The instant that magical probe swept over him, the hairs on the back of Luo Xun’s neck stood on end.
It was the exact feeling of being targeted by an apex predator.
This old guy had risen to such a high status, meaning he was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
Luo Xun was certain that if Alice hadn’t been standing beside him, he wouldn’t even have the right to stand near this man.
But he showed no emotion, letting their gazes collide in the air.
Rommath’s golden eyes held no emotion at all, only pure assessment.
Luo Xun felt as though he were being thoroughly seen through, like an X-ray scan.
A few seconds later, Rommath withdrew his gaze, his brow furrowing even deeper.
“You have a strange energy signature on you,” the old man said bluntly.
“It is not arcane, nor holy light, nor any of the common cosmic forces.
But it is very…
stable.
Too stable for a human.” Luo Xun’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive.
“I don’t understand.
I’m just a hunter.” “A hunter,” Rommath repeated the word, his tone dripping with skepticism.
But he didn’t press further, turning back to Alice instead.
“You are injured and need rest and treatment.
As for this…
Mr.
Luo Xun, I will arrange a guest room.
He may stay temporarily until the Convocation makes a decision.” “A decision?” Alice’s expression shifted, her tone turning sharp.
“Father, by what right do you treat him this way?” “A decision on whether he can remain in Silvermoon City, and in what capacity,” Rommath said matter-of-factly.
“You are the heir to House Sunfire.
Bringing a human back is no small matter.
The Convocation must deliberate, and the house must reach a consensus.” “He saved my life!” “Which is why he is still alive and standing here,” Rommath’s tone hardened.
“But that does not mean he is entitled to VIP treatment.
Alice, you must understand our current situation—” “I do understand,” Alice interrupted, her voice turning cold.
“I understand how many people have died in Silvermoon City.
I understand how difficult things have been since the Sunwell was defiled.
And I understand how much gossip a human’s presence here will stir up.
But I also know that without him, you wouldn’t even have the chance to stand here and argue with me.” The tension between the father and daughter instantly snapped taut.
*Why does this plot feel like a daughter bringing home a wild man after eloping?* Luo Xun thought.
The domestic servants around them lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Halduron and the other Farstriders also remained quiet; this was a private family matter, and it wasn’t their place to intervene.
Luo Xun stood to the side, his brow furrowing.
What kind of drama were this old man and his daughter playing out?
He had saved the heir of this noble house, yet he was being treated like a “nuisance” to be dealt with.
But he understood that this was just how high elves were.
As one of the most powerful races of Azeroth, pride and xenophobia were standard operating procedure.
No matter which world one was in, a hierarchy of contempt always existed.
In this world, the night elves were definitely at the top, having single-handedly repelled the invasion of the Burning Legion.
The high elves, who had split from the night elves, were originally the high nobility among them.
In their eyes, everyone else in the world was a mere barbarian.
Even now, this mindset manifested in every aspect of their lives.
Even on the brink of extinction, they insisted on putting on airs.
“Enough,” Rommath finally waved his hand, his tone weary.
“Arrange his rest first.
Other matters…
can wait until tomorrow.
Alice, come with me.
I need a full report.” The old man turned and walked back into the manor, not sparing Luo Xun another glance.
Alice stood in place, her golden eyes fixed on Luo Xun.
They held apology, helplessness, and a hint of…
begging him not to take it to heart.
“I will make sure your lodgings are prepared,” she said softly.
“We’ll talk once I’ve settled things here.” Luo Xun nodded, gesturing for her to handle the matter at hand.
Although the old man’s attitude was poor, Alice’s sincerity was genuine.
A middle-aged servant approached and made a polite but distant gesturing motion toward Luo Xun.
“Please follow me, sir.
Your room is in the side courtyard.” Luo Xun cast one last glance across the plaza.
Rommath and Alice had already entered the main gates.
Halduron’s squad was dispersing.
The other elves in the plaza were still watching from a distance, whispering among themselves.
Withdrawing his gaze, he followed the servant toward a small side door of the manor.
The door was low, requiring him to duck his head to enter.
Behind it lay a narrow, dimly lit corridor.
Its simple decor was a far cry from the luxurious style of the main entrance hall, serving as a passage for servants and minor guests.
*Even guest rooms are stratified.
A top-tier noble house indeed; their rules are certainly something else.* The servant pushed open a wooden door.
“You will stay here.
Dinner will be delivered.
Please try not to leave this courtyard.
If you need anything, pull the cord by the headboard.” The room was small but clean, containing a bed, a table, a chair, and a wardrobe.
The window faced an inner courtyard, offering a view of a small, well-tended but withered garden.
Luo Xun tossed his empty bag onto the table and sat on the edge of the bed.
The mattress was soft, seemingly filled with down.
Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes as the recent events replayed in his mind like a revolving lantern.
Silvermoon City—he was in.
Albeit in a…
highly ambiguous manner.
Extremely light footsteps sounded in the corridor outside; the servant was leaving.
Further away, from the main building of the manor, faint voices drifted over.
It sounded like Rommath and Alice arguing about something, though he couldn’t make out the words.
Luo Xun opened his eyes, walked to the window, and pushed it open.
The night wind rushed in, carrying the unique scent of Silvermoon City—magical energy mingled with floral fragrance, with something metallic like rust buried beneath.
Looking out, he saw vines climbing the inner courtyard walls, glowing with a faint blue light.
They were magical plants, resembling a flowing river of light in the night.
Silvermoon City was beautiful, but that beauty was all it had left.
Beneath the gorgeous facade, the city was relying on its last remaining pride to prop up a dignity that was on the verge of collapsing.
And he, an unexpected “variable,” had now become a newly placed pawn in this mess.
Luo Xun took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Since he was already here, he might as well wait and see.
At the very least, he no longer had to sleep in the wild and eat on the go.
That was a good thing.
Just as he was about to close the window, he caught a glimpse of a figure hurrying along the base of the wall on the other side of the courtyard.
It was a young elf dressed in a servant’s gray smock.
His posture was odd—he walked with a hunched back and unsteady steps, as if forcing himself to keep going.
The elf walked up to a lower, smaller hut in the corner of the courtyard and slipped inside.
The moment the door closed, Luo Xun caught a clear view of the elf’s face under the faint magical light.
His face was deathly pale, and his eye sockets were deeply sunken.
His lips were chapped, and most telling of all, his eyes were unfocused, as if covered by a layer of ash.
He had seen that look before.
It was exactly how Alice had looked when he first rescued her from the ruined tower.
Mana withdrawal.
Luo Xun stared at the closed door for a few seconds, then looked toward the faint lights gleaming from the main building.
Even a servant of House Sunfire suffered from mana addiction?
Or was it that…
the entirety of Silvermoon City was currently just putting up a brave front?
He closed the window and drew the curtains in one fluid motion, plunging the room into darkness.
Footsteps passed by the door occasionally, extremely light, as if deliberately muffled.
In the distance, a suppressed cough echoed faintly, short and quickly cut off.
Luo Xun lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling with a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind.
His life ahead would likely be far from peaceful.