#rbq

He’d originally woken up to the sounds of battle but rather than leap into the fray he crumpled to the floor. His personal guards had fared worse. Full demons from established bloodlines, both of them fallen at their post, eyes glazed over as their cores rotted them from the inside out.

Luo Binghe reached for his own core to tentatively inspect the damage. He could feel the way it was still decaying around the edges, retreating into his dantian only protected by his lesser human spiritual core.

The human side he’d spent his life suppressing was the only thing that had kept his heart beating.

Even then it wasn’t enough, he’d barely been able to move when they’d come for him and trussed him like chattel awaiting slaughter.

Nausea made him heavy and shaky, it was a foreign experience, one he had no idea how to temper. He’d never been so much as ill before, heavenly demons did not get ill, not naturally.

When foreign hands pulled him from the floor he could only struggle feebly. It took all of his focus to keep the contents of his stomach down.

It took two men to haul him off of the floor and there was a perverse satisfaction in the way they struggled with his weight. Invalid as he was, his muscles had their natural gravity, which gave the humans difficulty dragging him with them.

He may not have been able to resist but at least it hadn’t been easy for them.

He tried to pay attention to the path, but it was difficult, blinded as disoriented as he was, still they wound through a path similar to that of his own war camp, leading to its center.

They finally reached some sort of destination, dropping him to the ground. He hit the earth with a wet thump. He landed in thick mud churned soft by soldiers’ bloodied feet.

He growled, but it sounded embarrassingly like a kitten’s mewl, even to himself. He thrashed weakly in an attempt to pull his face free of the muck, it oozed through the burlap sack, making the rough fabric heavy and cool with a damp earthy scent.

He instinctively flexed his hands but his usually sharp claws felt brittle, unable to bite into the rope at his wrists.

Someone would pay for his humiliation, it was just a matter of who.

“Since it was your majesty’s inspired presence that won the day, this official has a gift. One fit only for such an esteemed individual as yourself.” A man stood just above Luo Binghe speaking with a sleazy tone, grating enough to cause the demon to grind his teeth.

He finally managed to pull himself into a sitting position. He shook his head, partially to dislodge the mud from his hood, partially to get the same mud splashed against this sycophant’s garb. It would be poor reprisal, but was the best he could do until his strength returned.

Once it did he would bring the humans and their precious empire down in a reign of blood and fire.

“A slave?” A voice as sharp as a blade pierced through his plans of revenge, the word dripped with disdain and condescension.

Instinctively Binghe turned towards the source.

“Not some common slave I assure your majesty, this servant wouldn’t dare to insult you with such a crass gift.” There was an undertone of mockery in the man’s voice restrained just enough to still come off as polite. “What does your majesty know of half-demons?”

The question was met with a scoff, yet the man persisted.

“Humans and demons are two distinct races, and while coupling is often considered a profane act there is rarely a product of such unions. Even when there are, they rarely survive past infancy.”

A snarl curled Luo Binghe’s lips. His parentage was not well known, especially among humans. For his greatest weakness to be on display spoke of betrayal.

“A half demon? He looks like any other man. Do you take me for a fool?” There was a threat under the words, there was a fool present and it was clear who the speaker believed held the title.

“No! No, of course not.'' The man pulled the muddy hood from Binghe’s face forcing him to blink back the stinging daylight. “If you take a closer look, it’s quite clear that he is truly not human.”

The brightness in his vision and Binghe could see that he was kneeling in a makeshift courtyard, in front of an extravagant tent. At its head was a built up dias, upon which sat a man, flanked by a tall warrior. A beaded cap sat upon his head and Luo Binghe realized he was being gifted to the human emperor himself, Shen Qingqiu.

He’d heard of the man’s grand reputation, but seeing him in person was underwhelming. Were it not for the crown upon his head Luo Binghe would have overlooked him for the more imposing man at his side. Together they appeared as a pair; a bride attended by her groom, not the most important man in Can Qiong.

The general at his side was broad and tall with a regal bearing, making Shen Qingqiu’s smaller size more apparent.

Even his grand armour couldn’t hide his delicate features, the carved dragons upon his shoulders swallowing his entire frame. The only thing that seemed to corroborate his reputation was his sharp and calculating eyes.

There was a fierce intelligence in those eyes, and they were currently focused on Luo Binghe.

