Lan galloped through the snowy forest. With a dagger in hand, he intends to kill the wolf.
He had never seen a wolf in the wild before, but he had seen one on Pin Zin's back—sort of. He believes the wolf must be weak to be killed by someone like Pin Zin.
In Lan's eyes, Pin Zin was the same age as him. He was no more significant than him. After all, Lan wanted to prove he was more substantial than him anyway.
After a few minutes of running, Lan's feet were embedded in the snow. Shrouded by the cold air, he was sweating, his hand shaking, and his eyes wide open.
In front of him stood a giant white wolf. His teeth are as big as a Lan dagger. Its claws looked sharp as they dug into the snow below. His eyes were infinite terror. Every time the wolf breathed, a thin puff of dew emerged from its nostrils.
Indeed the wolf had seen Lan already. There was no turning back, not today.
Heavy steps of the wolf made tracks in the snow. His growling voice cast terror into Lan's presence. He jumped on land with his jaw open.
Lan was pushed back, defending himself against the wolf's muzzle. He was fighting for his life now.
"Lan!" Lin Pin Zin came from behind, directly shooting an arrow.
The arrow pierced the white wolf's back and caught its attention.
Pin Zin prepared to shoot again, but the wolf ran and pounced on him until he fell backward.
Lin Pin Zin's right arm was bitten by a wolf and torn apart while he searched for the dagger in his belt. It seems he forgot that Lan brought his favorite dagger.
The wolf's fangs pierced his skin. Blood flowing from the wound soaked the white snow. Lin Pin Zin's tears were unstoppable, running down his cheeks. "Help me!"
Lin Pin Zin struggled for his life. All because of helping Lan.
Lan ventured to stab the white wolf's back, causing it to painfully jump forward and face Lan.
The dagger was embedded in its back, causing its white fur to turn red with blood. Saliva dripped from between the wolf's teeth. He pounced on Lan and was about to bite off Lan's neck.
In a panic, Lan fingered the nearby snow, trying to find anything to be used as a weapon.
He picked up an arrow and pointed it at the wolf. The arrow pierced the wolf's throat.
Whether intentional or not, Lan managed to stop the wolves. The wolf fell to the side, floundering.
Fresh blood gushed profusely, flooding the surrounding snow. The moaning sound of a wolf is like the groaning of a dog in pain.
Its kicking legs slowly stopped moving, the moans of pain disappeared, and the white wolf was still breathing, but everyone knew that his end was near.
Lan crawled backward, unable to believe what was happening. Was he able to put the white wolf on the brink of death?
"Brat, are you okay?" Lin Pin Zin came to the rescue. He grabbed and pulled him backward, away from the dead wolf.
"Yeah … your hand?"
"It's okay. Man always gets injured." Pin Zin's hand was severely injured, but he remained calm with a slight smile on his pink lips.
But Lan cannot move his eyes away from that dripped blood. "It must hurt. Sorry, because I—"
"Well, at least you prove you are not weak after all."
A growling sound in the distance made them learn that it wasn't over yet.
Lan noticed that many wolves came from the distance. They hid behind the pine tree and watched closely, maybe preparing the pack to take revenge for Lan killing one of them.
Lan realized Pin Zin shivered and his teeth chattered. The horror virus spread rapidly on Lan.
He shuddered at the thought of what had happened. It's hard to face just one, let alone a pack of a wolf.
"We run on my command," Pin Zin whispered. "One, two."
Before three, the pack decides to back off, leaving them alone. With a heavy growl, these of them fled.
Pin Zin exchanged gazes with Lan. Both of them were confused. Suddenly, both of them laugh.
"They ran because they knew how strong I was!" Lan showed off.
"Nope, They ran because they saw your ugly face!" said Pin Zin.
Both of them laugh even harder this time. It seems they already created a bond, a bond that only possibly existed during the difficult time.
"Said, who are you? I don't recall your name," asked Pin Zin.
"Now you mentioned it. I'm not properly introducing my name, isn't I? I'm Kun Lan."
"Zin! Prince!" Lin Pin Zin Father ran toward them with a dead-worried face. He took two of them and scanned them worriedly. "Are you guys okay? Zin, you hand!"
