Sunset Illusions ( Fa Ping x Li Shang )

Chapter 1: Introduction

I must have meant to be a woman, Ping realized one day as he was helping his father feed the chickens. At the time he was only twelve; no child's body had developed yet, and boys and girls were distinguishable only by the length of their hair.

But even then, his family knew he was not the normal little boy. His skin was too soft, as well as his hands. His black eyes were wide and his lips too pouty to look as though they belonged on a boy's face. And as he grew, the only thing that changed was his height and his voice, though it wasn't rough or commanding like most 18-year-old boys'; it was strong yet quiet at the same time.

His father spoke very little of him to strangers and acquaintances, only mentioning him if they happened to see Ping walk by or appear at the door. Fa was kind to his son, usually-he inquired about his studies and friends (though he had few), and often asked Ping to help him with a farming task or household chore. Even to go to the market with him (although Ping wandered off and got into trouble so often now that the offer had declined a bit). But Fa Zhou did not brag about his son; for what was there to brag about?

He was the poorest in his Kung Fu classes, so much so that Zhou had removed him after a year of training. Instead of studying the art of war, Ping preferred Chinese checkers and puzzles. When other boys wrestled in the dust and held contests of strength to win admiring glances from the girls, Ping laid in the grass and daydreamed. He read books on far away countries and learned about medicine. He was slim and soft, with a full-moon face and gently rounded chin. He was shorter than any other boy his age. He preferred the company of animals to people. Peers called him a weakling, a reject of the Fa lineage.

And so Zhou did not brag.

His mother and grandmother now-that's a different story. Though he'd rather spend time alone with his dog (Little Brother) and horse (Khan), Ping found it soothing to sit with his mother and grandmother and help them pick beans while listening-not listening to their quiet talk of gossip and weather and fabric. He helped cook (when his father wasn't looking) and even helped his mother in the garden.

His life was somewhat normal, a normal routine that he could count on. It wasn't a life he wanted, but it wasn't horrible either.

And then the drums sounded.

Their beat reverberated over the river and trees, creating a pulse of alarm throughout the village. People gathered at the town gates as imperial horses galloped in magnificently, groomed pelts shining. One man, mounted on a pure white stallion, raked his eyes over the people like they were ants and unrolled the scroll clutched in his jeweled fingers.

"Citizens!" He bellowed out, "I bring a proclamation from the Imperial City! The Huns have invaded China!" Woman gasped and moaned, children, sensing the danger, backed into the shadows, silent as death. Ping stood against a wall beside his father, heart beating rapidly.

Huns? In China?

"By order of the emperor, one man from each family must serve in the imperial army!"

He started reading names off.

"The Shau family!"

A thin man walked up to him and bowed, taking the outstretched scroll handed for him. Ping closed his eyes and shook his head. No, no...

"The Yee family!"

Ping saw an elder man start heading towards him like a snail when a younger man stopped him and walked briskly up to the rider. "I will serve in my father's place." He announced, bowing and accepting the scroll.

No, not father...

"The Fa family!"

Ping's eyes flew open and he instantly grabbed out at his father's arm. He'd stop him, and take the draft himself, save his father from an awful death...