- Location
- barking
I mean a roman emperor decleared war on the sea so not the best examples
To Establish Peace - A Romance of the Three Kingdoms Quest
- Thread starter Gaz
- Start date
- Alt. History Historic
WhiteNights
Notorious Phoneposter
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Final Battle for Xinshen XIII - Flying Swallow vs Soaring Hawk
- Location
- UK
Ignoring both your physical and mental wounds, you dive off the wall into the inner courtyard below. You land onto the dirt on one knee, shaft of your ji grasped tightly in your right hand, and pick yourself up with a grunt. Your recognise the scenery - it felt like almost a lifetime ago when you had attended a social evening and banquet within this very estate. The last time you had been here, musicians had been playing in this very courtyard, dancers had been entertaining intoxicated and enraptured guests, overfilling cups had been raised, laughs had been shared. You recall the feeling of being such an outsider amongst the highest crop of scholars and gentry the surrounding counties had to offer, an almost unknown child walking amongst haughty and dignified men. You remember the sensation of having to muster courage from deep within the pits of your gut, in order to gain the nerves to deliver a speech to all the famous and respected guests present. Had the Ge clan intended to ensnare you even back then, back when things seemed so much simpler and more straightforward? Just what truths, if any, had been on display when you shared a conspiratorial conversation with Ge Maiyu back on that autumn evening?
As you recollect these memories, you walk through the claret stained courtyard. By now, you had become almost become numb to all the blood, all the maiming and all the death you had witnessed these last few seasons. With all the wounds you had inflicted and foes you had dispatched with either your hands or your orders, the shock of seeing death was starting to become mundane to you - but even you had to look twice and feel a pang of regret when you saw children among the fresh corpses scattered across the courtyard. A pair of small girls, younger than your own sisters, lay dead amongst a bed of flowers, hands gripped together - a hand axe lodged into each of their spines. Whether associated with the Ge clan or not, no child deserved such a grim fate, and this was another cruel reminder to you of just how harsh and evil the bandit menace truly was. Those poor children could easily have been Mi and Zhen, had your own estate been raided so violently by enemies. Shaking your head with remorse, you carried on, quickening your step as you scanned the burning gardens for a trail of Chu Yan. You were right behind the bastard, he surely cannot have fled too far...
You pass by a wall segmenting different sections of the courtyard, turning a corner into a wider stretch of garden within. There, past a pair of ornate lion statues, up a small stone staircase, atop a raised platform in the centre of this secluded part of the grounds, you spotted a handful of green robed figures. They each had a drawn blade, and appeared to be patrolling around, or keeping watch. Without any hesitation, you made your way boldly past the flanking statues and towards the stone steps.
"Where is Chu Yan, you villains? Bring him forth!" You demanded with clarity, brandishing your ji. "Or has your cowardly master abandoned you here to your fates?"
As you look up to the top of the raised stone dais, you see the robe clad figures swing their heads in your direction, before stepping aside. An discomforting, unsettling, almost manic chuckling can be heard just ahead, as you begin to ascend up the stairs, keeping your weapon ready. You now count four men, eyeing them warily, before peering through the rain and smoke at the centre of the elevated platform.
Standing there is a familiar old man, standing tall. His fine grey robes are becoming soaked through and are stained with mud and dirt in several places. He looks at you, his wizened eyes meeting yours.
"Ge Lang." You say, staring across at the elderly patriarch of the Ge family.
It is then you noticed one of his arms is bent behind his back, and there is an axe blade at his throat from behind. A figure, crouched low behind him, stands up to his full height, and Chu Yan reveals himself once more, looming behind the Ge elder you now realise is a captive. His grinning face looms unsettlingly close to Ge Lang's, peering over the old patriarch's shoulder to look at you.
"Oh now this is fun. You DID come, after all!" Chu Yan chuckles again, getting spittle all over Ge Lang's shoulder. "I was hoping to extract our old host here to a more...to well, a safer location before I spoke to him, but since you are here too... I do think the three of us have a mutual interest in sharing this conversation! Heh ha heh!"
"Was this your intent, Chu Yan?" You ask, reaching the top of the stairs, and watching the four armed thugs move to flank their leader. "To bargain your way out of here with a hostage?"
"Liang Shu, my lad..." Old Ge Lang gasps and croaks, wincing under the pain of having his arm held from behind. "Assist me! Please! This...this lunatic, this madman, he seeks to slay us all!"
As soon as you take an instinctive step forward, you watch the hand axe blade pressing higher against the throat of the old hostage, who winces and cries out as his arm is bent further back by Chu Yan.
"Ah, ah, let us not get too hasty, Liang Shu! I fear our elderly host here is...rather fragile. It would be a pity indeed if a terrible accident befell this seasoned gentleman." Chu Yan hisses out in a low, mocking sort of way.
You stop in your tracks, and scowl. "I do hope you realise that you have no opportunities to flee this place, Chu Yan. Either save us all some time by tossing aside your blades and ordering your followers to stand down, or let us attempt to settle this as warriors. Your attempts at traps and ploys have failed you this time. One way or another, let us finish this."
"Ha heh ha...such bravado, such guts! The raw determination of a young man on a quest for vengeance! This is what I like to see!" The bandit leader lets out a low chuckle, raising his axe away from Ge Lang's neck, but keeping his grip on his bent back arm. "Unfortunately, there are things your blind anger and straightforward sense of justice have failed to see! I will explain for you - this was never about you, Liang Shu, believe it or not! It was never about me either, in all of this, the two of us have merely been pawns on opposite ends of a xiangqi board, a board with a single player attempting to control both sides!"
"Nng...do not...do not listen to him, my boy!" Ge Lang gasps out, struggling somewhat under the bandit's strength. "His words are akin to poison, do not allow them to sully your mind!"
"All along it was all about...you, wasn't it...Ge Lang, you miserable old oaf? You are the real schemer here, aren't you? You thought yourself so, so very clever and above repercussions.." Chu Yan glares at his aged hostage, licking his lips uncomfortable close to his wrinkled face. He moves his mouth right to Ge Lang's ear, and hisses down it, loud enough for you to hear. "I never came to Xinshen for the boy, I never came here for wealth or prestige, or recognition, or infamy or profit, I came here for you, you villainous old snake. The only reason I have yet to slit your miserable throat is because there are still members of your rotten family you need to watch die. I am not leaving here until you fully understand the toll you must pay for all you have done. Once I have crushed your spirits enough for you to confess to all of your kin's deeds, perhaps then I will give you the privilege of dying. Perhaps instead I will hand you over to the new magistrate, perhaps your cooperation and admittance of guilt will be enough to buy me a pardon..."
