The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 887: Exposed Again

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Baili Jingwei stood up, his creepy grin driving fear into the five, stopping before the first man, “This is your chance. It all comes down to your fortune if you can grasp it.”

“Speak! What is your answer to Sword King Feiyun’s question?” Baili Jingwei’s sharp eyes glanced at him and roared.

The man was on the verge of crying, pleading, “Prime Minister, Sword King, I’ll never pretend again. I was just trying to seek my luck by omitting some things. I didn’t mean to commit such a crime!”

“Then you should treasure this chance more!”

Baili Jingwei glared at the wronged guy, “Answer Sword King’s question and we’ll let you go!”

Even as he was sweating bullets and shaking like a leaf, he still put on a grieving look, “Sirs, I-I really don’t know. I would never lie to you. Please spare my poor life, great sirs!” 

The guy looked so feeble, so fragile, so victimized. Baili Jingwei turned to Shangguan Feiyun who shook his head.

Shangguan Feiyun hooked his finger and the man in question exploded in a shower of blood and gore out of nowhere. 

The blood splashed everywhere, especially on the other four, soaking them to the bone.

The four shuddered. Feeling the slick and warm blood trickling down their faces, some of them even soiled themselves.

Just one question, that was all it took for a perfectly fine, and alive, man to be reduced to a pulp. The dread shook the remaining survivors to the core.

“Ignorance is a sin. Who’s to blame for not even answering Sword King’s simple question?” Baili Jingwei shook his head as the blood spread on the ground, and walked to the second one. He pulled his shoulder with a grin, “Well, do you know?”

Pa!

Baili Jingwei’s hand felt like the whole world was on his shoulder. His knees softened, his legs felt like jelly, ready to crumble.

Luckily Baili Jingwei was there to hold him straight. Alas, that did not stop the wet feeling coming from his pants.

Frowning, Shangguan Feiyun shunned him and held his nose in anger.

Baili Jingwei laughed, “Ha-ha-ha, afraid? Great, that shows you value life. As you know, you only get to live once. Knowing its value means getting to enjoy living. Now that’s wisdom! Brother, a wise guy like you should know the right answer. Don’t disappoint me!”

“Uh, right….”

Gulping loudly, the guy shook and bobbed his head. His eyes darted all over for the answer. Coming to a decision at long last, he gnashed his teeth.

[Screw it all! Since I’ll die anywhere, I might as well go down fighting!]

The man took a deep breath and cupped his hands in confidence as he roared, “Prime Minister, Sword King, for Shangguan clan’s ancestral memorial, there will be four incense and bathing for an hour!”

Startled, Baili Jingwei was half believing he got his spy from his confident look, so he deferred to Shangguan Feiyun. But the man shook his head.

[Bastard! You dare lie with a straight face? You almost had me. I just knew there’ll be wise guys clinging to life to such extremes. That’s why I had Shangguan Feiyun giving a question only his clan can answer or you might’ve lied your way out.]

Rolling his eyes, Baili Jingwei walked right past him…

“Wrong? But isn’t it three bows to elders and four to those who passed? Everyone gives four incense to their ancestors. Isn’t an hour enough to wash oneself clean? That should be enough respect for the dead…”

Bam!

The guy figured his lie was wrong and started running his mouth for the right answer. But since he wasn’t the target, just collateral, Shangguan Feiyun had no remorse in snapping his finger to repeat the previous gory display once more.

As the sickening splash and foul smell of blood assaulted the three survivors, they were paralyzed in fear. Two of them had no chance of getting the answer right, falling in the pits of despair. 

[We can’t even lie our way out!]

Only Shangguan Yulin hesitated while sweating. As a valued member of the Shangguan clan, he knew all too well about the answer.

If he said it, it proved he was a spy and the enemy would use him. But if he kept his mouth shut, he saw with his own eyes the sordid fate awaiting him when his two friends paved the way in blood.  

To die another day, or suffer now? That was the question. It was a choice he didn’t want to make in his life, or with his life on the line.

He was now at the cruelest point in a man’s life. Regardless of the choice, death was at its end…

Looking at the remaining three, Shangguan Yulin’s behavior was all the more obvious. Baili Jingwei mocked and walked next to him. 

He froze like a statue.

“Keep your hair on, ha-ha-ha…”

Patting his shoulder, Baili Jingwei smiled like a fox, “Brother, you saw your brothers go ahead, right? Life is so precious, but they just didn’t know how to treasure it. What a shame. There must be so many things they wanted to do, but alas, that ship has sailed. You, my friend, are next. Who knows, maybe third time’s the charm and might actually know the answer. Or maybe I’m expecting too much, and you’ll just be walking in their bloody footsteps. How about this? If you have any last wish, let me hear it. I’ll do everything in my power to fulfill it. It’s the least I could do for a handsome chap like me, ha-ha-ha…”

Baili Jingwei was mocking but also slipping triggers inside his speech, all too incite his will to live.

Everyone died, that was life. But dying bitter or at peace differed. The former would leave you hateful while the latter brought you solace.

But a flamboyant and vigorous young master like Shangguan Yulin was bound to have plenty of last wishes.

Now that Baili Jingwei reminded him and woke him up from the crippling fear, he realized he wanted so much more in life. He had yet to be the leader of Shangguan clan, he didn’t get his cousin either. How could he die without rhyme nor reason?

Baili Jingwei’s sharp gaze picked up on his conundrum and capitalized, “A handsome and talented young master. only to die in vain; what a pity. Such a death is like a feather swallowed in the waves of the endless ocean, gone from the people’s minds. The things you wanted will become others’. Isn’t it tragic, for you to die and for others to enjoy your aspirations?”

Shangguan Yulin shook, his heart sinking. 

[Why the hell should I die?]

He was uncle’s real nephew. Dying would lead to successful mission but it would not be him who would be uncle’s right hand, but that profiteering fake nephew, who would get his cousin and rise to the top.

[Why should I give my life for others to gain fortune?]

The image of Zhuo Fan, Shangguan Qingyan and Gu Santong, one happy family was burned in his mind. They would be perfect and live a life of joy, all thanks to his corpse.

Shangguan Yulin’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.

Baili Jingwei grinned, “Sword King Feiyun is a direct descendent of the Shangguan clan. When we attack eastern lands, he’ll be the lord of eastern lands, of course, as the rightful ruler of Shangguan clan. Sword King Feiyun did not forget about his clansmen, each year holding a memorial for his ancestors. All he wishes is for the glory of the Shangguan clan. If a young clansman were to come to him, he’d be welcomed with open arms.”

“Nephew Shangguan Yulin greets uncle!”

Seeing Shangguan Yulin about to cave and his guard lowered, Baili Jingwei struck at his heart with guile. Until Shangguan Yulin fell victim to his desires, and to his knees.

Baili Jingwei and Shangguan Feiyun were overjoyed. They got their spy. And for this guy to say uncle, that meant he was Clan Head’s nephew as well. They got one big catch…