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nTranslator: StarReader

nEditor: Elitecoder

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n“Marshal!” Everyone cried in worry at Dugu Zhantian’s pained look.

nDugu Zhantian had trekked these lands for decades, only to find himself another’s toy all along. It would make any man enraged, to say nothing of their grand Marshal.

nWaving feebly, Dugu Zhantian’s eyes had lost their usual vigor. As his soul was chipped away, his greatest pride crumbled before his very eyes.

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nDugu Zhantian spoke in a hoarse and weakened voice, “Zhuo Fan, I had said it before the Esoteric Debate, that you resemble me, just as loyal. You are striving for the Luo clan and I for the dynasty. If I am loyal to a fault, what then, are you fighting for?”

nZhuo Fan pointed to his heart, “This is what moves me, what drives me!”

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nStaring at his heart, Dugu Zhantian’s face enlightened, “I see, love…”

nI was talking about inner demons here…

nZhuo Fan nodded even as his heart skipped a beat. A peculiar feeling wormed itself into his being. Dugu Zhantian stirred a deep corner of his heart and shook his mind to the core in the process.

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n“Bring me the Dragonslaying Crescent Blade.” Dugu Zhantian raised his weary hand.

nThe tigers finally recovered with Luo Yunhai’s pills and could move again.

nDugu Feng obeyed by presenting his cherished weapon on one knee.

nDugu Zhantian grasped it with a trembling hand, but his eyes shone as he laughed, “I asked Tianyu’s best tool refiner to make it the first time I went to the borders. I once absorbed the dragon soul of Quanrong’s lands and on that day, it became my greatest pride. It had been my cherished companion for many years and now I bid it farewell. “

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nTracing its blade, Dugu Zhantian was filled with love. He flicked the weapon and pushed it forward, “Zhuo Fan, unlike me, you know what must be done. Take it and protect the Luo clan!”

nThe four tigers gasped, as did Luo Yunhai.

nThough they could muster no complaints as they gazed into Dugu Zhantian’s steel look.

nZhuo Fan looked at the weapon and shook his head, “A man of honor does not take another’s prized possession. Although I am anything but, I know how much Marshal cares for it and so I must refuse.”

n“What can a dead man do with treasures? Zhuo Fan, take it or I’ll have a bitter death.” Dugu Zhantian lifted the weapon and spoke with a resounding tone.

nZhuo Fan resigned and nodded.

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nAsked by Marshal with so much fervor, refusing will be downright immoral. But the old coot’s respect isn’t the issue here, it’s how to use the tigers later.

nRefusing meant earning the four tiger’s ire. Zhuo Fan shouldered the blade and struck the image of a mighty general.

nDugu Zhantian smiled as all power left him, slumping in Luo Yunhai’s arms.

n“Marshal!” Everyone cried tears of sorrow.

nDugu Zhantian looked at all his sons with ardent love, “No, not Marshal, I wish to hear… godfather…”

n“Godfather!” The five shouted.

nDugu Zhantian’s mouth slumped as he let out one last hoarse grunt.

n“Godfather!”

nThe five’s tears flowed without stopping as they called out, never to wake up the scattered soul of the old man. His face was not the face of agony, but that of peace and tranquility.

nThe commanding tent resounded with the sobbing of Dugu Zhantian’s five godsons, filling the whole Lone Goose Gorge. The soldiers sensed the deep sorrow it carried.

nGu Santong felt it too, his eyes getting red, his nose stuffy. He clutched at Zhuo Fan as he sobbed in his arms.

nZhuo Fan watched it all with a silent lament.

nDugu Zhantian, a God of War gave his life for his country and died at its whims. What a poor man, worthy of all respect!

nA true misfortune that the world changed as it did and made him to be discarded…

nThe mourning went on for four hours and the five carried Dugu Zhantian’s body before the gathered army.

nThe military order said not to leave one’s post, but the chaos here left them uneasy.

nThey came to find…The old Marshal, pale and carried out. Their eyes grew heavy and moist, but no tears fell.

nA man didn’t cry over nothing, while a soldier wouldn’t, even if bleeding!

nIt was one of the Marshal’s teachings.

nDugu Feng watched these soldiers bear the pain and spoke hoarsely, “Soldiers of the Dugu Army, something devastating happened today. The emperor betrayed us and our dear Marshal fell at Shadow Captain’s sneak attack at the emperor’s orders.”

n“Marshal!” The army fell to one knee, roaring their anguish, but nothing could stem the bursting rage.

n“But how the Dugu Army has always been candid, this matter can only be left to the new Marshal!” Dugu Feng shouted.

nNew?

nZhuo Fan was perplexed. Dugu Zhantian just died and there’s already a new marshal?

nDugu Zhantian must’ve settled this since long ago. That’s why the Four Tigers of Tianyu came to be. That’s for the best, for the godsons to take revenge for their father.

nZhuo Fan figured it out in his infinite wisdom.

nThe Dugu Army looked around before finally settling on Zhuo Fan.

nMore like, the blade he carried.

nDugu Feng and his brothers looked behind and shouted, “Our second matter is to greet our new Marshal, Zhuo Fan!”

n“Greetings, Marshal Zhuo!”

nThe godsons were the first to bow, followed by the soldiers.

nZhuo Fan froze with a goony look.

nDid I miss something here? How did I become the new Marshal?

nThough the sight of everyone bowing, even Luo Yunhai, woke him up to reality.

nWhy though?

nLuo Yunhai smiled, “Marshal, godfather had a rule. Whoever he gives the Dragonslaying Crescent Blade, shall be the new Marshal of Dugu Army. Everyone here knows this. He entrusted it to you on his deathbed and that makes you our Marshal. The millions strong Dugu Army shall henceforth obey Marshal’s orders!”

n“We await Marshal’s commands!” The army’s roar shook the heavens.

nZhuo Fan was dazed, then his heart bloomed with joy. He was looking for an excuse to get Dugu Army on his side, but here it was, under his complete control. There was no freer lunch out there.

nZhuo Fan lifted his weapon and roared, “His Majesty is misinformed and killed his loyal official as a consequence. I, Zhuo Fan, take the seat of Marshal of the Dugu Army, to drive out the savage Quanrong and exact heaven’s will. We shall march north and cleanse our lords’ court, bringing light to Tianyu!”

n“Charge out of Lone Goose Gorge. March for Windgaze City to prepare. We will split in four directions and get revenge for the old Marshal!”

n“Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!”

nThe soldiers brandished their weapons with an unquenching thirst for revenge.

nShadow King had just escaped the gorge when he spat blood, “God damn that Zhuo Fan. He only keeps getting stronger. As a spirit puppet, I have no advantage over him. In fact, I’m weaker. How in the hell does he come up with so many soul martial arts? God friggin’ damn it…”

nShadow King fled with a wounded body, cursing all the while.

n“Stop!”

nThousands of Quanrong had come to meet him, with Slaughter Wolf in the lead…

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