Post by Zhang Yuan on Jun 10, 2006 19:28:36 GMT -5
The Rising Phoenix
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Intro
The great stories, passed down from generation to generation, told by the elders of villages and even the fathers of, soon to be, great men normally consisted of a hero who had risen above all hardships to gain power and fame. Some of these heroes were greedy, corrupt, and inconsiderate toward the populace to which they ruled. However, their status as idol still holds strong due to the lack of knowlege of said peoples and the almost hypnotic ability to control them. Legacies created would be kept intact as father passes to son and so forth until the lines are finally broken. The great stories become tainted by 'spin' to make a brutal hero seem to be something different, something far more loveable and respectable.
Then, of course, their are stories of the true heroes who stand up for what is right, aid the helpless, and even offer their own life in exhange for a cause deemed worthy by their virtuous souls. A lesser man would never give his own life for another as selfish men seldom care for anything other than themselves. These true heroes have their names sung in joy and praise by the people without the aid of propaganda or false history. Deep in the hearts and minds of the weak is where they reside and in times of difficulty and despair their names are called to give the people strength.
Every now and then a true hero rises.
Death
A candle lights the interior of a small house on the ocean front east of the main city. Outside it is dark and cold, the noises of small woodland creatures fighting for territory can be heard in the distance as their disputes spill out of the forest and into the open fields. Yelps of pain soon follow and finally the commotion stops bringing back the dead silence to which the family, living inside, enjoyed so much.
"Are men any different?"
A young man, maybe 16, says to his father while sitting at the dinner table. The two men had just recently returned from a hunting expedition, their dinner, and had been talking at length all day about the history of man.
"Than those animals fighting for land and the right to rule their pack?" the elder says to his young one.
"No, there is no difference."
The father takes a sip of his wine and lets his son ponder for a moment while he enjoys the deliciousness of the liquid. He continues the discussion after exhaling and looking down at the cup which was now empty.
"However, there is one distinct difference that sets man apart from the animals" he says grabbing his son's attention as the young man always looked to his father for guidance and wisdom.
"What is it father?"
"What sets them apart from the animals?" the young one asks as he moves toward the edge of his seat in anticipation of the response.
"There is something in man, deep down, that defines who he will become in life."
"At a certain moment in time a man makes the decision to walk one of two paths; the road of virtue or the road of greed."
The father waits a moment and turns to his wife who is starting a fire and he signals for more wine. The woman immediately moves to get his drink and pours a fresh cup with one hand while caressing her son with the other. She smiles seeing her boy so anxious to learn and looking down a sense of gratitude hits as she thinks of what she helped to create.
"You see" the elder was saying as another noise could be heard outside the house.
This time, however, it was not feuding animals.
For some time, in the surrounding areas around the city, the lands had been plagued by murderers and thieves using the current chaos to their advantage. These men, the very type spoken of by the young man's elder, had never really threatened the family's farm and property before. Certainly, the city's garrison was making life more difficult for them so they turned their sight on the small land to the east. An easy target they thought, for sure.
Zhang Wen was the man's name, the owner of the land, and after many years of hardship, he and his wife Ji, had carved out a nice existence for themselves in the lands of Wu.
Torches can be seen through the window and the sight sends chills down Ji's spine for, in her time, she has witnessed many evil men and their exploits of death and destruction. She could only pray that the group was a contingent of city guards looking for their enemies.
It was unfortunate for the Zhang family that this was not the case. Soon a voice beckons Wen to come forth and the man rises from his seat to meet his destiny. Looking to his son he speaks words of wisdom, possibly his last in this lifetime.
"Remember what i told you my son" he says referring to the choice a man must make.
The young man nods to his father as Ji, his mother, still stands in fear of what could possibly unfold.
"A real man does not fear death but fears only the reprocussions of the gods for his dastardly acts in this lifetime."
"If you are true to nature, yourself, and your fellow man than you will have nothing to fear and the gods will welcome you into the afterlife with open arms."
His son was not religious at this point, though normally children tended to adopt the beliefs of their parents, he understood what his father meant.
Zhang Wen walks over to his beloved wife and whispers something into her ear before turning to move toward the door.
