wu soldiers.
"How dare you interrupt my test? You shall pay with your life!" He said, stabbing through the tough armor of the first soldier that dared to cross his path. His dark brown eyes widened as his body filled with tension and adrenaline, his hands clenching the spear more tightly. He started to slash his way through the many soldiers, heading straight for the commander himself... "I'll finish you all quickly!"
O O
Yu Xue was on a horse, about three thousand men around him. This man had a great influence upon the people of Tian Shui, having assembled this small Militia that he fondly called the Jian Zhen group. All of them clad in silver cavalry armor and sitting upon their horses, they were all silent as they awaited Yu Xue's command.
"Yu Xue...thank you...For providing me and my group passage...I can count on you as a friend..." Zhao Xing seemed to smile a lot here. He seemed happier...Nodding to the two females around him, he led them off to exit in the back gate of the city instead of directly confronting more Wu.
"Just live on, young Zhao...live on..." Yu Xue said as he saw the fading figures of Zhao Xing and his group consisting of Lien Qiao and Shi Liu. After they completely disappeared, he raised his hand, it holding a halberd.
"And here we go! My men," He continued after seeing the nearby hills were being flooded with crimson guard of Wu, all lead by the man he knew was going to lead them. "Attack the betrayer of Tian Shui! Attack my brother and his guard!"
With a hearty battle cry from his men, the silver clad cavalry rode out behind the determined Yu Xue, ready to fight each other. Yu Xue eyed his brother who was yelling out profanities at him. Both of them wielded halberds, his brother raising his up first. But the instant they passed each other was the instant the battle broke into full, his halberd slicing right through his own brother, cutting him in half. Yu Xue had finished his brother off in one pass, but there was the matter of six thousand and plus troops that he and his men needed to deal with. They all rode in, attacking left and right. Even with the smaller number of troops, he was fending off the attack pretty well.
O
O
Zhao Xing was kicked away again, his body hitting the wall. Shi Liu struck a stance and Lien Qiao drew out her fans. Zhao Xing had recovered himself as he looked to his assailant. Landing from a graceful kick was a somewhat short man, but he looked young, as young as Lien Qiao. He wore a French sailor style hat, golden patterns running along the length. He had on a different kind of armor, which covered his front and back, golden patterns upon that as well. He wore white pants that were tucked into his boots neatly. Short strands of his chestnut hair poked down from his hat, and his soft brown eyes looked towards the small group. Pointing one of his swords at them he talked in a different language...
"Bonjour, mon nom être Lu Xun. Préparer être vaincre !" He said while he bowed to them, his two short swords gleaming in the light. Another man landed next to this one, landing with a cat-like prowess. He was on one knee, his two hands upon the sword and sheath next to him. He unsheathed the sword, obviously it being a Japanese sword. He pointed its length out towards the group and grunted.
"I am Zhou Tai..." the man said. He had Wu type armor as well, and his back was covered in a cape. To make matters worst for them, yet another man jumped down next to them. He didn't look graceful like Lu Xun or viscous like Zhou Tai, but he had a sense of authority that must have made him better than the other two. He stepped forward, in the middle and ahead of the two and then pointing his halberd at them.
"I am not going to disappoint my lord. I, Lu Meng, will bring your heads to him! Once more Huang Gai!"
To their left, the walls of one of the houses shattered like old clay, and an old man that had tanned skin and thin armor came out, wielding a giant club. Several explosives were attached to his belt, but it didn't look like the man would need them. He looked obscenely strong anyways.
Zhao Xing didn't have any choice with this. He backed up against Shi Liu and Lien Qiao who were looking over to Huang Gai, the group back to back as they contemplated their next move.
"Look...I don't want anyone to get hurt...Shi Liu, you" Before Zhao Xing could say anything else; she jumped over Huang Gai and dashed into the broken up building. Lien Qiao dashed into the next alley, her fans unfurled and ready to use.
"What's wrong mademoiselle? Can't fight?" Lu Xun jumped atop the roof of the house with one swift leap and then chased after Lien Qiao himself.
This now left Zhao Xing alone with Zhou Tai and Lu Meng. Lu Meng pointed at Zhao Xing and gave him a very unsavory smirk.
"You will die now!"
"Then bring it on!"
Both of the Wu took their blades and struck at Zhao Xing's face...in return, Zhao Xing reeled back his right hand and decided to trust in his abilities...He saw the katana and the halberd heading right for his right fist...and with that, a seemingly giant explosion came about from the sheer force of both of these huge powers combined within the attacks...
"Futae no Kiwami!" Zhao Xing shouted as he used a Japanese technique to fight back the blades of the two.
"It's OVER!" Zhou Tai shouted back as he started to use his Japanese sword stance to his advantage, striking several time with his light sword towards the Zilong spawn's attack, both ultimate attacks clashing, sending waves throughout the air.
The smell of death lingers in the air...who will win this struggle of life and death?
Zhao Xing vs. Zhou Tai and Lu Meng
Shi Liu vs. Huang Gai
Lien Qiao vs. Lu Xun
Yu Chai vs. Shen Xiu
Cao Kai vs. Zhou Yu
And
Yu Xue and the Jian Zhen vs. The Wu Front
It's going to be a battle...a major battle...stay in tune for the best chapter of yet, coming up NEXT! In Tian Shui: Battle to Dawn
O O
Previews!
Zhao Xing: Wow, I get to fight two of the big guys...
Shi Liu: I get to fight THE big guy...
Yu Chai: HEY! Who the hell are you?!
Shi Liu: I am Shi Liu...and that man owes me money, so I will pester and make his life miserable until I get what I want.
Yu Chai: But...I'm the one who pesters and annoys him...
Shi Liu: ...Your point?
Yu Chai: None at all! I just wish someone would take pity on me and toss me some cheer ups, but NOOO one does anything...
Don Shizumi: You're all in luck! Viewers, write some fan mail to the characters of this story! It could be to our guys and girls here, or it could be to the main characters...either way, make it nice and sweet for them to read it. Hey, e-mail the letters to Dragonstriker12@aol.com, don't put it in your reviews...REMEMBER...I will not tolerate rule breakers...Well let's go...get writing to your favorites.
Yu Chai: ...Buuuut, the preview!
Shi Liu: ...I'm going to get sick of you, really quick...
Don Shizumi: You already all know the preview...lotsa fighting, lotsa carnage...and if you know me, there's lotsa drama...so stay tune for the best chapter EVAH!
And also...
Thank you to lacitar13 for officially making me a Wei Yan fan! I'm counted amongst the five! Yay!
Thank you all who reviewed...I appreciate it...and I adore you...
Well...
Zhao Xing: ...Wait! I got the first fan letter...
Brian of Mechwarrior writes:
Dear Zhao Xing,
I never heard of Zilong's son...care to clarify this?Oh yeah, This fic rox!
