Trinity
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
Disclaimer: I do not own any character in this fanfic unless otherwise stated. Lu Xun, Gan Ning, Lü Meng, and all other characters are copyrighted to KEOI Productions and are used for fan reasons only. Please do not steal or alter this fic.
Okay, to clear some things up, as much as I wouldn't mind a Meng/Xun couple, this is not the case in this fic (sorry, Nat… don't worry. Another fic of that coming up… mwahaha). Also, no Xun/Da either (sorry Lu Xun 88… I'll work on the next BMTL chapter after I post this one and the next RTMW, okay?). And, finally, the mystic… will seem very familiar to you, and if you get to the end of the chapter and not realize who he is, then, don't worry… he'll appear more than once. =3
Chapter Eight: The Mystic's Word
There was little glory in running off to battle, Sun Quan thought, saddled upon his white steed that he was quite fond of, donned in the heavy armor that he hated so much. He hated war; all he wanted as to have his own kingdom in peace, without concern of raging war against the other nations. He wasn't a coward, but he truly lacked the ambition that Cao Cao had and the determination to unite the land as Liu Bei. He wanted the Jing Province, and that was it…
Yet, to attain such simple territory seemed impossible, and Sun Quan was just as distressed as Zhou Yu was when they received no news from either kingdom with the exception of Liu Bei sending a rather minor force to their border. That… was truly depressing.
As much as Sun Quan wanted to attain the Jing Province, he now wanted to practically GIFT wrap the damned territory and just let Liu Bei have it. What was the point in seeking ownership of the land if they were beaten to a bloody pulp by the current threat first?
And Zhou Yu knew of the plot well, as he practically fumed about it. "To see our land divided by a single province… makes one sick to their stomach! Yet, what is there to do?"
Sun Quan didn't have an answer… he remained silent, contemplating the situation that was bound to happen. He could see a messenger arriving from Shu, telling them of the stipulation of Shu joining the battle and seeing himself sign away the land on a piece of paper. Yes… and it would be no different from Wei.
So, he kept silent, allowing Zhou Yu to release some stress in harmless hot words. Now, more than ever, he feared for the troops he stationed down there, knowing that the armada had indeed set into their land and only hoping that his men were still alive. He did not receive word yet from Lü Meng, and that itself worried him… maybe the messenger got lost.
'Are the lives of so many men worth a few districts?' Sun Quan thought morbidly to himself, not seeing the concerned look on the usually hard face of the ex-pirate right next to him. If he had a fault, it would have definitely been his concern for his officers and his people, but it was a fault he was willing to have. He sighed… perhaps there was just no way around it.
Yet, Zhou Yu seemed to think otherwise, as he rode side by side with his concerned lord. "My young lord*, the risk of an attack from the other two nations after this next one are high… it would be exactly what Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi would do."
"Cao Cao at least… something like that wouldn't seem like Liu Bei's style…" Sun Quan stated, and Zhou Yu wasn't surprised to see the king of Wu defending the man that married his sister. Sun Quan had almost personally known Liu Bei, as they were basically brothers-in-laws, and Liu Bei's honor was known throughout the land. "Yet… he sends nothing but a border unit in defense. Perhaps he's still deciding upon his actions."
"Could be true, my lord… he is very indecisive at times."
Finally, the man next to Sun Quan spoke up, his voice hard and deep. His words were few, but they were as dependable as his courage was in the battlefield. Zhou Tai stated, "They will send help… they're merely stalling."
And Zhou Yu saw the wisdom in this, finding it almost rare that the former pirate captain caught on. "They're just waiting for us to be weakened, then they will attack and take our land after defeating us."
There was only one thing Sun Quan could say about this, as he sneered. "Those bastards… and have we fallen for it?"
"Not precisely, my lord…" Zhou Yu almost smiled, but he kept serious, rather enjoying the small moment of success that came from the thought of outwitting his arch rival in Shu. "You see, they will think that we are going into battle with just the main force and that we will take ALL of our men; look at our enemy… it will literally take all the men we could get to even dent them in a frontal assault. It's not too late to divide our forces into a more strategic formation to not only gain some advantages over our invading enemies but to our neighboring ones as well."
And of course, having the utmost respect and reliance on his men, Sun Quan listened. "I'll hear it…"
Now Zhou Yu spoke quickly but precisely, not allowing himself room for error. "Sir, let us get deeper into our own territory and let it appear that we are indeed heading towards the enemy in their direct path. Once we get far enough from the other kingdoms' scouts, we'll split our forces up; they will see that we are too far in to protect our own defenses and start moving in. As Zhou Tai stated, they have no choice but to eventually send out forces, as they are in the same threat as us should they give the pirates a stable land to settle in. However, they will enter our territory with incorrect information, and we will have three main forces: one group will linger behind the neighboring kingdom's forces, to guard our border's defenses just in case should they attempt anything before we drive the main threat out, the second group will be tending to the main threat and to relieve the current troops we have stationed there already, and the third group will go by the ocean itself and flank the invading force when they try to retreat and eventually finish them off. Then, if the neighboring kingdoms decide to launch a joint attack, the back force will block their supply routes, and the other two forces will join and take them out…"
Longwinded, but brilliant in Sun Quan's eyes, as he gave his immediate approval. "Splendid! You truly are a genius!"
"I… thank you, sir…" Zhou Yu was hardly shy, as he seemed to be the rather conceited one, however, he had changed slightly ever since meeting Zhuge Liang. Sun Quan had to admit that ever since the man found his rival, he's definitely got his ego and act together, becoming a slightly more tolerable man to be around. However, Sun Quan nor anyone else dared utter a word about it to him, as he gave a nod. "Sun Ce and I worked hard to gain this land, and I would not want to let it fall."
Yes, Sun Quan knew how close Zhou Yu and his older brother were, as he could remember some of the fondest memories of his childhood were spent trying to tag along with his older brother and closest friend. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were always doing things together as children even, and to be quite honest, Sun Quan was almost hurt that his own brother felt closer to a friend than to him. Wasn't he his brother too?
Sun Quan was envious of Zhou Yu, at least as a child he was. He would come, to take his brother away to play some game where he, his own little brother, was not invited unless their father or mother allowed him to. Yes, even now, when he looked at the chief commander that rode next to him, he could see himself looking up at Sun Ce and asking to play with him instead of Zhou Yu…
Looking back at that jealousy and envy now, Sun Quan had to admit that he felt a bit ashamed that he thought of Zhou Yu as his brother-snatcher. Now, he looked at their friendship, and he too longed for such a friendship with someone. And now that he thought about it, he wondered if his generals Gan Ning and Lü Meng were the very same, as the two seemed almost inseparable.
He frowned… once again, he thought of his men down south, holding off the huge force with so little supplies. He would have continued to mope about it, if Zhou Tai would have let him, "My lord, general Lü Meng and Gan Ning will keep them occupied long enough; do not concern yourself over them."
"It's hard for me not too…" Sun Quan smiled, to show the general that he was trying. "I cannot help but feel I sentenced them to certain death, and I also fear for Lu Xun."
"Do you feel for his life, or do you fear what will happen when Lady Wu finds out her son-in-law isn't coming for the wedding?"
Looking at Zhou Yu with an agasted look, Sun Quan was surprised to see the man smiling from ear to ear, and as he slowly began to laugh, the king of Wu shrugged, "That's another thing to be afraid of, I suppose… but nevertheless, we must hurry with the plan if we wish to give them any kind of hope."
"Yes, my lord." They both said in unison, neither one of them wishing to think of failure at this very moment.
~*~*~*~
Lü Meng had to admit that now was an odd time to see a traveling mystic walking down the path near his small camp. When a soldier told him, he quickly left his makeshift tent, walked over the sleeping Lu Xun, to go see exactly who this mystic was. At first, he was hoping it was Hua Tuo; perhaps he could help Lu Xun's wound heal faster?