Outside, in the cool dark night, are 5 riders awaiting the owner of the farm to show himself. Clearly these men cared not for any resistance as they were miles from any kingdom forces and in these times of chaos a man had to defend his own property and life.
The door opens and Wen makes his way out to stand in front of the men.
"You beckoned me from the comfort of my home" Wen says in a firm voice.
"Why have you come and what do you want?"
The leader of the group, which was clearly discerned by his demeanor when speaking and the fact that all others looked to him for a response, rides forward and stares with contempt in his eyes.
"It is simple" the rider exclaims while smiling.
"You are weak and i am strong."
"Whats yours is now mine and there is nothing you can do about it!"
The leader looks to his men who all begin to laugh and ride forward to raid the house of the Zhang family.
Wen pulls a dagger from his side and jabs it into the neck of a bandits horse which sends the beast and rider down to the ground, hard. At this, the bandit leader unsheaths his blade and cuts down Zhang Wen in one quick slash.
Zhang Ji, inside the home, bars the door after witnessing her beloved husband murdered at the hands of these greedy scoundrels.
"Quickly, come with me!" she yells to her son.
The two move to the back of the home and into Wen's private room. This room, off limits to his son, contained a collection of items from his lifetime which included military manuals, weapons, and equipment. Zhang Ji moves to a case where two katanas lay harmlessly.
"Your father wanted you to have these but hoped you would never have to use them."
Zhang Ji, who was trained by Wen how to wield a blade, grabs a shortsword from the rack and prepares to defend her home. Her son was also trained to fight but was taught with a wooden weapon, nothing deadly sharp like what the enemy had ready to cut both the remaining family members down with.
The front door is smashed open by a large bandit's kick and the structure flies right off the hinges. Entering within the home are 3 men. The leader is one of these three and a large grin comes to his face as Ji steps out from the back room with weapon drawn.
"Is this a joke?" the leader says and begins to laugh.
After a wave of his hand one of the bandits charges Zhang Ji but is dispatched with a block and counter. Utterly taken back by this display of skill, the other bandit looks to his leader for orders.
"What are you waiting for?!"
"Kill her!!"
The second bandit moves forward and is able to injure Ji with a gash to her leg. However, the rolling head of a man symbolizes the victor of the showdown.
"Your husband bled like a pig!" the leader exclaims.
The unsheathing of a blade could be heard by the young man still in the back room and it sent a chill through his body.
"Now it is your turn!!"
The bandit leader charged and blood flowed.
The lifeless body of Zhang Ji hits the floor and from a crack in the door her son witnesses the murder. He is now alone in this cruel world.
Stepping back in shock the boy trips over an iron gauntlet. The leader hears this and immediately moves toward the back room.
"Well, well....."
Blood begins to trickle down the chin of the bandit who looks down to see a katana buried in his stomach. He had sheathed his blade knowing a child was all that remained. His men were watching the house for a few days before they decided to raid.
Little did the bandit know the young man was armed with nothing else to lose.
He stumbles backward and falls into the table with a candle upon it. The remaining breaths of his unworthy life are taken and soon he fades into the abyss of darkness.
"Sir, we need to get moving" a bandit says coming into the home to find his comrades slain and the house on fire.
The bandit runs off leaving the bodies behind and informs the other remaining rider. The two make haste away from the blaze which is now beginning to show its firey fangs through the windows.
The young man just lays there, lifeless, caring not if the fire engulfed him as his parents were dead and he was now the killer of a man.
"Father" he says before blanking out.
Rebirth
It is a warm day and the sun graces the earth with its glorious rays of light. This light is also the source of life as the green plants reach for the nourishment it provides. A blade of grass turns to absorb more sunlight as if an animated creature but it is weak and suddenly crushed under the hoof of a war steed.
War horns echo out across the plains just west of the great ocean as two small forces prepare to give battle.
The two armies, forces under the command of rivaling villages, square off and the leaders ride forward to communicate.
"Remove your army from the field as you are trespassing on our lands!"
"You are a fool old man!" the other commander exclaims in return.
"Your raids and murders have gone unchecked long enough and now you dare bring an army against me?" the elder says to his enemy.
Red flags fly in the south with green to the north. The elder leader of the south was a man known as Ling Tzu. At the age of 65 he was far too old to be on the battle field though his ability to command men and the inspiration he provided was much needed.
