Yutao sneaks a glance at the man beside him. Hao Enlai keeps rubbing a strange scar on his throat, absentmindedly, like he is trying to forget how it got there. Across from them, Ren Jiang sits silent, staring into his cup. There is a strange tension between the two men.
Yutao finds himself once again at Ren Jiang's villa. He was summoned urgently for an undisclosed reason. Even now, the two of them are lost in their own thoughts, and tea. Especially when they liberally mix hard liquor in it, the tea becomes a lot more interesting.
But Yutao could more or less guess why he is here. Ren Jiang finally breaks the quiet. "Yutao. Tell me about the Blue Lotus."
Yutao presses his lips together, then exhales. "It's a power. A raw force. It's a resource which has gained consciousness." The other two men lean in instinctively. For the first time, someone is speaking of it openly. The irony isn't lost on Yutao—these native sons of Hell hearing forbidden truths from a young ghost.
The Blue Lotus had long been a sacred taboo. The old ones who knew of it never let slip a word. Whether they are afraid that someone will abuse its powers or they are afraid of the lotus itself, no one could say.
"It is the will of Hell." Yutao continues. "The mortals have a term for their realm, 'Mother Earth'. A way to personify their planet. Similarly, the blue lotus is an actual personification of this hell. In other hells, the form may change, but the core energy is always the same."
He watches Ren Jiang absorb this, his fingers tightening around his cup.
Ren Jiang finally speaks. "And Zhang Xiyu found it in the Kaigan Pit?"
"Yes." Yutao says, a thin smile curling his lips.
He generously adds. "The Blue Lotus blessed him with authority. He was the first to find her after eons. Most of his power stems from that."
"Huh. So, he is a puppet to its power?"
"Not quite. It's more like the lotus is subservient to him." Yutao replies. "After all she does not hold any ambitions of her own."
That gets Ren Jiang's attention. His grin flickers like a match. He leans forward, eyes bright with hunger. "The Blue Lotus. Tell me how do I get it?"
Yutao matches his intensity for a moment—then lets it sink into grim contemplation. "You cannot reach him before annihilating those beasts he has unleashed from the Kaigan Pit. They recognize him as their master."
He sips his liquor-laced tea, continuing. "Worse, he has masterfully scattered them across Hell. If you do not kill them all at once, the others will be alerted, even the military."
Ren Jiang leans back, drunk with excitement. His life has felt like hot dogshit lately. But now, there is a scent of something sharp in the air. Whatever Liu Xue is brewing, he doesn't have Yutao.
The throne doesn't feel distant anymore, finally within reach.
Yutao watches him quietly, then says. "I can lead your men to the covert locations."
Ren Jiang mulls it over. "I can give you twenty thousand."
Yutao doesn't even blink. "That's not enough. They will all die."
Ren Jiang raises an eyebrow. "Then how many do you need?"
"Fifty-thousand."
Ren Jiang's eyes widen. That is nearly eighty percent of his forces. It is a gamble on one ghost's plan. He turns to Hao Enlai, expecting resistance. But Hao Enlai doesn't even flinch. He simply nods, as if the numbers are within his fair expectations. After all, he had witnessed the last battle. He knew, Zhang Xiyu's power might be borrowed, but it sure as fuck wasn't hollow.
Back then, when Zhang Xiyu returned from the Kaigan Pit, no one wanted him there. A wronged ghost with inexplicable powers and no allegiance. They all thought he was long dead. So, when he seized multiple villages and an entire fortress, the princes moved quickly to crush him. The ministers call it The Battle of the Last Fortress. But everyone who was there knows: it wasn't a battle. It was a one-sided massacre. Zhang Xiyu had done the impossible. He summoned monsters that could terrify even the greatest demons walking above the ground.
They say they let him stay. Truth is that they did not have a choice.
Ren Jiang's doubts dissolved under Hao Enlai's quiet certainty. He turns to Yutao who is patiently waiting for his answer.
That's when someone knocks—then enters without waiting.
All eyes turned to the slender figure standing in the doorway. "Aika"
Ren Jiang walks over to her and pulls her into his embrace while she stiffly reciprocates. The guards behind her held the chains binding her. "You are back." he whispers, kissing her forehead. Aika forces a smile, eyes flicking to the other two men in the room. Her gaze lingers on Yutao just a second too long before returning to her husband.
Ren Jiang's gaze turns cold as it falls on the guards. Wordlessly, they unlock her cuffs. The senior officer bowed and spoke crisply:
"Princess Aika is under mandated house arrest for one hundred ninety-nine years and eleven months. By court order, this residence will be jointly secured by your guards and ours. The prisoner is not permitted to leave the premises without special authorization."
Seeing as the prince has no objections, he concludes. "Well then, my team will start working on it."
Working on making your house, a jail.
With those unsaid words, the senior officer leaves with Aika, accompanied by a house servant who guides him through the estate.
