Hu Mei’er’s eyes spun and she giggled while asking Violent Demon, “Executives, don’t tease. Inner disciples have to be in the Radiant Stage at the very least, to say nothing of elite disciples. While junior brother here…”
“You’re looking down on our Steward Zhuo?” Violent Demon laughed, “Steward Zhuo is so otherworldly that no common sense can describe him. The way I see it, even being an elite is a waste. He’s better off working as executive from the start!”
“No, no, no, that is beneath Steward Zhuo’s talents. He should be an elder!” Sly Demon sucked up.
Wimp Demon threw in his two cents, “Elder won’t do either, a Venerable is more like it! “
“What Venerable? Just make Xie Wuyue retire and have him become Sect Leader already!”
The Four Scheming Demons got rowdier and more obnoxious while Hu Mei’er’s cheeks twitched.
[Something’s seriously wrong with their heads.] She had long since heard of their ‘illustrious’ infamy. [I won’t get anything about the kid out of these weirdos.]
[Then again, with how they suck up to the kid and treat him with such respect, he must have deep ties in the sect.]
Hu Mei’er eyed the ever cool Zhuo Fan, unphased by the four’s outrageous display.
Like a well whose waters never ended.
“Miss, what might be your name?” Zhuo Fan turned to the girl.
She only spared him a glance, then huffed.
Ha-ha-ha Hu Mei’er giggled, “Junior brother Zhuo, she is Yue’er, an outer disciple with the same cultivation as you, in the 6th layer of Profound Heaven Stage. She will be your senior sister. It’s best if you get along, ha-ha-ha…”
“Yue’er?”
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, then picked up the discarded short blade. The curved weapon was 4th grade demonic treasure, “Bearing the name of the moon and wielding a full moon blade. How fitting.”
Yue’er just glared.
Yet she was caught by surprise as Zhuo Fan traced her neck with her weapon.
Widening her eyes, Yue’er could not dodge because of the heavy wound she had. Hu Mei’er was startled as well to learn that a new disciple would raise his hand at a fellow disciple.
The Four Scheming Demons snickered. They never tried stopping Steward Zhuo’s actions, not like they could.
Besides, it wasn’t like Sect Leader would cry over the death of some nobody outer disciple. He wouldn’t have invited Zhuo Fan just to lash out at him, no?
The glinting blade reflected Yue’er’s panicked eyes. But her will never wavered, relentless even in the face of death.
Whoosh!
The blade stopped just shy of her skin. She still felt its sharp edge, being on the brink of death.
Gulp.
Yue’er looked around nervously at Zhuo Fan, her very first time looking him in the eye.
What was revealed was a twisted and insidious smile.
Letting go of the blade, Zhuo Fan laughed, “Lass, your sneaky attack had me frightened. Now I’ve returned the favor and we’re even, ha-ha-ha…”
“Steward Zhuo, she has hurt you and yet you’re letting her go with just a scare?” Violent Demon glanced at the blood on Zhuo Fan’s chest.
Zhuo Fan shook his hand, “I just got here and senior sister Yue’er and I only exchanged greetings. You better not go snitching to Sect Leader either. Forget this ever happened.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Four Scheming Demons shrugged and cupped their hands.
Hu Mei’er was even more startled. These four weren’t just looking after the kid, but are his lackeys.
[Is he some Venerable’s heir?]
Hu Mei’er sized Zhuo Fan harder, “Junior brother Zhuo is mighty and grand, just like father.”
[When did you see my old man?]
Zhuo Fan snickered inside, knowing fully well that she was playing with him. So he gave a vague answer, “Senior sister Mey’er is too kind. But since you mentioned father, I remember him telling me that the sect has a disciple called Hu, who is thoughtful and kind. He must’ve meant you, senior sister Mei’er. He always said having senior sister Mei’er tending to me is the utmost bliss. “
Ugh!
The Four Scheming Demons looked at him oddly.
[When did he have a dad and why didn’t we hear of him? And since he knows Hu Mei’er, is he perhaps in the sect?]
Hu Mei’er was stunned. [He must have backing, but who’s?]
While she wanted to dig further, Zhuo Fan cut their meeting short with a bow, “We should be going now to meet Sect Leader. Farewell. Here, senior sister Yue’er.”
Zhuo Fan handed her the curved blade and Yue’er took it with a cold glare.
Zhuo Fan and the four pygmies left Hu Mei’er alone with her doubts.
“Yue’er, go tend to your wounds. Senior sister has some matters to tend to.” Hu Mei’er was gone the next second.
