He Zihao woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling, feeling dazed and confused. His heart thumped in his chest, creating an increased blood flow that pooled in his cranium, giving him a headache from the increased pressure. His mind was dazed from the sudden awakening, his awareness slowly blooming as the haze receded.

He felt a slight pressure on his hand and instinctively squeezed, only to find that it fitted perfectly. A comforting warmth spread from his side, prompting him to offer a look which left him with a wide smile. With much difficulty, he raised his other hand and gently glided his finger through the mass of hair lying on the side of the bed.

"You're finally awake," a voice said from the other side of the room, prompting He Zihao's hand to stop abruptly. He gently removed it, letting her rest.

"What happened?"He Zihao asked, his voice hoarse and his throat as parched as the desert they were now in. "I remember a force invading me... then nothing."

"You don't have to worry; that force belonged to the sect leader," Wu Weizhe said as he approached the bed. He couldn't help but shake his head as he looked upon his sole disciple snuggling to another man.

She is already old enough but still acts like a child sometimes... Wu Weizhe thought. I guess the instincts of youth are much harder to control for some. Not all can overcome what it means to be human. Not even myself...

He looked down at his sleeping disciple and offered a slight smile. But his thoughts drifted to the image of a beautiful woman dressed in white, and his smile soured. He could only shake his head in dejection, feeling that he had missed his opportunity.

“Martial uncle, is something wrong?” He Zihao asked, feeling the shift in the man’s expression.

“I just have some things on my mind, like the man you found in the desert. Ruolan did tell me what she experienced, but some things are still unclear.”

"Speaking of Yun, do you happen to know where he is? I don't know why, but I have this feeling that I should thank him as if I wouldn't be alive if not for him..."

Wu Weizhe looked down, pondering for a moment.

Interesting... Was he aware of what occurred even while unconscious? If we could get hold of the method he used, it might alleviate her burden. Still, using force would be ill-advised... What should I use?

His gaze landed on his sleeping disciple, feeling how much she had grown since the first day he was made to be her master. She had always been beautiful but now was even more so. Should he...

Wu Weizhe shook his head, dispersing those crude thoughts.

If he is as I suspected, and is part of that sect, why would he even fancy a girl like Ruolan? She may be beautiful and talented, but those traits aren't much compared to those heavenly fairies. Still, I don't doubt some will try despite it all.

His eyes grew wider, and his breath accelerated as a preposterous thought bloomed in his mind.

She wouldn’t dare... would she?

******

Feeling bored waiting for his meeting with the Moonlight Sword Palace's sect leader, Qin Yun opted for a trip around town. While Wu Weizhe had wanted guards to follow him as he was a distinguished guest, Qin Yun categorically refused to be restricted in any way. Seeing as they owed him, Wu Weizhe acquiesced to his demands, only giving a token sporting the Moonlight Palace emblem.

I doubt this will be useful should I encounter someone I can't handle alone—just like the last one I was offered.

Qin Yun offered a slight smile as he looked back to the city he had left behind, feeling a subtle nostalgia even though it wasn't that long ago. He wondered how the Qin clan had fared without him ever since the deal with the Yun clan had fallen through.

Did they find another item to offer them? I guess they are merely trying to delay as much as possible. Whether they will come through in the end remains to be seen. I just hope they won't involve me in this any further... Speaking of the Yun clan, would they be brazen enough to reach out to Jingfei once they learn of her recovery? Her master probably won’t like it...

Qin Yun slowly walked the deserted street of this frontier city, drowning in his own thoughts. Unlike the boundless vitality of Jin City, this place was devoid of any activity; only the scarce patrols of the local sects could be seen listlessly wandering the street with no goal in mind. Occasionally, they would encounter a poor rogue cultivator and harass him, if only for the men to cure their boredom. Even Qin Yun had been stopped once or twice, but would soon be let go as they saw the token on his waist.

This thing is more useful than I thought. Still, I didn’t expect the military discipline to be so flawed. How do they expect to prevail against their foes that way? Do they not care about victory, or am I missing something?

Seeking answers, Qin Yun arrived in front of what seemed like a tavern. Unlike the countless other buildings made of what appeared to be mud, this was one of the few built in the style he was familiar with, resembling most of those he frequented back in Jin City.

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He pushed the door open, only to be stunned by the countless stares instantly turning his way as if they tried to burn their sight into him. He could see the distrust clearly imprinted in their eyes, but even more than that, there only seemed to be hostility.

Not a cultivator in sight... Is this a mortal inn? These men and women are pretty hardy to be able to live in such harsh conditions...

Ignoring the heavy atmosphere, Qin Yun approached the empty bar and sat at the counter. A tense silence hung over all, prompting Qin Yun to ponder why. However, as he was absorbed in his thoughts, a voice brought him back to reality.

“How rare for an honoured immortal to grace us peasants with his presence; you must not be a local.”

Qin Yun turned, only to see a woman emerge from the backroom. Her clothes were quite strange, yet made up for it by their utility. A large sand-coloured sheet covered her whole body, only showing her head and hands. Undoubtedly a protection against the harsh midday sun.

