After helping with ingredient preparation, Eva stepped out, allowing the experts to concentrate on their work. This was routine for her. After she helps with ingredient prep, she moves on to the area she’s great at: serving.

Tonight, however, Eva’s purpose extends beyond her usual supportive role at the inn. Over the past week, she has keenly observed the various practitioners who frequent the establishment, paying close attention to their mannerisms, habits, and interactions.

Through these observations, she has begun to assemble detailed character profiles for each individual. Although her assessments remain incomplete, they are thorough enough to serve as valuable references. These insights will be instrumental in her efforts to identify and recruit promising individuals from among the inn’s regulars.

If she is lucky enough, she might recruit one or more tonight.

Eva carried a small, well-worn notepad in her apron pocket, which she used diligently to record each customer’s order. While her memory was sharp enough to remember even the most complicated requests without assistance, she continued using the notepad out of consideration for her fellow mortal coworker. The written records helped streamline their coordination, ensuring that every plate was delivered to the correct table and that no detail was overlooked during the busy dinner rush.

With a welcoming smile, she walked up to a group of 4 cultivators who were in the middle of discussing. She waited for a natural pause in their conversation before addressing them, her tone both respectful and friendly, "Hello, fellow daoists, what are you people having tonight?"

She could recognize three of them at a glance. They were regular customers here, but the last one was a new face she hadn’t come across before.

The first man, who wore a cream colored robe, smiled at the familiar voice before turning his attention to her, "Greetings, fellow Daoist, I would only be having wild lamb’s meat tonight, I have had too much to drink before coming today."

A younger cultivator, appearing no older than eighteen, let out a mischievous chuckle, his eyes gleaming with youthful teasing. "Hehehe, this old man Son got into a bet with another cultivator and downed eight full jugs of regular wine before nearly toppling over. You’d think being an elder would mean he’d have mastered self-control by now!" His words were laced with playful mockery, but no malice could be detected within his words.

The first man, who seemed to be in his early thirties despite the gray at his temples, shot the youth a glare tinged with irritation. His voice, though kept low, carried a sharpness. "Brat Jin, don’t call me old—I’m still in my prime. Are you wishing me an early grave? And as for earlier, that brat was clearly questioning my ability to hold my liquor; I couldn’t just let him run his stinking mouth without showing him a lesson." His pride, as firm as his reputation, was evident in every word.

He tapped his inner pocket, and the clear sound of paper bills filled the air, "I was rewarded for all my time dinkin... I mean, all those times building my tolerance for poisons."

The third man, who has been quiet the whole time, clicked his tongue at that, "Clearly, you were just looking for younger, more naive people to exploit throughout the city. You’re just a bully."

Son blushed a little from embarrassment at being exposed so openly; thankfully, they were talking in a hushed voice. "Mphm, if you fall for an obvious scam, it’s no longer a scam, it’s just you being generous." He said, radiating a strange sense of wisdom, "That young man clearly sensed my need for money to purchase that, and chose to generously give me some in his own peculiar way." His attempt to spin his actions as wisdom drew a mix of exasperated sighs and reluctant amusement from the others.

They stared at him, baffled by his shamelessness.

The last member at the table, noticeably the youngest, barely fourteen by appearance, seemed completely lost in the moment. His wide eyes remained fixed on Eva, oblivious to the ongoing banter and the shifting moods around him. Eva, meanwhile, felt her patience thinning as she waited for their order, her practiced smile faltering ever so slightly.

"Beautiful," he breathed out in awe, the word slipping past his lips so quietly it was meant only for himself. Yet in the sudden hush that had fallen over the table, every person present heard the unguarded admission. The boy’s cheeks flushed crimson, and Eva arched an eyebrow, caught between amusement and impatience.

A heavy silence settled over the group. The three older cultivators, usually quick with a joke or retort, were rendered momentarily speechless by the boy’s candid outburst. Their playful antics ceased, replaced by a shared awkwardness that lingered in the air.

"Miss Daoist, this young man here is named Hundao. He just arrived today, so forgive him for his outburst." Son sighed with wariness. "The young fellow is rather unlucky; he just arrived today and was robbed of what little he had by fellow cultivators. Luckily, we found him shortly after."

The other two cultivators exchanged glances, their expressions softening with visible pity as they observed Hundao. Their presence at the table was as much about camaraderie as it was about trying to lift his spirits, yet their efforts had yielded little success. It was almost comical; despite their best attempts at lighthearted conversation and encouragement, Hundao’s mood seemed unshakable.

Ironically, it appeared that the mere presence of a striking dark elf like Eva managed to draw out a reaction, momentarily distracting him from his troubles. Still, the older cultivators knew, with a touch of resigned humor, that Hundao had no realistic chance with someone as enigmatic and unattainable as Eva.

They knew Eva was very strong. This establishment wasn’t always this harmonious, nor was it this quiet, but once those two came, Eva swept through every single one of them with momentum alone. Cultivators couldn’t possibly live patiently among mortals; they were simply too slow for them. As Alaric was slow in the sight of Old Tian, so are mortals slow in the eyes of these proud cultivators. Thay lacked the patience of being served by mortals, and this was mostly due to their lack of willpower.

There was no grand battle between them, but the sheer fighting spirit silenced everyone. Without fighting, they knew they were no match for her, so they decided to live harmoniously till the selection.

Yet, Eva was only part of the reason for the newfound calm. The true source of hesitation among the inn’s patrons was the enigmatic young man who often accompanied her, Alaric. Even if Alaric himself seemed unaware of it, his very presence acted as a silent warning.

The aura he exuded was so intense, so thick with latent danger, that it sent shivers down the spines of anyone who sensed it. Stories circulated of how other cultivators, no matter how bold, instinctively avoided crossing paths with him. While most newcomers faced their share of adversity and scheming from rivals, Alaric seemed to move through the city untouched; no one dared to provoke him.

Especially those eyes.

The memory of that piercing look was enough to make several at the table unconsciously tense, a collective shiver running down their spines as they recalled the experience.

Eva glanced at the still dazed Hundao, genuine concern written all over her face, "You must be in a really tight spot then. I am sorry for the things you experienced." She thought of the plan Alaric proposed earlier. Situations like these would escalate quickly, so they must act fast to keep them in check.

"I..."

She straightened and addressed Hundao and the group with reassuring authority. "You don’t need to worry about paying for your accommodations here. As you might have heard, you’re welcome to stay until the selection begins. And don’t fret about meals, they’re all covered as well. Just remember, we ask everyone to avoid causing trouble."

Eva’s confidence was bolstered by the bustling presence of her fellow waitresses, who moved gracefully between tables, exchanging laughter and orders with guests. Their numbers allowed her the freedom to linger and truly connect with the cultivators at her table, rather than rushing off to tend to others.

"If you are looking to earn extra money or resources, you can wait till I am done with my shift. I have a business venture we can discuss." She said, while shifting her attention to the other three, "You guys are also invited to join.

"This..." They looked at each other. Seeing the glint present in each other’s eyes, they came to a decision.

"Fellow Daoist, you can count on us, we’ll be here when your shift ends," one of them replied, a note of eagerness and newfound purpose in his voice.

She nodded in satisfaction, "Good." She began, "Now, I believe you boys have wasted enough of my time."

A shiver ran through their spine. Her usually gentle demeanor makes others more relaxed in her presence. ’How deceptive.’