Guo Jia – Fèngxiào
Yu Jin - Wenze
Yue Jin - Wenqian
Li Dian - Mànchéng
Xu Chu – Zhòngkāng
Cao Ren – Zǐxiào
Liu Bei – Xuándé
Xiahouji - Xiàhóushì
"Push! Don't let them hold you back!" Cao bellowed. His troops roared in response to their master's command. Things have taken a turn for the worse in the battle against Tao Qian. After they managed to overcome all of Qian's traps, Cao's forces held the advantage for the majority of the war. This however caused Qian to entrench himself within Xiapi. Cao couldn't get his forces in and Qian couldn't get his forces out. They were trapped in a stalemate and Cao refused to accept a draw when it came to getting his revenge. Jia came up with a plan. It was a gamble, but Cao was out of options so he decided to see just how good this man he put so much faith in was.
The plan was a simple one. Qian did not know that only one of his couriers that bore the request for aid managed to slip by Cao. Jia had already figured out who three of the recipients for aid were. The only one he had trouble discerning was the one that got away. Based on what he knew about each man, he determined which would have been the most likely to respond to the call for aid. Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao were both out. They wouldn't risk their necks unless there was a clear advantage for them. That left Gongsun Zan. Jia wrote a response to Qian under the guise of Zan informing him that he would provide aid and for him to provide assistance when he arrived.
There was no surefire way to know whether Qian would take the bait but it was the only chance they had to get him to come out of hiding. On the appointed day, Cao's forces put on quite the performance. Half of his forces dressed up in different armor. They were unable to get the exact same as Zan's forces on such short notice, but they hoped that Qian wouldn't notice such a minute detail. The disguised forces attacked Cao's other half and made a show of visibly pushing them back. Seeing the success of "Zan's" forces, Qian was overjoyed. He threw open his gates and jumped in the fray to help route Cao's forces. He had taken the bait, just as Jia hoped he would.
Once Qian's forces were mixed in with the disguised ones, they turned on them. Qian's forces were thrown into confusion, unable to discern friend from foe. Once Qian realized he had been tricked, it was too late. He was surrounded on all sides by Cao's forces. It looked as if Cao finally would have revenge and the departed souls of his family would finally be at peace. At least it would have been, had it not been snatched so cruelly from his grasp at the moment when his revenge was finally at hand.
From his flank came an attack from an unknown force. The courier that managed to slip through Cao's fingers earlier has come back to bite him at the worst moment possible. Cao army was thrown into chaos and he was forced to regroup as the new enemy cut through his forces. When Cao found out who it was that dared to snatch away his revenge when it was so close at hand, he was far from amused. Liu Bei was Qian's unlikely savior. Out of all people, the homeless noble, softhearted fool Liu Bei. How dare such an insignificant man stand in his way?! Liu Bei had his troops hold back Cao's forces while he personally escorted Qian back to the safety of Xiapi. Cao was livid and ordered his troops to push through the human blockade so that he may get the revenge he so desperately sought.
Cao's forces fought hard for their master, eager to help him achieve victory. They fought valiantly against Bei's troops. They finally thought they were making progress only to be deterred by one man. Standing before them, clad in a green battle robe with a magnificent long black beard and his Guan Dao in hand was the warrior known as Guan Yu.
The first group of forces approached Yu, their swords and spears raised and their voices crying out in fury. Yu stayed fast, undaunted by being vastly outnumbered. He held his ground, not moving until the troops were within his range. Once they were, he quickly took hold of his Guan Dao in both hands. At that moment, his aura seemed to burst forth from him. He swung his blade in a wide sweep in front of him. The first person it hit died instantly, slicing through him as a knife would through soft bread. The blade cut through three more people just as easily. Though Yu's Dao only reached those four people, the others that rushed forward were not safe. At the very moment Yu swung his blade, his attack was infused with the very aura that surrounded him. When Yu swung his blade, the aura was thrown forward, cutting through the air to its enemies. It sliced just as cleanly through the closest enemies as if they had been struck by the blade itself. The troops that were furthest away were thrown back, sustaining heavy injuries.
