She set down her cup, the wine still half-finished, and calmly withdrew several maps from the large pouch at her side. Each depicted the territories of the three great Liger clans, though one map stood out from the rest. An entire region had been shaded gray.
The maps outlined three vast territories spanning four prefectures, each divided into smaller domains and provinces. Yet one prefecture remained conspicuously gray: the Old Capital of the ancient empire once ruled by the Midnight Clan.
Purple Night pointed to it.
"I want to know more about the Liger Old Capital. In detail."
Fall Night glanced at the map before looking back at her.
"What exactly do you want to know? Its condition before the First Great War or what happened after the Second?"
He slowly cracked his neck, a hint of annoyance creeping into his expression. He was beginning to hear the same line of questioning Jaz Vixen had used before leaving.
Purple Night might not belong to one of the three great clans—or even come from his country—but the information she sought was hardly classified. Most clans and established families knew the basics. Even the gray markings on the maps were common knowledge, with different symbols indicating which powers held influence over particular areas.
Yet she continued asking questions as though she were seeing the region for the first time.
"Those different symbols represent different powers, don't they?" Purple Night asked.
She shifted closer, leaning forward until she could stare directly into Fall Night's eyes.
"It's a death zone for anyone without sufficient strength," he explained. "The area is riddled with hidden dangers, ancient remnants, and political traps. Plenty of major clans have their hands buried deep in that muddy water, including some that can rival the Big Three."
"Really? Sounds like fun." Purple Night rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe when your cultivation catches up to mine, we can explore it together."
"I'll pass. Even if my cultivation were higher, I'd still avoid those muddy waters. Nothing good comes from getting tangled in other cultivator's affairs, and I hate troublesome matters more than anything."
Fall Night narrowed his eyes, studying her beneath the mask.
"If you hate trouble so much, why agree to help the Pavilion Master of the Banner of Crest Palace?"
"That?" Fall Night waved a hand dismissively, as though the request hardly deserved consideration. "There's no deadline. By the time I'm strong enough to deal with it, the problem will probably have resolved itself."
"Scheming again, Fall Night?" Purple Night laughed mockingly.
"That's not scheming. It's called being prudent, Purple Night."
She sighed inwardly.
*Talking about the Midnight Clan isn't getting me anywhere. Let's try another angle. Fall Night clearly knows more than he's letting on.*
"What about the other major clans besides Midnight, Sunchaser, and Night?"
"There's Orisis, Kanyé, Sadé, and Syaya. They each belong to different factions and have their own ways of maintaining their positions."
Fall Night leaned back slightly before continuing.
"Take the Orisis Clan of the Golden Tiger, for example. They often align themselves with outside powers to preserve the balance of power in our country. Unlike the Big Three, who can subjugate others whenever they please, Orisis prefers cooperation. Sometimes, they'll even submit to a stronger faction if it means preserving stability."
"You mean those clans willingly serve other factions or sects?"
"Yes."
"And that's the only reason they're able to stand on equal footing with the three great clans?"
"To a degree."
A cold aura suddenly seeped from Fall Night's body.
Purple Night recognized it immediately. It was the same unsettling pressure she'd felt while he was cultivating beside the pond.
Her heart skipped a beat as the memory of the seal on his back resurfaced.
For an instant, the atmosphere in the room seemed to grow heavier. The faint chill crawled across her skin, stirring an instinctive sense of unease.
Then, just as suddenly, the aura vanished.
The pressure returned to normal, leaving no trace of what had happened.
Purple Night remained outwardly composed, but her thoughts had already shifted.
*I need to keep a closer eye on Fall Night. That aura was unsettling. It makes my skin crawl.*
She turned her attention back to the conversation.
"Why would those clans choose to submit instead of standing on their own?"
"When you possess the strength of the three great clans, you have no shortage of powerful cultivators, seasoned elites, and promising talents to groom for the future," Fall Night replied calmly. "With that kind of foundation, you can subjugate anyone beneath you."
He tilted his head.
"Tell me, Purple Night. If you were in their position, would you let the Big Three devour you?"
For the briefest moment, Purple Night's composure cracked.
A flash of anger sharpened her eyes before she forced herself to settle down again. The fury remained, barely concealed beneath her calm expression.
Fall Night noticed, but he continued as though he hadn't seen a thing.
"And even if you refused, would you have the strength to stop them? As you always say, it's not a matter of *if*, but *when*."
His words made Purple Night set down her wine.
She was proud, strong-willed, and fiercely devoted to her own ideals. Yet something about his matter-of-fact tone irritated her more than she cared to admit.
"Are the three great clans really that greedy?"
"What's greed when you have the strength to act on it?"
Purple Night frowned.
"You're not making any sense, Fall Night. Strength determines everything, doesn't it?"
"I'm simply pointing out a truth you already know." He tapped his index finger against his bicep. "The three great clans have always taken what they wanted. But they were smart enough not to put all their eggs in one basket."
He paused, allowing the words to settle.
"That's why they never completely suppressed the growth of other major clans. Competition keeps their own people sharp. As long as the other powers remain useful, there's no reason to crush them all."
Purple Night studied him for a moment.
"Then which of the three is the most aggressive?"
"The Night Clan, without question."
Fall Night chuckled coldly, as though the answer should have been obvious.