The door closes as he turns to the silent room. Ren Jiang walks back to the sofa, picks up his glass, and takes a slow swig of liquor. "Let's do it." He sets the cup down with a quiet thud.
"How much time do we need?"
Yutao doesn't bother hiding his eagerness. His face lights up.
"The enemy is scattered all over hell. I'll divide the army accordingly and set out immediately. It will take seven days to reach the final camp in the northern region—"
"Yutao." Ren Jiang cuts him off, voice flat. "I never said you'd be leading my army."
The colour drains from Yutao's face. He falters, visibly stunned. Ren Jiang offers no comfort. "Give the locations and personnel count for each camp to Hao Enlai." Ren Jiang continues. "You have done enough for your first task. Get some rest."
He turns toward Hao Enlai. "You and Su Bao. You have ten days to execute this."
Hao Enlai nods with sincerity. The contrast to Yutao's sullen face is stark. Ren Jiang looks back at Yutao. "Your work here is done. Get me that list. Today."
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"You are here."
Zhang Xiyu states as he descends the stairs, boots echoing on the stone, and approaches Renhu. Encircling him are six demons, each more grotesque than the last. Their horns jagged, skin ranging in shades of red, a deliberate mimicry of ordinary demons. But no amount of cosmetic effort could hide the slight stiffness in their movements—an endearing flaw found only in Rolangs.
Zhang Xiyu casually stands nearby while Renhu continues speaking to the group. "You should be confident in handling numbers like this."
"Yes, sir." they reply in unison.
The Rolang on the far right adds, "Lord Zhang requested we experiment with the skins. It's been a major success. The others have trained well on the local demons."
"How fast can they change now?" Zhang Xiyu asks.
"It depends on the host body. Average assimilation time is about five hours."
Renhu nods, issues a few final instructions, and dismisses them. Once the room clears, he turns to Zhang Xiyu, expression cautious.
"What's the purpose of this training? I mean—I am not complaining. The army's not bitching about hunger anymore. They are well-fed."
Zhang Xiyu settles onto the nearest sofa, crossing his long legs, the metal of his military-grade boots catching the light with a cold glint.
"It is a tactic I have been meaning to test. If all goes well, I will soon get to use it in battle."
Renhu's face darkens. "You think the tip is credible? Are we starting the battle?"
Zhang Xiyu lightly chuckles. "I do not plan on starting the battle."
He rises, gestures for Renhu to walk with him to the door. "I will be at the Shanyang camp for a few days. If anything happens, stay here and guard the fortress."
He suddenly stops in his tracks and turns to Renhu. "Have you heard anything from Yutao?" His expression a mixture of expectation and worry.
A flicker of hesitation crosses Renhu's face. "I—"
"I haven't."
Zhang Xiyu slowly nods.
"Never mind. Let me know if you hear something." Zhang Xiyu climbs into his carriage and shuts the door on Renhu's conflicted expression. Renhu sighs as he watches the carriage disappear down the long road, dust rising behind it.
But just as he's about to turn back inside, he hears another set of hooves. The stable manager is hitching monstrous horses to a second carriage. The driver cracks the whip and the carriage pulls away, leaving another dusty trail.
"Wait." Renhu stops the stable manager. "Who ordered that carriage?"
The man replies. "The General did."
Renhu's expression hardens as he watches the second carriage vanish into the distance. After a moment of brooding, he makes up his mind.
"Get me a ghost horse. Now."
He decides to follow it.
------------------------------------------------------------
It has been ten days since the start of her house arrest. Usually, the house would be lively either by the presence of Ren Jiang and his 'friends' or by the fresh gifts given by the demons guarding the gates to hell. Those pretty little souls would quiver in the waiting hall until she summoned them to her bed. Their screams would shatter the oppressive silence of the mansion, wavering between guttural ecstasy and raw, unbearable pain. She would drain them dry, their flickering lives ebbing away beneath her cold palms.
And now it is all over. She cannot enjoy herself at home nor can she go outside to have fun. Not even Hōetsu. That sanctuary of joy is demolished because of his brother. Him and his brother.
She sat on the floor, barefoot and bleary, a bottle of wine dangling from one hand, gazing into the gentle pulse of blue light. Within the small glass case, a single fragment floated, glowing like a wounded star.
Some maid had woken her earlier with a whisper. "Tonight."
When Aika had finally sobered enough to look for her, the girl had vanished as if she had never existed. But Aika understood the message, and who had sent it. Tonight.
But Ren Jiang was still lurking around the house. How can she move if he stays? She was deep in thought when the commotion began.
Ren Jiang was shouting at a messenger from the court.
"Jin Niu, that asshole. Of all days…" He snarls, hastily tying his robes. He caught sight of Aika leaning in the doorway, eyes bleary, lips curled in a sour smile. He snaps. "Woman, I am heading to the Fifth Court and a few other places. I will be gone a few days. Behave yourself."
Aika's lips curl into a sneer. She slurs out. "Take as long as you fucking can." Ren Jiang merely scoffs at her and turns to leave. Aika yells at his retreating figure. "Never show me your face again!"
