Zhang Fei - Yìdé
Liu Bei - Xuándé
Guan Yu - Yúncháng
Xiahou Dun - Yuánràng
Lu Bu - Fèngxiān

Liu Bei - Xuándé

Zhang Liao - Wényuǎn
Cao Cao - Mèngdé

Xiahou Yuan - Miàocái
Yue Jin - Wenqian
Guo Jia - Fèngxiào
Xu Chu - Zhòngkāng

Cao looked at Lu Bu's unconscious body. He summoned two guards to his side and ordered them to take him to the city of Xiapi. He wanted the people to know the shame Lu Bu had brought on himself and see the punishment given for such a crime. Xu Chu was ordered to keep watch to ensure that Lu Bu didn't wake up ahead of time and rampage. Others were made to clean up the dead body of Chen Gong. His head as well as the heads of the others who refused to surrender to Cao's will was to be displayed at the gates of Xiapi for a week. Lu Bu's head would join them but only after his punishment had been exacted.

Orders given, Cao turned his attention to Liu Bei who remained kneeling in the same spot, his head hung low and his heart heavy. His sworn brothers knelt beside him, mourning his loss along with him.

"Liu Bei," Cao called out.

Liu Bei looked up upon hearing his name called. He stared up at Cao Cao with a dark expression and vacant eyes.

Out of all of us, the greatest offense was made against you. The right of punishment belongs to you. Will you take it or shall I handle it for you."

Liu Bei pushed himself to his feet. He looked over to the unconscious Lu Bu that the soldiers were struggling to lift up. He returned his gaze to Cao Cao and spoke with a conviction that surprised all present.

"Torturing Lu Bu will not bring back my family. They rest with the ancestors now. I know this. Yet I want him to suffer. I want to know that the man who caused so much hurt to my family suffer as much as they. So to answer your question Cao Cao, yes. I wish to handle the punishment."

"Very well," was Cao's reply. He found himself mildly impressed at the man's newfound backbone. It was enough to make him overlook the lack of respect Bei just exhibited by not adding an honorific before his name.

It was pitiful that it took such a tragedy to make him finally realize that good intentions alone is not enough to survive in this world today. How long would this new viewpoint of his last? Cao wondered. If he truly did understand what was needed to tame this land of chaos and he was willing to do what needed to be done. Perhaps he would finally become a man worth facing in battle and Cao looked forward to the day when he would crush him.

"Let us hasten to the city then," said Cao as he summoned a servant to bring him his horse.

"The city?" Bei asked.

"Lu Bu's punishment will be witnessed by the people. You will dole out his punishment in front of them. They will know the crime he has done to you and your response to such an offense," Cao replied.

Liu Bei suddenly looked apprehensive. He wanted revenge on Lu Bu more than anything but he didn't want to show that side of himself to the people. He knew this side of him was ugly. He could feel the twisted darkness inside of him that wanted to see Lu Bu suffer as they slowly bled his life away. It wasn't something that should be witnessed by the people that looked up to him. They looked at him as a man of morals and a good heart. Would such a man torture another even if said torture is justified?

"Is something wrong?" Cao asked seeming to seen his sudden hesitation.

"I wish for this to be done in camp rather than the town."

"No," Cao replied flatly. "Lu Bu's crime needs to be known by the people. His name should be shamed forever in history."

"The ancestors and heavens will know his crimes, that is enough for me."

"It seems I was wrong about you. You are still weak," Cao replied with utter disdain.

Bei could not argue against Cao Cao for his words were true. In the face of getting revenge for his family, he balked in order to save face with the people. To keep up an image they had of him.

"The punishment will be held within Xiapi city with or without your input," Cao declared before riding off.

"That bastard!" Zhang Fei called out. Bei put a hand on his shoulder to settle his brother down.

"Forget it, Yìdé."

"No brother! Since he got here, he has done nothing but disrespect you. He speaks about you as if you are lower than him!"

"I am lower than him," Bei replied softly.

"Brother no! You are just as good as he is. In fact you are better!"

"I am not," Bei replied. "We have no longer have any land to call our own and we have a meager army. Currently we are nothing...but I swear to you it will not always be this way. For now Cao Cao is right, but there will come a day when that will no longer but true. Come brothers, we go to Xiapi."

" Xuándé, no. You cannot mean to let him goad you into torturing Lu Bu in front of the people," said Guan Yu.

"No, I will not. Even if after today they are no longer my people, I do not wish for them to see me as a bloodthirsty man. As shallow as it may be, I do not wish to lose the view that they have of me. In the last few months, I have lost much...I do not wish to lose any more. That said, I still have a desire to see Lu Bu punished. Whether it is on my word or Cao Cao's truly doesn't matter. My family will receive justice."

Guan Yu nodded in acknowledgement. "For what is it worth, I think this is the right choice. I understand your desire for revenge but you are not a man that needs to dirty his hands with such things. Whenever we can, Yìdé and I will be your blades to do what must be done so that you can bring peace to his world. There is no need for you to change who you are. Do not listen to what Cao Cao says. Your way is the only way to truly heal our land."

Bei was nearly moved to tears by his brothers' words. He put a hand on both of their shoulders and lowered his head.

"I do not know what I did to deserve such honorable brothers but I thank the heavens that our paths crossed when they did. Please, continue to stand beside me."

"Of course brother!" Fei exclaimed as he clapped a meaty hand on Bei and Yu's shoulder. "You don't even have to ask. Yúncháng and I will always be by your side."

Yu nodded in acknowledgement, putting his hands on his brothers shoulder as well. The three men stood together in a circle, clasped together. The vow they made so long ago in the peach garden was as strong today as the day it was made.

The brothers finally broke apart and sought their mounts to head to the city to witness the final moments of the tyrant known as Lu Bu.

=#=

Cao Cao sat in a chair within the center of town as he impassively watched them erect the stake that Lu Bu would be tied to in just a few moments. Elsewhere nearby, Lu Bu was being stripped of his outer robe and armor. When tied to the stake, he would be completely nude. Such humiliation was only the beginning of what Cao had planned for him.

"My lord, a moment?"

Cao lifted his head from the fist he had it propped on to see Yue Jin's head bowed and his hands held up in salute.

"What is it, Wenqian?"

"My apologies for bothering you but there is something you must see."

"It is something you cannot just tell me?"

"I could, but I think you would appreciate it more if you saw it," Jin replied.

This piqued Cao's interest. In the time he had gotten to know Jin, he knew him as a very serious and rather literal person. If he said that Cao would appreciate it more if he saw it, then he knew it had to be true. He looked over to the soldiers still struggling with erecting the stake. He currently had some time to kill so he decided to indulge him.

"Very well," he replied standing from his seat.

Jin led him to a modest home within the residential area of the city. The owners were standing outside and they bowed low upon seeing Cao approach.

"What's all this?" Cao asked.

"It's inside," Jin replied as he headed in.

Cao followed curious to see what lay in wait for him. As he suspected, Jin was telling the truth. Seeing was much better than simply hearing.

"Where did you find him?"

"He tried to hide amongst these peasants. Practically took over their home. Obviously, they did not seem too pleased with that arrangement as gave him up the moment they saw us. I figured you would want to be notified of this."

"You figured correctly. Give these people back their home. Take him to the camp and have guards watching over him at all times. He will not slip away this time. We will deal with them after we have dealt with Lu Bu."

Jin saluted in acknowledgement. Cao walked out of the home and was confronted by the owners once more. They bowed low, not daring to look at him directly. Cao stopped in front of the man. He was a middle-aged man, completely unremarkable in every way.

"Are you the man of the house?"

"I am my lord," he replied, eyes still glued to the ground.

"And you were the one who reported him?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Extend your hand," the man hesitated at first but he extended his hand towards Cao as commanded.

"Palm up," the man did as he was told, wincing as if bracing for something.

Cao dropped a cloth pouch in his hand.

"For your service. I hope I can continue to count on your loyalty in the future."

The man felt the weight of the pouch in his hands and he lifted his head to look at. His eyes widen upon realizing exactly what he held. He didn't know what the exact amount was but he knew it was more than he could make working for months.

"O-of course! Thank you, my lord! Thank you!"