"Liar...l-liar!" Ge Lang flinches and struggles, tears welling up in his eyes. "Liang Shu! Save me, save us, I beg of you! You came here to rescue us, did you not?! Please, even if I die at this rebel's hands, you must rescue my family, my grandchildren...please...please...!"
You listen to his almost pitiful plea, and stare at him. Had this happened a scant few days prior, or had you been ignorant to certain facts, then perhaps you would have taken action here. With what you know, however, you have absolutely no intention to risk yourself in saving this old man, not after what you were told before. You had not yet imagined what you would do if you ever met Ge Lang again, but you do hear the wise advice of Dong Zhuo echoing in your mind...
"Perhaps, my dear host, we can enlighten the young hawk on what you did? On what you are responsible for?" Chu Yan's grin reappears, as he creaks his head back in your direction. "Perhaps, Liang Shu, my old friend here can help enlighten you on the truth..."
You hear Ge Lang's pleas and protestations again, but you ignore them entirely. You take a step forward, and then another, and another.
"Woah woah, that is far enough!" Chu Yan brings his axe back down to the old man's jugular. "Stay right there...you would not want his death to be on your hands, would you, little hero?"
"I already know what he did." You declare, loudly and clearly. "Ge Lang used his influence to stuff the county offices with corruptible and incompetent men, to weaken the control and ability of Prefect Leng Jun. He sank his fangs deep into the very neck of Xinshen, for the benefit and profit of his own clan. By puppeting the Prefect and his offices, banditry was allowed to thrive, which would cause people to turn even further against the establishment, and seek aid from the Ge clan instead. When Leng Jun was no longer useful to him, he had his own granddaughter hire sellswords to murder him, an officer of the Han. Furthermore, he attempted to frame me for this treasonous crime, because my own actions were starting to threaten his own dominance and influence in local affairs and politics. He is also very likely responsible for the weakening and impoverishment of other gentry families in the area, to increase the prestige and wealth of his own clan and his close associates and cronies."
"No...no, these are falsehoods! Ge Lang spits out, the fear in his tone shifting to accusation and anger. "How dare you make such baseless claims?! You are as ignorant as I thought, boy!"
"That is not all." You continue. "Evidence has been uncovered that Ge Lang paid for the death of another Prefect, using his wealth to fund the murder of another loyal servant of the Han. Last year, he hired you, Chu Yan, to raid Xinshen with the intent of murdering Prefect Liang Qi...my father."
A look of genuine surprise and shock comes across Chu Yan's features, as he lowers his axe once more, and stands up to full height behind Ge Lang. "You...you already knew? You already knew." He looks to one of his followers, "He already knew! How?! That ruins the entire surprise! Gah! W-well, well no matter...now that you know the truth, Liang Shu, you surely now realise that you and I are both victims of this old bastard's machinations. We are not enemies, we have no reason to continue this fight or hold petty grudges. Let us not blame each other, when the Ge are to blame!"
You let out a wry chuckle. "Heh. Such foolishness. As expected for one so callous." You shake your head. "My father's death may have been paid for by the purse of the Ge, but it was still your arrows that felled him, Chu Yan. Furthermore, I am not as single minded as I think you imagine I am. I seek vengeance, that is certain, but not merely for the passing of my father alone. You and your ilk have caused unsurmountable suffering to the people of Bing Province. I am not the only child to have had to mourn a parent killed by you and your bandits. You have spread misery, murder, maiming, theft and flames all across this once peaceful land. You have filled your pockets with the treasured heirlooms of families you have destroyed, whilst other families have had to starve whilst you fill your bellies on their crops and cattle. Mothers and fathers have had to bury their own children and babes, and entire villages have been left as feasts for dogs and crows! Countless masses have had to abandon their homes and leave their sick and elderly relatives to flee your cancer of destruction and malice. You are a blight on this world, Chu Yan, and it is my sworn, solemn duty to bring an end to you. Do not dare to presume there is some common ground that we can find, and do not dare to claim you are a victim in this as well. Your choices have been yours to make, and the best that I can promise you is a swift judgement."
You raise your ji, pointing it forwards.
"You do not have a hostage in your hands there, Chu Yan. What you have done is made it possible for me to thrust my weapon through the hearts of both of my enemies at once!"
Fear and surprise causes Chu Yan's eyes to widen as you begin to dash towards him. He lets go of Ge Lang, before shoving him in front of him.
"Swallows! Don't just stand there, clip the hawk's wings!"
Chu Yan's four companions move to protect their leader, barring your path. You are forced to halt your charge prematurely, as their swinging blades cause you to take a defensive stance. You raise your ji to parry one swinging sword, and take a step to the side to avoid another. With a heave, you swing your polearm around to take the head of a third opponent, but you find it blocked by the fourth. All four surround you and encircle you. You have to get past this rabble and finish this, but - CLANG - you are forced to parry another blow, this time using the blade of your ji. Grunting, you strike the nearest foe in the side of his torso, before narrowly evading an overhead slash aimed at your head. All the while, you watch a bawling Ge Lang crawl on the ground trying to get away, and hear some incoherent ramblings under the breath of a pacing Chu Yan. You sweep your ji to scatter two of your attackers, but are immediately forced on the defensive as the other pair come at you from the other flank. This is not going to be easy, these men are clearly notches ahead of the typical brigand.
"Yes! Get him, kill him!" Chu Yan snarls as you find yourself getting forced backwards.
"Nng!" Grunting, your injuries aching once more, you set aside one attack, and then another, but you cannot create or find an opening. Just before you can be pressed to the edge of the platform, you catch the blade of one the warriors, and mustering your grit and strength, manage to use the leverage of your longer weapon to push him backwards, causing him to fall down to his rear. Another of the bandits has to sidestep to the left to avoid tripping over his knocked down ally, giving you some room to manoeuvre.
