A/N: After much deliberation I've decided to rewrite Daughter of the Dragon of Shu.

The plot and storyline will be much different and hopefully much smoother in this version than the last. I hope everyone enjoys it just as much though. Thank you in advance for any reviews and constructive critiques. Happy reading!

It is in times of chaos and hell that heroes rise from the ashes. Phoenixes, as she liked to call them. Most were ordinary men with either little to no experience with a sword or men who had come bearing the privilege of a former warrior teaching them to kill without being killed. Those phoenixes would come rescue anyone in their darkest hour – their time of desperate need. Those were what she called heroes.

Yet none had come yet.

Just this morning, it was a beautiful in Xiapi. Birds sang their happy tunes as the streets bustled with people readying themselves for spring's spontaneous weather. Many merchants were hiding some of their merchandise behind their stands rationing themselves as well. Ever since Lu Bu's death and Wei occupancy strengthened, the villagers had to be alert and prepared for an assault on the city at any time.

When Xu Province had been taken from Liu Xing's father by Lu Bu, he found a way for her mother to escape but she left her with her nurse. Even after the tyrannical general's execution and the territory being taken by Wei, neither parent ever turned back for her.

That had been eleven years ago.

In contrast to the perfect morning, everything for the afternoon was hellish. Dead bodies piled up in towering heaps prepped for incineration. Wei soldiers pillaged through the merchant's tables and raided houses for men, women, and children. Any who attempted to resist were run through.

"Let me go fight! I can fight," the little girl insisted and pats her skinny arms. Bao Ming, her fragile old nurse shushed her, eyes shutting as the flimsy wooden door slammed open. Seven burly brutes entered the room. Ming stood as Xing cowered behind her, hazel eyes gleaming up at the men clad in blue.

"I want the kid," one of the men ordered and stepped forward. Three others began searching for any valuables.

"No…" she says with a quivering voice. "Take me instead."

The sides of the tan man's lips turn up in a sadistic smirk as his eyes gleam down on the guardian and child, hand on his sword handle. "I'm afraid I'm not able to take no for an answer today."

The older woman gasped and wrapped her arms around Xing in a tight embrace. With the quirk of his eyebrow, the man turns on his heel. "Take them outside with the others," his gruff voice commands. The other men grinned as they hauled the two women out of the house. Xing could feel the passion of inferno's flames on her face as bodies charred in burning massifs. The screams of women echo throughout the city as the soldiers force themselves upon them before ending them.

"Ming, I'm scared," the child's voice cracked. The old woman smiled reassuringly, her face wrinkling more with smile lines as she ran her fingers through the waterfall of shiny ebony hair framing the small girl's face.

"Whatever happens, we will be together. I promise."

"I know that she is somewhere in this city. Do not withdraw until she is found."

"Why rummage through the city for a mere child? And a girl at that! Kill her with the rest of these traitors!"

The young Wei strategist stroked his goatee as he listened to his counterparts argue back and forth. Both tacticians were far too proud of their own flawed judgement of the situation to come to verdict without the involvement of the commander. He sighed, scribbling onto a blank scroll. What a nuisance they were.

"Lord Guo Jia, please help me explain to this…this thick imbecile as to why we have no need for such a worthless child. We are wasting away money on a valueless life when we could be doing more to expel the remaining Yuan's."

The tall and lean man scoffed. "No. Explain to this old oaf why it is important to have such an opening! This Liu can be used to draw out Liu Bei. Let us not waste our time arguing over the odious-"

"Master Xun Shao, you have a keen eye. What do you think?" The commanding general asked the contemplating mediator. Continuing to stroke his facial hair, he looked up to the curious three men, ceasing his scrabble.

"As a female, Lady Liu is utterly worthless in regards to her father's blackmail. Nothing shall be gained from using her as bait."

"Precisely as I was saying!" The shorter and choppier general agrees. Shao quickly raises his hand to end the gloating, unfinished with his statement.

"On the other hand, under the circumstance that she goes to him freely, he will no doubt accept her with open arms. Poison her mind against him and you have a perfect…mole." Somewhat chuckling, he raises his cup to his lips and looks at each man. "But of course, that is my opinion."

Between a coughing fit, Jia manages to laugh. "The rising star, aren't you? Managing to outwit two men twice your age with twice as much experience. Yes…I like that and I would like to experiment with it."

Xun Shao raised his hands to salute and filed out of the tent. His men colleagues would need help keeping order with the prisoners. He would like to see how many people were actually spared in the slaughter, not that he cared too much. Anyone loyal to Shu was his mortal enemy and he would not care one bit if they were squashed like bugs.

As he made his way through the camp, he noted a large group of men congregated around naked screaming women. One by one each screech was turned into a gurgle on blood.

"Enough!" His voice commanded. The laughs died down almost immediately and the men stepped away from him. One woman was left alive as she lay in a puddle of black blood. Her body trembled and teeth chattered as she kept her eyes on the bodies next to her. She was a child. Afraid of dying.

"Take these bodies and leave them for the vultures," the young tactician directs all too calmly. Grumbling, the men take the corpses away as he turned his attention back to the girl.

"You're welcome."

"I-I am forever in your debt, my lord," she whispered in a cowardly manner. Her eyes never leave the last body. Briefly his eyes flash to the bloodied old woman and he inwardly smiles. One less Shu loyalist to kill.

"Was she your grandmother?"

She shakes her head, continuing to stare into the lifeless orbs. "She was my nurse…"

"What happened to your mother and father? Were they taken away?"

Once again she shakes her head. As to not show his growing impatience, he smiles. "What's your name? Maybe we can find them."

"They were never here in the first place. They left me when I was a baby." Her eyes finally leave the body as she looks at the blood on her hands, hesitant.

"Bao Ming said that you were looking for them and that's why you came here."

Xun Shao's eyes narrowed. This timid and passive and pathetic little girl was who they were looking for.

What a disappointment.