As Hui stood there, watching the resentment demons, one of them suddenly rolled back. It paused, turning up to face the sky.

Confused, Hui turned. Nothing. He blinked, then turned his attention to his third eye.

The instant he opened his eye, a bright light flashed in Hui’s vision. He flinched back, covering all three eyes. Seconds later, a blurry black form took shape before him, slowly congealing into a slightly bloated version of Si Wang. Si Wang turned to face him, lifting his hand and opening his mouth.

“Ah! Senior. Good afternoon,” Hui said cordially, before Si Wang could start.

Si Wang flinched. “Good afternoon.”

Excellent! I preempted his attack with pleasantries. He is a madman, after all. As long as I maintain control of the conversation, I should be able to keep him from attacking me. “Elder Brother, what brings you here?”

Si Wang shifted awkwardly. He looked at Hui, glanced away, then cleared his throat. “I… the demons.”

“Oh! Do you still have the little one? I’m going to use them to keep Eight Tiers Palace from coming after my children,” Hui said conversationally.

“You… what?” Si Wang said.

Hui nodded. “The Eight Tiers Palace is threatening my family. Shouldn’t I protect them, however I can?”

“That does sound reasonable,” Si Wang murmured to himself, though still skeptical in tone.

Hui nodded. “So, Elder Brother, what do you say?”

Si Wang reached over his shoulder. The resentment demon appeared as he reached for it, the death qi he used to cloak himself covering the net and demon as well. He half-pulled out the demon before he stopped. “I hit you last time.”

“Yes,” Hui agreed.

“Why?” Si Wang asked.

Hui waved his hand, scrunching his nose up. “Oh, some reason, some reason. I’m sure it was nothing important, and we can all put it behind ourselves as we work together to overthrow Zhu Diyu.”

“To—” Si Wang’s eyes widened.

Tilting his head innocently, Hui put a hand to his cheek. “Isn’t that what Senior wants?” I’ll say anything to get out of this situation! Zhu Diyu, if you’re listening, I don’t actually want to overthrow you!

Though, uh… that might be… what Senior wants? The way he’s acting so nonchalant about my rule-breaking…

Hui cleared his throat. Beaming, he nodded at Si Wang. “Right? So Senior and I have a lot in common!”

Si Wang frowned. “Yes…”

“Does Senior not want—”

“I want, obviously I want!” Si Wang interrupted him, scowling.

“Then we’re allies,” Hui said, smiling.

Si Wang furrowed his brows. Somehow, I feel cheated, but I don’t know why.

“So… the demon?” Hui asked, holding his hand out.

Si Wang looked at the demon, then at Hui. “You’re going to use this resentment demon to attack Eight Tiers Palace? Is that all?”

Hui nodded. “What else would I use it for?”

Si Wang waved his hand quickly. “No, no. I was merely wondering.”

Hmm, suspicious. There must be something else I can do. Hui looked at Si Wang for a few moments. Maybe if I say nothing, he’ll mention it.

Clearing his throat, Si Wang held out the net. “Take it.”

Ah, I’m not so lucky. Hui bowed, accepting the demon. Carefully, he unwrapped the net, then shook the demon out. The demon started small, but quickly grew back to its several-meter-diameter size.

The large resentment demon startled. It looked at Hui. “Where…?”

Si Wang startled. “They speak?”

“Ah, yes. Did I not mention? This one does, anyways,” Hui said. Turning to the resentment demon, he bowed. “Senior, I found this child of yours in the possession of this man. Please ask him where it came from.”

The resentment demon turned, navigating itself with its enormous arms. It regarded Si Wang with a cold gaze.

Si Wang narrowed his eyes at Hui. You’re the one who told me to capture this demon, and now you’re blaming it on me? I see your game.

Hui beamed back. “Senior Si Wang, you should be precise and clear with your answer. The resentment demon is kind, but you should always be forthright with it!”

Si Wang’s eyes narrowed even further. At last, he turned to the resentment demon. Unwillingly, he grumbled, “It was an unfortunate circumstance. Your child wasn’t harmed.”

“Ah! He didn’t mention, but Senior, he even saved your child from death!” Hui jumped in, nodding aggressively.

If you’re going to help out, why not say it from the start? Si Wang thought, crossing his arms at Hui and raising his eyebrows.

Hui gave Si Wang an innocent look. Huh? Why is Senior giving me such a suspicious look? I’m innocent, totally innocent. All I did was help!

The little resentment demon scurried toward the big one. It snuggled right up to it, little hands grasping at its large arms. The big resentment demon reached down, offering the little one a hand. The little one’s whole hands barely wrapped around the big one’s fingers. It held on tight, rolling into the hollow of the big one’s palm to hide.

So cute! It reminds me of a toddler holding their parents’ fingers because their hands are too small to hold their hands.

… I really need to stop finding these demons cute. They’re dangerous, Hui, dangerous! Potentially world-destroyingly dangerous!

But they are kind of adorable… in a gross, horrifying sort of way.

He cleared his throat and tucked his hands behind his back. “Si Wang, you hate Zhu Diyu and his neglect of the Heavenly Dao. But the fundamental breakdown comes from the Heavens. Should your frustration, then, not lie with the Heavens?”

Glancing at him, Si Wang shook his head. “I know. But the fact that the Heavens are the cause does not forgive Zhu Diyu’s willing neglect of his duties.”

“It doesn’t forgive his neglect, no, but why not focus on the Heavens instead of Zhu Diyu?” Hui asked, tilting his head.

Si Wang rolled his eyes. “The Heavens are far out of reach. Compared to them, shouldn’t I harass—ahem, attempt to affect the one whom I might be able to effect?”

“I see, I see,” Hui said, nodding. What Si Wang says is reasonable. Better to campaign the local officials, whose bribes you might be able to afford, than attempt to buy the emperor!

I mean—ahem, ‘lobby’ the local officials rather than ‘query’ the emperor. Yes, yes. Of course.

“Then, Senior, since we’re in agreement about Zhu Diyu, the resentment demons, and Eight Tiers Palace—”

“Are we?” Si Wang muttered to himself.

“—there’s something I’ve been wondering, that perhaps Senior might know,” Hui finished, ignoring Si Wang’s interjection.

Si Wang gestured for him to continue.

“That is, Elder Sister Reaper… what is her conviction? Why has she worked under Zhu Diyu for this long? What has he promised her… or, what is she waiting for?” Hui wondered aloud. She got very angry when Zhu Diyu overlooked me meeting my family. I’m guessing that her personal trauma has something to do with family, or love, or something. Or rather, someone!

Si Wang looked at Hui. “Shouldn’t you ask her that?”

“Ah… yes. But Zhu Diyu turned her against me already. I don’t think she’ll tell me,” Hui explained.

“He’ll do that,” Si Wang said, chuckling. He stretched, thinking. “Perhaps I will tell you.”