47 Not To Fail (2/2)
”If Sir Tao doesn't mind, I'll be retreating to stay at a nearby inn. I'm quite tired after all this traveling.” Rin said solemnly.
”Don't be silly my boy, of course, you'd be tired after such a long and tiring trip. There's also no need to stay at an inn, you and your personal guard can rest at our house. I'll have a servant set a room for the two of you. As for the Bai soldiers with you, they can stay in our military camp's guest rooms.” He offered graciously.
Looking slightly stunned towards the Governor's words, Rin once again flashes the man a humble expression.
”I thank you Sir Tao for your kindness. It will certainly not be forgotten.” Rin cupped her hands gently with her head carefully lowered.
…
After Rin exits Governor Tao's office, immediately a servant shows up to escort her and Xu Mujin to their private rooms.
Once settled in, Rin summons Xu Mujin into her room, calmly drinking a fragrant cup of tea on a rosewood table by a nearby window.
”What are young Master's plans?” Xu Mujin respectfully asks standing beside Rin.
Calmly drinking her tea, Rin gently places the dainty cup down on the polished smooth wooden table with vacant eyes.
”It seems like he doesn't completely trust me yet,” Rin chuckles, her bright eyes dimming slightly.
Xu Mujin furrows his brows as he listens attentively to her words.
Seeing her personal guards wrinkled expression, Rin lets out a gentle laugh.
”No worries. I don't blame him, after all, it's merely my grandfather's words with no partial evidence.” Rin said gently as she subtly shifts her gaze towards the sunlit window. ”Besides, all of that will change tonight.”
In the beginning, once Rin heard the Governor's invite for her to join in on their military meeting she knew for sure he was intentionally setting her up for a test.
A test she'd be sure not to fail.
…
Deep within the Northern Empire's stone mountains, in a secluded area in the forest was an unmarked cave.
Inside was a deep beautiful misty spring with heated steam flowing through the cave's air. The water was colored a clear luminous blue revealing the cave's rocky bottom and edges.
However, within the misty hot spring was the figure of a man leaning back onto the hard rocky walls, his elegant eyelids gently shut. The man's long black flowing hair drifted softly in the water - almost as if it were black blood.
Across from him, sitting comfortably on a flat rock in the steamy cave's entrance was another man with neck-length brunette hair, his legs comfortably crossed.
With a set of papers in his hand and his chin propped up by his other hand, he calmly scans the written reports.
”Commander An Sun, General Jinhai and his men had already departed towards the North Borders. By the time we depart, they'll already be ahead of us.” The man seated on the flat rock reported in a lazy manner. ”He said he would show you what it means to possess 'true power'.”
The man called Commander An Sun's eyelids quiver slightly, his eyes fluttering open revealing a pair of dark gray eyes blazing coldly.
”Just leave him be.” The man's low dark voice replied with a tinge of evident irritation.
Standing up calmly from the deep blue water, the man gently dunks his head into the glistening water to carefully drench his hair further - delicate strands of water seductively sliding down his muscled chest and back.
”Don't forget, he's a member of the Gan bloodline. His armies capabilities aren't to be looked down upon.” The brown-haired man sighed as his eyes lazily flipped through the pages.
”There's, moreover, the issue with the Hong provinces governor sending us forty taels, five boxes of the 'finest' gold, and alcohol, and one-thousand sheep. He also added ten beautiful women and his skilled strategist from the distinguished Hong family.” He continued with a mildly amused expression.
Gathering his drenched hair upward to prevent it from falling in front of his face, An Sun raises his head from the water, an unreadable expression seen on his face.
Loose strands of black hair gripping warmly to his white toned chest - a deep scar slashed across the top his smooth muscled skin.
”Kill the sheep for meat and fur and send the boxes of gold and alcohol to our main camp.” He ordered with an indifferent tone as he rung out his hair. ”As for the women, after the men had sex with them, kill them.”
Once done wringing his hair, the man pauses before speaking again.
”Also, kill that strategist from the Hong family.” An San said after some thought.
”We can't kill him, unfortunately. He is an official member of the Hong family.” The man seated on the rock stared at An Sun helplessly.
Towards the other man's words, An Sun became silent an unpleasant expression formed on his face.
”Damnit.” He muttered irritably.
”Don't worry, I already informed him not to get close to you.” The other man chuckled. ”I'm very aware of your dislike towards Hong's people.”
”Good.” He grunted before standing up to walk towards the smooth rocky ground.
Exposing his firm bare muscled body to the other man without a care, he reaches for the set of armor and clothes nearby - small drops of water dripping down his long jet-black hair to his toned back.
”Let's head back.” He ordered, already walking out of the cave.
”Ah, hey wait for me!” The brown-haired man called out gathering the papers in his hand as he rushed out.
The only sound remaining is the gentle breeze swirling through the mountains, the blue steamed water gently rippling.