The bitter cold of the North Plains was unrelenting. The winds howled through the shattered camp, biting into the skin of the survivors as they huddled around the few remaining fires. The beastman attack had left the camp on the edge of ruin. Scattered tents lay in tatters, and bloodstains marred the snow like jagged wounds in the earth. The ground was littered with the bodies of the dead—both beastmen and humans.
Hui Jian stood on the outskirts, surveying the scene with cold detachment. His breath misted in the air, but his expression remained calm, even as his thoughts raced ahead. The battle had been a victory, but only just. It was clear to him that the camp couldn't withstand another assault. His mind was already working on the next step.
His eyes scanned the remaining survivors. Many were injured, weak, and demoralized. The once cohesive group was now fractured, with whispers of doubt and resentment floating in the cold air. This was the moment he had been waiting for—an opportunity to shape the camp's future, or rather, his own.
Lei Xing's death had left a power vacuum. The rank 2 Gu Master had been a thorn in Hui Jian's side, always suspicious, always trying to rally others against him. But now, Lei Xing was gone, and those who had once followed him were lost and leaderless. It was the perfect time to strike, but Hui Jian knew he needed to be careful. Too bold a move would make the others suspicious.
As he moved through the camp, he saw Ren overseeing the injured. Despite his hardened exterior, Ren had always cared for the others in the camp, but that empathy would only weaken him in the days to come. Hui Jian approached him, offering a nod.
"Ren," Hui Jian said quietly, his voice steady against the backdrop of the howling wind, "we need to organize the survivors. The beastmen will be back, and we won't survive another attack like the last one."
Ren glanced up, his face lined with exhaustion and doubt. "We barely made it through this one. Some of the others… they don't think we can hold out much longer."
"They're right," Hui Jian said simply, his eyes cold and calculating. "But running isn't an option. If we flee, we'll die. Our only chance is to stay, regroup, and prepare for the next wave."
Ren hesitated, then nodded slowly. He trusted Hui Jian, though he didn't fully understand why. Hui Jian had always been calm, always had a plan. But there was something in his eyes now, something colder, more ruthless than before.
"I'll start gathering the stronger fighters," Ren said, standing up, his resolve hardening. "We can't rely on the council anymore. They're too divided."
Hui Jian watched him leave, a slight smile playing on his lips. Ren was an asset, one he could manipulate as needed. But Ren wasn't his only target. He needed to bring the others into his fold as well.
As the day dragged on, Hui Jian approached Mei Lin. The tracker had been invaluable in the last battle, her arrows finding their mark again and again. But she was skeptical of Hui Jian, always watching him with cautious eyes. He would need to tread carefully.
"We're running low on resources," Mei Lin said bluntly as he approached. "We can't keep this up, Hui Jian. People are going to start dying from hunger before the beastmen even return."
"I know," Hui Jian replied calmly. "That's why we need to be selective about how we use what's left. We can't save everyone."
Her eyes narrowed. "What are you suggesting?"
"I'm suggesting we focus on those who can fight. The strongest, the most loyal. If we spread our resources too thin, we'll all die. But if we concentrate them, we have a chance."
Mei Lin crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "And who decides who's worth saving?"
Hui Jian met her gaze, his expression cool and unyielding. "We do. The ones who've been keeping this camp alive. It's not about sentiment, it's about survival."
She didn't respond immediately, but Hui Jian could see the gears turning in her mind. Mei Lin was pragmatic, like him. She would understand, even if she didn't like it.
"I'll think about it," she said finally, turning away.
Hui Jian let her go. He knew she would come around in time. She had no other choice.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the camp, Hui Jian gathered his core group. Ren, Mei Lin, Fang Ru, and a few others who had proven themselves during the battle. They sat in the dim light of a flickering fire, their faces grim and tired.
"The beastmen will be back soon," Hui Jian began, his voice low and steady. "We need to be prepared."
"We don't have the numbers to fight them off again," Ren said. "We lost too many in the last attack."
"Which is why we can't rely on numbers," Hui Jian replied. "We need to be smarter. Use the terrain, use our strengths. And we need to be ready to make sacrifices."
There was a tense silence as the others considered his words. Fang Ru shifted uncomfortably, her doubts about Hui Jian still lingering beneath the surface. But she remained silent. She had seen what he was capable of, and though she didn't fully trust him, she knew he was their best chance of survival.
"We focus on the fighters," Hui Jian continued. "The others… they'll have to fend for themselves."
Ren nodded, though his expression was troubled. Mei Lin didn't speak, but Hui Jian could see the resignation in her eyes.
In the days that followed, the camp became a battlefield of its own. The survivors were divided—those who were strong enough to fight and those who were left to scrounge for whatever scraps remained. Tensions rose, and whispers of discontent spread like frost on the wind.
Hui Jian moved quietly through the chaos, ensuring that those who posed a threat to his plans were isolated or discredited. He spoke to the rank 2 Gu Masters still alive, gauging their loyalty, their usefulness. Some, like Ren, could be counted on. Others, like Mei Lin, were still uncertain. But Hui Jian knew how to play the long game.
One evening, as the camp settled into an uneasy quiet, Hui Jian stood at the edge of the firelight, watching the faces of those who remained. They looked to him now, even if they didn't realize it. He had positioned himself as their leader, their savior, without ever needing to declare it. And soon, when the beastmen returned, he would make sure that his grip on the camp was unbreakable.
But in the shadows, Hui Jian worked on his true plan. He had already begun stockpiling what little resources remained, keeping them hidden from the others. The time would come when the camp would fall, and when it did, he would be ready to slip away, taking everything of value with him.
He wasn't interested in leading them to safety. He was interested in survival—his own. And if that meant leaving them to die, so be it.
As the cold wind swept through the camp once more, Hui Jian turned his back on the fire, his eyes scanning the horizon. The beastmen would return soon, and when they did, the final pieces of his plan would fall into place.
He would survive. And the camp? The camp would be his first sacrifice on the path to true power.