Cao could not help but look in awe at the man known as Guan Yu. He was impressed with him during the battle of Hulao Gate and it seems as if the man had only gotten stronger. It was rare to see such a force on the battlefield. He wondered how such a man would stack up against the likes of Lu Bu and Xiahou Dun. What a glorious fight that would be. For a brief moment as Cao watch his forces get slaughtered as if they were mere insects being crushed under heel, Cao's thirst for revenge was pushed aside for a new desire; He wanted to have Guan Yu fight in his army. With a man like that at his side, he couldn't lose.
More of Cao's forces rushed forward, only to be swatted back as if they were nothing more than a mild nuisance. The morale of his troops waned and several began to backpedal, eager to get away from the fearsome Guan Yu.
"It seems some of you have plans on deserting," came a hard voice from behind the cowardly men. They spun around to find themselves face to face with Yu Jin. Fear gripped them as they took in his stern visage. He leveled his war trident at them as he spoke.
"Any who wish to desert speak now and I will make your death quick!" All of the men shook their heads quickly, more afraid of Yu Jin wrath than of Guan Yu's. "Then enough of this dallying," continued Jin. "Our lord gave us an order and we are honor bound to fulfill it. The enemy is before you, go!"
Infused with courage and a more than a little fear from Yu Jin's words, the troops whirled around at attacked Guan Yu with renewed vigor. Cao's mouth twitched slightly in amusement. Though a bit rigid in his discipline, he could always count on Yu Jin to whip the troops into shape. He was a valued and trusted officer. Now it was time he followed Yu Jin's advice and stopped dallying. Guan Yu was not what he sough today. His prize laid elsewhere and while he sat here, his prey got further and further away from him.
"Fèngxiào, Guan Yu is nothing more than a distraction, Tao Qian is fleeing with the other two brothers as we speak."
"I have come to same conclusion, my lord. I took the liberty of having the hidden route we found earlier scouted. It is currently unguarded and if we move fast enough, it will take us close to Xiapi roughly at the same time as Tao Qian, if not slightly faster."
Cao Cao clapped a hand down on Jia shoulder and smiled. This was a man he could depend on and it made his heart glad to have such a companion at his side. Jia merely gave Cao his infamous whimsical smile, understanding the gesture.
"Wenze, Wenqian, Mànchéng, Zhòngkāng, you four are to cover us. Attack Guan Yu with such ferocity that he will not notice our absence," said Cao. The four men bowed their heads and signaled that they acknowledged the command. Within minutes, they were attacking Guan Yu along with their troops, overwhelming him. Guan Yu's troops had to join the fray to keep their commander safe from the sudden overwhelming odds.
"Quickly, Fèngxiào, Wei, Zǐxiào. We must hasten to this secret passage while Guan Yu is distracted. I'll not have that snake Tao Qian slip through my fingers," said Cao. All men nodded and Jia sped off on his horse, leading the way to the secret passage with the others following closely behind.
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Guan Yu was currently doing battle with Yue Jin. Their weapons were locked against each others in a test of strength, waiting to see which man would give way first. He was impressed by this man. He was of shorter stature but he held his own in battle. He would not let Guan Yu push him around and he carried considerable strength within him.
"You're open!" Came a voice to Guan Yu's side. Guan Yu's next actions happened within the span of a scant few seconds. He thrust his Guan Dao upwards making it get caught under the hooks of Yue Jin's blades. He yanked Yue Jin forward who was taken off guard by the sudden move. Yue Jin stumbled forward but retained his footing and immediately unhooked his blades from Guan Yu's weapon. He moved back to reposition himself which is exactly what Guan Yu wanted. Yu whipped his Dao around just in time to parry an attack from an over zealous Li Dian who had to back off after the failed surprise attack. Dian moved over to Jin's side, with a frown.
"I really thought I had him," Dian said. Though he wasn't pouting, his words were clearly filled with melancholy.
"Perhaps next time just attack instead of announcing your presence to the enemy," Yue Jin remarked as he readied his weapons once more.
Dian let out a good natured laugh and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Haha, yeah. Good idea. I guess I got excited."
"Enough of this foolishness. Your yapping has given our enemy time to recover. Renew the attack at once," commanded Yu Jin. The men snapped to attention immediately and did as they ordered. Xu Chu and Yu Jin joined in the fight. Guan Yu held his own for a time but it was clear that he could not take these four men of skill on his own for a long period of time. He gave the signal for a retreat and hoped that he bought his brother enough time.
