Demon of Dawn and Dusk

We arrived at Clear Basin City at early morning of the next day. The skies were clear today, allowing the sun to shine down upon the world unimpeded. The air still contained a bit of winter’s chill, though spring’s warmth soon drove it away. The scent peculiar to Sacred Ironwood Trees filled my nose: metallic yet full of growth and vitality.

Sacred Ironwood Trees were low-grade natural treasures native to the area and were so prevalent that the province was named after them. What made them unusual was that Sacred Ironwood Trees contained both metal qi and wood qi, so they were both metallic and plant-like in nature. They were used to refine certain Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment magic treasures. However, their abundance and their low grade nature meant that they weren’t that valuable. That said, they made up for quantity what they lacked in quality. Entire forests of Sacred Ironwood Trees filled the entire province.

It took our group about a day to reach Clear Basin City. We even had time to stop and camp for the night. During the journey here, I reviewed what I knew about the city and the surrounding area. After Sidra and the other elders told us about our mission, I spent some time researching the Sacred Ironwood province, Clear Basin City, and Azure Canopy City.

Clear Basin City was built near the shores of Clear Basin Lake, from which it derived its name. The city was less wide than Evenfall City, but the buildings were taller. It was also surrounded by a tall stone wall. The city lord lived in a small palace in the center of the city. To my complete lack of surprise, almost all of the buildings in the city were built from Sacred Ironwood. As with Evenfall City, there was a flight restriction for Clear Basin City, so there were no cultivators flying in the air. Everyone walked around on foot, rode animals, or rode in some kind of vehicle.

The lake itself wasn’t that wide. However, the water was so clear that one could see the bottom of the lake, even though it was several thousand feet deep. Many different kinds of fish spirit beasts made the lake their home. In fact, Clear Basin Lake was famous for them.

While all of these fish spirit beasts were just Rank One, their body parts could be used for concocting certain kinds of pills or refining certain kinds of magic treasures. They were also delicious, from what I read. The people of Clear Basin City made a brisk trade harvesting and selling these fish spirit beasts.

Cultivators could also test their skill and their luck by trying to hunt these fish spirit beasts themselves. However, this was a risky proposition, since spirit beasts were fiercer and much more powerful than their mundane counterparts. More than one cultivator died and became fish food because they underestimated their prey.

Most of the local sects and clans maintained some kind of presence in Clear Basin City, though they kept their presence small since the lord who ruled the city had the backing of the Dawn and Dusk Sect.

When our group was about an hour’s flight away from Clear Basin City, Elliot landed his flying boat and replaced it with one of lesser quality. This new flying boat was smaller and slower than the previous one, but it suited our cover more.

In order to catch whatever was causing the disappearances in the northern half of the Sacred Ironwood province, Elliot decided that we would use ourselves as bait by presenting ourselves as tempting prey. To that end, the six of us disguised ourselves as rogue cultivators. While most rogue cultivators traveled alone, some banded together for mutual protection and support. Cultivator Albin was the most enthusiastic about this idea, while Cultivator Rexanne and Cultivator Isabel were the most reluctant.

If the cause of the disappearances was a spirit beast or something similar, then this wouldn’t help much. However, if a group of cultivators was responsible, then it might pay off.

When we camped for the night, the six of us worked together to come up with a suitable cover story for our group. We even adopted cultivator names, in order to hide our true identities.

Elliot was Sand Fang, the leader and the senior most member of our group. Cultivator Willow and Cultivator Isabel pretended to be a pair of sisters named Black Staff and Black Saber respectively. Cultivator Rexanne and Cultivator Albin pretended to be a married couple named Hammer and Blue Thread. This wasn’t much of a lie, since it turned out that they were actually betrothed to one another.

As for me, I picked Flamewind as my fake cultivator name for obvious reasons. I had an affinity for fire, and I came from Clan Wind Dance. While I despised my kin, I couldn’t deny my origins. If nothing else, my father deserved my respect. Thus, I couldn’t discard the Wind Dance name.

As part of our disguise, the six of us decided to dress in the eclectic manner favored by rogue cultivators. Well, most of us did. Elliot opted for a set of plain black robes, which was similar to his usual attire. However, he did use a technique to make himself appear human without any traces of his spirit beast nature. Cultivator Albin provided the clothing. It seemed that he liked to dress up his puppets in various outfits.

