POLL: Which woman do you think Zhao Xing is closest to (Original
Character)? Which man (Original Character)? Please explain. Who do you
think he'll end up with at the end of this season? (Yes, I'm planning to
do different seasons. This is season one of Beautiful Requiem)
POLL 2: Are there any sort of Mary-Sue, Marty-Sam, characteristics any of the other character has? Any of them that annoy you, if not anything can be added to the character?
POLL 3: Who's your favorite original character? (Not counting the one you made)
POLL 4: Any fantasy pairings in mind? (Original Characters only)
POLL 4: What should the next chapter be about?
Include your answers at the end of your reviews. You must include a review or I'll delete the poll answer. Also, take note that this poll WILL affect the storyline.
Endless Duels
The scene was the Wei prison building
Shen Xiu was lying atop of her bed, sighing, before a Wei guard came in. The guard, confused at her positioning, only approached her with spear in hand.
"You, woman, what happened to your bands?"
"..." Shen Xiu only sighed once more after the silent stare she gave the guard. The guard, annoyed at her actions, started to advance further mumbling curses at the same time.
"You will answer when-GYAH!" Cao Kai was right behind the guard, hiding behind the door when it was opened. When the guard had advanced far enough, Cao Kai had jumped out and immediately snapped the man's neck with one swift motion.
Cao Kai's form suddenly exploded into a lithe motion as he dashed out of the room, re-took his spear that was taken from him, and looked at it. The blade was still shining, the metal tip untainted. Cao Kai's eyes narrowed at that thought. It WILL be tainted soon.
Shen Xiu also jumped off of the bed, running to Cao Kai's side and retaking her own spear and joining him. Cao Kai looked to Shen Xiu, both their eyes locking before they nodded to each other and then dashed off into different directions.
O O
Shen Xiu dashed down the main hallway, her thoughts on Cao Kai's plan and rethinking them through her head as she dashed down the hallway. Cheongsam's flap flailed this way and that as her lightweight form was gliding down the hallway. Suddenly guards had come, the Wei finally getting hold of the knocked out guard that was supposed to guard the prisoners. Shen Xiu shrugged off their appearance as she ran before her legs tensed and immediately she took off the ground. Her jumping took the guards by surprise, since this was of course an indoor area, and the immediately tried to take their swords up to her. But it was too late, Shen Xiu's boots made contact with two of their faces, and before she even landed from that, she kicked off of their faces, and twirled in the air, her spear cutting every other guard that was still up after that.
"..." Her silent self just took in the sight of blood before she looked to the window that was after this hall, dashed forth and dived out of this area.
O O
Cao Kai's form came under attack by arrows. But he was way too fast to be hit by arrows, especially indoors. There were nearby support pillars, and as the archers tried to kill him with their bows and arrows, Cao Kai was switching between pillars, almost invisible to the human eye as he stayed within the shadows. The group of archers, not at all liking their query gone, advanced to the pillar from where they last saw Cao Kai. The last man of the group was unlucky though, as he was immediately impaled through the stomach. When the group turned around to see what had happened, they only saw their brother in arms dead on the ground.
"You two, go into the pillar area, NOW!" The lead archer commanded his underlings and they obeyed, drawing their short swords and heading into the shadowy area. But the commander heard no footsteps after the few seconds they had gone in. Soon, two bloody heads were at his feet and the commander only kicked those heads back into the shadows. He looked to the rest of his men, pointing at the shadows.
"Kill him!!!" Indeed, all of them drew their swords, charged in and shouted. But their shouts quickly turned from that of a battle cry to that of a fearful man. And each fearful man's voice shut off from the world one by one. It wasn't long before the feet of the commander was drenched in blood by his own men. Now fully afraid, he turned around to retreat, but was only met by the youth's dark chocolate colored eyes. "C-c-cao Kai!"
"Greetings..." Cao Kai smiled at the commander before stabbing one of the archer's short swords into his stomach. The commander only choked out, before falling back, dead and no longer breathing. "Now die..."
O
O
Shen Xiu fell down the window and onto the horse that was there. Cao Kai had indeed remembered where his former army had set the horses in. Shen Xiu looked up and saw Cao Kai jumping out of the window before joining her side upon a dark black horse that was next to her own.
"...Good plan." Shen Xiu admitted as Cao Kai readied his mare.
"I know...let's make haste out of this place..." Cao Kai pushed his horse forth, it heading out of the fort area and out the open gates. Shen Xiu also rushed out of the gate upon her horse, both of them escaping. The guards that were supposed to be at the gate were dead...Zhang He had previously killed them out of one his angry outbursts.
O O
Li Jishan was sitting with the Zima brothers. Zima Shi was busy drinking his wine, while Zima Shao was sleeping on his brother's shoulder. Of course, the face on Zima Shi indicated he was very annoyed at his brother using him as a sleeping mat and had taken the liberty to pour some wine on his brother's crotch. All the while Li Jishan was snickering.
"This should teach him to call me a 'rooster-head'...damn him." Zima Shi had fully drenched that part, and Zima Shao made no move to retaliate. Of course when Yu Xue had come in, Zima Shi and Li Jishan had made all proper postures. They were still in what was left of Yu Xue's fortress.
"Stand at attention my brave men."
"Sir!"
"Of course..." With Zima Shi moving, Zima Shao's head fell from his resting spot to the floor. Of course with the pain waking him up, he immediately bolted up, grasping at his ear.
"GRAAAH!!!" Zima Shao was in pain...oh yes.
"Dear Shao, what is your problem?" Zima Shi looked to his right and smiled at his more audacious brother.
"God damn it! Shi, I'm going get you!" Zima Shao growled as he took a weapon from the floor but was quickly smacked in the back of the head by Yu Xue.
"Both of you, stop it and- oh my lord..." Yu Xue's eyes widened as he saw what he thought was an 'accident' dripping from Zima Shao. Again slapping him in the back of the head, he growled and glared at the laughing Li Jishan and Zima Shi. "That was unnecessary, both your little mishap and you two laughing are quite unneeded! We even have a lady here!"
"You mean that Qing Yuan chick-OW!" Zima Shao's head was smacked by Zima Shi this time.
"Don't speak with such disrespect about her."
"What the hell am I supposed to call her anyway?!"
"How about 'Milady Qing'?"
"Or not..." Li Jishan was opposed to the idea, but in no matter would he refer to the woman as 'chick'. It was just disrespectful.
"Don't get any ideas, people...I need some able soldiers, some friends who could watch each other's backs, not call each other names!" Yu Xue pointed to each of them; meanwhile Zima Shao was wiping off the wine that Zima Shi had spilled on him. Zima Shi was the next one to speak.
"My lord-what of that Zhao Xing boy?" Zima Shi asked of the younger man that had graced their presence with superior hand to hand abilities and courage beyond the normal soldier's. Zima Shi's dark brown eyes trail to the leader of their troops.
"He went over to Shu, obviously..." Yu Xue replied "I still have no idea how to bring him to his senses..."
"Yes..." Zima Shi would again be the one to reply to Yu Xue "Kingdoms only destroy. We can not have three kingdoms within our own country."
"Countrymen versus countrymen!" Zima Shao shouted in a sort of misled glee "I can slaughter my fellow man without being held accounted for it!"
"Not true, I hate to be able to fight so aimlessly against our fellow man." Yu Xue said as he turned his head, disgusted by Zima Shao. Zima Shi and Li Jishan both shot the man a glare for making their leader depressed in mood once more. Zima Shao at once knew he was at fault and immediately withdrew from the area. Yu Xue would reminisce about the men lost from the previous battle before turning to his generals. Li Jishan would speak first, his strong, youthful voice filling the empty air.
"Sir, what troubles you?" Li Jishan's query was quickly answered.
"We have no leader..." Li Jishan and Zima Shi's eyes widened at the remark
"Sir, you are able, strong and wise..." Zima Shi's knee bent as he went down and knelt before Yu Xue, respect given with a nod of his head and bowing of the body. Li Jishan went in a similar manner, bowing to Yu Xue. "You brought me and my brother back together!"
"Yes, and you brought me to realize my true purpose!" Li Jishan bowed lower, his forehead touching the ground. "I am here to serve Tian Shui and to serve you, my lord!"
Yu Xue's eyes widened in anger, his brown eyes seeming to lighten in color to show his aggravation, and he stomped his foot to signify that he was angered.
"We had an effective leader in Zhao Xing!" Yu Xue shouted in his frustration, causing his hands which were balled into fists to shake. "I can rile the troops, I can drive men away...but what use is it when I can only guide this town?"
Li Jishan crawled closer, his hand touching Yu Xue's foot.
"My lord! Zhao Xing is but a friend, you are the true leader!"
"He is as of Sun Ce...I am as of Zhou Yu..."
"Lord-please don't make incorrect conclusions..." Zima Shi's calm voice once again tried to soothe the situation.
"Incorrect?!" Yu Xue turned around to Zima Shi "When was I EVER...incorrect?!"
"Never..." Zima Shi, like his brother, withdrew.
This left Yu Xue to grumble and begin pacing. Li Jishan had finally gotten himself out of the bowed position.
"I am not sure whether I should or should not request that Shu relieve themselves of the Zhao child." Yu Xue stalled before finishing his thoughts "I am not thinking this for myself either..."
"Yes, I know..." Li Jishan thought he knew the finish to that statement. "For Tian Shui as well..."
"No!" Yu Xue once again stamped down his foot, the loud "THUMP" being accompanied by the site of dust clouds kicking up. "For milady..."
"Milady?" Li Jishan pondered for the moment before he finally dissected his memories, figuring out who exactly his fellow talked about. "Milady...Qing...Milady Qing..."
"Indeed..." Yu Xue sighed before gazing out the window. There in the yard, below with children and wives of the fallen people from the battle that had happened before hand, was the ebony haired Qing Yuan. She was memorializing the fallen with a post that she had gotten some men to build and was now easing the women and children of the losses. "Look at her...she didn't deserve for Zhao Xing to be taken away from her..."
