“What was it like?” Qin Yun asked, ignoring the stares that seemed to want to carve a canyon on his back.

The woman shook slightly as if reliving vivid memories that her mind had sought to forget. Her hands trembled, and fear was evident in her eyes. Seeing that no answers would come his way, Qin Yun relented for the time being, letting out a deep sigh as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

As I expected, it's not something humans are meant to see... I'll have to see it for myself to be certain.

“Forget it,” Qin Yun added as he shook his head before taking another sip of the sweet liquid. “Instead, why not tell me about what’s been happening in this city? The atmosphere’s heavier than I expected.”

Snapping out of her trance, the woman took a deep breath and her shakes slowly disappeared. She looked around as if dazed, only to finally notice the shards of glass and the liquid pooling on the floor. She frowned and bent down, picking them up individually, ignoring what Qin Yun had asked. He couldn't help but look at her with interest.

Same reaction as what happened back in Jin City... Were her memories wiped or locked away? What are they trying to hide?

As she finished cleaning the mess, the woman rose only to see Qin Yun quietly staring at her. She frowned; confusion was clear on her face. Qin Yun smiled and reiterated his questions.

“Aren't you part of the Moonlight Sword Palace? Why aren't you aware of this?" she took a step back, approaching a small indent in the bar behind her, prompting Qin Yun to raise a single eyebrow but soon chuckle slightly.

“That token was just a gift," he said as he put the wooden token on the counter, showing the exquisite carving of a sword under the moonlight. It emitted a slight hint of sword intent, just enough to convince others of its validity. "News of this city don't reach far into the western regions. I'm afraid most people aren't even aware of the war happening here."

The woman stopped, scrutinizing Qin Yun before finally stepping away from the bar. She approached him, only for her slender fingers to trace the contours of the token, marvelling at how exquisitely made it was—even more so as she felt the lingering intent laced within.

After a moment, she finally let go and addressed Qin Yun once more.

"The Moonlight Sword Palace isn't known for giving out this kind of treatment. You must be quite the distinguished guest. In that case, why come here? I'm sure they can tell you everything you need to know."

“And have their bias taint it?" Qin Yun said, a slight hint of ridicule in his eyes as he took another sip. "I think not. Besides, just because I'm a guest, doesn't mean they don't have their own agendas."

The woman's eyes grew slightly wider. She couldn't hide her surprise, which was also laced with a slight trace of interest.

“If you don’t trust them, why do you think I’ll be any better?”

"It's not about trust. I only believe what my own eyes see. I don't want to go down a path only to find I was wrong all this time."

The woman sighed before pulling out a stool and sitting opposite Qin Yun.

"The war's been going on for too long," she said, a slight trace of vicissitude in her voice. "People are too tired to go on. They are reaching their breaking point. The sects have tried multiple times to plead to the alliance for them to help in the effort, yet they have been denied every time. Now, they don't even bother anymore."

"It doesn't surprise me," Qin Yun replied. "There is much more to gain back east. After all, what can this barren land even provide that the East cannot. Their choice is obviously the best in terms of gains and losses."

"Those fools don't even take this threat seriously..." she shook her head. "Not even the local sects know the scale of what they are up against. They think everything will be fine if they keep the outsiders at bay."

"You have some history, it seems," Qin Yun said, looking straight at her. "I assume you tried to warn them."

The woman scoffed, her temper growing shorter by the moment. Qin Yun could even spy a metaphorical flame in her eyes.

“They didn’t listen,” she said, a trace of spite in her tone. “They even tried to shut me up, claiming my claims were lowering morale... A bunch of fools too absorbed in their self-interest to see reality.”

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“I'm surprised you're still allowed to remain in this city, even more so that you can run your own bar."

“Didn’t you notice the emblem?” she said, surprised as she pointed at a sign hanging over the door depicting a sword under the moonlight. “I thought you had, considering the token you wore.”

“I admit, I was distracted," Qin Yun replied, slightly embarrassed. "Are you part of the sect? Considering your ancestry, there should have been some backlash from the other sects."

“There was, but the former sect leader personally acted on my behalf, shutting them off. I owe him a great deal. However, ever since his passing...”

Before she could finish, the wooden door burst open, plunging the room into a heavy silence. All the patrons turned toward it, holding their breaths as they saw three men in their late thirties in dark red garbs slowly walk in. Their heads were held high, and slight smirks were plastered on their faces. Their arrogance was plain for all to see.

“Friends of yours?” Qin Yun asked, not bothering to muffle his voice, yet the woman’s expression was all he needed as an answer. If looks could kill, those men would already be six feet under. However, it appeared for but a moment before a professional customer service smile replaced it.

“What can I do for you, gentlemen?" she asked as she rose. Yet Qin Yun noticed one of her hands held behind her back was now completely white, devoid of any blood, as she clenched it much too hard. However, her voice was calm and even slightly sweet, betraying none of it.

“Nalia!” one of the men exclaimed as he made his way toward the bar, leaning on it. “Can’t say I didn’t expect you to still be here. Still too afraid to return back to your people, you little traitor?”

