Her head tilted in confusion as the name came as a surprise to her mind. She coughed slightly as she knew Diao Chan was connected to Lu Bu. She never thought Diao Chan would come here, She knew that if Diao Chan were to travel,she would always have Lu Bu tailing behind her, but there would already be signs of terror and fear if Lu Bu was with Diao Chan. She blinked a couple of times and then wondered why Diao Chan was alone, why she did not have Lu Bu with her. Fan Luhua thought to herself as she raised her hand and scratched the back of her head softly. Zhao Yun looked towards her and titled his head slightly to the left.
"You know her?" He whispered softly. Fan Luhua nodded at the man.
" Known her since I was a child" Fan Luhua whispered to herself quietly. Fan Luhua had a slight terrifying though pop into her already confused mind. Her sage green eyes widened slightly. She inhaled quite quickly, making a slight gasping sound through her teeth. She quickly rose her small body from the ground. She bent over slightly to pick up her weapon and her musical instrument and attached them both to her smooth leather buckle. She quickly hurried over to the gates where Diao Chan waited for Fan Luhua's arrival.
Fan Luhua quickly hurried over to the gates with a slightly gallop in her step and she slowed down, then sped up in her steps. She arrived at the huge wooden gates quickly, out of breath slightly, with both Guan Yinping and Zhao Yun running behind her. Luhua looked into the distance where she saw her childhood friend waiting on the floor, on her small knees. She was bent over, cradling something, a person, a Man.
Fan Luhua quickly strode over to Diao Chan where she looked down at her with her soft green eyes. Diao Chan held the quiet man in her arms and shook her head as she looked back down on the man. It was Liu Bei. His face was all covered in the bright scarlet blood. His eye was slightly bruising a purple colour. His clothing was slightly ripped at the arms. Luhua knew she was in deep trouble. She knelt down by Diao Chan's side. Luhua placed her soft frozen hand on Liu Bei's shoulder.
" M-my lord, You must know, I regret everything I have done. I-I came here for a better life.." she stuttered very quietly into Lord Liu Bei's bloody ear. She sighed as she felt guilt within herself.
"I-is your son okay ?" She asked him softly. Liu Bei turned his bloody head slowly to look at Luhua for the first time since the kidnapping. He noticed there was a slight change in who she was. He sighed slightly and began to sob. The tears running down his face, merging into the fresh blood. He covered his face slightly as he leant into Diao Chan. Diao Chan looked up to Luhua gestured for her. She whispered minutely into Fan Luhua's ear. Luhua pulled back as she sighed and lowered her head in shame.
" This is my fault" She whispered to herself. Guan Yinping and Zhao Yun finally arrived at the gates. Zhao Yun's soft brown eyes widened lightly as he saw the wonderful sight that his lord had returned.
" Lord Liu Bei !" he called out as he ran over to Liu Bei. He picked his arm up and pulled him up from Diao Chan's lap with his right arm. Guan Yinping ran over to Liu Bei and helped him stand up by picking him with with her left arm. Between the two young adults, they both raised Lord Liu Bei up from the ground. Zhao Yun nodded his head at Diao Chan and took Liu Bei inside to be treated for his wounds. Guan Yu saw his daughter hurry inside with Liu Bei around her shoulder. He walked out into the courtyard to see Luhua and Diao Chan standing there talking quietly. Luhua was hiding herself in shame.
" What has happened?" he spoke out with a bellowing voice. Luhua turned around to reveal her pale face, with a single tear running down the left side of her face, down past her cheek and caving in at the bottom of her jaw and still hanging there. The trail from the tear seemed to shine slightly in the sunlight. She sniffled slightly as she knew her stupid actions led her to this.
" Well ?" he called out, crossing his huge arms together as he stood there, waiting for an answer. His bellowing voice seemed to attract all the members of Shu towards him. Xing Cai, Ma Dai, Jiang Wei and Guan Xing walked over to Guan Yu, standing with Diao Chan and Fan Luhua. Jiang Wei looked at Luhua and saw the tear hanging off the bottom of her jaw.