"I know that...pssh! I'm not as ignorant as most people."
"But really...it's all in the matter of what Zhao Xing thinks...I will stress his thoughts though...and I will try to bring him back to Qing Yuan."
O O
"GYAH!" Someone struck back the Zhang brothers as they trained in the fields. Their cry of pain was all that was needed to gain the attention of Zhao Xing and company to come there. When the group of five men and one woman gotten there, they saw the Zhang brothers; both Bao and Ren incapacitated and on the ground. Above them loomed a rather tall figure cloaked with a heavy cape and beneath the cape shined forth his full chest armor. The shoulders of the man seemed to be broader as well, only indicating that he had shoulder armor as well.
"You..." Eerie and deep voice came as he stepped forward to confront the now confused and quite scared group. Metal neck choker shined as well, covering his neck area. His voice, though clear and audible, seemed impossible to emit as he wore a dark mask over his mouth. And what stoked Zhao Xing so to become brave and angered was the fact that it looked like a ninja's mask. "You are the final test of my training..."
"What?!" Mei Yi stepped forth, shielding her brother by standing in front of him with arms wide. Forming a human barrier, she only growled and looked on to see what he would do. The unidentified man merely stomped, down upon the ground, the dirt seeming to upturn and such in a miniature quake before she was suddenly thrown off of her feet and onto her backside. Her dress flap went upwards, which to some extent was a weakness the man saw. A metallic drawing was heard as he drew a long, curved sword-broad in width, but nearly crescent shape in how it seemed to stay. He brought the sword down, shooting it straight through the dress and into the ground, pinning her clothes to the ground. "Hey! This is my good dress!"
"Hmph! Weak woman..." He said disgusted at her. "If you don't wish to unclothe yourself, you better stay still. I directed that sword to go through your underskirt as well."
"What?! You damn pervert!" Mei Yi said her blue eyes going icy as she started to tug at the sword, but it didn't budge to any avail.
"Not a pervert...just someone who can make use of every..." Jiang Wei had tried to attack by running to the side and attacking him at the shoulder. But he merely bent himself a bit and then quickly shot his hand up, grabbing Jiang Wei's spear. Throwing him away by mere manipulation of his momentum; the pretty boy strategist's body cut through the air and landed in a bush. "As I was saying-EVERY opening..."
"Who the hell is this guy?!" Guan Suo, the youngest of the Guan brothers shouted out. He was the most youthful looking at age 16, his brother Guan Xing, the broadest of shoulders and wise from studying at the age of 20, and the eldest Guan Ping, who was the leanest and somewhat the better fighter of the Guan brothers at age 24.
"I don't care!" Guan Ping said as he twirled his spear to his side.
"Me neither!" Guan Xing reiterated and backed up his brother by bringing his own spear in front of him, the blade pointing at the enemy.
"Fine, I don't either!" Guan Suo said more reassured in his own confidence. "Let's deal with him and go back to our training."
The brothers started running around the tall, cloaked man, going in different, confusing patterns, but tracing the shape of a pentacle. Before they made the shape thrice with their footsteps, they instantly dashed with their spears raised, all heading in for a kill.
"Funny you mention training..." The masked man said somewhat drearily and then ducked down before Guan Suo's and Guan Xing's spears met, clashing with each other's. Guan Ping took advantage of the ducking and rather prone enemy by thrusting his spear downwards at the man's back. He merely rolled forward to dodge the God of War's son's blow before he spun around and quickly unsheathed a second sword. This sword looked exactly the same as the one he used to pin Mei Yi down. In one spin after he rolled, the Guan brothers were suddenly down, all groaning in pain. Each one had a crack in their armor, most likely where the man had stricken them in that nearly unseen slice. "I want mine to be complete..."
Zhao Xing stepped forward and struck a fighting stance, assuming the 'Rising Dragon' posture by bringing both arms up in what would seem like a boxing stance, but his legs spread apart like the 'Tiger's Fist' stance. Jiang Wei was struggling out of the bushes and both Zhang and Guan were down for the count. For now he'd have to hold his own. Where was his sister by the way?
"Psssssst!" Mei Yi hid behind a large tree and tugged on the back of Zhao Xing's long hair. After turning around to see Mei Yi, he instantly looked to where her clothing was impaled before looking back to her. "Hey!"
"I thought you were trapped!" He said quickly before shifting his eyes to the supposed opponent before looking back to her.
"Yeah...I wanted to get free..." She said before her voice faded and she spoken in a more hushed tone. "I wanted to attack him after I moved, but the sword took the dress and my emergency underskirt..."
"Wha?!"
"I'm naked from the waist down..." She said, turning away from Zhao Xing and her face turning red.
"Well...you can sun tan where the sun doesn't shine..." Xing said in half wit and half idiocy, which only received a slap from Mei Yi.
"I don't need to tan my womanhood!!!" She said, nearly biting his head off as she yelled.
"Alright, alright...don't worry-I got you..." He said as he took off the long shirt that was to serve as an over shirt for his body. He had no undershirt beneath it, but he presented it to his sister. "I didn't sweat, honest..."
"Grr...fine!" She said as she grabbed the long, decorated shirt and tied it around her waist. Stepping out, she looked more like a village girl, the long white 'sheet' shirt looking like a poorly weaved blanket around her waist. "Tacky...but it'll have to do."
"Ahem..." The cloaked man looked at the brother-sister duo before closing his tiger like eyes. "If you two are done fraternizing with each other, I'd like to smash the long haired one's head in..."
"WE ARE NOT FRATERNIZING!" Zhao Xing and Mei Yi shouted at the same time, their mouth widened and their auras seeming to be surrounded by a flame of battle. The large man merely shifted his weight at their anger.
"Feh! I'm Zhao Xing-your downfall, you miscomprehending freak!" He said shouting as he retook his 'Rising Dragon' stance.
"And I'm Bei Ryuren...your reaper, your requiem, your peace and certainly your last sight." The man stepped into full light this time, snowy white hair showing. He didn't look old at all, even though his hair was as white. Grabbing the sword that was currently pinning two skirts to the ground at the moment, he raised now two swords.
"I've never been truly beaten in my right mind. Today, I'm feeling fresh and angry!" He said as a matter of fact. "All the times I lost, something was bothering me!"
"Then I'll be the one who breaks the cycle!" Bei Ryuren's grip on his sword tightened as he swung both downwards, though in normal eyes, they looked like mere lines in the air. Zhao Xing turned to his side, the two swords going by his back and front and giving off a nice breeze to him. Ryuren's black eyes looked down to the smaller Zhao Xing in wonder as he suddenly sprung upwards, disappearing from his sight.
"That's my brother!" Mei Yi shouted out as he disappeared. Soon, she too became confused. It would be several moments before rustling of leaves around came to sound. Everyone who was not unconscious, had their eyes followed the sounds. But Bei Ryuren's eyes quickly widened as he turned to face Zhao Xing who, in fashion of his quickness, delivered a kick to the metal choker. This caused the taller man to stumble backwards as the kick had enough force to seemingly break the metal choker in half. Throwing it away with one quick movement of the hand, he had only point his sword at the lean man before him to tell him to come forth.
"Fine...have it your way!" Xing shouted as he brought himself into a straight dash position, seemingly disappearing in the air before Ryuren's eyes again. But this time, the ninja just sliced in a direction to his right, crimson spilling which was obviously Zhao Xing's. Zhao Xing, grunting as he felt his feet leave the ground and his power failing. When he hit the ground with a large thud, he merely groaned like a hurt child before looking to his thigh, where the swords had hit and left a rather obvious mark. Zhao Mei Yi growled before stepping in, readying herself to knock the shit out of this man. But she only saw the sword of the man being pointed at her self.
"You want to lose more than your clothing?" Bei Ryuren's cold voice shot out like poison from a cobra's fangs. "I'll slice you in half after I kill this nuisance."
Zhao Mei Yi, obviously NOT wanting to be killed, decided to stay and hide in place. Clutching at the thin sheet that her dear brother called a shirt and what she called 'privacy', she looked nervously to her brother and hoped that he'd get up.
"Grah! Not over yet!" Zhao Xing finally sprung up, though his right leg was a bit hunched as he stood in his awkward stance. Hands staying at his side, he was a prime target to be sliced at in a horizontal motion. With this, the White Haired Ninja suddenly spun on his heels to deliver a devastating double sword swing, but found only that Zhao Xing was on the ground, looking like he had completely collapsed. But only few seconds after the initial swing did the young Zhao suddenly went into movement. Xing brought up his fist in an uppercut, sending the chin of the man up and a cry of pain from the strong Bei Ryuren. Not taking his time (and since his leg was disabled at the moment), he went in, delivering a round of blows to the man's upper torso, a metallic bang coming from each punch hurled out. Finally, Zhao Xing wound up his right fist.
"Rising Dragon's..." he shouted while Bei Ryuren took the time to recover and bring his sword into a quick stab, right into the man's left arm. Zhao Xing took no feeling from that poke into his arm, but he quickly brought his fist in forward thrust. The fist connected along with him finishing his stance phrase. "Flaming Fist!"
Bei Ryuren dropped his swords as his body went hurtling into the air. Zhao Mei Yi's eyes closed as she saw him go through a tree, several trees in fact, before he landed on the soft ground. His eyes wide opened, and his pupils somewhat dilated, he looked as though he had seen the living hell. As he laid in the shattered wood and splinters, Mei Yi would suddenly walk over and look over the fallen man. Before her very eyes she'd witness the armor of the man crack open and the shoulder padding suddenly flying off, like a delayed reaction to a much more powerful blow.
"Haha! We kicked the crap outta ya!" She shouted down to the man before looking back to her brother, eyes widening before softening up, tone becoming a harmonious sea blue as she saw her brother. Despite the fact he fainted and blood was trickling down his shoulder, she couldn't help but seeing how at peace he was in. So...she gave up Wu for this crazy guy of a little brother? Yeah, seems like a good trade.
