Part 2
The Power of the Red Moon
Chapter 11
Second Chance
What is that noise? Zhang He thought. He couldn't see, everywhere around him was dark. Hck hck. There it was again! That noise made his head hurt. Zhang He put his hands on his face and tried to sit up. He was so dizzy it felt like he was floating. Maybe he was floating. He drifted through the blackness trying to find something besides void. That noise sounds like . . .like someone coughing He thought. Sima Yi! He stood up and tried to run. Was Zhang He's sworn brother really here? Was he in trouble? The more he tried to run, the quicker he got nowhere. It finally occurred to him that there was no ground and he actually was floating! "What in the world?" He said to himself "Where am I?" The coughing intensified. And he heard the sound of spitting blood. "He really is in trouble!" Zhang He said closing his eyes and putting his hands over them. The second he opened them again; a great, wooden, door was floating before him. He reached for the black metal handle and pulled it forward with all his remaining strength. Warm liquid gushed out and filled the entire area like an ocean. Zhang He was pushed underneath the wave and he frantically tried to swim to the top. When he swallowed some of the liquid, he found it to be thick and very salty tasting. Once he burst through the surface he stomach tied itself into a knot of horror. Blood. He was swimming in blood. He stared terrified into his stained red hands and started to shiver. Suddenly, the ruby liquid grew ice cold around him. Freezing blasts of air erupted from enormous bubbles appearing in front of him. Something was rising from beneath . . . Some stringy black hair emerged from the liquid and floated on top of the blood. Then it became clear this was the head of someone. She continued to ascend until Her thighs were out of the water. She looked dead. She wore a long black dress with long sleeves that drooped over Her hands. Her skin and lips were chalk white and Her eyes were closed tight. She didn't seem to have a drop of blood on Her body, even though She had been totally submerged. All at once, Her eyes snapped open. Never had Zhang He seen such a horrible sight as those eyes. They were so brilliantly blue it hurt his eyes to look straight into them. They gave off the painful radiance of the sun, sublime and horrible. They penetrated into his very heart and filled him with a painful sickness. It was like looking into a soul.
She moved Her head until She was staring directly at Zhang He. She raised an arm and revealed Her hands. Her fingers were extremely long and bony and didn't end but rather blurred away. She brought Her cold white hand to Zhang He's face. He screamed when She touched him; it was like a knife of ice had pierced his chest. He desperately tried to escape from this horrible entity, but his entire body was frozen. She smiled insanely and opened Her mouth.
"She has fallen, she has joined us . . ." She said in a voice that was like an artic wind. "Do I scare you, child? Have you nowhere to run? Come to me, give me your blood, let me kill you . . ."
Zhang He was trembling violently; he had never been this scared in his life. Let me go! Please, let me go back! His mind screamed. He closed his eyes and let tears fall into the blood below.
"What have you to live for? What will you go back for? All of them are dead; she has frozen to death in the night, giving her last bit of life for you . . ." She continued, her gaze tearing into Zhang He's soul even through his eye lids. "Don't believe me? See for yourself . . ." She placed two long ghostly fingers a little above the space right between his eyes. Suddenly a barrage of horrible images came shooting into Zhang He's inner eye. All the color drained from the world and it felt upside down. A silhouette of a man was bouncing a ball, it sounded so loud. Needles went through someone's hand. A woman turned around, she had no face. Two children were huddled in a corner, a reflection of rainy window, they turned around, and blood was dripping from their mouths. A horrible insane laugh echoed around his mind. Death, fire, disease, suffering, and unspeakable horrors were all being seen a mile a minute. He some how knew that they were all dead. Murdered, torn apart. Sima Yi, Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, Sun Shang Xiang, all dead. Then he saw Diao Chan, clutching his own body. She was stiff and lifeless. Winter's last snow had claimed her life, she was gone too, and he would wake up to be lying with her frozen corpse.
"THIS IS NOT TRUE!! IT CAN'T BE! LET ME GO!" Zhang He screamed, shaking his head furiously, trying to beat the horrible pictures out. He yelled into the blackness, feeling Her horrible touch fade away. Farther he flew, still crying out, trying to block it all away.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and was looking into the face of Diao Chan. She was no longer gray and cold. There was a tinge of pink on her cheeks and she wore a look of worry.
