The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

Back at Flying Cloud manor once more, he was met with the same imposing gate, the same impressive guards, yet a most contrasting welcome.

Danqing Shen and Zhuo Fan were met with bows of respect all around, “Welcome Dragon Cleaving Sword King and Grandmaster Gu, a blessing to you!”

Zhuo Fan shot up to the level of the Nine Sword Kings practically, and literally, overnight. Even he was taken aback at the treatment.

He noticed Danqing Shen shrugging and leading the way with a smile. Zhuo Fan rose an eyebrow, following with a peculiar smile.

Passing many pavilions and gardens, the two arrived at a fabulous and grandiose hall. Baili Jingwei and Shangguan Feiyun were waiting for them in their seats.

“Ha-ha-ha, Grandmaster Gu, you’re here at last. Have you handled your matters home?” Shangguan Feiyun welcomed him with a laugh.

Zhuo Fan gave a short bow, “Sword King Feiyun needn’t trouble. There’s not much to look after at home, mostly finishing the chores and I swiftly accepted Sword King’s invitation. Might I ask what was the reason?”

“Grandmaster, you’re talking like I’m forcing you, ha-ha-ha…”

Shangguan Feiyun laughed again with a casual wave. He took Zhuo Fan’s wrist, being overly friendly, “There’re just five days before Grandmaster will be leaving for the imperial capital with Prime Minister Baili. With your skill and potential, you’re sure to become the main alchemist in the imperial capital in no time. Grandmaster may even be under Invincible Sword, patriarch’s favorite. Those days will make it even harder for me to see Grandmaster in person. Before it comes to past, I wanted to get to know Grandmaster better and have you leave my jurisdiction with peace of mind, ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan nodded, chuckling and cupping his hands, “Sword King, you’re just too kind to me.”

Shangguan Feiyun was a typical flatterer right now. Striking before he reached fame to get close and earning returns when he went big.

But what was even clearer was Shangguan Feiyun’s utmost respect was to give him the chance to scout the place.

[I’m not denying you anything because I’m fawning all over you!]

Making intelligence gathering too easy would rouse suspicions instead. But now this problem was solved through this most logical explanation.

Taking a look around him, Zhuo Fan knew this was one of the five blank spots on Shangguan Qingyan’s map.

He just got to the manor and already filled one gap in the map.

[Baili Jingwei sure is meticulous, filling in all the details.]

From indulging his scout role, to setting up the place for this guest, all was done within reason. He figured all of this out only because he had someone playing triple agent with every side.

“Ha-ha-ha, the world is going down the drain if even the proud Sword King Feiyun mastered the art of ingratiating.”

Baili Jingwei laughed and walked over to them, afraid Zhuo Fan didn’t get such an obvious hint.

[Kid, Shangguan Feiyun won’t do nothing to you no matter what you break in this manor, or what place you barge into. All because he wants to get closer to you, so don’t doubt for a second a scheme is afoot.]

This confirmed Zhuo Fan’s conjectures even more. They were throwing the info to his feet.

[Why am I being tough? The time is now!]

Zhuo Fan grinned.

Shangguan Feiyun found his act lacking so he went on, grabbing Zhuo Fan’s shoulder and glaring at Baili Jingwei, “Prime Minister, how can you say that? Grandmaster Gu is a genius coming from my own domain. What’s wrong with being a good host in my own home by looking after Grandmaster Gu? Don’t use your corrupt official rules on me. I appreciate talent just as you do, and I value Grandmaster Gu the most… “

“Sword King Feiyun, does the manor have some marvels and sceneries that I can enjoy?” Zhuo Fan cut him off with stars in his eyes.

Shangguan Feiyun shook, giving him a flat look. Baili Jingwei was taken off-guard as well.

[I-I haven’t even finished my script to justify your visit to the manor yet you drop this sudden line?]

[That saves us the foreplay, showing you right in, spy.]