O
O
He Fei Castle was looking tremendously beautiful this day. Pink peach blossoms littered the ground; the trees above were white, giving a stark and rather stunning contrast with the dull stone fortress that the Wu army had occupied. Of course nothing was as splendid as the gorgeous Da Qiao. She took her time walking down the steps and looking down to the black haired woman who was busying herself within the gardens in the second layer of He Fei. Waving to Lien Qiao, she too entered the garden.
"Lien...Lien Qiao..." Da Qiao's form was sort of odd. After boring two children for Sun Ce, she had not become fat from the pounds she gained from the stomach extension. She was cute, petite, and absolutely stunning. And when she was calling her baby sister's name, even the way she called it had a certain grace to it. "Please come here!"
"Yes, I'm coming!" She came over to Da Qiao, bowing her head as she came to the so called 'Most Beautiful Woman of Wu' and only felt a hand on her shoulder in return.
"I think it's time you met your niece and nephew..." Da Qiao said as two figures slowly came from behind their much prominent mother. One was a cute little girl, who seemed barely three years old. She had big eyes, wonderfully happy expression and her brownish colored hair didn't deter the fact that she was a perfect spawn of Da Qiao and Sun Ce. The other figure was a seven or eight year old boy that had a confident, smug smirk on. He looked proud, like his father, and he wasn't cute, rather handsome and very sure of himself. "They're my pride and joys..."
"Aww, Da...I love them!" Bent on her knees and bringing up her arms wide, she awaited for them. "Come on and give your aunt a hug!"
"Sun Chan, Sun Ten - please oblige your aunt." The two rushed from their mother's side and both wrapped their arms around the woman's waist, Lien Qiao giving a rather squeamish squeal before tightening the hug.
"Ah, they're so cute!"
O O
"Feh...so cute indeed..." Lu Xun was leaning back on a pillar while Xiao Qiao was hanging upside down above him by her knees on a short flag pole jutting horizontally out of the pillar. "A real jon'e de bonheur!"
"Aww - don't be so sad Xunie!" Xiao Qiao said in her own eccentric way. Of course, all she was doing was swinging to and fro while she hung from the ceiling.
"But...it's so...degout'er!" Lu Xun grimaced at the family love down at the courtyard before them. "Look, they're playing without any sort of decevoirent!"
"Just because Sun Ce got beaten doesn't mean EVERYTHING is wrong!" Xiao Qiao sang out happily as she unhooked her legs from the pole and turned in midair to land upright. Patting Lu Xun on the back, she only closed her eyes and nodded to him rapidly (Kind of like this: ^_^).
"Just because you're so happy go lucky, mademoiselle!"
"No, I just like being happy in general...and YOU should be happier!"
"You're making me quite mec'ontent, Lady Xiao Qiao."
"If you don't stop being French, you'll stop being Lu Xun!"
"Eh! A thousand pardons, Xiao Qiao-please don't kill me!"
Xiao Qiao approached him holding something behind her back. Each step, Lu Xun just looked at her like she was going to kill him. Every thump of her foot to the floor made his heart skip a beat. He closed his eyes, his forehead shiny with sweat, but he smelled something. Something...good... Opening his eyes, he found Xiao Qiao holding up a bowl of red soup.
"Here, have a taste!" All too scatter brained-this MUST be a trap!
"How do I know it's not poisoned?" Lu Xun questioned most concerned about his own welfare.
"Now see? Why would I poison you? That's just paranoid!" Xiao Qiao took a spoon out of nowhere, scooped some soup up and held it in front of Lu Xun's nose. "See?! Smell! Wow! Good! Good!" (Last part is meant to instill nostalgia from Dynasty Warriors 3)
"It is good!" Taking the spoon and shoving it into his mouth, he would just indulge and enjoy the taste before he felt an odd sensation. His eyes bulging, his hands dropping the spoon and clasping upon his throat, there was inferno in there that he couldn't deny. "No, GAH! Poison! You poisoned me!"
"No silly!" Xiao Qiao sipped from the bowl, cutely smiling before opening her mouth and a puff of smoke coming out in a perfect "O" shape. "Back where I come from, this is the royal cooking!"
"Yeah right!" Lu Xun rushed from his pained position and into the Wu palace. The spicy food was horribly stinging, and he needed immediate relief at the moment...
O O
After a few moments with her sister's children, Lien Qiao turned and started in the other direction. Brown eyes traced the movement of the lightweight man that was dashing behind the support pillars within the Wu Castle of He Fei. She immediately bidden her sister and her children an 'excuse me' to excuse herself. Feminine run ensued as she lifted the front part of her kimono to prevent any tripping and she took off towards where the unidentified figure had gone to.
"GYAH!" It was Lu Xun. He was scooping water out of a nearby storage jug, filling his mouth, gurgling, and then spitting it out. After that much, he scooped more water and began to guzzle it down. Lien Qiao couldn't help herself, after watching such a comic act, she just HAD to laugh. Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, she emitted a small giggle, audible only to him. Lu Xun immediately turned around, eyes wide and producing his sword seemingly out of nowhere. Pointing it towards Lien Qiao, he'd only let out a warm breath, a sigh of relief, before turning, sheathing the sword and going back to his business. "You shouldn't stalk people."
"You shouldn't yell like the world's going to end." Lien Qiao retorted softly.
"Well you try one of Xiao Qiao's ingenious recipes." Lu Xun said smugly to her. Lien Qiao only moved closer to the young strategist and sat by him as he continued to pour water into his mouth.
"Well if I'm not going to let you linger upon the contents of my sister's cooking."
"Of course not milady Lien." Lu Xun had to regard her with respect now. She was, after all, with Wu now.
"And I'm not one to harbor hate and carry grudge, you shouldn't be either." Lien Qiao brought up a hand in front of Lu Xun, who had finally placed the water jug down. Eyeing her soft hand before his chocolate brown eyes went up to examine her face, he'd only nod and take her hand in his and shook it.
"Je vous plains..." Lu Xun said softly. "I'm sorry for hurting you before...I gotten carried away, mademoiselle."
Lien Qiao only smiled at the apology and shook her head at the young strategist.
"It's quite alright."
"And your guardian..." Lu Xun said, pondering the subject and looking from her towards the door. "I am quite sorry for what Lord Lu Meng did to her..."
"Her?" Lien Qiao was a little bit confused. What guardian? What 'her'?
"That tall woman who beaten Zhou Tai when he was off guard..." Lu Xun said, wondering aloud. "Surely you know who I am talking about!"
"Oh!" Lien Qiao only went into fits of giggles and laughter again when she figured out who he was talking about. "That's Zhao Xing, and believe me, he's no she!"
Lu Xun was obviously embarrassed by his false views on the person. Long hair, pretty face, he could've sworn, unless this person was like Zhang He, and no one liked Zhang He down in Shu or Wu.
"A thousand apologies, Lien Qiao, I'm different from you, and you shouldn't expect that I-..." Cut off from his sentence as Lien Qiao raised a finger to her lips to quiet him down before pulling on his hand and leading him outside. Lu Xun's ears suddenly filled with the sounds of vibrant war trumpets and the drums beating. The flutes were being played and the women were singing. The men of the time had come home.
"Lu Xun, our lord has come home!"
Da Qiao was the first one to come to the courtyard, the bruised Sun Ce jumping off of his horse despite the pain, opening his arms and welcoming Da Qiao to embrace him. His children too came, surrounding his waist with their smaller arms. He seemed to just indulge the pleasure of having his family with him, as he closed his eyes and the expression on his face was content as ever. Lu Meng raised his fist up and shouted something that Lu Xun couldn't distinguish, but all soldiers, within the fort and outside, all shouted back in reply, and also gave random cheering to the Navy General. Taishi Ci also shouted in similar manner, gaining the same response. Sun Quan only smiled before he retreated into the palace to tell their elder father of what had happened out in the battlefield.
"Oh-Da Qiao, it's great to be home!" Sun Ce said, overwhelmed by emotion as his children and wife didn't let go of him. "It was a big battle, a victory in more ways than one!"
"My lord?" Da Qiao looked to Sun Ce's marred face "Your handsome face...what happened to it?"
"The most wonderful thing!" Sun Ce exclaimed before unwinding himself from his family. "I've found an opponent worth recognizing! I don't give a damn what happens to Shu now, but I found someone I can fight for fun!"
O O
"Father..." Wise Sun Quan met with the all powerful Sun Jian. Sun Jian was already in his sixties, but he was as strong as ever. As he sat upon his throne, looking to Sun Quan approach him, he'd only nod to greet him welcome. "We've returned with success."
"I've heard, and a great thanks to you..." Sun Jian complemented Sun Quan. "And also to Zhou Yu, both of you were key to the operations."
"Indeed." Sun Quan looked out the nearby window, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu being greeted by the highly concerned Lu Xun and Lien Qiao. Both of them suddenly had a change of expression once the two generals expressed a light atmosphere. Zhou Tai also joined them, bowing to both Sun Ce and the new Qiao before heading off to join Sun Quan and Sun Jian. "We were getting homesick, father..."
"I could imagine..."
"Well," Sun Quan said to reply to his statement "I'm already planning the next attack..."
Gan Ning and Zhou Tai appeared behind Sun Quan, standing behind either shoulder. Both would bow to acknowledge the higher lord, Sun Jian, before they returned to their standing position.
"We'll be having these two..." Sun Quan continued, explaining his plan "Lu Xun and..."
"Who else?" Sun Jian was curious to hear what this plan was.
"Mei Yi...yes...her..." Sun Quan rubbed at his chin "We need to deal with that traitor, so we'll send Ming Jujie and female assassins to deal with her."
"Indeed, you are a good son, Sun Quan..." Sun Quan only grinned at his father's reply before turning, bidding his father adieu before walking to his personal chambers, Gan Ning and Zhou Tai dispersing to their own locations.
O O
"My name is Fa Ping and I challenge you, Zhao Xing!" Muscular young man was there, brunette short hair, steely eyed, and definitely wanting to fight the injured man that was being held up by his sister. "You won't escape...me?"
