Liu Bei paced around nervously outside of the doorway. Inside were the eight rebel leaders and Ma Chao, whom he had run into on his way to find something to eat. He nearly panicked when he saw his fearless officer with an unconscious Yang Xing in his arms, his face pale and concerned. The other leaders looked just as pale as they rushed her into the closest room. Liu Bei had tried to see what was wrong, but they insisted on him staying outside. Every so often, he would hear Xing cry out in pain while the men did their best to calm her. Her cries had brought the other Shu officers, who were nearby, running. Now they all waited for news of the young woman.
A few moments later, Zhang Rui came outside. He had blood on his face and hands, but a smile on his face. "My apologies for that scare, my lords. The Lady Yang is fine and is awake."
"What happened?" Liu Bei asked, almost shouting. The elderly man's smile faded and he let out a heavy sigh. "Why don't we all come inside and we will explain everything. There are parts of this that even I cannot explain, but perhaps Lady Yang will be able to shed some light on it." The others nodded and followed him inside. Yang Xing was lying on her stomach on a cot with her bare back in plain sight. Man Zhu and Pang Qui were washing the blood off of her back while the others were busy cleaning things up. Ma Chao had a wet cloth and was cleaning her blood off of his arms, still looking rather pale. The Shu officers took a seat on the floor around Xing's cot. She blushed red with embarrassment but gave a head nod to acknowledge them.
"I am sorry for my disturbance," she said rather weakly. "And for frightening you."
"My lady, are you really alright?" Liu Bei asked with concern. She smiled and pointed to her back.
"I am fine now." Slowly, with help from Pang Qui and Man Zhu, she sat up and faced the Shu delegation. "Perhaps it is time I explained some things. Jiang Wei, I believe it was you who asked me about my ability to sense magic during the Yellow Turban Rebellion. I could not answer at the time. But I believe I can now." She took a deep breath and began. "I met Zhang Jiao when I was but eleven years of age. He came to the Jiang Provinces trying to spread his sect, the Way of Peace. After he left, my father became fearful that he would use magic to force the people to submit to him. We spent many moons learning magic and ways to counter it. It was a deadly game we played, but one that was necessary.
"About one year later he returned and, indeed, tried to force Jiang Si to convert. We put up a valiant fight. My mother and twin sisters escaped with many of the women and children, but I had decided to stay and fight. As I made my way through the crowd, I came upon the bodies of my brothers and found my father battling with Zhang Jiao. In an effort to help my father, I snuck up behind the magician and struck him in the back. Unfortunately, it did very little, and after he killed my father he turned and cursed me. The curse was supposed to kill me; however, an explosion nearby stopped him from finishing the curse. It left me with a giant mark on my back in the shape, oddly, of the sun. Whenever he was close, the mark would glow and begin to bleed heavily. I was lucky to meet Zhang Quan, who, despite his quiet nature, is an excellent healer. Both he and Pang Qui found ways to stop the bleeding and heal my body whenever this happened. We thought that the curse would dissipate after the death of Zhang Jiao. Now, however, I believe that it will not stop until all of the Yellow Turbans have been destroyed."
There was absolute silence in the room for a moment. Liu Bei had paled again, and even Zhuge Liang looked a little green at her explanation. Finally, Jiang Wei spoke. "Well, I am glad that we now know. I am assuming that this contact with his magic is what gave you the ability to sense it."
"In part, yes. But we all have gained the ability through intensive study of magic as well. My own ability is stronger, though, because of my curse."
Deng Liao gave her a cup of water laced with some healing herb. "But you will be glad to know, my lords," he said, "that before this incident we found a way to get rid of your phantom army. We believe that some of the essence of Zhang Jiao survived the attack and one of his followers placed it in some kind of object. If the object is destroyed, then the phantoms will disappear and the remnants of Zhang Jiao will disappear forever. The rest of his army should be easy enough to defeat after that."
A moment later, a horn sounded in the distance. Everyone rose as other horns joined in. A soldier hurried in several minutes later and bowed in the doorway. "My lords, the Yellow Turban Army has been spotted. We are lining men up by the gates should they try and penetrate it. We await your orders for battle."
