The garden was beautiful.
A mesmerizing arched gate stood in front of the entrance. Engraved on the arc were the words: "Heroes aren't born, they are made."
"This must be my father's garden," said Su Benji.
Su Benji walked under the entrance marveling at its marble structure.
As Benji passed through he also noted that there were two rows of flowers, one to each side of him. The rows of flowers were ingeniously made to serve as a path.
Butterflies were swarming over every flower as they fed upon the delicious nectar that the flowers produced.
Benji noted a very fine swallowtail and he quickly plucked it from its perch on a magnolia. He was careful though not to harm the insect for it had done nothing to him. The nectar it stole from the flower actually aided it. The swallowtail was also carrying the pollen from other flowers. When the swallowtail landed to feed upon the magnolia the pollen on its feet had escaped into the reproductive part of the plant to reproduce with the plant's stamen.
Benji cupped his hands around the butterfly, and then opened them just slightly so as to examine it. After examining the specimen, Benji released the swallowtail back onto the magnolia that it was feeding on.
Su Benji, as a kid, had loved to watch the butterflies in the garden. His father would give him lectures in this very place about how the butterflies were essential for the flowers to reproduce.
Yet with the war on the Yellow Turbans, Benji had been forced to leave his home and fight for Liu Yan.
What a terrible choice that was.
Benji continued along the path to a huge pond which was placed within the middle of the huge garden. A brilliant walkway crossed the middle of the pond so one could look at the huge koei near the bottom of the clear water.
Benji walked to the edge of the pond where it was surrounded by agates of all colors.
He picked up an agate and tossed it across the pond. It easily made it across with fifty yards to spare.
As a kid he had always tried to throw a rock across the two hundred yard pond. He finally succeeded at the age of thirteen.
He bent down to pick up another rock.
"Help me!"
Benji dropped the rock, startled by the sudden cry for help.
"What who goes there," questioned Su Benji.
Suddenly Benji wasn't alone as the forms of men began to take shape all over the garden.
He recognized a guard that had always scolded him for lack of discipline.
Benji made to cross to him, but then more men arrived and the whole garden was thrown into chaos.
Flowers were trampled as men ran back and forth. The pond was turned red by the fighting taking place on the bridge.
"Help me, my son!"
Then Su Benji recognized another person, his father Su Xian.
His father was the one calling for help.
"I'm coming father," responded Benji.
As Benji made his way to his father it became apparent that he wasn't the one being called to help.
"There you are my son," cried Su Xian as a small teenage boy suddenly appeared, fighting his way through the soldiers.
Benji watched as the boy slashed his way through the ranks of the enemy soldiers, but suddenly the boy stopped his onslaught.
Now an ear shattering scream could be heard coming from the direction of Su Xian.
Benji turned to look at his father to see that he was being minced to pieces by a large warrior.
"No," shouted Benji, but no one heard him.
The warrior turned and Benji immediately recognized the face of Zhang Ren.
"That's impossible. I killed him at Liu Yan's palace."
Zhang Ren turned to make for the teenage boy, but the kid was already gone.
"This is just a dream isn't it," said Benji.
"Yeah, must have been one heck of a nightmare if you ask me." Sun Tzu was standing near the end of Su Benji's bed.
Benji awoke from his dream, and opened his eyes to see the face of his blood brother, Sun Tzu.
"I was starting to wonder if you would ever wake up," said a grinning Sun Tzu.
"What time is it?" Benji rubbed his head trying to rid himself of that terrible dream.
"Why it's just past the third watch."
"What! And you didn't wake me up before that?" Su Benji rolled out of his bed.
"I was becoming quite interested with your dream. Please, tell me who that young boy you kept muttering about was."
"I honestly don't know." Su Benji made to grab his armor which was hanging on a nearby peg.
"Was it you. I mean at a younger age?"
"No, he was much smaller than I was at that age, and he had a sword that had the words, "Thou shalt not perish", engraved on the blade."
"Yes that is interesting, but these matters will have to wait for the moment," said Sun Tzu with increasing excitement, "There is an envoy from the regional lord, Cao Cao, waiting for you."
"Why do you always avoid telling me these things right away?" Benji began to run out the door.
"It makes my day a lot more interesting," smiled Sun Tzu as he quickly followed behind Benji.
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"Presenting, the great hero of our times, lord Su Benji."
