The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 902: T’was the Night Before The Ambush

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Dad, are they really dragging the fight elsewhere?”

In the pitch-black night, only the moonlight was shining some light upon the world, giving it a chilling air. The many houses in the city had their own faint yellow candlelight, in hope of dispelling the coldness.

Gu Santong lay in bed, eyes staring at Zhuo Fan polishing his demonic sword under the lamplight.

With an evil grin, Zhuo Fan replied, “Yep, Flying Cloud manor’s move hinges on Shangguan clan’s attack. While Shangguan clan’s moves are following the map I provided. By now, the same map should be back in the manor. Ha-ha-ha, this way both sides’ actions are under my control. They’ll fight wherever I want them to without a choice, humph…”

Zhuo Fan looked mighty pleased with his handiwork, confidence stemming from manipulating the whole board and its rules.

“What will we be doing then?”

Gu Santong muttered, “Could we help Shangguan clan after we set up the drawing array in the Jade Falls?”

Zhuo Fan gave him a glance before fixating back on his precious demonic sword, “Who cares about them? We do our own thing and ignore the rest so as to not invite more trouble. Flying Cloud manor now has two Sword Kings and a Prime Minister on top. The Shangguan clan stands no chance. I used Shangguan Yulin to send fake info and scatter their forces. That should be enough breather for the Shangguan clan. Though not like it’ll be for long.”

“When the experts waiting in Shangguan Feiyun’s room realize the attack won’t be coming, the trap stemming from the fake info I had Shangguan Yulin send will collapse. When the two sides converge, the Shangguan clan will fall, but it’s not certain if they will get wiped out. But their annihilation will work in our favor, their dying struggle buying us time to set the array. He-he-he, at least they died for something.”

Zhuo Fan mocked, a tyrant lifting his sword above a mountain of skeletons, using the blood of all living things to write his own rise.

Gu Santong sighed in silence.

Zhuo Fan’s hand paused from cleaning the demonic sword, picking up on young Sanzi’s mood. He no longer looked evil, now giving his son a bright smile, “I know you don’t like hanging with these people and grew tired of this place. Anyway, these three days will go by fast, so just bear with it. Ha-ha-ha, then according to Shangguan Feixiong’s plan, the experts will attack while the juniors will leave. You’ll slip away from them in the meantime to where we established. Don’t forget the escape we set up before we got to Flying Cloud City, the Big Dipper Flinging Array, he-he-he…”

“That means there’s only the two of us surviving, walking all over their lives…” Gu Santong muttered downcast.

Zhuo Fan didn’t notice, too caught up in cleaning his great demonic sword and his dream of learning to use the sword…

Knock~

Someone was at the door. Zhuo Fan paused from cleaning and asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Zhuo Fan heard Shangguan Qingyan saying, “Mister Gu, are you free?”

[What’s this chick up to at this hour?]

Giving Gu Santong a puzzled look, Zhuo Fan knew he had to reply, “I’ll be right there.”

Zhuo Fan gazed upon the frail figure as she stepped in, “What got you coming here so late?”

“Is young Sanzi asleep?” Shangguan Qingyan was being awfully subtle.

Zhuo Fan gave a casual answer, “Kids are in bed at this hour. What do you…”

“Come with me!”

Shangguan Qingyan cut him off by pulling his hand outside, in the back, then relaxed seeing no one around, “No one will disturb us here…” 

“Disturb us?”

Zhuo Fan watched the clear face reflected in the moonlight and rubbed his hands, “Miss Shangguan, first you made sure young Sanzi is asleep and now you invited me in this secluded area. Ha-ha-ha, I’m shocked by your forwardness. I know my charm and I am quite fascinating that some girls just can’t keep away from me, but I’m a married man and have a child. I’m not that kind of guy. But since you insist, I guess I, ugh…”

The sudden attack had him crying out.

He saw Shangguan Qingyan pinching his thigh and twisting hard.

Zhuo Fan struggled out of her clutches, “What was that all about?”

