The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

Dang~

Crisp sounds came from far and wide.

Bam!

A golden light flashed from the depths of a stream, revealing Ye Lin’s tense look. He was covered in golden flames as he slowly withdrew them within himself.

Ye Lin looked in the distance, “What’s gotten the Exalted so anxious to call a meeting of everyone in Double Dragon Manor? An enemy attack perhaps?”

Thinking it over, Ye Lin flew for Heaven Reaching Pavilion.

[He-he-he, this should be fun.]

Hu~

In another part, colored lights faded to reveal three lithe figures. Through much toil this past year, Chu Qingcheng, Shui Ruohua and Dan’er finally entered the Ethereal Stage.

“Qingcheng, Empty Spirit Body is amazing. We’re fresh Ethereal Stage cultivators but together we can even fight one in the 6th layer.”

Shui Ruohua revealed a wide smile.

Catching her breath, Chu Qingcheng wiped her brow, not relaxing for a moment as she shook her head, “Still not enough. This isn’t nearly enough to face the guardians of the lower-three sects, let alone an entire sect.”

“Qingcheng, you still want the Demon Scheming Sect…” Shui Ruohua sighed, “You have to understand already that the Exalted won’t ever let you do this. Double Dragon Manor is already conceding more than enough by allowing Xie Wuyue to be taken down and putting Zhuo Fan’s spirit to rest.”

Dan’er nodded, “Western lands has its rules. No matter how strong our array is, we still can’t destroy its core. We’ll end up being hunted down.”

“I don’t care. None who harmed Zhuo Fan shall escape!” Chu Qingcheng’s eyes flashed with hatred, her fists clenched. “For my late husband’s revenge, anything is worth it, even becoming western lands’ enemy!”

The two girls sighed, “We’ll have to leave western lands together…”

“Senior sister…”

“You don’t have to say it. A sister in need is a sister indeed. You want to betray western lands and we shall stand with you all the way.”

Shui Ruohua held her shoulder with a giggle, “Besides, Zhuo Fan sure left a good impression. If not for you two being together and us being sisters, I’d might have made a move. Revenge for one’s husband doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Hi-hi-hi, senior sister, you finally admit it. You like your junior sister’s husband!” Dan’er teased.

Shui Ruohua raised an eyebrow, bit back, “You’re one to talk, always sticking so close to her husband. Don’t think for a second your innocent act fooled anyone…”

“As if…”

“You’re still denying it?”

The girls burst out laughing. Chu Qingcheng felt comforted having them around, the only two sisters who would go with her…

The sound of a bell echoed in the distance, startling them. They rushed towards Heaven Reaching Pavilion.

It was their first time hearing the bell being sounded, knowing it was only rung in dire situations…

The bell’s ringing reached one particular pond.

Once the blaze faded, Yan Mo’s stern face was revealed. A breeze went by and Wu Qingqiu appeared as well.

“Did something happen?”

“We’ll know when we get there.”

They flew in the bell’s direction as well.

People from all around the Double Dragon Manor had heard the call and answered by converging to Heaven Reaching Pavilion.

The Exalted sat on their main chairs, with the elders seated just below them. Behind them were Chu Qingcheng and all the other disciples Double Dragon Manor had taken in to nurture. The image was complete with some laborers who bowed at the further end.

The Exalted scanned the crowd to see all had come. Their faces were grave, finding it hard where to begin.

“Lords, what has happened to warrant an urgent meeting?” One elder bowed.

Exalted Hei Ran took out a jade slip, sighing, “News just arrived that in just six months, the western lands’ lower-three sects, Beast Taming Sect, Demon Scheming Sect and Mystical Heaven Sect had been wiped out overnight. There are no survivors.”

[What?!]

Panic spread among the crowd, with the elders whispering among each other. Order had been instilled ever since the nine sects of western lands came to be, preventing anything remotely as grave as this from taking place. So how all of a sudden…

Chu Qingcheng’s group was taken aback for a moment before smiling.

[The criminals behind Zhuo Fan’s death had been put down before we could. Is this providence?]

[Ha-ha, good for them!]

Ye Lin was looking mighty uncomfortable, to say the least.

[Oh hell, don’t tell me elder brother did it. Master had him go around setting arrays but he went for revenge first.]

[Not that it has anything to do with me. I do wonder, though, was it really possible for him to actually kill every last one of them?]

f𝒓𝑒e𝓌e𝚋𝘯૦𝘷e𝗹. c૦𝒎

[Won’t that mean elder brother got even stronger? I better put my back into it before he leaves me way behind.]

Ye Lin’s mind was set.

“Exalted, was this done by an insider or by other lands?” Wu Qingqiu stood up.

Exalted Bai Mei nodded, appreciating his valor. While others were too overwhelmed, he was focused on unraveling the problem. “It’s too soon to tell, but I suspect it wasn’t done by anyone from western lands. There’s just too few that can actually do it. A simple investigation is sure to expose them, and they would never go that far either. This only leaves other lands as the probable suspects.”

Wu Qingqiu nodded, having reached the same conclusion. This was the only logical explanation.

“I bet it was a ghost!”

The snort drew everyone’s attention to Ye Lin’s mocking look.

They gave him a weird look then Wu Qingqiu asked, “Little junior brother, why do you say that?”

“Uh, nothing. It’s just that I find these sects odd.”

Ye Lin darted his eyes around before saying, “Just think about it. Beast Taming Sect aside, the other two lower-three sects had all engaged in murder just a year ago.”

The Exalted exclaimed at once, “Zhuo Fan!”

“Zhuo Fan?”

Chu Qingcheng swayed, her gaze vacant as she looked at Ye Lin, “W-what are you trying to say?”

Ye Lin and Zhuo Fan had a bone to pick in Double Dragon Gathering which made Chu Qingcheng give him the cold shoulder in Double Dragon Manor. It was certainly odd to hear this ever silent man talk of his own accord.

Ye Lin glanced over. Zhuo Fan had warned him to not say anything about him, but at the end of the day, this woman was his elder brother’s wife. The least he could do was offer some comforting words to his sister-in-law.

Gazing into Chu Qingcheng’s hopeful eyes, Ye Lin spoke, “I’m saying that it’s possible that someone took revenge for Zhuo Fan. Or, his ghost did it instead. How else could an entire sect have not a single soul survive. It’s too strange, especially when it’s filled with Ethereal Stage experts.”

The Exalted shook.

[Why didn’t we think of that?]

It might be revenge for the cruel event involving the Demon Scheming Sect, Mystical Heaven Sect, Heaven Trailing Sect and Universal Righteous Sect.

[Did that make Beast Taming Sect a smokescreen?]

“Won’t that mean the next target is…” Exalted Hei Ran panicked. Exalted Bai Mei appeased him, “Don’t get too excited. Heaven Trailing Sect isn’t like the other three. It’s a middle-three sect, with plenty of Soul Harmony experts. They’ll be fine. Still, we’ll have to look into this event thoroughly. It will have a great impact on western lands’ order.”

Exalted Bai Mei looked below, “I’m forming an investigation team to look into these three sects. The team will be led by an elder, taking disciples along as a trial.”

“I will go!”

Chu Qingcheng was the first to speak, her eyes shining with hope. Ye Lin’s words made her want to see just who took revenge for her late husband. Who would go as far as destroy three sects?

But what she really wished for was the avenging ghost Ye Lin talked about…

Chu Qingcheng’s heart jumped.

Ye Lin grinned.

[Elder brother, I didn’t say anything…]