The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 923: Renegotiations

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Ugh!

Shangguan Qingyan’s heart sank, stuck on what would be a good response. She wanted to start off by making Zhuo Fan sound good and get her clan to change their impression of him. This way, the request wouldn’t sound so harsh.

Now her dad wouldn’t even let her speak her intention. The two might even come to blows. It was like bringing fire to gunpowder.

[What do I do?]

Shangguan Feixiong noticed her hesitation, “You don’t know? After escorting you, did he leave or not?”

“Father, please calm down first. You have to only just talk with him. He could have his own share of problems.”

Shangguan Qingyan didn’t reply, trying to mediate in Zhuo Fan’s stead. Shangguan Feixiong got the gist of it, “So he’s outside? With who?”

“We met two clansmen and are watching…”

“Damn it!”

Shangguan Feixiong clenched his fists and rushed out. The other elders and experts, venerables included, went with.

“Whenever kids clash, it always leads to a fight. Gu Yifan must be…”

Shangguan Feixiong frowned and Shangguan Qingyan was happy at his reaction, “Father, are you worried about Mister Gu? Great, so you don’t hate him. But don’t worry, I already warned them. They won’t do anything to Mister Gu and wait for you to come.”

“Worried about him? Ha!”

Shangguan Feixiong snapped, annoyed, “The last few days we spent interrogating that bastard Yulin. Now we know that Gu Yifan destroyed him in one strike. There’s no way the two guards can even harm him. Once they fight, they’ll only get killed. The Shangguan clan will never allow anyone to trample over us!”

Shangguan Qingyan jerked and stuck her tongue, “I told you that I warned them. Mister Gu came to see you as well so he won’t make a scene…”

“Warn? Do you actually think some hotheaded youth will just listen just because some wench told him to?”

Shangguan Feixiong sighed, “Boldness is good for youths, but too much leads to recklessness and unforgiving mistakes. Second elder, are those two yours? No matter what happens, you have to stay calm. We’ll handle it after we know his reason for being here.”

The elder in question nodded at once, “Clan Head, I’ve been cultivating for so long now, my mind is like a rock. You still don’t know me?”

[Ha-ha-ha, it’s because I know you too well that I’m warning you. You never once smoothened your nasty temper all these years!]

Shangguan Feixiong shook his head.

The Shangguan clan’s big men made their grandiose entrance, or exit, outside. They all looked tense, like they were meeting another big faction.

Shangguan Qingyan clicked her tongue.

[What’s up with them? Father’s more than enough to see Mister Gu. What’s the need of coming out in full force?]

Her tiny mind was still telling her that Zhuo Fan was her peer, waiting for his punishment like any disciple in the wrong. He was no different from Shangguan Yulin, who was also a traitor. 

Shangguan Feixiong’s thinking was different. For the job he planned on Flying Cloud manor, the Shangguan clan saw Shangguan Yulin as a spy, but not Zhuo Fan. Zhuo Fan ended up being the master in the shadows.

He was the third party in the clash between the manor and the Shangguan clan. Not to mention he made a fool out of the greatest sage in the empire, Baili Jingwei.

There was nothing reasonable about judging Zhuo Fan. Not when he exceeded the limits within which any normal youth should operate. He was a faction leader in his own right.   

Their coming in force at Zhuo Fan was not in any way to label him a traitor, but to negotiate from one leader to another.

It sounded ridiculous to anyone’s ears. 

[Hundreds of your Genesis Stage experts are coming out to see a Soul Harmony Stage kid at best? And for what, negotiations?]

That there was the problem. He wasn’t just of Soul Harmony Stage strength, but a calculative man of Baili Jingwei’s level. Wasn’t Prime Minister Baili worthy of their talks?

It only gave Zhuo Fan more value.

One other aspect was worth mentioning. The Soaring Sword was with him and that left them with even fewer choices. They refused to believe a youth shrewd enough to clash with Baili Jingwei would let his hormones do the talking and hand it over just because hundreds of experts were giving him mean looks.

As such, negotiations…

Hum~

Shangguan Feixiong’s group opened the barrier and came out in power. But then his face twitched.

The worst case scenario he pictured came true…

Zhuo Fan was just casually standing next to a bush. The problem started when one looked down at the blood under his feet. The two young Shangguan clan guards were battered and bleeding on the ground, giving an on and off groan to signal they were still in this world.

One was sure that even they were baffled how a Radiant Stage youth would just wreck them like nothing.

Their eyes were filled with sorrow and pain, but no amount would change reality…

[The info came too late. We didn’t get to notify the clan of his strength. Damn it, just where did this pair of monstrous son and father come from? One’s freakier than the next!]

The elders sighed. The elder declaring his rock steady nerves to Shangguan Feixiong was now boiling at the humiliation his disciples were given. His mighty aura of a Genesis Stage expert was on full display.

Zhuo Fan spared the man no glance, laughing and being friendly, “Uncle, these three days felt like years. Did you miss me, ha-ha-ha…”

“Cut the bullshit! I saw exactly what you are three days ago. Stop with the damn acting, Gu Yifan!” Shangguan Feixiong’s face tensed and snapped, “Why are you here? What’s your angle?”

Zhuo Fan paused in his step, revealing a bright smile.

Shangguan Qingyan interjected, in hopes of easing the tension, “Father, Mister Gu cared about my safety and walked me back…”

“Nah, I asked her to lead me here to chat with Shangguan Clan Head.”

Zhuo Fan didn’t let her sugarcoat it and cut her good intentions short. With his words, his tone grew colder as well, “Shangguan Clan Head, I have an offer for you. Interested?”

Shangguan Feixiong stared at the cold and savage face, “Speak.”

“Then I’ll be blunt.”

Zhuo Fan began, “For the sake of your precious daughter, my son was captured by Shangguan Feiyun. As the Shangguan clan is a clan devoted to righteousness, wouldn’t it be natural for you to return the favor and help me save my son?”

Shangguan Qingyan shook. 

[Mister Gu is risking so much for his son. He came to see dad for this]

“Yeah, for me, young Sanzi…”

“This doesn’t concern you. Leave!”

Shangguan Feixiong cut her off, staring hard at Zhuo Fan, “Ha-ha-ha, save my daughter? You two used her as bait to control my clan. We’ve danced to your tune for the better half of a month and cost the lives of so many of my people. If I could, I would give up my daughter in exchange for their lives. Now you want us to take such a high risk for saving my daughter? Whatever for?”

Shangguan Qingyan shook, gasping at her father’s words. Her heart was in pain, hanging her head and shedding tears in distress. 

[Father cares more about others than me.] 

This was her father, devoted to good. 

[If I could give my life for them, then I would…] 

Shangguan Qingyan’s heart was crushed, but understood that this came for what her clan believed in.

Shangguan Feixiong paid her no heed, still glaring in anger at Zhuo Fan.

The elders declared, “We will follow our righteous Clan Head to death!”

Righteous?

Zhuo Fan quirked an eyebrow as he searched Shangguan Feixiong’s eyes. He wasn’t buying it.

[Throwing away your flesh and blood for mere sympathy points. Hypocrite!]

[Nothing more than a trick of negotiation. Did you really think I’d fall for that gimmick? Humph…]