Benji prostrated himself before the messenger of Cao Cao, and then seated himself on his extravagant chair. Benji hated to be considered a hero already. He had yet to even conquer a small piece of China, and the people in the Jing province already hailed him with great prestige.
"Not until the whole world knows the name of Su Benji will I truly agree with the people's title that was thrown upon me."
The messenger in turn bowed before Benji and then began to read the edict that would eventually change all of China.
"Lord Su Benji, style Sunzi, I, Cao Cao, bring before you today a call to bear arms against a ruthless tyrant. Cao and his confederates proclaim to the realm their loyalist cause. Dong Zhuo, violator of Heaven and earth, has destroyed the dynasty and murdered the emperor, dishonored the palace's forbidden quarters, and grievously injured the common people. The crimes of this ruthless man mount high. Now we have in hand a secret decree from the Emperor. On which authority we are summoning troops to our cause. We vow to destroy the evil tyrant, Dong Zhou, and to save the Han dynasty and its people from an almost certain doom. Let no one hesitate in acting with this proclamation."
The messenger finished reading the document, and waited hesitantly for Benji's answer.
Benji was unmoved by the proclamation.
The Emperor would never be brave enough to send out a secret decree. Cao Cao has forged one to summon the lord's to save his own pride. I like him already.
"Has any other forces joined yet?"
Benji turned to look at Sun Tzu, who was now waiting for an answer.
"Yes, Yuan Shao, governor of Bo Hai. He is the descendant of many court officials that have been held in high esteem in the Han court for decades. Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiang Dong. He is rumored to have slain a tiger that was attacking people at a village, with only his bare hands. Ma Teng, governor of Xi Liang. He is said to have the best cavalry in all the land. Gongsun Zan, governor of Bei Ping. He is most famous for his white riders which consist of a multitude of white horses."
The messenger went on with the names of other lords that have joined the cause such as Yuan Shu, Han Fu, Kong Rong, and Liu Bei.
"What do you say? Will you join us in our cause, Su Benji, governor of Jiang Ling," inquired the messenger.
Sun Tzu didn't miss a beat, as he quickly responded, "Why has Cao Cao requested that we join the coalition?"
The messenger though was ready for this as he opened a pouch on his waist revealing another letter.
He opened this letter and began to read, "Su Benji, is known throughout the Jing province as a warrior that none can best. At the age of fourteen you joined Liu Yan's army, and there you slain Li Yen with a thrust of your spear. You lost not a single troop in the battle against the yellow turbans. At the age of sixteen you defeated the greatest warrior in Liu Yan's army, Zhang Ren."
At the mention of those words, Benji suddenly began to feel a little lightheaded, though he did not show it.
"How did someone find out about the raid? I painstakingly made every effort to conceal it. Even killing my own troops that fought along beside me."
The messenger had continued reading the document unaware of Benji's sudden attack of dread.
He finished reading the letter, and stared at Benji waiting for any other questions.
"Who wrote that letter," asked Benji, after he regained his composure.
"A Paige brought this letter to my lord, Cao Cao. As for who wrote it we haven't the faintest clue."
Benji couldn't help, but let out a sigh of relief.
"They still don't know about the raid, but someone does and I intend to find out whom."
Without waiting for a word of warning from Sun Tzu, Su Benji quickly answered, "Yes, I, and my troops at Jiang Ling will join the coalition."
Su Benji turned to look at Sun Tzu to see that the great strategist showed a look of disbelieve on his face to Benji's own surprise.
Benji was about to ask why he was so worried when the messenger began to depart.
"Thank you, my lord, for your contribution to the coalition. We hope to meet you at Guan Du within the month," and with that the messenger left.
As soon as the messenger left the room, Sun Tzu blurted out, "What in Heaven's name were you thinking?"
"What are you talking about? I would think that you of all people would be proud for me of joining a coalition for the greater good."
"Yes, for that I am, but didn't you listen to the letter."
"Some of it," for Benji had tuned out the noise of the messenger upon the words of Zhang Ren's death.
"Just as I thought. Benji the only reason they want you to join the coalition is to defeat Dong Zhou's greatest warriors."
"So what, I have defeated all that have challenged me thus far."
"Listen, please listen. These warriors aren't like the others, they are the best of the best the land will ever have to offer in a long time."
"Tell me the names already," Benji said impatiently.
"Hua Xiong, dragon of the capital, he is said to match the strength of a thousand men. Lu Bu, who with his faithful steed, Red Hare, are said to be the best of men and horses. His strength is said to match that of an army of ten thousand. "Sun Tzu stared intently at Su Benji.
