Zarthos
patreon
123 - Seeking a Path Through the Storm
🕑 Added 2024-11-30 00:48:03 +0000 UTCWithin the halls of this tavern, a jolly atmosphere uplifted all who stood between these walls. The wine flew aplenty, drenching its customers' weary hearts, allowing them to sail over this sea of bitterness with only temporary bliss on their minds.
No waves occurred as Qin Yun entered the inn; most weren't even aware of his presence. Slipping through the crowd and avoiding the many young servers toiling into the night, Qin Yun arrived at the bar only to find a bronze-skinned beauty behind it.
Although her attire was much different than the last time he encountered her, Qin Yun recognized her at a glance. After all, her skin and those silver eyes were a dead giveaway, as was her long silver hair, now free from the veil she wore some days prior.
She turned to face him, and a stunned expression appeared, if only momentarily before being replaced with puzzlement. Without meaning to, Qin Yun had been caught staring, which couldn't help but draw a light chuckle from her mouth.
Her current clothes couldn't be called modest, yet they seemed strangely appropriate for this desolate desert. A long patterned skirt rested on her hips and flew down to her ankles. She also wore a light top that revealed her shoulders and midsection. Countless polished metallic rings—some gold, silver, or other exotic materials—were on her wrists and ankles, rustling as she walked and served the alcoholic beverages.
Two large earrings hung from her ears down to her shoulders, flapping away as she moved, but matching well with her long, flowing silver hair. Yet, what truly caught Qin Yun's attention was the silver jewellery attached to her belly button, which rang each time it swayed.
“I’m glad you like what you see,” she said with a smile, motioning for another server to take her place behind the counter. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”
Qin Yun remained silent for a moment longer, relishing the view and the atmosphere. His gaze, however, was completely calm, showing none of the perversion present in the surrounding patrons' eyes. His was only laced with curiosity.
"Is this dress style common among your people?" he asked casually, just as Nalia began to feel slightly uncomfortable with his stare. "I must confess the contrast between this and your previous outfit left me perplexed. I almost didn't recognize you."
“The sun is harsh during the day,” she explained, leaning on the counter. “My people—as you call them—do not possess your means to fight it. As such, long garments are necessary during the day. However, the heat lingers long into the night, allowing us to free ourselves from their bonds. Why wouldn’t we take advantage of it to be a little adventurous?”
She smiled playfully, which couldn't help but attract countless gazes toward her, almost as if she was the midday sun shining overhead, deadly but irresistible. People couldn't help but stare regardless of sex, even if they would get burned in the end.
However, not all those stares were born out of desire. Some were laced with ridicule, and others anger, which Qin Yun also felt a slight trace of murderous intent deep within. He observed those individuals from the corner of his eyes, only to recognize them.
He didn't know them individually, yet he recognized their garbs. They seemed part of the Raging Fire sect, sporting their distinct red robes with the pattern of a black flame near the hem. Still, Qin Yun was unconcerned as they were, at most, mid-rank Qi Refining cultivators. No matter what means they might possess, they were no match for this woman.
Yet, he felt it better to be safe. Just as he was about to warn her, he saw her glance in their direction and scoff. Although muffled, Qin Yun heard her clearly and couldn't help but smile.
“It seems the recent skirmish didn’t help your situation,” Qin Yun said. “How many cannot wait to rid themselves of you?”
"Too many," she sighed, yet her expression remained unconcerned. "Believe it or not, the populace at large couldn't care less about my origins—as you can see. Only those stuck-up cultivators wish to take their frustrations on me... hypocrites. This is war; what did they expect? Did they think my people would just roll over and die when asked?"
"Your people are the aggressor," Qin Yun shrugged. "It's only expected for resentment to fester in the ranks of their enemies. Some of their friends and comrades were lost in the last battle. They need an outlet to vent their frustrations. You just happened to be in enemy territory."
"Aggressor, my ass," she scoffed even harder. "While I don't really agree with their methods, did they expect my people to just roll over and die? We aren't blessed by this world. Our only option is to take what we need by force, if needed. Can they even understand what's at stake if my people don't?"
"Of course, they don't," Qin Yun jabbed back. "Why should they care? People are inherently selfish. Why would they put themselves in your position if they didn't have to? All they know is that your people threaten to take something of theirs. Of course, they'll fight to protect it."
Her smile vanished; her gaze grew sombre as a frown appeared on her face. Her gaze landed on Qin Yun, threatening to sear through him, yet he only smiled in return, enjoying her frustration. She didn't offer a rebuttal, as she knew he was right. In fact, her people were the same. They wouldn't have acted differently were the situation to be reversed.
"Did you come here to talk politics, or did you have something else in mind?" she sighed, her frown vanishing. Then, without missing a beat or asking for his opinion, Nalia poured him a cup of wine.
“I’ll be leaving soon,” he said, taking a sip, feeling the sweet nectar fill his mouth. “I felt it was a waste to leave things as they were before we were so rudely interrupted.”
A single eyebrow rose upon her forehead as she looked deep into Qin Yun’s eyes. After a moment of tense silence, a smile appeared on her lips, and she seemed genuinely happy.
“Finally getting out of this mess, huh?” she asked. “You seem to travel quite a lot. Where are you headed this time?”
