The sun slowly faded behind the dunes as Zou Lan stood within the Moonlight Sword Palace's branch. Dusk blanketed the land, yet a sudden cacophony of sound disturbed its peacefulness. Although muffled by the distance, the distinct noises of countless footsteps of people rushing around echoed clearly into Zou Lan's perked-up ears.

  With a single step, her domain spread, and she rose to the sky, only to see the world below come alive as multiple points of light appeared one after the other, most concentrated near the Cult of the Emerald Lord's compound.

  She saw the light of countless torches fight back the darkness as they seemed to frantically search for something. With a single breath, she extended her domain, reaching every corner of the fortress, using it as a medium to amplify the sounds, yet one conversation caught her attention.

  “Have you found the intruder?”

  The voice seemed agitated, almost as if on the verge of a meltdown. Yet, the reply wasn’t much better.

  “We searched everywhere... twice, and we found nothing! How can this be possible?! There’s no way Elder Guo could have just disappeared... right?”

  “Search again! We must have overlooked something...”

  “You don’t think... Could the outsiders have anything to do with this?”

  “Are you dumb? The barrier surrounding the city is stable. There’s no way they can bypass it without our knowledge.”

  “Then, who’s responsible for this? Who has both the power and the motive to act against Elder Guo?”

  “We both know who does. After what happened today, she is the most likely suspect!”

  “You think Sect Master...”

  The voice became muffled, almost as if it had physically been interfered with.

  “Shhhhh!” the other voice hissed. “Don’t say her name. Do you want to die? Don’t forget she may be listening in at this very moment!”

  “You’re paranoid!” the other replied, probably breaking free of its hold. “She has much better things to do than to listen to us in secret.”

  “What's taking so long?!" a third voice appeared, cutting through the two other's conversation. Its tone was much more authoritative. "Get back to work! The elder wants results. You aren't to stop until you find something... anything!"

  Zou Lan could hear the two scurry away, their footsteps scattering in opposite directions. She took a moment to take it all in, a slight frown on her face. She glanced at the barrier, only to see it strong and stable. Besides, she had just visited Xu Weizhe, and he seemed perfectly fine, albeit still weakened. Without his knowledge, there was no way for the Outsiders to bypass the city's defences.

  It was then that she felt a disturbance in her domain. It was subtle, almost imperceptible. Without being fully focused on it, she might have missed it purely because of how benign it all felt. The sensation was common, just another entity moving within the bounds of her domain, yet she could barely feel its existence. She had to concentrate fully to even identify its current location.

  Her gaze swung downwards, fixed on this anomaly, only to see a blurred figure nonchalantly strolling through the busy streets of early dusk. What caught her attention was the unnatural behaviours of those around this anomaly, swerving out of the way as if unconsciously. They didn't even seem to realize what they had crossed paths with.

  Zou Lan concentrated her domain around this blurred figure, only for it to stop, almost as if it had felt the change. She frowned at the sight yet kept its hold on it, concentrating on uncovering what lay behind the hazy veil. The blurred figure remained calm but suddenly raised its gaze, locking onto Zou Lan's current location, levitating in the sky. She was but a dot on this endless canvas, yet their eyes met, and it was then that she pierced through it. She couldn't help but show a grimace.

  “Can’t he keep still?” she muttered, shaking her head. “What has he done this time?”

  Judging by his current trajectory, his destination was obvious. Zou Lan floated back down, landing next to a bowing female disciple, respectfully waiting for her. Zou Lan's white gown made her look like a ray of moonlight descending from the sky to illuminate the darkness of dusk, prompting awe to rise in the disciple's heart. However, it soon vanished as she noticed Zou Lan's grim expression.

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  “When he arrives, bring him to me,” she ordered as she entered the main hall.

  The female disciple remained folded in half, waiting for Zou Lan’s footsteps to disappear as the stone doors closed behind her. The disciple felt a cold sweat on her back, unable to utter a single sound, not even to ask who exactly she was supposed to be waiting for. Still, after a moment to regain her senses, she rose and headed toward the main gate, almost at a run.

  A few minutes later, Qin Yun was escorted to the main hall. On the way, he had to face the glares of countless disciples, but what made him chuckle was the looks of apprehension plastered on the female disciple leading the way.

  He only remembered seeing her from afar and never interacting with her. He couldn't even begin to understand how he could have slighted her, much less what grudge she could hold. Yet, the most peculiar thing was the pity also laced within. This was highly disconcerting.

  Just as he arrived before the massive stone doors, they opened on their own, revealing Zou Lan sitting in the back, on her throne, her head resting on her fist. She looked at Qin Yun with such emotionless eyes that he was taken aback. He glanced at the side, hoping to see his guide, yet she had vanished. Still, he could hear her hurried footsteps fading away in the distance.

  With a slight smile, Qin Yun stepped forward into the hall. Yet as soon as he passed the threshold, the two massive stone doors slammed shut, imprisoning him within. He glanced around the room, only to find that they were alone. Silence reigned as they looked at each other, her gaze seeking to bore a hole through him, yet Qin Yun couldn't help but find it funny. Somehow, he couldn't help but relish in the tension.

