A fortnight later, Zhuo Fan was patiently cultivating, taking advantage of the short idle time he rarely could afford.
He had to handle every little matter in the Luo clan these few days. It was his duty as a steward to make sure everything ran smoothly. Adding to that, he had to look after the guards and shadow corp's cultivation. Thus, his own training suffered.
Since Luo Yunhai was now Dugu Zhantian's godson, he also had to constantly ferry this young master to Dugu Zhantian's camp and strengthen their relationship.
Their interactions were rocky at first, with Dugu Zhantian in a bad mood, but the kid was sharp and slowly started to grow on the old guy. Soon, Marshall began treating him like his favorite. Even though he was aware of Luo clan's intent, he nonetheless agreed to it in a moment of carelessness.
And they got so close that Luo Yunhai was staying at the Dugu Army camp ten miles out for two or three days sometimes. It was such a relief to Zhuo Fan to hear this.
[This pair of godson and godfather finally shows results…]
Suddenly, Zhuo Fan opened his eyes and grinned wickedly, "He-he-he, I was beginning to worry I'd have no excuse to get that old man to march on you. But who'd have thought you'd come instead. It doesn't get any better than this!"
"Old Pang!"
Zhuo Fan got out and shouted. Captain Pang rushed to him and cupped his hands, "Steward Zhuo, what do you need of me?"
"Go to Dugu Army camp and tell the old man, trouble has come to Luo clan!"
"What, enemy attack? Where? Can I go see?" Captain Pang was growing anxious in his rush outside.
Zhuo Fan flicked his forehead with a smile, "Stop using that excuse. Don't worry about that and just go ask for help!"
Captain Pang scratched his head, puzzled. But since Zhuo Fan said it, he'd have to follow his order. After all, Zhuo Fan's every move was meticulously made and surely had a good reason for this. As long as they followed his instructions everything would be all right.
Zhuo Fan smiled as Captain Pang ran like the wind. Then he also flew towards Windgaze City's gate.
At the same time, people started appearing nearby the entrance of Windgaze City, people from Veiled Dragon Pavilion, Drifting Flowers Edifice, and Sword Marquise Abode.
Chu Bijun looked beyond the gates with worry, "I wonder if the attack already started. I hope we're not too late."
"If there ever had been an attack, it had to have happened already with how quiet the city is. However…" Long Yifey muttered, "Windgaze City is forbidden to us from the seven houses. Shouldn't we scout it first?"
Everyone turned quiet.
They didn't know how Hell Valley and the rest infiltrated the city, but one thing was certain, they didn't just waltz in. If they go in and get discovered, adding to that the possibility of Luo clan being laid in ruins, they would be the ones to ultimately take the fall.
With the weakened imperial family, they wouldn't suffer much, but the Regent Estate wasn't that benevolent. They'd accuse them of rebelling with this excuse. They'd fall right in their trap.
But they wouldn't know the situation without going in first, and they also couldn't just stay here fiddling their thumbs either. It was hard no matter what choice was made!
Sighing, Chu Bijun tapped her golden dragon head cane, "One must do what he has to do! Let's go!"
She then led Iris and Peony Overseers to the gates. Long Yifey and Xie Xiaofeng nodded, not far behind either.
Grandmother may be known as the Lady of Steel, but these two men were just as bold as her.
They all disregarded the ban and any traps that may be about, going straight through the front gate into Windgaze City.
"Chu Bijun, stop!" A shout came from above and figures block their path. On a closer look, they were clearly people from Hell Valley, Pill King Hall, and Merry Woods.
Chu Bijun squinted, "Valley Lord You, what's the meaning of this?"
"He-he-he, we all know why we're here. Too bad, you're too late!" You Wanshan and Yan Bogong's group started laughing.
Chu Bijun frowned, "You mean you already…"
"Correct, we knew you'd come to help Luo clan. But no matter how fast you rushed here, could it be faster than the message jade slips? Humph, I will let you in on a little secret. If my calculations are correct, our forces hidden in the Windgaze City had long received our orders and assaulted the Luo clan two weeks ago. By now, the Luo clan should be nothing but a pile of corpses, ha-ha-ha…"
Yan Bogong laughed , soon joined by the rest. Chu Bijun and Long Yifey were unsettled.