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"This way, Master Qian," said Liu Bei as he led Qian towards Xiapi. Qian fell to his knees, already weary from the earlier battle. He launched into a coughing fit. He felt as if this battle had advanced his lifespan by several years. His body felt utterly drained. Bei wanted to give the man time to rest, but he knew that time was of the essence. He trusted in Guan Yu's battle prowess but he knew that even his brother would eventually be overwhelmed. They had to get Qian safely within the walls of Xiapi. He hoped Zhang Fei would reach them soon.
"I-I am sorry, Xuándé," Qian said as he slowly got to his feet.
"You need not apologize, Master Qian, but we do need to go. I do not know how long my brother can keep them away from us," Bei replied. Qian nodded and allowed himself to be led by Bei once more.
They began their trek once more. Xiapi was still quite a ways off. The sounds of horses could be heard in the distance. Qian looked frightened but Bei smiled.
"Be at peace, Master Qian. It is my brother. He went to fetch horses for us," said Bei.
The horses got closer but the riders on it was not who Bei was expecting. From in front of them through a secret passage through the woods was Cao Cao and his men.
"It seems we have found a rat, trying to scurry back to his hole," Cao said with a sneer. His eyes bore into Tao Qian as he spoke. Liu Bei position himself in front of Qian.
"Mèngdé, let us resolve this as the reasonable men we are," said Bei.
"You have not earned the right to call me by that name, Liu Bei," Cao Cao spat. "Furthermore, there is nothing to speak of. He had committed a grievous wrong against my family. To defend him means that you stand in the way of justice."
"You claim he had your family slaughtered, but you have no proof. Also, you have taken his family from him in retaliation. Hasn't enough blood been spilled?"
"He still draws breath. I will not be sated until my blade is slick with his blood and his body lay lifeless at my feet," Cao replied.
Bei sighed. He wanted to avoid further conflict, but it seems that Cao would not be swayed with words. He wanted blood and would not be satisfied until he got it. He drew his swords.
"Tao Qian is under my protection. If you wish to take his life, you will have to go through me."
"You claim to have such a lofty sense of nobility and honor, yet you stand in defense of a murderer. I knew your claims were false," said Cao as he dismounted from his horse. He drew his sword.
"You will not stand in the way of my revenge, Liu Bei."
At that moment, Dian Wei, Guo Jia and Cao Ren also dismounted and drew their weapons. Liu Bei took a few steps back, alarmed.
"You will not fight me in an honorable bout, one on one?" Bei asked.
Cao smirked. "You sprout this nonsense about honor when we had just established that you had none. No Liu Bei. The time for honor has long passed. It passed when that foul man slaughtered my father, brother and their entire household. I will have his head, honor be damned."
Bei grimaced. He was a competent fighter, but he was not on the level of his brothers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. There was no way he would be able to hold all of these men back on his own. Qian drew his sword with a shaky hand. Bei appreciated the gesture but he knew the man would not be able to last more than a few minutes in battle. They were in trouble. Cao and his men began to advance. Bei and Qian took a few steps back, unsure of how to proceed.
"I'm coming brother!" Came a cry above the hooves of horses from behind Bei. Liu Bei was overjoyed to hear the voice of his brother, Zhang Fei. With Fei on their side, they would have a better chance.
Zhang Fei arrived. He rode straight towards Cao and swung at him with his spear. Dian Wei stepped in front of his master and blocked the blow. Zhang Fei rounded the group and went for another pass but Liu Bei stopped him. While Zhang Fei distracted Cao and his group, he mounted one of the spare horses brought by Zhang Fei along with Tao Qian.
"There is no need to fight them brother, our main priority is to get Master Qian back to base," said Bei.
"But if we do not slay them here, they will follow after us," Fei argued.
"Not so," said Bei with a smile. "Look behind them. Our brother comes with reinforcements."
Alarmed, Cao and the others looked behind them to see that Bei's words were true. Guan Yu was indeed heading towards them and would be upon them soon.
"We need to retreat, My Lord," said Jia.
"No! I will not run! Not when my revenge is so close at hand."
"My Lord, I understand how you feel but please listen to reason. We only told our troops to distract Guan Yu, not follow him. They will not be coming to our aid. They will be holding position. If we give chase, we will be pitted between Qian's remaining forces in Xiapi and Liu Bei's forces. We still have a chance to take Xiapi later, but we need to retreat…now."
