Sitting on the ground, some short distance from his father and his father’s friend, he contemplated what was to come.
A battle. Another chance to become just another man in the crowd, anonymous, unknown to all. Just another random person to fight and kill.
I do not desire war, or battle. The needless spilling of blood revolts me, yet it is the only time when I can become just another face. Not a famous pirate’s son, not a withdrawn individual everyone feels they need to draw out.
When the other two stood, he did as well, turning himself so as to make it hard to see his eyes and face, yet so that he could watch those that approached.
And approach they did, three of them, on horses, one of which he recognized as Sun Zhen, Xan Luan’s sworn brother. He wasn’t that bad, but he had this curious streak that ran miles deep.
“My lord Zhan Tan, I have here with me Zhu Xuan and his son, Zhu Huifeng,” indicating both in turn, Luan continued on, “Zhu Xuan has agreed to help, and has brought his fleet with him to aid in the attack.”
“At what cost?” oh, he could hear the slight, almost invisible quiver in the man’s voice. So, this Zhan Tan was fearful that they’d demand more than he could pay, or demand an unreasonable sum. Stupid man, to ask for Zhu Xuan’s help, not knowing the pirate’s tendency to usually ask less than most others.
“We will discuss costs afterwards, Lord Zhan Tan,” was his father’s smooth reply, “Like civilized men we will discuss it without the pressing urgency of these despicable bandits. For now, just know that we will uphold our side of the promise, in hopes that you will as well.” He turned his head slightly to look at Huifeng, “My son here will be joining you as an able warrior, and I hope that you will accept his help.”
Huifeng turned, tilting his head back slightly to fix Zhan Tan with a calm gaze. He could see the surprise in the warlord’s eyes and bearing, and the carefully controlled look of the third man spoke of surprise as well.
Strategist… his mind instantly labeled the third, as he observed the man without appearing to. Taking in the leaf green robes and the feathered fan held in a graceful, long fingered hand only affirmed his thought, so it was with some slight surprise that he noticed the well worn look of the sword that hung at the man’s waist.
A strategist that can fight, I am surprised.
“If he wishes to join us, then he may.” The words broke him out of his puzzlement over why the third man was wearing a sword, forcing him to actually speak.
“Join, I will. Gladly.” Huifeng could tell that the short, abrupt words startled the two men he was unfamiliar with, as did his voice, which not even the harshest or most abrupt of words could hide the rich, smooth, almost silky tones.
“If that is decided, then I will return to my ships, and we will prepare.” His father paused for a second, looking over the gathered people, “Create a distraction out here, we will take them from behind. May the sun always shine upon you, Lord Zhan Tan, and the rest of your men as well.”
“May the sun always shine upon you as well, Zhu Xuan, and may your attack be profitable.”
The sun, hmph. As if the sun has something over the moon, or the stars. As if the day is so much better than the night.
He could feel his father departing, and only absently heard Zhan Tan’s shouted orders to set up camp. Calmly he uttered the words on his mind, “Where wish me?”
Seeing the four around him stop their movement in reaction to his words, he allowed himself an internal smile, one that did not show upon his features. So easily startled they were.
“Put him under…” Sun Zhen frowned in thought, then shook his head, “No. Put him near Cai Ti, but not under anyone. Let the men know that he is on our side. Allow him to fight his own way, though.”
Another internal smile, so this man did remember how he hated fighting under the command of under generals.
The next words almost caused him to truly smile, “And put no men under him, for he refuses that responsibility.”
“I see… Very well, make it so.” Zhan Tan twisted in his saddle and addressed a soldier that had come up to him, “Take this man,” he indicated Huifeng, “And show him around. He’ll be fighting on our side for this battle.”
The solider nodded, looking over at Huifeng with a welcoming grin, “Well! C’mon, I’ll show you about.”
Lovely. Another chatterer. Why do they always seem to be attracted to me?
Only listening to the soldier with one ear, he silently surveyed the camp that was being set up about him, noting the neat and orderly progression, noting how everything was divided neatly into sections and groupings.
At least these people were organized, the last army he had joined was so disorganized with was an achievement to just find your way about.
“You must be Zhu Huifeng. My name is Cai Ti, my lord has requested that I see that you are settled in near my troop, since you’ll be with us in the fighting.”
Huifeng turned, looking Cai Ti up and down with a casual sweep of ruby eyes, “Understood.”
“Ah, well…” Cai Ti shifted almost nervously, nodding to the soldier, “Dismissed, soldier, return to your unit and get yourself prepared for the morrow.”
“Yes, general,” the man spoke as he bowed, then left quickly.
Cai Ti turned, “Well, come on, there should be a free tent around if you wish that, or you can sleep under the stars if you so desire.”
There really wasn’t much of a debate for that question, he already knew which he preferred, unless it was going to rain, “Stars.”
“Well… yes then… my company is camped here. So be sure to be here in the morning, we don’t wait for stragglers.”
