Side Plan IV

I open my eyes using my whole power, yelling for the effort as the heart of the Jade turns darker... Black veins expand completely changing the stone colour and cracks starts forming on the surface...

The stone begin trembling

-It's... Working...!- yells Xue with wide eyes

The stone completely breaks, One last strong wave comes from the stone looking like an explosion...

It sends me flying and shakes the whole mountain.

-Watch out!- I turn myself around, using my feet to jump toward Xue and grab him, hitting my back on the wall with too much strength this time and I think I hear my bones crack...

Some movement catches my eyes and I look toward the column at the center of the cave, a column of green light begins moving his way up through the hole on the ceiling and up in the sky.

-We did it...- as the pressing air stops I slip on the ground slowly, I stand back up with Xue by my side

-How are you feeling?-

-I'm much better, I can't thank you enough... Your powers...?-

A roar stops him

-We don't have time for it now... We must leave this place, NOW!- I scream starting to run down the corridor, pulling on the man's hand

In the Camp it's pure chaos...!

We keep on running as all the servants scream and stumble over eachother, trying to save their own life.

A piece of rock falls rolling down and completely smash a few people, cutting our path suddenly. Xue looses balance trying to stop running and I have to pull on his waist to not have him fall over and get smashed too

-Stay behind me!-

-Yes!-

We run through the gates and jump over a few fallen trees

-What now?!-

-We keep on running!-

-But there's no way to escape it!- he looks behind himself -If only I wasn't that weak...-

-It doesn't matter now as long as you can keep up-

-What...? Whoa!- I grab him jumping down a really straight path and roll on my back, taking him close to myself to not get hurt, biting on my tongue for the pain... Now I surely broke some ribs

I drag him back up -Run!-

The path is not the best and some rocks are still being thrown in the air...

Many trees are falling as the earth trembles and I too slips a few times, hurting myself allover again...

Soon after I see a brown figure running toward me

-My horse!- he comes to stop beside us -You aren't that much of a coward then!-

I help Xue to mount it and seat behind him, taking the reins

-Hold on tight! Ah!- I pull on the reins and the horse begins running faster than ever...

I look behind and see the white ocean gaining ground -More! Faster! The Mountain is falling apart!-

...

-Sir...! We cannot hold on much longer... We will lose! I propose a retreat!-

-No!- yells Qin Luo pirouetting on himself with one sword per hand, killing two enemy's soldiers

-Do you want us all to die?!-

-Just a bit longer...!- He kics one man, cutting his head off right after

-What's that?!- yells one of the soldiers

-Oh no...-

-What?! What's wrong?!- asks the Liutenant turning to the voices and as he does so his eyes widen in shock -The Mountain... Lai'Er!-

A column of green light rise from it's peak into the dark clouds in the sky, driving them closer

-What's that?!-

Many lightnings start hitting the black rocks, breaking those... The sky gets darker and darker by each second

A horn echoes in the battlefield... It's the enemy's horn

-What now?!-

-They are retreating Sir!-

-They...? Of course they do! That mad Woman!!!

She deserves a kneel from all of us!- his face lights up

-What do you mean Sir?-

-It's Miss Ying... She really did it!-

-Did what...? Explain yourself-

-She destroyed their base!-

-She...?!- the man studder

-Everyone attack! Don't let them escape! This is our chance!- yells the Liutenant -We've got this!-

He reaches for the reins of the nearest horse and mount on, rising his sword -KILL THEM ALL!!!-

-AHH!-

...

-Sir! We are really winning!-

-How many of them left?!-

-The General's Squadron is taking care of the remaining ones... We can ring the victorious horn!-

-That's amazing...!-

A roar distract them

-AN AVALANCHE!!!- yells someone in the group

-An...? Oh no- he turns his horse freezing -RETREAT!

Lai'Er... You better be alive...!

LEAVE THE BATTLEFIELD! BACK TO THE CAMPS! WE WON ANYWAY!-

He begins riding away as his second in charge rings the Horn

...

-Any sign of her?- he asks leaving his reins to one of the servants

-No Sir...-

-Nevermind then... I'll be going on patrol-

He takes back the horse but his second in command stops him -Sir... We cannot let you go outside now... We'll send someone, but you are better to stay here-

-I won't!-

-What's the fuss?!- yells a man approaching with his horse

-General...! One of our soldiers went missing... I have to go search for them-

-Tz! I'm sure it was that weak woman... Permission denied-

-But Sir!-

-I said no!- he yells back going away and the Liutenant clench his fists

-Bring some more wine to my tend-

...

The opening of the tend rise -My Lord... The Liutenant Luo asked for some time al...-

-I don't care, I'm the one in charge here!-

The Head General intrudes as the Liutenant is seated and drinking, staring at the letter on the table with the Ying sign stamped on it

-Liutenant Luo... We were waiting for you at our meeting-

-I know-

-You cannot allow the death of one of your soldiers to make you lose focus... It was only natural for that woman to die today... She played with her own life just for arrogance, trying to prove something in vain-

He seats down beside the table reaching an hand to the letter

-Tz... Seriously? A letter? She always knew she was going to die...

That's why it's not women who command in war, they should stick to serve us tea-

The Liutenant who was holding back during the whole speech lose his patience, snatching back the letter from his hands

-You don't understand nothing! Do you even know what happened out there Sir?!

If we won today is only thanks to that "weak" woman! She should be the one in charge of this Armada, not someone as selfish as you Sir!

This letter...! It was written as she knew her plan could have brought death to her!

And yes... It is incredibly sad having to deliver such a thing to her family for a girl who was just 20 or something years old!

She, alone, destroyed the enemy's base and provoked that avalanche... The enemy retreated only thanks to that!

Not because of your inexistent war ability!-

-How you dare, Luo?!- the General stand up yelling back

-As soon as words will spread, you will lose your so loved rank... I'm waiting for that day!-

-You...!-

-My Lords!- a man rush inside the tend kneeling, short on breath

-What now?!- burst the General angered

-She's back!-

-What...?- freezes the old man as the Liutenant only rush outside running non-stop to where the men are grouping at the end of the camp

-Let me pass...!- he pushes himself through and comes to face a brown horse. A man dressed in white holds the reins and behind him lays ChangLai unconscious

-Lai'Er!- the Liutenant rushes to take her down -What... What happened...?-

-She completely drained herself Sir... She needs rest and... Focalized cures now. She also broke a few ribs and lost blood-

-Sure... Call a doctor!- he yells to someone

Qin Luo soon after notices her black hands and rise the fabric of the sleeves, seeing the dark colour travel further up and dissipating over her elbow

-What's this...?!-

-I will explain, Sir... But not here- says the white man discharging