Strategic Preparations

The training progresses better than Lì had predicted. Despite an initial adjustment period during which both Rei and Kahn didn't seem overly thrilled, especially him on the verge of nausea. Yet, they both showcased their abilities, standing out in the earthy field among the minor demons, who follow them with enchanted eyes until their own moment of sparring.

The leader watches the training with little fanfare, rarely stepping in to correct the subordinates' posture. Yet, every time Kahn steps forward, he naturally assumes the role of teacher. The fubai observes him with an ironic smile, amused as he wields the spear. It's all another show, that weapon seems made for Kahn. His muscular arms handle its weight with ease, delivering a wide array of powerful attacks that leave the demon visibly impressed.

Amidst the occasional injuries, Kahn's laughter echoes across the field until his amber eyes suddenly widen at the sight of an approaching pink silhouette. A determined smile spreads across his face as he launches into a flurry of deadly movements, drawing curious glances and admiration from those around him.

Meanwhile, Wu's gaze is fixed elsewhere. Her green eyes narrow as she locks onto Rei, catching A-Yin's attention. He clicks his tongue in annoyance and walks away from the field, with the purple-haired demon following close behind. Together, they head toward one of the closed rooms near the training grounds.

"Do you have something to say?"

Wu crosses her arms, avoiding direct eye contact. A-Yin, unfazed, places his hands on her shoulders and gently shakes her to get her attention. "What's bothering you?" he asks.

"I don't like this situation," she replies.

"Be more specific."

Her body relaxes slightly in his grip, which softens with a hint of condescension. In a calm but firm tone, the leader says, "This isn't any different from before. New people come, and it always takes them time to adjust. You're the one who told me that."

"I feel like she's dangerous. I don't trust her."

A-Yin shrugs. "Neither do I. That's why we're keeping an eye on her, right?"

Wu sighs, reluctantly agreeing, though still unconvinced.

"Well, go back to what you were doing and try not to worry too much." He kisses her forehead and ruffles her hair gently. "Trust me."

The purple-haired demon smiles shyly and leaves him to his thoughts.

A-Yin stands in silence, his dark metal scales emitting a faint click as his nails scratch his chin. I don't understand. Something's blocking me, he muses. He can sense that something is off, but can't quite pinpoint it. Is Rei truly dangerous? It might just be Wu's unease, but he feels a vague sense of restlessness too. Nothing alarming, yet unsettling.

Turning toward the open door, A-Yin's icy gaze drifts to the window, where his reflection stares back at him. An amused smile spreads across his tanned face as he strides toward the glass. It's been a long time since he's felt this kind of doubt. Raji would have known exactly what to say in a situation like this. He places his hands on the window frame, aligning them with his reflected shoulders.

"You wonder why I let her roam the shelter as if nothing's happened?" he mutters, his smile widening beneath his black scales. Rei is a descendant of heroes, he reminds himself, understanding Wu's concerns. He shrugs and says, "It's because she holds a secret—one too intriguing to get rid of so easily."

As if his reflex responds to him, he says, "In the last 800 years, I've never felt this kind of curiosity about anyone. It's perfectly normal."

Shaking his head, he reaches inside his pocket for a cigar. "Yet, I'm delaying my own goal for... what?"

His reflection meets his gaze as he lights the cigar and takes a slow, aromatic breath. "A pretty face and a rockin' body, sure" he mutters. "But I know there's more."

A-Yin nods thoughtfully to himself. "I should somehow convince her to be marked with my own blood, like the others, so that I can control her more easily."

Wu's words didn't tell him anything he didn't already know or think for himself. But they had given him the nudge he needed. "Her rasuah is strange. I need more time to understand it."

After a short pause, he goes out, smoking with a calm grin on his lips. Yeah, that's what confuses me. Rei is just a mystery I want to unravel. 

With slow, deliberate steps, he returns to the training ground, his icy blue eyes once again locking onto Rei's graceful figure. There are many heirs to reclaim before the gates of Diyu can be opened, and she will be the last. The fubai effortlessly dodges an attack aimed at her head, swiftly countering with a well-placed kick to the stomach that sends her opponent crashing to the ground. She laughs lightly before helping him back to his feet.

That is, if she doesn't pull some strange joke first. Otherwise, I won't bother playing games for long.