"Why them?"
"Because they follow your philosophy."
"My philosophy?" Purple Night's brows drew together.
"Might makes right. The weak deserve to be ruled by the strong."
Fall Night met her gaze without hesitation.
Purple Night went quiet for a moment before giving a small, understanding nod.
"Oh, I see. That explains why that little punk earlier thought I was from the Night Clan."
"That's their ethos. They'll fight until their last breath." Fall Night gave her a sidelong glance. "I doubt you'd be willing to do the same."
Purple Night ignored the jab.
"The Midnight Clan sounds stronger than either of the other two."
She resumed rubbing her chin, her attention returning to the gray region on the map.
"They would be," Fall Night replied, "if not for the losses they suffered during the two Great Wars. The Midnight Clan took the heaviest casualties in both conflicts, especially the Second Great War. The Night Clan came next, while the Sunchaser Clan suffered the least."
Purple Night's fingers stopped moving.
For once, she struggled to conceal her surprise.
*How many people know this? And how much would someone pay for information like that?*
The revelation added another piece to the puzzle she'd been assembling. There was a hidden thread connecting the Night and Midnight Clans, something she could sense but had yet to understand.
She needed more information. Unfortunately, pressing Fall Night further would only make him suspicious.
Purple Night folded the maps and returned them to her pouch.
"It's getting late. We should find an inn for the night."
Fall Night glanced at the table.
"Are you taking the wine with you?"
"Why?"
He crossed his arms and tapped his index finger against his bicep, his annoyance becoming increasingly obvious.
"Aren't you paying for this, Purple Night?"
"No. *You* are, Fall Night."
"Damn. I thought you'd cover it this time."
He gave a frustrated kick at the air, earning a laugh from Purple Night.
She slipped her lower mask back into place, her earlier seriousness dissolving into amusement.
*This is definitely more entertaining than dealing with that old fatty, Jagged.*
"You're a thousand years too young to play me, Fall Night." She turned toward the exit. "Now, let's go meet that little girlfriend of yours before she gets mad at me."
"You play too much, Purple Night."
"I know."
She didn't even bother looking back.
With that, she slipped into her familiar role, once again taking control of the situation and quietly arranging the next steps in her plans. Beneath her playful exterior lay a sharp, calculating mind—one well suited to the path of a talisman master.
Once their conversation ended, the two headed downstairs.
Fall Night paid for their food and drinks, which came to ten thousand purple coins. Considering the damage caused earlier, the bill was surprisingly modest.
Purple Night, naturally, made sure to take three bottles of fine wine with her.
"There she is. Your little girlfriend," she teased as Jaz Vixen approached.
Fall Night sighed.
"Hello, Purple. Hi, Little Fall."
"I'm not that familiar with you, Jaz Vixen," Purple Night replied coolly.
She tightened her cloak, concealing more of the clothing beneath it.
"Hello, Vixen," Fall Night greeted her with a nod.
"I definitely like it when you call me that, Little Fall," Jaz Vixen purred.
Before he could react, she slipped her hand around his arm.
"Remember what I told you. Come back and let me treat you."
"Can we get this over with, or are we going to stand here all night?" Purple Night asked dryly.
Jaz Vixen smiled sweetly.
"Well, Little Fall can stay here all night. You can't, Purple."
"Stop that."
"Sigh…"
Purple Night turned a cold gaze on her.
"Your little girlfriend is rude, Fall Night. If she gets too greedy, she might lose those pretty hands."
Rather than take offense, Jaz Vixen laughed and released his arm.
She flicked her dark-purple hair over one shoulder. Its light-pink highlights gradually deepened into burning-hot-pink tips, catching the light as she turned away.
Then she walked toward the pavilion, swaying her hips deliberately with every step.
Purple Night watched her disappear inside.
"Troublesome woman."
Fall Night said nothing.
The two left the Banner of Crest Palace and wandered through the bustling streets, blending into the evening crowds.
Purple Night used the opportunity to gather materials for her talisman crafting. Among her priorities was black qilin ink, a low-grade component suitable for crafting Tier 1 and Tier 2 talismans.
"We'll leave tomorrow," she said as they moved between the stalls. "We should reach the outskirts of Seven Elements Peak by nightfall."
"When are we leaving?"
"Closer to noon. We'll travel quickly. Death Sword and Jagged are probably nearby already, or they'll arrive tonight."
"Are we making any more stops?"
"Yes. I still need a few low-tier materials."
Fall Night glanced at the items she had collected.
"What level of talismans are you working on?"
"I'll tell you later, Fall Night. For now, let's keep moving."
"Fair enough."
Purple Night quietly observed him as they continued through the streets.
He adapted quickly. Once she made it clear that she wasn't ready to share something, he didn't press her with unnecessary questions. He simply accepted her answer and followed along.
It was a small thing, but it told her more about him than another round of probing questions might have.
As they moved from stall to stall, she gathered second-grade sandy wood paper, low-quality rune patterns, and talisman seals, carefully checking each item before storing it away.
She offered no further explanation about her plans.
Fall Night didn't ask.
Yet beneath her mask, Purple Night continued studying him, reconsidering what she thought she knew.
His ability to adapt was far greater than she'd expected.
And the more she learned about him, the more certain she became that Fall Night was hiding something.