“You said that you burned the forest down? You’re the biggest idiot I have ever known!” Yan is yelling to Soujin in the latter office room. They have returned to the border and Jun Min told the man that his sister was going to return to the Jun family territory. He wouldn’t want to stay with him and meet as a girl like before anymore.

Soujin ignored the angry Yan. Because Yan is a merchant, he knows very well the money his friend has just burn away. That was an enormous sum… even just thinking about it had made Yan’s heart bleeds.

“Even if you’re there, you won’t be able to stop him,” Jun Min said. His tone is slightly annoyed.

Yan looks towards Jun Min who had bad atmosphere around him. Does something happen? What did he miss?

“Do you bring the supplies?”

“I do. There is enough food for you all. But why are you in needs for such a large amount of food? You don’t plan on lengthening the war, do you?”

After returning to the capital, Yan had prepared a lot of supplies which Soujin requested him before. He only needs to bring all of them along with him on the journey to the border. Because of the additional weight, he arrived here a bit late, but it coincides with the arrival of Soujin and Jun Min to the border.

“I don’t,” Soujin answered simply. “The soldiers on the plains are going to take longer for the battle. Those supplies are for them.”

“Are you taking me to be your maid?”

Yan is feeling that he had been used by his best friend to bring him supplies. He’s a prince and by right, he’s the one who should be ordering this man before him. But, Yan doesn’t have the will to do that. Besides, he did need to come here for other things.

“No,” Soujin answered.

“Forget it. There is another matter that you should know. Lan Ping has won big time on the battle against Pan Kingdom. He had another new general called Lan Pan, does any of you knows him?”

Soujin and Jun Min both freeze for a second the moment they heard this man. They simultaneously turn towards Yan as if saying, are you really don’t know? Seeing the two of them, Yan feels that there is something important he had missed. What is it?

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“Who is this Lan Pan?”

“He’s Lan Ping older brother,” Soujin answered. “He was a problematic soldier during his time on the military. He would never show any mercy and his way of killing is really violent which makes even his superior scared of him. In terms of martial arts, he’s really strong, but he’s too bloodthirsty, which make the Lan family locked him in their place.”

“There is no way they would let a man like this run rampart, but his skill is terribly strong. Even those famed great general might not be able to beat him,” Jun Min continued.

Yan mouth is wide open. “How come I didn’t know any news like this?”

“You’re too ignorant,” Soujin answered.

“Don’t spout nonsense! There is no way I could become a great merchant if I’m an ignorant person!” Yan retorted.

Jun Min coughed a bit. “This happened even before Soujin and Lan Ping joined military. Lan Pan is around 7 years older than Lan Ping, but he joined the military when he’s 15. The battle which involves him never gets revealed outside the military and the number of people who know him is limited. Given that this is a forbidden matter, I think with your reputation, there are less people willing to tell you.”

“How long is he in the military?”

“2-3 years,” Jun Min answered.

“He’s quite something to get kicked out from the military that quick,” Yan said. “Wait, you mean he’s 10 years older than Soujin? How come his battle prowess is still that great when he’s locked up?”

“Locked up doesn’t mean he cannot train.”

“There are some reports about him being on the border with Lan Ping, it seems the news is true.”

For the two of them to consider this matter as something serious, it means that this matter is truly grave. Yan would never think that this new name would actually turn out to be someone with such a past. He proceeds to ask, “With that kind of history, why they still let him roam about?”

“He can help Lan Ping gained even more fame with victorious battle. His fighting ability is not something you can stop by merely relying on your skill. If one should say, he’s one of the most dangerous creatures on the whole land.”

Jun Min turned towards Yan. “I bet the number of causalities on Pan Kingdom sides is really big.”

“You’re correct, from the 100.000 soldiers on their side that go to the war, over 30.000 is killed miserably under the lead of Lan Ping.”

Soujin nodded. “He’s still that bad.”

“What…”

“With the assistance of such a monster, he should have been able to gain even more number of them,” Soujin answered. “If it’s me, given that the fight has gone for some time, I would be able to annihilate at least half of them.”

“…”

This friend of theirs is still as arrogant as before, though he did have the necessary skill to back up his word. Jun Min looks towards the battle report and ponder for a moment. Because the Jun family is going to leave the Ming Kingdom, probably there will come the time when he needs to fight with that monster. Jun Min lips curled up, if that’s going to happen, it will be something really interesting.

“We are going to the north. Do you want to follow us, Yan?”

“Nope, good luck there. I still need to go towards the Kai Kingdom and do my business there. I bet I would get something interesting there.”

“You money grubber.”

“…”