The morning swiftly slipped away. In the afternoon, Lì had tasks to attend to, and Rei accompanied him to the department store located behind the secondary pavilions, housing the majority of equipment and food supplies. Another smaller store is situated a few feet from the refuge's tavern, positioned in the initial outer circle of houses, with an additional room in the central pavilion.

"Did I do something wrong?"

The red demon looks at her, confused, as he lifts a box full of empty mugs, answering, "I don't think I understand what you're referring to."

Whenever Rei trains, at communal lunches, or simply around the shelter, she often feels hostile eyes following her at every step. The fubai grimaces and says, "The purple-haired chick spends her days staring at me like I'm the most annoying thing in the world."

He smiles at the nickname, setting aside the clutter that lands on a high shelf. Scratching his head, the demon looks at her, unsure of what to say. After a moment of hesitation, he silently descends the small wooden staircase, letting her continue.

"She really gets on my nerves. Damn it! If you've got something to say, come talk to me! But no, all she does is give me dirty looks."

"I don't think you did anything to her."

An ironic chuckle amazes him as she says, "I was kidding. I know I didn't do a thing."

Lì shakes his head and comments, "Even if the first thing you have done as you just got here was hurting some of ours. This doesn't earn you friendship points."

Rei snorts and carelessly hands him another box. "I already told A-Yin they attacked me first. Even with demons, if someone holds a knife to my throat, I'll make sure to return the favor."

As she passes him the package, Lì staggers under its weight—this one filled with jars of vegetables preserved in salt. A clumsy chuckle escapes him as he straightens up. "I get it, but not everyone took it so well."

"Fine!" she sighs. "I'll try not to stir up more trouble like that." Then, with a curious glance, she asks, "Do you always handle all of this? Shouldn't someone else be doing it?"

Behind a few oil cans, six shelves away, a dark silhouette nods at her question and thinks, that's right, shouldn't someone else take care of it, huh, Lì? 

A-Yin's icy blue eyes gleam with amusement as he watches the scene unfold, unnoticed by the pair. It's not all that unusual, really. The leader often wanders through the shelter, quietly observing others absorbed in their work or enjoying peaceful moments. But the red demon is typically busy with paperwork and managing the many activities across the living areas. After all, A-Yin himself had appointed the boy as the best right-hand demon here. Still, this isn't the kind of task he usually handles. What are you doing here?

After a few seconds, Lì answers, "It may seem strange, but with all these extra people, we are short of personnel who know where to get their hands on without doing any damage, and the quantities of basic necessities have increased dramatically."

A smile pops up on A-Yin's lips. as he thinks, liar, it's no use to you doing it. All you had to do was give them a quick tour, and then they could see for themselves.

"I understand." replies the fubai. "You're always so busy. It must be exhausting. Why don't you ask A-Yin to pin some subordinates so you can delegate things like this to them?"

Answer her. Let's hear it.

Lì smiles and shakes his head. "No need, really. I can do it. I'm used to it." After a moment of silence, he adds, "And now you're here."

The comment makes her laugh, as well as the leader. Funny, I didn't expect it. 

His movements, the way he talks and looks at her. Does he have a little crush? He crosses his arms over his chest, remaining silently hidden in the shadows. The order to monitor Rei came from him, so this is something he had to consider. After all, she is gorgeous, lovely, and ironic, as well as an outstanding fighter and a strong and captivating figure. It's not strange that Lì likes her. Instead, what baffles him is the behavior of the fubai towards Lì, utterly different from the one she has with him.

Rei is attentive to what the red one says and responds; she looks after his opinion and looks comfortable in his presence. Despite her time at the shelter and A-Yin's attempts to get her closer, she never unbuttoned much. He has to admit that Lì used a more direct, even awkward, approach between them. He has the task of monitoring her, but the leader knows her well enough to know that the middle demon would never be able to do it stealthily. The strategy of putting him on the spot and catching her attention so that he can observe her personally from the shadows is working. All too well.

Usually, women go more after the mysterious and charismatic types, yet she prefers the little virgin. The thought makes him laugh as much as it leaves him stunned. He has a long experience of affairs since he left the Diyu, and is now considered an expert in the art of seducing. Yet she doesn't give a shit. After their first meeting, A-Yin thought he could easily seduce her and get her to reveal her secrets. But, Rei doesn't seem interested, yet occasionally gives him a few fascinating looks, followed by teasing words. Nothing more.