Shangguan Feiyun laughed and gestured in invitation, “Of course there are. Right this way, Grandmaster Gu. I dare say my manor has the best views, comparable even with the Thunder Pavilion in the imperial capital. You, sir, will be amazed at the breathtaking experience, ha-ha-ha…”

“I can hardly wait!”

Zhuo Fan was excited as well, rubbing his hands as his eyes shone. He cared not what the Shangguan clan and Flying Cloud manor were up to, just that his goal just so happened to be here.

[While they want dissension, I’ll use my role as a spy this time to find what I want in this place. It just doesn’t get any better than this, he-he-he…]

Shangguan Feiyun grabbed Zhuo Fan and walked him out like an old friend.

Danqing Shen chuckled and turned serious, “Prime Minister Baili, you guys have made a script for hours to get Grandmaster Gu to play along. Now, instead of affirming your fears of finding it out, he just went head in with the script, falling for the first line in scouting the manor. If you knew, you and Sword King Feiyun would’ve just took him strolling instead, ha-ha-ha…”

“Right you are.”

Baili Jingwei chuckled as he shook his head, “I’ve never seen a newbie spy like Grandmaster Gu in my life. He’s not meandering at all, but reveals his goal from the start. We’d have long since thrown him into a torture chamber to squeeze the info out of him if we hadn’t already known everything. So much planning, all gone to waste on this green spy. Even if we continued to fake it, he’d still not care because he was no spy, but an alchemist.”

Danqing Shen remained silent, showing only a smirk.

[Know everything?]

[Ha-ha, Prime Minister, why this kid here knows way more than even the greatest sage in the empire…]

Danqing Shen and Baili Jingwei smiled, following after them.

Please visit 𝑓r𝙚ew𝚎𝚋𝐧૦ѵ𝗲𝘭. c𝘰m

Shangguan Feiyun took Zhuo Fan in the backyard, where another blank spot on the map was located.

Zhuo Fan was excited.

[Now, is there another World Wind Tunnel here?]

The roaring of a waterfall rumbled in his ears. Zhuo Fan barely contained his joy, as even his body shook.

Shangguan Feiyun didn’t notice it as he led the way. They soon arrived before a three hundred meter tall waterfall, revealed to them in the form of a white curtain, glittering stars rained down from above.

What made this waterfall so special was the lack of any cliffs. The water just fell from the air in an unending suspended river that wound through unseen obstacles before climbing back into the skies.

This was a waterfall made of one complete circle of water, with the flow shaping all kinds of spaces, even tumbling in some areas.

The sheer spectacle was enough to leave Zhuo Fan speechless. As water went down, man climbed up.

A common saying that was toppled here and now. Water was not only taking form, but expressed different states, from soft to hard.

Even without Sword King Feiyun’s words, he knew this was the World Wind Tunnel he wanted to find.

With a prideful look, Shangguan Feiyun pointed, “Ha-ha-ha, Grandmaster Gu, wasn’t I right? This here is the most amazing sight in the world, Jade Falls, endless and flowing. The water just stands in the air held by nothing, unmarred by the mortal world, yet solid as any mountain. It is a cultivator’s paradise with its incredible spiritual energy, even more so for a water cultivator. It also helps calm one’s restless heart. The ones who can’t make use of it are those related to alchemy and refining.”

“I can see that.”

Zhuo Fan nodded, “Even so, it’s still a great place to cultivate. Truly everyone looks upon Sword King Feiyun with envy for you to have such a paradise at your disposal.”

Shangguan Feiyun chuckled, “Oh, no, this is bestowed by the world. I couldn’t possibly take it for myself. And I’m also not gaining as much from it from our incompatible attributes. The only help comes from clearing one’s Dao Heart.”

Zhuo Fan nodded.

Hum~

Zhuo Fan’s right arm flashed an eerie red glow and a thick bloodthirst shot from the waterfall at him.

Zhuo Fan was shocked, so were the rest.

Shangguan Feiyun welcomed him in his own home, yet now someone dared to attack…