Jaz Vixen led Fall Night and Purple Night deeper into the Banner of Crest Palace.
The disturbance outside had barely delayed her. Her steps remained graceful, her expression composed, and her movements carried the confidence of someone accustomed to having others follow her instructions without question.
Behind her, Fall Night walked in silence.
However, his attention was elsewhere.
He lowered his gaze toward the crest near his wound, his eyes narrowing slightly as a familiar discomfort stirred beneath his clothing.
This wound is causing me trouble again.
He subtly adjusted his posture, concealing the discomfort before either woman could notice.
I still don't understand what's happening. My blood seems to hold some peculiar attraction for other spiritual beasts.
His thoughts drifted back to the strange reactions he had witnessed.
Is it because of my bloodline? Or is there something else at work?
The questions remained unanswered.
Fall Night had encountered enough peculiarities in his life to know that a phenomenon without an immediate explanation was not necessarily something he should investigate recklessly. Some mysteries could be solved through observation. Others required patience.
And a few were dangerous precisely because people wanted to uncover them.
I'll investigate this more thoroughly when I get the chance.
He lifted his gaze and continued following Jaz Vixen.
For now, there were more immediate matters to attend to.
Before entering the VIP room, Jaz Vixen casually gestured toward several attendants standing nearby.
"Clean everything up. I don't want the earlier disturbance affecting the guests. Search the bodies of the dead and make sure all their valuables are collected. We can't leave anything to chance."
"Yes, Miss Jaz Vixen!"
The attendants immediately sprang into action.
Some began removing the fallen cultivators, while others inspected the surrounding area for damaged property and discarded belongings. Their movements were swift and coordinated, suggesting that dealing with unexpected disturbances was hardly unfamiliar to them.
Within a short time, the area began returning to normal.
A few guests passing through the corridor glanced at the attendants but quickly continued on their way. Whatever had happened earlier, it would not become a public spectacle for long.
Fall Night observed the process without comment.
Efficient. They know how to handle trouble without attracting unnecessary attention.
Jaz Vixen, meanwhile, appeared entirely unconcerned.
Only after everything had been settled did she turn toward the VIP room and open the doors.
"Please, come in."
The three entered.
Fall Night's eyes swept across the room.
At its center stood an exquisite table carved from purple rose stone. Deep-red couches had been seamlessly built into the surrounding walls, creating a luxurious circular seating area. Above them, lamps made from sunrite stone cast a soft golden glow across the room.
The furniture was arranged to encourage conversation, with enough space between the seats to provide comfort without making the occupants feel distant from one another.
Everything had been carefully selected.
Nothing appeared excessive, yet every detail conveyed wealth and refinement.
The atmosphere was warm and tranquil.
Yet beneath that tranquility was another scent.
A faint, spicy fragrance drifted through the air, mingling with the delicate sweetness of tricolored Rosemary Dew.
Purple Night's eyes immediately brightened.
"That is Twin Icy Hot Orchid infused with a subtle touch of Three-Color Rosemary Dew Nectar."
She turned toward the source of the fragrance, examining the arrangement with genuine interest.
"This combination is quite remarkable. The orchid soothes the spirit, while the Rosemary Dew calms the mind. Whoever prepared this understands how to balance the two."
"Wow."
Fall Night looked around the room.
"I never knew Miss Jaz Vixen had something this good hidden inside her VIP room."
Jaz Vixen smiled.
"Little Night, there are so many things you don't know about me."
Her tone carried just enough teasing to make Fall Night uncomfortable.
He decided not to respond.
Jaz Vixen's smile widened slightly, as though his silence had provided her with precisely the reaction she wanted.
The three settled into their seats.
For a brief moment, no one spoke.
The soft fragrance continued drifting through the room, and the golden light reflected across the polished surface of the purple rose stone table.
Then Purple Night turned toward Fall Night.
"Fall Night, I've been curious about something. What exactly is the relationship between the three great clans?"
Fall Night removed the lower portion of his mask and poured some tea into his cup.
He slowly raised it to his lips and took a sip.
Across from him, Purple Night lifted the lower portion of her mask as well, revealing the tender lips with which she had teased Fall Night earlier in the marketplace.
She paid no particular attention to his reaction.
Instead, she watched him over the rim of her cup.
"I don't know much about their relationship," Fall Night answered. "I'm not privy to that kind of information, either. What I know is limited, and most of it probably wouldn't be useful to you, Purple Night."
Purple Night studied him.
"I think you know more than you're willing to tell me."
Her voice remained casual, but her eyes sharpened.
"From everything I've seen so far, your status isn't lowly by any means. Yet whenever the conversation approaches anything important about the Midnight Clan, you suddenly become very cautious."
Fall Night continued drinking his tea.
He neither confirmed nor denied her observation.
Purple Night had noticed something important.
His answers were rarely careless. Even when he appeared to be speaking casually, he chose his words with a degree of consideration that did not match his apparent age.
More importantly, he seemed to understand precisely which subjects deserved caution.
