All eyes turned towards the entrance of the valley.
A thin figure skipped over, with a humble smile on his face as he lowered his head each time he met people, "Sorry, sorry, I'm a little late, ha-ha-ha…"
Second and seventh elders' eyes shone with disdain.
[Is this the guy that has the Elite Labor Office in his grip? He might have shown power in the inner sect competition but he won't get anything done without a backbone. He must be shaking in his boots to resort to such a humiliating banquet.]
Every oldie of the inner sect and even some of their disciples mocked him.
While the Labor Office side's faces were burning red hot, from shame and remorse of being humiliated with this guy.
Even so, they did find it strikingly odd how the ever decisive and oh-so-wise Steward Zhuo had turned into a sap.
Zhuo Fan sported the same warm smile all the way to the front table and bowed, "Many apologies. I got delayed and ask for your forgiveness."
"Ha-ha-ha, it's all good. All that matters is that we're all here." Fiend Yang hated Zhuo Fan's wimpy attitude but still mediated, "One day Elite Labor Office and inner sect shall be the pillars of Demon Scheming Sect. We must put the past behind us."
[Sure we will.]
Second elder scoffed inside along with the seventh elder and they were both grinning from ear to ear.
Second elder began with his standard humiliation, "Zhuo Fan, you've arranged this apology banquet, yet you're the one coming last. Do you call that being sincere? You better make it up to us or you'll never hear the end of it."
"Aren't we all here? Why are you being so stubborn?"
Venerable Qi banged the table while the two elders bore the same jeering smile.
[He-he-he, they're about to pop. It's best if you start the whole mess.]
Seventh elder jived, "Venerable Qi, it is your side that has come up with the apology banquet for the wrongs you've done to us. So Elite Labor Office better kowtow with sincerity for their mistakes. Do you have the right attitude? Why can't I feel an ounce of sincerity from you? We will not stand for this outrage and arrogance and we will go to the Sect Leader with this!"
"Why you…" Venerable Qi gnashed his teeth, ready to come to blows.
Zhuo Fan dismissed the tense mood, "Now now now, Venerable Qi, please settle down. We're the ones in the wrong. Seventh elder is right, we need to be earnest in our apology. Please sit back down."
Venerable Qi glared at him and wished to thrash the punk. [Didn't you say it was their fault? Why is it that you are acting like it was our mistake?]
Those old coots were smug on having a good excuse and now they are after everything. There had never been a case where a grand venerable was shamed by mere elders.
Sighing, Venerable Qi slumped in his chair, while Kui Lang's group were fuming mad at Zhuo Fan.
[Who'd have thought Steward Zhuo would end up being such a coward in front of the elders.]
Their faith in Zhuo Fan was crushed, with the laborers hanging their heads in shame.
[This is taking the camp by defeating the general, ha-ha-ha…]
The inner sect was laughing inside.
Second elder nodded in appreciation, his grin so bright, "Steward Zhuo, we can feel your sincerity, but the real offenders…"
"Not to worry, they will definitely give the elders a sincere apology." Zhuo Fan caught on and turned to Kui Lang's gang, "Don't just stand there, apologize!"
The four were shaking with outrage.
Second elder grinned inside, [That's the pigheadedness I wanted to see.] And he made sure to add more fuel to the fire, "Is this how you apologize? Humph, you better knock that forehead, and adulate us too. And maybe, just maybe, we'll buy it."
[Adulate your granny, you creep!]
Kui Lang banged the table but Zhuo Fan stopped him from rising.
Zhuo Fan squinted, "Uh, to be honest, it's all my fault. I should apologize, it is the whole purpose of this banquet. If elders wish for adulation, then that is what I shall offer."
"Steward Zhuo!" Kui Lang shouted. Zhuo Fan waved him off.
The two elders pondered as smugness festered on their faces.
[Well, he is the top dog of the Elite Labor Office. Getting him on his knees will crush the Labor Office.]
This was way better than making Kui Lang's group blow out.
[He-he-he, here we are wracking our heads on how to make the punk submit, yet he does it of his own free will. Brilliant!]
[Serves you right for messing with fire!]
The two elders laughed and nodded, "As long as you go all the way, sure. Now say that the Labor Office will never mess with the inner sect and elite area again and we'll call it even."
"Sure, just don't regret it. There are many elders and venerables present." Zhuo Fan clapped back.
The two elders nodded like winners, "Of course, we are prideful elders who will never pick on laborers."
"I knew I could trust the elders' sincerity!" Zhuo Fan switched tunes right then and there. His face took on a heavy look, like kowtowing was an ordeal.
Kui Lang's side knew he was trapped in this humiliating scene but still shouted.
