Tien Shin’s Journey - Anger

Somewhere in the North…

The warcamp of renown warlord Gongsun Zan was bustling with activity and noises. The warriors were speaking of their recent victory while fighting more bands of rebels who claimed to be the next-coming of the Yellow Turbans. Their boasts usually ended with swift retaliation from local warlords who quickly quelled any signs of rebellion with brutal efficiency - the scars of the Yellow Turbans had left on the land were still healing and nobody wanted to deal with such rabble again.

While the elite cavalry members of Gongsun Zan were feasting and talking amongst themselves, in a shabby looking side of the warcamp, the soldiers and followers of Liu Bei were looking tired and barely able to maintain themselves in good spirits. There was an ongoing groan spreading amongst the soldiers that seemed to echo in the evening.

Once the groan had reached the final soldier, one lad stood up. The young man was on the cusp of adulthood, but his appearance was still the same as any reckless warrior - his blue hair had the look of a mop on top of his head which constantly shifted in the wind, his face was always easy to read whenever he was angry or happy, he hid nothing from anyone. Despite his youth, he was wiry rather than thin or malnourished which helped him maintain his flexibility whenever he fought. To top it off, his deep blue eyes always revealed what was on his mind, no matter how simple or complex it could be - he wasn’t known for his cunning, but rather his open honesty which often got him in trouble.

The Heavenly Sword of Freedom, Tien Shin spoke up.

“Hey! What’s with the groaning and moaning?” Tien Shin, the boisterous Smiling Dragon, walked among the soldiers with his usual wide smile. “We got those bandits and got ‘em on the run! We were able to help out the people and save them from further suffering! Isn’t that what we’re all fighting for?”

Tien Shin’s heart was pounding with fierce determination and fiery youthful spirit! But when he looked into the faces of his fellow soldiers, he only saw weariness and hunger. They didn’t care about righteous pursuits like freedom or justice. They only wanted to live long enough to see the next day. The young man couldn’t help but groan in anger himself… More and more he came to think that his ideals were not being followed, or that Liu Bei and his Sworn Brothers might’ve strayed from their virtuous mission when they came together to fight against the Yellow Turban rebels and saved the people.

Unable to lift the spirits of his comrades, Tien Shin went to the training circle to practice his sword techniques - if words couldn’t calm his anger, perhaps training might.

While the Heavenly Sword of Freedom practiced with his twin swords, he tried to concentrate on his movements and his sword dance. But his mind was assaulted by the feeling of powerlessness he felt over this situation. When the Boss, Pops and Uncle had gathered to become Sworn Brothers, even he understood that this bond would make them fight together until they all died. But he hadn’t. He hadn’t made such an oath. Sure! Uncle Zhang Fei called him “Little Brother”, Pops Guan Yu always called him “Scamp” or something, and Boss Liu Bei was the only one that called him Shin. But he really wasn’t sworn to them nor was he their family.

He wasn’t beholden to them to stay here and keep fighting for the sake of some warlord in the north, begging for scraps and letting the fat lords reap the rewards won from their own sweat and blood. Everything had begun to go downhill since that incident with that corrupt official sent by the Eunuchs to collect Liu Bei’s “contribution” to them - bribes. He remembered how Uncle was furious with that man and decided to give him a little “contribution” of his own.

Tien Shin smiled a bit when he remembered how he helped Zhang Fei strip the official down to his underwear, tied him to a pole in public and delivered a proper beating. If the Boss and Pops hadn’t appeared and stopped them, chances are that official would’ve been killed by the brutal thrashing he got.

Then his smile turned into a frown when he remembered what Liu Bei had done: Not only did he set the official free, but also offered his sincerest apologies and even went so far as to accept his punishment!

“Damn it all!” Tien Shin slashed the air in an “X” pattern with his twin swords in anger, sending a torrent of wind against some discarded boxes, shredding them to pieces as if struck by a tornado. His sword skills had grown, but they only seemed to manifest whenever he was completely focused on something. This time, it was his anger.

The young man felt his anger was growing due to all these circumstances piling up together. After Liu Bei had been stripped of his title, he and his Brothers - and by extension him too, had to enter the service of this Gongsun Zan fellow who claimed to be the Boss’ “friend”. But Tien Shin could hear the deceit in people’s words… Liu Bei wasn’t a “friend”, he was seen as a “lackey”.

Still… despite all his anger directed towards the circumstances, the government officials, the fat lords or the scheming “friends”, Tien Shin could feel it in the wind as well that things in the world were just as chaotic as his own emotions. The winds were restless… something big was going to happen and a storm was about to fall upon the realm. He hoped that they’d be ready to weather it… or his job as the Heavenly Sword of Freedom would end as nothing more than a footnote in the story of some worthless warlord to be forgotten by history.

Tien Shin returned to the tent where he knew Zhang Fei and Guan Yu waited for Liu Bei. The young man sat down heavily on the ground and looked at the two Brothers - Zhan Fei looked unusually pensive, but the lines of anger and frustration were easily noticed. Guan Yu remained stoic even as he sharpened his blade slowly, which meant he wasn’t talking much about his feelings. More and more Tien Shin felt he wasn’t being let inside their private circle.