" What is wrong?" He spoke out gently with a slight tone of curiosity. Xing Cai looked around the courtyard, failing to see Liu Shan.
" Where is Lord Liu Shan ?" She called out with demand. She shuffled forwards slightly, feeling like she had more concern than the other worried warriors. Fan Luhua sighed in her sorrow as she knew all her actions brought her here.
" Liu Bei was returned with safety, Diao Chan brought him back here, alone" Fan Luhua replied quietly as she looked towards the warriors, the news brought a huge relief to their faces. But Xing Cai did not falter for her concern for Liu Shan. Fan Luhua looked towards Diao Chan and sighed and she tilted her head towards the ground. Luhua looked upon her small hands and clenched them into a fist, shaking ever so slightly as her actions caused this.
" B-but..." Fan Luhua called out, stuttering slightly as she did not want to give the news. She knew this was a hard task to do as all of them pretty much hated her already for what she done apart from Jiang Wei who was mutual with her. She stammered slightly as she could not get the right words to come out of her mouth.
" We suffered a loss too" She said, trying to hint it to the warriors, who waited for the news to come.
" What loss ?" Ma Dai called out quietly as he tilted his head and placed his giant paintbrush upon his shoulder. Fan Luhua gulped and swallowed slightly.
" Liu Shan's life was taken" she spoke out quietly. Xing Cai gasped as her eyes widened with fury. Ma Dai sighed as his head tilted downwards to the ground. Guan Xing blinked a couple of times. Jiang Wei clenched his fist and he felt like he was going to cry. His eyes built up with a wall of water, he done so well to hold back this flood. He coughed and walked away, into the palace so he could release his sorrow there. Guan Yu gasped and then he sighed. Fan Luhua's eyes filled up with tears as she felt so guilty. She took Liu Bei and Liu Shan from their homes, only one got to return to their home. She felt the guilt and the stupidity of her actions as she held her arm tightly in regret.
"L-Liu Shan is dead" She said softly with a tone of remorse and regret. She sighed as she turned around slowly, twisting her feet slightly. She sighed as she shook her head in regret and walked off into the distance, wiping the tears from her pale face as she began to feel the true consequences of her foolish actions. The other warriors watched her walking off and they knew she felt remorse.
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Fan Luhua walked up the hills slowly. She kept turning her head back to look at the warriors revelling in their sorrow. She sighed as she wrapped her gentle hand round her arm and squeezed very tightly in regret. She reached the top of the hill as the sun was slowly beginning to set. She perched herself down onto the green grass that glowed slightly in the presence of the sunset. She brought her knees up to her face as she crouched inwards slightly, tucking her head into her knees. Sobbing slightly. She gripped her legs tightly as she lived in regret for so long. She looked up from her knees to see the light fluffy clouds now turning dark and grey, as almost nature knew what had happened.
She sighed as one drop of the fresh cold rain landed on her slightly red cheek. She lifted up her hand and wiped the drop of rain off her cheek. Then more droplets of rain seemed to fall onto her soft face. She sighed as she did not care what happened to her any more. She shivered as the rain seemed to fall heavily now on the green hill now. She sighed as her light brown hair turned dark as the rain made her hair drip with water. Rain ran down her pale face, the tears on her face were now unnoticeable as the rain disguised them. The rain fell down her face and rolled underneath her chin. She looked down at her clothing as her gloves and clothing became wet, and the rain bounced off her armour lightly and onto the moist ground. She shivered as the coldness of the rain seeped into her skin and into the warm depths of her body.
As Fan Luhua sat in the soaking rain, Guan Yinping came outside looking for Luhua.
" Fan Luhua !?" She called out softly, searching around for signed of Fan Luhua. Luhua turned around, her hair flicking into her face, she looked though the wet slots of hair which seemed to be her fringe and saw Yinping looking for her. Fan Luhua quickly shuffled backwards and hid behind the tree on the wet hill. She breathed quietly as she did not want to be found by Guan Yinping.