"What's the matter? Are you all right?" She said, with a hand on his shoulder. He sat up and sighed loudly. He put his hand on his forehead, and found it was drenched in sweat. "Y-your a-alright . . ." He said relaxing.
"Of course I'm alright! Did you have a nightmare?" She said, wiping some snow out of her hair.
"It was terrible, I thought it was real." Zhang He said, rubbing his temple.
"What was it about?" She inquired wide-eyed. Zhang He explained all the horrors he had witnessed. She winced several times and looked frightened when she was told about the woman. "Don't you know who that was?" She said, looking scared.
"No, have you seen her too?" Zhang He asked.
"No, Zhang He, she is the Lady in Black. Only seers can hear what she says. She visits prophets in their dreams. After you meet her for the first time you are given a gift. Zhang He, you are now a Black Messenger!" She said in awe.
"A what?" He said.
"You deal with death! People who are about to die will appear different to you, and you be visited by Her in your dreams before someone you know personally will die." Diao Chan explained.
"No! I don't want that! That can't be true!" Zhang He yelled.
"It is inevitable! You may hate it, but it has to be . . ." Diao Chan said sympathetically. "Now, may we please focus on what we are going to do? I'm freezing out here!"
Zhang He was very cold too. There were still piles of snow decorating the ground and trees around them and their breath was visible. Zhang He touched his bare chest and looked around for his discarded shirt. He picked it up and almost put it on, but when he saw the goose bumps on Diao Chan's skin, he draped it over her instead. She thanked him and buttoned up the frogs.
"I think we should first get out of this forest. We should get as far as possible away from . . . from . . ." Zhang He stopped.
"Yes! I agree!" Diao Chan Said quickly, not wanting to bring the bad subject up.
"I know exactly what we should do! Let's join the Wu!" Zhang He remembered.
"The army led by Sun Jian?" She said looking slightly put off. "Does there need to be more fighting?"
"Listen, Diao Chan. There will be more fighting no matter what. The Han is dead, there is no denying, people will try and take control. If we don't join the war, it will destroy us. Let us help them achieve peace instead of waiting around for death." Zhang He said.
"You're right! Let us join the Wu! There we can-" She suddenly looked into the trees. "Who's there?" A man was sitting inside the bushes, listening in on their conversation. He almost blended into the background because he was wearing clothes that were the same colors as the forest. The only noticeable things about him were the bright red tassels dangling from underside of his oversized hat. His entire face, save the eyes was covered with a tan-brown cloth.
"I've been spotted!" He said in a clam voice. He stood up and came out of the plants.
"Who are you?" Zhang He said, defensively stepping in front of Diao Chan.
"I'm Pang Tong, nice to meet you, uh."
"Zhang He." Zhang He said, still not letting his guard down.
"Zhang He? The son of Zhang Fei?" Pang Tong said.
"Yes, that's me. . ." Zhang He said, a little puzzled as to how this man knew his father. He had never heard of any Pang Tong before.
"Well, we're gonna get to know each other pretty well then!" He said putting his arm around Zhang He amiably.
"And why is that, old man?" Zhang he said, uncomfortably shifting under his arm.
"Because, if your father is in the Shu, you will be too, won't you?" Pang Tong said, staring at Zhang He from under his hat.
"No, we're going to try and be in the Wu!" Zhang He said, shaking his head.
"You guys look pretty tired and beaten up, would you like to come and rest in my house?" Pang Tong said changing the subject. Diao Chan looked hopefully and Zhang He, and he turned back to Pang Tong.
"Yes, please, sir, thank you very much for offering." Zhang He said bowing.
"Right this way then, follow me!" He said traipsing off into the forest. Zhang He dropped back and matched Diao Chan's gait.
