"You're what?" Bai Han looked up from the desk. The air around him seemed to tremble slightly.
Rin sighed. "An Sun and I are going to Shaoshu. It will only take a day or two."
"In that case, take me with you instead." Bai Han frowned.
She shook her head. "No. You need to stay here and help with the Bai troops."
"Pah! Your uncle and Jin Yue can take care of that." Bai Han clicked his tongue and glanced at the man behind him.
General Guo did not answer and only turned back to his work.
"Grandfather…" Rin closed her eyes tiredly. She stood up from her seat and looked down at him. "Right now, lives are in danger. We need everyone to partake in their roles as quickly as possible. Including me."
Bai Han pursed his lips and did not speak. Rin sighed and turned to her uncle.
"I've already informed the emperor of our leave. We'll be back tomorrow near dusk." She said.
General Guo nodded. "We'll take care of everything here until you return."
She smiled. "Thank you."
Glancing one last time at her grandfather, Rin left the room. Watching the girl leave, General Guo shifted his gaze to Bai Han. The old man was sitting back in his seat, arms crossed with a frown warping his face.
"She's grown a lot. Makes one proud doesn't it?" General Guo commented. His eyes faced away from the old man.
From the corner of his vision, he could see Bai Han stiffen. When the old man tried to speak, he found he could not. His cheeks were flushed with shame, and the skin beneath his eyes were weary.
Meanwhile, just a few steps away from the room, Rin heard the rush of footsteps behind her. Strong arms pulled her forward. Before she could come to her senses, a voice breathed against her ear, a beard tickling her face.
"Be safe kiddo," Bai Han whispered.
Blinking her jeweled eyes, the edges of Rin's lips curled into a soft smile. She made a gentle hum of agreement and patted her grandfather's back.
"I will."
…
They left that morning; there was no more reason to stay. Ever dutiful to custom, Emperor Guan Hong came to bid them farewell. The sun slid lower in the sky, and they drew close to the dark shadow of land where they made it to the province, Shaoshu.
As they arrived, the two were surprised by what they saw. Embedded deep within the province wall was wooden spikes. At the top, two men stood, weapons in their hands.
"Hey! Who goes there? State your purpose!" One of the men shouted.
"We're from the Western capital." An Sun said up to them.
Although unsure of what the two men were thinking, they could see both grew quiet, a complicated expression on both their faces.
"Do you have proof?" The same man asked.
Reaching for the scroll on her side, Rin held it up for them to see.
"A letter from Emperor Guan Hong himself." She said. Her voice loud and clear for the men to hear.
It was at that they froze and glanced at one another.
"One moment," The man said before they both disappeared. Perhaps to inform the governor.
Only a few minutes passed before the wooden gates slowly opened. Rin looked at An Sun and drew in a breath. Just from their attitude toward them alone, they could feel the tension. But they were prepared.
Entering the province, the front was thick with people, jostling impatiently, craning their necks towards them. Many of which bore spiteful looks. She could hear their whispers and gasps as they looked at her. Her eyes. They were like nothing they had ever seen before.
Gripping her reins, Rin ignored their stares and looked forward, where she saw an older man's gaze. Stiff blond whiskers covered his cheeks, framing a stern face, a bald head, a hard mouth. His narrow face pinched cold, eyes glittered with a greedy intelligence.
Just from his sharp looks and expression alone, Rin could tell he was their governor, Chi Bingwen.
He stepped forward. "Where's this letter from the emperor you speak of?"
Rin mounted off her horse and passed the letter to him. Chi Bingwen's eyes went flat. His gaze seemed to be particularly keen on her face, brows wrinkled. Everyone stood and watched as their governor grabbed the scroll and read it.
"It looks authentic enough. But do you think this is enough to make us leave our land?" His smile cut sharply. "It's a pity you came all this way for nothing."
"Governor Chi, by order of Emperor Guan Hong, you and your people need to evacuate for your own safety. We have already created a safe place for all of you to settle until we can guarantee your safety." Rin said. The words came tonelessly, as a statue would speak them.
Contempt spilled across his face. "There's no need for us to leave. My people and I are capable enough to defend our land against a tribe of dirty barbarians!" The crowd shouted its approval. Pride became them—they would never back down on an enemy.
