Qin Yun stood on top of a sand dune, slightly taken aback by the sight before him, which wasn't what he was expecting.

  Nestled beyond the reach of the storms was a small oasis, hidden behind giant sand dunes that acted as barriers against the corrosive winds. A large pool of crystal clear water stood in its core, surrounded by scarce but lush vegetation. Palm trees rose to the sky, offering much-needed shade for the small animals, quenching their thirst and the individuals living within the oasis' vicinity.

  Numerous shelters were strewn around this body of water. Some were made of stone; their construction seemed ancient, almost as if this settlement had been built upon the aged ruins of a prior civilization. However, many large tents were also located at its periphery, yet they were by no means temporary dwellings.

  They seemed made of leather that differed significantly from the ones one could find on the mainland. They were blinding white, almost as if they had been bleached of all colours, only to better reflect the sun's harsh rays, leaving their interior much cooler. In fact, Qin Yun saw them scatter the light back to the sky as if they possessed a mirror sheen.

  However, the scene was far from peaceful. There were no residents working to feed themselves for another day, nor children laughing as they played near the body of water. In fact, the scene was macabre. Blood flowed upon the sand, and cries of anguish echoed upon the dunes while plumes of blackened smoke rose into the sky, creating a veil hanging over them.

  The oasis had been set ablaze!

  Qin Yun dropped to his stomach, using the dunes as cover as he observed further. There were two distinct groups locked into deadly combat, slaughtering each other with impunity.

  The first were warriors clad in black—a strange choice for this environment. Their visages were hidden behind blackened cloth, letting only their bloodthirsty eyes shine through. Judging by their imposing statures and sharp curved blades, Qin Yun knew they were seasoned warriors, most likely belonging to one of the countless tribes within the Western Desolate.

  However, something seemed amiss, for their opponent could hardly resist them. The other group was primarily comprised of women and children, completely unable to contend against their dark-dressed enemies. Qin Yun found it peculiar that next to no men were present, except for the elderly—barely able to raise their own weapons—and those who had barely reached adolescence.

  However, it was not to say that no men of age were present, except that they were in no condition to fight, yet they tried regardless. These men—although few—were wrapped in bloody bandages, some even missing limbs, barely even able to stand. However, Qin Yun found this most peculiar.

  Their wounds seemed fresh, yet they did not seem to have been made in the midst of a battle against bladed weapons. In fact, they appear to have been caused by teeth and claws, almost as if they battled large predators. Nevertheless, considering the number of women and children, there's no way there are only this many men. Where could they all have gone?

  Qin Yun watched the injured men struggle against their foes, yet their efforts seemed most futile. They tried to command the women to fight, barking orders in their own language, yet most only tried to protect their children behind them, a fire of survival in their eyes, yet were ill-equipped against the black-clad warriors. Their blades of bone missed their marks as the men in black deftly avoided their weak swing, only to plunge their blades deep into the women's abdomen.

  Fear sparked in the children's eyes as some chose to flee while others snatched the discarded bone weapons, rushing the black-clothed men with murderous intent in their cries, tears streaking down their cheeks—tears of madness. Unfortunately, they, too, were powerless to resist as their blood dyed the sands.

  Qin Yun watched these sentient beings being cut down with mere disinterest. To him, death was banal, just an inevitability. Although the sight was gruesome, he felt no compulsion to aid either side, even more so as none were related to him. Still, there was a singular event that piqued his interest.

  As a bronze-skinned woman was rammed with the entire length of a sharpened-bone sword, her trembling fingers grasped the edge of the cloth covering her murderer's visage, only to rip it apart in a moment of desperation. However, her look of pain faded, replaced with shock, which soon turned to rage.

  She yelled as she clawed at the man’s face, her voice laced with agony and desperation, seeking answers from her foe, yet he remained completely silent, his eyes devoid of emotions as he twisted the blade embedded deep into the woman’s abdomen.

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  A flood of blood spewed from her mouth, drenching the man, yet she refused to relent, still yelling with all her strength even as life departed her and her words began to slur. Even if Qin Yun didn't understand the language, it relayed her intentions completely. At the edge of death, she had uncovered something so shocking that death was but an afterthought. Answers were all she sought before the end.

  However, the revelation had an unexpected consequence. As the woman screamed her lungs out, others turned toward her, only to be shocked as well. Their pupils grew larger as their gazes rested on the man, only for some to break down instantly, unable to resist as realization crashed upon them, tears streaming from their eyes, only to be beheaded a few moments later, their deaths swift and free of further pain.

  As for what they realized in their last moments, Qin Yun couldn't even begin to guess, nor was he inclined to. This mystery belonged to them, and them alone as he was but a lonely traveller on his path, and this was but a blaze on the road—one he sought to steer clear of. Yet, he found the scene perplexing.

