Chapter 1: Prologue

She pulled her Ambition out of a dead soldier's chest.

She winced as she felt something painful in her hip.

It was bleeding badly.

She looked around the plains for any sight of soldiers, but no one was around, only dead Wei corpses.

She limped to a nearby tree and sat down.

She couldn't give up now.

She still had so much to do in life.

She couldn't die.

It seemed as if there was no more hope.

Until he came riding on his horse, that is.

"Xing Cai! I was looking all over for you!" Guan Ping exclaimed, worriedly.

He got off his horse and hurried to Xing Cai.

"What took you so long? I've been here for such a long time …" Xing Cai whispered weakly.

"We have to get you to our North Depot. Your father's there." Guan Ping said.

"My father?" Xing Cai asked.

"Yes. Come on." Guan Ping carried her and helped her on his horse.

He sat behind her.

They made their way to the North Depot before long.

They were greeted with the sound of Zhang Fei shouting.

"Xing Cai! Look at the state of you!" Zhang Fei cried as Guan Ping helped Xing Cai off his horse. "I knew I shouldn't have let you fight on your own!"

"I'm fine, dad." Xing Cai insisted, resting on Guan Ping. "It's just a cut, that's all."

"A cut! You would have died of blood loss if Guan Ping didn't find you!" Zhang Fei said. "Let's get you inside."

Zhang Fei and Guan Ping escorted her to a nearby tent.

Zhao Yun was inside, getting his arm wound bandaged by the medic.

"Are you OK, Xing Cai?" Zhao Yun questioned Xing Cai when he saw her hip.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Xing Cai muttered.

They laid her down on a bed.

"Guan Ping, thank you for helping my daughter. I do not know how to express my gratitude." Zhang Fei said.

"No need." Guan Ping smiled.

"You can go relax now. I can handle Xing Cai from here." Zhang Fei told him.

"No, it's fine. I want to stay." Guan Ping said.

Xing Cai raised her eyebrow.

"To wait for Zhao Yun, of course!" Guan Ping lied.

"What?" Zhao Yun said, confused.

"I'm waiting for you." Guan Ping repeated.

"I'm done." Zhao Yun got up. "Get better soon, Xing Cai. We'll need you back on the field!"

Zhang Fei glared at him.

"Not too soon, of course." Zhao Yun said quickly and rushed out of the tent.

Guan Ping waved to Xing Cai and followed Zhao Yun.

"You weren't waiting for me." Zhao Yun said.

"Yes I was." Guan Ping said.

"Don't lie. You like Xing Cai." Zhao Yun grinned.

"No I don't! She's my friend, nothing more."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that."

"I'm telling the truth!"

"That's what they all say. But tell me, Guan Ping. Has there ever been a guy close to Xing Cai who hasn't fallen for her? I mean, you have to admit, she's the prettiest girl you can find. Even I couldn't resist her!"

"She's pretty, but so what? There's nothing else special about her."

"She's smart. Zhuge Liang used to teach her when she was small. She's devoted to Shu. You know how she praises the ground Liu Bei walks on. Oh, and she's a better fighter than you!"

"She is not! You didn't see her back there! She was on the verge of dying!"

"Correction, she was on the verge of dying because she couldn't do anything else! With a hip injury like that she couldn't walk!"

"Whatver." Guan Ping muttered.

"Let me tell you, Guan Ping. You better hurry up or you'll miss your chance. There are about a million other rich, well-known, better looking guys after her." Zhao Yun patted his shoulder and went off.

Guan Ping sighed.

Zhao Yun was right.

He did love Xing Cai, but he couldn't say it.

She was only a friend.

He didn't want to ruin their friendship.

She could never love him.

Not a girl as perfect as her.