The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 972: The Nine Sword Kings Converge

Proofreader: Papatonks

Boom~

In the deepest place of Sword Star Empire’s imperial capital, on the tallest mountain stood a lofty palace. However, the lavish design was marred by the constant thunderstorm above and the incessant thick lightning strikes hammering the area. Each strike teeming with the power to destroy everything. 

But there would be no destruction as the palace made it so any strike that landed close or on it would be  completely absorbed, with not a single blade of grass even singed. Yet from the flowers to the trees, they all had a distinct crackling sound coming from them, brimming with abundant electric charge.

At the tallest point of the palace, where lightning surrounded it constantly, three golden and sharp words drew attention.

Thunder Pavilion!

“Invincible Sword just got out of seclusion and asked for the Nine Sword Kings, but what does he do next? He comes to Thunder Pavilion to polish his sword skills. What the hell is he thinking?”

Outside the pavilion, the teams of guards stood at perfect attention, all of them peak Genesis experts. The most impressive was their numbers, over a hundred!

Shangguan Feiyun was pacing just outside the pavilion, finding it an utter waste of time and complained because of it, “I’d have left by now if the old man didn’t have something important. I don’t have the leisure like these guards to come over from afar just to stand stiff!”

Danqing Shen beside him chuckled, “Brother Feiyun, mind your words. Someone might just go tell on you. Then you’ll have Sword Patriarch coming at you for a spar. Who are you going to blame then, ha-ha-ha…” 

“So what? I already lost, haven’t I?”

Shangguan Feiyun’s face twitched and grumbled, but it was clear the words did get to him. Danqing Shen chuckled.

He then froze, his nose wiggling from the intoxicating scent as he laughed, “A mild 3,200 years aged vintage Harmony Hallow! That’s one good wine!”

“Ha-ha-ha, I knew only brother Dan among the Sword Kings knows me best. You managed to sense it from this far?”

Whoosh~

An aged man with a white beard and a heavily receding hairline, popped up in front of them, holding a wine bottle letting out a conspicuous smell. 

Danqing Shen smiled, “Wine Sword Immortal, it’s been ages. Where have you run off to for some fine wine? Mind giving me a bottle?”

“He-he-he, how could I ever forget about my dear friend, brother Dan? But this time, I didn’t bring one for you.” 

“Why, hogging it all up?” Danqing Shen poked fun.

Wine Sword Immortal waved dismissively, “Brother Dan, I’m not being rude here on purpose. Such a great wine isn’t enough for myself so how could I share any with you?”

“Humph, you say that every time. To you, I bet not even all the wine in the world would be enough.” Shangguan Feiyun mocked.

Danqing Shen smiled uncaringly. But Wine Sword Immortal was looking nervous as he said, “Shangguan Feiyun, don’t poison the well! I’m a genuine drunkard that loves to hit the bottle, but my dear friendship with brother Dan is so strong, if I had the whole world’s wine, even a bottle… I would not necessarily not share…”

Shangguan Feiyun rolled his eyes.

[This drunkard is so stingy, giving only a taste even if he has barrels of it.]

It was obvious you’d get nothing from this guy. Since all good wines came in short supply, there was no way he’d ever share anything.

Danqing Shen chuckled, “Old geezer, I know you’re a drunkard, but regardless of giving or not, the least you can do is show me some respect in front of everyone? Just a bottle? Do I matter so little to you?”

“No, that’s not it, brother Dan. I feared you’d take it seriously and really ask for some from me!” 

The Wine Sword Immortal always had his nose in a bottle, or barrel. But of the Nine Sword Kings, he was the plainest and honest of them all, always saying his piece. At the two’s teasing, he grew nervous, “I’ll be honest with you. This is the only bottle I have of Harmony Hallow and also the most ardent. I had to go through so much to…” 

“Ardent Harmony Hallow… like from southern lands?”

Danqing Shen shouted, “You went to Murong Lie for wine? No wonder it has such a pungnant smell. The southern lands have the hottest climate and would ferment the spiciest wines. Murong clan’s is among the best, but…” 

“As a Sword King, if Baili Jingwei finds out you went to the enemy for some wine, you’re through!” Shangguan Feiyun butted in with his mock threat.