"Yeah, you keep blabbing; see what happens when HE sees you!" Mei Yi stuck out her tongue at the brown haired man who had the utmost confidence in himself. He brought his hand back, grabbing a scythe that he had previously impaled on a tree.
"Of course, doll!"
"What?!" At her sudden outburst of anger, Mei Yi dropped the sleeping Zhao Xing, his injured form falling lightly to the ground. Also, almost simultaneously, Fa Ping's weapon was ripped from his grasp and thrown away. He was suddenly in a bear hug, unable to escape from it.
"Milady Zhao..." Zhao Mei Yi's expression was very smug at the appearance of their brand new helper and servant to the Han, Bei Ryuren. He had turned and had decided to help Zhao Xing upon his defeat to him, too bad that the young man couldn't be awake to hear of the strong ninja's turning to him. Of course, while Ryuren restrained him, Mei Yi took the liberty of scoffing at Fa Ping's nearly impossible attempt at escape. "Shall I destroy the offender?"
"Yes..." Right when she turned around, Fa Ping shouted out against his death, causing Mei Yi to turn around. "What do you want now?"
"Look, I only wanted to test Lord Zhao's strength!" Fa Ping tried with reason. "I wanted to join him because our causes are similar!"
"Really?" Bei Ryuren didn't believe the young man, immediately bringing his left hand away from the restrain action and drew the steel of his sword. "Prove it or lose it..."
"OK! Don't rush me!" He said, suddenly slipping out of Bei Ryuren's grasp. He just straightened his posture upon this, and smiled to the feisty woman before him. "First of all, I'm just farm boy who happened upon the same faith of Zhao Xing over there..."
"Right and I also style his hair." Sarcastic air about her, Mei Yi wasn't going to trust this man right there and then "He SO loves it when I braid it."
"Anyway..." choosing to ignore the blue eyed wonder's comments, he continued. "Rumor has it that his mother and village were killed in the same fashion as my own farm."
"Indeed..." Bei Ryuren turned from him and started towards a struggling Jiang Wei, helping him up. "He's not to be trusted..."
"Well what about you?" Mei Yi retorted at the previously hardheaded duelist that had lost to her brother.
Bei Ryuren ignored Zhao Mei Yi for the moment, instead helping each one that he had fallen up, and then retrieved each of their weapons, handing it to them personally. He only then, started back and bowed to Mei Yi.
"I sworn my life under Zhao Xing and yourself, and I promised that anyone could kill me or I would kill myself if I betray you or him in any way."
"That is true..." Jiang Wei added, dusting off his knees from the dust. Guan Xing and Guan Suo only nodded with the secondary strategist of Shu before they turned and started off towards the Shu stronghold from which they departed from. Bei Ryuren immediately took his leave, followed by Jiang Wei and Guan Ping, trailing the two Guans that had left. Only Zhao Mei Yi and Zhao Xing remained along with the farm boy, Fa Ping.
"Zhao Mei Yi, the sister of Zhao Xing, correct?" Fa Ping seemed to know just about Zhao Xing. Was he obsessed or just really wanting to join him? "Would it be alright if I said you were really pretty?"
"Are there legends about me too?" She asked, her nose turning red from the comment, but she also thrived from the compliment, turning and striking somewhat of a pose. "I supposed they say I'm the most gorgeous woman out there, huh?"
"No...Not really..." Fa Ping smiled at the personality she displayed before shaking his head. "The legends say that all the woman that went with Zhao Xing were either gorgeous and very violent, or just plain gorgeous."
"Ha! It's almost as if they were just looking at me!" Mei Yi just nodded her head at the 'legends' before she picked up the still knocked out Zhao Xing before looking back to Fa Ping. "Look...I trust you..."
In turn of her comment, Fa Ping went to Zhao Xing's other shoulder, helping her carry their fallen champion.
"Hey, as long as you trust me, I don't think anyone in your camp will have a say about it..."
O O
"Dian Kamo?" The soft-hearted Ming Jujie was talking with the audacious Dian Kamo as they both sat upon a short hill that overlooked the river that the majority of the Wu Navy resided their boats within. "What happens if your army attacks mine? Will we still be friends?"
"Sure will, Ming Jujie..." Young niece of Dian Wei was fiery and true to what she wanted. "I won't let war go between friendships..."
O O
Just as the two women from rival countries had made an oath of unparalleled friendship, one of the many Wu naval ships had exploded into a fiery inferno, engulfing any and all that was within it. There were five, great Wei flagships that surprised all of the Wu personnel. Ming Jujie gasped as she saw her comrades be consumed by the flames and she reached over to her shield and rapier, but she was promptly knocked out by a swift blow to the back of her head by Dian Kamo.
"Sorry kid, I don't want you to get hurt...just rest here and it'll all be over soon..." Dian Kamo signaled one of the Wu guards over to the incapacitated woman before she ran off to the back lines to rejoin her uncle.
O O
The attack was fierce and without mercy. This Wei attack on the Wu ports was obviously a ploy of Sima Yi seeing as how perfectly the men were performing their actions of attacking and then burning. Gigantic burst of crimson and orange went up as swords clashed and fires went across the fields. Lu Meng was the one to arrive at the scene, and the only one to arrive at the scene. Eyes wide and teeth being bared as he shown disgust at the Wei, he decided to ride over to the Captain's lodge. As soon as he kicked the door open, he saw Han Dang and Cheng Pu getting ready and coming out to greet him with salutes. He nodded to them before they went off and started towards the hills that lined the area to the ships. Around two thousand men were coming from the different housings around the area, passing Lu Meng and joining the ranks behind Han Dang and Master Cheng. Lu Meng would only see one of the guards of Cheng Pu come up to him, holding Ming Jujie in his arms, and another holding her weapons. Nodding to both of them, he brought his horse forward, the one with Ming Jujie mounting it, and then he sped off with the knocked out female guard. The one with her weapons looked to Lu Meng before the Navy Commander went behind the lodge and came with a black horse. Giving it to him, he sped off after the two that had ridden towards He Fei. Lu Meng ran to the back and grabbed another horse for himself. He would need to make haste and come back with sizable reinforcements with at least four thousand strong to counter five Wei flagships. With a shout to his horse and an urge onwards, his brown horse's gallop began to fade from the Wu navy's ears.
O O
Cheng Pu and Han Dang were losing men this way and that, cannonades from their tiger cannons was really tearing up their rankings and all they could do was watch as their men also hid in the various hills along with them. It had already been a long while since Lu Meng had gone, and things weren't looking up for them. Blackness of the night and the legions of archers started to disintegrate any sort of hope that was left. Soon, Cheng Pu, the old, graying master of the Serpent Spear was fed up with this. He turned to the flag bearer of Wu, raised him and ordered the man to follow him. As soon as both went up the hill, the flag bearer's head was taken off by the next firing of the tiger cannon. Cheng Pu grabbed the flag himself, raised his spear and charged further up the hill, but as soon as he did, an archer would flex his bow back, and with a mighty shout, Lord Cheng was dead. Cheng Pu's old body crumpled beneath him and his eyes closed. He died, still holding his spear.
Han Dang's eyes widened at the death of his comrade, as did every other man who, in this Navy, had looked up to or admired Cheng Pu. There were also a multitude of officers there who had witnessed one of their greatest generals dying, including Pan Zhang and Jiang Qin. Jiang Qin in particular, ran up the hill, grabbed the flag and turned to the rest of the men left. Each of them, disheartened at Cheng Pu's death, looked to the eager officer.
"LET'S GOOOO!!!" Jiang Qin's body was littered with arrows as soon as he shouted his great shout. He too died, but his body was held up by the Wu flag, which he had impaled into the ground. Every man started to climb the hills, the men dying by the hundreds as they climbed. The Wei army was, at this time, station at the other side of the hill, their spearmen waiting to engage the people who had made it past the arrows their archers barraged them with.
"ONWARD!" Han Dang was left in command, but he didn't let anything bother him. He slid down the hills, throwing his sword straight through a spear wielder's head before taking the spear itself and charging through the Wei's defense line. Pan Zhang jumped over the spear wall and he too went through Wei's defense line. The multitudes of soldiers left, flooded the spearmen's view, and soon, the rest of the army broke through, following the two officers that were left.
"HYAH!" A lieutenant had thrust his spear into a Wei private's abdomen before continuing on and following behind Han Dang. Han Dang would be attacked by a swordsman, and he'd only drop his spear, bring his hand up and clutched the sword by its blunt side. He'd quickly kick the soldier before using the sword to decapitate its owner. But this action had left him open, and a spearman quickly sliced at Han Dang's shoulder. He'd fall from the pain, but before the Wei could finish the commander off, an archer shot an arrow through the Wei. He picked up the commander by his good shoulder and both started off.
"Ready?" Pan Zhang commanded the ten archers that were left to aim at the fifty bowmen of Wei that were aiming at them. They let their own arrows fly, killing three of the archers and injuring one of them, but Pan Zhang held his command clear. "FIRE!"
The Wei archers fell one by one, as the bowmen of Wu were constantly reloading and firing off like they were demons of war. Soon enough, the archer barrier thinned, Pan Zhang called his men to rally them towards the nearest Wei flagship. The lieutenant had taken the flag and was following by Pan Zhang, while Han Dang and his archer, and several men were following close behind. As they traversed into the ship, several of the Wu men had knocked off the foot soldiers that were within, into the water and continued forth. They finally reached the middle of the deck before a line of archers unloaded via a siege from the other ship, lined up before them and flexed their bowstrings. What made matters worst was the Tiger Cannon was turned towards their direction and the private that was there had already lit the firing mechanism.
Han Dang drew out his dagger and bared his teeth, the archer flexed his own bowstring with his last arrow, Pan Zhang's grip on his spear tightened and the lieutenant only clenched upon the flag...then...the Tiger Cannon fired...
O O
I hope you enjoyed this...despite how long it took me to do it...sorry about that! I included the last part, purely because I thought it would spice up the thing a bit. Well, I hope reviews are progressive. Stay sharp, do good in school and play old Playstation and Dreamcast games!
