Lily Liang followed closely beside Evan Lin, not daring to stray too far.
Originally, Lily had brought Evan here partly hoping the Ancient Martial Rowe clan would kill him, but after Evan saved her life—and with Lucy Sun's sudden appearance—that idea vanished completely.
If Evan really lost to the Rowe clan, Lily feared she wouldn’t end up any better herself.
They walked a few more steps forward.
Suddenly, two people appeared ahead.
Both men were tall, frowning as they looked at Evan and Lily, their voices cold.
“This isn’t a tourist mountain. Please turn back.”
The man stood there, staring at Evan and Lily with a hostile expression.
“Gatekeepers?”
Seeing the two men, Evan nodded slightly. “Go call your clan head.”
When he first entered, Evan noticed all sorts of hidden sentries around. Most of them were at the internal-strength peak, but since they hadn't shown themselves, Evan hadn't bothered to act.
Now that someone had finally jumped out, Evan got straight to the point.
Hearing this, both men’s faces darkened.
Just now, they’d assumed Evan and Lily had wandered in by mistake, but now it sounded like they’d come for the Rowe clan on purpose?
“Who do you think you are? You think you can just see our clan head whenever you want?”
One of them raised his eyebrow, snapping coldly, “This isn’t some random dump where just anyone can show up!”
“Just the fact you dared to bluntly ask to see our clan head is already disrespectful to the Rowe clan!”
“I, Andrew Chen, will teach you a lesson!”
With a sharp shout, he strode straight toward Evan.
His internal-strength peak cultivation—normally—wouldn’t make him act so cocky.
The main reason was that the man had noticed Lily Liang standing next to Evan Lin. Lily was attractive, with a great figure, and men always feel the urge to show off in front of beautiful women.
Andrew Chen’s strength was bottom-tier in the Rowe clan. Even the Rowe maids barely acknowledged him. Now that he finally had a chance, of course he had to try his best to make a splash.
Besides that, what really got Andrew excited was spotting Lucy Sun walking toward them behind Evan.
Lucy wasn’t part of the Rowe clan, but her status was extraordinary. Back when she first joined the Rowes, she didn’t have much background, and even chatted a bit with Andrew. But as her position rose, she stopped talking to lowly gatekeepers like him.
Andrew made up his mind: he’d use this kid as a stepping stone, show off in front of Lily, and make himself stand out to Lucy.
Two birds with one stone.
Guaranteed win!
“Looks like that guard still hasn’t given up on you. That kid’s about to get wrecked.”
The man beside Lucy Sun laughed as he spoke.
“Gatekeeper lackeys like him are just toads lusting after swan meat. In my eyes, he’s not even worth a fart. But I don’t mind letting him help put that kid in his place.”
Lucy spoke, then flashed a smile directly at Andrew Chen.
To Evan, that smile wasn’t exactly beautiful, but it was more than enough to trigger Andrew’s hormones.
He was overjoyed, practically floating as he walked.
The other gatekeeper behind him just rolled his eyes at the scene, but let Andrew have his fun, waiting to watch the show.
“This slap is for not knowing your place!”
Andrew strode up to Evan, raised his hand, squared his shoulders, and swung a crisp slap straight at Evan’s face.
He thought the slap was smooth as silk, and could already picture how miserable the kid would look afterward.
But then—
Smack!
A sharp, crisp sound rang out.
"You’re the one behind this!"
Andrew Chen climbed up from the ground, glaring fiercely at Evan.
He had no idea the Three Maiden Spirits were already face-to-face with him, staring at him from up close.
Yep, I’m the one behind it.
Evan nodded. "Wanna go again?"
He admitted it cleanly, then followed up with another question.
Wait, that’s not right.
Shouldn’t he be desperately denying it and saying it had nothing to do with him?
Why isn’t this guy playing by the rules?
Andrew was left stunned.
"Why waste words with him? You couldn’t even land a slap?"
The other gate guard stepped forward, looking displeased. "This is embarrassing for our Rowe clan!"
"Let me show you how to slap someone properly!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he swung his palm sideways at Evan’s face for a clean slap.
However...
Smack!
Another crisp sound rang out.
His slap landed right on Andrew Chen’s face.
The force was intense.
Andrew Chen was sent flying.
"Damn it!"
"Weren’t you supposed to slap that kid? Why’d you end up slapping me again!"
Andrew spat out two teeth, blood filling his mouth, grimacing in pain.
"I… uh…"
The man was stunned, unable to explain what had happened.
"They’re with me. Let’s leave it at that—step aside."
Lucy Sun, standing in the back, finally stepped in.
After two slaps, Andrew Chen’s face was already deformed—the blows were brutal.
Hearing Lucy speak, Andrew and the other guard, despite their displeasure, could only step aside.
They didn’t dare confront Lucy Sun head-on.
"See that? Now you owe me one."
Lucy turned to Lily Liang, then looked at Evan. "You hurt the guards—if it weren’t for me, you’d probably die here."
And you—looks like you’re a bit of a troublemaker, huh?
But let me warn you: you’d better behave yourself. The Rowe clan isn’t a place where you can run wild!