Only a Friendly? (Cheng Cheng)

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Wu.

Cheng Pu placed himself in the wooden chair, armrests built in and actually quite comfortably made compared to most other sitting stools or such. Stretching out with his right arm, he gently put his Serpent Spear to lean against the wall next to him, within reach but not quite equipped with it; he didn't believe he would need it at any costs this day, especially while he was going to discuss matters with a friendly. The invitation had already been sent to the one man; he would supposedly arrive at the private room of the tavern.

The room cost extra money, sure, but why not talk at a place where they could relax and enjoy a drink or two? The waitress had passed by, Demou informing her to delay her services until his guest arrived and properly asked for a cup together. He didn't want to start it too early, did he?

Now then, why in the world had he called the one known as Cheng Cheng? Obviously, he was an ally, a colleague within the ranks of Wu now. A new comrade was always a good thing, but this was different. Cheng Cheng... Of course, the surname. They both shared the same Cheng. Sure, there were a lot of Cheng's out there, but could he have missed the chance? Demou wasted no time in researching through his family tree when he came upon a Cheng Cheng indeed, and in fact the grandson of his father's own brother.

A nephew?

Sixteen years of age, it seemed. However, it was all that it could tell Cheng Pu. So Demou took the name and then researched through the men of Wu, upon which he found the newly joined general. Both Cheng Chengs' were of the same age, and in fact shared the same Chinese characters for both words of the name.

And now Cheng Pu would have to see the man, whether he could prove himself right or not.

[Cheng Cheng]

Cheng Cheng arrived in the room were a young girl showed him that Cheng Pu was located. He entered the room looking at the stranger that is known fighting with Sun Jian. He never meet the man so he did not really know if the person was actually a trustworthy. He then took the chair and throws it toward the right wall and then sat in it and lean backwards. His sword was in his hand and keeping it steady on his left knee.

"So you wanted to see me old man?" His eyes were staring at Cheng Pu but nothing really scared him about the old man that wanted to talk to him. Seeing the serpent spear next to the guy made him smile. "The good old serpent spear the worst known spear that people are still using at this day. All I herd from you I am surprise you do not have more of a unique or at least more steady weapon then this one. "

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The door flung open, and the young man finally walked in. There had been many rumors of Cheng Cheng's temper and arrogance, as well as his inability to cooperate well with his peers or superiors, only as a leader. They might be true, they might not be. But so far Cheng had been tolerant enough to accept an invitation from an unknown host and walk into the scene to accept whatever suggestion of conversation he would be met with. Cheng Pu watched silently as the young man threw a chair to the wall and leaned in it before the mouth had talked.

"Greetings, Cheng Cheng. Though I'm not sure if being at the age of 30 makes me 'old.'"

Demou made the comment with a little smile as he showed a friendly and welcome expression to his new colleague and quite possibly his long-lost member of the closer family. After all, they were here on terms to improve relations if possible; well, at least, Demou was here for the reason, though Cheng Cheng didn't seem to mind either way, as long as he kept his bluntness with him. Was it a phase of adolescence, or was it just Cheng?

"It's good to know that you have analyzed the weapons of the day. But while there are some weapons that can be considered 'superior' to others, any item can be wielded to the fullest power when placed in the right hands. The Serpent Spear is my personal weapon of strength, and I don't think that I can do any better with any other object of lethal purpose.

"But before anything, let's get ourselves some drinks. Waitress!"

The door slid open, and a young girl stepped in, quite hesitantly at the sight of the two warriors.

"Get us two cups of wine."

[Cheng Cheng]

Cheng Cheng looking at the other warrior and thinking that he was just right about the weapon and the talented people with there weapon and how they use it. He then looked at the girl that was ordered to get them drink and Cheng Cheng was not comfortable with that idea. He then looked at the old Cheng Pu. "Do you always use these nice people as slaves?" He was deadly serious and was obviously not to please.

