A silence had swallowed the imperial gardens, one it had never seen since its making. Even the birds felt the situation was dire, not making a peep.
Yuwen Cong looked cautiously at the serious emperor sunk in deep thought.
Mr. Sima frowned, “Your Majesty, with how thoroughly blown out of proportion this matter is, I leave the decision to you. Perhaps giving up on Luo clan is…”
The emperor started pacing, his brows locked tight.
After ages, he stopped. His eyes were incredibly calm, while also hiding a deep hint of freezing killing intent.
“No, I must protect the Luo clan and the boy!”
Waving, the emperor shouted, “I have always exercised tolerance in my ruling. But this has gone far enough. They will push me down a cliff if I let this happen.”
“Here’s my decree. Inform Marshal Dugu to move swiftly! There’s not a moment to lose!”
[What, the second of the Four Pillars, War God Dugu Zhantian is coming back?]
Yuwen Cong hesitated to speak, but Mr. Sima showed his unrest, “Your Majesty, you can’t! Marshal Dugu defends the borders. The Quanrong wouldn’t dare to step a foot beyond the Thunder Pond with him there. The border will descend into chaos if he leaves!”
“You’re exaggerating. For thirty years, the border had been peaceful.” The emperor cut Mr. Sima’s advice short. His eyes flashed coldly, “I will show my cousin, who this land belongs to. He has crossed my final line!”
Shuddering inside, Mr. Sima knew the emperor had made up his mind and sighed. Yuwen Cong bowed and then withdrew with the edict.
The emperor looked up, his eyes flashing as he laughed coldly…
…
Prime-minister’s residence in the Imperial Capital.
Prime-minister Zhuge Changfeng was swinging in his rocking chair with his eyes closed in rest. Suddenly, a black figure came and whispered before vanishing again.
Opening his eyes, Zhuge Changfeng revealed a calculative look as a smile grew on his face, “The monkey had stirred enough ruckus in the Heavenly Temple and made him nervous. To even have that old man return. Ha-ha-ha, the time for the war between the seven houses and him is soon upon us. Since this is the case, let me spice things up.”
(StarReader: Journey to the West reference. Monkey King always caused havoc in every task Jade Emperor gave him.)
Zhuge Changfeng looked in his yard, “Elders Yin and Yang!”
“Prime Minister Zhuge, what is it that you ask of us?” One black and one white figure flashed before him.
Zhuge Changfeng smiled, “Do you know where Thunder Swarm Mountain is?”
“It is a place for one of the empire’s tree guardian sects, the Demon Scheming Sect. There is a large barrier there. It detains the four greatest criminals, now suffering the strikes of ten thousand lightning bolts every day for the past 60 years!” The black-haired elder spoke.
Nodding, Zhuge Changfeng smiled, “Very good, can you go there and get them out?”
“What?!” The two exchanged a glance, thinking they had heard him wrong.
“Prime-minister Zhuge, why would you want to? This is the matter of Demon Scheming Sect that we shouldn’t meddle in. Not only were the four savage disciples on the path of demonic cultivation, but held key positions within the sect. They can’t be used.” The white-haired elder cupped his hands.
Shaking his head, Zhuge Changfeng said, “Those four old fellows have been stuck there for sixty years. Demon Scheming Sect couldn’t care less anymore. As long as we keep our mouths shut about this, no one will know. Also, I never planned on recruiting the four. Now, can you two do it or not?”
“Of course!” The two elders nodded.
They may have not come from a great sect, but their skills have very much sharpened over the centuries. A mere barrier couldn’t stop them.
Nodding, Zhuge Changfeng laughed, “Good, now go. The already restless Tianyu will soon reach a boiling point, ha-ha-ha…”
Meanwhile, Veiled Dragon Pavilion’s Pavilion Lord, Long Yifey, was listening along with the elders to Long Jiu’s report – the shock palpable.
Once Long Jiu finished, all were bug-eyed.
“You mean to say that Hell Valley’s 5th elder lost an arm?” Third elder cried out.
Understanding his feelings, Long Jiu smiled wryly as he advised, “Third brother should relax. The kid had taken the Bursting Pill first. If you had taken it…”
“But you also said that the fifth elder ate it too…” Third elder’s face sank in disappointment.
Long Jiu rushed to say, “Yeah, you’re right, but that kid ate five. If you took five…”
“I’d be a goner!”
