Chapter 1212: Give and Take
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Zhao Chen approved as he nodded, elated at the praise, “Good eye. I see your Clan Head is an educated man. I’m not one to brag, but among the Eight Emperors, only I have such strength and right to be the head among all Emperors. It’s only a matter of time before the decrepit Sword Emperor will be replaced!”
“That’s what our Clan Head’s been saying as well, although…”
“Yes?”
“We killed two of sir’s men and going to another Emperor would keep us safe, if only for a while before we’ll suffer your retribution. Being the target of the Demonic Emperor’s wrath is like having a viper stalking you. We’ll never get a wink of sleep. Only under sir’s protection could we be friends instead and resolve this animosity.”
Zhuo Fan sighed, “Regardless of everything, our best choice had and always will be Demonic Emperor!”
Zhao Chen gave him a long look, “Good thinking and impeccable analysis. Yes, you’ve made the perfect choice in coming here with these fools’ heads. Who was it, though, that came up with this brilliant tactic?”
Zhao Chen’s eyes shone, somewhat eager.
“Demonic Emperor sir, Steward Zhuo is our Clan Head’s trusted man. With him helping Clan Head every step, it is only his duty to help Clan Head make a decision.”
That was Bali Yuyu’s cue and she came forward with a cupped hand.
Zhuo Fan shook his head in modesty, “Please, I only offered simple advice. Clan Head had the final say.”
“Steward Zhuo, take credit where it’s due. As a Bone Tempering cultivator, to stand next to Clan Head is only possible by showcasing your impressive talent.” Bali Yuyu mocked, “Demonic Emperor sir, please overlook Steward Zhuo’s paltry cultivation, for in the Luo clan, he even has Clan Head’s ear. Otherwise, Clan Head’s inclination would be towards the Sword Emperor with so many of our clan’s guards practicing the sword.”
“Eh?”
Zhao Chen stared hard at Zhuo Fan, only then noticing he was dealing with a bug.
Belying his low cultivation, the guy was very well placed, in fact. This further proved his talents lay elsewhere.
[From what the woman says, the guy must be quite the deep thinker.]
[Blasted, that’s exactly the talent I’m missing!]
Zhao Chen walked forward taking Zhuo Fan’s hand with a smile, “Ha-ha-ha, it’s so rare to find a true strategist these days, Steward Zhuo. I truly need someone like you for Devil Mountain. Leaving it up to those fools will run all its millennium long legacy into the ground.”
“Demonic Emperor sir, you’re too kind. Then the Luo clan…”
“Say nothing more. Of the 20 Demon Guards, 36 cities and 64 clans, as you replaced Thousand Faced Devil, you shall be above everyone of them.”
Zhao Chen slapped his chest, vowing, “I shall declare the Luo clan as my loyal subjects, with Steward Zhuo my right-hand man. Any that touches you will earn my wrath!”
“Uh, Demonic Emperor sir, shouldn’t it be Clan Head who has my position?”
“What’s the difference? You help Luo Clan Head and he helps me. Isn’t it all the same? Why be so complicated about it?”
“Uh, that goes beyond my authority. Shouldn’t sir address Clan Head first?”
“What’s the point? What I say goes! Guard, prepare a feast to welcome Steward Zhuo…”
Devil Mountain was all a cheer for the next three days, with Zhao Chen giving Zhuo Fan a proper welcome. He also declared to all Sacred Domain that the Luo clan fell in with Devil Mountain.
The Luo clan became the leader of the twenty Demon Guards and Zhuo Fan became Zhao Chen’s personal adviser.
Another ten days passed and Zhao Chen gave twenty towns under the Luo clan’s supervision. Zhuo Fan and Baili Yuyu thus took their leave from Demonic Emperor, to help the Luo clan handle the transition.
Leaving the mountain, Zhuo Fan looked back at the lush peak and sighed, “I used to be all alone, with but a few arrays guarding the mountain. I never thought I’d see the day it would be crowded, no longer the paradise of old. That kid hasn’t changed, in contrast, still fighting for power like everyone else. Humph, to think that in my time, even without any territory of my own, I was still the head of the Eight Emperors. Imbecile, what are you doing going after so many things? You’ve brought nothing but shame to this famous mountain.”