As Ren Jiang does not have the time for domestic violence today, he leaves her jaw intact. He climbs into the carriage and kicks the side, spurring the driver forward.
Almost an hour later, the carriage rolls to a halt in front of the Fifth court Ren Jiang kicks open the door without waiting for the escort to finish their polite pleasantries, brushing past them as he stormed toward Jin Niu's office.
"Jin Niu." he growls, throwing the door open without knocking.
"Come in." Jin Niu says dryly. The wooden chair scrapes harshly against the floor as Ren Jiang drops into it, heavy and agitated.
Under his irritated gaze, Jin Niu remains perfectly calm, offering another dry remark. "By all means, make yourself comfortable."
A sarcastic smile twitches at the corner of Ren Jiang's mouth, but he does not rise to the bait. "Why am I here?"
Jin Niu raised his brows, mock surprise spreading across his face. "You don't know? You have no idea why you're here?"
Ren Jiang grits his teeth in an attempt to control himself. This guy… he knows something. It is no coincidence that he is summoned on the day he plans to attack Zhang Xiyu.
So, he changes the question. "What do you know?"
Jin Niu casually brushes aside a pile of messy paperwork, revealing nothing but a coy grin. "Hmm. For starters, I know about your very large group of friends. "
Ren Jiang's face turns pale. It reminded Jin Niu of Liu Xue. He had worn that exact expression not too long ago. "And these friends…" Jin Niu continues "…seem to be crawling all over the realm."
"Looks like the lot of you are planning an outing. The violent sort."
"Am I making sense, first prince?" A meaningful smile tugs at Jin Niu's face, only Ren Jiang's face hardens. "How long have you known about this?"
"About your militants? Or the plan to kill Zhang Xiyu?" Jin Niu shrugs, casual. "Don't look so sour. I will answer both. I have known about your militants for decades. The assassination plot? A few hours ago."
"I am on very friendly terms with some of your soldiers."
Ren Jiang lets out a contemptuous scoff. "This is absurd. You think you can stop me?"
Jin Niu raises a brow, momentarily speechless at his reaction. Given his single mindedness, he should fall into some emotional turmoil. Instead, he focuses on why Jin Niu brought it up now. Ren Jiang smirks at his blank face. "You thought you could threaten me into backing down? That I would quiver and beg you to keep this from my father?"
His eyes burn red at the edges, fury barely contained. "You cannot stop this, Teacher Jin. This is beyond you now."
Ren Jiang is like a ticking grenade now, which will explode any moment. While this reaction was within his expectations, Jin Niu pulls caution in his words. "Ren Jiang, you are still in the dregs of your last scandal. This time you will not be able to pin it on your wife."
"Spare me the sermon." Ren Jiang raises a hand, cutting him off. "I have got plenty of scapegoats left, and I will not stop you from being one of them."
This hard-headed bull, Jin Niu thinks grimly. There is no point in using soft words.
Jin Niu comes out with it. "You are after the Blue Lotus."
"It is not what you think it is. It is not a magic shortcut to- "
"I feel lucky today." Ren Jiang interrupts him. His smile sharpens with venom. His eyes curve but no light reaches it.
He stands, pushing his chair back with a screech, and walks to the door. "Think about your future carefully, Teacher Jin." He turns and storms out, slamming the door with a bang that echoes through the court like a gunshot.
Jin Niu stares at it for a long moment, a little stunned at the abrupt end of their conversation. Slowly, he reels back and reaches for the files he was working on.
Well, hope I stalled him long enough.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Another hour passes before the First Prince returns to his villa. He storms into his study, where a group of demons have been waiting. These demons are his best fighters. Among them stands Su Bao, the second commander, and Hu Cheng, his face still faintly baring the tiger-claw scars left by Vyagramukhi.
The door slams shut on their critical discussion. Not long after, the door swings open again. Ren Jiang emerges, the rest flanking him with grim, focused energy. One by one, they mount their horses, each of them itching to get away from these prison guards that patrol this estate. All of them carry a criminal record and repulsive memories of their time in jail. With the weight of their mission bearing down on their backs, and instinct screaming to stay clear of the guards, no one bothers to look behind.
Which is why no one notices that the woman those guards were confining is no longer in her cage.
A few hundred meters away, perched atop a slanted rooftop, Renhu watches.
His eyes follow the woman as she darts across the courtyard and slips into the dark carriage ordered by Yutao. The door shuts just as the driver flicks the reins.
Renhu doesn't hesitate. He steps off the edge, landing soundlessly on the ground below.
Waiting for him is his ghost horse. Its translucent hide shimmering like heat on stone, muscles barely visible beneath a veil of mist. Chosen precisely for its silence, the creature does not make a sound as Renhu swings into the saddle. With a light nudge, the horse bursts into soundless motion just like his thoughts.
Why is Yutao helping Aika break her house arrest?