Third elder cut him off with a sigh. He shook his mind clear, and continued, “Moreover, he is only in the Bone Tempering Stage. Sigh, the young always surpasses the old. I must be getting too much in years…”
Long Jiu watched him sink into depression but didn’t know what to say to make him feel better. [If you know what’s best for you, don’t go comparing yourself with that little monster.]
An elder with white hair shouted, “Third elder, why are you still hanging on to some meager honor? Did you not hear what it’s at stake here? Regent Estate’s Huangpu Qingyun was killed!”
“True, Regent Estate’s Imperial Tyrant Body Art is mystical body art. Yet, that kid blew away Huangpu Qingyun’s lower body to smithereens. Just how strong of a body must he have to pull it off? I know that even I fall short!” Third elder looked even more downcast.
The elders who spoke held his forehead, [Brother is hopeless.] He then turned to Long Yifey, “Pavilion Lord, this matter concerns Regent Estate and it’s best we do not get ourselves involved. If Regent Estate drags us into this because of the kid…”
“But did you not hear Long Jiu? Regent Estate is targeting every other house. Even if the matter with Zhuo Fan never happened, sooner or later they would come knocking on our door. If we cut ties with Zhuo Fan, we’ll only be avoiding the truth. We may soon find ourselves following in Drifting Flowers Edifice’s footsteps.” Another elder interrupted.
“From what you say, you want us to work together with Zhuo Fan to fend off Regent Estate? This is giving them an excuse to wipe us off the earth.”
“That will happen even without an excuse. Can we not see how much ambition the Regent Estate has? This will end us grounded down the same way it happened to Drifting Flowers Edifice. I’d rather fight now than see that happen!”
“Enough!”
Long Yifey shouted over the clamor, breaking the argument, “It is I who agreed to become allies with Zhuo Fan, and this shall not change even now. The kid’s display had opened my eyes, realizing he will be a great help to us. I will say this again, as long as Zhuo Fan lives, our alliance with the Luo clan is still in effect.”
“But Pavilion Lord, Regent Estate…”
“Enough, This is my decision!” Long Yifey’s eyes flashed, “Our alliance with Zhuo Fan has always been followed through in the dark. The Regent Estate has no clue this is happening. They have nothing to use against us!”
[So that’s why!]
The other elders exclaimed, “Pavilion Lord is brilliant!”
“Humph, what brilliant? It’s called tactics!” Long Yifey let out a bitter laughter. He may hate this kind of person the most, but for the sake of his house, this was the best choice.
“Pavilion Lord, Regent Estate sent a letter!”
A disciple shouted from beyond the doors.
Long Yifey looked at the elders then let the man in.
[Regent Estate came swiftly!]
The disciple bowed before Long Yifey and presented the letter with the Regent Estate words written in gold on it.
Long Yifey was startled the moment he opened it. Third elder snatched the letter and his eyes widened, “Regent Estate will hold an assembly half a month from now. The seven houses are to convene and plan to remove the demon scourge!”
“You mean…”
Long Yifey nodded, “Regent Estate is playing a ferocious move this time. The last time they did this was just three hundred years ago!”
“Yeah, but that little monster three hundred years ago had the seven houses going crazy. While this time, Regent Estate is playing this move just for its own benefit without even asking the opinion of the six houses. It is basically acting as though it is the head of the seven houses!”
Third elder spat, “The Veiled Dragon Pavilion cannot lose again in the next Esoteric Debate!”
The others all nodded!
The other five houses received the Regent Estate’s invitation at the same time. Suddenly, the six houses were now en route to convene with the Regent Estate on the plan to rid the world of Demon Archon Zhuo Fan!
Achoo~
Zhuo Fan was speeding towards the Luo clan when he suddenly felt a chill and shuddered. He rubbed his nose, “Blast it, who’s cursing me this time? Why is it that I feel a chill on my back?”
“Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo kicked a storm in Drifting Flowers City, with casualties in the thousands. Their grief must be focused on you.” Vicious Pill King was laughing at his side, having a blast.
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow and mocked, “Elder Yan, Drifting Flowers Edifice’s grief is far stronger on you. Don’t you feel the chill from the tens of thousand female disciples putting all their sorrow and pain on you?”
Vicious Pill King chuckled sheepishly, “I’m used to it!”
Zhuo Fan grinned. None of them were good people so this teasing had no effect on either of them.
“Wait!”
Zhuo Fan suddenly halted and Vicious Pill King asked, “What’s wrong?”
Snickering, Zhuo Fan said, “They move fast. An ambush is laid for us not half a mile from here…”