Whoosh!
The golden light moved about then returned to Zhuo Fan’s side. Vicious Pill King watched the golden infant with shock, “What just happened?”
“Simple really, since you fled around like a mouse, they held you in contempt. So I put my demonic creature in you before throwing you over to deal with one of them.”
Grinning, Zhuo Fan added, “When a powerful Profound Heaven expert died without rime or reason, it got his partner scared out of his mind. I used this chance to recall the demonic creature. This time, he held you in too high regard, thinking you hid yourself to pull a fast one on them. And by comparison, he thought I was the easy target this time and charged for me. And to make matter run smoothly, he had his attention split between me and you, leaving room for my demonic creature to catch him off guard!”
Vicious Pill King blinked, still out of sorts.
Zhuo Fan laughed, “In the end, they all died. First was arrogance, second overconfident, third conceitedness…”
“Uh, Steward Zhuo, aren’t they all the same?” Vicious Pill King muttered.
Raising an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan laughed harder, “Indeed, this is the disease that plagues every expert. Facing them head first will make me lose without a doubt. Too bad, they were too full of themselves. To others, this will hardly matter, but when it comes to me, a fraction of a second of carelessness is enough for me to give them a death full of regrets!”
A bolt of fear went through his core as Vicious Pill King watched Zhuo with even more admiration.
Now that he thought about it, everything panned out just as Zhuo Fan explained. It was all done with the sole purpose of baiting the Regent Estate elders, and it worked like a charm.
Without even realizing it, the two bit the dust in but a blink.
Rather than say this was a well-thought-out and ingenious trap preset by Zhuo Fan, it was in fact more along the lines of him reading them like a book and pushing the right buttons to make them fall into a trap themselves.
[Such cunningness is unheard of. No wonder even You Guiqi fell!]
Vicious Pill King held a deep respect for Zhuo Fan now, “Steward Zhuo is of endless wisdom and courage, with foolproof plans. But being just a steward is a waste for you!”
“Humph, you don’t need to go ass-kissing. I am clear where my talent lies. Nothing is beneath me, be it a higher rank or the entire world! Only…”
Zhuo Fan sighed as he looked in Windgaze City’s direction.
This wasn’t the time for such thoughts, but to settle the safety of Luo clan and avoid any trouble they might suffer. This wasn’t just forced on him by his heart demon, but a wish that slowly crept into his mind without his notice.
Since Vicious Pill King didn’t know the whole story, he thought it was for a much higher purpose. His eyes roamed in thought then snapped into focus when he reached a shocking conclusion.
A youth of remarkable talent like Zhuo Fan was willing to be a steward.
And what was a steward? The Clan Head’s right-hand man! Able to do everything and loyal to a fault. What monster was this Clan Head to be able to raise such a young and outstanding Zhuo Fan yet as cunning and vile like a Demon Archon?
Seeing Zhuo Fan’s look, that staunch resolve to do everything in his power for the Luo clan, his admiration only grew for this Clan Head!
This was his first time hearing Tianyu had such a titanic clan, such a person of overbearing might. Vicious Pill King was eager to meet this person and was jumping in joy inside.
Vicious Pill King was having a flight of fancy of epic proportions, hailing the Luo clan into the ranks of seven houses while holding the Clan Head in even more admiration and regard than the emperor himself.
How could he ever have known the Luo clan was not even a first rate clan? That the Clan Head was long rotting in the dirt and leaving a pair of wretched brother and sister behind?
They should be thankful Zhuo Fan was there to keep their sorry lives!
Delusions were bliss while reality, a dump.
But that was something dear Vicious Pill King would have to experience for himself when he gazed upon the glorious Luo clan…
“Let’s go!” Zhuo Fan was ready to resume their journey when Vicious Pill King laughed, “Steward Zhuo, are those other two places handled?”
Zhuo Fan knew what he was hinting at and rolled his eyes, “Cut the crap. Think I had time to waste saving your sorry ass if I hadn’t finished those other four blokes?”
“Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo is of genuine talent! Four Profound Heaven experts from Merry Woods and Hell Valley dealt with in a blink. All while I couldn’t even handle two Regent Estate elders. I am ashamed!” Vicious Pill King’s admiration only grew.
And the more he admired Zhuo Fan, the more he believed in Luo clan’s power! And, of course, sinking deeper into his delusion…
Suddenly, Zhuo Fan stopped and Vicious Pill King looked over.
Zhuo Fan squinted, “Elder Yan, I overheard Merry Woods’s elders mentioning that Mr. Leng planned this ambush. Do you know him?”
