Gasping, everyone was floored by this shocking revelation.
[This is an uprising, plain and simple. First you went to beat one sect into the ground and now coming back to beat your own.]
It was beyond what any of the Demon Scheming Sect experts imagined. They went out of the sect only to come back as rebels.
They were all demonic cultivators, sure, but their loyalties still laid with their sect. This was too much to take in.
Even outsiders like Han Qianying were speechless at Zhuo Fanâs brazen declaration. She walked over to Chu Qingcheng and whispered, âJunior sister, your man is truly brutal. He doesnât just go against his sect, he wants all the other elders and venerables to be there with him! They must be regretting it now, for being toyed with by your man.â
âSenior sister, Zhuo Fan isnât after wealth and glory. Heâs only looking after himself.â Chu Qingcheng sighed.
Han Qianying nodded, âMaybe, since impersonating the Sect Leader and giving orders to attack another sect deserves capital punishment. If he doesnât rise now, the Demon Scheming Sect would hunt him down forever. While everyone can see it, that doesnât mean everyone would be so decisive. He is a man that knows what to do. Unlike my Kui Lang, who likes to boast, heâll never do it in his life.â
Chu Qingcheng nodded. Looking at Zhuo Fanâs straight figure and confidence, her eyes swam in love.
Her husband was the boldest hero, doing everything without looking back. No matter what situation he was in, his eyes had always looked at things from a different perspectiveâŠ
Looking coldly at those shocked faces, Zhuo Fan spoke, âActually, I am all for a peaceful resolution and not revolting. You all know that I am about to leave the Demon Scheming Sect and donât care for wealth and glory. However, thereâs no way Iâm going to let others take my life. This is as low as Iâll ever go.â
The crowd looked at each other with confusion in their eyes, not knowing what to say.
âI know what youâre thinking, to make me take all the blame.â
Zhuo Fan was quite calm despite having seen their intentions, âI had thought about this as well. Everything that happened so far is because of me, so taking responsibility is only natural. If my life can save everyone, Iâm willing to give it. But just think for a second. Will Xie Wuyue let you go with his foul mood?â
They all shook at Zhuo Fanâs words, their last hope crushed to pieces.
Giving them a cold look, Zhuo Fan shouted, âWake up! Stop resorting to petty tricks and dreaming for hopeless peace. Everyone knows of Xie Wuyueâs cruelty. Would he let you live after you used the sectâs name to attack another sectâs elders without his orders? This was a clear challenge to his authority. You of all people should know him better than me.â
âBut this isnâtâŠâ
âYes, I faked his orders.â
Someone stood up, pointing a feeble finger at Zhuo Fan, but he cut him off, âYou must understand, what difference would it make, when youâd be guilty by association. Why would the inner sect elders come along with me? Humph, as matters stand, Xie Wuyue has already lost his trust in you. While he wonât do anything to you for now, since the Demon Scheming Sect has ten thousand sacred stones, in a hundred years, there would be plenty of homegrown elders and venerables to replace you along the way.
âYou best not forget who you are, my Labor Officeâs elders. You have taken on my symbol for a long time now and canât escape this. The minute Xie Wuyue labels me a traitor would be the moment you all will be taken care of. Itâs only a question of time. In the Demon Scheming Sect it is the inner sect and Venerable Shi who have the true power. Working hard for so many years to seize power back, only to lose it all in the end. Would you be willing to accept that?â
A shiver went through them all, hearing Zhuo Fanâs passionate speech. They were now filled with regret and unwillingness.
Venerable Bai stood up, holding out his hands, âListen to me, friends, Steward Zhuo is right. While it does look like he set us up, we should not forget that it was also Steward Zhuo that helped us earn so much in the Labor Office. We and Steward Zhuo have been on the same side from the start.
