Chapter 22: Wu's New Rising Dragon General

General Zhou had become a different person, a different being. The Yoma blood flowing in the tall, shy, quiet man's veins was only one of the many changes he had experienced. In truth, his soldier's life had spiralled out of control ever since Cynthia irrupted into it. Over the past year, he gradually grew accustomed to her clandestine, secretive meetings. He simply treated it like the days when she would stay in his tent to avoid the stares of his men. Their desperate craving could be satiated only when they were locked in secretive, arduous embrace. They left nothing of each other unexplored, to the point they knew their sweetheart far better than they knew themselves. But there was more, so much more.

The entire Wu encampment had become their playground. They pushed the boundaries of their propriety further and further, in the armoury, outside his tent in broad daylight, or in the rain beside the extinguished campfire, their bodies soaked in each other's love and the pattering raindrops. And when they did not spend time there, they met beyond the barracks, near the river. They played by the creeks and the bays, and bathed together in the coves. They were limited only by their imagination, by their mischief. Even Heaven would blush.

Their desire became so feverish… that they had even made fierce love in the refectory after the troops had finished their lunch.

To think that they were supposed to report to commander Lu Xun and give their report minutes later! And when his own men eagerly came to investigate the steamy ruckus, Zhou Tai fled the premises with her as soon as the deed was done, not daring to stay a heartbeat longer.

Yes. His life had truly changed.

At first, he had not counted on her visit to the mess hall. He remained there one bright afternoon with his men, quietly finishing up his midday meal with Ling Tong and Gan Ning when she suddenly arrived. She was not wearing her Claymore uniform, but a dress typical of seafaring families in the Jiangdong region. The floral pattern that draped around her body was, in Zhou Tai's eyes, most stylish and attractive. Their gazes met, but he remained inexpressive as he sipped quietly at his congee. As usual, and to his silent annoyance, the other Wu warriors began to gawp at her. After all, she did look ravishing in a blouse. And she was of a beauty that many of his men remained virgin to.

She is mine.

"Well, it looks like the song thrush has come," quipped Ling Tong, flicking back his playboy-styled hair. "We'd best get packing."

Gan Ning snickered, picking at a lodged grain of rice in between his teeth. Rations in southern China were not particularly appetizing, but they were nourishing and filled the men's bellies. Zhou Tai personally approved of such an approach – the taste of food did not concern him even in his pre-Yoma days, and now he saw even less need to worry about the flavour of what he consumed. "It's time for us to return to patrol, anyway. Try to join us later. After all, Lu Xun does trust you."

Zhou Tai closed his eyes, swallowing the remainder of his meal. "Do not mock me."

"So sorry. We'll see ya around, Youping," Gan Ning rose from the bench, slapping the silent officer around the shoulder. The other men were also returning to their stations; their break did not last long. As soldiers began to filter out of the mess hall, Cynthia drew closer, doing her best to look unobtrusive. She smiled as Zhou Tai slowly stood from his table, watching her closely as the remnants of the Wu troops passed by her. The refectory was emptied in a matter of minutes, and only the two warriors remained by the table where the forgotten bowls and plates lay, cleansed of their congee and biscuits.

"Lunchtime…" she offered, her eyes sparkling.

He shook his head as she moved to stand before him. "We have taken far too many risks these past few months. I do not want you to get caught."

"That wasn't what you were saying when you were huffing and puffing all over me on the bench outside the Supreme Commander's tent. I didn't hear you say that when you took me by the campfire near your lieutenant's quarters. And if I remember correctly, it was you who refused to release me, until… until you had your fill of me. It was torture, trying to keep quiet for you. Have you any idea how difficult it is for me to do that?"

The muscular warrior growled and seized her, and she let out a soft whimper of surprise before meeting his obsession with her own. "I would never have done any of this if it weren't for you," he hissed in despair, kissing her ardently and pressing the back of her head against his lips. She stared at him smugly as his hand plunged into her skirt and pulled back her silk underwear. She felt slightly cruel for enjoying his anguish. She liked how he lamented his madness for falling in love with her. It imbued her with power, artificial as it was. He was a simple man, charmingly so. And with these thoughts clamouring through her mind, it was little surprise that she began to laugh when he seized her thighs and hoisted her up against the table on which he had his meal. He pushed her onto it roughly, lost in the untamed moment, and she cried out, her hands scraping wildly at the wood, her hands sweeping away the forgotten chopsticks and bowls. Crockery crashed to the ground, replaced by her tight rear. She nibbled at his neck as he carelessly loosened his fauld, stripping only where necessary, and began to mount the performance he had become so skilled at. She cuddled him close to arouse him, biting him and wetting him with tears of love, to squeeze everything he had for herself.