“What are you doing coming under his wing then?”
Bali Yuyu replied, “Shouldn’t we be using others to finish him off? Now that we work for him, we’re under his men’s watch and won’t be able to lift a finger against him.”
Zhuo Fan smirked, “In war you have to give first and then take. Any person or faction crumbles from within in the end, with the outside influence holding little effect on its fate. We are now like maggots inside his home, nibbling everything he has. Don’t the twenty cities prove it? Ha-ha-ha…”
Zhuo Fan walked with confidence. Bali Yuyu followed after him with a soft gaze.
In Gambling Town, the shocking news of the Luo clan joining Demonic Emperor reached everyone’s ears.
In Mist City Lord’s manor, the Gambling Emperor held a jade slip behind a curtain, “Luo clan actually became the Demonic Emperor’s first Demon Guard? This is too baffling, almost unbelievable.”
“Gambling Emperor, they must’ve offered the map to quell Demonic Emperor’s anger.”
“No!”
Gambling Emperor waved, watching city lord from beyond the curtain, “I know his temper well, reckless, pigheaded, and quick to anger. The most the Luo clan could get out of that deal is survive, not become his guard, going as far as making him the head of his twenty Demon Guards. It makes no sense at all for a rash and hotheaded man to swing from rage to elation at the drop of the hat. Especially that Demonic Emperor…”
“Does that mean the Luo clan got a high status in Devil Mountain through other means?”
“Definitely, for even giving the map without the animosity, they’d still wouldn’t get placed so high. The deal stinks to high heaven!”
The Gambling Emperor squinted, “Did the Demonic Emperor also mention in his declaration that he made the Luo clan’s steward his right-hand man?”
“Yes, that’s him, but it’s so strange. The Luo clan is now the first Demon Guard and its representative should be their Clan Head not the steward.”
“Then everything must’ve had something to do with that steward.”
The Gambling Emperor smiled, “How amusing, the steward is fascinating. Men, never leave him out of your sight. I want to know the full extent of his skills and what miracles he brings, ha-ha-ha…”
“Yes.”
The space warped…
In a dark room, two shadows sat across from each other.
“Did you hear? That arrogant Luo clan that was in Gambling Town got the Demonic Emperor’s protection.”
“And, aren’t we going to act?”
“Of course we are, but everything about the Luo clan is strange. Anything could happen.”
“What’s so great about some no-name clan showing up? Demonic Emperor made us lose half our lands. We have to take it back, on our titles as Emperors. I heard that the Seven Sacred Mountains intends to move on to the Eight Emperors. One of the weaker ones might even get replaced.”
“Then…”
The man hesitated, “Fine, then if we have to strike, we’ll go after the Demonic Emperor. The Luo clan wants to have a protector to spread its wings but they’ve made the wrong choice!”
In the Ruby Cloud Sect, a woman in her forties sat in the main seat holding a yellow paper with a grimace, “Junior sister, are you certain this is a copy of Nether Sea map?”
“Definitely, just look at the vague lines and the faded landscape. No brush could ever leave such artistry behind!” Mei Sangu looked proud as she explained.
Her disciples bobbed their heads, even Chu Qingcheng.
Mei Sangu was happy to give Chu Qingcheng the credit, “Senior sister, it’s all thanks to Qingcheng using a honey trap to get that boy to forget all dangers in making this copy.”
“Senior aunt, that was not a honey trap. Didn’t we clear that out?” Chu Qingcheng smiled as she implored her, “Master, Zhuo Fan said he wanted me to leave the sect and have a normal life…”
“Nonsense! You’re the pillar of the sect! You can’t just go with any man that talks to you!” Mei Sangu glared at her.
Chu Qingcheng got anxious, “But senior aunt, you clearly promised…”
“What? I only said we’ll return to report to senior sister. If she doesn’t agree, that’s that!”
“You…”
“That’s enough.”
Looking at them all red, the woman raised a hand, “Regardless of honey trap or Qingcheng promising the boy, it no longer matters. This map is fake.”
“Fake? That can’t be! Look at the lines…”
“Not made by a human, right?”
The woman sneered, “To be so smug when the other fooled you so badly. No man made the map, true, but also untrue, since no brush was used.”
“Eh?”
Mei Sangu blinked in confusion…
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