Cao took a few moments to consider Jia's words. It angered him to know that Jia was right. He felt so frustrated that Qian was only a few feet from him but the situation put such a huge divide between them. He was so close; so very close but once again, his revenge would be delayed. Jia was right, they still had the advantage in troops and could take Xiapi later.
"Fall back," Cao ordered. He shot one last glare toward Liu Bei and Tao Qian before mounting his horse and leading the way back through the secret passage in the woods.
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Chen Gong listened to the report in silence. Once it was done, he let out a heavy sigh and rubbed the sides of his temples with his index and pointer fingers. He was surrounded by morons. He sent one of his servants to contact Ling and let him know that he would be paying him a visit. Ling had taken up residence in his parent's old home. It was the second biggest estate in Puyang, next to Cao's which was occupied by Lu Bu and Diaochan. Gong didn't begrudge him of this. It was after all thanks to him that they were able to seize Puyang in the first place. Gong had no idea about the secret passage and it became an instrumental piece to his plan. So, Gong swallowed his pride and instead took up residence in Dun's old home.
Before long, Gong found himself at Ling's residence. Ling had a tight smile plastered on his face. It was clear that he did not want Gong here.
"My good friend, Ling. You seem to be doing well," said Gong. He clapped the man on the shoulder far harder than necessary.
Ling stumbled an inch forward from the hit. He gave Gong a sour look before putting the false smile back up.
"I was not expecting you to come so soon, Lord Gong. If you had only given me more notice, I could have had a better reception prepared for your arrival," Ling replied. His voice clearly displayed the discontent that his face tried so vainly to hide.
"No need. I won't be staying long. I have only a quick question for you."
"Couldn't that have been sent in writing instead then?" Ling barked. Gong eyed him and Ling stumbled over himself, realizing that he let his veneer fall. "I-I mean it would have been easier than having a busy man such as yourself coming over here to see someone as lowly as me."
"There are some things that cannot be done with the written word. Some things need to be conveyed verbally…face to face," said Gong. Ling swallowed. Gong was no longer smiling. He's normally exuberance was no where to be found.
"O-of course."
"Your contact…how reliable are they? Truly?"
"They have no love for the people they travel with. They hate them almost as much as I do because they have been wronged as well. They are on our side," Ling replied.
"Would you trust them with your life? No, let me rephrase that. Would you wager your life on the fact that they are trustworthy?"
Ling swallowed hard once more. He was unsure of how to answer this. It seemed like a doomed answer either way. Silence stretched between them. Gong kept his eyes trained on Ling as he waited for an answer. Ling could feel the weight of Gong's gaze pressing down on him. After an extensive pause, Ling finally stammered out an answer.
"Y-y-yes."
"Interesting. Though I consider your life to be a wholly inadequate wager, it will have to do for now. If your contact is trustworthy, then they may have been compromised in some way."
"Why do you say that? Are they no longer leaving markers for us to follow?"
"Oh they are still leaving markers…they just lead us nowhere. We haven't found any trail of our quarry in quite some time. It seems we have been lead in circles," Gong let out an exaggerated sigh. "It seems that their information will no longer be reliable. I will have to just deduce where they are heading to and send our forces there. I am done with you Ling. Odd…I wasn't expecting your usefulness to run out quite so fast."
Ling began to panic. He understood the implication of those words. He didn't want to lose the things he had recently gained. He had everything taken from him once already and he refused to have it happen again.
"Send me," Ling said.
"Send you where?" Gong asked, an amused smile on his face with a brow quirked upward.
"You are going to send people out to where you think they may be headed. I wish to be part of the group that goes. I will prove my usefulness to you. I will show you that my source is still a reliable one. Your men probably just aren't understanding the markers."
Gong let out a laugh. "I didn't expect to hear you utter such words Ling! My my, you aren't quite the spineless worm I made you out to be. Very well. Prepare for travel, you will be leaving shortly."
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Five. That was the number of times Dun had wanted to beat the hell out of Pi. Since the night he switched watch with Miàocái, he has been acting erratic. First he demanded that they move an hour earlier than they were scheduled to. Then whenever they stopped to rest, he would tell them that they didn't have time to do so and that it was imperative to get to Chuancheng as soon as possible. Shan tried to get to the bottom of Pi's odd behavior but he wouldn't talk to him or anyone else. He seemed intent on dealing with whatever issue he was having on his own.
