The Elf gave a small nod and retracted the water. The swirling veil vanished as if it had never been there.
Wei Lin released his grip on Reon’s collar. Then Reon calmly adjusted his clothes and stepped aside to observe.
"Yes," she said, voice calm as still water.
"But why?" Wei Lin barked. "I don’t even know you. I didn’t offend you."
She tilted her head ever so slightly, her expression unreadable.
"Because I’m stronger than you."
Her words were soft—but the moment they left her lips, a crushing pressure erupted from her body.
Not toward the crowd—just at Wei Lin.
"Gah—!"
"Urghh!"
Wei Lin staggered back, beads of sweat forming instantly on his forehead. His knees buckled. He felt as though a mountain had fallen upon him.
The others, though untouched by the pressure, watched in hushed fear.
Seeing Wei Lin’s face pale with terror, they quickly returned to their drinks, pretending not to see anything—though their eyes still flicked toward her in awe and fear.
Wei Lin choked out the words, shaking.
"S-Sorry, Miss... Please... forgive me. I—I won’t... I’ll never mess with anyone again."
The pressure vanished as suddenly as it came.
He gasped in relief, like a drowning man breaking the surface.
Scrambling to his feet, he bolted for the exit—though not without casting one last hateful glance at Reon before disappearing through the door.
The room exhaled as if a storm had passed.
Reon stepped forward, his tone polite.
"Thank you, Miss. I truly appreciate your help just now."
But she didn’t smile this time.
Her eyes met his—brown and gold, unreadable.
"Help?" the Elf girl said, voice calm but distant.
"Do you really think I was helping you?"
Reon blinked, caught off guard.
"Huh? What do you mean?" he asked, confused but alert.
She stepped closer, her golden and brown eyes locking onto his.
"Drop the act," she said softly. "You’re far stronger than that brute. We both know it."
"I wasn’t saving you.
I was saving him... from you."
Reon’s expression twitched for a brief second—his brows narrowing—but he quickly composed himself.
"She can tell?" he thought, silently measuring her. "Of course, I am stronger."
"After all, Adventurers are generally weaker than sect disciples. Their techniques are crude, and without proper guidance from masters, they struggle to grow.
Though... the high-ranking ones are a different story."
His thoughts continued, measuring the comparison.
"An F-Rank adventurer is barely above an ordinary mortal—just a bit stronger, that’s all."
"An E-Rank is about equal to a servant disciple from the Supreme Dao Sect."
"D-Ranks compare to trial disciples or the weakest among the outer disciples."
"And C-Rank... maybe only on par with a few of the stronger outer disciples in our sect."
Reon exhaled slowly, his breath calm and measured.
"And how exactly did you come to that conclusion?" he said, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
The elf spoke, a faint glimmer of pride in her eyes.
"I’m a Spirit Swordswoman. My spirits are constantly whispering. And right now..." she paused, tapping her temple, "...they’re screaming."
"They say you’re dangerous."
"More than that—they say they can’t see through you."
Reon’s lips curled slightly in amusement, though his eyes remained calm.
"Ah... that’s the benefit of being a Spirit User. They can sense danger and see through others’ natures."
Outwardly, he replied, "You’re overestimating me. I’m just a normal guy. Haven’t even registered as an adventurer yet."
"Normal?" she echoed, narrowing her eyes. "You’re anything but."
She raised her hand slowly, brushing her hair aside to clearly reveal her right eye—gleaming gold like molten sunlight.
"Can you see this eye?" she said. "It’s no ordinary eye—this is the Supreme Spirit Eye."
"Even without my spirits, it shows me truths. With it, I can tell... you’re not weaker than me."
"Or... you might even be stronger."
Reon’s gaze deepened.
"So that’s how she saw through me..." he thought.
"If she’s a B-Rank adventurer, she’s likely at Yi Ran’s level—or slightly above. Not impossible for me to handle if it comes to it."
Still, he smiled faintly.
"I don’t think so. But... I appreciate the compliment."
"It’s fine," she replied casually. "But I am really impressed. You kept your patience well."
"Oh? Thanks," Reon said with a shrug.
"Not really," he thought inwardly. "I was this close to caving that guy’s skull in. She just happened to step in at the right time."
She extended a hand.
"My name is Faeriel Arvandrel," she said, her tone lighter now. "It was nice meeting you."
Reon raised a brow slightly before taking her hand.
"Xue Taiyang. Likewise."
Their hands met—firm, soft and brief.
"So, Xue Taiyang..." Faeriel’s golden eye shimmered. "Would you like to have a drink with me?"
Reon smiled faintly. "Yea—"
But before he could finish—
"Hey, Fae! What in the world are you doing over there shaking hands with some gross human? Let him go already—your goddess-like beauty might just drive the poor guy insane!"
A sharp, bratty voice cut through the guild’s ambient noise like a blade. Heads turned.
So did Reon.
A small figure stood confidently at the entrance—a girl with chestnut pigtails and eyes that sparkled with irritation.
Her ears were slightly pointed—not as long as Faeriel’s, but clearly not human.
"No manners, no restraint. Can’t be anyone but a Dwarf," Reon thought, eyes narrowing slightly.
She was short, even for a dwarf—barely over his waist—and though her frame was small, her voice carried across the hall like a war drum.
"A loli?" someone whispered from a table to Reon’s right. "She’d be pretty cute... if it weren’t for that venomous mouth of hers."
"Who cares? I’d gladly be poisoned by that venomous mouth of hers all day long," another chimed in with a grin.
"Shut it, you lolicon bastards." a third snapped, glaring at them.
"That’s a Dwarf, not some little girl. They’re always grumpy, hate humans, and probably wouldn’t think twice about biting your leg off."
Murmurs rippled through the hall—curiosity, fear, and awe blending into the low hum of speculation.
Then, a new presence entered behind her.
And this one silenced the room.