"I would have waited until your decrepit body was picked apart by the birds but my people are many and we are in need of more land."
The leader of the north, Yang Lang, had been a rival with the south for some time as his father before him was once good friends with Tzu. However, after the village elder passed away the two, Ling Tzu and Yang Ming, were left to take control and they eventually split to create two tribes.
"The lines have been drawn and there is no expansion!" the elder exclaims having signed an accord agreeing to no aggression or land expansion. The two leaders, in the past, were rivals but neither were villianous. However, Yang Ming's son was a much different man.
"I care not for what my cowardly father agree upon with you!" Lang yells.
Ling Tzu's face grows angry as this young runt calls an old war hero a coward, a man Tzu bled with in multiple battles.
"Your father would be ashamed by what you have become!" the elder exclaims and spits at Yang Lang.
"Very well old man!"
The two leaders depart back to their armies which were only around 300 strong each force.
"The south will finally be destroyed and i can bring honor back to my families name!" the young leader of the north exclaims and his men roar in anticipation of the fight.
On the other front line Ling Tzu readies his men without words but with a hypnotic gaze which only the most seasoned of leaders could provide. He has led the people to many victories over rivals and has given them the chance to live in peace when utter chaos existed all around.
The sun begins to scorch the battlefield as it moves overhead and suddenly war drums begin to roll from the rear ranks. Drums that were beaten years and years ago by past generations which have survived to yet again bring strength to their people and fear to their enemies.
Yang Lang, leader of the north, is about ready to launch his attack when the lines of the southern army open at the middle.
From the center rides a young warrior clad in silver armor with a flowing red plume. His magnificent black steed trots slowly through the ranks of the army kicking and bucking, ready to charge once again into the fray for its master.
"Is that?" one of the northern soldiers says to another.
"Its...its....Zhang Yuan!"
The soldiers under Yang Lang begin to look at one another having heard stories of this young man's prowess. It was said that he was a demon or ghost, having lived after an inferno with stories of him walking right through the flames, and soon a collective chill runs up the spines of the northern force.
The southern army rallies around their young warrior and seeing the morale of his enemy rising the northern leader gives the command to charge.
"Charge!!" Ling Tzu yells to his men as he himself rides forward as well to meet the enemy head on.
The two forces race forward and collide sending bodies and screams in all directions.
Yang Lang looks with haste for the elder Ling Tzu, to cut him down, thinking it the only way to find victory with Zhang Yuan fighting alongside the south. None in the north could match his prowess and holding true to this was the sight of the young warrior slaying soldier after soldier.
Shadow, his black beast, tramples weakling enemies under his mighty hooves and kicks back letting out a powerful neigh. A northern soldier is crushed in the face by a hoof and is killed instantly but Yuan is thrown from his horse as a pitchfork is buried into the animals hind leg.
Zhang Yuan gets to his feet and unsheaths his second katana from his back. The fool who stabbed his horse just drops the working tool turned weapon and begs for mercy.
Yuan, with blood spattered across his face still finds the mercy to let the coward live. Smashing him across the face with the butt of his right weapon the enemy goes down unconsious.
A block and counter leaves a northern soldier in two pieces as the Zhang Yuan moves toward Shadow to get him away from the major combat. Both armies were giving it their all but military skill on each side was lacking severly.
It was only when the young southern warrior looked to his right that things took a major turn the worse. Ling Tzu is seen being cut down by Yang Lang from behind which sends the elder to the ground from his steed. No doubt, even if Tzu lived his frail bones were probably broken in multiple locations.
Yuan yells out to his saviour and mentor and rushes toward the location of his fall. Two enemies are step up and two bodies fall to the ground. One in immense pain as a hand with weapon still clutched in it lies next to one yelling man while the other's neck spurts blood in torrents before he keels over.
Yang Lang could only enjoy a moment of pure nirvana after cutting down his bitter enemy due to Zhang Yuan's quick approach. Like the shadow of death approaching to engulf the ending life of a man Yuan moves toward his enemy and cuts the front leg of Lang's steed clear off from the knee joint. The horse goes down in pain after a soul cringing neigh and the leader of the north falls hard to the ground.
