The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 1072: Pursuit

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Floating down gently, like a breeze, Bali Yuyu kept her cold eyes on Zhuo Fan as she approached.

The others were tense taking a step back in worry.

Bali Yuyu had been with Zhuo Fan for a while, but they had no idea what went on between them. They were utterly confused whether Frigid Rain Sword King’s bloodthirst was friendly or antagonistic. They just couldn’t figure it out, further raising their anxiety.

[On just what side is this woman standing?]

Sighing, Zhuo Fan put on a smile as he glanced at the approaching Baili Yuyu, “I never expected you of all people to take my side at this time.”

“Are you blind or something? How am I on your side? Humph, narcissist!”

Pausing, Bali Yuyu glared again at Zhuo Fan, but her cheeks were now a bit rosy while her eyes spat fire, “The Patriarch wants your puny life. I came to collect it.”

The rest trembled, looking tense as they watched with hearts in their throat.

Zhuo Fan just shook his head, “You’d have killed me by now if that was the case, and not forced the Crown Prince to leave. And who was that brother, such a loyal Sword King. He knows he’s crossing Baili Yutian yet still agreed to help you? Though your brother’s a bit soft, why did he wish to help you save me yet still spare the Crown Prince’s life? Won’t he be more at ease by removing the star witness?”

“Brother Yulei seems like a rough man usually, but he’s in fact the most friendly among us Sword Kings. The Crown Prince is the pillar of the Baili clan and brother could not just watch him to die.”

Glaring some more, Baili Yuyu had finally reached him, “You’re nothing but evil. He risked so much to help you, yet you still wanted to use him to kill your enemies, his own kin. Have you no sympathy?”

Murong Xue bobbed her head, glaring with hatred at Zhuo Fan.

Ouyang Changqing cleared his throat, “Ahem, sister Xue, please mind the situation. Brother Zhuo is on our side. His death means ours as well.”

“Irresolute and compromising in morals, humph!” Murong Xue turned her sharp glare on him. 

She was opposite of Zhuo Fan, against everything he believed, but she now had to put all these aside as she walked with the devil in these circumstances. This was the result of being helpless, of having the conscience to aspire to the greater good but sometimes becoming utterly powerless against doing anything about it. 

All she could do was to keep herself unmarred by this devil.

Vigilance was what staved off evil. [As the saying goes, good triumphs over evil, but just because someone says it doesn’t mean they aren’t a demon themselves…]

Shrugging, Bali Yuyu’s critique went right over Zhuo Fan, who chuckled, “I don’t have much sympathy to speak of, but I do know how to appreciate you two risking yourselves to help me. I will be sure to return the favor when you are in difficulty.” 

“Screw you! You are the one in difficulty!” Bali Yuyu snapped her sharp eyes on him, refuting his words.

Zhuo Fan shook his head, his eyes shimmering, “Today you helped me and difficulties are still going to come in the future. Ha-ha-ha, anywho, I’ll be sure to remember your help. Now come along!” 

Zhuo Fan turned and put on a grave face, “There’s still a distance to the teleportation array. Let’s move right away!”

“It should be fifteen minutes, even less if we hurry!” Wu Qingqiu added.

Zhuo Fan nodded and waved over Bali Yuyu, “Yuyu, escort them out of here.”

“You’re still ordering me around like a servant?”

“Didn’t you decide to follow me just now?” Zhuo Fan cocked an eyebrow and smiled, “Just like on the caravan trail, listen to my orders. Or you can just take my life like Baili Yutian ordered you to, your choice.”

[Why you…]

Bali Yuyu was conflicted, giving an angry huff, but still walked ahead and roared back at them, “Don’t dawdle and run! Once other Sword Kings notice there will be no escaping!”

Bali Yuyu shot forward, her word though did not carry any rancor.

The others were stumped, but then they came to and hurried after her. When they glanced at Zhuo Fan, they were filled with shock and admiration.

Ouyang Changqing patted Zhuo Fan’s shoulder, “Brother Zhuo, awesome! You’re even poaching from the Invincible Sword’s team, his core members even. It used to be him and Baili Jingwei who did the poaching so far, with Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen running over to their side. Now brother Zhuo had won over Frigid Rain Sword King, giving the four lands a reason to be proud. How did you do it?”

“Uh, good looks.”

Zhuo Fan scratched his beyond average face. He then went to Chu Qingcheng’s side, helping her with Shui Ruohua to rush to the teleportation array.

[Good looks?]

Ouyang Changqing frowned, scratching his own perfect face, mulling, “Brother Zhuo used the honey trap and it worked? Doesn’t that mean with my traits… Uh, was there another woman Sword King in central area?”

Meanwhile, crown prince Baili Jingtian flew with a dark face with Baili Yulei watching him like a hawk.

Three people suddenly showed up and Baili Jingtian cried, “Sword Kings, please wait!”

They paused, which only made Baili Yulei frown. He saw Baili Jingtian’s look and could tell what he was planing.

He couldn’t knock the prince out now, not in front of them.

“Oh, it’s the Crown Prince and brother Yulei, how come you’re together?” The trio looked curiously. The Crown Prince should be with the juniors and no Sword King would just waste time with them.

So why…

The trio scanned them and said in shock, “Crown Prince, your arm…” 

“Don’t remind me!”

Sighing, Baili Jingtian looked morose and in pain as he teared up, “The Patriarch wanted Zhuo Fan’s head, right? So my brothers and I went to get it.”

“You found him?” They gasped and then looked down.

[Curses, doesn’t that mean they got all the credit for themselves?]

“Crown Prince, then you must’ve won then and took his head. Did the other princes take it to the Patriarch for a reward?” 

The tears only grew larger in his eyes as Baili Jingtian shook his head, “What reward when the punk was savage. All my brothers have died at his hands. Even I lost my right arm. It’s only thanks to Thunder Sword King that I still kept my life.”

“What?” The trio gave them a long look, stunned.

[The Crown Prince is the best among his peers, among all the lands. But not even with the other nine princes could he beat that kid?]

[Devil Mountain disciples are anything but normal.]

The shock was brief and their eyes shone again, this time on Baili Yulei with a fake smile and cupped hands, “Then brother Yulei must have taken the credit, congratulations. The Patriarch will be sure to reward you well. Maybe he will even let you observe Sundering Sword for a few months and train. Brother Yulei’s power will be the highest among us, ha-ha-ha….”

Baili Yulei’s face sank against these duplicitous kin of his. All he could do was nod.

“I fear you misunderstand.”

Baili Jingtian recalled the hatred and fury from before and waved, “Thunder Sword King is so noble that seeing me hurt, wanted to take me to safety and recover. I am touched by his dedication to even forgo the great reward.”

“Then the head…” The trio lit up.

With a vile smirk, Baili Yulei pointed behind, his sinister gaze peeking at Baili Yulei, “Frigid Rain Sword King happened to be there. Thunder Sword King let her take the credit. But the kid is quite skilled while Frigid Rain Sword King had been around the kid for a while. She wouldn’t be killing him so soon. She ought to be playing first. If you all…”

“Right, we’ll go there right now!” The trio bobbed their heads, gave a rushed salute and they were off where crown prince graciously pointed.

Baili Jingtian smirked at Baili Yulei in insufferable smugness, “Thunder Sword King, now you can look after me, ha-ha-ha…”

Baili Yulei have a helpless nod and a sigh.

[Yuyu, my hands are tied. Those three won’t let go of such a reward as easy. You’re on your own. If you’re willing to break it off with our clan over that kid, then no one can help you…]