That alone told her that his knowledge was not entirely ordinary.
"So let's change the subject for the moment," she continued. "How many clans does the Midnight Clan currently have?"
Jaz Vixen's eyes flickered toward Purple Night.
She looked between the two cultivators, her fingers resting lightly against the armrest.
"Why are you asking Little Fall so many questions about his clan?"
A playful smile accompanied her words, but her curiosity was genuine.
"One might think you're gathering intelligence on the Midnight Clan."
She paused.
"Or that you're an outsider."
Purple Night's expression didn't change.
"I have indeed traveled the world, so my knowledge of the wider world outweighs my knowledge of local affairs."
Before she could continue, Fall Night finished answering.
"Let me put it simply."
He placed his cup down.
"The Midnight Clan currently has more than forty-five branch clans."
Purple Night's expression remained composed, but her attention sharpened.
"Before the Second Great War, many of us know about, the Midnight Clan had more than one hundred and twenty branch clans during its peak."
For the first time since the conversation began, Purple Night's expression changed noticeably.
"One hundred and twenty?"
Fall Night nodded.
"And that doesn't include the subsidiary clans that swore allegiance to the Midnight Clan."
He leaned back.
"Of course, all of this is public knowledge."
Purple Night did not immediately respond.
One hundred and twenty branch clans.
Even without accounting for the subsidiary clans, that number represented an extraordinary network of influence. Each branch would have possessed its own cultivators, resources, territories, and connections. Some might have controlled valuable trading routes, while others could have occupied strategically important regions.
The Midnight Clan's influence during its peak must have extended far beyond the territories it occupied directly.
And now?
More than forty-five branch clans remained.
Purple Night quietly considered the difference.
Numbers alone did not determine a clan's strength. A smaller clan could still surpass a larger one if its strongest members were sufficiently powerful. Nevertheless, losing so many branches would inevitably affect a clan's ability to gather resources, recruit talented cultivators, and maintain influence across distant territories.
The Midnight Clan she knew today was merely a shadow of what it had once been.
And if the Second Great War had caused such a dramatic decline, the consequences must have extended far beyond the loss of territory.
Her gaze shifted toward the wall.
The enormous pillars inside the palace displayed the crests of the three great clans. Each crest represented more than a name. It was a symbol of heritage, influence, and the history behind the clan it represented.
Purple Night studied the final pillar closest to the entrance.
"So you're telling me…"
She pointed toward the wall.
"That entire pillar of crests once belonged to the Midnight Clan?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Fall Night followed her gaze.
"The Midnight Clan during its glory days," he corrected her.
"Not anymore."
His expression remained calm.
"That is one of the reasons its current territory is smaller than those of both the Sunchaser and Night Clans."
Purple Night slowly nodded.
The distinction was important.
The Midnight Clan had not merely lost branch clans. It had lost the reach those branches provided. Its present territory was a visible reminder of a much greater loss, but its diminished influence might have been even more significant.
If the Sunchaser and Night Clans had retained more of their strength, then the balance between the three great clans could no longer be what it had once been.
And a change in that balance would create opportunities.
Opportunities for rivals to expand.
Opportunities for smaller clans to rise.
And opportunities for the remaining branches of the Midnight Clan to become increasingly valuable.
Purple Night looked back at Fall Night.
"Fall Night, how do you know all of this?"
Fall Night raised his teacup again.
"Again, it's public knowledge."
He took another sip.
"Any public establishment where elites gather can teach you plenty if you know what to listen for. Bars, restaurants, markets, trading halls…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You'd be surprised how much information cultivators reveal when they think nobody important is listening."
Purple Night shook her head.
She couldn't tell whether he was deliberately being evasive or genuinely didn't understand how valuable this information was to someone unfamiliar with the Midnight Clan.
Then she realized something.
To him, this really was just common knowledge.
Fall Night noticed the subtle change in her expression.
His fingers paused briefly against the side of his cup.
What's common knowledge to me can be valuable information to outsiders or cultivators who don't pay attention to worldly affairs.
He had not intended to reveal anything particularly sensitive.
Yet the number of branch clans had been enough to make Purple Night reconsider the history and political position of the Midnight Clan.
That meant he needed to be more careful.
I need to limit what I reveal about the Midnight Clan… and this country.
He mentally adjusted his approach.
Knowing something and knowing when to share it were two entirely different matters.
Jaz Vixen rested her chin lightly against her hand.
"Little Fall…"
Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Are you from the main clan or one of the branch clans?"
Fall Night looked toward her.
"Good question."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"But I can't tell you, Miss Jaz Vixen."
Jaz Vixen's smile widened.
Fall Night continued before she could press him further.
"What I can tell you is that the Midnight Clan has thirteen main branches."
"Thirteen?" Purple Night repeated.
"Yes."
"Many of our talented younger members leave the clan territories to gain experience throughout the world."
Jaz Vixen became quiet.
Her fingers lightly tapped against the armrest.
