The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

In the silent and cold hall, the glorious and dazzling throne struck a lonely figure. Xie Wuyue sat there, running his hands over its cold texture with a pleased grin.

[This seat is finally mine again.]

"Sect Leader!"

An aged voice came from behind, "It's been months since we last heard of anything from the men we sent to pursue those traitors in Tianyu. I fear…"

Xie Wuyue's brow shook. "Tianyu? Humph, I almost forgot that Zhuo Fan came from there. Those ignorant fools must've sided with the traitors. How else could those weak fools escape from my palm? Venerable Shi, contact Heaven Trailing Sect and Mystical Heaven Sect to send more men. It's time we change our representative in Tianyu."

"Yes, sir!"

Venerable Shi nodded and was about to withdraw when a disciple rushed inside. He presented a jade, "Sect Leader, Double Dragon Manor sent word!"

"Double Dragon Manor?"

Xie Wuyue mocked, "Just what has that Universal Righteous Sect done? They even let those girls escape and report to Double Dragon Manor. Not that it matters, humph. Double Dragon Manor's elders are coming to investigate. We'll just stick to our story, making them the traitors. I have been Sect Leader for centuries, it's the least my status can do. The only one who could speak up, High Venerable had been silenced forever. They can look into us all they want, it'll still be as I say it. This has been an internal fight, resulting in the death of High Venerable. They won't meddle in that, ha-ha-ha…"

Venerable Shi nodded, "Sect Leader is brilliant!"

"Yes!"

Xie Wuyue nodded, looking smug. Then he read the jade and burst out laughing, "It's just like I thought. Double Dragon Manor warns us not to go too far. What worry can I have when they won't do anything?"

Pa!

The jade slip was thrown to the ground like trash and Xie Wuyue mocked.

Venerable Shi smiled, "Sect Leader, Double Dragon Manor has been respected by the nine sects because of their strength, but also fairness, not involving itself in a sect's matter. This is also what ties its hands. As long as we paint it as having traitors, they can't do anything. Or who would've respected them, turning the entire western lands into chaos. This is something they want to avoid at all costs."

"You're right, Venerable Shi. The plan has been thought out, ha-ha-ha…" Xie Wuyue waved his hand, "Get it done. Make sure you get those dregs tied to Zhuo Fan…"

"Report!"

Another shout came followed by another disciple. He held a jade slip as he bowed.

Xie Wuyue was dubious as to who would send one now.

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But after reading it, his rage blew. He smashed the jade to the ground and cursed, "Damn that Sangha Empire! Only months before they begged Demon Scheming Sect's men to come and now they go back on their words, refusing us…"

"Is it the great empire of the previous superior-three sect Universal Righteous Sect?"

"Those rotten bastards!" Xie Wuyue cursed, "I never thought a great empire would actually resort to being so shameless."

Venerable Shi scratched his nose and shook his head.

Report~

Then came a long string of shouts as disciples came in one after the other before Xie Wuyue.

Xie Wuyue had a sinking feeling, but took them one at a time. Yet after each one, his anger only spiked higher before smashing them to pieces.

"This is absurd! What's going on with all of these empires? We've talked and agreed on something, to be under our protection, now they're all backing out? Even those middle-three sects empires I ignored when the superior-three sects empires were fighting over us now dislike us. Just what the hell is going on here?"

"Sect Leader!"

Venerable Shi was quite calm, "Maybe they think that without Zhuo Fan, there's no growth."

Xie Wuyue glared at him, "What did you say? They did it for Zhuo Fan? No way! Demon Scheming Sect's Sect Leader is me, Xie Wuyue!"

"Sect Leader, stop lying to yourself."

Venerable Shi shook his head. "Zhuo Fan showed off in the Double Dragon Gathering, destined to be the best in western lands. Those empires were fighting to be under his wing, not under a lower-three sect meant to grow into a middle-three sect. Without Zhuo Fan, our value dropped sharply, making them back down."

"Shut your mouth!"

Xie Wuyue spat, "You dare say that? Don't forget the sect has reached middle-three sect status under my rule!"