"Our indecency will be the end of us."

They did not disrobe. It was enough for them to consummate their passion on top of that dining table. He placed her on a pedestal, embracing her as a sacrosanct subject, and she smothered him as he devoured her from below… as they sustained their dance, she enjoyed him on the bench, on the stool, against the stand on which the cook would serve the soldiers' meals. They broke the crockery and scattered the chopsticks in their careless frenzy, their lewd clamour louder than they could have ever predicted. She marvelled at his quiet compliance, and wondered if he had ever complained of anything at all in his entire life. They made wailing love, he in his armour and she in her blouse, refusing to delay even for each other. And their selfish, crazed denial of anything else was all that could save them when footsteps outside the tent became audible. For several seconds, they paused in dread, breathing silently, not daring to moan or sigh.

Could it be? "What's that noise?" he muttered wildly, glancing around tensely even as he continued to thrust harder and faster.

"I don't hear anything," she panted, watching him intently, admiring his dark, brooding face.

His voice was as quiet as ever. "We must leave before my men find us."

"Oh, who cares," she pouted, guiding him in deeper. "What are they going to do? You're their boss. Let them watch if they want."

"Have you forgotten our audience with the Supreme Commander, too?" Refusing to listen, he smoothly lifted her off the bench, reluctantly leaving the warmth of her welcoming body. He quickly pulled up his undergarments before adjusting and tightening his fauld. "Hurry."

His blistered, weathered hands gently adjusted her dress to a less suspicious symmetry, and she could not help laughing at his nervousness. "I like it when you're flustered." He looked into her eyes and smiled, too.

She has made me her toy.

He took her hand and quickly strode out of the refectory's back exit, and she giggled. "Oh… you forgot to clean up our mess, Tai."

*

Lu Xun's bright and intelligent eyes pored over a map of southern China as a flushed Cynthia and Zhou Tai stood at attention. For him to call such an abrupt audience… there must have been something he wanted to notify them of personally. The two lovers certainly hoped that it was not for disrupting order in the barracks. Or did he somehow find out about their quickie in the mess hall?

She scolded herself to be silent. She would never forgive herself if she embarrassed Tai before his superiors.

"Master Zhou," said the scholar-general at last, raising his gaze from the table. "I have very good news for you. For your recent feats in defeating the Awakened Beings ravaging China, I've decided to promote you our Kingdom's penultimate naval rank, second only to Supreme Admiral." He smiled. "I hope you'll get used to being called Cavalier Admiral, now. Of course, on behalf of our King, I must apologize for this hasty arrangement. With Shu's impending invasion, we cannot afford to waste time preparing for anything else."

Composed and calm as ever, Zhou Tai bowed his head. "I am unworthy of such goodwill," he said simply, his voice filled with honour.

From a pirate's family to an admiral in the Wu Navy…

Cynthia felt herself sigh with relief. So Lu Xun wasn't here to punish them! "Congratulations, Master Zhou!" she said eagerly, doing her best to maintain military decorum.

"I'm not finished, Lady Cynthia," chided Lu Xun. "I've also been reflecting on your contributions to the Wu Kingdom, and I've decided that you've proved yourself to be an invaluable ally for our current struggle. As a commendation for your services thus far, I'm promoting you to the position of Rising Dragon General so that you can serve the new Cavalier Admiral in an officer's higher capacity."

A shocked silence at the bombshell impregnated the air.

She almost screamed in denial. "Me, a commanding position?" she cried almost instinctively. "I cannot possibly do that satisfactorily!"

"And why not?" countered Lu Xun.

She began to stutter. "Well, I – I'm not fit to lead! I'm just a soldier, an emissary from the Continent. I have no experience in leading troops, and I'm surprised how you could even compare me to Lord Zhou."

