I hop you'll like this chapter. I'm thinking of how to shorten my story, hope that it'll be ABOUT 30 of less chapters!

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Chapter18: Am I Welcomed Here?

A week or so after Jiang Wei's birthday ALL the generals of Shu went to battle against the Nanman Force. A few days after the generals' departure, Wu soldiers came and invaded Chang Du. Basically the city square. They burnt down houses and slaughtered innocent citizens. A troop of soldiers of Wu came in the orphanage where the Lin and the two sisters were. They broke the door down and killed the children there. Even poor little Vi was killed, along with the two women. Lin was hiding from them, not that she wanted too, but was forced to by the sisters. When the women screamed as they got stabbed, all Lin could do was shut her eyes and cover her ears. When the soldiers left to another room, the older sister looked at Lin with her eyes and turned her eyes to a door. Lin refused to ditch them, including the children. "G-go…!" said the young one. Lin nodded and said, "I'm so sorry…!" She got up and went to the door; it was a backdoor covered by dark curtains.

Lin ran out of the house and went to another area in the city of Chang Du. She went to the ranch place where her saddle was, luckily all her things were in the pack with her saddle. The ranch was near the main exit or/ and entrance of Chang Du, most of the generals use it a lot. She told everything about what happened down town to the ranch owner, he was a very nice old man. Seems like the Wu soldiers aren't going to attack here, since it's so deep into Chang Du.

Oh yeah, when Lin were still at the orphanage, like on the normal days, she told the sisters about her life, told them about her life in Hai and Wu… everything. It's a bit reckless of Lin, but she thinks 'what do I have to live for? My family is dead, he, Lu Xun, has become traitorous.' So she told the ranch owner too.

"My dear, please aid yourself," said the ranch owner.

"Excuse me…?" said Lin.

"You are wounded."

Lin putted her hand on her cheek then removed it. She saw blood on her palm. "And on your arm," pointed out the old man. Lin stretched out her arm and saw some burnt marks and cuts. Oh yeah, you're right," said Lin. "But I think I better leave, I don't want to cause anymore trouble." "Are you sure?" "…Yeah. Thank you for everything, sir, and goodbye," said Lin. She went to where the horses were and mounted on her saddle. "Now, you go off safely, you hear'?" "Yep, goodbye, Sir." And then Lin quickly rode off. The old man waved goodbye to her.

Lin rode on for a bit, when she got off, she stored her saddle somewhere near her and in a safe place. While walking around checking the area, two bandits came affront her. "Hey, little girl, give us your money! Or else!" said bandit one.

"Huh…?" said Lin.

"You heard him! Now give or come with us!" said bandit two.

"Uh no thanks," Lin replied.

"Why not?"

"Because I've better things to do with my money and I don't really want to go anywhere with you guys either," Lin said in a humorous way.

"Then prepare to meet your doom!" (Yeah, I know such, a cheesy line!) said bandit two. Then both bandits began charging towards her. 'Awe man, I don't have any weapons to defend myself with! Oh yeah, except for these… stupid defense counter daggers! It'll do, I guess," Lin thought. She pulled out her daggers and blocked bandit one's attack with her hand. She stabbed the bandit on the shoulder with her left hand. She held her daggers in a good position, the blades stuck out behind her pinkie. It was a good way of holding dirks, knives, tantos, or daggers like that. Bandit one fell to the ground from the hit he received, then bandit two ran up to her and struck her, she easily evaded it. Lin held her daggers up crossing them horizontally with her arms shaped like an X. She then, in return, gave bandit two her special dagger deathblow. With her two blades she stabbed him on the chest deeply and brought her blades back up slicing his chest.

"Hah!" said Lin.

Then un-expectantly, bandit one stabbed through her with his sword and bought it back out. Lin quickly turned around slashing her daggers and sliced his face then he took many steps back covering his bleeding face with his hands shouting. Behind her, bandit two got up and aimed for her head, but in time she turned around and just received a deep cut on the cheek. Bandit two also seemed to have a dagger of his own, so he took his out and tried to slash her up by the chest. Luckily for Lin she blocked it with her left hand, but since she's right handed and that her left handed is, like, weaker than her right, bandit two's blade slid up and slashed her on her left eye. Hey in case you're not sure, I said slice her left eye, not sliced OFF her right eye!

"Hey!" heard the two bazaar-like bandits. "Back off!"

"Oh no, it's the generals!" said bandit two. He quickly ran to his buddy-like buddy and ran off. When the general got to Lin she said, "Oh no, those bandits has wounded you."

"Xing Cai, is she alright?" asked another general on a saddle holding Lin's saddle, Xi, by the mounted rope.

"I don't know, Lady Ying. She seems terribly injured, what should we do?" asked Xing Cai.

"Uh, well take her with us. Seems a bit dangerous around here now all of a sudden," said Yue Ying.

