Edited by: VindiFan#1
Proofreader: Arya & Kiwi
The old man suddenly opened his eyes wide and breathed in deeply.
His sickly complexion slowly disappeared, regaining a faint color of red under his skin.
His eyes were shining and animated, as if he was an old lion looking over his territory for the very last time.
“Everyone get out; I need to speak with my granddaughter for a little bit” he ordered.
Seeing that, the doctors realized it was the old man’s last spurt of strength.
They exchanged looks, then silently retreated.
As soon as they left, everyone ran in different directions, reporting to those that have been eagerly waiting for this news.
“Tell me your decision” the old man spoke in a low voice.
Su Xue Er looked straight at him, her voice determined: “I am willing, for the sake of the Su family, to sacrifice my everything, as long as our Su family can keep on being the great figure that we are in the Confederate”
“My desire is to ensure that the Su family become the most powerful family of the 9 Lords”
“So long as I live, I shall keep leading the Su family forward through any struggles, until one day when I finally go to heaven”
Her voice was slow, but determined.
The old man showed a smile, he’s been assured.
He opened his mouth for a while, then finally gathered enough strength to laugh loudly and said: “My eyes weren’t wrong after all, during the past 20 years, you are the only one in our Su family to truly have a leader’s special characteristics”
“Special characteristics?” Su Xue Er asked.
“Smart, determined, and endless courage” the old man slowly listed.
“Courage?” Su Xue Er lowered her head, “I don’t feel like I’m a courageous person at all, otherwise, how would I fall so low”
The old man tried his best to laugh, then spoke: “Courage that is displayed normally isn’t called courage, that’s recklessness”
“So many people have no choice but to bow down under the pressure of fate, but truly courageous people, in the time of need will remove all difficulties in their path, even killing off their old self for the sake of reviving anew”
He looked at his granddaughter like she was his most valuable treasure.
“You have the special characteristic of courage, others might not notice it, but you can’t fool this old man’s eyes”
“A person with such characteristic is only fit to lead the herd of sheep”
“From personal talent alone, you’re the only mainline member of all the 9 Lords who managed to awaken a 4th stage Elemental power in the past 30 years”
“However, Xue Er, you have a critical weakness”
“Please tell me, grandpa” Su Xue Er looked up and sincerely said.
The old man shook his head, seemingly picking his words carefully.
After a moment, he finally spoke: “Sometimes I think, you’re so very different from both your father and mother”
“What do you mean?”
“Ever since you were small, until now you’ve never told a lie”
Su Xue Er was confused and asked: “Isn’t that a good thing?”
The old man carefully told her: “You have to understand, for this alone, aristocrats are the exact opposite of you”
“Your parents are typical aristocrats, spewing nothing but nonsense from their mouths, even if they agree to a deal, they would still need to wait to see if their benefits are guaranteed”
The old man continued: “Xue Er, you’re truly a brilliant child, but my only concern is that you’re much too honest, you’ll be pushed around too easily”
Su Xue Er stayed silent for a bit, then answered: “I understand, grandpa”
“Hm, aside from that, I’m confident about your every other aspect, yes, I think I can be assured and take my leave now”
Su Xue Er held the old man’s hand tightly, saying nothing.
A rowdiness came from outside, then the door was swung open loudly.
All of Su family’s mainline and branch are here, no matter if it’s real or not, all of them wore an expression of sorrow and pain.
Following behind them were the other 8 Lords.
Together with Su Xing Chao who was lying in bed, all the 9 Lords of the Confederate were gathered here.
The 8 Lords silently walked over, as each of them were wearing a black cloak with glittering stars, their expressions solemn and serious.
They were the legendary starlight cloaks.
Numerous stars were weaved across the cloaks, giving off a feeling as if they were truly the endless void of space filled with stars and not just a cloak.
If this wasn’t a serious occasion, everyone here, including Su Xue Er, would be closely eyeing the cloaks to see the truth.
In the long history of the Confederate, every time such an occasion happens, the other 8 Lords would don this cloak and make their way to the passing’s deathbed to witness the ceremony of inheritance.
This has been an iron-clad rule for the 9 Lords of the Confederate for over hundreds of years.
“Old Xing Chao, your choice?” one Lord asked.
“I have decided…”
Su Xing Chao glanced over at all of his sons and daughters.
Even though they know the chance is slim, but every single one of them had the same look of expectation and desire on their faces.
