The Last Immortal's Blade

Chapter 5 Leaving the Restaurant

The aftermath of the confrontation left the restaurant in a state of stunned silence, the air thick with the remnants of tension and the faint metallic tang of blood. The once-rowdy patrons now sat or stood frozen, their gazes flickering between Su Xuan and the fallen figures of the thugs who had dared to provoke him. The young server girl, her hands trembling, knelt beside her father, who groaned softly as he clutched his bruised ribs. Her eyes, wide with a mixture of fear and relief, darted to Su Xuan as she helped her father sit upright.

"Father, are you alright?" she whispered, her voice breaking. The old man nodded weakly, his face pale but grateful. He patted her hand reassuringly before turning his gaze to Su Xuan, his expression one of profound respect.

The girl then rose to her feet, her steps hesitant but determined, and approached Su Xuan. She bowed deeply, her hands clasped in front of her as if in prayer. "Honored guest," she began, her voice trembling but clear, "you saved us. You didn’t have to intervene, but you did. I… I don’t know how to repay you for your kindness."

Su Xuan, his expression calm and unreadable, sheathed his blade with a fluid motion. The weapon disappeared into its scabbard with a soft click, as if it had never been drawn. He regarded the girl with a steady gaze, his voice low and even. "There’s no need for repayment. Just take care of your father and ensure this place remains safe. That’s enough."

The girl’s eyes welled with tears, and she nodded fervently. "Thank you… thank you so much. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us." She hesitated for a moment, then added, "If there’s ever anything you need, please, don’t hesitate to ask. This humble establishment will always be at your service."

Su Xuan gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod before turning away. He walked back to his table, his movements deliberate and unhurried, as if the entire ordeal had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. The other patrons watched him with a mix of awe and wariness, their whispers hushed but filled with admiration. Some muttered prayers of thanks, while others simply stared, their minds struggling to reconcile the unassuming young man with the deadly warrior they had just witnessed.

As Su Xuan sat down, the atmosphere in the restaurant began to shift. The tension that had gripped the room slowly dissipated, replaced by a sense of cautious relief. The patrons returned to their meals, though their conversations were now subdued, their eyes occasionally darting toward Su Xuan as if to confirm he was still there. The server girl, after ensuring her father was stable, hurried to bring Su Xuan a fresh pot of tea, her hands still shaking slightly as she poured it for him.

"Honored guest," she said softly, placing a small plate of steamed buns beside the teapot, "please, accept this as a token of our gratitude. It’s not much, but…" Her voice trailed off, and she bowed again before retreating to tend to the other customers.

Su Xuan acknowledged her gesture with a slight incline of his head, though his thoughts were already far away. The encounter had been a mere distraction, a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of his journey. His mind was already turning to the trials that lay ahead—the Eternal Dao Sect, the cultivation techniques he sought to master, and the vengeance that burned like an unquenchable flame in his heart.

He sipped the tea slowly, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold resolve that fueled him. The road ahead would be fraught with danger and challenges far greater than a handful of thugs in a small-town restaurant. But Su Xuan was no ordinary cultivator. He had faced death and loss, and he had emerged stronger for it. The Eternal Dao Sect was but the next step on his path, a path that would lead him to the answers he sought and the justice he craved.

As the restaurant gradually returned to its usual rhythm, Su Xuan remained a solitary figure, his presence a quiet reminder of the power that lay beneath his unassuming exterior. The patrons, though still in awe, began to relax, their conversations growing louder and more animated. Yet, none dared to approach him, sensing the aura of quiet intensity that surrounded him.

For Su Xuan, this was just another moment in his journey—a fleeting pause before the storm. He finished his tea, placed a few coins on the table, and rose to his feet. The server girl hurried over, her eyes wide with concern. "Honored guest, are you leaving already?"

Su Xuan nodded. "I have business to attend to. Take care of yourself and your father."

The girl bowed deeply once more, her gratitude evident in every line of her posture. "Safe travels, honored guest. May the heavens watch over you."

Without another word, Su Xuan turned and walked out of the restaurant, the door closing softly behind him. The cool evening air greeted him, carrying with it the faint scent of distant mountains and the promise of the challenges that awaited. He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the horizon, and set off into the night, his steps steady and unwavering.