"This way, Steward Zhuo!"
Kui Lang acted as the guide, devoid of his bossy air and more like a fawning servant.
Who was the target? Zhuo Fan and Elder Yuan.
The laborers were all bug eyed, hardly believing their own eyes. [Since when did Kui Lang fall in line? And look at Yue Ling, so reserved.]
[Did wastrel Zhuo Fan's bodyguards smack some sense and fear into them?]
The rumor mill was running nonstop, but Kui Lang and Yue Ling never gave a damn, their humble smiles not even twitching.
With Zhuo Fan being their last hope, they had to measure their words before opening their mouths. As for things like honor and dignity, how was that any better than saving the lives of their kin?
Besides, Zhuo Fan's strong arm had them completely defeated. They were even content to be under such an almighty boss.
Their procession arrived at the cabin and Zhuo Fan noticed the glaring hole in the wall with a raised eyebrow, "I've been gone for just a few days yet the place is already falling apart. Quite nice of you, Kui Lang and Yue Ling, having your bedridden sister and son taken to this dump while leaving the intact homes for the others."
"Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo, this is just Ha-ha-ha causing trouble…"
Kui Lang shook his head at the reminder. Zhuo Fan frowned in thought.
The gang went in and were welcomed by ceaseless cawing grating their ears.
Zhuo Fan could hear those four shits' voices from a mile away.
"Bro, I bet he wakes up in a month and the gal in half more than that!" Sly Demon declared.
Wimp Demon shook his head, "No, it's the other way around. Look at their wounds, there's no way they'll wake anytime soon."
"Let's bet on it over a 5th grade pill. Old third said it would be in a month and old fourth said after a month. Old second, what do you say?" Violent Demon looked at Scrooge Demon holding the bets.
Scrooge Demon grumbled, "Can I not join? I don't wanna lose."
"Don't bet and everything you own will be mine!" Violent Demon was irate.
Scrooge Demon whined some more and then took out a vial, "This is my share from the Alchemy Office this month, a 3rd grade pill. Here, old third."
"3rd grade? You've got some nerve taking that out! The blind is 5th grade so cough it up! Don't make me search you…" Violent Demon howled.
Kui Lang and Yue Ling's mood hit rock bottom, their faces twitching.
[These motherfluffing bastards are betting on the lives of our kin?!]
They'd have attacked by now. A shame they were so weak.
Ahe-hem…
Zhuo Fan drew the four's attention, "Four Scheming Demons, had enough fun?"
The four shivered and cried out in unison with cupped hands, "Steward Zhuo!"
With utmost respect and reverence.
Kui Lang and Yue Ling were stunned. These strong and unruly four simply got down on their knees, not caring for their dignity.
It only worked to make their respect for Zhuo Fan grow.
[No wonder Elder Yuan said we're bossy. Zhuo Fan is far better than us.]
"Steward Zhuo, you've come to save 'em?" Violent Demon grinned, "Sir will have to work for it based on their sorry states."
Kui Lang and Yue Ling were tense.
Zhuo Fan smiled, "I anticipated this outcome and came knowing I can save them."
Zhuo Fan went to Yue'er first. He checked her pulse and scanned her with Yuan Qi before saying, "Yue'er's training in Demon Devouring Sabre was without any issues until two months ago. After hurting her arm, she still trained hard leading to her collapse and meridians being broken. The instant I saw her unhealed hand I knew someone was messing around."
"Not only were the healing pills tampered with but even pushing her to train while wounded all the way to the outer sect promotion, where the savage energy in her lashed out. The instant I saw Hu Mei'er supervising her training and using sisterhood as a guilt trip, I thought of giving you a reminder, but you never listened."
Yue Ling blushed with shame.
She was filled with regret for not heeding Zhuo Fan's advice. Then again, Zhuo Fan always spoke stuff they barely understood.
Not that she could complain when the guy was there saving her baby sister.
Zhuo Fan turned to Kui Gang, "He trains in the Blood Annihilation, similar to a cultivation method I use, Wraith Art. It has strict requirements when it comes to the user's body strength. In short, one'd be beginner in 3-5 years and proficient in 8-10 years of training."
"Yet when I asked him how many years he had trained, he said it was only half a year. I knew then and there this day would come. And when I touched his arm, it was only to check his situation. His blood vessels are damaged and he even went beyond his body's limit by using a pill. That's being suicidal. It was Hu Mei'er's scheme that lured him to such an outcome, but I did warn you. Sigh… "
Kui Lang lowered his head in shame and remorse. He just had to listen to Zhuo Fan and this would never have happened.
While Zhuo Fan was showing off, taking the two snobs down a peg, a casual voice came.
"Oh, Steward Zhuo, you knew everything so why didn't you say anything?" Wimp Demon had a straight face as he ignorantly exposed Zhuo Fan's machinations.
[A friend in need is a friend indeed, alright? How would they worship me as a savior if I told them everything?]
Zhuo Fan blathered at Wimp Demon, "So what if I didn't?"
Ugh!
Everyone sported dark faces and shook their heads.
[Steward Zhuo is so… wild.]
Not like they knew his mind. Zhuo Fan had thought long and hard whether to save the two ages ago.
Xie Wuyue wanted him to gain a huge merit. So he wanted to have Kui Lang and Yue Ling under him and the best way to go about it was guilt tripping.
Thus merely exposing the ploy would be nothing compared to the gratitude of saving someone.
But then he realized his life was great in the Labor Office, even having someone to chat with about Dao, and he simply put the merit business behind him. But it always paid to have another way out, just in case.
People always make it so they have more than one choice.
Which brought him to the time he dropped that vague warning to Kui Lang and Yue Ling knowing fully well they'd ignore it but gave him leverage to use when he'd throw in the real helping hand.
Telling them, [See that, you morons? The only way to go places is by working under me. With your dumb minds, all you're good for is following orders.]
But from the moment he saw the cemetery, his cultivation heaven, he wanted nothing else but to sit there, even ignoring his own saving grace plan.
Then Elder Yuan came to enlighten him on the nature of the world and he decided his next step.
As Elder Yuan was his best bud, he had to return the favor. While he also wanted to put the demonic path's true meaning to the test, to see if all the destruction birthed life.
So he came, for his little scheme and further understanding of the demonic way.
[There is no life without death. A demon nurturing life… how amusing.]
Zhuo Fan smiled as he checked the kids' pulse.
"Steward Zhuo, what pill will you use?" Violent Demon asked curiously and with admiration.
Kui Lang and Yue Ling were tense.
Zhuo Fan merely smiled at their worries, "You'll see after we get them to wake up."
With a roar, an azure dragon soared from Zhuo Fan's body
The thrumming vitality made everyone's Yuan Qi surge.
Kui Lang and Yue Ling's wounded state recovered in an instant, to their shock.
[What… just happened?]
Only Elder Yuan cried out at its appearance, "Dragon Vein Soul!"
"Returning Dragon's Roar!" Zhuo Fan's eyes flashed…