The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 426: Drifting Flowers Edifices’ Siege

In Drifting Flowers Edifices’ main hall, Grandmother took the seat of honor with a frown. On each side of her, were the fifteen overseers. 

Bang!

Grandmother threw a sending jade on the table and sighed, “This is the Luo clan’s 10th message. And like the ones before it, they all warn of a great disaster, that we need to retreat to Luo clan. What do you all say?”

“Humph, that vile ingrate, our Edifice Lord sacrificed so much for him and this is how he repays us? By stealing our most sacred treasure. Who’d believe his messages? I bet it’s just another one of his sick twisted schemes.” Peony Overseer was the first to show a negative attitude, her anger having reached a boiling point.

Iris Overseer nodded after a pause, yet the frown never left her, “Nevertheless, even with Zhuo Fan’s insidious mind putting us on guard on every one of his actions, it’s better to believe the worst than be skeptical and suffer because of it later. Taking up arms won’t harm us in the least.”

“I have already activated our defenses, for any eventuality.” Grandmother nodded, “As for the credibility of these jades, it remains to be seen…”

Boom!

A rumbling sound came from outside, rattling their ears.

All overseers looked on in shock. Grandmother shook and turned downcast.

Xiao Dandan burst in as fast as her legs could carry her, “Oh god, enemy attack!”

“Dandan, speak clearly!” Peony Overseer said.

Xiao Dandan gasped a few times, “Drifting Flowers City’s guarding array is under attack. Senior sisters are now inside to defend it. What do we do, Grandmother, master?”

“We’re really under attack?”

The overseers were incredulous, turning to the jade slip with regret.

Zhuo Fan meant nothing more than to simply inform them by sending those messages.

“Grandmother…” The fifteen pairs of eyes turned to her. She was feeling as much regret as the next woman there.

But she couldn’t let it show. As the leader, everyone believed her words were always right, even when wrong.

Any doubt would cripple their morale and the battle would be half lost from the start.

Grandmother flashed her eyes with steel determination, conveying confidence in this great crisis, confidence she didn’t have.

“Iris, ask the three Venerables to come. Peony, send jade slips to our allies for help. The rest of you, follow me to meet the enemy. Let’s see which bastards dare challenge Drifting Flowers Edifices!”

Grandmother hammered her staff as she made her way forward with dignity and strength. 

The others regained their calm and flew out of Drifting Flowers City. Iris and Peony set about their tasks.

Only Xiao Dandan was left there pouting, “Didn’t he tell us again and again that this’ll happen? Now even if you do believe him, we are cut off and can’t run…”

“Dandan, what are you mumbling? Who taught you to talk of your betters behind their back?” Peony Overseer glared.

Xiao Dandan retorted, “What talking back? It’s the truth. We got a clear warning for three months that this was going to come…”

“You know nothing!”

Peony Overseer barked, “Don’t you know who Zhuo Fan is? He even stole Bodhi Root from us. How can we trust him? How can we be sure it’s not another trick?”

“But it was Yan Fu who told me. He’d never lie to me!” Xiao Dandan was stubborn.

Peony Overseer shook her head, “You brat, Yan Fu was never good to begin with. Now that he’s with Zhuo Fan, he’s even worse. No matter how sincere, he needs to first prove that Zhuo Fan had nothing to do with it, that it wasn’t false. You think I don’t know where you’d been running to these months? Besides bringing the ten sending jades, you still have 28 more love letters from that kid. How can a pure girl like you be like this? Have you no shame?”

Xiao Dandan blushed and huffed, “That’s beside the point. They have been giving us real information all along yet you always second guess his intentions, thinking there’s a plot where there’s nothing.”

“You silly girl, you’ve been growing bolder I see, to talk back to your master. My lessons haven’t been thorough enough it seems!” Peony Overseer was at a loss and blushed with shame and anger.

Xiao Dandan ran away with Peony Overseer on her heels. Their mission, forgotten…

Grandmother took her overseers outside and gasped at the sea of black.

Leading the army were Hell Valley, Merry Woods and Pill King Hall’s lords.

Against such a lineup, even with the home field advantage, Drifting Flowers Edifices’ array would be under immense strain.

Gulping, Grandmother grew anxious. The overseers were scared out of their minds, shaking all over.

You Wanshan’s side laughed.

“Grandmother, we three vow to take Drifting Flowers Edifices. Surrender now, cease these needless hostilities and there won’t be casualties.” You Wanshan held his head high.

Grandmother squinted, “Valley Lord You, what’s the meaning of this? Have you forgotten Tianyu’s laws? The seven houses are banned from engaging in civil war! Marching towards Drifting Flowers Edifices with such fanfare, His Majesty will hear of this and will exact punishment!”

Grandmother’s speech was full of dignity and logic.

But You Wanshan laughed harder, his mocking gaze thicker.

“He-he-he, old hag, why else would we be here in the first place? It’s all by His Majesty’s leave.” You Wanshan shouted, “There’s no one out there coming to help a bunch of broads, ha-ha-ha…”

[What?!]

Grandmother was incredulous.

Keeping the seven houses in check had been the imperial family’s policy since the dawn of the empire. How can they change tactics, letting the land devolve into anarchy?

“Impossible!” Grandmother refuted, “What crime could we possibly have committed for His Majesty to treat us so, to let you attack us?”

“Ha-ha-ha, old crone, don’t play dumb. Who doesn’t know of your ties with that wretched spawn Zhuo Fan. With the mess he made in the Imperial Palace, he is the nation’s number one criminal. And with your connections, you aren’t far behind either.”

At You Wanshan’s cackle, Grandmother shuddered and sighed.

[Zhuo Fan raised us and now he crushes us.]

While Zhuo Fan was on his power trip, Drifting Flowers Edifices had never been safer. But now that Zhuo Fan had become the national enemy, the others used this excuse to get to Drifting Flowers Edifices.

Their thousand year old legacy would lay in ruins.

[Was it truly the right choice to have an alliance with Zhuo Fan?]

Much good did that thinking do at this point. All they could do was buy time for their allies to come help.

Grandmother flew up and shouted, “If you want to destroy Drifting Flowers Edifices, then come! I will face any contenders!”

“Ha-ha-ha, I’ve heard so much of the Lady of Steel and have long wished to try you out!”

You Wanshan flew forth, covered in gray energy letting out eerie cries of infants.

Hatred and grief filled the sky, sweeping Grandmother in its clutches. With the shrieks of agony, malignant specters made of anguish, bit at her. 

Hell Valley’s profound ranked martial art, Demonic Face Seal!

The hearts of the overseers were in their throats.

Demonic Face Seal was a soul attack, creepy and powerful. Grandmother had no power against it.

You Wanshan laughed, finding victory in his grasp.

It was then that a glaring white light flashed.

The howling sea of agonized faces came to a halt as ice spread all over them.

They cracked to pieces, pulverizing the demonic faces, leaving room for Grandmother to walk out and send You Wanshan flying with a palm to the chest.

And leaving behind a scarlet trail…