n

n

nChapter 403, Breaking All Pretense

nTranslator: StarReader

nEditor: Elitecoder

n

n

nThere was a damp and dark tunnel littered with checkpoints made of sealed heavy doors and two Radiant Stage experts standing guard at each one of them.

nTheir moods were heavy as their eyes narrowed.

n

n

nA guard holding a set of keys approached. With a flash of a badge, the gate opened.

nThe badge read Emperor’s Approval.

n

n

nGate after gate, the guard had to pass through 18 of them to reach the end.

nIt was a small dark room with a pint-sized figure resting on a simple bed, chewing lazily on something.

n“What does the old coot want this time?” Taking another bite, a tender voice came, filled with disdain, “You come to me for help yet lock me up in this hellhole whenever you’re done with me. For three hundred years I’ve kept my word, the only saving grace you have from my rage! And these things, I have never eaten worse garbage in three hundred years! Aren’t I a Divine Dragon?”

n

n

nWhoosh~

nHe threw away the thing at the guard.

nWith a bang, it flashed past the guard’s face, wind biting his face. It made a meter-deep hole in the wall behind him and even shook the whole place, yet the thing was still intact.

nThe guard was scared out of his mind.

n

n

nThis place was made of a 7th grade material, Crystallized Black Tungsten, turning it into a fortress. But to this guy, it was like paper.

nA casual flick and the place got ventilation.

nThe guard made a shaky bow, “Sir Gu Santong, please calm down. I am only conveying the emperor’s orders to handle a tough opponent.”

n“I’m not going!”

nGu Santong snorted, “I’ve only promised to defend the imperial family. There’s nothing in it related to putting me to work. Do it yourself!”

nThe guard begged again, “Sir, His Majesty is requesting you in person. This man is an exceptional expert. How could anyone match him? Moreover, His Majesty promises to improve your meals.”

n“Improve? By how much?” Gu Santong raised an eyebrow.

n

n

nThe guard picked up three fingers, “3rd grade ingredient every day, with 4th grade on holidays.”

nGu Santong’s eyes spun and then he shook his head, “4th grade everyday and 5th grade on holidays. No, make that 6th grade!”

n“It’s a deal!” The guard let out a carefree nod.

nThe promise was still within His Majesty’s limits. I need to get this young master out of here fast.

nGu Santong hopped around in joy. He’d finally sleep with a full belly from now on, “Oh, and who’s the one you’re after? You’ve never asked me to act before.”

n“Ha-ha-ha, His Majesty will tell you when the moment comes. We are just guards transmitting his orders. We cannot fathom His Majesty’s mind. “

nGu Santong didn’t care. As long as he had his fill, he’d capture anyone…

nBack at the feast, the emperor had just declared a marriage bringing joy to the kneeling Yongning. Next to her was Yuwen Yong on his knees as well.

nThough he was a nervous wreck.

nJust before this exchange, he had seen Zhuo Fan and Yun Shuang being all lovey-dovey and now he had asked the imperial father for her hand. He was out to steal another person’s girl. It wouldn’t make a difference to your average citizen, but that right there was the Best Steward Beneath Heavens!

nZhuo Fan’s rage was still very much ingrained in his mind, back when the guy flattened his home.

nOf course he’d be trembling. But a sneak peek at Hell Valley’s side, catching the nod of a figure, he relaxed.

nI just hope it’ll go like he said and Zhuo Fan won’t put my princely head on a pike…

nLuo Yunchang was testy, not over Yun Shuang, but while glaring at Yongning. She has had her eyes on the heart-throb Zhuo Fan for years, yet this broad was just gonna take him from her? She wouldn’t have it!

nZhuo Fan finally spoke.

n“Your Majesty!”

nHe did a full salute, but his tone was icy, “Please withdraw your edict. I and miss Shuang’er are perfect for each other long since we’ve gotten together. It wouldn’t be right for us to marry another!”

nWhat?!

nEveryone was slack jawed. They guessed the two had been on good terms, knowing each other well after only a month, but how did they get entangled to such a degree so fast?

nLuo Yunchang was puzzled. The two had only displayed their affection today. When did they get to do the horizontal mambo? And how come she didn’t know?

nYun Shuang froze, her eyes red and confused, What is he up to?

n“Impossible!”

nYongning shot to her feet, refuting those claims, “I and Shuang’er are practically sisters and I’ve also been by the Prosperity Compound many times. I would’ve realized in an instant if anything was up.”

