Mitsuko's forces marched towards the bandit queens city. As they arrived the gates opened however the guards informed Mitsuko that Gyuki was to be stationed outside which Mitsuko wasn't happy about. The guards explained that the citizens felt uncomfortable with his presence due to his size and appearance. More than the others. Mitsuko was about to get angry however Gyuki did agree to this. Mitsuko ordered the rest of her forces to enter the city while she stood outside with Gyuki outside the ears of the guards.

'You sure you want to agree to this? You don't have to you know.'

'Don't worry, lady Mitsuko. Its fine, my size isn't always the advantage that it seems at first, though you do get accustomed to it. I do not wish to be an inconvenience to you lady Mitsuko. So if this what needs to be done then I will stay away.' Gyuki stated.

'You know you're not an inconvenience right? Where would I be without my large battering ram after all?' Mitsuko jested which made Gyuki feel…somewhat warm as he didn't know what to say.

'That is comforting to hear. Thank you for your kind words lady Mitsuko. You should go see the bandit queen, do not fear I will be fine here.' Gyuki replied.

'Alright, I'll make sure someone visits you so you don't get lonely.' Mitsuko promised as she made her way inside the city. As she entered she was immediately met with a squad of bandits which escorted her to the main hall of the bandit queen. As Mitsuko entered the building the bandits bow to the bandit queen and leave. Zheng Jiang also motioned her palace guards to leave save for her sworn sister and her husband. The sister fanned herself with her fan while the husband grunted as she walked in. Clearly not happy to see her. As they left and the doors shut behind them Mitsuko spoke.

'What was that at the gates? Banning Gyuki like that?'

'I didn't want to do it but my people were coming to me with concern about him soon after you left, so I had no choice but give the order for the guards to not allow him in.' Zheng Jiang responded.

'He wouldn't hurt anyone.'

'I know you wouldn't let him hurt anyone, though that isn't of much comfort to my people who think otherwise. You must remember, you're all strangers to them. They're going to naturally view you all with suspicion. I can't afford to have them doubt me you understand. So I had to give the guards the orders to show them I am listening to them. Not like those pretentious nobles of the Han.' Zheng Jiang slammed her fist onto the one of the thrones arm rests with anger, not taking her sight off Mitsuko.

'I could've just left you all outside and just have you enter the building only when we have discussions like this and make all of them including this one here happy.' She pointed to Gai Shu with her thumb while she smirked.

'But I didn't do that because that wouldn't be fair to you now would it? So its not like I'm trying to make your stay here more difficult. You understand right?' Mitsuko couldn't help but growl quietly to herself at this answer, though its not like she could argue with it either.

'I suppose.'

'Excellent. Well onto business then. Did you succeed?' She questioned as she interlocked her fingers with both hands in front of her face.

'It was successful, I did as you asked. The noble and all his guards were slain, the carriage was left to drive back to where they came from with his corpse. Hopefully now they'll think twice before giving Zhang Yan any support.' Mitsuko answered as the serpent hissed as they started to slither in the air.

'Ahh, well done. I knew you would succeed. Indeed, cutting of his financial support will put him in a tight predicament, we have quite a way to go before that happens but we all have to start from somewhere. By the way my guards informed me that the scouts that guided you to your destination didn't come back with you. What happened to them?' She asked with inquisitive eyes. The stare slightly unnerved Mitsuko as her snake heads while looking at her.

'They unfortunately were slain in the heat of battle. Some of my men were slain as well, the guards proved more…resilient than we expected.' Mitsuko lied while looking the same however her heartbeat skyrocketed. Internally she was hoping she'd believe this deceitful lie.

'I see, well casualties in battle are often unavoidable.' Zheng Jiang stated as she whispered something to herself as she glanced to her left side to the ground. Mitsuko rose an eyebrow in confusion before Zheng Jiang quickly snapped her head back to Mitsuko.

'Well in any event you've done what I asked. I have another task for you but that will be for another time. I can't announce our military alliance for now but once you do the other task I should be able to not get met with fierce anger. We're a bit of a close-knit community you see. They may respect me and my opinion but they need to know they can rely on you as allies. Which will come with time.' Zheng Jiang explained.

'I get it, don't worry. If that would be all I better take my leave my lady. If you don't mind.' Mitsuko and her serpent heads bowed to her.

'Oh of course, don't let me stop you.' Zheng Jiang replied as Mitsuko started to walk away but stopped halfway through. She glanced backwards towards her. Zheng Jiang tilted her head in confusion.

'Tell me something though if you would indulge me.'

'Of course.'

