A few days later it was standard routine at the lair of the bandit queen. A light patrol was on the rolls and another patrolled around the city itself, keeping the peace. Mitsuko and LingQi was also present during this patrol to keep themselves busy but only the two of them. Diamondback stationed himself on the walls along with Pang Tong who were anticipating an attack by the mystic forces soon. Pang Tong finished his preparations, it was only a matter of time. His trap was laid out, Mitsuko's catapults were constructed and hidden in the city. Now that his preparations have been finished, he would now need to consider what will happen after the battle. Depending on the number of the enemy and their losses it should be beneficial for both Mitsuko and the bandit queen to launch an offensive campaign. Though he suspected the queen may be unwilling to send troops if they suffer too many losses. If that is indeed the case, he must find a way to force her hand, for that is what a strategist does.

'So how long do you think it will take until we can go on the offensive?' LingQi asked.

'I don't know, I was thinking shortly after the baby is delivered. Once the bandit queen recovers fully after that we should be able to start the attack on our side for a change. Would make a good change of scenery over the usual raids and the like.' Mitsuko answered while keeping her voice down while smirking, itching to have a good battle. However also being careful not to spread gossip.

'Do you think she'll comply? Despite her being our ally, she is still a bandit who may leave us for her own gain. After all, we are the ones who are pulling our weight here.' LingQi responded. Still concerned about her bandit ally. Even though she wouldn't doubt Mitsuko's judgement, she can't help but be concerned about their potential betrayal of Mitsuko.

'Nah she'll pull through. I know she will. She wants these mountains too much, sure there's been some bumps along the way for her, but she'll pull through for us.' Mitsuko confidently replied.

'Though I must admit, her husband on the other hand may be a bit of a trickier obstacle to overcome.'

'Indeed, he always seem to have a defeated look about him. Guilty of his past perhaps.'

'What, are you feeling sorry for the bastard?' Mitsuko chuckled, amused at such a concept.

'No of course not…though it must not be easy to try to earn forgiveness when you know you don't deserve it.' Mitsuko stayed silent for a while after that, quickly remembering what happened with her and LingQi during that fateful encounter in the forest. LingQi realised what Mitsuko was thinking about during the long silence.

'Oh no Mitsuko I didn't mean-'

'No don't worry its fine, its just…its been a while since I remembered those events you know? It just feels like a lifetime ago.' LingQi smiled softly at her.

'I know what you mean, I suppose we've just grown accustomed to living here, even if it is temporary.'

'Yeah.' They both stayed in silence hearing only the ambience of idle chatter around the streets.

'Can't be that pretty for Jiang though as well, married to him of all people. Even though its clear she's calling the shots can't be easy to tolerate him.' Mitsuko stated as she stretched her snakes high in the air vertically. They softly hiss while they open their jaws wide almost like they were yawning.

'Quite, a marriage born of obligation…I couldn't imagine that would lead to happiness.' LingQi responded, her eyes darted to the ground and her pace quickened slightly. Remembering when she was told she was going to be married off. Mitsuko seeing this immediately grabbed a hold of her hand with one of her serpent jaws stopping LingQi in her tracks. She turned around and glanced at Mitsuko, wondering why she did that. Mitsuko panicked, she didn't expect her body to just do that on its own.

'Yeah I can't imagine that either but…that's not going to happen to you I'll make sure of that.' Mitsuko stated unable to form any other words in her brain. LingQi smiled at her though before she could respond they heard a distant loud horn of sorts that was cut abruptly short for like a second. Everyone heard it and stopped what they were doing, wondering if that was on purpose.

'Was that the lookouts?'

'Well if its not the lookouts then who was it.' LingQi questioned. Suddenly there was a deep monstrous roar that went on for like 10 seconds.

'…It could probably be whatever the fuck made that noise. We have to inform Zheng Jiang. Grab Pang Tong and Diamondback and tell Gyuki to get inside.' Mitsuko said as they quickly rushed to the palace. When they reached the palace, they saw Zheng Jiang on her throne with Gai Shu next to her with a scout kneeling down before her in a panicked state.