Dun was well aware of the chances of Pi succeeding Cao Cao. He was intelligent and a capable fighter. His personality though was utter shit. He had trouble relying on others. He didn't see those that served his father as trusted allies as Cao did. He saw them as tools to be used and thrown away when no longer useful. All of his intelligence would martial prowess would be worth nothing if he didn't have the respect and admiration of his generals like his father did.
They were less than a few days from Chuancheng. Pi wanted to keep pushing on but Dun put his foot down. This time, Yuan and Shan backed him up. It was clear that the women and elderly in the group, with the exception of Zhuyue and Xiaolian, weren't taking such long stretches of travel well. They only had one horse as well. They had to alternate between all of them for a reprieve from walking. It wasn't an ideal situation and even though they used this method, the group was getting fatigued. When Dun told Pi they weren't budging, the two nearly came to blows. Pi finally relented, seeing the fatigue in his own mother. It was clear that he was not happy about the situation, however.
The atmosphere around the group was a tense one. It seemed that everyone was on edge. It was probably a bad idea on his part, but Dun decided that this was going to be the time in which he confronted Zhuyue. The two hadn't spoken since he came to her rescue. They exchanged hard stares but no words. He still didn't know how Xiaolian got injured and no one was providing him with that information which just irritated him more.
Zhuyue was, as always with Xiaolian. He knew the two were close but they seemed to be unusually close lately. What the hell happened to them while he was away? And why were the both of them staying away from Xiulan? These were the things he planned on getting answers to. Zhuyue was just finishing putting on a fresh bandage on Xiaolian. Dun hovered behind her, waiting for her to finish. As soon as she finished securing the bandage, he grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet.
"We need to talk," he growled. Zhuyue yanked her arm from his grasp.
"I can walk fine on my own," She remarked. Xiaolian stood to go with Zhuyue.
"No! Stay!" He barked out loudly. To Xiaolian's credit, she did not flinch. Zhuyue shot an angry look at Dun before turning to Xiaolian. She placed a gentle hand on the girls head and gave her a small smile.
"You wait here for me. I'll be right back."
Dun led her away from the others. They stared at each other but neither said a word. Dun was the first one to break the silence.
"Well?"
"Well what? If I remember correctly, you are the one who demanded my presence. What do you want?"
"What the fuck is going on?" Dun grounded out. He was still angry from his earlier encounter with Pi and he knew he was unjustly taking it out on her.
"What the fuck is going on with what? You need to be a bit more clear, My Lord" Zhuyue replied. That sickeningly sweet voice she used. She reserved it when she wanted to mock those in power. He had heard it enough in their time together. She was trying to get under his skin.
Dun shoved her against a nearby tree. She knew how to stoke his anger. She could do it effortlessly. But it was strange. He wasn't just angry at her, he was aroused. He wanted to take her against the tree he had her pressed against right then and there. What type of strange hold did this woman have over him? What kind of fucked up relationship did they have where he got off on getting pissed off at her?
"You make me so fucking angry sometimes," Dun muttered as his eyes roamed over her face. It was slightly dirtied, signs that they had been in through tough travels. She took such great care of Xiaolian but neglected to care for herself. Despite the smudges that decorated her face, he found her to be utterly beautiful. Was she always this beautiful? He didn't remember thinking so when they first met. Sure she was attractive, but she wasn't this breathtakingly beautiful, was she?
"Because I don't understand what it is you are asking of me? I didn't realize pissing off the mighty Xiahou Dun was such an effortless task. Look, I don't really want to talk to you. If we are done, can I go?"
"And why don't you want to speak with me?"
"Your memory may be short but I have a clear memory of how you spoke to me the last time we were in Puyang. You claim you respect me then you treat me as if I am below you."
"You are a woman…you are below me," Dun replied nonchalantly. Zhuyue swung at him. It was so quick that Dun didn't have a chance to block. Her fist connected with his cheek. Dun remained still and Zhuyue tried to wiggle away from the tree. She was sure he was going to retaliate and she would rather not make herself an easy target. Dun let out a chuckle. Zhuyue's eyes widened in surprise. It was so rare to hear him laugh. Why was he laughing? She just punched him. What the hell was going on with him?
"I missed this…I missed that sassy attitude of yours. I missed your smart mouth. I missed you," Dun said. Zhuyue stared at him in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She reached out a tentative hand and placed it on his arm, feeling the muscle beneath his battle robe. He was real. He was really here. This wasn't a dream. He always blew hot and cold with her. It was so hard to get a handle on him. She knew he cared for her. He made that clear to her already but there were times when he would make her doubt. It was infuriating.
