Post by Sun Yuan Ci on Jul 25, 2008 23:37:38 GMT -5
*It had been a short supply of days since the night that haunted Zhiyun still. He could remember everything so clearly in his mind. The echoing chanted murmurs of the patrons around him, the moonlight sneaking in through the thin windows that stood high in the palace. He remembered the sound of the door when it was forced open, and the pounding footsteps of soldiers who brought the men in, bound and trapped. Zhiyun remembered it all so well, especially that one fateful moment when he saw his father for the first time in years. He knew not what had happened between his father, Dong Zhuo, or any of the other followers that were brought in. But honestly, he did not care any more. For his entire life, the burdens of his father rested on his shoulders, but now he was free. He had made peace with his thoughts in that regard. Though he still hated the man, his inner demon that would slay him in cold blood was held at bay… forever.*
*As the cycle of the moon progressed as slowly as it ever had, Sun Yuan Ci simply rode. He and his men, and his cousin, they rode to nowhere. They would ride from village to village, stopping every now and then to stay the night, guaranteeing the safety of the village they stayed at in exchange for a place to set camp. They first road out to the west of Luo Yang, following the rumors of a group of remnant soldiers who still pitched Dong Zhuo’s banner from their spears.*
*At first, Sun Yuan Ci himself was hot on the trail, he and some of his scouts were trailing them up to a day and a half’s distance away. Then, suddenly, before they could notice a single footprint or a twig snapped in half by an armored boot, the trail vanished. Zhiyun could not believe it. A first thought was that they were discovered and killed before he himself could do the deed, but such was not the case. If that had happened, he’d be able to find a second trail of the band that had slain the remnant forces, or he’d surely find the spot where the battle had taken place. Alas, nothing.*
*That night, they rested at a village two li from the spot that the trail had vanished. Nothing was out of the ordinary, but behind the scenes was a trap. Sun Yuan Ci, oblivious to anything of the sort, fell asleep with his mind lingering on the missing trail. As he and his company slept, the guard on duty fell to an arrow, allowing a large party of soldiers bearing the banner of Dong Zhuo to flee the village. Soon after, an alarm was called and Sun Yuan Ci was awoken, departing his tent donning full battle armor and his Crescent Spear at his side. It was dark, trailing the soldiers east would be tough, especially considering the condition the spearman now found himself in. He looked up toward the village to see an armored and hooded man approaching him. His arms were crossed at his chest, and in each hand was a hook sword.*
“Stop where you stand and present to me your name, soldier, lest you dare wish to call thyself mine enemy!”
*Sun Yuan Ci slammed the end of his spear to the ground, exclamating his threatening finish. The soldier who approached, unidentified by any in Sun Yuan Ci’s company, hung his head low, where the moonlight shone not on his face due to the hanging hood over his head. Zhiyun tilted his head, intrigued at the man. Surely he was no common soldier who wished to fight. Zhiyun would have dismissed anyone from being foolish enough to fight him after the battle that ended Dong’s reign. After all, he was the one who had heard what people were saying about him being ‘the man that Lu Bu feared.’ If this title was given to him, then who would wish to fight a soldier who matched the mighty Lu Bu, even drawing a sword to the demon’s neck? As odd as it was, the case remained: a man with blades approached his company. Sun Yuan Ci stepped forth.*
*An enemy he was. As Sun Yuan Ci drew closer, in a defensive stance, preparing himself for anything the other man could throw at him, he was assaulted by a series of spins and slashes from the unknown soldier. He positioned himself to avoid as many of the slashes as possible, then holding out his spear’s shaft to deflect the next series as they came. The unknown warrior broke off, stepping back before twirling the swords in his hands and launching himself forward once more, hacking away at a Sun Yuan Ci who was stuck defending. Usually in duels such as these, Zhiyun enjoyed the defense. He would sit back and use his reflexes and swiftness to deflect each move. As with a spear in his hand, Zhiyun could boast invincibility. He would usually remain defensive, until that single window of opportunity presented itself, and with a flick of the wrist or a subtle waver of his spear, he would claim victory.*
*But here, this opponent did not allow such a window to open.*
*His speed with dual swords was incredible. Sun Yuan Ci could do nothing. He continued to step back, deflecting each sword strike as it came, patiently awaiting the proper moment. After many bouts, he saw it. The unknown warrior grew impatient, and began taking larger steps, and throwing harder attacks with his swords. Between the two, Sun Yuan Ci was able to approach close, throwing his hooded opponent off, at which time Yuan Ci spun off to his right, swiping the blade of his spear over the ground as he recovered his posture. He could feel when it happened. When the steel of his spear clashed with the steel of his opponent’s armor, ripping it apart and cleaving with flesh. It was not a clean strike due to the inaccuracy of Zhiyun’s attack, and it was only a connection to the hooded soldier’s thigh. Nevertheless, it was enough to send the soldier to his feet. Sun Yuan Ci quickly brought the hook of the Crescent Spear around his fallen foe’s neck, ready to pull it back to violently end the man’s life.*
“Your name, warrior. Present it.”