And it was really no big lie that Lü Meng wasn't too fond of the superstitious as well. He was more of the logical thinker and wasn't keen into the bad omens and such, though he was never one to commit one in slight fear of him being wrong. In this day and age, one could never be so sure…
However, he couldn't get a good look on this mystic; he wore a tattered and filthy brown cloak, automatically stating that he was nothing more than a poor, traveling wiseman, not usually the one to carry medicines, and no where could Lü Meng see any scrolls. 'Yet he displays himself as a mystic would… how odd.'
"What would you expect a mystic would be doing approaching us?" A soldier asked, keeping his voice down as to not wake Lu Xun. The soldier nor Lü Meng noticed the sweat on Lu Xun's face, as they were too concerned with the mystic.
And Lü Meng answered truthfully, "Can't be for certain… perhaps he can tell the future and came to tell us our fate?"
"Sir?"
The general smiled, "I don't believe in such things, and neither should you… I'll go speak with this mystic then and see what he desires. Prepare the troops to head out and have them ready to go when I return."
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone knew Lü Meng to be a realistic and wasn't really the type to put up with nonsense, as he grabbed his halberd and began to walk towards the mystic, to meet him halfway there. The mystic was a wise man now, seeing the battle worn halberd and seeing the seriousness in the man's eyes, as he took a seat, to wait for the general to come to him. Rather Lü Meng wanted himself to look aggressive or not did not cross the mystic's mind, as he lowered his unseen face, to bow to the general. "Good day, general of the Royal family!"
'Hm… he knows who I serve, though it seems quite obvious by the territory.' Lü Meng thought with a skeptical look, as he set his halberd next to him to give the mystic a good look. 'Exactly what are you hiding under that hood?'
"My looks… they should be nothing to a general who is only hear to see what one wants to do with his army." The mystic's statement made him pause for a second, as he could make out a slight smile on his wrinkled face. "I assume that you are a general serving the Sun family of Wu, correct?"
Nodding, Lü Meng saw no point in lying, as he lowered his weapon, "That is correct. I am general Lü Meng of Runan, loyal subject of Lord Sun Quan. As you might have noticed, there is an army invading from the ocean, and it is our top priority to see to it that this threat is stalled until the main force arrives. We're running short of time, so-"
"Now, now… no need to rush." The mystic laughed, wearing on Lü Meng's nerves quickly. What an odd old man this mystic was! "You're in your mid-thirties and already you got wrinkles! Don't deny it; I see the lines under your eyes… natural insomniac, eh? You worry too much… slow down, and you'll live longer."
Normally, Lü Meng wouldn't have minded the lecture, as he was used to it by now. However, this was a crisis, and what nerve did that old mystic have to tell him this now? He did not mean to sound enraged, but it just came out that way, as he gave his reply. "Old mystic, there are times for relaxation and there are times for seriousness, and now is the time for the latter. I cannot relax until I am sure that the kingdom I serve is safe, and I'm willing to take whatever risk, whatever cost, to ensure the safety and survival of my clan!"
The anger in his voice did not seem to falter the mystic's good humor, as he asked, "Tell me, boy… is that what your lord wants, or is that what you want?"
"My lord expects the best from myself and all of his men!" Lü Meng stated, taking up for Sun Quan's defense. "He is a kind lord and trusting in his men, knowing them as friends and comrades rather than just a few generals on the field of battle. His concern for his generals can only be compared to that of a father to his sons, showing his complete support of our ability!"
"As good as it is to hear that your lord is a kind, loving man, you have not answered my question. But, there is no need to, as I can see in your eyes that you know he wants the best for his men and would not wish to lose you or your fellow officers in this fight." The mystic nodded, finally showing some seriousness. "Sun Quan… he was always passionate towards his men…"
Raising an eyebrow, Lü Meng finally asked, "Why do you know so much about the Sun family? Did you serve them at one time?"
"Serve? Well… I can't say, but how is the family? I lost contact with the family after the late Lord Sun Ce died."
'So he knew Sun Ce?' Lü Meng thought to himself for a second, trying to make sense of this old man. He remembered very little about Sun Ce, as he joined a few years after the kingdom succession passed down to the brother Quan, and what he remembered was that the man did not care for a certain mystic, which eventually led to his early death. He answered the mystic's question, "As you know, Lord Sun Quan currently rules the land, Lady Wu is still alive and well, though she doesn't get out as much as she used to… she stays within her bedroom, the main hall, and the garden at Jian Ye."
"She loved those flowers… especially the gold ones, but those wouldn't grow at this time of the year."
Lü Meng continued as if he was never interrupted, "I'm not keen on many other of the family members, but I can tell you that Lady Wu's daughter, Lady Sun, recently married Lord Liu Bei of Shu and is currently staying in Shu now."
Nodding, the mystic seemed to be remembering, as he asked, "Sun Ce… wasn't he and his close friend married to two maidens? Beautiful maidens… the Qiaos?"
"Yes… Lord Zhou Yu is currently chief commander of all of Wu's forces and he is still married to the youngest of the Qiaos. Da Qiao's still a widow, though, but her she has a daughter…"
It hit Lü Meng, subconsciously running his hand on his chest plate, where the letter remained. He muttered to himself, supposingly unheard by the mystic. "That's right..."
However, it was clear that the mystic heard the statement, as he asked, "What about her daughter? What's her name again… Sun Ya! That's it… Lady Sun Ya, if I recall correctly."
"That's it… well, once this crisis is over, she is set to marry the young general Lu Xun, though it's suppose to be a surprise for him," Lü Meng stated, rubbing his chestplate and shaking his head. "That is, if we even survive this battle…"
"Now, that's not a bright side to look at, young man!" The mystic chuckled, making Lü Meng pondered his identity even more. Digging into his cloak, he pulled out a long, slender pipe and carefully filled it with the narcotics that Lü Meng did not recognize. As he lit and proceeded to take in a wiff of the sweet smelling cocotion, the mystic continued, "I lost my innocense all to soon, and it seems you're heading down the same path, general Lü Meng. Here's my word of advise- don't grow up to be an old fool, much less old. It's bad enough being old, but it's even worse to allow age to get such an easy grasp on you and not even realize it until it's far too late."
'As if I didn't get enough of this lecture from Gan Ning...' Lü Meng thought, silencing his negative thoughts and trying to go back to a more neutral setting. He knew that thinking so bad wouldn't help the situation at all, so he covered it up as he merely nodded, "I shall try."
"So... tell me about this young general that is to marry the daughter of the late Lord Sun Ce. Is there any chance of me being able to see the young man?"
Thinking for a moment, the general answered, "He's been wounded recently and needs as much rest as he can get, so I'm sorry, you cannot see him."
Shaking his head, the mystic rose, enhaling another mouthful of the narcotic before reaching into his cloaks again with his free hand. He spoke as he did so, half occupied in finding whatever he was searching for. "Hmm... his name, what is it? Would he happen to be the kin of Lu Kang, the one that the late Lord Sun Ce had to defeat to gain Wu's capital and district?"
"You're correct... his name is Lu Xun... do you already know him?"
Smiling, the mystic laughed, "Oh, I met him! He was naught but a little boy when I did; small, light brown hair, golden eyes of the weirdest tint! Yes, I remember him well, unless he has changed his looks, I would assume him to be about up to your chest, neck at most, correct?"
"Who are you?" Lü Meng asked, raising an eyebrow towards this old mystic.
"Don't evade the question, silly boy! Oh, you don't have to tell me, I already know. Let's see... his personality; he's quite, usually sticks to himself but gives input when asked." Finally, the mystic found whatever he was looking for, and he tossed the small, pink fruit up in the air a few times, wearing on Lü Meng's nerves. "He looked like a thinker to me..."
"Answer my question now... who are you, and how is it that you know so much about Lu Xun?"
"He was once called Lu Yi, you know."
Narrowing his gaze, the general nodded, "He would prefer us not to call him that, though..."
"Oh really? Why?"
