‘
We deemed it too dangerous to bring General Zhu’s sword with us when it seemed the kingdom was going
to fall which indeed it did,’ answered the father, ‘please stay with us, Zhen. We see you as our son.’
‘
Do you think I can just walk away after knowing that Khan killed my birth parents? I am sorry but I have to
avenge my family. Good bye ––’ said Zhen as he turned away and leave, ‘–– father…’
After revealing his newly discovered identity, Zhen gained the trust of most soldiers and got promoted to a
captain.
‘
If you are half the man your father was, we could use your help,’ said the General of the rebel army.
Zhen did not care about the others, all he wanted was vengeance.
The night after Zhen got promoted, a soldier entered his tent without permission. Awaken by the entrance of
the unexpected visitor, Zhen pulled out his father’s sword in defence.
‘
Don’t kill me,’ the soldier said, ‘I am just a messenger.’
‘
What will your message be? Messenger?’ questioned Zhen in suspicion.
‘
My master would like you to attack the Juyong Pass three days later where your men would be
ambushed,’ recited the messenger anxiously.
‘
Why, in the right mind, would I do that?’ asked Zhen who is approaching the messenger threateningly.
‘
My master said if you don’t, Ying will suffer from your poor choice ––’ replied the messenger as he
slowly backed off for fear Zhen would ripe him into pieces.
‘
Ying?’ Zhen said to himself in shock, ‘how do you know about Ying? Who is your master?’
‘
That’s all I can say,’ exclaimed the messenger, ‘I am afraid if I don’t return on time, your friend Ying
might suffer ––’
‘
Be gone!’ yelled Zhen furiously before retrieving back into his deep thoughts.
‘
We are victorious, Captain Zhen!’ reported a soldier standing by Zhen’s side, ‘What an excellent strategy
sir. To attack Juyong Pass when the enemy was least expecting us.’
‘
Flattery,’ thought the captain. Whether to follow the mysterious man’s instruction was an easy choice as
Zhen treasured Ying’s life more than anything. The result, however, unsettled Zhen.
‘
Why was the pass not ambushed like the messenger said? If they aimed not to destroy the rebels, then
what is their true intention ––’ thought Zhen as he paced around in his tent, troubled. His chain of thought was
broken when Zhen noticed a man standing in the dark corner of his tent.
‘
Reveal yourself!’ demanded Zhen while drawing out his sword.
‘
I mean you no harm, captain,’ whispered the man urgently, ‘I cannot tell you who I am nor where I am
going to take you but you must follow me now!’
Puzzled by the recent events, Zhen decided to follow the man.
At least one mystery would be solved? He could not be more wrong.
A splash of ice-cold water woke Zhen from unconscious.
‘
Who are you?’ shouted a man who was holding an empty basket.
‘
Who are you? What do you want from us?’ repeated another man as he lashed Zhen with a whip. Zhen
shrugged in pain, slowly regaining consciousness. He had no memory of how he got here, the last thing he
remembered was being hit in the back of his head as he was following the mysterious man.
‘
Answer the question, you filthy slug!’ the man yelled before lashing the whip again.
Zhen’s reflex to dodge proved in vain as he found both of his hands tied up to a low-hanging beam. He
pulled with all his might in an attempt to free himself but to no success.
‘
I am Captain Zhen, son of the great General Zhu!’ replied the defenseless captain, ‘Who are you? What
do you want?’
‘
Not the right answer, captain! Now answer the question truthfully, you liar!’ accused the interrogator
sarcastically while preparing to lash again.
‘
I told you! I am Captain ––’ replied Zhen furiously but was cut off as another lash hit.
Zhen knew not how long the interrogation lasted, all the while he was drifting between reality and his
deep consciousness. The pain of tortures kept Zhen from thinking properly, disorienting his mind.
If he was lying, he would have said the truth.
However, the whole time he was telling the truth –– he was Captain Zhen, son of General Zhu.
Zhen was half-conscious when he was untied from the beam and brought out of his cell. When Zhen
finally regain full-consciousness, he found himself kneeing before a man of his age in a shady cave.
‘
I am Kurt, leader of the rebels. Before I say anything else, I would like to apologise for the interrogation,’
spoke the leader, ‘it was a necessary precaution to prevent any traitors from lurking within us and discovering
our location ––’
‘
And you did an excellent job till now,’ sounded a voice from a dark corner.
‘
I have got to say you are one hard man to find,’ continued the man who was now clapping and walking
slowly out of the shadow, ‘every spy I sent in failed me till now.’
‘
Till now?’ said Zhen as he stood up, ‘Your majesty, I can assure you, I am no spy!’