The sight of the two lovebirds giggling and stacking boxes pushes him to come out into the open, not before having skillfully made the rounds to seem to have happened there by chance. Lì notices him a few moments before the leader lowers to the height of Rei's ear and murmurs, "You seem to have fun. Can I help, too?"

She turns around calmly, not surprised by his presence, and replies, "We're almost done. You should have come sooner, and we would have avoided the ladder."

He shrugs and comments, "Unfortunately, I was busy checking that everything was alright in the other areas. There is too little staff with the new group, and maybe I should train more of them. What do you think about it, Lì?"

The red demon lowers his silent gaze under the amused one of the leader.

"Yeah, it would be time. And-" Rei approaches A-Yin's face sniffing his fresh musk smell while an ironic grin adorns her face "-I don't think you tried too hard."

"What a villain you are. You're hurting my feelings," he says with a tone of feigned displeasure, causing Lì to shift subtly as he starts to consider how to make his exit. The leader quickly adds, "Since you're almost done here, you don't mind if I steal her away for a while, do you?"

Lì's golden eyes shift back to A-Yin, and he nods, his voice carefully neutral. "Yes, Sir. No problem."

Rei frowns, appearing slightly hesitant. "Are you sure? I can help you out."

He quickly smiles and shakes his head. "Don't worry, there's just the last shelf to fill. Go ahead."

Rei doesn't respond and follows the leader, her expression tinged with irony."What do you have in store for me?"

"You've been here a couple of weeks now. How are you?" 

She chuckles as they walk towards the central clearing and comments, "You ask me now because..."

"The time has come for a task that may interest you, and I want to understand how you feel about teamwork."

At his words, she becomes attentive and severe. "Who is the target?"

A-Yin laughs, drawing curious glances from a few minor demons nearby, then slips his hands into his pockets and continues walking calmly. "You don't waste time on these things."

"You, on the other hand, lose a lot of it, then who is it?"

He finally looks back at her with sly eyes and replies, "The first of the minor clans, the Lìng Hun."

"Soul."

He nods and adds, "We have finished the most demanding preparations. We have information, maps, and floor plans. Their clan used to have one of the seven Artifacts, Deldrid's tiara, Eye of Singularity, yet it's now in the Zhiliào's hands. We also know that all the blood carriers of the heroes are currently there."

"Until the attack?"

"We leave in a couple of days, at dawn."

She frowns and asks, "It'll take at least a couple of weeks. Isn't it possible that they'll split up in the meantime?"

The leader shakes his head and answers, "The head of the family has just finished his various political assignments in the Grand Alliance and has returned to Firdom with his eldest son. The little one stayed there with the adopted brat. None of them have any other commitments or reasons to leave."

"There are three of them."

He shakes his head. "Four, the boy is from the Xùnfù Zhè family."

"Why did they adopt him? That clan still exists."

"His parents are dead, and Arald Hun has taken him with him. Anyway-" A-Yin scratches his chin with a bored expression and adds, "-I was wondering to what extent I can rely on you."

The fubai raises her eyebrows at his grit and comments, "What does that mean? It's obvious that I'm going on this expedition. Don't you trust me?"

Rei, who has never been here before, silently follows him into the room. It's impeccably organized, with supplies neatly arranged on labeled shelves: spare parts for armor, tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, and everything needed for an expedition. She looks around briefly before replying, "I prefer leather armor. It's more flexible and allows for better movement." Her fingers brush against some fur coverings as she adds, "Though it might get cold. The others might prefer something warmer."

The demon's expression remains blank. He didn't expect her to tell him about her childhood but not even such a silly answer. "Obviously, you didn't answer me." he says, searching for what he needs. He spots a chest of fire stones in the corner, lifts it, and places it on the table. "We need to organize the supplies so that by afternoon, everyone can easily find what they need."

He notices another crate of folded tents nearby and looks up to meet Rei's amused lilac eyes.

"You didn't ask a question," she remarks.

He can't help but smile. It seems that for Rei being indecisive and beating around the bush is inefficient. He's determined to uncover the mystery of her blood, but finding clues without jeopardizing her trust has proven challenging. Deciding to be straightforward, he asks, "Are there any more fubai? I haven't seen one since the Rishi Pit massacre."

"Not that I know of. I ran away with a demon."

