Flowers Bloom from Battlefield [Volume 1]

7. First Bet

Lan Ping hurriedly went outside after bidding farewell to Jun Min and Nanglong Soujin. The two of them also started to walk outside, but their pace was rather calm and unhurried.

"Are you sure you can finish this task only with the soldiers the emperor provided?" Soujin started.

Jun Min's brows rose up, "Their number is not a lot, but it's also not little. If one wants to use their family soldiers, the time to march there is far longer."

"True enough." Soujin agreed.

Their family soldiers were located far from the west. Jun family's post was the southeast while Nanglong family soldier is the northeast. The closest one was the Lan family since they were situated on the northwest however, it would still require them two weeks to arrive at that kingdom.

"Will you go today or tomorrow?"

"Today," Jun Min answered. While they were talking, they have reached the palace gate and she mounted up her horses that she had prepared earlier.

"So you too have readied yourself," Nanglong Soujin also mounted his horse, "Want to go together? Our destination is the same."

The three of them needed to go to one part of the border to take the lead of their soldiers so it was not wrong to say that their first destination was the same. They would only part ways when they were about to go to their chosen kingdom.

Jun Min's brows rose. Why would this man start talking to her all of a sudden? She could not recall having had any interaction with him before. Forget it, I better just set off.

Jun Min ignored Soujin, but both their speed was about the same which made them stay side by side. Jun Min started to head to a different path when Soujin suddenly spoke again.

"Do you want to bet with me?"

Jun Min stared at Nanglong Soujin in confusion. What was this man saying? She would certainly be more perplexed if she knew that the same man who asked her to have a bet was the same man who rejected a bet before. If Lan Ping heard his request, he would surely have another urge to strangle him.

"What bet?"

"Just a simple one: We will bet on who can capture the kingdom the quickest."

Jun Min stared back, "If it's Lan Ping who finishes first?"

"He won't. He doesn't have the capability."

"...."

Jun Min's first impression of this man right now was just how arrogant he is. It was one thing that he was capable, but another thing to shamelessly look down on people. However, from the way he talked, Jun Min noticed something.

"And you think I can?"

"Maybe," Nanglong Soujin's lips curled up, forming a devilish smile. Along with his extremely handsome face, his appearance would surely shoot down countless girls. Unfortunately, Jun Min was not one to be captivated by mere handsome face that easily.

"So what is the reward and punishment?" Jun Min chose to concede and listen to what this man wanted to propose. If it's interesting enough, then why not try?

"Treat for a drink."

"...."

This man's way of thinking was truly out of ordinary. Jun Min felt like she had to raise her hand in defeat. She thought Soujin would propose something serious, but it felt like this bet was just a game that won't really hurt both of them if either one of them lose.

"I'm underage."

"I forgot you're a kid," Nanglong Soujin ignored the deathly stare Jun Min given him as he thought of another way, "Then just a meal for you."

"Sure," Jun Hua answered right away, "Be prepared for a hole in your wallet then."

"Oh, you're sure that you can win? It's not that easy, little kid,"Soujin grinned and stared at Jun Min's small stature, "Besides, with that small body, how can you eat so much?"

"Of course I can! I'm still in my growing up stage."

Jun Min really has the urge to beat the crap out of Soujin. This man's mouth is truly sharp and deathly. If she were to talk with him any longer she felt that she could lose her self-control and start attacking for real.

Soujin laughed, "You're interesting, kid. I will be waiting for your performance."

Jun Min didn't answer; instead he focused all of his attention to her horses. Beside her, Nanglong Soujin also paced his horse and gained more speed. Both of them continued like this for days before they arrived on the border.

Jun Min was quite exhausted for not sleeping the entire journey. On the other hand, Soujin still looked fine. She had to admit that this man's martial arts were indeed remarkable and a small girl like her could not hope to compare. Nevertheless, she still needed to hold on, so she turned her head to the leading commander, Wang Zhou.

Wang Zhou walked towards Jun Min and greeted her. He was a bit disappointed with how Jun Min looked because she appeared very ordinary. He had once heard about the accomplishments Jun Min had on the battlefield, but it seemed those were only rumors.

Jun Min stared at the war records and her smile turned colder. Wang Zhou had already become a commander for a long time, but he never achieved big results. Looking at the tired looking soldiers, they were no different than died bulls waiting for a slaughter. What skilled soldiers the emperor had prepared!

"Commander Zhou, do you mind if I talk for a few minutes to these soldiers?"

"Go ahead, General Min."

Jun Min strolled calmly in front of the soldiers. All the while she could clearly hear the soldiers talking about her with doubts about her, but she didn't mind any of it all. The soldiers seemed reluctant to allow such a small kid to lead them.

Jun Min cleared his throat.

"When I came here, I've had high expectations from all of you. However, seeing you all here, my thought is you are a bunch of useless people and just waiting for death's call. If you are to march against the enemies right now, you would all lose badly."

The soldiers started staring at Jun Min with red eyes. They felt deeply insulted.

"General, why are you insulting us?" one of them yelled.

Jun Min stared at that person, "Insulting? I'm sure I only spoke the truth. Tell me: are you here to march for war or waiting for slaughter? Why are you still standing here with such listless eyes? Let me tell you the reason: it is because you people are incapable of doing anything. In the end, you're all just a waste."

The soldiers were staring intensely at Jun Min. They are incapable? That's not right! Their skills have been honed for years in the battlefield, how could they be a waste?

"General! We are not weak! We are not useless!" the soldiers shouted.

"Then prove it! Prove that you are not weak and you are capable! With those kinds of eyes waiting for death, how do you think I would believe in you?"

The soldiers could see that Jun Min was deathly tired, looking at her slightly disheveled clothes and pale complexion. But compared to them who were just waiting here, the little kid looked far more energized, powerful even, from yelling towards them. How could they lose to a mere kid? In that instant, the five thousand soldiers all roared up.

Wang Zhao stared with mouth opened wide and Jun Min smiled slightly. Her plan to provoke them then to let them see their disparity with her had succeeded.

"Commander Zhou, let's go."