“Leng Wuchang!”
Zhuo Fan’s words stirred Vicious Pill King, “No wonder. I thought with so many roads leading to Windgaze City, how is it they managed to pick the exact same one we were taking? So it was all Leng Wuchang’s doing.”
“You know him?”
Nodding, Vicious Pill King sighed, “To be frank, Steward Zhuo and Leng Wuchang are much alike!”
[I know nothing about him, just how are we so damn alike?]
Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed.
Knowing Zhuo Fan didn’t understand, Vicious Pill King elaborated, “Ha-ha-ha, what I mean to say is that he is a steward like you, but that of the Regent Estate!”
What?!
Zhuo Fan was shocked for a second, then he started making guesses. With how Regent Estate was the strongest of the seven houses, the steward, the aid of the Clan Head, had to be a man of renown.
“There are three people widely known for their wisdom in Tianyu Empire. Prime-minister Zhuge, one which you already know. Regardless of what decisions he makes, they are all so irrefutably correct that no one could find any fault in them. In recent centuries, the empire had been in turmoil because of invaders beyond the borders, that was until he took office. As the head of the Four Pillars, the emperor hates him to the bone, but he can’t do without him either. The seven houses as well, fear him.”
Vicious Pill King flicked his sleeve and continued, “The second sage is Regent Estate’s steward, Unwonted Contriver Leng Wuchang. As a distant relative of the imperial family, the Regent Estate is taught in the same way an emperor is. Their steward was also appointed by the Prime-minister. Leng Wuchang may be a steward in name, but his position carries a whole lot more weight. He is equivalent to Zhuge Changfeng’s position in the empire. Regarding talent, rumor has it he is not one bit inferior to Zhuge Changfeng either, although no one had seen them wage a battle of the minds. Leng Wuchang is admired by all for his foolproof plans and insight.”
“And the third?” Zhuo Fan was impatient seeing Vicious Pill King stop just now.
Laughing, Vicious Pill King’s eyes shined oddly, “Steward Zhuo, isn’t it obvious? It is you who killed the third.”
“Insidious Demon, You Guiqi?” Zhuo Fan caught his meaning.
Vicious Pill King nodded, “Ha-ha-ha, yes, him. The third sage was Insidious Demon, famed for his dastardly and cunning ploys. But ever since he stumbled upon Steward Zhuo, a man of wildly greater intellect, his head fell like a rock. From that point on, Steward Zhuo became the third sage of Tianyu.”
“Hey, easy on the bootlicking. I killed him using power alone. I didn’t waste my brain power on him. That would’ve been tiresome!” Zhuo Fan mocked as he brushed off his flattery.
Vicious Pill King stroked his beard and nodded, “I guessed as much. You Guiqi may not be up to the level of the other two, but it is nonetheless hard to catch him off guard. So, he must’ve died from the power gap!”
“Does that mean Leng Wuchang is more cunning than You Guiqi?” Zhuo Fan tightened his brows as the topic was brought out.
Nodding, Vicious Pill King laughed in dismay, “Ha-ha-ha, more than that. Zhuge Changfeng is a marvelous strategist. Leng Wuchang’s every scheme plays as it should. You Guiqi’s devious traps are unsolvable. Compared to the first two, You Guiqi was passable in schemes, but fell dreadfully short in power.
“The first two had intricate plans put in place. Hard to defend from the dark yet openly for everyone to see. You could see through You Guiqi’s elaborate tricks, but when it comes to Zhuge Changfeng and Leng Wuchang, you’ll have no choice but to jump even if they tell you a trap is before you. Who is better, who is inferior, who is stronger, who is weaker? Steward Zhuo, now do you know the difference between them?”
Vicious Pill King sighed, his tone ever solemn, “Since Leng Wuchang is involved, we must tread carefully and lightly!”
Zhuo Fan nodded.
Since he was far more shrewd than You Guiqi, then he would not contest him in cunning, but in strength. No matter how ingenious and convoluted plans he threw at Zhuo Fan, power reigned supreme.
This was the true plot, in which power was the true way.
This brought him back to finding experts to back the Luo clan.
Hu~
A sudden breeze blew and Zhuo Fan squinted. He grew anxious as he pulled Vicious Pill King’s hand to fly faster.
“Let’s go!”
“What’s wrong, Steward Zhuo?” Having never seen him so alarmed, Vicious Pill King was startled.
Eyes twitching, Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth, “Curses, they sent a Radiant Stage expert as well!”
“What!?” This time Vicious Pill King was panicking.
[How can this be…]