The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 1233: Child Sovereign

Proofreader: Papatonks

Zhuo Fan sized him up and shouted, “I heard that among the ten Sovereigns, the last one is the Child Sovereign, having found his path in youth. Can it be that sir…”

“Hey, leave that last part out!”

The Child Sovereign’s face twitched and sneered, “We’re all Sovereigns yet talk behind another’s back? Especially those three, having no shame calling themselves the top of Sovereigns. And when it’s my turn, they label me as the runt. Couldn’t you have come up with the Ultimate Talent instead? Are you looking down on me because of my looks?”

Zhuo Fan chuckled, bowing with respect, “Forgive me, Sovereign. But even so, sir is still a Sovereign, a realm all want to achieve and never could, even if they get a poor title.” 

“I’d rather not hear you saying that about me. I’m not much worse than the other nine either.” 

The Child Sovereign flared his nostrils, looking at Zhuo Fan with a cold gaze, “Buddy, did you come to pass the trial?”

“Uh, yes!”

“Just go home, you won’t make it.”

“Why? I didn’t even try…”

“You’re still asking why? Because you mentioned that title, that’s why. Humph!” The Child Sovereign stuck out his tongue, “You called me last so I’ll keep you in the Nether Sea until you rot!”

Zhuo Fan sighed.

[The Child Sovereign looks like a kid, but he’s been a Sovereign for countless eons, unlike Gu Santong. So how can he still act like one?]

[Just how did he become a Sovereign anyway? What’s his path?]

[Regardless, he’s being hard on me on purpose. At least I’ve been through this before with young Sanzi. Maybe I’ll just coax the young Sovereign. Just what made them stay the same after years and years?]

“Uh, Sovereign, that was but a slip of the tongue. In truth, everyone respects and admires sir the most among all the others.”

Zhuo Fan beamed, putting on an amiable look as he sucked up to him, “There has never been one with more talent than sir in all of history! There hasn’t been any youth achieving their paths for so long. Even my godson, Gu Santong, it was because he was a young sacred beast that he had so much power, but he also grew up in the end. Only sir, forever young, can outclass all the other Sovereigns. They must be jealous of your talent to call you last. But sir isn’t last, to me, you are the first!” 

Child Sovereign gave a wide smile, “Truly?”

“More real than you and I. Just with your youthful looks, none of the others can match. They must be dying with envy, ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan smirked, running his mouth. It was an amazing feat attaining one’s path at such an age, making him unique, but no one wanted to be stuck as a sniveling brat.

The Child Sovereign’s talent was incredible, but he was stuck in this form and could only console himself. Why would any other Sovereigns ever be jealous of a shorty? 

Even Zhuo Fan wouldn’t want to be like him.

The Child Sovereign nodded, being as simple as his name implied, making a little flattery work on him. “Right, you have good eyes, pal. So you want to pass? I’ll give you a hand. Since you adore me so much, I can let you go through, no trouble. But before that, I am guarding this trial on behalf of the Nether Sovereign. I have to play my part or he’ll nag me later.” 

“Please do, senior.”

Zhuo Fan rejoiced. The other trials were dangerous, but both got him something great. The last trial had to be up to par as well and he was looking forward to it. 

Child Sovereign beamed, “So, I’ll go easy on ya, by playing catch. Grab me and you pass.”

“Uh…”

Zhuo Fan’s face twitched, shaking his head, “Sovereign, isn’t this too easy? Does sir have a deeper meaning behind the children’s game?”

“What else can help you pass?”

“Oh, only passing…” Zhuo Fan felt letdown for overthinking it. He feared it might be something impossible and would’ve failed, but now it was way too easy and he’d get nothing.

[I’m so picky.]

The Child Sovereign saw through him, “Why, you like pain? Can do. The same game, but this time I’ll make sure you’ll be stuck here till you rot!”

Zhuo Fan’s heart sank.

Having gone through two trials, he knew the Sovereigns had a reason for being mysterious and acting so strange. 

[Maybe the game’s the same?]

Zhuo Fan nodded gravely.

“Please guide me, senior.”

Zhuo Fan shot to grab the Child Sovereign.

Whoosh~

The Child Sovereign vanished then and there, popping behind him, on a wooden horsie, “Still think it’s easy not even able to reach me?”

Whoosh!

Zhuo Fan flashed as well and reached out for Child Sovereign’s shoulder.

“I knew that even a restrained Sovereign is impossible for me to overcome so easily.” Zhuo Fan sounded from behind Child Sovereign, his right eye shining in a golden halo as his hand was inches from the child.

Zhuo Fan felt some uneasiness as he continued, “Of course, if Sovereign used some mystical art, I would never ever be able to do it in a million years.”

“Reverse psychology, is it?”

The Child Sovereign’s eyes shone and snickered, “Relax, I’m quite conscientious  when playing and won’t break the rules. Though it’s not like it’ll make a difference, you sneaky rascal, ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan watched him on top of the strangely swaying wooden horse, just as his hand grabbed at the child’s shoulder, without touching him.

[I couldn’t catch him even at such a distance?]

Zhuo Fan was startled. The Child Sovereign was on the same swaying horse, giggling, “I didn’t move this time, but you still couldn’t catch me? Ha-ha-ha…”

The Child Sovereign scurried over to a nearby bed, laughing.

Zhuo Fan was grave. 

[The Child Sovereign has some weird movements. It looked like he used the swaying wooden horse to avoid me. Such precision and subtlety is just what a Sovereign can do. He’s weaker now, but he has experience and mentality to help him take on anyone.]

Zhuo Fan’s brow shook, his right eye shining golden, “Freeze!”

Hum~

The Child Sovereign’s space turned solid and Zhuo Fan reappeared to try and touch him, only for Child Sovereign to vanish once again.

[Illusion?]

Zhuo Fan’s heart raced.

“I didn’t use any skill, having slipped away before you reached out.”

The Child Sovereign sounded from behind. Zhuo Fan saw him on a swing, moving his feet around with a smile.

[So fast!]

Zhuo Fan gasped. 

[He’s restrained yet can move faster than my Divine Eye of the Void. A Sovereign is on a whole other level. He doesn’t have just strength, but many insights and skills to widen the gulf from the rest.]

Zhuo Fan was eager to fight, shooting for the Child Sovereign with the Divine Eye of the Void shining brightly. He flashed on and off, his hands moving and forming a net to trap the Child Sovereign.

The kid’s image warped like a mist, small or big, as it slipped through the net with his annoying snicker.

The playground found itself scoured by two figures, running all over the place as one chased and the other dodged.

Zhuo Fan gasped, huffing after four hours of no results. The Child Sovereign was giggling still from the swing, “Brat, tired already? Look at me, I’m not even out of breath.”

[You’re a Sovereign, how’s that a comparison?]

“It’s just catch, yet you’ve been up to your old tricks and guile all this time. Of course you’ll wear out.” The Child Sovereign sighed, “Pal, do you know the best animal to catch a mouse in his den?”

Zhuo Fan said, “A cat?”

“Fool, the mouse itself!”

The Child Sovereign mocked, “You only want to catch me, not play along. Since you can’t go along with the flow, how can you catch me? Do you even know how or where I’m dodging?”

Zhuo Fan shuddered, his mind abuzz…