The sun beat down without mercy, and all the while inside a tent within the Tuhan campgrounds, the harsh sounds of rope against skin could be heard.
"Hhaa…Hhaa…"
With his hands bound in front of him to a wooden pole embedded deep within the floor, Manchu clutched onto it tightly and panted with uneven breaths. Another whip landed on his freshly cut skin, and a searing pain lanced through his head until colorful spots flashed in front of his eyes.
His groan came from deep within his chest that twisted into raspy, painful moans by the time they left his cracking lips. His skin had been broken so many times by the whip - he could feel the wounds sting and open on every breath. Every movement caused some muscle, skin, or bone to ache. Manchu's eyes closed as he sucked himself into a deeper place – a place away from the dull pain.
With an emotionless expression frozen on his face, An Ruo circled Manchu like a predator scanning his prey. Manchu coughed violently, sending a thin spray of crimson blood onto the dirt floor, some landing on his bound fists.
Standing in front of him, An Ruo stared blankly at Manchu, the man's face smeared with dirt and blood. Manchu looked up at him and blinked through the strands of sweaty hair in his face. He couldn't help but grin weakly, his teeth stained lightly red.
An Ruo said nothing. Instead, he continued looking at him with emotionless eyes.
"Just remember, your devotion toward him led you to this situation." He spoke each word coldly as if to engrave it deep within the other's mind.
"A wise decision on my part," Manchu chuckled in a raw, raspy voice thick with pain.
An Ruo's gaze narrowed. He slashed toward his face with a long, thin whip. The cut bled, but beside Manchu's hand, he scarcely felt it.
"In two days, you will be executed in front of the entire army. When that's over, I will send your head to my father," He leaned forward and lowered his voice. "…then send An Sun's next."
Manchu narrowed his eyes as he stared darkly at An Ruo, who looked at him with gratification. With the whip on his hip, he stepped out of the tent. He turned to the guard posted outside.
"Send him some water and whatever leftover scraps of meat or bread we have."
"Yes, sir." The guard bowed his head and left to carry out his order.
An Ruo watched him leave. His fingertips moved to the whip on his side as he touched the rough rope. When he lifted his hand, there was a fresh smudge of blood on his fingertips. He rubbed it between his fingers and suddenly smiled, eyes filled with bloodlust.
…
On the other side of the Western Empire, three figures traveled to the Imperial Palace. The rain came and went, but there was more gray than blue within the sky, and all the streams were running high. The rain continued all through the morning, lashing the surface of the rivers and turning the grass into mud and puddles.
It fell soft and steady, muffling the sound of their horses' hooves and running down their faces. The rain was light—just enough for them to wear their cloak's without soaking it through.
Walking along at a slow pace as the light faded around them, Rin found her exhaustion weighing heavy on her. She needed sleep, but she dared not.
Yet after a while, the motion of her horse became as soothing as it rocked her back and forth, and Rin found her eyes growing heavy. She let them close, just for a second, and then snapped them wide again.
She couldn't fall asleep. Not now anyway.
Rin knuckled at her eye and rubbed it hard to keep it open, clutching the reins tightly and kicking her mount forward. When she caught up to An Sun and General Donghai, she quickly forced her exhaustion away in worry of them noticing.
Thankfully, the cold rain kept her awake. Before long, night fell, and they arrived in front of the palace gates. When led inside, they removed their cloaks and were ushered by a eunuch to bathe before they met the Emperor.
After her bath, Rin was given a pair of soft royal blue robes. She stepped out of her room and headed over to meet with everyone to see the Emperor. Walking into the hall, she saw General Donghai and An Sun were already waiting with the eunuch.
"You sure took your damn time. I know you look like a woman, but I didn't expect you to get ready like one either." General Donghai commented scornfully.
The edge of both Rin and An Sun's lips twitched. He glanced at her and seemed to remember the similar comments he made to her in the past. Looking back, An Sun could only imagine how she felt, as she had actually been a woman.
Rather than responding to General Donghai's taunts, Rin turned to the eunuch. As if recalling what they were there for, he raised his head.
"Please follow me. The Emperor is expecting you."
The three followed the eunuch until they arrived in front of the Emperor's study. Entering, they were greeted by the man himself in a black and golden dragon robe. He turned to them, and his eyes landed on the new individual who entered.
An Sun and the Emperor's eyes met. They stared at one another for a moment longer before he turned to Rin.
The Emperor suddenly smiled. "I heard about your victory in Tongshu. You've done well."
Rin bowed her head. "Thank you, your Majesty. However, there are still more steps to be made to win our final victory."
"You're right." The Emperor sounded quite happy about the prospect.
Very soon, the discussion turned to the events that took place in Tongshu. When the Emperor heard everything from the Tuhan army's first appearance to their retreat, his expression drastically changed.
"All of their weapons have been destroyed?"
"Most of them, we were only able to access the ones closest to the Western Empire. However, their main weaponry lies within one of the Northern Empire's provinces." An Sun explained.