Getting to his feet and readying his blade, Yang Lang prepares for his fearless enemy who dispatches another soldier in one fluent movement as if he did not even stop his forward momentum toward his new nemesis.
"The worms will be feasting tonight!" the young warrior says with pure rage burning in his chest.
Lang attempts to defend himself from a slash but finds forearm severed and a shooting pain rushing up his remaining 'nub'. Soldiers from the northern army shutter in fear at the scream that follows from their so called fearless leader. He would whine, like a dying animal which was all the man was; a vicious beast that deserved to be slain.
Cut short was the yelp of the northern leader as his head is cut in twain by Zhang Yuan. The young fighter's silver armor is stained in crimson colored blood, fresh like the liquid which flows every so gently down his mighty blades.
Moving toward the fallen Ling Tzu the young warrior kneels down next to his replacement father.
Years ago on the dreaded night that his parents were murdered a man came to the young man's rescue. Witnesses did in fact see a man walking through the flames, however, it was Ling Tzu with the young Zhang Yuan in his arms. He had saved the boy and brought him up as if he was his own child.
Coughing up blood the elder looks to the heavens to see a black bird flying overhead. He knew his time had come but when the bird soared even higher into the sky, with its silouhette against the sun creating a beautiful flaming creature, he smiled.
"The Rising Phoenix" he mutters to Zhang Yuan who cradles the elder in his arms. Behind him the northern army is routed having cowered in fear after their leader was cut down. They retreat from the blood soaked and dead body filled field.
Ling Tzu's frail arm falls lifeless symbolizing the exit of his soul to the Nine.
Yet again the young Zhang Yuan, now 24 years of age, is left alone as another father figure in his life is taken from him.
Tears of sadness fall but soon they dry up as the fire of hatred burns within his body. How could the world be so cruel? But he knew the answer to that question already.
"Without the balance nothing would exist" the young warrior mumbles to himself reciting the teachings of his mentor to try and calm himself.
He thinks back to many times when the two would just fish and talk. Times he wished he could re-live but such things are impossible and can only become real in ones mind when they lay down to rest at night.
"Well than" he says to himself laying his second father flat on the ground so he could rest in peace.
"It is time to tip the scales!!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Intro
The great stories, passed down from generation to generation, told by the elders of villages and even the fathers of, soon to be, great men normally consisted of a hero who had risen above all hardships to gain power and fame. Some of these heroes were greedy, corrupt, and inconsiderate toward the populace to which they ruled. However, their status as idol still holds strong due to the lack of knowlege of said peoples and the almost hypnotic ability to control them. Legacies created would be kept intact as father passes to son and so forth until the lines are finally broken. The great stories become tainted by 'spin' to make a brutal hero seem to be something different, something far more loveable and respectable.
Then, of course, their are stories of the true heroes who stand up for what is right, aid the helpless, and even offer their own life in exhange for a cause deemed worthy by their virtuous souls. A lesser man would never give his own life for another as selfish men seldom care for anything other than themselves. These true heroes have their names sung in joy and praise by the people without the aid of propaganda or false history. Deep in the hearts and minds of the weak is where they reside and in times of difficulty and despair their names are called to give the people strength.
Every now and then a true hero rises.
Death
A candle lights the interior of a small house on the ocean front east of the main city. Outside it is dark and cold, the noises of small woodland creatures fighting for territory can be heard in the distance as their disputes spill out of the forest and into the open fields. Yelps of pain soon follow and finally the commotion stops bringing back the dead silence to which the family, living inside, enjoyed so much.
"Are men any different?"
A young man, maybe 16, says to his father while sitting at the dinner table. The two men had just recently returned from a hunting expedition, their dinner, and had been talking at length all day about the history of man.
"Than those animals fighting for land and the right to rule their pack?" the elder says to his young one.
"No, there is no difference."
The father takes a sip of his wine and lets his son ponder for a moment while he enjoys the deliciousness of the liquid. He continues the discussion after exhaling and looking down at the cup which was now empty.
"However, there is one distinct difference that sets man apart from the animals" he says grabbing his son's attention as the young man always looked to his father for guidance and wisdom.
"What is it father?"
"What sets them apart from the animals?" the young one asks as he moves toward the edge of his seat in anticipation of the response.
