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Chapter 893: Control
Proofreader: Papatonks
Whoosh!
In the backyard, Shangguan Yulin sneaked out a jade slip when no one was around. He made a sign and shot into the sky.
As if nothing happened, he returned to his room and shut the door, “Humph, Gu Yifan, laugh while you can these two days, under uncle and other’s care, but once Shangguan Feiyun ends them, you’ll go down as well, ha-ha-ha…”
The mad cackle bounced off his walls, including his desire and hatred.
“Mmm, not a bad idea. But will it work?” A rough voice pierced the quiet room.
Shangguan Yulin was still caught in his fantasy, mocking, “Damn right. Flying Cloud manor aren’t fools, ugh.”
Shangguan Yulin caught himself as a blackness swirled around him. Everything went dark, even his vision.
“M-master?”
Sss~
Shangguan Yulin gasped and soured. He was more than familiar with this image, or lack thereof. He met that sicko last time in the woods, but now it seemed he’d been followed back. Stuck in the same blackness once more left a bitter taste in his mouth.
[This place is packed with Shangguan clan experts, yet you just barge in. Can’t a guy live in peace for once? Is there no safe place for me out there? Am I ever going to be free of this sicko?]
Shangguan Yulin whined, cursed and complained, in his mind of course, “Master, what is sir doing here?”
“Why, you’re not happy to see me?”
“No no no, I’m ecstatic you treat me with such care!” Shangguan Yulin put away the sour tone and switched to flattery.
Zhuo Fan smirked, “Punk, don’t think for a second Shangguan clan being here will stop me from taking care of you. Humph, there’s no place out there I can’t enter!”
“Yes, yes, sir is so amazing, I’m in awe!” Bobbing his head, Shangguan Yulin kowtowed. Though his insides were bitter, finding this old sicko so able as to enter even here.
This place was under Shangguan clan’s supervision at all times to prevent any attack. Where Flying Cloud manor’s people would be found, and yet this old freak could just stroll right in.
[Don’t tell me the sicko’s stronger than those guys. ]
It was better he didn’t know that this sicko was next door. Ignorance was truly bliss in this case.
Zhuo Fan chuckled, “Did you get the word out?”
“Uh…”
Shangguan Yulin wore a bright and dumb smile, “Master, what do you mean? I don’t…”
Bam!
Zhuo Fan lashed his face with the dragon tail, sending him sprawling, “Humph, boy, don’t be a smart ass. I know your rotten character better than anyone. You have sided with Shangguan Feiyun and Baili Jingwei today and you still try to act dumb?”
“Master, please don’t say random things. I didn’t side with them at all! I’m completely innocent!” Shangguan Yulin denied it all with a victimized look, “The Shangguan clan knows I’ve been eliminated from the competition and I’m not even hurt. How could I just betray my clan? Last time I agreed with sir since you had me beaten to an inch of my life.”
Shangguan Yulin completely destroyed his image by tearing up.
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow and mocked, “You think I’m like your clansmen, ignorant? I’ve seen the three round competition Baili Jingwei set up from the side. The first was a 7th grade pill, testing one’s patrimony. Second was doing one’s best, only worded so you go easy. While on the last round, that was the true test of one’s alchemy, a topic I foresaw, the making of a perfect or top pill.
“Ha-ha-ha, don’t you think it’ll raise an eyebrow when you can make an 8th grade but not a top 7th grade? The first two rounds attested to you being an 8th grade alchemist, so making a top but lower grade pill was a given. This was Baili Jingwei’s final aim. Going up but never coming down. So don’t insult me by telling me you lied your way out of Baili Jingwei’s clutches.”
Shangguan Yulin shuddered while his insides were frozen in shock. He was completely sold by the sicko’s flawless analysis, whether he hid to watch or just plain guesswork.
“Also, Baili Jingwei is known as the wisest man in the empire, not some brash musclehead to force you like me. Humph, he definitely struck your unsound mind at the time. What’s so hard about convincing an anxious whelp anyway?”
