Chapter 732: Charisma
Proofreader: Papatonks
Whoosh~
With the two pursuing Mystical Heaven Sect elders dealt with, Zhuo Fan took back his soul and used a sacred stone to set up an instant concealing array around the group.
Hum~
In a blink, all of them vanished from sight.
“You guys wait here and don’t move. I’m going back to the sect for help.” Zhuo Fan gave them a quick look then left.
Kui Lang suddenly said, “Steward Zhuo, Sect Leader will never agree to go to war with Mystical Heaven Sect!”
“It’s of no consequence. I will bring our people.” Squinting, his eyes flashed. Zhuo Fan’s heart had a plan in motion as he flew for the Demon Scheming Sect, “Kui Lang, I’ll leave the girls in your care!”
“Don’t worry, Steward Zhuo, I will do my duty!” Kui Lang cupped his hands, sighing inside.
[Steward Zhuo, please find a way to get Miss Chu and my girl. It’s all up to you now…]
Whoosh~
Half a month later, Zhuo Fan was back in Demon Scheming Sect. With a sign, the space warped to show an entrance.
“Halt! Who goes there?”
One disciple popped before Zhuo Fan, but upon recognition, he jerked back and apologized, “Ah, Steward Zhuo is back. Forgive my rudeness.”
“It’s fine.” Zhuo Fan waved him off.
The disciple scratched his head. “Thank you Steward Zhuo. That brat kept saying Steward Zhuo has left the sect and won’t be coming back. It made me so sad these past two weeks. Aren’t you back now? Ha-ha-ha…”
“You really missed me?” Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.
The disciple instantly nodded, “Of course, it’s all thanks to Steward Zhuo that we, laborers, no longer live as cattle. You brought us hope for tomorrow. Although now it’s different and I don’t have the strength to enter Steward Zhuo’s Elite Labor Office, at the very least I have a future now. I will definitely join next year, ha-ha-ha…”
“Good for you!”
Zhuo Fan patted his shoulder with a smile. “How many others share your thoughts?”
Startled, the disciple was still honest, “Steward Zhuo, all of the Labor Office is immensely grateful for all that you’ve done for us. All those inner and outer disciples that entered Elite Labor have gained a lot from it. I believe that most disciples and elders hold Steward Zhuo in favor for doing so much for the sect.”
“There’s still some left?”
“They’re likely inner sect elders’ trustees. They must be hating your guts, ha-ha-ha…”
The two burst out laughing.
Zhuo Fan nodded and turned serious, “Then, how many of you are willing to help me with something?”
“Steward Zhuo, you need but say it and we’ll brave any dangers!” The guy cupped his hands.
“Good. Is Sect Leader around?” Zhuo Fan nodded and plotted as he walked for the inner sect.
“Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo, this is because of your feats.”
The guy sighed. “Sect Leader has been very busy lately and has no time to stay at the sect. Ever since you shone at the Double Dragon Gathering, many empires want to throw their lot with us. They even want us to move in with them, something only the superior-three sects can do. Sect Leader has been so happy these days, always moving from one empire to another for talks.”
Zhuo Fan shook and turned his head back with a devious smile, “So Sect Leader isn’t home?”
“Uh, that is the case.” The disciple gave a numb nod.
Grinning wider, Zhuo Fan laughed, “Perfect, this makes it easier.”
Zhuo Fan strutted forward for the inner gate, leaving the disciple scratching his head.
[Steward Zhuo is acting strange…]
Dang~
A bell toll was heard throughout the sect. All elders and venerables jerked at the sound, rushing for the Main Hall.
“For god’s sake, who the hell is the fool to mess with the bell and call for a meeting? The Double Dragon Gathering is over and it’s only been two days since last time. What’s so important this time?” One elder grumbled as he dragged himself over to the hall.
