Mahjong Match III

~"

As planned, arrives at the camp a delegate from The Palace... Just the day after the incident

-How do we explain what happened now? He really came at the worst of times...- asked General Tian, laying on a chair completely tired and with very vivid black circles under his eyes

-We just say what actually happened-

-Miss Ying...-

-Enough with it Sir, it now obvious you need my help so please don't complain whenever I speak the truth-

Qin Luo looked at me and then at the General with wide eyes, munching over some rice crackers, probably not used to see a superior being scolded so openly

-Mhn... Then I'll leave this matter to you Miss Ying- he sighs resigned.

...

The General Li Yao on the other hand couldn't accept the shame and still wanted to try cleaning his reputation in some way... Wanting to avoid a report.

Before the Delegate appointment with the other General, he "casually" crossed paths with the Noble man

-Oh! What a coincidence to meet My Lord here! I was just about to go patrolling...-

-General Li? What do you mean?-

-Oh you don't know? We always take turns for patrol but apparently my dear friend General Tian XuWen couldn't attend to his turn tonight since, with all the right of the world, he has the important duty of entrateining you My Lord-

-I didn't knew you Generals did such things, that's honorable... But to think he threw his work on an older man just to banquet is not a very nice act - said the Noble scratching his beard

-Oh no! Don't take it this way please, I wasn't by any mean trying to bash him out or complain, everyone has their work to do in the camp! None is left out... Since it's quite early wouldn't you join me My Lord? We could talk a bit of the past, for this old man to enjoy his working time! Hehe-

-Sure I don't mind, let's go get the horses-

...

The two men began their walk around the cold lands and the rare trees, the sky slowly getting darker and darker as the sun was setting...

-Oh I absolutely remember! I still own you one My Lord!-

-Do not mention, it was nothing at all-

-Hahaha I will make sure to pay back your kindness! Oh?- the General's expression dropped

-Something's wrong?-

-I'm not sure... I heard something... Stay back My Lord! I'll go ahead first!- After a few steps, more noise came from the small wood around them and soon after a shadow fell in front of the two men

-Ah! An attack from the enemy! My Lord! Run! I'll stay back and hold them as you make your escape!- yelled the General before taking his sword outmgoing for an attack, which didn't do much if nothing to the enemy

-Aren't you supposed to yell...?- whispered the General to the man who only rose an eyebrow

-We tried the act before, come on... Do your part properly-

The man began to laugh -Oh you mean their part?- he pointed at two corpses a bit far away in the dark...

The General's face became blank, realizing what was actually happening.

-I see what's going on here... Hahaha what a useless man, putting on an act to get a promotion? Well, you weren't so lucky today-

-No wait... Ahhhh!-

...

-Shouldn't the Delegate be here already?- I stood up nervous

-He must be a little late, don't worry Lai'Er-

-It's impossible not to due to the circumstances-

-Just wait a bit more- caressed my hand Qin Luo

-Mhn...-

...

-This is too much, I'll go check! Someone have all the Generals called back here!- I yelled before heading to the delegate's tend

I reached the tend and made my introductions without entering -I'm sorry to disturb My Lord, but due to the time I thought it was appropriate to ask if everything was alright...?-

No reply

-My Lord?-

Still no reply

-Is anyone in here?- I asked entering the tend only to find it empty -Oh no...-

...

Back to the banquet tend, I entered after running straight through the door

-He's gone!-

-What?!- yelled General Tian

-Same goes for General Li Yao- comments Qin Luo, coming inside the tend after me with pressed lips

-What do we do now?-

-Put the whole Camp under investigation! None must leave! Search everywhere!- I ordered

...

-We couldn't find them anywhere. I suggest to let me go patrol the area around the camp... And possibly the enemy territories too Sir- I knelt, officially bringing back words from the investigation reports

-If they are in such places, I'm afraid there's no need to search anymore...- said Qin Luo walking around the tend with one hand under his chin

-It won't hurt to try-

-At your own life's cost?- he growled as I stood back up

-He's the Emperor's delegate...-

-Weren't you the one against ranking?!- he yelled now but I ignored him

-Sir, let me go- I turned around to fave the Head General, seated down with an arched back

-Tz! I won't stay here to listen to this shit- Qin Luo flicked his tongue and left the tend

-Miss Ying... What he said is true, we cannot afford to always let you go out alone... We already risked many times-

-But-

-My Lord!- yelled a soldier outside

-Come in-

-My Lord... We... We found a letter- he said trying to catch his breath

The General held his chair arms rest tight between his fists -Read it out loud!-

-"We killed two of your soldiers and got our hands on two high ranked ones... Surely you want them back, the price is nothing but a mere low ranked soldier in comparison...

Give us the woman at the gates of our base or you will all face death"-

-Killed...?-

-In a week we lost almost 200 men into thin air- I whispered to myself -I must go!-

-We will never let them have you!- straightened the General

-Sir, I will be back, you need to first think about WHO we MUST rescue-

The other Geneeals nodded at my sentence and the soldier went on talking -My Lord... There's more... A day limit before they kill them and attack us so it's better if you reconsider-

-How many?-

-2-

-That's... Not good...-

"~

And now here I am, armed to teeth riding at full speed to reach that black fortress once again...

Only two days.

Two days to rescue those men.

Two days to save a minor Deity.

Two days to destroy a malicious Jade.

Two days to kill them all.

Two days to escape.

Two days to get back victorious... But I'll do it before the sun rises!