The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 653: Where the Heart Is

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Qingcheng, wake up! You’ve been taken in by that demon!” Shui Ruohua shook Chu Qingcheng and shouted at her.

Chu Qingcheng shook her head, “Senior sister, I have been taken in, but that is because I wanted to…”

“Nonsense. How is it logical to let yourself be bewildered?” Shui Ruohua did not believe it.

Chu Qingcheng gave up, turning to Shuang’er and gesturing the two to come over.

Shuang’er and Yongning tensed in front of their archrival in love. 

[She won’t do anything to us, will she?]

But the two relented at Chu Qingcheng’s bright smile that looked like an angel’s.

Chu Qingcheng smiled, “I know you both want to be by his side, but to do this you must understand him. You must also know what happened to Ning’er…”

“I heard from the Luo clan that Zhuo Fan saved her in the end but she forgot about him so he let her go.” Yongning said.

Chu Qingcheng nodded, “You know some, but not everything, not what he went through to do it. I was still stubborn back then, forcing him to accept me…”

Chu Qingcheng began narrating the days of old, from how the seven houses’ conflict started, to Zhuo Fan’s cruel path, of Ning’er’s death, of Zhuo Fan’s fall to madness, of his struggle and his white hair. She had told them everything, every little detail, well, except the part about her and Zhuo Fan separating because of it, going to different sects. 

Whether it was telling her story, or Zhuo Fan’s, she always had that reminiscing smile.

“It was then that I knew this man was far from dead inside. He is only holding himself back, is all. The path he threads is destined to be cruel and cold. So how could I want to be an obstacle? That’s why I left, so that he would never fall into such despair again after what happened to Ning’er. If he is safe, I will be content. “

Chu Qingcheng smiled at Shui Ruohua, “I’m so happy to find that he still cares about me. That’s why I was glad when he asked senior sister about me.”

The girls were taken aback. They would never have imagined a cruel and cold demonic cultivator like Zhuo Fan would go through such pain and agony.

When Ning’er woke up, he did not cling to her, but let her go for her own good.

Chu Qingcheng had made the same choice then as well, all for him.

They all sensed that even by walking different paths, righteous and demonic, they were actually so similar. To them, the factions had no meaning, not when they knew each other completely.

The girls instantly had the desire to play matchmaker. Yun Shuang and Yongning lowered their bashful heads, coming to see just how little they knew Zhuo Fan compared to Chu Qingcheng.

What right did they have to be with him?

Xuan Shaoyu had long since been grinding his teeth in silence. The two had too many deep memories. It was impossible to make her forget about that bastard.

So what was left to be said about his chances?

“I see. So that’s why Edifice Lord Chu does not cling to him because you trust him completely.” Xie Tianshang sighed, “But by the looks of it, he will always be conflicted. Which is more important, the demonic path or love? This will be his final trial. I only hope he will be able to overcome it quickly and get stronger with it. That way I can also follow my goal by following him forever… “

The girls raised an eyebrow.

[That’s some bromance.]

Xie Tianshang noticed their quirky looks and was baffled.

[What, did I say something wrong?]

Outside of Mystical Heaven Sect’s courtyard, in a remote corner, stood a tall man, Zhuo Fan.

Ever since Xie Tianshang entered, he had been standing here for six hours. He only wanted to see him come out, proving that Chu Qingcheng was alright.

Whoosh!

Someone flashed behind him and said in a familiar tone, spreading a strong scent of alcohol, “Ha-ha-ha, you just can’t let her go, can you?”

Zhuo Fan looked back to see the drunk Danqing Shen smiling at him.

“Senior, how are you still here?” Zhuo Fan asked.

Danqing Shen said, “He-he-he, I told you, there’s no place that can bar me on these lands. I can go wherever I want. What, you have a problem with people coming from behind? “

“Uh, no, you can do what you wish.” Zhuo Fan’s face twitched.

Danqing Shen gave him a long look, then snickered, “Why does love exist in this world? To teach people about the meaning of life? Kid, if you want that lass, just go get her. What’s there to be conflicted about?”

