The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

"Elder Yuan…"

Shouts were heard in the rundown area of the Labor Office as Zhuo Fan rushed to a shabby door. The door opened with a creak as a familiar figure greeted him.

Elder Yuan sighed and patted his chest, "Oh, so it's Steward Zhuo. What's got you so anxious? You're scaring this old man. I thought I missed giving out Wang Erma's pill. It's not that I didn't want to give him, but he did a poor job on his errands and the executive punished him…"

"Elder Yuan!" Zhuo Fan cut him off and rolled his eyes.

Elder Yuan scratched his head, "Oh, right, Steward Zhuo is a man of ambition and has no time for trifles. Oh, I almost forgot, I heard that Steward Zhuo earned great credit in the Double Dragon Gathering. You should be out there celebrating and not run here…"

"Elder Yuan, I'm leaving." Zhuo Fan interrupted him off again.

Startled, Elder Yuan said, "Leaving? Where?"

"Home." Zhuo Fan sighed, "I already talked with Xie Wuyue. I have done my part and the Demon Scheming Sect is now a middle-three sect. He also let me go."

"Is that so?"

Elder Yuan closed his eyes and sighed in disappointment.

[He still…]

"Elder Yuan, I hoped to say my goodbye to you before I leave. You are the only one I respect in this sect, and the only one that understands me."

Zhuo Fan looked at Elder Yuan's dark face and sighed, "Also, I wanted to ask you an important question. I fear that only you can give me a good answer."

Elder Yuan opened his eyes and smiled. He was no longer sad and was back to his kind self, "Tell me then. If I can help Steward Zhuo, then it's my honor."

"Elder Yuan is too nice."

Zhuo Fan bowed slightly, and was a bit tense as he began, "Elder Yuan, can… demonic cultivators know love?"

Elder Yuan was stumped for a second. "B

y love… you mean, familial, friendship, or… "

"The last one…" Zhuo Fan blushed.

Elder Yuan shook his head, "A love between a man and a woman is of course not possible. It's very dangerous. Why else do you think the Demon Scheming Sect forbids it? "

"I see."

Zhuo Fan felt disappointed and sighed. But then hope rekindled in his eyes, "But someone said that how can you be emotionless if you never knew emotion? You must feel it before you can squash it."

"Who told you that?"

"Danqing Shen."

"Ha-ha-ha, so it was him." Elder Yuan shook his head, "He is the best in western lands, but he is a righteous cultivator, unable to comprehend our demonic heart."

Zhuo Fan's heart sank because Elder Yuan had clearly shot down this theory. It would seem that his final answer to Chu Qingcheng would be a negative one.

But the old man laughed before he got too disappointed, "The expert was right though. No wonder he is the best in western lands. He's gone far."

Zhuo Fan's face twitched. After being thrown in despair, he was brought back up.

"Elder Yuan, can you not toy with me? I'm serious here!"

"Ha-ha-ha, but I'm not. It's you who toys with yourself. Since you already have your answer within you, why ask me?"

Elder Yuan teased, "Steward Zhuo, do you want me to say that there's no harm to your demonic path by feeling love?"

Zhuo Fan tensed and bowed, "Elder Yuan is wise. My heart is treacherous and I ask Elder Yuan to be the judge. An outside perspective sees much more. If this love will harm my path, then I…"

"Will squash it?" Elder Yuan's mocked.

Zhuo Fan hesitated but nodded.

Elder Yuan sighed, "If some youngster came at me with this question, I'd have answered on the spot, that love is taboo for demonic cultivators. Touching it will mean endless pain and torture from which one can't escape. The demonic path is cruel and emotionless and any feelings are its bane. But to you, Steward Zhuo, I offer you one piece of advice. Let yourself go and accept it."

"Why?" Zhuo Fan was stunned.

Elder Yuan shook his head, "Because you're already caught in its grip. Instead of breaking it, take it all if you don't want to have a heart demon."

