Hu~
A strong wind blew just then, scattering the shadows from creeping any deeper into the three's souls.
And it kept going still.
Forcing Third Young Master Han on the defensive.
Boom!
The crushing force pushed him dozens of meters back, leaving cracked tiles in his wake.
When he did stop, his feet were knee-deep in the floor.
"Who did that?" Third Young Master Han broke into a cold sweat, lowering his trembling arms to see.
Second Young Master Han and Elder Mo frowned, their gazes fixed on the thin youth coming in bearing a cold face and a broom.
And by the feel of him, he was just a fresh Radiant Stage disciple.
Third Young Master Han was in shock, turning to his brother, "S-Second Brother, that's him!"
"You got nerve kid, coming here again. Was last time not enough for you?"
Zhuo Fan spared him a single glance before tending the trio, "You aren't dead yet, now scram. A laborer's only job is to sweep, not be a pain in the ass seeking the limelight. What's their challenge on the elite area got to do with us?"
Zhuo Fan had no restraint, but at least the trio was saved.
They rubbed their aching heads and gave Zhuo Fan a nod and a look of dread to Third Young Master Han before leaving without complaint.
They knew all too well they were just too weak, even in a three-on-one exchange.
Venerable Qi and Bai breathed easier.
Zhuo Fan spun on his heel and was already walking away.
"You think you can just come in here and leave after interfering?"
"And who are you, an elder or venerable of the Demon Scheming Sect?" Zhuo Fan threw over his shoulder at the youth resembling Third Young Master Han.
Second Young Master Han mocked, "I am Demon Soul Sect's Second Young Master Han. I heard the Demon Scheming Sect had a presentable disciple and came to be enlightened. May I be honored to know your name?"
"Demon Scheming Sect's Labor Office's honcho, Zhuo Fan. But everyone calls me Steward Zhuo."
Swishing the broom, Zhuo Fan scoffed, "Since you're no elder of mine, I don't have time to waste on you. I got work to do, bye."
"Hold it right there. Is this how you treat an honored guest?" Second Young Master Han shouted again at the gross lack of disrespect.
Zhuo Fan's mouth worked as he walked, "An honored guest needs honored elders and venerables to look after. What are you doing, going after this little old laborer for? We're here to sweep the floors, not tend to guests. It's not in our job description."
"Sect Leader Xie, didn't you say I can challenge anyone in the sect?" Second Young Master Han turned to Xie Wuyue seeing he was talking to a wall.
Xie Wuyue gave a mocking nod, "As long as you want to, second young master."
"Oh, I will!"
With red eyes and a sneer, Second Young Master Han jumped, ready to strike with his two fingers, "Zhuo Fan, let's see you get away now, pseudo earth ranked martial art, Underworld Blade!"
Whoosh!
An eerie energy shot from those fingers for Zhuo Fan's head. The air shimmered as it passed, releasing creepy howls and sucking the warmth out of the hall.
Venerable Shi cried, "Demon Soul Sect's patron art, the mystical soul art, Underworld Blade!"
"I hear low Ethereal Stage experts will die all the same from a peak Radiant Stage cultivator using this art. It's an art focused on killing."
Xie Wuyue frowned and sighed, "The Han clan's three young masters are all true talents. A shame the second one had to meet such a monster."
All the oldies snickered alongside.
Elder Mo had full confidence in Second Young Master Han. But soon found the Demon Scheming Sect's higher-ups were sporting grins.
[You're telling me an attack to kill an Ethereal Stage expert isn't enough to crush a Radiant Stage cultivator?]
Not like anyone told him Zhuo Fan just a few days back killed two elders like nothing.
Second Young Master Han could only kill early ones too, making the whole of Demon Scheming Sect's echelon find him sorely lacking.
As the blade came for Zhuo Fan's head, he brushed with his broom behind him.
Roar!
The draconic roar crushed the blade like a hammer smashing a needle and then went for Second Young Master Han himself.
The young master got flung way up high and left a trail of blood in his wake.
Though he gnashed his teeth to bear through the pain as his body shook all over.
"Second young master…" Elder Mo started. Second Young Master Han signaled him back, watching the smug sweeper with shock and fear.
Third Young Master Han got his trembling feet under him and sported the same look of dread as his brother.
[Is he even human? How can a fresh Radiant Stage cultivator take down Second Brother in a single strike?]
[Body strength aside, is his soul that freakish too?]
[How are we supposed to compete with such perfection?]
The added mockery of Zhuo Fan only amplified the fear.
