"Hey, look, it's going to be a duel between Jie Sun and the new guy whom princess Qin Xia said she'll take in her guards." One soldier gossiped
"I bet on the new guy."
"Hey, come on. Jie Sun is a general of prince Qin HaoTian, there's no way he'll lose."
"But I mean, he protected princess from 50 men. Also, new guys under princess always bring a bang."
"Then, I'll bet 200 silvers on Jie Sun."
"So do I."
"Then, I'll bet 200 silvers as well on Shiyi or whatever his name was."
As the soldiers discussed on who and why to bet on. Kazein arrived at the place.
"There he is."
"Bah! He is blind! How could princess even think of taking him in?"
"That's right!"
Those who could speak the common tongue obviously directed insults towards Kazein, those that couldn't also insulted him in incomprehensible language. Kazein didn't take care of the insults, he'd rather let his sword do the talking. When he was on the center, Jie Sun was waiting for him while his arms were put together.
"You're a minute late." Jie Sun said with a stern look.
"Well sorry about that. Took time looking for something that suited me." Kazein replied with a smile on his face.
"What's up with your smile?"
"Nothing really, I'm just excited to fight a general under prince HaoTian himself."
"Ho? And why is that?" Qin HaoTian asked as he sat by the his chair.
"I mean, if he became a general through his power, I wouldn't be surprised if I lost." He replied nonchalantly.
"Shiyi, this is still the army under my brother. You still need to mind your manners, even though I'm confident in your true strength, you said it yourself. You remember moves but you can't use them, if somehow or the other you forgot how to use something." Qin Xia warned him "Jie Sun specializes in fire magic."
"Yes, sure. Besides, if he can't hit me. He'll lose by default."
"You dare underestimate me?! You will pay the price blind guy!" Jie Sun yelled at him like a dog barking at a cat.
"Why don't you two make your skills do the talking?" Qin HaoTian broke off Jie Sun's barking.
"I agree! I will teach this guy a lesson."
"I will fight. If it means I can kill the Oars."
"Well then, start!"
In a flash, fire gathered at Jie Sun's hands and went flying towards Kazein. The fire engulfed him, the smell of something burning lingered through the air.
"Hahahahaha! Is that all?! You couldn't even dodge?! I bet you didn't even see it coming!" Jie Sun insulted Kazein.
Gao Jun yelled as his benefactor burned down in flames. As the fire burned down, there was nothing to be seen.
"Look, so, all in all. How much was it? 200 silvers? I'll take it."
"No, it's not yet over."
"Huh?! What do you mean "it's not yet over"?! He is dead, burned down in flames."
Then, a kunai propelled through the air, making its way to Jie Sun. Jie Sun was lucky to have a small field for himself, in the nick of time he was able to block the kunai with a flame barrier.
"Ho? You blocked it? This time, I won't miss my target." Kazein's voice lingered through the air with nothing to be seen.
In a moment's time, a circular blade went flying towards Jie Sun, he blocked it with ease but then another one flew towards him. Just barely, he blocked it. But his arm was a little grazed, then he was suddenly off balanced and fell to the ground. He tried to stand up, but a sword was pointed at him.
"Stop! Shiyi of Qin Xia princess's faction wins! As per agreement Shiyi will join the red wing order and fight as the leader of a squad. Any objections?" Qin HaoTian stated as he ended the match.
No one spoke, Kazein just casually picked up his blades. And returned to Qin Xia's side, Jie Sun glared at him with a hateful look.
"Now then, I believe it was 200 silvers? Each? Was it?" A soldier demanded his due payment for the bet, the one holding the money threw a heavy looking bag that jingled as it landed his hands.
"Tsk, I should've betted on Shiyi. So it's true that he'll win if Jie Sun can't see him."
At the large tent, Gao Jun and the others laughed as they greeted Kazein.
"Shiyi brother, that was an unexpected win. Hahaha, the look on Jie Sun's face was kinda priceless!" Gao Jun laughed as the others spoke in their own language.
"Well, yeah. I guess so." Kazein replied.
That night, they had a welcome party for Kazein. After which, Kazein retired to his tent, to which Gao Jun lent him. He laid as his arms pillowed his head.
[What was that? When I saw the fire, some memories came back to me. Was it because my eyes were burned that my body remembers the trauma? That's not it. The trauma triggered me to remember how to use those blades. When I woke up at that time, all I know is that someone taught me to always keep the blades on me on specific locations of my body. So when Qin Xia removed my clothes, removed... My clothes?... Does that mean? She saw?....] His face was flushed, it was just then that he realized, if Qin Xia removed the blades on his body, that means she removed even his pants that hid multiple short swords were seen. Including that sword.
Kazein hit his own head [No! It's not time to be embarrassed. It was necessary to clean up my body from the blood stains. Stains?... Why was I stained in blood? Ah, that's right. I was being hunted down, but why? Why were they hunting me down?.... Argh!!! Shit! I can't think! I better get some sleep!]
And like that, Kazein forced himself to sleep.
During his sleep, he dreamt. In a certain plane, a woman with long blue hair died in his hands. Bleeding to then as her arrows were pierced with arrows, he saw that he was shocked after holding the woman as she died.
It wasn't a complete dream, but he saw that he destroyed a city in anger. It was then that he woke up.
[A dream? Was that... Me? Was that the reason I was being hunted down? Maybe.] He was trying to make the dream have sense, but in the end, he couldn't. If the dream was true, then it would have been a past he didn't want to remember, a past that haunts him. Then, suddenly Gao Jun rushed into his tent.
"Get ready! A force of about 5000 enemy warriors were spotted. It seems they're more well trained than those yesterday!" He briefly told Kazein of the situation. Kazein nodded and got ready.
In the fields, there were 3000 red wing troops, including 200 cavalry riders. They stood in front of the enemy numbers, in just a short moment, war will start.