The Woman Ruler of the Altan Clan

Chapter 121 Openness

Shanum stood in front of the border of the illusory field and forest where they were camping. In modern terms, their campground is a military base. In that place there is their headquarters, to pry strategy, and prepare supplies in this war.

The day was quite cold, with clear blue skies, the weather was common in this place. Shanum turned around and looked at the forest border behind him, observing the green color stretching along the view and not seeing any other people following him towards this place.

It is not that he is selfish, choosing to be alone while others are busy preparing for war. He just wanted to feel the calmness away from the hustle and bustle of the activities of the clan leader and his troops.

Early this morning Chinua had been interrupted by an emergency meeting call for the clan leaders and their war generals, in a tent that had been specially reserved for the meeting by Khan Adrian.

Although he was invited by Chinua to attend, which of course he calmly refused. For the reason that he did not have the expertise and experience at all related to the art of war and did not want to just be an observer in the meeting.

Liars.

All that denial is really just a pretext. The truth is that she has not been able to come face to face with her husband.

The sigh in his wind as the wind patted the hair on his face. He slowly stepped on the border, pausing momentarily to face the field of illusion, trying to ignore the pain that continued to follow his every step.

Khan's. Whenever she thought of her husband, she forced herself to think of something else. However, as was his inherent habit, his mind continued to discuss all the reasons why he was so reluctant to meet Khan and refuted all the bad thoughts of the man.

Khan believes Shanum has betrayed his trust, which only confirms how petty the man thinks of him.

And, even worse, now Shanum knew why Khan paid so much attention to Sarni. They get closer as Sarting helps Khan to search for Shanum.

Chinua disclosed the entire results of his investigation to Shanum last night. The woman suspected Sintai right from the moment she met him. There was something strange about the woman, Chinua said. And he can't yet explain what that weirdness is. That's why Chinua tried to spy on Sintai.

Shanum and Chinua slept in a tent last night. To be more precise, he hitchhiked to sleep in the woman's tent. Shanum was forced to refuse to stay in a separate tent. While she doubted her safety, she was also worried that her husband would come back to look for her.

Shanum cursed himself for letting Khan hurt him. Destroyed it. Fatally only because he did not like Shanum to be chosen by the queen's sword.

As for the queen's sword, Shanum only learned from Chinua, that the magic sword that had chosen its owner, would not be transferable to the other party, until the owner was dead. So his mind returned the sword back to Avraam, and he was forced to throw it away. Now the sword fused with him until his death came.

Shanum just needs to find another way to turn Avraam's obsession into her. So that he can return to his country, and live quietly there, just like a normal human being.

As he moved, Shanum noticed the ground he was looking at. Enjoy the silence of nature around him. He looked up, paying attention to the limits of the horizon of soul conditioning. Although his body felt tired, his heart was slightly lighter. It was as if one of the burdens had finally lifted off his shoulders, while enjoying that silence.

"Shaa."

Shanum stop.

He sighed loudly, feeling confident that he was not crossing into the field of illusion.

"Please, Shasha."

Shanum didn't want to turn around. Because he knew very well who the owner of the voice called him. And also realize, who used to call him by that name. It turned out that he was not illusory, not entering the forbidden field of illusion.

Shanum. Khan stood a meter away from her in dark-colored clothes. The man still looked as beautiful and sexy as ever, and it made him a little upset.

However, as Shanum stared fixedly at the man's face, and found a dark shadow under his eyes, his heart was quite satisfied. At least the man also had trouble sleeping like himself last night.

Shanum nervous. "What are you doing here?How do you know I'm here?"

Khan moved closer in a step. Shanum backed off, reflexively protecting himself. He saw the man's jaw tighten and felt the need to apologize even though he knew it was ridiculous.

"We need to talk, Shasha."

Shanum could feel himself reacting to Khan's closeness. Suddenly the network of soul bonds that he blocked, seemed to collapse forcefully from the other side.

Shanum frowned, as he felt he wanted to pull Khan's head down, and felt that sexy mouth in his mouth. His entire body was bristling and he began to wonder if it had anything to do with the bonding of their souls.

No. gabe.

Shanum is not ready to give up. Not when some of the wounds in his heart were still bleeding. However, the other side of his heart that was still intact also felt longing.