Cultivator Willow and Cultivator Isabel dressed in leather jackets lined with fur and leather trousers, which made them seem like wild mountain women. Cultivator Rexanne dressed like a blacksmith, complete with a leather apron, while Cultivator Albin dressed like a refined scholar. I went for something simple and wore a set of cheap linen robes. I also decided to forgo my Demon Form and took on a human appearance, since most people viewed demons in a negative light.

To complete our disguises, everyone used a variety of methods to hide our real cultivation bases in order to appear weaker. I used Cloak of Dusk. Elliot pretended to be an early Foundation Establishment cultivator, while everyone else pretended to be Qi Condensation cultivators of varying strength.

After we sorted everything out, we practiced referring to each other by our fake cultivator name in order to avoid any slip ups. It took some getting used to, but by the time we bedded down for the night, we were more than ready to put on our act.

When we neared Clear Basin City, Elliot landed the flying boat and we proceeded the rest of the way on foot. Due to the flying restriction, we couldn’t just fly into the city. Instead, we had to go through one of the city’s two gates: one for the south and one for the north. We opted for the south gate and joined the line of cultivators seeking to enter the city. A pair of armored guards stood at the gate to keep an eye out for trouble, while an official of some kind collected entrance fees.

As the line moved forward, I studied the other cultivators in the line, though I made sure not to make it obvious. Most of them were rogue cultivators, though a few belonged to one of the local sects or clans. However, I found it surprising that they were all at Qi Condensation. The only Foundation Establishment cultivator in sight was Elliot. While some were near my age, most were older.

I found this strange, since I was used to being surrounded by much more powerful cultivators. The only Qi Condensation cultivators in the Dawn and Dusk Sect were servants and outer disciples. Of course, there were exceptions, such as those who performed well enough during the entrance exam to join one of the halls right away.

The disparity between the cultivators of the Sacred Ironwood Province and the Dawn and Dusk Sect couldn’t have been more stark. The resources one had access to played a significant role in one’s cultivation. Not for the first time, I thanked the heavens for my luck. If my mother’s side of the family hadn’t held such high positions in the Dawn and Dusk Sect, my journey thus far would’ve been much more difficult. In fact, I might not have become a cultivator at all since my uncle was determined to keep me suppressed.

One thing I noticed was that all the other cultivators gave our group a wide berth. This was because of Elliot, since he let out the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. For Qi Condensation cultivators, the difference between him and them was like the difference between heaven and earth. They wanted to avoid offending him, so they left us alone.

I wondered how they would have reacted if they realized that our entire group were all Foundation Establishment cultivators. If nothing else, it would cause quite the commotion. I found it amusing to think about. When Cultivator Willow asked me what was so funny, I told her through telepathy. She snickered.

The line moved along at a brisk pace and soon it was our turn to enter Clear Basin City. When the guards and the official dealt with the other cultivators, they acted gruff and indifferent. However, when it was our turn, they treated us with deference and respect. The official even fawned over Elliot and waved the entrance fee.

“I knew that strength mattered the most to cultivators,” I said once we were far enough from the gate, “I just hadn’t realized how stark the difference was.”

While the guards and the official treated Elliot with respect, they ignored the rest of us. That irked me. The least they could have done was acknowledge our existence.

“The law of the jungle prevails in the world of cultivation.” Cultivator Isabel said with a derisive snort. “The strong thrive and the weak are crushed underfoot. The sooner you get used to it, the better.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. Considering that she had less experience with the outside world than I did, she was in no position to say something like that to me.

“Sister Black Saber is right,” Elliot said, “While cities and sects are safe for the most part, anything goes in the outside world. One can only rely on one’s own strength and one’s allies. Caution and prudence are paramount.”

I nodded. This mission was a learning experience for Cultivator Willow and I, so we could gain more experience. The outside world was a harsh and dangerous place. We needed to learn how to survive in such an environment if we wanted to go far on the path to immortality. Though, we weren’t the only beneficiaries of this lesson. I wasn’t sure about Cultivator Rexanne and Cultivator Albin, but I knew that Cultivator Isabel was also inexperienced.