"It's not out business to know..." Seeing that this was all a waste of time, Lü Meng turned to leave, not even asking about the fruit that the mystic toyed with. He couldn't believe he had just wasted all this time, chatting with an old loon instead of preparing the troops. He called out to his soldiers, noticing that Lu Xun was finally awake and moving out of the tent. "Prepare to set out-"
The mystic called out to him, his voice causing him to stop in midstep, "Heed my words... you can't spend your whole life worrying for others more than your own health. You of all people should know this, Lü Meng of Runan."
That struck a nerve, a nerve that Lü Meng wanted to keep hidden in his past. He snapped, flashing him a look that could kill. "Do not tell me where to set my priorities... the safety of my nation and my comrades are my priority, as a good general should set them. I hold no selfish means to defend myself, un less it is to stay alive to defend my friends when they need me."
"War is not fought by strength alone... didn't your Lord tell you this before? If you don't heed my words, heed his."
Once again, Lü Meng asked. "Who are you?"
He still did not get his answer, throwing the small pink fruit at Lü Meng. The general's quick reflections saved him from being humilated, catching the fruit before it hit him in the face, and the mystic turned to leave now, flickinf his sleeves and shaking his head. "If you care more for your friend than your own health, then give him this. It will stop the infection and ease his pain if he stays still."
And with that, the old mystic set off, leaving Lü Meng alone to grasp his halberd in one hand and the fruit in the other. He was so enraged at him that he did not hear Lu Xun's feet brushing along the grass. 'What an odd old man... very, very odd indeed! I... know my priorities...'
"Lord Lü Meng..."
The general gave a jerk of his head, not realizing he flashed Lu Xun a hard look until the boy jumped back. He tried to calm himself, and finally spoke when he was sure that he wasn't going to shout, "Yes?"
Lu Xun's golden gaze could not be ignored, but neither could the sweat that pampened his face. As the boy spoke, Lü Meng brushed the back of his hand on his forehead, to check for a fever. "Sir, who was that man, and why do you look upset?"
"You're running a fever... and you look a bit pale."
Taken back by his concern, Lu Xun tried to cover it up, "It was a bit cold last night, sir, and I suppose I wrapped myself into the blankets too much. But sir, I'm alright-"
"It was warm last night." Lü Meng stated, and, noticing the pink fruit that he still had in his hands, he sighed, handing it over to the curious Lu Xun. He did not want to talk about the mystic, as it simply brought up too many questions within himself to want to answer. "He was a healing type, and he told me to give this to you to stop the infection. Go ahead and take it, it's safe."
The boy eyed the fruit with curious golden eyes, but he did not question him, as he carefully began to nibble on it. He recoiled, and he answered Lü Meng's questioning gaze. "It's bitter... really, really bitter."
Now, Lü Meng could not help but smile, and Lu Xun could only wonder what had struck him so deep as to say nothing all and begin to head towards the camp. Daring the taste, Lu Xun shoved the fruit into his mouth and forced himself to chew and swallow, trying to hard not to gag at the horrible taste that now lingered in his mouth. He didn't see Lü Meng's gaze, nor his hear his thoughts, 'Perhaps he's right... maybe I am being a bit overprotective. He wanted to prove something to me, so... would that make it my fault that he got hurt just because I wasn't there in time?'
"Lord Lü Meng? Are you alright?"
The general sighed, shaking his head, "Just concerned. Gan Ning hasn't reported back yet, and I don't want Hua Seung to catch us off guard, that's all."
It was obvious that Lu Xun did noy buy it, but he did not press the issue. As Lü Meng walked towards the camp, Lu XUn took a glance at the departing mystic, unable to understand the feeling he got when he looked at him. No, he didn't look familiar from his gaze, but there was something about him that made Lu Xun feel a bit more comfortable. He could not thank the mystic for the fruit, as Lü Meng called to him, "Come on... we can't stay in this spot any longer."
Lu Xun could only obey, keeping all thoughts to himself as he followed behind his friend. He, too, was concerned for Gan Ning, but he figured the former pirate would return. He had to admit that it was a great relief to see the flames lighting up the sky, knowing that Gan Ning had accomplished his task. Now Lu Xun wondered... what was the next step?
~*~*~*~
Sei Rong knew that returning to Hua Seung with such a defeat on his shoulders was going to be his death, but what choice did he have? He and countless other pirates spent the night traveling and searching for the rest of their party, only to find those wounded or killed by the pits that the Wu soldiers had dug, or slaughtered outside of the forest, arrows protruding through different vital spots. Though he could not find his captain, he wasn't completely wasting his time, observing the damage and the strategies of his enemies...
He could sum up on word for these men... they were definately the tricky type. Though there was no honor in killing your enemy through carefully planned traps or sniping your foe with exact accuracy as this, he had to admit that these men knew what they were doing and that there was no honor in this fight at all but to drive off the enemy with anything they could use.
They were also desperate, and Sei Rong wondered what had happened to the horses after their master's were killed in the pits. He saw bodies of pirates, but no horses... after checking the horses's tracks, he realized that these men were also low on supplies. They stole their horses!
'Are these warriors we're going against fighting for survival? Or could it be that there's more to this?' Sei Rong thought to himself, finally coming to some sort of luck as he could see the signs of a camp ahead. He and his tired men walked towards the camp, and the first person that came to greet them was their captain!
Sei Rong had to admit that the dead bodies seemed more welcoming than looking at Hua Seung's angered expression right now. The pirates behind Sei Rong instantly bowed, resting their foreheads on the ground in a sign of submission, and poor Sei Rong wasn't fast enough, as he was struck down by Seung's backhand. And his voice wasn't all to pleasent either, "You... let the ships get burned, didn't you?!"
The crippled man did not hesitate to reply, "My lord, not ALL of the ships were burned! I was able to spare your's from the flames!"
"But my ships... my armada... it lit up the SKIES!" Hua Seung's rage only increased, as he wrapped his fingers around Sei Rong's neck. "One ship was spared?! Who CARES! You... you ALLOWED the ships to be BURNED!"
"It-was Gan-Ning's doing!"
Did that release the hold? No... Hua Seung screamed now, as the other pirates trembled from his wrath-filled words. "That would be something that bell-wearin' traitor would do, and you allowed it to HAPPEN! ARE YOU THAT INCOMPETANT?!"
Struggling for breath now, Sei Rong KNEW he was going to die now... there was nothing that would save him now. "Sir-sir... these men's tactics-if they keep to these-tactics, it won't be long-before your army is defeated!"
Normally, this would ahve offered Sei Rong a quick death, however, to his surprise he was released, and Hua Seung backed away, to stomp his foot in the earth in rage. After he had regained some control over himself, he looked at Sei Rong, striking fear into him, "You're damn lucky you've got brains somewhere in that head of yours. Otherwise you'd be a useless pile of nothing... you're all forgiven for now, but don't think I'll let it go should something like THAT happen again!"
"Sir, we had a lot of supplies on those ships... what will we do if we run out?" a soldier asked.
"We'll worry about that later... there are plenty of villages we can ger the supplies from. A mere three thousand men cannot be everywhere at once!" Hua Seung had a new vigor, as any concern over the matter disappeared. Sei Rong really didn't know if this was a good or a bad thing, though, but he kept silent, prefering not to be killed now. "I'll make them pay for humilating me... oh, how they will pay! Too bad Cheng Lu won't be able to see it... a good general he was."
No, Sei Rong knew nothing of what happened in the woods, but he could take in enough that their best general of the calvary was dead. He knew better than to ask of the exact details, so instead, he asked, "What now, sir? Why haven't you advanced?"
Hua Seung spat, crossing his arms and looking towards the east, as if to sneer at his enemies. "I'm merely waiting... but now that you've arrived, we can start out. I know exactly where they're staying, and I want to crush them!"
"That's it, sir?"
Silence, then a nod. "Yeah... what else were you expecting? Beyond their traps and trickery, they're only three thousand men... all there needs to be done it to catch them, and KILL them! They cannot run from me forever!"
