The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 938: Fighting a Sword King

Proofreader: Papatonks

Shangguan Feiyun stopped a thousand meters away with a sardonic smile, “Why, Grandmaster Gu, tired of running, perhaps?”

“When a fight’s unavoidable, no amount of running will change things!” Zhuo Fan smirked back, his one last hurrah before dying. Quite heroic, one might say. 

Shangguan Feiyun grinned, “Fight? Grandmaster Gu, you alright there? Why would you fight me? Do you even have the strength? Ha-ha-ha…”

“Regardless if I have or not, I won’t just let you take me without a struggle!”

Zhuo Fan huffed and held Gu Yifan tighter, “Besides, my name might even travel to every corner, talking about my honorable death fighting a Sword King. What’s the difference from all others you killed, you ask? I, Gu Yifan, have become a 11th grade alchemist at such a young age, a heaven’s favorite one might say. I shall never go down without a few ripples! Ha-ha-ha…”

Shangguan Feiyun eyed him as his cocky words stabbed his ears. He turned to Baili Jingwei and mocked, “I say, Gu Yifan just doesn’t know when to quit, even in death he wants to be on top, remembered through the ages.”

“Youngsters are filled with ambition, there’s nothing odd about that. Between dying nameless like mowed grass and going down with dignity with their name spread throughout the world, anyone would always choose the latter.”

Baili Jingwei smiled, “Grandmaster Gu, you very much know I have a soft spot for talents. You more than qualify to be one. So give us the Soaring Sword and why not think about giving your service to the emperor?”

Baili Jingwei sounded sincere, but all Zhuo Fan did was mock him for it, “Prime Minister Baili does like talents, but in my short year in the central area, I’ve not once heard of any notable brilliant people in Prime Minister’s service. Could it be that the wide and expansive central area has none? Or is it likelier that Prime Minister’s wisdom outshines everyone else’s. That doesn’t sound right either. With sir’s virtuous nature, how can you do that? It’s better to say that sir had been at odds with them when…” 

Shangguan Feiyun hid a snicker while peeking over at Baili Jingwei.

[Gu Yifan sure is a genius. He’s like a god or something to figure it all out.]

Baili Jingwei loved his talents but to a point. He could employ all of them under his wing, but there was just one type that he abhorred the most, those like him, good in politics. He’d strike hard and fast, out of fear of being replaced.

This empire was just not big enough for two Prime Ministers.

Baili Jingwei would’ve happily welcomed Gu Yifan into his fold, so long as he was but an outstanding alchemist and only that. But late events showed time and time again what a twisted and calculative mind he had, not unlike Baili Jingwei. 

By bringing him to the empire, the Prime Minister’s post might just slip from under him.

Gu Yifan had to die here and now beyond any shadow of a doubt. Stealing the Soaring Sword had nothing to do with it, but just because Baili Jingwei found him an eyesore.

“Grandmaster Gu has some good eyes, ha-ha-ha…”

Baili Jingwei’s face twitched, “Since Grandmaster Gu insists on this action, I won’t dissuade you any longer. While I understand you don’t care about yourself, but what about the other life involved? Grandmaster Gu just has to give us the Soaring Sword and I promise your son’s safety.”

Zhuo Fan turned to Gu Santong, seeing the determination in his eyes and chuckled, “Prime Minister, there’s no need to toy with me. My son is just like me and I’m sure you’ve already seen this. Rooting out the weeds isn’t uncommon. None of you would be so willing to let your enemy’s son live, now would you? Ha-ha-ha, Prime Minister should save his breath. The both of us will live or die together in this fight!”

Zhuo Fan used his belt to tie Gu Santong close to him, filled with the will to die. His son was no different.

Shangguan Feiyun was touched by their determination. They were sure to become great in the future.

[A shame it will be cut short today.]

“Since Grandmaster Gu can’t see reason, I’ll oblige!”

Lacking the appreciation a fellow warrior would have of another’s valor, Baili Jingwei signaled Shangguan Feiyun, “Shangguan Feiyun, send them off.” 

Shangguan Feiyun nodded and swiped with his fingers, unleashing a terrible energy rumbling forward, giving the feeling the world might collapse.

Zhuo Fan’s brow shook, watching the fingers intently as sweat trickled down his brow.

He wouldn’t last five moves against Sword King Feiyun, but then again, he wasn’t in it to win, but to survive. Therein lay the slim chance at life.

He was now following the plan he made, but each step was accompanied by mortal danger. One slip and nothing would remain of him.

He found the best solution was to get a mortal wound and then escape, since anyone would disregard a dying person…

Hum~

Waves of power came from those two fingers, shaking the world around them. Zhuo Fan’s right eye flashed in golden halos, ready to act even as sweat poured from his brow.

Shangguan Feiyun’s sword had such power and speed that not even Shift might get him out of the woods.

The only hope of survival was to use it the instant the attack was released. Any later and life was forfeit. Any later and the enemy would notice and just switch directions, resulting in death.

Life and death hung on that one tiny window. There was no room for errors.

Zhuo Fan was under a lot of pressure because of it, as this was his first time facing a Sword King, the peak power of the mortal domain. The soaked back attested to that…

Whoosh~

Shangguan Feiyun moved his fingers in Zhuo Fan’s direction and the sword was released. It was then Zhuo Fan’s Divine Eye of the Void activated.

Just as the attack reached Zhuo Fan, he flickered and was gone. The sword struck the wall of dust behind, blowing it away.

“He dodged it? How?”

Shangguan Feiyun exclaimed. But soon there was a ripple coming from his front.

Zhuo Fan wasn’t going for an escape, but to attack a Sword King!

All of them were shocked.

[How much nerve does this punk have?]

His keen senses made him aware of Zhuo Fan’s location, and although shocked, Shangguan Feiyun used his Yuan Qi again to form sword energy in his fingers even as Zhuo Fan was in the middle of appearing. 

Shangguan Feiyun’s second attack was ready just as he became visible and mocked Zhuo Fan, “Humph, you have some guts to face me instead of running. You must really have a death wish…”

“Thunderflame Void Annihilation!”

His right eye flashed in two golden halos while his right burned, unleashing the attack he had in store.

Hu~

The thunderflame shot for Shangguan Feiyun like a black pillar of death, right for his head. 

Shangguan Feiyun shook from seeing the deadly thunderflame again and his heart jumped in fright. He was frantic in using a Yuan Qi shield, doing anything he could to keep that thing from touching him.

All while his second sword struck Zhuo Fan. At such close range, Zhuo Fan had no chance of dodging or running. Not even his soul would survive this.

This great and deadly power made Zhuo Fan’s face burn and his scalp numb.

It was now reality that had strayed from Zhuo Fan’s flawless predictions. Shangguan Feiyun, who had always been looking down on him so far, had been so scared he began to take the youth seriously.

It was at the same time that he felt threatened from the core of his heart…