“Westward,” Qin Yun replied dryly, his voice cutting through the bustle.
Silence propagated like a wave as people stood still, letting Qin Yun's words resound over the now tense atmosphere. While only a few had been present to witness Qin Yun's speech earlier in the day, word was now spreading as muffled murmurs cut through the silence. Their eyes were glued to him, yet their gazes weren't comforting in the slightest.
The mention alone of going westward had left them all apprehensive. The thought of what they had just faced was still fresh in their minds; they couldn't help but think of him as a madman for going there of his own will. Even Nalia found the thought wild despite originating from there.
Taken aback by the sudden shift, Qin Yun couldn't help but turn to face the crowd. All he saw were derisive smiles, with only a few looks of pity. All this only brought a chuckle to his lips, which soon became a hearty laughter, making the people even more puzzled. Even Nalia couldn't help but look at him as if he were a fool.
"Forgive me," Qin Yun said, trying to catch his breath through the laughter. "I just didn't expect the people here to be so frightened of what lay west of here. I would assume many rumours spread of what one might find; not many of them good."
Conversations began anew, though many lent an ear, hoping to catch more of the two's discussions. However, Nalia's glare prompted them to turn around, minding their own business.
“Is this courage or obliviousness?" she muttered, shaking her head.
“Why choose?” Qin Yun shrugged with a smile. “Let’s just say it is both.”
“Knowing this, I doubt you came here without purpose,” she stated, her eyes slightly narrowed before adding dryly, “What do you want?”
Qin Yun turned his head to the side, only to see another patron, a ways further back, look down as if to avoid his gaze, and yet, his actions were much too suspicious. He was neither tall nor short, his shoulders neither broad nor slim. In fact, he seemed average in almost everything. A common man among common men. There wasn't a single identifying feature about him.
Therein lay the problem. How could one not have any uniqueness, a single trait to distinguish him from the crowd? It was as if he had been meticulously manufactured to be such. Even his manners and gestures were unremarkable, so one could easily overlook him in the crowd. However, Qin Yun could clearly feel his gaze upon him, differing from everyone around. He could feel the man's intent as well as if it was his own—such was Qin Yun's mastery.
No doubt a spy keeping an eye on me. Still, was this merely a coincidence, or was he sent? Probably reporting to one of the three sects, but which one? he thought, but then chuckled. I shouldn't rule out Zou Lan. She would be wise to do so and not trust me at my word. Still, it matters not...
With a slight shake of his wrist, the device attached to it began to emit a noiseless hum. It propagated outwards, creating a bubble akin to a domain, yet all it could do was slightly alter mortals’ perceptions, or Qi Refining practitioners at best. Still, not one of the few cultivators in attendance had reached further than the peak of the Qi Refining realm, much less built their foundation, except for a single one.
Nalia's expression darkened as she felt the shift, glancing around the room only to feel that something was off. It wasn't until one of her servers swerved around her, avoiding the collision despite her never registering in his sight. It was almost as if he had been directed to take this course instead of choosing to do so. Still, she held her tongue, only casting Qin Yun an inquisitive glare.
"Just a bit of privacy," he shrugged. "I'm sure there are some things you wish weren't spread around."
“What do you want,” she repeated dryly.”
"A path," Qin Yun finally said, choosing his words carefully. "The Western Desolate is large and barren. Only a few oases moisten this dry land; even fewer aren't home to your people. There's also the harsh climate. Many people call this place the Great Barrier, yet those unending storms aren't all there is to it. They reach far into the desert, moving constantly, yet I know paths exist—paths the storms never cross."
“Why do you believe I would know of such a path?” she said, not missing a beat as she crossed her arms defensively. Yet, Qin Yun only offered a smile back.
"You reached here safely, did you not?"he replied confidently. Either you had help or made the journey on your own. "Either way, neither would have been possible without the knowledge of such a path."
"What if there is no such path," she replied, her tone grave. "Would you reconsider this foolishness or forge on ahead?"
“I need to see for myself what lies at the edge,” he replied.
“You would brave all those dangers, only for this?” she said, slightly taken aback. “You will die.”
“We all die eventually,” he shrugged. “Danger is everywhere these days, and eternity is long lost. What more is there to fear?”
He offered her a smile, yet this smile wasn't laced with confidence or belief but with certainty, almost as if he had seen what lay beyond and had come back to tell the tale. Somehow, she couldn't help but feel this man was special, almost as if his talk of reaching the World's Edge wasn't mere folly but something he could truly accomplish and even come back from. Somehow, she couldn't help but trust his words.
Without a word, she went into the back and remained there for a long time. Still, Qin Yun showed no impatience, sipping his wine as he watched the world revolve around him. The numerous patrons had forgotten his existence, returning to their own lives and sorrow as Qin Yun lived vicariously through them and their emotions as he observed them.
Only after a long while did Nalia finally emerge with a small pouch in her hand. She threw it in Qin Yun's direction, offering no explanation as she gazed at him, her back on the back wall. Still, Qin Yun could see expectations in her eyes and a slight sorrow, almost as if she didn't believe he would come back.
Qin Yun returned her silence with one of his own. Rising from his seat, he tucked the pouch straight into his black box without opening it. Only giving her a slight smile, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the city's darkened streets, leaving only a glistening small crystal behind.