Zhao Xing: Why certainly!...I AM HIS SON...(In this fanfiction)...Otherwise, he's just a young buck, protecting Liu Bei like he was an infant...
Shi Liu: But he did marry Ma Yuan Li, or Lady Sun...one of those two...they always had happy times...
Yu Chai: Woot!
Don Shizumi: And thus ends...Beautiful Requiem...sorry for those who waited so long for me to update...love you all...
The day of beauty and the day of reckoning can all be said to be done, But to one who says that he wants to fight, it is beauty that he shuns, A bit of everything that a man can want can live but will always run, But everything that is he is always himself from day one...
Washing upon the shallow part of the river that had led to Tian Shui, was a long haired man. His long tendrils of jet black hair, fanning out behind his back like a giant paper spread, made the certain man look like a woman since all that he had on him was the bodysuit that covered him. His slim waist and his lean stature contributed for that and if it weren't for his voice, his mind, and his manly features, he would've already been deemed as a woman. Damn, the water had this affect on you. When he sat up, the man would look around himself. Nothing he could see but a forest. Wait, something was up. Behind the trees, he heard sounds, he saw light through the bushes, and the smell of food could definitely be heard. The man would stand up fully, the long hair obviously still down and behind him much like a woman's. He must get to civilization. His thoughts were only on food, and sleep. He would step through the bushes and into the civilization that lied behind it.
O O
"Xing..." Yu Chai murmured his name out as she knelt before the water. She had been there all night and through the morning, waiting in vain for her friend to come out. Her pole arm was impaled through a tree so that she need not worry about it, so she continued to wait for the man to at least "magically" rise out of the water and say some things about what her "idiocy" and her "unfaithfulness" would get her through.
"Chai? You're still here?" Qing Yuan, walking out of the gates, approached the kneeling Yu Chai. She came from the inn, obviously, her look being refreshed and her hair long hair, descending down from her head in an utmost neat fashion, the long locks cascading off from her shoulders and falling straight down to around her waist area. The black hair seemed to shimmer with the reflection of the sun in the water, but her normally bright hazels would have a look of pity and depression as she looked upon Yu Chai and then to the river. Her master-to-be was supposed to teach her. What had happened to the man who was supposed to lead these women into the depths of China to escape Wei? Where was he? It was not a good day for either of the two who had quickly befriended the young man, and it was certainly not giving them any help on how they were feeling right now.
"Xing, come out, say something about how I'm an idiot, say something about me being undisciplined. Just...come out..." Yu Chai seemed to have a droned expression, like she lost all of her feelings. Her fingernails dug into the dirt and her brown eyes never left the water, even at the question of the new person that was supposed to join them on their trek away from the Wei territories. "Please...come out..."
"Chai...he'll be all right. We just need to wait for him..." Qing Yuan tried to comfort the once carefree and bubbly Yu Chai, but the words seemed to go through the depressed soul of Yu Chai, as she just looked from the water up to the girl, and then turned her gaze back to the water, back to being droned once more.
"...Xing..."
"I know, I miss him too, who wouldn't miss the man?"
"You can yell at me..."
"He's strong...please...just come on...he wouldn't want us to be so mulled over on his disappearance. Please, just come into the inn." Qing Yuan went over towards Yu Chai, pulled her to her feet and then dragged her back into the city gates. Yu Chai, didn't put up much of a resistance, and just walked with her. Qing Yuan bowed her head in a silent prayer, thinking of the disappeared friend, hoping that he would come back soon enough.
"Zhao Xing. For her sake and mine, you have better come back." Qing Yuan would just say that one little thing, hoping her little prayer would bring Xing back to both of them. If Yu Chai was in hysterics, she would need to keep the cool head.
O O
"Kid, leave me alone..."
"No way! I thought you were Miss Lu Mai! I needed to run an errand for her and you made me late!" The girl would be grabbing on to the light sleeve of the man's red jumpsuit. Of course, since the suit was made of light material, the sleeve ripped away, exposing a lean arm, and fair skin. The man would look to his exposed arm and then to the girl, shrugged her off and continued on his way. From the banks of the river and into a city with a girl bothering him, what a way to end the day...
"I didn't do anything, no get away."
"Yes you did! My father's gonna need to pay off the man now! And I don't want to deal with a barrage of arrows if mom doesn't want to hold her feelings back!"
"Well that's your fault."
"Ah shaddap! Now it's yours for making me late!"
"Well, why don't you go whore yourself to one of the many desperate forty year old men that want a little old school action from a young blood like yourself? I'm sure you see the other little girls doing it around in the alley ways around here."
"I'm NOT a prostitute! What's wrong with your mind?!" The little girl steamed at the man now, at the thought that she, of all people, would be someone who would have sex for a job. That's not the type of person that she'd be glad to meet. She would wait for the man to respond, grabbing on to his thin arm. This would only scare her, as the man turned his hazel oculars towards her, the man's eyes all lifeless but beautiful eyes upon her as if he was going to kill her in a most torturous, yet glorious deaths possible.
"You have no idea...what goes on in my mind." He said, his facial expression never changing from the unfeeling state it was in. And there he went, away from the girl, walking from her.
"Well, you DO look like a woman!" She yelled back at the retreating form of the man. She was going to turn to leave, but all of a sudden, he heard some drastic noises, a strike, and running in the mud. She turned around once more, looking to the man, now surprised. He was surrounded by a gang of thugs; such was the life of the poorer but more determined people in Tian Shui. These bandits were here to take whatever he had, and if he didn't have anything that they wanted, they would surely kill him...
"Hey you, hand over everything you got!" One of the bandits yelled at the long haired man. "Or else we'll chop your head off with our swordsmanship that is unrivaled!"
"You are only unrivaled in speaking. You have a big mouth and no skills, that's what I can observe right now by just looking at you." The long haired man would respond to him, mocking him and then looking away. The bandit leader wouldn't take this, and he was mad by the looks of things. Snapping his fingers, the other bandits drew their daggers and charged at Zhao Xing, simultaneously striking at him. "As I said, you have no skills."
His red jumpsuit would suddenly rip from across chest and back, tearing into shreds, leaving his upper torso exposed. He was leaner and slimmer than usual, his stomach was tight, but he had no muscles whatsoever. The others around him were muscle bounded men, clenching their pecks and bringing their arms down to show off their biceps. And to make matters even worst, each of them had in their grasp either a dagger or a sword.
"You got a big mouth! Let us cut that off for you!" The man raised his sword and dashed forward, his sword aiming for the kill, when all of a sudden, he wouldn't feel flesh contacting with his sword. It made a clash with two pairs of metallic fans, blue cloth covering the middle and the golden shape blocking his path of striking. "Little girl, get out of the way!"