Zhuo Fan's brow shook in shock.

"Do you know why we, demonic cultivators, warn never to feel love?" Elder Yuan asked Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan shook his head, lost.

"Ha-ha-ha, I don't know either. But after years of pondering, I think I have an inkling. It's not that demonic cultivators can't feel love, but it's better reserved for those advanced players to tackle."

"Eh?"

Zhuo Fan was stumped.

Elder Yuan continued, "At the birth of the world, the righteous and demonic paths came to be. As the human heart has desire, it leads to two different ways to cultivate. The righteous path abolishes desire, to be one with the world, unshackled by any greed. While the demonic path is the opposite, experiencing endless desire through which to break the mortal coil and reach the Dao. In other words, righteous means to be above everything, while demonic implies sinking into it. This shows that the paths are neither good nor evil, but once you enter them, it's easy for desires to be born and end up at their mercy. This is a demon. By overcoming it, you reach Dao."

"So the demonic path means passing through the demon state to reach Dao. What we want to do in the end is to attain Dao. Because it's easy to be constantly tempted along our cultivation journey, we end up being demonic and earn such a bad name. But all those that achieved success in the demonic path are not demons, and certainly won't be like those Four Scheming Demons, pillaging and killing at a whim. Because they had gone beyond in their path and have come closer to Dao."

Zhuo Fan nodded as he understood it.

He used to think the demonic path implied selfishness, but now he saw it was just prejudice. By becoming a demon and rising above greed could one reach the Dao. Zhuo Fan finally saw the path wide open before him.

"As for love, it's nothing by itself, but it's the most tempting desire from which escape is nigh impossible. Many demonic cultivators have been unable to distinguish love from desire and sink further and further, moving away from the Dao. That is why demonic cultivators are so ruthless when it comes to love, not getting anywhere near it. This is because it's hard for anyone to come back from it. To righteous cultivators, this is easier. They walk the path of abandoning all desire, neutralizing the desire and keeping them safe."

Elder Yuan continued, "But you must understand, nothing ventured, nothing gained. The world is cruel but also fair. The demonic path is filled with more pain than the righteous path, so when all these trials are overcome, the demonic cultivator would attain a higher level than a righteous cultivator. "

Zhuo Fan nodded, "In other words, love isn't scary, as long as I don't let it take me."

"Ha-ha-ha, that's besides the point right now, since you're already in it."

Elder Yuan pointed at his heart. "Do you know what a demonic cultivator's greatest heart demon is? Regret. Since you're already taken by love, if you don't settle it, it will turn into regret and will be much worse. As to how you are to escape the maelstrom of love, that will be up to you alone. That's why I said that it is for advanced players only. A child has no place toying with it. But I believe you're the exception. I hope that even if you are taken over by love, you will be able to see your path, and not be like Danqing Shen, almost collapsing because of it, consumed by revenge. Though he's also amazing, getting back on his path in the end, ha-ha-ha…"

Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Fan nodded and bowed, "Thank you for everything, Elder Yuan. I know what to do now. I can finally give her an answer. I feel so much better."

"Ha-ha-ha, I'm only speaking what your heart tells you. It might not be the truth. While there's a demonic and righteous path, the world has thousands of other trails. Who is to say that yours is the right one? That's why it's all up to you to do what you feel is right."

Elder Yuan spoke heavily, "Steward Zhuo, your heart already had an answer but was conflicted under the traditional beliefs. That's why you came to me. But the closer you are to Dao, the fewer people there are understanding it. There will come a time when no one can explain it to you. You will only have yourself to believe in. My past experiences might not be the right path. You will know it when you walk your own road."

Starled, Zhuo Fan bowed again and said, "I will take it to heart."

Zhuo Fan left afterward. His next goal was Mystical Heaven Sect.

Seeing his light steps, Elder Yuan nodded and sighed, "The child has his own road, but why do you keep losing yours, Wuyue…"