"And that is who I am to be scared of?"
"If you would let me finish," replied Sun Tzu irritably. "The warrior that you should be wary of is the very one that wrote the letter. As modest as the warrior sounded in the letter, he is the one that can best Lu Bu and Hua Xiong as easily as you can."
"What did the letter say about the warrior?" Su Benji rose from his seat.
"If only you would have listened," replied Sun Tzu.
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"Su Ru, assemble an army!" Su Benji ran back and forth yelling commands to his officers.
"When, brother?" Su Ru appeared from behind a pile of armor that was being distributed to the soldiers.
"Five minutes ago!" Su Benji exited the barracks, and entered the stalls in which hundreds of horses were being kept.
The floor was covered in straw and manure piles, which just plain reeked.
Benji didn't notice, as he quickly strolled past horse after horse until arriving at a white stallion, whose eyes were circled by a ring of black.
"Su Foe, get the cavalry mounted and fitted for battle!"
"What's the urgency?" Su Foe suddenly appeared from behind the brilliant white stallion as he occasionally loved to groom this particular horse.
Benji didn't mind that one bit, in fact he was glad.
"I, in my foolishness, signed our forces up to join the coalition against Dong Zhou to save the emperor." Benji crossed to the rear of the stallion that Su Foe was tending to. That turned out to be a mistake as the horse decided to try and kick Benji as he passed by.
Su Benji though was ready for it as he quickly rolled out of the way.
"Don't you think that's getting a little old, Brutus?"
Brutus, was of course, Benji's trusted steed. Brutus had been deemed an untamable horse, and was about to be butchered by his previous owner when Benji happened to see Brutus. After an exchange of money, Brutus was reluctant enough to allow Benji to saddle him, to the amazement of the now rich, former owner. Benji rode the horse all the way back to his palace. Ever since Benji acquired him, none have seen the two separated during a battle.
Benji walked back to the horse, this time staying far enough away from the painful hooves.
Benji accidentally ran into a soldier though, sending him flying into a pile of manure.
Benji couldn't help but laugh, the soldier though didn't find it funny, so Benji quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I did not see you. Here let me help you to your feet."
"I can get up on my own!" The soldier pushed himself up onto his feet, and walked away in a furious manner.
Benji decided that it was best not to pester the soldier so he continued his way over to Su Foe.
"He's getting worse and worse at that game each time isn't he?" Su Foe was brushing Brutus's yellow mane.
"He must be getting old." Benji said this while looking at Brutus, who in return let out a loud discontented cry that echoed throughout the stall.
This was another reason that Benji had liked the horse. Upon entering a battle Brutus would sound a cry that was heard far and wide. This cry, as the enemy army would eventually figure out, meant that Benji had arrived. It was quite fun watching the meager soldiers scatter before the mere presence of Benji and his steed.
Su Foe stopped brushing the horse. "When should we leave, and to where?"
"As soon as possible. As for where, we are suppose to go to Guan Du, where the coalition forces will be gathering. Since though our force will undoubtedly take weeks to arrive, we will head to Tiger Trap Pass near Hulao Gate."
"What about the others in the coalition?" Su Foe was clearly confused now. "Won't they be waiting for us?"
"No, I have been informed just now that Yuan Shao has been appointed leader of the coalition. He will not wait more than a week for us. Undoubtedly he and the others will head for Tiger Trap Pass. That is where we will meet them as well." Benji began to leave the stall.
"Brother, you truly are a genius." Su Foe said this with confidence, and to himself. "None can hope to oppose you."
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Another round of lightning struck over the valley.
Men ran back and forth as the rain pelted off of their armored helmets as officers shouted orders for last minute preparations.
One soldier, fell face first in the thick mud, but he was helped to his feet by two other soldiers.
Unfortunately the soldier was unaware of the shard of parchment that had fallen out of his breast pocket. Someone else was.
Sun Tzu noticed the piece of paper though as it fell from the soldiers safety of the pocket. He watched as the paper landed about a yard or so from the fallen soldier. He waited until the soldier left to file into ranks before he made to move to get the parchment.
Bending down he quickly picked it up, and staying crouched with his hood drawn over his face, as not to draw any unwelcome attention to himself, he began to read it.