"Oho, you remembered some little tricks from that tournament last winter, I see!" Chu Yan comments, hopping away a few steps from the fray. "Your friends are not here to back you up this time, however, so let's hope you can handle yourself on your own..."
Trying to block out his words, you lunge swiftly with your ji at the closest enemy, but he is slightly too nimble and avoids your intent, causing the blade of your weapon to scrape harmlessly against the edge of his armoured cuirass. He gets inside your guard and forces you to spring back a pace or two to avoid his counter. The fourth of Chu Yan's minions, however, uses this opportunity to get behind you. At the last second you see him bring his dao down at your back and hastily reposition yourself. You were not quite able to manoeuvre as far away as you had hoped, however, and a sharp sting of pain aches from your left thigh. A glancing nick and not too deep, but it hurts a lot regardless, and you stumble for a moment before you right yourself, gasping and gritting your teeth.
"I was like you once...self righteous...thought I could change the world for the better..." Does Chu Yan ever shut up?! He certainly seems to like the sound of his own voice... "Raised my band to protect my home from invaders, to provide for the weak and defenseless and hungry..."
You are slouched slightly due to your injury. You know your foes will try and capitalise on this, but you just need an opening... You parry one strike, send another enemy crashing down to his knees with a strike from your shaft, but your stab to finish him off is blocked. Back onto the defensive, but you just need to hang on until one of them makes a mistake...
"Reality hit me, though, and the same will hit you one of these days... if you survive this, of course! What happens when you have no more "villains" to fight? What happens when your men grow hungry and you can no longer provide for them with platitudes about honour and promises of justice? What happens then?" Chu Yan is clearly just trying to distract you. You focus on defending yourself, blocking, evading. "Every "hero" is forced to make a choice, Hawk. Idealism does not keep men loyal nor does it keep them fed. If you want to soar on the wings of ambition, you cannot be afraid to abandon those still crawling down on the ground!"
You almost wonder why he has not taken this chance to just flee, given his four subordinates have confounded your efforts to attack him thus far. Your pragmatic side has to admit that if he joined the fray himself as well, you likely would not be able to last much longer in your current state.
"Alas, this is unfortunately going to be where your story ends, so you will not have the time or opportunity to heed my words." You spy as Chu Yan walks up behind Ge Lang, and yanks the screaming old patriarch up to his knees by his hair. "Whilst I am sure it would have sounded very poetic for you to slay your father's killer in the burning estate of the mastermind who plotted it all, thus granting you your ultimate revenge and bring you glorious filial piety whilst saving your beloved county... sadly for you, the world we live in is a harsher one than that, Liang Shu."
One of your foes catches the blade of your ji in the curve of his dao, and lets out a fierce grunt. Another uses this chance to hoist your weapon out of your hands, whilst a third kicks you hard in the chest and in your side, forcing you to your knees. Panting and gasping, you draw one of your own swords, and struggle up to your feet, just as your polearm is kicked off the platform.
"As for you, old snake, you have outlived whatever usefulness you had left." Chu Yan laments, ignoring the pleas and tears of Ge Lang. "Hardly even useful as a bargaining tool anymore, and keeping you around as a hostage hardly seems fun."
You struggle and duck under a slash, and parry another, but you are tiring fast - and you are hardly as skilled with a blade than you are with a polearm.
Chu Yan bends down to look Ge Lang in the eye. "Piteous fool. There is no one even left to lament and mourn your death. Whatever grave they dig for you will go unattended. What a fitting end for such a dastardly clan!"
As you evade another strike, you watch as, in a single motion, Chu Yan draws a second hand axe, and slashes with both at once. Ge Lang's head is rendered off his spike with a spray of red. Then, with a cuju kick, the cackling Chu Yan boots it down the stairs.
Towards one of the few people left who would mourn the death of Ge Lang.
"Grandfather!!!!" Ge Maiyu lets out a chilling shriek as the decapitated head of her grandfather lands at her feet at the bottom of the steps. "AAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Gripping her bloodstained jian tightly with both hands, she leaps up the stairs and into the fray.
Just as you are about to get cut down by one of Chu Yan's minions, he lets out a scream of pain as his right shoulder is stabbed through by the sword of Ge Maiyu, which gives you the opening you need to scramble out of the way of another attack. You elbow one of the men in the side of the head, and swing your sword with wild ferocity, pushing another back to the very edge of the platform.
"Oh, the vaunted young beauty enters the fray! The delightful last gasp of a dying clan!" Chu Yan comments, "Well, my dear, you will soon see that even the loveliest of petals can wilt under- w-woah!"
Ge Maiyu wastes no time in mincing words. With sheer, scornful, vengeful fury, she pushes past the bandit minions and swings her jian at Chu Yan brutally, forcing him to defend himself with his axes. Clearly surprised by her skill and ferocity, he is quickly forced on the defensive, blocking a slash with one axe, then knocking aside quick stab with the other.
As this is happening, you find your jian locked against the dao of another, unable to force him back or get free. You go back and fro with your swords, grunting, but you spy the other enemies looming at your back. In the corner of your eye, one rushes your undefended flank. You have no time to defend yourself, no way to avoid the incoming blade... You cannot even focus your attention on it, as the enemy pressing against your sword is about to break through your guard...
"Aaaaaaaah!"
A scream pierces the air. Blood spurts. A finger soars in the air, as a blade is dropped.
"Sorry... that I'm...late..." Lu Lingqi pants, arriving at your side, sword slicing the hand of the bandit coming at your flank. You use the chance to drive your knee into the gut of your frontal attacker, and shove him away with all your might.
"I had... this fully... under control, you know..." You quip, panting and trying to catch your breath.
She looks to the four bandits, to the decapitated body of Ge Lang, and Chu Yan trying to fend off an enraged Ge Maiyu. "Clearly...!" She looks bruised and worse for wear herself, with some cuts and her skirt and sleeves torn in places, her armour dented and hair falling loose like yours, but you are so, so glad to see her. She is panting for breath herself and seems somewhat winded. "You are lucky...that our fight headed in this direction..." Lu Lingqi looks to Maiyu for a second, now back to you.
"I appreciate it..." You say, now back to back with her. "Now...what say you that we finish this?"
