Chapter 733: All the King’s Men
Proofreader: Papatonks
“What’s going on here? Who tolled the bell?”
Acting like he just showed up, Venerable Shi looked tense as he walked in front.
Seeing his elders were also here, one came before him and pointed at Zhuo Fan, “Venerable Shi, Zhuo Fan holds the Sect Leader badge and rang the bell, convening this meeting. Now he wants everyone in the sect to march for Mystical Heaven Sect.”
“What?” Venerable Shi looked deeply at Zhuo Fan then at the badge.
Zhuo Fan gave him a cold look. He knew that Venerable Shi was the boss of the inner sect. Even though Xie Wuyue was the Sect Leader, he was still being contradicted in cases. Which made it even harder just by having his badge.
In this case, if he was blocked, he would just have to set Venerable Shi as an example for the rest of them.
Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed with bloodthirst while the oldies looked at his defiant gaze with mockery.
[You’re just a mere disciple with a bit of merit to your name. Even if you’re Sect Leader’s right hand, not even Sect Leader himself would be able to do what he wanted if Venerable Shi was against it.]
[Wanting to use some piece of wood to cower us? You don’t know the power of the inner sect by the looks of it!]
Venerable Qi and the others from the Labor Office watched while calculating gains and losses. If Zhuo Fan was going against Venerable Shi, they would side with him.
Although Zhuo Fan’s order was casual, it had deep implications and should be treated with care. But he had Sect Leader’s badge and was also Labor Office’s representative.
Be it in a vie for power in an empire or the clashes between sects, it always came down to following the one that adhered to their goals.
Zhuo Fan was the rock of the Labor Office. So no matter how ridiculous his request was, they would back him up. This was a fight for interests.
The hall was split in two groups on the spot, glaring at each other as they were on the brink of war, plunging the sect into a bitter fight.
However, Venerable Shi’s action left everyone shocked. Both factions stared at him in stupefaction.
Bowing before Zhuo, uhm, the badge, Venerable Shi spoke with utmost respect, “Greetings, Sect Leader, I obey your order!”
“Venerable Shi…” His faction looked at him lost, the same for Labor Office’s side.
[What’s with Venerable Shi all of a sudden? Why did he cave so soon when he always fought tooth and nail with Sect Leader? ]
[Is Zhuo Fan’s aura so grand that it shook him?]
Everyone’s mind was thrown for a loop at the sudden development.
Glaring at them, Venerable Shi spoke earnestly, “Impudent! Zhuo Fan carries Sect Leader’s badge which makes him the highest power beneath Sect Leader. His words are Sect Leader’s. How dare you defy his orders!”
“We won’t!” They all hung their head.
Zhuo Fan and Venerable Qi’s side were filled with doubt.
[Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?]
Ignoring their puzzled gazes, Venerable Shi smiled, “Ha-ha-ha, since this is Sect Leader’s will, we can only follow it. Only, we can’t leave the sect empty. May I leave a few inner sect elders and disciple to defend it, Steward Zhuo?”
Eying him, Zhuo Fan nodded.
He didn’t want to take them in the first place, only Labor Office’s elders or if they came as well, it might spell trouble at the worst moment.
Though Venerable Shi’s attitude was very peculiar, queer in fact.
[Why is he helping me for a change?]
Frowning, Zhuo Fan looked dead in the weasel’s eyes, pondering and finally letting it go.
Time was no longer a luxury right now.
“Alright. We’ll do as Venerable Shi said. The inner sect elders and venerables shall stay behind while Labor Office’s will follow me!” Zhuo Fan nodded and boomed.
Everyone nodded and bowed in response. Venerable Qi’s team had their doubts but now, to support Zhuo Fan, they kept silent.
[Since even Venerable Shi who was always against us didn’t make a fuss, why should we?]
So, Zhuo Fan led the oldies’ group as they walked out of the Main Hall with great fanfare. Soon, the entire sect was in a clamor as the disciples gathered to set off.
Watching the lively scene, Venerable Shi had a nasty smile. An elder next to him frowned, “Venerable Shi, why would you allow such a serious action…”
“It’s because it’s so serious that we must let the kid do it. I can’t let him run off again without stirring things, ha-ha-ha…”
Venerable Shi stroked his beard, his eyes glinting, “Getting rid of him alone isn’t enough. We must remove the Elite Labor Office down to the root as well. Or they would just rise again and we’ll regret it. Now that he’s asking for it, we should further his manic plans and let him destroy himself.”
The others frowned, with only Grand Elder able to see the wisdom in it and shaking his head.
[The kid has done it this time…]
Demon Scheming Sect’s disciples had their orders and soon gathered. Kui Gang and Yue’er were obviously there, since they were the closest to Zhuo Fan.
Soon there were tens of thousands of disciples at the ready.
Zhuo Fan looked around before setting off with all of them. The entire Demon Scheming Sect was now empty and eerily silent with only a hundred elders holding down the fort..
Two weeks later, Kui Gang and the girls were tense, waiting for news from Zhuo Fan. Seeing how another month passed, the four were tense about Chu Qingcheng and the other’s fate as well as if Zhuo Fan would be able to bring any help.
Rumble~
The sky darkened and thunder rolled. The black clouds loomed overhead, reflecting the downcast mood they felt inside. It was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
Looking above, those were not clouds but a sea of people that came right for them.
The one leading them was none other than Zhuo Fan!
Kui Lang cried out, “Heavens above, Steward Zhuo got the entire sect to come? Why are there so many people here to get our girls?”
“How high could Zhuo Fan even be in the Demon Scheming Sect? Your Sect Leader is willing to fight Mystical Heaven Sect all because he asked?” Demon Scheming Sect looked stunned.
The other two girls were excited. Across all western lands, only one man had such a charisma to get so many people to move, Zhuo Fan.
Not that others lacked the power, but none were crazy enough to go to such lengths as attacking a sect for a girl.
None but Zhuo Fan…
Whoosh!
Zhuo Fan led the descent. Kui Lang’s group rushed over with gratitude, “Steward Zhuo, your name is so widespread and heavy that Sect Leader gave you such force. I am in awe of being able to follow someone like you!”
Zhuo Fan however made a gesture for him to keep silent. “Keep it down. This isn’t Xie Wuyue’s doing. Luckily he was away and I could bring so many.”
“Eh?” Kui Lang’s scalp was numb.
“Also, these guys don’t know why I’ve brought them yet. So don’t say anything and leave the explaining to me.” Zhuo Fan grinned at the four.
Yet they were all shellshocked. Kui Lang was even shaking all over.
[Steward Zhuo, you didn’t tell them anything and still brought them? When they find out we’re going to save our girls, won’t they turn on us?]
Kui Lang felt like crying.
[I can even see my master over there!]
His master was against being with Han Qianying and he was wondering just how pissed off he’d be once he found out he was here just to save her…
Zhuo Fan patted his shoulder, “Do you want to save her?”
“I do!”
“How much?”
“With every fiber of my being!” Kui Lang spoke heavily.
Zhuo Fan nodded and smiled, “Then leave it all to me!”
With a wise look in his eyes, Zhuo Fan turned to the elders and released his mighty aura.
Seeing him so high and mighty, Kui Lang finally realized that he was unlike any of them.
They were still hesitating even if they wanted to do this, while Zhuo Fan was a man of action and determination. That was why he, as a mere disciple, led most of the Demon Scheming Sect’s elders and venerables…