The Steward Demonic Emperor

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“Uh, you’re too kind, uncle. It’s my honor to give my services to Shangguan clan, ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan waved his hands around. He might sound humble but the broad smile betrayed his thoughts.

Shangguan Feixiong chuckled and shook his head. Zhuo Fan looked like was still up to his old habits, unlike their blue bloods cultivators, but he had to admit the kid had done a great merit to him. A feat no other clansman could take from him.

This alone made the details unimportant. They’d be adressed in the following days anyway. Even if he had the habits of a common man, the true style of a young master would be instilled into him in the coming years, and not shame Shangguan clan.

Shangguan Feixiong found Zhuo Fan all the more pleasing, laughing. The same went for the rest of the people here, all welcoming now.

It was not their fault all of Shangguan clan’s heroes sucked for the job and only he could do it. The step nephew of the Clan Head had risked life and limb for the clan. It was strange if they didn’t welcome him. Using one’s life to prove oneself had that effect on people.

The constant looks of disdain in the recent past had now been replaced with approval. Some had yet to even stop clapping.

With a slow step, someone came behind Zhuo Fan and patted his shoulder.

Zhuo Fan looked back at Shangguan Yulin. Only to find not an ounce of hostility in his eyes, even cupping his hands, “Brother Gu, congratulations. Your great efforts had given the Shangguan clan stuck in despair a way forward. You have also helped me by covering my mistake.

“If not for you entering the manor, I, who has failed, would be condemned by the clan. Who knew how many lives would be lost as we burst into the manor blindly. Brother Gu, has done a great service to the Shangguan clan not seen for thousands of years and saved so many of us. On behalf of myself and all my clansmen part of this attack, you have my deepest thanks, brother Gu!”

Shangguan Yulin was tearing up and giving a low bow. His action touching, his respect commendable, earning the approval of all.

Zhuo Fan sneered inside. He would’ve bought his act if not for already knowing this brat’s twisted character.

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[Since you wanna play, let’s play!]

Zhuo Fan’s face split into a grin, blabbering as he helped him up, “Cousin, don’t say that. We’re all in this together. We’re all doing it for the Shangguan clan. There’s no difference between us. It won’t matter if you die, for there’s me. So rest easy, ha-ha-ha…”

Ugh!

Shangguan Yulin’s face twitched.

[Did he just wish for me to die?]

“Yifan, what nonsense are you talking about? How can he die? Aren’t you all back safe and sound? Stop speaking ill in these times!” Shangguan Feixiong frowned and chided.

Zhuo Fan noticed his ‘blunder’ and explained, “No, uncle, that’s not it. What I mean is I finished cousin’s botched mission…”

Shangguan Yulin’s eyes shook, his face twitching.

[How is this better? At least it was a presumption before but now it’s like I’m literally dead since you carried out my mission. He really wants me dead!]

“Uh, no, uncle, I mean…”

Noticing Shangguan Yulin’s dark face, the others chuckled at Zhuo Fan’s act, making him nervous, “I want to say that if the mission would’ve taken him from us, I would’ve taken it upon myself to finish it and give him peace…”

Shangguan Yulin was choking in rage, his chest rising with every breath, but he couldn’t throttle him, not with so many witnesses.

[This punk is fumbling and ranting nonsense. Why did I even bother talking to him, to make myself look worse?]

[I can’t touch him now, not when he has everyone’s approval for finishing the mission.]

[Thought the punk looks like he’s spewing stuff in panic, but every time he doesn’t realize he always comes back to wanting me dead.]

[Have I done anything to him to deserve this slander?]

Zhuo Fan was growing flustered by the minute while Shangguan Yulin held his head. Shangguan Feixiong didn’t want this play to continue and said, “Alright, alright, you don’t need to say it. I’ll speak in your stead. What you mean is that you’re of the same heart with Yulin, that you both gave your all for the clan, right?”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

Zhuo Fan slapped his leg and beamed, “I wanted to say that cousin deserves some of the credit, ha-ha-ha…”

“Brother Gu, you’re too kind.” Shangguan Yulin was bashful.

Shangguan Feixiong laughed, “You’ve always been so sharp tongued, kid, but now you’re quite vague. How can you be such a downer when you’re that excited? Now I know why Yan’er has been so crude lately. She’s been hanging out with you and you ruined her!”

“Please forgive me, uncle, for ruining cousin!” Like a child in the wrong, Zhuo Fan immediately played the victim card.

Shangguan Feixiong ignored it, “It’s fine. As long as the heart is true, the details don’t matter. Also, Yifan..”

Shangguan Feixiong grabbed Zhuo Fan’s shoulder, “I used to think taking you as my nephew was my greatest regret. I didn’t think you’d help Shangguan clan so much so soon. I was right to take you in.”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes were filled with emotion looking at his uncle.

“Feixiong, we’re also caught by surprise with the kid’s character, smarts and determination. It was the right choice in sending him on this task, ha-ha-ha…”

The three venerables threw in their two cents, laughing.

The two rolled their eyes. These coots wouldn’t have placed him as sub or put a watch on him if that was true.

With Shangguan Feixiong and the venerables’ approval, the rest of the clansmen were more open with Zhuo Fan.

Shangguan Yulin’s darkness only grew as he observed their joy…

After the happy moment was gone, Shangguan Feixiong turned grave, “Yifan, what have you found out while being a guest in the Flying Cloud manor?”

“Uncle, I wanted to explore the place, but I was accosted by Dragon Cleaving Sword King for a long time. That’s why… “

“Dragon Cleaving Sword King is here as well?” Shangguan Yulin turned to Shangguan Yulin with a shocked look.

Shangguan Yulin bowed, “Uncle, I haven’t seen a shadow of Dragon Cleaving Sword King in the manor. I did not know of this.”

Shangguan Feiyun nodded and sighed, “Shangguan Feiyun was bad enough, now another Sword King came as well as Prime Minister Baili Jingwei. This mission is becoming more dangerous by the second. If we can’t get an idea of the area, rushing head on will incur heavy losses, even more than last time.”

Everyone gave a hard nod.

“Don’t worry, uncle, I’ll be sure to scout it perfectly!” Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone as he declared. He didn’t want the Shangguan clan’s attack to fail, since it’d ruin his own operation.

Shangguan Feixiong was vexed, “Yulin said Baili Jingwei will take the selected alchemists to imperial capital in five days. Do you have enough time to scout a manor so large?”

“Yes!”

Someone else responded this time.

Everyone turned to Shangguan Qingyan rushing inside.

Shangguan Feixiong asked, “Yan’er, you didn’t even come to greet us when you came but run here now? What are you up to?”

“Up to this!”

Shangguan Qingyan’s brow twitched and Shangguan Qingyan giggled, spreading a sketch on the table for all to see. Shangguan Feixiong gasped, “That’s…”

“The map of the manor!”

With a smug grin, Shangguan Qingyan continued, “While Dragon Cleaving Sword King had been bothering brother Gu, I used his token to wander the premises and assess the situation. But everything looked mostly normal, with some few places not allowing me entry even with the token. These are five in total, which makes me believe what we want is in one of these places.”

Shangguan Feixiong looked at the map and nodded, “That means…”

“My task is to complement the map!” Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone…