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Shaky Ground	By : Vovo Category: +A through F > Dynasty Warriors Views: 2415 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Dynasty Warriors and its characters are not mine, they belong to Koei. I'm not making any profit from writing this, I'm just a poor ficwriter.

Chapter List
- 6
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Shaky Ground
Chapter 7
After the retreat from He Fei, the Wu forces had returned to their land to recover and then concentrate on a new strategy to strike Wei.
Ling Tong was walking through the dark corridors of the palace. Every night an insistent thought was worrying his otherwise peaceful sleep. Ling Tong was uneasy; he wanted to be alone to think about it clearly. However, the fact that a certain noisy person was always around didn't help him. Somehow, that pirate always distracted him from his thoughts and he couldn't concentrate on...
He heard the bell's jiggling, echoing over the empty halls. The long-haired officer took a deep breath...
What can I do now...?
"Are you following me?" Ling Tong stopped and asked without turning.
"No, it's you who's running away from me." The man crossed his arms over his chest. It wasn't as if they had fought. They still met each other. But Gan Ning felt as if their encounters were becoming fewer and fewer and he wasn't receiving the attention he thought he deserved. "What's going on? Did I do something wrong?"
"Gan Ning." Ling Tong turned to face the upset warrior. "I just... want to be alone for a while, will you allow me Gan Xingba?"
The man sighed. "Why do you wanna be alone? What are you thinking?" It wasn't as if he didn't want to give the man some space, but he was worried about what was happening in his lover's head. Just when he had finally thought that their differences had been settled, Ling Tong started to show a rather distant behavior, and Gan Ning was very uneasy about it. "I don't get you."
"Just... let me be alone for a while."
"Will you come back?" Gan Ning shook his head and turned his back to the other man. "Fine, suit yourself."
It hurt Ling Tong to see him leaving like that, but he was sure the ex-pirate would survive. He kept walking through the corridors until he found a room lit in the night. Entering it, he saw Lu Xun absorbed in a map, his pretty face concentrated on a place that could be a future battlefield.
"Don't you think it's time to rest, Boyan?"
Lu Xun snapped out of his reverie and looked up. "I'm..." He then forgot what he was going to say and stood up. "I'm just so worried."
"About what?"
"About the kingdom... I knew I had to advise our Lord to act more carefully, but I wasn't capable of stopping him. What if... something bad had happened. What if the enemy took him and... What if..." He looked up to stare at the tall man's eyes. Then he walked to his direction. "Gongji..." Lu Xun tried to be strong, as strong as a Wu officer might be, but he couldn't help but feel weak and he couldn't stop himself from wrapping his arms around the older man's body for support. "Gongji, I was afraid. For a moment, I thought I'd lose you."
Ling Tong let the boy rest his head on his chest and caressed his fine brown hair in a soothing way. "You don't need to worry, I'm here right now."
"And Master Gan Ning, he would be devastated if he lost you."
"My lord..."
"I know, I have to be strong. I'm sorry for troubling you with my worries."
"Have more confidence in yourself. I know you will come up with great plans for Wu. You'll be a great strategist."
Lu Xun smiled sadly. "Thank you."
"Now, don't stay up for too long. Get some rest." And Ling Tong left the room. He walked some more until he was outside the palace. The place was quiet and the floor was still wet because of the rain that had fallen. He walked to the direction of a small temple and closed his eyes in concentration.
xxx
"Up so late? Are you hungry?" Lu Meng asked when he saw Gan Ning wandering through the halls.
"Nah, just trying to find some thing to do."
"And what about sleeping?"
"I'll have a lot of time to rest when I'm dead."
Lu Meng chuckled. "Do you think so?"
"When the time comes, I'll see."
"But it will take a while 'til it comes. I'll probably know before you do."
"Then, do me a favor and tell me."
"Only if I appear as a ghost... That would be funny. To see your frightened face."
"What? Me? I wouldn't be more scared of you than when I see your ugly face right after you wake up."
"And when did you see me right after I woke up? Did you sleep with me?"
"You're too old for me, you pervert."
"Hah, like I ever want to have an insolent pirate like you in my bed."
"You know that a lot of people are dying to have me, don't you?"
"I'm really sorry for them." Lu Meng eyed the ex-pirate and arched one eyebrow. "Are you chasing someone? That's the reason you're walking around?"
"Me? No!"
"You know, I was young one day, you can talk to me about it, I know you're not a shy boy."
"Like Lu Xun?"
Lu Meng chuckled. "Spit it out."