'…Did you know about the carriages…extra passengers.' She didn't think of the correct term to use for the mother and child. Zheng Jiang noticed the tone of her voice was more darker and her smirk grew wider at this.

'I did yes.' There was silence for what seemed to be an exuberant amount of time though it was only for about 20 seconds.

'I see.' Was all Mitsuko could say before she exited the building, her snakes hissed with aggression while they tried to suppress them. The palace guards flooded back in the moment she left.

'I'm surprised how she kept her cool, that was obviously the first time she had to come to terms with killing a child.' Lu Zheng stated as she fanned herself.

'Quite. To think she would go far as to kill the scouts though to save it…heh.' Zheng Jiang couldn't help but chuckle at the idea while Gai Shu was stunned.

'What!? She killed our own men!? What for?'

'To make sure we didn't know the child was alive of course. Or to prevent their death. One of the two.' Lu Zheng answered non-chalantly.

'You know this yet we're letting her walk out alive and still considering her alliance request!? We should execute her and her forces for treason!' Gai Shu demanded as Lu Zheng sighed in response.

'Must you always raise your voice like that? It gives us a headache.' She responded making Gai Shu even more furious.

'Why aren't you demanding blood for blood! Our men died because of her and yet here you are being calm over this!? I don't understand both of you.' He replied with frustration, his face getting red from anger.

'And yet here you are, shouting the loudest and not listening to our reasoning.' Lu Zheng calmly retorted.

'Because I don't know why you two aren't doing anything about her. She's clearly not worthy to fight with us!'

'With respect my lord that is not up to you to decide.' Lu Zheng responded seriously as she stopped waving her fan.

'And its not up to you either. Do you think our sister…my sister would allow her to-' he quickly stopped as Zheng Jiang grabbed the handle of one of her axes that had a red sash tied to it near the top of the handle to his throat.

'Don't talk about her like you knew her.' She stated coldly to him, not giving him the time of day as she faced forward to the gate instead. Gai Shu gulped and started to sweat profoundly while his breathing rapidly increased. Zheng Jiang put the axe exactly where it was previously before she stood up.

'I'm not saying I'm particularly pleased with her killing my men. However given that was her time encountering the possibility of killing a child, I'm willing to overlook it. We know her situation, desperate with no land, desperate for bodies for her war. Desperate enough to ally with us of all people. She wouldn't throw the opportunity and betray our trust so readily if what I was asking her, or what the scouts were going to do went against what she believed in. An admirable quality.' Zheng Jiang explained to Gai Shu.

'Admirable? With all do respect my queen, if she's not willing to go that extra mile and betray us how can she be trusted?'

'How can we be trusted?' Lu Zheng retorted.

'That's different.'

'is it? She could've entered the city and allow her forces to go on a rampage. That was before we barred the giant one from coming in. Yet here she is, still willing to negotiate despite the surprise and what our scouts tried to do.'

'Quite… you know it reminds me of when it was the three of us back in the old days.' Zheng Jiang couldn't help but chuckle at the fond memories that were born, Lu Zheng smiled softly behind her fan.

'It was a simpler time then…'Zheng Jiang snapped back to the present time as she turned to face Lu Zheng.

'Which begs the question. Why did you bring her here?' She asked as she walked towards Lu Zheng who didn't flinch as she hid her face apart from her eyes behind her fan, not breaking her gaze away from her sworn sister.

'As I said before she requested assistance and it wasn't my place to deny or accept her my lady. Hence why I brought her here to you.' She responded though Zheng Jiang stared at her with inquisitive eyes.

'You do know when I know you're hiding something from me don't you?'

'And you should know that if that's the case its not without a good reason and not a malicious one.' Lu Zheng replied. Zheng Jiang wore a lopsided smirk as she walked away and sat down.

'Perhaps. Either way I'll find out eventually and I'm not going to throw away any assistance if they're offering it.'

'Well if you ask me-'

'I didn't.' Zheng Jiang interrupted Gai Shu who quickly turned silent as Lu Zheng laughed silently behind her fan to his annoyance.

Meanwhile outside of the city Mitsuko and her officers gathered around a small campfire to make sure Gyuki isn't left out. She told everyone of the negotiations to them.

'I'm quite surprised that she didn't see through your deception.' Diamondback replied.

'Tell me about it, I thought for sure she'd call me out there and then.' Mitsuko stated

'Hmm, curious. She doesn't seem like the type of person to not be deceived so easily from what you described at least. It could be the case that she's wiling to let it slide, whether to have your help against her enemy or whether she simply didn't care about them I don't know.' Pang Tong responded.

