The Steward Demonic Emperor

"Can Steward Zhuo really save them?" Kui Lang hesitated.

Yue Ling stared at the four with the same pleading look.

The four laughed, with Violent Demon sticking out his chest, declaring, "Clearly you haven't been around Steward Zhuo for long, or you'd know. Let us tell you, having worked with him for years. Nothing's impossible for him!"

"Yep, yep, old Li got crippled too after his fight to the death but with Steward Zhuo's whammy he was up on his feet in no time. He even entered the Ethereal Stage!" Wimp Demon bobbed his head.

Scrooge Demon frowned, shaking his head, "I heard that in Tianyu's last war, those old coots got plenty of rewards for their efforts, unlike us, who got called back to the sect and missed out on the fun. Even the power couple have become ethereal… What rotten luck! Why do we always miss out on the good stuff?"

The four lamented their wretched fate.

Kui Lang was still skeptical at all this grandstanding but one thing was for sure, Steward Zhuo was amazing.

The future of these children was in his hands…

"But where is Steward Zhuo now?" Kui Lang bowed in front of the four.

The Four Scheming Demons found it fishy, questioning back, "Aren't you his friends? How do you not know where he is?"

Panicking, the two were tongue tied.

Admitting they had no clue about any steward was something that would have these madmen go back to tearing them apart.

Under the four's glares, the two sighed.

[We'd rather die than say it!]

An awkward mood set in, with Kui Lang and Yue Ling bumbling and the Four Scheming Demons eying them skeptically.

An aged laughter broke the tension, "Executives, Zhuo Fan is not a steward here so they don't know about his previous status."

The Four Scheming Demons nodded, appeased with that answer.

While Kui Lang and Yue Ling were overwhelmed, [The great Steward Zhuo these four have been raving about is Zhuo Fan?!]

They turned their shocked looks at Elder Yuan.

Elder Yuan chuckled, "Now you know. The only hope for these brats is Zhuo Fan. It's a shame that you've offended him and it's hard to tell if he'll even listen to your pleas."

"You offended Steward Zhuo?"

Violent Demon saw their tense faces and kicked them while down, "Ha-ha-ha, you're screwed. Steward Zhuo's temper is the worst, petty about everything. Messing with him will ruin you even if you're friends. You're better off burying these kids than to waste your breath…"

His brothers cackled along, dancing in joy. Like their biggest wish was to see others suffer.

Kui Lang and Yue Ling felt worse as the four kept jeering.

They had brought it on themselves by always looking to poke Zhuo Fan. They were the farthest thing from friends.

Why would he ever help them?

The two sighed in regret, for not treating him better.

Then, Yue Ling perked up and said, "Oh-, Elder Yuan, weren't you and Zhuo Fan always on good terms? Please plead our case and ask this god for help! We are powerless."

Kui Lang looked at Elder Yuan with a hopeful gaze.

And so it came to be that this in-name leader of the Labor Office became the target of these two bosses' ass-kissing.

"You two are usually so high and mighty, not caring about anyone else. Now, at the last minute you've come to little old me. Zhuo Fan might have entered the lowest rung, but he has four loyal servants. You should've thought it through from the start."

Elder Yuan berated them and the two took it like it was natural, bobbing their heads, "We'll take your lesson to heart Elder Yuan. We will change our ways!"

They had an odd feeling all of a sudden. Flattering this obscure old man made him look tall and imposing, making them submit to his words.

"Then I shall help you. His answer will depend solely on your attitude!" Elder Yuan waved.

Kui Lang and Yue Ling were gratified, forgetting the fact that they were bosses of the Labor Office.

And so, the two of them and Elder Yuan went back to the cemetery again while the Four Scheming Demons ended up babysitting the bedridden children at the ingenious words of Elder Yuan.

Why? Because he dangled Zhuo Fan over their heads.

An hour later, the trio entered the creepy cemetery and saw Zhuo Fan on a rock covered in black energy.

Zhuo Fan drew it back with a sneer, "Not even a day has passed and you're already back. What, you're already healed and are itching for a fight? But this time it will have a different ending."

Kui Lang and Yue Ling reddened, falling to their knees and slamming their heads on the pavement, "Forgive our excessive ignorance all this time. We beg Steward Zhuo to let go of the past and save the childrens' lives!"

"No." Zhuo Fan's curt reply came and he swished his head away.

The two were bitter, casting their desperate eyes on their last hope, Elder Yuan.

Elder Yuan caught onto their obvious begging and said, "Sir Zhuo, the childrens' lives are at risk, their future about to cut short. Why wouldn't you save them?"

"Not my problem." Zhuo Fan's stance was like a rock.

Elder Yuan showed a wide smile, "Will sir do it for me?"

"Elder Yuan is a friend expanding on the world's nature. But no matter what, that is a mere debate, not a favor. I will still have to refuse." Zhuo Fan's eyes held no pity.

Kui Lang and Yue Ling panicked.

Elder Yuan muttered, "Then, Sir Zhuo, would you save me if it was me on the death bed instead?"

"Without Elder Yuan, I would have no one to talk to about Dao." Zhuo Fan blurted.

Elder Yuan nodded, "Then may I exchange my life for one of the children?"

"Exchange?" Zhuo Fan turned around, "Elder Yuan, how is it equal?"

"It's not?" Elder Yuan took on the look of a sage, "Heaven treats everyone with equal cruelty. For the strong, life is but a statistic. As long as this number is stable, life thrives. I will die for their life, or they will live for my death. No one will care when it's the same result."

"Demons are the source of all evil, they represent destruction of everything we know. But from the ashes, new life emerges. Demons have their own path. All the death they spread brings life, it is all in accordance to the natural way. Now, I give my old bones for the young one's future."

Zhuo Fan stared hard and muttered, "The demonic path represents destruction and bears life. This cruel world that the demons are ruining, they are in fact nurturing life. Carrying all the sins and turning demonic…"

Zhuo Fan smiled, "Death for life and destruction for the world's sake. Elder Yuan, you have helped me so I shall help. You don't have to give your own life."

Kui Lang and Yue Ling were overjoyed. Elder Yuan laughed, "Sir Zhuo, will you help one or both?"

"After saving one, I reckon Elder Yuan will want to give his life for the other. So I'll just save them both." Zhuo Fan grinned.

The two were exuberant, their smiles growing all the way to the ears. Elder Yuan laughed and nodded. [He's so smart, able to understand it on the spot…]

Meanwhile, Liu Xu stood on a precipice, watching white bearded elders fly by with a sour mood.

Hu Mei'er came over, annoyed, "Curses, the elders are finally on patrol and all we needed was for those two to waltz in and we would've finished them. Attacking an inner disciple is a death sentence. But those rotten lunatics butted in. What a waste."

"Their punishment is about to end and if we are too late, they will make a comeback. It will be a threat to us and to securing the elite spots." Liu Xu squinted.

Hu Mei'er nodded, her eyes glinting with cruelty, "Second senior brother, we haven't even looked into Zhuo Fan's background. I wonder which elder or Venerable's ward is he. Maybe…"

"Test the waters by framing him." Liu Xu cut her off with a devious grin…