The emperor showed worry and turned to the unconscious Yun clan member, "Bring out the other eye and see if it holds."
"Understood!"
Shadow King lifted the kid up and his other hand flashed, revealing a bloody eye. It was now that the kid decided to join the party, looking at the three in panic, "Who are you? What are you doing?"
"Humph, we're just giving you the opportunity to become the new High Priest!"
Shadow King snickered as his closing hand reflected in the eye of the distraught youth, before he gouged it out.
Ah!
The wailing and pain commenced, yet the kid was unable to move an inch. Shadow King then placed the other eye inside the kid's socket and forced the wound to heal.
Blood stopped leaking and the new eye fused with its new host.
The trio nodded at the handiwork. Their joy was short lived as the youth howled like a banshee.
Under the trio's shuddering eyes, the kid thrashed all over. His new eye turned into a black sphere. It released a black energy that infected his body.
In a flash, the kid became black as night and crumbled to ashes along with the eye…
"Like I thought. Eaten away by the mystical eye."
The outcome came at no surprise for the emperor, but that didn't mean he accepted it. Frowning, he sighed, "Yun Xuanji's mystical eyes can't be grafted into others, leading to the host being eaten from within. But to think that it won't work even on his people. The Yun clan will have to first awaken their blood to bear these mystical eyes."
Nodding, Sima Hui sighed, "Your Majesty, it makes sense. Yun clan wouldn't have survived for so long if anyone could use them. Everyone would've been scrambling for their eyes otherwise."
The emperor nodded, "Quite so. But that only leaves Holy Maiden Yun Shuang as a reader of fate. And she is now with the Luo clan…"
"Your Majesty, you are the one and uncontested ruler on this earth, a true dragon descended on earth. As she belongs to the Yun clan, she will one day fall into your hand!" Sima Hui bowed.
The emperor paused in thought, and said, "If only…"
Meanwhile, Zhuo Fan looked after the elders' wounds while also teaching them the Finger of Death. After ten days under his careful guidance, the three recovered and were on the road again. While he backtracked to the Regent of Prosterity's Compound.
Whoosh~
Zhuo Fan flashed inside the manor, finding with his soul sense that all were accounted for, and safe.
[No one used my absence to cause a scene at Luo clan while I was out helping the Yun clan.] He knew all too well that a delicate balance was in play and that no player wanted it askew. It was also the most peaceful period.
"Steward Zhuo!"
Zhuo Fan turned his head at the charming voice, finding Yun Shuang running to him.
Frowning, Zhuo Fan saw her distraught and asked, "Miss Shuang'er, what is it?"
Yun Shuang's bit her lip, stammering, "Steward Zhuo, you already know who killed grandfather, don't you?"
Quivering on hearing this, Zhuo Fan held her gaze, "Who told you that?"
"It doesn't matter. What matters is that you do." Yun Shuang's gaze was set, her tone firm.
Zhuo Fan ignored her and pondered before bursting, "Ha-ha-ha, I get it now. It must be that pair of old coots giving me a hard time! Humph, they don't want to stick their neck out so you fake innocence here, is it? Your time will come, that I promise."
Zhuo Fan knew on the spot that Zhuge Changfeng and Leng Wuchang had a hand in this.
They both knew Zhuo Fan wanted the Yun clan and Yun Shuang. Yet they nudged her into demanding an answer from him. If he refused, Yun Shuang would be cross with him. It might even drive her to Regent Estate or Prime Minister.
If he told her the truth, Luo clan would become the first to clash with the imperial family, the pioneer to throw all this balance out of the window.
He was at an impasse.
"Steward Zhuo, you actually do know, don't you?" Yun Shuang guessed as much from his tone, "Then tell me…"
"Why should I?"
Zhuo Fan cut her off, "Your clan is a target that I am willing to protect. In layman's terms, you owe me, not the other way around. What gives you the right to question me? To tell you everything? Humph, hysterical."
Zhuo Fan snorted and left.