So the two female… actually, the only female generals of Shu, took Lin into the Kingdom of Shu!

Xing Cai ended up taking Lin to the guest room and asking the maids to fix her up while Yue Ying went to fix the saddles and tell all the other generals about some girl who'll be staying in the kingdom for a while.

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"Ow…my head hurts…" mumbled Lin when she sat up of a bed, rubbing her head. "Hmm…hmm…? Hah!" Lin saw the bandages wrapped around her arms and wrapped around her left eye. 'Where am I!" she thought. Lin flipped over the sheets and noticed she was in a new outfit; she was in a light dress that went down to her knees. She didn't care about that now only how to get, so she walked out of the room. She has no clue where she is…or where's she's headed to. She went through a hallway and opened all the doors she came across. All were empty but there was a door she heard voices in. she was about to open the door until she heard someone talk. "Hey!" Lin heard. It came behind her so Lin turned around and saw a pretty woman a front of her. "Hey, you must be that new girl we found."

"Who are you?" Lin asked.

"Oh, forgive for not introducing myself. I am Yue Ying, wife of the Prime Minister Zhuge Liang of Shu also the strategist of Shu," said Yue Ying.

"Oh, forgive, Lady Ying," Lin said bowing to Yue.

"Oh, nonsense! So what is your name?"

"Mine? Mine is Qao Lin Yi," Lin said introducing herself.

"Well, Miss Yi, I find it surprising that you're awake."

"Does it?"

"Yes, you've been asleep for days. Two days I believe…"

"Two days…hm."

"Your name reminds me something familiar from a long time ago… but seems that I can't ring a bell. Oh well, anyways, Miss Yi, please follow me. I'll get you some durable clothes and then I'll introduce you."

"Introduce me? To who?" Lin asked herself. So she followed Lady Ying to a female guest room and got her dressed up. Actually Lin refused to wear their clothes because she has her own in her pack. So Yue got a maid to get Lin's pack from her saddle, Xi, and brought the pack back to them. Lin wore a black sleeveless shirt that was a bit tight and had a green dragon wrapped around it. Her shirt was outlined yellow and a cute collar connected to it. For her bottom half, she wore black pants that ended a few inches below her knees. And for her feet, she wore black Chinese slippers with a dragonfly on them.

"Are you ready?" asked Yue Ying.

"Hmm…? For what?" Lin asked.

She sighed. "Are you ready to be introduced to the Lord and Generals of Shu?"

"…no…I don't think so."

"Well, to bad, sorry. You'll have to."

"Fine." Lin got up.

"Good, now follow me, please."

And she did. They went through a few hallways, on their way to Liu Bei's chambers, a few of the maids stared at Lin as if she were a threat. Yue Ying told Lin not to take it personally. When they finally got there, Yue began to speak first. "Lord Liu Bei," she said, "may I present the new lady to you."

"…"

"…Oh, and all the other generals of Shu," Yue Ying stated while noticing all the Shu generals in the room.

"Why yes, Yue Ying. Please introduce her," said Liu Bei.

"Alright, come here," Yue said facing to Lin. Lin went to Yue and stood next to her. "Lord Liu Bei and other generals of Shu, I present you a new female of Shu, this is Miss Qao Lin Yi."

Lin blushed as she was presented. She never liked being introduced, especially to big crowd such as this.

"Ah Lin. Miss Qao, please step forward," said Liu Bei.

Lin slowly walked towards him. Before she noticed, she stood before Liu Bei. Next to the Lord of Shu were two generals, his trusty ones too, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei.

When Lin stood in front of Liu Bei, she went down to her knees bowing to him.

"No, please get up," said Liu Bei. Lin did what she was told. "Qao Lin Yi…that name… it seems that I've heard of it before, but… Are you new here?"

"No…not really," Lin answered.

"Lady Yue has told me about your battle skills."

"…"

"Do you mind showing us?"

"Would you guys care to watch?"

"Yes… actually, I would like you to battle a general here, from hearing your battle scenes."

"Okay…?"

Everyone gasped at this event.

"I appreciate it, thank you. Now, let us head to our training grounds!"

So everyone went to the training grounds of the Shu Kingdom. "Lord Liu Bei," said Ma Chao.

"Yes, Ma Chao?"

"This…girl is only a newbie, I must say. So who do you think she should fight?"

"Hmm… Xing Cai, step forward."

Xing Cai did as she was told. "Yes, M' Lord?" asked Xing Cai.

"No, you mustn't address me as 'Lord' anymore, remember, your new lord is my son and your future husband, Liu Chan," said Liu Bei.

When Liu Bei spoke, a sad face came up upon Xing Cai, and a face of young jealousy came upon Ma Chao's, who was only noticed by Lin.

"Anyways, Xing Cai, would you please battle Lin, if you don't mind," said Liu Bei

"No, of course not, Lo- Liu Bei," Xing Cai said. She went and grabbed her weapon and came back.