With a nod and grunt of approval, Lu Lingqi steps forwards, and catches the blade of one bandit with her sword. With a shove of one-handed strength, she spins the thug over to you, allowing you to slash hard down his back, causing him to crumple downwards. Another strikes her in the shoulder with the hilt of his blade before bringing it down to her neck, but you are able to turn around to block it with your own. With a yell and an almighty kick, she punts him down the stone stairs. You watch as he tumbles down, hitting his head against each of the steps. With a crack, his skull splits open, as he comes to the stop near the head of Ge Lang.
"I will make you pay, you demon!" Ge Maiyu roars, somersaulting to evade a double axe slash by Chu Yan, kicking out in the air, barely missing his head.
"I always heard about how elegant and demure you were, a perfect little noblewoman." Chu Yan sneers, easily knocking aside a thrust aimed at him. "To think there was such a fire inside of you! You are much more intriguing than I could possible imagine! It is almost going to be a pity that I have to kill you!"
This time, it is Ge Maiyu who has no choice but to take the defensive. Her already injured body quakes as she barely blocks a fierce swing of one of the axes, and falls backwards onto her rear to avoid a second, and scrambles on the ground for a few moments. Now that Chu Yan has gotten over the initial shock, it appears he very much outmatches her.
Meanwhile, you find yourself knocked to the ground yourself, as you had been paying too much attention to the other fight that you had been caught off guard. The de-fingered adversary tackles you to the ground hard, and looms over you. Snarling, he boots down at your chest, and again. Lu Lingqi is too busy fending off the fourth bandit warrior to assist you this time. You cannot quite reach your blade, your fingers barely touch the hilt, before the wind is knocked out of you again by another heavy kick. Grunting and gasping, you reach around to your back.
Just as the bandit walks around to start kicking at your head, you grasp what you were hoping for. With the determination of someone who simply made too many promises to die in such a fashion, you yank a crossbow bolt out of your quiver and drive it down into his foot. With a shriek of agony, he collapses to one knee, as blood oozes out of the top of his foot.
Letting out a splutter and gasp for air, you clamber up to your knees, and without hesitation, take a second bolt and stab it into his throat.
At the same time, Lu Lingqi headbutts the remaining bandit in the nose, and as he stumbles back wailing, slices through his gut with brutal efficiency.
A scream of pain comes from Ge Maiyu, as a downward slash from Chu Yan cuts down through her cheek and part of her upper lip. A strike with the butt of his other axe hits her in the gut, and she drops to her knees, winded.
"You know, things would have been much better for you if your precious grandfather had just fulfilled his damn promises!" Chu Yan barks out, smacking her hard in the face with the butt of an axe. "I'd be richer, you'd be my bride, and your family would still be alive! Too bad for you that he was a lying dastard, I suppose!"
Ge Maiyu crumples down with a cry as Chu Yan bashes her in the side of the face again. With a disgusting, demonic sneer, he brings his axe down... only for his wrist to be caught by the strong grip of Lu Lingqi.
"Apologies, but she and I have an unfinished fight." She spits at him, holding up his forearm with one hand.
"Tsk, guess I will just have to take care of all of you myself, then." Chu Yan growls, bringing his other axe down at Lu Lingqi. This too, is caught. "W-what?" A surprised Chu Yan looks in disbelief as a panting, bleeding, but still angry Ge Maiyu, springs to her feet and latches on hard to his other arm.
"As she said...we...have business unfinished..." Ge Maiyu pants, holding down Chu Yan's arm with all her remaining strength.
"Agh...ugh...get...get off me, dammit!" The bandit leader wails, struggling against the strength of both young ladies. "No...this isn't how it's supposed to happen! Let go!"
Drawing your second sword, you walk forwards slowly. You limp from your bleeding leg and injured back, and stumble slightly, your vision a little blurred. You watch as Lu Lingqi and Ge Maiyu, exhausted and wounded as they both are, bend back both arms of Chu Yan hard enough for him to drop both axes.
A part of you always imagined a fair fight, between the two of you. Perhaps meeting in battle, on horseback, and engaging each other in a climatic, final duel to decide the fate of Xinshen.
However, he had opted against that.
So, it had come to this.
How many lives had been lost? How many had suffered and struggled?
You take a few steps forwards.
For the sake of everyone counting on you, for all the bonds you have forged, for friends new and old...
"Do it, Shu!" Lu Lingqi shouts at you.
"End this, Shu!" Ge Maiyu's voice joins hers.
You stumble for a moment, and stagger, before continuing to limp forwards.
"No...no wait!" Chu Yan is now the one to plea and beg. "We can work something out! We can make a deal! Wait!"
"Avenge both our families!" Ge Maiyu screams.
"This is the chance you have waited for, for so long!" Lu Lingqi grunts.
You stare him dead in the eye, as he struggles and flails under the pin of Lingqi and Maiyu. Somewhere nearby, a burning tree falls. The rains begin to cease.
You raise your jian with both hands, gripping the hilt so tight your palms begin to ache.
"FINISH HIM, LIANG SHU!" Both ladies yell almost in unison.
You drive your blade forwards with a scream that desires revenge.
Chu Yan falls off the platform, your sword still impaled in his chest. He plummets down into the pond below, dead.
The three of you collapse to your knees, as the estate burns around you. All of you pant and struggle for breath, all bleeding and bruised and battered.
You feel both of their bodies lean against yours.
Chu Yan is dead.
He is actually dead. You did it.
It's over. You did it.
The three of you did it.
As you recollect these memories, you walk through the claret stained courtyard. By now, you had become almost become numb to all the blood, all the maiming and all the death you had witnessed these last few seasons. With all the wounds you had inflicted and foes you had dispatched with either your hands or your orders, the shock of seeing death was starting to become mundane to you - but even you had to look twice and feel a pang of regret when you saw children among the fresh corpses scattered across the courtyard. A pair of small girls, younger than your own sisters, lay dead amongst a bed of flowers, hands gripped together - a hand axe lodged into each of their spines. Whether associated with the Ge clan or not, no child deserved such a grim fate, and this was another cruel reminder to you of just how harsh and evil the bandit menace truly was. Those poor children could easily have been Mi and Zhen, had your own estate been raided so violently by enemies. Shaking your head with remorse, you carried on, quickening your step as you scanned the burning gardens for a trail of Chu Yan. You were right behind the bastard, he surely cannot have fled too far...
