After a failed attempt to steal from the Chou family, Wan lamented his impoverishment, and expressed his desire to live like the Chous. Jaya told him that he needed to just accept the world the way it was, in an attempt to dissuade him from stealing from the Chous again, but Wan took that as incentive to change his situation. By volunteering for a hunt in the Spirit Wilds, he received the ability to firebend from the local lion turtle, but did not return it when he decided not to participate in the expedition. Instead, he brought the ability back with him into the city and used it to inspire several peasants to rebel against the Chous.