“Senior, please don’t joke. You know as well that… this isn’t my path.” Zhuo Fan sighed inside.

Danqing Shen nodded, “Oh, quite true. That only means you’re fickle. You had two girls and now you got a third one. You don’t deserve her. What about all those bachelors? Leave some for them.”

“Senior, don’t joke. You know what I mean.”

Zhuo Fan’s face twitched again, and he sighed, “I walk the demonic path, a dead road filled with cruelty and no emotions. How can I let emotions take me? If I do, it will harm me and especially her. So why bother? The past is a living testament to that…”

Danqing Shen gave him a long look then said, “Then what are you standing around here for? Since you’re dead inside, kill all emotions. Standing out here, spying on a girl’s window is doing neither of you any good.”

“Senior is right, but after all that has happened, I just can’t let go.” Zhuo Fan sighed, “I never owed anyone a favor, I have only had others owe me. The minute I owe someone, it would be very hard to pay it back.”

Danqing Shen grinned, “He-he-he, a story. I just love stories. Come here and tell me. Maybe I can help you solve your troubles.”

“Uh, alright. It’s my fortune to have senior’s care.” Zhuo Fan began narrating the seven houses’ conflicts, the Esoteric Debate, in every detail.

“Saving Ning’er was my problem. She had nothing to do with it. In the end, she was forced to go to Mystical Heaven Sect so I could save Ning’er. I don’t even know what kind of conditions she had to accept either. I just don’t know when I will ever be able to return the favor. If I don’t, then I will never know peace for as long as I live.”

Zhuo Fan shook his head.

Danqing Shen turned serious as well, “A strange girl indeed. To save your friend she trapped herself. Now I understand why you regarded Lu Xie’s attack as if he attacked your friends. This is a heavy debt. The only way I can see it returned is if you give your heart and soul for her.”

“Hey, senior, I’m a demonic cultivator here!”

“Yeah yeah, a dead and cruel path, yadda yadda!”

Danqing Shen said casually, then turned solemn, “Kid, I may not be a demonic cultivator and don’t understand your way, but all paths lead to the truth, the Dao. That, at least, I do know. Even on the emotionless and cruel path, you need to feel first before you can squash your emotions. How else can you remove something that wasn’t there to begin with?”

“Just like us righteous cultivators who pursue justice, where would justice be if not for evil? How would you know justice without understanding evil? Here’s an example. That Universal Righteous Sect, they just love preaching justice left and right, but how many do you think are aware of what that even means? Is justice fighting some demonic cultivators? That’s not even breaking the surface!”

Zhuo Fan pondered, having noticed the wisdom but had yet to unravel its profound meaning. It seemed there was a thick shroud covering his sight, never lifting.

“Kid.”

Danqing Shen sighed, “You have so many girls around you, yet only that lass is a bit special. I thought you were serious about her, but after hearing your story, I’m having second thoughts. Do you feel guilty about her, or is it really love?”

Zhuo Fan frowned and shook his head, “I… I do not know…”

“Ha-ha-ha, you’re still naive!”

Danqing Shen shook his head, “Then let this old man teach you. Close your eyes and recall that perfect moment of bliss and happiness.”

Zhuo Fan did so and relaxed, his mind at peace. Through the stream of memories, he only found two that fit the old man’s question. 

“I have two peaceful memories. One is in the Allbeast Mountain Range, with Ning’er and Xie Tianyang…”

“Ha-ha-ha, three people’s happiness!” Danqing Shen shook his head, “But they are nothing more than your precious friends. That’s not the one. There’s no such thing as happiness between three people. One always finds himself a third wheel. Ha-ha-ha…”

“Then there’s the other, in a run-down house…”

“How many?” Danqing Shen asked.

“Two.”

“Man? Woman?”

“Woman?”

“Who is she?” Danqing Shen shouted now.

Zhuo Fan opened his eyes and his face grew grave.

Danqing Shen laughed, “That one is where your heart is. Whether or not it is this lass, only your heart knows, ha-ha-ha…”

Danqing Shen was gone with that last laugh, leaving Zhuo Fan alone and sighing… 

[What am I supposed to do…]