Yun Xuanji smiled after persuading Zhuo Fan's rebuttal into a half-agreement. As for the price, he had that covered, "Steward Zhuo, changing fate benefits the nation. It is the highest form of good you can do. From now on, my clan will follow Steward Zhuo to the ends of the earth. Going against heaven's plan is the way for the future. We'll do anything to prevent Steward Zhuo from burning the world and ruining the lives of innocents."
Zhuo Fan's face lit up, his heart tickled pink.
The third pillar, Parish, would answer to him alone. It was the best kind of help! With High Priest Yun Xuanji known to all as Demigod, he could peer into heaven's plan yet not through Zhou Fan.
Regardless, this way he would have accurate information regarding those sneaky devils that wanted to stab him in the back while he was assaulted by beasts from the front.
Caught in his reverie, Yun Xuanji was the one to wake him, "Steward Zhuo, my clan has always been neutral. But for the sake of people, I will make an exception just this once. Last night, I peered into the sky and found the Luo clan to be on a constant rise. The only ones strong enough to crush its advance are four powers!"
"Care to elaborate?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.
"Regent Estate, the earth dragon; imperial family, the crouching dragon; the empire's Prime Minister, Zhuge Changfeng, the hidden dragon; and…"
Yun Xuanji squinted and sighed, having reached this point and gestured to the north, "My greatest worry and greatest menace upon the people, Quanrong Empire, the vile dragon!"
Eyes squinting, Zhuo Fan cried, "The same Quanrong Empire that the imperial capital's factions have beaten down thousands of miles away from here? What do they have to do with us? Don't tell me they'll take this chance to attack? That still doesn't involve the Luo clan. That will be right up Dugu Zhantian's alley!"
"I am unclear since I am not part of the court meetings and do not understand politics shrouded in cloak and dagger. I only read the night sky and these four are the ones most likely to level the Luo clan!" Yun Xuanji sighed.
Wheels turning for a while, Zhuo Fan's eyes had a lost gaze in them, not seeing the connection.
[If I take Yun Xuanji's word for it, who's side is Quanrong on then?]
Zhuo Fan's mind jumped back to the Esoteric Debate, thinking of the time in Beast King Mountain and the good days he spent with that foreign lass. He found her a little bit queer.
[Is someone within our empire spying for the Quanrong Empire? How else do you explain another country's interference in times of Tianyu's civil war?]
He then turned to the first three factions. They all had the minimum power to cooperate with each other and this had him grow extra cautious.
[I was too naive to focus only on the first three factions. Each of them is despicable and vile enough to pull outsiders into this country's problems.]
[God damn it, are they that thick in the head to not understand the simple truth of keeping it in the family?]
First he cursed them and then rejoiced. He thanked his lucky stars that he came by Yun Xuanji today and found out about this important info or this ace would have remained hidden until it would sting him hard.
With a rushed bow, he spoke, "Thank you elder Yu for your wisdom. I will make arrangements at once. I am not about to let outsiders encroach our lands and put our people in peril!"
"Ha-ha-ha, for Steward Zhuo to realize this truth, I am more than gratified! But before you go, I have a gift for you."
Chuckling, Yun Xuanji turned to the kneeling child outside the door, "Xiao Dongzi, go bring Shuang'er!"
"Right away!" The child left.
Zhuo Fan put on a puzzled look for the High Priest. [What treasure is he giving me?] But all he could read from the old guy's vague smile was nothing.
Moments later, the child came back with a brisk ringing of bells and a fragrance that assaulted Zhuo Fan's nose. It soothed his mind and cleared his heart, and then he heard the sweetest voice, "Grandfather, you called?"
Zhuo Fan flicked his head back to meet the clearest eyes and fairest skin, sending Zhuo Fan down memory lane!
Ning'er!
They were not, in fact, similar at all. She was prettier than Xue Ningxiang by a long shot, but Zhuo Fan found one trait identical.
Both of them had that innocent vibe. Like the highest snow on the tallest peak, unmarred by decadence and evil plaguing this world.
"Shuang'er, come."
Yun Xuanji had a cooing tone as he gestured her over, "She is my granddaughter, Yun Shuang."
Zhuo Fan made a curt nod and a silly smile found its way on his face. He felt too similar to when Xue Ningxiang was around and for no particular reason he became chipper, "Hi, I am Luo clan's steward, Zhuo Fan."