Before Sei Rong could say anything, the pirate captain turned around, to shout the orders, "Break camp! We're going to split up into two fractions... I'll pursue the enemy, while those under Sei Rong will find the nearest village and take whatever supplies they can find! Today, we will march to victory!"
The pirates around him gave their eager response, as if their humilating defeat the day before did not happen at all. Sei Rong could only sigh, waiting for the cheering to stop before addressing the pirate captain, "Be careful... there's a good chance that they left a few more traps elsewhere."
"Don't worry... I sent scouts out, and they've reported nothing." Hua Seung narrowed his eyes, smiling as a soldier brought him his recovered horse. The fuzzy steed seemed a bit angered that he was left along in the woods, as it snorted when his master mounted him. Looking to Sei Rong, Hua Seung nodded, and Sei Rong noticed his missing shoulder pad. "Report to me at night fall... no sooner, no later."
"Yes, my lord..."
Now, grinning, Hua Seung shouted, kicking his horse twice and starting off in a trot, "Victory! I will not stop until every last one of them is dead!"
"HAAAAAAAAA!"
~*~*~*~
Looking at the tent that still stood, Lü Meng wondered towards it, bringing his horse and the young general that rode on it along as well. Gan Ning still had not shown up yet, and what was worse was that the scouts spotted movement in the enemy camps. He sighed, and Lu Xun spoke up, finally smiling after getting that horrible taste out of his mouth. "Perhaps we should send a search party for him?"
"What a waste of good men..."
Lu Xun could not help but notice the bitterness in his friend's voice, as it was twice as bitter as that horrible fruit. He spoke up, wondering if he should even bother, "Sir, you're not normally like this. Did that mystic tell you something?"
Lü Meng shook his head, "He told me nothing that is of your concern. How are you feeling?"
"Better, sir..." Lu Xun replied, lowering his gaze slightly, wondering if it was something he had done. He wanted to apologize again, for going off and doing the foolish thing he had done, but he did not, knowing it would bring up old news that was wanting to be forgotten. Instead, he kept silent, not liking this Lü Meng at all...
Finally, they came up to the tent, and what they heard was a combination of upbeat whistling and the jingling of bells. Slowly, of so slowly, did Lü Meng turn to look at Lu Xun, and the boy could not help but allow his childish side to show, a rather impish grin upon his face as he swore he saw Lü Meng's eye twitch. He said nothing, as the general entered the tent, to see the former pirate sitting on the stool, his feet propped up on the table and one arm behind his head as the other plicked at his bells, to go along with his whistling.
Gan Ning winked at his friend, his impish smile obvious as well. "Meng! What took you?"
Only two words could come out of Lü Meng's mouth, and they seemed to flow smoothly, despite his anger, "You bastard..."
"Hey... now THAT'S not nice, especially after I set all those ships on fire and wrecked up the flagship good!" Gan Ning pointed out, instantly jumping to his feet and saluting, as Lu Xun poked his head in, bending over to flash his pirate friend a smile. "Reporting for duty; every ship is destroyed, and I had the supplies sent to our next destination. It'll be there by the time we get there!"
"Good... now pack up; we're moving out."
The former pirate was expecting more of an congradulations, but seeing his friend's quick temper told him not to go looking for it, as he did just that. He was definately a fast worker, and, dragging along the remains of the tent, he tried to keep up with them, as he addressed Lu Xun, "Hey, kid... what's got him all gruffy, eh? No sleep? Was it something he ate?"
Lü Meng only sighed, as Lu Xun was hesitant to answer, "The enemy troop is about to move out; he's concerned, that's all."
"My butt, but whatever." Gan Ning knew better, but he wasn't in the mood to pry out the information. "So, oh great leader, what next?"
"Lu Xun, go ahead and wait for us at the front." Lü Meng ordered, and the boy did not hesitate, waiting for the general to release the reigns before trotting off to the front of their small forces. Now, feeling a bit more secure, Lü Meng looked to Gan Ning, quickly apologizing, "I'm sorry if I seem a bit cranky, but I ahve my reasons. Lu Xun's injured-"
"Injured?! Who?! I'll kill them..."
The general grabbed his hand before he could reach for his sword, as he continued on, "Don't worry... the mystic that stopped by gave him something that should help fight any infection that should come, just as long as he doesn't move around too much. I'm going to keep an eye on him, but that limits us a bit. I want you to scout around; I've been noticing their formations, especially when they camp. They have quite a few different camps... I want you to burn a few of them, but don't leave a pattern for them to follow. Lu Xun and I will be setting up the traps up ahead... can you do this?"
The former priate gave him a wink, resting a warm hand on his shoulders as he nodded, "Hey, who was it that led the surprise attack against Cao Cao without losing a single man? Don't worry, Meng, I can handle this. You... you just make sure that those traps are set, and make sure that Lu Xun gets better. I know how much you care about the little guy."
Smiling, Lü Meng nodded, giving a sigh of relief. "Thank you... you be careful too. I don't want to lose a good friend."
"Nah, don't you worry about that." Gan Ning stated, then waited for a few seconds to pass before cleaing his throat to catch his friend's attention. "Oh, and don't let anyone ELSE hear this, because you didn't get it from me. But, Meng, I think you're doing a pretty damn good job of acting commander."
Raising an eyebrow, Lü Meng gave a hinted smile, as he asked, "Oh really?"
"Really..."
"Thanks..."
"Hey, don't mention it. Just don't frown so much... you're just a few years older than me; keep it that way."
To that, Lü Meng could not help but smile, as he thanked his fate that he had a friend such as this... "Let's go, before Lu Xun begins to wonder where we are..."
~*~*~*~
Xu Huang wasn't expecting to find Zhang He alone, standing on the cliff side and gazing out into the sea. Though he had his priorities, his own curiosity brought him to stand next to the silent man. He knew Zhang He well, and he could tell by the look in his eyes that something was wrong. Yes... so, he, too, looked out into the ocean, to gaze at the sight of the small village near the sea, seeing a ship with bright red sails at its dock.
Why was Zhang He staring at this ship?
He asked, surprised that the man did not respond quickly, "What is it about that ship?"
Zhang He wasn't the type to brood, as he seemed to be one of the optimistic people that Xu Huang found good company with. He was a man who enjoyed beauty and found it in everything, and though he was definately not a normal man, Xu Huang found no fault in the man's love for their main strategist. Everyone knew that he and Sima Yi were a pair, but no one dared object to it, as it only seemed natural.
Now, the silent man that was once always smiling, always up for a conversation, said nothing. He kept his blue eyes transfixed on that ship, as if it had been sent from hell itself. Xu Huang wodnered if this ship was part of the million man armada, as he brought up the issue with Zhang He. "There's an army approaching Wu from the seas... they say it is a Million Man armada, captained by a man called Hua Seung. Do you think that is his flagship?"
Finally, there came a response, as Zhang He let out a breath, "No... I know that is not his ship. That ship is independent from this so called Million Man armada. But yes... I do know this ship..."
The pure bitterness in his voice was enough to tell Xu Huang that this man did NOT like this ship, as he did not bring it up. Instead, he spoke up, "I suggest we leave here... would you like to join me in going to the capital of Wu?"
"Why are you heading there?"
"Our lord plans on helping Wu get rid of this threat, and I was sent to tell them personally." Xu Huang answered, relieved to see Zhang He's eyes finally moved away from that ship. "I wouldn't mind the company, and you would probably explain the situation in owrds better than I could."
The man seemed hesitant, but nevertheless, he nodded, "Let us go then... by luck I will never see that ship again then."
And Xu Huang knew better than to ask, merely nodding as the two headed towards their waiting horses. He was quite thankful that he had ran into Zhang He... he was rather tired of being alone, and he enjoyed the man's company. He only hoped that whatever sullen mood that had taken him over would pass soon... what a dull trip it would be for them both to be silent on the way to Jian Ye.