His wife joined in on the gratitude, both bowing their heads lower than they had before. Cao knew that with a simple gesture he had secured their loyalty for life and they would pass the word on to their neighbors and friends that Cao was a man to be trusted and liked. It was a step towards getting the people to accept their new ruler with that much more ease.

He headed back to the center of town where the punishment would take place. Many of the peasants had gathered around to see the spectacle. They parted ways upon his arrival allowing him passage back to his seat. Lu Bu was being tied up now. His legs were already bound and they were finishing it off by binding his hands above his head to the stake.

Yuan was standing by the seat Cao sat in not long ago.

"There you are," he remarked as his cousin drew closer. "Where did you go?"

"I was just made aware of a very interesting development, once I will share with you, Yuánràng and Zhuyue after this business is done. Speaking of which, where are they?" he asked as he looked around for the people in question.

"Brother said he wasn't interested in watching it," Yuan replied with a shrug. "Said he had better things to do."

"Ah, I guess it is their time to make up," Cao mused with a crooked smile.

"We will have to get them later. It is important that you are all present for what I have to show you, but we will deal with that later," he said as he sat back down in his chair.

"Show us? What do you mean."

Cao sighed internally. He shouldn't have let it slip that he had something to show Yuan. He wasn't known for his patience.

"You will see later."

"Can I get a hint?"

"No," Cao replied.

"Not even a-"

"No," Cao replied more firmly. Yuan huffed and folded his arms across his chest, clearly unsatisfied with this decision.

"It will be worth the wait, trust me," Cao said in an attempt to placate his sulking cousin.

"Fine," Yuan muttered sounding more like a child than the feared general he was known as.

The crowd grew as the soldiers finished their task. Bu was successfully bound and they would be starting soon.

Cao and Yuan were soon joined by Pi and his brothers as well as many other generals from Wei and Shu. Liu Bei and his brothers were the last to arrive. Bei quietly took his place on the opposite side of Yuan and the others.

"Have you changed your mind?" Cao asked, not bothering to look at the man he was addressing.

"No. As long as the deaths of my family are avenged, I am content."

"But will your family be able to rest knowing that vengeance was at hand but you denied it in order to maintain your image?"

Bei did not reply. His mind was set and he would not be bated by Cao.

The two men were interrupted by the person who would be handling Lu Bu's torture. He saluted the both of them before speaking.

"From whom shall I be taking orders today?"

Cao looked up to Bei and sniffed in disgust at his weakness before looking back to the man.

"You will follow my instruction." Cao replied.

The man nodded.

"Shall we begin? He is staring to wake up and I think the crowd might be getting a little restless."

Indeed Lu Bu had woken up. Groggily he looked around in an attempt to get his bearings. Once he realized that he was unable to move his arms or legs, he began to struggle against the stake he was tied to but to no avail.

Murmurs of the crowd reached his ears. His eyes snapped to the crowd and his frustration and anger rose.

"Insects. Release me at once or I will kill all of you!"

"Still barking? I don't know if is bravery that guides your tongue or stupidity," said Cao as he stood from his seat.

Lu Bu's eyes turned to Cao, blazing with pure hate.

"CAO CAO! YOU SCUM! YOU DARE TO JUDGE ME? YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT?"

Lu Bu kept up his tirade. Hurling various obscenities at Cao and Bei at the top of his lungs.

"And who exactly thought it would be a good idea to not gag him?" Cao groused.

Getting the message, the soldiers attempted to gag Lu Bu who ceased his shouting to snap and snarl at any soldier that drew close.

"This is ridiculous," Cao said, disgusted by the scene unfolding before him.

"No worries cousin, I got this," Yuan said as he left his spot beside Cao and made his way to Lu Bu. He shooed the soldiers away and approached Lu Bu.

"Listen, we can do this the hard way or we can do this-"

Lu Bu interrupted Yuan with a lob of spit which splattered across his face and slid down into his beard.

Yuan gave a dark chuckle as he wiped the spittle from his cheek.

"I was really hoping you wouldn't make this easy."

Yuan's fist collided with Bu's cheek. Bu's head was snapped back by the blow, forcing it to bump roughly with the stake. Bu laughed.

"That's it? That's the best you can do weakling?"

Yuan hit him again and again and again. His fist becoming drenched in Lu Bu's blood. The crowd watched on, their mouths agape in horror as Yuan pummeled him with his bare hands until with a split lip, broken nose and a large cut above his eye, Bu ceased his laughter.

Out of breath and fist aching, Yuan stepped back from Lu Bu. He wiped sweat that had gathered above his brow with his sleeve.

"Shit, tough bastard. You, gag him while he's quiet," Yuan ordered, pointing a bloody finger at a soldier who had been trying to gag him before.

The soldier nodded and hurried to do as Yuan said. Bu offered little resistance and was successfully gagged. Yuan retook his place next to Cao.

"Thank you, Miàocái," Cao said once his cousin stood next to him. Jia helpfully offered him a cloth to wipe the blood from his hands which Yuan graciously accepted.

"Hear me," Cao's booming voice rang out silencing the crowd almost immediately.

"The man before you is Lu Bu, styled Fèngxiān. The weight of his crimes are many and all of them warrant his death. But there is one quest in particular for which he shall receive the pain of torture before the release of death. Lu Bu, you repeatedly violated the wife Liu Bei, former lord of this land."

Bei bristled at hearing the word former but he remained silent. Murmurs bubbled up within the crowd once more but Cao continued, not paying them any heed.

"Your cruelty led to the loss of her life as well as the loss of their child. For this, you shall pay. I hereby sentence you to torture by one thousand cuts."

Gasps and murmurs arose from crowd. Bu struggled against his restraints once more upon hearing what his punishment would be. Cao had planned to draw out his torture as long as possible it seems.

"Shit, one thousand cuts huh? Never saw it in action. This is going to be nasty," Yuan remarked.

"It is a fitting starting punishment for the slew of crimes Lu Bu has committed," Cao remarked as he took his seat.

"Wouldn't you say, Xuándé?" Cao asked as he turned to look at the man in question.

Liu Bei did not reply, his lips set in a grim line. Cao had chosen a particularly cruel punishment. Even with his anger, Bei wasn't sure he would have been able to think of something like this.

With a nod of Cao's head, the punishment began.

The torture began with Bu's thighs. Made up of pure muscle, it was hard for the torturer to get a good grip but he somehow managed pinch a piece of flesh. He cut into the piece he had pinched between his two fingers with a small knife, sawing at it until it was completely severed from Bu's leg.

To Bu's credit, he didn't cry out at the pain. He chose to instead bit into the gag that bound his mouth. Cao wasn't impressed with Bu's tenacity. The first cut was only the beginning. There was nine hundred and ninety-nine cuts left. He would eventually break from this grueling torture. All men did.

The torturer took a step back to admire his work. Blood dribbled down Bu's leg but not enough to cause blood loss. He cut just deep enough to hurt but nowhere near enough to kill. Good. He pinched another piece of flesh and cut again, making sure to not cut too deeply into the muscle. This had to last for a good long while to be effective. He discarded the cut flesh to the ground and began again.

He cut into Lu Bu over and over, making sure to keep a mental count as he worked his up to Bu's stomach, chest and arms. The entire process took hours. By the time he was done, Bu had little patches of flesh missing from all over his body save his face and genitals. Blood dripped from the fresher wounds while the ones made in the beginning had begun to dry up on his leg. Still Bu did not cry out but he looked utterly exhausted from the bearing the pain. His gag was drenched from a mixture of blood and saliva and his eyes were wet from the silent tears he had shed. For the first time ever in his life he wished that he would just die.

Cao stood from his seat and gazed at the crowd. He was surprised by the number of people that had stayed for the duration of the torture. He wondered if they truly hated Lu Bu that much or if there was a morbid curiosity behind their continued attendance.

"The hour grows late. We will continue this tomorrow," he announced.

He could hear some mumbling of those not satisfied that they would have to wait till tomorrow to see Bu's torture continued, but they began to disperse.

"Come cousin," Cao began as he turned to Yuan. "We have our own business to attend to."

Cao looked over his shoulder to Jia Xu and Guo Jia.

"I want the two of you to keep an eye on Wényuǎn."

"And what of my previous assignment?" Jia asked with a smile.

