The lingering unease in the town was a palpable thing, a sticky residue clinging to the air even after the preacher's influence had been disrupted. Lin Mu and Mei Lin, their purpose now sharpened, sought the town's underbelly, hoping for truths hidden from polite society. Their destination: the Golden Barrel tavern, a haven for shadows and secrets tucked away in a grimy alleyway.
A Tangled Brew of Suspicion
The tavern's air was a heavy concoction of stale ale, sweat, and unspoken stories. Rough faces scrutinized the newcomers, their refined bearing a stark contrast to the tavern's usual clientele. Mei Lin, however, moved with an inherent grace, her silver eyes like twin probes, dissecting the room's atmosphere. Lin Mu's quiet authority radiated a subtle warning, deterring any immediate aggression. They claimed a shadowed table, the rough wood cool beneath their fingertips.
"That faint echo of dark energy near the church's storehouse…" Mei Lin murmured, her voice barely audible above the tavern's low hum.
Lin Mu nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Too distinct to be merely residual from the artifact. There was another anchor point."
Threads in the Murk
Their initial inquiries met a wall of suspicion and fear. The preacher's shadow still loomed large, silencing potential informants. Yet, Mei Lin's genuine empathy and Lin Mu's patient demeanor slowly began to thaw the icy apprehension. A hollow-eyed woman spoke of strange, unlabeled crates delivered under cover of darkness. A disgruntled former guard, his bitterness palpable, recounted clandestine meetings between the preacher and cloaked figures exuding an unnatural chill – a description that resonated ominously with Mei Lin.
"Umbral Hand," she breathed, the confirmation a cold weight in the warm air.
Their most promising lead emerged from the tavern's darkest corner, a wiry man known only as Kael clutching a tankard. His cynicism was a shield against the town's pervasive fanaticism. "That silver-tongued devil… he wasn't always like this," Kael rasped, his eyes darting nervously. "Came from nowhere, then suddenly had coin, those… others." He spoke of hushed, late-night conferences with figures whose faces remained hidden, their presence radiating an unsettling cold. He also mentioned a concealed passage behind the church altar, a detail that had piqued his curiosity but quelled by fear.
The Light of Exposure
As they pressed Kael for more information, the tavern door swung open with a jarring clang. A group of burly men, their faces set in grim determination, their eyes burning with the preacher's fervent zealotry, strode in. One of them pointed a thick finger directly at Lin Mu and Mei Lin.
"There! The deceivers! Spreading lies against the Shepherd!"
The tavern's atmosphere shifted instantly, the earlier cautious cooperation dissolving into hostile glares. Patrons who had tentatively offered information now shrank back into the shadows. Lin Mu and Mei Lin exchanged a knowing glance. Their subtle probing had stirred a hornet's nest.
A faint smile touched Mei Lin's lips. "It seems our quiet investigation has taken a more… public turn."
Lin Mu rose, his movements fluid and calm amidst the rising tension. "Indeed. It appears we have attracted some rather… enthusiastic attention."
The burly men advanced, their intent radiating as clearly as the stench of stale ale. The whispers in the dark had drawn them into the harsh glare of confrontation. Now, they would have to face the consequences.