On the other end of the river, the Fledgling Phoenix has arrived from his mission. He was immediately escorted by soldiers towards the command tent. The man strode in jovially when he recognized that Zhou Yu was seeing an old friend of his.
Zhuge Liang.
"Master Pang Shiyuan, you have returned," Zhou Yu said.
Pang Tong saluted Zhou Yu and Lu Su, then bowed to Zhuge Liang. "Didn't expect to see Zhuge Kongming coincide with my visit."
"Shiyuan," Zhuge Liang acknowledged. "I am glad to see you here as well."
Zhou Yu gestured to Pang Tong to take a seat. "Please, I am interested to hear your report, Master Shiyuan."
Pang Tong plopped down on to his seat and gleefully consumed the cup of tea that was offered to him. "Good news then the bad one. First, Cao Cao wholly believed that chaining the ships was the most fantastic idea he has ever heard. He's most likely constructed a thousand chains by now to keep the boats together."
"Wonderful news," Zhou Yu praised Pang Tong. "What about the bad news?"
"That gullible mole Jiang Gan wasn't persuasive enough to convince Cao Cao to execute the two naval commanders. Someone clearly saw through your false message," Pang Tong said. "Cai Mao and Zhang Yun got demoted to a lowered rank, and were spared from execution."
Zhou Yu cursed under his breath, "Who was this person shrewd enough to interfere with my plans?"
"Beats me," said Pang Tong as he shrugged his shoulders masking his cluelessness of the situation. He commented, "It seems Cao Cao kept a lot of interesting people who he actually listens to."
Lu Su stroked his beard and frowned, "Someone who has a sway to Cao Cao's decisions. We have to know who this person is. If he was able to see through our deception plot, he would know that Huang Gai's defection is false. It would render our entire plan moot!"
Zhuge Liang lowered his fan. "In behalf of my lord, allow me to make a contribution in combating this unknown assailant. In order to achieve our goal of defeating Cao Cao, we must cover all possible threats and neutralize them before they become roadblocks to our success."
Zhou Yu glanced at Zhuge Liang. They shared a look of understanding. "Very well. I trust you, Zhuge Liang."
The Sleeping Dragon nodded as he stood up from his seat. "Everything that has been discussed prior to Master Shiyuan's arrival will proceed as planned," he said. "I will ensure the success on my end, and I have full trust that Lord Sun Quan will do as well."
As Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong left the tent, they decided to take a walk by the riverbank, away from eavesdropping soldiers. When they reached the shore, waves of freshwater lapped against the sands. The sun was high in the sky, illuminating the waters with its rays.
Zhuge Liang gently waved his fan in thought. His dark eyes stared at the glittering waters. He asked, "What made you not disclose the warrior's name, Shiyuan?"
"Zhou Gongji wouldn't know, but I am pretty sure you do. Ever heard of a brilliant lady warrior by the name of Lady Ai Xin?" Pang Tong asked in response. His eyes smiled as he let out a light chuckle, "I tell you this. She has a mesmerizing look with those gray eyes."
Zhuge Liang hid his smirk with his fan, amused with the news. "A familiar name indeed," he said. "One, I believe is nothing but a lost ghost."
Pang Tong tilted up his hat. "A ghost? She looked as real as a human, Kongming," he said
"Your eyes witnessed things as they are, Shiyuan. I believe you," Zhuge Liang assured his comrade.
The Fledgling Phoenix chuckled, "So, what do you intend to do with this problem?"
Zhuge Liang answered, "The winds will blow our direction towards victory."
Within Cao Cao's grand naval camp, the soldiers were hard at work. Army engineers were directing the progress of constructing the chains that would bind one ship to another. The command of the ships was handed to Yu Jin. Unflinching to the challenge, Yu Jin accepted it without question.
Inside the conference tent, Yu Jin finished his report on the progress of the construction and training. The soldiers were more adapted with the stabilized ships and performed an impressive demo in chain deployment.
"As per your orders, Lord Cao Cao, I have kept a firm grip over General Cai Mao and General Zhang Yun," he said. "They have improved in their conduct and are diligent in their work. Their knowledge of ships has made it easier for us to construct the chains and attach them in such a way, we could reorganize our formations with more ease."
Cao Cao nodded, "It seems we have made a good decision to keep Cai Mao and Zhang Yun alive after all."
A minister entered and bowed. After recognizing his presence, he immediately hurried over to Cao Cao's side and whispered to his ear.
