So, Cheng Du was almost finished, and the time to strike was drawing nearer. Cao Pi was torn between excitement and uncertainty. The plan was simple enough - invade, kidnap, torture, and prepare for battle. Cao Cao and Sima Yi seemed pleased enough with it. But Pi had his doubts. There were too many variables left out of the equation, too many questions that needed answers before they could proceed. And there was the spy that failed to return a few nights ago.
No one else seemed to think that this was a problem except for Pi. Wild animals, illness, and accidents could kill a man, yes. But no one seemed to remember who the man was watching. Lady Yang and Lord Man were formidable opponents. They were also experienced magicians. Xing in particular seemed to have abilities that no one else could fathom, even though he had never actually seen them. The rumors were enough…for the moment. He could not wait to storm Cheng Du and discover them for himself. There was no doubt in his mind that she would use all her tricks to thwart them.
They would still emerge victorious. Cao Pi believed that the capture of another, less protected person would encourage Xing to follow them. Her sense of loyalty to people outweighed her sense of self-preservation. She would come. The trick would be making her stay.
Despite the late hour, Pi wandered down into the garden. He needed a place to be alone, away from those who constantly demanded his attention. The garden would not only be serene, but it would also be empty. Plus, anyone who looked at him now would see obsession burning behind his eyes. He could not afford that to be visible. It would mean admitting that his father was right, that Lady Yang Xing was worth the overwhelming desire and constant torment. The prince of Wei was not so generous that he would allow people to see that she had consumed him.
It was not the same as his father's obsession. Cao Cao wanted Xing because she had tricked him as a child, and her power and influence could not remain unchecked for long. She was an enigma. Cao Pi, on the other hand, wanted to understand what it was that made her such a threat. Power meant nothing. The Sun family of Wu had power. Liu Bei and his band had power. Even creatures like Dong Zhuo had power. No, it was something else. Xing used her power to rebuild, to heal and to befriend. Such a thing was unheard of in more influential territories. Her magic made her dangerous, but not much more so than other known magicians. Both Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang possessed similar power. Yet she used her abilities for the same reasons that she exerted her power. She was attractive, but not in a way that would have drawn Pi to her the way Zhen Ji had. Xing was beautiful, but refused to compete with other women in China. Her modesty annoyed Pi. This would be easier if she was a tyrant or filled with vanity. He could find no faults in her character, and that drove him nuts.
Maybe that was the basis of his obsession. Even after the stories from his father, the history recorded in books and the rumors spreading among the peasants, he could learn nothing that would give him reason to despise her. At least then, he would have been able to get over her. Or kill her. But she was a mystery that needed to be solved. Until she was, he would have no rest.
Man Zhu grinned as he stood, watching two figures ride swiftly in his direction. Many of the other villagers had stopped with their work as well, pointing and whispering among themselves. Teng remained on the ground. His leg made it difficult for him to get up. "Who are they?" he asked, motioning towards the riders.
"My fellow leaders, I hope."
"Oh." The boy's eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and awe. Zhu chuckled. "Are they nice like you and Lady Yang?"
"Well I think so," he answered. "Shall we go and meet them?" He helped Teng stand up and managed to hitch the child onto his back. Zhu's grin widened as he recognized Zhang Rui and Pang Qui, both waving furiously at him. Within minutes, they dismounted and eagerly shook hands with their young leader. "I see that my letter made it safely to you. Or you were so bored without us that you had to come and whisk us back to Jiang Si."
Pang Qui laughed. "Perhaps it was a little of both." He turned to the boy on Zhu's back and smiled. "You must be the young man who thwarted that bastard from Wei."
"Language," Zhang Rui reminded him.
He waved it off. "I see you have a fighting wound. Good for you! Make sure to remind Lord Liu Bei when you sign up to join his army."
"I…didn't really…well…you know…fight that man," Teng stammered.
"Says who?" Qui gave the boy a wink, and he suddenly understood with a grin. "Now, I think we need to attend to the other member of the Wei-busting party. Where's Xing?"
"Over there." Rui had already spotted her further in the fields. She had her back to the party and was busy helping a few of the other women. "Xing!" he cried out. For an old man, his lungs could carry a lot of air. She turned upon hearing her name, and within seconds she had dropped her work and bounded over to them. Her smile spoke volumes. "We aren't interrupting anything, I hope."
She shrugged. "Just the last of the planting. We finished in time, so they should still have a decent harvest when it comes. I am surprised to see you here. What has Zhu been telling you?"
"Many things," Rui said. "Some good, some bad. We need to discuss some things. But first, I need to sit."
"You've been on a horse all day," Qui snorted, but he maintained his smile.
"When you reach my age, Master Pang, perhaps you will be able to tell the difference between a saddle and a real chair."