Cao's eyes flickered to focus solely on Xu before turning away from both men.

"Consider it completed," Cao replied before he and Yuan walked away.

"Previous assignment?" Xu asked once Cao and Yuan were out of earshot.

Jia smiled brightly. "It means our lord trusts you. I no longer need watch over you. Come, let us grab a drink before we go check in on the newly betrothed couple. I believe you owe me one."

Xu couldn't help but smile but he managed to reign it in enough so that it only manifested as a smirk. He was relieved that Cao finally trusted him. It would be nice to sleep without having guards posted near his tent or having someone watch his every move. He made a silent vow to ensure that Cao did not regret the trust he had been given.

=#=

Zhuyue giggled as Dun's beard tickled her bare skin as he placed soft kisses upon her stomach. Originally Zhuyue had wanted to attend the torture but Dun reminded her that the camp would be mostly empty. She didn't need much more convincing than that and they spent their time catching up on the sex they denied themselves over their foolish misunderstanding.

Dun ceased his kisses and placed his a hand on her growing belly.

"So this is mine," he murmured as he placed another kiss on her stomach.

"Are you seriously still doubting?" Zhuyue asked with a tinge of annoyance in her voice.

"Hush woman. It wasn't a question. It was a statement."

"Well I certainly hope he is less rude than you are," she huffed.

"So sure it is a boy?" Dun asked as he looked up to her.

"Yes."

"Hmm, good. He could watch over Xiaolian."

Zhuyue scoffed at this comment.

"Xiaolian is far older than he is. She will be watching over him."

"In the beginning, yes, but once he gets of age, he will be my heir as my first born son. It will be his responsibility to look after his siblings. You know this is the way of the world."

"Yeah well this world is stupid...wait, siblings? Meaning more than Xiaolian?"

"Of course, you don't think we were just going to stop at two did you?"

Zhuyue groaned and pushed herself into a sitting position, forcing Dun to back away in the process.

"I don't even know if I can handle this one and you are already talking about others?"

Dun gave her a confused look.

"What are you talking about can't handle this one?"

"I mean this baby," she said as she placed a hand over her stomach. "I have no idea how to do this."

"Give birth? You'll have help with tha-"

"I mean raise it," Zhuyue said cutting him off.

"We already have a kid and she's still alive and isn't stupid so I would say you shouldn't have any problems."

"Xioalian doesn't count! She wasn't a baby when we adopted her. She practically raises herself! This one will depend on me for everything and I don't know how to do that!"

Dun stared at Zhuyue amazed as she was becoming hysterical. With a shake of his head he laid down beside her and stared up to the ceiling of the tent.

"That's dumb," he replied after a few moments.

Zhuyue's eye twitched and she began to scan the tent for something to stab her dearly beloved with.

"Apparently you forgot how Xiaolian was before she became our child. The girl barely spoke to anyone and couldn't carry on a conversation. Look at her now. She didn't do that on her own. You had a hand in that," Dun continued.

"I guess but-"

"But nothing. You'll be fine. You aren't alone in this either. You have a lot of people that will be there to help you. So cut out the doubt. I don't like you when you are full of doubt. Be the strong woman I married."

"Ugh, couldn't you find a nicer way to reassure me?"

"Tch, what did I just say? The woman I married doesn't need to be coddled,"

"I swear sometimes I hate you," Zhuyue replied as she threw a punch to his chest.

It wasn't a particularly strong punch. She wasn't trying to hurt him, only to vent a bit of her anger. Dun smirked and grabbed her fist once it connected with his chest and used it to pull her closer to him. He used his other hand to urge her body on top of his until she was straddling him.

"There are other ways to work out your anger," Dun said in a voice that made her quiver.

She was suddenly no longer angry at him and wanted nothing more than to make love to him. Part of her knew it was odd that her emotions just flipped like that but she was beginning to get use to the wildly fluctuating emotions that came with being with child. At this point, she really didn't care, her desire for the man beneath her was becoming unbearable and thinking was no longer a primary concern.

Zhuyue leaned forward and kissed Dun; a kiss he gladly accepted as he switched their positions, putting himself on top. Before they could go any further they heard Cao Cao calling them from outside the tent. Zhuyue let out a groan of frustration and Dun chuckled not use to seeing his wife as the sexually frustrated one.

Dun pulled himself away from Zhuyue, a task she did not make easy and quickly dressed to greet his cousin whom waited patiently outside their tent. He was surprised to see Yuan was there as well.

"You guys done with Lu Bu already?"

"Brother, it has been hours...are you two seriously still going at it?"

Normally Dun would have punched his brother in the arm for the comment but he found himself in a good mood which could very well be attributed to him and Zhuyue doing exactly what Yuan accused them off.

"Hmm, we were celebrating," Dun replied with a somewhat smug smirk.

"You guys are that happy about winning the battle?" Yuan asked in disbelief.

"Hmm I remember my first. Seems so long ago," Cao mused

"I'm lost, what are you two talking about?" Yuan asked, a bit miffed that he was left out of the loop.

At the moment, Zhuyue emerged from the tent. Her demeanor was the complete opposite of Dun. She wore a scowl on her face, still upset that they had been interrupted. Her gaze burned holes into the men that stood before them. Dun, ignoring the grumpiness of his wife replied to Yuan.

"Zhuyue is with child."

Yuan's eyes widened in surprise and his face split into a wide grin. He pulled Dun into a bear hug.

"Congratulations brother!"

Dun grunted from the sudden tight squeeze but he returned the hug. "Thanks, Miàocái."

Yuan released his brother and turned his focus on Zhuyue.

"You look like you are ready to kill me, but I'm going for it anyway. No way I won't hug my little sister after hearing such news!"

Before Zhuyue could react, Yuan scooped her up into a hug. Fortunately for Zhuyue, Yuan made sure to be much more careful with her, allowing his grip to be mostly slack. Zhuyue rolled her eyes and returned the hug knowing that Yuan wouldn't let go until she did. Satisfied, Yuan released her, a huge smile still on his face.

"This is great! I can't wait to tell Jiao. She's with child too, did I tell you? So is Liu! Mèngdé, isn't this great? Why aren't you congratulating them?" Yuan said excitedly.

"Ah, um yes, congratulations you two," Cao replied.

Yuan's face fell as realization dawned on him.

"You already knew didn't you? He already knew didn't he?"

"Blame your brother, he is the one who blurted it out in front of everyone at the main camp," Zhuyue replied, her eyes flickering to Dun who looked completely unrepentant about it.

"Damnit, I'm always the last to know everything, Whatever, I'm still happy for you two" said Yuan.

"Mother and father still don't know so you aren't the last."

"Huh, that so..." Yuan mumbled as he rubbed his chin. Dun already knew what his brother was planning. This is exactly why he was always the last to know things.

"Well, we didn't come here solely to interrupt your...celebration. I need you two to come with me," Cao interrupted. He turned away from the three and began to walk towards his intended destination. He didn't bother looking back, fully expecting them to follow.

Obediently the three followed behind Cao as he led them to a tent guarded by two soldiers. They stood aside upon seeing Cao and company approach. Cao nodded to them and lead the way inside. Once inside, they were surprised to find a bound and gagged Ling laying on the ground. He was mostly unharmed but he did wear a few bruises on his face. Ling, who had been sleeping, stirred upon hearing their entrance. His eyes widened with fear once he saw who exactly was standing before him.

"What's this?" Yuan asked with a wide smile.

"Wenqian found him when he and the others lay siege to the city. He was hiding amongst the peasants but they readily gave him up. He seems to annoy everyone he comes into contact with. This is a family affair. Not something to be witnessed by the others so I had him brought here."

"First I find out I'm going to be an uncle and now we get revenge on our useless cowardly brother? This day could not get any better," Yuan exclaimed. His already wide smile growing impossibly wider.

Ling tried to shuffle away from them, terrified of what was to come. His movements reminded Zhuyue of a worm crawling about on the ground. It was a extremely fitting visual for the man that lay before her.

"So, brother. What do we do with him," Yuan asked as he cracked his knuckles. A grin on his face and his eyes staring into Ling's own.

"Good question. We could just behead him and be done with it..." Dun mused.

Ling screamed against his gag in protest and tried to wiggle himself further away.