"Ling Tong is avoiding me."
The older man blinked a few times, not knowing if he wanted to understand the connection. "Well... how so?"
"He seems distant, like he's troubled with something."
"That is a strange thing to say about him. He doesn't seem to be bothered by many things besides Wu and... his father's honor."
"Maybe the latter has something to do with me?"
"Yeah... maybe." Lu Meng walked to Gan Ning's direction and touched his shoulder. "But I'm sure he respects you now, for everything you've done for our kingdom, and for risking your life to bring him back. But then... he never forgot his father's death. You know that he didn't make light of a comment that concerned his father's honor in the past."
"What happened?"
"The man eventually died."
"..."
"But Ling Tong was younger and he regrets it deeply."
"So, you're telling me he killed a guy that said something bad about his father, that means he's planning something real worse for me then. Why do you think it'll make me feel better?"
"He wouldn't do that now. He's very gentle and responsible... Well, kind of."
"Do you think he will ever forgive me?"
"To be sincere, I don't know."
"Thanks." Gan Ning turned to leave.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Really, old man, I'm touched by your concern. I'll remember it."
"Sorry if I didn't help much."
"I know you want to help me, but I guess what we have can only be settled by the two of us."
Lu Meng watched as the young man walked away and sighed. What could he do? Maybe the brazen pirate was right, he was too old and he'd better leave the matter for those who were young.
xxx
After praying, Ling Tong sat and rested his head against a temple pillar. He thought about his promise and felt guilty. He had been fighting in his head for a long time. Damn pirate to make him have these troublesome thoughts. It'd be much easier if he was just an undignified man, an enemy. He could just take his revenge. But Gan Ning had become one of the most important Wu officers, loyal to their kingdom. However, he would never forget the day when he saw his father's body devoid of life. It was like some kind of darkness had enveloped his soul, and even though he could pretend to have forgotten it, the sadness still lingered somewhere in his heart. Nevertheless, what calmed him somewhat was to think that to give one's life for the sake of your country is not a shameful way to die. This, Ling Tong had learned when he thought of risking his life to save Sun Quan in the battle of He Fei. There was no shame in dying for a purpose.
He got up slowly and brushed the rain drops that had fallen over his hair. The sky was all dark. No star could be seen because of the heavy clouds covering the horizon. He walked slowly back to his room, and wasn't at all surprised when he saw Gan Ning leaning against a wall.
"Have you decided? Whatever you thought you should?"
"I don't know, I think it wasn't about deciding anything."
"If you wanna kill me, then do this. Challenge me, fight me, but tell me what you're gonna do, don't keep me in the dark. I can handle anything coming from you, I just can't stand indifference. Not from you."
"Yes, I made a promise I would avenge my father's death, but when you became a Wu officer, Sun Quan made me promise I would wait until the war was over, and only then I could do what I thought I should."
"Then what? You'll make me wait here until the war is over, that's it? You won't give me an answer, you expect me to stay away from you until then?" Gan Ning stood with his eyes glowing like fire.
"Xingba," Ling Tong said smoothly. "Don't worry too much, it doesn't seem like you." He walked towards him and touched an uncovered shoulder. "You're tense."
"Yes, I am." He tried to avoid the taller man's eyes.
"Let me help you," Ling Tong whispered in his ear.
"You know... I hate you." Gan Ning felt a hand on his, leading him to a room. "I hate when you do this to me."
"I know." Ling Tong smirked.
xxx
The dark-haired man's eyes gazed over the hills and he was the first to rush towards enemy territory—under Lu Meng's orders. It had been a while since Ling Tong led the front lines and he was eager to prove he could do this.
Gan Ning had been a little disappointed not to be in charge of the first attack, but there were other plans for him. He began to take a base near the river, while Ling Tong took bases ahead. What relieved the ex-pirate was the fact that he trusted in the other officer's abilities.
I have to say he's almost as good as I am.
Almost.
But what made him a little nervous was the fact that Zhang Liao would soon appear and he knew that Ling Tong was eager to meet him in battle. And it was almost impossible to deny that what Zhang Liao had accomplished in the battle of He Fei was incredible and he was one of the best generals of their time.
After taking the base, Gan Ning rushed to accomplish his other task, and he couldn't fail. Not that it was a possibility he considered to begin with... The blond officer made his way down the hill and to the harbor, but when he reached the place he found himself surrounded by several Wei officers.
Even though he thought it was an interesting challenge, he didn't have much time to spare, so he fought as fast as possible. However, the number of Wei soldiers didn't seem to decrease over time. But soon Gan Ning heard a commotion and saw another ally unit arriving.