On the way to Clear Basin City, Elliot gave us some advice on how to conduct ourselves as rogue cultivators. He learned the hard way, when he traveled the land with Ellen, and we benefited from his knowledge. In general, rogue cultivators avoided trouble as much as possible. They often lacked backers, so they had to be even more cautious than other cultivators. They didn’t stick their noses into dangerous business unless they needed to. Rogue cultivators also avoided conflicts with sect cultivators if they could help it, for the same reasons.

“Now that we’re in Clear Basin City,” Elliot said. “Let us gather information and see if we can’t find out more about the disappearances. We’ll split up to cover more ground. However, don’t go anywhere alone. Move in pairs. It’s safer that way.” He gestured in the direction of the small palace located in the center of the city. “I will go to the city lord and see if I can’t find out anything there. Cultivator Isabel, will you join me?”

Cultivator Isabel scowled at that and turned to Cultivator Willow. While she wasn’t a servant, she was charged with protecting Cultivator Willow, so I could understand her hesitation.

“Don’t worry, Sister,” Cultivator Willow said, grinning at her, “I’ll be fine as long as I’m with Brother Flamewind.” She reached over and pulled me to her side before I could even react. “Besides, we’re in the middle of a city. The chances of something happening are low.”

Cultivator Isabel didn’t respond right away.

“Very well, Sister Black Staff,” she said after a few seconds, “Be careful.”

Cultivator Willow nodded.

“In that case, Hammer and I will make up the third pair.” Cultivator Albin said. He smiled at Cultivator Willow and I with a knowing look in his eyes.

I wanted to protest, but I didn’t see the point since everyone had already made their decision. Besides, I wasn’t opposed to spending some time alone with Cultivator Willow. I just needed to be careful so I didn’t cross the lines I had set for myself. Neither did I want to anger Elliot.

The six of us made some quick plans. While Elliot and Cultivator Isabel talked with the city lord, the rest of us would explore the rest of the city and see if we couldn’t find out more about the disappearances. Cultivator Rexanne and Cultivator Albin would wander around the western side of the city, while Cultivator Willow and I would take the eastern side. Everyone had a transmission talisman, so we could contact one another if something happened. At noon, we could reconvene at a marketplace located near the city center.

After we made our plans, we split off into three pairs. As Cultivator Willow and I wandered around Clear Basin City, I looked around. While it wasn’t as lively as Evenfall City, Clear Basin City was still a bustling place. However, it was also smellier. The stench of fish filled the air.

People had set up stalls and blankets along the roads and hawked their wares. They sold an assortment of goods, including various natural treasures, pills, and magic treasures. None of the items on display caught my interest, so I ignored them. However, some stalls sold snacks and drinks, which did draw my attention.

In addition to the stalls, there were several stores that sold an assortment of goods. Pills and alchemy reagents, talismans and magic treasures, manuals and jade slips, and so on. It wasn’t too different from South Vale, the town of cultivators located to the south of the Dawn and Dusk Sect, except that the goods on display were of a lower quality. Still, a few things caught my attention and I made a mental note to buy some before we left the city. While I had plenty of stuff for pill concocting and magic treasure refining, I could always use more.

There were also plenty of restaurants in Clear Basin City, with most of them specializing in seafood. My mouth started to water at the thought of eating some fried fish and other dishes. Yes, we were here on a mission, but that didn’t mean we had to ignore our needs. Foundation Establishment cultivators still needed to eat. However, we had a mission to complete first.

I also took this opportunity to study the rogue cultivators roaming about. Most of them walked on foot, though a few rode around on spirit beast mounts. Rather than study their appearances, I studied their bearing and the way they acted. If I wanted to pretend to be a rogue cultivator, then I needed to learn how to conduct myself like them.

One thing I noticed was that rogue cultivators strutted around with confidence, which contradicted what Elliot told me. However, after giving it some thought, I realized that it made sense. Rogue cultivators wanted to avoid trouble unless necessary. Putting on a strong front and posturing could help with this. I mimicked them.

“Finally,” Cultivator Willow said a few minutes after we separated from the others. “I thought I would never get a chance to spend some alone time with you, Brother Flamewind.”

