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Chapter 237 Decline of Demitia family

As the sun dipped lower, casting its final warm hues across the expanse, the group knew they were seeing the last sunset for the foreseeable future.

The imminent darkness brought with it an array of emotions – a mixture of awe, curiosity, and perhaps a tinge of apprehension. For months ahead, the sun's absence would mean a world immersed in perpetual shadows, where the moon and stars would become their sole sources of illumination.

In the gathering dusk, shadows lengthened across the plains, hinting at the nights to come, nights that would be draped in an unending shroud of darkness. The group, standing at the edge of this transition, felt the weight of the impending change settle upon them.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in its final strokes of vivid colors, the group turned away, preparing themselves for the looming nights that lay ahead in Chernbog's den.

"Let's set up camp here for the night," Keyara suggested, and everyone agreed before dismounting from their steeds.

"Tonight, three men will be on watch, with a five-hour shift," she added, and everyone began unpacking their belongings from their packs since they'd left the armored vehicle behind, knowing Bira could outrun it easily.

Kevin, patting his steed, said, "Chill for a bit, whisky. I'll grab you some grass once I've set up camp." Ken, nearby, tying his own steed to a boulder, overheard and remarked, "Seems like you're like monsters."

"Only the ones that likes me," Kevin replied, still petting the three-eyed monster horse that relished its master's affection by nuzzling against him.

"That's the way it should roll—stick with someone who's into you," Ken agreed, getting up. "We haven't properly introduced ourselves, have we? I'm Ken Lee," he said, offering his hand for a shake.

Kevin shook his hand warmly. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ken. I'm Kevin Morrison, Keith's boyfriend."

"Got it, skip the formalities; just call me Ken. I ain't that much older anyway," he chuckled.

"Seriously? I'm 17," Kevin grinned, securing his own steed, Whisky.

Ken smiled in return. "Well, not too far off from what I thought," he commented inwardly musing, 'He's 16 and already got over 100 meridian linked... Keith hit the jackpot.'

The silver-haired man knew a thing or two about Kevin, but not much. He figured Kevin would be in his mid-twenties or early thirties, but here was this good-looking lad still in his teenage years.

Well, age aside, what really struck him was Kevin's strength. He'd only seen a few cultivators make this much progress in their cultivation. Even starting early wasn't usually because the human body finishes developing at 16, and that's when most people can begin their cultivation journey.

Ken leaned against the boulder where the Biras were tied at and asked. "So, what brings you out here, Kevin? Aside from your girlfriend."

Kevin stood and observed Keith setting up her tent. With a smile, he clarified, "I've got a store in the city for selling cultivation materials. This Chernbog's Den happens to be rich in those, so that's my main gig here. How about you?"

Ken, pulling out a cigar and nodding, lit it up. "Just here to honor a few promises and clear some debts," he replied casually puffed out a smoke while offering him to get one out of his box.

Kevin took one and lit it, exhaling smoke while gazing at the sky, inquired, "How long have you been with the Demitia family?"

The silver-haired man, caught in a nostalgic moment with a couple of puffs of smoke, reminisced, "Since her dad's era, almost 30 to 40 years."

Kevin chuckled at his response, puzzling Ken. "Did I say something funny?" Ken inquired.

"No, not funny, just a tad younger than me, yet you've been working for them for 40 years—more than half of my age," Kevin replied with a grin, taking another puff.

The evening breeze carried the conversation as they sat, puffing on their cigars, the air filled with a sense of camaraderie.

"Must've seen quite the changes over the years, huh?" Kevin mused, watching the smoke swirl upwards.

Ken nodded pensively, a nostalgic smile lingering on his face. "Oh, loads. The Demitia clan's witnessed everything—the highs, the lows, power shifts, you name it." He took one last puff, finishing the cigarette, and sighed. "But unfortunately, it's headed for a decline from here."

This revelation caught the teenager off guard, and he asked with genuine surprise, "Why? What happened?"

The older man retrieved another cigar, speaking in a slightly subdued tone. "Many strong folks, myself included, are planning to leave after we return."

This revelation surprised him once more, and he repeated his question. "Why?"

"Well, most of us stuck around for family commitments, promises, and debts, which we've pretty much sorted out. And once Kari gets into Agenya Academy, that's pretty much the final piece," Ken explained, lighting up another cigarette. "As strong as the Demitia family is, for cultivators like me who seek more progress elsewhere, there isn't much it can offer."

Kevin nodded, still taken aback. "Does Keyara know about this?"

"Yeah, we filled her in yesterday," Ken replied.

"That explains her silence." Kevin discarded the cigarette butt and inquired, "Who else is planning to leave then?"

Ken lit another and exhaled slowly. "Let's see... me, Yelena and Robert, Arya and her husband seem to be considering it, too. Not entirely sure about Zaria, but from what I know, she might be on her way out as well."

"That's nearly over half of the Qi Condestion stage cultivators," Kevin remarked, visibly shocked.

Ken nodded in agreement. "Well, Keyara still has Keith and her grandma. They're capable enough to maintain their position, especially with some lower-level cultivators. They'll manage fine. Plus, who knows? With Kari growing powerful in the future, they might even return to their prime."

Mid-conversation, Yelena strolled over to them, having just tethered her steed nearby to theirs.