"I wouldn't trust him, stay close to me inside there . . ." Zhang He warned her quietly. "Ok . . ." She whispered back. They twisted and turned through the dark woods. A number of strange plants and trees grew all around them. Twigs snapped all around and sudden noises came out of nowhere. It could be mistaken for night in the forest, even though Zhang He knew perfectly well it was morning. Pang Tong kept getting lost in the gloom because of his camouflage clothing and Zhang He had to stop and look around for him. Once or twice Diao Chan jumped up in surprise at some sudden noise and she drew even closer to Zhang He, which he didn't mind at all.
After what seemed like hours, the reached a miserable looking hut that was high up in a tree. Pang Tong jumped up into the tree just like a cat and disappeared into the hut. Zhang He was used to climbing hard-to-get-into trees, so he easily made his way up higher and higher, however it was a challenge for Diao Chan. She wasn't very strong and obviously had no experience in the whole tree climbing business. She tried and tried to lift herself up, but to no avail. Finally, Zhang He noticed she was having trouble and went down to help her. Even when she was up in the tree she still was having problems. She was always losing her balance and almost falling down. Then she slipped near to top, but Zhang He caught her.
"Maybe I'd better carry you to the top." Zhang He said climbing up more carefully now.
"Yes, I'm absolutely no good at this . . ." She said pitifully.
When they finally reached the top and clambered inside, Pang Tong was waiting for them. He was sitting at a small table with three mismatched chairs around it. It was very dark inside the hut and a number of strange oddities were placed around the walls and floor. A handsome green magic staff in the shape of a snake with a great, round yellow stone in the mouth was mounted on the wall.
"What took you so long? He chuckled.
"We were having problems . . ." Diao Chan said shakily.
"Come, sit down." He gestured to them "We have much to talk about . . ." They came and sat in the unusual chairs next to the odd man. Zhang He sat purposely close to Diao Chan. There was something about Pang Tong that he just didn't trust.
"Now . . . You think you wanna join the Wu?" Pang Tong said superiorly.
"I know I want to join to Wu, and so does Diao Chan!" Zhang He said affirmatively.
"Well good luck!" He laughed at them "Sun Jian will only take people he knows, or his friends know."
"I happen to be his eldest son's sworn brother and he best friend's son's sworn brother, I think he'll let me in!" Zhang He said defensively.
"Why are you betraying your father, Zhang He? Haven't you any respect?" Pang Tong said sounding slightly hurt.
"My father sold me to someone for a string of Five-su coins! I am worth nothing to him!" Zhang He yelled remembering the rainy night almost a year ago.
"Did he, now? So that's why you won't join the Shu . . ." Pang Tong said as if he'd discovered a great secret.
"No, I want to join the Wu because my brothers are there." Zhang He explained.
"You are makin' a great mistake then, for have you heard of our strategist? We have obtained Zhuge Liang, there is no way we can lose!" Pang Tong said, "He is a genius among all, and very cunning, said to be the smartest in the world maybe . . ."
"You know who the main generals will be for the three kingdoms?" Zhang He said, wanting to know.
"Yah, and I suppose you want to know?" Pang Tong said.
"Please, would you tell me?" Zhang He asked getting desperate.
"Well, I wouldn' want to give away valuable information to someone on the Wu." Pang Tong said annoyingly.
"I'll find out anyway, won't I? Please, I haven't heard any news for a long time." Zhang He pleaded.
"Alrigh', I guess I could tell you, I mean how much could it hurt? First of all, My Lord Liu Bei will lead the Shu. The main generals will be Yue Ying, Zhuge Liang's wife, The Great Guan Yu, Huang Zhong, Jiang Wei, Ma Chao, your father, Wei Yan, Zhou Yun, and myself. Then the strategist will be Zhuge Liang." Pang Tong finished.
"What about the Wu?" Zhang He said excitedly.
"Hmmm, well it is definitely gonna be led by Lord Sun Jian as everyone knows. The generals are Sun Ce, Sun Shang Xiang, Sun Quan, Huang Gai, Lu Meng, the spoiled brat Lu Xun, Taishi Ci, and Zhou Tai. The strategist will be Zhou Yu." Pang Tong said in a bored tone.
"He got strategist!" Zhang He said happily to Diao Chan, who smiled back. "Who's on the Wei?"