'They found us my lady and they seem to have a giant with them. A hulking behemoth, similar in size to the one we have stationed outside. They cut down the rest of my unit before we could sound the horn.' The scout reported, afraid to look at his queen in her eyes.

'How many?' Zheng Jiang questioned.

'Too many to count, I would estimate about 10 thousand strong.'

'Ten thousand!? We're outnumbered 3 to 1 if that's true. Not to mention that whatever made that noise doesn't sound like it's from this world.' Gai Shu gasped in shock, unable to see what could be done about this.

'Amalgamations can be from your world, it just depends on what they're made of.' The humans including Pang Tong and Mitsuko look at him oddly.

'You know about them?' Mitsuko asked.

'I do, though not a lot I'm afraid. To put it simply, the mystics can perform certain rituals to make these indentured servants called amalgamations. They are like mystic war machines infused with the souls and flesh of the living. Whether they be other mystics or animals or whatever they can get their hands on. From what I know they're not made lightly and require a fair bit of preparation to perform the ritual. They're normally used to combat our larger demons or war beasts which means they must've saw Gyuki outside the walls while they were scouting and figured they'd need one to deal with him.' Diamondback explained.

'So they brought this thing here…because of you all!?' Gai Shu pointed his finger accusatory of Mitsuko's officers visibly scathing as his anger was risen.

'You see your highness? Our so-called allies are nothing but traitors that led our enemy to us, they haven't found us for so long and yet shortly after they arrive we get attacked. If these so-called mystics allied themselves with Zhang Yan perhaps they could be appealed to, we should give this serpent and those under her to them.' As he suggested that Mitsuko and her officers drew their blades, as did the guards.

'I'd like to see you fucking try to lay a finger on us.' Mitsuko snarled, licking her top lip to reveal her forked tongue with her other eye becoming reptilian. Zheng Jiang exasperatedly rubbed her forehead in annoyance with Gai Shu putting everyone on edge.

'If you were really our ally you would have no objection to this.' He took a step forward.

'Oh that's rich coming from someone who walked away from people they were supposed to be protecting.' Gai Shu gasped in shock as his eyes widened. Lu Zheng and Zheng Jiang were stunned at that statement.

'What are you-'

'Oh don't play stupid. I know all about how you abandoned them, your sister. And you have the nerve to lecture me about what I should fucking do!? You hypocritical bastard.' Gai Shu was furious at this accusation.

'You don't know anything about what happened! Don't act like you know me. Don't think you can judge me.'

'Let me guess, its ok for you to judge me is it!? Fuck off! I know enough about you to make my judgement. I'm not the one saying we should throw you out to appease the wolves who will try to kill us all anyway! You just want us gone so you can stay here and pretend everything is fine. Unfortunately for you, we're not going anyway.'

'Do you blame me!? You were just outsiders coming in and requesting our queen's forces for your personal gain.'

'But marrying her and sleeping with her for your personal gain after she lost someone close to her was ok right?' Mitsuko snarled again, she felt it becoming increasingly difficult to restrain herself as her snakes hissed at him again.

'Don't you dare accuse me of such things! I'll kill you where you stand.' Mitsuko was struggling to just not slice his neck right here and now, she just gritted her teeth as he stared at his guilt ridden eyes. Though surprisingly it was not Mitsuko who threw the first attack. LingQi grabbed the tip of the spear and pulled it towards her with her left arm as she stepped forward towards him and punched him in the jaw. Gai Shu's body twisted along with the punch and landed on his stomach. The guards immediately took a step forward to restrain her however Mitsuko and Diamondback made sure that couldn't happen with their weapons drawn to them, preventing them from attacking, less they wish to be a corpse. Mitsuko was surprised to see LingQi doing that however when she saw the guards try to stop her, she reacted instinctually. Glaring at them.

