Reon's gaze shifted to the second option: revealing his identity and handing over the white tiger.
Tiger?
Reon's eyes shifted to the little cat before darting back to the system panel, his thoughts swirling in confusion.
How can that possibly be a tiger? It looks exactly like a little cat—the same size, the same color, even the same demeanor as the one I had in my previous life.
He shook his head slightly, struggling to reconcile the system's claim. A tiger? This little creature? Unbelievable. But... if the system says it's a White Tiger, then it must be.
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. That's why those bastards are so fixated on her.
Perhaps he should have used his Identify skill earlier, but seeing her injured and so reminiscent of his own cat made him completely forget about it.
Those bastards must have recognized her true identity immediately and tried to deceive him by claiming it was their cat. Ruthless scum. Could they also be the ones who injured her in the first place?
Reon's jaw clenched. Even if she weren't a White Tiger, I wouldn't give her up. I've already made a contract with her, and she's mine to protect. But now that I know her true nature, the stakes are even higher.
His thoughts deepened as he recalled the information from the novel. The White Tiger Clan—one of the Overlord Clans of the Howling Wilds Continent.
Its Supreme Ruler, the Thunderous White Tiger Emperor, was a being of unparalleled power, a name that struck awe and fear alike.
Even the leader of the Supreme Dao Sect, though no direct conflict between them was mentioned in the novel, was said to stand on equal footing with this legendary ruler, matching their might with all the power at their disposal.
If she's truly from that clan... and if she's one of their descendants... then this little one's identity is far more dangerous than I could've ever imagined.
His eyes flicked to the small cat—no, the small tiger. She remained close to Cloudia, her wide eyes reflecting trust and innocence.
I have to be cautious, he thought, his resolve hardening. I can't let anyone else discover her true nature. If word spreads, her life—and mine—will be in constant peril.
He exhaled softly. And as for this option? Ridiculous. I would never choose it, no matter the reward. The Qi Enhancement Pill isn't nearly enough to sell out someone I've sworn to protect.
Reon's gaze shifted to the third option: revealing his identity and killing the entire group. His brow furrowed as he considered it.
He hadn't taken a single human life since arriving in this world. Could he truly bring himself to kill someone, even in self-defense? His grip on the hilt of his sword tightened.
It wasn't that he lacked the will to fight if his life was at stake, but killing was a line he hadn't yet crossed.
And yet, the implications nagged at him. If he were to kill this group, wouldn't it provoke their leader, Niu Ling, even further?
That man, Niu Ling, wouldn't rest until he got what he wanted, especially if one of his people were killed. He'd see it as a personal vendetta, a challenge to his authority.
The next group he sent would undoubtedly be stronger—possibly far beyond what Reon could handle in his current state. He wasn't ready to face such overwhelming odds yet.
Then there was the reward for this option: a Healing Pill of Uncommon Grade. That meant a Grade-2 Healing Pill, useful but not particularly rare or worth the risk of outright slaughtering the group. Reon frowned. No, killing them was not the path he would take.
His attention shifted to the fourth option, and his expression subtly changed as he considered it: acknowledging his identity, defeating the group without killing them, and protecting the White Tiger. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
This felt like the best course of action. He wouldn't have to kill them, but that didn't mean he couldn't teach them a painful lesson and leave them bloodied and broken.
A solid beating would send a clear message while sparing their lives. He already had a plan forming in his mind to ensure they wouldn't dare speak of what happened here.
Then there was the reward for this option—a Rare Grade Footwork Technique. His smirk deepened. This was something he truly needed.
Polishing his swordsmanship was already one of his priorities, and a high-grade footwork technique would complement his skills perfectly.
After leaving the Mystic Evergreen Forest, when he began training with The Bladesong of the Silver Moon, he would need to master precise footwork to fully integrate it into his fighting style.
A footwork technique like this could elevate his combat ability to a whole new level. Yes, this option wasn't just practical; it was essential.
A chime echoed in his mind, sealing his decision.
[Ding! The Host has selected the Fourth Option. Please proceed to complete the task in order to claim your reward.]
Before Reon could act, the leader's voice cut through the tense silence.
"What's the matter? Your silence—does it mean you're admitting it? You are Xue Taiyang, aren't you?" The leader's tone was sharp, as his eyes narrowed, watching Reon's every move.