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
Disclaimer: I do not own any character in this fanfic unless otherwise stated. Lu Xun, Gan Ning, Lü Meng, and all other characters are copyrighted to KEOI Productions and are used for fan reasons only. Please do not steal or alter this fic.
Okay, to clear some things up, as much as I wouldn't mind a Meng/Xun couple, this is not the case in this fic (sorry, Nat… don't worry. Another fic of that coming up… mwahaha). Also, no Xun/Da either (sorry Lu Xun 88… I'll work on the next BMTL chapter after I post this one and the next RTMW, okay?). And, finally, the mystic… will seem very familiar to you, and if you get to the end of the chapter and not realize who he is, then, don't worry… he'll appear more than once. =3
Chapter Eight: The Mystic's Word
There was little glory in running off to battle, Sun Quan thought, saddled upon his white steed that he was quite fond of, donned in the heavy armor that he hated so much. He hated war; all he wanted as to have his own kingdom in peace, without concern of raging war against the other nations. He wasn't a coward, but he truly lacked the ambition that Cao Cao had and the determination to unite the land as Liu Bei. He wanted the Jing Province, and that was it…
Yet, to attain such simple territory seemed impossible, and Sun Quan was just as distressed as Zhou Yu was when they received no news from either kingdom with the exception of Liu Bei sending a rather minor force to their border. That… was truly depressing.
As much as Sun Quan wanted to attain the Jing Province, he now wanted to practically GIFT wrap the damned territory and just let Liu Bei have it. What was the point in seeking ownership of the land if they were beaten to a bloody pulp by the current threat first?
And Zhou Yu knew of the plot well, as he practically fumed about it. "To see our land divided by a single province… makes one sick to their stomach! Yet, what is there to do?"
Sun Quan didn't have an answer… he remained silent, contemplating the situation that was bound to happen. He could see a messenger arriving from Shu, telling them of the stipulation of Shu joining the battle and seeing himself sign away the land on a piece of paper. Yes… and it would be no different from Wei.
So, he kept silent, allowing Zhou Yu to release some stress in harmless hot words. Now, more than ever, he feared for the troops he stationed down there, knowing that the armada had indeed set into their land and only hoping that his men were still alive. He did not receive word yet from Lü Meng, and that itself worried him… maybe the messenger got lost.
'Are the lives of so many men worth a few districts?' Sun Quan thought morbidly to himself, not seeing the concerned look on the usually hard face of the ex-pirate right next to him. If he had a fault, it would have definitely been his concern for his officers and his people, but it was a fault he was willing to have. He sighed… perhaps there was just no way around it.
Yet, Zhou Yu seemed to think otherwise, as he rode side by side with his concerned lord. "My young lord*, the risk of an attack from the other two nations after this next one are high… it would be exactly what Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi would do."
"Cao Cao at least… something like that wouldn't seem like Liu Bei's style…" Sun Quan stated, and Zhou Yu wasn't surprised to see the king of Wu defending the man that married his sister. Sun Quan had almost personally known Liu Bei, as they were basically brothers-in-laws, and Liu Bei's honor was known throughout the land. "Yet… he sends nothing but a border unit in defense. Perhaps he's still deciding upon his actions."
"Could be true, my lord… he is very indecisive at times."
Finally, the man next to Sun Quan spoke up, his voice hard and deep. His words were few, but they were as dependable as his courage was in the battlefield. Zhou Tai stated, "They will send help… they're merely stalling."
And Zhou Yu saw the wisdom in this, finding it almost rare that the former pirate captain caught on. "They're just waiting for us to be weakened, then they will attack and take our land after defeating us."
There was only one thing Sun Quan could say about this, as he sneered. "Those bastards… and have we fallen for it?"
"Not precisely, my lord…" Zhou Yu almost smiled, but he kept serious, rather enjoying the small moment of success that came from the thought of outwitting his arch rival in Shu. "You see, they will think that we are going into battle with just the main force and that we will take ALL of our men; look at our enemy… it will literally take all the men we could get to even dent them in a frontal assault. It's not too late to divide our forces into a more strategic formation to not only gain some advantages over our invading enemies but to our neighboring ones as well."
And of course, having the utmost respect and reliance on his men, Sun Quan listened. "I'll hear it…"
Now Zhou Yu spoke quickly but precisely, not allowing himself room for error. "Sir, let us get deeper into our own territory and let it appear that we are indeed heading towards the enemy in their direct path. Once we get far enough from the other kingdoms' scouts, we'll split our forces up; they will see that we are too far in to protect our own defenses and start moving in. As Zhou Tai stated, they have no choice but to eventually send out forces, as they are in the same threat as us should they give the pirates a stable land to settle in. However, they will enter our territory with incorrect information, and we will have three main forces: one group will linger behind the neighboring kingdom's forces, to guard our border's defenses just in case should they attempt anything before we drive the main threat out, the second group will be tending to the main threat and to relieve the current troops we have stationed there already, and the third group will go by the ocean itself and flank the invading force when they try to retreat and eventually finish them off. Then, if the neighboring kingdoms decide to launch a joint attack, the back force will block their supply routes, and the other two forces will join and take them out…"
Longwinded, but brilliant in Sun Quan's eyes, as he gave his immediate approval. "Splendid! You truly are a genius!"
"I… thank you, sir…" Zhou Yu was hardly shy, as he seemed to be the rather conceited one, however, he had changed slightly ever since meeting Zhuge Liang. Sun Quan had to admit that ever since the man found his rival, he's definitely got his ego and act together, becoming a slightly more tolerable man to be around. However, Sun Quan nor anyone else dared utter a word about it to him, as he gave a nod. "Sun Ce and I worked hard to gain this land, and I would not want to let it fall."
Yes, Sun Quan knew how close Zhou Yu and his older brother were, as he could remember some of the fondest memories of his childhood were spent trying to tag along with his older brother and closest friend. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were always doing things together as children even, and to be quite honest, Sun Quan was almost hurt that his own brother felt closer to a friend than to him. Wasn't he his brother too?
Sun Quan was envious of Zhou Yu, at least as a child he was. He would come, to take his brother away to play some game where he, his own little brother, was not invited unless their father or mother allowed him to. Yes, even now, when he looked at the chief commander that rode next to him, he could see himself looking up at Sun Ce and asking to play with him instead of Zhou Yu…
Looking back at that jealousy and envy now, Sun Quan had to admit that he felt a bit ashamed that he thought of Zhou Yu as his brother-snatcher. Now, he looked at their friendship, and he too longed for such a friendship with someone. And now that he thought about it, he wondered if his generals Gan Ning and Lü Meng were the very same, as the two seemed almost inseparable.
He frowned… once again, he thought of his men down south, holding off the huge force with so little supplies. He would have continued to mope about it, if Zhou Tai would have let him, "My lord, general Lü Meng and Gan Ning will keep them occupied long enough; do not concern yourself over them."
"It's hard for me not too…" Sun Quan smiled, to show the general that he was trying. "I cannot help but feel I sentenced them to certain death, and I also fear for Lu Xun."
"Do you feel for his life, or do you fear what will happen when Lady Wu finds out her son-in-law isn't coming for the wedding?"
Looking at Zhou Yu with an agasted look, Sun Quan was surprised to see the man smiling from ear to ear, and as he slowly began to laugh, the king of Wu shrugged, "That's another thing to be afraid of, I suppose… but nevertheless, we must hurry with the plan if we wish to give them any kind of hope."
"Yes, my lord." They both said in unison, neither one of them wishing to think of failure at this very moment.
~*~*~*~
Lü Meng had to admit that now was an odd time to see a traveling mystic walking down the path near his small camp. When a soldier told him, he quickly left his makeshift tent, walked over the sleeping Lu Xun, to go see exactly who this mystic was. At first, he was hoping it was Hua Tuo; perhaps he could help Lu Xun's wound heal faster?
