Zhao Qiu was in a difficult position no doubt. She had talked a lot of shit to Zane in the buildup to his quest. Only for him to emerge victorious and without a scratch on him. The truth of the matter was Zane had taken a huge risk when he used an unexplored ability to deal with the monster, and had suffered dearly as a result.
Even so, he still managed to heal himself so that he was fully restored. This was of course not something Zhao Qiu was remotely aware of. And she had promised to get Zane in touch with the group who ran their settlement.
A group with a stereotypical cultivation name. The Divine Sword Sect. Frankly, Zane really didn't care that the system in China was specialized for aesthetics in line with the culture. He just wanted to get back to North America, and if the Divine Sword Sect knew of a way to do that, then he planned to make use of them.
There was just one problem: Zhao Qiu owed a certain debt of blood crystals to the Divine Sword Sect. A debt she had been avoiding paying until now. If she took Zane to see them, they would most definitely require her to pay up her debt, which was of course something she could not afford.
Then again, if she refused to fulfill her promise, then Zane would likely get angry with her. And he was clearly a power far greater than the Divine Sword Sect whose combined might was still not capable of dealing with the Lake Monster of Houhai.
Because of this, she ultimately relented, sighing heavily as she agreed to do what she had initially promised. Even if it was with complaints.
"If I knew you were as strong as you claimed, I wouldn't have promised to introduce you to those guys. You're really putting me in a difficult situation here, but I guess I only have myself to blame. Alright, fine, I'll take you to see those bastards... Just promise me you won't stir up any trouble with them, alright? They're not exactly friendly to outsiders..."
Zane immediately got the feeling from the woman's words, as well as the tone in which she spoke them in. That there was definitely more to this so-called Divine Sword Sect than she was informing him about. But whatever trouble she was in with them, that was none of his concern.
If they really bothered to find fault with him, then Zane would simply make an example of them so that everyone knew not to mess with him. Although that may in the long run be beneficial towards building ties to the community.
He, after all, needed information about the survivors in the area. Preferably those who had a way to get him back to North America. Which in the world's current state was much easier said than done. Because of this, he silently nodded his head, before alerting his drunk companions that they should sober up before joining him.
"I'm going to go with Zhao Qiu to meet with this so-called Divine Sword Sect. You idiots should clean yourselves up before joining us. In your current states, you're more harm to me than you are any use..."
Gwen wanted to make a nasty remark to Zane in retaliation for what he just said, but was ultimately sober enough not to do so. Whereas Zane swiftly left with Zhao Qiu, where the two of them walked through the streets much to the attention of the locals.
Zhao Qiu had a smug smirk on her face as she saw the sentry cowardly run off to his masters to report what he had seen. As for Zane, he quickly noticed this and made a comment on the woman's behavior.
"You're having fun, now aren't you?"
The woman had a smug smirk on her face as she responded to Zanes' question, no doubt venting a bit of her frustration as she did so.
"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be? These bastards keep raising taxes in the area to support their own growth. But because they're the most powerful group in the settlement and provide protection to those who live here we have no choice but to oblige.
Many of us are in debt to the bastards with no way to pay. If things continue like this, it won't be long before many people risk it all and move on from the city altogether. If that happens, it won't belong before they're left with nothing.
They may be high levels and powerful at that, but these fools have no idea how to properly run a city. They're bleeding us dry, and acting like they're not any worse than the undead, or the monsters that are spread across the land. It's honestly sickening..."
Just as Zhao Qiu said these words, a man who looked to be in his early thirties appeared. He was dressed in rather flashy robes, with some armored pieces visible to Zane's naked eye. Judging by the arrogant expression on the man's face, even when she stared at the decapitated head of the fearsome beast which had caused him and his men so much trouble, he was clearly the sect master.
And he quickly introduced himself as such when he spoke to Zane, ignoring the woman by his side entirely as he did so.
"I hear you claim to be the man who defeated this monster, and by yourself no less. A bold claim... I'm Luo Chang, Master of the Divine Sword Sect. And you appear to be a foreigner who does not belong in these parts. Curious, how exactly did you cross the Pacific? I have doubts that you have been here in Asia this entire time. Most of your kind died in the early days of the sundering..."
The sundering was a term Zane had heard frequently upon making his way to Beijing. It appears to be what the locals called the beginning of the apocalypse. As for Zane, he really didn't care for the man's arrogant attitude, and was quick to ask his question. If the man didn't respond favorably to it, then he would simply leave.
"Do you have the ability to help me get back to North America or not?"
Whether or not a fight would break out between Zane and the Divine Sword Sect was dependent on Luo Chang's answer.