The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

The sky was sifting large snowflakes as far as one could see, dyeing the world in shades of white.

A month had gone since Zhuo Fan’s battle, with autumn making way for winter with its cold snow in the Flying Cloud City.

Danqing Shen watched the heavy gray clouds outside, peaceful as they filled the air with snowflakes, covering the sun’s every ray of warmth. Despite the glum outside, he was sitting cozily by a lively fire in a lavish room sipping his delectable tea with a most conspicuous smirk.

“Ol’ Dan, when little old me’s in trouble, please look after me.”

“Boy, I didn’t do it for you.”

“I won’t make it hard on sir’s old bones. All I ask is for you to strike hard and I shall find life in death.”

“Ah?”

[Ha-ha-ha, boy, where are you now, I wonder? Winter has come and I’m sure even aiming my sword away from you still gave you no light injuries. Dragon Cleaving Art’s power isn’t something you can heal. Look after yourself in these winter days.]

Recalling their promise, Danqing Shen sipped his wine, yet joy danced in his eyes.

[The boy has been suspicious of me till the end, going as far as sending someone to remind me in Shangguan Feiyun’s hidden room. Ha-ha, how pointless.]

“Dragon Cleaving Sword King, you’re in a good mood. Mind sharing with me so I could enjoy it too? I’ve hardly ever saw Dragon Cleaving Sword King smile, ha-ha-ha…”

Rows of guards entered, bowing and making way for Baili Jingwei in fur clothing. He made himself at home, sitting right next to Danqing Shen with a smile.

Shangguan Feiyun came next, sitting nearby, sticking one leg over the other, looking bored to death, “Brother Dan, share with us this fine mood you’re having. This past month, if not dull, it has been glum.”

“Ha-ha-ha, getting your paradise ruined and the divine sword taken tends to do that.”

Danqing Shen took out a jade slip, “Here’s my report on my domain. There were signs of the Shangguan clan around and I have come to ask for the next course of action.”

[What?!]

Shangguan Feiyun snatched the jade slip and cried, “Those old fools ran off to your side of the empire? But that leads to northern lands. What are they doing there?”

“They must be taking the long way around, through northern lands.” Baili Jingwei’s eyes flashed and resumed sipping tea by the fire’s cozy warmth.

Shangguan Feiyun followed, “Prime Minister, what do we do?”

“Nothing.”

Baili Jingwei sighed, “The Central area is just too large and gives the Shangguan clan too many places to hide. I had notified the Nine Sword Kings to look out for them in their domains, but without concrete signs to look for, they’ll find nothing. Furthermore, with some Sword Kings’ laid back attitude, some not even present in their domains, things would only get harder.”

“Prime Minister Baili, I’m here, aren’t I…”

“Dragon Cleaving Sword King, I wasn’t talking about you, but that Wine Sword Immortal that loves to hit the bottle.” Baili Jingwei’s eyes flashed and gnashed his teeth, “He’s a Sword King but all he does is partake in local beverages at every chance instead of leading his domain. How damn superficial! He even makes trips to other lands too, humph. Just what was the point of giving that domain to him? At least with Shangguan clan’s faint traces, even around he won’t be of much use.”

Danqing Shen grinned, “I have to say I admire that old guy, so free and casual. Brother Feiyun, he’ll be back in a few days. Want to ask him out for a drink? Maybe he got back some good stuff from where he’s been.”

“You go, I’m not in the mood.”

Shangguan Feiyun gave an impatient wave, “Just how did you manage to do it anyway?”

Danqing Shen raised an eyebrow, “How else? When they asked me how to do it I told them to play dumb. The Shangguan clan came here en masse and with three old coots strong enough to face a Sword King, so while I wasn’t around, they were bound to die if they pushed them. So they just let them go.”

“Why you…”

Shangguan Feiyun’s face twitched, turning to the other, “Prime Minister, see that? He’s lazy at his job. When the Invincible Sword comes along, I’ll be sure to tell him!”

