The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 994: Sword King Joining In

Proofreader: Papatonks

The soft figure rested harshly on the white and red feathery snow, jerking now and then as Bali Yuyu cranked her head up to see Baili Yutian’s icy and reproachful glare meeting hers. 

“Patriarch, why?”

Baili Yuyu was utterly confused. Baili Yulei sighed and walked over to help her up. 

Baili Yutian’s icy tone came again, “Yulei, who said you can go?”

Baili Yulei flinched and halted with another sigh. He gave one sad look to Baili Yuyu and shook his head before going back to his spot.

[Things have changed. Patriarch finds the kid untouchable now, but you just had to raise your hand.]

[That dreaded power from his ring aside, just his expounding on the realms of cultivation is enough to have Patriarch change his mind about attacking him, let alone us.]

[He truly is an untouchable deep mystery…]

It was the unanimous answer they all reached, with only Baili Yuyu, the new arrival, being in the dark still.

“Sister Yuyu, are you alright?”

Looking from her to the Patriarch, Zhuo Fan smiled and walked over with a helping hand to Baili Yuyu, “Don’t mind it. If others won’t help you, I will, ha-ha-ha…”

Pa!

Baili Yuyu slapped his hand away and glared with hatred, “Beat it!”

“Yuyu!”

Baili Yutian glared, “Is this how you thank Sir Qian’s consideration? I don’t remember ever having such a rude and brash clansman. Should I get my whip?”

Baili Yutian cupped his hands to Zhuo Fan, “Sir, she’s always like this, stubborn and rude. Please don’t mind it.”

“It’s fine. What sort of king would the Nine Sword Kings be if they don’t have some form of pride? Ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan clapped as he laughed, then returned the gesture, “Sword Patriarch, since we’ve reached an accord, it’s time for me to go.”

Zhuo Fan took Qiao’er back.

Baili Yutian’s eyes darted all over in thought, then he shouted, “Sir, I’d be most conflicted if I don’t at least make up for Yuyu’s crass behavior. Why don’t I let Yuyu accompany you, helping sir in his mission. That should make up for all her transgressions. What do you say?” 

“You want me… with him? Patriarch…”

Baili Yuyu shrieked and looked from Zhuo Fan to Baili Yutian, her eyes gleaming and begging for mercy. Baili Yulei shuddered from disbelief.

[What’s Patriarch after?]

Zhuo Fan paused again just as he was about to take the first step on the carriage. He looked back at Baili Yutian with sparkles in his eyes and a beaming smile, “Sword Patriarch, I am very much thankful for that, but I’m used to going alone. It’ll be awkward having a travel partner out of nowhere. Also, it’ll be so strange to have a great and revered Sword King as a mere travel buddy.”

“Sir, please don’t refuse my good intentions.”

Baili Yutian waved nonchalantly and said gravely, “Sword King Yuyu is strong enough to give sir no trouble at all. In the case that something does happen, sir can just ignore it and leave it to her. I don’t have Sword Kings that can’t even look after themselves. As for status, ha-ha-ha, in my eyes sir is far nobler. Please don’t shun my deepest sincerity, sir.”

Zhuo Fan looked pensive, “That’s not exactly good…”

“Sir, if you refuse, you’re making me look bad.”

Baili Yutian huffed in fake anger, “We’ve reached an agreement to stay out of each of our ways, but by refusing me now is disrespecting me. I will even take it as a provocation. I can’t vow I’ll be a complete bystander when things get tough for you in your mission, sir. I’ve gotten used to being reckless and regardless of the five divine swords, I don’t shy away from being self-destructive sometimes. But if I’m rash, could sir be as well? What would your honorable master say?”

Zhuo Fan gave him a long look then shook his head, “Sword Patriarch is quite persistent with his help that am I perhaps obliged to accept? Or is it that regardless of the price you’ll pay, you’d still choose to be my enemy?”

“That’s exactly the idea.” Invincible Sword was blunt.

