Melissa Mu's eyes widened in disbelief at what was happening right in front of her.
The sole of that shoe, caked with dirt, was pressed hard against her face—this time, even more clearly and deeply than when Yolanda's shoe had hit her just moments ago.
She could even smell the earthy scent wafting right into her nose!
"Bastard!" Melissa snapped back to herself and shrieked.
Uncle Victor Li, standing nearby, froze in shock.
Harvey Xie suddenly turned his head, glaring at Evan Lin with a twisted grin. "You must have a death wish!"
He clenched his fist and was about to smash it toward Evan Lin.
But before he could even throw a punch, Evan Lin had already kicked him decisively in the stomach, knocking him off balance and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"How can he be faster than me?!" Harvey Xie was stunned. He was just about to get up when the Fire Elder spoke coldly from the side, "Enough!"
The moment the Fire Elder spoke, Melissa Mu, Uncle Victor Li, and Harvey Xie all froze, staring at Evan Lin with faces full of unwillingness.
"Any grudges can be settled later." The Fire Elder spoke calmly, glancing at Evan Lin and narrowing his eyes. "Don't get cocky, kid. Just because you're young doesn't mean you're anything special!"
With that, the Fire Elder waved his hand, and the group all walked into the courtyard.
Evan Lin glanced at the resentful faces of Melissa Mu and Harvey Xie, then at the Fire Elder leading the way. He shook his head slightly, too lazy to say more—he'd just kill them all later.
"You don't know what's good for you. Once the immortal masters are done, I'll personally make you kneel and apologize to Miss Mu!" Uncle Victor Li's voice was icy, but Evan Lin ignored him and strode right past, stepping boldly into the courtyard.
Inside the courtyard stood a dilapidated earthen house. In the center sat a huge bronze incense burner, with sticks of incense burning inside, smoke swirling around.
The Fire Elder watched as the Old Immortal Sage walked toward the house, sneering, "I don't care if you're an old or young immortal. Now that I'm here, you know what I want. Just hand over the Wanhe Ancient Jade, and I'll spare your life. In fact, I can even make an exception and accept you into Medicine King Valley as a Guardian. How about it?"
"Master, quit wasting time on this old geezer! Just kill him already!" Harvey Xie was growing impatient.
Right now, what he wanted most was to twist Evan Lin's head off!
"That's right, Old Immortal Sage, there's no point resisting. In front of Medicine King Valley's immortal masters, it's useless to fight back. If it comes down to it, I, Li, will gladly lend a hand to the Fire Elder. If things really get ugly, that wouldn't be good for anyone." Uncle Victor Li stepped forward, hurrying to speak up.
It was obvious—Uncle Victor Li was using this moment to side with the Fire Elder and score some points.
In his eyes, the Old Immortal Sage was still no match for the long-famous elders of Medicine King Valley.
"Just wait to die later!" Melissa Mu shot a vicious glare at Evan Lin behind her.
"Impudent."
Evan Lin's eyes were indifferent as he spoke coldly, then with a casual backhand, slapped her hard.
Smack!
Melissa Mu felt half her face go completely numb as her whole body was sent flying backward.
Uncle Victor Li's expression changed. Quick as lightning, he leapt forward and caught the airborne Melissa Mu in his arms. But the force from Evan Lin's casual backhand hadn't faded—instead, it sent both of them flying, crashing to the ground.
"You!" Uncle Victor Li was horrified. Melissa Mu's face was now completely swollen, her mind dazed, half her face numb.
Caught off guard, Uncle Victor Li couldn't suppress it and spat out a mouthful of blood. No one knew better than him just how terrifying the lingering force of that slap was!
"How could you—!" Uncle Victor Li stared at Evan Lin, his expression completely changed.
Harvey Xie's face changed when he saw this, while the Fire Elder only glanced at the two of them, then looked at Evan Lin with a hint of surprise. He finally nodded slowly, "No wonder you're a bit arrogant. Looks like you've got some real ability after all."
"But if you think a few little tricks let you act tough in front of Medicine King Valley, you're way too naive."
The Fire Elder's voice was cold and harsh. After speaking, he noticed Evan Lin's gaze was fixed on the earthen house, so he frowned slightly and shifted his own eyes that way.
In his eyes, the Old Immortal Sage was already stepping into the shabby old house, taking a few incense sticks from a basket, lighting them, and tottering to the center, where he knelt and bowed deeply.
"What's that...?"
Evan Lin narrowed his eyes, his gaze passing through the Old Immortal Sage to land on the altar he was kneeling before.
There stood a wooden statue of a woman, carved from wood.
Her face couldn't be seen clearly; only the swirling red ribbons around her, a gauzy robe, floating and ethereal. At first glance, she seemed holy; on closer look, regal and awe-inspiring; and then, dazzling enough to make people dizzy.
"Hmph, a Daoist who doesn't worship the Three Pure Ones, but worships a woman instead?" The Fire Elder sneered, eyes full of contempt as he looked at the Old Immortal Sage.
But the Old Immortal Sage ignored the words from outside. After three respectful bows, he slowly got up, raised his head slightly, and stared at the statue of the woman. In his ancient eyes, a fierce glint flashed. His already weathered voice now sounded chilling: "People call me Old Immortal Sage. All these years, I've never left the village, just accumulated incense here to feed my deity."
"But you people—one of you failed to kill my disciple and now comes to kill me, while the other covets my Wanhe Ancient Jade! The Wanhe Ancient Jade is a supreme treasure left by the Fairy Lady herself! How could I let mere mortals defile it!"
As the Old Immortal Sage spoke, in just an instant, his robe whipped around him, his silver hair flared wildly, and his entire figure seemed to grow taller and more imposing.
"Killed your disciple?"
Hearing this, the Fire Elder frowned, puzzled.
Melissa Mu and Uncle Victor Li struggled to their feet, blood still at the corner of Victor's mouth. Now, when they looked at Evan Lin, there was clear dread in their eyes.
Melissa Mu clutched her aching face. She'd never suffered humiliation like this before. She was just waiting for the Fire Elder and Harvey Xie to deal with the Old Immortal Sage, so she could beg them to take care of Evan Lin next!
And when they heard the Old Immortal Sage mention his disciple being killed, everyone assumed Harvey Xie was the killer.
Harvey Xie, hearing this, stepped forward and shouted, "Quit pretending to be mysterious! If you keep it up, not only will I kill your disciple, I'll kill you too!"
"With my master, the Fire Elder, here, you dare play tricks? My master is a real Mystic Arts Adept!"
Harvey Xie's voice boomed like a bell, meant for both the Old Immortal Sage and Evan Lin behind him.
Evan Lin looked at the statue of the woman on the altar, deep in thought.
Finally, the Old Immortal Sage slowly turned around. When the group saw his eyes, each of them was shaken to the core.