Su Wen Sheng walked forward, taking his father’s hand and made a solemn expression, waiting for his father’s declaration.
Su Xing Chao didn’t take notice of him and only spoke: “…the next family head of the Su family, is Su Xue Er”
The room went silent.
Madame Su was the first to shout: “No, that isn’t possible, why would we be skipped to let a child become a Lord?”
Su Wen Sheng had an expression of disbelief, opened and closed his mouths time and time again, but couldn’t say anything.
“Is this your final decision?” another Lord asked.
“That’s right, only she can bring the Su family forward, side by side with all of you”
“Only she, will be able to maintain the current status of our 9 Lords, so that our hard work for over hundreds of years isn’t wasted”
Hearing this, if they didn’t know the meaning, they’d think that Su Xing Chao was praising Su Xue Er.
But the other 8 Lords all went silent as they heard that.
They exchanged looks, then nodded.
“We respect your decision” they all spoke at the same time.
The old man barely squeezed out a smile, then looked at his son and spoke: “Your abilities aren’t enough, to inherit the title of Lord isn’t a good thing for you, it’s ok now, you can live however you want from now on, live happily from now on”
He then looked over to Su Xue Er and reached out his hand: “Come, Xue Er”
Su Xue Er held his hand.
Suddenly, an invisibly quick arc of electricity went from Su Xing Chao’s hand into Su Xue Er’s.
The arc disappeared into Su Xue Er’s body and couldn’t be seen anymore.
Everyone in the Su family, including Su Xue Er, no one noticed this.
All the other 8 Lords’ expressions changed.
Some of them sighed.
A few had complicated expressions, speaking with each other in a low voice.
Someone turned around and look towards the door.
A few looked over at Su Xue Er and stayed silent.
Only they know, ‘that’ has been passed on.
Without ‘that’ to support him, old Su will very quickly pass.
“The Su family, is in your hands…” the old man spoke his last.
Su Xue Er said nothing, she only looked at the old man and nodded strongly.
The old man smiled, then closed his eyes in relief.
Having breathed his last, he no longer moved.
Su Xue Er just stared at the old man’s body, tears rolling down her cheeks.
A jet black cloak suddenly appeared from the air and dripped itself over her.
On the cloak was an endless sea of stars.
As soon as Su Xue Er donned the cloak, her entire air and presence changed.
She was regal and mysterious, the pressure she carried didn’t lose to any of the other 8 Lords.
“Su Xue Er” the other 8 Lords all spoke.
She turned to look.
“From now on, you are the Su family’s Lord”
“Right now, you shall leave with us, to go to the end of the world and complete the 9 Lords ceremony of inheritance”
“As the journey is far, we must quickly be on our way”
The true ceremony of inheritance.
This ceremony has happened too many times to count in the history of the 9 Lords, but only the Lords themselves know what it’s about.
Anyone that dared to peek, no matter who they are, are all eliminated without pardon.
As Su Xue Er turned to look at the 8 Lords, the tears in her eyes hasn’t stopped.
“Please wait a bit, I want to say goodbye to Grandfather alone”
The 8 Lords exchanged looks, then looked down at the old man’s body, also feeling a bit of emotions.
“Then be quick, we will be waiting for you outside”
“Thank you, I won’t let you wait long” Su Xue Er nodded.
“Very well, the rest of you should also leave” the Lords spoke.
While the rest of the Su family were still unable to process what had happened and protested, they’ve all been driven out by the 8 Lords.
The door was closed from the outside.
The medical room regained its silence.
Su Xue Er looked at the old man’s face, wiping her tears with her hands.
“Grandpa, thank you for letting me inherit the title of Lord”
“However, there’s something that I must tell you”
She spoke very softly, brushing the old man’s ruffled hair back and fixed his collar.
After a while, she finally spoke again.
“For my entire life, I’ve never once told a lie to you. Except today”
“Right, I won’t protect the Su family”
“Because I hold each and everyone here in contempt, they all live in a world of darkness and dirtiness, aside from their own benefits, there’s nothing else in the world that matters to them”
She kept looking straight at the old man.
“Grandpa, you said I had courage, originally I didn’t agree with you, but now that I think about it, I suddenly feel that you’re very right”
Su Xue Er pursed her lips, then spoke softly
“I will never let anyone else decide my fate ever again”
“I swear”
She stood up, donning the cloak of stars and walked out.