'Your attempt to do so will result in your spear going through your throat.' LingQi threatened as she stepped on his back and pressed the tip of his spear firmly to the back of his neck, showing him how serious she was. Her eyes briefly turned pure black. The whole room was silent for a few seconds with tension running high before Zheng Jiang had enough of this.

'Stand down all of you. This is not what we should be treating our allies.' She ordered, the guards immediately withdrew their blades and stepped back. Mitsuko's blade was swallowed back in their respective serpent arms, Diamondback stepped back and lowered his halberd. LingQi felt the temptation to just thrust the spear like she wanted. However as she saw Mitsuko lower her weapons and glanced at her, she begrudgingly released his spear and stepped back away from him. Her eyes returned to normal.

'See what you did Gai Shu? There was no need for that. Urgh!' Zheng Jiang clutched her clothes around her stomach tightly as Gai Shu and Lu Zheng immediately went to her side.

'My lady are you ok?' Gai Shu asked as he placed his hand on hers though Zheng Jiang removed her hand from his immediately.

'Do not touch me! Trying to cause infighting with our allies in my presence is inexcusable.'

'But your highness I-'

'I do not care about your pathetic excuses, its not good enough. You're not good enough, I should throw you out…though I can't for reasons.' Zheng Jiang looked away, annoyed at him while he looked heart broken. Nevertheless he respected her decision and stand up with his eyes closed. To Mitsuko it looked like he was trying to keep in his tears.

'Please accept my apologies for my husband. He has never done or said anything so stupid and foolish in my presence since he returned from his…previous outing. Though because of my unfortunate urgh, condition I do not believe I'm able to join the battlefield. Even if I did…an army like that its hard to see how we would be able to win.' Zheng Jiang groaned. Mitsuko smirked confidently.

'It'll be tough but it'll be a victory for us, you'll see how deadly us demons can really be.' Her human eye became reptilian once again as her snakes hiss in agreement with a sinister look in their eyes.

'We also have the fledgeling phoenix. Pang Tong I assume you have a plan?' Mitsuko turned to her, he chuckled as he took a step forward.

'Indeed I do. We have catapults in the main city constructed and ready to be used. Thanks to Gyuki's help we also have some ammunition for said weapon. Though not as many as I would like, they should help reduce the enemy numbers by quite a bit. I have also taken the liberty of producing some traps of the…arcane arts let's say.' Pang Tong chuckled sinisterly as he held up his right shadow arm.

'Its good you manage to take some precautions, perhaps we became too complacent…no matter. Lu Zheng, please tell me you prepared something?' Zheng Jiang questioned. Lu Zheng smirked behind her fan and bows her head at her.

'Of course. I have taken the liberty of making sure we are adequately equipped for defending the walls. Our archers won't be running out of ammunition any time soon even if it is a lengthy siege. I have also hidden some shock troops in the surrounding forests, allowing them to strike them from behind when they least expect it though we're not supplied like the Han and our forces are very lightly armoured. They'll need to strike when the time is right. I have also constructed some traps of our own. We have oil ready to be used all over the front of the castle. We just need your order my lady.' Lu Zheng explained.

'How long until they arrive?' Zheng Jiang asked the scout.

'Erm, by my estimates it would be from nightfall to the morning your highness.' The scout stammered as he immediately bowed his head again towards it.

'Ok, give the order we need to do that immediately. I assume your traps won't trigger with us will it?' Zheng Jiang interrogated Pang Tong.

'Of course not, these traps are strictly for our enemies. They have nothing to fear from mine.'

'Good. Mitsuko, answer me honestly. Do you think we can win this?' Zheng Jiang questioned. Mitsuko looked at her officers one by one to gauge how they feel. They all looked confident with their abilities, with Mitsuko and nodded at her.

'Of courssse.' Mitsuko demonically smiled. Zheng Jiang smirked in response.

'Very well, you have my permission to lead this defence. Lu Zheng I trust you'll be able to co-ordinate with them and lend your aid where need be?'

'Yes my lady.' Lu Zheng bowed.

'Your highness I must-' Gai Shu attempted to speak up but Zheng Jiang interrupted him.