"No way! Pickin' on people isn't gonna solve anythin'! If ya wanna fight, try me!" The young woman wasn't at all happy with the way they were treating the man, though the man was a jerk, no one should've been treated like that. Taking a fan, she pushed away the sword and glared at the men. "Well if you wanna fight my...uh...brother, you'll need to know that he's part of the local authorities!"
"The local authorities?!"
The young woman nodded to the men and laughed out a cocky and unrefined laugh.
"Better go before he calls in more of his colleagues!"
"Oh no, let's get out of here!" The bandits yelled and yelped, stumbling away from each other in a pathetic attempt to scatter. They weren't at all happy at the "Government man" that stood with the young lady and they weren't going to be in trouble with them now. Soon, the steps of the rapid beating of their feet running into the pavement would soon quiet, their bodies no longer visible as they were now at home, cowering in fear, hoping that no one would find them.
The girl stood triumphant and tugged at the man's arm. Her eyes looked to his back as now there was blood trailing down betwixt the shoulder blades, oozing down slowly down his whole back...She felt sorry for him and pulled him with her, the man obviously obliging with her since he also had walked in her direction.
"You shouldn't just stand there, mister. If I wasn't there, you could've been hurt. Or killed!"
"I...apparently don't care."
"Well, then I care! I don't like to see people getting hurt. Hurry up! I don't want you to sit out here half naked like that a moment later...UMPH! Hey!"
The man had stopped them, his hand still grasped by hers. She would turn back and looked to the long haired man as he slowly leaned forward, his hazel eyes upon her once more. Her light browns would look to the older man's eyes as they locked on with each other...It seemed the man was peering into her very soul itself and she wasn't at all too happy about it. And in fact, if it weren't for him needing protection, she would've been scared. After shaking her head and breaking their lock, she would groan and pulled him forward again.
"Don't look at me like that! It's not nice!"
"Qiao...You are a Qiao..."
Once again, they had stop, this time the girl was the one who had stopped them, the one that the older man had labeled "Qiao". Her eyes grew saddened and they were cast downwards as memories started to flood her mind. The man on the other hand, stepped in front of her, put a hand on her shoulder, and then grunted. He finally saw how she had looked like up close, and she was most definitely a Qiao sister. She had her black hair tied into two short ponytails, tied with white lace. Her dress was absolutely splendid as well; as it was elaborate as well say...the Wu kingdom's dresses. The red part of the dress that covered most of her petite looking form was buttoned by the collar on the top by the neck and the pink sleeves that were part of the dress were as graceful looking as spring flowers. They flowed whenever she moved her arms and were a very essential touch on the dress itself. The pink skirt also had beauty within its simplicity as the dress would come up and stop around just above her knees. She also wore pink light pink stockings that covered up her legs. On her feet were white shoes, seemingly made out of leather and a wooden bottom platform. She looked up to the man, her eyes almost pleading to him in silence.
"Please, don't tell anyone. You wouldn't know what they'd try to do to me." She said softly.
"I have no intention of doing that. But I believe there is a matter of my own health. Please..." Almost on cue after saying his words, a man came from behind, yelling at the long haired man with anger being the obvious emotion felt. The long haired one would duck down, pushing on the Qiao's shoulders at the same time to bring them both down at the same time. Overhead, a swift "WOOSH" was heard, the man missing his powerful punch from behind. Taking cue of this, the long haired man quickly stood up his long hair also coming up from its hip length and whipping the man in the face, causing him to reel back. The defender would also reach quickly into the attacker's pocket as he flinched and quickly turned back to the girl. "My name is Zhao Xing, take this money and rent us a room in the local inn. We'll talk about your problems later."
"Wow! I mean, uhm...Thank you! I am Lien Qiao, pleased to meet you, Zhao Xing." She said, taking a short bow and then turning around, running down the street towards the hotel.
Zhao Xing thought no longer of the attacker or the girl as all he needed now was to get acquainted with this small town of Tian Shui. He would ask for the inn later and meet up with the girl in the room. Going inside the local restaurant, he would smell the clean smell of rice mixed in with other appetizing scents, like roast duck, roast pig, fried vegetables and meat. In his opinion, the cluster of people eating and laughing loudly was way better than the smell of alcohol and drunks anytime...
O O
"Hey, Shi Liu, customer." The manager of the food store would point towards the long haired man that just entered.
"All right, sir...I will wait for the order and then cook it and serve it, as asked..." The woman would bow...there was a sense of sternness within the woman's voice and no one could've denied that, not even the woman herself. In fact, the woman didn't really looked that sociable at all, her large eyes, when she looked from beneath her long, jagged bangs, were a dark indigo color, had no emotion within them and her mouth was curved into a deep frown. Of course, she had a clear complexion to note, and her face was pretty. But the worst thing of it is was that she had the look of hate upon her mind and it didn't look like it was going away...Standing from her seat, she walked towards the man, normally, no taunting and raunchy way like the other woman in Tian Shui, and immediately the attention of Zhao Xing was turned towards the woman who was now standing before him...
"Can I help you...sir?" The woman didn't lift off the frown, as she just asked the man blankly, her eyes never engaging with his and her fists clenching to the side of the apron she was supposed to wear. Zhao Xing would take note of her appearance as well, noting that her jet black hair was tied into a tight braid and sort of wrapped around her neck, to limit the length...indeed she had long hair, but she had an interesting style of keeping her hair since her front part was untouched, the bangs hanging profoundly above her forehead and blocking her eyebrows. The clothes she wore were also peculiar. Very unlike a woman's in his opinion. The woman wore a jade green button shirt, with dark green trimmings at the edge, but nothing lace or fancy like the other women, just simplicity within the design. The clothes she wore on her lower parts were green pants, also peculiar since that they looked like they were a bit loose...but then it struck him...those were martial artists' pants...His eyes quickly dart from place to place, taking in the detail of her clothing, but what gave away she was a martial artist was her shoes. The shoes were the lightweight looking kind, the ones worn by the people who trained in the martial arts. This made Zhao Xing narrow his eyes as he looked to the woman who was going to serve him his order...
"...Yes...please give me some tea...I would like some duck, a small bowl of rice and a small cup of noodles..."
"Yes, sir...Right away sir..." The woman said responding, stepping backwards and disappearing behind the counter and into the kitchen...It looked like it was time for her to cook once more...
Once again, Zhao Xing was alone and was waiting...the people had long since cleared out from the restaurant and Zhao Xing was the only one left, waiting for his food...he had arrived at the latest that they would stay open, around 9:00, and since he was the last customer, he would be the only one allowed to await his food. The doors behind him though, would suddenly explode off its hinges and fly over his head, the room suddenly filling with people. The people were obviously the ones who had encountered Zhao Xing before, since most of them held daggers and swords. The only difference was that one now held a kunai with chain. Zhao Xing would just bring his hazel orbs around to scan the group; nothing has changed but the leader.
"We weren't finish with you! We found out you ain't part of the government."
"So, what? I am waiting for my food, please do not disturb me."
