The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 906: Plot Within Plot

Proofreader: Papatonks

“That sure is fast, passing the second defense line.”

In a quiet little room, an old man caressed his beard while listening in on the outside ruckus. 

A Genesis Stage cultivator saluted, “Dragon Cleaving Sword King, the thieves are quickly on their way here. They’ll reach our line in fifteen minutes.”

“Shangguan clan…”

Danqing Shen’s eyes shone coldly and he said, “I have nothing against them, yet here I am clashing with them. How frustrating.”

The guard merely listened.

Danqing Shen dismissed him by muttering, “Leave, since there’s still time, let me enjoy the remaining minutes in silence.”

“Yes, Sword King sir!”

The guard left, fading into the darkness. Around this room, just like Baili Jingwei’s, hundreds of experts lay in wait, ready to strike. 

On the other side of the manor, Shangguan Feiyun set his forces for an ambush. Hearing the noise in the distance, he closed his eyes to focus on it, wearing a faint smile, “Ha-ha-ha, by the sound of things, it’s those three’s Tri-talent Surging Cloud Art. There’s no way the manor’s barrier can hold them. Those three coots want to get my head quite fast. Think again!”

Shangguan Feiyun mocked, flicking his sleeve and sitting in his chair, “I shall wait right here. We’re all Shangguan clansmen, so let’s see whose Soaring Sword Art is better. Tonight we’ll see who is the strongest, the Three Soaring Cloud Swords of eastern lands or the best in eastern lands?”

Shangguan Feiyun squinted, filled with battlelust.

But no one would be joining him, neither the venerables nor Zhuo Fan.

Since Zhuo Fan used Shangguan Yulin to set up a different act, all to split the two Sword Kings and give him ample room to wiggle. 

With two Sword Kings joining hands, they’d make handling the three venerables of eastern lands a walk in the park. The Shangguan clan could hardly fight back and would collapse then and there.

How was Zhuo Fan supposed to play in these conditions? 

[Since you’re done with them, won’t that make me next?]

Which made this subterfuge a stalling tactic. Zhuo Fan wanted it to stretch for as long as possible, which clearly worked by all appearances.

Rumble~

The whole of the manor shook under the attacks. The table, chairs and cupboards fell, smashing the chinaware on display in Zhuo Fan’s room. 

Peacefully sitting on his bed meditating, Zhuo Fan sported a sudden grin as his eyes flashed open, “That must be my cue, ha-ha-ha…” 

Zhuo Fan climbed out of bed and cracked the door open…

“Damn, did you hear that? Just what could make all that noise? Is there another break in?”

“That has to be it. The same thing happened last time, two months ago. Only this time, it sounds stronger.”

“What about Sword King Feiyun? Should we go guard him? You know how those brothers ended up last time just for being moments slower.”

“Don’t worry about it. Sword King sir has it under control. It’s fine.”

“How do you know?”

“Dumbass, Sword King said it himself in this morning’s warning. No matter what happens, we’re never to leave our post. You could practically feel the premeditation in his tone. Not to mention the manor is stuffed with elites in every shadow. They must have a special task for sure.”

“You’re saying Sword King knew that we’ll be under attack tonight? Why didn’t he notify the guards, strengthen them?”

“Ever heard of baiting, dumbass?”

“But our brothers at the gate…”

“Died for nothing, yes.”

The two guards discussed the ruckus reaching them and sighed at the implications.

“Nobodies like us look haughty posing as the manor’s guards once making our rounds, when in fact we’re all just our lord’s pawns to throw away at a whim. Let’s say Sword King did give us the order to go die, would you refuse? Humph, dying under Sword King’s order will mean going down with honors. Your family will be compensated, their safety assured. But if you cling to life too much, humph, you saw yourself how those brothers two months ago ended up, how their families are in ruins. It’s not as simple as just you dying. Now which of the two endings do you find more worthy?”

Shuddering, the other guard grimaced and shook his head. Now he held a bit of joy in his tone, “I suddenly find the crappy detail of babysitting a Radiant Stage alchemist to be quite nice. At least I get to keep my life, ha-ha-ha…”

The first guard nodded and grinned, though something sad hid behind his smile.

[That might work now, but what about next time?]

“Ahem, lord’s matters are of no concern to us. Now stop the chatter.”

A third guard made his presence known as he walked over to berate them, “A loose tongue will only bring trouble. If you plan on living for years to come, learn how to keep your mouth closed.”

The two guards shook and nodded.

The third guard returned the nod and the mood eased…

Creak~

The door slowly opened and Zhuo Fan stepped out with a peculiar smile.

The three guards looked oddly at him.

[What’s Grandmaster Gu doing showing his face now of all times?]

A guard blocked him, “Grandmaster Gu, what do you need that requires you to leave the room?”

“Ha-ha-ha, nothing much, I just heard the noise and wanted a closer look.”

“Grandmaster Gu, it’s dangerous out there. Please go back inside. We’ll keep you safe!” The guard refused.

Zhuo Fan smirked, “And if I insist?”

The guards were puzzled.

[He’s clearly toying around, but why?]

The only reason they treated a 5th layer Radiant Stage cultivator with such respect was due to Baili Jingwei’s courteous attitude around him.

So they ignored Zhuo Fan’s posing, showing a look of ridicule.

“Grandmaster Gu, please don’t make it any harder than it has to be. Our job is to keep you safe and, if the situation demands it, restrain you. It’s all for your own good. It’s too dangerous out there so please go back inside. Don’t make us use force.” A guard replied respectfully but firmly.

Zhuo Fan chuckled, with a hint of evil inside it that gave them the chills.

[What’s with that laughter?]

“You were saying earlier, that the most worthy death is that done for the manor?”

The trio were stunned. 

[Where’s he going with this?]

“Let me fulfill your wish. I sincerely hope your families have good fortunes from your passing.”

Zhuo Fan ignored the baffled guards, sighing, “Though I find such a death cowardly. Is that what a cultivator that defies the heavens should choose?”

Whoosh~

A shadow extended from Zhuo Fan’s feet that swallowed the guards in a blink. 

Darkness was the only thing that was present in this world.

[Domain soul?]

One of the guards shouted, “Grandmaster Gu, enough games! Take the domain down or we’ll have no choice but to get serious. Won’t the lord make us account for you getting hurt?”

“Account for? Ha-ha-ha, you’re overthinking things. There’s nothing you can explain, ever. Since the only place you’ll be accounted for is right here, right now.”

The distorted mocking voice raised the guards’ hackles. 

[Damn brat, learn when to quit! We don’t want to hurt you. Why all the damn theatrics?]

[But since it came to this…]

A guard shouted, “Grandmaster Gu, you asked for it, so don’t blame me for hurting you.”

He made a fist and punched at the abyss, only to find himself unable to follow through his move, paralyzed. 

The trio cried out, “W-what’s happening? I can’t move!”

“Ha-ha-ha, I guess I forgot to tell you that my domain is a twin domain, unlike any Ethereal Stage cultivator’s. The two intersect and amplify their strength to hold even Soul Harmony experts like you from ever escaping.”

Zhuo Fan’s eerie voice came again, “Though freeing yourself is far easier…”

The darkness crept up their bodies and seeped into their very flesh, gorging on their strength.

The trio wailed in terror, consumed alive by the darkness, they turned into dark statues.

As the blackness faded to give way to the moonlight, Zhuo Fan was the only one present.

A look at the sky and an ear on the ever-increasing clamor, Zhuo Fan smirked as he shot for Jade Falls.

[My turn…]