She was piecing together everything she'd learned about him.
His cultivation.
His composure.
His knowledge.
His strange aura.
And now, his bloodline.
His refusal to identify his own branch was particularly interesting.
He had no trouble discussing the Midnight Clan's public history, yet he drew a clear boundary when the conversation approached his personal identity.
That suggested he had a reason to protect his origins.
Whether that reason involved his clan's internal affairs, his own position, or something entirely different remained to be seen.
After a moment, her eyes settled on Fall Night.
"Mmmm…"
Her voice grew softer.
"So tell me something else."
Fall Night raised an eyebrow.
"Why is your bloodline so strong?"
Jaz Vixen leaned slightly closer.
The scent surrounding Fall Night seemed to draw her attention more intensely than before. Her eyes narrowed as she examined him, clearly sensing something extraordinary beneath his surface.
"It makes me want to get a little closer to you."
Fall Night froze.
"Eh?"
Jaz Vixen smiled.
"Yes."
Her gaze remained fixed on him.
"Your bloodline is far too powerful for someone your age."
For a brief instant, Fall Night's attention shifted toward his wound.
The familiar discomfort stirred again.
It was subtle, barely enough to interrupt his thoughts, but he noticed it immediately.
Again?
He kept his expression neutral.
He had no intention of discussing his wound in front of either woman. He did not yet understand its connection to his bloodline, and revealing an unexplained weakness could invite questions he was not prepared to answer.
More importantly, Jaz Vixen's words suggested that she had noticed something about him that went beyond his outward appearance.
He would have to remember that.
Before Fall Night could respond, Purple Night smoothly intervened, redirecting the conversation toward the matter she actually cared about.
"Fall Night, what else do you know about the three great clans?"
Fall Night glanced toward her.
"Purple Night, I know that the Sunchaser Clan has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict involving the Night and Midnight Clans."
Both Jaz Vixen and Purple Night immediately gave him scornful looks.
They clearly knew there was more to the situation than that.
Fall Night, however, seemed completely unconcerned.
He lifted his warm tea and took another sip, savoring its rich, robust flavor. The tea had a dense, smooth body, while its aftertaste left a refreshing coolness across his tongue.
Purple Night stared at him for another moment.
He had offered her information about the Midnight Clan's former glory, yet when she asked about the relationship between the three great clans, he retreated behind a statement that was either incomplete or deliberately oversimplified.
Perhaps he truly knew little about the conflict.
Or perhaps he knew enough to recognize that discussing it openly would be unwise.
She could not determine which possibility was more troubling.
Jaz Vixen, meanwhile, watched him with quiet amusement.
She seemed perfectly content to let Purple Night struggle with the answers while she examined the young cultivator sitting across from her.
Eventually, her attention shifted toward the dishes on the table.
She happily indulged in the tender meat of a Tier 1 ferocious beast known as the Waltz Buffalo.
The beast was infamous for its short temper and violent stampedes.
Jaz Vixen sampled a few snacks of her own before looking between the two cultivators.
"What exactly is the relationship between you two?"
Fall Night answered immediately.
"Purple Night is my captain."
Purple Night nodded.
"Fall Night is under my command. We have a simple rule within our unit."
She paused, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"Strength speaks."
"Really?" Jaz Vixen's amusement deepened. "That's quite an interesting rule. Might makes right. I like it."
Her eyes then moved to their masks.
"But why are your masks different?"
"That's our unit's secret," Fall Night answered before Purple Night could respond.
Jaz Vixen's eyes narrowed with interest.
"Oh? I see. Something that important must be kept close to the chest, huh, Little Fall?"
She gazed at Fall Night expectantly, clearly waiting to see how much he would reveal.
"You could say that."
Fall Night took another sip of tea.
"Though it seems like you're digging for something, Miss Jaz Vixen."
"Who, me?" Jaz Vixen tilted her head innocently. "Searching for something…?"
Her smile grew more suggestive.
"Honestly, I'd prefer it if you could find something in between—"
Before she could finish, Purple Night reached across the table and covered Jaz Vixen's mouth with one hand.
"I'd like to remind you that Fall Night is only six years old."
Purple Night's tone was unusually serious.
"I understand that he may appear much older than his actual age, but a certain degree of self-control is still necessary."
Jaz Vixen's eyes widened for a moment before she calmly removed Purple Night's hand from her mouth.
"Hello, Purple Night."
She straightened her clothes and gave her a knowing smile.
"Even if Fall Night is only six years old by the standards of magical beasts, that's not the same as being six years old by human standards."
Jaz Vixen's gaze returned to Fall Night.
"By human age, he's thirty."
For a brief moment, silence settled over the room.
Fall Night stared at her.
Purple Night turned her head toward Jaz Vixen.
And Jaz Vixen simply smiled, looking entirely pleased with herself.
Whatever else the two women had learned about Fall Night that day, one thing had become increasingly clear.
He was far more complicated than he appeared.
And neither of them intended to stop asking questions anytime soon.