Country and Master

When the group got back to the palace, Hung Dao said farewell to the ambassador and went back to his place along with Ngu Lao. He told his house servants to prepare a room for Ngu Lao, and walked Ngu Lao over to greet his father,

"Father, I am back,"

Hung Dao's father, sitting at the center of the guest room while reading. He has one arm supporting his face on the chair rest and one of his feet cross over the other. He has eyes as sharp as the falcon looking from above. Ngu Lao, behind of Hung Dao, observed and noticed that Hung Dao and his dad look very similar.

"Hm, go get ready for the banquet." His father said.

"Yes father," Hung Dao started to walk away.

"Wait," his father interrupted. "Who is that?"

"He is my servant father."

"You go, he stays," Hung Dao's father demanded. The authority from his voice was no joke.

"Yes father," Hung Dao could not do anything else besides obeying.

When he left, the surrounding seems to darken and the temperature dropped. Ngu Lao stood there, looking at Hung Dao's father reading his book. It felt like an eternity has passed since Hung Dao left.

"Why don't you say anything?" Hung Dao's father asked. His tone was eased.

"You asked me to stay sir. I thought you had something to say," Ngu Lao answered. Although being thrown into a completely new environment, his straightforward and courageous characters were still there.

"Hm?" Hung Dao's father looked away from his book and fixed his eyes on Ngu Lao. "How dare you talk to me with that tone," his tone was the same, but there was a breathtaking amount of authority presented.

"Sir, I am just saying what is in my mind," Ngu Lao replied. He seemed to be unaffected by Hung Dao's father's authority.

Hung Dao's father, without saying anything more, observed Ngu Lao. Ngu Lao was able to feel where those eyes were looking at first his eyes, then his shoulders, and his arms, fingers, abs, legs. He felt suffocated before this man even though he hadn't even a finger.

"How did Hung Dao meet you? Tell me the whole story," Hung Dao's dad asked after a long silence.

Ngu Lao felt easier now, and he told the entirety of meeting Hung Dao on the street to his invitation. He left out the part of crying with his mother of course. That would be too embarrassing.

"I see. If Hung Dao saw something special in you, then you must be. I know his ability," Hung Dao's father said. "But if you ever have the thought of betrayal." He looked at Ngu Lao again, not finishing the sentence.

"I will always serve my country and master sir." Ngu Lao said.

"No. You must serve your master and country."