Dong ZhenKang felt the drain on his core and mana of the tree again. More than he expected every time. No matter what he thought, or the measure he created in his mind for this situation. It would always not be enough.

They're back.

He let out a long sigh. The fear had been that the Hu Ancestor had felt the impending doom that was the Dark Palace Gate coming. Quickly gathered his things and made a hasty escape. Leaving Dong ZhenKang alone in this bandit town with the soon to be ire of a Pinnacle Immortal. An Elder coming for blood.

Dong ZhenKang knew he would not be able to sate the old Demonic Cultivator with the death of the majority of his town. Not even his elites would be a large enough morsel. Only someone at his level. A game of cat and mouse they would play until the old monster grew tired and ended him moments later.

Thoughts of having dignity and refusing to participate crossed his mind, but he was quick to dismiss them. His tainted Dao would not allow him this.

He would struggle. Fight for every possibility and infinitesimal chance to survive. Refuse to die.

Even if he had to use the Hu Ancestor as his shield.

The barrier closed back up. The Hu girls and their ancestor had fully returned to the town from their hiatus. Gone for nearly a month. The drain on his mana occurred and it kept going. Draining him until he was weak. Every time the Ancestor crossed, his superior spiritual item hit his reserves harder.

"Are you sure it's a Spiritual Item?" Wu Xui said. She was sitting in front of a mirror. Brushing long dark silver hair, a stark contrast to her pale white face.

Dong ZhenKang nodded as he leaned heavily on his throne seat. Body shaking and core slowly recovering.

The gathering hall had been cleaned up and fixed properly. Wu Xui had made it her home. At least until she had a shot at the Hu girls or even a shot at the ancestor themself. She had done a number to keep it clean. Prim and proper.

Quite frankly, he was embarrassed. The suffering he inflicted on the men responsible for keeping this place tidy and clean, including the damnable squeaking gate maintenance keeper, had been a tale for centuries. He hadn't gone that far down his demonic taint in decades. It was good to finally have some release after being repressed by the mere existence of an old monster.

So many of them and they all seem to find their way here! How unlucky can a single man be?!

Wu Xui stopped brushing her hair for a second. Turning to look at him. "Are you sure the Sentinel Demonic Spirit Tree won't just feast upon them? I couldn't risk fighting it openly. The damage alone would have made me your enemy."

"It's been with them for longer than they've been here. Jun planted it the first day." Dong ZhenKang stood up on shaky legs. Hiding any sign of his weakness from his current guest. He had a persona to keep. One he would not compromise for any reason at all.

It had saved him enough times already.

Wu Xui giggled. Quickly turning on her seat and began to brush her hair. Hiding her mirth filled face.

"What? What is it?" Dong ZhenKang knew he had nothing on his face. Wore perfect robes and clothes becoming of a cultivator of his rank. Nothing was askew. Hair tidied through Qi manipulations. What could she be giggling about—

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Did she notice my weakness? Do I need to kill her before she kills me? Then again, she isn't interested in being stationary. Or at least that is what she claims.

"Nothing much. Just funny how much you seem to mention the elder Hu girl. Her name keeps coming up. As though you know her personally and are quite familiar with her. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with lording your position over your juniors." Wu Xui giggled again.

Dong ZhenKang felt heat rise to his head.

He wasn't sure why he was reacting this way. He hadn't felt embarrassed about anything in ages ever since he killed all his friends with his own hands. Not even when Jun is mentioned. But not for Wu Xui. She was different. Made him react in strange ways.

"That's not…" He stopped himself.

I am not about to defend myself. Let her believe whatever she wants to believe. Not that she's wrong. Jun will be mine. Soon enough. Soon enough.

But he still needed to change the subject.

"What do you plan to do? The Dark Palace Gate is coming and not long now. They might even be outside the town within a few days now." Dong ZhenKang said, letting out a mental sigh when it worked on Wu Xui.

"I can't run. That ship has sailed the moment I arrived without knowing any better. Cai Xuefang. Eighth elder of the Dark Palace Gate. No escaping him. Better chance just sitting still and acting like I don't exist. He'll do the same. Neither one of us is worth the time it takes to kill."

Dong ZhenKang frowned. She was far too comfortable with the whole situation. Then again, she didn't have the whole having a righteous foundation thing to deal with.

"What of Shao Yating? Won't he think himself strong enough to challenge us?"

Wu Xui laughed. "Shao Yating? No. He's a typical male demonic cultivator. Pick on the weak. Dodge anyone close enough to be your equal. Only thing I respect about those righteous dogs. Them and the blade demons."

Dong ZhenKang felt the creases on his forehead grow in number just listening to how unaffected by it all she was. As though none of it concerned her. Maybe that was true. But it did concern him and his territory. He could see why she made her intention to not gun for his seat clear so quickly. She simply had no interest in politics, planning, and plotting.

Choosing to hide and wait dangers out before escaping the situation entirely.

He hated the very idea of it. Being so out of control and letting the wind carry you. No. He needed to plot and plan. Make his own decisions and dictate in which direction the currents would go. Build dams and divert rivers. Manipulate people and things to get what he wanted.

It was how he got here. How he accomplished all he had done. There was no chance he would leave his life and existence up to a whimsical fancy of an elder he could not fight back. At least with a righteous cultivator, he could rely on the concept of restraint. The Hu ancestor would not kill him for breathing wrong. Shifting irritatingly. Coughing at the wrong time.

Already he could see how he would force them to collide before Cai Xuefang got to him. Let them kill each other while he escaped with Wu Xui. She seemed amicable to a long term relationship between them. As much as two Demonic Cultivators could have at least. Which wasn't much.

But it was not unheard of at least.

"I can see it in your eyes." Wu Xui said, looking at him from the mirror reflection. "You're plotting something. It won't work."

"Why wouldn't it work? If my plans had not been perfect so far, I'd be dead."

"Kang-Kang. You forget a very important fact."

Dong ZhenKang hid his smile at the term of endearment. Very reminiscent of a certain buxom village widow he clearly remembered. "And what might that be, Dearest Xui?"

"Power trumps all," she pulled her hair tight, wrapping it into a bun. "It's the rule of all cultivators. Righteous, neutral, or demonic. Might makes right. Strength stands tall. And all the metaphors and sayings you can come up with. Each one with the same thought. Plots and plans only take you so far before the gap in cultivation simply becomes too gaping to cross."

"And I have both. The power to enact the plots and plans." Dong ZhenKang said.

There would be no convincing him.

He turned and exited the door. Right out the building and planning to figure out his next plan and how he was going to do it. It would not be easy, but it would happen. Regardless whether ancient beings were there or not.

Dong ZhenKang would make it out alive. By hook or crook. He would make sure of it even if it meant sacrificing every single person in the town to do it.

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