Venerable Shi nodded, "Yes, Sect Leader had done great things, but your greatest achievement was bringing Zhuo Fan."

Xie Wuyue's face twitched, about to spit blood.

"Sect Leader, I'm not here to criticize you, but as a Sect Leader you need to understand your limits."

Venerable Shi laughed, "To be fair, I must agree on Zhuo Fan replacing you. High Venerable had made the right choice. You became a Sect Leader to begin with because there was no one else better. Now that one appeared, a change was in order. As to why I have been always against Zhuo Fan, wanting to kill him, that's because he's my enemy. But regarding competence, I admire him wholly."

"Venerable Shi!"

"Also!"

Venerable Shi snickered as Xie Wuyue shouted, "Sect Leader, your temper better change. As you know, the entire sect is now made up of us, old guys. I helped you get your seat, now just sit on it and not stir things up like before. When you want something that's not yours to begin with, there's always a price to pay, ha-ha-ha…"

Xie Wuyue was livid from anger, glaring as Venerable Shi just walked away. He then slumped in his lone and cold throne.

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He got his seat, but that was it…

"Report!"

Yet another disciple rushed in and Venerable Shi blocked him. "Let me take those jade slips. Sect Leader needn't bother."

"Uhm, yes!" The disciple nodded and Xie Wuyue shook in rage and powerlessness.

Reading it, Venerable Shi pondered before saying, "Sect Leader, Sect Leader Ren is telling us not to make a scene in Tianyu and upset the peace between the three sects. And that from now on, Tianyu's tribute to us is ten percent lower."

[What?]

Xie Wuyue jumped to his feet. Venerable Shi sighed, flicking the jade slip backward as he walked away, "It seems Tianyu has some smart people to string Heaven Trailing Sect along…"

Meanwhile, in Blackwind Mountain…

As a show of good faith, Luo Yunhai took Venerable Bai's group to where war puppets were made, in the bunker. But war puppets were no longer here, replaced now by a sparkling mountain of crystals.

"Scared stones?!"

Fiend Yang cried out, "H-how did you get so many?"

Luo Yunhai looked at him perplexed, "This is a lot? After attacking Mystical Heaven Sect, brother Zhuo saw our heavy losses and gave us a million of these rocks, saying they had way more spiritual energy than common spirit stones. They should help us raise many experts in a short time and recoup our losses. I was not sure what he meant then, though they sure have some good uses."

"We've just put them all here in bunker for a couple of days and already had a good few Radiant Stage elders enter Ethereal Stage. Using them for arrays, they also boost their power quite a bit."

"A… million…"

Face twitching, Fiend Yang grabbed Luo Yunhai's hands, touched to tears, "Luo Clan Head, we'll follow you. I bet only Double Dragon Manor would have so many sacred stones in western lands. No superior-three sect could come close. With these resources, our power will rise higher and higher. Damn that Zhuo Fan! He lied to us, whining on his poverty, that cheapskate, when he could take out so many. If I knew, what was the point of going to Double Dragon Gathering anyway?"

The others nodded, then they crowded around Luo Yunhai, proclaiming their lifelong allegiance to the Luo clan. Luo Yunhai nodded in reflex, still shocked.

[Are these baubles that enticing?]

Seeing them so lively, two figures left the bunker in silence.

They looked at the setting sun in sadness. Shuang'er noticed her grief and said, "Don't worry, sister Yunchang, with so many sacred stones, brother Zhuo will be avenged."

"What's the point? It won't bring him back…"

Tearing up, Luo Yunchang's empty eyes reflected the fading twilight…

In the Double Dragon Manor, Chu Qingcheng and the two girls watched the same sun, their eyes filled with unwillingness.

Footsteps were heard as Wu Qingqiu came from behind, "Miss Chu, are you dissatisfied with Double Dragon Manor's method? Who here isn't? Brother Zhuo's death is unjust, but we must also take into account Double Dragon Manor's stance. It involves four sects. Then there's grave news from eastern lands and their unrest. The Exalted have no choice but to settle western lands first."

Clenching her teeth, Chu Qingcheng said nothing, her eyes hazy from tears of hatred…