"I am intrusting you, my son, to watch for any weaknesses in Su Benji. Everyone person has a weakness, and Su Benji is no exception to this. Report everything that you have learned to me about Su Benji, but do not waste my time with reports of the coalition's movements. I do not want their purpose to fail, for I hate Dong Zhou as much as anyone else does. I will undoubtedly meet Benji in battle, and if I fa-"
The letter's ink, much to Sun Tzu's horror, was beginning to run due to the rain, and it was becoming more difficult to read with each passing word.
"You will t------------ army. Do not fail me, my -------. For I, -------------------, will triumphant over the evil that plagues this -------.
Sun Tzu couldn't make out the name after the word I. "Well, isn't that just my luck."
Sun Tzu crumpled up the letter and stuffed it back into the mud.
It wasn't worth showing Su Benji. If anything all it did was confirm their suspicions.
There was a spy among the ranks.
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"Hold the line!"
Soldiers from the vanguard quickly left to reinforce the line that was under siege by Hua Xiong.
Yuan Shao couldn't believe that the coalition was already having this much trouble, and they hadn't even reached the pass yet.
The coalition forces had just left Guan Du, and were on their way to Tiger Trap Pass when they encountered Hua Xiong's army. Of course now Yuan Shao was beginning to wish that they had waited for Su Benji and his army to arrive.
"Mi, lord, Hua Xiong has just slain Yu She!" A messenger was suddenly by Yuan Shao's side.
"Damn't." Yuan Shao was beginning to panic. "Who else will try their luck with Hua Xiong?"
"I, Pan Feng will gladly defeat the Tiger of the Capital." A warrior wielding a great axe appeared from the ranks of Han Fu's army.
Pan Feng left on a horse to do battle with Hua Xiong, but within a few moments word arrived that Pan Feng had been slain.
Yuan Shao was beginning to run out of options. "Is there no one that can defeat Hua Xiong? If only my top generals, Wen Chou and Yan Liang were here."
"I will bring back the head of Hua Xiong."
Yuan Shao, and the officers around him, turned to look at the speaker.
He was over six feet tall, with a great black beard flowing from his cheeks. His eyes stared directly at the officers with confidence.
"Who is this warrior?" Yuan Shao was furious for this warrior to talk out of place.
Gongsun Zan quickly responded, "He is Guan Yu of Liu Bei's force."
"What is his position?"
"He is a mounted archer," was the reply from Gongsun Zan.
"What nonsense it this? Have we no real warriors among us?" Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao's brother, said angrily.
Cao Cao, who was among the officers present, was beginning to be annoyed by the Yuan's insolence. "The warrior has made his boast. Let him deal with his task. I mean what do we have to lose?"
"Fine then!" Yuan Shao was becoming tired of this argument. "Let the warrior go, and hopefully he will defeat Hua Xiong, once and for all."
Guan Yu left the group to assemble his armor, but Cao Cao hastily followed him.
"Please, my lord, accept this draft of wine before you go to battle." For Cao Cao was carrying with him a cup of the best wine available.
"I will come back to drink the wine before it has even cooled, and thank you for your kindness." Guan Yu mounted his steed, and rode off to the front lines.
"That warrior is most remarkable," Cao exclaimed with great excitement. "I most have him in my force."
Guan Yu rode forward on his horse to the main battle, where Hua Xiong was mercifully cutting his way through the coalition forces.
"You there, I, Guan Yu, challenge you to a duel." Guan Yu rode forward to meet Hua Xiong's horse.
"You will die just like the others imbeciles!" Hua Xiong urged his mount on to clash with Guan Yu.
As if on cue, the war drums of Dong Zhou's army began to sound off as the two warriors faced in battle.
On the first pass, Guan Yu ducked Hua Xiong's spear, and countered with a jab with his own weapon, Blue Dragon. Guan Yu's blade met Hua Xiong's throat, and sliced through it just as easily as tearing a piece of paper. Hua Xiong's head was sheared cleanly above the shoulders, and it fell from his body as his horse still ran on.
With the victor found, Guan Yu demounted to pick up Hua Xiong's head by the hair. Guan Yu then remounted, and made his way back to the main camp where his still hot wine waited. Upon hearing the news of this victory the coalition pushed back the enemy force, and began the march to Tiger Trap Pass.
A much more deadly force waited for them there. Lu Bu was rumored to be the leader of the force situated near HuLao gate, but the soldiers didn't care. With Guan Yu on their side, who would dare oppose the coalition now?
Guan Yu was beginning to earn a name in history. Su Benji was fading just as easily as he had risen, but not for long.
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If one could listen closely enough, you could hear the sounds of drums and horses
The coalition is coming.
The warrior is situated high above in the ramparts of HuLao gate.
Infantry and archers were being assembled by the general, Lu Bu.
"Lu Bu is a bastard of all men," thought the warrior. He wasn't quite gutsy enough to tell this to Lu Bu face to face. Even though he could easily kill Lu Bu, it still wouldn't help with his plans for his adversary.
Yes, the time for you to die is coming.
Now the warrior could see from his perch the torches of the coalition about five miles away.
The warrior didn't know though, that the warrior he was looking for, wasn't among their army.
The warrior had trained for months, planning the rise of Dong Zhou, helping Cao Cao to start a coalition, and advising the coalition to seek Su Benji.
It has all led up to this moment.
"Su Benji, I will show you who the true son of Su Xian is!" The warrior yelled this for all to be heard.
The soldiers being assembled didn't mind. Over the months, they had grown use to the warrior's rambling on about Su Benji.
The battlefield is set, but will Su Benji arrive?
----------------------------------------------------
"Hulao gate lies before us, Yuan Shao. Shall we attack?" Cao Cao awaited the answer.
Yuan Shao debated this in his head, "Should we attack or not? Hua Xiong proved a tough challenge already for the coalition, and Lu Bu is still waiting at HuLao. Yet now, with the discovered talents of Guan Yu, there will be no warrior that Dong Zhou, has that can defeat us."
With his mind made up, Yuan Shao ordered the attack upon HuLao.
With Sun Jian attacking from the east, Liu Bei attacking from the west, Cao Cao from the north, and the other armies through the middle, HuLao gate would soon be fully under siege.
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Lu Bu swung his blade around slaying Bao Zhong with one pass.
Bao Zhong's lifeless body, crumpled to the ground, as it fell from his horse.
"Who else wishes to die?" Lu Bu ran back and forth on his horse, taunting the coalition forces.
Finally a warrior was brave enough to finally accept the challenge.
"I, Wu Anguo, will have a go."
Lu Bu and Wu Anguo urged their mounts on, their blades meeting a dozen times or so. Suddenly though Lu Bu feinted at Wu Anguo cutting off his hand.
Luckily though Han Fu arrived to push back Lu Bu's forces in time to rescue Wu Anguo.
"Worthless scum! Is this all the coalition has to offer?" Lu Bu threw challenges left and right to the armies of the coalition, but no one accepted, until he passed Liu Bei's army.
"Stop right there, you worthless dog!"
"Who dares to make fun of me?" Lu Bu turned to face the speaker who was well over six feet, with a body built like a tiger. His face was covered with a beard of whiskers.
"I, Zhang Fei, of Yan will gladly kill you!"
With that Lu Bu and Zhang Fei clashed back and forth upon their horses. Lu Bu quickly began to gain an advantage though after fifty bouts as he showed no sign of fatigue.
Guan Yu, seeing his bond brother in trouble, quickly rushed to engage Lu Bu as well.
Still though, Lu Bu could not be beaten, so Liu Bei joined in as well. The three fighters formed a triangle and Lu Bu was caught in the middle.
Lu Bu, seeing that he was in trouble, made a desperate dash through Liu Bei's side, breaking through the three fighters.
Lu Bu had begun to retreat to HuLao, when Yuan Shao ordered the immediate siege of the gate.
A ram was brought forth from the center of the army to be used to destroy the gate.
"All units, protect the ram!" Yuan Shao directed the units of the other armies to guard the ram with their lives.
The ram reached HuLao's gate, surviving countless bombardments from arrows and stones. A team of a two dozen men quickly assembled to pull the ram back to swing at the gate.
Before it could be done though, the gates of HuLao opened on their own.
The soldiers near the gate never stood a chance as an army was led out of HuLao, and the coalition caught unprepared, quickly suffered heavy losses.
An unknown warrior led the army from HuLao, with supreme leadership, as he assembled his forces into a phalanx position in front of the gate.
Guan Yu, seeing this move, decided to challenge the warrior, "You, there fight me, and spare my troops from a worthless death."
The warrior was not intrigued, but decided to use this as a warm-up for Su Benji.
"Die," was all that he simply said.
The two warriors rode their horses forward at high speed. Both of their weapons struck each other with equal force as both were thrown, from their mounts, into the dirt.