"And yet you saved his life at Chi Bi, and then his humanity at He Fei. I was not there at the Red Cliffs, but you and another silver-eyed woman managed to fight off the first wave of Yoma that attacked our fleet, yes? Zhou Tai told me that you risked your own life to swim to shore while dragging his broken body. It was because of you that he didn't destroy our army at He Fei Castle. In many ways, his success was due to you, and his promotion… no, that he still stands before us today as a human being… is thanks to your efforts. Furthermore, you've recently helped us to counter the threat of Luciela at Fan Castle." He gave an incredulous smile. "You don't think that's enough for promotion? I never expected you to come this far with us."

Cynthia shut up, taken aback. The reasoning was formidable, but still… She looked desperately at Zhou Tai for some support. But to her horror, he was smiling… only just slightly. But it was obvious that he was in agreement with his commander. "Tai," she mumbled, blushing.

No way!

"It may be true that he is far stronger than you," conceded Lu Xun. "After all, the amalgamation of his natural strength and his sword Duskstrike, as well as the Yoki blood flowing through his veins, has made him a specimen of near perfection. But he knows – and it's not hard for me to work out – that he draws his strength from you. In other words, he grows stronger by the day because you are willing to stay with him." He smiled. "I wonder if the potency that you impart to him is one that should be feared even more." He clapped his hands together. "It's settled, then. You are now in an officer's capacity. You will serve under the Cavalier Admiral, given your already close relationship with each other. Furthermore, you'll report directly to Master Zhou and myself. You will have your personalized seal of authority, and you'll have the right to punish those who don't obey when they should."

Eyes wide, the former Number Fourteen looked up at the quiet Zhou Tai. "Congratulations, Lady Cynthia… no. General Cynthia," was all he murmured, his eyes shining with a secretive affection.

Had he been expecting this all along?

Lu Xun gave a brief bow. "Then let us not waste anymore time," he said gravely. "Reports from my spies assert that the Shu armies are gathering to strike into the heartland of Wu, towards Xiaoting. Our survival depends on resisting their initial onslaught before repulsing their offensive task force and preventing their entry into Jianye. The two of you will help me finalize our preparations for this strategy of mine." He raised his hand. "Cynthia, I hereby entrust to you command of our Cloud Division's men.

"All ten thousand of them."

She still could not believe her ears. This was too much.

"Me? Wu's new Rising Dragon General?"

*

Letting his long hair flow past his shoulderplates, Zhou Tai wiped at his black helm with a wet cloth, hiding his smile at Cynthia's agitated expression while she paced about restlessly in his tent. "Why didn't you object?" came her distressed but somewhat flattered voice. "I'm not good enough to be a leader. I'm…" she shuffled her feet uncomfortably. "I'm just a soldier under your command."

No longer, he thought proudly, his heart jumping in jubilance. It had been a good day indeed. They had escaped the prospect of a military scandal, and his beloved was now a Rising Dragon General. He was about to offer more words of encouragement when the large flap to his quarters suddenly opened.

"General Zhou," came Jean's hard, disciplined voice. She saluted as she stepped in, clad in grey and silver. "We've been given orders to depart for Xiaoting. I trust Commander Lu's notified you of his plans for a protracted defence? We shall be departing soon. Please ready yourselves."

The stoic warrior set aside his head armour and glanced up, meeting her eyes. "Will you be well?" he suddenly asked.

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Surely a warrior of your standing also has friends who are now serving Shu?"

Jean hesitated. "Given how thinly dispersed our forces are, I believe so."

Zhou Tai shared a cheerless glance with Cynthia before making a further observation. "I remember but one: she whose hair was long and curly, and her eyes a most striking chrome. Her name was Flora. I only hope that we can convince her and her compatriots to ally themselves with us before…"

Jean nodded grimly. "I'm certainly not spoiling for a fight with my own comrades. If I learnt anything from our skirmish at Fancheng, Luciela's still dangerously free, and perhaps even gathering a new force to attack us. But In the most desperate of times, humans still find excuses to kill each other instead." Her face was troubled as she turned her back on him and left the tent.

