QingYu: A Wuxia Tale (Going Through Reediting)

The Hitch on the Plan

(Dayu's POV)

"The Captain had left," my cousin said as he sat on the table to join me and uncle.

We looked at him. He is wearing a soldier's uniform, his perfect camoflague from our enemies.

He is my other spy. He is older than me by three years, he came to this camp five years after Uncle Shu to be my eyes and ears. As a soldier, he can move more freely than Uncle Shu who had more responsibilities as the camp commander.

His job is to observe General Zong, General Wang and Captain Wang. Their habits, mannerism, they way they act when a lot of people are around. The way they act when they were just alone.

My cousin had given me valuable informations about our enemies. He is loyal to me. And I trust him implicitly.

"He left this morning after briefing his troops. He left his soldiers with Captain Jiang while you," he looked at me. "Were left to the care of his second in command,"

I nodded, "That won't be a problem. Like the Captain, his second in command is always busy. Even if these sudden changes happen, you can move around and nobody will suspect you,"

"Good job Nephew," Uncle Shu patted my cousin's cheek who smiled. Uncle Shu serve us some bread and drinks. We are inside his quarters where he live alone. As a high ranking official on the camp, my uncle had certain priviledges.

This is a perfect place for us to meet and talk quietly about our plans.

"With the Captain gone you can now move freely on his room," my cousin said with a mouthful of bread.

I shook my head, "Captain Wang is dangerous. He already suspected me of going through his desk before I got shot to save his life. He was certain about that. It actually scares me how he found out that I moved through his desk,"

"I told the both of you, that family has something special in them. General Wang was trained by a special artist. Rumors never died about him possessing a certain ability to feel out his enemies and defend himself," Uncle Shu said gravely.

"That rumor?" my cousin's nose twitch. "Nothing was confirmed with that rumor Uncle. Everything was hearsays and whispered speculations about the General's hidden defense training."

I frown, "What kind of defense training?"

My cousin nodded at me, "Some said General Wang was the last student of the great Master Gao, a defense specialist. His techniques focuses on defending and stopping his opponent rather than to attack and be offensive,"

I crossed my arms on my chest, "My total opposite then,"

"Yes!" my cousin snapped his fingers. "I almost forgot, you are an offense specialist. Learning all techniques to attack and kill your opponents. That's true then, this one has a technique opposite to yours,"

"And that's the hitch to our plans," Uncle Shu fisted his hands, "If Dayu's every attack can be block by the General, if he can defend himself against you, how will you kill him?"

I afforded myself some time to think, "How accurate is this rumor of the General having this kind of weapon on him?"

My cousin shrugged, "Like I said, all of it are not confirmed rumors. Nobody has seen the General in action against a strong opponent. Who will be insane enough to attack one of the most powerful man on the land?" he chuckled, "Well aside from us that is,"

We grew silent. This is the one problem that forced them to let me enter this military base. At first, I am not supposed to be here, my uncle and cousin could collect all informations I will need to make a course of actions based on those informations given to me.

But ever since hearing this rumor some four years ago, my uncle and cousin scrambled to know and confirm the truth so we can adjust all our plans.

But until now, they have no idea if all of it was true, except for the fact that...

"General Zong won't keep General Wang close to him if he had no use for him. General Zong loves his popularity, his power, his riches. He is a total narcissistic bastard," my cousin scratch his chin. "But General Wang never left his side. Why? Because he serves as the Master General's bodyguard. Even the Emperor can't have a general to guard him, but no, General Zong must have General Wang with him all the time for protection,"

I close my eyes. My mind is aching again from all this thinking.

I open my eyes to look at Uncle Shu, "Uncle, in your opinion, if it's all true, that the General do possess this kind of technique. Who do you think will win? Me or him? Will I succeed to kill him with him defending himself using that training,"

Uncle Shu sadly shook his head, "I was blessed to witness one of Master Gao's performances showing his tecnique in defense. That technique has a cruel principle of tiring the opponent until he can't attack anymore. Then the defense specialist can now move to his own offense technique to defeat his opponent,"

"But if we look at all the variables. I am younger than him. I am learned in different techniques. I moved faster than anyone. Maybe I will have a chance," I feel a little desperate.

"Then our job got trickier. You now have to lure the General to be alone with him. Fight him until you found an opening to kill him. Last long enough for you find that opening. Which mean you have to reserve strength..."

"Being defensive can also expand a lot of energy from a fighter Uncle," I said.

"Yes, but if he will just stand there and let you come to him, the offensive fighter will be the one moving a lot more. The defensive fighter can just stand there and wait to defend himself, conserving his energy," Uncle Shu explained.

"Damn it! So are you saying I can't defeat him? That after all we have gone through, something like this can stop us?" I feel upset enough to pound the table.

"Dayu calm down," my cousin touch my hand. I flinched away frim his touch. "How can I calm down? The days are running short, the arrival of the two generals are coming nearer and nearer and I still can't finalize my plans for their deaths because of this unknown variable!"

"Calm down because having high emotions won't help anyway," Uncle told me sharply. "We still have time, short it may be, that we can use to confirm this rumor so you can finalize those plans of yours. We have our first step after all, separate General Zong to General Wang and then we can kill them both."

I looked at him, "I need to practice more then," I stood up. "Cousin, come help me practice."

We said our goodbye to Uncle Shu and me and my cousin left to go deep into the forest to train.