Yue’er nodded and sighed, putting on a hurtful look, like a kicked puppy…
While Zhuo Fan and the four mini demons passed by many great buildings. Violent Demon asked puzzled, “Steward Zhuo, you’re just gonna let that girl go after hurting you? Or should we look for a chance to waste her?”
“Ha-ha-ha, you’d better not. I just like the lass’ character. Just like me back when I stepped on the demonic path, blunt like a birch stump.”
Zhuo Fan snickered, “As they say, the fool strikes while the wise talks. Yue’er might be the one who attacked but I knew from a glance that she was oblivious to everything, ending up being used. It was the late arrival, Hu Mei’er, who came to mediate and to loosen my tongue. If we’d not leave the matter at that, she’d have killed us all.”
Zhuo Fan breathed in, “Four Scheming Demons, did anyone else know about my coming to Demon Scheming Sect? Why was someone after me the instant I got here?”
“Well…”
The Four Scheming Demons shook their heads and Violent Demon shrugged, “That’s normal. Demon Scheming Sect’s competitiveness is ruthless. And since we’re a demonic sect, it goes double for its disciple. You know it very well, how cruel our methods are, using other’s souls and flesh to practice skills. Where are we supposed to get the raw material?”
“Going after other sects will blow in our face and lead to war. Only by weeding out the weak and making them our furnace can the elite be born. Losing here means death.”
“Right, right. We only succeeded to train in our unity tactic all because we used 999 disciple’s souls. That’s how we can turn to smoke.” Sly Demon bobbed his head.
No one knew better than Zhuo Fan just how cruel and twisted the demonic path was. The loser went through hell while the winner had everything, standing above everyone.
[Xie Wuyue must’ve leaked it on purpose to get the disciples’ attention fixed on me.]
Hu Mei’er just now was sizing his potential, whether to take him out or not.
A tough backing didn’t absolve one of attacks, it only made the enemy more cautious when he acted. While having no one behind him at all would make anyone attack him on the spot, to nip him in the bud.
Zhuo Fan snickered.
[You’ll have another thing coming if some hatchlings on the demonic path can trick me. Once yours truly becomes an elite disciple, you’ll all fall in line. ]
Is that the disciple Sect Leader recruited?” Deep in the forest of a cloudy weathered peak, a figure scoffed at the five of them, “6th layer of Profound Heaven Stage, so average. Yet Sect Leader not only recruited him but even used a 9th grade pill?”
Hu Mei’er sighed from behind him, with equal disdain, “That fool is quite interesting. It was Yue’er who stabbed him yet he took the first step in putting the matter behind them. And from his tone, his father must be someone high up in the sect. Hi-hi-hi, he’s just like a prodigal son, naive and innocent, unlike a demonic cultivator.”
“Pulling strings to get in? Sect Leader isn’t that immoral.”
The man’s eyes glinted, his smile cold, “Or maybe, he has a nice talent to catch Sect Leader’s attention. Oh, what about his fight with Yue’er?”
“Second senior brother, he is weak as a bug. He did break Yue’er’s arm, but she stabbed his chest. His win is marginal.”
“That means his strength is nothing special, typical of a 6th layer of Profound Heaven cultivator.” Second senior brother rubbed his chin, “Let’s wait for the Sect Leader’s decision. Making him an inner disciple with the Sect Leader’s personal instructions, will mean he has outstanding talent, and he is a threat to us. If he’s put with the outer disciples, ha-ha-ha… he must have plenty of connections. Sect Leader and the Venerable must’ve reached a secret agreement.”
Hu Mei’er broke into an enchanting smile, her eyes taunting, “The little guy looked so pure, dumber than even Yue’er. Sect Leader has no time for his kind. The latter has a much higher probability.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Second senior brother had a wide grin, laughing along with Hu Mei’er.
The five finally arrived at the sect’s grand hall, where Sect Leader along with Venerables and elders were present.
Violent Demon eyed the closed doors with a smile.
He didn’t get to report their arrival when the doors opened to reveal a middle-aged man with a pencil mustache.
The Four Scheming Demons bowed, “Elder Yao!”
“En.” He nodded and turned to Zhuo Fan, “Are you the new disciple, Zhuo Fan?”
“I am.” Zhuo Fan gave a respectful reply.
“By the order of the Sect Leader, Zhuo Fan is to enter the Labor Office. He will be a laborer disciple. Take him away!” Elder Yao left them speechless…
