An Ruo thrashed his hand across the table, throwing everything to the ground with a crash. His chest heaved with a trembling, fiery breath.
"Get out!" He flung his hand to dismiss the scout.
The scout bowed his head and quickly retreated out of the room.
"Damn it!" An Ruo slammed his hands against the table.
Everything was going into complete chaos!
Not only did the men fail to assassinate Bai Lan, but their army's casualties in the last battle had set them back! Everything he climbed so hard to achieve came crumbling down like a withered mountain.
Knuckles white, An Ruo gritted his teeth; his hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid - burning, slicing, and potent. His face was red with suppressed rage.
Upon entering the room, Shen could see the tightness around An Ruo's mouth, the barely suppressed anger in his eyes under his long black hair. The anger seemed to bleed from him. You could taste it. A nervous tension that became perilous, close to fear.
Shen's pale eyes moved to the broken glass and scattered papers on the floor. Quietly, he knelt to pick them up. Just as he picked up a broken shard, he dropped it, his finger pricked. An Ruo's heard the man's actions and swept his icy gaze.
On the floor, the young man was holding up his peerlessly white finger, a pearl of red blooming from the tip. An Ruo's brows furrowed deeper. His head lowered slightly, and his gaze landed on Shen's hand. The contrast of deep scarlet against his pale skin was apparent. His heart shook just a bit.
"Get up. The servants will do it." An Ruo looked away, seemingly unable to stare at him anymore, and slumped in his seat. He was tired. Tired of the lack of power he possessed.
After becoming leader, he had thought everything would be within his control, but it wasn't. From the moment that bastard entered their clan, An Sun was an unpredictable and powerful opponent.
An Ruo knew he could suppress a raging lion all he wanted, but the moment he pushed him to the edge, he would strike back in defense.
Shen lowered his gaze and silently stood up. When he raised those pale, emerald eyes, a light flickered.
"Master Ruo's struggles are not from a lack of strength, but a lack of support."
"Are you saying my people don't support me?" Already feeling aggravated, An Ruo couldn't help but snap harshly.
Regardless of his tone, Shen maintained his gentle and calm demeanor, "Of course not. Your people know how capable you are. However, the trust of the people is not enough to defend them. Every king needs an ally he can rely on."
Slowly, An Ruo's expression changed. The longer he processed his words, the more he couldn't help but smile. He wiped his face, his expression sinister, and chuckled as he stood up.
He knew when to admit when he lost, but he had only lost the battle, not the war. This was only the first round. The days ahead were long.
Walking over to Shen, his eyes darkened. An Ruo lifted the man's pale and frail arm. The feeling of his skin was cold. If he just squeezed a bit, the fragile skin would bruise, break even.
"To think of what I'd do if these clever hands were used to betray me..." An Ruo's voice was soft but contained an uncontained chilliness.
Shen just watched him with serene eyes as the man played with his fingertips. "Such a day will never come."
An Ruo stared at him with intense eyes. One hand tightly held Shen's hand, the other lightly caressed his pale, cold cheek. His long fingers slowly moved down and pinched his chin, and then suddenly lowered his head.