nZhuo Fan grinned at her hotheadedness, “Of course you’d realized, and so did everyone else in the Luo clan. Don’t you remember the night you’d invited me to celebrate, that woman perhaps?”

nShuddering, everyone turned to the young frail Yun Shuang, who was flushing harder than a tomato with tears in her eyes.

nShe was a sensible girl and couldn’t endure having her mortifying moment to be out in the open.

nZhuo Fan had other things on his mind besides the trifling things like shame. He grabbed Yun Shuang’s hand and sneered, “That was Shuang’er! Everyone in Luo clan can attest since I was doing my business when they burst in!”

n“Uh, that does seem to be the case.” Luo Yunhai nodded.

nHe was clueless towards Zhuo Fan’s aim in exposing such a degrading affair, but he figured it will all lead somewhere. Four Scheming Demons were jumping and hooting in confirmation as well.

nZhuo Fan and Yun Shuang were an item. There were no two ways about it!

nYongning and Luo Yunchang glared daggers at Yun Shuang. Defend the guy all you’d like but it was hard to find the traitor in one’s midst.

nWhat a good sister, stealing my man from right under my nose!

nYun Shuang looked devastated with her head low. Pointed out by all husbands what a chippy she was. All those stares were making her sick.

nThe emperor watched it all with a cold dragon’s eye, his fingers drumming on the table. With a deep breath, his boundless majestic voice came, “Are you done? The wedding is tomorrow!”

nZhuo Fan raised an eyebrow and laughed, “Your Majesty, if I don’t feel like it, there’s no one in the world that can make me!”

nBam!

nThe emperor flew off the handle, “Insolent! I am the ruler here, the emperor! My decree is final. Zhuo Fan, you dare question my authority?”

nAll eyes watched in shock, their hearts drumming in their chests.

nWhat’s up with His Majesty? That is the Best Steward Beneath Heavens you honored yourself. Marriage is such a trifle so why make such a big fuss and fly into a rage?

nSomething isn’t right about this. It’s not just about fighting an edict.

nThe old foxes noticed discrepancies.

nZhuge Changfeng and Leng Wuchang knew even more, showing endless calm. The emperor has had enough. He’s about to act!

n“Imperial father, please calm down. I… I and Shuang’er are sisters. Even if we have the same husband, it’ll be fine. Second brother doesn’t fit Shuang’er anyway. Place take your edict back and don’t take your anger out on them.”

nYongning feared the emperor would do something to the couple in his rage.

nThe emperor wouldn’t have it, “Silence! I have had enough of Zhuo Fan’s vile morals. Seriously wounding the delegation, destroying a prince’s home, undermining my authority, in contempt of court, brash, arrogant and violent. On such a blessed day, I wanted to make him my son-in-law, yet he refuses my edict. A criminal such as he is a plague on this land…”

nIn his rage, the emperor dumped one crime after another on Zhuo Fan’s head. He had so many piled up that even a hundred deaths would be too light a punishment.

nZhuo Fan, Leng Wuchang and Zhuge Changfeng were the calmest, having seen it all come. If one wanted someone dead, he’d just find the pretext to do it.

nThe emperor can lift you, can sanctify you, but can also bury you, demonize you. It’s all at the emperor’s whim.

nIf he wants you hanged, he’d find some excuse, don’t you worry.

nFunny how it matched perfectly with Zhuo Fan, who had always called himself a demon. Finding faults couldn’t be easier.

nWhile the blunt Quanrong looked on stumped.

nI say, why let him live if he’s a criminal on death row? Shouldn’t you be over and done with this demon the moment you found him?

nZhuo Fan sneered, “Your Majesty does not seem to hold me in any regard. Staying here is pointless, let’s go!”

nZhuo Fan left with the Luo clan.

nBam!

nThe emperor slammed the table, “Humph, Zhuo Fan, you think so highly of yourself, showing contempt to me? You won’t run away that easily!”

n“Oh? Who, I wonder, in whole Tianyu has the power to stop me?” Zhuo Fan mocked.

nPretentious!

nThough everyone agreed inside. Zhuo Fan did have the power to back that claim.

nThe emperor squinted and his face twisted with malice, “There will always be someone better than you out there! Zhuo Fan, you are toxic. Seize him!”

nWith a bang, a red flash shot for Zhuo Fan, followed by a childish voice, “Old coot, don’t forget about the 6th-grade ingredient…”

n