Zhuo Fan berated, “Kid, did you already forget the vivid and heavy vow you made me? To think you’re trying to fool me, ha-ha. Nice, very nice, it seems to me I should go search for another disciple…”
The black area seeped with bloodlust.
Shuddering, Shangguan Yulin paled and begged, “Master, forgive me! I was only joking! I didn’t realize master’s ingenious intellect and made a mistake. Yes, I have sided with Shangguan Feiyun, but I didn’t have a choice. They threatened my life. If I hadn’t given in…”
“Fine, you betrayed Shangguan clan and not me, anyway. Why should I care?”
Zhuo Fan huffed, “Besides, I just knew you have no bone in your back when I took you. There’s nothing odd about a few atrocities or a doublecrossing here and there…”
Shangguan Yulin’s face twitched.
[For god’s sake! The sicko’s mocking me!]
He did hold his tongue though, since he knew it was true, even if forced.
[I used to be such a compassionate young master back in the eastern lands, always upholding righteousness. How did it get to betraying one’s roots the minute I came here?]
[Twice even! But even if others don’t know this, I’m still hurting from it. Then that punk kept on mocking me earlier and now this sicko. This has got to be the worst year of my life!]
Shangguan Yulin lamented his fate as he heard the mockery coming from the darkness. Unaware that the ones he was cursing were one and the same. Though it was better this way, lest he die from anger.
Having been condescending enough for today, Zhuo Fan got down to business, “Now why am I here bothering wasting words with you? It’s for two reasons. You can betray anyone but your master. You still have my mark on you so do watch out if you value your puny life.”
“Yes yes, I’ll hold your warning to heart!” Shangguan Yulin shuddered in fear.
Sneering, Zhuo Fan continued, “And don’t forget your promise. What’s yours is mine. What the Shangguan clan wants, I also want!”
“Yes yes, I’ll never ever forget!” Shangguan Yulin slowered his shaking head and bowed again.
Zhuo Fan nodded, “Since you know now, next is the word you sent. Walk me through it!”
“Yes yes, master. It’s nothing much, just that the Shangguan clan has a rough grasp of Flying CLoud manor, lacking in a few places. They need that punk, Gu Yifan, to scout them.”
“Oh, a map of the manor!”
Grinning, Zhuo Fan said, “This way the map will be complete. Disciple, make me a copy as well.”
Shuddering, Shangguan Yulin’s eyes darted around.
[What’s the sicko planning to do with it? Is he after the manor’s things as well? Then…]
Shangguan Yulin squinted, his mind calculating. Then he clenched his fists and said, “Yes, I will have it, master.”
“I’ll leave it to you then, ha-ha-ha…”
The darkness receded, revealing the room again, but the weird laughter echoed in his ears, “I’ll be dropping by again when the map is finished…”
As the cackling faded, Shangguan Yulin revealed an icy smile.
[Humph, you damn freak, I’ll be sure to give you a thoroughly deadly map!]
Meanwhile, Zhuo Fan felt great lashing at Shangguan Yulin, it was oddly therapeutic, walking back to his room to see Gu Santong bored on the bed and playing with a new wooden toy.
Zhuo Fan knew it wasn’t from him, “Did the girl give it to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Quite childish, I see, for a three hundred year old man.”
“Aren’t you the same? Scaring children again?” Gu Santong quipped back as he played.
Zhuo Fan chuckled, “It’s not scaring him, but controlling. While I am the connection between Flying Cloud manor and the Shangguan clan in the open, he has two dark ties. I can  control the Shangguan clan’s actions, but he can influence Baili Jingwei’s decisions. By controlling him, I control the whole stage…”
“Is he that happy to listen to you?” Gu Santong asked, “He can’t be trusted!”
Zhuo Fan nodded with a vague smile, “He doesn’t need to listen to me to use him. I just have to prod him in the right direction and we’re set. While the two sides are at war, we’ll be getting what we want and flee.”
“And auntie?” Gu Santong spoke casually.
Zhuo Fan shrugged, “That’s Shangguan Feixiong’s problem, since she’s his daughter. We just need to focus on ourselves. We’ll finish our end and then go to the next area.”
Gu Santong stiffened then sighed…
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