"DISTURB THIS!" The kunai wielder would throw the large star shaped blade at the sitting Zhao Xing, his feet placing upon the ground as he now kicked from the ground, allowing him to fall back with the chair, the kunai completely missing him and instead striking the table. The table cracked completely in half as the man stumbled forward, trying to re-gather the chain and the kunai itself, when Zhao Xing pushed himself off his chair and into a double drop kick, launching his feet into the man's face and throwing him to the floor. "OWCH! Grr, guys! Get this idiot!"
With a hearty "Yeah" the gang grabbed their weapons intently and headed towards the slightly fatigued man that was now backing up against the wall, his shoulder blades feeling the cold hard backings and his fingers trailing the wooden designs upon the wall. His eyes were their usual calm demeanor but his mouth was left open, breaths out of pace hissing in and out. When the men just about got to him, he closed his eyes, fearing the worst has happened when out of the blue, something happened...
"Sir, your food's ready...I'm not cooking for your friends..." The woman from before raised an eyebrow, her frown seemingly deepening, as she found more men inside the guest area of the restaurant, and with weapons no doubt... Her eyes alit in fury; she stamped her foot, indicating her anger. "If you're all bandits, you're not going to fight here during MY turn in the kitchen. People are supposed to eat here, not cause damage."
"So what are you going to do about it missy?" The gang leader with the kunai asked slyly to the girl with the long bangs and the single braided black hair. Flexing his large biceps, his chest also bulging out, he would do this in a display, as if actually showing off for the woman...The woman on the other hand, didn't seem pleased...she looked to the long haired man, scoffed at him, studying his body and face...he was tired, and he didn't exactly have a powerful body such as these men before him, more like lean rather than muscle. His face wasn't as rugged as these men either, having a softer complexion...A pretty boy, how cute that he would stupidly throw himself into a situation such as this...Idiot...
"Leave my customer alone...Or I will stop you." She suddenly said after examining her customer's seemingly weak visage. The gang members would chortle out in laughter, some dropping their weapons momentarily and grabbing at their sides to hold themselves from exploding into insane laughter. It was too late for some of the others though as they would get on their knees and crossed their arms over their stomachs, tears pouring out of their eyes. The gang leader raised the corners of his cheeks and mouth, a toothy grin and snapped his fingers, as he did so; some of the men relinquished from the circle around the long haired man and stepped in front of their commander. Now stepping towards the woman with their swords raised, they charged at her to shut up her seemingly insane ramblings. "I warned you..."
When they were close enough to her, Shi Liu had stepped forward and smacked a steaming hot pan into one of the swordsman's face, causing him to fall backwards. Of course, since she had come out of the kitchen, she had all sorts of "weapons" to use against the likes of these bandits. When the next one came, she had set out the cup of noodles to the side table along with the rest of the customer's food and slid the duck to the table. Ducking down, putting the long metallic pan to her back, she only sighed when the sword clanged off of the pan and then turned around, hitting the shocked man in the side of the head with the kitchen ware. As he fell, she quickly dashed forwards and used him like stairs, climbing his falling body before he actually fell. Jumping above another mass of enemies, she finally landed next to the long haired customer, who would completely stop his breathing and then looked next to himself, at her...
"Hey, if you don't want to die, then get out of here while I take care of them!" She yelled to the man beside her...but he just sighed and shook his head. Sitting down quickly against the wall, the man barely missed getting hit by at least thirty daggers; all grouped up above his head in bunches. The woman raised an eyebrow to the man's actions...was that all coincidence? It probably is, she stated in her mind. Quickly kicking the chair at the table with her left leg, bringing it up, reeling it to her body, then releasing it into a full roundhouse kick, she kicked it towards the table. There were more coming from the door of the kitchen and the chair made contact with them. One of the people stumbled backwards and into a table, completely breaking it and launching the noodle into the gang leader's head, while the duck that was on the other side had landed next to five hungry men. Taking advantage of the situation and the rareness of getting such food like this, they disavowed their duties as part of the gang and took the food to their homes, leaving the scorched commander clutching at his cheek from the burning hot soup and noodles.
Shi Liu, the woman who knew these arts of fighting was the one defending of course, and her defense and her fighting stance looked rock solid, taking her time, she waded through the men, punching and kicking right and left, heading straight for the large commander. Performing a split kick in the air, knocking down two more guards, she had finally jumped in front of the gang leader (who was still cringing and moaning) and was ready to finish this and get these idiots out of her restaurant.
"You're gone..." She mumbled as she raised a hand to finish him off. But what she didn't know was that he was stronger than he looked, which with the muscle bound visage and all, he was strong to begin with. He pushed her back with one arm, sending her sailing over the knocked down men's heads, she closed her eyes and braced for impact...without warning, she felt something...it wasn't hard and cold like the floor or the tables, but it was something else. Opening her eyes, she looked up to see the pretty man holding her, and cradling her with his two arms, that droned expression still in his face. Setting her down slowly before regaining his normal posture, he slowly bent one knee, and extended his left leg out...No way, Shi Liu thought...no way he could know about...
"Crouching Tiger...To Flaming Fist of the North Winds..." he said almost as droned and drained as his constant expression on his face. Jumping to both feet, he immediately dashed forward and reeled his fist back. When he had been merely inches from one of the common gang members, he had pushed his fist forward in full momentum, striking the unlucky man on the forehead and sending him backwards, through a wall and lying outside, definitely dead or knocked out to the fullest and such. Shi Liu, surprised as she may be, kept her cool head and then walked out towards the new and improved stranger, who had struck a fighting pose.
"Well, at least you can fight well...fight for your food then, sir..." She said to him. She was still on duty as the chef and this customer seemed hungry enough. Both of them were slowly approached by the huge kunai wielder, who had seemed to throw his chained weapon into the table, crushing yet another wooden platform. His grin came from an evil one, to one that was downright psychotic. He stomped, seemingly causing a mini earthquake. Shi Liu lost her balance for a moment, falling forward and into the stranger's arms, who would again help her...But this was also frustrating her. "Stop touching me all the time!"
"You remind me of someone I know..." the man simply stated before he motioned to his right. Shi Liu's eyes followed his motion, seeing yet another band of the thieves before them, all chuckling and laughing as they raised their armaments. Taking one hand in his, intertwining the fingers and then wrapping an arm around her waist, he'd bow his head slightly to speak to the woman that he had touched again. "Follow my lead...literally."
"What?! Why are you doing this?! We shouldn't be dancing! I hardly know you, and we're surrounded! What's your malfunction?!" The woman was amazed at the man's audacity and bravery (Not to mention his idiocy), grabbing onto her like this. If she was hurt in anyway, this customer-
"Zhao Xing..."
"What?!"
"Pleasure to meet you, my name is Zhao Xing." The man said plainly before he dipped (Like in those Tango dances) her, both of their bodies going downwards as a blade sailed cleanly overhead, missing both of them. "Kick to your right and then step strong..."
