229 Escaped (1/2)

When he stepped out of his tent, the first thing he saw was the weary eyes of the men around him. This didn't settle well for him.

”What's going on?” An Ruo said while striding over to a Tuhan soldier.

The soldier looked at him and scratched the back of his head.

”There seems to be a cart missing.”

”Which cart?” An Ruo's brows furrowed.

”The one we had to carry the meat on to the bases. It disappeared.”

A cart didn't suddenly just disappear. It was likely it was taken. However, An Ruo could not understand the reason why.

”Prepare the men for another hunt this morning and regather the meat we've lost.” An Ruo sighed.

It was already difficult enough that they didn't have enough food for their own camp, but to supply more to the other camps along with more supplies, it was wearing their energy thin.

When he stepped away from the Tuhan soldier who left to carry out the hunt, An Ruo's thoughts wandered.

Why would someone steal it? There were weapons, silks, and fine clothing, but all that was missing was a cart of meat?

He had considered it being villagers from a poor village close by, who happened to see their food and managed to steal it. But An Ruo found that unlikely. Such measly common people couldn't possibly manage to break through their barricade unnoticed, especially by the guards out front.

An Ruo suddenly froze. His mouth tightened and unknowingly, his eyes wandered around, eyeing each soldier's face.

”You there,” He walked to a soldier sharpening weapons. ”Check the guards posted out front and ask if they saw anyone suspicious leave last night.”

”Yes, sir.”

While the soldier left, An Ruo found the heels of his feet shifting him in the direction of a certain tent. His footsteps only seemed to quicken as the eeriness in his heart grew. Approaching the soldier posted out front, a chilly look crossed his face.

”Good morning, Commander—”

An Ruo cut him off. ”Is he still there?”

”Yes,” The solider answered stiffly.

”When was the last time you checked on him?” An Ruo asked, in a tone of deep dissatisfaction.

”L-Last night.”

The unease in An Ruo's heart only grew, his eyes growing darker by the second. Shoving past him, he lifted the tent flap and stepped inside…An eerie silence quickly followed.

Apart from a wooden pole in the ground with cut rope on the floor, the tent was empty. Manchu was gone.

”Commander An!” A soldier quickly rushed over. ”The guards that were posted out front they…they're dead!”

”C-Commander, forgive me!” The soldier, who was posted in front of Manchu's tent, fell on his knees. ”I have failed to keep guard. I will accept my punish—” Just before he could even finish, An Ruo had pulled out the dagger from his side and sliced his throat open to let the blood come bubbling out.

He choked and fell to the floor, clutching his neck. An Ruo stared down at him with dead eyes. Raising a foot, he stepped on his head.

”If I can't kill him today, then I might as well kill you.” His voice was more cutting than a blade.

The soldier continued to choke as the pressure on his head increased, An Ruo pushing his boot deeper and deeper into his head. It didn't take long for his previously struggling body to go limp.

The Tuhan on the side watched mildly. When one of their own men had died by their commander, they said nothing. An Ruo turned his head to the men with a chilly expression.

”Inform my father of Manchu and my brother's betrayal. Also, send a request for more men and supplies.”

”Yes, commander.” The soldier glanced at the empty tent. ��Shall we send a search for Manchu?”

”There's no need. By now he's probably returned to their side. We don't have the energy to get him back.” An Ruo glanced at the corpse beneath his feet, his eyes darkened. ”Clean up this mess.”

The soldier nodded and signaled for two soldiers to help drag the body out. An Ruo stepped away and returned to his tent. Inside, he strode toward the desk and grabbed a paper and pen. Before long, he was writing. When he was done, he sent a guard outside to deliver it.

The wind was blowing heavy, the tents and banners flapping furiously against it. An Ruo stood by his tent and watched the Tuhan soldiers with an unreadable gaze. His eyes lowered to the blood on his boots. It was still wet. He wiped it against the dirt floor with a hidden sneer.

”Filthy.”

…

All day, the wind blew, steady from the west at first, and then in wild gusts. The sun set in a blaze of red. Rin spent all afternoon writing a letter and told everyone not to disturb her. When the letter was done, she called for Ju and watched as he flew out the window to deliver it. Now she was sitting and looking at maps.

After an hour or two, she stood up from her desk and went out for fresh air. Rin took a breath of the crisp afternoon air and allowed herself to ease for a bit. The western sky was rosy near the horizon and pale gray higher up.