"Ok, ok, don't have a heart attack!" Pang Tong said laughing, "It's led by Lord Cao Cao, Mr. Kindness himself. Let's see and the main generals are Cao Ren, Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Xu Zhu, Xu Huang, your brother Zhang Liao, and Zhen Ji. Oh yeah, and the strategist with be Sima Yi."
Zhang He's stomach felt like it had just disappeared. "Wh-what did you say? Who will be the strategist?"
"The young Sima Yi, he's said to be a genius even at his age, maybe even as smart as Zhuge Liang." Pang Tong said.
"He can't be on the Wei! He's supposed to be on the Wu! We all promised . . ." Zhang He said.
"Somethun' wrong?" Pang Tong said.
"Could you please tell me where I could find the main Wei camp?" Zhang He said, sounding downhearted.
"Sure, I got a map of that area actually." Pang Tong said, rummaging around in a little chest of drawers. Why would Sima Yi betray them? They were brothers; nothing could break their bond. Why was he fighting against them? What would Zhang He do if the met each other on the field of battle? He knew what he had to do, he would search out the Wei and find Sima Yi, and there he could find out for himself. Pang Tong emerged from the cabinet and handed Zhang He a worn map.
"Right there." Said Pang Tong, pointing to a place on the map.
"Thank you so much, Pang Tong. If we are ever to meet on the field of battle, I will not attack you." Zhang He said, bowing gratefully.
"Heh heh, I still think you're makin' a mistake by joinin' anyone but the Shu." Pang Tong said.
"Thank you, Lord Pang Tong." Diao Chan said bowing as well.
"Farewell!" Zhang He waved, and then exited the hut. Diao Chan followed shakily behind and almost tripped again.
"Grab onto my neck." Zhang He said, lowering himself. She did so and Zhang He glided easily to the bottom. Once they were safely back on the ground, Diao Chan released Zhang He and toppled onto her backside.
"Trees. . ." She said, getting up and brushing herself off. Zhang He smiled at her. Just something about her made her irresistibly cute to him.
"We're going on a journey, Diao Chan." Zhang He said. "We're going to find my brother. . ."
The Power of the Red Moon
Chapter 11
Second Chance
What is that noise? Zhang He thought. He couldn't see, everywhere around him was dark. Hck hck. There it was again! That noise made his head hurt. Zhang He put his hands on his face and tried to sit up. He was so dizzy it felt like he was floating. Maybe he was floating. He drifted through the blackness trying to find something besides void. That noise sounds like . . .like someone coughing He thought. Sima Yi! He stood up and tried to run. Was Zhang He's sworn brother really here? Was he in trouble? The more he tried to run, the quicker he got nowhere. It finally occurred to him that there was no ground and he actually was floating! "What in the world?" He said to himself "Where am I?" The coughing intensified. And he heard the sound of spitting blood. "He really is in trouble!" Zhang He said closing his eyes and putting his hands over them. The second he opened them again; a great, wooden, door was floating before him. He reached for the black metal handle and pulled it forward with all his remaining strength. Warm liquid gushed out and filled the entire area like an ocean. Zhang He was pushed underneath the wave and he frantically tried to swim to the top. When he swallowed some of the liquid, he found it to be thick and very salty tasting. Once he burst through the surface he stomach tied itself into a knot of horror. Blood. He was swimming in blood. He stared terrified into his stained red hands and started to shiver. Suddenly, the ruby liquid grew ice cold around him. Freezing blasts of air erupted from enormous bubbles appearing in front of him. Something was rising from beneath . . . Some stringy black hair emerged from the liquid and floated on top of the blood. Then it became clear this was the head of someone. She continued to ascend until Her thighs were out of the water. She looked dead. She wore a long black dress with long sleeves that drooped over Her hands. Her skin and lips were chalk white and Her eyes were closed tight. She didn't seem to have a drop of blood on Her body, even though She had been totally submerged. All at once, Her eyes snapped open. Never had Zhang He seen such a horrible sight as those eyes. They were so brilliantly blue it hurt his eyes to look straight into them. They gave off the painful radiance of the sun, sublime and horrible. They penetrated into his very heart and filled him with a painful sickness. It was like looking into a soul.