The Emperor took his words deeply, seemingly pleased by the turn of events. However, on his side, General Donghai bore a deep frown. He was displeased.
"Mind I ask how you know this is reliable? I kept my silence at Tongshu when you mentioned the hawks. But I have to ask now. How do you know this?" General Donghai's voice had changed, now. It was much sharper than it had been before.
Rin frowned. "General Donghai, with all due respect, Captain Sun is a viable member of our army. Had he not relayed to us such information, our plan in Tongshu would have failed."
General Donghai scoffed. "With all due respect, Northern Strategist, but he's no captain. Maybe to his little team of runts back in Jinping, but not here."
As General Donghai spoke, the Emperor's expression grew grimmer. His emotions toward An Sun were swaying. Gritting her teeth in frustration, Rin had been about to retort again, when a hand held her back. Shocked, Rin lifted her head to see An Sun meet General Donghai's gripping gaze.
"I assure you, my loyalty lies with Strategist Lan." An Sun stated quite firmly.
"And how do I know his loyalty lies with us? For you to know the Tuhan's name and their secrets...how do we know you're not working for them?" From his tone, it was clear he thought nothing of this, but General Donghai was pushing An Sun for an answer.
There was silence for a moment. Everyone's eyes had turned to An Sun as they awaited his response. He met their gazes without fear and turned to Rin - her expression revealed concern. After a while, An Sun sighed and focused his gaze on the whickering candle flame.
"I was an orphan. I never knew who my family was, never met them, even as a child. That's why…I never once imagined someone would take me in to join their family. They raised me, fed me, taught me how to defend myself. But despite all those years I've lived with them, not once did I feel like a real son. I was a bastard, an unwanted rut they brought in." He said in a tight voice.
"Who is this family you speak of?" The Emperor asked dubiously.
Meeting the Emperor's narrowed eyes without the slightest hesitation, An Sun said, "The An Clan."
It was at that moment the entire room fell silent. Just as An Sun expected, the look in the Emperor's eyes grew sharp and wary. Even the usual indifferent General Donghai revealed a distant and dark expression. His large hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
Noticing this on the side, Rin's eyes narrowed. Again, An Sun stole her a glance and shook his head. Before, he had used her influence to gain their acceptance. But now, before the Emperor, he needed to prove himself.
An Sun's eyes lifted to meet General Donghai's. "You are right. I'm not the captain here or of a large army. But I am still the captain of the men I promised to lead. And with that promise I made to them, I also have kept the one I made to Strategist Lan. Because he's not just my friend, but my brother. If I ever betray that trust, then I'll have you kill me."
Again, no one said a word. Everyone seemed to take in An Sun's words thoughtfully.
The Emperor looked at him for a long time. His finger tapped against the table. "I'm not one to judge based on how one was raised. Whether you are a rut or bastard, all will be determined on what I see you do in the present. If you can show me that you are indeed trustworthy and never break your word, then I don't see a problem keeping you around."
With wide eyes, An Sun looked at the Emperor before curving his lips into a faint smile. He bowed his head with cupped hands.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Meanwhile, on the side, Rin sighed a breath of relief. However, after hearing about An Sun's past once more, she couldn't help but feel a throbbing in her chest. Staring at him silently, Rin's fists clenched by her side.
...
After their discussion, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Despite the previous exhaustion, Rin found it hard to fall back asleep. She went out to the balcony and stood with one hand on the rough stone balustrade. She looked out at the night and the rain.
The pinging rain was musical and comforting.
She closed her eyes for a bit before she heard the sound of soft footsteps approach her. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see An Sun standing beside her on the balcony.
"You should sleep." An Sun said.
"I'm fine." Rin assured.
"I saw you fall asleep on your horse earlier." He told her.
"I was resting my eyes." She scratched her nose.
"You were resting them a long while then. You haven't slept for two nights. You need to sleep, Rin."
For a moment, she was surprised. Not just because of his caring words, but because he had called her name so calmly.
"You need to rest." An Sun said once again, this time his voice sounded firmer.
Instead of responding, Rin just stared down at her hands resting on the stone balustrade. Physically she knew she was tired, however, her mind at that moment was wide-awake.
Too many thoughts and feelings keeping her up in the night.
"An Sun…have you ever wondered who your real parents were?" Rin asked softly, her question catching An Sun off guard.
He blinked his gray eyes and sighed.
"I did. Still do."
With bright eyes, Rin turned toward him. "Then when this is all over, I…we can try to find them. Together."
An Sun stared at her clear emerald eyes and smiled. But behind that smile was something different. Something sad.
"Rin, there's something I didn't tell you about my childhood. Not because I didn't trust you but…I was ashamed." He said in a low voice.
"What is it?" Rin's almond-shaped eyes were opened wide, a trace of confusion in their depths.
The sound of the rain grew stronger. Droplets hit against the balcony as they both stared at one another.
A trace of emotion rippled across the depths of An Sun's eyes upon looking at Rin. Taking in a deep breath, he stared at her with a serious gaze.
"Until my father found me, throughout my whole childhood…I was a slave."