Shadow of the Past (Ai Rui/Open)

[Mikey]

Cheng Du was the picture of perfection, Ba Zeng had traveled Ba Shu greatly in his years as a wanderer - when he was young and foolish, the terrain offered a challenge and he hiked regularly. It was now many years later, and he wasn't returning to Ba Shu as part of recreation - he was a fugitive. Lu Bu would kill him, Cao Cao would kill him, Sun Ce would kill him; what, Ba Zeng imagined, would Kongming do if he saw the former Prime Minister Ba Zeng kneel at his feet and ask for sanctuary and forgiveness.

It was of course, at this point, a hypothetical question. Ba Zeng would only delve to such levels if he had absolutely no where else to go. For now, an abandoned temple would have to do. Meditation would do Ba Zeng good - for he was also a follower of Confucianism (for the most part), and believed in the peace in Zen. This setting was nothing less than tranquility itself.

Kao Ba called from the top of one-hundred steps, "It's completely abandoned... we can stay here for a little while." The temple was small, but one-hundred steps was still a workout for Ba Zeng, "The cart is all yours!" Ba Zeng called back, motioning towards the cart of food that was left at the base of the stairs. Ba Zeng took to the stairs and got lost in his own thoughts, the trees and birds around them soothed his mind.

Ba Zeng had taken only 20 steps when Kao Ba had already descended the rest of the steps passing him on the way down: "There's no chance we were followed, the main road is miles away."

"Good," Ba Zeng called back as he heard Kao Ba fussing with the cart of food. Instantly he was back into his own thoughts. The serious question still bugged him, what the hell was he going to do? Hide in the mountains for the rest of his life? It was a possibility. Ba Zeng had preformed travesties sure, but he had lived in complete luxury, shared the company of a different a woman every night, manipulated the minds of weak-willed vassals. Strength emboldened him, it's what he fed off of.

The black hole where Ba Zeng's heart was supposed to be felt just a little more empty.

[Ai Rui The Guardian Wolf]

OOC: Oh this is going to be fun!

---

Mengzhong had remembered the words Ba Zeng muttered. "Cheng Du...I'm going to Cheng Du..." Ba Zeng had intentionally told Mengzhong his destination, and he knew he had to follow. The old man was critical to him and he knew that the information he was after needed to be obtained. "I know not whether he desires us to follow, but I know it is what I must do. I thank the two of you for accompanying me on this dangerous venture. I know not what I'd do without you both." Mengzhong bowed to his companions Dao Jiang and Meng Jianhude'ai. Jiang had been loyal to Mengzhong since childhood and Jianhude'ai was the newfound guardian of his family.

"Heh!" Jiang chimed in. "You're saying thank you? I suddenly get the feeling we may not come back from this expedition."

Mengzhong was startled. He found himself at a loss for word for a moment and had to regain his thoughts. Of course Jiang would figure it out. He's known me since we were children. How could I have expected to hide the danger from him. Mengzhong looked up to his compainions once again. "You know me too well my friend. I have requested your companionship without explaining the extent of the situation. Though, I know not how exactly to explain the matter at hand; but I know it could be dangerous. I also know that it is something I'd not return from alone."

"Yeah? Then it's a good thing you brought me along. You know I'd walk to the fires of Hell and back with you Bro! All you'd ever have to do is ask."

"Such great loyalty," Jianhude'ai spoke. "You two have a beautiful relationship. Perhaps as beautiful as you and your wife's marriage, my lord. If by my life or my death I can protect you, then I should give it gladly."

"I ask no one to die for me; I bring you along in hopes of preventing such things. Should it come to it I'd ask you both abandon me to my death, I need you watching for my wife and daughter more."

The trio stopped in its tracks. "My lord, it is my duty to protect the Ai clan. "Forget it! I'm not leaving you to any such fate!" "You WILL abandon me!" They had all shouted at one another, and all at the exact moment. Suddenly a relenting look of understanding washed across Jiang's face. "Yeah, I get it. You can't take any more death. You're not looking for a fight, but one might be looking for you. Fine, I give you my word that Caiwan and Xuanchailiang will be kept safe by my blade." Jiang lifted Demon's Claw high. "But know that I ain't going back without you, dead or alive!"

It was beginning to dawn on Jiande'ai what he meant. "My duty is to protect the Ai clan, not only Ai Rui. I understand my duty and will act accordingly. But I promise you, you will see your daughter's face again."

Mengzhong's thoughts were on his family. He would be away for a long time, longer than ever before. How would Xuanchailiang respond? She was close to her father and was growing into a brilliant child. "Then we are agreed, the only ones who can die on our venture are the ones who strike at us. Now, I recommend we stop in a temple and pray before we continue on."

"And I thought you were an atheist." Jiang was right; Mengzhong had no faith beyond what he could see and feel. But something inside told him that prayers might be needed to stare down death.

Jianhude'ai stepped before the others. "My lords, I know of an abandoned temple nearby. There was a time when my bandits used it as a sanctuary. It is far from the main roads. Please allow me to lead the way."

Mengzhong nodded and Jianhude'ai lead them from the path. They walked for an awful time, but they approached the temple. "Haha!" Jiang bellowed so loudly it echoed. "Old girl wasn't kidding! There is a temple!"

The three made their way for the temple at a lax pace. Mengzhong was suddenly overcome by an ominous feeling. Something was waiting just ahead, and it would be dangerous. He drew his blades and further slowed preparing for a fight. Jiang and Jianhude'ai both noticed his behavior and drew their swords as well. There was danger ahead, and all three of them knew it.