The warrior landed nimbly on his feet, and quickly rushed Guan Yu. Guan Yu, who wasn't quite as graceful, never stood a chance as the warrior quickly pressed his blade at Guan Yu's throat.
With sheer luck, Guan Yu was able to grab the hilt of the sword, pushing it away from his throat.
The warrior though was too strong, and Guan Yu was quickly losing his grip.
The sword moved closer and closer to Guan Yu's throat, and when Guan Yu thought for sure he was dead, there was a sudden piercing scream, that echoed throughout the valley.
The warrior forgot all about Guan Yu, who used this to his advantage, as he quickly got up and ran back to his force.
All fighting in the valley began to die down, as all eyes turned to the source of the noise.
The scream had come from a horse, upon which there was a rider, on top of a nearby hill.
All watched as the horse reared up on its' hind legs, and issued another scream, this time though it wasn't quite as powerful. With that though, the rider urged his mount on, and suddenly the whole surrounding hillside was covered with soldiers as they charged to HuLao and its defenders.
The warrior, that had been battling Guan Yu, just stood and smiled.
Su Benji had arrived.
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Benji looked down at the insignificant specks at the bottom of the valley as Brutus let out another cry.
Brutus reared up on his hind legs, much to Benji's surprise.
"Brutus you must be quite anxious for this battle," Benji whispered this in the horse's ear.
With that, Brutus took off for the battle below.
The rest of Benji's army quickly followed behind. A cavalry unit was led by Su Foe, an elite infantry force was led by Su Ru, and Sun Tzu was in control of a unit that used Su Xian's deadly crossbow as their weapon of choice.
The other armies, finally snapping out of their stupor, began to engage each other near the middle of the valley. For the warrior had pushed the coalition back from the gate itself.
The warrior watched as Su Benji arrived at the bottom of the hill.
The warrior had stationed there ten whole units of men, but he watched in dismay as Benji and his steed easily broke through the line of soldiers.
It didn't help that Sun Tzu and his crossbow soldiers had taken position on a ridge, and had begun to bombard the surrounding soldiers below.
Benji's blade was swinging back and forth, as the flames engraved on Death's Hand begun to glow with each fresh body it reaped.
The warrior couldn't stand to wait any longer as he shouted, "Su Benji, I challenge you!"
Benji though ignored the petty plea for a challenge.
"Su Benji, murderer of Liu Yan, I challenge you!" The warrior was sure that this would get the attention of Su Benji.
"Who dares to issue such lies?" Benji cried out to the warrior.
"Fight me, and you will soon find out," came the reply from a warrior, clad in white.
Benji rode Brutus forward to meet the warrior.
"Who are you, and how do you know about the raid at Liu Yan's palace?" Benji said this last bit in a much quieter voice.
"Do not worry about the raid. Only I know about what took place there, and I'm forever grateful for you to kill the scum Liu Yan. As for my name, it is Schnider Huan. I use to go by the name of Su Huan, but due to my...our fathers death, I disposed of my given name," the warrior, Schnider Huan continued on without allowing Su Benji for any questions, "Yes my father is Su Xian, who is also your father, but you shouldn't have the right to call him that. For where were you when the estate was under attack from Liu Yan's forces? Where were you when Zhang Ren brutally killed our mother and father? You were with Liu Yan's forces, fighting for him."
Su Benji was becoming flustered with Schnider Huan's shortsightedness, "But I was at the capital when this all happened. I only learned of our father's death when I returned to Jiang Ling. I killed Liu Yan and Zhang Ren, avenging my father."
"Silence!" Schnider Huan couldn't believe he actually allowed himself to talk to the faithless heathen, and with that he picked up his spear.
Benji, seeing that Schnider Huan would only listen to weapons, raised his sword, Death's Hand, and led Brutus forward.
Schnider Huan urged his own horse forward, and when the two warriors were no more than a hands width apart, he jabbed his spear at Benji, completely missing him.
Benji though suddenly realized that he hadn't missed as Brutus tumbled to the ground, throwing Benji off the harness.
Benji picked himself off the ground, after checking to see if there were any broken bones. There wasn't, luckily, for any normal person would have definitely suffered a shattered rib cage.
He then turned to see Brutus lying on the ground, not moving at all.
The reason soon became apparent as the spear that Schinder Huan had used, was lodged in Brutus's lungs.
"Brutus," Benji called softly.