" Luhua, I know you're out here" She called out gently, searching around the area for Luhua. Fan Luhua held her arm tightly, she closed her green eyes and hushed her breathing. But this did not work. Yinping quickly popped her head around the corner of the tree. Luhua jumped slightly as this came as a surprise to her.
" Why are you hiding ? It's not your fault you know" Yinping said whilst perching herself down next for Fan Luhua. Luhua sighed and shook her head.
" It is, I took them from this place, and only one of them returned, and I feel like it is my duty to revoke what I have done, by uniting the kingdoms and attacking Dong Zhuo" She whispered quietly as she knew this idea might sound stupid in Guan Yinping's ears. Yinping blinked a couple of times before placing her small fragile hand upon Luhua's shoulder.
" If you take it into action, you might just achieve something" Yinping whispered softly whilst rubbing Luhua's shoulder to comfort her. Fan Luhua sighed and she gently stood up in the pouring rain. Yinping followed in her footstep. Luhua sighed as she felt a bit more comforted. Yinping looked at her. She gently leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Luhua, gently hugging her. Luhua sighed and hugged back. Yinping took her arms from Luhua and smiled at her as she held her shoulders gently but with a little bit of force.
" You'll be okay, it is not your fault" she whispered softly. Luhua nodded at Yinping as she looked down at the ground where water dripped off her nose slightly. Yinping looked at Luhua's soaking face and chuckled slightly.
" Now, let us get you inside, you are soaking wet" Guan Yinping said softly as she wrapped one arm around Luhua's shoulders, warming her up slightly. Yinping proceeded to walk Fan Luhua into the palace where Luhua could get a bit of warmth and get cleared up.
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Guan Yinping brought Fan Luhua into the palace where she took Luhua back to the room where she was brought into in the first place. Yinping sat her down on her bed where she took her armour off and placed it to the side. Guan Yinping walked over to the cupboard where she took out fresh clothing for Fan Luhua.
" I will leave you to it" Yinping whispered quietly as she placed the fresh set of clothes down on the soft bed. Yinping walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Fan Luhua gulped as she watched the door carefully, making sure no-one walked in whilst she got changed. Luhua took the old wet clothing off and placed it threw it in the corner of the room as she hurried to get changed. She placed her new fresh top on that would usually sit underneath her chest armour. As she went to put on her new set of green leg clothing on, she heard the door open. Completely oblivious to Luhua changing in the room.
" Fan Luhua, I- ah !" Guan Suo called out gracefully. Luhua turned around quickly to see Guan Suo staring at her. She sighed as she rolled her eyes and quickly put on the leg clothing quicker.
" Get out" She said swiftly with a very blunt tone. He quickly nodded his head and closed the door. She sighed and put her head in her hands, shaking repeatedly. She placed her armour back onto her body and did it up tightly. She moved her shoulders around slightly to get used to the new feeling. Guan Suo knocked on the door gently. Luhua sighed.
" Come in" she called out. Guan Suo proceeded to open the door.
" L-Liu Bei asked for you" the young man called out gently. Luhua sighed.
" I will be there in a minute" She said softly. Suo nodded and closed the door behind him. She sighed as she sat back down on the bed. Another knock appeared to boom through the door. A little head poked it. It was Guan Yinping. She came in, sniggering slightly to herself. She sat down next to Luhua on the bed.
" I think you might of frightened my brother slightly" she said chuckling to herself as she patted Fan Luhua's knee. Luhua released a slightly smirk and she chuckled very quietly to herself. Yinping smiled.
" You have a lovely smile" She said chuckling slightly. Luhua smiled a bit more.
" I did not think I could smile any more" Luhua whispered softly, Yinping smiled and placed a hand on Luhua's shoulder.
" Even damaged people can still smile" she said, comforting Luhua slightly. Fan Luhua chuckled as she stood up and bowed towards Guan Yinping.
