The camp was unusually still as Hui Jian moved quietly through the shadows. The air was thick with an undercurrent of tension, an invisible weight that pressed down on everyone, making the atmosphere heavy. The beastmen were closing in, and the camp's leaders were starting to realize that no matter how much they debated or how many fortifications they tried to build, they were not ready for what was coming.
For Hui Jian, the tension was perfect. It masked his moves, allowed him to work in the background without drawing too much attention. The failed attempt on his life had taught him something valuable—there were no limits to how far people would go when they were desperate. But desperation, if managed properly, could be turned into an advantage.
He had spent the last few days working with Ren, Mei Lin, and Fang Ru, positioning them strategically within the camp's leadership. Ren was the voice of reason among the group, or so the others thought. But Ren's ideas came from Hui Jian, who carefully coached him on every point of action, making sure Ren's influence grew while Hui Jian's true control remained hidden.
As for Fang Ru, her loyalty was still something of a question mark. She followed Hui Jian's plans, but her doubts hadn't disappeared. In their private conversations, she often questioned him, subtly probing his motives, though he always found a way to satisfy her curiosity without revealing too much. It was a dangerous game, but one that Hui Jian played expertly.
Tonight, though, his attention was on someone else. Lei Xing had been growing restless, and that restlessness was starting to spread among some of the other rank 2 Gu Masters. Lei Xing was smart, and that made him dangerous. He had been too quiet lately, too watchful. Hui Jian knew he couldn't afford to let Lei Xing build his own faction, not with the beastmen attack looming on the horizon.
In the dim light of a flickering torch, Hui Jian spotted Ren standing by one of the makeshift fortifications, his brow furrowed as he inspected the weak wooden palisade. Hui Jian approached silently, his presence barely a whisper in the night.
"It won't hold," Hui Jian said softly, causing Ren to jump slightly.
Ren turned, shaking his head. "No, it won't. We're wasting time with this."
Hui Jian nodded, his gaze distant as he surveyed the camp. "We need to prepare for something more decisive."
Ren's eyes narrowed, glancing at Hui Jian. "You have a plan, don't you?"
"I always have a plan," Hui Jian said, his voice calm and measured. "But we need to be careful. We can't afford to move too quickly. We'll need to keep the council thinking that they are in control while we maneuver the real pieces."
Ren crossed his arms, looking uneasy. "And what about Lei Xing? He's becoming a problem."
"He's already been dealt with," Hui Jian said. "He just doesn't know it yet."
Ren gave a small nod, trusting Hui Jian's quiet confidence. But Hui Jian knew that Ren still underestimated just how dangerous Lei Xing could be. Lei Xing had ambition and a group of rank 2 Gu Masters who still followed him, some because they feared him, others because they hadn't seen a better alternative.
That would change soon.
The next day, the camp was buzzing with rumors. It was something Lei Xing had no doubt orchestrated—a subtle campaign of whispers that questioned Hui Jian's motives and painted him as a manipulator. The whispers were just loud enough to be heard but not loud enough to cause open confrontation. It was clever, Hui Jian had to admit, but it wasn't enough to stop him.
In response, Hui Jian moved even more quietly, speaking with those in the camp who trusted him and carefully redirecting the narrative. He didn't deny the rumors outright, but instead hinted that Lei Xing was using the impending beastman attack to seize control for himself.
The seeds of doubt were planted.
By the time the council convened again, the division between the leaders had widened. Lei Xing sat at the far end of the crude wooden table, his eyes sharp and calculating. He didn't speak much, but when he did, it was with purpose, targeting Hui Jian's decisions with thinly veiled criticism.
"We've been preparing defenses based on assumptions," Lei Xing said, leaning forward. "We need to focus on survival, not gamble everything on an ambush that could leave us exposed."
Hui Jian remained silent, letting Ren respond.
"We've scouted their movements, and we know the terrain. An ambush is our best option," Ren said firmly. "If we wait for them to attack, we're as good as dead."
"Terrain or not, we're not in a position to fight them head-on," Lei Xing pressed, his tone cold.
The others shifted uncomfortably. Tension hung in the air, but no one could deny that Lei Xing had a point. The camp's defenses were laughable, and they all knew it.
Hui Jian allowed the debate to go on for a few more minutes before he finally spoke. "Lei Xing's concerns are valid," he said, his voice calm and measured. "But we're not suggesting a head-on fight. The ambush will weaken their numbers, force them into a position where we have the advantage."
Lei Xing's eyes narrowed. "And if it fails?"
Hui Jian met his gaze without flinching. "Then we die."
The room fell silent. It was a blunt truth, but one that needed to be said. There was no point in sugar-coating the situation. They were already on borrowed time.
Lei Xing didn't respond, but the tension between him and Hui Jian simmered beneath the surface.
Later that night, Hui Jian found himself alone with Fang Ru. She had approached him quietly after the meeting, her face troubled.
"You're playing a dangerous game," she said softly, her eyes searching his face.
Hui Jian smiled faintly. "We all are."
She frowned, not satisfied with his answer. "Lei Xing isn't going to just sit back and let you take control."
"I'm not taking control," Hui Jian replied smoothly. "I'm just ensuring we survive."
"And if you have to kill him to do that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Hui Jian's smile faded. "If it comes to that, I'll do what's necessary."
Fang Ru looked away, her face tight with conflicting emotions. "I don't know how much longer I can stay a part of this."
"You can leave anytime you want," Hui Jian said, his voice gentle but firm. "But I think you know that survival out here doesn't come without sacrifice."
Fang Ru didn't respond, and after a moment, she turned and walked away, leaving Hui Jian standing alone in the cold night.
The next morning, the beastmen were spotted closer to the camp than anyone expected. The scouts reported that they were moving quickly, and the camp had little time to prepare.
Hui Jian moved swiftly, rallying the fighters he could trust and quietly sabotaging some of the weaker fortifications, making sure that the beastmen would breach the areas where Lei Xing and his supporters would be stationed.
When the beastmen finally attacked, the camp was thrown into chaos. The ambush had been set, but the camp's defenses were weaker than they seemed, and the beastmen tore through the outer perimeter with brutal efficiency.
Hui Jian watched from a distance as Lei Xing and his group struggled to hold their position. It was a brutal, bloody fight, and in the end, Lei Xing fell, surrounded by the very beastmen he had tried to warn the camp about.
By the time the battle was over, the camp was in shambles, but Hui Jian's position was more secure than ever.
As the survivors regrouped, Ren approached Hui Jian, his face grim. "Lei Xing is dead. We lost more than half our fighters."
Hui Jian nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "It was inevitable."
Ren looked at him for a long moment, something dark and unspoken passing between them.
"Is this what you wanted?" Ren asked quietly.
Hui Jian's eyes flickered with something cold and dangerous. "What I want doesn't matter. What matters is that we're still standing."
Ren nodded, but the unease in his eyes remained.
Hui Jian turned away, his mind already working through the next step. The beastmen were a threat, but the real danger had always come from within. Now, with Lei Xing gone, the camp was his to control.