Editing Niu Pa (section)

===Brotherhood===

Niu Pa isn't normally the sort to stand on ceremony, but the rite of brotherhood is serious business, and he's spared no expense to get it right. For starters, there's the plates of chicken, pork and goat, freshly slaughtered and giving off a mouth-watering scent after their impromptu roasting. They're arranged on the table with the two tablets representing both their families and the whole ceremony is being conducted at the local temple to Shen Nong, the god of agriculture. It wasn't the most appropriate god, but it was the biggest shrine in the village, and Niu figures that as long as a god is watching, he can pass the message on to all of Heaven. There's jars of wine under the table too; some as an offering to the gods, a couple of dishes for the prospective brothers to drink, and most of the rest goes to the villagers and soldiers who're gathered round to observe. And of course, there's the joss sticks to be offered to Shen Nong when the rite is complete.

Suoyou's been amazingly helpful for this. The oath he wrote down looks like it's been planned for years and years, even though Niu came up to him about an hour ago with his request. The poor kid looked kind of disappointed, but he still came through, big-time. He's even coached Niu on how to pronounce some of the harder words. And there he is, at the head of the crowd, with Sun Wensi and his brother, Laughing Blade, and Niu and Jing Li's mingled followers, who are cracking jokes and getting to know each other.

Standing before them, the Ox General is suddenly aware of an unusual feeling. Is it fear? No, Niu's not the sort to be frightened by such a petty thing, or to let being scared bother him. But he's definitely nervous. Still, he manages to make his voice heard over that of a hundred other gossips, and the crowd soon comes to order.

"Ah... good afternoon, friends and brothers. Captain Jing Li and I have come together today to pledge brotherhood before the eyes of men and god. Let's see how this goes..."

He squeezes one eye shut as he tries to remember the words that Suoyou was trying to get him to memorize. ''It would be unsightly to have to read off a scrap of paper,'' Suoyou said.

"Though the surnames of Niu and Jing are different, though we be born of different parents and different families, yet today under the eyes of Heaven, Earth and Man, we stand together as brothers. From this day forth, we shall join forces and unite for a common purpose, to bring peace to the land, to drive out the rebels that plague its people, and to aid the endangered. We shall do justice on heaven's behalf and labor industriously for the nation. Though we were not born on the same year, the same month and the same day, ever will we hope to perish on the same year, same month and the same day. May the gods of Heaven and Earth and our fellow men bear witness to this vow, and attest to what is in our hearts. If we should ever do anything to betray our friendship, may heaven and the people of the earth both strike us dead."

With that, he reaches for the ceremonial knife and bares a wrist, then nicks a vein lightly before offering the blade to Jing Li. Once the Swift General is similarly wounded, they press the two bleeds together, so the blood from one may flow into the body of another. Thus, with the two of them sharing the same blood, are the two of them brothers in flesh as well as in word and deed. After a few moments, Niu reaches for a cup of wine and offers it to Jing Li, before taking one for himself.

"One bow to Heaven," Suoyou says from the side, and Niu bows to the tablet of Lei Gong, the Thunder God. 

"One bow to Earth," and then he bows to the tablet of Shen Nong, god of the fields. 

"One bow to Man," and then Niu turns to Jing Li, bowing to him. 

"Big Brother, it is good to meet you," Niu says, offering a toast. "Please advise your Second Brother in the way he should go."