"Steward Zhuo, I'll do it for you. Sir is the head of the Labor Office. You can't lower yourself. What will it make of the rest of us."
"No, let me! Steward Zhuo saved me and the least I can do is take Steward Zhuo's shame for myself."
"No, me! You've looked over Yue'er for so long…"
"Yue Ling, why is a woman fighting me over this? I'll do it!"
…
All of them were fighting to take Zhuo Fan's shame. The two elders were sullen though, to find that Zhuo Fan was seen in such high regard after only managing Elite Labor Office for a short amount of time. He could even make these proud talents fight over who was to take this burden.
[Inner sect lost against him in this regard. They only know how to kiss ass.]
[This place must not survive any longer!]
The elders shouted, "Quiet, will you? This is Zhuo Fan's matter and he must take responsibility for it. I will not rest until I see him banging his head three times!"
The others shook and their hearts sank.
They figured out these two were out to get Zhuo Fan by all means necessary. They couldn't care less for some disciples.
Zhuo Fan shrugged, "See how much the elders care about me? Now don't fight any more since I am the one to blame here."
Zhuo Fan let a snicker slip out as he watched the audience before stopping on the elders with an apologetic smile, "Elders, I deeply regret my actions and ask for your forgiveness. To show my deep sincerity, I've prepared a gift and then I shall kowtow!"
[I never knew such a masochistic and spineless fool existed. Wasn't it our two brats who challenged the Labor Office? How did it turn out in our favor?]
[But if he insists on a gift, we can't just let his sincerity go to waste. That would be bad manners.]
The elders snickered.
Zhuo Fan's hand shone and revealed five boxes.
Three he gave to the fiends and bowed, "I hope this will help atone the harm that came to your disciples."
[We all know who's to blame here so why must you debase yourself so much?]
Three Fiends of Hell shook their heads and Fiend Yang spoke, "This gift is your promise to us, but we understand more than everyone. You don't have to apologize, because you represent the entire Elite Labor Office."
"Ha-ha-ha, I shall bear that in mind." Zhuo Fan bowed.
Ka!
Three Fiends of Hell looked at the glorious light spilling out from the boxes, taking in the thick spiritual energy and their eyes bugged out in shock.
Everyone else cried, "9th grade demonic treasures!"
[9th grade demonic treasure?!]
The two elders' eyes twitched with greed and hope. The dazzling light show coming from the boxes blinded them.
They had heard how the Elite Labor Office was filthy rich, but seeing was believing. [This kid took out three 9th grade demonic treasures, and by the looks of it…]
"They are top quality…" The fiends traced the baubles in their hands, astounded.
The elders' hearts skipped a beat and they turned to Zhuo Fan's last two boxes.
[The brat can fake kowtowing if it means getting our hands on such priceless demonic treasures. It's all worth it.]
Zhuo Fan snorted inside and tapped the boxes.
The two elders were dying to know what's inside those boxes by now. They just had to have those shiny and marvelous trinkets.
Yet Zhuo Fan milked the suspense for all its worth, until they couldn't even sit straight. Only then did he say, "Elders, I will ask you one last time. If I kowtow and apologize, will you leave this matter be?"
"As elders of the sect, our word is gold. Now hurry up with the gifts!" Second elder didn't do well with patience.
Seventh elder's eyes never left the boxes, his brain on the fritz.
Zhuo Fan grinned and offered the boxes, "Ha-ha-ha, then if you would please honor me, elders."
Ka~
The two were already eager to open them but what they saw stopped them in their tracks.
Everyone was curious too, while Zhuo Fan shed his humble smile to replace it with a more sinister expression to match the mood.
"What treasures could have them so lost for words?" Fiend Yang asked. Peering over those boxes had him shocked as well.
Now that baffled the audience even more. [Just what divine items are those boxes carrying?]
Fiend Yang stammered, "H-heads… Chi Feng and Yujuan's heads!"
[Say what?!]
Everyone was floored. Everyone knew those two elites, yet here their heads were served in neat little boxes for their respective grandpas.
[Is he suicidal?]
They turned a stiff gaze towards Zhuo Fan, whose savagery was laid bare.
[He did it on purpose. He is a lunatic and psychotic to taunt the elders so much. And to think we took him for a wimp before, when in fact he has the biggest testicular fortitude of all!]
"Well, elders? Is my gift to your liking?" Zhuo Fan drove it in, like he had done them a favor.
"Zhuo Fan!"
The elders howled like wraiths, their eyes were bloodshot and they exploded with power. The fancy decorations and gourmet food around them was pulverized.