And it was really no big lie that Lü Meng wasn't too fond of the superstitious as well. He was more of the logical thinker and wasn't keen into the bad omens and such, though he was never one to commit one in slight fear of him being wrong. In this day and age, one could never be so sure…
However, he couldn't get a good look on this mystic; he wore a tattered and filthy brown cloak, automatically stating that he was nothing more than a poor, traveling wiseman, not usually the one to carry medicines, and no where could Lü Meng see any scrolls. 'Yet he displays himself as a mystic would… how odd.'
"What would you expect a mystic would be doing approaching us?" A soldier asked, keeping his voice down as to not wake Lu Xun. The soldier nor Lü Meng noticed the sweat on Lu Xun's face, as they were too concerned with the mystic.
And Lü Meng answered truthfully, "Can't be for certain… perhaps he can tell the future and came to tell us our fate?"
"Sir?"
The general smiled, "I don't believe in such things, and neither should you… I'll go speak with this mystic then and see what he desires. Prepare the troops to head out and have them ready to go when I return."
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone knew Lü Meng to be a realistic and wasn't really the type to put up with nonsense, as he grabbed his halberd and began to walk towards the mystic, to meet him halfway there. The mystic was a wise man now, seeing the battle worn halberd and seeing the seriousness in the man's eyes, as he took a seat, to wait for the general to come to him. Rather Lü Meng wanted himself to look aggressive or not did not cross the mystic's mind, as he lowered his unseen face, to bow to the general. "Good day, general of the Royal family!"
'Hm… he knows who I serve, though it seems quite obvious by the territory.' Lü Meng thought with a skeptical look, as he set his halberd next to him to give the mystic a good look. 'Exactly what are you hiding under that hood?'
"My looks… they should be nothing to a general who is only hear to see what one wants to do with his army." The mystic's statement made him pause for a second, as he could make out a slight smile on his wrinkled face. "I assume that you are a general serving the Sun family of Wu, correct?"
Nodding, Lü Meng saw no point in lying, as he lowered his weapon, "That is correct. I am general Lü Meng of Runan, loyal subject of Lord Sun Quan. As you might have noticed, there is an army invading from the ocean, and it is our top priority to see to it that this threat is stalled until the main force arrives. We're running short of time, so-"
"Now, now… no need to rush." The mystic laughed, wearing on Lü Meng's nerves quickly. What an odd old man this mystic was! "You're in your mid-thirties and already you got wrinkles! Don't deny it; I see the lines under your eyes… natural insomniac, eh? You worry too much… slow down, and you'll live longer."
Normally, Lü Meng wouldn't have minded the lecture, as he was used to it by now. However, this was a crisis, and what nerve did that old mystic have to tell him this now? He did not mean to sound enraged, but it just came out that way, as he gave his reply. "Old mystic, there are times for relaxation and there are times for seriousness, and now is the time for the latter. I cannot relax until I am sure that the kingdom I serve is safe, and I'm willing to take whatever risk, whatever cost, to ensure the safety and survival of my clan!"
The anger in his voice did not seem to falter the mystic's good humor, as he asked, "Tell me, boy… is that what your lord wants, or is that what you want?"
"My lord expects the best from myself and all of his men!" Lü Meng stated, taking up for Sun Quan's defense. "He is a kind lord and trusting in his men, knowing them as friends and comrades rather than just a few generals on the field of battle. His concern for his generals can only be compared to that of a father to his sons, showing his complete support of our ability!"
"As good as it is to hear that your lord is a kind, loving man, you have not answered my question. But, there is no need to, as I can see in your eyes that you know he wants the best for his men and would not wish to lose you or your fellow officers in this fight." The mystic nodded, finally showing some seriousness. "Sun Quan… he was always passionate towards his men…"
Raising an eyebrow, Lü Meng finally asked, "Why do you know so much about the Sun family? Did you serve them at one time?"
"Serve? Well… I can't say, but how is the family? I lost contact with the family after the late Lord Sun Ce died."
'So he knew Sun Ce?' Lü Meng thought to himself for a second, trying to make sense of this old man. He remembered very little about Sun Ce, as he joined a few years after the kingdom succession passed down to the brother Quan, and what he remembered was that the man did not care for a certain mystic, which eventually led to his early death. He answered the mystic's question, "As you know, Lord Sun Quan currently rules the land, Lady Wu is still alive and well, though she doesn't get out as much as she used to… she stays within her bedroom, the main hall, and the garden at Jian Ye."
"She loved those flowers… especially the gold ones, but those wouldn't grow at this time of the year."
Lü Meng continued as if he was never interrupted, "I'm not keen on many other of the family members, but I can tell you that Lady Wu's daughter, Lady Sun, recently married Lord Liu Bei of Shu and is currently staying in Shu now."
Nodding, the mystic seemed to be remembering, as he asked, "Sun Ce… wasn't he and his close friend married to two maidens? Beautiful maidens… the Qiaos?"
"Yes… Lord Zhou Yu is currently chief commander of all of Wu's forces and he is still married to the youngest of the Qiaos. Da Qiao's still a widow, though, but her she has a daughter…"
It hit Lü Meng, subconsciously running his hand on his chest plate, where the letter remained. He muttered to himself, supposingly unheard by the mystic. "That's right..."
However, it was clear that the mystic heard the statement, as he asked, "What about her daughter? What's her name again… Sun Ya! That's it… Lady Sun Ya, if I recall correctly."
"That's it… well, once this crisis is over, she is set to marry the young general Lu Xun, though it's suppose to be a surprise for him," Lü Meng stated, rubbing his chestplate and shaking his head. "That is, if we even survive this battle…"
"Now, that's not a bright side to look at, young man!" The mystic chuckled, making Lü Meng pondered his identity even more. Digging into his cloak, he pulled out a long, slender pipe and carefully filled it with the narcotics that Lü Meng did not recognize. As he lit and proceeded to take in a wiff of the sweet smelling cocotion, the mystic continued, "I lost my innocense all to soon, and it seems you're heading down the same path, general Lü Meng. Here's my word of advise- don't grow up to be an old fool, much less old. It's bad enough being old, but it's even worse to allow age to get such an easy grasp on you and not even realize it until it's far too late."
'As if I didn't get enough of this lecture from Gan Ning...' Lü Meng thought, silencing his negative thoughts and trying to go back to a more neutral setting. He knew that thinking so bad wouldn't help the situation at all, so he covered it up as he merely nodded, "I shall try."
"So... tell me about this young general that is to marry the daughter of the late Lord Sun Ce. Is there any chance of me being able to see the young man?"
Thinking for a moment, the general answered, "He's been wounded recently and needs as much rest as he can get, so I'm sorry, you cannot see him."
Shaking his head, the mystic rose, enhaling another mouthful of the narcotic before reaching into his cloaks again with his free hand. He spoke as he did so, half occupied in finding whatever he was searching for. "Hmm... his name, what is it? Would he happen to be the kin of Lu Kang, the one that the late Lord Sun Ce had to defeat to gain Wu's capital and district?"
"You're correct... his name is Lu Xun... do you already know him?"
Smiling, the mystic laughed, "Oh, I met him! He was naught but a little boy when I did; small, light brown hair, golden eyes of the weirdest tint! Yes, I remember him well, unless he has changed his looks, I would assume him to be about up to your chest, neck at most, correct?"
"Who are you?" Lü Meng asked, raising an eyebrow towards this old mystic.
"Don't evade the question, silly boy! Oh, you don't have to tell me, I already know. Let's see... his personality; he's quite, usually sticks to himself but gives input when asked." Finally, the mystic found whatever he was looking for, and he tossed the small, pink fruit up in the air a few times, wearing on Lü Meng's nerves. "He looked like a thinker to me..."
"Answer my question now... who are you, and how is it that you know so much about Lu Xun?"
"He was once called Lu Yi, you know."
Narrowing his gaze, the general nodded, "He would prefer us not to call him that, though..."
"Oh really? Why?"