"What are you doing here? Trying to spoil my fun?" Gan Ning saw the long-haired officer getting close to him.
"Lu Meng sent me here, he wanted to make sure you didn't mess with things."
"Hah, like I need your help!" Gan Ning smiled as he saw the brunet taking down several officers. It was always good to see an enemy falling after all.
"And what would be of you without me?" Ling Tong turned briefly and smiled back.
The Wei soldiers were numerous around them, but no unit or officer was able to fight their combined forces, so Ling Tong escorted Gan Ning to the harbor with ease.
The ex-pirate saw a ship waiting for him and looked back at the other officer. "I'll see you in no time."
"I'll be waiting for you, so don't get your ass kicked on the way."
Gan Ning laughed. "I say the same thing to you." He looked back at him one last time before getting on board. While sailing, he prayed silently that the wind helped him to arrive at Cao Cao's main camp before his officers had time to counter-attack. If they did, it would be difficult to hold back, being in a small number. The victory depended on him accomplishing his part of the plan.
While Gan Ning was heading for his destination, Wu forces guarded the bases they had taken on the other side of the battlefield, waiting for what would come, trusting in the surprise attack that would be launched. However, as it was expected, Cao Cao's forces started a counter-attack, and at that time it wasn't the average officers he sent, but Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and Zhang Liao.
Ling Tong would be the first to receive the oppressive force of Wei's soldiers, and when their strike finally came, not only did he endure the offensive, but he also moved forward towards Wei's main camp. The young officer made sure the previous posts were secured and advanced carefully. He knew that sooner or later, waiting or advancing, he would meet Zhang Liao again.
And it was as he expected, the mighty general was there, imposing, mounted on the magnificent beast that was his horse, shining armor sparkling under the moonlight. He took his axes and did what most men feared: he ran to attack with great speed. It was surely the last sight many had seen before their passing. Ling Tong couldn't deny his heart accelerated and he gripped his Sanjiegun tightly.
He saw many of his soldiers being slashed by the blades, trying bravely to avoid the feared warrior from reaching their superior, and he decided he couldn't bear seeing anymore of that again. Ling Tong rushed to meet the enemy and took down several soldiers with his sectioned staff, until he was almost face to face with Zhang Liao, and it didn't take long before he saw the deadly blades moving towards him. He tried to avoid the attack and made a move on his horse, but the next enemy charge resulted in throwing him off to the ground, in an ungracious manner. Recovering quickly, he avoided an attack that could slash him in half.
Zhang Liao's moves came fast and also held a great strength. It was almost impossible to keep up a battle against him. Ling Tong made a great effort to attack, but he had the disadvantage of having to be really close to the man to do him any harm. With so many strong points on the enemy side, Ling Tong saw himself escaping from the attacks constantly and blocking when possible.
Then Zhang Liao suddenly stopped his attacks. "That's amazing, young man. No one I've fought has survived for so long. I'm honored to fight you."
Ling Tong stared at the enemy while he regained his breath.
What a wonderful enemy.
The fact that the man and his personnel had almost killed him in the last battle didn't make his honor in fighting him falter. Zhang Liao was a great general, strong, intelligent and also a respectful man.
Ling Tong didn't want to die, but he thought he couldn't have a more honored death than by the hands of that man.
And then, Zhang Liao resumed his attacks, and it would be a matter of time until he had worn out Ling Tong's energy and could hit him with lethal blows.
But suddenly they heard a great commotion on Wei's main camp. Yelling and screaming could be heard, signs that the place had been attacked.
Zhang Liao stopped attacking and kept vigilant, waiting for a sign that would tell him what the best action he would take was. He looked back at his camp briefly and then stared at Ling Tong for a while, until he made his decision and called his horse, riding to the Wei camp's direction.
Ling Tong was bewildered by the scene and mounted his horse too. He rode to the same direction Zhang Liao had taken, guiding Wu troops towards the main camp. When he arrived, the place was in a chaotic state. Wei soldiers were fleeing profusely in their confused state. With Gan Ning's surprise attack, the Wu soldiers had quickly gained control of the camp. When Ling Tong arrived with the rest of the troops, the place was completely surrounded.
There was no other option for Cao Cao and his men than to leave the camp and retreat. Even the great Zhang Liao couldn't take that much of a force surrounding him, so he guarded his lord in his departure.
