Niukui was an average-sized man, with a face one wouldn't look twice at. His Seer's Eye was only a haphazard smear of red paint between his brows. He had a broad nose, large nostrils, and a strong jaw. He didn't have a traitor's face, whatever that was. No matter how many baths Niukui took, or how much incense he lit, Qi could still smell the miasma leaking out of his pores. He was a demon, through and through.

Qi walked up the steps and kicked his chamber door open. As an assassin, this wasn't his usual approach. But ex-Lieutenant Niukui deserved a proper send-off, as a veteran of Father's Shen Legion.

The target sat on the chamber pot beside his bed with his trousers around his ankles, reading an unfurled scroll.

Qi waved a hand over his face, as the mask of a Bloodbird's skull fell upon his face. "Evening," he said.

The scroll snapped shut. The lieutenant, no, Governor Niukui stood up from the with his ass cheeks exposed. and gave Qi a deep bow. "The Omen, God of death, heir to the King's throne," He gave Qi a deep bow. "You're tardy, Your Grace. I've been expecting you for centuries." After all these years, Niukui still couldn't kick the habit of being well-mannered.

"Father's wanted your head for a long time. But well, you know me," Qi shrugged. "I wait until the fire's burning my pants before I put it out."

Qi scanned the room, browsing Niutou's many treasures. The governor knew of the Omen's arrival, but never even bothered to pack his stuff. The target had accepted his fate. Running from Death was futile.

Qi ran his fingertips over the surfaces of Niukui's office. Porcelain vases, bronze statues, penjing trees, and the like. He ran calloused fingertips along an ink painting hanging from the wall, depicting mountains and rivers, with an accompanying poem he didn't care to read. Mr. Hood would be delighted with these new gifts— that old artsy fart.

Crackling sounds spilled from a distance, followed by yelling, screaming, and bodies tumbling on the ground. Qi sniffed the air. Fire. This place was burning down.

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Niukui ignored the noise and went back to reading in silence. "Pour me a tea, will you?"

Qi examined the man on the chamber pot, pants down, ass cheeks fanned out. Vulnerable. The God of Death waved his hand, and an ice-sheathed dagger appeared from thin air— a Frostfeather. He held the blade up to Niutou, and pressed the tip against his carotid.

Plop, plop. It started to rain.

Killing Niukui would be so quick, but too damn easy. Qi's killer instincts were screaming, but curiosity got the better of him. He wanted some answers. Instead, Qi withdrew his weapon and paced around the room, spinning the dagger around his finger.

"Father was good to you, wasn't he? He gifted you land, livestock, a wife—"

"But the Tian offered a larger plot, a bigger herd and a harem."

Many years ago, Niukui was one of Father's most prized lieutenants. Though he was Father's subject on paper, in reality, they were friends. Qi considered him family. Being a member of Father's inner circle, it took many years for the demons to find out Niukui was actually a Tian spy.

Father spared his life, in honour of Niutou's years of service in the Shen Legion. But after returning to the Tian realm, the demigods didn't trust him either. They effectively exiled him, forcing Niutou to govern Tongxiu Enclave, the lonely, tiny piece of landlocked Tian territory that the Heavens were looking to abandon anyway. For years, they waited for the day the Mo realm made the first move to annex it.

Qi could only imagine Niutou hasn't had a good night's sleep since his betrayal. Perhaps for him, Death would be a sweet release. Turning to Niukui, Qi said, "The North never forgets its traitors, Niukui. That's what Father taught."

Niuou's breaths quickened, perhaps out of defensiveness, or maybe Qi had struck a nerve. He stood up, as Qi's Frostffeather followed him.

"Your Grace, know what else your Father said?! I remember! When he first stepped onto the throne, he promised that the North will prosper under his reign, that we will liberate the South from the demigods, storm the gates of Qingxiao palace, and make the demon race rise above all!" A few seconds of silence, followed by some flatulence and a plop. "Lies, Your Grace." Niukui waved his hand in dismissal. "All lies. Pipe dreams and false promises don't fill your stomach. You know what does? Cold hard cash. That's why I left."

"And when you committed your first act of treachery, the time when you lured a thousand of our men into the demigods' trap, there must have been a hint of guilt?"

Niutou chuckled coldly, as he wiped his ass crack with a damp towel. He tossed the soiled towel on the ground. Qi watched as it made a brown stream across the newly mopped hardwood floors. "Yes," he said finally. "The first mutiny was hard. But it became easier. Wouldn't you say so? As someone who also has extensive roots in the Tian Realm...? Someone who's kept his second life from his Father's prying eyes?"