Zhuo Fan snickered, "Now the hall is clean. Don't make it dirty."
Second Young Master Han was outraged, but he was choking on blood and couldn't retort.
Zhuo Fan sported the same condescending smile as he left with a snort.
Xie Wuyue was overjoyed, never had he been made to look so good, "Elder Mo, sorry, he's just too rude. That's why I left him in the Labor Office. I hope you can forgive the offense."
"Oh, so Sect Leader Xie is in the hobby of demoting strong disciples." Elder Mo snorted, "Are you going to have them join the Double Dragon Gathering?"
"What do you think?" Xie Wuyue smirked.
Elder Mo nodded with a small bow, "Then we shall disturb you no further and we'll meet again at Double Dragon Gathering. Farewell."
"Farewell." Xie Wuyue showed him the door.
Elder Mo flicked his sleeve and took his disciples. The oldies cracked up when they were gone.
"Ha-ha-ha, look at them. They're in the middle three sects yet never saw them so wretched."
"Don't get too happy. They're still no pushovers."
Xie Wuyue sneered, "They came to probe us. Zhuo Fan must've messed with Third Young Master Han and they came to assess the threat. They just accomplished their objective."
"Won't that mean we're exposed?" Venerable Bai frowned.
Xie Wuyue waved his hand, "Such a flimsy cover wouldn't have lasted anyway. It's best to reveal it spectacularly like today. To tell them my sect aims for a middle three sect position!"
"Brilliant, Sect Leader!" The elders bowed.
A disciple burst in shouting, "Beast Taming Sect's elders and disciples request an audience!"
"Beast Taming Sect now?" The elders looked baffled, "What is with today, sect encroachment?"
Xie Wuyue mocked, "Just another scouting party. Last time we took three of their elders in Tianyu, so they want to do us in at the Double Dragon Gathering."
"What's there to fear of another lower three sect like us?"
One elder cursed, "Just sic Zhuo Fan on them and that's that. "
"Fool!" Xie Wuyue showed a nasty smile, "We need to show off to the middle three sects so that they don't kick us around, but for the lower three sects, the secret weapon, Zhuo Fan, is not to be divulged. They'll bite more than they can chew when he shows himself in the Double Dragon Gathering."
They all exclaimed and admired him, [Brilliant!].
Bam!
A figure in fine clothes and bright colors got flung out of the hall with a bang, again. Blood flowed, and the body banged up and rolled three times on the ground, yes, but he was still alive at least.
What faced him was a buffed man in gray robes with a snickering look sent at the rest of the disciples around, "Is Demon Scheming Sect's elite area that shorthanded to have only your wastes?"
The disciples watched the 8th layer Radiant Stage thug with anger. But the sight of Sect Leader's cold face had them bury it deep.
[For crying out loud. The elite area isn't shorthanded, it's that damn Labor Office taking everyone good from us. First was Third Young Master Han and now this cocky bastard. ]
[The only reason you're still standing is because the Sect Leader doesn't let us get Zhuo Fan, or even Qi Changlong could waste you, you pompous prick!]
Regardless of their thoughts, Xie Wuyue's glare let them know not to do that.
A grizzled old man looked smug, "Sect Leader Xie, I hear the elite area has many fine geniuses. How come I don't see them?"
"Elder Lu is too kind. What you see here is all my sect has in terms of elites for your disciple to spar with. Are you not satisfied?" Xie Wuyue faked anger.
The old guy admitted, "Sure you're not hiding some?"
"My great sect has nothing to hide. Or is Elder Lu doubting my words?" Xie Wuyue slammed the table.
The elder's eyes darted to and fro then nodded, "Ha-ha-ha, with Sect Leader Xie's prestige, such a lie is beneath you. I of course believe you."
Xie Wuyue spoke with a dark face.
"Then I shall no longer disturb you. Please forgive my presumptuous tone." Elder Lu eyed Xie Wuyue one last time as he bowed and left.
He said to the thug on his way, "Hui Xiong, let's go. We best not overstay our welcome. Thank you, Sect Leader Xie, for accommodating us and the sparring."
"Thank you Sect Leader Xie for reading these punching bags. While useless, they did get me worked up. You've been far too kind."
Hui Xiong cupped his hand with a snicker.
Xie Wuyue's face was ghastly though no word slipped. Elder Lu grinned, throwing more biting remarks, "Hui Xiong, that's no way to treat Sect Leader Xie. You can't be so blunt about it no matter how true it is. They are going to fight in the Double Dragon Gathering and hold some flimsy hope still… "
"Good. Bye!"