The five made their way down the dirt road towards the entrance of Cheng Du. Waiting for them at the entrance was Zhao Yun, who never missed an opportunity to keep an eye on the gate. He bowed to the leaders as they drew nearer. "Good day, Masters Zhang and Pang. We received your letter just yesterday, so we apologize if your accommodations are less than fitting."
Rui laughed. "There is no need to fret, Lord Zhao. After spending many months sleeping on straw, any accommodations you have prepared are more than enough." He surveyed the courtyard as Yun led them through the gate. "I see you all have been busy. How did repairs go?"
"Much faster with the help of Lord Man and Lady Yang," Yun answered. "But I understand that such repairs are still going on in Jiang Si."
"We move at our own pace." Yun nodded and led them into the castle itself, where two more men were waiting to greet them. "Ah, Lord Liu Bei, Lord Zhuge Liang, how wonderful to see you again." Rui bowed to them. "I apologize for such urgency, but I have heard about some of your happenings here in Cheng Du."
Liu Bei nodded. "Lord Man suggested that he invite you to come and speak with us." A troubled look fell over the leader's eyes. "He also suggested that you might be able to aid me with the nightmares I have been having recently."
Xing let out a long sigh as she leaned against the stable door. Nightwind peered over the gate at her, giving her master a curious glance. It was dark, but the moon shone through breaks in the roof. The light reflected off of the eyes of the horses around her, bringing Xing some comfort. She needed it desperately. Between her afternoon tracking a week ago and Rui's explanation of her abilities to Liu Bei, she needed a friend now more than ever.
They had known about her curse since their battle with the remnants of the Yellow Turbans. They had known about some of the magic that she possessed, both as a result of the curse and her training as a child. Now, they knew about the instincts that ran deeper through her veins. Rui had told them everything. Over the course of an hour, the room filled with Shu officers heard him recount the tale of how he had found her that day, broken and bleeding but still alive, and managed to heal her of her wounds. He explained how the curse would appear again and again, but always as a warning before the real danger struck. They learned about her inheritance of Jiang Si and how she, along with the other leaders, had worked tirelessly to bring order back to her father's territory. Then he told them of her tracking. Jiang Si had always been filled with rumors about how unwelcome guests suddenly vanished and spies sent there never returned, all because there was a witch ruling over the people there. Now the truth was out. Rui had reassured the Shu delegation that Xing was harmless unless provoked, and that she would remain true to both Shu and Jiang until they gave her a reason to do otherwise. There were no more secrets.
She felt her face flush as she recalled the conversation. Most of them seemed relieved, and surprisingly understanding. Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei had expressed interest in learning more about her magical abilities, which Rui had promised to help them with during his stay. He was more knowledgeable than she was in such matters, oddly enough. Zhang Fei and Wei Yan had asked to test her abilities, saying that they wanted to see her speed with their own eyes. Liu Bei merely wanted the whole thing to go away, fearful that his people might turn against the rebel leaders. Only one man had remained silent after Rui's speech…
"Xing?" Man Zhu's figure appeared in the doorway. "Qui has been looking for you. He and Rui want to talk to you, if that's okay."
She nodded and wordlessly got up. Xing had an idea of what they wanted to talk to her about, but with Rui, one never really knew. They made their way back to her room, where both men were already seated around the desk. Qui grinned as she shut the door behind them and sat on the bed. "I really am an idiot," he said. "We find you in stables anywhere else. Why would Shu be any different?"
"I see I've been away from you too long," she said. He laughed and leaned back in his chair. "So, Shu knows my secrets now."
Rui shook his head. "They only know what they need to know. Remember, I spoke little of your past. You asked for that much."
"I asked only that memories of my young adult years remain buried. No one needs to know about my episodes, both from the curse and from my own bodily changes."
Qui laughed again. "Boy, the teenage years do suck, don't they?"
"You should know," she shot back. "You never grew out of them."
He waved his hand at her. "Details, my dear lady. Just details."
"At any rate," Rui interrupted, "I kept those stories out. They know of your magical abilities, and I believe that everything has been set to rights. With the exception, of course, of two things: Liu Bei's nightmares and your budding romance."
"The nightmares I get, but what romance are you talking about?"
"Don't play innocent," Man Zhu said, chuckling. "Even I've noticed the way you and Ma Chao wander around the castle. Your tactics may be different from the normal, blushing bride, but you've still managed to capture his heart."
"Whoa, whoa, bride? Who said I was a bride?" She could feel herself getting defensive.
Rui laughed. "Xing, calm down. It seems clear to me that you like him. Zhu said as much in his letter, although not directly. And don't think I wasn't paying attention to the both of you while talking to the Shu delegation. He had his eyes fixed on you the whole time, and you glanced his way every few seconds. People don't do that unless there's something going on between them."