'Silence! Your lack of respect has gone too far. If you wish to help than fight down in the frontlines with the rest of our defenders. With luck you won't come back.' Zheng Jiang coldly announced. Gai Shu bowed his head respectfully at her.

'A-as you wish my lady.' Gai Shu made his way out of the palace through the front doors in silence. No one dared make a sound while he was still present, only the creaking of the doors was heard. As they shut behind him Zheng Jiang continued as if nothing happened.

'Good riddance. Well anyway Mitsuko I'll trust the defences to you. Do whatever you see fit though please try to minimise our losses. If they try to attack us again after this I have a feeling we won't be able to hold them again. We're too poorly equipped compared to them' Zheng Jiang warned, wary of the future.

'Don't worry, by the time we finished your forces will have all the equipment they will need after the enemy's corpses are looted.' Mitsuko demonically smirked.

'Heh, excellent. I'll leave this to you. Should you have any issue with Gai Shu following orders do not hesitate to grab me after the battle. I've been waiting for a reason. Good luck.' Zheng Jiang stated. Mitsuko and her officers along with Lu Zheng nodded as they started to exit the palace. Mitsuko was about to leave before Zheng Jiang stopped her for just a moment.

'Oh and one more thing.' Mitsuko glanced back at the bandit queen.

'I like that one, you should keep her close.' Mitsuko couldn't help but chuckle at her.

'I know, but thanks for the heads up.' She replied as she walked through the palace doors. The doors shut behind them as the officers turn to Mitsuko.

'So what would your first order be, lady Mitsuko?' Lu Zheng questioned, eager to get started. All her officers looked at Mitsuko with expectation. Mitsuko has gotten a little more used to these looks.

'We should prepare the traps in front of the gates as our first priority, without them I'm afraid we may be overrun. Get your men to get the oil traps ready. Diamondback you'll be defending the main gate. If they breach the gate we won't be able to contain them. Do not let even a single one past the wall.' Mitsuko ordered confidently.

'As you command. They will not get past us.' Diamondback snarled, ready to tear into his enemies.

'Good. Pang Tong once the oil trap has been set, assist Lu Zheng with preparing the soldiers, I want them all rested and prepared by the evening. Make sure the archers have sufficient ammunition, we have soldiers supporting Diamondback at the gates while also having our catapults in a good position to deal damage.'

'Understood my lady.' Pang Tong bowed his head while holding his hat.

'LingQi, you and I will be stationed along the wall. More than likely these mystics will try to eliminate our ranged support or better yet try to come after me. Depending on how everything goes we may need to create a distraction. Gather a unit of our finest soldiers and station them along the wall with us.'

'Leave it to me, I'll make sure they are the strongest of our fighters.' LingQi replied as she bowed respectfully to Mitsuko. She hid her smile as she saw Mitsuko to get more accustomed to her role.

'Excellent, now let's prepare for a bloodbath! I can't hardly wait.' Mitsuko stated with a sinister chuckle. The officers all bowed and made their way to their assignment. Leaving Lu Zheng and Mitsuko alone.

'They follow your orders without any sign of defiance, heh. How admirable.' Lu Zheng laughed.

'I'm quite surprised myself if I'm honest. I only hope I live to their expectations.'

'Well you lived up to mine so I have no doubt their faith in you is not misplaced.'

'How can you be so sure?' Mitsuko questioned.

'Well you helped my sword sister, shortly after your conversation with her after that feast I noticed that she has slowly started to revert back to her old self. When I look at her now, I see that flicker of determination that drove her in those days. Its because of you now that I can see a way of us going back on the offensive after we win here and once she delivered her heir. You have my thanks for giving me some hope for Zheng Jiang.' Lu Zheng admitted.

'Heh, don't thank me yet. We still have a bloodbath to live through yet you know.' Mitsuko wore a confident lop-sided smile.

'Haha, indeed. I best make the preparations at once. I suppose I will speak to you after the battle.' Lu Zheng stated as she and Mitsuko started to get to work with their preparations for battle.