The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 433: Life in Desperation

The sun’s morning rays spilled on the land, dispelling the darkness and promising hope.

In a gloomy ravine, Grandmother took her group to a creek for a drop of water. They all looked weary and tired, with Grandmother having it worse due to the poison. 

“Grandmother, here’s some water.” One disciple showed consideration for her.

Grandmother patted the child’s head and looked to the east heartbroken, “I heard from last night’s five teams, Guelder Rose’s team was spotted. For the sake of our journey to safety, they drew the enemy and must have died by now. I have let them down!”

“Grandmother, Overseer Guelder Rose is like all of us, willing to lay down their life for Drifting Flowers Edifices! She would never blame you.” Peony Overseer appeased.

Grandmother shook her head in tears.

Whoosh!

Iris Overseer flashed in front of them.

Her face turned heavy looking around as she spoke, “Grandmother, the way forward is blocked and they’re now searching for us on their way over here.”

“What?”

Grandmother cried and shook. If not for someone holding her steady, she would’ve collapsed by now.

“Did they foresee our plan to escape? How?” Grandmother asked incredulously, “Who is coming after us?”

Iris Overseer replied, “Grandmother, their group is made of youths led by Hell Valley’s Grand Elder and 5th elder.”

“Did Hell Valley guess our attempt to flee? Ever since You Guiqi died, they’ve never had such guile.”

Shaking her head, Grandmother felt bitter regret festering inside.

[I’ve completely lost…]

Back in Drifting Flowers Edifices, they could still hold on for a couple of months with their defenses, but here, turned into stragglers, they stood no chance against any group.

Their escape was a bold gamble.

Win and Drifting Flowers Edifices would one day rise from the ashes. Lose and their deaths would be all the more tragic.

It was quite obvious now what hand she had played.

“I have been farsighted all my life only to make mistakes over and over at the end, ruining Drifting Flowers Edifices’ legacy. I am ashamed to meet my ancestors in the underworld.” Grandmother cried.

The others sighed as well, hanging their desolate faces.

On a hill behind them, footsteps sounded that had everyone on edge.

All the eyes looked over tense and frightened…

Meanwhile, Hell Valley’s army of thousands was combing through the area, zeroing in on Grandmother’s location. Between Grand Elder and 5th elder was a man in gray, You Ming.

Taking in the lush vegetation, You Ming’s eyes flashed.

“You Ming, you’ve grown so much in skill over the years. I still can’t believe that old hag would leave the city and its defenses and make for such a daring attempt. We never would’ve had such an easy time trapping so many of them if it weren’t for you. I wonder how much merit will this get us? Ha-ha-ha…” Grand Elder praised.

5th elder nodded, “Ha-ha-ha, You Ming is turning out to resemble the 7th elder more and more.”

“No, I do not want to become my master. I want to surpass him!”

You Ming sighed, “Grand Elder, has Grandmother been caught?”

Grand Elder shook his head, “In their attempt to flee, we’ve captured four teams, but neither had that old hag among them.”

“Perfect.”

You Ming nodded.

He gave the signal to stop, peering at a hill in front of them, “Wait here while I look ahead.”

“You Ming, why is it that you always go ahead? Are you trying to take all the credit?” 5th elder asked.

You Ming smiled, “I am only an adviser, 5th elder. How can I take down thousands of people by myself and steal your credit? I only want to check for signs of them passing through here and their direction. With all of us going ahead, it will mask all the clues.”

“Old 5th, you’re so petty!”

Grand Elder glared, “You Ming earned the most merit in the first place with his plan. Why would he steal ours then?”

“He-he-he, I was just messing around. Don’t mind it, You Ming.” 5th elder scratched his head. 

You Ming nodded, rushing up the hill.

What he saw beyond the hill had him wide-eyed.

Grandmother and her people were tense, but ready to fight to the last.

The only choice now was to go down fighting.

Yet You Ming made a signal for them to stay quiet.

They all looked stumped.

You Ming turned around and shouted to Grand Elder, “Drifting Flowers Edifices’ team passed through here. They must’ve gone in that direction. You might catch them if you give chase!”

You Ming’s finger picked a random spot. Grand Elder was overjoyed and led his men into a chase. With their trust in You Ming and the hill separating them, they had no clue their quarry was just over yonder. They were so close yet oh so far. 

The women were stumped, looking tensed at You Ming.

Why would someone from Hell Valley help them?

With the army behind him gone, You Ming said, “Everyone from Drifting Flowers Edifices, east and west are blocked. Only north and south have been searched already and there’s no one there. But I highly recommend going south. In those tall mountains and dense forest, it’s easy to hide.”

You Ming left.

“One moment.”

Grandmother cried, “Thank you, sir, for your timely rescue. But why did you help us?”

You Ming mocked, “Help you? Ha-ha-ha, you’re rich. It’s never worth betraying my house over some strays. Just send this message to Zhuo Fan. He owes me one.”

You Ming flew after Hell Valley’s men.

Grandmother felt bitter and despondent.

Zhuo Fan had cast such a huge shadow that even the enemy had people hoping to get on his good side. The youth just now wouldn’t have helped them otherwise.

They all felt sour at the revelation.

Grandmother was known to all houses for a hundred years, yet her name had less weight than an upstart. [Who’d have thought Zhuo Fan’s name can make one betray his house?]

[How could we be so different?]

No one knew that the true mastermind behind their current plight was none other than their savior, You Ming. 

He did it all for Zhuo Fan.

Not that Zhuo Fan asked him, of course, but Zhuo Fan’s handiwork had left him with no other choice. 

Ever since Zhuo Fan razed Hell Valley, the guy was homeless.

It hit him the instant the news reached him. Zhuo Fan took care of Hell Valley to force him to renounce his unflinching trust for his house.

As long as Hell Valley stood, he was one of them and betraying one’s king never came easy.

But with his home up in smokes, Hell Valley was gone for good. Even though You Wanshan took his elders to follow Regent Estate to attack Drifting Flowers Edifices.

And Regent Estate would never entertain the notion of helping them rebuild, deciding on a far better approach, to absorb them.

As it stood, this vagrant who used to be at a three-way crossroads found only two paths forward, Regent Estate and Zhuo Fan.

Under these circumstances, he had put aside the good of the house and was putting himself first.

Breaking Drifting Flowers Edifices was gaining credit in front of Regent Estate, while letting Drifting Flowers Edifices go was doing Zhuo Fan a solid. No matter which of these two behemoths ended up ruling the lands, he had a way out.

This was his plan, to be a double agent!

“I can’t help but wonder, who’ll be my lord in the end? Ha-ha-ha…” You Ming shook his head.

The women heeded You Ming’s advice and escaped the four houses’ siege and bumped into their rescue team.

“Grandmother, Steward Zhuo has had us waiting for you here for ages!” Qiu Yanhai cupped his hands…