You pass by a wall segmenting different sections of the courtyard, turning a corner into a wider stretch of garden within. There, past a pair of ornate lion statues, up a small stone staircase, atop a raised platform in the centre of this secluded part of the grounds, you spotted a handful of green robed figures. They each had a drawn blade, and appeared to be patrolling around, or keeping watch. Without any hesitation, you made your way boldly past the flanking statues and towards the stone steps.
"Where is Chu Yan, you villains? Bring him forth!" You demanded with clarity, brandishing your ji. "Or has your cowardly master abandoned you here to your fates?"
As you look up to the top of the raised stone dais, you see the robe clad figures swing their heads in your direction, before stepping aside. An discomforting, unsettling, almost manic chuckling can be heard just ahead, as you begin to ascend up the stairs, keeping your weapon ready. You now count four men, eyeing them warily, before peering through the rain and smoke at the centre of the elevated platform.
Standing there is a familiar old man, standing tall. His fine grey robes are becoming soaked through and are stained with mud and dirt in several places. He looks at you, his wizened eyes meeting yours.
"Ge Lang." You say, staring across at the elderly patriarch of the Ge family.
It is then you noticed one of his arms is bent behind his back, and there is an axe blade at his throat from behind. A figure, crouched low behind him, stands up to his full height, and Chu Yan reveals himself once more, looming behind the Ge elder you now realise is a captive. His grinning face looms unsettlingly close to Ge Lang's, peering over the old patriarch's shoulder to look at you.
"Oh now this is fun. You DID come, after all!" Chu Yan chuckles again, getting spittle all over Ge Lang's shoulder. "I was hoping to extract our old host here to a more...to well, a safer location before I spoke to him, but since you are here too... I do think the three of us have a mutual interest in sharing this conversation! Heh ha heh!"
"Was this your intent, Chu Yan?" You ask, reaching the top of the stairs, and watching the four armed thugs move to flank their leader. "To bargain your way out of here with a hostage?"
"Liang Shu, my lad..." Old Ge Lang gasps and croaks, wincing under the pain of having his arm held from behind. "Assist me! Please! This...this lunatic, this madman, he seeks to slay us all!"
As soon as you take an instinctive step forward, you watch the hand axe blade pressing higher against the throat of the old hostage, who winces and cries out as his arm is bent further back by Chu Yan.
"Ah, ah, let us not get too hasty, Liang Shu! I fear our elderly host here is...rather fragile. It would be a pity indeed if a terrible accident befell this seasoned gentleman." Chu Yan hisses out in a low, mocking sort of way.
You stop in your tracks, and scowl. "I do hope you realise that you have no opportunities to flee this place, Chu Yan. Either save us all some time by tossing aside your blades and ordering your followers to stand down, or let us attempt to settle this as warriors. Your attempts at traps and ploys have failed you this time. One way or another, let us finish this."
"Ha heh ha...such bravado, such guts! The raw determination of a young man on a quest for vengeance! This is what I like to see!" The bandit leader lets out a low chuckle, raising his axe away from Ge Lang's neck, but keeping his grip on his bent back arm. "Unfortunately, there are things your blind anger and straightforward sense of justice have failed to see! I will explain for you - this was never about you, Liang Shu, believe it or not! It was never about me either, in all of this, the two of us have merely been pawns on opposite ends of a xiangqi board, a board with a single player attempting to control both sides!"
"Nng...do not...do not listen to him, my boy!" Ge Lang gasps out, struggling somewhat under the bandit's strength. "His words are akin to poison, do not allow them to sully your mind!"
"All along it was all about...you, wasn't it...Ge Lang, you miserable old oaf? You are the real schemer here, aren't you? You thought yourself so, so very clever and above repercussions.." Chu Yan glares at his aged hostage, licking his lips uncomfortable close to his wrinkled face. He moves his mouth right to Ge Lang's ear, and hisses down it, loud enough for you to hear. "I never came to Xinshen for the boy, I never came here for wealth or prestige, or recognition, or infamy or profit, I came here for you, you villainous old snake. The only reason I have yet to slit your miserable throat is because there are still members of your rotten family you need to watch die. I am not leaving here until you fully understand the toll you must pay for all you have done. Once I have crushed your spirits enough for you to confess to all of your kin's deeds, perhaps then I will give you the privilege of dying. Perhaps instead I will hand you over to the new magistrate, perhaps your cooperation and admittance of guilt will be enough to buy me a pardon..."
"Liar...l-liar!" Ge Lang flinches and struggles, tears welling up in his eyes. "Liang Shu! Save me, save us, I beg of you! You came here to rescue us, did you not?! Please, even if I die at this rebel's hands, you must rescue my family, my grandchildren...please...please...!"
You listen to his almost pitiful plea, and stare at him. Had this happened a scant few days prior, or had you been ignorant to certain facts, then perhaps you would have taken action here. With what you know, however, you have absolutely no intention to risk yourself in saving this old man, not after what you were told before. You had not yet imagined what you would do if you ever met Ge Lang again, but you do hear the wise advice of Dong Zhuo echoing in your mind...
"Perhaps, my dear host, we can enlighten the young hawk on what you did? On what you are responsible for?" Chu Yan's grin reappears, as he creaks his head back in your direction. "Perhaps, Liang Shu, my old friend here can help enlighten you on the truth..."
You hear Ge Lang's pleas and protestations again, but you ignore them entirely. You take a step forward, and then another, and another.
"Woah woah, that is far enough!" Chu Yan brings his axe back down to the old man's jugular. "Stay right there...you would not want his death to be on your hands, would you, little hero?"
"I already know what he did." You declare, loudly and clearly. "Ge Lang used his influence to stuff the county offices with corruptible and incompetent men, to weaken the control and ability of Prefect Leng Jun. He sank his fangs deep into the very neck of Xinshen, for the benefit and profit of his own clan. By puppeting the Prefect and his offices, banditry was allowed to thrive, which would cause people to turn even further against the establishment, and seek aid from the Ge clan instead. When Leng Jun was no longer useful to him, he had his own granddaughter hire sellswords to murder him, an officer of the Han. Furthermore, he attempted to frame me for this treasonous crime, because my own actions were starting to threaten his own dominance and influence in local affairs and politics. He is also very likely responsible for the weakening and impoverishment of other gentry families in the area, to increase the prestige and wealth of his own clan and his close associates and cronies."