She moved Her head until She was staring directly at Zhang He. She raised an arm and revealed Her hands. Her fingers were extremely long and bony and didn't end but rather blurred away. She brought Her cold white hand to Zhang He's face. He screamed when She touched him; it was like a knife of ice had pierced his chest. He desperately tried to escape from this horrible entity, but his entire body was frozen. She smiled insanely and opened Her mouth.
"She has fallen, she has joined us . . ." She said in a voice that was like an artic wind. "Do I scare you, child? Have you nowhere to run? Come to me, give me your blood, let me kill you . . ."
Zhang He was trembling violently; he had never been this scared in his life. Let me go! Please, let me go back! His mind screamed. He closed his eyes and let tears fall into the blood below.
"What have you to live for? What will you go back for? All of them are dead; she has frozen to death in the night, giving her last bit of life for you . . ." She continued, her gaze tearing into Zhang He's soul even through his eye lids. "Don't believe me? See for yourself . . ." She placed two long ghostly fingers a little above the space right between his eyes. Suddenly a barrage of horrible images came shooting into Zhang He's inner eye. All the color drained from the world and it felt upside down. A silhouette of a man was bouncing a ball, it sounded so loud. Needles went through someone's hand. A woman turned around, she had no face. Two children were huddled in a corner, a reflection of rainy window, they turned around, and blood was dripping from their mouths. A horrible insane laugh echoed around his mind. Death, fire, disease, suffering, and unspeakable horrors were all being seen a mile a minute. He some how knew that they were all dead. Murdered, torn apart. Sima Yi, Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, Sun Shang Xiang, all dead. Then he saw Diao Chan, clutching his own body. She was stiff and lifeless. Winter's last snow had claimed her life, she was gone too, and he would wake up to be lying with her frozen corpse.
"THIS IS NOT TRUE!! IT CAN'T BE! LET ME GO!" Zhang He screamed, shaking his head furiously, trying to beat the horrible pictures out. He yelled into the blackness, feeling Her horrible touch fade away. Farther he flew, still crying out, trying to block it all away.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and was looking into the face of Diao Chan. She was no longer gray and cold. There was a tinge of pink on her cheeks and she wore a look of worry.
"What's the matter? Are you all right?" She said, with a hand on his shoulder. He sat up and sighed loudly. He put his hand on his forehead, and found it was drenched in sweat. "Y-your a-alright . . ." He said relaxing.
"Of course I'm alright! Did you have a nightmare?" She said, wiping some snow out of her hair.
"It was terrible, I thought it was real." Zhang He said, rubbing his temple.
"What was it about?" She inquired wide-eyed. Zhang He explained all the horrors he had witnessed. She winced several times and looked frightened when she was told about the woman. "Don't you know who that was?" She said, looking scared.
"No, have you seen her too?" Zhang He asked.
"No, Zhang He, she is the Lady in Black. Only seers can hear what she says. She visits prophets in their dreams. After you meet her for the first time you are given a gift. Zhang He, you are now a Black Messenger!" She said in awe.
"A what?" He said.
"You deal with death! People who are about to die will appear different to you, and you be visited by Her in your dreams before someone you know personally will die." Diao Chan explained.
"No! I don't want that! That can't be true!" Zhang He yelled.
"It is inevitable! You may hate it, but it has to be . . ." Diao Chan said sympathetically. "Now, may we please focus on what we are going to do? I'm freezing out here!"
Zhang He was very cold too. There were still piles of snow decorating the ground and trees around them and their breath was visible. Zhang He touched his bare chest and looked around for his discarded shirt. He picked it up and almost put it on, but when he saw the goose bumps on Diao Chan's skin, he draped it over her instead. She thanked him and buttoned up the frogs.
"I think we should first get out of this forest. We should get as far as possible away from . . . from . . ." Zhang He stopped.
"Yes! I agree!" Diao Chan Said quickly, not wanting to bring the bad subject up.
"I know exactly what we should do! Let's join the Wu!" Zhang He remembered.
"The army led by Sun Jian?" She said looking slightly put off. "Does there need to be more fighting?"