"Miss Qao, with what weapons are you good with?" asked the lord.

"Hmm…spear. I will use a spear," Lin answered.

"Very well," said the lord. So Lin got a spear ready for her battle.

"Ready?" said Zhao Yun.

"Ready!" said the two girls.

"Okay… Go!"

"WAIT!"

"What is it, Yue Ying!"

"Zhao Yun, Liu Bei! How could you make Miss Yi fight like this in her condition?"

"You're right, I'm sorry," apologized Liu Bei. Zhao Yun nodded in agreeing.

"Good," said Yue, "Ma Chao, get Xing Cai and Lin's weapons. Xing Cai and Lin, follow me."

When Ma Chao collected the weapons, the two girls left to follow Yue Ying. "Where are you taking us?" asked Lin. They've entered a room inside a hallway in the kingdom.

"I don't know. I guess I just wanted to leave. Xing Cai, Lin, forgive me, please," said Yue Ying.

"There isn't a point for you to apologize to me, Miss Ying. I am the one who accepted the challenge," said Lin.

"Actually, it was my fault for not declining it in the first place," said Xing Cai.

"Hmm, I guess we were all being reckless, including Liu Bei," said Yue Ying. "Oh yeah, Lin, if you're wondering were we are, we're in my room."

"Oh, really?" said Lin.

"Yes we are," said Xing Cai.

In a bit they began chatting in Yue Ying's room. Before they knew it, it was already sun down. At sun set everyone departed in Yue Ying's room for now. They were told to come back at night and talk again some more. Lin was a bit too lonely now these passed few weeks, so she just stayed in her room and read her book. When the moon arrived, Lin got dressed into her pajamas. She wore a blank white strapped top that ended to show a small part of her belly. And she wore grayish blue shorts that were an inch above her finger tips. After that, she laid on her bed staring at the ceiling.

'Hmm… I wonder if…if he misses me so. I wonder it they do to. Hmm, Xiao…why did you tell…!' Lin thought with her eyes closed.

Lin heard knockings on her door. "Yes?" she asked.

"Oh, uh, Lin, I think it's time we go to Yue Ying's room now!" said Xing Cai.

"Oh, okay!" Seems that Lin had forgotten about going back there and talk again. She got up and went out of the room. She saw Xing Cai, she wore a light dress that was strapped, down to her knees, and was light green. "You ready?" Xing Cai asked.

"…yeah, let's go."

And then, so off they went to Yue Ying's room again. When they entered, Yue, of course, welcomed them. (This isn't like a sleepover to tell you.)

Yue wore a loose shirt along with her loose pants that went to her knees, her outfit was very white. "So what did you want to talk about?" said Lin.

"Uh, it's not really 'talk about,' it's more like 'know about.'"

"…?"

"Okay, I want us three girls to know about each other more, is all."

"Oh okay, I gotcha'," said Lin.

"Good, let's start with…you, Xing Cai," said Yue.

"Me!"

"Yes!" said Lin.

"But I don't want to, yet."

"Alright, then how about you Yue?" said Lin.

"Me, fine, since you're new here, Lin, I'll star off with my basics. I am Yue Ying, a general of Shu and wife of the strategist and Prime Minister of Shu, Zhuge Liang. Oh, and I use I scythe as for my weapon."

"Wow, I can't believe how lucky you are."

"Yep, now, if you'll both excuse me, I think I must go to our Lord and apologize to him for earlier. Xing Cai, while I'm gone, please tell about your self to Lin."

"Alright, Lady Ying," said Xing Cai.

"Oh hello there, Ma Chao," Yue Ying said seeing Ma Chao outside of her door. "Hey," he said. After that Yue closed the door.

"So…shall we begin?" asked Lin.

"Yeah, right. Well I am Xing Cai, another general of Shu, I use a fork for my battles, and is going to be engaged soon…" her voice began to fade.

"Engaged to whom?"

"To the future lord of this kingdom, Liu Chan, son of Liu Bei."

"Earlier today when we were in the training grounds, after your lord spoke something about not being addressed by 'lord' and about this Liu Chan; I saw a sad depression on your face."

"You noticed it?"'

"I thought it was obvious. Not only on yours, but on another general too. I think his name was Ma Blao…"

"Ma Chao," Xing Cai corrected.

"Yeah, there you go, Ma Chao!" Lin said scratching her head as Xing Cai laughed. "Yes, this Ma Chao had a face like yours that time…actually…his face represented small jealousy, but painful and deep in the inside."

"Hm, that so?" said Xing Cai.

"Yes…but perhaps not. This is the way I see him of my point of view."

"…Tell me about yourself, Lin."

"I would but I think we should go to bed. It's pretty dark, so perhaps next time."

"Alright," said Xing Cai.

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The next chapter might take a while to update, please support me or review me. Thank you!