Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Everyone was curious, but seeing that Lu Chao wasn’t elaborating, they didn’t press the issue.

Just then, Fan Jinhua returned successfully.

He strode into the Cheng Mansion and boomed with laughter at Lu Chao. ”Little Brother Lu, your foresight is practically divine!”

Lu Chao, who was in the middle of carving, slowly looked up...

The others also looked at Fan Jinhua in confusion. ’Divine foresight? What’s he talking about?’

”The Hundred Countries... they’ve really mobilized their armies.”

”On my way back from Zhengyang Mountain, I received word from a friend. The Tiger Flame Kingdom has already captured Yinzhou City.”

”We don’t even have to attack Yinzhou City anymore...”

”Haha, and I’ve already reported to the Tiger Flame Grand General that we’ve successfully taken Yangzhou City! They’ll be sending troops over soon... Not only can we return to Tiger Flame, but we’ll even have the credit for capturing a city!”

Fan Jinhua laughed again and again as he spoke, giddy with excitement. Everything was finally going their way.

They had rescued two thousand surviving soldiers and taken Yangzhou City in a surprise move. Now, just as Lu Chao had predicted, the Six Great Flame Countries and other kingdoms had truly risen from the ashes, invading the Great Wu Empire from all sides.

And from the south, of course, came the forces of the Tiger Flame Kingdom.

Fan Jinhua added emphatically, ”Once the Tiger Flame Kingdom’s army arrives, we’ll be completely safe.”

At once, Luo Wendeng, Yu Xiaoping, and the others couldn’t help their excitement. They never imagined they wouldn’t even have to fight for Yinzhou City.

”Lu Chao, I really can’t thank you enough.”

”Once we get back to Tiger Flame, I’ll pull every string I can to get Young Madam Lu into Tiger Flame Academy.”

”At the same time, I’ll do everything I can to help you secure a place for yourself in Tiger Flame and minimize the effects of your Life-taking Bone.”

Facing Lu Chao, Fan Jinhua rattled off one promise after another, so excited he was practically babbling.

Lu Chao smiled, not looking particularly excited himself. He simply played along, saying, ”Thank you, Master Fan. However, my greatest wish is to meet Marshal Fan. I wonder, is the old marshal in Tiger Flame these days?”

”He is, he is! When the time comes, I’ll personally take you to see him,” Fan Jinhua agreed with a hearty laugh.

Fan Jinhua wasn’t too surprised by Lu Chao’s request.

His grandfather was famous—everyone, from the Hundred Countries to the Great Wu Empire, knew that Fan Changcun was a surviving Master of Martial Arts from the Azure Flame Sect.

So many people wished to pay him a visit...

If he hadn’t been defeated by Emperor Star Lu Chao three years ago, and if the Tiger Flame Kingdom wasn’t keeping him under wraps, the threshold of his home would have been worn away by the endless stream of visitors.

And with that, Fan Jinhua led Luo Wendeng and the others out of the Cheng Mansion.

They needed to secure Yangzhou City, clean themselves up, and prepare to welcome the arrival of the Tiger Flame army.

In the main hall of the Cheng Mansion...

After watching the group depart, Cheng Yunsu turned to Lu Chao, who was still by her side. ”Isn’t Master Fan being a little too optimistic?” she asked.

Her face was filled with doubt. She knew perfectly well that the descendants of the Azure Flame Sect were not welcome, that they had even been forced to try and assassinate Lu Hanyan. How could Fan Jinhua possibly think his path in the Tiger Flame Kingdom would be smooth and unobstructed?

Lu Chao was still meticulously carving the mask in his hands...

”Master Fan has Marshal Fan protecting him within the Tiger Flame Kingdom, so his upbringing was much smoother.”

”And with his forthright personality, he must have many friends.”

”That’s why he isn’t as pessimistic about the future as Tan An, Luo Wendeng, and the others.”

Forty years ago, the survivors of the Azure Flame Martial Dao Sect were scattered, thrown into the various Flame Countries.