[Mikey]

Ba Zeng had just sat down on a very dusty feather mattress when he heard loud voices come into earshot. They were all very jovial; one of them in particular sounded familiar, which was very odd. Everyone close to Ba Zeng's past was dead, jailed, or would be considered fugitives in the Han court. He dashed quietly to the open threshold to the darkened bedroom, grabbing his crossbow. Ba Zeng exited the bedroom and found himself on the cold cobble stone of the open temple floor.

It was a very old temple; nature had taken over its very foundations. Overgrown vines hung from the stone roof and moss clung to its walls. More eerily, long lost reminders of civilizations past littered the place: old straw brooms, dusty tomes, paintings on the walls. The entire place seemed surreal.

More importantly, who knew it existed? Ba Zeng wondered as he tip-toed towards the noise. He was up the one-hundred steps, and the voices came from below. The cold cobblestone felt nice under his bare feet. It had been a long journey from Lou Yang and weary feet only carried a person so far.

Kao Ba appeared by a pillar, making no noise at all. The bodyguard made an effort to impress his client. The raven-beak mask that Kao Ba wore only added to his hunter persona. It hid his nose disfiguration, but Ba Zeng thought it appropriate for his bodyguard anyway. Ba Zeng almost gasped in surprise at his sudden appearance, but held it in as Kao Ba motioned for him to be quiet. He pointed towards the trespassers.

There were three of them and, although they approached in goofy aloofness, they suddenly caught wind that they were entering an area that was dangerous.

Ba Zeng raised a brow questionably. He had almost forgotten about Ai Rui, the youth that he had encountered in Lou Yang. Ai Rui reminded Ba Zeng of himself when he was younger, vibrant and intelligent. Why had Ai Rui followed him? "Cheng Du... I'm going to Cheng Du..." Ba Zeng suddenly remembered what he had told Ai Rui in Lou Yang. That cryptic message in the marketplace. Of course the curious youth would follow.

Ba Zeng's path differed greatly; he had taken position as a corrupt Prime Minister and indulged in the manipulation and misfortune of others.

That lifestyle had appealed to him in the past, but maybe he was going through a mid-life crisis. Suddenly Ba Zeng's deceitful ways seemed mundane and pointless. It had caused nothing but suffering, for himself and others. The pain of being exiled from the kingdom he had forged in manipulative plots still burned brightly in his soul--if such a person had one.

Ba Zeng pulled the trigger of his crossbow; he had never been a marvelous shot, but Ba Zeng was trying to hit an old signpost instead of the intruders. He missed anyway, and the bolt lodged itself deep into the bark of a tree. Ba Zeng sighed and rolled his eyes. Whatever. The bolt served as a warning regardless of where it landed; the sound of it splicing the wind at its sides forced the trespassers to stop in their tracks.

Kao Ba appeared at the top of the steps, fashioning his dual sai. Despite being outnumbered, Kao Ba could engage multiple enemies at once. He was quite skilled at the practice; 'juggling' he called it. It had never surprised Ba Zeng when Kao Ba dispatched small groups of highwaymen on the Silk Road single-handedly. Those memories still displayed the golden youthful years that Ba Zeng enjoyed, traveling the country and lands beyond.

Regardless of how long ago that was, Kao Ba still looked dangerous, and he was. Sunlight glanced off of his iron raven beak, his quick eyes sizing up each opponent at the bottom of the one-hundred steps. They had approached with their weapons drawn, but they were just afraid.

Kao Ba took a step downward, flourishing his sai.

"Stop!" Ba Zeng called, revealing himself from behind a pillar at the top of the stairs. Kao Ba turned his head abruptly; had Ba Zeng just told him to disengage? "They are harmless kids, from Lou Yang. Remember?"

"No," Kao Ba growled under his mask. "They must've grown since then." He sheathed his sai. The bodyguard looked back at the group-- they were indeed kids. None of them looked older than twenty. Annoyed, Kao Ba scoffed. "I'll go make some tea." He had almost killed a group of innocent children, but tea made up for everything. Kao Ba disappeared into the temple.

Ba Zeng chuckled and leaned his crossbow against the pillar. He motioned for Ai Rui and his entourage to ascend the one-hundred steps.

Ba Zeng decided tea sounded good and followed his bodyguard into the temple.

[Ai Rui The Guardian Wolf]

The trio kept along until they head wood split behind them. "Warning shots? Someone doesn't want us here. Do not stop, it's what they want." If Dao Jiang knew anything, it was battle. Ai Rui knew ordinary behavior, he'd have thought the same of a warning shot; but Jiang understood exactly what a warning shot was. It had no designs to match its name; it was a tactic of fear not a warning.

Mengzhong had learned long ago to trust Dao Jiang. He had far more experience than the youthful strategist. They continued forward at a heightened pace. As they arrived at the steps Ba Zeng emerged and laid down his crossbow. He waved them to follow him inside.

Mengzhong stepped up the first few steps and sheathed his blades. "Keep your weapons out and remain only a few steps behind. The old man is not our primary concern, but his bodyguard moves like the wind. I will enter first and am counting on the two of you to strike before I fall if necessary. If it proves safe then replace your blades and follow me. But be ready; he is crafty and I'll not see anyone among us fall this day." Jiang and Jianhude'ai nodded quietly and obeyed Mengzhong's orders.

As he entered through the temple's passageway, he looked around with caution. He was ready for that Kao Ba to attack in so many different ways.