The warlord's expression was dynamic. From a serious look, it turned into one of surprise.
"So, Master Pang Tong has succeeded in his mission in confirming the defection of our potential ally, Huang Gai," Cao Cao said. He let out a deep laugh.
"Ah, the heavens smile upon us!" he exclaimed. "I am pleased that our progress continues to be unhampered despite the attempts of Zhou Yu to deceive and sow distrust."
He raised his hand and continued, "I am sure there are questions in your minds as to how I continued to remain sharp. It is because I am blessed by the Heavens with such talented men. Rejoice with me as we welcome back one of our brightest men, Guo Jia Fengxiao."
The blond-haired strategist made his presence known. It elicited a collective gasp from the crowd. He flashed a serene smile and strode towards his place beside Cao Cao. He gave a light bow in greeting.
"Greetings, everyone. I'm sure I didn't surprise you?" Guo Jia said in his light-hearted tone.
The men cheered and praised Guo Jia's recovery. The last they knew of Guo Jia's condition, he had to be confined in his residence for a prolonged period of time. They immediately fell into silence when a large shadow caught their attention. Small gasps escaped from their lips at the sound of heavy footsteps.
A large man with a shiny bald head entered. His armor was newly-forged that it reflected the sunlight into the tent. He marched with his head held high and stopped before Cao Cao. He got down on one knee and bowed low.
Cao Cao got up from his seat. His eyes twinkled with a renewed hope. The man who fought from the brink of death has returned.
"What took you so long, Dian Wei?" he asked.
Dian Wei pressed a fist to his palm in salute, "Lord Cao Cao, forgive me for my long absence. I have retreated to the mountains to hone my strength, to train until I have mastered my warrior skills. Now, I have returned to fight for you."
He stood up and motioned to his attendants. "Go, and prepare the banquet. We shall feast with wine and song. For the following days, Heavens will witness my greatest conquest for the land!"
While the camp busied itself with preparations for the banquet, Ai Xin quietly made her way through the camp area of the higher ranked officers. She carried in her arms scrolls from her usual notes on strategy and communication with Jia Xu, who had retreated to Jiangling to reinforce its defenses. She stopped in front of a tent where a man in a hooded robe emerged.
"Xu Yuanzhi…" Ai Xin greeted. She noticed that he was holding as many scrolls as she did. "Did he give you that much scrolls to work with?" she asked jestingly.
Xu Shu chuckled, "These are actually mine, Ai Xin. In fact, Master Guo Jia was quite pleased with my input for the battle ahead."
He paused and looked like he wanted to say something else, but hesitated.
"You should go inside. Master Guo Jia's expecting you as well."
After saying their brief goodbyes, Ai Xin entered the tent. She nearly doubled over when the nauseating smell of crushed herbs in a boiled pot. Whatever was being cooked, it was simply awful.
Guo Jia was sitting behind his desk. A map sprawled out on it with painted wooden blocks to serve as military units. He glanced up and smiled at Ai Xin.
"Pardon the smell. Master Hua Tuo has advised me to continue this new horrible smelling medicine to keep my health," he said. "Would you be a darling and bring over the pot? Be careful, it's hot."
Ai Xin looked at Guo Jia. He looked the same as that strange dream of hers. She made her way to deposit her borrowed scrolls into an empty box before moving to the small cooking station. She made use of thick rags to pick up the pot and bring it over to Guo Jia's table. She picked up a ladle and poured a serving into Guo Jia's empty bowl.
"Ever obedient," Guo Jia commented. "Thank you for your kindness, Ai Xin."
"You're welcome, Master Fengxiao," she replied. She took her seat across him and folded her hands over her knees.
Guo Jia sipped from the bowl. He didn't cringe, but his nostrils flared slightly in reaction to the taste. He managed to finish the medicine and placed the bowl on the side. He washed away the taste with some warm tea. He sighed, "I can't believe this medicine has made me miss appreciating wine so much."
"There's an opportunity for you to enjoy later, Master Fengxiao. Lord Cao Cao will be hosting a banquet tonight," Ai Xin said.
"Ah, yes," said Guo Jia. "The perfect set-up to initiate your part of the plan. Are you ready, my lady?"
Ai Xin looked away in reaction. She remembered privately discussing with Jia Xu of the grand plan to maintain control over Jing province. The discussions were held in the middle of the night in hushed conversations. They had arrived at a common understanding that Cao Cao was rushing in his moves. They had to be one step ahead in making sure to keep their master alive for the battle.