His thoughts were interrupted by a hand fisting itself into his hair pulling his head back.

“The facial features are the most telling of its true heritage. Fangs, ears and the like, some have unusual eyes as well though this one is rather plain.” His head was turned and he seethed at the insult of being treated like livestock for purchase.

“And what use would this emperor have for a slave?” Shen Qingqiu was clearly bored and uninterested.

“I would hardly call him a slave, more of a pet. It is said an emperor of the last dynasty had two that he would attend him at court functions. It is said that having a halfbreed is the ultimate marker of authority.”

Sharp eyes flicked up and away from the scroll in elegant hands to stare down the retainer.

“Do they?”

“This one specifically was found in the great Junshang’s tent, we have reason to believe he’s the demon’s personal servant.”

  What?

“So that is what this truly is, a distraction for your failure. You failed to capture the monster so I should settle for his pet?”

They didn’t know. They thought they had some meek lamb while they tempted the tiger. Binghe was the great Junshang, second only to Tianlang Jun, his father. He would be a useful hostage, except these fools had no idea.

He wanted to laugh.

The warrior didn’t seem all that impressed by the presentation leaning down to the emperor’s ear. If he didn’t have his demonic hearing still he might have missed it.

“Xiao Jiu, I don’t think this is a good idea.” Even from a distance he could see the way the Emperor’s eye twitched, his expression darkening.

“General Yue,” he emphasized the title, “if your opinion is desired then it shall be asked for.” The emperor did not look at the man but let his irritation bleed inot his voice. His eyes focused on Binghe with markedly more interest.

“So what were the uses of those halfbreeds?”

The retainer seemed eager to extol the virtues of slavery. “ The records don’t say for sure but it’s believed they could take the role of any servant, bodyguard, chamberlain, bedwarmer.”

Binghe grit his teeth. He would do no such thing.

General Yue looked equally uncomfortable with the suggestion, he leaned over again but was cut off before he could speak.

“Bring him here, I want a closer look.”

The same guards that had thrown Binghe into the mud picked him up and brought him up the dias. He was still too weak to get his own feet to work.

As soon as he was dropped again slender fingers shot out gripping his chin tightly, one of them slipping under his lip to lift it into a mockery of a snarl.

It was unnerving to be so weak and be treated so impersonally.

“He is quite pretty.”

Binghe made to bite the digit but as he did a sharp nail scraped against his gums as it was removed. He ended up snapping at empty air, tasting blood on his teeth.

That same hand dug into his curls holding him still, emerald eyes bored into his, judgemental and demanding.

“His manners leave something to be desired.”

“Your majesty, he looks as like to kill you as to guard you.” General Yue stepped forward stiffly, his hand on his blade. The action made the emperor’s fingers curl tighter into Binghe’s hair.

He let go pinching Binghe’s ear before stepping behind him, he once again stuck his fingers into Binghe’s mouth pulling it into a wide grimace, taunting General Yue.

“I don’t know, I could sick him upon my enemies.” He leaned in close and let his breath brush across Luo Binghe’s ear. “Like a dog.”

General Yue matched it with a grimace of his own, like he was holding himself back. Whatever the expression was Shen Qingqiu seemed disappointed tapping the cool metal of his nail cover against Luo Binghe’s chin. Eventually he removed his hands and straightened.

“Would take some training.”

The man stepped back towards his seat but Binghe couldn’t help it.

“You should listen to your general.” the emperor whipped around sharp eyes hardening focused completely on him.

“What is your name, beast?”

It was tempting to declare himself, shock the man so his face held no room for condescension, but his better judgement won out.

The crown prince being ransomed by humans would destroy his reputation, and he refused to endure such humiliation.

“Zheng Yang.”

Shen Qingqiu seemed to inspect him one last time, as if he was deciding if he knew that name and what he should do with it.

“Throw it in my carriage, the beast will serve me in Qing Jing palace.” He grabbed a cloth to clean his hands, “are there any objections General?”

The question was sickly sweet and while General Yue looked torn he eventually acquiesced.

“Of course not your majesty.” His head hung low, like a henpecked husband. Luo Binghe catalogued the interaction; there was division between the emperor and his greatest general, perhaps the demon could use it to his advantage.

He also made a point to memorize the gleeful face of the man who had presented him. Once he’d recovered, Binghe intended to pay all of these human’s back tenfold.