"I called you two here today for just one thing." Once the mutual compliments were over, the Old Man got down to business.
Little White Tiger and Old Ninth hurried forward at his words and stood ramrod straight before Old Guan, awaiting orders.
"Let me make this clear first. It's very dangerous. This is something... no one has ever done before. A risky military gambit."
A trace of reluctance showed on the Old Man's face.
Chun Prefecture had sacrificed too many lives for the Guan Family and the Dragon Kingdom.
He already foresaw that this move... would cost many, many lives.
"I'll give you a minute to think it over."
"No need." Little White Tiger shook his head firmly and answered with righteous conviction, "Ever since we brothers killed our first foreigner for you, when have we ever fought an external enemy without leading the charge? When haven't we faced almost certain death?"
"To outsiders, we're the blades you keep. If we back down now, what will people think of the Guan Family?"
"The remains of countless forebears still lie buried on the Peninsula, unable to come home... someone has to collect those blood debts."
"Hundreds of years ago, our ancestors defeated the Seventeen-Nation Alliance. Now... let's keep them living in fear of our charge bugles for the next few hundred years."
With that, Little White Tiger clasped his hands with commanding force and dropped to one knee.
"Little White Tiger of Chun Prefecture requests permission to fight."
Old Ninth shrugged and said with an easy smile, "Whatever my boss says goes."
Smack.
The next moment, he too slowly knelt.
"Old Ninth of Chun Prefecture requests permission to fight. Leave the most dangerous places to Chun Prefecture."
After their impassioned declarations, Old Guan's eyes grew slightly moist.
That was right.