She was red from embarrassment and the fact that she had to do THIS with a man she hardly even knew. But following his directions, she lifted her leg up and kicked to her right, her ankle driving right into one of the offender's chin. Leading the dance, Zhao Xing guided Shi Liu to the right, away from some of the bewildered enemies...
"Jump..."
Following his very word, she did jump, him lifting her up by the waist as he ducked low and extended his right leg out while he pivoted on his left foot...sweeping down three bandits by doing just that, each of them going upon their faces, he would let down Shi Liu and then quickly resumed the original dance position.
"Extend our arms to the...left." He said, Shi Liu quickly complying by bringing their intertwined hands to the left and smashing them right into a bandit, leaving his spit to fly out and a tooth to keep on the floor. After careful dance steps, they finally stopped, Xing stopping the dance all the way, and letting go of her, the rest of the gang defeated by the dancing. "That was a divine dance...Congratulations; we have successfully halted our deaths and had evaded their attacks."
"What? We shouldn't have even done that! I don't even know you! Why did you even touch me, you rude, rude man?!" She screamed at him, sounding like she hated him with every ounce of her body.
Zhao Xing shrugged her off and then brought up a hand to stop her talking, of course, offending her in the process. He didn't want to listen to what she was saying since he had lost his meal and he immediately left the premises, leaving an angered Shi Liu.
"Why you..." Shi Liu was about to follow the man, to knock some sense into him, but then her boss grabbed upon her shoulders and shook her roughly about. Turning to him, this time, she didn't frown, but her eyes had absolute fear in them. The shorter, stout man, was steaming like a demon when he closed his eyes, and when he opened his mouth, it was going to be a loud...
"You're FIRED! And you have to pay for all the damages...Or I'll make sure YOU'LL get the charge except for those little guys!" He shouted into her ears, making them ring from such loud speaking.
"Yes, sir...I'll come back..." She stomped out, looking she was ready to kill...she looked down the road, spying the walking form of the half clothed man, heading to another place. "I'll follow you to the ends of this world...You won't escape ME!"
O O
"Wow! I can't believe that you're from all the way out there!"
"Indeed I am, young Qiao, do not be so amazed." He would talk to the younger woman as if addressing someone he knew, but to some extent, he kept a lot of respect in his speaking for her.
"Yes, but I can't believe you're from the Wei territories!" She stated with glee, sitting down across from him from her own bed.
"Well, young Qiao, I am confused at why you are so happy to see an outsider treat you to this inn room, when I hardly even knew you. In fact, I thought you would see me as one of those sexually deprived older men and just run away from me."
"...You were half naked and your hair is longer than mine, what do you think I was thinking?" She retorted with half of the emotion drained from her tone. When they glanced to each other, they started to laugh both thinking about how ill-fated Xing was when they were outside, hours before.
"Well then, milady Qiao..."
"Milady?" She asked, almost wide-eyed from what he said
"You are of fair beauty and should be a lady beside your sisters...you know it should be!"
"Well...yes...but you don't need to call me-"
"Nonsense! You will be milady Lien Qiao, and I will be your humble servant, Zhao Xing! Please, we shall whisk you to the Wu kingdom and rejoin you with your sisters!"
"...Xing...that's the best thing I've ever heard..."
"Well, I knew you wanted to hear that...So don't worry, I know what happens when the Qiao sisters are away from each other...So what do you say?"
Lien Qiao nodded her head and jumped from her bed, in front of the taller Zhao Xing, who was smiling upon her as she looked up to him with determined brown eyes and her mouth and expression matching as well. Xing gave her a small pat on the shoulders before looking to her eyes, listening to what she was about to say.
"That's it! I'll go back to my sisters, and you'll help me too! We'll travel to the Wu kingdom and rejoin me with my older sisters!" She said, clenching a fist and then bringing it up, giving Xing a mock punch to the jaw, gently pushing the side of his chin. "You'll help me right?"
The sudden timid question exerted from her had made Xing laugh. He nodded his head in response and pointed to her bed...
"Get some sleep...your sisters...they will be found and you'll be known as a Lady Qiao, along with both of them." He stated broadly, Lien Qiao nodding to the older man and then jumping on her bed...she first flattened out her skirt, but soon something soft landed on her head...robes? Looking over to Xing, she found that he had thrown her one of the white bathrobes that were complimentary to the guests. Nodding in appreciation, she put it on so that she wasn't just clad in a short skirt that everyone can see under when they barge into the rooms for service or something of the sorts. Each would start to doze of to sleep before...
"YOU!" A sharp hiss emitted from her mouth, Shi Liu would burst into the room, with obvious anger in her eyes. Her indigo eyes were upon the now surprised and arisen Zhao Xing. He bolted up, his hair tossing wild- like and about as she now grabbed him upon the collar and brought him close to her, mere inches from her face. "PAY ME THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE!"
"...I have not caused the damage..."
"You were the only one I remembered! And you're the one who had knocked down the wall! You need to pay for THAT as well!" She seemed liable to bite the man's head off, but she didn't, just yelled into his ears.
"Again, I didn't do anything...and you're going to wake milady Qiao..."
"I don't give a damn if you brought with you Princess Sun! I want YOU to pay!"
O O
Amidst all the chaos and such that was happening inside the room of Zhao Xing's, Xing had finally explained to the woman that he didn't have any money. But Shi Liu didn't want any of his excuses and promised that she would follow him to the ends of the earth to get money from him. Xing being the most cool headed of the two decided that they needed to sleep before more discussion, so he gave her his bed, leaving him on the cold floor. The next morning, all three occupants of the room are now awake, including Lien Qiao, who was now staring at Shi Liu.
"...Mister Xing? Why is this lady here? And why does she look so depressed...?" Lien Qiao was saddened a bit by the woman's facial expression, but that only ended in earning a glare from the near-vicious Shi Liu...
"She wants money. I'm broke, personally, but she only wants to follow us till I do come into some currency."
"Damn right...remember...as long as needs to be..."
"Right, right, stop telling me..." He said to her as he stood up straight, grabbed Lien Qiao's hand and pulled her out the door, leaving the steaming Shi Liu by herself. Not wanting to be left completely behind, she also stood up and proceeded behind them to keep her self up with them. Zhao Xing didn't seem to mind the presence of the ever hateful stare upon his shoulders, and just looked down towards the happier Lien Qiao beside him. "We're going to Wu...let's go..."
O O
"Lost him? What do you mean, "Lost him"?" Cao Cao seemed to be on the verge of destroying someone when Sima Yi had bowed before him again. Cao Cao was actually in a good mood, having Cao Pi and Xu Huang massacre a Shu scout troop just moment before the strategist came in, but now it turned completely...
"My lord, your son had thrown him into the river! We could not have known that your son would do that!" Sima Yi raised his fan to his face and hid behind it, literally cowering in fear "PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!!!"