Her answer is given with so much nonchalance that it leaves him stunned. That virgin's method really works. The demon chuckles to himself and continues to use the same approach. "And where is he now?"

A shiver runs down her spine as she grips the box tighter. "He's dead." Her tone is flat, and A-Yin is unsure how to respond, so he simply mutters a dry, "Oh."

A nervous chuckle escapes her lips, and she turns to the shelf, searching for something useful. "Don't worry. It's been quite a while, and while I appreciate him for taking care of me, it can't be said that he was very paternal."

The conversation takes a cold and unexpected turn to the point that the demon doesn't know what to answer and Rei regrets talking. Her lilac eyes rest stare at the top shelf, and she stands up on her toes, trying to reach it, then adds quietly, "Of course, he didn't deserve to die like that." A rustle at her side follows her words, making her look at him. 

His hand lingers on her back, helping her on her feets. He meets her gaze with a reassuring look and hands her some blankets, asking with a smile, "What was his name?"

It's a trivial question, one he likely doesn't care much about, yet it manages to bring an embarrassed smile to the fubai's face."An Wen, he bought me my first spear."

"An appropriate gift."

He hands her another blanket, and she asks, "What about old Zhou? Is he your father?"

A pleasant feeling of familiarity radiates in his chest. Although the demon has never seen his parents and grew up in the hostility of four siblings, he can claim to have felt the warmth of a fatherly bond. "Kinda." When A-Yin turns to see the fubai's face, he notices that she has now turned around and is busy organizing the blankets into one of the wooden boxes.

"He will come with us on the expedition."

Rei turns around and exclaims, "That old bag? His buttocks will freeze." Her eyes are wide, her white eyebrows raised in an expression of pure bewilderment that makes him laugh. A-Yin grabs a flap of the blanket and helps her fold it while he says, "Don't underestimate him. He's a valuable asset, and his health is perfect."

"I hope so for his sake," she replies, pointing to the last shelf. "Take those as well."

"It's unnecessary. Snowfall decreases in the summer," he explains.

Rei has lived for quite a while in Shriek Forest, and of one thing, she is certain: the flow of shinat within it has always been unstable, and it would not be unusual to get caught in a storm. "It's an inherent forest of shinat. I wouldn't be so sure."

In a slight know-it-all tone, the demon snorts amusedly and explains to her, "If they carry too much, they'll get tired."

"If it snows, they will freeze."

A-Yin grabs a few fire stones and, pressing his thumb against the engraved rune, activates a warm orange glow from them. With a grin, he tosses them to Rei. "That's why we bring these."

Her eyes rest on the magical object and then on him. The heat released is not enough, as is the surface of contact with the skin. They seem almost useless in the case of a blizzard, but further arguing seems futile to her. She smirks mockingly and says, "As you wish, boss. You decide." She throws the stones at him and adds, "I don't need them anyway."

He catches them on the fly quickly finishing the task of arranging them in the box. Once everything is in place, he signals Rei to go. Just as he's about to step out of the warehouse, he feels a pat on his shoulder, causing him to halt mid-step. He turns to Rei, who says, "I thought I made it clear the other day. If you want to ask me something, just do it. I have a strong feeling you're not used to handling logistics."

A grin grows bigger on his face."Not at all."

Rei snorts in amusement, but her expression quickly turns serious as she locks eyes with him. "I get the distrust, and I'm sure you're not going to share anything about the attack plan," she says, her tone neutral but tinged with challenge. "You don't trust me, and I don't trust you. We can either dive into the unknown and see what happens or remain stuck in this situation indefinitely."

A-Yin folds his arms and listens intently.

"I'm doing this, even though it's clearly to your advantage."

"Is it?"

"I'm alone in a shelter with about three hundred demons."

"Did you count them?" he asks, feigning surprise.

"Obviously."

A-Yin steps closer, lowering his gaze to hers and making her tilt her head back. Her pretty face shows no hesitation or intimidation, only a wry smile that he mirrors. "Something tells me you're not foolish enough to put yourself in a situation with no way out."

His comment makes her giggle, and she gives him a playful pat on the shoulder. "You worry too much for someone who knows me so well."

"You're too bold."

"And your jokes are getting old," she counters as she heads toward the exit. Just before she disappears from view, she adds, "Bring an extra blanket for our trip. You'll need it!"

A-Yin's arms relax by his sides, and he shakes his head slightly, suppressing a chuckle.