Ch. 3

Zhen Ji was still in her daydreaming state as she continued following Zhang He to Yuan Shao's camp. She was looking at the ground most of the time, watching as the ground moved below her as she took each step with caution. She watched as her dress gently moved back and forth with each passing step, but she never paid attention to any of this. The only way that she knew she was still with Zhang He was the sound of his steps.

She watched the pictures of past times fly by her eyes, yet she was still attentive of what was going on in the real world. She looked up after a while to see the elegant young man that was in front of her, not realizing how long she knew him. She remembered what he was like when he was younger, but what he was today…was different. He looked sadder than his normal chipper self did. She wondered if he would make it all right when they got there.

"There you are Zhang He. What do you think your doing betraying me like this?" Yuan Shao was on his horse, trotting toward the main camp. He must have been willing to give up when he heard of them defecting. She cringed as he stopped in front of Zhang He, putting his sword up to his neck.

"How could you betray me? I thought that you loved me and that you would always be here for me…what ever happened to you?" Yuan Shao questioned him. Zhang He said nothing. He gently slid his claws against the sword that was threatening his life.

"Lord Yuan Shao…I did love you…until I found out the truth…the truth that you were only intending on using me for your own pleasure! In addition, for disgracing my beauty so, I will put you to death for the wrong that you have committed…"Zhang He suddenly jumped back and then leapt into the air He straightened his body and put his arms together, his peacock talons colliding forming a type of drill. He flew at Yuan Shao to get him off of his horse.

"That won't work." Yuan Shao said as he jumped off of his horse, causing Zhang he to fall gracefully to the ground, landing on two feet like a cat would. "If you want to kill me, then I won't give up without a fight." With that Yuan Shao charged at his enemy with rage being felt in the tip of his sword.

Zhang He quickly dodged and countered with a swirling slash from behind, successfully hitting Yuan Shao squarely in the back. He fell with a small and wimpy cry. He clumsily got back up, putting his sword into a defensive position.

"I won't let you win. Not after what you put me through!" Zhang He cried as he ran up to his former leader, aiming his claws. He slammed them down on top of the guarding sword, causing them to go into a deadlock. Spark flew as the two put all of their strength into their attacks. Eventually, Yuan Shao gave out and ducked before Zhang He could rip into him with those menacing claws that earned him the name of the Peacock General.

Zhang He fell forward, but quickly caught himself with a front flip, landing gracefully behind his sworn enemy. He quickly turned to face his opponent and hesitated, waiting to let him get up. Yuan Shao did just that and again placed his sword in a defensive position.

"Zhang He, be careful. You never know what tricks this noble-ass may have up his sleeve." Zhen Ji blurted out from the sidelines. Zhang He seemed to be ignoring her, but he had heard every word she said, but decided on focusing on his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to attack his weak spot. They stood there silently as they waited for one another to attack. It seemed like fifteen minutes before they both leapt at each other furiously. They collided and a blinding light followed.

Zhen Ji squinted, protecting her eyes from being blinded. Her eyes slowly adjusted and she could see two figures sliding past each other, looking like shadows. The light dissipated and she could finally see more detail in the picture. The two combatants were looking in the opposite directions, still in their stances. Then, she saw Zhang He fall first. She ran over to him to see if he was still alive, worried about him. She gave an evil glare towards Yuan Shao, but he didn't see it because his back was still turned. Zhen Ji felt tears forming in her eyes.

"You…damn you…DAMN YOU!" She cried out in rage as she stood up. Her tears had now started to fall and she could feel them cool on her cheeks and fall off of her chin. " I hate you! I hate you for doing this to my friend! Damn you…" She continued, but was cut off by choking on her tears. She collapsed to the ground, her hands flying over her eyes. She continued to curse him without him snapping back like he normally would have. She continued to cringe at him with the utmost disrespect that she could give.

"He's not the only one who had fallen." Yuan Shao stated as he too fell to the ground. Zhen Ji was taken aback as she heard a thud sound as he hit the ground. She felt her tears stop and her strength come back. She once again stood up and stared at the murderer.

"I hope you burn in hell." She cursed as she looked back at the motionless body of Zhang He. She didn't think that he was dead…she didn't want to believe it…but she couldn't stop the truth. She kneeled down beside him and started to say a prayer, but was interrupted when she heard shifting noises. She opened her eyes and saw the Zhang He was still alive and he was struggling to get back up. She quickly put her shoulder under his arm and helped him up.