Wine Sword Immortal signaled for him to be silent with a tense look, “Keep it down! That slob has his eyes on me and if he finds out anything, he’ll lock me up in the same spot! Good brothers keep secrets. Don’t throw me to the wolves!”

“Give half and take half!” The other two spoke in unison while reaching for the wine.

Wine Sword Immortal winced, looking at the bottle in his hand with pain, “Can’t you ask for anything else? This is my only bottle. You’re being cruel wanting half!”

“We’re just that mean, he-he-he…” The two wiggled their eyebrows as they taunted.

Looking like he was the victim here, Wine Sword Immortal fondled the bottle with utter helplessness. But then the sound of strings echoed out followed by a voice sounding even more helpless, “Sword Kings, please don’t pick on the kind and elderly. He risked his life in the southern lands. Why must we Sword Kings play one another despite being outsiders? How petty…”

They all started and looked over at the corner to an eminent man with a calm demeanor as he played the zither while giving them a mocking grin.

“Zither Sword King Liu Mubai, you came as well?”

Wine Sword Immortal lit up in joy as he bounced over with a laughter, “You’re a nice guy, saving me from those two trying to blackmail me. What I hate the most is others using another’s plight for their own selfish gain!”

Liu Mubai smiled and played the zither, “Wine Sword Immortal, you call that blackmail? It’s just a joke, just like what I did just now with them, ha-ha-ha…”

“Really?”

Shangguan Feiyun cocked a mocking eyebrow, “The Nine Sword Kings come from different ares, but Prime Minister Baili treat us all the same. The fact that you spoke of us being outsiders is your attempt at sowing discord?”

The zither rang an odd note in his hand as Liu Mubai stopped, looking at him with a vague glint, “That wasn’t the idea, I’m only stating facts. Of the Nine Sword Kings, five are Baili clan’s, leaving us the only four by ourselves. Don’t tell me you believe that if a bit operation is in play, those five won’t try to steal our share of the reward or downplay our merits. Ha-ha-ha, Prime Minister cares about all of us, but our levels are different among each other. They are a united force while we’re alone. I love the zither, Sword Immortal the wine, Old Dan painting, but what about Brother Feiyun? Ha-ha-ha…” 

Brow furrowed they all looked grave.

Liu Mubai spoke what they all knew already. 

[Baili’s people are against any outsiders.] 

They were four Sword Kings that had been recruited, thus their gains differed.

This made it five against each one of them. When the time came and they were at odds, they would be in serious danger, all because they had no trust among each other.

The four look at each other, their mind already working on a plan.

“Zither Sword King, are you trying to get the other three Sword Kings set up against the Baili clan?”

Rumble!

A thunderous voice followed the appearance of a fierce and hulking man. His eyes flashed like lightning, his power shaking the air around him.

Squinting, Liu Mubai, smiled, “Thunder Sword King Baili Yulei, is it that you disapprove of my words?”

“There’s no point to begin with.”

Baili Yulei jeered, “There’s only our clan the best in the world. It is us who have the final say, and we who gave you your titles, just so that you protect our home. Put bluntly, you’re nothing but better guards. Even if there are conflicts of interests with our clan, you still have to step aside, isn’t that right?”

All the other faces tensed and darkened.

Wine Sword Immortal, who never cared about mortal affairs had had enough, “So you’re saying if a good wine caught my eye and someone from Baili wants it as well, who is it that gets it?”  

“Whoever rules!” Baili Yulei thundered.

Wine Sword Immortal was disgruntled, “Wine is my life!”

“Then please have it removed, Wine Sword Immortal.” 

“What did you say?”

Bam!

A powerful surge exploded as Wine Sword Immortal roared, standing against Baili Yulei’s icy smile.

Liu Muba rooted for Wine Sword Immortal.

Suddenly, two Sword Kings’ aura flared, pushing Baili Yulei back, but then four other figures descended. The Nine Sword Kings gathered before the Thunder Pavilion…