Lady Xueyan studied him intently. "Is this so elaborate way to hike up your fee?" she inquired her smile a mix of apprehension and wry humor.
"No?" she added, her voice tinged with concern.
"My beastmaster and I tracked the malevolent aura of the demon responsible for Lady Xingchen's death," he explained.
She gestured for him to take a seat on a cushion, and he noticed a cup of wine on the side table. He took a sip, and as soon as the cup touched his lips, he found himself gulping down the sharp liquid. Setting the cup back on the table a bit too forcefully, the sound caught Lady Xueyan's attention.
"Is it that serious?" she asked.
"We first discovered the body of a man. He was dressed like a cultivator—a demonic cultivator," he paused for a breath. "You're familiar with these special types of Demonic cultivators, aren't you?"
Her gaze seed to drift into the past. "Yes," she said softly. "My lover lost his life fighting them. Ah, the things we do for love. My lover. Lovers."
Wuyi sighed, "Lovers..." and she claims she is ascetic.
She smiled faintly. "I know what you are thinking. But my past secrets hold no weight here. I'm aware of the Demonic cultivators faction in this region; they call themselves the Demon Talons. They are the hidden agents of so demonic sects. I don't know which sect they belong to, but the previous king had employed a large number of warriors and soldiers to eliminate them."
She looked back at him. "You found one, or at least you've shown a cursed bane arrow."
"Deceased. It appeared he was slain recently, likely by one of his own kind," Wuyi said, pouring himself another cup of wine.
"I'd guess he t his end a few hours after Sister Xingchen did. Killed by another demonic cultivator, for reasons unknown." He sat back down, a bit abruptly. She observed him closely.
"We then discovered the creature," he continued, locking eyes with her. "A malevolent being, like a demon's offspring. You're familiar with such entities?"
"Anyone from my generation knows what they are," she said, briefly covering her eyes with her hand. "True demonics. They co in various forms."
He exhaled deeply. "I had thought their descriptions were exaggerated," he said, glancing out the window. "In any case, there were two of them. It seems likely that the Demon Talons and these demonics are collaborating. If that's true, this isn't a random occurrence. I suspect they're testing your defenses, and this fortress is their target.
It's strategically important, after all. I urge you to let my warriors in, secure the gates, prepare for defense, and stock up on supplies. Call in your people and send a ssage to the king and the sect."
She studied him for a long mont. "If you had plans to seize my fortress yourself..." she began, letting the sentence hang in the air.
"My lady, it would indeed be a clever tactic now that I have seen the army, and I admit it's the kind of thing so factions do. I've fought in other kingdoms where such strategies were employed," he shrugged. "But I was born in this empire. If you have any doubts—and you have every reason to—you can simply look at what my archers are setting up outside the camp gates."
She glanced out the window. "You could claim there's a celestial being outside your camp gates, praising my beauty to your archers, and I wouldn't be able to verify it," she said. "However, I've seen you and sensed the forbidden Qi around you. It explains other things I've noticed. It was a Qihog, if I'm not wrong. I have to say I was quite surprised that you alone took care of it.
When you left, I tried to divine your fate but almost angered the heavens."
"You possess divining skills?" he asked.
"Yes, and you're a challenging subject, as if you have so shield against my abilities," she smiled.
"But I'm experienced, and with age cos wisdom. The Heavens have granted the old and wise the ability to see souls. Yours is quite intriguing, as you're probably aware."
"The Heavens have been generous," he replied sarcastically.
"You may jest and be cynical, but we're in a crisis, and I'm not your spiritual guide," her tone shifted, becoming more serious. "But I could be, if you'd let . You need divine counsel."
She turned away. "You say you are not demonic, but you have ard your soul. Your current armor is made of darkness, and it's unreliable."
"I've heard that before," he said. "But it's served well. Now, tell , who else was at that manor?"
Lady Xueyan shrugged. "Later..." He stared at her.
"Who else was there?" She shook her head. "Not now. We have an imdiate crisis. I won't fail; I'll hold this fortress."
He nodded. "So you'll prepare the fortress for defense?"
"Imdiately," she confird, ringing a hand bell.
An Elder appeared at once. "Summon the main gatekeeper and the Chief Warrior. Also, sound the alarm," Lady Xueyan commanded.
She moved to her fireplace mantel and opened a small ivory box, intricately carved with the lotus symbol of the Lotus Blossom sect, of which the Lotus Blossom Pavilion was a part.
Inside the box was a piece of milky-white birch bark. "Are you certain about this?"
she asked in a hushed tone.
"I am," he replied.
"I need to be as sure as you are. Have you seen the army with your own eyes?" she said. He leaned back.
"I couldn't fabricate this. You ntioned sensing the Dark Qi, so you must have sensed the Qi of the demonic. There were footprints of an army…"
"I believe you've encountered and vanquished another creature. It's plausible you found a deceased mber of the Demonic Talons," she shrugged. "It's also possible I have a betrayer within these walls. But once I initiate this call for assistance, the elders of the Lotus Sect will send a full force of warriors. They'll likely insist the king mobilize an army.
They did not take my request seriously, as they believed I wanted the wilds cleaned of demonics. A demonic army at the gates is a whole different thing. You need to find out if this army really exists or if they are just footprints."
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