What bothered her the most was the mission she has yet to accomplish after the campaign.
She let out a soft sigh, and said, "As if I have a choice, Master Fengxiao. If I don't do it, the chaos would continue."
"Make use of the remaining time wisely, Ai Xin," Guo Jia said. "Even the most well-thought out plan can go awry by Heaven's hand."
The banquet was hosted in Cao Cao's personal flagship. The clear night sky shaded with hues of red from the lanterns lit up the setting for a festive mood. Wine was free flowing in between servings of fine dishes. He watched from his seat as attendants, advisers, and generals shared laughs and toasted to each other.
Cao Cao smiled, "The food is delicious, and the wine is delectable. A truly befitting night."
He marched down the aisle and gestured his cup forward to the sky. Afterwards, he poured the offered wine into the river.
"Hear me gods of the sky and rivers. You have sheltered me in my most dire moments, and still brought victory to my name. Tonight, may our laughter and our tears be music to thy ears!"
Taking it as the cue, soldiers banged on the war drums into a crescendo. Servants filed in once more, pouring wine into the cups of everyone present. In one loud bang, the drums echoed until silence. Cups were raised to the sky in salute to their lord, Cao Cao.
"In the name of our lord, Cao Cao. We swear loyalty to you until the end!" they chorused.
Pleased with the response of his men, Cao Cao toasted back to his men. They all drank simultaneously, only to have the wine be refilled again.
At one section of the deck, the comeback star of the army was surrounded by his peers. Dian Wei grinned widely as Xiahou Dun introduced him to some of the new faces since his time away from the battlefield. His ears perked with excitement to be in the presence of mighty men.
"I am so happy that Dian Wei is here. It would make protecting Lord Cao Cao a lot easier!" Xu Zhu grinned so widely and munched on his food.
Dian Wei flexed his biceps. He said, "Well, I have to make sure I could match up with your massive arm, Xu Zhu."
"Oh, what impeccable muscles!"
Dian Wei was taken aback by the flamboyant words and raised his eyebrows at Zhang He.
"What kind of man are you?" he asked.
The Butterfly General struck a pose. He said, "Zhang He Junyi is the name, Lord Dian Wei. It is an honor to have finally met the fierce tiger who bravely saved our lord's life in the burning castle!"
He struck another pose that had butterflies appear. He declared, "My beauty in battle must not be outshined! Therefore, you shall see that I have improved in my craft during battle. Watch me dance through the enemies with my sharp blades."
Dian Wei raised his cup for a toast. "I will drink this cup with you, General Zhang He," he said.
So, they drank.
"Such suave taste," Zhang He commented. His ears perked up at the sound of music. "My stage calls for me! I shall see you all later!"
Dian Wei scratched the back of his head. He glanced at Xiahou Dun, "Is he that strange, Lord Xiahou Dun? Running off so flimsy."
Xiahou Dun tilted his body to take a peek to where Zhang He had run off to. His eye caught the glint of a gold hairpin. The lady had dressed in silk robes. Her hair was pulled into an elaborate style, and decorated with flowers. It reassured him that Zhang He went to see his friend.
He made a mental note to see her later as well.
"That's just Zhang Junyi being Zhang Junyi."
"You will be amazed at General Zhang He's resourcefulness in battle, Master Dian Wei," Zhang Liao answered instead. "He can turn a dire situation against the enemy."
Dian Wei turned his attention to Zhang Liao. A familiar feeling swept over the bodyguard, it was a mix of apprehension and respect. He puffed out his chest to look tough. "General Zhang Liao, out of all the warriors I have met, you are the most unexpected. I heard your ferocity in battle matches that of Lu Bu. Heh, that makes me want to test out my strength against you since the Flying General got himself executed for going against Lord Cao Cao."
Zhang Liao raised his cup to Dian Wei and spoke calmly, "I hope to catch a glimpse of your strength in this upcoming battle. If you meet my standards, I will let you spar with me."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Dian Wei said. He refilled his cup and toasted Zhang Liao. "Let us drink!"
After a few more rounds of drinks, Dian Wei was ferried off by Xu Zhu to go look for their lord.
Zhang Liao relaxed his shoulders. He managed to keep his cool when Dian Wei brushed slightly on sensitive topics of his past affiliation with Lu Bu's army. It resurfaced the tumultuous memories and sadness from his loss.
"Do pardon Dian Wei's tactlessness," Xiahou Dun requested. He poured wine into Zhang Liao's cup. "He may not think his words through at times, but I assure you, he is a righteous man."
