The silence was unbearable to Shu, as it meant she found no good alibi to the ploy she had tried to set. She analyzed the situation in her mind, however the feeling of the smooth silver prickling against her skin harder and harder the longer she took to speak remained her only focus.
How could she have been so stupid? Was her mind seriously so underdeveloped from her lack of experience in this world? To think a few minor details could be the downfall of a certain situation!
Zhang stood towering just behind Jun's frame, a scowl making its way to his features.
"Where is he, girl?!" Jun repeated, growing tired of the silence that echoed against the fields.
Zhang chose that particular moment to run out into the thicket, letting out hollers of rage.
"Boy! Get Out Here!... Don't want us to kill the little girl, do you?!!!" he stated, hands creating a motion that allowed his voice to carry through the thicket.
Shu shuddered, eyes closing shut, ignoring the stare Jun still gazed at her with. There was movement produced, although she prayed her hardest in it just being Zhang, it was easily distinguished to be Altan.
Rising from the hidden area of the thicket, he slowly made his way to Shu, though his destination was disrupted by the useless tackle Zhang chose to make. Altan made no resistance, instead laying on the ground while looking at Jun.
"Please, let her go. I forced her to cover for me." he begged, glancing back and forth between her and Jun.
"Who are you to ask for anything, boy?!!! Keep her there Jun, both deserve a good whipping!" the large man ordered, pulling Altan to his feet from the tackle.
Jun slowly retracted his sword, grasping Shu's forearm in a manner that signaled no escape. She paid no mind to him, instead focusing on Altan desperately signaling an apology to her failed attempt of protecting him.
"Zhang, I'm responsible for the girl. I think it would be best to hand her over to Director Cou early, for him to carry out her punishment." Jun uttered, having no form of emotion written on his face.
"No, leave her to me. I still got a bone to pick with that little girl!!" Zhang replied stubbornly.
A hopeless expression made its way onto Altans face, trying to protest to the the guard who held him in his clutches.
"Stop your whining, boy. Your turn will come, let me just deal with your little girl first. Jun give me a hand with the boy." the large man stated, moving closer while eyeing Shu with a gaze that was out for revenge.
Surprisingly Jun resisted, bellowing his voice to be firm and heard. "Stop it, Zhang. Your petty revenge will just lead me to trouble. The girl will be handled by Director Cou, you may do what you want with the boy." Leading Shu to the direction of the offices, he waited for no response from Zhang, instead cursing was heard.
It was all too abrupt for Shu, all throughout her focus was on Altan, as she was dragged away her gaze remained fixated on his frame. Being pulled out of her revere when she heard Zhang's words carry into her ears "Guess it's time for your whipping."
That was when she snapped her gaze away, tears forming in the eyes that hadn't spilled such emotion for quite sometime.