Yun Shuang rushed to block his way, begging, "Steward Zhuo, what will it take to tell me?"
Zhuo Fan stared down those hopeful big eyes of hers.
He spoke after a pause, "You really want to know?"
Yun Shuang nodded, her gaze steeled.
Grinning, Zhuo Fan leaned in her ear, his breath tickling and her face aflame.
"It will depend on your behavior. I have no reason to tell anything to someone who isn't with me."
Yun Shuang shuddered, then watched him incredulously and flushed with red-hot cheeks from humiliation.
"So this is who you are, Steward Zhuo. Someone who preys on others' weaknesses…" biting her lip, Yun Shuang teared up.
Zhuo Fan snickered, "You got that right. I am no goody two-shoes. Besides preying on others, my style includes, but is not limited to, robbing someone blind, using their plight and kicking them when they're down.
"So, do you accept it?" Zhuo Fan looked like the big bad wolf out on the prowl for harmless little lambs.
Yun Shuang's biting of her lips drew blood, her hands tense from the inner conflict. She sighed, "Steward Zhuo, give me time to think."
"Sure, take all the time in the world. I'm in no hurry." Zhuo Fan's lazy tone came, cocksure everything was at his fingertips.
Yun Shuang glared and stormed away.
Zhuo Fan noticed her eyes just before leaving, filled with rage, and scratched his head, [Well that's odd. Didn't I just tell her to watch the stars, to be my adviser? What's so hard about that? She must be dead set on ironing out all my crookedness. Then she'll help me. But have you ever heard of a kind Demonic Emperor? Humph…]
Zhuo Fan grinned, on his way to Luo Yunhai.
[It's been too long since I gave the future clan head a lesson. How long will it take to shape him up? Well, it's not like I have anything better to do so I might as well teach him some more.]
[Not like I can leave the clan's fate in the hands of an ignorant kid. I'll never know rest.]
He got to the Regent of Prosperity's room, only to find it stacked with gifts. Luo Yunchang and Princess Yongning were there too, chatting away.
"Brother Zhuo, you're back!" Luo Yunhai beamed.
Luo Yunchang giggled, while Yongning raised an eyebrow, "Zhuo Fan, took you long enough. What could have kept the great steward away for so long anyway? Luo clan was swamped with work the past few days and, in your absence, I had to go out of my way to help you all. Don't just stand there, hurry up and thank me."
Zhuo Fan's face twitched, "Setting my matters aside, Princess Yongning, what's a lass like you doing by still coming around here? Aren't you supposed to be grounded? "
He knew the emperor had grounded the princess to her room before the court debacle. So what was she doing back here after only a few days?
[Those palace guards are too lazy…]
Pa!
Yongning slapped the table, "Impertinent! How dare you address the princess in such an uncouth way like 'lass'. Do you find your head too heavy to bear?"
Zhuo Fan only gave her a roll of the eyes. Yongning was enraged, while also even more intrigued.
[Where does a mere steward get this kind of gall from?]
Luo Yunchang shook her head, trying to mediate, "Sister Yongning, calm down. That's how Zhuo Fan is. No one can change him. If you don't like him, you can just avoid him."
"How can I? Why else do I here?" Yongning blurted. She blushed at her slip, making up an excuse on the spot, "I mean, my patience knows no bounds. How can I stoop to his level?"
Luo Yunchang saw through her in an instant. [Humph, you think I don't know your thoughts? You even have that look in your eyes.]
[Why is it that the hate and anger in your gaze looks dangerously close to flirting?]
Not that Zhuo Fan cared, staring the princess down, "Princess Yongning, am I to assume that you've sneaked out again?"
"No way! I walked out the front gate!"
Sticking out her fairly downsized chest, Yongning said, "Also, the imperial father is holding his centennial jubilee. I have earned my imperial father's accord to search for a proper gift. I fear that it is all too sudden for you, so I will help you prepare as well. See how much I care for you?"
Princess Yongning smiled at Zhuo Fan, fishing for compliments.