  Somehow, there was denial in her eyes—an emotion which could be owed to her impending death. Yet, it only emerged as she looked at her murderer's face. She extended her hand, seeking to touch his face, yet her fingers trembled slightly before her arm fell limply; all traces of warmth slowly faded as her life drained through the burning sand.

  Yet, Qin Yun couldn't erase her last expression from his mind as she closed her eyes for the final time. Within her was an unexpected gentleness and an endless sadness. Yet her passing only brought fear into the gazes of others, unable to avoid their impending fate.

  Qin Yun didn’t avoid the scene, watching until all embers finally smouldered on the desert sands. This was his responsibility, as well as his penance. He could have intervened, saving their lives with his own hands, but to what end?

  Every day, countless tragedies happenned to good people, but also to not-so-good ones. How was Qin Yun to know on whose side they stood? Better not to act than to do so foolishly. At least, that was what he told himself. Was this self-deception to bury the guilt? Maybe... were he to feel any guilt at all. Death came to all... eventually. Their turn simply happened to be earlier than they expected.

  The sun created a small arc into the sky as Qin Yun simply watched the hooded men depart, leaving lifeless ruins behind. The stone walls were covered in signs of battle and soaked in the blood of their former residents. The numerous tents had been burned to ashes until nothing remained of their existence except a plume of blackened smoke lingering over the carnage before being blown away by the winds of a nearby tempest.

  After more than an hour of inactivity, Qin Yun finally rose. A blanket of sand had formed on his back, and fell as if a waterfall as he rose, crashing into a nearby dune, creating a slight avalanche. With a single leap, Qin Yun began his descent toward the ravaged oasis, sliding upon the dunes as he would a snowy mountain.

  In less than a moment, he found himself before the remnants of this unknown tribe, their corpses strewn around, left to the elements. Their blood tinted this small pond a shade of pink as vultures began to circle the camp, eyeing Qin Yun with hunger in their eyes.

  Something’s strange... They left without taking anything...

  Although not what you would call wealthy, Qin Yun could see several objects that could possess value. They weren't made of any precious metals but of bones, fur, and wood. In fact, many women wore wooden bracelets, and judging by their signs of use, they were obviously treasured.

  Did they come here merely to slaughter them? Women, children and the elderly? What for? What crimes did they commit to suffer such a fate?

  Qin Yun shook his head, feeling this was too much of a waste. This was murder for the sake of murder, and judging by the wounds on the corpses, this wasn't even done for the sake of revenge. The cuts were made expertly, purely for the sake of killing. The inflicted pain was kept at a minimum, preferring efficiency. In fact, he hadn't seen any of the crazed glee one would usually find in those able to commit such an act. In fact, this felt much too cold, almost mechanical.

  As he approached the lake, Qin Yun's eyes narrowed slightly. He could feel an energy swirling deep within. This was odd, as the surrounding qi was so thin that it might as well be nonexistent. The fact that he could feel something made him put his guard up.

  Cautiously, he bent down at the water's edge, scooping a palm-full with his hand, only to bring it to his nose. There was no chemical scent except charred flesh and burnt wood lingering in the air. This felt like regular water, except he could feel the energy within even more clearly.

  Tilting his hand, the water drained on the sand, only to flow back to the lake. In a swift motion, Qin Yun removed his white mantle, only to store it back into his storage, before slowly walking into the water until it rose above his head. After taking a deep breath, Qin Yun disappeared below the surface.

  The water was surprisingly clear despite the blood mixing within. He could see the sun's light piercing deep inside, illuminating his surroundings, yet the pond seemed much deeper than he first anticipated. Even with the burning sun overhead, he couldn't see its depths. It was a dark abyss extinguishing all light.

  Yet, Qin Yun's feelings originated from within that abyss. He pondered for a while, returning to the surface to take another breath. Yet, despite the dangers, Qin Yun couldn't let it rest. He had to know what that energy was, hidden in this barren land. He couldn't curb his curiosity.

  Resolved, Qin Yun dived again, exploring this oasis's depths. Soon, he stood before the darkness, yet to his surprise, it felt more like a boundary than a gradual loss of light, almost as if a separate realm existed on the other side—one he could not see from this side, one that could not be touched, even by light.

  He extended a single hand, pressing onto the darkness, which felt hard to the touch and repelled at the point of contact. Intrigued, he pressed further, yet without sufficient anchor, Qin Yun was merely pushed back. Still, he remained undeterred.

  Using a minuscule amount of qi, Qin Yun let it flow throughout his body, making the golden characters glow upon his skin. Yet those on the seed in his core also pulsed with strength—the ones with a touch of grey even more so.

  To his surprise, the barrier fell almost instantly, as if he had been granted entry. As for why, he had a slight idea, yet had to make sure. With eyes slightly narrowed, Qin Yun pushed through the boundary, reaching past the darkness.