Wu soldiers cheered and bathed in the sweet light of victory. Shouts and laughing and drums could be heard all over in the confusion of bodies running around in sheer glory and happiness. A chance to live another day, to return to their loved ones.
"I kept my promise!" Gan Ning shouted to make himself heard in the middle of the crowd.
Ling Tong looked at the man glowing in the red armor and smiled. "And so did I."
xxx
After the battle was over and no more traces of Wei's army could be seen, the soldiers of Wu went back to their main base to celebrate the great victory. Excited voices and laughing could be heard for long hours, slowly fading as the night advanced. While most of the soldiers were already sleeping, there was one voice that still could be heard.
"...You should've seen their faces when I jumped into their camp. Some of them didn't even attack me when I walked past them, they didn't even know what to do. There was this guy that stood there holding his sword and doing nothing, he just looked at me like I was some kind of ghost and, I can say he was really scared of me, he wasn't expecting me to show up right in there. But maybe, you know, I think he knew who I am, he knew that he couldn't win against me. Have I told you how I knocked three soldiers with just one blow?"
"Yeah... twice in the last hour..." Ling Tong took a sip of his drink and tried to be patient. He knew that Gan Ning wouldn't stop before he had fulfilled his desire to talk about his battle achievements.
"But it is so good I have to tell you again."
Lu Meng coughed. "Not again! Spare my old man ears, they are already sore!" The older officer voiced his suffering, but even so, despite his words, he quite enjoyed to be in the company of the two younger officers. He closed his eyes and felt the warmth of the fire protecting him from the chilly night breeze while Gan Ning had resumed his storytelling session.
"Hey! It's not time to sleep yet, old man!"
"See, he's tired of you talking!" Ling Tong finished his drink. "Don't you think it's time to rest?" The young man stretched lazily. "I'm tired." And stood up. "I think I'm leaving now..." He started to walk slowly to his tent's direction, stopping briefly to give a meaningful look at Gan Ning's direction.
The ex-pirate watched his lover walk through the camp, disappearing in one of the tents. He knew that it would be a little suspicious if he just walked after him and went to the same direction, so he stayed where he was and just drank while watching the flames of the fire moving softly with the night breeze.
"I just can't believe you stopped talking for a whole minute."
"Hey, I thought you were sleeping, old man."
"As strange as it may seem, I don't feel like sleeping tonight."
"Yeah, I know... Sometimes I feel a little restless after a battle too. I always feel like there's still some energy left... that even after all the fighting, I'm still looking for more."
"Well... I felt like it too, when I was younger, but it's not that... I feel..." Lu Meng stopped briefly, trying to find the right words. "I feel like there's more I should do. I feel that I can't stop yet."
"You did well in the battle, Lu Meng." Gan Ning put a reassuring hand over the other officer's shoulder. "We won because of your instructions, we won because of you."
"You make it seem like it was just me." Lu Meng smiled warmly. "You did well too. It seems like you've finally learned how to take orders!"
"Hey, I always followed your orders."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, you're right, I'm not very good at this following orders thing."
Lu Meng chuckled. "Oh, that's a big surprise."
"Ok, I'll let you make fun of me just this once, just because they say we have to respect the old men."
"I'm not that old! You know that!"
"Just teasing."
"Yeah, I know." Lu Meng took a sip of his drink. "But, you know, maybe it will not be so bad if I retire now. I wouldn't say something like that some time ago, but now, seeing how you all have changed... Sun Quan is now a confident leader and Lu Xun is becoming a great strategist. And you and Ling Tong, you are now two of the best officers we have in Wu. I'm so proud of you. It makes me think that Wu will be in good hands with you, so maybe you won't lose much if I'm out of the battlefields."
"Hey, don't say that. I know that I'll have to put up with you for a long time..." Gan Ning smiled and looked beside him. But suddenly it started to rain heavily and the blond officer realized he was soaking wet. He looked beside him again and blinked a few times, realizing there was no one there. Bewildered, he looked around and found out he wasn't sitting by a fire in Wu's camp; he was sitting under a dead tree, in the middle of a field. The ground was so wet the earth had become mud, proof that it had been raining for a while.
Gan Ning stood up and started to walk through the empty fields. He walked and walked aimlessly for a while, until he found his way to the palace and stepped on stone floor.
Why that night?
The young officer was so angry at himself, he couldn't stop thinking about the night after they had won one of the battles, a night they had spent celebrating.
To celebrate, it was what they had promised to do after the battle against Guan Yu was over. But as Gan Ning stared at nothing in the rain, he didn't felt like celebrating. They had achieved victory, they had achieved victory because of Lu Meng's plans. However, it didn't felt like a victory at all.
