Jun was dressed this time in a simple white tunic. Neither he nor Trevor wore armor, at least not visibly; their special gear was stored in a woolen bag.

Drawing attention in these places wasn't advisable, especially when they might encounter numerous bandits along the way.

"Have you heard that the men of the mountains are led by a beautiful woman?" Trevor found an interesting topic to talk about as they continued on their path.

Jun, who was reclining under a straw umbrella, looked up and said, "I thought about going to investigate and see if our ages were compatible for having children. Then I assumed further and believed she might try to kill me if I suggested anything."

"You're really something else..." Trevor was left speechless by Jun's statement, thinking he needed to get him out of the mountains more often, or his thoughts would become even more disastrous.

Soon, they came across long lines of people still too far away to interact with.

"Soldiers?"

"No, those are supplies."

"Makes sense; feeding more than a hundred thousand people and tens of thousands of horses is no easy task." Trevor observed the food wagons passing by at a fast pace.

The problem with war is that it consumes many resources; this is why all kingdoms make strategic pauses during wartime.

A kingdom needs a lot of resources to continue a prolonged war; if it drags on longer than a kingdom can bear, it will not only lose the war but its soldiers will desert.

It's already complicated to select soldiers. According to Jun, every able-bodied man must attend war campaigns whenever his region is selected.

Dying for nothing...

This time, Qin feels violated by losing a city it had conquered long ago and now wants to reclaim it just to assert its authority.

It was the typical reaction of a young king; his advisors must have told him that if he did not show his claws, he would be considered weak, lacking the qualities of a king.

But even so, this is absurd...

"These people aren't trained for war; it will be a slaughter." Even Trevor had noticed the problem with the armies.

Jun looked at the supply groups on their way and said, "Everyone seeks money, honor, and the defense of their family. If Qin falls, they will all be turned into slaves."

"Damn, I never thought it would be this bad." Trevor began to appreciate his home more.

It's true that the Asura village was safe, but Jun even began to think it wasn't convenient to stay on the sidelines of a war that could change the world.

…

As they approached the border with Wei, Jun seemed more annoyed by the sun and the lack of trees along the road.

Moreover, the outfits provided by the Asura village were black, and Jun knew this color absorbed the sun's rays, which is why they wore different clothing.

"We're getting close..." Jun perked up a little. He didn't know what awaited him, but there would definitely be some good fights breaking out nonstop.

Trevor smiled because of this; he had been training his soldiers, who were worse than animals at handling swords, and spending time in this place could improve his mood.

"Sir, what brings you to this place?" A man with a long beard approached, asking with some curiosity.

"We're going to war by invitation from the King of Qin."

Jun wondered what rank he might hold here; he wasn't quite sure whether he would be a cavalry soldier with his donkey, Starfish, or a general of five thousand men.

Either option would be welcomed by Jun, who, after all, would remain on the sidelines as best he could.

When Jun turned to speak with Trevor, he saw him talking to another man and asked, "What's going on?"

"No, he's not my son."

"What?" Jun reacted as if someone had stepped on his tail. He was a Black Moon, which meant he held higher authority than Trevor, so calling him his son was somewhat insulting.

"He's just giving me some advice."

"My ears are cleaner than a donkey's behind; of course, I heard that old man thinking I was your daughter." Jun quickened his pace, moving away from the place on his donkey.

"I'm only twenty years old..." the man muttered, slightly affected.

Trevor shook his head and said, "It happens; good luck with the job."