"We could, but shit that seems just a bit too quick for him. Think of how he disrespected our father. Put his hands on our mother. Spit on our name. A simple beheading? Much too quick," Yuan replied.

"I have an idea," Zhuyue interrupted. Both brothers turned to her and waited for her to continue.

Zhuyue, still annoyed at being interrupted and not being the biggest fan of Ling felt particularly malicious at this very moment. She remembered well when Ling had said he wanted to keep her around to have fun. Well she intended on having some fun with him now.

"Brother Miàocái, you promised to help me with my archery but we never get a chance to. We can do it now. I'm sure my husband can benefit from your instruction as well. He has to practice shooting with one eye now after all."

Yuan scrunched his brows up in confusion. Why practice archery all of a sudden? They were just talking about how to punish Ling. Yuan paused his line of thinking when what Zhuyue was saying finally clicked.

"Little sister, you are a mean one. I like it. Any objections brother?"

"None," Dun replied.

"Then it's settled. You want in on this Mèngdé?"

"No, the events of the day have taken their toll on me. I long for sleep. Just make sure his head is hanging from the gates with the rest of them when you are done."

Ling screamed out against his gag once more. Cao didn't even spare him a glance, unconcerned about his protest.

"Mèngdé, thank you for giving us the opportunity to erase this blight on our family name," Dun said as he saluted his cousin.

"Yuánràng, we are family. There is nothing to thank."

With that, Cao stepped out of the tent, leaving the four of them alone.

"Let's take him to the training field," said Dun.

Yuan nodded and hefted Ling over his shoulder. Ling squirmed in his grip but Yuan had a firm hold on him. They exited the tent to find that the guards that were once stationed there were now gone. It seems Cao had relieved them from duty when he left.

They went out to the field where the troops usually trained. At present, the field was deserted as most troops were celebrating their victory or on guard duty. Yuan set Ling down and tied him up to a post that was frequently used for target practice. Ling struggled against the bindings and broke down in tears once he realized that he could not free himself.

"MMMRPH MMMMMRRRHPH!" He cried out against the gag. Yuan tilted his head curiously as he looked at Ling, his face illuminated by the moonlight above.

"MMMRPH MRPH MMMMMRRRRPH RRRMPH!"

Yuan removed the gag and Ling let out loud sobs as he struggled to speak.

"P-puh puh please b-bro-brother! Do nuh-nuh not do this!"

"Brother? I think that is the first time you have ever called me that," Yuan replied.

"I-I hav-haven't been good tuh-to you. To any of you. Buh-but I am still your brother. Please. Do not kill me!"

"Why did you remove his gag?" Dun asked as he walked up to the two with Zhuyue behind him.

"Broh-brother! Please. Reconsider this! I will be a better man if you give me the cha-chance. Please!" Ling pleaded to Dun, tears pouring down his face and spittle flying from his mouth as he spoke.

"You ask me to spare you?" Dun asked as he took a few steps closer to Ling. Ling tried to back away forgetting that he was currently tied to a post.

Dun untied the cloth he kept around his left eye. He leaned close to Ling so that he could get a good look into the empty cavern where his eye once was.

"The man that shot out my eye had been aiming for my head. Before I dug out his eyes with his spear do you know what he told me? He told me that you paid him to kill me. So tell me, Ling, where was your remorse when you handed over taels in exchange for my life?"

"H-he lied!" Ling sputtered. "I swear, I wou-would never!"

"Men are very honest when their lives are in the hands of another," Dun said as he backed away from Ling.

"Zhuyue, do you have a dagger on you?" Dun asked as he held a hand out to her already knowing the answer.

"Always," Zhuyue replied as she dug into the folds of her borrowed robe and produced a dagger. She placed it in her husband's hand as he kept his eye on Ling.

Once he felt the weight of the dagger in hand, he wrapped his fingers around the handle and quickly brought it to Ling's throat, pressing hard against it. Ling could feel something warm trickle down his throat and knew Dun had pressed hard enough to draw blood. He tried his best not to swallow, afraid that the motion would push his adam's apple against the blade and cut his throat open.

"So tell me Ling, how much was my life worth to you?"

"I-I'm sorry! I was foolish to do it! I apologize! Please forgive me! Please! My brothers, let us start over. Mother! Mother wouldn't want you to do this! Think of- mmmrgh?! MMMMRPRH!"

Tired of hearing him speak, Dun stuffed the gag back in his mouth.

"That's exactly what I thought," he said in disgust as he handed Zhuyue her dagger.

"Come brother, we have some target practice to work on."

Yuan grinned and walked back a couple of feet. He picked up one of the practice bows and plucked the bowstring a few times to test it.

"Idiots didn't unstring these bows. That's exactly what makes them snap when you need it most. I'll have to get on them about that," Yuan groused as he plucked the string once more.

"Not as good as mine but it will do," he continued as he picked up an arrow and nocked it.

"So, you two watch me and then you'll get a go. I'll watch your form and correct it as necessary."

Yuan raised the bow and used the arrow to aim his shot. Ling screamed as much as he could against the cloth in his mouth hoping that someone, anyone would save him. Yuan released the arrow and it flew straight through the air and right into the target Yuan had been aiming for, Ling's left leg.

Ling let out a pained scream behind the cloth and tried to move the injured appendage against his restraints. He has never felt such pain in his life. He always avoided such things knowing that he wasn't suited to it and at this very moment, he realized that his decision was the right one. He was not a man suited to fighting. His brothers were truly strong men. They faced the threat of injury and death whenever they marched off into battle. They had to deal with such terrible pain on a daily basis. If an arrow to the leg hurt to this degree, what had Dun experienced getting it in the eye? His brothers should truly be admired but at this moment he felt nothing but contempt for them.

Yuan handed over the bow and Zhuyue was the one to take it. She got into position and rose the bow. The bowstring was harder to pull back than she expected and her arms wobbled a bit at the effort. Dun stood behind her and steadied her arm. She briefly forgot what she was doing upon catching a whiff of his smell and feeling his warmth at his back. Yuan snapped her out of it as he steadied her bow which was shaking slightly in her grip.

Once she was steadied, both men backed away. Zhuyue held her stance for a few seconds longer before letting the arrow fly. Ling let out a shrill scream against the cloth once her arrow hit. Tears streamed down his cheeks as the fresh pain sent shockwaves through his body. He wanted to die at the very moment. Death surely had to be better than this.

"Did ah...did you mean to aim there?" Yuan asked as he looked towards Ling and the unfortunate spot where Zhuyue's arrow had landed.

"I was aiming for his arm," Zhuyue said with a frown.

"His arm? Shit you were really off the mark," Dun said as he looked at the arrow jutting out of Ling's crotch.

"Well let's see if you can do better," She sneered as she shoved the bow into his hands.

Dun took it and set up his shot. Zhuyue felt slightly annoyed that he was able to do it so much faster than she was. He effortlessly pulled the bowstring back and let his arrow fly. His arrow whistled through the air, striking Ling in his left shoulder. Yuan rubbed his chin as he assessed his brother's shot.

"Not bad. You meant to aim there?"

"More or less," Dun replied. "I use to squint when shooting anyway so the loss of the eye didn't change much."

"Hmm, Hey Ling, still alive?"

Yuan heard sobs in reply to his question.

"Yup still alive. Thought I doubt he can take much more."

"One more shot for Zhuyue and I then you can finish him off?" Dun suggested.

Yuan nodded in agreement and Dun took his stance once more. The arrow flew into Ling's right arm this time. Dun nodded satisfied that he had hit his intended mark. He was nowhere near the archer his brother was but he was glad to see the skill he did have didn't decrease too much.

It was Zhuyue's turn. She refused the help of Yuan and Dun, insisting on steadying the bow and aiming on her own. It took a bit but she finally managed to get the arrow shaft to stop knocking against the bow. Her arms finally steadied, she aimed and let the arrow fly. Zhuyue frowned seeing that she missed her mark again. She meant to hit his left arm but embedded the arrow in his right cheek instead.

"You are terrible at this," Dun remarked as he watched Ling trash his head back and forth in agony from the fresh wound.

"Nah, she's not that bad. At least she's hitting him. For a beginner, that's not bad at all."

"Thank you brother Miàocái," Zhuyue remarked as she glared at Dun, not pleased with his comments.