I gave her a sideways glance.

“I knew you had an ulterior motive for wanting to pair up with me, Sister Black Staff.” I said.

Cultivator Willow snorted.

“It’s not really an ulterior motive if I’m open and honest about it, is it?” She said.

I rolled my eyes.

‘How did you end up coming along on this mission anyway?’ I asked through telepathy, to avoid any prying ears.

‘Oh, simple.’ Cultivator Willow responded, also using telepathy. ‘I went to Vice Hall Master Sidra and asked her to give me an opportunity to grow closer to you. She agreed and arranged for me to join you on this mission. Though, I had to convince Master to go along with it.’

I stared at her. Sidra helped her? Of course she did. I sighed. For some reason, this reminded me of when Sidra arranged for Astra and Cultivator Raphael to become engaged to one another. It worked out in the end, but still. My eldest sister liked to meddle far too much for my liking.

‘Why?’ I asked.

Cultivator Willow scoffed.

‘Is that a real question?’ She asked. ‘Since you are unable or unwilling to pursue me, I must pursue you.’

‘Cultivator Willow-’ I started to say, but she cut me off.

‘Yes, yes. I know. You want to discuss things with your paramour first. I know that you’re heading to East Mesa City to reunite with her. That’s another reason why I wanted to join this mission. I wanted to meet with this Ellen and convince her to share you with me.’

For some reason, I felt like there was something wrong with that line of thinking but I couldn’t figure out what it was.

‘I see.’ I said in the end. ‘Well, I’m not opposed to getting closer with you, Cultivator Willow, as long as we don’t cross any lines.”

‘Willow,’ she said, ‘I think we’ve gotten close enough that we can do away with any honorifics. Don’t you agree, Darian?’

I paused, before nodding.

‘Very well, Willow.’

Culti-Willow smiled at that.

The two of us continued to explore the city. I bought some snacks, pulling out a few spirit stones from my storage bag. That was something else Elliot advised us about. Storage rings were expensive and few rogue cultivators owned one. Storage bags were cheaper and more common, though they contained less space inside. Elliot had spares, which he distributed to the rest of us.

“I hope you and your wife enjoy yourselves here in our Clear Basin City.” The snack vendor said, smiling at us.

I blinked at him in surprise. Wife? Why would he think we were married?

“Yes,” Willow said, placing a hand on my shoulder, “My husband and I were in the area and we hoped to taste some of the local delicacies.” She gave me a brilliant smile. “Isn’t that right, darling?”

My left eye twitched. I knew that she wanted us to grow closer to one another during the course of this mission, but this was taking things too far. Still, if I rebuffed her now, it would look suspicious.

“Yes, dear.” I said, smiling like a husband enamored with his wife. “We were heading north with our traveling companions, but the fish of Clear Basin City are famous so we had to try some.”

The snack vendor’s stopped smiling.

“You’re heading north?” He said with a nervous expression on his face.

Willow and I glanced at one another.

“Yes.” I said. “Is something wrong?”

The snack vendor looked around, before leaning in closer to us.

“The city lord tried to keep things quiet, but there are rumors of people disappearing somewhere north of the city.” He said in a low voice. “They were all rogue cultivators such as you and your wife, so I thought I should warn you.”

I frowned.

“Do you know what caused these disappearances?” I asked.

The snack vendor shook his head.

“No.” He said. “Still, if I were you, I would wait for a while before heading north. There’s plenty to do here in Clear Basin City.” He paused. “Though, you could always use the teleportation array if you have the spirit stones to spare.”

I snorted.

“As if.” I said, before glancing at Willow. “We should go tell the others about this.”

Willow nodded.

“Thank you for the warning, friend.” I said, giving the snack vendor an extra spirit stone.

“No need to thank me.” He said, while pocketing the spirit stone. “The world is a dangerous place and folk like us need to help each other out.”

I nodded, before walking off with Willow. She grabbed my hand and held it.

‘We need to act like a married couple,’ Willow said through telepathy. ‘Otherwise he’ll get suspicious.’

I rolled my eyes but didn’t let go of her hand.

‘Let us see if anyone else knows anything.’ I said before heading off to speak with more people.