The Man in the Mist

“You really don’t need to be so aggressive, sir.”

Sui Ming smiled politely as he placed a hand gently on the furious man’s shoulder.

[When—?]

The man’s eyes widened.

This silver-haired youth had approached without triggering a single ripple in his perception.

He hadn’t even noticed him until that very hand was already on his shoulder.

A sudden wave of fear surged through him.

But when he sensed the other party’s strength—a mere Tier 2 [Mortal Dust], two levels below his own Tier 3—his arrogance returned in full force.

“Hah? What the hell does this have to do with you?”

“I’m asking for compensation—how is that not justified? What now? You think you’re a law enforcer or something?”

The man—Moben—flipped his middle finger right in front of Sui Ming’s face.

“I’m a Tier 3 [Soul Invoker]. What the hell are you supposed to be?”

But Sui Ming simply kept smiling, unfazed by the crude provocation.

“Oh? Tier 3… is that impressive?”

In an instant, the temperature in the restaurant dropped like a glacier crashing through the ceiling.

Sweat began to bead on the old man’s forehead.

[Dear lord, what are you doing?
Weren’t you here to de-escalate?
Why the hell are you picking a fight with him?!]

Moben let go of Elisha’s collar and glared at the cheeky silver-haired youth.

“You brat… you have a death wish.”

“Don’t you know? The [Law] doesn’t apply to us [Soul Invokers].”

“Oh? Isn’t that even better, then?”

“Yeah—makes it easier for me to beat you to death!”

Moben’s figure suddenly blurred into translucent mist, magic bursting forth like crashing tides under a moonless night.

His arm shimmered, gradually turning invisible under the influence of his soul power.

A faint mist enveloped him as a soft pop echoed through the air.

Still, Sui Ming didn’t move.

No defense. No resistance.

He simply stood there, waiting.

“A fresh-faced fool,” the old man sighed, shielding his granddaughter behind him.

[Mingxi City’s] been crawling with weird [Soul Invokers] lately.

Probably because of that damn [Rhine Academy] selection trial.

So many flock here chasing some faint sliver of hope.

And just as many die chasing it.

“…What a pity,” the old man murmured.

The gap between [Soul Invokers] is like the gap between heaven and earth.

Each tier compounds power exponentially, creating chasms that can’t be bridged with effort alone.

[He had a good heart, too…]

Suddenly, the air in the restaurant swirled like a roaring vortex.

The pressure made nearby diners furrow their brows.

Just as Moben’s rough fist neared Sui Ming’s face—he moved.

No thunderous explosion.

No blinding flash.

Just a breeze, soft and subtle.

[Ancient Martial Flow: Azure Lotus]

A unique martial art inspired by lotus pads floating on water.

Allows the user to evade high-speed attacks with movements as fluid and gentle as drifting petals.

The faster the attack, the stronger the technique’s evasion—like a non-Newtonian fluid.

But against slow strikes? Its power dwindles sharply.

And Moben’s strike—enhanced with magic—was blisteringly fast.

Perfect for Azure Lotus to shine.

Without warning, Sui Ming’s four fingers shifted into a hand blade, following the arc of Moben’s mist-like arm and striking toward his phantom face.

“You idiot!”

“You think a soft punch like that can hit me while I’m misted? Don’t kid yourself!”

[Soul Invocation – Man in the Mist]

True to its name, Moben could become intangible mist at will and phase in or out of solid form.

While misted, he was nearly untouchable—unless a specific counter was used.

That was the source of his smugness.

“Die, kid!”

A gray dagger materialized from within the mist, aiming straight for Sui Ming’s undefended right waist.

The punch had been a feint.

The dagger—hidden in his left hand all along—was the real killing blow.

“…Still too young.”

Sui Ming sighed, stepped forward with his right foot, and—Inch Force!—channeled explosive power straight at Moben’s intangible face.

“You can’t hit mist, idiot! Are you—huh?!”

[Inch Force – Heaven Splitter]

The force didn’t strike his face.

Instead, it snapped into Moben’s re-materializing arm.

A deafening crack tore through the room.

Agonized screams followed.

A deep purple bruise bloomed along Moben’s right arm.

His gray dagger clattered to the floor.

It felt shattered—no, it was shattered.

Broken in two, like a stick of chalk stomped underfoot.

[What… how?]

[How could a scrawny kid like this hit that hard?]

[That’s not even possible!]

“W-what just happened…?”

The old man was speechless.

He hadn’t even seen what occurred.

The fight ended in a flash—so fast it left no trace.

Beside him, Elisha’s eyes sparkled with worship.

She looked like she was about to jump Sui Ming’s leg like a fangirl meeting her idol.

But Sui Ming?

Still looking down at Moben with his usual cocky smile.

“Really, of all people—you picked me?”

“Tell me, was that good luck… or very, very bad?”

With a shrug, Sui Ming stared at the whimpering Moben and then—stomped.

The scream that erupted made cold sweat pour from every bystander in the restaurant.

A dignified [Soul Invoker], brought low by a single teenager.

And now—pinned beneath his foot like trash.

“Alright. Scram.”

Sui Ming’s voice cut like a guillotine.

Moben scrambled out of the restaurant on hands and knees, wailing.

“You… y-you’d better pray I don’t catch you outside!”

“When I do—I’ll skin you alive!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sui Ming sighed, spreading his hands.

[Let him come.]

[If he dares.]

[You knock on Hell’s door—don’t blame me when it opens.]

“…Now, back to business.”

Sui Ming turned slowly toward the grandpa and granddaughter, his gaze sharp as frost.

“Y-you… sir…”

Clap!

He pressed his palms together, eyes pleading.

“Say… could you maybe let me off the hook for the meal?”