Rin's eyes followed their expressions with a quiet gaze. Their eyes filled with glory and pride, their governor raising his chin high in pleasure. To her, they looked nothing more than a bunch of sheep soon to be slaughtered.
"If you don't leave now, you and all of your people will die." An Sun's cold words ran loud.
"Is that a threat?" Chi Bingwen almost snarled.
"No. It is not a threat. Just a little helpful warning." An Sun's eyes fell across the face of every citizen. "You think you are all strong? Do you think you are capable of striking a man down? Have any of you seen a dead man before? A man you once claimed as a friend die before your eyes?"
No one answered.
"Well?"
"No," Someone said.
An Sun nodded, gravely. "Then are you prepared to fight a battle and watch those you love die?"
Everyone's expression seemed to shift under his words. The answer to his questions—no, they had never seen death. Not on a battlefield anyway. Their blood, so fueled by their pride that they never imagined what they would face.
Murmurs emerged in the crowd. Chi Bingwen grew red in the face, then redder.
He stepped forward to stare at his people, his voice ringing grandly. "We have all seen death in our lives! Loved ones we held dear slipped away from us. Now we're given the chance to fight for them and protect those we hold dear!"
A surging murmur of agreement came from the crowd. All doubt had vanished quickly. An Sun's face seemed cut from stone as he stared warning at the governor. However, this only fueled Chi Bingwen's ego, earning a sneer on his face.
"Everyone, I promise all of you that with our bravery to protect the land we care for, we will be able to defeat the enemy!"
The tension in the air eased, looks of enthusiasm, and passionate expressions fueled them. There were not just men but women and children, all filled with greed and hope of their dreamed victory. An Sun's jaw grew increasingly tight.
If they didn't do something now, then all these people will…
"Fools. You're all fools."
Startled faces turned to the voice. Rin remained in her place among the center of the crowd. She looked over every inch of them.
Chi Bingwen was stunned. "What—"
"Do you think that's all it takes to kill a man? Bravery? What happens when that bravery dies?" Her voice was louder than she remembered, resonant, and carrying far over the noise of the crowd. They quieted, to hear her words.
"When the An Clan comes, they won't show you any mercy. They will give you no warning. You won't even have the chance to blink before they are burning your homes, taking your wives and children, and killing all the men. You have the bravery to fight. But do you have the strength and power to withstand an army who has already killed and destroyed provinces before you? All of it…it's all foolish!"
The words filled the air, thinning it until they could not breathe. Such a life was a horror. Rin caught a glimpse of Chi Bingwen's face, curdled with anger. A long and profound silence went by for another second. He wheeled on the people, his face twisted in rage.
"Am I not your governor? Can you not trust my word over some foreign bastard who has come to take and control what is ours?" He said, his voice splintering the air.
He paused as if he hoped the others would agree with him. But none did. Rin's words weighed heavily on their hearts. An Sun's face was like stone, his fists clenched by his side.
A foreign bastard? He almost wanted to strike the province governor's face. But seeing how Rin bore no reaction to his words, he held back.
"Governor Chi." She stepped forward. Her voice was easy, the sounds composed. "Your words today have caused your own death and the death of your people. I will convince you no longer. They will all die, Governor Chi, for what you have done here."
Chi Bingwen could not stop the huff of surprise. Before he could speak again, Rin had already turned. An Sun followed behind her, shooting one last glare to the governor before mounting his horse.
Right before their eyes, the two left. However, a lingering tension of the youth's words stayed, leaving only the taste of something bitter.
...
The night started to settle. Due to their long journey, the two settled in an inn within the province. When they arrived, an unexpected encounter occurred.
"There's only one room left?" An Sun frowned, leaning his muscular forearms on the counter.
"Y-Yes. A lot of people have been using their homes as shelters and weapon storage. So they've all stayed here for the night."
"I see…Well then kick one of them out."
"Sun." Rin sighed before smiling at the young woman. "It's all right. We'll take the room."
"You…" An Sun turned to her with widened eyes.
She smiled faintly. "It's fine, right? After all, we're both men."
Blinking his eyes for a moment, a small smile suddenly curled at the corner of his mouth.
"You're right. We're both men." There was something in his voice, a strain.
But by the time Rin looked, he had taken the key and walked up the stairs to their room. Before she followed, she drew in a deep breath, clenching her hands tightly by her side.
It was just one night.