Business is not different than a battle. Deals, alliances, exclusive deals, and severed supply lines, they're all the same. And, just as with battle, one truth holds sway above all others: know thy enemy. - Merchant Wen Liqiu of the Phoenix Empire

"It'll be fine," I told Lin as we turned into the western market square. It was a smaller place than the market north of the armillary, which we frequented for the majority of the groceries for the inn.

"You weren't there the first time I went to this part of town," Lin answered. "The oni might not consider humans a delicacy like other yokai, but times are tough for everyone." His shoulders were so tense, boulders would be softer.

"But, this time, you have me!" I smiled sweetly, which only sparked an eyeroll from him.

"Yeah, yeah, you'll bat your eyes in that pretty boy routine and have all the oni falling over you." A dry humor colored his words, easing his tension.

I tapped my forehead, just next to the small horns that grew from my hairline. "Of course, by appearance, void spirits aren't so different from many species of oni. And, everyone knows that the more attractive the oni, the more powerful they are."

Xinya tugged on Lin's sleeve. "Uncle Lin? Is Uncle Yoru's ego going to explode?"

Lin tried to bite back laughter and failed. I just scowled at them both. It was all perfectly reasonable logic. They just didn't appreciate my gifts.

"Don't worry, Xinya," Lin said through his merriment. "He's lived with it long enough that I think he'll be fine. And, if he's not, we can always ask Satoro to knock him down a peg or two." He ruffled her hair.

"Don't even think about it," I grumbled. "That oni beat me within an inch of my life when we first met."

"Did you thank him for the pointers?" Xinya asked, her violet eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Of course I did!" I rolled my eyes. "I didn't want to actually die!"

She shrugged. "Then, that makes him the expert on keeping the Darkened Moon's ego in check."

I reached over and gently smacked the little girl upside the head. She protested, but the sentiment was lost between the giggles. I just rolled my eyes.

"Ill-mannered country kids, both of you," I huffed.

Lin reached over and shoved me gently. "I recall you saying you were from the Pearlescent Valley. That's just as much a backwater as the Moon-Soaked Shore is."

He had me there. I bit my tongue and looked away, rather than answering.

Lin tapped my shoulder, and I frantically fought to come up with a retort worthy of the teasing my sworn brother and ungrateful niece had inflicted upon me. Yet, he just pointed to a small shop advertising spices.

"We're here."

I followed Lin into the building. It was tight. Only Xinya could move between the shelves without worrying about bumping the baskets of powdered spices. My nose began to itch.

"Takayama?" Lin called. A crash came from the back wall of the shop.

"Innkeeper Tenri! One moment! I'll be right there!" The voice was hearty and deep. Lin and I waited by the counter for the merchant to arrive.

As soon as he arrived, I was shocked that such a large oni was able to manage such a tiny shop. He was a burly man, clearly used to carrying sacks of spices around. Though his clothes were of fine quality, they were a size too big…and not from the normal way that an Oni gets smaller. Times were tough, indeed.

"Master Tenri, what can I get for you today?" Takayama greeted, wiping extra spices clear from his hands. His eyes flicked to me and Xinya. "Oh, and this must be your sworn brother and his disciple. It's an honor to meet you." He bowed his head respectfully to me, and I just nodded back, letting Lin do the talking.

"Yes, this is Tsuyuki Yoru and Lang Xinya," Lin introduced. "They wanted to meet the fine merchant who's been so generous in risking his own business on a business deal with a couple of foreigners."

"Oh, you're too polite, Master Tenri," the oni said, waving off the compliment. "I know a deal when I see one, and I see far too few these days."

Lin nodded. "Yes, that's the other reason we're here, actually. I was wondering if we might make use of your contacts with the Chikara Oni to secure an audience with their chief."

"An audience with Chief Chikara?" Takayama raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid not even my contacts would be able to get you such a thing. They only respect power, and only that of other oni. I'm afraid I'm not strong enough to even rate an audience with the inner family, let alone the chief."

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Lin and I exchanged a look. "What if we knew a very powerful oni?" he asked.

The merchant grinned. "Are you talking about that fair-faced lad that frequents your establishment?"

"You know about him?" I asked incredulously. How could Satoro of all people be known better than me?

"Everyone knows about him. Why do you think I was able to get a deal between my bosses and your inn? I might own my business, but we all have to pay our dues. Rumor has it that the boss is trying to find a way that your handsome customer will accept a marriage deal with his daughter."

I coughed into a hand to hide my laughter before it could be taken for offense. The Oni Prince…get married? To anyone but the deceased Princess of Ren? Satoro would love that conversation. The Demon of Tragedy, being fished for an arranged marriage? What I wouldn't give to eavesdrop on that.

"What if we could get your chief an audience with him?" I asked, trying not to seem pleased about my fellow Demon's misfortunes.

Takayama nodded. "Chief Chikara might be open to an audience with you if you could secure one."

"He'll never go for it," Xinya pointed out. "You know Mister Satoro just wants to sit and drink all day."