"No...no, these are falsehoods! Ge Lang spits out, the fear in his tone shifting to accusation and anger. "How dare you make such baseless claims?! You are as ignorant as I thought, boy!"
"That is not all." You continue. "Evidence has been uncovered that Ge Lang paid for the death of another Prefect, using his wealth to fund the murder of another loyal servant of the Han. Last year, he hired you, Chu Yan, to raid Xinshen with the intent of murdering Prefect Liang Qi...my father."
A look of genuine surprise and shock comes across Chu Yan's features, as he lowers his axe once more, and stands up to full height behind Ge Lang. "You...you already knew? You already knew." He looks to one of his followers, "He already knew! How?! That ruins the entire surprise! Gah! W-well, well no matter...now that you know the truth, Liang Shu, you surely now realise that you and I are both victims of this old bastard's machinations. We are not enemies, we have no reason to continue this fight or hold petty grudges. Let us not blame each other, when the Ge are to blame!"
You let out a wry chuckle. "Heh. Such foolishness. As expected for one so callous." You shake your head. "My father's death may have been paid for by the purse of the Ge, but it was still your arrows that felled him, Chu Yan. Furthermore, I am not as single minded as I think you imagine I am. I seek vengeance, that is certain, but not merely for the passing of my father alone. You and your ilk have caused unsurmountable suffering to the people of Bing Province. I am not the only child to have had to mourn a parent killed by you and your bandits. You have spread misery, murder, maiming, theft and flames all across this once peaceful land. You have filled your pockets with the treasured heirlooms of families you have destroyed, whilst other families have had to starve whilst you fill your bellies on their crops and cattle. Mothers and fathers have had to bury their own children and babes, and entire villages have been left as feasts for dogs and crows! Countless masses have had to abandon their homes and leave their sick and elderly relatives to flee your cancer of destruction and malice. You are a blight on this world, Chu Yan, and it is my sworn, solemn duty to bring an end to you. Do not dare to presume there is some common ground that we can find, and do not dare to claim you are a victim in this as well. Your choices have been yours to make, and the best that I can promise you is a swift judgement."
You raise your ji, pointing it forwards.
"You do not have a hostage in your hands there, Chu Yan. What you have done is made it possible for me to thrust my weapon through the hearts of both of my enemies at once!"
Fear and surprise causes Chu Yan's eyes to widen as you begin to dash towards him. He lets go of Ge Lang, before shoving him in front of him.
"Swallows! Don't just stand there, clip the hawk's wings!"
Chu Yan's four companions move to protect their leader, barring your path. You are forced to halt your charge prematurely, as their swinging blades cause you to take a defensive stance. You raise your ji to parry one swinging sword, and take a step to the side to avoid another. With a heave, you swing your polearm around to take the head of a third opponent, but you find it blocked by the fourth. All four surround you and encircle you. You have to get past this rabble and finish this, but - CLANG - you are forced to parry another blow, this time using the blade of your ji. Grunting, you strike the nearest foe in the side of his torso, before narrowly evading an overhead slash aimed at your head. All the while, you watch a bawling Ge Lang crawl on the ground trying to get away, and hear some incoherent ramblings under the breath of a pacing Chu Yan. You sweep your ji to scatter two of your attackers, but are immediately forced on the defensive as the other pair come at you from the other flank. This is not going to be easy, these men are clearly notches ahead of the typical brigand.
"Yes! Get him, kill him!" Chu Yan snarls as you find yourself getting forced backwards.
"Nng!" Grunting, your injuries aching once more, you set aside one attack, and then another, but you cannot create or find an opening. Just before you can be pressed to the edge of the platform, you catch the blade of one the warriors, and mustering your grit and strength, manage to use the leverage of your longer weapon to push him backwards, causing him to fall down to his rear. Another of the bandits has to sidestep to the left to avoid tripping over his knocked down ally, giving you some room to manoeuvre.
"Oho, you remembered some little tricks from that tournament last winter, I see!" Chu Yan comments, hopping away a few steps from the fray. "Your friends are not here to back you up this time, however, so let's hope you can handle yourself on your own..."
Trying to block out his words, you lunge swiftly with your ji at the closest enemy, but he is slightly too nimble and avoids your intent, causing the blade of your weapon to scrape harmlessly against the edge of his armoured cuirass. He gets inside your guard and forces you to spring back a pace or two to avoid his counter. The fourth of Chu Yan's minions, however, uses this opportunity to get behind you. At the last second you see him bring his dao down at your back and hastily reposition yourself. You were not quite able to manoeuvre as far away as you had hoped, however, and a sharp sting of pain aches from your left thigh. A glancing nick and not too deep, but it hurts a lot regardless, and you stumble for a moment before you right yourself, gasping and gritting your teeth.
"I was like you once...self righteous...thought I could change the world for the better..." Does Chu Yan ever shut up?! He certainly seems to like the sound of his own voice... "Raised my band to protect my home from invaders, to provide for the weak and defenseless and hungry..."
You are slouched slightly due to your injury. You know your foes will try and capitalise on this, but you just need an opening... You parry one strike, send another enemy crashing down to his knees with a strike from your shaft, but your stab to finish him off is blocked. Back onto the defensive, but you just need to hang on until one of them makes a mistake...
"Reality hit me, though, and the same will hit you one of these days... if you survive this, of course! What happens when you have no more "villains" to fight? What happens when your men grow hungry and you can no longer provide for them with platitudes about honour and promises of justice? What happens then?" Chu Yan is clearly just trying to distract you. You focus on defending yourself, blocking, evading. "Every "hero" is forced to make a choice, Hawk. Idealism does not keep men loyal nor does it keep them fed. If you want to soar on the wings of ambition, you cannot be afraid to abandon those still crawling down on the ground!"