Even if the various Flame Countries didn’t kill them, they certainly wouldn’t allow them to gather together.

Although Fan Changcun was essentially a captive, he was, in his own right, a Master of Martial Arts and was still treated with great respect.

As a result, his family wasn’t treated too harshly by the Tiger Flame Kingdom. Their lives were far more comfortable than those of their counterparts in other Flame Countries.

With another smile, Lu Chao offered a placating thought. ”We’ll see. Maybe Master Fan really is as influential in Tiger Flame as he seems.”

Cheng Yunsu nodded lightly, not pursuing the topic. Instead, her gaze fell upon the mask Lu Chao was carving.

Before Cheng Yunsu could ask, Lu Chao answered with a sigh of reminiscence. ”Every time I went to the battlefield in the past, Lu Dingtian required me to wear a mask. Carving an identical one now... it’s bound to be terrifying for some.”

「In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed.」

Yangzhou City, South City Gate!

Fan Jinhua, Luo Wendeng, Tan An, Yu Xiaoping, and all the other key members of the younger generation were present. After receiving Fan Jinhua’s message, the Tiger Flame Kingdom’s grand general had dispatched troops, who had now arrived outside the city walls.

The group was there to throw open the gates and welcome them.

Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu had, of course, also come from the Cheng Mansion. They stood behind Fan Jinhua.

As the sound of marching feet outside the gate grew closer, the excitement Luo Wendeng and the others had felt after taking the city suddenly vanished, replaced by a creeping nervousness.

Yu Xiaoping asked in a low voice, ”Uncle Fan, are you sure this is alright? After all, we did fail to assassinate Lu Hanyan.”

Hearing this, Fan Jinhua immediately tried to put everyone at ease.

”Don’t worry, there won’t be any problems. I’ve already received a reply from the Tiger Flame Grand General.”

”In fact, I even know the man who’s coming to take command of Yangzhou City.”

”He’s Lei Zhen of the Lei Family, one of Tiger Flame’s three great noble houses. He once studied the Soldier Dao under my grandfather, and we’ve even shared drinks before.”

”Lei Zhen will definitely make sure we get credit for our achievements.”

”I’ll also ask him to see if he can arrange for all of you to stay in Tiger Flame permanently.”

His words caused the worried expressions on their faces to ease slightly.

Fan Jinhua had repeatedly stressed to them that he would find a way to resolve the problems that came with being descendants of the Azure Flame Sect.

His goal was not only to have them stay in Tiger Flame, but to bring all of their families there as well.

He wanted to ensure they would no longer live as captives.

The group continued to wait...

Finally, the heavy tramp of boots echoed from within the gateway of Yangzhou’s South City Gate.

A detachment of Tiger Flame soldiers in crimson Battle Armor marched in step by step. Their leader was a middle-aged man seated high on a fiery-red warhorse. He cut an imposing figure, the very picture of a fierce commander.

This was, of course, the Lei Zhen whom Fan Jinhua had spoken of.

Slightly behind Lei Zhen rode a younger man, also clad in crimson Battle Armor.

He held his chin slightly raised, his gaze sweeping over the scene within the South City Gate before landing on Fan Jinhua and his group. The corner of his mouth suddenly curled into a strange, unreadable smile.

At the same time, Fan Jinhua let out a hearty laugh. ”Brother Lei! Long time no see! You’re looking more imposing than ever.”

With that, Fan Jinhua strode forward to greet him. Luo Wendeng, Tan An, and the others hurried to follow, but Lu Chao and Cheng Yunsu held back, remaining at the rear of the group.

Suddenly... SHINK!

The knights behind Lei Zhen lunged forward, the tips of their long spears aimed at Fan Jinhua and the others, blocking their path.

Instantly, Fan Jinhua’s smile froze on his face. ”Brother Lei,” he asked in confusion, ”what is the meaning of this...?”

From atop his fiery-red warhorse, Lei Zhen smiled faintly and cut him off. ”Master Fan, this is a battlefield. You will address me as General Lei.”