"Get all the volunteers ready and arrange them into their respective companies," Zhang Rui said. "This army is aided by magic, so we must be careful. We need to find among the enemy an object, one that contains the rest of Zhang Jiao's soul and powers these phantoms. You all remember how to locate and destroy one of those, correct?" The soldier nodded and gave a slight grin. "Do not charge until the rest of the leaders meet you and give the command."
"Yes sir." He turned to Liu Bei. "Will the soldiers of Shu be joining the fight, my lord?"
Liu Bei thought a moment. "Are there regular soldiers along with the phantom men?" he asked.
The soldier nodded. "There are, sir."
"Then if it is alright with the Rebel Leaders, the Shu army would like to engage those that can be killed with normal weapons."
Pang Qui grinned and bowed to Liu Bei. "We would be honored to fight alongside the warriors of Shu again."
Ma Chao was getting impatient atop Storm Runner. Although he knew the battle would start soon enough, the time before the fighting always made him anxious. He wished for nothing more than for the gates to open and to charge out after the Yellow Turbans. Agitated, he gripped his trusty spear tighter to try and relieve some of the tension.
He was soon joined by Zhao Yun and Jiang Wei, who positioned themselves on his left. They, too, looked eager to begin. "How are you faring, Ma Chao?" Jiang Wei asked from across Zhao Yun. "You look like anything with set you off right now."
"I'm getting anxious," he grumbled. "I want this to be over with." He had barely spoken when another rider came up on his right side. All three of the men stared as Yang Xing halted her horse next to them and looked ahead at the gate. Around her, her fellow soldiers gathered in wait. "Lady Yang, what are you doing? Shouldn't you still be recovering?"
"I have a score to settle with these barbarians," she said rather sharply. She continued to stare at the gate. "If you are referring to my incident earlier, believe me when I say that I have charged into battle seconds after having an attack. I cannot let things like this slow me down. I must be strong."
None of the men seemed to have an answer for this and turned back to the gate. Soon, the sounds of another army could be heard from the other side, getting closer by the second. The soldiers around them began to murmur amongst themselves while the officers and leaders around them waited for the gates to the thrown open. As the army got closer, the soldiers above them on top of the gate began issuing reports and sightings. Finally, the soldier whom they had met earlier leaned over the edge with a grin on his face.
"Leaders of Jiang, there is a procession near the back of the army that is guarding some sort of large object. It looks like a large ritual lamp from here. I believe this is what is holding Zhang Jiao's soul."
Zhang Rui nodded and looked to Yang Xing, who raised her mace. "It is time!" she called out to the armies. "Fight with everything you have so that Jiang may finally know peace after this battle. Do not stop until Zhang Jiao's influence and lies are destroyed!" The army roared as the gates were opened and the fighting began.
There may not have been a procession with Zhang Jiao's head on a stick, but the happiness and joy that was felt was exactly the same. Those that had remained in the capital filled the streets as their heroes came home, their heads held high and their spirits even higher. As the remainder of the army entered and the gates were closed again, Zhang Rui and the other rebel leaders called out for everyone to gather around.
"Heavens, what a battle we fought today. Not only did we emerge victorious, but not a soul was lost on our part!" The streets screamed with noise and cheers at this wonderful news. "Because of this most glorious win, a celebration will be held. Tonight, there will be much feasting and dancing and revelry. And for four days after, there is to be no work done except what is necessary. My people, let us rejoice!"
Even the members of Shu were in awe of their surroundings as the people went into an uproar of excitement. They began to file out of the courtyard quickly in order to prepare for the night's festivities. Liu Bei turned to the elderly man. "Five days of feasting? Do you think that is wise, my friend?"
"These people rarely get to celebrate," he answered. "Ask Yang Xing about it. Jiang Si is her territory and most of these people fall under her rule."
"Besides," said Man Zhu, "now is not the time to worry, Lord Liu Bei. Our resources here are numerous and vast, and rest assured that you and your men will be provided for during your stay."
"Well, then what are we waiting for?" Zhang Fei exclaimed. "Let's celebrate!"