Yukiya, Xia and the first squadron members were able to deal with a few of the Rakshasa that appeared in their way. But their situation still did not look up.
"Let's return to the palace," Yukiya whispered.
"But that is the most risky place now," Xia mumbled with a frown.
"Yes, there is also a possibility that the Rakshasas might not have infiltrated it. If we stay out here, we would get sniffed out by any and all Rakshasas present here," she whispered, throwing a worried glance at the red egg.
Xia too understood. He nodded and agreed with her plan.
The cheetah below them swiftly moved towards the castle. Along the way, they did meet a few of the Rakshasa, but Yukiya and Xia were able to deal with them.
The palace gates were tightly closed.
"Hold tight!!!"
Xia tightly hugged Felia and his mother.
The cheetah leapt through the sky. With his huge tail, it swished off any Rakshasas that were blocking the way. Inside, the palace guards swiftly came to help them and escort them inside.
The security was tight, but there was a small crowd right before the entrance.
From the gaps Xia saw the golden dress shimmering. "Mother in law!!! He shouted waving at them.
"Oh my god," Yin Long ran up to them and hugged them tight. "Come in, it's not safe here,"
She carefully picked the egg from his hands and led them all inside. The cheetah stayed behind, protecting the doors.
"What's going on?" Yukiya hurriedly whispered.
"Those bastards they tricked us. The portal was never set to the human realm, but it was set to the clouds. From there they just easily escaped our notice and climbed their way here,"
"How is that even possible," Xia frowned deeply.
"It is possible, darling. There are ways," she patted his back gently. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No I am good. We notice the Rakshasas before they could hurt us," he said with a small smile.
Yukiya walked swiftly. "We need to inform our squadrons."
"We tried, but our connections are severed,"
"We are sitting ducks." Xia clenched his fists.
Yin Long sighed and hugged them once again. "Don't worry; my sons are bound to notice it soon. When they do, they will come back to us. All we have to do is hold it out,"
Suddenly, the main gate banged loudly and a huge group of snakes slithered in. It was the same type of Rakshasa Xia witness out of the gates. "There are so many...." he whispered, slightly shaken..
"I'll take care of this. You both run to the interior part of the castle," Yin Long whispered, removing the scarf around her waist.
"no, we'll fight with you," Yukiya stood beside her.
Yin long smiled at her. "But I can't allow that, dear," she gestured to the nearby guard. The man swiftly slapped the back of her neck. Yukiya fell unconscious instantly. He lifted her over his shoulders and ran. "Xia dear follow along..."
Xia hesitantly glanced at his mother, then at yin long. "but..."
"Please, dear.." she handed him the baby dragon egg. "Protect yourself well."
Xia Che nodded carefully, taking over the red egg. "Same goes for your mother.... please don't risk your life. If in danger, flee..." he hugged her from behind and followed the guard who was carrying his mum.
The guard was going through secret passage way though the walls that led them directly into the interior chambers of the castle.
"What about the other royals and other citizens?"
"The heaven's realm is partially captured by the nether Rakshasas. They are powerful, but not powerful enough to take over this castle," the guard assured him.
"What of the citizens?" Xia whispered once again.
"They..... They will be saved once the capital is secured."
"shit..." that was not good news at all. That could only mean that we did not have enough force to save the other civilians.
"But don't worry, young prince consort; the civilians in heaven's realm are all powerful cultivators. They can hold on until the first and second squadron is back,"
"Good..." only after this was Xia Che assured. They ran towards a new passageway and entered an elaborately decorated room. Three figures were already present there.
As soon as they entered, they all glanced at them with obvious distaste on their faces.
It was long's uncle and his twin daughters, Long Jia and Long Mui.
The uncle glance at him in a weird way and the twins looked at him with a look of contempt.
'looks like I would have to spend painful time with these two..." the guard placed his mum gently on the bed.
Xia Che sat next to her with the egg in hand.
"I surprised you survived. I thought you would have been ashes by now," one of the twins named Long Mui goaded.
Xix did not want to respond to her childish words. He silently sat there. 'Ignore the screeching background noise. I am not that low to respond to it.'
"Suddenly gone mute? I think that suits you well." the other twin, Long Jia mumbled. She glanced at Yukiya with a nauseating grin. "But worry not; my Long Ki will come rescue me from this place. You... and your mother.... won't even bother to look. After all, she is a tainted person. Having a child with another man? No wonder she ran off on their wedding day."
"YOU!!!" Xia Che shot up with a furious glare.
"Girls.... enough." The uncle whispered, peering at him intently.
Even Xia Che glanced at him, not breaking their line of sight. He noticed the man's changing expression in his eyes. At first it was disgust, but as seconds went by, it turned to curiosity.
"Guards, please go out. We have something to talk in private,"
Xix stiffened. 'What does he want to talk about?'
The guards glanced at him once. But they could not go against a superior figure's order. They bowed to him once and walked out of the room guarding it from outside.
"You are an interesting thing indeed." The old man walked close with a soft smile. "A demon....."
Xia fully froze. 'How did he know...' he tried to maintain his composure, but he failed it fabulously? "I don't know what you are talking about."
"You can act all you want, but your dirty blood gives you away," he gestured to the small bloody scar on his hands. "You are a demon...."
"So what?" Xia did not bother denying anything.
The man raised his brows. "Hmm...you are only acting like a beast, but you are just a dirty demon. Imposter."
Long Mui took this chance to shout for the guards. "An imposter is here!!!!!"
The guards rushed in.
The girl pointed to Xia. "The prince consort has been replaced by a demon imposter!!!!"