'Regardless, its good to know that she's still willing to work with us.' LingQi exclaimed.

'I agree, though…something seems kind of off about her.' Mitsuko briefly turns her mind to earlier.

'How so?' Dodomeki asked instantly, almost as if waiting for something.

'No it wasn't anything bad like what you're thinking. It was like, she was distracted but only for a few moments though. I don't know how or why. I don't suppose you found out anything?' Mitsuko glanced towards Pang Tong who shook his head.

'Not yet, everyone's still tight lipped. Though once this other task of yours is completed I believe that will change a small amount. If not…well I can go resort to a more…extreme measure if you permit it.' Pang Tong chuckled sinisterly.

'Not yet, lets see what she has in store. Though I'm surprised she hasn't asked us to do it already.'

'It could be the case that it can only be done later. I wouldn't worry about it. Besides there's no use fretting over it where you don't know what's going to happen, just be prepared for when she summons you.' Pang Tong suggested.

'Yeah you're right, not much else I can do I guess.' Mitsuko sighed as she leant back. She looked up to see so many stars fill the otherwise pitch-black sky. It made her feel slightly nostalgic.

'Were there this many stars in the sky?' Mitsuko questioned as her left serpent head looks like its reaching for them while the other coils around Mitsuko's neck from the back of it as she leans on the main body of it. The other officers suddenly look up.

'It does look like it, if you look closely you can see some of them form a shape.' LingQi stated as she leant back.

'Huh, so they do. I never took much notice of the stars before.' Diamondback responded as all three of the demons look up, a little taken aback by the sight of a large clusters of stars filling the night sky.

'You're not the only one. Wow there really are so many.' Gyuki was amazed, he wondered why he didn't look up and notice them before. They've been always pre-occupied he never had the chance.

'Look at those, they look like a bird.' Pang Tong stated as he pointed up at a cluster.

'That one looks like a scythe.'

'Actually if you look closely you can see the body of a serpent going around.'

'Oh, a world serpent travelling the heavens? That would explain your companion's lady Mitsuko.' LingQi couldn't but reply to that. This was the most relaxed they've all been for a long while. It was nice for all of them to enjoy time off the battlefield for a little while, even for Mitsuko and her demonic allies. Various conversations were happening as they all stated what they saw while looking up at the sky…well save for one.

'Dodomeki what do you see?' Mitsuko asked noticing how quiet he was. Dodomeki didn't reply.

'Dodomeki?' Mitsuko asked again. Dodomeki snapped out of his trance

'Oh sorry, I erm…I don't see anything.' Dodomeki responded.

'You sure? There's quite a lot of stars there, I'm sure even you can find something.' Diamondback jested however Dodomeki stayed silent. Which was unusual, normally he would say something in response.

'Sorry I can't, if you excuse me maybe I should go on patrol. I don't think these watch towers are sufficient, I will be back soon.' Dodomeki announced as he jumped up and started to sprint away.

'Wait Dodomeki!' Mitsuko sat up and pointed with her left serpent head however by the time she did so Dodomeki vanished. She sighed in response.

'Hey Gyuki, is he always like that? He should try to relax even a little bit. I mean I like a good fight as much as the next demon but still.' Mitsuko interrogated. Gyuki didn't know how to respond as he sat up and rubbed his head. He figured he would be feeling guilty…but how would he cover for him?

'Yeah, he's normally a demon that prefers to not sit and wait around is all. He always is the first one to volunteer and do scouting missions. Though he normally doesn't overexert himself so I'm sure he will be fine.' Gyuki answered.

'I see…I suppose I better let him be.' Mitsuko responded. Her snakes hiss quietly to themselves as they glance to the ground. Diamondback wanted to say something however noticing Gyuki's facial expressions felt…off he decided against it. He knew Gyuki wouldn't speak up about Dodomeki's…unusual behaviour without good reason.

A/N: Hey guys, just a quick one since my country is now in lockdown, but I still have to go to work as normal so I can't do 2 chapters a week, sorry I'm not that good…yet :P. Just wanted to say to stay safe, I know everyone has said this and you have heard this a million times before more than likely, however it is important that you keep yourselves safe. Don't risk it, nothing should be more important than your health and wellbeing. Not just yours but your family and loved ones as well. I know it can be mentally draining if you're not allowed to have social interaction if you're used to it and if you're bored with nothing to do, so hopefully these weekly chapters that I hope have the same amount of quality. (only you can be the judge of that if I'm being honest) helps alleviate that even a little bit. But until next chapter, stay safe and sayonara.