"Listen, Diao Chan. There will be more fighting no matter what. The Han is dead, there is no denying, people will try and take control. If we don't join the war, it will destroy us. Let us help them achieve peace instead of waiting around for death." Zhang He said.
"You're right! Let us join the Wu! There we can-" She suddenly looked into the trees. "Who's there?" A man was sitting inside the bushes, listening in on their conversation. He almost blended into the background because he was wearing clothes that were the same colors as the forest. The only noticeable things about him were the bright red tassels dangling from underside of his oversized hat. His entire face, save the eyes was covered with a tan-brown cloth.
"I've been spotted!" He said in a clam voice. He stood up and came out of the plants.
"Who are you?" Zhang He said, defensively stepping in front of Diao Chan.
"I'm Pang Tong, nice to meet you, uh."
"Zhang He." Zhang He said, still not letting his guard down.
"Zhang He? The son of Zhang Fei?" Pang Tong said.
"Yes, that's me. . ." Zhang He said, a little puzzled as to how this man knew his father. He had never heard of any Pang Tong before.
"Well, we're gonna get to know each other pretty well then!" He said putting his arm around Zhang He amiably.
"And why is that, old man?" Zhang he said, uncomfortably shifting under his arm.
"Because, if your father is in the Shu, you will be too, won't you?" Pang Tong said, staring at Zhang He from under his hat.
"No, we're going to try and be in the Wu!" Zhang He said, shaking his head.
"You guys look pretty tired and beaten up, would you like to come and rest in my house?" Pang Tong said changing the subject. Diao Chan looked hopefully and Zhang He, and he turned back to Pang Tong.
"Yes, please, sir, thank you very much for offering." Zhang He said bowing.
"Right this way then, follow me!" He said traipsing off into the forest. Zhang He dropped back and matched Diao Chan's gait.
"I wouldn't trust him, stay close to me inside there . . ." Zhang He warned her quietly. "Ok . . ." She whispered back. They twisted and turned through the dark woods. A number of strange plants and trees grew all around them. Twigs snapped all around and sudden noises came out of nowhere. It could be mistaken for night in the forest, even though Zhang He knew perfectly well it was morning. Pang Tong kept getting lost in the gloom because of his camouflage clothing and Zhang He had to stop and look around for him. Once or twice Diao Chan jumped up in surprise at some sudden noise and she drew even closer to Zhang He, which he didn't mind at all.
After what seemed like hours, the reached a miserable looking hut that was high up in a tree. Pang Tong jumped up into the tree just like a cat and disappeared into the hut. Zhang He was used to climbing hard-to-get-into trees, so he easily made his way up higher and higher, however it was a challenge for Diao Chan. She wasn't very strong and obviously had no experience in the whole tree climbing business. She tried and tried to lift herself up, but to no avail. Finally, Zhang He noticed she was having trouble and went down to help her. Even when she was up in the tree she still was having problems. She was always losing her balance and almost falling down. Then she slipped near to top, but Zhang He caught her.
"Maybe I'd better carry you to the top." Zhang He said climbing up more carefully now.
"Yes, I'm absolutely no good at this . . ." She said pitifully.
When they finally reached the top and clambered inside, Pang Tong was waiting for them. He was sitting at a small table with three mismatched chairs around it. It was very dark inside the hut and a number of strange oddities were placed around the walls and floor. A handsome green magic staff in the shape of a snake with a great, round yellow stone in the mouth was mounted on the wall.
"What took you so long? He chuckled.
"We were having problems . . ." Diao Chan said shakily.
"Come, sit down." He gestured to them "We have much to talk about . . ." They came and sat in the unusual chairs next to the odd man. Zhang He sat purposely close to Diao Chan. There was something about Pang Tong that he just didn't trust.
"Now . . . You think you wanna join the Wu?" Pang Tong said superiorly.
"I know I want to join to Wu, and so does Diao Chan!" Zhang He said affirmatively.
"Well good luck!" He laughed at them "Sun Jian will only take people he knows, or his friends know."
"I happen to be his eldest son's sworn brother and he best friend's son's sworn brother, I think he'll let me in!" Zhang He said defensively.