Desperately, Shanum asked, "Why do we need to talk? I thought you said everything you needed to say last night."

Khan is putting his hair back on. "Last night it was a mistake."

Shanum was silent, giving no reaction. He turned his face away, and turned around, continuing his steps, leaving the man stunned in his place.

Without warning, Shanum's arm was pulled and he spun, out of breath. Those golden brown eyes were cluttered with sparkling black eyes that shone in panic.

"Try to avoid me, Shasha?"

Khan rubbed the hair that covered Shanum's forehead. He gently ran his hand between the strands.

Shanum's heart seemed to stop beating, before beating back in an increasingly rapid rhythm. Shanum cursed a subtle sigh in his chest. Of course he won't be able to get rid of that swish. Can never ignore the attraction that always happens to her husband.

Khan's gaze swept him like a wave on the beach, swaying his feelings to doubt.

Shanum pulled free his arm, aware that he should have rejected the man's touch.

"I'm not avoiding you. I was just trying to stay away. Because I realized, I no longer deserve to be around you. I'm a traitor, remember! As alleged by the half-dead woman you worried about last night." Shanum's eyes flashed with anger.

"But you can calm down, Great One. After this war is over, if I'm still breathing, this despicable me will never again appear before you" he said.

Khan's face paled, then he cursed slowly.

Then Shanum stepped back.

"Leave me alone, Khan."

Shanum began to step past Khan, changing the direction of his steps to towards the forest, returning to the settlement. He's lost his appetite for solitude.

"I know you hurt me, Shasha. Ii'm sorry. I'm just... Look, can we talk about this with a clear mind? Please, give me some time" Khan said from behind Shanum.

Shanum stopped stepping.

His breathing was stinging as if he had just run. The atmosphere around them remained silent. Shanum absorbed what Khan said.

However, he still could not forget the pain of his heart.

And he didn't want the man to see it. So, Shanum did not turn around, he continued walking.

Another muffled growl rang out from behind him and before Shanum could react, Khan was already in front of him and bowed.

Shanum only realized what the man was doing when his world was turned upside down and he gasped when Khan just threw him over the shoulder.

Khan's hand held his ass. Shanum was so shocked and angry that he could barely breathe, let alone speak.

Khan took Shanum with quick steps towards a tent. Before entering he drove away the bodyguards guarding the front of the tent, uttered a line of incantations, and a red light instantly moved around the tent. Enveloping tent.

Inside the tent, Khan sat Shanum on a soft, light-brown carpet. With his chest pounding and feeling hate to be treated that hard, Shanum still could not get angry. His entire body cells even shrieked a happy tone.

I've gone mad.

Shanum raised his head and looked at the man sharply. "What did you bring me here for? Didn't I say leave me alone."

Shanum tried to get up and turned towards the door curtain, where he could immediately exit.

But Khan said in a calm tone from behind, "You won't be able to get out of here, Shasha. I've cast a closing spell on this place. No one can break through, eavesdrop, or destroy this place."

Shanum stopped, immediately inflamed hearing Khan's remark. He cursed the man in his heart.

However, disbelief took over his mind. It could have been just the man's wits to keep him in this place.

Confidently, Shanum again stepped towards the door curtain trying to grab her, and was stunned.

The curtain cannot be circumvented. The cover cloth was firmly attached to the ground, not budging in the slightest. Shanum grabbed it, and found the curtain stiffened, and solid as a wall.

Feeling frustrated, Shanum chants a cancellation spell and finds his spell spewed back at him. Spell failed.

"Argh..."

Feeling irritated, Shanum kicked the curtain hard, to the point that he lurched backwards. But before he fell in a terrible position, his back was held back by someone's warm hands.

Shanum was clenched and stiffly silent as his body was pulled closer. He knew very well, whose body was being stuck behind him at this moment.

"Take me off" Shanum whispered in a huffed tone.

Khan pulled his grip as Shanum turned around. He caught the man's gaze and blatantly threw his face away.

Khan knew Shanum must be very angry. He could feel it, as strong as the sense of his wife's presence in every cell of his body. Regret and self-blame hunt in Khan's stomach. He did not blame Shanum for harboring anger. He hurt her in the worst way.

But when he heard Shanum's sharp words to him earlier, he suddenly panicked.

