I don't own DW/ROTK or its characters
Jiang Mae- Thanks for the review, Liu Feng is Bei's adopted son, he is older then Chan, he was unable to send reinforcements to Guan Yu, then later killed by Bei, much better leader then Chan, and would have been a much better ruler.
The proud Canadian- thanks for the review well here is the next chapter, I not that bid of fan of this one though.
As the two made there return to Jing, they found a kind man how lived on the road, at his home they paid him well to for to robes which were the skill of the traders of the area. Both men knew while since the area the cave was lactated in was rumored to between Wu, and Wei territory, that it would be best to not say just who they were, and not look the role of a Shu general. It just would not be a wise decision to take on the world when you did have too. That being said, it was very possible that the reports of there deaths had spread across the land by this point, and thus the men would not believe that them anyone important because of this fact.
The two rode hard traveling many miles by night and day until they came in sight of Xin Ye. Xin Ye was a city in Wei control lands; an important defensive point had a sizable force inside it walls. As the two came to the two they could tell they were getting close long before they got there, because as they got closer more and more small farms showed up on the side of the road. The reason for this was so they would be able to get there good to town faster to sell, before for went back, it was a common practice across all of China. As they got closer to the town they were able to see the large wall which encircled the town as a protector against any incoming threat.
"So, Fen have you even been to this town before," Ping said looking over at Feng.
"I can't say I have Pin, but I can't say it looks to much different from Zi Tong, or Cheng An, or any other city," Feng replied looking back over at Ping, "Well actually it does look a lot small then Cheng An, and this land is a lot flatter then the areas around Zi Tong."
"Yeah, I can see why this land is seen as ideal for horsemen, makes me wonder that maybe, Ma Chao bragging that he would of crushed Cao Cao if he won at Tong gate" Ping said with a small smile.
"That, is right, well that lord is still a bit full of himself if you ask me," Feng replied turning up ahead to the gate that was getting closer all the time, "Well hope they let us in?"
Just a bit later the two were at the large gate, where a rather large man was standing with a pike, "Good day, why have you come to Xin Ye," he asked no looking at all worried about who the men in front of him were.
"Well we came to check the prices of good in your town, so we can compare them to the prices back in Xiao Pei," Feng said looking at the guard, worried that he would find out.
"Yes, we heard that the prices here are better then anywhere else," Ping added also worried about the reaction of the guard.
The guard laughed, "Well I not sure I would agree, they seem high to me, prices must be really high in Xiao Pei to get you to come all the way here."
The two almost both let out a sight of relieve when they passed, but now they need to find out about any information about this hermit who lived in the caves south of town, they began in the market asking the people there, but everywhere they went no one knew who this person was. It was pretty annoying to both Feng and Ping, and both also began to wonder if they had been lead on a wild goose chase, when a man suddenly ran into Ping in the street, when he got up, he notice a note that was dropped on him.
It read, 'If you are looking for the hermit of Xin Ye he is south of here, in a cave just five miles away,'
"Good, finally someone who knows about this, man I thought we were never going to find anything out," Ping said with a smile.
"Yeah, but does it not bother you that it was just a note, and that man, I did even see his face, maybe it is a trap," Feng said worried.
"I don't think so , if he wanted us dead, he would of gone to the guards, not used this note to make some trap, it would take far to much work," he said looking at Feng with a half smirk.
"I guess your right, better get going," Feng said with a nod.
It was not long before the two had left the town and where near the point that was talked about in the message; the land about a mile south of the main road ran into some hills. The hills grew taller as they went up till they where around 800 feet tall.
Looking at a dozen cave Feng shock his head, "Well this could take a while, I think we are going to have to search each and every single one of these, just to be safe."
"No I think I see the right one," Ping said pointing to one of the caves which was a bit rounder then the others.
"Sure, we can check that first, I hope you're right," Feng said following him up toward the large round cave.
When they got close they could make out a building someone had mad in it. The building used the bottom of the cave as its floor and the tops as its roof, and surprisingly it was not very small. It was a true marvel in engineering. The two were so amazed they did hear a man come from behind them.
"So you two finnaly decided to show up, I have to say it took both of you long enough," the man said catching both Feng, and Ping off guard, causing them to turn toward the old man quickly.
The old man had long fine gray hair, and bluish purple robes that look as pretty old form the style which had not been popular in years. That aside he looked well kept for a man who lived away from society, but then that made some sense, for a man who build what he did in the cave.
"So, Lords Liu Feng, and Guan Ping, you can put your horse inside," the old man said.
"Um how do you know are names," Ping asked.
"Well I know a lot about you, to, and how I know is my own business," the old man said leading the two warriors to his home.