Before the dishes arrived, Evan Yang and Faye Gale were already sampling wine together.
"Hey kid, where did you get this wine? Don't tell me you actually brewed it yourself?" Faye Gale joked.
"Of course I brewed it myself," Evan Yang replied.
"That's odd, I've never seen you actually make wine," Faye Gale said.
"These wines take hundreds, even thousands of years to mature. Naturally, I started brewing them centuries ago," Evan Yang said with a smile. In truth, he was secretly amused—he had a tower where time flowed fifty times faster than outside.
"I see, so you really started brewing early," Faye Gale laughed.
"Exactly," Evan Yang chuckled.
Meanwhile, as they chatted, neither of them realized a group of Mason Liu's men had already infiltrated the restaurant kitchen. One by one, they drugged the dishes meant for Evan and Faye.
The kitchen staff could only stare in shock—they couldn't resist, as they'd already been subdued by the intruders.
"Take the dishes upstairs. And don't make a sound—if anything goes wrong, everyone here dies first," one of Mason's men threatened.
Everyone exchanged glances, and finally chose a waiter to deliver the dishes.
"Swallow this," one of Mason's men ordered the waiter.
The waiter knew he couldn't avoid it, so he swallowed the pill and pleaded, "Sir, please give me the antidote afterward."
"Do your job and you'll get it," the man replied with a grin.
The waiter nodded, then hurriedly carried out the prepared dishes. The rest of the staff stayed in the kitchen, under guard.
Evan Yang and Faye Gale were drinking when a waiter knocked and entered, bringing in the dishes one by one—four dishes had already arrived—then quickly left.
"What are these? They look delicious!" Faye Gale exclaimed, setting down her wine glass as she saw the dishes.
Evan Yang wasn't particularly excited—he'd eaten these dishes before. Only after Faye started eating did he pick up his chopsticks.
"So good, so tasty! Hey kid, why don't we bring some Human-World chefs back to the Fiend Realm?" Faye Gale praised.
"Chefs are useless without ingredients," Evan Yang laughed.
"That's true—unless you find a place like the Human World, where you can grow good ingredients," Faye Gale commented as she ate.
Evan Yang smiled. Finding a spot in the Fiend Realm like the Human World was nearly impossible—unless it was like his tower, an independent space.
"I think it's pretty much impossible," Evan Yang said with a laugh.
Faye Gale devoured the food like she'd never eaten anything so delicious—totally unlike a refined lady, more like a burly man.
"There are still over a hundred dishes. Can you really handle eating like that?" Evan Yang asked helplessly, watching her.
"Easy! We're cultivators, not ordinary people—we can digest whatever we eat in no time," Faye Gale laughed.
Just as Evan Yang was about to speak again, he noticed Faye Gale's face starting to change.
"What's wrong? Your face is getting a bit red," Evan Yang asked. He didn't think it was the wine—otherwise, she'd have flushed earlier.
Faye Gale didn't know much about Human-World cuisine, so she assumed it was a unique feature and said, "Maybe it's these dishes—they make you feel this way when you eat them."
"What kind of feeling?" Evan Yang, being from the Human World, knew the food couldn't cause this, so he asked suspiciously.
"I just feel a bit hot all over," Faye Gale said with a smile, but Evan Yang felt nothing, so he asked curiously, "Why don't you feel anything?"
"Feel anything?" Evan Yang considered the possibility, looking at the dishes. He was immune to all poisons, so he was fine—but Faye was different. He wondered what had been added to the food to make Faye react.
"Weird, I'm getting hotter and hotter, but you're totally fine," Faye Gale said as the changes in her body became more obvious.
Evan Yang sensed something was wrong and was about to ask the waiter when several people entered, shutting the door behind them.
"This is your doing, isn't it?" Evan Yang knew the dishes had to be poisoned, and the culprit was clearly Mason Liu.
"You're pretty sharp, kid—figured it out that fast," Mason Liu said with a grin.
Even Faye Gale, no matter how clueless, now understood what was happening. Burning up, she demanded, "Mason Liu, what exactly did you make us eat?"
"Ninefold Passion Elixir," Mason Liu answered with a smile.
"What is Ninefold Passion Elixir?" Faye Gale shouted angrily.
"You'll find out soon enough. All right, everyone—get to it. I don't need to tell you what to do, do I?" Mason Liu sneered, and his men closed in on Evan Yang while Mason headed toward Faye Gale.
Furious, Faye Gale snorted, "Courting death!"
But she found herself unable to summon any strength.
"Don't bother trying. With this drug, no matter how strong you are, you won't be able to use your power for a while. Just wait and come with me—I'll take good care of you," Mason Liu said with a smile.
Faye Gale felt her body moving against her will, finally realizing what kind of drug it was. She glared at Mason Liu and shouted, "You beast, I won't let you get away with this!"
"Go ahead and curse all you want. We're in the Human World, and this room is soundproof—no matter how loud you yell, it's useless," Mason Liu sneered.
Faye Gale wanted to keep cursing, but her whole body started trembling, her face flushed even deeper, and her hands uncontrollably reached for her own clothing.
"How is this happening!" Faye Gale tried hard to control her hands, but they wouldn't obey.