Still, not even the other women in the bar wore clothes that were even slightly similar, making her the odd one out. But even that wasn't the strangest thing about her. From what he could see, her skin was a dark bronze, much darker than the other patrons, who had no doubt spent numerous hours under the sun. Her eyes were a deep silver. If not for the slight hint of a shine, he might have mistaken them for grey.

Catching Qin Yun stare at her, the woman offered Qin Yun a broad smile, all the while slowly making her way toward him. Although she looked to be in her late thirties, she still exuded the allure of youth. Her exotic charm was such that she didn't need to expose any skin for Qin Yun to be captivated.

However, the woman was mistaken. While she was undoubtedly beautiful, what caught his attention was the energy she desperately tried to conceal, trying to appear as nothing more than a mortal, even going as far as to mingle among them.

"Isn't saying so ironic, considering your own situation?" he replied, slightly smiling.

The woman stopped in place, showing a worried expression. She looked around her, only to find nothing seemed out of the ordinary. None of her patrons seemed to have heard what Qin Yun said; they all remained absorbed in their conversation as if Qin Yun and the woman were estranged from all others in their own little world.

Unbeknownst to her, Qin Yun had used a part of his qi to power the device hidden in his mechanical arm, making them both invisible to the rest of the tavern. By slightly tweaking what the device was capable of, he could make it so that only the two were aware of each other.

"How did you..." the woman asked, slightly shocked by the people's lack of reaction.

"I don't want to get too technical, but I altered their perceptions. The brain is a magnificent thing. A slight tweak in energy potential is all it takes for it to do what you want. Unfortunately, this is only temporary. They'll snap out of it in time."

The woman frowned, looking at him with suspicion. Still, she didn’t run away, nor showed signs of agitation. It only took her a moment to regain her composure before reaching for a bottle below the bar. She removed the lid, and a strong scent of alcohol wafted into the air, prompting some of the patrons to turn their way.

Qin Yun frowned slightly before offering a smile. More of his qi flowed into the device, emitting a stronger glow that was entirely stopped by the cloth of his sleeve. In less than an instant, those who had turned their head were again oblivious, returning to their conversation as if their memories had been reset.

“Impressive," the woman said as she nonchalantly poured herself a drink and offered one to Qin Yun, who drank it without any reservation. The liquid burned as it flowed, filling him with a feeling of euphoria that came as soon as it touched his lips. Unlike normal liquor, Qin Yun seemed unable to dissolve the alcohol, making him feel slightly tipsy.

“Good stuff,” Qin Yun said as he put the cup down. “Where does it come from.”

“The edge,” the woman said dismissively.

Qin Yun’s eyebrow rose slightly, and he could feel that the woman sought to reach for something under her clothes, yet he chose to ignore it.

"It's the same for you, I'd assume," he replied before taking another sip. He couldn't keep himself from slightly smiling as he licked his lips.

The woman suddenly stopped midway, letting go of whatever she sought before putting both of her elbows onto the bar and leaning slightly forward.

“Aren’t you scared?” she whispered.

“What for?”

He looked straight into her silver eyes. Both of their gazes were unwavering until she finally chuckled and leaned back.

“I don’t know if you are clueless or just a fool,” she said.

“Why not call me brave?”

“Bravery is for fools... Fear exists for a reason.”

Qin Yun couldn't help but agree. Too many people mistook obliviousness for bravery.

“You may be one of those they call outsiders, but I couldn’t care for this conflict any less.”

“You seem so sure I am... Have you met any of them?”

“You're the first," he said, taking another sip. The woman couldn't help but shake her head.

“I'm just a half... a bastard. Otherwise, how could I live in this city?" she said, a slight trace of sorrow on her face, prompting Qin Yun to no longer ask. Everyone had their own life stories, and prying into a stranger's life would be nothing more than crass.

“How about you?" she said after her expression returned to normal. "What brings you to this hellhole? I don't suppose you came here searching for riches like all those other fools?"

“The world’s edge... That’s what I’m after.”

The woman froze, looking into Qin Yun's eyes. He expected her to look at him as if he were a fool, yet he was surprised to see only fear in those silver gems. It took her a while to calm herself, yet Qin Yun made no attempt to aid her in the process.

"A fool's errand," she said weakly, yet her shoulders betrayed her agitation. She picked up the bottle of liquor, trying to pour herself another cup, only for the tremors of her hand to make this task more difficult than it should have been. "Why would you even want to go there?"

“To see what lies beyond,” Qin Yun replied calmly, observing her reaction closely.

Without warning, her hands froze in place, the bottle slipping from her grasp as it fell to the wooden floor, shattering into countless shards of glass. The sound broke the silence, bringing all the patrons out of their trances. They all turned to stare at them, their eyes piercing into Qin Yun's back. Still, Qin Yun's gaze was only fixated on the woman.

“You’ve seen it, haven’t you?” he said, showing a wide smile.