Without a second thought, Khan behaved like a man who was afraid of being abandoned forever. Khan took the woman and locked her in a tent.

Khan was tired. He did not like to accept the hateful look that was seen at this moment from his wife's beautiful eyes. All of this must be resolved immediately, before it becomes a protracted problem.

"Did it hurt?"

"Well..." Shanum looked confused.

"Your feet." The man directed a glance at Shanum's feet.

Shanum displayed a fierce expression. "I don't need your pleasantries. Can you just tell me whatever you want? So I can get out of this tent."

Khan smiled wistfully. "I'm just worried about you, Shasha."

The pain threatened to drown Shanum, as the worried words reminded him of Khan's reaction to Sarna's last night.

As if he didn't care much, Shanum said, "Come away."

He heard Khan exhaling, then restoring his hair. A little late, Shanum realized Khan's hair was longer. His face looked tired, with a jaw full of sideburns. The man looks unmanageable. Stabbing worries hurt him. Then hurriedly negate it.

"To be honest, I feel jealous. I don't like you being chosen by that queen's sword. Then I was so upset to see that guy go crazy about you and hate to hear you promise him something."

A clot forms in Shanum's throat. He was lazy to explain. His heart was already disappointed. But, if he behaves foolishly, he will forever be cooped up with that man.

"Why do you blame me for all that? I did not ask the queen's sword to choose me. I also did not return the man's feelings. And I just pretended to accept it, just so I could be free of it."

Shanum stepped away from Khan. He stared at the banner of the Altan Clan in the corner of the room. The banner is similar to the banner form in various Chinese war films.

Recalling his unfinished explanation, he continued, "I planned all of these plays as I accidentally eavesdropped on their ruse to destroy the entire clan. That way is so sly and sadistic. In short, I deliberately returned our necklaces, our wedding rings, and the clothes I wore last before I went with them, in the hope that Avraam would believe. The necklace was previously seized by the man. So rather than being in his hands, it's better that my valuables are in your hands."

"So that's the real reason you sent the three things to me?"

Shanum. "Yes" he answered briefly.

"You've made my life miserable ever since, Shasha. You broke my heart. I thought you were. you..." Khan did not continue his words. His face looks tortured.

Shanum's heart slipped, looking at the man's romance. Then he cleared a little, continuing his story.

"I was forced to do it, because that was all I thought about at the time. After that I tried to be receptive to Avraam's presence. Spending more time with her, even though my mind was tormented. Even I can take dangerous actions, like cutting off my own veins just so that the man doesn't suspect anything and delays his first attack."

Khan jumped in shock. "I saw you then. You were in bed and crying. That coordinate point you also gave me, in those days."

Khan started to approach, getting closer, he leaned forward, staring with a look full of wounds. Shanum looked away, but the action was just as bad, as he could not turn away from Khan's eyes.

"You're embarrassing me. I should have listened to your explanation before drawing any conclusions. I'm afraid of the sword and the promise, you'll go with him, Shasha."

"I am your wife" said Shanum bitterly. "It is impossible for me to leave my husband and go with another man just because of a sword."

Khan stood up straight, starting to pacing. When he spoke, he sounded frustrated. "I know that. But jealousy makes all my logic disappear."

Shanum took a deep breath. "Listen.I've opened the charade I did. Thank you for your apology. You don't have to bother. I know it's gonna end."

Khan looks shocked. "ultimately? Whatchu mean?"

"Don't you choose Sintai, Khan?"

Jawang Khan tightens sharply. "What is the relationship between us?"

"much related. First; you seem worried. Second; I hear as long as I'm not around, you spend a lot of time with him. And the third; you did not refute his accusation to me yesterday. So from there I can conclude, you prefer him to me." Shanum answered straightforwardly.

Khan shakes in disbelief. But slowly his mouth formed a grin. "You're jealous, honey."

Shanum's heart stopped beating.

Damn, that guy guessed it.

"No. Who is jealous?" his objection.

"I'm just stating facts, not making things up. And it's not all a form of jealousy."

"Yes, you're jealous. Admit it, don't lie."

Khan grabbed Shanum's hand. "You still believe I have a special feeling for Sintai, after all this time we've been together?"

