Jiang Mae- Thanks for the review, Ping also happens to be one of my fav. characters as well.
The proud Canadian- thanks for the review, I will try to work on my stories so that does not happen.
Guan Ping was sitting by what had been a small fire the night before, which had been the longest of his life, as he reflected back on his life to t his point and the loss of his father which only happened earlier in the day, about all of the good times that they had together, and all of the stuff that he had shown him, and though him over the years. In a way he figured it was more then likely his way of telling his father good bye, and getting used to the fact that people close to you die. That some day it was very possible everyone he carried for would be dead, and either Wu, or Wei would rule the land. That everything that he had battled for would be for nothing.
As he woke up and prepared himself that next morning his mind began to wonder about something else, about why Liu Feng had not sent reinforcements to help himself and his father. The move just did see like Feng at all, and Ping had known Bei's oldest son for a very long time, becoming good friends over the time period. He knew that Feng was not fool like his younger brother, and that he could understand the situation in Jing. Was it just that all the messengers they sent out were killed and thus there was not information about what was happening? It seemed unlikely, but the idea of Wu having an alliance with Wei, but the events that had just occurred proved that thought wrong.
Ping got of the green grass where he was sitting and walked over to his horse, he smiled a bit to him self. Glad that it was at least a sunny day to be riding. After putting out the small fire, he began to ride away down the same road that he had been traveling on for a while now. There was one other thing that bothered the young warrior, it was wondering if he should return to Cheng Du. He was unsure if he could handle him self to be able to tell Liu Bei that his father was dead, and to have to tell him that it was his own fault that it had happened. To have to live with the guilt of the fact that he was not able to save him was enough, but to have to tell his Lord, and all of the Shu generals he respected so much were just too much for him. That maybe it would be better if they thought that he was dead, killed in the same attack that had claimed his own father. Then on the other side, he wanted to see Xing Cai, and tell her that he was alright. Ping knew that his best friend would have a hard time dealing with his death and more then likely cry for a day. Ping laughed to him self, thinking how much of a cry baby she could be at times.
As the thought, he traveled across the landscape. A quiet landscape which would lead you, if you did know any better to believe that the land was not at war, that in fact that it had never been at war with him self. The land he traveled over showed no sign of the destruction that was in other areas. It was also a sleep little area with small hills, with some trees, nothing stuck out to the eye. So when Guan saw a rider ahead of himself, he was throw from his own thoughts, and focused on who it could be, sure that it was more then likely not a Wu, or Wei warrior, but the figure was to far away to be sure. He kicked his horse and took out in the direction of the horseman, who stopped as it appeared that he noticed Ping to him. As he got closer he was able to make out what the horseman looked like. The horseman wore bright green armor over his apparently tall frame. The rider had his hair in the traditional top knot, with then when he saw the face of the warrior; he knew who it was, because he looked pretty similar to his father. The rider himself looked a bit shocked to see him.
"Ping, your alive how, how did you get away, is Lord Yu still alive too," The rider said with a very excited tone.
Ping could see the happiness in the rider's face, and Ping then took a deep breath, "I am sorry, Feng, Lord Yu is dead, I am all that is left," he said looking up at Feng, measuring his old pal up, "Why did you send reinforcements, and did you not get any messages."
Feng looked down from his face, his face showing shame on it, "I did get the messages, and I was going to lead the reinforcements, but it seems that Lord Meng De has decide to defect, and drove me out of town, and thus unable to give you any help," Feng said in a uneven tone, "As it is my fault for you fathers death, I will hold nothing against you if you wish to kill me, I am sure that Father will put me to death for your father's death, so it will just save us everyone some time."
Guan Ping just stared at his old friends, he believed what he said, and that being the case, was in no position to help, and therefore he knew was not responsible for his fathers dead, but he knew like himself, it was very possible that he was going to be killed once he got home. "I am not going to take you life, Feng, but I not sure we should head home, I don't think it is the right time to do so yet," he said looking Feng in the eye.
"What do you mean, Ping, if we don't go home where can we go, what do you have planned, what are you thinking about," Feng said a bit curious.
"Well we won't go home, till we prove ourselves worthy of forgiveness, and prove ourselves in the world," Ping started before taking a stopping for a second, "Right now though, neither you or I have the skill which is required to do what we must we have to become better leaders, and warriors."
Feng nodded in agreement, "But who is there who can show us, who is not connected to one of the kingdoms, anyone we go to will either turn us in a tradiors, or kill us as spies."
"Well, when we took Fan castle, I was able to speak with many people of the area, and some of the Wei troops, and there was one thing I heard a few times, that a once great leader was in the nearby hills. That there is this man is a master of training, and as well as a master of tactics, almost on Zhuge Liang's level. I figure we might as legend was real, it may be are answer."
"Well, Ping, I am willing to go, I want to be strong enough to uphold Shu's dreams, and prove myself worthy of everyone," Feng said.
"Fine, from this day forward let us go out as brothers in arms," Ping begain.
"To fight for to prove ourselves, and to help the land," Feng then stated.
"To help bring this land to a new age where everyone is in peace." Ping finished.
Soon the two rode off not in the direction of Chang Du, but in to the unknown, unsure what there fate would be, but both sure that there was at least hope for that future.