“Why else if not for talking trash?”

Shangguan Qingyan huffed and glared, “I asked for you for a good reason but your mind is clearly in the gutter. The only reason you’re still conscious is because you’re married.”

Zhuo Fan ignored her tantrum, “How noble of you, despite being in a clan that trains in dual cultivation to vent. Isn’t uncle a married man too?”

“It’s because the Shangguan clan’s men are like that so I can’t stand it…”

Shangguan Qingyan waved her angry fist around, though she put it away without using it, “Fine, let’s just forget it. But you must get your wife back. Focus only on that and don’t do anything that might break her heart.”

Zhuo Fan shook, his face heavy, “What’s it to you?”

“Nothing, I just… it’s what I hope.”

Shangguan Qingyan sighed, “Tomorrow you’re going with Baili Jingwei to the imperial capital and we might never see each other again. But don’t worry, I’ll look after young Sanzi and do my best to find his mother so that all of you will be reunited. I just hope that once you achieve success, there won’t be another woman.”

Zhuo Fan stared at her, “What do you mean? Didn’t uncle want to take me to eastern lands?”

“Dad did promise you that, but now, ha-ha…”

Shangguan Qingyan gave a wry smile, “Everything’s changed. Dad is the Clan Head and sometimes the clan’s future comes first, at the detriment of being disloyal on occasions. If you were still the same Gu Yifan that lent us your house to hide, dad would’ve taken you. But Baili Jingwei treated you as his most honored guest. And now, having helped the clan draw out their attack plan. So they…”

Words came hard to Shangguan Qingyan the longer she spoke, “They decided to be practical.”

“Practical?”

“Favor you if alive or abandon you if dead.”

Shangguan Qingyan looked crushed as she continued, “You know that dad will attack three days after you and Baili Jingwei leave. Regardless of the outcome, there’s only two endings for you. Baili Jingwei will find you out for giving us the map, executing you on the spot, or Baili Jingwei will still see you in high regard and you will forever remain as Shangguan clan’s spy in the central area.”

“Didn’t uncle say they’ll accept me after the ambush succeeded?”

Shangguan Qingyan shook her head with a bitter smile, “With Baili Jingwei, the Prime Minister, having so many experts at his side and Dragon Cleaving Sword King on top, after dad gets Soaring Sword, they aren’t about to risk it over the likes of you. Their plan is to use you. If you die, the Shangguan clan will be ever grateful, raising young Sanzi as their own. If you live, young Sanzi will become hostage and force you to work for eastern lands. But don’t worry, I will definitely get you back one day.”

Zhuo Fan squinted and nodded.

Zhuo Fan’s speculation reached this part as well and totally ignored it. He was just that confident since… 

[We’ll see who uses who.] 

[In a clash between bigshots, there’s no room for niceties nor kindness, only interest.]

That was how Baili Jingwei was and the same applied to Shangguan Feiyun. So how could Shangguan Feixiong, known for his righteous character be any lesser?

It didn’t change the fact they were still going to lose in this endeavor because they failed to even realize that there was another player having sneaked into their little game. 

[Ignorance gets you killed.]

Zhuo Fan grinned and nodded, “Thank you.”

“No need for thanks, just be careful. If all goes well, I’ll be sure to send young Sanzi to you, to help you two be reunited.”

Shangguan Qingyan spoke with resolve then bid her goodbye.

Zhuo Fan waited for her to leave, “Young Sanzi, come out. The chick is gone.”

Whoosh~

Gu Santong was by Zhuo Fan’s side in a flash of scarlet.  

“The chick spouted so much tripe.”

Zhuo Fan snickered, his eyes cold, “I’ve never trusted one of them from the start. My life will always be in my hands. I won’t ever give it to anyone else!”

Zhuo Fan walked back, patting young Sanzi’s head, “Come, young Sanzi, this doesn’t change anything.”

Gu Santong nodded but sometimes peeked behind.

[Auntie does care about him…]