"But is he a forgiving man?" Zhang Liao asked in response.
Xiahou Dun looked bewildered and answered, "I don't believe that you have done anything wrong against him, Wenyuan."
"It is not myself that I should be worried about…"
Zhang Liao did not say anything else.
When the musical performance ended, Ai Xin bowed in response to her audience's applause. She picked up her qin and stepped down from the small stage. She found an empty table near the front of the deck to rest. It provided a wonderful view of the moon over the river.
"A marvelous performance as always. But why do you not linger with the rest of your admirers?"
Ai Xin glanced at the direction of the voice and bowed her head in respect. "Lord Cao Cao, I wish to rest," she answered.
Cao Cao placed a filled cup in front of her and he took a seat beside her. "Drink, and be merry."
The woman obeyed and lifted the cup in front of Cao Cao. "To your victory, Lord Cao Cao," she said. In one swoop, she drank all of the wine. When she set the cup down on the table, it was once more refilled.
"Another one," he ordered, while he himself consumed one cup.
"Lord Cao Cao, please understand that I must limit myself. I do not have a high tolerance for wine," she said. Her eyes widened when the cup was placed in her hands.
"Drink!" his voice was raised.
Ai Xin obliged. Her face cringed when the heat of the alcohol seeped down her throat. It warmed her cheeks and made her heart beat fast.
Cao Cao reached out and lifted Ai Xin's chin to face him. He leaned close and spoke, "If only I could kiss your lips again, Ai Lan."
At the mere mention of her mother's name, Ai Xin immediately backed away from Cao Cao. She felt the rush of anger and hate sweep through her fingertips. How dare he speak her name with longing when he was the very reason Ai Lan was gone. Her eyes carefully observed the man and arrived at a simple conclusion, her master was very, very drunk.
Still caught in his wine-induced visions, Cao Cao lunged forward to catch Ai Xin in his arms. The sober woman caught the man by the forearms, and used his momentum to propel him down to the cushioned seat.
Cao Cao groaned as he got a faceful of cushioned pillow. "Ooof, that's a soft boob."
Hoping she could slip away without being seen, her diversionary act was wholly witnessed by Dian Wei.
"How dare you harm Lord Cao Cao!"
Ai Xin felt a chill run down her spine at the sound of the threat. She turned around and slowly backed away at the sight of the large man. Her fingers clutched onto the wooden surface, wary that one wrong move would send her falling into the water.
"It's not what you think, my lord," Ai Xin defended herself, slowly raising both of her hands to show that she was unarmed. "Lord Cao Cao is drunk and mistook me for someone he thought he knew!"
However, her defense fell on deaf ears when Dian Wei's eyes sharpened with fury. Something had abruptly changed in the man, as if possessed. He remembered the events prior to the ambush at Wan castle.
"You! I remember you!" Dian Wei yelled. "You tried to kill me!"
"My lord?" Ai Xin asked out of surprise with the accusation.
Suddenly, the large man lunged towards her. She reacted by grabbing the nearest object - her qin - and swung it towards the man's head. The large man saw the attack and caught the qin. He wrenched it away from her hands and broke the wooden instrument in half.
Ai Xin used that distraction to escape from her attacker. She let out a scream when Dian Wei stomped on her robes that she fell forward on the floor. She managed to push herself up on her knees and turned around.
"C-Calm down, my lord," she pleaded. "I have never done anything wrong against you!"
"Are you still plotting my lord's death? Do you think I will let you go this time?!" Dian Wei glowered at her. "I will choke the life out of you now!"
Ai Xin gasped as she was lifted up from her position. Suddenly, she was dropped and landed on her back. The landing caused her hair to be undone. She rolled to her stomach and gasped for air. When she had regained her bearings, she fled from the scene to prevent further harm to herself.
Xu Zhu had run over and grabbed onto Dian Wei's waist. He planted his feet on the floor and exerted weight to anchor the raging guard captain.
"Calm down Dian Wei!" he cried. "Lady Ai Xin would never do such a thing!"
Dian Wei ignored Xu Zhu's pleas. He gathered strength and let out an anguished roar. He broke away from Xu Zhu's grasp by headbutting backwards, knocking the other large man away. His eyes immediately searched for his target and he found her kneeling on the floor. He picked up a broken piece of wood and continued in his amok.
"You should have been dead! Dead under the river!" Dian Wei yelled.