Cheng Cheng then took a shot of his alcohol he had next to his weapon holder. The stuff was not strong he only use it to calm himself down so he would not kill his own allies. "So, what is the reason you wanted to meet me her in the inn? I am certain is more then just to have a few drinks with someone like me that would kill you just cause you annoy me. Do not worry you are not annoying me yet." The seriousness of his voice was obvious he has serious problem in the sense he has no sense of humor.

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Cheng Pu received the cup of wine that was handed to him by the returning waitress as she did the same to Cheng Cheng, before Demou dismissed the girl. The door slid shut, and she scurried off to attend to some other customer's needs. Demou lifted his cup and put it to his lips before taking a small sip of the warm wine, good stuff in there. He didn't want to overdo the drinking, but a bit was always refreshing and enjoyable to both the tongue and the spirit. Putting the cup down, Demou answered Cheng Cheng's question:

"The girl was a waitress of the tavern. It's her volunteered job to walk around serving people with drinks, and she rightfully gets paid for it. I don't see how that counts as using her as a slave."

Demou raised an eyebrow. A queer question indeed... And then Cheng Cheng spoke of himself going to kill anyone who annoyed him. So the rumors were true. His hot-headed lack of patience did often overcome him. Demou imagined the years ahead, on the battlefield where the younger Cheng would have the potential of walking the other way. But back to the present...

"I have called you here today for a matter related to a more personal family relation. Upon knowing of your surname, I have looked for a man of the same characters in my family tree, and have come to a result of a 16-year-old Cheng Cheng, a grandson of my uncle's. Really, it made me wonder if it really is the general before me."

Demou took another sip of his wine.

[Cheng Cheng]

Cheng Cheng looked at Pu in the eyes seeing he was telling the truth that he was looking for a lost relative. Cheng knew there was a uncle of a sort that was still alive the only one that survived the last few rebellion forces. Cheng knew that Pu really thought that he could be the nephew he was looking for but Cheng did not know if he was really a warrior or if his uncle was just a local farmer or salesmen. The stories suggest many thing but nothing was certain.

"You believe I am your nephew?" He stopped trying to think but still nothing was coming in his mind. "It is possible but I herd only one other person in my family was alive and I was sure he was not a warrior." He then looked at Pu wondering if he told anyone that he was a warrior or if he did not keep in touch with his parents. "If you were my uncle why did you not tell me at are last battle together wen I took the arrow that was going right for Sun Jian's head?" He was getting more angry then confuse after a while wondering why did he never said anything to him.

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"Anything is possible, Cheng Cheng. I just look at the vast possibilities, not make a belief out of everything. Maybe you are my nephew, and maybe you are not. And of the occupation... I was a farmer not long ago, in fact right before I recently joined my lord I have been working as a farmer all my life. If we truly are long-lost relatives, I assume that news reached you a while ago, at least not in recent times."

Cheng Pu took another sip of his wine. One remaining family... Did that mean that Cheng Cheng had lost his two parents and grandparents? If Demou really was the uncle, would that make him the sole relative of the young one, the one and only family member in the entire land? Would it be a heartening feeling for the man to find out, or would it be a reminder of despair of the loss of the rest of his family?

"I was not present at the battle that you are mentioning. As I have just said, I have only recently joined Lord Sun Jian, and have not been able to serve him as long as others. This is our first meet, and I have found the earliest time possible to discuss with you of this matter."

[Cheng Cheng]

Cheng Cheng was not surprise from the answers he was just surprise he would not have known his real nephew even do he did not remember who was his uncle not knowing if they both are related. He looked at his blade and stabbed it in the middle of the table. He then threw the necklace on a table.

"Do you know this necklace it belong to my grand farther. He gave it to me wen I went for my first battle and war that I ever been too. I was 15 years old at that battle." He then turned around and then throws the chair in the corner losing his mind thinking about the pain he went through. "I am guessing I will not be aloud here again after his"

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"Yes, in fact I do recognize the necklace. Your grandfather, in other words my own uncle, used to keep his prized possession in his personal case. His nephews and sons would be allowed to see it shelved high above in his room while they were young. A treasure that he had kept like an amulet, now I see it again in many years."

