Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

Fan Changcun had come here simply to see the Descendants of Azure Flame.

He had previously despaired to the point of death, believing that everyone had perished in the failed assassination of Lu Hanyan.

He had come just to see this new hope with his own eyes.

”From now on, you will all fight for a place to call home.”

”In the future, you must also fight for Lu Chao. You must obey him, for he is your true leader.”

Fan Changcun’s aged voice resounded with passion in everyone’s ears.

Finally, he spoke with gravity, ”Now, follow Lu Chao and begin.”

At his words, tears welled up in the eyes of the two thousand people, their expressions turning solemn.

But Fan Jinxiang suddenly froze. She stared blankly at Fan Changcun and asked, ”Grandpa, aren’t you coming with us?”

Along the way, Lu Chao and the others had not told Fan Jinxiang that Fan Changcun intended to return to Tiger Flame Royal City.

Fan Jinxiang understood the implication of his words.

Fan Changcun looked back at her, his face full of kindness. ”Jinxiang, from now on, listen to your brother, and to Brother Chao. Even though there’s more than a decade between you and Jinhu, you have the same disposition. You’re both far too trusting.”

He let out a wry chuckle at that thought...

Both of his grandchildren had one-track minds. They were too naive.

Then, he turned to Fan Jinhua...

”Jinhu, your father and mother passed away when Jinxiang was born. You’ve essentially been a father to her.”

”An elder brother is like a father. You must take good care of your sister.”

”Your parents couldn’t bear the constant mockery and pressure of living in Tiger Flame. That’s why they’re gone.”

”That is why I’ve always indulged you, allowing you to associate with the powerful figures of Tiger Flame, so that you wouldn’t have to endure the same suffering.”

”But what’s meant to be will be. Listen to Lu Chao... Do you understand?”

Fan Changcun was well aware that his grandchildren’s naive dispositions were a result of his own indulgence.

But he’d had no choice. If he had burdened them with pressure as they grew up, he feared they would leave just as his son and daughter-in-law had.

That was why Fan Jinhua had become an instructor at Tiger Flame Academy, and why Fan Jinxiang had so easily trusted Chang Qi...

Fan Changcun had shouldered all the pressure himself, even threatening the Tiger Flame King with his own life.

He had made it clear that if anyone dared to mock or oppress his grandchildren, he would die on the spot. It was only through these threats that the siblings were able to develop their optimistic personalities.

But all of that...

...had been brutally shattered during the assassination attempt on Lu Hanyan.

As the Fan siblings nodded tearfully, Fan Changcun turned to Lu Chao. ”Child, you’ve been through a lot.”

Lu Chao replied with a solemn expression, ”Marshal, we will meet again.”

Just then... THUMP THUMP THUMP!

The heavy sound of hoofbeats echoed from the distance—the pursuers were coming. Fan Changcun said urgently, ”Go now.”

Lu Chao turned to the two thousand Descendants of Azure Flame and roared, ”Move out! We fight once more for a place to survive! Our first target is... Sword Leader Royal City!”

Everyone clenched their fists and set off with Lu Chao.

But after they had traveled some distance, Lu Chao stopped and turned around. Everyone else followed his gaze, looking back at Fan Changcun’s figure.

He was frail now, his back slightly stooped, but in the eyes of Lu Chao and the others, he was a towering figure!

”Let’s go...”

After watching for a few more moments, Lu Chao raised his arm once more and led the two thousand people away.

”Grandpa! Grandpa...”

Fan Jinxiang had dissolved into tears, but Fan Jinhua held her and pulled her away.

’Grandpa has to negotiate with the Six Great Flame Kings. He can’t have any attachments holding him back. Not a single one.’

In the blink of an eye, Lu Chao had led the two thousand Descendants of Azure Flame far away.

「Two hours later...」

The pursuers from Tiger Flame reached Fan Changcun and surrounded him. Their leader was the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince. He roared at his troops, ”Fan Jinhua and his group can’t be far! After them—”

In response, Fan Changcun simply smiled faintly...

He slowly pressed a dagger to his own neck. ”Tiger Flame Eldest Prince, if you dare to give chase, I will die right here, right now.”

At these words, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince remained impassive. ”Continue the chase! Do not stop!”

He then fixed his gaze on Fan Changcun. ”Marshal Fan, I am not my useless younger brother. Threatening me is—”

Before he could finish, Fan Changcun cut him off coldly. ”It’s true, I won’t kill myself so easily. But if a single one of you gives chase, then Li Wumian and his disciple will die without a doubt.”

”Li Wumian is the Vice Dean of the Celestial King Academy from the Dragon Flame Kingdom. He must have come to Tiger Flame on important business, correct?”

”His death would put Tiger Flame under immense pressure, would it not?”

”The war between the Hundred Countries and Great Wu is far from over. I’d like to see if you can withstand the consequences.”

As Fan Changcun spoke, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince’s pupils constricted, and his expression flickered uncertainly...

Finally, he had no choice but to order, ”Continue the pursuit, but do not approach without my command. Just tail Fan Jinhua’s group.”

Even though he was the Eldest Prince of Tiger Flame, he didn’t dare to act recklessly on his own authority.

’Li Wumian really does have important matters to discuss...’

’This is not the time for Tiger Flame to offend the Dragon Flame Kingdom. After all, they still haven’t retaken Fierce Tiger Pass.’

Finally, the Tiger Flame Eldest Prince barked, ”Take Marshal Fan back to Tiger Flame Royal City.”

And just like that, Fan Changcun was taken away.

...

Meanwhile, Lu Chao and the two thousand Descendants of Azure Flame were already approaching Sword Leader Royal City. The journey had taken them only half a day.

The Sword Leader Kingdom was small, and its royal city was not large.

The Sword Leader Kingdom was wedged between several of the great Flame Kingdoms...

They enjoyed a rather comfortable existence. All they had to do was offer tribute periodically and send a token force to support the war between the Hundred Countries and Great Wu. As long as they regularly bowed and scraped before the major Flame Kingdoms, they could live a carefree life.

Especially when war broke out with the Great Wu Empire, the major Flame Kingdoms would become very united, which gave Sword Leader even more freedom.

If there were no wars...

...they would unite with a dozen or so other small kingdoms, playing them off the major Flame Kingdoms.

The Sword Leader King was currently in his palace, comfortably enjoying the attention of his court ladies.

Suddenly, however, horns blared—the city was under attack.

”What’s happening? With the critical situation on the Fierce Tiger Pass front, who would dare attack my city now?” the Sword Leader King asked, his face a mask of confusion.

Just two hours later, he was captured...

He gaped at the troops before him and muttered, ”Who are you people? How dare you attack my Sword Leader Royal City?”

The next moment, he saw the big-bearded man at their head let out a sly grin. ”I am Fan Jinhua!”

After a beat, he pointed to a masked man beside him and announced, ”And this here is the Great Martial Emperor Star, Lu Chao!”

The two statements left the Sword Leader King utterly baffled.

The second statement, in particular, made him subconsciously glance at the masked Lu Chao, a torrent of curses erupting in his mind. ’The Great Martial Emperor Star, Lu Chao? Bullshit! Has this impostor gotten addicted to the act?’

Of course, the Sword Leader King knew what had happened in Sword Tooth City half a month ago. Everyone knew this guy was a goddamn fake.

The real one had been killed by Lu Dingtian long ago.