The silence in the tent was stifling the young man whose anger was starting to boil over. He couldn’t just sit still and wait for the world to finally make up its mind and do something! If he couldn’t do what he felt was right… then maybe…

Just then, Liu Bei entered the tent and looked at his Brothers along with the flustered Tien Shin. Lately, Liu Bei had noticed that Tien Shin’s smile was slowly fading, his boisterous laughter was replaced with frustrated grunts. Ever since he’d known Shin, he knew that the boy needed to be guided and his emotions needed to be focused on more positive things. But the boy’s willpower was much stronger than his own. When he made his vow under the peach trees with Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, he knew he could be the balancing force between Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. But when you add someone as powerful and uncontrollable as the Heavenly Sword of Freedom to the mix, there is no balancing force, no way to negotiate or appease such a force of nature.

Perhaps the new arrival might have a better chance…

“Apologies for the delay.” Liu Bei addressed the assembled. “I had just finished talking with Lord Gongsun Zan when another matter needed my attention.”

“So, what’s to be our reward this time? Another big ‘thank you’ from your pal?” Zhang Fei spoke with anger.

“Zhang Fei, our Brother is honorbound to help Lord Gongsun Zan. Whether we are rewarded or not is up to the Lord we serve.” Guan Yu, ever the paragon of virtue, spoke towards Zhang Fei who simply grumbled.

“We can discuss that later since I don’t want to cause you any more frustration.” Liu Bei patted the arms of his Brothers, then turned his attention towards Tien Shin whose eyes were focused on the wind outside the tent. “Shin, do you have a minute? I wish to speak to you.”

The young man turned to look at Liu Bei and stood up to move towards him.

“What do you need, Boss?” Tien Shin asked with barely restrained frustration.

Liu Bei ushered Tien Shin out of the tent towards the followers camp, where Liu Bei’s household and family lingered.

“I know you’ve been frustrated and angered by all that has been happening, Shin.” Liu Bei spoke to the young man in an almost paternal way. “I understand this wasn’t what you expected when we joined forces during the rebellion a few years back. But I promise you, all of these troubles and tests we’re facing will eventually lead us to creating the world of virtue we’ve always dreamed of.”

Tien Shin felt a bit dull and indifferent towards Liu Bei’s words. He had heard them all before and he always saw that the world wasn’t ready for such a change. Or, worse yet, it refused to allow it. When they entered one of the main tents where Liu Bei’s household stayed, Tien Shin suddenly heard a familiar voice from within the crowd.

“Hey! Be careful with those clothes! Those belong to Lord Liu Bei and his Brothers! Don’t make me use the ladle!” The voice of a strong willed young woman was heard over the dozens of others.

“It can’t be…” Tien Shin suddenly froze which surprised Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. They had never seen the boy shocked by anything or anyone.

“She told me she knows you, Shin. So I asked her if she would be willing to join us.” Liu Bei stepped forward which caught the attention of the young woman.

She wasn’t the most beautiful young lass in the realm, but she more than made up for it by the way she held herself - confident, strong willed but also perfect manners whenever she dealt with people of higher standing than her. Her brown hair was a bit disheveled due to her labors, but her servant’s attire didn’t look torn or mended as it was from her days as a simple tavern girl.

“Mei Lin! I see you’ve taken command of this ‘battlefield’ have you?” Liu Bei smiled warmly.

“Apologies if that was rude of me, Lord Liu Bei. I noticed a lot of inefficiencies among the servants, so I straightened them out with a little ‘tough love’.” Mei Lin bowed politely at Liu Bei and then caught sight of Tien Shin. “Xiao Long?”

“Sis? Wha-whe-wh… What’re you doing here!?” Tien Shin shouted out which made everyone around them fall silent and stare.

“What does it LOOK like I’m doing? I’m working as part of Lord Liu Bei’s household!” Mei Lin approached Tien Shin with a head full of steam which made the Heavenly Sword of Freedom recoil back expecting a smack over the head with her ladle.

Instead, the girl was inspecting him from head to toes, which made the boy feel embarrassed as everyone was watching. Zhang Fei was grinning, hoping to tease the boy later. Guan Yu was carefully studying the young woman with admiration. Liu Bei then explained.

“I’ve been looking for someone to help us with the usual chores around camp and, once we settle down elsewhere, to assist in the management of my household. Mei Lin was kind enough to offer her vast knowledge and skills. But what sealed the deal was the fact that she told me she was a childhood friend of yours, Shin.”

Tien Shin looked at Liu Bei as if the “good news” of being under the vigilance of Mei Lin was actually a good thing for him!

After Mei Lin finished inspecting Tien Shin, she sighed and looked at him with a smile. “I’m glad to see you’re still whole and in good health, Xiao Long.”

She then turned her gaze towards Zhang Fei, then to Guan Yu and then to Liu Bei and bowed with profound respect.

“Thank you kindly, My Lords,” then she turned to look at Tien Shin while gripping his shoulder tightly, “for putting up with this reckless buffoon for so long.”

“WHAT!?” Tien Shin’s voice exploded, which made everyone around him laugh.

With Mei Lin now a part of Liu Bei’s household, she would be able to direct Tien Shin’s strength and temper his emotions. He had finally found the only person alive who could beat Shin in a battle of willpower. If Tien Shin was the “reckless blade”, Mei Lin was the “velvet hammer” that would stop him.