The Steward Demonic Emperor

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Xue Dingxian was fuming, his hands shaky, his face all red.

Baili Jingwei just arrived to see the petty Meng Feitian and held his head, “Wasn’t he supposed to have a post in the imperial family’s alchemy department? What’s he doing here?”

“Prime Minister sir, after hearing the Sword Star Empire is selecting alchemists from every corner, Sir Meng resigned his post in the imperial capital and came to join. He said he wanted to start all over again.” A guard chuckled.

Sighing, Baili Jingwei shook his head, “These crotchety geezers are nothing but weirdos. He was doing just fine in the imperial capital, so why the hell would he quit it all just to go back to it all over again? God knows what’s cooking in that brain of his.”

Baili Jingwei looked around and walked over to Meng Feitian with cupped hands, “Old Meng, it’s been a while.”

“Hm? Oh, there’s someone else who knows me? You won’t get far sticking close to me, boy.”

Meng Feitian frowned, but as he turned, he shivered, “S-sir Baili…”

Signaling to keep quiet, Baili Jingwei laughed, leaning on him, “Old Meng, the last time we saw each other in the imperial capital. How have you been lately?”

“Thank you, Prime, uh, young master for your concern. I’ve been doing very well, ha-ha-ha…”

Wiping his brow, Meng Feitian’s smile was strained. Xue Dingxian gave him a funny look.

[What’s with the usual smug Meng Feitian looking so scared all of a sudden? A look at this youth and he has him shaking in his boots.]

He scanned Baili Jingwei with quizzical eyes.

“Old Meng, I heard you’ve done well for yourself in the imperial capital. Why leave and come here? Didn’t you earn your place in the imperial family?”

Baili Jingwei’s eyes flashed as he patted Meng Feitian’s shoulder, questioning him.

Shuddering, Meng Feitian was put on the spot, “He-he-he, I’ll be honest. Since the Crown Prince suffered an incident, he’s been isolated and no alchemist in the imperial family was allowed to check on him. We were baffled. When we heard alchemists were being selected across the empire, we thought we were inadequate. So I resigned stubbornly to come here and prove once again my value and not let others pass me.”

“Oh, really?”

Baili Jingwei raised a mocking eyebrow, “Why then all the way to Sword King Feiyun’s place? Of the nine domains, you oughtn’t be here.”

Meng Feitian’s face twitched, staying silent.

Xue Dingxian stepped closer, explaining, “Young master, this coot wants to compete with me. He and I have been studying under the same master, always competing, always excelling. But in the last competition in the imperial capital, he got five spots ahead of me, entering the imperial family while I failed. Despite the regret, I had no choice but to accept it. Once more, this rare occasion presents itself and I joined with high hopes, but who ever thought this eyesore would show up and ruin things. But he’ll be sorely disappointed if he thinks this will be a repeat of last time.”

“As if, this win will be mine again!” Meng Feitian was annoyed, flaring his nose.

Baili Jingwei got the gist of it.

[Two rivals testing their mettle.]

The fact remained, for Meng to resign from the imperial capital showed just how much he cared about his rival.

Baili Jingwei patted Xue Dingxian’s shoulder in encouragement, “Oh, a fellow brother of Old Meng, and only five spots shy of him in alchemy. Senior must be a true grandmaster then. A shame the last competition ended like that, but this time will be different. I hope you will both strive hard for the empire. That’s all I want, ha-ha-ha…”

Baili Jingwei left with a smile.

Xue Dingxian looked at Meng Feitian with a skeptical look, “Old man, who exactly was that youth?”

“What do you mean who? You’ll know once you enter the imperial capital.”

Meng Feitian gave him a look and said, “Since a man of his greatness does not want to reveal himself, I can only oblige. And so should you.”

Xue Dingxian’s face fell and mocked, “What greatness? Look at you, knowing all the secrets of the empire. But isn’t it just being a royal alchemist? If you lose to me this time, that spot will be mine.”

“He-he-he, when pigs fly!” Meng Feitian mocked.

Baili Jingwei walked before the crowd, with guards converging from around to protect him.

The clamor stopped then and there, with all eyes on the youth. Zhuo Fan was watching him too, his eyes shaking.

[He feels… oddly familiar…]

Stepping on stage, Baili Jingwei waved his hand for them to settle down, “Alchemists coming here from every corner of the central area, I’m gratified for your devotion to His Majesty, your desire to help the Crown Prince in time of need, and efforts for the empire. I shall be presiding over the alchemist selection at the Flying Cloud manor!”

The people started whispering, looking lost.

[Who is this kid? Isn’t the Pill King Convention important? Shouldn’t there be someone with more renown leading it? Why is this kid here instead? What about Sword King Feiyun?]

Baili Jingwei easily read their minds, “The Pill King Convention has three rounds to select the best ten alchemists to go to the imperial capital and heal His Highness. The preliminary and second rounds shall be overseen by me, while the last will be presided by the Sword King in person. A man of Sword King’s renown will only meet those worthy of his time.”

That set the crowd aboil.

It wasn’t just about the Pill King Convention here, but about their worth. If they couldn’t reach the last round, they would be seen as nothing, unworthy of the Sword King’s attention?

Many of the ambitious candidates had a fire lit under them.

Baili Jingwei approved. By getting all worked up, it would force Shangguan clan’s spy to stand out.

Baili Jingwei’s eyes flashed as he smiled. He waved and a thousand guards carried trays to the alchemists, with a simple storage ring on it.

“What? So many precious ingredients, rare treasures and even ingredients for a 10th grade pill!” The people scanned the rings and cried out.

The crowd once again stirred in excitement. Many of the alchemists here were dirt poor. It would’ve been a miracle if they ever got their hands on a 10th grade ingredient, let alone the pill.

They got to touch such precious ingredients in this Pill King Convention. Their lives were complete.

Baili Jingwei watched them with a grin, pointing out alchemists to his guards, “Kick them out!”

“Yes, sir!”

The guards moved with purpose, hoisting the alchemists like some chickens and dragging them outside the manor.

The people were indignant, to say the least, “What’s going on? Why are you throwing us out?”

“You’ve been eliminated.” Baili Jingwei smiled.

The men complained, “Why? We haven’t even started refining so why kick us out?”

“Alchemy needs a calm mind. If you can’t even control your joy from seeing 10th grade ingredients, it only shows you’re not great alchemists.” Baili Jingwei disdained.

The men kicked out naturally responded in a bout of rage, “Screw you! We’re just poor alchemists, not like you, in the lord’s employ. Who wouldn’t be excited to see such great ingredients? I won’t accept your rule…”

Baili Jingwei shook his head.

The crowd whispered. The Pill King Convention turned out to be harsher than they realized, even involving an alchemist’s joy.

“Wow, it’s my first time being at such a tense competition.”

Shangguan Qingyan smacked her lips.

Zhuo Fan nodded with a smile. But looking back at Baili Jingwei on stage, he turned grave.

It might look like it was out of requirement of an alchemist, but what Baili Jingwei did was eliminate the ones less likely to be Shangguan clan spies.

Shangguan clan was the best clan in eastern lands. No way they would bat an eyelid in front of some meager 10th grade ingredient.

So while it looked to be selecting alchemists, it was more to filter Shangguan clan spies.

[I just knew the Pill King Convention was a trap.]

“Now I know why I found him familiar. He’s just like Zhuge Changfeng.” Wearing a crooked smile, Zhuo Fan shook his head.

[The kid is something alright…]