CHAPTER XIII

Art of the Bow

There you go…I'm having a kid…me…and Kori. But…maybe…perhaps…the kid could follow in my footsteps, continue my legacy. But I've been thinking…maybe it's not the kid's time yet. I would love to have seen it grow, but something is whispering in my ear to make it wait. I don't know what…maybe the kid will be a dragon as well…

Zhuge Liang called Blue Fox into his tent. When Aoi got in, Zhuge Liang asked him to sit down.

"Lord Aoi Kitsune, I am sorry for the mishap at Liaozhong." Said Zhuge Liang.

"No problem, aside from almost being killed, we did fine. The city will gladly accept us." Said Aoi.

"I am happy to here this. But more to the point of why I asked you here, Lord Guan Yu is approaching Changsha, and I want you to join his attack."

"Of course." Said Aoi.

"I want you to go alone, however. I will need Shiro Inazuma and Aka Usagi for a separate task."

Aoi agreed and left the tent quietly. He went into his own and grabbed his belt. On the belt was his sheathed blade. He put on his chest armor, and attatched his quiver to his back. He grabbed his bow and went to his horse, Shadow. He attatched the bow to the front of Shadow's saddle, and sped off to Changsha. Shiro and Aka were brought into Zhuge Liang's tent shortly after Aoi's departure.

"Lord Shiro Inazuma," said Zhuge Liang, "a Wei fort is currently full of fatigue. Lead a cavalry of six-hundred into the fort and take it, but retreat immediately after. A Wei general will be in there, defeat him. When he is defeated, Lord Aka Usagi will wait for Wei reinforcements to enter the city, which he will then burn. Shiro Inazuma will reappear and take the reinforcements."

The two nodded and left to their tents. Shiro put on his silver chest armor, and grabbed his spear. He left and mounted his horse, then collected his forces. Aka left his large blade there, and took just a broadsword, and a bow to fire the fire arrows. He collected archers with him, and they left.

Aoi made it to the battle, and saw two warriors about to re-engage into battle. A croud was up in the castle walls, cheering on. The two were Guan Yu, mounted on Red Hare, and Huang Zhong.

Huang Zhong was a warrior able to shoot a hundred out of a hundred targets with archery. He, along with Aoi, were probably the best archers in China.

Huang Zhong wore golden robing, and sat on an old horse. He had a long-sword, and was a very old man. Though old, he could rampage the field as if half his age. He had a gray beard and a gold helmet.

Aoi waited patiently on his horse, and the two charged eachother, but Huang Zhong's horse stumbled and threw him off. Huang Zhong rolled across the floor, and Guan Yu slowly approached.

"Get another steed, old man." Said Guan Yu. "We will fight eachother then."
Aoi followed Guan Yu back into the camp, and at daybreak they approached the city to challenge Han Xuan, the lord of the city, again.

Huang Zhong rode a new horse, and took out his bow. Aoi watched carefully, and saw no arrow pulled from the quiver. Huang Zhong pulled the string and shot at Guan Yu.

Guan Yu, expecting an arrow, dodged. When he saw nothing fired, he retook pursuit, and dodged another fake arrow shot.

"I owe this warrior debt for his sparring of my life." Said Huang Zhong. "I cannot shoot him."

Han Xuan became infuriated seeing Huang Zhong missing.

"Huang Zhong! You idiot! Stop your slacking and kill the invader!" said Han Xuan.

Wei Yan, under Han Xuan, was becoming angered with the unworthy leader. He approached Han Xuan and cut him down before he suspected it.

"Han Xuan is dead!" said Wei Yan. "Unworthy of leadership, he was!"

Huang Zhong ran to Wei Yan.

"Should we join them?" asked Wei Yan.

"I will fight them, if they defeat me, we will join them." Said Huang Zhong. He left the city gates and challenged Guan Yu to a duel.

Huang Zhong readied his blade, and put his bow on his back with his quiver. Huang Zhong charged at Guan Yu, who dodged and hit him off his horse. Huang Zhong rolled and fired an arrow into Guan Yu's hip, dismounting him from Red Hare.

