Chapter 205, - Friend From Afar (1/2)

“Grandmother, you can’t be speaking so casually, some people might misunderstand!” Squinting, Zhuo Fan’s tone dropped, “My trip to Drifting Flowers City was all for the Bodhi Jade Sap. It had nothing to do with Chu Qingcheng. Please refrain from speaking such falsities in the future.”

Chu Qingcheng was startled. [Drifting Flowers Edifice isn’t some scourge, so why do you insist on keeping your distance? And what’s not to like about Chu Qingcheng? She is a worldly beauty that has countless men treating her like a goddess.]

Long Yifey and the rest were also puzzled. [You just got a hot wife thrown in your lap so why on earth are you stepping aside? You aren’t fed poison anyway so what’s with that huge reaction?]

Peony Overseer’s temper flared, cursing him, “Zhuo Fan, Qingcheng’s love is wasted on you. How can you be such a disappointment?”

“Humph, disappointment you say?” Zhuo Fan stuck out his chest and bellowed, “I was the one who saved all of Drifting Flowers Edifice, this old crone included. I owe you jack-squat!”

Peony Overseer was now shaking out of rage. His words were right and she had nothing to say despite wanting to.

Chu Bijun’s face twitched. She had had her fair share of travels in her youth, but never once met someone so brazen to curse her in her face. Especially not by a young pup.

The Lady of Steel wasn’t one to take that tone lying down even if they were from the seven houses. Letting a snot-nosed brat off without teaching him a lesson would let others believe the Drifting Flowers Edifice was a pushover.

But Zhuo Fan was different. Since she woke up, all she heard were endless dreaded rumors about this legendary youth. And today she saw him playing Hell Valley and Dugu Zhantian like a fiddle into jumping at each other’s throat.

Getting on the bad side of such a sly and vicious fellow would end in disaster.

The wise Chu Bijun knew who was easier to push around and save her prestige and who was better left alone and bear the brunt instead.

It was crystal clear in what category Zhuo Fan fell into.

Her only choice was to bear it! Though she was quite curious to know what nerve did this topic struck to irk him into flaring up at any who mentioned it.

“Humph, heartless rat!” All the Peony Overseer could do was curse him. Zhuo Fan ignored her all the same.

Long Yifey let out a wry chuckle trying to mediate the situation, “We’re all on the same side. Must we get angry over something so minor? We need to focus on the task at hand and remove the danger our four houses face!”

“Pavilion Lord Long is right. Please forgive my rude remarks, Steward Zhuo!” Chu Bijun smiled.

Zhuo Fan glanced at her and secretly nodded.

No wonder people started calling her Lady of Steel, she was quite amenable. The issue had nothing to do with her, but for Drifting Flowers Edifice’s sake, she was willing to take one for the team in being first to extend an olive branch.

Zhuo Fan wasn’t unreasonable either, bowing, “Please forgive my rash behavior as well.”

Chu Bijun nodded, with a smile of praise. Although Peony Overseer was still too pissed to look him in the eye.

“Seeing everyone here today I can only assume you have agreed to join hands!” Zhuo Fan suddenly took a sombre tone, “That would imply us four houses’ objectives have aligned. Or more aptly put, we have been pushed into a corner and forced to ally!”

“Precisely!”

Chu Bijun picked up where he left, “Pavilion Lord Long with Abode Lord Xie and myself have participated in the Seven Houses Gathering at Regent Estate. As Steward Zhuo had suspected, they wish to rule over all the houses, with Hell Valley and the others already standing on Regent Estate’s side.”

“Oh, Seven Houses Gathering you say? Do tell me the details.” Zhuo Fan’s eyes glimmered.

Chu Bijun started recalling the meeting in minute details. Whatever she had missed were supplied by Long Yifey and Xie Xiaofeng.

Having understood what transpired, Zhuo Fan paced around with a frown, “I was wondering why Regent Estate didn’t come to Windgaze City. I see it now. Estate Lord sure is a man of character!”

“Humph, what character? Big bro Zhuo, sending Hell Valley and the rest instead paints him for the coward he truly is!” Luo Yunhai mocked.

Zhuo Fan laughed, “Rotten brat, guess I have to teach you a harsh lesson, lest you encounter an expert from which you’d suffer dearly!”

“As the saying goes, the cruelest are the regents! I killed one of his sons, yet, he did not fly into rage, only sending experts to kill me in Windgaze City. In this manner, he is rather calm. He did not seek revenge but planned to test the imperial family’s limit. It is clear this man’s ambition is great. This is how a man should act when he wants to look at things from perspective.”

“Kid, you will become Luo Clan Head one day. I won’t say anything about being strong or having a cunning mind, but one thing you must never forget, to give no quarter!” Zhuo Fan snickered and patted Luo Yunhai’s head.

They all felt ashamed. Did anyone guide their young master in such a way in this empire? But one thing was certain, Zhuo Fan’s logic made complete sense. In this cruel and harsh world, things like compassion would only drag one down.

Chu Bijun took a long look at Zhuo Fan, and nodded, more to herself.

Zhuo Fan pondered for a bit before saying, “Currently, the imperial family has shown their stance so we should be safe for now. While the Luo clan, having Marshal Dugu on our back, is in an even safer position, ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan cackled to the speechless audience who thought, [Just what rotten luck did this guy stumble upon to get Dugu Zhantian’s support?]

“Brother Zhuo, when did you get so close to Dugu Zhantian? I’ve been in Windgaze City for years and never heard of this.” Long Jiu’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Hmm, how should I put this?”

Zhuo Fan jutted his chin, while Luo Yunhai’s face beamed with pride. He was quite frankly the second coming of Zhuo Fan in this world.

The other’s faces twitched, [He’s posing again! And there’s two of them now!]