"It's not out business to know..." Seeing that this was all a waste of time, Lü Meng turned to leave, not even asking about the fruit that the mystic toyed with. He couldn't believe he had just wasted all this time, chatting with an old loon instead of preparing the troops. He called out to his soldiers, noticing that Lu Xun was finally awake and moving out of the tent. "Prepare to set out-"
The mystic called out to him, his voice causing him to stop in midstep, "Heed my words... you can't spend your whole life worrying for others more than your own health. You of all people should know this, Lü Meng of Runan."
That struck a nerve, a nerve that Lü Meng wanted to keep hidden in his past. He snapped, flashing him a look that could kill. "Do not tell me where to set my priorities... the safety of my nation and my comrades are my priority, as a good general should set them. I hold no selfish means to defend myself, un less it is to stay alive to defend my friends when they need me."
"War is not fought by strength alone... didn't your Lord tell you this before? If you don't heed my words, heed his."
Once again, Lü Meng asked. "Who are you?"
He still did not get his answer, throwing the small pink fruit at Lü Meng. The general's quick reflections saved him from being humilated, catching the fruit before it hit him in the face, and the mystic turned to leave now, flickinf his sleeves and shaking his head. "If you care more for your friend than your own health, then give him this. It will stop the infection and ease his pain if he stays still."
And with that, the old mystic set off, leaving Lü Meng alone to grasp his halberd in one hand and the fruit in the other. He was so enraged at him that he did not hear Lu Xun's feet brushing along the grass. 'What an odd old man... very, very odd indeed! I... know my priorities...'
"Lord Lü Meng..."
The general gave a jerk of his head, not realizing he flashed Lu Xun a hard look until the boy jumped back. He tried to calm himself, and finally spoke when he was sure that he wasn't going to shout, "Yes?"
Lu Xun's golden gaze could not be ignored, but neither could the sweat that pampened his face. As the boy spoke, Lü Meng brushed the back of his hand on his forehead, to check for a fever. "Sir, who was that man, and why do you look upset?"
"You're running a fever... and you look a bit pale."
Taken back by his concern, Lu Xun tried to cover it up, "It was a bit cold last night, sir, and I suppose I wrapped myself into the blankets too much. But sir, I'm alright-"
"It was warm last night." Lü Meng stated, and, noticing the pink fruit that he still had in his hands, he sighed, handing it over to the curious Lu Xun. He did not want to talk about the mystic, as it simply brought up too many questions within himself to want to answer. "He was a healing type, and he told me to give this to you to stop the infection. Go ahead and take it, it's safe."
The boy eyed the fruit with curious golden eyes, but he did not question him, as he carefully began to nibble on it. He recoiled, and he answered Lü Meng's questioning gaze. "It's bitter... really, really bitter."
Now, Lü Meng could not help but smile, and Lu Xun could only wonder what had struck him so deep as to say nothing all and begin to head towards the camp. Daring the taste, Lu Xun shoved the fruit into his mouth and forced himself to chew and swallow, trying to hard not to gag at the horrible taste that now lingered in his mouth. He didn't see Lü Meng's gaze, nor his hear his thoughts, 'Perhaps he's right... maybe I am being a bit overprotective. He wanted to prove something to me, so... would that make it my fault that he got hurt just because I wasn't there in time?'
"Lord Lü Meng? Are you alright?"
The general sighed, shaking his head, "Just concerned. Gan Ning hasn't reported back yet, and I don't want Hua Seung to catch us off guard, that's all."
It was obvious that Lu Xun did noy buy it, but he did not press the issue. As Lü Meng walked towards the camp, Lu XUn took a glance at the departing mystic, unable to understand the feeling he got when he looked at him. No, he didn't look familiar from his gaze, but there was something about him that made Lu Xun feel a bit more comfortable. He could not thank the mystic for the fruit, as Lü Meng called to him, "Come on... we can't stay in this spot any longer."
Lu Xun could only obey, keeping all thoughts to himself as he followed behind his friend. He, too, was concerned for Gan Ning, but he figured the former pirate would return. He had to admit that it was a great relief to see the flames lighting up the sky, knowing that Gan Ning had accomplished his task. Now Lu Xun wondered... what was the next step?
~*~*~*~
Sei Rong knew that returning to Hua Seung with such a defeat on his shoulders was going to be his death, but what choice did he have? He and countless other pirates spent the night traveling and searching for the rest of their party, only to find those wounded or killed by the pits that the Wu soldiers had dug, or slaughtered outside of the forest, arrows protruding through different vital spots. Though he could not find his captain, he wasn't completely wasting his time, observing the damage and the strategies of his enemies...
He could sum up on word for these men... they were definately the tricky type. Though there was no honor in killing your enemy through carefully planned traps or sniping your foe with exact accuracy as this, he had to admit that these men knew what they were doing and that there was no honor in this fight at all but to drive off the enemy with anything they could use.
They were also desperate, and Sei Rong wondered what had happened to the horses after their master's were killed in the pits. He saw bodies of pirates, but no horses... after checking the horses's tracks, he realized that these men were also low on supplies. They stole their horses!
'Are these warriors we're going against fighting for survival? Or could it be that there's more to this?' Sei Rong thought to himself, finally coming to some sort of luck as he could see the signs of a camp ahead. He and his tired men walked towards the camp, and the first person that came to greet them was their captain!
Sei Rong had to admit that the dead bodies seemed more welcoming than looking at Hua Seung's angered expression right now. The pirates behind Sei Rong instantly bowed, resting their foreheads on the ground in a sign of submission, and poor Sei Rong wasn't fast enough, as he was struck down by Seung's backhand. And his voice wasn't all to pleasent either, "You... let the ships get burned, didn't you?!"
The crippled man did not hesitate to reply, "My lord, not ALL of the ships were burned! I was able to spare your's from the flames!"
"But my ships... my armada... it lit up the SKIES!" Hua Seung's rage only increased, as he wrapped his fingers around Sei Rong's neck. "One ship was spared?! Who CARES! You... you ALLOWED the ships to be BURNED!"
"It-was Gan-Ning's doing!"
Did that release the hold? No... Hua Seung screamed now, as the other pirates trembled from his wrath-filled words. "That would be something that bell-wearin' traitor would do, and you allowed it to HAPPEN! ARE YOU THAT INCOMPETANT?!"
Struggling for breath now, Sei Rong KNEW he was going to die now... there was nothing that would save him now. "Sir-sir... these men's tactics-if they keep to these-tactics, it won't be long-before your army is defeated!"
Normally, this would ahve offered Sei Rong a quick death, however, to his surprise he was released, and Hua Seung backed away, to stomp his foot in the earth in rage. After he had regained some control over himself, he looked at Sei Rong, striking fear into him, "You're damn lucky you've got brains somewhere in that head of yours. Otherwise you'd be a useless pile of nothing... you're all forgiven for now, but don't think I'll let it go should something like THAT happen again!"
"Sir, we had a lot of supplies on those ships... what will we do if we run out?" a soldier asked.
"We'll worry about that later... there are plenty of villages we can ger the supplies from. A mere three thousand men cannot be everywhere at once!" Hua Seung had a new vigor, as any concern over the matter disappeared. Sei Rong really didn't know if this was a good or a bad thing, though, but he kept silent, prefering not to be killed now. "I'll make them pay for humilating me... oh, how they will pay! Too bad Cheng Lu won't be able to see it... a good general he was."
No, Sei Rong knew nothing of what happened in the woods, but he could take in enough that their best general of the calvary was dead. He knew better than to ask of the exact details, so instead, he asked, "What now, sir? Why haven't you advanced?"
Hua Seung spat, crossing his arms and looking towards the east, as if to sneer at his enemies. "I'm merely waiting... but now that you've arrived, we can start out. I know exactly where they're staying, and I want to crush them!"
"That's it, sir?"
Silence, then a nod. "Yeah... what else were you expecting? Beyond their traps and trickery, they're only three thousand men... all there needs to be done it to catch them, and KILL them! They cannot run from me forever!"
