The room settled again.
At least on the surface.
Conversations slowly returned.
Low voices.
Careful tones.
Nothing loud.
Nothing careless.
But the tension from before had not disappeared.
It had only changed.
Xu Tian remained seated, unmoving.
His posture relaxed.
But his awareness stayed sharp.
"…That was only the first test," he thought.
The man with the scar had backed down.
Not defeated.
Not intimidated.
Just… satisfied.
That alone told Xu Tian enough.
This place did not act without reason.
Everything had a purpose.
Even small actions.
Xu Tian adjusted the children slightly in his arms.
The boy's breathing was steady.
Still weak.
But improving.
The girl remained awake.
Her eyes moved slowly across the room.
Then stopped.
Xu Tian noticed immediately.
"…What did you see?"
He followed her gaze.
Carefully.
Without turning too much.
There.
Near the far wall.
A man sat alone.
Plain clothes.
Simple posture.
Nothing that stood out.
But the space around him felt… quiet.
Too quiet.
As if the noise of the room did not reach him.
Xu Tian observed for a moment.
The man did not move.
Did not react.
But Xu Tian understood.
"…He noticed everything already."
Not someone who tested directly.
Not someone who pushed.
But someone who watched.
And waited.
Xu Tian shifted his gaze away.
No need to draw attention.
Time passed.
The room continued its slow rhythm.
But the feeling remained.
Eyes.
Subtle.
Careful.
Measuring.
Then-
The door opened.
This time, the sound carried further.
More people noticed.
The room grew slightly quieter.
Not silent.
But aware.
Xu Tian didn't move immediately.
But his focus shifted.
Three figures entered.
Their steps were steady.
Their posture straight.
Their presence-
Clear.
Stronger than most inside the room.
Not overwhelming.
But controlled.
Xu Tian opened his eyes fully now.
Watching.
The three paused just inside the entrance.
Their gazes moved across the room.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Not searching randomly.
Looking with purpose.
Xu Tian felt it.
"…They're not here by chance."
One of them spoke briefly to the man at the counter.
A few quiet words.
Then they turned.
Their eyes moved again.
This time-
They stopped on him.
Xu Tian didn't react.
But his focus sharpened.
"…So it's me."
The three began to approach.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Each step measured.
The room grew quieter.
People were watching again.
But no one interfered.
Xu Tian adjusted the children slightly.
The girl's grip tightened just a little.
Xu Tian lifted his gaze.
The leading man stopped a few steps away.
"You."
The voice was calm.
But firm.
Xu Tian met his eyes.
"Yes?"
The man studied him carefully.
Longer than necessary.
His gaze moved to the children.
Then back.
"…You're the one from outside."
Xu Tian didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The man nodded slightly.
"As expected."
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You were looking for me."
The man didn't smile.
"We were."
The air shifted again.
Heavier.
Not overwhelming.
But focused.
The two behind him moved slightly.
Positioning.
Not attacking.
Ready.
Xu Tian noticed immediately.
"…Coordinated."
Xu Tian remained seated.
But the energy inside him moved.
Calm.
Prepared.
The man spoke again.
"You caused trouble outside the town."
Xu Tian's voice remained steady.
"They attacked first."
The man's expression didn't change.
"That doesn't matter here."
Xu Tian already expected that.
"…Then why are you here?"
The man took one step closer.
"This place has rules," he said.
Xu Tian held his gaze.
"…And breaking them has a cost?"
The man didn't answer.
But his presence sharpened.
That was enough.
Xu Tian exhaled slowly.
"…I see."
The room felt tighter now.
Every movement watched.
Every breath measured.
Xu Tian adjusted his grip on the children.
His posture remained relaxed.
But his focus sharpened completely.
Because this time-
This was no longer a test.