Pit Warfare

So give me all you poison
And give me all your pills
And give me all your hopeless hearts
And make me ill
You're running after something
That you'll never kill
If this is what you want
Then fire at will

(Wei: Cao Pi)

Pit Warfare. That's what Cao Cao called it. In essence, it was like throwing two dogs in an arena and watching them kill each other. Even by Cao Pi's standards, it was barbaric. But he believed that this may have been the worst insult as of yet. He knew how his father felt about Shu...and Wu. But now this strange orb had delivered the little strategist of Wu into their hands.

'Let's see what he can do.'

Or so Cao Cao had said.

Cao Pi stood on the sidelines, his Pure Havoc at his side. He wasn't going to participate, but would step in if needed. There, standing in the center and almost nervous, stood Lu Xun. His Eagle Sabers were drawn, and his wounds were bandaged. In Cao Pi's opinion, he looked like he had just been through hell. The soldiers began to file in, surrounding the poor boy. Cao Pi caught sight of Sima Yi, who hid his smug grin behind his fan.

'Where the hell is Zou Mea when I need her!' Cao Pi thought, just as a strong hand grasped his shoulder. It was Xiahou Dun.

"Something troubling you?" The one-eyed man asked.

"Nothing aside from the usual..."

No signal was given, but three soldiers with their swords draw jumped at Lu Xun. All of a sudden, he changed. His eyes darkened and his body seemed to flow like water. The three were cut down, one clean cut across all of their throats. More rushed in, and more met the same fate. It was like he completely changed when he sensed an incoming threat.

"Just like an animal." Cao Pi muttered. Xiahou Dun nodded.

All stopped for the barest moment when Cao Cao, sword drawn, stepped into the circle. Soldiers cheered. Lu Xun slowly turned, blood splattered over his face. He almost seemed crazed, like this was simply a way to survive. Cao Pi considered stopping this, but he wanted to see how it played out.

Lu Xun was more graceful, more skilled, and quicker. But Cao Cao was no amateur either. Many a deathblow was avoided by a single flick of the sword. But the killings were starting to take their toll on Lu Xun. Slightly, his actions slowed. Cao Cao didn't seem to notice, but Cao Pi did.

Then, it happened, almost in slow motion.

Lu Xun whirled, sabers ready to go straight for the throat. Cao Cao moved, and with one fluid movement, the tip of his sword was pointed at Lu Xun's right eye. It was close, so close that Lu Xun didn't dare blink for fear of slicing his eyelid. His entire body froze; his legs where they stood, his sabers where they were rising. Cao Cao laughed and the tip of his sword drew a bloody line from the corner of Lu Xun's eye down to his chin.

Lu Xun didn't even flinch.

That was when Cao Pi stepped in; blocking what would have been a killing blow. Again, everything seemed to stop as minds registered what just happened.

"Father, I claim him as my own from this moment on." Cao Pi said coldly.

Cao Cao's face turned red with rage before he stormed from the room. Slowly, the crowds vanished until only Xiahou Dun and Cao Pi were left. It was then that Lu Xun dropped to his knees, as if he shut down. His breathing was heavy, and his eyes still remained wide.

"He's like a wet, wounded animal. Ready to give up." Xiahou Dun remarked.

Cao Pi ignored it, instead extending his hand to Lu Xun...

(Shu: Jiang Wei and Sun Xu)

Sun Xu had returned, and was greeted with a nice warm welcome of heavy drinking. As Zou Ci had said, her Free Birds were now called "Phoenix Wheels", as they now burst into flames when they came in contact with an enemy.

The Light Orb had become serpentine, twisting itself around Jiang Wei's weapon. It blinded whatever enemy it hit.

But the important thing was that Xu was back!

There was much drinking, much partying, and many many questions. But Sun Xu retreated from the crowds, shutting herself in her room and trying to decipher what Zou Ci had meant. It probably wasn't Zou Mea...she was pretty capeable of taking care of herself, especially with Ling Tong around. It wasn't anyone from Shu, all the officers were present and accounted for.

"Then...Lu..."

Her eyes flew to the east, where Wu was. She was beginning to really wonder. Was it Lu Xun?

There was a knock at her door. Jiang Wei entered, and was promptly glomped once the door was closed.

"Happy to see me?" He asked.

"Ten days, no sex. You figure it out." She teased. The strategist grinned before pinching her butt. She squealed and kissed his forehead.

"What happened to Lu Xun? Wasn't he..."

"That's the problem."

Everything became serious. They sat on the bed, looking deep into one another's eyes.

"I know you left because of him..."

"It was a stupid fight. But that's not the point..."

"What is?"

"Zou Ci came to visit me. He said that Lu Xun was in danger."

"Really?"

"Actually, he said that my lover was in a worse position than me. I only translated it to mean that."

The darkness of twilight fell upon them.

(Wei: Zou Mea Almost midnight)

Mea slowly crept down the hallways, trying to be as quiet as she could. There were officers who didn't take kindly to being woken in the middle of the night. But as she slowly crept around the corner, she could hear the familiar whispers of Cao Pi and Xiahou Dun.

"Come on, it wasn't that bad. You've gotta understand where he was coming from, Lord Cao Pi."

"The little bastard bit me! ME!"

Mea rounded the corner to find Cao Pi holding his bandaged hand and on the verge of swearing. But once he saw her, his eyes lit up and he tried not to wake the castle with a vast line of censorship. Now, Mea asked.

"Who bit who?" She asked.

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Chapter end!