"Well, time for me to finish this off. This blight upon our family will just be a memory," Yuan remarked as he picked up three arrows from the ground.

"He's going to show off," Dun whispered to Zhuyue as Yuan quickly readied the bow and looked over to the pair and winked, showing that he overheard Dun's comment. He focused on his target once more and aimed his shot.

Yuan fired off the arrows in quick succession. They hit their targets one after the other leaving Ling with barely any time to register what was happening. The first arrow struck his left eye. Yuan's way of repaying Ling for the disservice he did to Dun. The second struck his throat. Ling suddenly found it impossible to swallow, breath or cry. The pain was too much for him to bear. Luckily for him, the third arrow struck, right into his heart. There was pain, as terrible as the others but it was quickly washed over with a numbing sensation.

Everything seemed to slow down around him. It was difficult to focus on his surroundings as an inky darkness had assaulted his mind. He welcomed the cold darkness, seeing it as a release from the hell he was currently in. Before the last of his life leaked from him, he forced himself to have one final thought. He didn't ask for forgiveness or reflect on what got him to this point. No. Ling could only think of how much he hated his family and how he wished that they would soon die.

Zhuyue, Ling and Dun watched in silence as Ling's movements stilled. He was finally dead. What they did to him might be considered cruel but it was no less than he deserved and they felt no remorse for their actions. Ling had caused not only them personally a great deal of pain but their family as well. A man of such filth would not be allowed amongst their ancestors. He shall be forgotten.

"Go back to the tent, Zhuyue. We'll finish up here."

Zhuyue readily agreed to Dun's suggestion. She suddenly felt very fatigued and wanted nothing more than to lay down. Part of her was reluctant to leave Dun's side however. Perhaps it was the tone of voice he used. She might have been imagining it but she thought she heard a tinge of sadness in it. It seems that Dun wasn't as unaffected by all of this as he pretended to be. She nodded to both men and headed back to her tent. By the time the sun rose high in the sky, another head would be added to the gates of Xiapi.

=#=

Lingqi stared at the embers that crackled and popped from the campfire in front of her. She tried to avoid thinking about everything that has currently happened but it was impossible. The more she tried to forget, the more she remembered. She remembered Chen Gong and his impassioned final words; the feel of Chen Gong's blood as it sprayed on her when he was decapitated; she remembered her father. How he shamelessly tossed his honor aside to beg for his life; she remembered the anger and disgust his eyes conveyed when Zhang Liao asked Cao to spare her life so she could become his wife.

Wife...that's right. She was to be Liao's wife. There was a time in which that would have given her immense joy but now she was unsure of how she felt. Liao was only marrying her as a means to spare her from death. He didn't care for her in the same way she cared for him. This knowledge made her feel pathetic. As if she was something to be pitied, not loved.

She pushed the thoughts from her head once more with the grim realization that it was only temporary. Soon her mind would assault her with these thoughts again but for now she needed a brief reprieve. She stood to stretch and the guard that had been watching over them was instantly alert.

Lingqi frowned. They were supposed to be allies now but you couldn't tell that from the way things were. They had a constant guard around them who didn't try to make small talk with either of them. They weren't given a tent to rest in or food. She was grateful that she was at least able to wash the blood from her face, hair and armor, but as it currently stood she felt like a caged animal in an enemy camp.

Lingqi wrapped her arms around herself feeling the chill of the night air hit her. Was her father cold at this moment? Was he even still alive? Her mind replayed the look of disgust he had given her. It was quite possibly the last time she would see him and that was the last thing she would remember about him. No sadness, no remorse, just disgust.

"Are you cold?"

Lingqi looked towards Liao. He was staring at her intently. It was the first time he had spoken to her since everything had happened. There was so much she wanted to ask him but her voice would fail whenever she opened her mouth to speak. Lingqi shook her head in response to his question but Liao stood and made the short trip to her side. He removed his travel robe and handed it to her.

"But what about you?" She asked, not taking the robe from his grasp.

"I'll be fine. Take it. You are shivering."

"But-"

Liao didn't allow her to say anymore. He opened up the robe and wrapped it around her. Lingqi flinched at his touch which caused him to still his movements. When she relaxed he continued to place the robe around her.

"What a adorable sight. It seems you two are getting along well," said Jia with a sly smile as he and Xu walked towards them.

Lingqi turned her head and hid her face within the Liao's robe to hide her blush.

The guard straightened and saluted the two men as they passed by. Liao took that opportunity to move away from Lingqi and respectfully saluted the two men.

Jia and Xu returned the salute.

"Exactly why are you two huddled around a fire anyway? I'm sure you would be much warmer snuggled together in a tent," Xu said with a grin.

"We were not given a tent," Liao replied as he folded his arms across his chest.

The smile on Jia's face dropped and he turned to face the guard who was still saluting them.

"You were assigned to watch over them and take care of their needs, yes?"

"Y-yes my lord."

"But they haven't been given a tent..."

"Um...n-no my lord."

"Have they eaten?"

"No..."

"Have you eaten?"

The soldier went silent.

"I asked you a question," Jia said, his tone stern, eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Ooooh Fèngxiào is angry. Better answer," Xu taunted.

The soldier swallowed hard and nodded.

"I have to interpret your gestures now? Answer me."

"Y-y-yes my lord."

"So tell me. Do you think you have done an adequate job?"

"N-no my lord."

"Well, perhaps you will do a better job digging the waste trenches. Consider it your duty until we leave...Is that sufficient Wényuǎn or do you think he deserve a bit more?"

"That's fine," Liao replied.

Jia nodded and waved his hand at the soldier, dismissing him.

Jia saluted Liao once more and handed him the wine jar he had been holding.

"Accept my apologies. You are an ally and yet you were treated so poorly. That was not Lord Cao's intention I assure you. Ah, this is a bit late but we come bearing gifts. I have brought you some rice wine,"

"And I brought the more useful gift of food," Xu chimed in as he handed his bundle to Lingqi who eyed it with a mixture of suspicion and hunger.

"Excuse me, wine is extremely useful."

"Not when you are hungry," Xu shot back.

"Thank you both," Liao interjected, "We appreciate both gestures but I think we need rest more than anything. It has been...a trying day."

"Ah, yes of course," Jia remarked as he looked at the sullen face of Lingqi.

"Please, follow me...There is a tent you can use for the night. Unfortunately, you will have to stay together. I hope that isn't a problem?"

"It will be fine, thank you," Liao responded.

'fine? It will be fine?' Lingqi thought with increasing alarm. Weren't they suppose to wait until they were married for this? She felt her heart quicken at the mere thought. She wasn't ready for this, especially after a day like today.

Jia turned on his heel and lead the way through the camp. The others followed behind silently. Jia finally stopped in front of a rather large tent.

"Here we are. You can sleep here for the night."

" Fèngxiào isn't this-" Xu began.

"It is. Would you mind holding a few of my scrolls for me? I will collect them from you in the morning."

"Master Fèngxiào, is this your tent?" Liao asked.

"It is, but for tonight, it is yours."

"I thank you for your generosity but we could not possibly accept this. Where will you sleep?"

Jia gave them an easy laugh and waved a dismissive hand. "There is a brothel in Xiapi that I planned on visiting tonight anyway. The tent wouldn't be in use by me. Please do not let it go to waste. Tomorrow I will ensure that you both have your own tents...unless you like sharing..." Jia finished with a waggle of his brows.

"Two tents would be best if it can be spared," Liao replied.

"Ah, no fun. No fun at all. Very well. Just let me gather a few things," Jia said as he disappeared into the tent. He reemerged a few moments later with his hands filled with bundles of scrolls. He passed them over to Xu who begrudgingly accepted them.

"There we are. Rest well. There will be a new more competent guard stationed outside of your tent. If you need anything, just ask."

Jia saluted the both of them and Liao and Lingqi returned it. Xu, with arms wrapped around the bundle of scrolls Jia had given him, was only able to manage a nod of his head. Liao and Lingqi saluted him as well. Liao moved to the tent entrance and held the tent flap open for Lingqi to enter. Jia and Xu turned to walk away when Lingqi spoke up and stopped them in their tracks.

"My father...is he...," she paused unable to bring herself to say the words.

