My stomach feels terrible. I feel like these meds aren't really working...but anyways, sorry for the lack of releases, still embroiled in revising Project Far Shore which has passed the 95k word mark. Looking forward to seeing you guys at the finish line! Thanks for reading and don't forget to vote and comment below!

"You are...a King of the Hells? And yet you wish to pledge yourself to a human junior?" Lineir was dumbstruck, even though he understood each of the demon's words, their true intent escaped him. Is this a trick? But why would he bother? He is so much more powerful than me and knows so many of my secrets. The only thing he doesn't seem to have puzzled out yet is the Midnight Pagoda. Would he still say such things if he knew my true purpose for being down here?

"Kid...I know you have a reason for coming down here at such an auspicious time." Jian Baraaz said what was on Lineir's mind so smoothly that he almost felt like his mind was being read by the older demon. "And I know you do not trust me yet. That is to be expected. But know this. When the time comes...I will stand with you. That is all. Now..." The demon paused. Then he made a curious face. "It would seem...that you have a visitor kid. How did you become so famous already as to attract a premier genius. Shouldn't you have been trying to keep a low profile?" He chuckled as the door behind him opened.

"Old man! I went out to retrieve your grandchildren before the other clans could get to them. But I met the most interesting rogue cultivator. And who's this...YOU!" Cang Shuifeng strode in the door in maroon robes, his every step containing a certain cadence. Though he only took three steps to enter the small room, those three steps seemed to have a certain eloquence which bespoke someone who had spent too long practicing the sword. This was the unique aura that only a genius possessed.

"You two kids know each other?" Jian Baraaz stretched his features into a warm smile as he flicked his fingers. "Well young boys should go out and play. Go on, get outside!" Instantly both Lineir and Cang Shuifeng felt a strong fiery wind appear out of nowhere. It blew them both outside. In the courtyard, under the strange false sky enchantment which made the estate appear to be merely any other nobleman's estate, Muareen and Aileen were waiting. When Aileen saw Cang Shuifeng, she glared at him.

"You have the nerve to show up at our estate after trying to claim the bounty!" She yelled and stepped forward readying her weapons when Muareen stepped forward.

"Shush sis. The ancestors tasked me with getting you back. I invited Cang Shuifeng to help find you!" She said and Aileen stopped dead in her tracks.

"What? So you were trying to bring us back to the clan?" Aileen, unable to handle this turn of events, felt herself becoming lightheaded. "No wonder you came...you wouldn't be attracted to the level of bounty on our head but if big sis Muareen asked..."

"Yea...Muareen asked me for a favor. Of course I couldn't say no. But when you juniors misunderstood my intentions, I saw that you had this rogue cultivator on your side and I knew you would be fine. Lineir was it? Thank you for escorting these idiots home." Cang Shuifeng turned to Lineir with a weird look on his face. One of his eyebrows was twitching and Lineir could tell that they were having the same thought. This is really awkward!

"Anytime...but the other two didn't make it...." Lineir said with a similar weird look on his face as his eyebrow twitched. Yea...because I killed them. Cang Shuifeng's eyebrow raised and twitched slightly. He seemed to guess that something was up. He sent Lineir a mental transmission.

"Something happened right? Follow my lead, let's talk over there. I have some questions for you." 

"Fine with me."  Lineir replied and the older genius came up with a quick excuse.

"Well you two, the last time Lineir and I exchanged pointers, I actually picked up some insights from his style. If you don't mind why I don't I go for a stroll with him? Come on, let's get some air." Cang Shuifeng came over and wrapped his arm around Lineir's shoulder and something of the awkward nature of the situation made the two girls want to shake their heads. Are these two really going to talk about cultivation now? 

"Right...right..." Lineir muttered oddly as they wandered off. What in the Hells just happened?

*****************************

"So...." Lineir was walking side by side with Cang Shuifeng past a beautiful koi pond. The multicolored stripes on the fish scales flashed beautifully with fiery patterns. There were mortal breeders in the mortal world which spent their entire lives trying to get a single special pattern onto a fish and yet, here in the Hells, a beautiful koi pond was flourishing with hundreds of fish that would make mortals weep.

"So...I don't care what happened to those other two idiots. Muareen only asked me with bringing home Aileen and you brought her home." Cang Shuifeng awkwardly said. Lineir cocked his head. Then what are you going to ask me? Don't tell me you actually want to talk about cultivation? Your realm is higher than mine you know!

"I see. What did you want to talk about then?" Lineir said while trying to act like this whole chain of events was normal. Inside he was still thinking about what Jian Baraaz had told him. I have a demon King as one of my vassals? Doesn't that technically make me super strong? I mean I have the Solar Martial God with me but that's a trump card and he has his own agenda. But this demon...if he's serious about serving me...then I've struck gold!

Lineir...you cannot trust a demon you know... The dissapproving voice of Yu came in Lineir's head. He had been uncharacteristically silent for a long time, ever since Lineir had failed to act on his orders to kill Aileen. Watch out, this Cang Shuifeng may have some ulterior motive as well.

"So fellow Daiost. The true reason I have called you here today is....I need your help!"