113 Suppress Him (1/2)

Within the main tent of the An Clan camp, the An Clan leader, An Hongyu sat, his face threateningly dark. Sitting beside him on a cushion was An Ruo.

”Is what you say true? It's been two weeks, and he still hasn't made any moves?”

An Ruo nodded his head, ”Yes.”

An Hongyu grunted, his eyes shone with unhappiness and distress. At first, when he had heard of An Sun traveling farther north, he was relieved. This meant he didn't harbor thoughts of overruling them.

When An Sun asked for more grains for his army, he still hadn't found anything wrong with it. His men needed more food, something he'd ask for if he needed it.

But after hearing An Ruo's words, An Hongyu's relief morphed to doubt. It was no secret from the rest of An Clan of his treatment toward his adopted son.

He may have been adopted as his son but that had been all – a title was all it was. An Sun's chances of reaching any higher than what he was given would immediately be suppressed.

For years, this had been how An Hongyu and the rest of the An Clan operated things. Until the young man revealed signs of growth.

Not only did he grow stronger physically, but his military tactics surpassed those of his brother and the other members.

An Hongyu felt as if he was slowly losing control.

Before his he became too powerful for them to suppress, An Hongyu changed his tactics and improved his treatment toward An Sun.

By supplying him with a small army and chances to grant land for their clan, he utilized An Sun in a way that made him able to constrain him easier.

If he showed signs of advancing, he'd draw him back. But now, he feared it may be too late.

An Hongyu swept his eyes to An Ruo and said in a heavy voice, ”Send someone to keep an eye on him. If he shows any signs of rebelling, pull him out and have him return.”

An Ruo nodded his head but inwardly, he felt displeased. No matter what, his father refused to dispose of An Sun.

Even when he posed as a threat to them, he never ordered to have him killed or punished. This caused a swell of bitterness to rise in An Ruo's heart, but in the end, he said nothing.

”Yes, father.”

An Hongyu grunted and stood from his chair to leave, but as he opens the tent flaps, he turned to look at his son.

”Next time, don't send your men out without my permission. I don't want to further ignite his reason to rebel due to your reckless actions.”

An Ruo's fists on his lap tightened. ”I understand father. I apologize for acting rash, it won't happen again.”

Hearing his son's words, An Hongyu grunted before he turned and left without looking back.

An Ruo watched his father's leaving figure with a trace of uncertainty and resentment.