QingYu: A Wuxia Tale (Going Through Reediting)

Ambush

(Dayu's POV)

It became a routine. Us dancing around each other. Even though Captain Wang doesn't accused me again of coming near his desk or stealing something, he never trust me fully too.

I never got the chance to walk around his room again after he turn to sleep. I can feel him being extra alert. I decided to lie low a bit. To continue playing the little innocent, hardworking, obedient servant of the military base.

But as another week had passed and we are still the same, I decided that the status quo had to change. The plan is for the Captain to trust me, depend on me and tell me as much secret as he can about the two generals he serve closely. General Zong and the Captain's father, General Wang.

If this continue, the two generals will arrive from their sojourn in Beijing without me having more intel on both of them.

No! I have come this far! I did too much to get in this position. I trained until all the bones on my body screamed in pain. Killed until I can't even recognize my own conscience. Use everything I can use, sold even my soul.

I am here to do a job. Kill General Zong. Kill General Wang ang his whole family. Then I can finally live in peace knowing I had fulfilled my purpose for being alive. For staying alive...

Those are the end goals.

The problem is, how can I make the Captain trust me?

Simple: I have to save his life.

As a soldier and a warrior, Captain Wang lived with certain honor code. Everyone knew that if you saved a warrior's life, that life is forfeited to you.

Well, that's what I want. His life...

With a plan in mind, all I need is a course of action. I need to make contact on my alliance beyond the border.

Two days later...my contact sent me a coded letter. They want to know my plan. I wrote back to tell them what I had in mind.

An ambush. Tricky but if done right, the result would indeed be rewarding.

I gave my alliance the time and place to conduct the ambush. Carefully instructing them about how to go on.

Attack them. Injure them. But no one dies. A dead soldier would bring complications to my plans. They have to be careful.

My job? To volunteer to accompany Captain Wang's troop as they patrol the area surrounding the base. And save his life. Simple...

Right!

"Why are you here?"

Captain Wang frowned at me and the lamp on my hand.

"The helper who was supposed to be here got sick Sir, so I volunteered to replace him," I said.

"Sick? What kind of sickness? Is it contagious?" the second in command asked.

"Stomach ache. He had to stay near the latrine..." I blushingly replied.

Almost all the soldiers faces showed disgust. My face showed no such thing. I did that to the poor helper, but what can I do, he had to be sick.

"Let's move out!" Captain Wang shouted. "Team 1, you will be led by our second in command. Start on the west side closer to the base, circle around. Team 2, you will be with me, we will walk a little farther, we will start on the east side going around."

The troops separated into two groups. I made sure to stay near the Captain's team. There will be eight soldiers in each group and two helpers to light their way.

I fell on the back of the line of Team 2. We walked almost to the edge of the mountain and forest.

"We will start patrolling here," Captain Wang said before we proceed to walk northward.

At least there's no rain. The night air is a bit chilly but tolerable. The moon is nowhere to be seen in the sky. Our only lights are the two lamps I and the other helper carry.

Excellent. All is going according to plan.

"Why do you really volunteer?"

I turn to look at Captain Wang who slowed down to match my pace.

I was ready for this kind of questioning.

"I was running away from Mr.Shu. He wants every helper on hand, aside from the one coming on patrol, to scrub the whole kitchen and Chow Hall clean. I escaped..."

The Captain gave me a stunned look. I grin at him. "Plus all this fresh air..." I added.

He laughed. I smiled wider. His laugh, like the man is big and full. Masculine, strong, unadulterated.

He stopped laughing to grin back at me, "I see that you are getting picky on the job. And to think, two weeks ago you said you will take any job,"

"I think I am wiser now. And I know my own limit. I think scrubbing tables after tables at the Chow Hall exceeds my limit,"

The Captain nodded then walked to the front of the line again.

We walked farther. The farther we walk along the lonely path, with darkness and night animals sounds as company, I turn quiet.

We are almost there, at the ambush location. I have to be alert. And ready.

But all that preparation to ready myself turn to nothing when before we reach the agreed ambush site, an arrow swish pass our group.

"An attack Captain!" shouted one of the soldiers who put up their shields and form a circle to protect the group.

Arrows flew all over our heads. I ducked and put out the light of the lamp to let the darkness cover us.

I felt a hand pushed my head farther down.

"Stay low! Understand?!" it's the Captain talking to me.

"Yes Sir!" I and the other helper replied.

"Shield the helpers! Retreat!" the Captain ordered. He won't risk an open encounter with the unknown numbers of attackers. The purpose is to stay alive.

As one, we all stepped back, with shields over our heads, the soldier forming a tight circle.

The arrows continued to come. I am pissed! This is not what I had in mind! The location is wrong!The timing is wrong! Someone messed up my perfect plan!

When the soldiers felt that the arrows lessen, they break form so we can run. But there are still stray arrows chasing us in the darkness.

With my heightened senses, I can hear the swishing sounds of the arrows missing me, some by just mere inches. Some struck the tree trunks and some got buried in the ground.

Then I felt an arrow coming too close to me. I ducked, it passed but another arrow followed, I escaped that one too but I saw it coming for it's next target.

The Captain!

"Captain!" I shouted as I ran faster and shoved him out of the way. I felt cold steel entered the back of my shoulder.

"Dayu!" Captain Wang caught me as I fell. He swiftly lifted and carry me as he continued to run. I lie in his arms. The arrow still on my back.

My plan was ruined. Nothing had gone right. I was shot. And now I felt poison running with my blood.

I am going to die.