"Your…still alive?" She asked, astounded that he could have survived such a blow. "Yes…is he…"

"Yes. He's gone…but lets not worry about him right now and get you to a healer." She said, noticing his wounded chest, which was bleeding profusely. He nodded and they both turned to go back. Before they had gotten too far, they both noticed that Cao Pi was following them.

"My dear, what are you doing?" Zhen Ji asked curiously. Had she not made it clear to him that she wouldn't betray him or did he just follow them because he was concerned for her safety?

"I…" Cao Pi thought for a moment, figuring out what to say. "I only wanted to make sure that you would be all right. I didn't want you to get hurt or even killed." He lied. He felt sweat start to form on his neck as he became more nervous that she might end up finding out that he was sent to spy on them for his father.

"Oh…I see then. Will you kindly help me get him to a healer?" she stated, looking over at the now unconscious Zhang He resting on her shoulder. She had become tired of holding him and looked back at Cao Pi. "Sure." Cao Pi reluctantly agreed and took Zhang He from her so that she could have some time to rest her muscles. Then, they made their way back to Cao Cao.

Once the trio had arrived at the main camp, they immediately found a healer. He healed Zhang He and told them that he would need to rest up before they could move out and travel south to take Nanman land.

"Sima Yi, what do you think we should do? Take over the Nanman area to the south or try to fight Wu for Xia Pi?" Cao looked to his advisor for some advice. "I think Zhuge Liang will eventually try to take the Nanman territory, so it would probably be best to go and attack them first. That land is also very valuable, especially with the fertile soil there so that we may provide our men with crops. Then it will eventually turn into a useful supply depot." Sima Yi explained but noticed that Cao Cao didn't hear a word he had said. "Were you listening or did you just ask me the question to let me hear myself talk?" He looked at Cao Cao annoyed with his behavior.

"What?" Sima Yi slapped his hand on his forehead. "Why must I be serving an idiot like you?" He questioned himself.

"Oh, Sima Yi. I forgot to introduce you to our new generals that we gained during the battle against Yuan Shao." Cao Cao remembered, practically jumping out of his chair. Sima Yi looked at him and sighed, shaking his head. "Who are they?" He asked without any enthusiasm to the question. "The two most valuable officers of Yuan Shao…the beautiful Zhen Ji and the peacock General Zhang He." Cao Cao said proudly as he put his foot up on the chair he had jumped up from. Sima Yi only sighed again annoyed with his childish acts.

"Where are they now? I would like to see them in person. I've heard of them both but I never got to see them in reality." Sima Yi asked Cao Cao, now having some interest. "Well, Zhen Ji is with my son and Zhang He is resting from an injury he received from Yuan Shao himself. I was told that they had a duel and Yuan Shao was defeated." Cao Cao explained. Sima Yi put his hand to fit comfortably under his chin.

"I see. Do you really think that they will be of any use to us?" He questioned. Cao Cao thought for a moment and replied, "I think that they will. I have heard rumor that they are invincible when they are together. I guess they were also believed to be childhood friends in their past, but I really couldn't care about that right now anyway." Cao Cao turned around and exited the tent that had held the meeting on weather to attack the Nanman or attack Wu's fleet.

Sima Yi hesitated, then he got up and followed Cao Cao out of the tent. To his surprise, Cao Cao wasn't there. "He couldn't have left that quickly." Sima Yi told himself as he looked around for where Cao Cao might have been hiding. Amazingly, Cao Cao was on top of the tent ready to tackle Sima Yi. Then, he jumped just as Sima Yi moved forward, smacking the wooden deck that had been built up around the tent. Sima Yi heard a yelp and a thud as he turned to see Cao Cao dazed on the wooden base. He shook his head and sighed.

"You've really got to stop acting like a kid, my Lord." Sima Yi said as he departed to find Cao Pi. Cao Cao was left alone to his unconscious self.

Just as Sima Yi spotted Cao Pi, he heard a distant yell from a guard that guarded the outside of the castle.

"What was that?" Cao Pi walked up to Sima Yi who had his head turned to the direction of the scream. "It seems like we have visitors." Sima Yi replied. They continued to listen and they heard more screams and the sound of wood collapsing. "They must have gotten through the main gate. Cao Pi, gather your army and keep them at bay while I gather some more troops!" Sima Yi order. Cao Pi looked rather upset that someone other than his father was able to order him around, but there was nothing that he could do about it. So he ran and gathered his troops and went out to battle.

TO BE CONTINUED…TO BE CONTINUED…TO BE CONTINUED…

So, what did you think of that chapter? A little bit more action huh? Yup. The next chapter will reveal who had come to attack the Wei army. Trust me, Zhang He and Zhen Ji will appear again so you'll have to have some patience.