Jia turned back around to face her. He gave her a sad smile.

"It would be best if you didn't ask the details Lady Lingqi. For your sanity, consider him gone from this world already."

Jia saluted both of them once more and left them alone.

Lingqi frowned and lowered her head. She didn't understand what that meant and she wasn't sure she wanted to. It would be best to consider him gone from this world already? Perhaps he was right. Her father seemed to certainly have put her out of his mind. The look he gave her flashed through her mind once more. There was no love in those eyes when he stared at her. Was there ever love in his eyes? She remembered seeing it when he stared at Diaochan. She remembered the feeling of jealousy and anger that he never looked at her with anything even remotely close. Put him out of her mind. Yes. That is what she will do. It will be hard but she was resolved to move on with her life. A life without her tyrannical father.

"Lingqi, we should go inside," said Liao, cutting through her thoughts.

She nodded her head and stepped into the tent. Liao followed after her and looked around.

"I will take one of the furs and use it to lay on the floor. You can keep the rest of them and sleep on the bed."

"You could just sleep with me-" Lingqi's eyes widened the minute she said it. She hadn't meant to be so brazen but it slipped out.

Liao regarded her in silence for a few moments before shaking his head. He was sure she didn't mean it the way she said it. A slip of the tongue was all that was. She is stressed, not thinking.

"I will be fine on the ground," Liao replied as he took one of the furs from Jia's bed and placed it on the ground.

Lingqi watched in silence as she idly fingered the bundle of food Xu had given her. Her stomach growled reminding her of her hunger. She looked down to the bundle and then up to Liao.

"Do you think it is safe to eat?"

"If they wanted us dead, they could have killed us before. They wouldn't have wasted time poisoning us. It is safe. Eat if you are hungry."

Lingqi opened the package and took hold of one of the meat stuffed buns. She took a large bite and savored the taste. It was cold but she didn't care at this point. She was so hungry that anything would have tasted delicious. She paused and looked at Liao. Her mouth was stuffed with food so she couldn't speak and resorted to lifting the package towards him in offering. He shook his head and she shrugged before continuing to eat.

Liao took his place on the fur he laid out on the floor and took the wine Jia had given him in hand. Lingqi paused stuffing her mouth with food as she watched as Liao remove the paper covering the opening and took a drink. She swallowed the remaining contents in her mouth before speaking.

"Can I have some?" She asked.

"I didn't know you to drink."

"I never have," she replied.

Liao thought about it for a few moments and relented figuring that if she drank enough, it would help her sleep better. He lifted the jar towards her. She sat her food down, took the jar in hand and put the jar to her lips. With a slight tilt of her head, she tipped the jar up and the liquid slowly descended into her mouth. It was sweeter than she imagined. She swallowed and took another gulp, this time bigger than the last.

"Careful with that. It may taste sweet but it is stronger than you think."

She nodded but she took three more large gulps before and handing the jar back to Liao. She ran her tongue over her lips to lap up the excess liquid. Her eyes flickered to Liao who to her surprise had been watching her. He avoided her eyes once he realized she had been watching him and took another drink.

Silence filled the area around them. Once again there was so much Lingqi wanted to ask but she couldn't bring herself to speak the words. There was an odd warmth beginning to spread through her body and she suddenly felt sleepy. She made her way over to Jia's bed and laid down. Her body felt as if it had been pressed down by an invisible weight and she couldn't get up again even if she wanted to. The fatigue of the day had finally taken its toll. Her mind began to feel fuzzy but she didn't want to sleep just yet. Liao watched in silence as she struggled to fight off sleep.

"Wényuǎn...I can't call you that anymore, right? I have to call you lord husband now..." she mumbled in a thick voice.

"You can call me whatever you wish."

"I want to call you husband. I want you to be my...husband..."

Liao's eyes widened slightly by this sudden deceleration but he did not respond. Lingqi didn't seem to notice. She just continued on.

"Do you think...my father...ever loved me?"

"I don't know," Liao replied honestly. Lingqi gave a soft laugh to his response.

"Me either...do you...love me...lord..." she let out a loud yawn before finishing her sentence. "husband."

Liao sighed. He had no idea she was such a light weight. He had to be sure she didn't get any alcohol in the future.

"Rest now, Lingqi. We'll speak in the morning."

"Okay...I...I love..." her words trailed off and were replaced by soft snores.

Liao set the wine jar aside and watched as her body rise and fall slowly. She was in a deep sleep now. He stood and adjusted one of the furs on top her then cleaned up the food she had left out. Once done, he went back to his spot on the ground and watched her in silence. Being in a foreign environment, It took a while before his body would relax long enough for sleep to come to him. He thought about the question she asked him before. 'Do you love me?' he could hear her ask him.

"Yes, Lingqi...I do..." he whispered before closing his eyes and allowed the familiar tug of sleep to pull him away.

=#=

Liu Bei stared up at the ceiling of his tent. He had been awake for hours now and sleep did not seem to be on the horizon. He could feel the warmth of Diaochan's body beside him but he did not reach for her. They didn't speak when he returned to their tent. Her eyes were red and her face puffy from crying, but he did not console her. He did not care to. The hurt he felt was far greater than her own.

He got up from the bed quietly as to not wake her and dressed. He grabbed a gourd he had filled with wine and headed outside of his tent. He shivered once the cold air hit him. It was a cold night.

Bei mounted his horse and set off in a gallop towards Xiapi.

He arrived in short time and it was easy to find the man he had been looking for. The guards were alert the moment he approached but eased once they saw who he was.

"I need to speak with him."

They looked uncertainly at each other.

"I know you have orders from Lord Cao, but please, I ask that you let me speak to him."

Both men stared at Bei and each other once more before standing aside and letting Bei get through. Bu seemed to be asleep. How he managed to do so with the cold nipping at his skin was beyond Bei. His body was a like a macabre piece of living art. His hair was disheveled, several strands no longer confined by its tie; his face decorated with splotches of dark purple, a broken nose and a busted lip; patches of flesh missing from all over his body with trails of dried blood coating his skin. At this moment, he hardly looked like the warriors whose name struck fear into the hearts of men. Bei undid the gag over his mouth. He needed Bu to be able to speak.

" Fèngxiān," Bei said in a loud clear tone.

Bu stirred at the sound of his name and looked weakly over to the man who had called him. Upon seeing Bei's face he sneered.

"Come to laugh weakling?" He said in a gravely tone that didn't quite have the bark it would have a day ago.

"I have come to speak. I brought you a drink," Bei said as he held up the gourd to show that what he said was true.

"I want nothing from you maggot."

"Very well," Bei replied as he lowered his arm. Let us just speak then. I need to know...why? Why did you violate my wife? Why did you betray me in the first place? I opened my home to you...to your family. So why? I do not understand."

"Because you are weak," Bu replied immediately.

"Because I am weak?" Bei replied, confused.

"You are a weak and pitiful man. You couldn't even take back what was yours without running to another for help."

"And my wife? What did she do to you to deserve such vile treatment?"

"Vile? Ha! She liked it. Trust me. The moans she let out. I can still hear them. I bet she never made such noises with you."

Bei balled his fist. He was beginning to see red.

"Do you really want to know why she killed herself? She heard you were coming back and she was afraid she would have to go back to being your wife. How unsatisfied she must have felt with you to think death would be a better option," Bu said. He barked out a loud laugh and Bei fully snapped.

He drew one of his swords, fully prepared to run Bu through.

"That's right, do it. For once in your life be something other than the pitiful insect that you are!" Bu goaded.

Bei was breathing heavily. His teeth ground together as he stared at Bu with hate filled eyes.

"What are you waiting for maggot!? Don't tell me you are too pathetic to do even this? I am tied up, I cannot fight back. This is the only way you can beat me!"

Bei closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. He sheathed his sword and turned his back to Bu.

"I know what you are trying to do. You want me to release you from your suffering. It would be much easier than what you are going through right now. I will not grant you such an easy escape," Bei replied.

He turned his back to Bu and walked away ignoring the slew of curses Bei hurled at his back.

"Be sure to gag him again," Bei said as he passed by the guards.

They saluted him in response and watch him ride off back towards his camp.