Shanum looks nervous. "That's possible. Didn't you lament that woman for hundreds of years?"

Khan's face looked even more grim than he had ever seen. "I no longer have any feelings for him, Shasha. I've said it a few times. Right now I just consider him a friend though..."

"When I have warned you, the woman is suspicious. Why do you still consider him a friend?" cut Shanum in annoyance.

Khan sighs. "I was angry at him when he seduced me..."

"He seduced you? And you still accept him as a friend? That's right!" Shanum forcibly pulled his hand in Khan's grasp.

Frustration, anger, love, pain mixed into one and threatened to spill over in Shanum's heart.

"I hate you even more for this" Shanum said furiously.

"I'm not done yet, Shasha. You always cut my words." Khan looked at Shanum.

When there was no protest from him, Khan continued his words, "So, after I was angry at that time, Sarni strenuously tried to come looking for me to apologize. He promised to only see me as a friend. Even he's willing to help me find you, Shasha."

Shanum snorted loudly. "Imaging only."

Khan frowned, confused.

"I mean, he just wants to look in front of you. Draw your attention again, so you can take it slowly. The ends still, he wishes you were back to him."

"How can you think like that?"

"Call it as instinct as a fellow woman. I can even guess his expectations from the first time I saw his face. You're the one who's stupid, don't pay attention."

"Okay, I gave up. If you've said that. Now tell me, how am I supposed to behave towards Sintai?"

Shanum was speechless for being too dumbfounded. The emotions aroused in him by Khan's question were too great and confusing.

In the end he asked, "You sure, let me set you up?"

Khan smile. "Yes. I don't want you to feel jealous anymore, and it makes me feel bad about your anger. So tell me, how should I behave?" rephrase Khan with his question.

Shanum did not answer. He's still gobsmacked.

"I just love you, Shasha. Coloring is only the past. You're worth more to me than he is. I'd rather lose him than lose you" he added.

"Adris..."

"Ah, I'm finally listening to that name again."

Shanum looked at Khan. He saw the truth written on the man's face and in his eyes.

He bravely grabbed Khan's hand. Pull their fingers. For the first time in months, Shanum felt peace flowing within him.

Not taking his eyes off, Shanum wrapped his hands around Khan's neck. And made a shocked expression radiate on his handsome face.

"You must maintain a minimum distance of two meters from the woman. Talking is only as necessary. It's even better that you act stiff and cold, like when you're acting to a stranger" Shanum whispered in Khan's ear.

Instantly Khan's lips formed a line of smiles, then he nodded. "Ready, Mam."

"Good" said Shanum.

"Hum, Adri... I have one very important question..."

Khan framed Shanum's face with his hands.

"Say," said Khan softly.

"Where should I sleep tonight?"

Passion is rising, thick and urgent.

"You may choose" he replied in a hoarse voice.

Shanum raised his eyebrows next door. "You sure?"

"Yes. But only I can accompany you to sleep."

Joy overflowed out of Shanum's mouth in spontaneous laughter as Khan lifted him up, then dropped him on the bed.

The man looked at him deeply and Shanum could see the fragility plastered on the man's face.

Khan rubbed Shanum's cheek.

"I thought I'd lose you again. I couldn't sleep last night. Regretting my own stupidity. And think hard, how can I fix my mistakes, until you forgive me."

Had Shanum had his side of doubt, that feeling was instantly swept away at that very instant.

"I'm here, Adri. Forgiven you. And we're the same, all night I can't sleep either. Busy looking for a way to make you prostrate at my feet."

Khan's eyes are breaking. "You want me to do that?" Khan wanted to rise from his position, but his body was held back by Shanum.

"Forget over. The next thing we have to think about is how to win this war with all our personnel surviving without any deaths" Shanum said.

Khan nodded. Then lowered his head and kissed Shanum with tenderness and passion that made the woman tremble.

When Khan pulled away, Shanum said gasping, "I felt like I would just choose this tent as my bed, Adri."

Khan commented on the smile full of temptation that became his trademark if making out with Shanum. "I'd rather we start enjoying the bedding in this tent from now on."

Shanum. "But this... It's still noon, Adri." Shanum felt a nervous thump in his chest.

Khan chuckled softly. "I don't care, honey. Let's continue our delayed honeymoon."