Zhang Liao stepped in between them. His hand caught Dian Wei's weapon arm and the other on the free hand. He found himself exerting great effort to wrestle in place with the man.
"I won't let you hurt her, Lord Dian Wei," he said. "Dismiss this unfound fury!"
Dian Wei growled, "GET OUT OF MY WAY TRAITOR!"
Zhang Liao maintained his ground. It angered him that Dian Wei had hurt his daughter. Other generals have arrived as well and together, they managed to pin Dian Wei down.
"Knock him out."
The order this time came from Cao Cao himself. He somewhat recovered from the fall and used the wooden rail to support himself upright.
Obeying their master's order, Zhang He used his elbow to knock Dian Wei on the side of his head. The large, bald man groaned and was knocked out on the floor.
"How brutish of him to mishandle Lady Ai Xin and our comrades like that!" Zhang He scoffed.
"What happened to him?" Xu Zhu asked, worried for his comrade. "Dian Wei would never just go crazy like that!"
The strategist, Guo Jia, casually strode over and bent low to check on Dian Wei. He had been quietly observing everything that was going on at the banquet, and it merely piqued the man's interest with how the events played out.
"Master Dian Wei may have recovered physically, Xu Zhu. However, his temperament and memory would need more time to recover," Guo Jia said lightly. "It seemed like the lady's countenance triggered unhappy memories for Lord Dian Wei. Not that I would be surprised given that Lady Ai Xin inherited the unique physical traits of his majestic assailant. An interesting time for the past to come knocking at our doors, isn't it?"
The strategist's statement fell heavy on the shoulders of those who were present during Cao Cao's campaign against Zhang Xiu and Lu Bu. It was heaviest on Zhang Liao who held back his anger by digging his fingernails into his palms.
Not failing to bring attention once more to him, Cao Cao skidded down to the floor. His feet knocked over the table. The adrenaline caused by the wine and rumble went by so fast. He laughed in hysteria and reached a hand out into the air.
"Why do you hide behind young eyes, my fairest flower?" he asked in between drunken sobs.
Ai Xin descended from the multiple decks of the commander's flagship and passed through the docks. She only slowed down her pace when her shoes stepped on solid ground. She released the lower part of her robes and breathed deeply to regain calm and made her way back to her tent.
Once in the safety of her space, Ai Xin fell on her knees in front of her small dresser. She pulled up the mirror and gazed at her reflection. Her hair draped her pale cheeks. She could see a face of anxiety and of fear.
Every day she prayed to the heavens that she would not have to face the revelation of her past. She would not know where to start, how to even start her tale. How unfortunate that Fate decided it to be now.
With her fingers, she manually pulled her hair back and tied it into a low bun. She picked up a wet cloth from her wash bucket, squeezed it, and pressed the damp cloth against her skin. When she wiped away the make-up, she checked her reflection again on the mirror and found another person beside her reflection.
Instinctively, she turned around to face her expected visitor.
"My lord…"
Prior to his arrival, Xiahou Dun went through the ordeal of cleaning up Cao Cao's mess and making sure that the warlord was safe in his own quarters. He was bothered by witness accounts of Cao Cao's and Dian Wei's actions as well as Guo Jia's words. The only way for him to find out was to ask Ai Xin himself.
"Are you alright?" he asked. His concern over her safety was still a priority for him.
Ai Xin nodded slowly. She wanted to feel safe that she could trust Xiahou Dun, but the events that transpired earlier put her on edge. She could not lower her guard.
"I didn't mean to harm Lord Cao Cao, General," she started. "He was already intoxicated when he approached me. He claimed that I was… someone he knew."
"And what is the name of this person?" he asked.
"... Ai Lan."
Xiahou Dun frowned. It was a name that he had not heard a long time. Now that it had resurfaced into the present, why the memory continued to haunt his lord. He had to solve this mystery.
"How is this woman related to you?" he asked.
Ai Xin fidgeted in her seat. This was it. If she disclosed it now, she had foreseen that it would change everything. She breathed deeply, mentally preparing herself for the consequences of this unavoidable revelation.
"Her name is Ai Lan, and she is my mother," Ai Xin spoke slowly and clearly. "She married a warrior of peerless might… my father, Lord Zhang Liao."
"Wenyuan lost his family at Xiapi. He declared that this wife and child no longer lived," Xiahou Dun stated.
"Let me be proof that what was written in the records of history can be wrong. That the one called Zhang Yixing now lives under a different name," she countered. "That the Heavens have decided that she be granted another chance to fulfill her purpose for the land."