"I-I…what?" Zhuyue was baffled. She couldn't formulate a proper sentence. Since the moment she laid eyes on him again, she wanted to hear him express some sort of emotion, some sort of concern for her but he gave her such a cold reception. It was always a guessing game with him but here he was, in front of her, freely offering her what she wanted. It didn't seem real but it was.
Dun was surprised himself, though not for the same reason. He came to terms with his feelings for Zhuyue a while ago. He no longer denied what he felt for her. What surprised him was how easily she was able to replace his ire with something different. He came to her so angry and wanted someone to vent his anger on. He went to her with the intention of picking a fight but just being in her presence calmed his spirit and washed his anger from him. He wasn't used to this feeling, but it wasn't an unwelcome one.
"What? You're telling me you didn't miss me?" Dun asked as he pressed closer against her and braced one arm on the truck behind her above her head.
"Y-yes…" She replied in a timid voice. It was the first time he ever heard her speak so softly. He didn't like it.
"I don't believe you," he replied. He pulled away from her slightly and he saw her face shift into a frown at suddenly losing the pressure from his body against hers.
"I don't care if you believe me or not. I know what I feel." She tsked, irritated at his behavior. "I don't even know why I bothered missing you."
There is was. That spark. That is what he loved.
"That's better," Dun said with a grin. He pressed his body against hers once more and lowered his head to give her a kiss. "Your punch has gotten better by the way…that actually hurt," he murmured before pressing his lips against hers.
Zhuyue could feel her body tingle as soon as their lips touched. It was if a jolt of electricity surged through her body at that moment. She could feel his arms roaming over her body and she welcomed it. She was ready to give herself to him then and there. She momentarily forgot where they were. She forgot that though they had found a secluded area, they were far from alone. Her memory was promptly jogged of this fact when she heard someone clear their throat from beside them. This was beginning to become a habit it seemed. One that was really starting to annoy her.
They broke apart from each other to see a Shan who was trying very hard to keep his face neutral; and a grinning Yuan who was clearly okay with showing just how amused he was with this situation. Zhuyue lowered her head in embarrassment and frustration.
"We are preparing to leave," said Shan. To his credit, he didn't mention what they just walked in on. Yuan, however was not quite so tactful.
"Yes, you two will have to wait to make up until we get to Chuancheng. Besides, against a tree is no good for your first time…unless…this isn't your first time?!"
His eyes widened and Zhuyue desperately wished she had a dagger on her so she could throw it at him. Just to get him to stop talking. Shan did the next best thing and slapped his adopted son in the back of the head. Yuan pouted and lowered his head in penitence.
"Sorry, father," he muttered.
"We will be waiting for you two. Don't take too long," Shan said before leaving with Yuan following behind.
Dun sighed in annoyance. He could never get long enough alone with her. It was annoying. He looked down to her, her face flushed in embarrassment. He found this amusing.
"You're embarrassed? Why?"
"It is improper…what we were doing…," she muttered.
"No it's not. You are my wife."
"We aren't married yet," she countered.
"Hmph…," was Dun's reply. He turned away from her and walked the same path his father and brother had taken earlier, leaving Zhuyue alone. She stayed leaning against the tree for a few moments longer, trying to calm herself down. Why didn't he get embarrassed about being caught? How was he able to recover from that so quickly? Does she not have the same effect on him as he does on her? She was irritated that she was the only one feeling this way. Her body still tingled from his touch and it ached for him. She sucked her teeth and pushed the thought from her mind. There was nothing to be done about it now. Best to just forget it…don't think about him. She repeated this in her mind over and over until her body calmed down. She sucked in a deep breath and pushed off of the tree and followed after Dun. Her path was blocked however by Cao Pi.
"We need to talk," he said. Zhuyue was beginning to get tired of hearing that.
"What is it?" She asked, trying to not let her irritation show.
"Not now. We are about to leave. Tonight. We will camp once more before we reach Chuancheng. Find me then. Don't tell anyone…not even cousin Dun. Do you understand?"
Zhuyue nodded. This was confusing. What could Pi possibly want to say to her and why couldn't she tell Dun? Something about this made her feel uneasy. She felt that whatever news Pi had to tell her, wouldn't be good.