*After a moment, the fallen soldier coughed the response.*
“Liang Xun. Now you may wish to know… I wish not to serve Dong Zhuo, in his reign or after his defeat.”
“So why do you fight me now? Why do you fight for a defeated man like Dong?”
“My father carries influence in the courts. I was to be a general, though my lack of enthusiasm presented any advance. I stand before you as a mere corporal.”
“My father also carried influence. I held that against him, I fought against the man. You fight for him. I cannot help but notice that as much as we have in common between our backgrounds, we show as much difference in our current positions. Look at us now, you on the floor and me above you, steadying my blade that could end your life in a second.”
“You may call me dishonorable at any moment for my questionable decisions. But I fight now simply to fight the man before me. When our company heard of the mighty Sun Yuan Ci trailing us, they departed while I stayed to test my own abilities against yours. Now, defeated, I offer you my services. My company, the remaining followers of Dong Zhuo, they now flee to Xia Pi. I can lead you to them, if you would only offer me your trust.”
*Zhiyun waited for a moment, pondering the possibilities. He decided to allow the man to rise. They mounted him on horseback, at which point Zhiyun and his men followed Liang Xun, who led them east now. Past Luo Yang, past the central plains, now to the point where the sea met the Yellow River. Just as Liang Xun had said, a camp waited for them at the riverbank. Zhiyun ordered his men to raid it, and leave no man alive. While they stormed into the camp, Zhiyun talked to his guide.*
“I cannot say I understand you. You serve a man you despise, because you serve you father, who you despise. You serve these men after their defeat, because you wished to fight me. After your defeat, you then submit and lead me to the men you once served…”
“You can say I work in mysterious ways. I do not toy with fate. My decisions cannot effect the land like yours can. I follow the life the heavens have granted me, and here they give me to you. My fate is sealed, as a common soldier’s is. But you, Zhiyun, you are in a position to do so much more. Your fate is what you will it to be. You may sit by and let the land fall to another man who follows Dong Zhuo’s ideals, or you may do something for this land. You think I have helped you accomplish something by helping you defeat these soldiers? On the grand scale, my friend, we haven’t accomplished a damn thing. Slaying a handful of puppets who frantically search for a puppet master? That will not keep the chaos from grasping the land once more. The people of the land look to you, Zhiyun. What shall they see?”
*He was at a loss of words. This was not the first time Sun Yuan Ci had heard this, as since he took up arms, and especially after his feats on the battlefield, soldiers had flocked to him. He made a promise to the people that he would be the hero the land needed, after he one by one diminished the names of the warlords who now vied for power. Perhaps now it would be time for Sun Yuan Ci to take action. Alas, not now…but soon. Zhiyun lowered his head, speaking once more to the wordsmith in his presence.*
“They shall see a soldier of justice… They shall see a hero of China.”
*As the cycle of the moon progressed as slowly as it ever had, Sun Yuan Ci simply rode. He and his men, and his cousin, they rode to nowhere. They would ride from village to village, stopping every now and then to stay the night, guaranteeing the safety of the village they stayed at in exchange for a place to set camp. They first road out to the west of Luo Yang, following the rumors of a group of remnant soldiers who still pitched Dong Zhuo’s banner from their spears.*
*At first, Sun Yuan Ci himself was hot on the trail, he and some of his scouts were trailing them up to a day and a half’s distance away. Then, suddenly, before they could notice a single footprint or a twig snapped in half by an armored boot, the trail vanished. Zhiyun could not believe it. A first thought was that they were discovered and killed before he himself could do the deed, but such was not the case. If that had happened, he’d be able to find a second trail of the band that had slain the remnant forces, or he’d surely find the spot where the battle had taken place. Alas, nothing.*
*That night, they rested at a village two li from the spot that the trail had vanished. Nothing was out of the ordinary, but behind the scenes was a trap. Sun Yuan Ci, oblivious to anything of the sort, fell asleep with his mind lingering on the missing trail. As he and his company slept, the guard on duty fell to an arrow, allowing a large party of soldiers bearing the banner of Dong Zhuo to flee the village. Soon after, an alarm was called and Sun Yuan Ci was awoken, departing his tent donning full battle armor and his Crescent Spear at his side. It was dark, trailing the soldiers east would be tough, especially considering the condition the spearman now found himself in. He looked up toward the village to see an armored and hooded man approaching him. His arms were crossed at his chest, and in each hand was a hook sword.*
“Stop where you stand and present to me your name, soldier, lest you dare wish to call thyself mine enemy!”