O O
Watch out for the next chapter
"My Dear Shi Liu"
Zhao Xing: No preview this time! Use your imagination, see ya!
POLL 2: Are there any sort of Mary-Sue, Marty-Sam, characteristics any of the other character has? Any of them that annoy you, if not anything can be added to the character?
POLL 3: Who's your favorite original character? (Not counting the one you made)
POLL 4: Any fantasy pairings in mind? (Original Characters only)
POLL 4: What should the next chapter be about?
Include your answers at the end of your reviews. You must include a review or I'll delete the poll answer. Also, take note that this poll WILL affect the storyline.
Endless Duels
The scene was the Wei prison building
Shen Xiu was lying atop of her bed, sighing, before a Wei guard came in. The guard, confused at her positioning, only approached her with spear in hand.
"You, woman, what happened to your bands?"
"..." Shen Xiu only sighed once more after the silent stare she gave the guard. The guard, annoyed at her actions, started to advance further mumbling curses at the same time.
"You will answer when-GYAH!" Cao Kai was right behind the guard, hiding behind the door when it was opened. When the guard had advanced far enough, Cao Kai had jumped out and immediately snapped the man's neck with one swift motion.
Cao Kai's form suddenly exploded into a lithe motion as he dashed out of the room, re-took his spear that was taken from him, and looked at it. The blade was still shining, the metal tip untainted. Cao Kai's eyes narrowed at that thought. It WILL be tainted soon.
Shen Xiu also jumped off of the bed, running to Cao Kai's side and retaking her own spear and joining him. Cao Kai looked to Shen Xiu, both their eyes locking before they nodded to each other and then dashed off into different directions.
O O
Shen Xiu dashed down the main hallway, her thoughts on Cao Kai's plan and rethinking them through her head as she dashed down the hallway. Cheongsam's flap flailed this way and that as her lightweight form was gliding down the hallway. Suddenly guards had come, the Wei finally getting hold of the knocked out guard that was supposed to guard the prisoners. Shen Xiu shrugged off their appearance as she ran before her legs tensed and immediately she took off the ground. Her jumping took the guards by surprise, since this was of course an indoor area, and the immediately tried to take their swords up to her. But it was too late, Shen Xiu's boots made contact with two of their faces, and before she even landed from that, she kicked off of their faces, and twirled in the air, her spear cutting every other guard that was still up after that.
"..." Her silent self just took in the sight of blood before she looked to the window that was after this hall, dashed forth and dived out of this area.
O O
Cao Kai's form came under attack by arrows. But he was way too fast to be hit by arrows, especially indoors. There were nearby support pillars, and as the archers tried to kill him with their bows and arrows, Cao Kai was switching between pillars, almost invisible to the human eye as he stayed within the shadows. The group of archers, not at all liking their query gone, advanced to the pillar from where they last saw Cao Kai. The last man of the group was unlucky though, as he was immediately impaled through the stomach. When the group turned around to see what had happened, they only saw their brother in arms dead on the ground.
"You two, go into the pillar area, NOW!" The lead archer commanded his underlings and they obeyed, drawing their short swords and heading into the shadowy area. But the commander heard no footsteps after the few seconds they had gone in. Soon, two bloody heads were at his feet and the commander only kicked those heads back into the shadows. He looked to the rest of his men, pointing at the shadows.
"Kill him!!!" Indeed, all of them drew their swords, charged in and shouted. But their shouts quickly turned from that of a battle cry to that of a fearful man. And each fearful man's voice shut off from the world one by one. It wasn't long before the feet of the commander was drenched in blood by his own men. Now fully afraid, he turned around to retreat, but was only met by the youth's dark chocolate colored eyes. "C-c-cao Kai!"
"Greetings..." Cao Kai smiled at the commander before stabbing one of the archer's short swords into his stomach. The commander only choked out, before falling back, dead and no longer breathing. "Now die..."
O
O
Shen Xiu fell down the window and onto the horse that was there. Cao Kai had indeed remembered where his former army had set the horses in. Shen Xiu looked up and saw Cao Kai jumping out of the window before joining her side upon a dark black horse that was next to her own.
"...Good plan." Shen Xiu admitted as Cao Kai readied his mare.
"I know...let's make haste out of this place..." Cao Kai pushed his horse forth, it heading out of the fort area and out the open gates. Shen Xiu also rushed out of the gate upon her horse, both of them escaping. The guards that were supposed to be at the gate were dead...Zhang He had previously killed them out of one his angry outbursts.
O O
Li Jishan was sitting with the Zima brothers. Zima Shi was busy drinking his wine, while Zima Shao was sleeping on his brother's shoulder. Of course, the face on Zima Shi indicated he was very annoyed at his brother using him as a sleeping mat and had taken the liberty to pour some wine on his brother's crotch. All the while Li Jishan was snickering.
"This should teach him to call me a 'rooster-head'...damn him." Zima Shi had fully drenched that part, and Zima Shao made no move to retaliate. Of course when Yu Xue had come in, Zima Shi and Li Jishan had made all proper postures. They were still in what was left of Yu Xue's fortress.
"Stand at attention my brave men."
"Sir!"
"Of course..." With Zima Shi moving, Zima Shao's head fell from his resting spot to the floor. Of course with the pain waking him up, he immediately bolted up, grasping at his ear.
"GRAAAH!!!" Zima Shao was in pain...oh yes.
"Dear Shao, what is your problem?" Zima Shi looked to his right and smiled at his more audacious brother.
"God damn it! Shi, I'm going get you!" Zima Shao growled as he took a weapon from the floor but was quickly smacked in the back of the head by Yu Xue.
"Both of you, stop it and- oh my lord..." Yu Xue's eyes widened as he saw what he thought was an 'accident' dripping from Zima Shao. Again slapping him in the back of the head, he growled and glared at the laughing Li Jishan and Zima Shi. "That was unnecessary, both your little mishap and you two laughing are quite unneeded! We even have a lady here!"
"You mean that Qing Yuan chick-OW!" Zima Shao's head was smacked by Zima Shi this time.
"Don't speak with such disrespect about her."
"What the hell am I supposed to call her anyway?!"
"How about 'Milady Qing'?"
"Or not..." Li Jishan was opposed to the idea, but in no matter would he refer to the woman as 'chick'. It was just disrespectful.
"Don't get any ideas, people...I need some able soldiers, some friends who could watch each other's backs, not call each other names!" Yu Xue pointed to each of them; meanwhile Zima Shao was wiping off the wine that Zima Shi had spilled on him. Zima Shi was the next one to speak.
"My lord-what of that Zhao Xing boy?" Zima Shi asked of the younger man that had graced their presence with superior hand to hand abilities and courage beyond the normal soldier's. Zima Shi's dark brown eyes trail to the leader of their troops.
"He went over to Shu, obviously..." Yu Xue replied "I still have no idea how to bring him to his senses..."
"Yes..." Zima Shi would again be the one to reply to Yu Xue "Kingdoms only destroy. We can not have three kingdoms within our own country."
"Countrymen versus countrymen!" Zima Shao shouted in a sort of misled glee "I can slaughter my fellow man without being held accounted for it!"
"Not true, I hate to be able to fight so aimlessly against our fellow man." Yu Xue said as he turned his head, disgusted by Zima Shao. Zima Shi and Li Jishan both shot the man a glare for making their leader depressed in mood once more. Zima Shao at once knew he was at fault and immediately withdrew from the area. Yu Xue would reminisce about the men lost from the previous battle before turning to his generals. Li Jishan would speak first, his strong, youthful voice filling the empty air.
"Sir, what troubles you?" Li Jishan's query was quickly answered.
"We have no leader..." Li Jishan and Zima Shi's eyes widened at the remark
"Sir, you are able, strong and wise..." Zima Shi's knee bent as he went down and knelt before Yu Xue, respect given with a nod of his head and bowing of the body. Li Jishan went in a similar manner, bowing to Yu Xue. "You brought me and my brother back together!"
"Yes, and you brought me to realize my true purpose!" Li Jishan bowed lower, his forehead touching the ground. "I am here to serve Tian Shui and to serve you, my lord!"
Yu Xue's eyes widened in anger, his brown eyes seeming to lighten in color to show his aggravation, and he stomped his foot to signify that he was angered.
"We had an effective leader in Zhao Xing!" Yu Xue shouted in his frustration, causing his hands which were balled into fists to shake. "I can rile the troops, I can drive men away...but what use is it when I can only guide this town?"
Li Jishan crawled closer, his hand touching Yu Xue's foot.
"My lord! Zhao Xing is but a friend, you are the true leader!"
"He is as of Sun Ce...I am as of Zhou Yu..."
"Lord-please don't make incorrect conclusions..." Zima Shi's calm voice once again tried to soothe the situation.
"Incorrect?!" Yu Xue turned around to Zima Shi "When was I EVER...incorrect?!"
"Never..." Zima Shi, like his brother, withdrew.
This left Yu Xue to grumble and begin pacing. Li Jishan had finally gotten himself out of the bowed position.
"I am not sure whether I should or should not request that Shu relieve themselves of the Zhao child." Yu Xue stalled before finishing his thoughts "I am not thinking this for myself either..."
"Yes, I know..." Li Jishan thought he knew the finish to that statement. "For Tian Shui as well..."
"No!" Yu Xue once again stamped down his foot, the loud "THUMP" being accompanied by the site of dust clouds kicking up. "For milady..."
"Milady?" Li Jishan pondered for the moment before he finally dissected his memories, figuring out who exactly his fellow talked about. "Milady...Qing...Milady Qing..."
"Indeed..." Yu Xue sighed before gazing out the window. There in the yard, below with children and wives of the fallen people from the battle that had happened before hand, was the ebony haired Qing Yuan. She was memorializing the fallen with a post that she had gotten some men to build and was now easing the women and children of the losses. "Look at her...she didn't deserve for Zhao Xing to be taken away from her..."
"I know that...pssh! I'm not as ignorant as most people."
"But really...it's all in the matter of what Zhao Xing thinks...I will stress his thoughts though...and I will try to bring him back to Qing Yuan."