"There is something in man, deep down, that defines who he will become in life."
"At a certain moment in time a man makes the decision to walk one of two paths; the road of virtue or the road of greed."
The father waits a moment and turns to his wife who is starting a fire and he signals for more wine. The woman immediately moves to get his drink and pours a fresh cup with one hand while caressing her son with the other. She smiles seeing her boy so anxious to learn and looking down a sense of gratitude hits as she thinks of what she helped to create.
"You see" the elder was saying as another noise could be heard outside the house.
This time, however, it was not feuding animals.
For some time, in the surrounding areas around the city, the lands had been plagued by murderers and thieves using the current chaos to their advantage. These men, the very type spoken of by the young man's elder, had never really threatened the family's farm and property before. Certainly, the city's garrison was making life more difficult for them so they turned their sight on the small land to the east. An easy target they thought, for sure.
Zhang Wen was the man's name, the owner of the land, and after many years of hardship, he and his wife Ji, had carved out a nice existence for themselves in the lands of Wu.
Torches can be seen through the window and the sight sends chills down Ji's spine for, in her time, she has witnessed many evil men and their exploits of death and destruction. She could only pray that the group was a contingent of city guards looking for their enemies.
It was unfortunate for the Zhang family that this was not the case. Soon a voice beckons Wen to come forth and the man rises from his seat to meet his destiny. Looking to his son he speaks words of wisdom, possibly his last in this lifetime.
"Remember what i told you my son" he says referring to the choice a man must make.
The young man nods to his father as Ji, his mother, still stands in fear of what could possibly unfold.
"A real man does not fear death but fears only the reprocussions of the gods for his dastardly acts in this lifetime."
"If you are true to nature, yourself, and your fellow man than you will have nothing to fear and the gods will welcome you into the afterlife with open arms."
His son was not religious at this point, though normally children tended to adopt the beliefs of their parents, he understood what his father meant.
Zhang Wen walks over to his beloved wife and whispers something into her ear before turning to move toward the door.
Outside, in the cool dark night, are 5 riders awaiting the owner of the farm to show himself. Clearly these men cared not for any resistance as they were miles from any kingdom forces and in these times of chaos a man had to defend his own property and life.
The door opens and Wen makes his way out to stand in front of the men.
"You beckoned me from the comfort of my home" Wen says in a firm voice.
"Why have you come and what do you want?"
The leader of the group, which was clearly discerned by his demeanor when speaking and the fact that all others looked to him for a response, rides forward and stares with contempt in his eyes.
"It is simple" the rider exclaims while smiling.
"You are weak and i am strong."
"Whats yours is now mine and there is nothing you can do about it!"
The leader looks to his men who all begin to laugh and ride forward to raid the house of the Zhang family.
Wen pulls a dagger from his side and jabs it into the neck of a bandits horse which sends the beast and rider down to the ground, hard. At this, the bandit leader unsheaths his blade and cuts down Zhang Wen in one quick slash.
Zhang Ji, inside the home, bars the door after witnessing her beloved husband murdered at the hands of these greedy scoundrels.
"Quickly, come with me!" she yells to her son.
The two move to the back of the home and into Wen's private room. This room, off limits to his son, contained a collection of items from his lifetime which included military manuals, weapons, and equipment. Zhang Ji moves to a case where two katanas lay harmlessly.
"Your father wanted you to have these but hoped you would never have to use them."
Zhang Ji, who was trained by Wen how to wield a blade, grabs a shortsword from the rack and prepares to defend her home. Her son was also trained to fight but was taught with a wooden weapon, nothing deadly sharp like what the enemy had ready to cut both the remaining family members down with.
The front door is smashed open by a large bandit's kick and the structure flies right off the hinges. Entering within the home are 3 men. The leader is one of these three and a large grin comes to his face as Ji steps out from the back room with weapon drawn.
"Is this a joke?" the leader says and begins to laugh.
After a wave of his hand one of the bandits charges Zhang Ji but is dispatched with a block and counter. Utterly taken back by this display of skill, the other bandit looks to his leader for orders.
"What are you waiting for?!"
"Kill her!!"
The second bandit moves forward and is able to injure Ji with a gash to her leg. However, the rolling head of a man symbolizes the victor of the showdown.