*Sun Yuan Ci slammed the end of his spear to the ground, exclamating his threatening finish. The soldier who approached, unidentified by any in Sun Yuan Ci’s company, hung his head low, where the moonlight shone not on his face due to the hanging hood over his head. Zhiyun tilted his head, intrigued at the man. Surely he was no common soldier who wished to fight. Zhiyun would have dismissed anyone from being foolish enough to fight him after the battle that ended Dong’s reign. After all, he was the one who had heard what people were saying about him being ‘the man that Lu Bu feared.’ If this title was given to him, then who would wish to fight a soldier who matched the mighty Lu Bu, even drawing a sword to the demon’s neck? As odd as it was, the case remained: a man with blades approached his company. Sun Yuan Ci stepped forth.*
*An enemy he was. As Sun Yuan Ci drew closer, in a defensive stance, preparing himself for anything the other man could throw at him, he was assaulted by a series of spins and slashes from the unknown soldier. He positioned himself to avoid as many of the slashes as possible, then holding out his spear’s shaft to deflect the next series as they came. The unknown warrior broke off, stepping back before twirling the swords in his hands and launching himself forward once more, hacking away at a Sun Yuan Ci who was stuck defending. Usually in duels such as these, Zhiyun enjoyed the defense. He would sit back and use his reflexes and swiftness to deflect each move. As with a spear in his hand, Zhiyun could boast invincibility. He would usually remain defensive, until that single window of opportunity presented itself, and with a flick of the wrist or a subtle waver of his spear, he would claim victory.*
*But here, this opponent did not allow such a window to open.*
*His speed with dual swords was incredible. Sun Yuan Ci could do nothing. He continued to step back, deflecting each sword strike as it came, patiently awaiting the proper moment. After many bouts, he saw it. The unknown warrior grew impatient, and began taking larger steps, and throwing harder attacks with his swords. Between the two, Sun Yuan Ci was able to approach close, throwing his hooded opponent off, at which time Yuan Ci spun off to his right, swiping the blade of his spear over the ground as he recovered his posture. He could feel when it happened. When the steel of his spear clashed with the steel of his opponent’s armor, ripping it apart and cleaving with flesh. It was not a clean strike due to the inaccuracy of Zhiyun’s attack, and it was only a connection to the hooded soldier’s thigh. Nevertheless, it was enough to send the soldier to his feet. Sun Yuan Ci quickly brought the hook of the Crescent Spear around his fallen foe’s neck, ready to pull it back to violently end the man’s life.*
“Your name, warrior. Present it.”
*After a moment, the fallen soldier coughed the response.*
“Liang Xun. Now you may wish to know… I wish not to serve Dong Zhuo, in his reign or after his defeat.”
“So why do you fight me now? Why do you fight for a defeated man like Dong?”
“My father carries influence in the courts. I was to be a general, though my lack of enthusiasm presented any advance. I stand before you as a mere corporal.”
“My father also carried influence. I held that against him, I fought against the man. You fight for him. I cannot help but notice that as much as we have in common between our backgrounds, we show as much difference in our current positions. Look at us now, you on the floor and me above you, steadying my blade that could end your life in a second.”
“You may call me dishonorable at any moment for my questionable decisions. But I fight now simply to fight the man before me. When our company heard of the mighty Sun Yuan Ci trailing us, they departed while I stayed to test my own abilities against yours. Now, defeated, I offer you my services. My company, the remaining followers of Dong Zhuo, they now flee to Xia Pi. I can lead you to them, if you would only offer me your trust.”
*Zhiyun waited for a moment, pondering the possibilities. He decided to allow the man to rise. They mounted him on horseback, at which point Zhiyun and his men followed Liang Xun, who led them east now. Past Luo Yang, past the central plains, now to the point where the sea met the Yellow River. Just as Liang Xun had said, a camp waited for them at the riverbank. Zhiyun ordered his men to raid it, and leave no man alive. While they stormed into the camp, Zhiyun talked to his guide.*
“I cannot say I understand you. You serve a man you despise, because you serve you father, who you despise. You serve these men after their defeat, because you wished to fight me. After your defeat, you then submit and lead me to the men you once served…”
“You can say I work in mysterious ways. I do not toy with fate. My decisions cannot effect the land like yours can. I follow the life the heavens have granted me, and here they give me to you. My fate is sealed, as a common soldier’s is. But you, Zhiyun, you are in a position to do so much more. Your fate is what you will it to be. You may sit by and let the land fall to another man who follows Dong Zhuo’s ideals, or you may do something for this land. You think I have helped you accomplish something by helping you defeat these soldiers? On the grand scale, my friend, we haven’t accomplished a damn thing. Slaying a handful of puppets who frantically search for a puppet master? That will not keep the chaos from grasping the land once more. The people of the land look to you, Zhiyun. What shall they see?”
*He was at a loss of words. This was not the first time Sun Yuan Ci had heard this, as since he took up arms, and especially after his feats on the battlefield, soldiers had flocked to him. He made a promise to the people that he would be the hero the land needed, after he one by one diminished the names of the warlords who now vied for power. Perhaps now it would be time for Sun Yuan Ci to take action. Alas, not now…but soon. Zhiyun lowered his head, speaking once more to the wordsmith in his presence.*
“They shall see a soldier of justice… They shall see a hero of China.”
