Returning Home

Two months passed since Yun was promoted to General. He was on his way back to Zhending with his men as the Rebels were suppressed by the Empire. Most troops were still patrolling around the Provinces that rebelled against the Empire to push the rebels down if they dared to uprise again.

Yun was riding on Thunder at the head of his troops as they were reaching Zhending when a red horse and a white horse came rushing out of the city towards them.

Shadow was coming from the same direction as she landed on Yun's shoulder while Yun rode Thunder towards the two incoming horses after saying, "Tang Shi, look after the men. I will be right back."

"Yes, sir," says Tang Shi while Yun was already gone.

"Sir, the General is already gone," says one of the soldiers pointing out that Yun was already too far away to hear Tang Shi.

"You want to walk some extra laps tomorrow?" asks Tang Shi as the soldiers shake their heads.

"Then keep walking if we don't reach the gate of Zhending in twenty minutes everyone here will be running extra laps because of your comment," says Tang Shi as he rushes the troops.

As Yun got nearer he could recognize who the riders were and smiled, making Thunder go faster so he can be reunited with his siblings and his future wife.

Once Thunder reached the horses Yun looked at Diao Chan who was wearing the dress Yun bought for her in Huai. His younger sister was wearing a normal dress that wasn't too elegant to steal the show but also not too simple to be seen as a normal girl.

Hua on the other hand was wearing his uniform which was pale blue while his long hair was in a ponytail.

"Brother," says Hua as Qing was waving her hand while sitting in front of Hua.

"Hua and Qing," says Yun as he greets his siblings before turning to Diao Chan.

"Yun," says Diao Chan as she jumps from the Huntress' back onto Thunder's to hug Yun.

"I'm back," says Yun as he returned the hug.

"It seems someone learned to ride the horse while I was away," says Yun looking at Diao Chan.

"Of course, Mother trained me and Qing in many things while you were gone," says Diao Chan as she leaned her head against Yun's chest wanting to hear his heartbeat.

"I missed you a lot," says Diao Chan as she hears Yun's heart beat rapidly.

"You can hear my answer," says Yun as he was happy to be back.

"Now we can finally marry before I begin my recruiting," says Yun as Hua and the others were confused.

"Don't you already have 500 men under you?" asks Hua as Yun smiles hearing that.

"I was promoted after suppressing the rebels in the North. I am now a General of 5000 men. And you, my little brother, are the commander of the not existing cavalry that will contain 500 men," says Yun as he surprised them.

"A General," says Hua still not believing it.

"Didn't father tell you about it?" asks Yun as the others shake their heads.

"Now I understand why father was so happy when he returned home," says Hua as Xian was quite happy about something since he returned but he wasn't telling them what it was that made him so happy.

"He must be quite proud of you," says Diao Chan as Thunder got near the Huntress and Yun helped Diao Chan to sit down on the Huntress' back.

"We should return to the city. Mother and father will be happy to see me again," says Yun as they rode towards the city.

They entered it without trouble as they rode to the mansion. Once at the mansion Yun got to meet Snow again. Snow wasn't a cute kitten anymore. He was already quite big because he was well fed by the family.

"Now, how are you doing Snow?" asks Yun as he dismounts Thunder and pets the White Tiger that wasn't fully grown yet.

Snow growled happily as he laid down on his back. He was playing with Yun for a while until Yun stopped. Yun stood back up and walked towards the stable with the others to take Thunder there.

Once Thunder was in the stable with the other horse they walked down the hall to go to the main room where Zhao Xian and Madam Su were waiting for them.

Yun entered the room still in his armor with Diao Chan by his side. Zhao Xian could now see that both together were a couple made for each other and smiled while Madam Su stood up and hugged her oldest son.

"I was worried about you," says Madam Su as Yun returned the hug.

"You don't have to worry about me, mother. I am protected by an Immortal remember," says Yun trying to take the worries from his mother.