Having enough theatrics for one day, Xie Wuyue shouted.
Elder Lu waved dismissively as he left with his grinning disciple.
They just cut the corner and Xie Wuyue in the hall showed a devious grin, "A bunch of ignorant fools, we'll see who laughs last at the Double Dragon Gathering. "
The oldies joined him in rambunctious laughter. They were dying to see Zhuo Fan wiping that ridiculous grin off their faces, preferably with blood. That got them giddy.
"Ha~, ha~…"
A mile off Demon Scheming Sect, second young master Han spat blood again, his face blanching.
"Second brother, I told you we should've asked big brother, but you just wanted to show off. Now, look at what became of you. Both of us suffered from the same prick!" Third Young Master Han lamented his brother's fate.
Second young master Han glared, "Quit it. How was I supposed to know that a nobody lower three sect would have such a sicko?"
"Based on his strength, no one in the Radiant Stage can take him on. Our only hope against him lies with the eldest young master in the Ethereal Stage. "
Elder Mo's eyes flashed, "At least we made some use of this time, probing Demon Scheming Sect. It's definitely aiming for middle three sect status. We have to keep our own position at all costs, come what may."
The Han brothers nodded.
Two figures walked over, "He-he-he, master, now we can rest easy. The Demon Scheming Sect has nothing but punching bags. I'll run through them in the Double Dragon Gathering to pay them back for the humiliation in Tianyu. I'll make them stay in the lower three sects forever, ha-ha-ha…"
[What brash talk! We, Demon Soul Sect, are stressed out from that freak and you want to run him through? What are you a superior three sect?]
The Han brothers turned glum and Elder Mo flashed before the two figures piqued.
"Who's there?"
Elder Lu and Hui Xiong jerked back, startled at the figure's eerie vibe, "A-a demonic cultivator?"
"I come from Demon Soul Sect."
Elder Mo nodded, "Who are you, and did you come from the Demon Scheming Sect?"
Elder Lu rushed to reply, "I am but an elder in the Beast Taming Sect. Here is Hui Xiong. As you said, we come from the Demon Scheming Sect."
"Why did you go there?"
"Elder, I took my disciple to spar."
"Spar?" Elder Mo sized Hui Xiong up and found him only in the 8th layer Radiant Stage, period; nothing else special. "Did it go that… easy?"
Master and disciple shared a most egotistical grin if the elder ever saw one. Hui Xiong even puffed up his chest in absolute pride, "Demon Scheming Sect is nothing. In less than ten moves, I wiped the floor with them. The Demon Scheming Sect is not worth the trouble in the Double Dragon Gathering. Our real opponent is Mystical Heaven Sect."
"Everyone? In ten moves? You?" Second young master Han glared. [I ended up sucking pavement from one hit and you think you can take that guy on?]
Third Young Master Han was puzzled. [Is this guy an even freakier monster?] and asked, "Which disciples did you defeat?"
"The strongest, the elites!" Hui Xiong stuck out his chest harder, if possible.
The Han brothers found one profound truth in his words, "Did you meet any laborer?"
"Laborer? Whatever for? What do the lowest of the low have to match my greatness?" Hui Xiong snorted.
The trio shared a knowing smile. [They're the fools alright.]
"Uh, what's wrong?" Elder Lu bowed.
Elder Mo deflected, "Nothing at all. Just thinking how such a genius from the Beast Taming Sect dealt with all elites from the Demon Scheming Sect, you truly are worthy of becoming the best among the lower three sects in the Double Dragon Gathering."
"Naturally. Among the lower three sects, we are the best!" Hui Xiong hit his chest, feeling more pride swelling in his bloated head.
Elder Mo's side laughed harder.
Hui Xiong took it as if they were laughing with him. While Elder Lu found it off, [Why does it sound condescending?]
Elder Mo gave a wave and they left, leaving the other elder stumped with his disciple.
Third Young Master Han mocked, "Those two are the biggest idiots I've ever seen. The Demon Scheming Sect left nothing out. They will suffer the most in the Double Dragon Gathering."
"Xie Wuyue played them like a fiddle. No one will ever expect the strongest disciple of the Demon Scheming Sect to be coming from their lowest rung. The only reason we didn't fall for it as well is because of forcing them to call Zhuo Fan over. The more reserved Xie Wuyue is, the more it shows his great ambition for the Double Dragon Gathering."
Elder Mo scratched his beard in thought.
The Han brothers nodded.
The Demon Scheming Sect's aim was clear, the middle three sect position. And the one to fall would be the lowest in the middle three sects…