She rose from her seat and stood straight and proud. She spoke, "In fact, this is not the first time we met, Lord Xiahou. I remember you when you were held captive on your way to Juan castle. The day you drove your blade through Cao Xing when you suffered the loss of your eye."
Xiahou Dun listened and took in everything she said. At first, it sounded outrageous that someone like her would be able to keep up with an army like Lu Bu's. He recalled her first days in training, only to understand now where she learned how to fight. With the way she spoke of the events, it was as if she witnessed them with her very eyes. He looked at her and found himself suddenly staring at a completely different woman.
Then it hit him.
The girl who freed him from his captivity...
The scream that faded while in his blood-tinged rage...
The one believed by many to be dead at Si river...
Is the same woman, named Ai Xin, who now stands before him…
"What made you decide to keep this from me?" he asked in disbelief.
"I wanted to tell you everything, but I was afraid of how the world would react to this, how you would react to it," she confessed. She cautiously approached him, until she was an arm's length away from each other.
He stared blankly at her. The revelation conflicted his perception. His hot-headed nature fueled the urge to get angry, but his heart could not bring it up for her.
"I feel betrayed, woman," he said in a hurt tone. "I opened my heart and soul to you, and what I get is this… this stupid web of lies."
"I am still Ai Xin, my lord. The same Ai Xin -"
"ENOUGH!"
Ai Xin closed her mouth and stood down. She could see the pain in his face, the crumbling resolve that held his anger back so that he would not harm her. She hung her head in shame, and accepted her fate.
Xiahou Dun declared, "We are done."
He turned his back from her and left the tent.
Two days after the banquet, at the break of dawn, all the ships pulled open their masts. When the morning wind began to blow, the massive fleet set sail down the river. The soldiers on the ships cheered. The chains that held the ships together were steadfast in preventing them from rocking against the waves.
The morale of the men were soaring and it overlooked the unresolved conflicts among the higher ranks. The trail of confusion at the banquet was effectively silenced by Cao Cao's stern command. It was eventually extended into a sudden reassignment of station in the floating naval camp.
Ai Xin found herself assigned at the front row of boats. Guo Jia had utilized Cai Mao's suggestion of utilizing Jing troops to the outer square of the chained ship formation as these soldiers were more accustomed to naval fighting.
At least she was far away from everyone else, it gave her the space to be alone. Or so she thought.
"There you are."
Ai Xin looked to the side. Her face cracked a small smile that was not seen for the longest duration of her sadness.
"Yuanzhi…"
The strategist gave her a gentle smile. The moment he heard of secondhand accounts of the banquet brawl and eventually hushed news of her identity, he knew he had to make sure that his friend was okay.
"How are you feeling right now?"
"My heart is empty," Ai Xin answered bluntly. "But my shoulders felt lighter, and my mind clearer."
She turned to face downstream and pushed her hair away from her face. She felt Xu Shu's hand on her shoulder and pulled her close to him.
"A lot of people are worried for you," Xu Shu said. He embraced her tightly and carefully pressed his lips on her forehead. He expected her to fidget in reaction, but didn't. He pulled away and muttered, "I am worried about you too, Ai Xin."
Ai Xin's eyes widened at his gestures. She felt it was too soon to reciprocate such feelings, not when her heart was still recovering. She said, "I don't know what to say, Yuanzhi."
"You don't have too," he said as he stroked her cheek. He said gently, "I realized that it is never too late to say what's in my heart. It just needed to be in the right time and right place. I cherish our friendship and that's the kind of love I found in you."
A brief silence fell between them. Ai Xin gingerly pushed away his hands from her shoulders. Then, she raised her hands to the back of head and pulled off the hairpin that held her bun in place. As her locks unfurled down behind her shoulders, she tucked the accessory into his hand.
"Don't give up," she said.
Xu Shu's eyes widened at the symbol of her gesture - an unspoken promise. He placed his free hand over hers. He smiled, "Don't lose yourself."
A strong eastward wind gushed through them, only for it to die down so easily. It was enough of a sign for them to revert focus to the battle at hand.
Cai Mao approached them, and bowed. He reported, "We have sighted smoke rising from one of the hilltops. One of the helmsmen said that he saw ceremonial flags."
Ai Xin and Xu Shu exchanged looks. They could only suspect that it would be Zhuge Liang and his ceremony. Their expectations for the battle were on point so far.
Another gust of wind blew. A small fleet of boats bearing the defector's banner could be seen around the riverbend heading towards them at a considerable speed.