Before Sei Rong could say anything, the pirate captain turned around, to shout the orders, "Break camp! We're going to split up into two fractions... I'll pursue the enemy, while those under Sei Rong will find the nearest village and take whatever supplies they can find! Today, we will march to victory!"
The pirates around him gave their eager response, as if their humilating defeat the day before did not happen at all. Sei Rong could only sigh, waiting for the cheering to stop before addressing the pirate captain, "Be careful... there's a good chance that they left a few more traps elsewhere."
"Don't worry... I sent scouts out, and they've reported nothing." Hua Seung narrowed his eyes, smiling as a soldier brought him his recovered horse. The fuzzy steed seemed a bit angered that he was left along in the woods, as it snorted when his master mounted him. Looking to Sei Rong, Hua Seung nodded, and Sei Rong noticed his missing shoulder pad. "Report to me at night fall... no sooner, no later."
"Yes, my lord..."
Now, grinning, Hua Seung shouted, kicking his horse twice and starting off in a trot, "Victory! I will not stop until every last one of them is dead!"
"HAAAAAAAAA!"
~*~*~*~
Looking at the tent that still stood, Lü Meng wondered towards it, bringing his horse and the young general that rode on it along as well. Gan Ning still had not shown up yet, and what was worse was that the scouts spotted movement in the enemy camps. He sighed, and Lu Xun spoke up, finally smiling after getting that horrible taste out of his mouth. "Perhaps we should send a search party for him?"
"What a waste of good men..."
Lu Xun could not help but notice the bitterness in his friend's voice, as it was twice as bitter as that horrible fruit. He spoke up, wondering if he should even bother, "Sir, you're not normally like this. Did that mystic tell you something?"
Lü Meng shook his head, "He told me nothing that is of your concern. How are you feeling?"
"Better, sir..." Lu Xun replied, lowering his gaze slightly, wondering if it was something he had done. He wanted to apologize again, for going off and doing the foolish thing he had done, but he did not, knowing it would bring up old news that was wanting to be forgotten. Instead, he kept silent, not liking this Lü Meng at all...
Finally, they came up to the tent, and what they heard was a combination of upbeat whistling and the jingling of bells. Slowly, of so slowly, did Lü Meng turn to look at Lu Xun, and the boy could not help but allow his childish side to show, a rather impish grin upon his face as he swore he saw Lü Meng's eye twitch. He said nothing, as the general entered the tent, to see the former pirate sitting on the stool, his feet propped up on the table and one arm behind his head as the other plicked at his bells, to go along with his whistling.
Gan Ning winked at his friend, his impish smile obvious as well. "Meng! What took you?"
Only two words could come out of Lü Meng's mouth, and they seemed to flow smoothly, despite his anger, "You bastard..."
"Hey... now THAT'S not nice, especially after I set all those ships on fire and wrecked up the flagship good!" Gan Ning pointed out, instantly jumping to his feet and saluting, as Lu Xun poked his head in, bending over to flash his pirate friend a smile. "Reporting for duty; every ship is destroyed, and I had the supplies sent to our next destination. It'll be there by the time we get there!"
"Good... now pack up; we're moving out."
The former pirate was expecting more of an congradulations, but seeing his friend's quick temper told him not to go looking for it, as he did just that. He was definately a fast worker, and, dragging along the remains of the tent, he tried to keep up with them, as he addressed Lu Xun, "Hey, kid... what's got him all gruffy, eh? No sleep? Was it something he ate?"
Lü Meng only sighed, as Lu Xun was hesitant to answer, "The enemy troop is about to move out; he's concerned, that's all."
"My butt, but whatever." Gan Ning knew better, but he wasn't in the mood to pry out the information. "So, oh great leader, what next?"
"Lu Xun, go ahead and wait for us at the front." Lü Meng ordered, and the boy did not hesitate, waiting for the general to release the reigns before trotting off to the front of their small forces. Now, feeling a bit more secure, Lü Meng looked to Gan Ning, quickly apologizing, "I'm sorry if I seem a bit cranky, but I ahve my reasons. Lu Xun's injured-"
"Injured?! Who?! I'll kill them..."
The general grabbed his hand before he could reach for his sword, as he continued on, "Don't worry... the mystic that stopped by gave him something that should help fight any infection that should come, just as long as he doesn't move around too much. I'm going to keep an eye on him, but that limits us a bit. I want you to scout around; I've been noticing their formations, especially when they camp. They have quite a few different camps... I want you to burn a few of them, but don't leave a pattern for them to follow. Lu Xun and I will be setting up the traps up ahead... can you do this?"
The former priate gave him a wink, resting a warm hand on his shoulders as he nodded, "Hey, who was it that led the surprise attack against Cao Cao without losing a single man? Don't worry, Meng, I can handle this. You... you just make sure that those traps are set, and make sure that Lu Xun gets better. I know how much you care about the little guy."
Smiling, Lü Meng nodded, giving a sigh of relief. "Thank you... you be careful too. I don't want to lose a good friend."
"Nah, don't you worry about that." Gan Ning stated, then waited for a few seconds to pass before cleaing his throat to catch his friend's attention. "Oh, and don't let anyone ELSE hear this, because you didn't get it from me. But, Meng, I think you're doing a pretty damn good job of acting commander."
Raising an eyebrow, Lü Meng gave a hinted smile, as he asked, "Oh really?"
"Really..."
"Thanks..."
"Hey, don't mention it. Just don't frown so much... you're just a few years older than me; keep it that way."
To that, Lü Meng could not help but smile, as he thanked his fate that he had a friend such as this... "Let's go, before Lu Xun begins to wonder where we are..."
~*~*~*~
Xu Huang wasn't expecting to find Zhang He alone, standing on the cliff side and gazing out into the sea. Though he had his priorities, his own curiosity brought him to stand next to the silent man. He knew Zhang He well, and he could tell by the look in his eyes that something was wrong. Yes... so, he, too, looked out into the ocean, to gaze at the sight of the small village near the sea, seeing a ship with bright red sails at its dock.
Why was Zhang He staring at this ship?
He asked, surprised that the man did not respond quickly, "What is it about that ship?"
Zhang He wasn't the type to brood, as he seemed to be one of the optimistic people that Xu Huang found good company with. He was a man who enjoyed beauty and found it in everything, and though he was definately not a normal man, Xu Huang found no fault in the man's love for their main strategist. Everyone knew that he and Sima Yi were a pair, but no one dared object to it, as it only seemed natural.
Now, the silent man that was once always smiling, always up for a conversation, said nothing. He kept his blue eyes transfixed on that ship, as if it had been sent from hell itself. Xu Huang wodnered if this ship was part of the million man armada, as he brought up the issue with Zhang He. "There's an army approaching Wu from the seas... they say it is a Million Man armada, captained by a man called Hua Seung. Do you think that is his flagship?"
Finally, there came a response, as Zhang He let out a breath, "No... I know that is not his ship. That ship is independent from this so called Million Man armada. But yes... I do know this ship..."
The pure bitterness in his voice was enough to tell Xu Huang that this man did NOT like this ship, as he did not bring it up. Instead, he spoke up, "I suggest we leave here... would you like to join me in going to the capital of Wu?"
"Why are you heading there?"
"Our lord plans on helping Wu get rid of this threat, and I was sent to tell them personally." Xu Huang answered, relieved to see Zhang He's eyes finally moved away from that ship. "I wouldn't mind the company, and you would probably explain the situation in owrds better than I could."
The man seemed hesitant, but nevertheless, he nodded, "Let us go then... by luck I will never see that ship again then."
And Xu Huang knew better than to ask, merely nodding as the two headed towards their waiting horses. He was quite thankful that he had ran into Zhang He... he was rather tired of being alone, and he enjoyed the man's company. He only hoped that whatever sullen mood that had taken him over would pass soon... what a dull trip it would be for them both to be silent on the way to Jian Ye.