The horse did not move, neither did it reply.
Benji staggered over to the body of his former steed. He then kneeled down next to the horse's head.
Benji, who hadn't shed a single tear for his father, began to mourn bitterly for the death of a horse.
Of course though this was no ordinary horse to Su Benji. To him it was probably the greatest horse, even better then Red Hare that would ever come into this world.
Memories began to recur in Benji's mind, a moment that Benji had been surrounded by a fire attack with no apparent escape route. Brutus though had burst through the flames, with his mane on fire, to rescue Benji from a certain death. Another memory when Brutus and he had been playing the same game that they had played before they left for the coalition operation. Brutus had just kicked Benji squarely in the stomach, sending him flying into a pile of manure. It took weeks to get rid of the smell. A time when...
Unfortunately, Schnider Huan didn't have time for Su Benji's recollections.
Schinder Huan had watched Benji pick himself off of the ground, unscathed, but confused. Benji had then turned to stare upon the fallen horse he had been riding, and much to Schinder Huan's delight, he began to fall into a stupor. The fool then pitifully walked over to the dead body of the horse. What Benji did next completely amazed, Schinder Huan, for he began to cry.
"It appears that my son was correct in the weakness that Benji has."
Huan leapt from his horse, unsheathing his dragon crested blade.
Avoiding other soldier's fights, he made his way towards Benji's kneeled form.
Without even a glance from Su Benji, Schinder Huan closed his eyes, brought up his sword, and quickly brought it down upon Benji's head. He was rewarded with a fresh spray of blood. Huan then opened his eyes to find, not the body of Su Benji, but some other warrior that had thrown himself in front of his blade.
Benji awoke from his stupor, to find Su Ru standing in front of him. Something was wrong with Su Ru, he was missing his head. Su Ru's body fell to the ground, as the nerves began to lose their signal from the brain.
Benji then saw Schinder Huan, standing with his blade dripping with freshly spilled blood.
"You will pay for this!" With that Benji leapt to his feet, grabbing his sword, and charged Schinder Huan.
Schinder Huan was caught off guard from Su Benji's sudden shift of power. Huan raised his sword to ward off Benji's attacks. He managed to deflect each blow, but his strength was quickly wavering. Su Benji's wasn't.
Benji pushed Schinder Huan back to the entrance of HuLao gate, where many of the defending troops were beginning to flee from the coalition forces.
Lu Bu was among them, but then, he stopped when he saw Su Benji fighting Schnider Huan. Lu Bu then turned his steed, Red Hare, around to confront Benji.
Schnider Huan was now fully on the run, being unable to defeat Su Benji at the present.
Benji though, in his rage, had just picked up a spear to hurl at Schinder Huan. Benji aimed the spear just a little ahead of Huan, so as to lead him. He then threw it with all of his might, unaware of Lu Bu who was barely a foot away from him.
The spear left Benji's hands, and inflicted Lu Bu in the chest, dropping the mighty warrior from his steed Red Hare.
Lu Bu was dead before his body even reached the ground.
Benji didn't care, as he quickly pursued Schnider Huan, who was now on a horse riding off with the rest of Dong Zhou's defeated army.
Benji kept running, but Sun Tzu appeared on a horse, blocking Benji's path.
"Benji, stop right now!"
"I'll kill him," Benji was furious.
"Benji, you'll run into a trap and die," Sun Tzu was trying to reason with Su Benji. "Don't let Su Ru's death be in vain. He died to save you, so that you may continue on your quest to rule China."
Benji was beginning to calm down, as he was able to think again. Sun Tzu was right, as much as he hated to admit it. "Fine, but I will kill the bastard, eventually."
"Yes, perhaps in the near future, but my lord you have just defeated someone far more important in the eyes of others," Sun Tzu said this while staring at the body of Lu Bu, which was lying nearby.
"I did," Benji couldn't remember anything during his fit of rage.
"My lord, you killed Lu Bu!"
With that the coalition was able to finally take HuLao gate, thanks to Su Benji's army from Jiang Ling. Unfortunately, Su Benji lost far too much during the battle, with the death of his horse, Brutus, and his brother, Su Ru. Benji, in his rage against Schinder Huan, killed Lu Bu, unintentionally.
This brought the warrior from Jing to higher fame, as word began to spread of Su Benji throughout China. He soon was becoming known as Su Benji, God of War.
The coalition began the march to Lou Yang, the capital of China. There a grisly would be found.