× Master of My Soul × [ Dynasty Warriors ] [ Slowly Updating ]

× 07 - Omen of Tension ×

Cao Cao seemed to stare at the city with admiration as he put his hands on his hips. "What a well-build castle!" He exclaimed with awe in his voice as a smirk appeared on his face. "Dian Wei, take fifty men and we will enter," he then ordered to his bodyguard, who promptly obeyed and took out fifty of the fittest soldiers. It was a small number, but we did not plan to bring the entire army inside the city in the first place.

I saw something close to a concerned expression appear on Guo Jia's face, which was only darkened by the gloom of the rain and the grey clouds. "My Lord, perhaps we should consider taking a few more men with us. This is still Zhang Xiu's castle, after all," he advised, but they were only wise words of caution. I felt urged to speak my worries to them, but could not find a way to relate my own feeling to the current situation. Besides, I trusted Cao Ang's belief that Zhang Xiu's surrender was genuine and with good grace.

My uncle laughed. "You worry too much, Fengxiao. The control of the city will be in our hands in but a moment's time, and I do not think that Zhang Xiu would want to lose us as an ally," he spoke with an air of arrogance that I did not like. The arrival of the Emperor must have blinded him and made him believe in all the good things, but anyone who opposed his views at this time could only be struck down. "Besides, Dian Wei has the power of a thousand men, what is there to be afraid of?" Cao Cao continued with a praise to his loyal bodyguard, who grinned proudly.

"I will not allow anyone to come within three feet of proximity to our Lord, you can rest assured, advisor," Dian Wei added with confidence, and Guo Jia nodded with what seemed to be reluctance. I could not help the slight furrow from forming between my brows, and even as a small group of men on horses exited the castle to greet us I could not loosen up enough to give them a polite smile of acknowledgement.

"Greetings, Lord Cao Cao!" The man in the lead said as he jumped off of his horse to bow to my uncle in respect. The ten men behind him did the same. "I am Zhang Xiu, current occupant of Wan Castle. It is my pleasure to receive your presence, and a banquet has been prepared for your arrival," he spoke and bowed once more before Cao Cao allowed him to stand, and I examined him curiously while he seemed to be briefly awed by Dian Wei.

Zhang Xiu was quite a handsome middle-aged man, and dressed in a light suit of silver armor and a silver coat he reminded me of another warrior who currently resided in Xuchang, under Cao Cao's protection. "Doesn't he look a little like Zhao Yun? From the armor, I mean," I whispered softly to Cao Ang, who then seemed rather surprised.

"I thought that there was something familiar about him, and now that you mention it..." He muttered and touched his chin in thought. "A coincidence, probably," Cao Ang then said, and I nodded. A strange feeling bubbled in my gut and I could not help but think of Liu Bei as well. If Zhang Xiu was ever related to Zhao Yun in any way, then there might be a connection between him and the Imperial Uncle...

Cao Cao smiled at Zhang Xiu. "My men are tired from these days of travel, all they wish for is a place to rest. The banquet can wait for another day," he spoke as a look of surprise appeared in Zhang Xiu's eyes from his words. "Take us inside, or would you rather converse in this rain?" My uncle said, and a redness showed on Zhang Xiu's face.

"My apologies. Please, follow me inside, I will take you to the city hall," Zhang Xiu said, a tone of embarrassment in his voice as he lead his men and turned around. Following the original plan, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan took the rest of the men to station outside of the castle, about a kilometer away. There would not be an appropriate place for them to stay inside anyway, plus it would probably cause the citizens of Wan to become uneasy. The rest of us followed into the city, but I still could not shake off the feeling of anxiety. I looked up at the castle walls again, but the figure was long gone.