The warm glow of the morning sun spilled through the window and into the pink room. Luo Yunchang’s eyes trembled open but the glaring sun’s rays made her squint.
“Young miss Luo, are you awake?”
Luo Yunchang turned to see Lei Yuting’s servant, Xiao Cui. She was happily bringing in piping hot stew.
Luo Yunchang weakly got up, as Xiao Cui placed the bowl on a nearby table.
Luo Yunchang nodded gratefully for her help, “Xiao Cui, where’s sister Lei?”
“Miss and Steward Zhuo are in a meeting! She told me to watch over you. She also had me make this stew for you…”
“Zhuo Fan…”
She didn’t seem to have heard her as Luo Yunchang shivered having recalled something. She then broke out in a wide smile, “Yeah, he’s back. I’m going to see him!”
“Slow down, young miss Luo. You’re still very much weakened. Please have this stew first. Steward Zhuo isn’t running anywhere.”
“I don’t care. I want to see him!”
Luo Yunchang was so excited all the fatigue left her as she jumped out of bed. Xiao Cui sighed, left with following after her out of worry.
The two soon arrived before Blackwind Mountain’s hall, hearing Zhuo Fan’s familiar voice from within.
“Elder Lei, how is your cultivation?” Zhuo Fan asked as he browsed the books.
Lei Yuntian replied in disappointment, “I am muddled, and have not advanced one layer in two years. But I feel I will break through soon…”
“Muddled indeed!”
Zhuo Fan’s cold tone cut his frail tone short. But his eyes were still checking the reports, “Thought it’s not your fault. It is hard for someone as old as you to advance.”
Lei Yuntian forced an embarrassed smile. [Steward Zhuo is so blunt, not sparing any feelings.]
Lei Yuting saw her godfather put on the spot and slapped the table in anger, “Zhuo Fan, where are you going with this? While you were gone for the last two years, we had to look after the Luo clan. And now that you’re back, the first thing you do is point fingers.”
“And you!”
Zhuo Fan threw a book before her as he spoke coldly, “When I came back yesterday you said I cut straight to business instead of greeting you. That I was cold! So I spent all day catching up with what you have been doing over the years. But today, I need to resume my role as the steward!”
Snapping his eyes on her, Zhuo Fan pointed at the book, “I told you to form a shadow corp before leaving to become our hidden ace as well as our eyes and ears in Tianyu. Why is it that all you managed to contact are some small towns and some villages? You didn’t place anyone in the capital, not to mention the seven houses’ cities!”
“Humph, you think it’s that easy?” Huffed Lei Yuting, “Ten times I’ve sent people into Hell Valley’s city, but they were seized every time. Thankfully, they were loyal to us and died rather than say anything. Or Hell Valley would’ve been upon us a year ago!”
“Oh, did you not see how it’s done when I got into Drifting Flowers City?” Zhuo Fan raised a taunting eyebrow.
Lei Yuting spat through gnashed teeth, “Don’t you even start. Just when I was close to forgetting. Steward Zhuo had gone out for the glory of the clan, but never forgot to spare certain someone his feelings, quite carefree I might add! If my men had even half your skills, they would have infiltrated the whole empire by now, even the palace.”
“Uh, whatever you may think, I did it all for the clan!” Zhuo Fan scratched his nose.
Captain Pang grinned, adding his two cents to smooth things over, “Ha-ha-ha, young miss Lei misunderstands. Brother Zhuo’s thinking is unfathomable. I’m sure Brother Zhuo had a good reason for letting those rumors appear. Look, didn’t he bring back two experts like he promised?”
“And you, Old Pang!”
Zhuo Fan butted in before Lei Yuting could nag some more.
Captain Pang was startled, and swallowed drily, feeling cold sweat down his spine. Now it was his turn it seemed. None of them knew the refined Zhuo Fan, who planned to put the Luo clan back on its feet, would be so mean.
Because Captain Pang cultivated the Wraith Art, the vibe coming from him was that of a fiend. But before Zhuo Fan, he was nothing more than a mouse in front of a cat.