Pin Zin's father came with many hunters. Now Lan dan Pun Zin recognizes that those wolf packs run because of them.
Pin Zin's father moves to check a white wolf's dead body. He took an arrow from the dead wolf's mouth. "Who did this?"
Pin Zin turned to Lan. He was reluctant to point or answer as if something terrible was going to happen.
Lan didn't want to confess, but slowly she raised her hand. Nervously replied, "I-I did it. But, the wolf attacked us and–"
Lan fell silent as the Hunters around him fell to their knees, even Pin Zin's father.
Their right palm covered their left chest, and then they lowered their heads slightly.
"Long live the White Wolf King, long live the eternal snow!"
Pin Zin started in confusion, and so did Lan.
Soon they learned the reason when they returned to the tribe's land.
There is a prophecy in the Liao tribe, whoever can kill a white wolf with an arrow, has the potential to become a king and conquer the world. Although it was only a prophecy, this was enough to make the Liao tribe call Lan the White Wolf King.
That night, they held a party in the middle of the tribe.
The giant bonfire was in the middle of several normal-sized bonfires. They burned deer, rabbits, and other game products. Something precious.
The sound of drums, and flutes, accompanies several tribe girls dancing. All eat happily.
Lan and Pin Zin chose to take enough food, then fled to the tent because Lan wanted to try eating grass.
"Eww, that tastes weird. Why would you eat grass?" Lan complained. "There's meat, and it's more delicious than this."
"Not every time we eat meat. We have to protect the ecosystem. But if you eat it with potatoes, also soup, it tastes good."
They share food, and Lan starts to like grass. He was beginning to understand that not everyone has the opportunity to eat deliciously effortlessly, like that in the city.
"Lan, how about we become close friends?"
"Hmm? Are we not close friends yet?"
Lin Pin Zin took out a wooden woven bracelet and tied it to Lan's wrist. Another one he uses himself. "Now, brat listens, we're close friends now!"
Lan was happy that Pin Zin didn't address him as a prince, like many of his friends in town.
"Hey, what are you guys doing!" The girl "Let's go to the bonfire!"
She was the one who Pin Zin met before entering a pine forest, probably the one who reported Pin Zin to his father if he entered a wild forest.
"Da Xie, you're annoying—"
Before Pin Zin had finished speaking, Da Xie kicked him. "Come out quickly!"
She smiled at Lan and ran. It Looked like she was shy.
After a few days of recovering and partying, Lan and his father were escorted by several warrior tribes back to the capital.
"How about it? Have you said goodbye to your new best friend, Lan?" asked Duke Kuan.
"Yes, and we will play again! Dad, next week I'm playing here, okay?" Lan was so happy that she couldn't stop laughing, leaning on her father, who was driving a white horse.
"You don't want to play with friends in the capital?"
Lan didn't answer for sure but said, "Lin Pin Zin is cool. He and his father promised to teach me hunting, horse riding, and cooking. Oh, and there is Da Xie and others too. Dad, I want to play there."
Duke Kuan chuckled as he nodded. "Okay, okay, but remember, you have a study schedule."
"Teacher will come with me to the Liao land tribe."
"Oh? Is that so? You dare to order your teacher to come to Liao?"
"Dad, now I'm the king! I will tell everyone if I am the King, and everyone has to obey—"
"Don't tell anyone about that, especially your brothers, sisters, uncles, and mother."
Lan nodded silently. He realized, among them, some people wanted to kill him. He views his family differently now.
However, the affection and desire not to kill them were imprinted in my heart. Lin Pin Zin was right, and he had to become firm so he wouldn't be easily destroyed.
"Lan, you know, Duke, King, Emperor, are all just titles. What differentiates them from others is their ability to rule. Tell me, what is most important in being a leader?"
"Strength?"
Duke shook his head.
"Intelligence?"
Duke smiled and shook his head slowly.
"Money?"
"Support from the people and all those who are led unity, and most importantly, the will to lead."
Duke continued, "So you don't need a title to be a leader. What you need are those three things. As long as you master those three things, you are a true leader. So, being a leader is not making people do what you want, but leading them to a better future."
"Okay, dad, I understand."
Lan wanted to become a leader and lead Kun to become the empire, just like in his dream. However, is he worth it?
****