The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 900: Real and Fake Maps

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Yifan, you’ve done exemplary work once more, ha-ha-ha!”

Shangguan Feixiong’s lips quivered as he laughed, unable to hold himself from slamming Zhuo Fan’s shoulder again and making Zhuo Fan wince under the force.

He only had those teary eyes to show for the pressure he was under.

Blocking the man from crushing him some more, Zhuo Fan beamed, “Uncle, are you after the Soaring Sword?”

“Yes, with how you’ve done the clan such great service twice, I’ll tell you.”

Shangguan Feixiong sighed, “The highest powers of Shangguan have gone through a great journey from the eastern lands to the central area. But it wasn’t to get the traitor Shangguan Feiyun, since we couldn’t defeat him even back home, to say nothing in his own turf. We did it all for the greatest treasure of eastern lands, Soaring Sword. It must be hard to imagine just how important it is to us.”

Zhuo Fan kept his understanding of the matter silent.

Though if it weren’t for Danqing Shen’s mention, he’d still be oblivious of the five sacred weapons’ roles. That the sacred weapon was not just a single man’s strength, but the glory of a clan. 

[Of course they’d go through hell to get it back…]

Shangguan Feixiong took his silence for ignorance and chuckled as he thanked, “Anyway, Yifan, because of you, Shangguan clan’s glory will continue. The clan will never forget what you’ve done for us. You’re our most glorious member!”

“Really? Does that mean I can strut around the clan?”

Raising an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan chuckled, putting on a mischievous act.

Shangguan Feixiong laughed and the rest no longer disdained him, but found this step young master to be trustworthy and valuable, even cute.

Shangguan Yulin was the only one watching from way back with a poisonous stare.

Shangguan Feixiong signaled the men to calm down and looked at them with confidence, “Men, we’ve been at odds because of the dangers regarding the mission, now I dare say this chance is providence. With this map, the Flying Cloud manor can have two Sword Kings, and can have Baili Jingwei, but it means nothing! We will strike fast, take the Soaring Sword and return to eastern lands at once. And they won’t be able to do anything to stop us!”

“Uhm, uncle, I don’t know about two Sword Kings, just that Flying Cloud manor only has Shangguan Feiyun.” Zhuo Fan grinned.

Shangguan Feixiong started, “What?”

“Ha-ha-ha, Baili Jingwei is worried about the Crown Prince’s condition and wants to take me as the main alchemist back to the imperial capital, with the Dragon Cleaving Sword King acting as guard.”

Zhuo Fan muttered, “That’s why Baili Jingwei had me return today to look after my family before we go tomorrow.”

Shangguan Feixiong looked at him long with a stumped gaze, “You’re serious?”

“Baili Jingwei said it himself and so did Dragon Cleaving Sword King. It has to be real.” Zhuo Fan said.

Shangguan Feiyun shuddered, then finally reacted, ” Ha-ha-ha, providence indeed! Heaven has blessed the Shangguan clan. Baili Jingwei and Dragon Cleaving Sword King are leaving, with only Shangguan Feiyun remaining. Now our success is nigh, ha-ha-ha…”

“Congratulations, Clan Head, with heaven’s gift, we will succeed for sure!” The rest joined in with their excitement.

Everyone was happy, so much so they were acting as if it was a blowout, like the Soaring Sword was in their hands.

Shangguan Feixiong used the lively spirits to work on the plan of attack on the manor for the second time. 

Looking at them fired up, Zhuo Fan had a quirky smile.

[On this earth, it’s not providence, but me helping you. Though I do have to thank you for helping me as well, ha-ha-ha…]

Whoosh!

Hours passed and after intense debates, Shangguan Feixiong’s team settled on a strategy. They would engage three days after Baili Jingwei left. 

Standing in a somewhat hidden corner, Shangguan Yulin learned of this and slipped away, to a secluded spot to send a jade slip flying towards the manor.

Darting his head around, looking for any faces, Shangguan Yulin returned in equal silence to his room.