"You are a coward, you are a coward! Neener neener neener!" Dian Kamo was at Cao Cao's side again, as was her big and burly uncle. She was in the robes that her uncle gave her, which made the man seem a bit happier. If one looked hard enough, they might say that he was actually "smiling" about something else rather than the bloodshed that he had always enjoyed. Of course, Dian Kamo didn't at all like Cao Cao. She thought of him as a rather ignorant, mean and unforgiving man...She hated that...But as long as uncle Wei is under him, she had to 'respect' the man.
"A coward he is, Dian Kamo...He will never match up to Guo Jia in terms of bravery and wit in any case. And his intelligence is several degrees below the great Sleeping Dragon's. Obviously, if he wishes to continue as an officer under my regime, you will make us a plan to get rid of that son of mine, and get that Zhao Xing back to me, alive!"
"Yes sir! Right away sir...In fact...I've done just that recently...it concerns...the Wu...I've already negotiated a temporary peace treaty with them, and if they follow with my plans, your wishes will come true."
"Excellent Sima Yi! You are not a fool in my eyes any longer...you're just a cowardly, sniveling, poor excuse of a man now! Get out of my face and make sure this plan follows through, NOW!" Cao Cao seemed to bellow as he pointed out the strategist. Sima Yi, on the other hand, stumbled to his feet and rushed out the door, jumped upon a random horse and rode it out towards the country side. Cao Cao's wishes must come true...if he wanted to become the world's greatest strategist.
O O
"Hold it Zhao Xing...where do you think you're going?" A man's voice rose into the ears of the three departing people at the gates of Tian Shui. The group turned around to see a man dressed in elaborate clothes...something of higher status and of higher learning. Velvet robes that were so carefully interwoven and such that one might not want to wear it but display it and show it off. "Hmm, that's what my brother would say, if he were to find you here...where's my manners? My name is Yu Xue, styled Shiming! And I already know who you people are! Hahahaha!"
"His voice...is full of mirth and happiness..." Shi Liu seemed sort of disgusted as she mentioned this to the others. Of course, Lien Qiao didn't seem to mind it. She was smiling back at the man titled Yu Xue with an expression of happiness to match his own. Zhao Xing looked to Yu Xue with an eyebrow raise, his lips parting as he would speak to him.
"How do you know my name?"
"Easy, you've been identified as someone who is a menace to the Wei kingdom. It just so happens that I don't want to attack you, but rather talk to you...and you look to be a nice enough person, even if you do have a bounty on your head."
"Really?" He narrowed his eyes as he stomped down his left foot and struck a stance before Lien Qiao. Shi Liu did the same, stomping down her right foot and then striking a different stance, opposite of Zhao Xing. This only made Yu Xue laugh as they readied themselves to fight with him.
"Ah, you must be Yu Chai! Always fighting by this man's side, protecting him and all...Hey, I bet you two have a special relation or something!" He said cheerily, unaware that he was talking about Shi Liu in particular. Shi Liu started to turn red, but not because of embarrassment but because of anger...her fists clenched as she started to walk towards Yu Xue.
"If you think I'd befriend that pretty boy over there, that idiotic, pompous jerk! I wouldn't do it in my life! My name is Shi Liu! Not some name like Yu Chai! You idiotic, stupid, piece of-" her ranting was cut off by the cheery Yu Xue, putting up his hands in defense and smiling at her.
"No, madam! I just thought you were someone else! My apologies..." He said, giving a short and quick bow to her before turning his eyes towards the woman behind the now confused Zhao Xing. "I'm assuming that's not Qing Yuan, either..."
"Yes...as I was saying, I was belittling your intelligence..."
"Oh, I am quite intelligent...In fact, some might compare me with Jiang Wei...but ah, no, alas he was chosen to go to Shu and here I am, one of the two geniuses of Tian Shui...Minus one of course."
"Oh, so witty." Shi Liu rolled her eyes at the man's attempt in improving his image in her eyes...she might as well make the most of it and kick the teeth out of this guy...
"Shi Liu, no..." She was going to give the man a quick kick into his midsection, but the strong voice of Zhao Xing came out and stopped her...why was she listening to him?! Of all people...grr...
"Maybe I want to? How about I take this out of what you owe me?"
"Or not? Let's not get too hasty..." Xing said, grabbing Shi Liu's shoulder and pulling her back to Lien Qiao and himself. Yu Xue also stepped forwards, using this as a perfect opportunity to speak.
"Well, I've just been wondering...why do you, the son of Zilong, fight against the super powers known as the kingdoms? It just doesn't make any sense..."
"Well..." Xing stepped forward, towards Yu Xue, closing the gap between them...they were now face to face as if they were going into a confrontation. "For myself...I want to make them pay for what happened...Wei, and whatever they throw at me, will not live to see another day. You got that?"
"Indeed...no need to justify yourself further...I know where the great Zilong was from...and how his village was massacred...hmm, indeed so...Just be careful out there..." Just when he was done, he flicked back his long black hair that had went around his neck and turned around, walking away from the group he had just acquainted himself with...but he went no further when he heard a struggle behind him...He turned around, a concerned expression coming about his face when he saw what had happened in the short seconds that he had started to walk away from them.
Zhao Xing had two men restraining him, while another was repeatedly clubbing him in the stomach with a club. They were dressed in red, the flag of Wu.
"What is this? Why is Wu after him?! This is just evil!" He looked on as Shi Liu and the Lien Qiao were too busy dealing with another group of men to help their comrade. "Child of Zhao, I shall help you!"
"No!" Zhao Xing shook his head quickly before head butting his captor and flipping him over. He looked to Yu Xue with a more than tired and fatigued face. "I can't get anyone involved with me anymore..."
"Really? Who do you call those two women?" Yu Xue tried to make a point with the somewhat desperate Zilong spawn. Xing did succumb, lowering his tensed shoulders and his face set to the ground, his eyes checking to the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Good, now if you'll allow me to help you, I can either be your best friend, or just some savior that will help you and you still will be killed. Are you going to listen to me now?"
Zhao Xing had no choice. As soon as he had heard Lien Qiao deliver a final spinning blow with her fan to the next man and Shi Liu jumping down next to him, he nodded his head, accepting the help.
O O
"How pathetic..." Yu Chai, wasn't at the river, but she was moping around in the nearby bar. The bartender had recently stopped the drinks in fear of her getting too drunk. Well, at least the Tian Shui bartenders weren't as stupid as others. Shen Xiu had approached the depressed Yu Chai from behind, her spear in hand. "Still depressed about your man?"
"My man? -hic-?" Yu Chai turned, her curly brownish locks falling behind her shoulders as she lifted her head from the bar table, eyeing evenly (actually, not so evenly since the drinks distorted her vision quite a bit) "He was a good friend...-hic-...but not a boyfriend...you dolt...what're yah thinkin'?"
