Travellers [Sun Jian]

[Lu Xun {Zeffy}]

OOC: If you want anyone else in the thread, Simon, it's fine with me.

IC: It is late in the afternoon. The sun has been gone for a while, the hues of red and yellow disappearing. The moon is near high in the sky, and the nocturnal animals are up and about. Lu Jun and his ten-year-old son, Lu Xun, are settling down in their camp for the night. They had just set it up over the past few hours, and the cold had been a relief. It had been a scorching hot day.

"Father?" Jun turned to his son as he was starting up the fire.

"Can you.. Teach me how to fight? I feel so weak, and I'm so clueless where to start... And you're strong!" Xun looked at his father with pleading eyes. Jun chuckled as the fire roared in delight with the taste of more wood.

"Alright, son. But we'll use wooden swords." Xun jumped up in joy and Jun looked around for suitable wood. After getting two fairly strong sticks to use, he tossed one to Xun, who dropped it.

"You must focus, and have balance." Jun swung his "sword" a few times to show his son what he was talking about.

"Technique is more important than raw power in a one-on-one fight. In a battle, strength will be your friend. A mixture of both is handy in any situation." He swung at Xun, who had picked up the stick from before. Xun barely dodged the attack and Jun swiped at him again. This time, Xun blocked it, but the stick flew out of his hand.

"Practice is the only thing that will make you better." They proceeded to spar for the half hour, then...

[Sun Jian]

Alot had happened in the space of eight years in Wu as he continues to protect the land with his sword by his side. Last time he wandered about of Wu, he and his son nearly fell into an assassination attempt but as expected, they made sure they failed and also caught the Bandit Leader who had surrendered, and had been by Sun Jian's side ever since.

Now as he walked outside the main city of Wu into the forest, he noticed a camp with a man and a young boy crossing swords, so he charged faster upto them to find out what is going on, but then stopped and observed them, as after each spar, they stopped as the older one taught the younger one how to fight.

Sun Jian smiled, it reminded of him how he used to teach Ce, though he preferred the Tonfa whereas he kept with the sword. He walked upto them, and just to see their reactions, said openly, "Who goes there?"

[Lu Xun {Zeffy}]

Xun, distracted by the newcomer who was approaching the camp, felt the slap of a wooden sword in his face. He knelt down in pain, and Jun offered his hand. His son took it and rose to his feet. He was determined not to let pain be the best of him.

But by then, the newcomer had reached their tiny encampment. Jun looked at the man in scrutiny. He felt he should know this man... He could tell he was royalty or a leader by the way he carried himself... And then it hit them. It was Sun Jian, ruler of the nearby city of Wu.

"Greetings. I am Lu Jun, and this is my son Xun." They both bowed to him.

"H-hello, sir.." Xun stuttered as he recalled a second before his father who this man was. Xun smiled and continued his own conversation with him.

"What brings the lord of Wu to our humble camp?"

[Sun Jian]

Sun Jian smiled, "I was just passing by to make sure the outskirts of Wu are still safe from any threats. The Yellow Turbans may of gone, but we still have bandits and pirates and assassins which tried to get me back in 184 but failed of course", he paused, "I just happened to see your camp and from the distance, I was unsure who it belonged to, and then seeing you both cross swords I wondered if there was more people around, but seeing it is just you two and not a group of bandits waiting to attack Wu, I've been eased and had the priviledge to meet you both. So do you come from Wu or a nearby village or city?"

[Lu Xun {Zeffy}]

Jun knew all too well of banditry and thieves. Bandits raided his small village and took the life on his mother and her unborn child.

"I am sorry to hear that... Yes, I do come from Wu. A small village outside of it, to be exact." Jun had thought of a great idea. He and Xun wandered around doing odd jobs for money. What if he could be employed by Sun Jian?

"Tell me, Lord Sun, what could a man like myself do in your service? I have been unable to find a job since his mother died.." He pointed to Xun.

[Sun Jian]

Sun Jian smiled at the man then turned to his son, as memories of he and Ce has a young lad returned, back when he was just a local villager, but different from the rest after he scared away pirates single-handed at the age of 17. His son, though young, would grow and turn out to be a fine officer of Wu, and his father also seemed an able man, and he must known how to fight after seeing the two of them cross swords.

"If you are looking for a job Lu Jun, then I can get you one as a bartender, or give you a home and make you a landlord where you can entertain any guests that come by", he paused, "If you wish to serve me, I would surely accept you after seeing your skills with the sword that you are teaching our son. Reminds me when I taught Ce and now he's a grown lad fighting by my side", he laughed.

[Lu Xun {Zeffy}]

Lu Jun laughed with him. He could see himself in Sun Jian.

"I was thinking along the lines of serving you.. And I thank you. I will serve you faithfully, and so will my son when he is of age." Jun bowed and then Xun, remembering his manners, also bowed.

"Pack your things, Xun." Xun nodded and started sorting out his things.

"Shall we follow you, then?"

[Sun Jian]

Sun Jian smiled, then looked around the camp, and said, "I shall arrange some housing to be set up for you and your son. You can be rest assured that we shall take care of you in Wu", as his smile widened, then he asked about if they shoud follow him.

He then asked, "How long have you been in this camp, and have you saw any signs of trouble about? If so, I will need to tend to it straight away. If not, you can come with me into the capital".

[Lu Xun {Zeffy}]

Jun smiled. He would finally have something to do with his life. And for a noble cause.

"I have not seen anything so far.. And we've only had this camp up for a few hours."

He turned and Xun was already halfway done. Jun then started helping him and in a few minutes they were packed.

[Sun Jian]

Sun Jian smiled, "Well in that case, you are travellers no more, but fine officers under my banner. Once you are ready, seeing that there is no threat here which is a good sign, we can make our way down to Wu".

[Lu Xun {Zeffy}]

Lu Jun bowed and clasped Xun on the shoulder.

"Thank you." The trio then set off towards Wu.


OOC: Lock thread?