As the night moon set and the sun rose, Se La could be seen preparing for her departure to the war against the Mongols. Meanwhile, Yuhan stood near the Goma River, staring at the lake and reminiscing about his life.
Yuhan had always known he was different. From a young age, he had displayed an uncanny talent for martial arts and military tactics, far surpassing even the most seasoned warriors in his father's court. King Guangxi, ever the pragmatist, had seen this as an opportunity to groom his son as a deterrent to Se La, often forgetting Yuhan's tender age.
As Yuhan grew older, Guangxi pushed him relentlessly, sending the young prince into battle at the age of 11 to quell a rebellion in the southern provinces. Yuhan, with a serious tone and a voice similar to Killua, pleaded, "I am still learning the azure flames. I have much to learn before I go to the battlefield."
Guangxi's expression darkened, the flames around him creating a pressurizing aura. "I have been far too lenient with you, brat. A hound shouldn't bark at its master," he said, kicking Yuhan, causing the young prince to vomit as the advisors relished the sight.
Empress Xi Na, her face hidden behind a fan, spoke with a venomous tone. "Now, now, my Lord, we still need him for the rebellion. If you injure him too much, he may then use this as the reason to not go, as shameless as he is."
Yuhan glared at Xi Na, a blue aura forming around him, but Guangxi immediately quelled it.
"This is not a choice I'm giving you, you son of a lowly whore. Go now before I rip your eyes out," Guangxi growled.
Yuhan, trying to hide his pain, replied, "Yes, your Majesty," and left for the southern rebel stronghold with 4,000 troops.
The rebels, numbering far more, were swept by the wave of battle-hardened warriors. The rebels scattered as Yuhan burned the stronghold to the ground, laughing maniacally, his eyes filled with bloodlust, his white gi becoming stained with red. It was a massacre.
The rebel leader, Chen Lai, groveled near Yuhan. "I, along with the rest of the leaders, will offer you our lives. Please, just spare the women and children," he said, his voice and body shaking.
Yuhan's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Okay, as your last wish, I accept your offer."
Chen Lai then killed himself, with his followers following him to the afterlife. Yuhan, still smiling, said, "Take the women and children to slavery. I will abide by my vows." His soldiers laughed and began to pillage the village, raping and spreading chaos. As the night fell, Yuhan, with his signature azure flame, burned the villages one by one.
It was around this time that Guangxi's sister, the formidable Se La, had begun to challenge her brother's rule. The king, ever paranoid of her growing influence and ambition, had grown increasingly wary of Yuhan's close resemblance to his aunt. Fearing that Se La might use Yuhan as a pawn against him, Guangxi had begun to distance his son, sending him to more rebellions as a soldier, trying to indirectly kill him by instructing his commanders. But the azure dragon just burned through his obstacles, no matter how dire the situation.
Yuhan, feeling isolated and resentful, had thrown himself even more into his studies and training, knowing he could be thrown away at any time. He excelled in every field, his mastery of the azure flames and his tactical genius earning him the respect and fear of his peers. Yet, Guangxi remained cold and distant, favoring the children of his current empress over his own son.
As Yuhan stood in the river, he came back to reality. He splashed his face with water, thinking about Se La. Then, a plan came to his head, one that would change the course of his life forever.
"I guess it's time to visit Father," Yuhan said, a determined glint in his eyes.
As the night came, Yuhan stealthily made his way to Guangxi's room. He saw his father sleeping and tensed, preparing to strike. Seconds felt like hours as Yuhan raised his hand, but suddenly, red flames enveloped him, and he barely escaped with great stealth.
"So, the prodigal son has shown his true colors at last," Guangxi said, his regal bearing and fiery aura commanding attention as he rose from his bed. "I must say, I'm impressed by the progress of your training, Yuhan. Your mastery of the azure flames is truly remarkable for one so young."
Yuhan's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Spare me the flattery, Father. We both know you've only ever seen me as a tool to be used against your enemies."
The king's expression darkened, the lines of his face hardening. "You ungrateful whelp. I've given you everything - power, privilege, the chance to prove your worth. And this is how you repay me?"
"Repay you?" Yuhan let out a harsh, mirthless laugh. "You've done nothing but use me, humiliate me, and try to kill me, just like Se La, and failing just as hard. Well, no more!"
Yuhan's azure flames surged, the air crackling with raw power. Guangxi's guards tensed, hands moving to their swords, but the king raised a hand to stop them.
"So, you would raise your hand against your own father?" Guangxi asked, his voice deceptively calm.
"You are no father to me," Yuhan growled. "You're a tyrant, a coward who hides behind his power and cowers from anyone who dares to challenge him - like Aunt Se La."
Guangxi's face twisted with rage. "You mutt, rat-like bastard! I knew you resembled Se La. I should have ended you years ago. Taro, Kai, kill him!"
Before the fire users could act, Se La appeared, her eyes glowing, and dark energy running rampant. She glared at the guards, Taro and Kai, who trembled and backed off. Se La then knelt, her face facing the ground.
"Brother, I vow to offer you my loyalty for the Mongol war. But in return, give me Yuhan," she said.
Yuhan tried to object, but the pressure from the two martial masters made him quit.
Guangxi grinned. "Fine, take 100,000 men and leave in the morning."
Se La reluctantly agreed and took Yuhan with her. On their way, Yuhan asked, "The Mongols have 300,000 horsemen, each man far superior to ours. It's a death sentence."
Se La pinned Yuhan down with just a flick of her fingers, her voice menacing like Yoruichi's. "You are now under me. You have not tasted true war yet. I think you have gotten a wrong idea," she said, her face psychotic as she choked Yuhan with her dark mist.
Yuhan laughed, his azure flames bursting through her mist, allowing him to escape her attack. "I was never a quitter, Aunt."
The two faced each other, the tension high as ever.