"Don't insult me...now get out of this bar...if you want to get your friend back, we should depart. And I think I may be having some help...If you'd take it that is..."
"Heyyyy....don' think I'm weak...yah...yah...whatever the hell you are..." She didn't take to kindly to the help that was being offered. She had long gotten over the depression over Xing. Now she was going to show that she could be a good leader. Who need Xing anyway?
"Why don't you shut up and listen to me?" Shen Xiu tried to convince her to listen, but the other was captivated by a handsome customer that had just waltzed into the bar, followed by several lackeys. It was a tall man, who seemed to be vain as he was intelligent in his walk. The tall man had long flowing locks of black hair that was neatly framed upon him with a red headband. Shen Xiu arched an eyebrow at what he wore. He had a Wu chest plating on him, the red and gold symbols coming together to form the Wu symbol. Shen Xiu had to admit that the fellow was handsome, but still remained a threat if he was who she thought he was.
"Excuse me bartender. Some fine wine..." the man said, tapping on the bar courteously and then leaving some money. The money was immediately snatched by the bartender, whom counted the extra monetary units.
"Sir...you gave three thousand extra!"
"Do not worry, my good man. It's so this bar can become even better..." The man flicked a long black strand of his hair back behind his ear and looked behind him. He had a pretty face, even more so than Zhao Xing, as obvious by Yu Chai's sitting down and just plain gawking at him. And his complexion was soft, any softer and it would be a woman's. He had large shoulders holding up his shoulder padding though, and his dark chocolate brown eyes accented the golden pads. He had a small violet sash tied around his slim waist, which seemed to hold up his large weapon fairly well.
"Wait a minute..." Shen Xiu's eyes widened at the man's form all of a sudden. "That's Zhou Yu!"
What was he doing here? Why was he here? He couldn't have come to a public place for no reason...and why was he eyeing Yu Chai by the corners of his eyes? Wait...no...It can't be...
O O
Qing Yuan walked along the small village path. Of course, she had been thinking about her friend and master Zhao Xing. Trying to reassure Yu Chai had gotten to her, and she thought about something. There wasn't anyone to reassure her. Though cold the man Zhao Xing was, he had a heart of gold and he fought with his soul. The uncaring personality was just coupled with his history, that's why he had been so angry before he fell into the river. Her Chinese slip dress with the fancy designs upon the back and front slips made her look quite elegant as she traversed the stone paths during the late hours, and the fireflies that hovered around gave it atmosphere...
"Zhao Xing...master, will you come back?" She asked to no one in particular, knowing that no one in particular would respond as well.
She had tried to mimic the stances that Zhao Xing had done, but it was only stances. What good are stances when you can't attack with them? Her long black hair, down and loose as always, was flowing behind her as she walked, a near fluidity in every part of her body. So graceful was she today, and she didn't even noticed that she was doing it. Her form suddenly stopped, both of her feet not moving any more. Her head directed up to the night sky, her brown eyes looking to the stars longingly. What was wrong with her...thinking about a man that she knew for three days? It's not like...
"I'm injured. I would've shown you myself, but I'm all tied up at the moment."
"Ah, I see." She said, now shifting her position, crossing her legs while looking to him. "Perhaps you could teach me?"
Xing's eyebrows would shift their position as he would first furrow one brow deep in thought and then raised one of them as he would slowly nod his head to her.
"Sure. I've always wanted a student. And a female student would be somewhat revolutionary."
"Ah, all right then. Well. As soon as you're better, you have to promise you'll teach me some."
"What?"
"Promise!" she said, getting a bit giddy, turning to him and giving a pleading look and a smile.
"All right, promise. I'll teach you whatever you want to be taught."
She smiled at the thought of how she first had gotten to met him. It made her blush that she had been lulled over by how he fought people with weapons with just his hands. That and how he looked kept her thinking about him. She wondered how it would feel like to actually see him smile upon her and have him keep her in his arms. She crossed her arms to warm herself from the slight gust that blew by, but she didn't feel her own arms...no one was there, but she felt the same warmth when she had embraced Xing the previous night before. The warmth was lovely and welcoming, but it only lasted a few seconds before it disappeared. Like the night that he yelled at her, she stepped away from the warmth and stepped into the cold again.
But something was wrong...her eyes went from their usual, cheerful expression to one of pure sadness...it hit her. The thought of Master Zhao Xing not coming back was something that Yu Chai was thinking about all along. She didn't want to bear that! No way was she going to let him break the promise. She needed to see him again. She needed to talk to him again. And with the sudden run of Qing Yuan, the gorgeous scene focusing around the woman had been broken. She was heading towards the river, and was going to follow the river to him. Qing Yuan couldn't explain it, but she needed to have him around her...
O O
Zhou Yu had drawn his sword, pointing at the now surprised Yu Chai.
"Ah, one of the members of his thugs...I will vanquish thee, heathen!" The large sword had now been position under the surprised girl's chin.
"Well, do tell! Haven't been doing anythin' wrong pretty boy! But hey, if you're gonna kill me, you better catch me!" Yu Chai taunted the man since she had taken quite a cue from Zhao Xing himself, flipping backwards off her seat, springing from the floor and crashing through the window. Footfalls would sound as she started off at a dead run, away from the identified Wu Strategist. She knew who he was since she got a better look, but why were the Wu chasing her? She stopped before a confused Cao Kai, who was sitting atop a gate before the river.
"Why do you confront me, woman?"
"Oh shut up with your power trips. Why's the Wu chasing us?"
"How should I know?!"
"Maybe it's one of your 'tests' again?"
"No..." Cao Kai looked over towards the bar where he saw the Shen Xiu woman running out, jumping over carts to avoid slashing Wu guards. At the middle of the Wu troop was Zhou Yu himself. Cao Kai opened his mouth in slight awe at the efficiency of their crude and blunt tactics, but Zhou Yu must've been looking for Zhao Xing. "Yu Chai, here they come..."
"Oh great...But I don't want to fight them..." She replied, instead eyeing the woman that was jumping ahead of the Wu soldiers. Jumping up, throwing her cape off, she brought her pole arm up to bring the long handle to push into Shen Xiu's midsection, pushing both of them down a hill, leaving Cao Kai to deal with Wu soldiers and Zhou Yu. He adjusted his navy- blue turban with the faded Wild Cat symbol on it and then moved his hands to rest upon his weapon. Digits wrapping around the steel spear, he jumped down to take on the small group of Wu soldiers.
"How dare you interrupt my test? You shall pay with your life!" He said, stabbing through the tough armor of the first soldier that dared to cross his path. His dark brown eyes widened as his body filled with tension and adrenaline, his hands clenching the spear more tightly. He started to slash his way through the many soldiers, heading straight for the commander himself... "I'll finish you all quickly!"
