Linnea took a deep sip of her Mystic Malt, savoring the unique blend of flavors that danced on her tongue. The tavern buzzed with the chatter and laughter of its patrons, creating a warm atmosphere despite the raging blizzard outside. Her gaze wandered over the crowded room, observing the various characters that sought refuge in the cozy establishment.

She couldn’t help but smile. Despite her situation, this place had a certain charm–something she hadn’t enjoyed in a long time.

The door to the tavern swung open, letting in a gust of cold air and a few more patrons seeking shelter.

Among them, Linnea’s keen eyes spotted a familiar figure – the spry youth with short brown hair who had eagerly volunteered to gather information for her. He made his way through the crowd, his expression a mix of excitement and nervousness.

“Hey, I’m back!” he exclaimed, approaching Linnea’s table with a noticeable bounce in his step. “You won’t believe what I found out!”

Linnea raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Do tell.”

The youth leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “There’s a legend about a cave hidden deep within the blizzard. It’s said to be the resting place of an ancient beast, and inside, there’s a pool filled with water that can heal any ailment, even a broken dantian!”

Linnea’s interest was piqued. “A healing pool, you say? And how reliable is this legend?”

The young man shrugged. “Legends are always a gamble, but the source seemed confident, albeit a bit skeptical. He’s an old explorer who’s been around. Plus, with the blizzard, it might just be the perfect time to check it out. Fewer competitors.”

Linnea pondered the information. The risk was significant, but the potential reward was too enticing to ignore. As long as it was true. “Alright, I’ll consider it. Did the others find out anything?”

Just as the youth was about to answer, the other men returned to the table, each wearing a mix of excitement and disappointment. They shared what they had learned – tales of hidden treasures, secret locations, and mystical artifacts, but none as promising as the healing pool.

As Linnea listened, she weighed her options. The healing pool seemed like her best bet, but she knew that venturing into the blizzard, especially to an unknown location, was fraught with danger. Yet, the chance to repair her dantian and regain her strength was too crucial to pass up.

Seeing the somewhat disappointed look on her face, the blonde youth racked his brain for anything that might be of assistance. “Ah!” His eyes widened. “I know you said this option was off the table, but I hear there’s an alchemist apprentice in town. If you can gain his favor, perhaps his Master could make a pill for you!

Though, I doubt you’ll be receiving anything within the next year if you go this route.”

“Why?” As much of a longshot as this one was, having a Heaven or Mystic Grade Alchemist create a pill for her was the most reliable way to heal her dantian. Unfortunately, her talent would most likely be diminished if she went this route…

“I’m not sure who his Master is, but most of those old Alchemy gurus are associated with a prominent Sect. They’re busy dealing with that. Your request would most likely be pushed to the very end after he’s already completed everything else.”

“Tch. Might as well say they’ll never get around to it.” Linnea clicked her tongue, causing the youths to smile wryly.

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“Well, boys, thanks for the information. I’ll be hanging out in this city for a while longer. If you find anything else, be sure to come to me first. ” Linnea smiled and winked before waving her hand. “A round of drinks, please!”

“On it!” A reply came.

The youths beamed and sat down at her table. The group then began chatting, telling stories of their adventures, their backgrounds, and all sorts of casual topics. Soon, drinks came, and they started getting a bit louder. However, none of them made a move on Linnea.

‘…I guess they just wanted to hang out with a beautiful woman.’ She thought, somewhat narcissistically. ‘Not that I blame them. Most of the people here are either cowards, weaklings, or scary-looking men.’

Whether it was due to the booze or the atmosphere, she found herself relaxing, perhaps a bit more than she had originally planned.

As the night wore on, the tavern’s atmosphere grew even more convivial, with patrons singing and sharing stories. Linnea, while mostly a listener, occasionally contributed her own anecdotes, careful not to reveal too much about herself. She noticed how her stories, even the most mundane, captivated her young audience, their eyes wide with wonder and admiration.

The blonde youth, who seemed to be the unofficial leader of the group, raised his glass in a toast. “To Linnea, the most intriguing and mysterious lady we’ve had the pleasure of meeting this year!” he declared, and the others cheered in agreement.

Linnea smiled, clinking her glass with theirs. “To new friends and new adventures,” she replied, feeling a warmth that wasn’t just from the alcohol.

As the night progressed, Linnea’s mind began to drift toward her goal. The legend of the healing pool lingered in her thoughts. ‘…I know Elenei gave me that Spatial Ring, but… it’s really too dangerous for me to wander in this blizzard alone, with hardly any Qi in my body.’

Even with the items Elenei had given her, she nearly froze to death just making it to this city. Needless to say, an adventure to find some random healing pool that’s rumored to be guarded by a strong beast wasn’t all that appealing.

Just then, a commotion at the tavern’s entrance caught everyone’s attention. A group of rough-looking individuals stumbled in, their eyes scanning the room with a predatory gaze. The atmosphere shifted, the previous merriment dampened by the newcomers’ imposing presence.

The leader of the group, a burly man with a scarred face, locked eyes with Linnea. “Well, well, what do we have here? A gathering of weaklings and a pretty face,” he sneered, approaching her table.

Linnea’s companions tensed, their expressions turning wary. The blonde youth stood up, attempting to defuse the situation. “We’re just enjoying our evening. There’s no need for trouble,” he said, his voice steady but his body language betraying his nervousness. It was clear he knew the man.

The scarred man laughed, his gaze never leaving Linnea. “I decide what’s needed, boy. And what I need is a bit of entertainment. How about you, miss? Care to join me for a drink?”

Linnea met his gaze calmly. “I’m quite content here, thank you,” she replied, her voice laced with an icy politeness.

The man’s smile widened, but his eyes hardened. “Don’t be like that. I insist.”

Before the situation could escalate further, a loud voice cut through the tension. “That’s enough, Grax!” The tavern owner, a stout man with a commanding presence, stood at the bar, his eyes fixed on the troublemakers. “I won’t have you harassing my patrons! Either sit down and behave or get out. I don’t have time for your nonsense!”

Grax, the scarred man, weighed his options, his gaze shifting between Linnea and the tavern owner. With a grunt, he signaled his group to back off. “I’ll find you later,” he muttered, taking a seat at a nearby table.

Suddenly, just as he sat down, Grax paused, his eyes becoming empty.

“…Boss? What’re you doing?”

“Yeah, sit down! Drinks are on us!”

Before anyone could react, the man was sliced into a million pieces, to the point where even his blood just evaporated midair, not even touching the floor.

“…”

The entire tavern quieted down, with only the howls of the wind echoing in the background. That’s when a group of newcomers entered the building. One was a green-haired, above-average beauty with a saber hanging by her side. The other was an almost divinely beautiful blonde woman carrying a little red fox.

The two hardly paid attention to the atmosphere as they strolled into the tavern as if they owned the place, talking amongst themselves.

“Geez~ Celaine~ You’re beginning to act too much like Mira~!”

“Hmph! If it were that crazy witch, this whole place would’ve been destroyed. At least I kept it contained to a single person.”

“Well… you’re not wrong, but… Ahem! Anyways, we’re not-” The golden-haired, golden-eyed beauty turned in Linnea’s direction, and for a moment, she felt as though she was entirely seen through.

The hairs on her skin crawled as she reflexively crossed her arms and shivered, but it was no use.

“You look like the spitting image of a little girl I know.”

Before anyone, except for a few people, could react, Maria and Celaine had appeared before Linnea, though the latter was eyeing Grax’s companions, ready to have their bodies become one with the blizzard.

“Are you related to Hana?”

“HUH?!”

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