"Don't bother struggling—it's useless. Just do whatever your body wants," Mason Liu said with a grin.
"Mason Liu, did you use an aphrodisiac?" Evan Yang asked coldly.
"Huh? Why are you fine? Maybe the drug only works on women. Not that it matters—I don't want to see you strip. Why are you guys just standing there? Take him away! Are you trying to mess up my plans?" Mason Liu snapped at his men for not grabbing Evan Yang.
Mason Liu's men hurried to make a move, but Evan Yang sprang into action—within a few rounds, he'd taken them all down.
"Could it really only work on women?" Mason Liu exclaimed in shock.
"Mason Liu, hand over the antidote!" Evan Yang demanded coldly.
"I don't have an antidote," Mason Liu said, not expecting Evan Yang to be unaffected. He cursed inwardly, "Damn, is this drug really gender-specific?"
Mason Liu had no idea Evan Yang was immune to all poisons—so even an aphrodisiac was useless.
"Liar!" Evan Yang knew the drug couldn't be simple—otherwise, even Faye Gale's strength wouldn't vanish. He stepped forward, grabbed Mason Liu by the neck, and demanded, "Speak!"
"I don't have one," Mason Liu replied in terror.
"If you don't talk, you die now!" Evan Yang threatened coldly.
"I really don't have it—the drug was given to me by Holin from Hundred Remedies Hall," Mason Liu said helplessly.
"Holin? The alchemist from Hundred Remedies Hall?" Evan Yang recalled Elder Xiao mentioning the participants in this pill contest.
"Yes," Mason Liu replied in terror.
"Why would he give it to you? I bet this is your doing!" Evan Yang said coldly. Meanwhile, he saw Faye Gale starting to unbutton her clothes—if this kept up, she'd strip completely.
Before Mason Liu could react, Evan Yang knocked him out and sealed his cultivation. He did the same to the other thugs, then tossed them by the door to block it.
With no one left to interfere, Evan Yang hurried over to the trembling Faye Gale.
"Quick, stop me—knock me out!" Faye Gale pleaded, her eyes red with anxiety. She'd never acted this way in front of a man, and her hand was already on the first button of her shirt. If she really pulled it open, she'd be exposed before Evan Yang.
"Knock you out? That's not necessary—let me help you," Evan Yang said, placing his hand over hers and channeling spiritual energy into her body.
Faye Gale didn't know what Evan Yang was doing, but she trusted him—she knew he'd never take advantage of her now. Still, her hand kept reaching for her shirt buttons.
Evan Yang's hand kept getting pulled along, making him awkward and leaving Faye Gale mortified.
"Hang in there, it'll be over soon," Evan Yang said awkwardly, speeding up his efforts.
Eventually, Faye Gale's hand slowed down, and as the burning sensation faded, her strength returned. She jumped up, bypassed Evan Yang, and stomped over to Mason Liu, kicking him awake.
But with Mason Liu's cultivation sealed, she couldn't wake him no matter what she did.
"Let me handle it," Evan Yang said awkwardly.
Faye Gale couldn't look at Evan Yang—thinking about how her chest had been touched countless times left her frustrated, so she quickly changed the subject: "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing, just knocked him out for a bit," Evan Yang replied. Then he crouched down, unsealed Mason Liu's cultivation, and was met with Faye Gale's furious glare—she slapped Mason Liu, leaving a handprint on each cheek.
"Despicable! Shameless!" Faye Gale cursed.
"How are you fine now?" Mason Liu asked in shock.
"What do you mean, fine? Damn Liu family!" Faye Gale shouted angrily.
"What exactly is Ninefold Passion Elixir?" Evan Yang was curious about the pill—it could incapacitate even someone as powerful as Faye Gale.
"Ninefold Passion Elixir is an aphrodisiac. Once ingested, your cultivation temporarily disappears, your body acts uncontrollably seductive, and only after nine rounds of intercourse can it be lifted," Mason Liu explained fearfully.
Mason Liu's explanation made everything clear to Faye Gale and Evan Yang—he'd wanted Faye Gale to give in.
"Damn you! You dared to make me take an aphrodisiac! Don't think your Liu family can protect you—I'm telling the Palace Master when we get back!" Faye Gale shouted. She knew she couldn't kill him now, so she'd have to bring him back instead.
Evan Yang was secretly relieved Faye Gale hadn't killed Mason Liu on the spot—otherwise, explaining things later would be impossible.
When Mason Liu heard he'd be handed over to the Fiend Palace and the Palace Master, he panicked. "Miss, please spare me—it's all my fault!" he begged.
"Your fault? Does that help? If not for him, my reputation would've been ruined long ago. You deserve this," Faye Gale said, beating him up every so often—even if she wouldn't kill him.
Faye Gale only stopped after Mason Liu was knocked unconscious again. "Damn bastard," she muttered.
"What now?" Evan Yang asked, pointing at Mason Liu.
"Take them all back to the inn and find Elder Xiao," Faye Gale said angrily.
Evan Yang nodded and went to find the waiter. When the waiter saw everyone knocked out, he hurriedly knelt and pleaded, "Sirs, we didn't mean it—they threatened us!"