"Clare…"

*

Screeching birds scattered beyond the river, their extended shadows casting a premature shade along the curling waves of the serene waters. On a high plateau overlooking China's picturesque southern countryside congregated the Shu Kingdom's most accomplished officers, gathering to summon their most ambitious expedition thus far. Flanked by Lance Marshal Flora and Plains General Miria, Grand General Yue Ying sat on her steed in silence. Zhuge Liang remained near his wife, his visage calm and introspective. Ma Chao the Splendid and veteran commander Huang Zhong stood side-by-side, awaiting their King's orders. Clutching his warclub, the grotesquely armoured, crocodilian Wei Yan ground his teeth keenly, impatient for battle. And as he tapped his boot impatiently, a low rumbling began to rise in volume, until it gradually became deafening. It was the thundering of an approaching host's metal greaves. The General of Tiger's Might, Zhao Yun, was completely still as he held the reins of Lord Liu Bei's horse. "Is it time, my liege?" asked the young warrior.

Staring at the setting sun, the self-proclaimed heir to the Han shielded his eyes with the edge of his hand. "Yes," he confirmed quietly. "Begin deployment."

Below the plateau on which the officers waited, the forests and river began to rustle. Flags were suddenly visible, flapping along with the leaves of the looming branches of the trees. From the clearings marched legion upon legion of emerald soldiers. A sea of grim eyes and pursed lips melded with the woodlands. The earth shook with the pressure of forty thousand boots and greaves. Banners stretched up to the translucent sky, accompanied by a sea of spears and glaives. Every offensive unit had been summoned for this grand expedition. They assembled in rank file: the White Riders, phalanx spearmen, the lancers, followed by the magicians, alchemists, and a new battalion that followed the alchemists' lead: the Crescent Wardens. Garbed in snowy white and silver, they were hooded and veiled with a birdlike mask, their identities jealously kept secret. Attached to their arms were the feared weapons of Yue Ying's blade bow project, the prototypes of Jade Moon. The expeditionary army's crème de la crème gathered around the hills, prepared to strike into the heartland of Jiangdong.

As one, they genuflected before the generals, the collective reverberation of armour shattering the brief afternoon calm. "Lady Huang," said Liu Bei quietly, "I hereby authorize you to unleash the new arsenal you developed alongside Jade Moon. I'll hand over to you and your husband full command of this offensive."

"Yes, my Lord," she assented. She glanced at Zhuge Liang, and although he also nodded, his eyes told a different story.

"It seems that in the heat of the moment… they have all forgotten about the Yoma," commented Flora quietly, staring out at the growing army. She stole a forlorn glance at Zhao Yun. "Even Master Zilong…"

Do you not think something is wrong, noble warrior?

"Let him be," muttered Miria. "We'll talk some sense into these guys when the formalities are over and done with." Clare, Helen and Deneve remained silent. What were they supposed to do? What use was it to talk 'sense' anymore? Liu Bei did not seem interested in the least, and Zhao Yun and Yue Ying could do nothing except follow the orders of their sacred duty. For now, they were incapable of reversing anything. And Miria understood their frustration. She hated this position of powerlessness, too.

The King of Shu turned back to his army. His lips parted in oratory, in a salutatory of blessing. "My sworn brothers followed me from the very beginning of my military career," he declared. "They were the paragon of faithful warriors, unsurpassed in their accomplishments and in their morality. Yunchang's enemies admired and envied his devotion to my cause… even Cao Cao was humbled by his loyalty to me. And I will never forget the bond that Yide shared with the people… my people. His murder still staggers my imagination. But I shall always remember them. They will never leave my heart. And we will avenge them no matter what the cost." He raised his eyes, looking down at the vast armada that had assembled in his name.

"With this act, I hereby declare war on Sun Quan."

He thrust up his dual swords, Strength and Virtue. "We march and ride," he proclaimed, "to the southeastern heartland!" His officers lifted their weapons, and Flora and Yue Ying followed reluctantly. "Raise your voices! In the name of justice, fight with me!" he entreated. His arms trembled with savage triumph. "Forward! Onward to victory! Leave nothing of East Wu standing!"

The troops bellowed their conviction, and the sky shook with their fury. In the distance, the Stone Sentinels raised their mammoth forms from the forest canopies, preparing to march as well. Their gemstone eyes reflected the glow of the afternoon sun, the crimson, bloody star.

The cosmos would now tremble with a King's grief.

"Commence the eastern expedition!!"