âReturning to the sect now, if Sect Leader does not pursue this and will overlook it, then we wonât have a civil war. But if he insists on holding Steward Zhuo accountable, then we will have to stand up. Steward Zhuo is our leader, and when he falls, we fall with him. If Steward Zhuo is gone, Sect Leader can finish us off whenever he wants to. Weâre nothing to him and canât fight him either. Thatâs why, Labor Office elders, we must assure that Steward Zhuo is alive and well.â
âYes, Venerable Bai is right!â
Venerable Qi stood up as well, âWe must not fall for Sect Leaderâs delay tactics, because we have an overwhelming advantage. Weâve all seen the power the Luo clan displayed in the battle with the Mystical Heaven Sect, especially Steward Zhuoâs son. It can be said that at this moment, we hold the power. If Sect Leader wonât give us a straight answer, itâs time for a change in leadership. Being indecisive and stalling will only get us killed. Everyone here knows just how brutal Sect Leader can be.â
Hearts stirred with their speech and the people nodded as a fire lit in their eyes.
Just like Venerable Qi said, with such power on their side, taking the sect was a done deal.
But once the Luo clan left, theyâd be nothing more than another neck on the chopping block when Xie Wuyue started hacking.
This was not the time to dawdle!
Seeing the looks they sported, filled with resolve, Venerable Qi looked from Steward Zhuo to the others, âMoreover, weâve all seen the fight between Sect Leader Xuan and Zhuo Fan. They were evenly matched. That is why it is my opinion that if Xie Wuyueâs tyranny comes to an end, Steward Zhuo would make a fine Sect Leader, ha-ha-ha⊠â
âHail, Sect Leader Zhuo!â All of them turned their heads and greeted as they got ready for an uprising. Just like in an imperial revolt, they called out their leader as the true emperor.
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Venerable Qi. Zhuo Fan then laughed, holding his hand for silence, âHear my order. Get ready for counter attacking Demon Scheming Sect!â
âYes, sir!â
They all cupped their hands, filled with battle spirit. The morale was actually higher than when they set out for Mystical Heaven Sect. Because this was a civil war they couldnât afford to lose.
Fiend Yang held his head and sighed, âWuyue, you brought it on yourself. Look what your constant criticism of them has brought, they are revolting, while you are still dreaming of being a top middle-three sect. Just how am I supposed to help you?â
Fiend Yang shook his head, catching up with the others and in deep thought on how to solve this.
Zhuo Fan and Xie Wuyue were good friends with the fiends, but now, who were they to side with?
This was a true uprising against leadership, to take the crownâŠ
Meanwhile, just outside the Demon Scheming Sectâs barrier, the door was opened and Xie Wuyue waltzed in beaming with joy, unaware his Sect Leader seat was hanging by a thread.
âThe Sect Leader is back!â
âThe Sect Leader is back!â
Two children ran to the inner sect to report. Xie Wuyue walked on, smug and happy. It was obvious from a mile his trip outside was one filled with flattery directed at his rear.
He barely took two steps before he frowned. He looked around puzzled, âWhy is the sect so quiet? Where is everyone?â
âSect LeaderâŠâ
Shouts came, Venerable Shi leading a hundred inner sect elders as they rushed over. They bowed at once, âSect Leader, Iâm ashamed for being so late in welcoming you, ha-ha-haâŠâ
Xie Wuyue looked at them in doubt, âWhatâs going on, why just you guys? What about the rest? The elders, venerables, and even disciples, where are they?â
âSect Leader, didnât you tell Steward Zhuo to take them out? They have yet to return.â
Venerable Shi faked.
Xie Wuyue was stunned, âZhuo Fan? DIdnât he leave? Why is he back? Also, when did I tell him to take out the sectâs elders?â
âIt wasnât your order? But he held your token!â
Playing his act till the end, Venerable Shi muttered confusedly, âThis is bad. Steward Zhuo held your token and said that he wanted all the experts and disciples, even venerables to follow him outside. I found it odd and came with my inner sect elders to stop him, but Sect Leader knows how Labor Office is his. One word from him and theyâll all follow. I donât know where they went. He canât be using them, can he?â
Venerable Shi glanced at Xie Wuyueâs face and saw it dark and brooding. His fists clenched, his eyes shot with bloodthirst.
[It seems to me these tigers are about to claw each other, ha-ha-haâŠ]