O O
Yu Xue was on a horse, about three thousand men around him. This man had a great influence upon the people of Tian Shui, having assembled this small Militia that he fondly called the Jian Zhen group. All of them clad in silver cavalry armor and sitting upon their horses, they were all silent as they awaited Yu Xue's command.
"Yu Xue...thank you...For providing me and my group passage...I can count on you as a friend..." Zhao Xing seemed to smile a lot here. He seemed happier...Nodding to the two females around him, he led them off to exit in the back gate of the city instead of directly confronting more Wu.
"Just live on, young Zhao...live on..." Yu Xue said as he saw the fading figures of Zhao Xing and his group consisting of Lien Qiao and Shi Liu. After they completely disappeared, he raised his hand, it holding a halberd.
"And here we go! My men," He continued after seeing the nearby hills were being flooded with crimson guard of Wu, all lead by the man he knew was going to lead them. "Attack the betrayer of Tian Shui! Attack my brother and his guard!"
With a hearty battle cry from his men, the silver clad cavalry rode out behind the determined Yu Xue, ready to fight each other. Yu Xue eyed his brother who was yelling out profanities at him. Both of them wielded halberds, his brother raising his up first. But the instant they passed each other was the instant the battle broke into full, his halberd slicing right through his own brother, cutting him in half. Yu Xue had finished his brother off in one pass, but there was the matter of six thousand and plus troops that he and his men needed to deal with. They all rode in, attacking left and right. Even with the smaller number of troops, he was fending off the attack pretty well.
O
O
Zhao Xing was kicked away again, his body hitting the wall. Shi Liu struck a stance and Lien Qiao drew out her fans. Zhao Xing had recovered himself as he looked to his assailant. Landing from a graceful kick was a somewhat short man, but he looked young, as young as Lien Qiao. He wore a French sailor style hat, golden patterns running along the length. He had on a different kind of armor, which covered his front and back, golden patterns upon that as well. He wore white pants that were tucked into his boots neatly. Short strands of his chestnut hair poked down from his hat, and his soft brown eyes looked towards the small group. Pointing one of his swords at them he talked in a different language...
"Bonjour, mon nom être Lu Xun. Préparer être vaincre !" He said while he bowed to them, his two short swords gleaming in the light. Another man landed next to this one, landing with a cat-like prowess. He was on one knee, his two hands upon the sword and sheath next to him. He unsheathed the sword, obviously it being a Japanese sword. He pointed its length out towards the group and grunted.
"I am Zhou Tai..." the man said. He had Wu type armor as well, and his back was covered in a cape. To make matters worst for them, yet another man jumped down next to them. He didn't look graceful like Lu Xun or viscous like Zhou Tai, but he had a sense of authority that must have made him better than the other two. He stepped forward, in the middle and ahead of the two and then pointing his halberd at them.
"I am not going to disappoint my lord. I, Lu Meng, will bring your heads to him! Once more Huang Gai!"
To their left, the walls of one of the houses shattered like old clay, and an old man that had tanned skin and thin armor came out, wielding a giant club. Several explosives were attached to his belt, but it didn't look like the man would need them. He looked obscenely strong anyways.
Zhao Xing didn't have any choice with this. He backed up against Shi Liu and Lien Qiao who were looking over to Huang Gai, the group back to back as they contemplated their next move.
"Look...I don't want anyone to get hurt...Shi Liu, you" Before Zhao Xing could say anything else; she jumped over Huang Gai and dashed into the broken up building. Lien Qiao dashed into the next alley, her fans unfurled and ready to use.
"What's wrong mademoiselle? Can't fight?" Lu Xun jumped atop the roof of the house with one swift leap and then chased after Lien Qiao himself.
This now left Zhao Xing alone with Zhou Tai and Lu Meng. Lu Meng pointed at Zhao Xing and gave him a very unsavory smirk.
"You will die now!"
"Then bring it on!"
Both of the Wu took their blades and struck at Zhao Xing's face...in return, Zhao Xing reeled back his right hand and decided to trust in his abilities...He saw the katana and the halberd heading right for his right fist...and with that, a seemingly giant explosion came about from the sheer force of both of these huge powers combined within the attacks...
"Futae no Kiwami!" Zhao Xing shouted as he used a Japanese technique to fight back the blades of the two.
"It's OVER!" Zhou Tai shouted back as he started to use his Japanese sword stance to his advantage, striking several time with his light sword towards the Zilong spawn's attack, both ultimate attacks clashing, sending waves throughout the air.
The smell of death lingers in the air...who will win this struggle of life and death?
Zhao Xing vs. Zhou Tai and Lu Meng
Shi Liu vs. Huang Gai
Lien Qiao vs. Lu Xun
Yu Chai vs. Shen Xiu
Cao Kai vs. Zhou Yu
And
Yu Xue and the Jian Zhen vs. The Wu Front
It's going to be a battle...a major battle...stay in tune for the best chapter of yet, coming up NEXT! In Tian Shui: Battle to Dawn
O O
Previews!
Zhao Xing: Wow, I get to fight two of the big guys...
Shi Liu: I get to fight THE big guy...
Yu Chai: HEY! Who the hell are you?!
Shi Liu: I am Shi Liu...and that man owes me money, so I will pester and make his life miserable until I get what I want.
Yu Chai: But...I'm the one who pesters and annoys him...
Shi Liu: ...Your point?
Yu Chai: None at all! I just wish someone would take pity on me and toss me some cheer ups, but NOOO one does anything...
Don Shizumi: You're all in luck! Viewers, write some fan mail to the characters of this story! It could be to our guys and girls here, or it could be to the main characters...either way, make it nice and sweet for them to read it. Hey, e-mail the letters to Dragonstriker12@aol.com, don't put it in your reviews...REMEMBER...I will not tolerate rule breakers...Well let's go...get writing to your favorites.
Yu Chai: ...Buuuut, the preview!
Shi Liu: ...I'm going to get sick of you, really quick...
Don Shizumi: You already all know the preview...lotsa fighting, lotsa carnage...and if you know me, there's lotsa drama...so stay tune for the best chapter EVAH!
And also...
Thank you to lacitar13 for officially making me a Wei Yan fan! I'm counted amongst the five! Yay!
Thank you all who reviewed...I appreciate it...and I adore you...
Well...
Zhao Xing: ...Wait! I got the first fan letter...
Brian of Mechwarrior writes:
Dear Zhao Xing,
I never heard of Zilong's son...care to clarify this?Oh yeah, This fic rox!
Zhao Xing: Why certainly!...I AM HIS SON...(In this fanfiction)...Otherwise, he's just a young buck, protecting Liu Bei like he was an infant...
Shi Liu: But he did marry Ma Yuan Li, or Lady Sun...one of those two...they always had happy times...
Yu Chai: Woot!
Don Shizumi: And thus ends...Beautiful Requiem...sorry for those who waited so long for me to update...love you all...