He swept his eyes over the area that Cai Ti had indicated, then nodded, just a simple movement of his head, “Understood.”
With nothing other than that, he turned and strode off, leaving a partially confused, partially relieved general standing behind, staring after him.
The waning moon shone down upon the mostly silent camp. Guardsmen stood their posts in mostly silence, except for murmured greetings and quiet movements as their relief showed up and they were off for sleep. Soft snores drifted on the tiny breeze that wafted delicately over the camp, rustling the leaves of the few trees that dotted the hilly plain.
It also slid cool tendrils of air through Huifeng’s raven black hair, as he sat, perched easily within a tree, katana bare on his knees, running a silk cloth over the shining blade.
This was the time that he enjoyed the most, the quiet night, when others were asleep, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Or his non-thoughts as it was right now. Focusing on running the silk cloth over the blade before him, he let all thoughts and desires slip from his mind, settling himself back into a comfortable pose and letting the tension flow from his body smoothly.
Head tilted back, he stared up through the leaves of the tree he was sitting in, staring up at the star studded sky above him. A rare, small smile ghosted across his face as he contemplated the heavens, growing slightly wider, yet sadder, as he spotted a shooting star.
His mouth opened slightly, the words whispering from his lips, to be whipped off by the breeze as soon as they were uttered, “I wish… I wish that people would respect who I am, and not try to change me into what they think I am….”
The silk crumpled in his hand as it clenched, and he fought back unwelcome tears, unwilling to allow even nature to see the calm, controlled, usually emotionless young man brought down by grief for what he could not have, and desired the most.
Hot. Still. Silent.
Nothing moved, not a single blade of grass, nor a single soldier. Rigid, two lines facing each other across an expanse of golden grasses, as motionless as statues.
Then, movement, jarring eyes towards the one that would dare break the stillness. Black cloth completely obscured the man, face hidden behind a black helm, hands empty of any weapon.
Soldiers from both sides stared in wide eyed amazement as this strange man calmly strode towards the front lines, sliding through the ranks of soldiers as if they weren’t there, creating barely a ripple in the human sea through which he strode.
A black cape swirling about his ankles, calmly did the man step into the empty space between the two armies, apparently unconcerned. Jeering at this suicidal being, the opposing army prepared to strike him down, archers bending their bows, aiming at the man, who still walked calmly towards them.
The soft twang of bowstrings filled the air, as a score of arrows plunged toward the man… who was suddenly not there.
No, he was many feet ahead of where they had aimed, two swords, one longer than the other, appearing in his hands as if by magic. Surprise rippled through both armies, as he plunged straight into the enemy formation, leaving a scarlet trail behind him.
And so the battle began, as both armies collided, the strange peace broken by a single man.
Huifeng allowed his mind to empty of thought, focusing solely on his blades, and the enemies about him. The only reality was the dance of death that he wove, the only thought to survive, or to strike down as many as possible before he died.
All was fair in war, for no codes of honor could be upheld during the chaotic, bloody battles that were always fought. Holding that to heart, Huifeng used every dirty trick he knew, kicking and slashing, taking advantage of every weakness he saw exposed.
These men knew what they were getting into when they joined.
It was not his fault if they were not good enough.
Only the strong and cunning survived.
This was war.
Cai Ti grimaced as he saw the tight knot of enemy that marked the place where he had last seen Huifeng.
No one told me he was suicidal! What sort of move was that, to just calmly walk through our army, then calmly walk through the empty space between us and start attacking on his own? No wonder Zhan Tan told me to not even consider giving him any orders, I doubt he’d have respected them in the least.
Frankly, he was surprised that the man was still standing, let alone fighting, and it made him feel odd, to know that some stranger could do something like that, when he…
I also have a duty to fulfill for my lord, unlike Huifeng.
The man was so… odd, so different from everyone else. Silent where others would be talking, speaking only when spoken to, and even then, it was rare for a true sentence to pass his lips, and usually those sentences were as short as possible, and abrupt almost to the point of rudeness.
Cai Ti fought with only part of his mind on the battle about him, as his bodyguards managed to take care of most of the enemy before they got to him.
So quiet and unresponsive… he withdraws even further the minute you attempt to... make him… speak…
Oh. Hell.
Everyone’s going about it the wrong way. But what would the right way be?!
His sword flickered from one side to the other, taking care of the few enemies that managed to get passed his bodyguards. Absently, he watched the crimson liquid roll slowly from the glistening silver of his blade, his mind turning over and over the thought he had just had.
Cai Ti’s eyes turned towards the clump of enemy that signified where Huifeng stood, watching as they circled cautiously about him, as he stood calmly. Huifeng lunged forward as Cai Ti watched, knocking weapons aside and ending lives with smooth movements of his swords.
So that was why he desired battle so badly as to almost be suicidal about it…
Poor man.