The flag of the Han army stood tall on the hilltop, its symbol fluttering gently in the rushing wind. The camp was right at the base of the Lingbi hill, beyond which was the village of Lingbi. Even beyond that was the state of Chu. The village of Lingbi had once belonged to the Han. After a 2-year alliance, Han and Chu were back to being rivals, and this started the battle of Lingbi to get back the village.
"So what is your name?"
Two of them stood inside Zenshi's tent. Zenshi was trying to learn more about them as they had decided to join the Zenshi unit.
"I am Shin, and he is Hui."
"Shin and Hui, eh?"
"Where are you from?"
"We are from Xianyang", Hui replied.
"Xianyang!? From Qin?"
Zen was surprised upon hearing that both of them were from Qin.
"Why are you strategists in the Chi army?"
"We don't have anywhere to go"
"Anywhere to go?"
Hui started to explain their life when they started their journey from Qin.
"We are twins, and the sons of Shio Beizu"
"Shio Beizu?!"
"The foreign minister of Qin state?"
"Yeah, its that Shio Beizu"
That shocked Zenshi, as he recalled that Shio Beizu was an uncivilised man whose life was equivalent to an animal.
"Did he abandon you?"
"How did you know...?"
"I know that man."
"Commander! Zen we..we just want a life"
They pleaded to Zen, their tears reflected the pain and sorrow that they had always endured for years.
"Fine! From today, you are in the Zenshi unit!"
They looked up, their eyes shining like precious gems. Zenshi smiled upon seeing that. Both of them came out of the tent. The sun had already gone down, and the party for the night had already started.
Zenshi announced the two new members to the whole crowd.
"This is Hui and Shin! They are our new members, and Lee, they will be in your unit"
Lee came walking from the crowd and observed the tw.o He smiled, and so did Hui and Shin.
"Welcome"
* * * * * *
In the Ni Rong village, inside the hut sat Wan. His swords removed and kept on the side, opposite to him sat Hia. It was quiet, and no one was there inside that hut except the two of them.
"What is your name, young man?"
"Um...its Wan Heian"
"Wan Heian, eh?"
She laughed upon seeing that he was still a child who was the same age as her sister. But at the same time, she was overjoyed to meet the man who had saved her sister.
"Wan Heian, don't you remove the band on your forehead?"
"Ah...I like to wear it, this was given to me by someone precious"
"Oh, is that so?"
"Heian, you are a bounty hunter, right?" Hia asks him with a straight tone.
"Um...yeah"
"If that makes you uncomfortable..." He said while he stood up.
"No, please stay. I don't judge people by what they do." Hia insisted that Wan Heain sit there.
"I am Han Sui Hia, the princess of Han and the daughter of the former king of Han"
"Wait, you are the princess?"
Wan was astonished by hearing that Hia was the princess of Han. He couldn't believe that he was sitting before the princess. He bowed his head and apologised to her.
"No need to apologise...I am not worthy of an apology"
Wan fell silent after hearing that. He just remembered their sacrifices again, their faces appeared in his head again. He smiled again, and tears rolled down his face for the first time. His head was downcast. Hia noticed that he was crying.
"Wan...why are you crying?"
"Huh?"
"Oh.. I am so"
"No, I understand you might also have some people who gave their lives for you, eh?"
"Yes, you are right"
"Can I know who they are? Or do I have the right to know?"
For the first time in his Wan felt so open, someone came to him to talk about his sorrows. Lia was standing in front of the hut and listening.
Wan Heian explained his journey to Han, all the obstructions they faced. Hia listened to his story carefully. The story of how he met some people who were like family to him, who carried him and made him realise that they are always with him. The troubles they faced together, the enemies they fought and learned from them. The things he inherited from them include the headband and swords. Including his name, which was given by the leader of the group.
"My goal is to become a great general and to remove the caste system from my homeland"
Hia wiped off her tears after hearing that story. Lia started to cry after hearing that. The life of Wan Heian, the man who gave her that feeling.
"But I understood that my goal was just a..."
"Stop"
"Eh?"
"Your goal is your own and no else's, you can't leave it"
Hia stood up, her eyes reflected determination. Wan Heian felt as if the heavens opened for the first time.
"Heian, you are visionary. I want you to make Han the greatest"
She extended her hand, Wan Heian was sitting. His eyes widened as he saw that hand. He just remembered his face again. The man who told him to become a great general. His words echoed inside his head.
"Become the great general..."
He just remembered how he was moving away from his goal after arriving in Han. His thoughts drifted to the day he first arrived in Han...
* * * * * * *
THE DAY HE ARRIVED IN HAN
"Yadav!"
The voices echoed in his memory, the merchant group calling his name as he walked away from them. He only had the goal of becoming a Great General. Qin understood that their goals were different and stopped the children from following him.
Tears rolled from his eyes as he walked away from the people he considered family. After walking quite far, he was in a market. He looked back, and they were not there. It was full of strangers, he felt that everything was foreign.
Before he could truly move forward, he had to remember the boy who walked away... and why