"Brother Tiger."
Third Uncle stepped out of the crowd.
Behind him, Xiao Gang, Langzi, Yueyue, and the other youngsters looked at Little White Tiger on the stage, brimming with youthful spirit.
"My old man once said that Black Mountain Town would always be your blade."
"The Guan Family in the Capital and White Garment might not be reliable, but Black Mountain Town will always be willing to die for you."
"Xiao Fei and the old man have already died in battle. I am willing to become the third steward of Black Mountain Town to die fighting."
"If we're going to war... all five hundred and two Black Mountain Town Natives volunteer to be the vanguard."
Thump.
The youngsters slowly knelt.
They were just as proud as Little White Tiger and Old Ninth had once been.
Just as spirited, just as unafraid of death.
Black Mountain Town.
The place where Little White Tiger had gotten his start.
The place he both loved and felt guilty toward.
They were also forever the most loyal of his loyal followers.
No matter how many generations of stewards came and went, they would always be willing to protect Little White Tiger with their lives.
"Brother." Third Uncle was already a young adolescent, determination etched into his still slightly youthful face. "You've always been the ones looking after me."
"I know that after the Old Man died, you were afraid something would happen to me, so you secretly arranged for experts to protect me wherever I went."
"You made me study because you were afraid I'd enter the underworld too early. You didn't want me to become the next Brother Xiao Fei."
"I also know you put a child like me in charge of Ice Prefecture because I'm the successor to the Old Man and Brother