Glancing at him, Baili Jingwei chuckled, “I advise Sword King against pettiness for I’m with Dragon Cleaving Sword King on this.”

“What?!”

“Doing something pointless is utterly idiotic!”

Taking his teacup, Baili Jingwei took a sip and drawled, “Looking for the Shangguan clan was just a matter of appearances, never intent on following through. What’s the point of handing them the lives of hundreds of people? We lost, pure and simple. There’s no shame in it. Now we need to get ready for the Patriarch’s admonishment…”

“Report!”

A guard barged in and presented a jade slip, “Prime Minister, imperial capital summons you!”

“A summon?”

Baili Jingwei smiled and took the jade slip, “I’ve been away for three months and His Majesty wants me back? Ha-ha-ha, I hardly get any vacation time like this. There are so many places I haven’t seen yet. Sigh, no rest for the wicked. Just what got the imperial capital so on the edge they need me to solve it…”

[How pretentious can you be? The empire can’t go a single day without you!]

Shangguan Feiyun’s mouth twitched and revealed a crooked smile, “Prime Minister, politics sure keep you busy. Without sir in the empire, the sun loses its shine, ha-ha-ha…”

Baili Jingwei caught his jab, but chose to ignore it as he read the summons with an unspeakable calm. Though minutes later, he winced and cried, “What?”

“What happened?” Shangguan Feiyun flinched.

Baili Jingwei said, “Patriarch has come out and is calling court with the Nine Sword Kings and all officials. He wants to move in on northern lands!”

“Invincible Sword is out?”

Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen cried out at the same time, “The world will be in turmoil soon.”

“What do you mean?”

“Uh, followed by prosperity I mean, ha-ha-ha…” At Baili Jingwei’s long look, Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen gave a dry laugh.

Baili Jingwei shook his head, “I’ll ignore it this time, but please watch your words, Sword Kings. You are the revered Nine Sword Kings of the central area, the cornerstones of the Sword Star Empire. If the empire is flourishing, so are you. If the Patriarch is powerful, so are you. Above all else, never treat Patriarch as your adversary. While I do understand the urge in practitioners to find worthy opponents to test their mettle, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Understood?”

The two nodded.

With how little impact he had on these strong Sword Kings, Baili Jingwei did not press the issue, shouting instead, “Guard, prepare to return to the imperial capital! I and the Sword Kings are going to greet the Patriarch!”

“Yes, sir!”

A man bowed and rushed to work. Baili Jingwei spoke again, “Also, I had you look for a reliable person from western lands. Did you find any?”

“Prime Minister, I have.”

“Then send him to western lands and keep an ear out for anything of note.” Baili Jingwei sighed.

Shangguan Feiyun asked, “Prime Minister, why are you sending someone to western lands? Can a single random guy slip through the lands’ defenses and arrays to spy?”

“I don’t need him to find me secrets, but a man’s background.”

“Who?”

“Gu Yifan!”

Baili Jingwei’s eyes flashed, “Gu Yifan has been a worthy opponent. Even though he died, I still want to know everything about him to remember him by. As a manipulator, he had very few pieces in his hands, and who knew, maybe if he were but a little bit stronger, he’d have won, ha-ha… “

Baili Jingwei did not finish his thought. Who was to say who came on top when two equal opponents collided?

Shangguan Feiyun spoke, “Gu Yifan has been nothing but cunning. He came to act against my manor, so there’s no way he would leave clues to his true identity.”

“The greatest lie isn’t based on just deception, but mixing lies and truths.”

Baili Jingwei spoke, “Gu Yifan is a clever guy and I’m sure he didn’t give me only lies, for it would’ve made him too suspicious. It’s especially easy to be exposed when lying about local customs and products. While his name might be fake, his origin isn’t. And with his smarts, there’s no way he’s unknown in the western lands. So I want to find who he was, just what kind of man could hold his own against me.”