Closed starter | @ougenki
Although a man of many talents, setting traps is the one thing that Jia Chong considers his specialty. Perhaps that is why he takes his time, to the point that Seimei’s shikigami, too, slow their pace.
Even from his position in the trees, the impressive stature of Baidi castle can be seen overhead; in this world that is like, but also very unlike the one he comes from, there are other castles, too—ones from Kanbei’s and Seimei’s land—marking the coast. He sees that the sun is setting now, grasping at the wispy clouds as it slips under the horizon. The long shadows that fall over the forest provide the perfect cover, and Jia Chong is certain that the coalition will not see them coming.
He can hear them approaching minutes before he sees them down the trail, the blades of swords and spears glinting in the minimal light. With a silent gesture of his hand, the shikigami take their places, with their own weapons poised. Jia Chong pulls out his axes too, and runs his thumb idly over the hilt. The messenger they released earlier did not disappoint, he thinks with a smile, and, when the moment is right, orders the attack.
He hears a roaring in his ears, the sound of a rushing tide of men. After the initial wave of chaos crashes, he takes to the fray. The shikigami part, allowing him through, and the frantic coalition soldiers that come into view are cut down with a decisive swipe of his axes. It does not take long for the shikigami to completely encircle the coalition force; the bait has been taken, the trap set, and now it is time for Jia Chong to collect his reward.
But despite the haze of the battle, he spots the flash of the long, blond hair of the woman in the crowd.
He cannot be surprised she is there. After all, Sima Zhao is one of the three officers that had gone directly for the bracelet—and Zhao is her charge.
❛❛ I suppose you’re looking for Zhao, ❜❜ he says, almost as nonchalantly as Zhao himself. He thinks of the many times the two of them tore through the streets of Luoyang together, looking for and chasing after the younger Sima. Although those days are not far gone, he quickly puts them out from his mind.
❛❛ Unfortunately for you, this is as far as you will go. But, ❜❜ he says, raising his axes, ❛❛ I will be sure to send him your regards. ❜❜