You almost wonder why he has not taken this chance to just flee, given his four subordinates have confounded your efforts to attack him thus far. Your pragmatic side has to admit that if he joined the fray himself as well, you likely would not be able to last much longer in your current state.
"Alas, this is unfortunately going to be where your story ends, so you will not have the time or opportunity to heed my words." You spy as Chu Yan walks up behind Ge Lang, and yanks the screaming old patriarch up to his knees by his hair. "Whilst I am sure it would have sounded very poetic for you to slay your father's killer in the burning estate of the mastermind who plotted it all, thus granting you your ultimate revenge and bring you glorious filial piety whilst saving your beloved county... sadly for you, the world we live in is a harsher one than that, Liang Shu."
One of your foes catches the blade of your ji in the curve of his dao, and lets out a fierce grunt. Another uses this chance to hoist your weapon out of your hands, whilst a third kicks you hard in the chest and in your side, forcing you to your knees. Panting and gasping, you draw one of your own swords, and struggle up to your feet, just as your polearm is kicked off the platform.
"As for you, old snake, you have outlived whatever usefulness you had left." Chu Yan laments, ignoring the pleas and tears of Ge Lang. "Hardly even useful as a bargaining tool anymore, and keeping you around as a hostage hardly seems fun."
You struggle and duck under a slash, and parry another, but you are tiring fast - and you are hardly as skilled with a blade than you are with a polearm.
Chu Yan bends down to look Ge Lang in the eye. "Piteous fool. There is no one even left to lament and mourn your death. Whatever grave they dig for you will go unattended. What a fitting end for such a dastardly clan!"
As you evade another strike, you watch as, in a single motion, Chu Yan draws a second hand axe, and slashes with both at once. Ge Lang's head is rendered off his spike with a spray of red. Then, with a cuju kick, the cackling Chu Yan boots it down the stairs.
Towards one of the few people left who would mourn the death of Ge Lang.
"Grandfather!!!!" Ge Maiyu lets out a chilling shriek as the decapitated head of her grandfather lands at her feet at the bottom of the steps. "AAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Gripping her bloodstained jian tightly with both hands, she leaps up the stairs and into the fray.
Just as you are about to get cut down by one of Chu Yan's minions, he lets out a scream of pain as his right shoulder is stabbed through by the sword of Ge Maiyu, which gives you the opening you need to scramble out of the way of another attack. You elbow one of the men in the side of the head, and swing your sword with wild ferocity, pushing another back to the very edge of the platform.
"Oh, the vaunted young beauty enters the fray! The delightful last gasp of a dying clan!" Chu Yan comments, "Well, my dear, you will soon see that even the loveliest of petals can wilt under- w-woah!"
Ge Maiyu wastes no time in mincing words. With sheer, scornful, vengeful fury, she pushes past the bandit minions and swings her jian at Chu Yan brutally, forcing him to defend himself with his axes. Clearly surprised by her skill and ferocity, he is quickly forced on the defensive, blocking a slash with one axe, then knocking aside quick stab with the other.
As this is happening, you find your jian locked against the dao of another, unable to force him back or get free. You go back and fro with your swords, grunting, but you spy the other enemies looming at your back. In the corner of your eye, one rushes your undefended flank. You have no time to defend yourself, no way to avoid the incoming blade... You cannot even focus your attention on it, as the enemy pressing against your sword is about to break through your guard...
"Aaaaaaaah!"
A scream pierces the air. Blood spurts. A finger soars in the air, as a blade is dropped.
"Sorry... that I'm...late..." Lu Lingqi pants, arriving at your side, sword slicing the hand of the bandit coming at your flank. You use the chance to drive your knee into the gut of your frontal attacker, and shove him away with all your might.
"I had... this fully... under control, you know..." You quip, panting and trying to catch your breath.
She looks to the four bandits, to the decapitated body of Ge Lang, and Chu Yan trying to fend off an enraged Ge Maiyu. "Clearly...!" She looks bruised and worse for wear herself, with some cuts and her skirt and sleeves torn in places, her armour dented and hair falling loose like yours, but you are so, so glad to see her. She is panting for breath herself and seems somewhat winded. "You are lucky...that our fight headed in this direction..." Lu Lingqi looks to Maiyu for a second, now back to you.
"I appreciate it..." You say, now back to back with her. "Now...what say you that we finish this?"
With a nod and grunt of approval, Lu Lingqi steps forwards, and catches the blade of one bandit with her sword. With a shove of one-handed strength, she spins the thug over to you, allowing you to slash hard down his back, causing him to crumple downwards. Another strikes her in the shoulder with the hilt of his blade before bringing it down to her neck, but you are able to turn around to block it with your own. With a yell and an almighty kick, she punts him down the stone stairs. You watch as he tumbles down, hitting his head against each of the steps. With a crack, his skull splits open, as he comes to the stop near the head of Ge Lang.
"I will make you pay, you demon!" Ge Maiyu roars, somersaulting to evade a double axe slash by Chu Yan, kicking out in the air, barely missing his head.
"I always heard about how elegant and demure you were, a perfect little noblewoman." Chu Yan sneers, easily knocking aside a thrust aimed at him. "To think there was such a fire inside of you! You are much more intriguing than I could possible imagine! It is almost going to be a pity that I have to kill you!"
This time, it is Ge Maiyu who has no choice but to take the defensive. Her already injured body quakes as she barely blocks a fierce swing of one of the axes, and falls backwards onto her rear to avoid a second, and scrambles on the ground for a few moments. Now that Chu Yan has gotten over the initial shock, it appears he very much outmatches her.
Meanwhile, you find yourself knocked to the ground yourself, as you had been paying too much attention to the other fight that you had been caught off guard. The de-fingered adversary tackles you to the ground hard, and looms over you. Snarling, he boots down at your chest, and again. Lu Lingqi is too busy fending off the fourth bandit warrior to assist you this time. You cannot quite reach your blade, your fingers barely touch the hilt, before the wind is knocked out of you again by another heavy kick. Grunting and gasping, you reach around to your back.
Just as the bandit walks around to start kicking at your head, you grasp what you were hoping for. With the determination of someone who simply made too many promises to die in such a fashion, you yank a crossbow bolt out of your quiver and drive it down into his foot. With a shriek of agony, he collapses to one knee, as blood oozes out of the top of his foot.