=#=

Diaochan sat up in bed the minute Bei had left. She hadn't been asleep and felt him tossing and turning beside her. She did not know where Bei had gone and she didn't care. What she did care about was the fact that when Bei returned from Bu's public torture, he hadn't spoken a word to her. He didn't ask about her wellbeing nor did he comment on how rough his brother had been with her. He completely ignored her as if she no longer existed. He was going through a tough time, she knew this, but did that mean she was no longer of any import?

Diaochan waited for a few moments. Bei hadn't returned. It was time for her to make her move. This was the best chance she had to break free of Bei. After what happened earlier, she knew her time with him was at an end.

Diaochan gather up her belongings and slipped out of the tent. Besides a few guards patrolling, there wasn't anyone around. She could easily slip past them. Diaochan tip-toed in the darkness through the camp. Her destination towards the Wei camp. She won't be denied this time.

Diaochan practiced what she would say to Cao Cao in her head. She would plead for him to protect her. That vile woman Zhuyue might be a problem as well as that brat Lingqi, but Diaochan was confident that if she had enough time with Cao, she would be able to turn him against them. It worked before. If it didn't and Zhuyue and Lingqi proved to be too much of a problem, she would leave and find someone else to take care of her.

She made it inside of the Wei camp. She was stopped by guards but once she explained who she was there to see and showed a considerable amount of cleavage, the guards let her past. They even gave her directions towards Cao's tent. Men were so easy to manipulate and Cao would prove no different.

Diaochan made her way through the camp. She rehearsed her lines in her head once more, ready to perform. She stopped in front of the large tent the guards had described and found it guarded by a man three times her size. He tilted his head curiously as he looked at Diaochan.

"This handmaiden bids you greetings good master. I wish to see Lord Cao," she said while bowing low, making sure to show her cleavage just as she had to the other guards.

Xu Chu's eyes followed her movement, his mouth dropped open in astonishment. He nodded quickly and disappeared inside of Cao Cao's tent.

Chu emerged a few moments later and cast one final glance at Diaochan before hurrying away. A few moments later, a grumpy Cao Cao emerged dressed in a simple robe and his hair untied, hanging long and loose about his head.

"It is unbecoming of a woman to visit a man in the dead of night," he said in gruff tone.

"I know, my lord. This handmaiden is foolish and I apologize for tarnishing your good name but I am in desperate need."

Cao let out a loud yawn before speaking once more. "You need to worry about your own reputation rather than mine."

"My need is so great I had to take the risk," Diaochan replied as she dabbed the corner of her eyes with her sleeves.

"That so? Then tell me, what great need do you have that you choose to wake me in the middle of the night?"

"Please my lord, can we speak inside? I fear being seen."

"And I fear letting the woman of another man inside of my tent. For all I know you were sent here to kill me. Speak your business woman or be gone from my sight."

Diaochan swallowed hard. This might not have been such a good idea. Still, she had come this far. She couldn't be deterred.

"I mean you no harm. In fact it is from that man I seek protection. You saw what happened to me earlier. Lord Liu Bei has no love for me. He allows his brothers to beat me. I am abused and mistreated. Such a noble lord as yourself surely can see the wrong in that?"

"I saw that you foolishly spoke out and was silenced because of it."

Diaochan gasped.

"Truly you couldn't believe that was just!"

She was crying now. Real tears. She saw her plan falling apart right in front of her and feeling powerless to do anything to stop it, she could do nothing but cry.

"For the likes of you, I do. How much misfortune have you brought to the men you were involved with? First Dong Zhou, then Lu Bu and now Liu Bei. Calamity seems to come to all who partake of you and I want nothing to do with it. My ambition will not fail because of a woman."

"But-" Diaochan begin, her face wet with tears and her voice pleading. Cao cut her off, considering the conversation done.

" Zhòngkāng!"

The large man that was guarding the tent came running at his master's call. Diaochan had no idea where he came from but he had to have been close by to get there so quickly.

"Yes, Lord Cao Cao?"

"Escort this woman from our camp. Make sure the guards know she is not allowed in here again and do not wake me up for anything short of an attack on our camp. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Lord Cao Cao!" Chu replied merrily as he began to escort Diaochan from in front of the tent.

"But my lord! Please reconsider!" Diaochan pleaded. Cao paid no heed to her. He turned his back to her and headed back inside of his tent to get much needed rest.

Chu tried to gently pull her away but when she struggled against him, he resorted to picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. Diaochan beat her fist against Chu's back but he didn't even seem to feel it. He hummed a tune as he happily marched through the camp right to its entrance. Once there he put a sobbing Diaochan down.

"Now, Lord Cao Cao said you are no longer allowed to come in. You seem like a pretty lady but I gotta listen to my master so don't come back okay?"

Diaochan's responsed with loud sobs. Chu looked at her with pity but he knew there was nothing he could do. His lord's word was law.

"Lord Cao Cao said to not let her back in, okay?"

The guards saluted Chu and crossed their spears to bar further entrance. Chu casts one final glance to the sobbing Diaochan before heading back to his post.

Diaochan felt crushed. Her plan was a failure. Cao Cao didn't even give her a chance to plead her case. She brings calamity? Never in her life had she been so insulted. What was left for her now? She had to go back to Liu Bei? That wasn't a situation that could last for long. She needed to find another solution.

She wiped her tears and held her head up high. This wasn't the end. She would find another to suit her needs. Cao wasn't the only man she could go to. She took a deep breath to try and strengthen her resolved and headed back towards Liu Bei's camp.

"Diaochan."

She paused in her steps upon hearing her name. She knew that voice and it made her blood run cold. Diaochan couldn't explain why but she knew that there was nothing good that was going to come from this encounter. She wasn't that far from the camp. Perhaps she should run back to her and Bei's tent? To relative safety?

"Don't bother running."

It was as if he read her mind. Diaochan felt frozen in place. She wanted nothing more than to run but fear stripped away all control.

"I saw you. I followed you. I know what you tried to do. After everything my brother had done for you."

Guan Yu emerged from the shadows to face Diaochan. His face was set in a grim frown. Diaochan's eyes flickered to the guandao he had clutched in his hand.

"I-I don't know what you mean," she replied softly. Even to her it didn't sound convincing.

"There is no point in lying. Like I said. I saw you. I followed you. You intended on betraying him. I knew. I knew from the beginning that you were not good for my brother. I will not allow you to bring him down any longer. He will be better off without you."

"W-wait! No! You are wrong! I love-"

Diaochan was cut by the swift wipe of Yu's guandao. Diochan didn't even get to process what happened before her head was severed from her body. Both pieces of her body crumpled to the ground with a thud. Guan Yu looked at her fallen form with a grim countenance. It was for the greater good. He knew that without her poisoning influence, Liu Bei would be a better man. Should his brother ever find out what he had done here, he hoped that he would find it in his heart to forgive him.

=#=

Morning came and the people began to crowd the center of the city for the continuation of Lu Bu's punishment. Cao arrived late, grumpy at being interrupted in the middle of the night by Diaochan. He debated on whether he should tell Liu Bei. It would be a perfect time to kick him while he was down but he decided against it. He didn't like the man but he truly did feel sorry for the hardships he recently endured.

"You look like shit," Dun commented once Cao made his way to his seat.

"I had an interesting night," Cao replied.

Dun tilted his head thoughtfully as he looked at his cousin but said no more. He knew he would tell him about it later.

The torturer bowed before Cao and Bei.

"I am ready to continue when you are my lords."

Cao nodded his head.

"I am not in the mood to draw this out and there is not much his body could take after the one thousand cuts and a day of starvation. Castrate him, then cut off his penis, remove his limbs and finish it off by beheading him."

The torturer saluted him and went off to prepare for his gruesome task.

A fire was started and a sword was set in the middle of it. This would be used to staunch the bleeding. They did not want Bu to die before he was beheaded. Certain that the metal had been heated enough, he began his work. He took hold of Bu's testicles and pulled them down to stretch out enough skin for him to cut. Bu cried in protest against his gag but the torturer paid him no mind. He took his knife and began to saw at the stretched skin.

Bu began to bang his head against the post in an effort to knock himself out. Cao ordered guards to tie his head. They rushed to Bu's side as the torturer continued his task and held Bu's head still while another soldier tied a rope around it. Secured they released their hold on his head and at the same time, the last bit of flesh attaching his testicles to his body was severed.

