Love or Law

Let's Get Down to Business!

Without further ado, Chapter Two!

With an "oomph" Shang found himself flat on his back in the dirt. Rubbing his chin ruefully, he grinned up at the boy who was standing over him holding out his hand to assist Shang to his feet. Ever since reaching the arrow, Ping had steadily improved in his training. He could now hit his target with his bow, use his staff with proficiency, aim his cannon correctly, and keep up during their daily run. Now Ping had proven himself to be a worthy adversary in mixed martial arts as well. He was extraordinarily fast and stronger than he looked, making him easy to underestimate.

Shang took the boy's hand and surged to his feet, still grinning.

"That was an excellent kick." He praised.

The boy blushed slightly and murmured, "Thank you, Sir." He looked down at his shuffling feet then glanced back up and returned his Captain's grin, "You're not so bad yourself." He joked.

Shang laughed and ruffled the boy's hair roughly. Ping tried to duck away but Shang pulled him into a headlock and marched him back to the encampment for dinner. He, like most of the men, liked to treat Ping as the younger brother he never had; teasing him and playfully shoving him around. Of course he never forgot their more important relationship as Captain and Soldier. When he gave an order he expected it to be obeyed, but it was good to lighten up and have a little fun as well.

Ping wasn't the only one who had improved dramatically. It seemed that his success boosted the confidence of all the men. If, after all, the youngest and seemingly weakest could do it, so could they. Ping had become closest to three of the other soldiers who had also been struggling; Chien-Po, Yao, and Ling. Together those four were becoming a formidable force.

Shang was proud of all his men. They had finally completed the training regime he had laid out for them. He decided he would give the men an early night and give them a chance to relax. Maybe he would join them later for a swim in the small lake nearby.

After Ping had retrieved the arrow from the post, Shang had decided it would be a good time to move the camp south to hold off the oncoming chill of winter for as long as possible. This also gave them more time to refine their skills without fighting the snow and cold as well. Now it was time to move again and join the rest of the army in defending the Tun-shou Pass. All he had to do now was tackle the problem that was Chi-fu.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After eating dinner, Shang still did not know how to defend himself and his men against Chi-fu's sharp tongue. He wasn't sure how he was going to convince the stubborn mule of a man that they were ready to join his father. According to that stickler's reports, the men that he had worked so hard to train and turn into a formidable army were no more than helpless children playing with dangerous weapons they didn't know how to use. If Shang's father were here and saw how that man was treating his son with such blatant disrespect there would be hell to pay. But Shang's father wasn't here and Shang refused to wield his father's reputation like a sword and mow down any resistance before him. He had seen other men do the same thing and had seen how no one truly had any respect for them, only resentment and fear. Shang refused to be one of those men.

Of course, none of that helped him figure out what he was going to say to convince Chi-fu! He had spent the last hour or so pacing agitatedly in his tent and was still no closer to coming up with what he needed to say. Yes, he was the Captain and his word should be law in his camp, but Chi-fu had the backing and blessing of the Emperor and was not afraid to wield that power with a vengeance when it came down to it. Rubbing his forehead in aggravation, Shang decided that what he needed was some fresh air. Perhaps he would take that swim now.

He quickly threw on his robe, grabbed his soap, and strode down to the lake barefoot; not even bothering to tie his long hair back. He was just going to strip at the lake anyway, so there wasn't a need for propriety of appearance now. No sounds came from the lake but it was still fairly early, the last rays of the sun were just disappearing from the sky. When he reached the shore he stepped into the surrounding reeds to give himself at least the illusion of privacy as he undressed, wet his soap down, and began to lather it over his body.

He was just about to step out into the lake to rinse off the soap and enjoy the cool water when he heard a voice. He stayed where he was in the reeds, crouched slightly so as to stay better hidden. The voice came again, sounding closer and...oddly feminine?

What was a young woman doing out by herself so late at night? Shang didn't think there was a village nearby. The person finally came into view and Shang was surprised to see Ping leading his horse down to the water. Now it made sense. Ping's voice had yet to deepen; though the boy liked to pretend it had; and so due to its higher pitch, Shang had automatically thought it was female.

The boy was talking to himself as he patted his horse down, scooping water up from the lake in his hands and splashing the beast. After the horse was thoroughly rubbed down, Ping stepped into the tall grass on the far side of the horse and Shang saw the boy's clothes being flung over a nearby branch. No doubt Ping was planning on washing them later.

The horse stepped away to graze, and Ping's head and bare shoulders were visible to Shang over the tall grass as the boy pulled his hair down from its topknot. He spoke as he wrapped the ribbon into a neat roll around his fingers.

"Just because I look like a man, doesn't mean I have to smell like one."

Shang bit back a bark of laughter. Ping was the furthest thing from manly that he could see. It fit the boy's personality to be particular about his personal hygiene; unlike some of the other men who were starting to stink to high heaven. Although the fact that the boy was speaking to himself out loud was a little worrisome. Had he lost his sanity somewhere along the way during training? It wasn't unheard of.

"Mushu, if you're so worried go stand watch!"

Who in the world was the boy talking to? Could he be talking to the horse? Shang couldn't remember the beast's name. He thought it had started with a 'K', though.

Shang's soap suddenly slipped through his hand and fell into the mud at his feet. With a muttered curse he bent and picked it up, trying to save as much as he could from the dirt. When he was standing upright once more, Ping was swimming in the lake.

Shang had just decided to join him, and finally wash off the soap he was covered in, when he heard loud whooping and yelling coming from the direction of the camp. Ping heard it too. The boy shot up in the shallow water and spun around in surprise, before ducking down once more.

Shang felt as if a horse had kicked him in the gut. All the air left his lungs and he felt the blood drain from his face.

And there is the inevitable cliff hanger. Every story has to have at least one, right? lol