Shang dragged the damp cloth over his face and brushed his loose hair through with his fingers. He laid back on his cot and stared at the top of his tent, recounting the day's events.
The meeting with the four captains of the Jin Zai had gone considerably well. Though he hated to give that lanky, dark-skinned bright-eyed idiot any credit, Fuujin had done well to back him up and persuade the Jin Zai in joining him on their trek to the front.
Seeing this strange man just run up and lift Ping off the ground in a hug, like he owned him, did more to his psyche than he'd like to admit to himself. Shang tried to fight down the overwhelming wave of possessiveness that hit him when he thought about their history.
History? Shang didn't even know if they had much history. Fuujin had mentioned something about living in the same village before he moved away-so they were just friends, nothing more. Right?
Then again, what if something did happen between them? What if they were in a tent somewhere right now, picking up where they left off?
Shang growled and pulled on a shirt, swiping his tent's flap open and stalking out into the night air. All around him were groups of Jin Zai and his own soldiers, pouring over maps and checking their weapons.
It was when he rounded a cluster of tents that he saw the circle of men surrounding a hidden pair of people in its center. Shang frowned and pushed forward until he reached the front of the circle, watching the sight before him unfold.
Fuujin had his sword raised at chest-level, pointing at his opponent a few steps away.
Shang felt a surge of panic when he saw Ping return the gesture with his familial sword.
"What is going on here?" He demanded, stepping out into the ring. Fuu and Ping looked at him, surprised.
"I wanted to see how Ping's training has come along," Fuu answered breezily. He glanced at the smaller male. "You agreed to it to, didn't you, Fa Ping?"
Ping nodded with a nervous look at Shang. "I did agreed to it, Captain."
Shang held his eye for a good moment before sighing and waving his hand at them. "Then, please, continue. But refrain from inflicting serious injuries on one another."
Ping's black eyes lit up and he got into stance, matching his pace as they circled each other. Calls came from the spectators as the participants warmed up.
"Alright, Captain Fuujin!"
"Watch out, Ping!"
Shang watched at the two sized each other up, the stern, focused look on Ping's face clashing with Fuu's foxlike grin. They started circling for a few moments as the men around them whooped and hollered. Beside him, Shang heard the murmurings of a few Jin Zai.
"That boy's going to get his fingers chopped off," one gruff man told his companion. "No one's ever beaten Captain Fuujin. That little pipsqueak's going to get his ass handed to him."
Shang silenced him with a glacial glare.
"Guess I'll start us off," Fuu said loudly, winking at the smaller male before lunging forward, blade jutting out. Ping sidestepped it and parried the blow with his sword, feet a flash as he spun in a low circle and brought his sword around, landing a solid hit on Fuu's armored back.
Fuu stumbled and caught himself, grin gone and eyes wide with surprise. The men were silent for a moment before their shouts doubled in intensity, hands waving and fists pumping. Shang felt himself smiling.
Fuu stood back up and faced Ping again. The black-eyed man watched him carefully, sword raised in a protective stance. Fuu flexed his shoulders.
"Get him, Captain!"
YOU ARE READING
Sunset Illusions ( Fa Ping x Li Shang )
Romance(This is a BL) To save his father's life and prove his worth Fa Ping takes his father's place and joins the army. This was a choice that would bring many difficulties and perhaps, even death. Fa Ping expected that, but what he didn't expect was to...