O O
"GYAH!" Someone struck back the Zhang brothers as they trained in the fields. Their cry of pain was all that was needed to gain the attention of Zhao Xing and company to come there. When the group of five men and one woman gotten there, they saw the Zhang brothers; both Bao and Ren incapacitated and on the ground. Above them loomed a rather tall figure cloaked with a heavy cape and beneath the cape shined forth his full chest armor. The shoulders of the man seemed to be broader as well, only indicating that he had shoulder armor as well.
"You..." Eerie and deep voice came as he stepped forward to confront the now confused and quite scared group. Metal neck choker shined as well, covering his neck area. His voice, though clear and audible, seemed impossible to emit as he wore a dark mask over his mouth. And what stoked Zhao Xing so to become brave and angered was the fact that it looked like a ninja's mask. "You are the final test of my training..."
"What?!" Mei Yi stepped forth, shielding her brother by standing in front of him with arms wide. Forming a human barrier, she only growled and looked on to see what he would do. The unidentified man merely stomped, down upon the ground, the dirt seeming to upturn and such in a miniature quake before she was suddenly thrown off of her feet and onto her backside. Her dress flap went upwards, which to some extent was a weakness the man saw. A metallic drawing was heard as he drew a long, curved sword-broad in width, but nearly crescent shape in how it seemed to stay. He brought the sword down, shooting it straight through the dress and into the ground, pinning her clothes to the ground. "Hey! This is my good dress!"
"Hmph! Weak woman..." He said disgusted at her. "If you don't wish to unclothe yourself, you better stay still. I directed that sword to go through your underskirt as well."
"What?! You damn pervert!" Mei Yi said her blue eyes going icy as she started to tug at the sword, but it didn't budge to any avail.
"Not a pervert...just someone who can make use of every..." Jiang Wei had tried to attack by running to the side and attacking him at the shoulder. But he merely bent himself a bit and then quickly shot his hand up, grabbing Jiang Wei's spear. Throwing him away by mere manipulation of his momentum; the pretty boy strategist's body cut through the air and landed in a bush. "As I was saying-EVERY opening..."
"Who the hell is this guy?!" Guan Suo, the youngest of the Guan brothers shouted out. He was the most youthful looking at age 16, his brother Guan Xing, the broadest of shoulders and wise from studying at the age of 20, and the eldest Guan Ping, who was the leanest and somewhat the better fighter of the Guan brothers at age 24.
"I don't care!" Guan Ping said as he twirled his spear to his side.
"Me neither!" Guan Xing reiterated and backed up his brother by bringing his own spear in front of him, the blade pointing at the enemy.
"Fine, I don't either!" Guan Suo said more reassured in his own confidence. "Let's deal with him and go back to our training."
The brothers started running around the tall, cloaked man, going in different, confusing patterns, but tracing the shape of a pentacle. Before they made the shape thrice with their footsteps, they instantly dashed with their spears raised, all heading in for a kill.
"Funny you mention training..." The masked man said somewhat drearily and then ducked down before Guan Suo's and Guan Xing's spears met, clashing with each other's. Guan Ping took advantage of the ducking and rather prone enemy by thrusting his spear downwards at the man's back. He merely rolled forward to dodge the God of War's son's blow before he spun around and quickly unsheathed a second sword. This sword looked exactly the same as the one he used to pin Mei Yi down. In one spin after he rolled, the Guan brothers were suddenly down, all groaning in pain. Each one had a crack in their armor, most likely where the man had stricken them in that nearly unseen slice. "I want mine to be complete..."
Zhao Xing stepped forward and struck a fighting stance, assuming the 'Rising Dragon' posture by bringing both arms up in what would seem like a boxing stance, but his legs spread apart like the 'Tiger's Fist' stance. Jiang Wei was struggling out of the bushes and both Zhang and Guan were down for the count. For now he'd have to hold his own. Where was his sister by the way?
"Psssssst!" Mei Yi hid behind a large tree and tugged on the back of Zhao Xing's long hair. After turning around to see Mei Yi, he instantly looked to where her clothing was impaled before looking back to her. "Hey!"
"I thought you were trapped!" He said quickly before shifting his eyes to the supposed opponent before looking back to her.
"Yeah...I wanted to get free..." She said before her voice faded and she spoken in a more hushed tone. "I wanted to attack him after I moved, but the sword took the dress and my emergency underskirt..."
"Wha?!"
"I'm naked from the waist down..." She said, turning away from Zhao Xing and her face turning red.
"Well...you can sun tan where the sun doesn't shine..." Xing said in half wit and half idiocy, which only received a slap from Mei Yi.
"I don't need to tan my womanhood!!!" She said, nearly biting his head off as she yelled.
"Alright, alright...don't worry-I got you..." He said as he took off the long shirt that was to serve as an over shirt for his body. He had no undershirt beneath it, but he presented it to his sister. "I didn't sweat, honest..."
"Grr...fine!" She said as she grabbed the long, decorated shirt and tied it around her waist. Stepping out, she looked more like a village girl, the long white 'sheet' shirt looking like a poorly weaved blanket around her waist. "Tacky...but it'll have to do."
"Ahem..." The cloaked man looked at the brother-sister duo before closing his tiger like eyes. "If you two are done fraternizing with each other, I'd like to smash the long haired one's head in..."
"WE ARE NOT FRATERNIZING!" Zhao Xing and Mei Yi shouted at the same time, their mouth widened and their auras seeming to be surrounded by a flame of battle. The large man merely shifted his weight at their anger.
"Feh! I'm Zhao Xing-your downfall, you miscomprehending freak!" He said shouting as he retook his 'Rising Dragon' stance.
"And I'm Bei Ryuren...your reaper, your requiem, your peace and certainly your last sight." The man stepped into full light this time, snowy white hair showing. He didn't look old at all, even though his hair was as white. Grabbing the sword that was currently pinning two skirts to the ground at the moment, he raised now two swords.
"I've never been truly beaten in my right mind. Today, I'm feeling fresh and angry!" He said as a matter of fact. "All the times I lost, something was bothering me!"
"Then I'll be the one who breaks the cycle!" Bei Ryuren's grip on his sword tightened as he swung both downwards, though in normal eyes, they looked like mere lines in the air. Zhao Xing turned to his side, the two swords going by his back and front and giving off a nice breeze to him. Ryuren's black eyes looked down to the smaller Zhao Xing in wonder as he suddenly sprung upwards, disappearing from his sight.
"That's my brother!" Mei Yi shouted out as he disappeared. Soon, she too became confused. It would be several moments before rustling of leaves around came to sound. Everyone who was not unconscious, had their eyes followed the sounds. But Bei Ryuren's eyes quickly widened as he turned to face Zhao Xing who, in fashion of his quickness, delivered a kick to the metal choker. This caused the taller man to stumble backwards as the kick had enough force to seemingly break the metal choker in half. Throwing it away with one quick movement of the hand, he had only point his sword at the lean man before him to tell him to come forth.
"Fine...have it your way!" Xing shouted as he brought himself into a straight dash position, seemingly disappearing in the air before Ryuren's eyes again. But this time, the ninja just sliced in a direction to his right, crimson spilling which was obviously Zhao Xing's. Zhao Xing, grunting as he felt his feet leave the ground and his power failing. When he hit the ground with a large thud, he merely groaned like a hurt child before looking to his thigh, where the swords had hit and left a rather obvious mark. Zhao Mei Yi growled before stepping in, readying herself to knock the shit out of this man. But she only saw the sword of the man being pointed at her self.
"You want to lose more than your clothing?" Bei Ryuren's cold voice shot out like poison from a cobra's fangs. "I'll slice you in half after I kill this nuisance."
Zhao Mei Yi, obviously NOT wanting to be killed, decided to stay and hide in place. Clutching at the thin sheet that her dear brother called a shirt and what she called 'privacy', she looked nervously to her brother and hoped that he'd get up.
"Grah! Not over yet!" Zhao Xing finally sprung up, though his right leg was a bit hunched as he stood in his awkward stance. Hands staying at his side, he was a prime target to be sliced at in a horizontal motion. With this, the White Haired Ninja suddenly spun on his heels to deliver a devastating double sword swing, but found only that Zhao Xing was on the ground, looking like he had completely collapsed. But only few seconds after the initial swing did the young Zhao suddenly went into movement. Xing brought up his fist in an uppercut, sending the chin of the man up and a cry of pain from the strong Bei Ryuren. Not taking his time (and since his leg was disabled at the moment), he went in, delivering a round of blows to the man's upper torso, a metallic bang coming from each punch hurled out. Finally, Zhao Xing wound up his right fist.
"Rising Dragon's..." he shouted while Bei Ryuren took the time to recover and bring his sword into a quick stab, right into the man's left arm. Zhao Xing took no feeling from that poke into his arm, but he quickly brought his fist in forward thrust. The fist connected along with him finishing his stance phrase. "Flaming Fist!"
Bei Ryuren dropped his swords as his body went hurtling into the air. Zhao Mei Yi's eyes closed as she saw him go through a tree, several trees in fact, before he landed on the soft ground. His eyes wide opened, and his pupils somewhat dilated, he looked as though he had seen the living hell. As he laid in the shattered wood and splinters, Mei Yi would suddenly walk over and look over the fallen man. Before her very eyes she'd witness the armor of the man crack open and the shoulder padding suddenly flying off, like a delayed reaction to a much more powerful blow.
"Haha! We kicked the crap outta ya!" She shouted down to the man before looking back to her brother, eyes widening before softening up, tone becoming a harmonious sea blue as she saw her brother. Despite the fact he fainted and blood was trickling down his shoulder, she couldn't help but seeing how at peace he was in. So...she gave up Wu for this crazy guy of a little brother? Yeah, seems like a good trade.
O
O
He Fei Castle was looking tremendously beautiful this day. Pink peach blossoms littered the ground; the trees above were white, giving a stark and rather stunning contrast with the dull stone fortress that the Wu army had occupied. Of course nothing was as splendid as the gorgeous Da Qiao. She took her time walking down the steps and looking down to the black haired woman who was busying herself within the gardens in the second layer of He Fei. Waving to Lien Qiao, she too entered the garden.