Guan Yu ran at Huang Zhong and lunged his pike with a deadly slash, but Huang Zhong ducked and cut across Guan Yu's stomach. Guan Yu pivoted onto the side and struck Huang Zhong.

Huang Zhong rolled frontwards and turned around. Guan Yu tried to attack but two arrows fired into his stomach. Huang Zhong kicked Guan Yu down and put an arrow to his head.

"I've won, young warrior!" said Huang Zhong. "Nobody can defeat Huang Zhong!"

"Really?" said Aoi. "I think you should make an exception."

"And who are you, challenger?"
"I am Aoi Kitsune, the black dragon of Shu. Using arrows to strike down your enemy is a dishonorable tactic. But I will duel you nonetheless."

"You challenge me at a game with archery, and expect victory?! Foolish youth, I will defeat you before you can lift your sword."

"Why not make a wager?" asked Aoi. "If I beat you, you must join us with upmost loyalty. If I lose, I will serve under you until the day I die."

"It is a deal then. Prepare yourself, warrior."

The field was cleared of men. There were wooden boxes set up along the battle field, and the two combatants readied themselves. A soldier sounded the gong, signalling to begin the duel. Huang Zhong immediately took out his bow and shot an arrow at Aoi to finish the duel quickly. Aoi took his blade and blockedthe arrow, then took his bow out. He jumped behind a wooden box and dodged two arrows, then shot four at Huang Zhong, who had nowhere to dodge so he hit one away with his blade and got a mere cut across his arm. When Huang Zhong looked up, Aoi was gone. He held tightly on his blade and awaited an appearance. He stepped forward, and then Aoi slashed down from behind and above Huang Zhong, leaving a bad mark.

Huang Zhong slashed his blade behind him, but Aoi blocked. Aoi took an arrow from his quiver and stabbed Huang Zhong in the stomach with it, and then kicking his chest forcing him back. Aoi ran at Huang Zhong, blade in hand when Huang Zhong halted him.

"Stop, warrior! You have won…" said Huang Zhong.

Aoi helped him up and onto a horse, along with Wei Yan on another. They left back to the main camp.

Shiro busted through the gates and his forces stormed the castle. They slaughtered several men, and Xiahou Yuan appeared.

"Bastard! I will be the one to slay you!" said Xiahou Yuan.

Xiahou Yuan hacked violently at Shiro, and got him off his horse. Yuan dismounted and charged at him. Shiro unsheathed his sword and blocked an overhead attack, then kicked him away.

"A message from us in Shu…get off our land!" said Shiro. He managed to get in another sword-lock next to his spear. He kicked the spear up and was forced back, but threw it at Yuan.

Yuan dodged the throw, but Shiro grabbed his head and kneed his back, then leg-siped him to the ground.

"Go home and cry to your mother." Said Shiro. Xiahou Yuan angrily retreated to get reinfocrements.

Shiro retreated and waited for hours, until finally a force of six-hundred arrived and stormed the city.

"Where are they?!" asked a soldier. As the men looked up they saw several lit objects flying in the sky, but they couldn't make it out. When they saw what it was, the city arose in flames. Other arrows hit soldiers. The men retreated, but were ambushed by Shiro. They attemtped to take the other route, but Aka aided in another slaughter. After a while, the city burned to flames, and the forces left back for the Shu camp.

Aoi finally met up with Shiro, when Shiro asked, "Hey Aoi…have you seen Kori around? I haven't seen her in over a week…where is she?
"She had to get away for a while, take a break. She has been through a lot, and I suppose she needed some time away." Said Aoi.

Shiro stared at him for a while, but then agreed with him. Aoi pondered to himself for a minute, and looked at Shiro.

"You know, we haven't fought in a long time. Up for a match?" asked Aoi.

"I don't know if I feel like beating you right now but…sure let's go. But no archery."

Aoi and Shiro approached the arena, and stood across from eachother. Aoi put his sword forward, and Shiro put his forward as well. They ran at eachother and their blades clashed, blade to blade. Aoi pushed Shiro back and ran towards him. Shiro stabbed at Aoi, but he jumped up high and hit Shiro's neck, then put the bladepoint to his back.

"I think I won." Said Aoi.

They put down the blunt swords and went to the mess hall and ate a well-deserved meal.