His hair stood on end when his eyes fell on Gan Ning. Ling Tong felt like his mind was short circuiting.
"What is the meaning of this!" Ling Tong shouted, leaping out of his chair.
"Keep your frilly shorts on. I'm one o' you now," Gan Ning said.
"You're a liar," Ling Tong said. "Tell me he's a prisoner!" His hope wilted when none spoke up to assuage his disbelief.
"On the contrary, Ling Tong, he is quite right," Lu Meng said. "Please, be seated."
Stunned, Ling Tong backed away from his seat. He looked at Gan Ning once more, and the smirk the bastard was giving him solidified his intention to leave. Before exiting, he put an arm across his chest and bowed to his company. With unnerving monotone, he said "With all due respect, sirs, I simply cannot abide this insult. I must take my leave."
He left quietly, but stormed through the corridors back to his quarters. He paused when he heard Lu Xun's voice and pitter-pattering footsteps chasing him. He sighed and turned around.
"Listen," Lu Xun said, jogging up to him. "We can't imagine how you must feel, Ling Tong, with the death of your father still a fresh wound in your heart," Lu Xun said, catching his breath. "And we know this is like rubbing spice into it, which we would never want to do. But these are Sun Quan's orders. He believes that you'll understand the context and be able to figure out a working relationship with Gan Ning."
"'The context'?" Ling Tong emphasized, finally exploding. "What the hell context is there when you have to swallow your grief and pride in order to have a 'working relationship' with a cold-blooded, murderous animal like him?" Once again, emphasizing the 'working relationship' with sarcasm.
"I really don't think I ought to spell it out for you. You know that the context is the chaos, and that we need men of capability to replace those who have given their lives to Wu."
"My father can never be replaced, and most definitely not with the one who killed him."
Lu Xun saddened. "I'm truly sorry. They are the commander's orders. Or would you prefer to be reassigned? You might even be discharged if you can't obey."
Ling Tong sighed. He supposed quitting was the only other option. The vow he had made with himself, however, was not going to allow for that either, he realized. He couldn't trust Sun Quan's life in the hands of that ruffian, anyway.
"No," Ling Tong said. "Don't worry. Father wouldn't have wanted that." He sighed again, defeated by reality and his own morals. "Lu Xun, just try to make it to where I won't even have to see him on the battlefield."
Lu Xun nodded, straightfaced but with eyes showing endlessly delight with Ling Tong's acquiesence. Ling Tong smirked indignantly and left him to continue back to his quarters. Once there, he seated himself in the darkness of his chamber, and cradled his forehead in his palms.