"Why are you betraying your father, Zhang He? Haven't you any respect?" Pang Tong said sounding slightly hurt.
"My father sold me to someone for a string of Five-su coins! I am worth nothing to him!" Zhang He yelled remembering the rainy night almost a year ago.
"Did he, now? So that's why you won't join the Shu . . ." Pang Tong said as if he'd discovered a great secret.
"No, I want to join the Wu because my brothers are there." Zhang He explained.
"You are makin' a great mistake then, for have you heard of our strategist? We have obtained Zhuge Liang, there is no way we can lose!" Pang Tong said, "He is a genius among all, and very cunning, said to be the smartest in the world maybe . . ."
"You know who the main generals will be for the three kingdoms?" Zhang He said, wanting to know.
"Yah, and I suppose you want to know?" Pang Tong said.
"Please, would you tell me?" Zhang He asked getting desperate.
"Well, I wouldn' want to give away valuable information to someone on the Wu." Pang Tong said annoyingly.
"I'll find out anyway, won't I? Please, I haven't heard any news for a long time." Zhang He pleaded.
"Alrigh', I guess I could tell you, I mean how much could it hurt? First of all, My Lord Liu Bei will lead the Shu. The main generals will be Yue Ying, Zhuge Liang's wife, The Great Guan Yu, Huang Zhong, Jiang Wei, Ma Chao, your father, Wei Yan, Zhou Yun, and myself. Then the strategist will be Zhuge Liang." Pang Tong finished.
"What about the Wu?" Zhang He said excitedly.
"Hmmm, well it is definitely gonna be led by Lord Sun Jian as everyone knows. The generals are Sun Ce, Sun Shang Xiang, Sun Quan, Huang Gai, Lu Meng, the spoiled brat Lu Xun, Taishi Ci, and Zhou Tai. The strategist will be Zhou Yu." Pang Tong said in a bored tone.
"He got strategist!" Zhang He said happily to Diao Chan, who smiled back. "Who's on the Wei?"
"Ok, ok, don't have a heart attack!" Pang Tong said laughing, "It's led by Lord Cao Cao, Mr. Kindness himself. Let's see and the main generals are Cao Ren, Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Xu Zhu, Xu Huang, your brother Zhang Liao, and Zhen Ji. Oh yeah, and the strategist with be Sima Yi."
Zhang He's stomach felt like it had just disappeared. "Wh-what did you say? Who will be the strategist?"
"The young Sima Yi, he's said to be a genius even at his age, maybe even as smart as Zhuge Liang." Pang Tong said.
"He can't be on the Wei! He's supposed to be on the Wu! We all promised . . ." Zhang He said.
"Somethun' wrong?" Pang Tong said.
"Could you please tell me where I could find the main Wei camp?" Zhang He said, sounding downhearted.
"Sure, I got a map of that area actually." Pang Tong said, rummaging around in a little chest of drawers. Why would Sima Yi betray them? They were brothers; nothing could break their bond. Why was he fighting against them? What would Zhang He do if the met each other on the field of battle? He knew what he had to do, he would search out the Wei and find Sima Yi, and there he could find out for himself. Pang Tong emerged from the cabinet and handed Zhang He a worn map.
"Right there." Said Pang Tong, pointing to a place on the map.
"Thank you so much, Pang Tong. If we are ever to meet on the field of battle, I will not attack you." Zhang He said, bowing gratefully.
"Heh heh, I still think you're makin' a mistake by joinin' anyone but the Shu." Pang Tong said.
"Thank you, Lord Pang Tong." Diao Chan said bowing as well.
"Farewell!" Zhang He waved, and then exited the hut. Diao Chan followed shakily behind and almost tripped again.
"Grab onto my neck." Zhang He said, lowering himself. She did so and Zhang He glided easily to the bottom. Once they were safely back on the ground, Diao Chan released Zhang He and toppled onto her backside.
"Trees. . ." She said, getting up and brushing herself off. Zhang He smiled at her. Just something about her made her irresistibly cute to him.
"We're going on a journey, Diao Chan." Zhang He said. "We're going to find my brother. . ."