Revenge

Summary: When you live your life only for revenge, there isn't much room for virtue. Can Gan Ning change as he learns the truth, or will he be remembered as a ruthless pirate. GNxSSX, others

Author's Notes: My third story. Once again it doesn't follow history. Don't be frightened by the Gan Ning in this story, this happens before he reforms (you'll see). Anyway, depending on how many reviews I get, I'll see how often I can update. Hope you enjoy, and please leave a review.

The blood was now flowing through the once peaceful valley. Hundreds of soldiers had been killed, the massacre was complete. They had come through the passage not thinking their prey would turn and fight so ferociously. They paid for their underestimation with their lives. The village in the east was now abandoned, most of the townspeople were now captives. With the Imperial army completely destroyed, their lives were in the hands of these river pirates and their leader, the bandit of silken sails, Gan Ning of the Bells.

Riding up on his horse, his bells ringing softly, Gan Ning made his way to the top of the hill. There, the villagers had been arrayed and placed under guard, and waiting for him a few of his men held a special captive. The man was down on his knees, trembling in his purple and gold armor. He stared at the ground, not daring to even look at Gan Ning.

"Who is he?" Gan Ning asked in a low, calm voice.

"These papers say he is Zhu Jun, an Imperial District Commander. Get this! He's got an imperial edict for 'the capture or kill of the pirate Gan Ning and his band'." The soldier laughed as he read the paper.

Gan Ning got down of his horse, and took out his large broadsword. He walked slowly towards the officer. "Do you want to live?" Ning's question seemed to give the officer hope, he raised his head and looked at Ning. The answer was the obvious. Ning grabbed the man by his hair, forcing his head up, as he put his sword to the man's throat. "Then give me the answer to my question and nothing else. Where is the red general?"

The officer was confused, he tried to think but he couldn't. "Wh...what? I don't know a re..."

Before he could finish, Gan Ning forced his blade through his neck, decapitating him in a single, smooth stroke. Many of the villagers screamed and looked away, even many of Ning's pirates gasped. Ning still held onto the severed head, angrily he threw the bloody head against the trunk of a tree. Leaving a grim mark, of fresh crimson blood. Many around him were flabbergasted.

Frustrated, Gan Ning started to walk of toward his tent. Before he could get far he was stopped by his right hand man, Xia Fen. Compared with Ning, Fen was a virtuous man as well as a talented strategist. It was Fen who convinced Ning to wear his bells, to at least give the common people a chance to either run or prepare a feast.

"Ning wait. What should we do with these people."

Gan Ning looked back at the couple of hundred people they ha captured, and didn't give them a second thought. "Kill them!"

"But Ning..." Fen pleaded.

Gan Ning waved him off. "Fine, do whatever you want, just don't bother me."

Gan Ning turned once again and walked off, not caring about what would happen behind him. It didn't take long until he reached his large circular tent. He moved the flap and walked in, placing his sword down, he realized there was someone else in there. Tied to the the center pole, sat a beautiful young women, her mouth was gagged, her hair was disheveled, her clothes torn. She looked up with her watery eyes, and started to whimper when she saw who it was.

Gan Ning realized his men must of done this. They have done this many times, thinking it makes their leader happy. Ning thought it was more annoying than anything else. Taking a deep breath and shaking his head, he took out his knife. He was too frustrated right now to deal with anything like this. He walked slowly toward the woman. As he got closer, she started to squirm around and whimper louder. Ning walked up to her, and, using the knife, cut the ropes binding her. He then walked of to his bed and sat down. He started to take off his shoes. It took a few minutes for the woman to realize what happened. She opened her eyes and saw that she was free. She removed her gag, and looked around. She saw Ning in the corner, and overcome with joy, she walked over to him.

Bowing down low in front of him she spoke, "Oh thank you my lord, thank you. You have saved my..."

She was stopped as Gan Ning brought the knife up to her throat. "Look! You caught me at a bad time. If you want to live, get out of here. If you want to die, keep talkin."

She didn't move for a second, but seeing his unmoving face, she backed away and ran off. Ning watched her leave, then, taking another big breath, he lied down.

"I wonder what dream I'm on tonight."

(2000 Li away)

Sun Jian raised his sword and called for his force to form up behind him. Seeing them ready, he gave a yell, swung his sword, and pushed his horse forward. He charged across the field, toward the city, his army following closely behind. He was flanked by many of his top commanders. Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Han Dang on his right, Huang Gai, Cheng Pu, and Ling Cao on his left. Following just behind him, as he had ordered, Sun Shang Xiang, Xiao Qiao, and Da Qiao tried to keep up.

The unorganized army of rebels watched as the Tiger of Jiang Dong came charging toward them. They lost all heart and started to flee in any direction they could. Sun Jian and his generals cut through their enemy. Deciding to leave the rebels for the army, he lead his commanders to try and capture, Ou Xing, the rebel behind the uprising. They caught him at the city wall, trying to flee eastward. After a brief struggle with Ou Xing's bodyguards, they had him captured.

Sun Ce brought the bound Ou Xing to his father throwing him down in front of him. Sun Jian reached down from his horse and picked up Ou Xing by his helmet. Showing his great strength, Sun Jian held him up, his legs dangling helplessly, as he was being choked by the strap of his helmet.

"Ou Xing, I hold and edict from the Emperor himself, to suppress this uprising and kill its leader. Do you have any last words?"

"Th...The house of Han...will fall." Ou Xing spat in Sun Jian's face.

In a fit of rage, Sun Jian picked Ou Xing up in both hands and with all his strength threw him into the city wall. With a loud, horrible thud Ou Xing's body hit the wall, and fell down to the ground, blood pouring out everywhere.

Sun Shang Xiang came up next to her father, "Geez dad. Did have throw him against the wall."

"He spit on me." Sun Jian defended. Shang Xiang just rolled her eyes.

"That was a piece of cake. I guess Zhou Yu was right, after all." Sun Ce came forward on his horse.

"Those rebels were so unorganized, they couldn't withstand even a single frontal assault." Zhou Yu came up from behind Sun Ce.

"That was fun, we should do it again sometime." Xiao came up next to her husband, leaning over and giving him a kiss.

"Xiao please, this battle may have been easy but it is not a game." Da had gotten of the horse Xiao and her had shared, and gotten on Ce's horse holding tightly around him.

"I think the little missy's right. That wasn't even worth the effort. I say we go find someone else to fight." Ling Cao added.

"You gotta calm down Cao. I'd hate to think what would happen to your son if you get hurt." Sun Jian tried to calm down his commander.

"So what are we going to now, father." Sun Shang Xiang asked.

"Let's go into the city. We can find something to do in there."

The ten generals entered the city. The people lined up on and rejoiced. Ou Xing's tyranny was over, now they could once again be loyal to the Emperor. The praised the generals as hero's, and honored them with gifts. Peace had finally been restored, but for how long none of them knew.