Hi again!
Yes, it's been a looooooooooooong while since I updated. I'm just extreme slow, I've never stopped writing the story. So I won't be stopping. Stop by when you have the time because I might have posted something. Thanks!
Chapter 3: Family
Ma Yun Lu pulled out her second spear from her sheath and twirled both spears around.
"You ready?" she asked. Despite her weapons being new, they were pretty simple to control because of their lightness.
"Ok. Don't be surprised if you win. Stallion fury is heavier than Silver Stallion, and I haven't gotten used to it yet," replied Ma Chao readying himself.
"It's even, we both have new weapons," Yun Lu charged forward and stabbed with one spear. Ma Chao blocked and retaliated.
The clash went on for quite a while. Ma Dai came by and watched them spar. At that point, there was a deadlock between Ma Chao and Yun Lu. Ma Chao was overpowering Yun Lu's one spear greatly until she remembered her second one. She lifted that second spear and raised the blade under Ma Chao's chin, all during the deadlock.
"And for the very first time, I've won!" screamed Yun Lu. They let the deadlock off and Yun Lu went jumping around screaming her head off.
"Seems like you new weapons have helped you and mine…hasn't," said Ma Chao, although he was pleased that his present was helping. Ma Dai clapped.
"Well done Yun Lu. Now I don't have to be so ashamed of myself for losing."
Ma Chao laughed at the comment.
"Hey, we're going to Chang An tomorrow. Chang An is one of Wei's important cities. Taking it will give us the advantage to bring down Cao Cao," he said.
"What!? Are we going so soon?" yelped Yun Lu.
"For father, we must. As soon as possible."
"Ok!" said Ma Dai with a confident nod before turning away and leaving.
"Wait! You two wanna come over to my house and eat? My wife's cooking because we're gonna leave tomorrow. I'll just get her to cook for 2 more," suggested Ma Chao.
"Yeah, especially if it's Lady Yang cooking! It's so good, I'm so going," said Ma Dai.
"Hell yeah, love food," said Yun Lu. The trio headed over to Ma Chao's house.
XXXXXXX
"YANG QIAO EN!" screamed Yun Lu. Ma Chao's wife, Yang Qiao En came out.
"I see you've brought 2 guests Mengqi," smirked Yang.
"Da Da!" yelled a little boy. He was Ma Chao's eldest son, 3 years old, named Ma Cheng.
"Look Cheng! See what I've brought you!" sad Ma Chao holding out the spear, Silver Stallion.
"STICK!" yelled Ma Cheng grabbing hold. It was too heavy for him so he couldn't life it up.
"It's not a stick Chengy, it's a spear," said Yun Lu, holding the spear for him.
"When you grow up like us, you can use it!" Ma Chao gently patted his son on the head.
"Fighting? Pow Pow!?" asked Ma Cheng punching the air in front of him.
"Yeah Cheng, fighting," said Yun Lu and sighed.
If only he could understand the pain and suffering in battles. Then I doubt he'd be so excited.
"Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes," said Yang. "Mengqi, d'you wanna check on Xing and Feng?"
"Oh yay! My baby niece and nephew!" chirped Yun Lu.
"Come this way you two. Cheng, just stay there but don't kill yourself with the spear." Ma Chao beckoned Yun Lu and Ma Dai to follow them.
"Are they asleep?" asked Ma Dai.
"I sure think they are! They make a lot more noise when they're awake!" replied Yun Lu.
Ma Chao's home wasn't particularly big, a normal size house for a general. The tree walk through a small garden. It had a small stone table and four stone chair/stools. A few toys laid on the floor. Yun Lu looked up at the night sky.
"It's getting pretty cold," she commented.
"Yes I know, come in," Ma Chao whispered, gently pushing open the doors of the infants' room. "Shhh, don't wake them up."
"I don't think I would want to," said Ma Dai in a low voice.
It was all dark. The rhythmic breathing of the children was all that could be heard. Ma Chao let a candle to help see better and not to trip on the random stuff on the floor.
"Ma Chao, just what are you supposed to check on?" asked Ma Dai. His cousin shrugged.
"If they're crying or not? I dunno…"
"Bad parenting Mengqi."
"True that," agreed Yun Lu.
"Hey, damn you both."
Yun Lu looked at the sleeping body of Ma Liu Xing, the girl twin. The boy twin, Ma Feng, slept in the cot next to Liu Xing's. They were both eight months old.
"It's good to see Feng and Xing Xing not fighting each other," Yun Lu whispered to Ma Chao.
"Bad parenting again," said Ma Dai quietly.
"Guys, I'm not a single father here, why don't you blame Yang too?"
"She's not here at the moment, besides, it's funnier to see you get annoyed," smiled Ma Dai.
"Yep, Yang doesn't annoy people too much, unlike some," Yun Lu glanced at her brother. Ma Chao squinted at Yun Lu and they returned to the dinner table.
"Hey! You guys are back, just in time for dinner," smiled Yang.
"C'mon Cheng," said Yun Lu and picked the boy up. They went over to the table and sat.
"Yay! Food!" yelled Ma Cheng and started jabbing around he dishes, for the food he liked.
"Cheng! How many times have I told you not to do that in front of guests?" said Ma Chao angrily and pushed his child's hand away. Yun Lu rolled her eyes.
"Bad parenting," Ma Dai instantly chirped.
"In front of guests? Wouldn't it be better to teach him not to do that ANYWHERE?" said Yun Lu.
"Well sorry," said Ma Chao.
"Ok…" muttered Yang.
"You have a part in this too Yang!"
Yang looked around sheepishly.
"Tastes good Yang," Ma Dai said to break the silence.
"Heh, thanks Dai."
Meanwhile, Ma Cheng had stopped jabbing around and so they proceeded through the dinner.
"So I here that you guys are going off to fight at Chang An?" asked Yang after the dinner.
"Yeah, we're gonna kick Cao Cao's ass!" shouted Yun Lu.
"And then kill him," followed Ma Dai.
"Cow cow?" asked Ma Cheng all of a sudden, pointing out of the window at a cow eating grass under the night sky. Yun Lu nodded.
"Yes! A stupid cow like that! We're gonna cut it up and eat it!" said Yun Lu eagerly.
"That's enough Yun Lu. He'll probably go whip the cow soon because you said that," said Yang. "I wish you all good luck in the battle, so go get some sleep." She and Ma Chao ushered Yun Lu and Ma Dai out.
"Look sharp tomorrow! We'll show Cao Cao what we're made of," said Ma Chao. Yun Lu and her cousin had already gone a fair distance.
"Vengeance for father!" she called out.
"In the name of Justice!" yelled back Ma Chao.
Hey, that' a pretty cool moot. Vengeance for father, in the name of Justice! Hmm, I'll say that tomorrow. It's the point of the battle isn't it?
XXXXXXX
And that's then end of this chapter. I will update, but occasionally.
And also, I reckon my battle and sparring descriptions are really crappy, don't you guys think? I'll have to make them better.
Thanks for reading!