Letting out a splutter and gasp for air, you clamber up to your knees, and without hesitation, take a second bolt and stab it into his throat.
At the same time, Lu Lingqi headbutts the remaining bandit in the nose, and as he stumbles back wailing, slices through his gut with brutal efficiency.
A scream of pain comes from Ge Maiyu, as a downward slash from Chu Yan cuts down through her cheek and part of her upper lip. A strike with the butt of his other axe hits her in the gut, and she drops to her knees, winded.
"You know, things would have been much better for you if your precious grandfather had just fulfilled his damn promises!" Chu Yan barks out, smacking her hard in the face with the butt of an axe. "I'd be richer, you'd be my bride, and your family would still be alive! Too bad for you that he was a lying dastard, I suppose!"
Ge Maiyu crumples down with a cry as Chu Yan bashes her in the side of the face again. With a disgusting, demonic sneer, he brings his axe down... only for his wrist to be caught by the strong grip of Lu Lingqi.
"Apologies, but she and I have an unfinished fight." She spits at him, holding up his forearm with one hand.
"Tsk, guess I will just have to take care of all of you myself, then." Chu Yan growls, bringing his other axe down at Lu Lingqi. This too, is caught. "W-what?" A surprised Chu Yan looks in disbelief as a panting, bleeding, but still angry Ge Maiyu, springs to her feet and latches on hard to his other arm.
"As she said...we...have business unfinished..." Ge Maiyu pants, holding down Chu Yan's arm with all her remaining strength.
"Agh...ugh...get...get off me, dammit!" The bandit leader wails, struggling against the strength of both young ladies. "No...this isn't how it's supposed to happen! Let go!"
Drawing your second sword, you walk forwards slowly. You limp from your bleeding leg and injured back, and stumble slightly, your vision a little blurred. You watch as Lu Lingqi and Ge Maiyu, exhausted and wounded as they both are, bend back both arms of Chu Yan hard enough for him to drop both axes.
A part of you always imagined a fair fight, between the two of you. Perhaps meeting in battle, on horseback, and engaging each other in a climatic, final duel to decide the fate of Xinshen.
However, he had opted against that.
So, it had come to this.
How many lives had been lost? How many had suffered and struggled?
You take a few steps forwards.
For the sake of everyone counting on you, for all the bonds you have forged, for friends new and old...
"Do it, Shu!" Lu Lingqi shouts at you.
"End this, Shu!" Ge Maiyu's voice joins hers.
You stumble for a moment, and stagger, before continuing to limp forwards.
"No...no wait!" Chu Yan is now the one to plea and beg. "We can work something out! We can make a deal! Wait!"
"Avenge both our families!" Ge Maiyu screams.
"This is the chance you have waited for, for so long!" Lu Lingqi grunts.
You stare him dead in the eye, as he struggles and flails under the pin of Lingqi and Maiyu. Somewhere nearby, a burning tree falls. The rains begin to cease.
You raise your jian with both hands, gripping the hilt so tight your palms begin to ache.
"FINISH HIM, LIANG SHU!" Both ladies yell almost in unison.
You drive your blade forwards with a scream that desires revenge.
Chu Yan falls off the platform, your sword still impaled in his chest. He plummets down into the pond below, dead.
The three of you collapse to your knees, as the estate burns around you. All of you pant and struggle for breath, all bleeding and bruised and battered.
You feel both of their bodies lean against yours.
Chu Yan is dead.
He is actually dead. You did it.
It's over. You did it.
The three of you did it.
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- Location
- barking
YES YES YES THAT IS FOR OUR HORSE YOU BASTARD!!!!
Duke William of
I really need to finish my quests. :V
- Pronouns
- He/Him
VENGEANCE
- Location
- New Jersey
Ha Ha, Dappled Cloud is avenged, and Shu's father too I guess, but more importantly Dappled Cloud.
Nix's Warden
Welcome to Hades
- Location
- United States
Shame we got our ass kicked but the bastards dead, and us and our future wife is alive, so its a win. Hopefully our boys made it out alright too.
- Location
- barking
wait he killed shu father I completly forgot not like that matters he killed dappled cloud
- Location
- barking
so about as good as most of ours (without the top teir like zhu, lu and zhang)
- Location
- Someplace USA
Man knew how to make a retinue, would have made the bandits an actual power for a reason
HOLY SHIT, CHU YAN DEAD BECAUSE THE WAIFUS JAMMED UP HIS ARMS!
And we lost our Ji midway of the fight! An absolute shamefur dispray right there. Lingqi, truly the mvp here if not for Maiyu pikachuing the goons and Chu Yan at the last possible moment.
And we lost our Ji midway of the fight! An absolute shamefur dispray right there. Lingqi, truly the mvp here if not for Maiyu pikachuing the goons and Chu Yan at the last possible moment.
- Location
- UK
As did you guys.
This isn't just a victory for Liang Shu, but for the bonds you forged.
ConfusedCanuck
Where did it all go wrong?
- Location
- Neverland
Well damn we finally killed that bastard this definitely feels like the end of an arc or a prologue more like it.
Also wasn't Lu Bu coming our way as well? Wonder how he'll react to us already killing our main foe.
Also wasn't Lu Bu coming our way as well? Wonder how he'll react to us already killing our main foe.
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- Location
- UK
Maybe after a montage or two training with Lu Bu in Cobra Kai, Liang Shu can solo small armies in the future
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
I'm still trying to find the video of Cao Cao going on his gigantic rant about how they have to kill Yuan Shao because if they don't kill him right now in the ruins of his ambition, he'll definitely make a full recovery in no time.
And then throws a spear at nothing for some reason.
And then throws a spear at nothing for some reason.
NOT UNTIL HIS LOOT PAYS UP FOR OUR HORSE AND PROVINCE IT'S NOT.
But you got his waifu, so it's a good start.
So, redemption arc for Ge Maiyu now?
"on the dirt"?
"A"
Switching from "ha" to "heh" and back again like that feels awkward to me. Might just be me, though.
Missing an end quote after the exclamation point.
Was he watching that? How did he sneak into the audience without anyone noticing?
Didn't we have dual jian equipped?
Also, there were several points during that fight that I was afraid Shu was about to die.