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Cao Cao and his men were currently in council. He listened as Jia outlined his strategy for taking Xiapi. Cao nodded in agreement to the plan. It was a simple one, brute force. Thanks to the earlier plan in which they lured him out of Xiapi, Qian suffered considerable losses. Even with Liu Bei's added forces, Tao Qian no longer had the power to withstand a direct attack from Cao Cao. According to their sources, Qian's men were fatigued and their morale was low. They were in no position to put up a fight. Cao and his forces were going to attack in the dead of night. They should be taken unawares from the sudden attack.
There was another problem, however. Cao Chong's condition was not getting any better. It was imperative that Cao get him back to Puyang where he could get proper care. The problem was, he couldn't spare anymore of his generals to ensure that he arrived safely. His only option would be to send him under the care of his brothers. Cao was hesitant to do this. He didn't like the idea of sending his three sons alone unguarded but he had little options available to him.
"Father!" Cao's head snapped up. That wasn't a voice he should hear. He was certain that he left that particular son at home, yet here he stood, in front of him. His chest heaving up and down from exertion and his face drenched in sweat. Cao's eyes furrowed in confusion as his generals looked to him for an answer as to why Cao Ang had suddenly burst through the tent calling for him.
"Ang…Why are you here?" As he said the words, the answer clicked in his mind. Puyang. Something happened to Puyang and Ang was sent here as an envoy. He was furious. Did Puyang fall? What happened to Dun and Yuan? If they still drew breath, why wasn't it one of them that stood here now? How could they send his son here alone, unguarded? What were they thinking?
"Ang, what happened to Puyang?" Cao demanded. Ang gulped air and tried to slow his breathing. Cao waited, for him to catch his breath. The moment it looked like he had, he demanded an answer once more.
"Puyang…Puyang has fallen into Lu Bu's hands. Chen Gong, Zhang Miao and Ling…they've betrayed us."
There were mummers amongst the generals. Jia frowned. It seemed that he was correct. He wished he had the foresight to send Yuan and Dun back earlier. This situation could have gone differently if he had.
"And what of Yuánràng and Miàocái?"
"They arrived too late. They assisted us as we were pursued through the woods by Zhang Miao. Had they not arrived when they did, we would have fallen to his troops. They lead the others to Chuancheng as we speak."
Cao hesitated, unsure if he wanted to know the answer to the next question but knew he needed to hear it.
"The others…everyone still lives?"
"Yes…Zhu…uhm…I-I caught wind of the attack and was able to get everyone out in time."
Jia eyed Ang. He adverted his gaze as he spoke. He was withholding the truth, possibly in an attempt to impress his father. It was a stupid move. Did he think his father could not see through his lie? Furthermore, did he not think that his father would not find out the truth later?
"And they sent you to deliver this message?" Cao asked. Ang felt a pang in his heart. He heard the underlining meaning behind his father's words. Why did they send you? Why did they entrust someone such as you with such an important task?
"I volunteered for the task. I felt that Yuánràng and Miàocái were better suited to guard the others, in case we got attacked once more."
"And where was your brother? Where was Pi in the midst of all this?"
Ang flinched. His father barbed words hurt him. He had no faith in him. He trusted anyone to deliver this message over him. Was this how his father saw him? Did he truly look down on him so much? Ang felt his lip tremble. He could feel his eyes welling with tears. That was the last thing he wanted to do, cry in front of his father and the other generals. He calmed himself and willed himself to not shed a tear. He would make his father see his worth.
"Pi also thought I was the best person to deliver this news." Cao studied him for a few moments in silence. It was hard to tell if he believed Ang's words.
"You are injured," Cao finally said. Ang looked to his arm.
"It is of no great import."
"Leave a wound to fester and it will become of great import. Go get it taken care of…you have done well, son," Cao said.
Ang smiled, overjoyed at his father's words. He bowed to his father before leaving the tent to get his wound looked at as instructed by his father.
Once his son was out of sight, Cao let out a deep sigh.
"What are your orders, My Lord?" asked Jia.
Cao looked to his advisor and friend. Jia already knew the answer but it seems that he wanted to hear it from Cao's mouth.
"We retreat. Puyang is too important to leave in the hands of Lu Bu. Also, if we continue our attack here, we risk him taking Chuancheng as well. If he does that, we will have no place to retreat to. It would be foolhardy to continue our efforts here."