Zhuo Fan nodded, “Fine, I agree then. Men, we’re leaving. And you, Frigid Rain Sword King, hop in. Or you’d rather follow behind?”

Ugh!

Everyone froze in place. 

Baili Yuyu gave a confused look to her Patriarch.

[Why am I…] 

Baili Yulei frowned, but they took the outcome much better than those guards, who looked at Frigid Rain Sword King like their executioner. They could even feel a chill brushing their fair necks. 

Zhuo Fan hopped in first, with the guards rushing behind him. Baili Yutian glared at Baili Yuyu, “Don’t just stand there, follow Sir Qian! You are to listen to his every word, you hear. Or you’ll have to answer to me, is that clear?” 

Baili Yuyu’s face twisted..

[How on earth did it turn from hounding him to following him?]

But orders were orders and she had to bend a knee.

After squeezing all that anger and hatred and who knew what deep inside, she bowed with cupped hands, “Yes, Patriarch, I obey!”

Baili Yuyu entered the carriage and the spiritual beasts were soon moving, taking their masters deeper into the snowstorm.

Baili Yulei walked next to Baili Yutian, “Patriarch, why would you insist for Yuyu to be by his side? What are you after?”

“Patriarch wants to see the real ability of Devil Mountain, knowing that the next objective would most likely be it!” The Crown Prince smiled from the side.

Nodding, Baili Yutian sighed, “Crown Prince is sharp to see my intentions. On my journey, I have formed a sect, gathered experts, built an empire, everything a true man of power would do, I have done it. With the five lands on the verge of being one, my only adversary would be heaven, to challenge my understanding of Dao. But with how vast it is, the difficulty is just as high.

“It never occured to me that a new objective sprung up, a hidden sect, Devil Mountain. The world has five more stages for us. The more I think about it, the more I regret taking it easy all these years. That’s why I had Yuyu go with him just so that I can assess their ability and not challenge them. I want to know the gap between us.

“Once I reach the peak once more, I’ll visit Devil Mountain and have a glorious fight with Overlord Nine Serenities. I will become a true Invincible Sword!” 

Baili Yutian’s eyes shone with savagery, his knuckles white…

As the four carriages rumbled on through the heavy snowstorm, the dozen 3rd layer spiritual beasts puffed steam with every step, ice slowly forming on their bodies and hindering their movements. While the outside was frosty and dead, spring blossomed within one particular carriage.

The guards looked at each other, tense, afraid to even breathe too loud. Baili Yuyu glared at them with a cold smile of disdain.

“Send word to the Qian clan to give us another token with a believable cover for Miss Yuyu.”

Zhuo Fan glanced at them. They jerked and said, “Sir, you actually…”

“Yes, she’s coming with us. While the next sects she can just avoid, once we reach the shores of the North Sea, entering the Sea Bright Sect will be mandatory!”

Glancing at the frosty Baili Yuyu, Zhuo Fan looked at the rest, “She’ll end up in pieces barging in as she is. Even a Sword King will find plenty of others at her level with how deep within the land we go, ha-ha-ha…”

The others hesitated, “Sir, that’s not it. What I mean is if you really want to bring her along…”

“Well I don’t!”

Baili Yuyu butted in, “The only reason I’m here is because the Patriarch said so. Even if it comes to the Sea Bright Sect, I have my ways of bypassing it.”

Zhuo Fan gave her a long look and nodded, “I know you do, but you’re with me now and follow my orders. That’s a must!”

“Ha, what a joke!” 

“Then there’s the door. Go tell Invincible Sword that I don’t need an insubordinate flunkey. He should first educate his people better before sending them to me.” Zhuo Fan snapped.

Everyone shuddered in fear, not because of Zhuo Fan’s anger, but dreading the witch exploding anytime soon…

[She won’t snap and kill us all, right?]

Though it was clear by Zhuo Fan’s words, that they hit Baili Yuyu’s sore spots.

Baili Yuyu put on a dark look and gnashed her teeth before growling, “Do what you want and I’ll do whatever, humph!”

Zhuo Fan smirked with confidence…