Chapter 598: Worth
The trio turned apprehensive, not wanting to accept Zhuo Fan’s request yet unable to refuse.
Zhuo Fan was an irrefutable partic.i.p.ant in the Double Dragon Gathering. It was his worth, worth none of them could ever replace.
“Steward Zhuo, congratulations, this time the entire sect will hum with your name. I bet tomorrow will be busy for the Labor Office with its new recruits. Ha-ha-ha, even becoming elite will be a cinch. None of those inner sect oldies will make a peep.” Venerable Bai praised.
Venerable Qi said, “I bet there’s no one else like you in the nine sects to kill two Ethereal Stage elders as a disciple. You’ve topped them all. The disciples must be wors.h.i.+ping you by now, their role model. They’ll all want to get closer to you. We had to work hard to get those that left back so they wouldn’t offend you, he-he-he… “
The other oldies of the Labor Office nodded, all a smile.
Zhuo Fan gave a thin smile back, turning to the fiends, “As I said, I won’t enter the elite area. Though venerables sirs can do what they think about my conditions.”
Zhuo Fan grinned, spun on his heel, and walked away, not before flipping a nasty smirk back a few steps after, “By the way, your elite disciples are in a world of pain, you know. Shouldn’t you be hurrying back?”
“What?!”
They all cried out in shock, noticing Zhuo Fan’s gaze.
[Oh, shoot!] They forgot the kid burst into the elite area, and there was no way he’d take it easy on anyone.
Venerable Qi and Bai’s grandchildren were still there as well.
Everyone was anxious, “Steward Zhuo, were you that hard on them?”
The two were even more concerned than the fiends, but they also grew nervous at the prospects.
While no one liked those leeches, they were the strongest disciples of the sect meant to go to Double Dragon Gathering.
Zhuo Fan just shrugged, “Ha-ha-ha, lighten up. I’m not one to get rid of anyone I do not know, or I’d be making too many enemies for nothing. Though not too easy either, or they could’ve just gotten up and reported me…”
Whoosh~
Venerable Bai and Qi shot for the skies in panic, followed by other venerables and elders with kin in the elite area.
On the other hand, the fiends eased a breath the minute Zhuo Fan a.s.sured them they were still breathing.
Fiend Yang eyed Zhuo Fan, “We will consider your condition. The rules the sect has been built upon for thousands of years aren’t changed overnight. No matter how great a display you pull, some rules just won’t bend.”
“Ha-ha-ha, people make the rules. And they will change as long as the people want them to.”
Zhuo Fan threw a box with a snicker, “Venerable Fiend Yang, take this to Xie Wuyue with the words ‘a favor for a favor’. If he can’t do it, return it.”
Fiend Yang’s face twitched, “T-this is plain bribery.”
“Is it that bad?” Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, “With you at the top of the sect, you have priority in taking your pick from the pile of wealth. Who can ever bribe you? You finally have me, the magnate, here to get a little something at long last. If you don’t want it, then return the earlier demonic treasures as well. Take the Elite Labor Office as the enemy of the elite area. I don’t need peace.”
“Now wait a sec. These matters aren’t the same. You beat our disciples and apologized. That ends that.”
The fiends glanced at their storage ring and the trinkets they got and didn’t quite feel like giving them up, rethinking Zhuo Fan’s proposal and the demonic treasure within this new box.
It was part of Zhuo Fan and Xie Wuyue’s agreement to annex the elite area and make the Labor Office the only faction, though it didn’t come with outright acceptance from the three. When he fought the inner sect, they didn’t give a hoot no matter how many burned or how many fell since the cream of both parties would end up in the elite area.
Now Zhuo Fan wanted the elite area abolished, aiming for their bread and b.u.t.ter. No matter how much they cared for the sect’s future and liked Zhuo Fan as a talent, no one would be that happy to throw away their livelihood.
[We’re digging our own grave.]
[Should we just… take these treasures for ourselves and leave Wuyue to decide?]
The trio pondered a good while, then nodded with a sneaky smile.
They not only came out one treasure richer, but they also had a way out.
[We’re not as selfish as the inner sect to block the sect’s growth. We will leave it to Sect Leader to be fair and just in his ruling, to avoid despicable methods such as bribery.]
Zhuo Fan grinned, “Sugarcoat it with as many excuses you want, it’s still selfishness. You need but take this single step, and you’ll be falling in the inner sect’s footsteps. I held my end of the bargain, and it’s up to him to decide what to do with you when you stole his gift…”
The trio shuddered and faltered, covering the fear with anger, “Are you a mind reader?”
“Ha-ha-ha, of course not. All I see is your greedy eyes, oblivious to anything else.” Zhuo Fan added, “No gain satisfies a greedy mind. One wrong move and death awaits. It’s best you think this through, sirs. Ha-ha-ha…”
Zhuo Fan left with a laugh, the trio lost at what to do and looking from the box to themselves.
[Are we just going to give this to Xie Wuyue and dig our elite area’s grave?]
While they were at an impa.s.se as to what to do, a mile out, Xie Wuyue saw everything.
“The kid just entered the Radiant Stage and already formed his soul, so strong too; an abomination. Since I last saw him in Tianyu a decade ago, he has become a new man in character and strength. But this will only make the Demon Scheming Sect’s rise come faster. He’s a true gem.”
Xie Wuyue was full of praise for him but scowled as he eyed the Three Fiends of h.e.l.l, “Don’t tell me the fools are going to take Zhuo Fan’s respectful gift for me for themselves. I even came over to see if the kid could handle the elders, lest everything would go to waste.”
[You better be d.a.m.n sure you three bring me that gift, or else…]
Xie Wuyue squinted before leaving.
Venerable Bai’s gang stepped into the devastation around the elite area, and the disciples were strewn about.
Each of the oldies found their target and breathed easier the next second.
[They’re only hurt. If they died, with how savage Steward Zhuo is, the sect will run with blood.]
“Lian’er…”
“Changlong…”
“Grandpa, we’re here.”
As Bai and Qi called out, Bai Lian and Qi Changlong replied. The two went over and breathed easier too.
“Inner organs are shaken up and only sealed vessels. You’ll be back on your feet in a few days. The kid was truthful. He only killed Chi Feng and Yujuan.” Bai Lian hugged Bai Lian.
Venerable Qi nodded, “Old Bai, should we have these two go to him? He has to know his allies or the next time he flips…”
“With his glorious reputation now, making friends is the best thing for these children.” Venerable Bai’s eyes flashed.
Bai Lian asked, “Grandpa, you mean… that wild beast?”
The venerables nodded.
“Venerables sirs, he wrecked the elite area and breached the rules. You should uphold the sect’s laws and not let him off.”
Lu Xie was outraged, “Two elites are killed, and the three venerables won’t stand for it. Venerable s.h.i.+ will surely make use of it and fight. Sirs will do well not to make the wrong choice…”
Venerable Bai laughed, “What a foolish disciple. What do you think the rules are for, to raise the strong! With enough worth and strength the sect itself will pave your way!”
“As for the three venerables, they must be grinning right about now from the demonic treasures they got from the kid. As for Venerable s.h.i.+… his two prized helpers, the second and seventh elders were challenged and killed by the kid; in plain sight too. There’s not even the chance of getting revenge. With the inner sect’s elders and venerables cowering, who will stir up more trouble?”
[No way?!]
Bai Lian, Lu Xie, and Qi Changlong gasped in disbelief.
Venerable Bai shook his head, “Disciples all the same yet so much above everyone else. He twisted the rules to his will, and there’s nothing you can do about it. His worth trumps anyone else’s. You better sit down if you know what’s good for you.”
The three were speechless…