Flowers Bloom from Battlefield

"You said that you burned the forest down? You're the biggest idiot I have ever known!" Yan was yelling at Soujin in the latter's office. They had returned to the border and Jun Min told the man that his sister was going to return to the Jun family's territory. He didn't want to stay with him and meet him 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 burnt away. That was an enormous sum…. just thinking about it made Yan's heart bleed.

"Even if you were there, you wouldn't be able to stop him." Jun Min said, his tone slightly annoyed.

Yan looked towards Jun Min who had a dark aura around him. Did something happen? What did he miss?

"Did you bring the supplies?"

"I did. There is enough food for all of you. But why are you in need of 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 had requested from him. He only needed 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 coincided with the arrival of Soujin and Jun Min at the border.

"I don't," Soujin answered simply. "The soldiers on the plains are going to take longer to finish the battle. Those supplies are for them."

"Are you taking me to be your maid?"

Yan felt like he had been used by his best friend to bring him supplies. He is a prince and by right, he should be the one ordering this man before him. But, Yan did not 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 a new general called Lan Pan, do any of you know him?"

Soujin and Jun Min both froze for a second the moment they heard the name. They simultaneously turned towards Yan as if saying, you really don't know him? Looking at the two of them, Yan felt that there was something important he had missed. What is it?

"Who is this Lan Pan?"

"He is Lan Ping's older brother," Soujin answered. "He was a problematic soldier during his time in the military. He would never show any mercy and his way of killing is really violent which made even his superior scared of him. In terms of martial arts, he's really strong, but he's too bloodthirsty, forcing the Lan family to lock him up in their house."

"There is no way they would let a man like this run rampant, but his skills are terribly good. Even those famed great generals might not be able to beat him." Jun Min continued.

Yan's mouth was 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 lightly. "This happened even before Soujin and Lan Ping joined the military. Lan Pan is around 7 years older than Lan Ping, but he joined the military when he was 15. The battle which involved him never got revealed outside the military and the number of people who knows him is limited. Given that this is a forbidden matter, I think with your reputation, there are fewer people willing to tell you."

"How long was he in the military?"

"2-3 years," Jun Min answered.

"He's quite something to get kicked out of 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?"

"Being locked up doesn't mean he cannot train."

"There are some reports about him being on the border with Lan Ping, it seems that 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 proceeded to ask, "With that kind of history, why are they still letting him roam about?"

"He can help Lan Ping gain even more fame with victorious battles. His fighting ability is not something you can stop by merely relying on your skills. 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 casualties on the Pan Kingdom's side is really big."

"You're correct, from the 100,000 soldiers on their side that went to the war, over 30,000 was 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 kill even more of them," Soujin answered. "If it's me, given that the fight has gone on for some time, I would be able to annihilate at least half of them."

"…"

This friend of theirs was still as arrogant as before, though he did have the necessary skills to back up his words. Jun Min looked towards the battle report and pondered for a moment. Since the Jun family was going to leave the Ming Kingdom, the time will probably come when he needs to fight with that monster. Jun Min's lips curled up, if that is 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 to the Kai Kingdom and handle my business there. I bet I would get something interesting there."

"You money grubber."

"…"