Although the two were like brothers, Captain Pang still shivered whenever he saw Zhuo Fan acting high and mighty. [Who knows what fault this kid will find now?]
“Uh, brother, I…”
“Done awesome!” Out of all expectations, Zhuo Fan beamed. He was happy as well, while the rest, sullen. [What did Captain Pang do that is so awesome?]
[Our efforts aren’t lower than his!]
Zhuo Fan elaborated with a grin, “When I gave you the Wraith Art I didn’t even think you’d survive. You not only survived but even exceeded my expectations.”
[Then why the hell did you give it to me then?]
Captain Pang’s face twitched, not knowing if he should be glad or enraged. [You gave it to me thinking I’d die?]
Knowing what he was thinking, Zhuo Fan patted his shoulder, “Ha-ha-ha, don’t you worry now. You are reborn as one of Luo clan’s pillars!”
Captain Pang nodded solemnly. Defending the Luo clan had been his aim all along…
Having talked with his men, Zhuo Fan looked at the small figure at the side.
The bored Luo Yunhai noticed his eyes and shivered. He felt danger in his gaze, as if a viper was out to get him.
“He-he-he, big bro Zhuo, I’m still a child. Cut me some slack!” Luo Yunhai opened his big naive eyes like an oversized kitten.
Too bad this trick didn’t fly with a Demon like Zhuo Fan.
Grinning, Zhuo Fan looked like a ghost from the Underworld, “You rotten brat, how’s your cultivation?”
[Why ask when you already know?]
Luo Yunhai felt a shiver down his spine, “Uh, big bro Zhuo, I’m in the 9th layer of Foundation Establishment. On the verge of breaking through!”
He also gave Captain Pang a sign, who added, “Steward Zhuo, young master Yunhai has only been cultivating for two years. To reach such a level is a feat worthy of a genius!”
“Oh, not bad indeed. How many hours a day did you cultivate?” Zhuo Fan nodded with a smile everpresent.
Luo Yunhai’s eyes darted around then raised six fingers, “Six hours!”
Captain Pang was startled, then nodded, “That’s right, young master Yunhai cultivated in earnest!”
“Good, then from now on you’ll do it for 20 hours a day.” Zhuo Fan’s smile was wide as ever, causing the others to gasp.
Wouldn’t the poor kid die of exhaustion training for so long?
Luo Yunhai was dumbstruck. He immediately shouted his complaints, “Big bro Zhuo, I’ll die!”
“Hardly. By feeding you pills each day, death will long be forgotten! Plus, as the days pass you’ll get used to it!” Zhuo Fan laughed.
He recalled how his master did the same for him.
His lower lip trembling, Luo Yunhai was on the verge of tears, “But that would leave me with only four hours to rest. What about playing?”
“Who told you you have four hours to rest?”
Raising an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan added, “Two hours is enough, while the rest is for reading books! How are you going to be a Clan Head if you’re stacked in all the right places except in the head?”
Luo Yunhai’s eyes rolled into his skull and slumped in his chair.
The others sighed secretly. Zhuo Fan wasn’t mean to just them but even to children. No wonder he was called Demon Archon in the outside world.
Vicious Pill King and Li Jingtian were staying quiet, but hearing Zhuo Fan’s verdict, even they shivered.
Then they looked at Luo Yunhai with all their sympathy. [Is it a blessing, or a disaster? No one can tell.]
The cruel steward set his eyes on the poor child. He was dead set on making him the Luo clan’s next in line. Yet, his future wasn’t as glorious as any true future clan head, but one of a miserable childhood.
But with Zhuo Fan’s wicked planning and the kid’s talent, his future was bound to be limitless.
This could be counted as his only blessing.
After a few more words, Zhuo Fan told them to withdraw, leaving only Vicious Pill King and Li Jingtian behind. As for Luo Yunhai, he walked out like a zombie, feeling like the whole world abandoned him.
Such a young child was showing such despair.
Zhuo Fan ignored him as he poured himself some tea, “Young miss, since you’re already here, you might as well come in …”