"The Immortals aren't on the battlefield. I will always be worried about you," says Madam Su as she let go of Yun.

"He is right. He is blessed by an Immortal. But it was your deeds that granted you the title 'The General that Pacified the North'," says Zhao Xian proud of Yun as Madam Su was surprised as well as the others.

They heard that Yun became a General but not that he was granted a title by the Emperor when Yun says, "It wasn't only me who fought there alone. I had many loyal people around me and I have lost some of my men."

"But in the end, you suppressed the rebellion in the North and returned victorious home. Lu Zhi was quite proud of his decision of giving you a squad of fifty men back then," says Zhao Xian as he smiled at his son.

"Anyway, we should have a little feast tonight and prepare for the wedding between you two. We will make it small since we don't want too much attention for this wedding," says Zhao Xian as Yun nods.

"Yes, but I want to invite someone," says Yun as he wanted to invite one person.

"Who is it?" asks Zhao Xian curious now about who his son wanted to invite to his wedding.

"Lu Bu, the son of Ding Yuan," says Yun as Zhao Xian was surprised about that.

"Lu Bu, isn't he the commander that is fighting against the Mongols at the border," says Zhao Xian as Yun nods.

"Exactly, he and I have a little history with each other," says Yun as Zhao Xian was holding his chin.

"I will send a message to Ding Yuan to inform him," says Zhao Xian as Yun bows to his father.

"Thank you," says Yun as the door opens and the servants bring the food into the main room.

"We should feast today for your and your father's safe return," says Madam Su as they sit down and begin to eat while they talked about what happened.

In the meantime in the Province of Jing, two teenagers were playing Wei Qi outside in the courtyard under a tree.

One was of them was holding a feathered fan while the other was having a birthmark covering the mouth and a bit of his throat. The teen with the birthmark places a black piece on the board.

"I heard a rumor of a young man in the North," says the teen with the birthmark to the one holding the fan.

"You mean Lu Bu?" asks the teen with the fan as he placed a white piece on the board.

"No, but they seem to be almost the same age. But the young man I am talking about defeated Lu Bu in a duel," says the teen with the birthmark as he placed a black piece on the board.

"How did you find it out?" asks the teen with the fan as he places a white piece on the board.

"Our teacher told me about it. You know that he has his eyes and ears anywhere," says the teen with the birthmark as he places his next stone.

"You mean he asked Zuo Ci to inform him about the world state," says the teen with the fan as he placed the next stone.

"Exactly, but the most interesting part is that the young man I am talking about. Zuo Ci knows him," says the teen with the birthmark surprising the teen with the fan.

The teen with the birthmark hits the board with one stone not placing it on the board when the teen with the fan still surprised places a white piece on the board.

"You have lost, my friend," says the teen holding his black piece up making the teen with the fan smile.

"You tricked me, old friend. Anyway, Pang Tong, who are you talking about," says the teen with the fan picking the white pieces up from the board.

"I am talking about Zhao Yun. He became a General and was granted a title by the Emperor. I will be trying to enter his ranks as an advisor. What about you, Zhuge Liang?" says Pang Tong as he smiled at Zhuge Liang.

"I don't know yet. I am looking for someone that fights for the people and not for himself," says Zhuge Liang as Pang Tong picked up the black pieces from the board.

"Maybe he is the one then. He saved some rebels by making them join his ranks. He was forced to let them sleep outside the city, but he didn't protest and followed the orders given to him by joining them with his troops," says Pang Tong as he stood up.

"I will be traveling to Zhending once I get the okay from our teacher," says Pang Tong.

"Do you think he will take you into his rank? We aren't even known in the world. He will laugh at us for trying to enter his ranks as advisers or better said laugh at you. I will stay here and live my life in peace," says Zhuge Liang as he smiled at Pang Tong.

"We will see about that, old friend," says Pang Tong as he leaves Zhuge Liang behind.