Gui Hu's side cried out as they were blown away. Venerable Bai and Qi rushed over to Zhuo Fan's side to shield him while giving him stunned looks.
[What's wrong with this kid? When he acts, he shakes the world.] Just now they were thinking he was some poor sap, so puny they felt like beating him themselves.
Though that persona was shed in an instant when he slaughtered other's kin. No elder or venerable of the sect would resort to this madness while he did it in passing.
[Just what is going on in that head of his?]
Everyone lost all contempt for Zhuo Fan, and their hearts were now filled with fear.
[He's deranged, the worst enemy to have…]
"Now, don't tell me the elders find my gift short." Zhuo Fan scratched his nose as he smiled, "After I poured my heart and soul into it. Even went to great lengths for the elders to be able to hug their grandchildren. Or I'd have thrown those heads to the dogs!"
"You!"
The elders roared, exploding with bloodthirst and desire for revenge.
Fiend Yang intervened before things got more dangerous, "Now hold on, we must first get to the bottom of it."
He began, "Zhuo Fan, tell me the truth, did you kill them? But they were in the elite area."
"Yep, what else did you think this apology banquet was for anyway?"
Zhuo Fan chuckled, "I went to the elite area bright and early, snatched a couple of heads, then rushed back here. That's why I had to apologize to you, venerables. Forgive me for making a scene in your area. But since you've forgiven me, all is good. The second reason was to apologize to the elders. Sorry, I wasted your kin, though I do hope you can look past this…"
"Y-you meant to apologize for this?!" Fiend Yang cried.
Everyone was in shock. [You mean to tell me Steward Zhuo ran late to the banquet because he was rampaging in the elite area?]
[And he made it just in time to apologize, I mean taunt.]
[Freaking crazy!]
None could believe their ears that a laborer would go so far…
Zhuo Fan smiled at Fiend Yang, "Ha-ha-ha, venerable, why ask when you know already? Didn't these brats cause a scene at the Labor Office? It was not our fault so why would we apologize for it? I held this banquet for the sole reason to apologize to everyone. Haven't I been clear enough already? I'm embarrassed that I had to harm your disciples…"
"But I thought you meant Tie Ying broke Yujuan's hand…" Fiend Yang was dumbfounded.
Zhuo Fan snickered, "Did I do that? I've personally come here to apologize, but since you said there's no need for it, the elite area matter is now closed. Don't tell me you're going back on your word, not with so many elders and venerables around."
The fiends' faces twitched and they looked at each other with dumb looks thinking how they had played right into his hand.
This brat challenged their elite area and killed their wards yet now they've accepted his apology with smiles on their faces and a few trinkets in their pockets.
"What about them? What apology did you have in mind for them?" Fiend Yang grumbled at Kui Lang's gang.
Zhuo Fan lied on the spot, "They're guilty of being weak. The only reason these brats could make a scene was because they weren't strong enough to stop them. But like I said, their fault is small while I'm the true criminal here. Don't you listen?"
"Cut the crap!"
Second elder blew a gasket, "You had planned for this all along, mixing both of them to gloss over your actions. Do you think your ridiculous excuse is gonna fly after murdering in broad daylight? I'll have your head for this!"
"Oh, but you did promise that you'll let this slide with a few bumps on the floor…"
"As if! I'll have you torn limb from limb for what you've done!" Second elder roared and the seventh elder growled as their power exploded.
Venerable Bai and Qi were on guard, but Zhuo Fan merely shrugged, "Couldn't be better. Now I don't have to kneel."
"Insidious rotten bastard, die!"
Second elder shot for him, with the seventh elder right behind him. The huge amount of power came at him in waves.
Zhuo Fan squinted and put on a calculating smile.
Venerable Qi and Bai interfered and pushed the two back, warning, "You're forgetting your place, elders. Think about the consequence of breaking the sect's rule for attacking a disciple."
"Your granddaughter didn't die so of course you don't care!" Second elder glowered, "Do you think you can defend the punk forever?"
Clap~
Zhuo Fan gave a slow clap as he stepped forward from behind the venerables with his trademark evil smile, "Well put. I feel for the elders' love for their grandchildren. Why don't I give you two a shot, as per sect's rule, a lower status person can attack a higher status person without fearing the consequences. I killed your grandchildren within the purview of the sect's regulations. Now it's your turn to be challenged, so if you manage to tear me limb from limb afterwards, no one will get to say a thing."
The two were stumped and the audience was in shock. A disciple challenging an elder? That has never happened before. No one in their right mind was that suicidal.
Venerable Bai and Qi were floored by Zhuo Fan's decision.
"Deal!" The two elders agreed before anyone else could interfere.
Zhuo Fan snickered, "Then, both at once…"