" Thank you my friend" she said as she walked out of the room. She walked down the corridor as she went to see Liu Bei. She walked into Lord Liu Bei's chambers carefully. She held her hands behind her back in a sense of politeness. She walked in to see Liu Bei laying in his bed, resting gently.
" I-I heard Liu Bei wanted to see me" she stuttered lightly, even though she was an assassin, a sense of good seemed to come across whenever she was scared. Zhuge Liang turned around from facing the window, glaring out of the window.
" Liu Bei wanted a word with you" Zhuge Liang spoke out softly, as the peaceful man he was. Fan Luhua gulped lightly as she walked over to the bed steadily, each step she took, she wanted to step back. She looked over onto Liu Bei who began to wake up slowly. She sighed as she did not want to face the man she stole.
" Fan Luhua wasn't it ?" He spoke out gently, trying not to cough. She gulped.
" Y-yes my lord" she said, trying her very best not to stutter. Liu Bei turned his head to face Fan Luhua. He looked deep into her sage green eyes.
" Have you changed?" He spoke out softly as he saw a change in her eyes. Her eyes were no longer dark and evil. They had become lighter in spirit.
" I-I believe so" She stuttered again. Liu Bei sighed
" Fan Luhua, there is no need to be scared" Liu Bei said as he nodded at her. Fan Luhua lifted her head up slightly to look at Liu Bei, but then she lowered her head in shame.
" I-I know, I just regret everything I have done, the pain I have caused you, I am so sorry My Lord" She bellowed quietly to the Lord. Liu Bei.
" I know, but we are benevolent, we can forgive your selfish acts" He said very calmly. Fan Luhua turned her head towards Zhuge Liang. He tilted his head forwards slightly as he closed his eyes. He nodded in approval to Lord Liu Bei's words. Fan Luhua turned her head back to Liu Bei where she looked down on the wounded Lord.
"Y-you forgive me My Lord ?" She questioned both her lord and herself.
" Yes, but we need your help" He said as he sat himself up slightly, leaning against his soft plump pillow. Luhua tilted her head in confusion.
" How can I help, I think I have done enough" She said, questioning her purpose in life. Liu Bei sighed softly.
" We need to defeat Dong Zhuo and bring peace to the kingdoms, but I believe only you can do that, with our help" Liu Bei said, coughing slightly in each word. Luhua looked sorrowfully towards the ground as she knew this was such a difficult thing to do.
" H-how ?" She whispered softly. Zhuge Liang stepped forwards slightly.
" From what Lady Guan Yinping told me, apparently you told her you have made an alliance with Sun Jian's eldest son: Sun Ce" Zhuge Liang spoke out very quietly and he looked down to his lord.
" This is true" Fan Luhua spoke out bluntly. Zhuge Liang stepped forward a little, out of the moonlight into the darkness of the room.
" If you can get Sun Ce to form an alliance with Shu, maybe both Shu and Wu can convince the land of Wei to help us" Zhuge Liang spoke softly. Liu Bei rose his body up quickly.
" Cao Cao only seeks power, not benevolence" Liu Bei yelled out slightly. Zhuge Liang sighed.
" My lord, if we can get the forces of Wei to help, even though it might be an unlikely alliance, we can unite and defeat Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu" Zhuge Liang demanded slightly as he knew this plan was doing to work. Fan Luhua sighed slightly as she could not disagree with the likes of Zhuge Liang.
" He is right My Lord" Luhua called out quietly, worried about being shouted at by Lord Liu Bei, but she should of known he would not do that as he is a benevolent man. Liu Bei sighed as he nodded slightly.
" Luhua, you can bring Sun Ce to us, he trusts you" Liu Bei called out softly. Fan Luhua knew she could do this. But she also knew that Sun Ce's officer and friend : Yun Shai would be awaiting for her arrival at Jiang Dong. She knew that he held a slight grudge against her for the amount of trouble she has caused. Luhua questioned herself as if Sun Ce really did trust her or not. Fan Luhua let out a big sigh as the then knelt on one knee bowed to Lord Liu Bei.