"Huang Gai's ships…" Xu Shu said. "The sails are high and moving fast with the wind."
Cai Mao furrowed his brows, "Is that smoke coming out from Huang Gai's ships?"
Ai Xin saw the thin trail of smoke in the sky as well. The flags were flapping back and forth as the conflicting winds fought. She glanced towards Cai Mao and said, "Begin sounding the war drums. The plan starts now."
In the commander's warship, Cao Cao stood tall and proud. His eyes sharp with anticipation of the battle ahead. Behind him, his faithful bodyguards stood ready and armed. Beside him, his cousin stayed put in silence.
"You are quiet, Yuanrang," Cao Cao noted.
Xiahou Dun crossed his arms over his chest and grunted, "I have heeded your advice to prioritize this military campaign. She became a liability to me, therefore, the relationship ended."
Cao Cao frowned. He was adamant to admit that his drunken state started it all. When he had recovered from his hangover, the rumors of his cousin's actions easily spread like silent wildfire. However, he appreciated that they only remained as rumors, and it gave him time to issue an order to silence everything. But it didn't sit well with those close to the affected parties.
How lucky he was that they decided to settle everything after the campaign.
"You acted according to your beliefs," Cao Cao said. "However, your countenance betrays your feelings."
Xiahou Dun hissed, "She kept everything hidden away. She made me believe, made me love, a mere idea of her." He threw his hands up in the air.
"And I was a fool enough to trust her," he sighed in defeat.
Cao Cao stared at his cousin. He placed a firm hand on Xiahou Dun's shoulder. "I hope you would think otherwise, Yuanrang. To understand her motives better," he said calmly. "Her name, her actions upon swearing loyalty to fight for my ambition, are marks of her decision to not be stained by the dark past. Much like those warriors who chose to be reborn and shine under my battlefields."
Xiahou Dun closed his eye. He uttered, "She is… who she is…"
The discordant sounds of the war drums coming from the frontline ships broke the momentary peace. A messenger ran towards them and fell on his knees.
"Mutiny, my lord! Mutiny on the ships! The mutineers have destroyed the chains!" he reported in between pants.
"Who would dare betray us now?" Cao Cao hissed. "Send out two cavalry units to quell the rebellion."
The navy soldiers of the front row boats used their shields to back off the northern infantry. The Jing soldiers displayed their familiarity with fighting over the water. Atop her horse, Ai Xin rode towards the outer boat of the formation. She drew out the famed blade and raised it to the sky.
"The Qinggang blade, the sharpest of all weapons. It will be tested on these chains!"
She could hear the defected men cheer at each broken chain. When she reached the end of the row, she got off her horse and made it leap over to the other side. Afterwards, she raised the blade and smashed it against the last chain.
True to its lore, the Qinggang blade withstood the trial sustaining minor damage.
"It's about to get messy," Xu Shu commented.
Ai Xin shrugged her shoulders, "When has battle never been messy?"
War drums began to beat their own tune, encouraging the rogue ships to row forward downstream. Unit captains were encouraging their men to row with every strength they had. They were able to pull away a good distance from the main fleet.
Despite knowing that they were heading straight into a fire attack, there was no turning back.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
The fire ships crashed into the mutineed boats. With the wind on the enemy side, the fire spread quickly onto the neighboring wooden surfaces. Cao and Jing soldiers abandoned their posts as Wu soldiers boarded and the fighting began.
Huang Gai, donned in his shiny red armor, boarded the ship and lifted his weapon over his shoulder. His stern eyes scanned the chaos above water and frowned.
"This does not look like a thousand ships," he said. "Have they seen through our fire attack?"
He heard a whizz of an arrow and raised a shield to block. He roared and turned towards the direction of the arrow.
"Do you think that's enough to stop me?"
He moved to a defensive stance when a warrior emerged from the smoke.
"You look cocky, warrior," Huang Gai said. "Come and fight me."
On the mountaintop where the ceremonial circle was built, Zhuge Liang watched the battle evolve. He waved his fan to dissipate the heat of the flames below.
He had not expected that Cao Cao would sacrifice his ships to create a firewall over water, without losing his men. It would be difficult for both sides to continue the campaign, leading to a stalemate.
The Sleeping Dragon noticed the back row ships breaking off from the formation and landing on the marshland shore. He wondered if Cao Cao would be able to retreat unharmed.