Cao spoke with authority which Jia respected but he knew that Cao was unhappy with this decision. He knew that it pained him to leave things the way they were. He was however pleased to know that his lord could put his personal feelings aside for the greater good.
"I will prepare the troops for our departure. The rest of you do the same," said Jia.
They all saluted Cao and filed out of the tent. Cao was left alone staring down at the map they had of Xiapi. He balled up a fist and slammed it down on top of it. Damn Chen Gong…Damn Lu Bu…Damn Zhang Miao…Damn Ling…Damn Liu Bei and Damn Tao Qian. He will get his revenge on them all.
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They were making good time. Chuancheng couldn't be more than an hour or so away and night wasn't going to fall for another two. They could make it there without stopping for the night. Dun was pulling up the rear of the group while Yuan was in the front and Pi in the middle. Lady Ai and Xiàhóushì were sharing the horse this time which was probably what they could attribute to the increase in speed.
Dun noticed that Xiaolian's speed had decreased over time. Not once did the little girl complain about the trek and she always passed on her turn to ride the horse in favor of staying by Zhuyue's side. It was starting to wear on her. Dun sighed. Foolish girl. She was trying so hard to be like Zhuyue, not realizing that to get to where she was took years of hard work. He picked up his pace and scoped her up off the ground. She let out an uncharacteristic shriek at being picked up so suddenly. Once she realized who it was that held her, she calmed down and merely stared at him in curiosity. Dun lifted her in the air and placed her onto his shoulders.
"Hold on tight. If you fall, I'm not picking you up."
Xiaolian did as she was told. Her tiny body felt such relief to not be walking any longer. Dun pulled off one of her sandals and looked at the sole of her foot. He ran his finger along a blister that was forming at on it. She squirmed and tried to move her foot away from his touch.
"Foolish girl. It makes no sense to try to act so tough if all you are going to do is hurt yourself. Haven't I told you to know your limits and to be smart about it when trying to push past them?"
"Yes sir," she said in a whisper.
"I can't hear you!" Dun voice boomed.
"Yes sir." She said in a louder voice.
"Does this seem smart to you?"
"No sir."
"No, it is not. Now you can't walk. I'll carry you the rest of the way, since we are so close. Do something this stupid again and I'll make you walk on these blisters."
"T-thank you sir."
"Hmph," was Dun's reply.
Zhuyue watched the interaction between the two with a smile. To a person on the outside, it may look as if Dun was hard on Xiaolian, but she knew better than anyone that what he displayed just now was genuine care. She was glad for that, perhaps when she spoke to him about adopting Xiaolian, he would be receptive to the idea.
The rest of the trip passed without incident. They arrived in Chuancheng just as the sun began to dip beneath the horizon. They were received warmly and given lodging. This was a great comfort to their travel weary bodies.
Dun noticed before they entered the town, Pi went out of his way to speak to Zhuyue. It was all hushed whispers and silent acknowledgements. So he wouldn't speak to Shan, a man he's known since birth, but he would speak to Zhuyue? Just what happened between those two to make them such good comrades? Dun felt his eye twitch in irritation. Was he jealous? No…he couldn't be…not of Pi. There was no reason he had to be jealous of a little shit like that. Still…he would watch the two of them a bit more carefully.
Night fell. Zhuyue was given a room with Xiaolian. Dun was surprised at this development, though at this point, he shouldn't have been. There was obviously a rift between Zhuyue, Xiaolian and Xiulan. The divide between them was clear to see. His room was beside theirs. He lay in bed awake. Though they were safe behind the walls of Chuancheng, he couldn't will his body to relax. He felt anxious. He considered going next door and getting Zhuyue. Xiaolian should be asleep by now, so she shouldn't have any qualms about leaving her alone. Zhuyue had a calming effect on him and that is what he needed right now…heh…He laughed at the though. Calming effect. Sure. He knew that at this moment, calm was not what he wanted. He wanted to finish what they started against that tree.
Dun got up and headed to his door. He opened the door just in time to see Zhuyue trying to quietly close hers. He slid his closed quietly, leaving it open just enough to see her go the opposite way. So she wasn't coming to see him. He waited for a few moments and followed after her. Pi was waiting for her. They spoke quietly for a few moments before walking off together. Dun felt his blood boil. What the fuck was going on?