Closing the door, a quite familiar darkness took him once more. His senses were blind in this abyss, unable to see his own fingers.

Face twitching, Shangguan Yulin’s heart reached rock bottom, lamenting his fate as he groveled on the ground. He banged his head three times and declared, “Greetings, master!”

“Ha-ha-ha, you’re looking quite sharp this time around, kid.”

“Master, it’s only natural for a disciple to greet this master with the respect sir deserves.” With a revolted look, Shangguan Yulin looked to be used to it by now, being as meek as a wee lamb. 

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone, “I must say, you’ve elevated your shamelessness to a whole new level. You truly live up to the title I bestowed upon you, degenerate demon, ha-ha-ha…”

Shangguan Yulin turned a deaf ear, his face stony.

“Well, that’s enough smalltalk. Where’s the map? “

Zhuo Fan squinted, cutting straight to the chase, “And before you say it’s not done yet, I saw the kid return with my own eyes.”

Shangguan Yulin inhaled deeply and revealed a white paper, a copy he made, “Master, I prepared this map of the manor for you. I ask that master receives it.”  

“Well done, for being tactful too, he-he-he…”

The map flew into the darkness and Zhuo Fan inspected it

[Is Shangguan Yulin that sincere to not mess with it at all?]

Soon though, Shangguan Yulin looked at the abyss and reported, “Master, you must be after the Soaring Sword as well, right?”

“Well, aren’t you chatty?”

Glancing over, Zhuo Fan said, “What’s it to you?”

Shangguan Yulin paused and said, “He-he-he, if yes, I urge master to act three days later.”

“Why?”

“It’s the same day that Shangguan clan will attack and master can use the chaos to your advantage.” Shangguan Yulin sported a nasty smirk.

Zhuo Fan mocked, “Why are you so nice to me?”

“A master a day, a father for life. I can no more be rude to master than I could denounce my own father.” Shangguan Yulin raised an eyebrow as he spouted corny stuff with a straight face.

Zhuo Fan had a total disbelieving mocking tone, “What about your clan, or your lord?”

“They are nothing compared to master.” With a wide smile, Shangguan Yulin said, “Only you dictate my fate!”

Zhuo Fan gave him a long look, “That does make some sense.”

“Also, master, you know that I’m working for the Flying Cloud manor. That means the Shangguan clan’s attack to get the Soaring Sword will be a trap. Master would gain nothing if you plan on taking the divine sword from them.”

Shangguan Yulin gave another deep bow, as if advising Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan faked anger, “What’s that supposed to mean? First you want me to use the chaos to my advantage and now you’re telling me not to ? Are you mocking me?”

“No, that’s not it, master!”

Shangguan Yulin snickered, “Barging into the manor after Shangguan clan isn’t a good plan. Only when the two sides fight will the chance become obvious. It won’t get any easier than then to steal the divine sword. That’s why I suggest master capitalize on this diversion to get away with the sword.”

Zhuo Fan squinted, “Speak!”

“Master, please consider giving the map a careful look. There are two areas, the easternmost one where Jade Falls where the Soaring Sword is and the northernmost one where Shangguan Feiyun’s resting room is. First is the original place of the sword while the second where Shangguan Feiyun will hide it. In my time at the manor, I’ve seen Shangguan Feiyun taking the Soaring Sword to his room. The spiritual energy there is also thick, not just for cultivating, but to store the Soaring Sword as well. “

Shangguan Yulin had an evil smile, “They know the Shangguan clan’s moves and will hide the divine sword. So it has to be in the second location. When the two sides meet at the Jade Falls, master can slip into the Sword King’s room and steal the sword with none the wiser.”

[Talk about twisted words.]

Zhuo Fan had a cold smile.

Having turned every pebble over in the manor, there was no one who knew the Flying Cloud manor better than him. 

[This punk’s nonsense is meant to incite me to go in and get me killed.]

[I bet he sent fake info as well, making Shangguan Feiyun place a trap there. Too bad for you since I fiddled with the map from the start and reported a fake, humph…]