You Are Seeking Your Own Death

Tian Sang had integrated the memories and everything else of Zul'ra, and while he felt a modicum of affection for his mentor and foster father, Kal'ma, it did not reach the level of true familial love. It stopped at a sense of inner respect for his virtues—his love for his people and his willingness to challenge outdated customs.

Because his feelings for Kal'ma did not reach the level of family, Tian Sang felt a mix of contempt and anger toward Zul'jin for abandoning an old man to ensure his own escape. However, he could not bring himself to condemn him too harshly, as he could not guarantee that he himself would have stayed behind in such a situation.

Essentially, Tian Sang held no malice toward Zul'jin. Although he harbored some restless thoughts and had not yet made a firm decision, Zul'jin's act of revealing that he had abandoned Kal'ma forced his hand.

Tian Sang solidified his resolve to become a great Troll leader and mentally stamped Zul'jin as "must die." It was not for any other reason than the fact that his nominal relationship with Kal'ma was simply too significant to be ignored.

Zul'jin now appeared to be feeling guilty for abandoning Kal'ma, but Tian Sang could see that this Amani chieftain was broad on the outside but narrow-minded on the inside. In the future, whenever a dispute or disagreement arose between them, Zul'jin would inevitably grow suspicious and resentful of Tian Sang—as Kal'ma's apprentice and foster son—because of his own past actions, eventually leading to a total breakdown of their relationship.

Since their current relationship was not great and a future rift was likely, it was better to be decisive. He would commit to his restless plans and simply find an opportunity to finish him off when the time came.

Having mentally stamped Zul'jin as "must die," Tian Sang dared not show the slightest hint of it. Instead, he shifted all the blame onto the elves, telling Zul'jin from a side angle, "Boss, don't be afraid; I won't hold a grudge against you. It was all the elves' fault; I hate the elves."

Faced with Tian Sang's performance, Zul'jin was naturally satisfied. He was still mired in guilt and urged Tian Sang to select his candidates quickly so that after the spring thaw, he could head to the Zandalari Trolls to study and eventually help him restore Zul'Aman.

After hoodwinking Zul'jin, Tian Sang left the Altar of Deities. After pondering for a while, he decided to seek out Lostro to consult him—or rather, to consult the opinions of the Zandalari Trolls personnel.

Great matters are achieved through secrecy and ruined by leaks. Tian Sang would not tell anyone his plans until he had a concrete strategy and the confidence to execute it, even if Lostro was a follower of Kal'ma.

"What kind of personnel do you need, and how many?" Lostro asked after a brief moment of contemplation.

"People with flexible minds, willing to endure hardship, and with a steady temperament. Gender doesn't matter. I need about twenty or thirty," Tian Sang thought for a moment before stating his requirements.

"Do you want warriors?" Lostro looked at Tian Sang and asked.

"Zul'Aman will need the protection of warriors for a long time to come." Tian Sang met Lostro's gaze, then looked away, answering very seriously.

"It won't matter if there are one or two fewer." Lostro turned his head to look at his surroundings.

"Then that's settled. If you have good candidates, give me a list before the day after tomorrow. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back!" Tian Sang ended the conversation and took his leave.

"Wait a moment." Lostro looked at the guy who was about to leave and couldn't help but speak up to stop him.

"What is it?" Tian Sang looked at the big guy who had called him back.

"Have you heard about the Hex Lord?" Lostro stared straight at Tian Sang.

"Zul'jin just kept me back and already told me." Tian Sang looked back into the big guy's eyes and replied meticulously.

"So it's all true? Those guys left the Hex Lord in..." Lostro widened his eyes, his face unable to suppress a look of rage.

"If you were in that same situation, what would you have done?" Tian Sang looked at the furious big guy and couldn't help but ask. Regardless of the race, abandoning a companion was never an honorable thing.

"I would have protected the Hex Lord with my life. I once swore an oath to the gods; I should have been by the Hex Lord's side." Lostro's six-fingered hands clenched into fists, his throat choked with emotion as he struggled to keep his anger in check.

"Lostro, you are loyal to your oath, but our mentor is now... if you are still willing to be loyal to him, then fulfill his hopes!" Tian Sang looked at the angry big guy, staring straight into his eyes. The big guy's eyes were slightly red, with tears welling up within them.

"Let Zul'Aman be restored, reform our outdated customs, and let the children of the forest regain their glory." Tian Sang looked at the angry and resentful Lostro, trying hard not to show his own leanings, keeping his words ambiguous.

"I will. What about you?" Lostro looked at Tian Sang's steady gaze and asked back while wiping the corners of his eyes.

"As you can see, I am going to the Zandalari Trolls to study again. The reform of Zul'Aman will require a great deal of knowledge." Tian Sang watched Lostro wipe his eyes, then shifted his gaze toward the darkening sky.

"..." Lostro looked at Tian Sang's averted gaze, his own eyes drooping slightly before he nodded solemnly.

"I should go. Remember to keep an eye out for candidates for me. I'll be heading to the Zandalari Trolls after the spring." Tian Sang looked at the nodding Lostro, reminded him once more, and then left.

"I will." Lostro's voice came from behind. Tian Sang did not answer, instead looking out at the mottled, ancient city of Zul'Aman winding through the mountains. He took a deep breath of the cold winter air, exhaled, and buried his head as he walked home.

Winter passed quickly, and the patches of snow in Zul'Aman began to melt. Tian Sang organized a team of thirty-five people, including craftsmen, soldiers, and women. Once the snow had completely melted, they joined the group led by the Hex Lord Malacrass and set sail together for the birthplace of the Trolls: the Zandalari Trolls.

Departing from the Thalassian Strait, they sailed south along the Forbidden Sea for several days. After replenishing supplies in the South Sea, the course turned west. In the drifting cabin of the fleet from Zul'Aman, Tian Sang and Malacrass sat opposite each other.

As an elder, Malacrass taught Tian Sang about the things he needed to be aware of in the Zandalari Trolls. The Zandalari Trolls were the birthplace of Troll civilization, and all Trolls viewed it as a holy mountain. There were many rules there, one of which was that no Troll was allowed to fight.

Troll tribes lived all over the world, distinguished by their regional environments into Jungle Trolls, Forest Trolls, Ice Trolls, Desert Trolls, and Zandalari Trolls. There was also a type called Dark Trolls, but they had disappeared long ago. Scholars of the Zandalari Trolls believed they had entered a mysterious region, were transformed by mysterious energy, and became today's Night Elves.

Setting aside the rumors of the Troll lineages, the Trolls of the various regions looked different, did not trust each other, and even fought from time to time. However, the land of the Zandalari Trolls was a neutral ground where Trolls from all over the world lived, and fighting there was illegal.

"Malacrass, there is one thing I am not very sure about. Can you answer it for me?" As Tian Sang listened to Malacrass talk about the relationship between the Zandalari Trolls and the various Troll tribes, a question occurred to him.

"Ask! I will answer for you." Malacrass spread his hands slightly.

"Will the Zandalari Trolls allow us to learn their knowledge and technology?" Tian Sang asked, feeling slightly worried.