Xing felt her face turning red, although not out of anger. She knew when she was backed into a corner. But that didn't mean she was going down without a fight. "We were friends as children. We merely picked up where we left off."
"Uh huh. That's why you two are always together, why you're always talking about something just out of hearing range, and why he was the first person you went to after the incident with Teng."
"If I recall, you told someone to tell him to come see me," she shot back at Zhu.
"Because I knew he was the only one who would make you feel better."
"What about you?"
"I know you better than he does. You needed someone who wouldn't judge you."
"I can list others here who wouldn't have."
"Except that he likes you."
"No he doesn't."
"Are you stupid, Xing? Anyone with eyes could see that he likes you."
"I swear to the gods, Zhu, if you…"
"What? If I tell him you like him back, you'll hurt me?"
"Who said…"
"Enough!" Rui shouted at the pair. Qui was laughing so hard that tears formed in his eyes. Zhu was red from yelling but still bore a grin. Xing felt betrayed. "Not another word from either of you. It is my turn. Interrupt at your own peril." He checked to make sure all eyes were on him and all mouths were closed. "Good. Now, Zhu, its not right to make assumptions. Xing has had no experience with these kinds of matters. Xing, I have to give his words some credit. Based on what I have seen, both tonight and back in Jiang Si, I can see that you do have some feelings for this man. Don't argue with me. I may be old, but I'm not blind." Xing, who had begun to protest, fell silent again. "Now, answer me truthfully: do you have feelings for Man Chao?"
She thought back to her past few months in Cheng Du. Chao had been her friend before, but the more she thought about it, the more she began to see it. All the debates over horses. Rebuilding the stable. Bouts in the training yard with the other officers. His smile. His hand on her shoulder when he was making a point. The laughter in his eyes. Most of all, his embrace. She remembered feeling safe and secure despite her run-in with the Wei spy. It had been so long since she had felt like that. "I…I guess I do," she whispered.
"Score one for me!" Zhu exclaimed, slapping hands with Qui.
"Xing?" Rui reached out and put a bony hand over her own. "There is nothing wrong with feeling this way."
"I know. I just…I don't know. I had no idea."
The old man smiled at her. "Few realize when such feelings turn up. Now you know. My next question, then, is what are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know," she answered. She looked into his eyes and saw the same thoughts that were floating in her head. "You see my dilemma."
"You have a duty back home. The people of Jiang Si need you for guidance and protection. At the same time, we all want you to be happy."
"Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves?" She gave him a wry grin. "We have no idea what Chao thinks of this whole mess between us."
Qui got up from his chair and sat next to her on the bed. "That's why we're gonna stay a couple of days. You and your man can sort everything out, and then we can make our next move." He slapped her on the back. Some things never changed. "Whatever happens, Xing, remember that we stand by you. You're like a sister to us. Well, maybe more like a daughter to Rui, but no matter. Your feelings matter to us, too, you know."
"Thanks, I think." She looked up at Rui, whose eyes gave nothing away. "Now all I need to do is figure out what I'm going to say to him. You already said I didn't have any experience with this kind of thing, and you're right."
"You were always good with words, Xing," the old man answered. "You will find a way. Now, onto Lord Liu Bei's nightmares. I spoke with him at length about them after the Shu delegation departed, and they trouble me. They seem to be focused around another attack. I have managed to rule out another Yellow Turban skirmish. They vanished with the rest of Zhang Jiao's soul. But that is about all I have figured out. I cannot discern when or where it could be, or even if there really is an attack on the horizon."
Man Zhu rubbed his chin in thought. "He gave me just as much information. Liu Bei is certain that his dreams are of another attack, though. And with what we've been though in Jiang, its difficult to ignore such a strong warning."
"I have felt nothing," Xing said. "If this curse indeed acts as a warning signal, then we have nothing to fear at the moment. No pain, no bleeding at all since our last battle."
"Best bet," Qui piped in, "would be to send out spies of our own to make sure all is well around the capital. We can send over some of our best, if Bei allows it."
"Not likely after my performance last week," said Xing grimly.
Rui scratched his beard. "She is right. Xing is now the best tracker in Cheng Du, but I doubt Liu Bei will want to send her out again until things have completely settled. Until we can gather more information from him about his nightmares or we see the sign from Xing, there is not much to do. Qui and I will be here for a few days to help with repairs and various other tasks. While we are here, we will keep watch. How long do you think the both of you will be staying here after we depart?" he asked the youngest leaders.
"Not that much longer" Zhu replied. "The fields have been replanted and much of the destruction has been repaired. We'll stay to make sure everything is set before leaving. And, of course, we need to see what Xing decides."
She rolled her eyes at him. "I will make no decision until I speak to Chao."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Pang Qui asked with a laugh. "Get moving!"