  “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  Zou Lan was the first to break the silence, not wasting a single moment as she went right into the heart of the matter. Qin Yun opened his mouth, yet no words came out. Somehow, his instinct screamed at him not to go with his first impulse. He quickly glanced at her expression, only to see she was deadly serious. After a slight sigh, Qin Yun opted to be direct.

  With a wave of his sleeve, the black box appeared, hovering a meter above the stone floor. Zou Lan’s eyes narrowed, watching the peculiar object slowly, only to witness something she wished she hadn’t.

  A flash of light occurred, sparking to life momentarily before receding, revealing a limp body. Zou Lan was stunned as she recognized the owner of this body, yet what truly shocked her was its state. Black marks had risen from his extremities toward the man's core; somehow, she could feel the slight traces of corruption within. Yet, this wasn't what truly shocked her. This was a lifeless body, a corpse. There was no breath of life within and also no heartbeat.

  “What is that supposed to achieve?" Zou Lan asked, her tone grave but also laced with a slight murderous intent, awaiting a satisfactory answer.

  Qin Yun didn't say a word, merely approaching the corpse as the revolving black box disappeared into the void. He bent down, putting a single palm onto the man's chest, and concentrated. A spark rose from Qin Yun's core as countless golden characters appeared on the seed within, only for a bolt of lightning to rush through his body, along his outstretched arm, then out of his palm, only to strike the man's still heart.

  As if risen from the dead, the elder's body shook as his eyes snapped open, drawing breath in an instant. However, the resuscitation was such a shock that the man began to convulse on the ground before an unending cough assaulted him. Soon after, a mass of blackened blood was ejected from his mouth, staining the stone floor of the hall, only for the man to lose consciousness once again, his limp body resting on the cold stone floor as the mass of blood began to bore through it.

  “So you’re the reason for this mess?” Zou Lan asked, slightly taken aback. “Can this be traced back to you?”

  Fortunately, Zou Lan had been prepared, and her domain enveloped the entirety of the hall, ensuring none would be aware of anything that occurred within except the two of them. Still, she remained on guard, unsure of what to do, as the ramifications of such an act would be too much for her to handle.

  I doubt it,” Qin Yun shrugged. “They are still running around like headless chickens.”

  “This won't end well," she sighed, looking slightly exhausted. "While just an outer sect elder, Elder Guo is well-respected as a scholar within the Cult. I doubt they'll just forget about him and move on. You won't be able to hide this forever."

  "I don't intend to," Qin Yun replied dismissively. "I'll be long gone by the time they realize. Besides, unless you tip them off, I doubt it will come to this."

  Qin Yun offered Zou Lan a knowing smile, only for her to avoid his gaze as if in protest. Still, there was something else on her mind.

  “Why would you go that far?” she asked. “You did tell me the cult was involved in the former guardian’s demise. Was Elder Guo involved as well?”

  Qin Yun sighed as he began relaying what had happened within Elder Guo's chamber: the conversation he heard between him and the white-bearded elder and his own with Elder Guo. Zou Lan remained pensive as she began digesting the information she had received. Still, her expression grew worse and worse as she began to realize how deep the corruption had spread.

  "You're telling me you can fight such corruption?" she asked skeptically.

  Still, she couldn’t dismiss his story entirely. After all, it was a fact that he infiltrated the Cult’s branch and came out carrying one of their top elders—one at the Nascent Soul realm, no less. Things never seemed to be that simple when it came to this young man.

  "Give it up," Qin Yun sighed. "It's not something you can replicate. Your best bet would be to find a way to stop its spread rather than try to eliminate its influence. As I'm sure you're aware, only one thing in this world can fight against it."

  Zou Lan's gaze rested on Qin Yun for a while longer as if trying to uncover his secrets or—at least—press him to share. However, Qin Yun remained stalwart against the pressure, and his mouth stayed shut. She could only sigh, thinking what to do about what she had just heard.

  “Even if I believe you, others won’t. Do you hold any evidence of your claim?” she asked.

  "You have all the evidence you could need right here," he replied, pointing to Elder Guo's unconscious body.

  “That’s not enough,” she sighed. “They’ll only think we coerced a confession out of him. We need something more substantial.”

  “You don’t,” Qin Yun replied firmly. “You only need to instill doubt. The goal is to gain time. If you can make people doubt them, they won’t dare go through with whatever they have planned. While everyone has their own objectives, the world won’t allow those that overtly side with its enemies."

  Zou Lan remained silent, pondering. Qin Yun didn’t press her. This was a choice she had to make on her own. After all, this would affect much more than just the two of them. Her sect would be implicated, as well as the entirety of the western edge of this region. This wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly.

  “It’s not enough,” she finally said. “I’m too young. My reach alone is not enough. The Emerald Lord isn’t something I can shake on my own.”

  However, Qin Yun wasn't deterred by her refusal. In fact, he offered her a slight smile as if he had predicted her reaction.

  “If what you lack is merely influence, then I have the perfect accomplice in mind. If I am the one to ask, then she is sure to help.”

  Qin Yun then explained who he was referring to, only for Zou Lan to be unable to hide her shock.

  "Why would she take that risk?" she blurted out. "She's one of the Alliance's pillars. Few don't know her name within the Western Region. What would make her help us with this?"

  "She owes me," Qin Yun merely replied.