It all bore down to imperial family's response. If they were any more passive, the Regent Estate's campaign would go unchecked, with these three houses as their very first targets.
In a blink, Drifting Flowers Edifice, Sword Marquise Abode, and Veiled Dragon Pavilion found themselves in an imminent danger.
But then, a carefree laughter echoed, "I do hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. It seems we have sorely disappointed you. The Luo clan hasn't seen blood for over a month, not even a chicken's."
They turned in shock to see a youth with an evil grin plastered on his face, leaning on the city gates.
"Z-Zhuo Fan?"
They all cried in unison. Long Jiu's group was ecstatic. Since this kid was here, Luo clan's safety was a done deal. And by contrast, You Wanshan's group was filled with dread.
Except for Hell Valley's 5th elder, none of them saw Zhuo Fan before. But having seen the Hell Kill Order, they knew his appearance.
"W-weren't you supposed to be killed on your way back? How…" You Wanshan was overwhelmed.
Zhuo Fan snickered evilly, "Oh, you mean those dead bags of bones? He-he-he, they all died by my hands, no exceptions."
"That's impossible!" You Wanshan's group screamed, not daring to even believe such grievous news.
Hell Valley and Merry Woods each sent two elders in the 5th layer of Profound Heaven Stage, the cornerstones of their houses, even Regent Estate supplied with two peak Profound Heaven experts.
Not even a 9th layer of Profound Heaven cultivator could kill them all off, so how could it be possible for a 5th layer of Bone Tempering Zhuo Fan?
Zhuo Fan easily saw through them and smiled, "You call a 5th layer Profound Heaven expert and above strong? Ha-ha-ha, they didn't look like it. From the mental point of you that is!"
Zhuo Fan pointed at his noggin, with disdain, "Let's take it from the top. Merry Woods' elders were retards, no question about it. I mean, who the hell closes his eyes when laying an ambush? I had an easy time getting behind them and making sure their eyes forever remained closed. He-he-he, guess that's where Merry Woods excels at. All the merrying got to their heads till they went crazy! "
Pff!
Iris Overseer and Peony Overseer stifled their laughter, while Lin Rufeng was red as a crab.
Yan Bogong and You Wanshan threw him a condemning look, [Is that the kind of fools you should be sending?]
"As for Regent Estate, humph, they're too complacent, always looking down on me. You tell me, am I someone to be underestimated? As for the end of all arrogant elders, I'm sure you gentlemen can easily figure it out." Zhuo Fan flicked his nose.
They all approved in their hearts. If Regent Estate had a fault, that would be conceit. Although when taking their power into consideration, that wasn't much of a weakness really.
But before a freak like Zhuo Fan, they'd be no different than lambs to the slaughter.
"What of my 3rd and 4th elders?" You Wanshan barked.
Zhuo Fan snickered and dissed him, "Valley Lord You, chill, of course they died too. But you can't blame me for that. Who told them to be ponces? All I could do was fulfill their cherished wish and send them on their merry way together, to never part even in afterlife, he-he-he… "
"What?!"
You Wanshan trembled. He already knew this would be the case, but it was hard to accept this fact until Zhuo Fan had to spell it out for him.
Hell Valley's 5th elder, was boiling mad. Zhuo Fan already robbed his arm, and now two of his brothers. He was outraged, "Zhuo Fan, it's either you or me!"
"Tch, that's my line!" Zhuo Fan quipped in mockery.
Chu Bijun's group was filled with shock. This was their general reaction ever since they heard two elders from Merry Woods got killed.
After all, Zhuo Fan killed four and crippled one back in Drifting Flowers City, having long shocked the world.
But then, they heard how Hell Valley and Regent Estate's elders suffered the same fate, despite Regent Estate's elders being far stronger than Diamondback Ape.
This clearly pointed out the other two houses' elders were by no means weak.
And even with all that, he killed all six of them perfectly, coming out of it without so much as a scratch. This was the real reason for their shock.
Especially to Chu Bijun, who just woke up, finding it hard to cope to a world that changed so greatly so quickly. The revered seven houses were not only taunted but ridiculed to such a degree!
A storm was brewing one that would shuffle the ranks of the seven houses.
Chu Bijun's eyes trembled. Her gaze was fixed on Zhuo Fan, however, as they glinted…