"Lien...Lien Qiao..." Da Qiao's form was sort of odd. After boring two children for Sun Ce, she had not become fat from the pounds she gained from the stomach extension. She was cute, petite, and absolutely stunning. And when she was calling her baby sister's name, even the way she called it had a certain grace to it. "Please come here!"
"Yes, I'm coming!" She came over to Da Qiao, bowing her head as she came to the so called 'Most Beautiful Woman of Wu' and only felt a hand on her shoulder in return.
"I think it's time you met your niece and nephew..." Da Qiao said as two figures slowly came from behind their much prominent mother. One was a cute little girl, who seemed barely three years old. She had big eyes, wonderfully happy expression and her brownish colored hair didn't deter the fact that she was a perfect spawn of Da Qiao and Sun Ce. The other figure was a seven or eight year old boy that had a confident, smug smirk on. He looked proud, like his father, and he wasn't cute, rather handsome and very sure of himself. "They're my pride and joys..."
"Aww, Da...I love them!" Bent on her knees and bringing up her arms wide, she awaited for them. "Come on and give your aunt a hug!"
"Sun Chan, Sun Ten - please oblige your aunt." The two rushed from their mother's side and both wrapped their arms around the woman's waist, Lien Qiao giving a rather squeamish squeal before tightening the hug.
"Ah, they're so cute!"
O O
"Feh...so cute indeed..." Lu Xun was leaning back on a pillar while Xiao Qiao was hanging upside down above him by her knees on a short flag pole jutting horizontally out of the pillar. "A real jon'e de bonheur!"
"Aww - don't be so sad Xunie!" Xiao Qiao said in her own eccentric way. Of course, all she was doing was swinging to and fro while she hung from the ceiling.
"But...it's so...degout'er!" Lu Xun grimaced at the family love down at the courtyard before them. "Look, they're playing without any sort of decevoirent!"
"Just because Sun Ce got beaten doesn't mean EVERYTHING is wrong!" Xiao Qiao sang out happily as she unhooked her legs from the pole and turned in midair to land upright. Patting Lu Xun on the back, she only closed her eyes and nodded to him rapidly (Kind of like this: ^_^).
"Just because you're so happy go lucky, mademoiselle!"
"No, I just like being happy in general...and YOU should be happier!"
"You're making me quite mec'ontent, Lady Xiao Qiao."
"If you don't stop being French, you'll stop being Lu Xun!"
"Eh! A thousand pardons, Xiao Qiao-please don't kill me!"
Xiao Qiao approached him holding something behind her back. Each step, Lu Xun just looked at her like she was going to kill him. Every thump of her foot to the floor made his heart skip a beat. He closed his eyes, his forehead shiny with sweat, but he smelled something. Something...good... Opening his eyes, he found Xiao Qiao holding up a bowl of red soup.
"Here, have a taste!" All too scatter brained-this MUST be a trap!
"How do I know it's not poisoned?" Lu Xun questioned most concerned about his own welfare.
"Now see? Why would I poison you? That's just paranoid!" Xiao Qiao took a spoon out of nowhere, scooped some soup up and held it in front of Lu Xun's nose. "See?! Smell! Wow! Good! Good!" (Last part is meant to instill nostalgia from Dynasty Warriors 3)
"It is good!" Taking the spoon and shoving it into his mouth, he would just indulge and enjoy the taste before he felt an odd sensation. His eyes bulging, his hands dropping the spoon and clasping upon his throat, there was inferno in there that he couldn't deny. "No, GAH! Poison! You poisoned me!"
"No silly!" Xiao Qiao sipped from the bowl, cutely smiling before opening her mouth and a puff of smoke coming out in a perfect "O" shape. "Back where I come from, this is the royal cooking!"
"Yeah right!" Lu Xun rushed from his pained position and into the Wu palace. The spicy food was horribly stinging, and he needed immediate relief at the moment...
O O
After a few moments with her sister's children, Lien Qiao turned and started in the other direction. Brown eyes traced the movement of the lightweight man that was dashing behind the support pillars within the Wu Castle of He Fei. She immediately bidden her sister and her children an 'excuse me' to excuse herself. Feminine run ensued as she lifted the front part of her kimono to prevent any tripping and she took off towards where the unidentified figure had gone to.
"GYAH!" It was Lu Xun. He was scooping water out of a nearby storage jug, filling his mouth, gurgling, and then spitting it out. After that much, he scooped more water and began to guzzle it down. Lien Qiao couldn't help herself, after watching such a comic act, she just HAD to laugh. Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, she emitted a small giggle, audible only to him. Lu Xun immediately turned around, eyes wide and producing his sword seemingly out of nowhere. Pointing it towards Lien Qiao, he'd only let out a warm breath, a sigh of relief, before turning, sheathing the sword and going back to his business. "You shouldn't stalk people."
"You shouldn't yell like the world's going to end." Lien Qiao retorted softly.
"Well you try one of Xiao Qiao's ingenious recipes." Lu Xun said smugly to her. Lien Qiao only moved closer to the young strategist and sat by him as he continued to pour water into his mouth.
"Well if I'm not going to let you linger upon the contents of my sister's cooking."
"Of course not milady Lien." Lu Xun had to regard her with respect now. She was, after all, with Wu now.
"And I'm not one to harbor hate and carry grudge, you shouldn't be either." Lien Qiao brought up a hand in front of Lu Xun, who had finally placed the water jug down. Eyeing her soft hand before his chocolate brown eyes went up to examine her face, he'd only nod and take her hand in his and shook it.
"Je vous plains..." Lu Xun said softly. "I'm sorry for hurting you before...I gotten carried away, mademoiselle."
Lien Qiao only smiled at the apology and shook her head at the young strategist.
"It's quite alright."
"And your guardian..." Lu Xun said, pondering the subject and looking from her towards the door. "I am quite sorry for what Lord Lu Meng did to her..."
"Her?" Lien Qiao was a little bit confused. What guardian? What 'her'?
"That tall woman who beaten Zhou Tai when he was off guard..." Lu Xun said, wondering aloud. "Surely you know who I am talking about!"
"Oh!" Lien Qiao only went into fits of giggles and laughter again when she figured out who he was talking about. "That's Zhao Xing, and believe me, he's no she!"
Lu Xun was obviously embarrassed by his false views on the person. Long hair, pretty face, he could've sworn, unless this person was like Zhang He, and no one liked Zhang He down in Shu or Wu.
"A thousand apologies, Lien Qiao, I'm different from you, and you shouldn't expect that I-..." Cut off from his sentence as Lien Qiao raised a finger to her lips to quiet him down before pulling on his hand and leading him outside. Lu Xun's ears suddenly filled with the sounds of vibrant war trumpets and the drums beating. The flutes were being played and the women were singing. The men of the time had come home.
"Lu Xun, our lord has come home!"
Da Qiao was the first one to come to the courtyard, the bruised Sun Ce jumping off of his horse despite the pain, opening his arms and welcoming Da Qiao to embrace him. His children too came, surrounding his waist with their smaller arms. He seemed to just indulge the pleasure of having his family with him, as he closed his eyes and the expression on his face was content as ever. Lu Meng raised his fist up and shouted something that Lu Xun couldn't distinguish, but all soldiers, within the fort and outside, all shouted back in reply, and also gave random cheering to the Navy General. Taishi Ci also shouted in similar manner, gaining the same response. Sun Quan only smiled before he retreated into the palace to tell their elder father of what had happened out in the battlefield.
"Oh-Da Qiao, it's great to be home!" Sun Ce said, overwhelmed by emotion as his children and wife didn't let go of him. "It was a big battle, a victory in more ways than one!"
"My lord?" Da Qiao looked to Sun Ce's marred face "Your handsome face...what happened to it?"
"The most wonderful thing!" Sun Ce exclaimed before unwinding himself from his family. "I've found an opponent worth recognizing! I don't give a damn what happens to Shu now, but I found someone I can fight for fun!"
O O
"Father..." Wise Sun Quan met with the all powerful Sun Jian. Sun Jian was already in his sixties, but he was as strong as ever. As he sat upon his throne, looking to Sun Quan approach him, he'd only nod to greet him welcome. "We've returned with success."
"I've heard, and a great thanks to you..." Sun Jian complemented Sun Quan. "And also to Zhou Yu, both of you were key to the operations."
"Indeed." Sun Quan looked out the nearby window, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu being greeted by the highly concerned Lu Xun and Lien Qiao. Both of them suddenly had a change of expression once the two generals expressed a light atmosphere. Zhou Tai also joined them, bowing to both Sun Ce and the new Qiao before heading off to join Sun Quan and Sun Jian. "We were getting homesick, father..."
"I could imagine..."
"Well," Sun Quan said to reply to his statement "I'm already planning the next attack..."
Gan Ning and Zhou Tai appeared behind Sun Quan, standing behind either shoulder. Both would bow to acknowledge the higher lord, Sun Jian, before they returned to their standing position.
"We'll be having these two..." Sun Quan continued, explaining his plan "Lu Xun and..."
"Who else?" Sun Jian was curious to hear what this plan was.
"Mei Yi...yes...her..." Sun Quan rubbed at his chin "We need to deal with that traitor, so we'll send Ming Jujie and female assassins to deal with her."
"Indeed, you are a good son, Sun Quan..." Sun Quan only grinned at his father's reply before turning, bidding his father adieu before walking to his personal chambers, Gan Ning and Zhou Tai dispersing to their own locations.
O O
"My name is Fa Ping and I challenge you, Zhao Xing!" Muscular young man was there, brunette short hair, steely eyed, and definitely wanting to fight the injured man that was being held up by his sister. "You won't escape...me?"
"Yeah, you keep blabbing; see what happens when HE sees you!" Mei Yi stuck out her tongue at the brown haired man who had the utmost confidence in himself. He brought his hand back, grabbing a scythe that he had previously impaled on a tree.