A venerable came to him and mocked, “Are you stupid? The Sect Leader isn’t around. Only the High Venerable has the right to toll. But he has always been a simple man and never used the bell. Though there is one with the nerve to do it…”
“Venerable Shi?” The elder’s mouth twitched, “Their inner faction had been losing all the time. We, from the Elite Labor, are twice as many as them. Yet he still has the never to make a fuss? Is he after a power play now that Sect Leader isn’t here?”
The venerable shrugged, “Who knows. Ha-ha-ha, one thing’s for sure, he doesn’t have the strength.”
All oldies were going towards the Main Hall filled with doubt.
Venerable Shi frowned in his home. Next to him was his prized disciple, Lu Xie.
“Lu Xie, did you make contact with him?” Venerable Shi muttered.
Lu Xie spoke in earnest, “Master, they have all agreed and await something to happen here.”
“What can happen when they all run off?”
Venerable Shi mocked, “It looks like there are still people out there unconcerned by fame and fortune, shirking off their merits. Zhuo Fan, that’s mighty noble of you, leaving after your big win. Do you not care about your career? Or is it that you sensed the danger around you and made the logical choice?”
Venerable Shi’s eyes shone as he sighed. He had been waiting for the moment to act for so long it made him depressed.
Lu Xie was also helpless.
[Zhuo Fan has always been unexpected and unpredictable…]
Dang~
The clear sound of a bell echoed out in the courtyard. Venerable Shi raised an eyebrow and looked at the inner sect with a frown, “That twerp Xie Wuyue isn’t home, so who’d dare toll the Main Hall’s bell instead of me?”
Venerable Shi’s eyes shone. “Maybe this is the chance we’ve all been waiting for!”
The two rushed over.
In the Main Hall there was now a sea of people. All elders and venerables had gathered, all looking stumped at the man in center.
[He tolled the bell!]
“Elders and venerables of Demon Scheming Sect, have all of you come?” Zhuo Fan looked at them with a cold eye.
Ugh!
They all started, with Venerable Bai looking at Zhuo Fan curiously, “Steward Zhuo, what is this? Only the Sect Leader and High Venerable can toll the inner sect bell. Though they had been some using it without permission in the past, you’re still a disciple. If you need us to do something, you could have just asked and not made a scene.”
“He-he, Venerable Bai, who are you talking about here?”
One elder of Venerable Shi’s faction barked, “High Venerable hardly interferes in sect matters and goes where he wants. For Venerable Shi to come forward is only natural. What’s wrong in him tolling the bell?”
“Isn’t it above his status still? What’s hard to understand, he schemes for power.” Venerable Bai mocked.
The other elder was enraged. Zhuo Fan held out a bright badge, with Xie written on it, “Is this authority enough?”
[Sect Leader’s badge?]
The oldies shook and bowed, “Greetings, Sect Leader!”
Zhuo Fan was akin to Xie Wuyue holding that badge.
Since Xie Wuyue wasn’t home, it left Zhuo Fan room to weasel in. “Elders and venerables of the Demon Scheming Sect must obey Sect Leader’s orders!”
They all bowed and none dared refute him.
Zhuo Fan shouted, “Demon Scheming Sect’s elders and venerables will now listen to my commands, or they will be punished by sect rules!”
“Yes, sir!” The crowd bowed again.
“The entire sect is to come with me to Mystical Heaven Sect!”
[What?!]
They all looked at him in shock. He wanted everyone to go to Mystical Heaven Sect? What for? That would leave their sect empty and would cause god knew what by going into another sect’s turf.
Everyone was hesitating.
[Is this Sect Leader’s true intention?]
Even Venerable Qi and Bai, people on Zhuo Fan’s side, were looking lost.
Only one person looked joyfully at Zhuo Fan on the highest chair, Venerable Shi.
[He-he-he, Zhuo Fan, you’re back at last. The bigger the noise you make, the better!]
[Allow this old man to lend you a hand as well.]
Venerable Shi grinned like a winner…