" I will do what I can, My Lord" she spoke out minutely as she lifted up her body from the ground, dragging her foot slightly. Liu Bei tilted his head slightly, nodding at the calm assassin. She turned her back to Liu Bei and walked out of the room. As she closed the door behind her gently. She sighed very quietly to herself as she tilted her head down towards the ground. She shook her head, growling slightly as stormed off into the distance, into the courtyard. Zhuge Liang turned away from the door and back to Liu Bei.
" Can you trust her ,My Lord ?" He spoke out very calmly as he always did. Liu Bei sighed softly.
" She seems to be proving herself to us, and I saw a change in her. Like she had always been leading to this" Liu Bei spoke out quietly.
"hmm..." Zhuge Liang thought to himself as he walked out of the room to let Lord Liu Bei rest. He closed the door behind him and he walked around the palace halls, thinking to himself about Fan Luhua's fate.
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Fan Luhua walked into the courtyard where she saw Guan Yinping talking to her brothers : Suo, Xing and Ping. She then looked over to the east of the courtyard where she saw Ma Dai, Ma Chao and Wei Yan talking and laughing to themselves. She then looked over to the west where she saw Zhao Yun, Xing Cai and Jiang Wei talking to themselves as they chuckled and laughed. Fan Luhua blinked a couple of times and realised she felt slightly out of place in anywhere she went. She sighed as she continued to walk out of the courtyard and into the stables.
She sighed quietly as she buckled up the silky black horse, ready for her journey to Jiang Dong. She helped herself up onto the horse where she saw a figure blocking the moonlight from the door. She sighed.
" Get out of my way" She said bluntly. She was fed up of being delayed all the time. She snarled slightly. The figure move inwards from the door. It revealed to be Zhao Yun.
" It is only me, My Lady" Zhao Yun spoke out softly like he always did. Fan Luhua sighed and she calmed herself down slightly.
" Please move, I need to go" She spoke out softly, but still blunt as she wanted to get to her point. Zhao Yun sighed.
" Do you need to go alone ?" He called out gently. Fan Luhua nodded her pale face slightly at him. He sighed gently as he walked over to a single snow, white horse and held the strap upon it. He hoisted himself onto the horse and gently rode up next to Fan Luhua.
" What are you doing ?" she called out, trying not to lose her temper with Zhao Yun as she wanted to go alone. Zhao Yun chuckled to himself.
" I am coming with you, You need protection" He called out gently as always. Fan Luhua guffawed as she tilted her head back whilst laughing.
" Protection ? Ha, you forget I did beat you up" She chuckled loudly. Zhao Yun titled his head in shame then chuckled slightly.
" Well, that much is true" He said, trying not to offend her slightly. She chuckled as she nodded.
" Fine, you can come" she whispered quietly. Zhao Yun smiled slightly and nodded at her as he looked into her eyes. Guan Yinping walked into the stables smiling as she held her giant dual mace.
" And I'm coming too !" Yinping yelled out cheerfully. She took out her horse and hoisted herself onto it. She then rode up gently next to Luhua's other side. Fan Luhua looked either side of herself to Zhao Yun to her left and Guan Yinping to her right. They were both smiling at her as they knew she would need help getting through this.
" Let's go" Zhao Yun called out gently. Luhua nodded as did Yinping. Fan Luhua patted her horse as all three of them rode out of the stabled, into the dark and cold courtyard. The rest of the warriors looked up at the three lonely warriors riding their way out slowly. Xing Cai still glared at Fan Luhua. Jiang Wei looked up at the three warriors.
" Good Luck" Wei whispered quietly to the three. Fan Luhua nodded as she continued to ride out of the palace. She patted her horse again, this time, they rode off faster. They left the palace ground and rode off into the distance.
Zhuge Liang slowly walked out of the palace doors, standing at the top of the courtyard and whispered to himself.
" Everything now is falling into place once more".