"Of course, doll!"
"What?!" At her sudden outburst of anger, Mei Yi dropped the sleeping Zhao Xing, his injured form falling lightly to the ground. Also, almost simultaneously, Fa Ping's weapon was ripped from his grasp and thrown away. He was suddenly in a bear hug, unable to escape from it.
"Milady Zhao..." Zhao Mei Yi's expression was very smug at the appearance of their brand new helper and servant to the Han, Bei Ryuren. He had turned and had decided to help Zhao Xing upon his defeat to him, too bad that the young man couldn't be awake to hear of the strong ninja's turning to him. Of course, while Ryuren restrained him, Mei Yi took the liberty of scoffing at Fa Ping's nearly impossible attempt at escape. "Shall I destroy the offender?"
"Yes..." Right when she turned around, Fa Ping shouted out against his death, causing Mei Yi to turn around. "What do you want now?"
"Look, I only wanted to test Lord Zhao's strength!" Fa Ping tried with reason. "I wanted to join him because our causes are similar!"
"Really?" Bei Ryuren didn't believe the young man, immediately bringing his left hand away from the restrain action and drew the steel of his sword. "Prove it or lose it..."
"OK! Don't rush me!" He said, suddenly slipping out of Bei Ryuren's grasp. He just straightened his posture upon this, and smiled to the feisty woman before him. "First of all, I'm just farm boy who happened upon the same faith of Zhao Xing over there..."
"Right and I also style his hair." Sarcastic air about her, Mei Yi wasn't going to trust this man right there and then "He SO loves it when I braid it."
"Anyway..." choosing to ignore the blue eyed wonder's comments, he continued. "Rumor has it that his mother and village were killed in the same fashion as my own farm."
"Indeed..." Bei Ryuren turned from him and started towards a struggling Jiang Wei, helping him up. "He's not to be trusted..."
"Well what about you?" Mei Yi retorted at the previously hardheaded duelist that had lost to her brother.
Bei Ryuren ignored Zhao Mei Yi for the moment, instead helping each one that he had fallen up, and then retrieved each of their weapons, handing it to them personally. He only then, started back and bowed to Mei Yi.
"I sworn my life under Zhao Xing and yourself, and I promised that anyone could kill me or I would kill myself if I betray you or him in any way."
"That is true..." Jiang Wei added, dusting off his knees from the dust. Guan Xing and Guan Suo only nodded with the secondary strategist of Shu before they turned and started off towards the Shu stronghold from which they departed from. Bei Ryuren immediately took his leave, followed by Jiang Wei and Guan Ping, trailing the two Guans that had left. Only Zhao Mei Yi and Zhao Xing remained along with the farm boy, Fa Ping.
"Zhao Mei Yi, the sister of Zhao Xing, correct?" Fa Ping seemed to know just about Zhao Xing. Was he obsessed or just really wanting to join him? "Would it be alright if I said you were really pretty?"
"Are there legends about me too?" She asked, her nose turning red from the comment, but she also thrived from the compliment, turning and striking somewhat of a pose. "I supposed they say I'm the most gorgeous woman out there, huh?"
"No...Not really..." Fa Ping smiled at the personality she displayed before shaking his head. "The legends say that all the woman that went with Zhao Xing were either gorgeous and very violent, or just plain gorgeous."
"Ha! It's almost as if they were just looking at me!" Mei Yi just nodded her head at the 'legends' before she picked up the still knocked out Zhao Xing before looking back to Fa Ping. "Look...I trust you..."
In turn of her comment, Fa Ping went to Zhao Xing's other shoulder, helping her carry their fallen champion.
"Hey, as long as you trust me, I don't think anyone in your camp will have a say about it..."
O O
"Dian Kamo?" The soft-hearted Ming Jujie was talking with the audacious Dian Kamo as they both sat upon a short hill that overlooked the river that the majority of the Wu Navy resided their boats within. "What happens if your army attacks mine? Will we still be friends?"
"Sure will, Ming Jujie..." Young niece of Dian Wei was fiery and true to what she wanted. "I won't let war go between friendships..."
O O
Just as the two women from rival countries had made an oath of unparalleled friendship, one of the many Wu naval ships had exploded into a fiery inferno, engulfing any and all that was within it. There were five, great Wei flagships that surprised all of the Wu personnel. Ming Jujie gasped as she saw her comrades be consumed by the flames and she reached over to her shield and rapier, but she was promptly knocked out by a swift blow to the back of her head by Dian Kamo.
"Sorry kid, I don't want you to get hurt...just rest here and it'll all be over soon..." Dian Kamo signaled one of the Wu guards over to the incapacitated woman before she ran off to the back lines to rejoin her uncle.
O O
The attack was fierce and without mercy. This Wei attack on the Wu ports was obviously a ploy of Sima Yi seeing as how perfectly the men were performing their actions of attacking and then burning. Gigantic burst of crimson and orange went up as swords clashed and fires went across the fields. Lu Meng was the one to arrive at the scene, and the only one to arrive at the scene. Eyes wide and teeth being bared as he shown disgust at the Wei, he decided to ride over to the Captain's lodge. As soon as he kicked the door open, he saw Han Dang and Cheng Pu getting ready and coming out to greet him with salutes. He nodded to them before they went off and started towards the hills that lined the area to the ships. Around two thousand men were coming from the different housings around the area, passing Lu Meng and joining the ranks behind Han Dang and Master Cheng. Lu Meng would only see one of the guards of Cheng Pu come up to him, holding Ming Jujie in his arms, and another holding her weapons. Nodding to both of them, he brought his horse forward, the one with Ming Jujie mounting it, and then he sped off with the knocked out female guard. The one with her weapons looked to Lu Meng before the Navy Commander went behind the lodge and came with a black horse. Giving it to him, he sped off after the two that had ridden towards He Fei. Lu Meng ran to the back and grabbed another horse for himself. He would need to make haste and come back with sizable reinforcements with at least four thousand strong to counter five Wei flagships. With a shout to his horse and an urge onwards, his brown horse's gallop began to fade from the Wu navy's ears.
O O
Cheng Pu and Han Dang were losing men this way and that, cannonades from their tiger cannons was really tearing up their rankings and all they could do was watch as their men also hid in the various hills along with them. It had already been a long while since Lu Meng had gone, and things weren't looking up for them. Blackness of the night and the legions of archers started to disintegrate any sort of hope that was left. Soon, Cheng Pu, the old, graying master of the Serpent Spear was fed up with this. He turned to the flag bearer of Wu, raised him and ordered the man to follow him. As soon as both went up the hill, the flag bearer's head was taken off by the next firing of the tiger cannon. Cheng Pu grabbed the flag himself, raised his spear and charged further up the hill, but as soon as he did, an archer would flex his bow back, and with a mighty shout, Lord Cheng was dead. Cheng Pu's old body crumpled beneath him and his eyes closed. He died, still holding his spear.
Han Dang's eyes widened at the death of his comrade, as did every other man who, in this Navy, had looked up to or admired Cheng Pu. There were also a multitude of officers there who had witnessed one of their greatest generals dying, including Pan Zhang and Jiang Qin. Jiang Qin in particular, ran up the hill, grabbed the flag and turned to the rest of the men left. Each of them, disheartened at Cheng Pu's death, looked to the eager officer.
"LET'S GOOOO!!!" Jiang Qin's body was littered with arrows as soon as he shouted his great shout. He too died, but his body was held up by the Wu flag, which he had impaled into the ground. Every man started to climb the hills, the men dying by the hundreds as they climbed. The Wei army was, at this time, station at the other side of the hill, their spearmen waiting to engage the people who had made it past the arrows their archers barraged them with.
"ONWARD!" Han Dang was left in command, but he didn't let anything bother him. He slid down the hills, throwing his sword straight through a spear wielder's head before taking the spear itself and charging through the Wei's defense line. Pan Zhang jumped over the spear wall and he too went through Wei's defense line. The multitudes of soldiers left, flooded the spearmen's view, and soon, the rest of the army broke through, following the two officers that were left.
"HYAH!" A lieutenant had thrust his spear into a Wei private's abdomen before continuing on and following behind Han Dang. Han Dang would be attacked by a swordsman, and he'd only drop his spear, bring his hand up and clutched the sword by its blunt side. He'd quickly kick the soldier before using the sword to decapitate its owner. But this action had left him open, and a spearman quickly sliced at Han Dang's shoulder. He'd fall from the pain, but before the Wei could finish the commander off, an archer shot an arrow through the Wei. He picked up the commander by his good shoulder and both started off.
"Ready?" Pan Zhang commanded the ten archers that were left to aim at the fifty bowmen of Wei that were aiming at them. They let their own arrows fly, killing three of the archers and injuring one of them, but Pan Zhang held his command clear. "FIRE!"
The Wei archers fell one by one, as the bowmen of Wu were constantly reloading and firing off like they were demons of war. Soon enough, the archer barrier thinned, Pan Zhang called his men to rally them towards the nearest Wei flagship. The lieutenant had taken the flag and was following by Pan Zhang, while Han Dang and his archer, and several men were following close behind. As they traversed into the ship, several of the Wu men had knocked off the foot soldiers that were within, into the water and continued forth. They finally reached the middle of the deck before a line of archers unloaded via a siege from the other ship, lined up before them and flexed their bowstrings. What made matters worst was the Tiger Cannon was turned towards their direction and the private that was there had already lit the firing mechanism.
Han Dang drew out his dagger and bared his teeth, the archer flexed his own bowstring with his last arrow, Pan Zhang's grip on his spear tightened and the lieutenant only clenched upon the flag...then...the Tiger Cannon fired...
O O
I hope you enjoyed this...despite how long it took me to do it...sorry about that! I included the last part, purely because I thought it would spice up the thing a bit. Well, I hope reviews are progressive. Stay sharp, do good in school and play old Playstation and Dreamcast games!
O O
Watch out for the next chapter
"My Dear Shi Liu"
Zhao Xing: No preview this time! Use your imagination, see ya!