"Hello."
Yun Shuang smiled back and bowed, shaking the little bell on her wrist.
Yun Xuanji approved, then dropped the bomb, "Steward Zhuo, Shuang'er will be your servant, tending to all your needs!"
[What?!]
Zhuo Fan and Yun Shuang's eyes were about to pop out.
"Grandfather…" Yun Shuang teared up at Yun Xuanji's inflexible expression.
Zhuo Fan waved all over the place, "High Priest, your help is more than enough. Why must you make such a repulsive proposal? Do you take me for a lech? One who sits on men and gets fresh with women? To the point that I'd go for my allies' people?"
"Ha-ha-ha, this is precisely why. Why else do you think I'd throw my dear granddaughter into the jaws of a tiger?"
Yun Xuanji said, "To be perfectly honest, she is like me and has the same eyes I do. She is to become Yun clan's eighth Clan Head, Holy Maiden Yun Shuang! I leave her with you to guide you when needed and to stop you from bringing calamity to the people. In the Esoteric Debate, you lost all reasoning, forcing the hidden and opportunistic Luo clan to come out in the open far earlier than necessary. For the Luo clan and for the nation, it was a grave lapse in judgment!"
Flushing red, Zhuo Fan scratched his nose.
He was clear on what a dumb idea it was being such a hothead when facing Huangpu Qingtian. As they say, hindsight was 20/20.
But some things were meant to be done even if they were clearly unreasonable. He would do it all over again even if he had to choose again.
[I'd never rest easy until he died!]
Yun Xuanji gave Zhuo Fan a shy look, her eyes turning pitch-black with faint glimmers flashing deep within, just like Yun Xuanji.
She then cried, "Ah! H-he has no fate. Is he the one grandfather always talks about, the anomaly who broke the ties that bind?"
"The same one. Luo clan's steward, Zhuo Fan!"
With a chuckle, Yun Xuanji who was very fond of Yun Shuang, spoke "Shuang'er, don't blame me. I don't have any choice. It's the only way to save the people, through him, who changes fates. He is a man of cruel methods, not one bit kind. Even capable of tormenting innocents. I can only have you stay by his side, to guide him on the righteous path and save the people…"
"Cough~, High Priest, with all due respect, are you by any chance cursing me? Is that wise?" Zhuo Fan spoke his two cents.
Yun Xuanji just shook his hand, "Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo always sees himself as a cruel man. So how could those words count? Just take them as a praise."
"High Priest, now I know why you said my shameless character made you nostalgic. You haven't changed a bit, still hanging on strong. I may be shameless, but not even I am like you, cursing someone in their face."
"You're too kind, really. Steward Zhuo just got Unwonted Contriver so angry he almost spat blood. I am far from your match. As they say, every generation outmatches the last. Kids these days get stronger every day…"
Pff!
Yun Shuang watched the two bicker between the lines and giggled.
Yun Xuanji patted his dear granddaughter's head, pushing her over, "Steward Zhuo, Shuang'er is in your care. She will be of help to you. Please don't abandon her, she isn't a burden. I can't always be there to guide you, but she can. She is useful."
Quirking an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan felt that the old man was hinting at something while emphasizing her ability, but nodded anyway.
[The coot is right about one thing. Having a scryer by my side is far better than running over here every other day.]
Thus they came to terms.
Yun Xuanji saw them out himself. Yun Shuang barely wanted to leave, with tears welling in her eyes, but Zhuo Fan's forceful pulling got her away in no time at all.
[This is a treasure right here. Waste not, want not!]
This scene would instantly slap another infamous rumor on the ever growing list that was Zhuo Fan, that of him being a human trafficker.
What no one noticed though, was the pair of cold eyes watching them from a dark corner.
Moments later, a shadow flashed, and words entered his ears. He mumbled and scoffed, "Humph, this suicidal old coot, neutral for a century and now he decides to make an exception…"
The figure vanished. And the sky above the Parish darkened swiftly, bringing with it rain and piercing winds.
The High Priest faltered at this change and his carefree mood turned serious as he sighed, "What matters is not what becomes of my name, but the good of the people! Ha-ha-ha…"
After a weak laughter, his eyes flickered with a staunch resolve…