Quickly the torturer stepped back and his assistant took the heated blade and put it against the bloodied wound. Bu cried out in pain as the hot metal made a sizzling sound as fused the wound closed. By the time it was done, Bu looked haggard. It was just as Cao said. Even a man as mighty as Lu Bu would eventually break.

The torturer waited ceased his actions, pausing to give Bu a chance to somewhat recover. Once his breathing evened out, he went to work again, this time taking hold of his penis in his hands. Bu didn't have the energy to try to thrash this time and could do nothing but accept what was coming to him. Like before, the man pulled as hard as he could and cut at the base. The torturer made slow sawing motions as he cut into Bu's skin, severing his penis from his body.

Bu came alive once more as the pain began. He cried against his gag as his penis was slowly severed from his body. He tried to think of other things but he couldn't. He wanted to do something, anything to end this suffering. He tried to bit his tongue but the gag prevented him from doing so. He tried to move his head once more but it was secured too tightly. His legs and arms were firmly secured. There was no escaped from this hell. He could do nothing but endure.

The torturer held up the severed member to Cao Cao as if he were a cat showing his catch to its master. Cao waved it away, not wanting to see the ghastly sight so clearly. As before, the assistant put the heated metal against the profusely bleeding wound to staunch it.

There was another pause. Lu Bu wouldn't last much longer. He knew it and everyone else watching him knew it. The smell of burning flesh permeated the air. Many of the people in attendance had to cover their noses from the smell. The ones that didn't get to do so in time found themselves gagging.

Bu's legs were removed next. To his luck, it wasn't the same slow process as his genitals. An axe was taken to his limbs and it was severed after a few swings. Like before, the wounds were staunched by a hot blade. Bu was barely able to remain conscious at this point. The only solace he had was that it would be over soon.

There was another brief pause. He hated these paused. He wished they would just get it over with but knew they did it to prolong the punishment. During these pauses his mind wandered. It was as if were trying to take him someplace else to forget the pain he was currently enduring. The problem was, the place his mind was taking him was into his past. It was something he did not want to think about. He thought of his wife. Her dead body appeared before his mind's eye. He felt a pang of regret. He regretted that he did not protect her well enough. It was because of his laxness that he lost the only link to his legacy.

Legacy. At the thought of his legacy Lingqi's face appeared in his mind. He remembered being disappointed when she was first born. If she was his second or third child, perhaps things would have been different but she was the first and his only. A woman could not carry on his legacy. She could not carry on the Bu name. She as a disappointment as a warrior and a failure as a daughter. She couldn't even be used to secure an alliance. And that bastard Zhang Liao. He trusted him with his daughter and he goes behind his back to take her for himself after joining the enemy? Damn them. Damn them both!

Lu Bu's thoughts were interrupted when he felt a blinding pain in his arm. The break was over. Thwack, thwack, thwack. Each swing sent shocking waves of pain through his body. He tried to endure but it was getting so hard to do so now. He wanted to die. He just wanted to die. The shocking pain was replaced by a burning one. He could smell his own flesh as his skin was forcibly fused together. It was nauseating.

"Damn you Liu Bei. Damn you Cao Cao. Damn you Zhang Liao. Damn you Chen Gong. Damn you Lingqi. Damn you all!" Bu screamed into his gag. But all that could be heard were muffled cries which were unintelligible to everyone but him.

Another break. More thoughts. His numerous battles replayed in his head. He was untouchable in battle. Men shat their pants at the mere mention of his name. When he rode out to battle atop Red Mare, men fled from his path. He was the strongest warrior in the world. How could it come to this? How could he, a god among men lose against mere insects? The break seemed to last longer than the others or perhaps it didn't but it just felt like it did. He couldn't tell. He no longer had a good perception of time. Why won't this end? All this for the honor of Liu Bei's wife? Who was she but another woman? She wasn't special. Even Liu Bei forgot about her once he got around Diaochan, now he pretends to be so wounded over her loss?

Diaochan...her smiling face appeared in his mind. So beautiful. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He would have done anything for that woman. He would have made her his wife in time but she betrayed him. She thought she could make decisions behind his back. She was already the one who held his heart but her jealousy led her to make stupid decisions. She tried to kill his daughter. Failure she might be, she was his flesh. Only he could say whether she lives or dies.

His thoughts went back to Lingqi. Idiot girl. Always trying to impress him. Part of him thinks it would have been better if she was just a normal girl. She would have been more useful that way. It didn't matter anymore. None of them mattered anymore.

More pain. This was the final limb. Finally, it would be over soon. Thwack, thwack thwack, thwack. Damn it couldn't he cut faster? Why did it seem like he was cutting so slowly? Was it always this slow? He wanted this to be over. Please hurry up and let this be over. More burning pain. The smell of sizzling flesh in his nose. It was almost over. Almost over.

Diaochan...so beautiful. He wished he killed her when he had the chance. It would have been better than letting Liu Bei have her. Had he done so, he wouldn't have touched Bei's wife. He was sure of it. His love for Diaochan stayed his hand. Bu regretted that now. He should have killed her. He should have moved his wife to someplace else. Then maybe his child could have been safely born. He regretted not seeing the threat to her sooner. So many regrets. A man as great as he should not have so many regrets. He was the greatest warrior in the world. He should have no regrets but he felt as if he had so many.

Cao Cao was speaking. Listing out his crimes before the final blow. The bastard. Drawing it out again. Asshole just likes hearing himself talk. Pathetic worm. If things were different it would be his head getting cut off. He should never have listened to Chen Gong. He should have trusted in his might and his might alone. So many damn regrets.

The torturer approached Bu. Cao had finally stopped speaking. Finally this could end. To his surprise, his gag was removed. What is this?

"Lu Fèngxiān, have you anything to say for yourself? Any remorse for your crimes before we send you off to your ancestors."

Bu gave Cao a weak smirk. He mustered up the last of his energy to say what he knew would be his final words.

"Regrets? Ha! Don't make me laugh. I..I am Lu Fèngxiān. I am a god among men. I am the strongest warrior in the world! It is only because of fools that I am at your mercy today. I spit on you. I spit on all you insects. Might is all that matters in this world. You fools were too weak to see it. I spit on you. All of you! Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Chen Gong, Lingqi, Wang Yun, Zhang Liao, Diaochan, Chen Gui. I spit on all of you cowards! Damn you a-"

His words were cut off by the swing of an axe to his throat at Cao's command. Bu's head rolled to the ground, his eyes bulging in surprise and his mouth still open in mid speech.

"His final words and he chooses to waste them. Good riddance to such a foul beast. See that his head sits on the gate with the rest," said Cao.

His soldiers nodded and began the gory task of cleaning up the site. They had quite the task ahead of them. The ground around the stake Bu was attached to was saturated with blood. Limbs were strewn about as well as his genitals. Though cleaning up all the pieces of flesh discarded from the thousand cuts was daunting, this looked to be the more difficult task.

The crowd began to disperse, a mixture of feelings flowing through them from what they had just seen and heard though all of them felt as if Lu Bu got exactly what he deserved.

Bei and his sworn brothers took this as their time to leave. Even thought he saw the death of the man who hurt his family, he felt a gaping emptiness. He needed time to be alone, to process all that had just happened. He stopped in front of Cao and saluted.

"Thank you for what you have done. I know we need to...discuss what will happen to Xu Province but I ask that you give me some time. There are many things I need to come to terms with."

"As you wish. We need not discuss it until we are back in Xuchang."

" Xuchang?" Bei asked confused.

"That's right. One of my concubines is with child. I have been away from her long enough. I do not wish to tarry any longer than I already have."

Bei felt a twisting pain in his heart at the word child. It reminded him of what he had lost.

"I...understand. What will happen to Xu province in the meantime?"

"I will appoint an interim ruler. You needn't worry."

Bei read between the lines of that comment. You needn't worry because it is no longer under your control. The meeting we will have about Xu province will only be me formerly telling you that I am taking it as the fee for saving you. There was nothing Bei could do. He owed much to Cao, this he knew. He could only nod his head in agreement to his words.

With his head hung low, Bei saluted Cao and left Xiapi, his sworn brothers at his side.