"Your husband bled like a pig!" the leader exclaims.
The unsheathing of a blade could be heard by the young man still in the back room and it sent a chill through his body.
"Now it is your turn!!"
The bandit leader charged and blood flowed.
The lifeless body of Zhang Ji hits the floor and from a crack in the door her son witnesses the murder. He is now alone in this cruel world.
Stepping back in shock the boy trips over an iron gauntlet. The leader hears this and immediately moves toward the back room.
"Well, well....."
Blood begins to trickle down the chin of the bandit who looks down to see a katana buried in his stomach. He had sheathed his blade knowing a child was all that remained. His men were watching the house for a few days before they decided to raid.
Little did the bandit know the young man was armed with nothing else to lose.
He stumbles backward and falls into the table with a candle upon it. The remaining breaths of his unworthy life are taken and soon he fades into the abyss of darkness.
"Sir, we need to get moving" a bandit says coming into the home to find his comrades slain and the house on fire.
The bandit runs off leaving the bodies behind and informs the other remaining rider. The two make haste away from the blaze which is now beginning to show its firey fangs through the windows.
The young man just lays there, lifeless, caring not if the fire engulfed him as his parents were dead and he was now the killer of a man.
"Father" he says before blanking out.
Rebirth
It is a warm day and the sun graces the earth with its glorious rays of light. This light is also the source of life as the green plants reach for the nourishment it provides. A blade of grass turns to absorb more sunlight as if an animated creature but it is weak and suddenly crushed under the hoof of a war steed.
War horns echo out across the plains just west of the great ocean as two small forces prepare to give battle.
The two armies, forces under the command of rivaling villages, square off and the leaders ride forward to communicate.
"Remove your army from the field as you are trespassing on our lands!"
"You are a fool old man!" the other commander exclaims in return.
"Your raids and murders have gone unchecked long enough and now you dare bring an army against me?" the elder says to his enemy.
Red flags fly in the south with green to the north. The elder leader of the south was a man known as Ling Tzu. At the age of 65 he was far too old to be on the battle field though his ability to command men and the inspiration he provided was much needed.
"I would have waited until your decrepit body was picked apart by the birds but my people are many and we are in need of more land."
The leader of the north, Yang Lang, had been a rival with the south for some time as his father before him was once good friends with Tzu. However, after the village elder passed away the two, Ling Tzu and Yang Ming, were left to take control and they eventually split to create two tribes.
"The lines have been drawn and there is no expansion!" the elder exclaims having signed an accord agreeing to no aggression or land expansion. The two leaders, in the past, were rivals but neither were villianous. However, Yang Ming's son was a much different man.
"I care not for what my cowardly father agree upon with you!" Lang yells.
Ling Tzu's face grows angry as this young runt calls an old war hero a coward, a man Tzu bled with in multiple battles.
"Your father would be ashamed by what you have become!" the elder exclaims and spits at Yang Lang.
"Very well old man!"
The two leaders depart back to their armies which were only around 300 strong each force.
"The south will finally be destroyed and i can bring honor back to my families name!" the young leader of the north exclaims and his men roar in anticipation of the fight.
On the other front line Ling Tzu readies his men without words but with a hypnotic gaze which only the most seasoned of leaders could provide. He has led the people to many victories over rivals and has given them the chance to live in peace when utter chaos existed all around.
The sun begins to scorch the battlefield as it moves overhead and suddenly war drums begin to roll from the rear ranks. Drums that were beaten years and years ago by past generations which have survived to yet again bring strength to their people and fear to their enemies.
Yang Lang, leader of the north, is about ready to launch his attack when the lines of the southern army open at the middle.
From the center rides a young warrior clad in silver armor with a flowing red plume. His magnificent black steed trots slowly through the ranks of the army kicking and bucking, ready to charge once again into the fray for its master.
"Is that?" one of the northern soldiers says to another.
"Its...its....Zhang Yuan!"
The soldiers under Yang Lang begin to look at one another having heard stories of this young man's prowess. It was said that he was a demon or ghost, having lived after an inferno with stories of him walking right through the flames, and soon a collective chill runs up the spines of the northern force.
The southern army rallies around their young warrior and seeing the morale of his enemy rising the northern leader gives the command to charge.