"But, you can't deny that it would be hilarious."

"Enough, both of you." Lin chastised. "I don't want him to crack my skull, thank you."

He was right. I filed the information away for later use poking at the Oni Prince. After clearing my throat, I took a more serious approach to the subject.

"Of course, times being what they are, perhaps the Chief would be interested in hearing us out. We are fellow Silvers, after all, and we wish to improve affairs in the district. Surely that would interest the Chief?" I said.

Takayama rubbed his chin. "What kind of improvements?"

"The Shattered Moon Sect holds control over the import of food to the district," I began. "Perhaps, with our combined efforts, we could resolve that situation."

"Food honestly isn't our biggest concern, but I can relay the message. I can't guarantee it'll ever reach the Chief, but that's the best I can do."

Lin and I both bowed politely. "We would be grateful for your efforts."

"Pay me back in booze, and we'll call it even."

"Of course." Lin agreed. "We won't keep you longer. Fortune favor you and yours."

"And you, Master Tenri."

"Are you sure we can't just turn him in?" I asked when we were back on the street.

"Which of us was just saying on the way here that he was beat within an inch of his life by said Prince?"

I shrugged. "That was a long time ago. I bet I would be fine, now."

"Regardless, I like my spine intact."

Lin wasn't going to budge, and I didn't blame him. Satoro was an irritating villain and had the demeanor of a man with a lemon perpetually stuck between his lips, but he was still a cultivation genius. Despite his currently weakened state, he was once one of the most powerful in the realm, just like me. In fact, if I were to imagine a fight between him and I at the heights of our power, I wouldn't be certain of the outcome.

"He said that food wasn't their biggest concern," I mused, recalling the conversation. "Do you know what he…"

The thought trailed off as I saw Lin. His head was up and thoughtful. If he were a dog, his ears would have been pricked and his hackles raised. I went quiet, listening carefully.

Then I heard it.

"Battle sounds," I said. He nodded.

The clanking of steel was faint, muffled by several city streets, but the cadence and tone made it unmistakable. I drew my bow from my back. Lin drew his sword. Xinya had no weapon, but that didn't stop her qi dancing from her fingertips in a sparkling purple bolt.

Rather than wasting time searching tight streets and narrow alleyways, Lin jumped, gripping a nearby rooftop and pulling himself up. After helping Xinya, I quickly followed. From above, we'd have a much better view to find and observe the battle before leaping into the fray.

Lin took off, sprinting along the crest of the roof. Xinya tried to follow, but she wasn't nearly fast enough. I scooped her up in one arm. She gripped a hold of my collar and chains, and didn't complain, keeping her eyes ahead.

"Over there!" she cried, pointing to where a small cloud of dust was being kicked up by the battle. Adding that to the sound, it was clear that the fight involved quite a few yokai.

"That's still in Chikara territory," Lin said.

I nodded. "Given the scale, it seems likely that the oni are fighting someone."

"But who would it be?"

"Only one way to find out."

Lin and I raced towards the scuffle, hopping across several roofs until we were just overhead.

In the dust, it was difficult to see. Qi of a variety of colors flared and swirled through the street, kicking up even more dust and obscuring the scene. However, even through the chaos, we could pick out two unique factions.

One was the Chikara Oni. They were big, lumbering oni, each with a black and red ribbon tied to their arm. Most of them were weak, but I spotted one young oni who was smaller and faster than the rest, slipping through the enemy and cutting them to ribbons with his glaive.

Or at least, he would be, if his enemy had any flesh at all. They were more difficult to see, but the qi of their bodies was thick to make up for their lack of physical form. They were shades, the ghostly spirits left behind by the powerful emotions of the deceased.

Each side was easily ten or twelve strong, with the bodies of several oni laying still on the ground already. It was impossible to tell if any shades had been dispersed in the fight.

"What do we do?" Xinya asked. "We should stop them, right? If we do, maybe they'll also put in a good word with the Chikara Chief?"

"We'd have to join the Chikara in wiping out those shades for that," I noted.

"They could be void-corrupted. Like during the blackout?" she offered. While that was a definite possibility, I shook my head.

"Not enough Void qi in the battle."

Xinya nodded sagely. She couldn't see qi yet, being only Bronze, but she trusted its validity all the same. She chewed on her knuckle as she worked over the situation for a brief moment.

"If the shades are friendly, we might not be helping by joining only the Chikara," she reasoned. "Miss Ishida says that the Oni are a violent gang, but we have to do something, right?"

Lin tightened the grip on his sword. "We should leave them alone. It's not our business." However, his tone suggested that he didn't believe his own words. I smiled at him. He'd come a long way from the cultivator who bowed his head to Shen Yaoxan's wicked ways. He was well on his way to becoming a fine and righteous young cultivator.

"That's stupid," Xinya muttered. "People are being hurt."

"I quite agree," I said. "After all, gang fights are illegal in this city."

"Since when?" Lin asked.

"Since forever," I answered, putting an arrow to my string. "I should know. I made the laws."

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