354 “I am his father... I am the Marshal... I am your superior... that is who I am

“Han Han, this is not funny. Where are you?” he said entering every single room frantically searching for his lover.

His chest rose and fell violently as he called out. His voice became tremulous as he repeatedly searched the same rooms over and over again with his red-rimmed eyes.

There were no words to describe how he was feeling right now. Zi Han left him again even when he promised to see him tonight.

He stood in the kitchen with his trembling hands grasping the edge of the kitchen counter trying to calm down. But when he recalled all those things Zi Han said to him last night the storm surging within became even more violent.

He squeezed his fingers tightly until his knuckles turned white as his mental beast slowly creeped out like a vengeful phantom with red eyes.

Dark and sinister voices began to echo in his ear as cracks form on the counter from the strength in his hands increasing.

‘Tie him to your side...’

‘If he doesn’t want you then make him want you...’

‘He said he loved you so you can’t let him go...”

.....

With a loud cracking sound the kitchen counter broke. Yi Chen kept his head down with the darkness in his heart taking root.

Beep... beep... beep.

The sound of the milk tea machine on the counter drew his sanity back and the fog in his eyes suddenly cleared.

He walked over there in two strides and he saw a mug of hot milk tea that had long grown cold. His heart suddenly chilled when he realised Zi Han didn’t leave of his own free will.

The fierceness in his eyes amplified. He was so angry at this point that wanted to tear apart whoever had the balls to steal his lover.

Meanwhile, the person Yi Chen was going to tear up relationships for was lying in what looked like a grass field on a planet with two moons faintly showing on the horizon.

When he finally opened his eyes the sky was already dimming but the sun never sank into the horizon.

Zi Han sat up with his hand pressed to his forehead enduring a massive headache like someone had hit his head with a brick.

“You are finally awake,” said a familiar voice making his blood run cold. He struggled to get up on his feet his soul piercing gaze focused on the Marshal.

The older man was sitting on a stool in front of a traditional Chinese house inclusive of a few touches attributed to the federation’s architectural style. Zi Han clenched his fists his body trembling with rage as he glared at the man leisurely drinking tea.

Marshal Yi set the steaming cup down and said, “Your mother trained you very well but one thing she couldn’t teach you was the ability to control your emotions.... You are impulsive, arrogant, and very very disrespectful which is nothing like your father. She raised a miniature version of herself... no.... a much more dangerous person than herself.”

Zi Han couldn’t tolerate anyone saying bad things about his mother. He swallowed hard and clenched his jaw tightly like it was going to snap off before speaking through gritted teeth, “If you have a problem with me then focus on me. Keep my family out of this.”

Marshal Yi glanced at him and said, “They raised you so there is no way the two aren’t mutually exclusive.”

“What do you want?” asked Zi Han and the Marshal didn’t respond for a very long time. He took two more sips of his tea before finally clearing his throat.

“This behind me is the Yi family home passed down for generations. It is as old as the federation. It represents our achievements... our values, our pride, and.... our responsibility as the Yi family... Do you understand the meaning of the word responsibility?” asked the Marshal while looking at him with a leisurely gaze but underneath that fine layer was a threatening existence that made Zi Han want to flee.

Seeing that Zi Han didn’t respond the Marshal said, “It means having a sense of duty to deal with or control something. That means you will be held accountable if anything concerning that thing... Who can blame you though for not having any understanding of the meaning of responsibility?”

“Stop mincing words and get straight to the point,” said Zi Han unable to restrain himself anymore.

historical

Marshal Yi picked up the scroll on his table and unrolled it. The scroll was so long that it unrolled all the way down before stopping a few inches away from the tip of Zi Han’s shoes.

“When a new Marshal is sworn in they have to swear an oath and that oath is inclusive of everything on this scroll. They then seal that oath with a bloody thumb.... This is Yi Chen’s future responsibility but with you, by his side, he can’t achieve that. You two aren’t suitable,” said the Marshal, and Zi Han felt like his heart was stabbed right through by a sharp blade.

“Who are you to decide that?” he spoke his eyes bloody red as he took a step forward.

“I am his father... I am the Marshal... I am your superior... that is who I am,” said the Marshal as he got up his stance intimidating.

“So....,” said Zi Han having lost himself to his anger at this point. In his mind he was not dating Yi Chen’s father so why should he gravel to please him? Why should he change himself to conform to the Marshal’s preference? He had never offended the Marshal but from day one the man didn’t like him so what was he supposed to do about that?

“This is what I am talking about. You are very disrespectful and even if the monarch was still ruling the federation, I would never support your ascension. You are insolent and lack any sense of responsibility and you want to take my son down with you,” said the Marshal before wiping his mouth with a handkerchief and continuing,

“... leave my son alone.”

“I won’t... our relationship has nothing to do with you,” replied Zi Han before turning on his heels to leave.

“I was wrong. You do have a sense of responsibility... just to your family, not my son. You don’t love him at all... if you loved him you wouldn’t have jeopardized everything he stands for and shamelessly clung to him afterward ruining his reputation, ruining his life.”

Zi Han’s steps halted his body trembling uncontrollably with rage. “Shut up,” muttered Zi Han as a tear flowed down his cheek.