The man offered a sneer, looking back to his companions as if to seek approval. On the other hand, Nalia flashed a pained expression, trying her best to remain neutral, yet failed. She also bit her lips, trying to keep calm, yet she almost drew blood. Qin Yun watched all this from the other side of the bar, unwilling to interfere, unlike some of the mortal men present.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Half a dozen men rose from their seats, shaking in anger, yet fear in their eyes. Still, they couldn't keep the words bottled up anymore. "She's done more for this city than you parasites will ever do!"

Two red-robed cultivators' eyes shrunk slightly, making the mortal men reel back. However, the man in the lead only offered a smile—a smile filled with animosity. He didn't even deign to address the mortals before waving his hand, prompting one of his lackeys to release his aura, forcing the mortals back down on their seats. Two of them couldn't resist it and started frothing at the mouth, completely unconscious.

“Stop it!” Nalia pleaded, an expression of panic on her face. Qin Yun had expected her to ask for his help, yet surprisingly she did not.

Does she have something up her sleeve, or is someone substantial behind them? Either way, this is a show worth watching.

“How many times must I tell you? Don't involve mortals in this. The other sects won't take this lying down if you go too far!" she said, yet her words seemed to lack impact. The man only chuckled as he picked up her chin with his fingers, lifting it slightly.

"Are you still hoping one of them will try to defy us?" he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "For a half-breed like you? If not for that old man, you would already be just a corpse. Even the world rejects these sub-humans, so why should you be treated any differently. Taking you in was his biggest mistake."

“You’ve no right to talk about him like that!” she said, blood flowing from her lips.

"Are you hoping for the Moonlight Sword Palace to fight on your behalf?" the man replied, content. "They're barely holding on as it is. Give them less than twenty years, and they'll crumble on their own. His successor is just a young woman; she can do nothing to stop the inescapable."

“She may be young compared to the others, but she is still worthy of respect!”

"Indeed," the man said as he leaned back. "Reaching the Soul Formation realm at her age is commendable. However, can she hold back the inevitable all on her own? Their decline is already guaranteed."

"Don't talk as if you have nothing to do with this! If you cowards hadn't fled then, then he may not have had to perish to save us all!" one of the mortal men spat, resisting the oppression. Yet, he soon fell to the floor, his body being crushed against the ground, losing his ability to breathe as the pressure mounted, slowly being suffocated to death.

Unable to hold herself back, Nalia swung her fist, yet the man easily caught it within his iron grip. She tried to struggle but was unable to. From what Qin Yun could feel, she was at the mid-stage of the Foundation Building realm while her opponent was in the Void Core. This struggle was doomed from the start.

However, something surprising happened. Dark grey markings appeared on her bronze skin, filled with an aura he was familiar with. Qin Yun became stunned as he watched Nalia's tiny fist overpower the man, sending him reeling across the floor, her strength much greater than what her realm would suggest—much like his own.

She gripped the counter as if trying to vault over it, yet remained in place, struggle apparent on her face. She couldn't will herself to follow through, only able to endure silently, knowing she was no match for those who supported these men. However, her hesitation was precisely what these men hoped to see.

The red-robed man in the lead approached the mortal man sprawled on the ground, only to lift him up by the neck, choking him.

"You've no right to speak to us that way," he said, his voice chilling all the mortals who heard him. "If not for us, how long would you survive in this place, surrounded by monsters and the constant outsider raids? You only need to keep your mouth shut and do your job digging up those spirit crystals in those mines. Maybe someday you'll earn enough to leave this place... Although I doubt it."

He then threw the man’s limp body aside, but from what Qin Yun could see, he still seemed to be breathing, albeit only barely. Still, Qin Yun wondered how things had degenerated this far. Although the gap between mortals and cultivators had always been unbridgeable, even in Jin City, it had never been that bad.

This seems like more than mere arrogance. Was there a societal shift, or is there something more behind this?

Qin Yun remained absorbed in his thoughts, staring straight into his drink, unconcerned by the fate of these mortals. After all, he was only a guest here. Unless directly provoked, he felt no inclination to do anything. After all, any of his actions would be reflected upon the Moonlight Sword Palace. However, once again, nothing would ever go his way.

As the man returned to the bar, his gaze was attracted to Qin Yun, or more precisely, the wooden token on the counter next to him. The man frowned and approached him, standing right over him, even putting his hand on Qin Yun's shoulder. From his expression, Qin Yun knew precisely where this would go. Without waiting, he went straight into action.

He took the man's wrist and twisted. A cracking sound echoed as the man's arm broke from the rotating force, but it didn't end there. The man spun in the air before landing on his back, yet Qin Yun still held the limb firmly before stepping on the man's windpipe, pinning him to the floor. His gaze landed on the two remaining men as he rose, stopping them dead in their tracks.

“I’d appreciate if you didn’t touch me. Although it might be too late for that,” Qin Yun said, preparing to follow through in case he should.