"Master Zhuge Liang," a voice spoke behind him. "Lord Liu Bei has sent me to fetch you. I have also eluded some of Zhou Yu's men who were on the way to capture you. We must go now."
Zhuge Liang turned around and calmly acknowledged Zhao Yun's presence.
"Very well. We must make haste in our return to our lord. I am sure Zhou Yu would send an apt farewell."
As the flames continued to burn, it was predicted that the fire would take days before it would die down. Cao Cao and his men managed to fend off the conjoined ambush from Liu Bei and Zhou Yu's armies. The allied forces did not expect a large number of forces. Hence, the northern army was able to find rest in their naval camp at Dongting lake.
Cao Cao stared at Cai Mao who knelt down in front of him. He wondered if this was the Jing general's idea.
"Explain yourself," Cao Cao ordered.
Cai Mao bowed his head, "Our role was to ensure the safety of the ships, Lord Cao Cao. Every action we took was in accordance with Lady Ai Xin's plan..."
Silence.
"Divulge to me what that foolish woman had planned," Cao Cao said.
"The mutiny was a ruse for the men to retreat back to the main fleet, while the two strategists worked out a way to break the chains. My men bravely volunteered to steer the ships forward and collided with Huang Gai's fire boats and take down every enemy."
Cai Mao unclasped the scabbard on his belt and extended it to Cao Cao. He said, "I was ordered by the lady to return this to you."
Cao Cao pulled the sword and gazed as the Qinggang blade's glow mixed with the red hue of the flames. The vision of a sea of flames flashed before his eyes. He understood now the message of that haunting melody. He returned the blade back into its scabbard and set it aside.
"Ma Teng's army threatens Xuchang. I must return to defend it," the warlord said. "You have proven your loyalty once more, Cai Mao. I trust the defense of the naval camps and of Jiangling to you."
As Cao Cao's army began to make preparations for their march home, some had rode ahead to replenish supplies at Jiangling. Xiahou Dun stayed behind within the naval camp along with Xu Zhu, keen on getting news of any survivors from the fire attack.
He stopped in front of her old tent. As he pulled open the flap and entered, his mind replayed the last events he saw her.
When the calls for a mutiny were found to be a ruse, it was quickly followed by the enemy fire attack. With the wind against them, the fire had spread easily on the two rows of ships.
He urged his horse to reach the edge row of ships to get a better glimpse of the battle ahead.
Then he saw it. The woman was fighting among the flames. He saw the false defector disarm her as she fell on her knees.
Huang Gai held her by the hair and lifted it up to expose her neck for his blade. He raised his sword arm and swung down.
He shouted her name.
A burning pillar fell on them, breaking through the ship. As smoke clouds swirled up to the sky, so did his anguished cries.
The tent was tidy, unusual from the regular mess of ink and scrolls. A shiny object caught his eye. As he approached the table, he found a scroll with a flower-shaped carved hairpin tied on it.
It was her favorite one.
His heart twisted at the last memory of this place. He left it filled with anger that was now converted to regret.
"You are alone, General Yuanrang."
Xiahou Dun snapped up and saw Zhang He enter. The tall warrior did not look like his usual cheerful self either, instead he walked with a heavy weight on his shoulders.
"Zhang Junyi…"
"Lord Cao Cao ordered me to personally ensure the lady's belongings are brought back to Xuchang for safekeeping," Zhang He declared. He strode over to Ai Xin's personal chest. He opened it and began to check the items.
Zhang He sighed. His fair features etched with sorrow as he easily identified the woman's belongings. He said, "General Zhang Wenyuan told me everything, and it was painful to witness the man's anguish. I could only hope that anything I could find here would help him ease his grief."
He closed the box and lifted it with his hands. Be straightened up and glanced over to Xiahou Dun.
"Be well, General Xiahou. Have faith that she is out there, because I would like to believe it so," he said. With that, the Butterfly left.
With privacy regained, Xiahou Dun turned his attention to the scroll. He pulled out the hairpin and set it aside. A short letter hastily written and blotchy with tears.
My time with you was short, but my love for you seemed like forever. Forgive me, my lord. Farewell, my lover.
Until our paths cross again.
He crushed the paper in his hands. She had pushed him away with the truth, so that his decision to end things would be justified. Was it intentional? Was it a part of some plan?
He would never know now.
"Ai Xin…."
Fire and snow tore away its wings
Alas, young nightingale fell from the sky
Into the Yangtze her body floats away
Yet her spirit flies on
Ever wandering, far and wide
To find a home, another life