The Great General: Wan Heian-Chapter 51: Memories

"I was a thief"

"I wandered the streets, never knowing who my parents were."

"My name is Jian Qin Rei"

But now, I have a home—thanks to them."

"Their sacrifices shaped the path that brought me here."

"A group of merchants travelled through the Taihang Mountains."

THE MOUNTAINS OF TAIHANG

A group of merchants travelled through the Taihang Mountains. They ascended the slope, their leader riding ahead. Before they realised it, the sun had risen, casting light on their faces as they reached the peak.

"We finally made it."

Qin stood in front of them, along with the sons of the members who had passed away. Two years had passed. Qin's hair had grown longer, and he'd gotten taller. The others who were children were now full-fledged teenagers. Their eyes reflected the rising sun, its golden light shining in them. They gazed upon the village that was below.

They quickly descended and set up their stalls in the village below. All of the children took the name of their fathers. Huang, Ryou, Gen and Sui stood there in front of the shop, attracting more people. In an instant, people gathered around their store and started to buy their items. Ryou wore the black clan headband, marked with the symbol 'Thousand Victories'—just like his father's

Among the people, one of them recognised the headband that Ryou wore.

"That headband... I've seen it before."

"This one?" Kyou asked, pointing to his headband.

"Yeah, that one!"

"I guess it will be someone else from the clan"

Qin came running and asked the man again.

"Are you sure it was this one?"

"Yeah", the man agreed.

"What is it, brother Kyou?" The confused Ryou asked why he was so fixated on the headband. That moment it struck him, the man who wore that headband was none other than...

"Mister! Did the man have two swords on his back?"

The desperate Ryou asked the man, with widened eyes and an increasing heartbeat.

"Ah... yeah. He had two swords. He even told me his name, but... what was it..."

"Sukoh Yadav!"

"It was not that"

"Wan Heian?" Qin asked the man if that was the name.

"Yeah, Heian!"

All of them smiled, and so did Qin. The memory of their farewell came rushing back to all of them. Tears welled up in Sui's eyes and began to fall.

"Brother...Yadav"

"Now, now don't cry again, Sui", Qin said while patting his shoulders.

SFX: LAUGH

"You are all his friends", the man laughed and asked the group.

"Yeah"

"I don't get that boy...he was humorous at the same time serious"

Qin invited the man into the shop and served him tea. They spoke for a long time, laughing over shared memories and discussing the state of the world. That is when Qin started to tell the story of the merchant group.

"Qin, you are quite talented. Why don't you join my group with the boys?"

The man asked after witnessing his talent in trading. He was awestruck after seeing the boy strategically set up his shop and make more profits than those of veteran sellers.

Qin smiled upon hearing that, his eyes shone as if he was remembering something from the past.

"Sorry, sir. But this is my home."

"Your home?"

"Yeah. The home those people gave me."

The man understood the boy's words. All the boys stood there, determined to hear Qin's words.

"Boys! We have a long way to go till we become the no.1 trading group!"

"Yes, boss"

The boys roared upon hearing his declaration. It made them happy and admire him even more.

"Maybe someday we will meet him"

Qin looked up to the sky and told the boys this. They were surprised by hearing that.

"Then I am leaving"

The man slowly walked away from the shop. That made him admire the young minds.

Memories filled the minds of Qin and the boys. The day they met, the problems Qin caused by stealing things from them, and Yadav went to catch him.

The day they clashed with Xie Hong... A golden-armoured general from the Jin state, who invaded their village and took its people hostage.. Yadav was trained in the forest and faced off against Xie. However, he couldn't match his strength, but the unity of the group made them defeat Xie.

The day they reached Purnavardha, the view of the cold and scenic Himalayas and the fight with Suryvarma Licchavi. The sacrifice of Rudra for his kingdom. The war in the snow and their farewell to the kingdom and its noble people.

Finally, their stay in the forest and Yadav's fight with Toushizou. Their final run to make it to Han and the sacrifice of all his comrades, which made them live to this day. Then it was the final goodbye to Yadav.

Then again, Qin thought about Yadav's name and his current state. Again, a warm smile appeared on his face, and a cold breeze blew. The sapphire sky made him hopeful, and a thought slipped from his mouth.

"I know you will be looking at this same sky, Wan Heian..."

Far away, in the royal capital of Han, someone stood beneath the same sky—wearing a headband that read 'Thousand Victories.'