But as Cheng Cheng suddenly acted in a short fit of rage, flinging the chair over to the other side of the room, Cheng Pu simply sat in silence as he watched the young man. He would be going through a possible pain now, if his assumptions of losing the parents and rest of family was correct. Memories often brought up pain... It just balanced it all out. Only for some people, the pain was far greater. Demou sat in the wooden chair until Cheng Cheng had finished. Calling out to the people outside, Demou shouted:

"Do not worry, there is nothing going on in here!"

It was a sign of reassurance to the rest of the civilians outside; there was no killing or blood in here, as they might have easily assumed after noticing the two generals and their weapons of lethal purpose.

"Our reputations will save us from any civilian bringing upon us much trouble. Please, grab another chair in that corner, if you will."

[Cheng Cheng]

Cheng Cheng looked at Cheng Pu wondering why people would even care about him since they never even meet before this time they are having. He then takes another chair and sat down knowing that people can say what ever they wanted about him if he hated them he would cut there throats right off.

"Well that is prof we are related if I am correct." He sat down after retaking his weapon and the necklace replacing it on his neck like it was before. He then look at the Cheng Pu wondering what the hell with that change. "What are we going to do now that we know we are related if you do not mind me asking." He did not care if he mind he wanted a answer cause he was not sure what to do cause of this situation.

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"I apologize if you were expected something further, but I am simply rejoiced at the news that my own nephew is alive and well, and sitting right in front of me as a close ally, and long for no more. Just the word that another member of the family still exists is heartening, Cheng Cheng. It is a great pleasure to know you."

Cheng Pu smiled and nodded to his nephew before downing the entire cup of wine that he had kept in front of him.

"Or did you have anything else in mind?"

[Cheng Cheng]

He then wondered why that they are the only two that are living in the world that were related. He then looked back at Pu with a small smile trying to show he has a heart but was not really that easy. He was trying to think how he could ever say that he was happy to see he was no longer alone family wise without seeming to much like a weakling.

"I guess were no longer alone family wise." He then stopped for a small moment and drank the win in one shot. He did not even felt the hit of the drink at all since he was used of drinking every day of his life since his parents death in the accident. "I guess we need to make are family name proud and remembered being the only two left in this land."

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"Indeed we shall, my nephew, indeed we shall."

Cheng Pu put the empty cup down in front of him before rising from his seat, pushing the wooden chair back and picking up the Serpent Spear still leaning on the wall and resting next to him. Stepping away from the table, Demou quickly pushed the spear to his back and strapped it to the plate armor there before turning back to face Cheng Cheng again. Slowly sliding open the door of the room, he signaled to the young Cheng to start heading outside.

"Seeing as we've finished our business here, I think it's time for us to return to the palace as family."

[Cheng Cheng]

Cheng Cheng followed his uncle a bit confuse since it was over two years since the last time he was with anyone of his family. He followed him knowing that he was loyal to Sun Jian even do his knowledge of him was not so great. Cheng Cheng fought for Sun Jian already once before and was good with his sword but he often landed in traps cause on how his head makes him inpatient with the things that could cause his life.

"You want to go in the palace as a family? Why you want to do that we barely no each other which makes us not really close like a real family." He then did not say a word wondering if Cheng Pu was as loyal as people has told him or if he will betray Sun Jian and was scared of leaving alone without someone that could protect him the whole way of his escape. These question were unanswered in the moment but that will soon change.

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Cheng Pu stopped and looked at Cheng Cheng with a puzzled look, raising an eyebrow. All the rumors had thus proven to be true, Cheng Cheng was a pessimist who always found the negative of things and would never stop with his endless questions and statements of finding the worst of situations, or the flaw of the person, friend or foe. A lot of people had told Demou that the young Cheng would only be useful on the battlefield... But Cheng Pu didn't mind it all that much.

"Look, Cheng Cheng... Even the farthest of family is called family as long as they are from the same bloodline, close or not. It's just a way of saying things. And one more thing: If you wish to have an easier time in the ranks of Wu, try and look on the bright side of things."

Cheng Pu resumed his walk as he headed for the great palace of Wu.