Old man, stop it.
But Lu Meng didn't stop his departure from this world. Despite Gan Ning's pleading, the old man stubbornly closed his eyes as his body laid in the younger officer's arms.
It couldn't be.
Death was death, it happened every day. However, on that day, death meant the end. The end of a great man. The end of a man he so admired, someone who was always there for him.
And how...
How can he sit there like nothing happened?
"You're not going to drink to the old man's death?"
It was the first time in Gan Ning's life he wasn't in the mood for drinking. It wasn't as if the alcohol would erase his memories forever. No, he just couldn't forget.
Ling Tong inspected the ex-pirate saddened expression, it was very strange to see the man like that. "Well, I suppose he is a bit relieved," he finally said.
"What do you mean...?" Gan Ning asked bitterly.
"He won't have to deal with your boasting anymore."
That made the blood that had felt cold in Gan Ning's veins boil as he clenched his fists.
Ling Tong felt a bit relieved seeing the fist attempting to raise in the air. That was a sign that the man was still himself. But then the blond just left the blow unfinished and walked away in the rain.
xxx
The boy stared at the horizon by the balcony. The rain had extinguished the fire of the torches and all that could be seen was the world painted in a gray color. He squeezed the railing with his fingers and felt tears of frustration rolling down his cheek.
"Boyan..." Sun Quan said in concern. He had been watching the boy like that for a while.
Hearing his sovereign voice, the boy tried to hold back his tears. "My lord..." He answered in a soft voice, but still not daring to turn. He had to show himself strong, how could he prove it if his lord saw him like that?
"We all mourn his passing, there's no shame in crying for a dear friend's death."
"I'm not crying. I'm not..."
"You may cry." Sun Quan touched the boy's arm. "I allow you to do it."
Then Lu Xun cried. "I swear... that it will be the last time I cry over his death." He then turned and Sun Quan saw that the tears didn't affect the boy's beauty in the least. It was just heart wrenching to see his saddened face. "This is not what he wanted from me... He would want me to do my best for Wu... and... and... that is what I'll do. I swear, I will lead Wu to victory in this chaotic time."
"Yeah, I trust you." He watched the young man's conviction and he only had the choice to trust him. "I..."
Lu Xun saw Sun Quan's expression darkening. "What happened, my lord?"
"It's like, one of the pillars to my kingdom had crumbled. He was so important to me, he gave me the guidance when I needed. But... I know I'll do this... I'll bring peace for the land of Wu. And I won't do it alone... I still have you." He held the boy in his arms and Lu Xun let him. "I still have all of you."
xxx
Gan Ning walked and walked around. Never again... Never again would he say that...
Old man...
It was such a lonely day and he was tired of walking.
Then... that's the feeling of losing someone?
Really losing someone?
Gan Ning saw several people he knew die. Since the time he was a pirate, he saw his allies dying. Then why was it different with Lu Meng? Why have things become different when he started serving under Wu?
They are... my family.
The family he never had.
So... this is how we feel when...
When Gan Ning returned, he saw there was a young man sitting by the rain. His long hair was plastered to his face and his clothes were all wet, letting the form fitting fabric even more revealing. Gan Ning drank in that sight and felt his heartbeats racing.
Ling Tong...
"Gan Ning... I'm sorry."
I'm still angry, I'm still angry with you.
"I just... I just didn't want to see you like that, I've never seen you so sad before. I guess I just made things worse..." Ling Tong smiled sadly.
"Don't you miss him?" Gan Ning asked.
"Of course I do."
"But why do you seem so calm?"
"As you said, everyone dies one day. And one thing I realized, was that dying for something you fight for is very honorable."
"But it's still dying!"
"Yes, it is. But if there is no other destiny in our lives, then let it be in a dignified way."
Gan Ning sighed. "I guess you're right." He sat by the other man's side. "So... where's the booze?"
"Ah... I drank it all already."
"What? You left nothing for me?"
"You were too late..." He put one comforting arm around the ex-pirate's waist.
"Okay... Next time I'll arrive in time to drink." He licked Ling Tong's lips. "It tasted good." Then he kissed him, savoring his mouth, taking in the bittersweet flavor of the drink. It started to rain heavily, but he didn't care, he kept on kissing him as if nothing else existed in the world. He wanted so much to be near him, to feel someone he cared about close to him.
When the kiss ended, Gan Ning rested his head on Ling Tong's shoulder and just watched the rain falling.
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Shaky Ground