"Charge!!" Ling Tzu yells to his men as he himself rides forward as well to meet the enemy head on.
The two forces race forward and collide sending bodies and screams in all directions.
Yang Lang looks with haste for the elder Ling Tzu, to cut him down, thinking it the only way to find victory with Zhang Yuan fighting alongside the south. None in the north could match his prowess and holding true to this was the sight of the young warrior slaying soldier after soldier.
Shadow, his black beast, tramples weakling enemies under his mighty hooves and kicks back letting out a powerful neigh. A northern soldier is crushed in the face by a hoof and is killed instantly but Yuan is thrown from his horse as a pitchfork is buried into the animals hind leg.
Zhang Yuan gets to his feet and unsheaths his second katana from his back. The fool who stabbed his horse just drops the working tool turned weapon and begs for mercy.
Yuan, with blood spattered across his face still finds the mercy to let the coward live. Smashing him across the face with the butt of his right weapon the enemy goes down unconsious.
A block and counter leaves a northern soldier in two pieces as the Zhang Yuan moves toward Shadow to get him away from the major combat. Both armies were giving it their all but military skill on each side was lacking severly.
It was only when the young southern warrior looked to his right that things took a major turn the worse. Ling Tzu is seen being cut down by Yang Lang from behind which sends the elder to the ground from his steed. No doubt, even if Tzu lived his frail bones were probably broken in multiple locations.
Yuan yells out to his saviour and mentor and rushes toward the location of his fall. Two enemies are step up and two bodies fall to the ground. One in immense pain as a hand with weapon still clutched in it lies next to one yelling man while the other's neck spurts blood in torrents before he keels over.
Yang Lang could only enjoy a moment of pure nirvana after cutting down his bitter enemy due to Zhang Yuan's quick approach. Like the shadow of death approaching to engulf the ending life of a man Yuan moves toward his enemy and cuts the front leg of Lang's steed clear off from the knee joint. The horse goes down in pain after a soul cringing neigh and the leader of the north falls hard to the ground.
Getting to his feet and readying his blade, Yang Lang prepares for his fearless enemy who dispatches another soldier in one fluent movement as if he did not even stop his forward momentum toward his new nemesis.
"The worms will be feasting tonight!" the young warrior says with pure rage burning in his chest.
Lang attempts to defend himself from a slash but finds forearm severed and a shooting pain rushing up his remaining 'nub'. Soldiers from the northern army shutter in fear at the scream that follows from their so called fearless leader. He would whine, like a dying animal which was all the man was; a vicious beast that deserved to be slain.
Cut short was the yelp of the northern leader as his head is cut in twain by Zhang Yuan. The young fighter's silver armor is stained in crimson colored blood, fresh like the liquid which flows every so gently down his mighty blades.
Moving toward the fallen Ling Tzu the young warrior kneels down next to his replacement father.
Years ago on the dreaded night that his parents were murdered a man came to the young man's rescue. Witnesses did in fact see a man walking through the flames, however, it was Ling Tzu with the young Zhang Yuan in his arms. He had saved the boy and brought him up as if he was his own child.
Coughing up blood the elder looks to the heavens to see a black bird flying overhead. He knew his time had come but when the bird soared even higher into the sky, with its silouhette against the sun creating a beautiful flaming creature, he smiled.
"The Rising Phoenix" he mutters to Zhang Yuan who cradles the elder in his arms. Behind him the northern army is routed having cowered in fear after their leader was cut down. They retreat from the blood soaked and dead body filled field.
Ling Tzu's frail arm falls lifeless symbolizing the exit of his soul to the Nine.
Yet again the young Zhang Yuan, now 24 years of age, is left alone as another father figure in his life is taken from him.
Tears of sadness fall but soon they dry up as the fire of hatred burns within his body. How could the world be so cruel? But he knew the answer to that question already.
"Without the balance nothing would exist" the young warrior mumbles to himself reciting the teachings of his mentor to try and calm himself.
He thinks back to many times when the two would just fish and talk. Times he wished he could re-live but such things are impossible and can only become real in ones mind when they lay down to rest at night.
"Well than" he says to himself laying his second father flat on the ground so he could rest in peace.
"It is time to tip the scales!!"