Captain Lee hesitated, his face awkward. He knew that if he made a move, he'd probably end up unable to walk for half a month again.
"What’s wrong? Still not going to make a move?" Seeing this Third‑Rank Captain’s hesitation, Logan Liu grew furious.
"Young Master Liu, I really can’t handle this guy. You’d better find a Second‑Rank General instead," Captain Lee said awkwardly.
"Kid, what’s your deal? Are you planning to defy my orders?" Logan Liu, thinking Captain Lee was unwilling to act, shouted angrily.
"I’m not defying you. It’s just that I really can’t beat him," Captain Lee replied, face turning red.
"You can’t handle even a Fourth‑Rank? How do you do your job?" Logan Liu was even angrier. He’d brought so many people just to teach Evan Yang a lesson and force him to work for the Liu Family. But now, instead, his own side was being made a laughingstock. The crowd watching had already started to laugh out loud.
Captain Lee knew dragging this out wouldn’t help, so he said, "Young Master Liu, just remember to carry me back afterward."
Everyone thought Captain Lee was too timid—he hadn’t even fought the Fourth‑Rank General and was already admitting defeat. But what happened next made them realize Evan Yang was far more than just a Fourth‑Rank.
Captain Lee was sent flying out of the tavern again, landing facedown at the entrance. He looked up at the sky and sighed, cursing inwardly, "Why do I always end up offending monsters like this?"
Seeing this, Logan Liu and his group hurriedly fled, while Captain Lee was carried away by his men.
"That’s the second time now—you really don’t hold back when you make a move," the woman said to Evan Yang with a smile.
"If people don’t mess with me, I don’t mess with them. He’s provoked me multiple times; sparing him is already giving Fiend Palace face," Evan replied with a smile.
"When you entered the Demon‑Fiend Underpalace, you were only at late Divine Cauldron. After forty‑five years inside, you leaped all the way to the final realm of Three‑Bloom Convergence. That’s terrifying," the woman said, shifting the conversation to Evan’s cultivation.
"But compared to you, I’m still a bit behind," Evan smiled. He couldn’t see through her cultivation with his current spiritual sense, but he could see through Ye Chen’s, which was at mid Fogging Realm, the next stage.
"If you could surpass me, wouldn’t that make me look bad?" the woman laughed.
"Just because I can’t now doesn’t mean I never will," Evan replied with a smile.
"You really do have a lot of potential. I’m curious—which floor did you reach in the Demon‑Fiend Underpalace?" the woman asked.
"The fifth floor. What about you?" Evan answered.
"The sixth floor," the woman smiled.
Seeing that the woman had only reached the sixth floor, Evan wasn’t too surprised. Instead, he asked curiously, "Is the Demon‑Fiend Underpalace really just ten floors?"
"Yeah," the woman replied.
"Are you sure? Has no one ever made it to the tenth floor?" Evan asked suspiciously.
"Why are you asking?" The woman became curious after seeing Evan’s doubtful expression.
"Nothing, just curious. The Demon‑Fiend Underpalace is so mysterious—it probably has more to it than that," Evan smiled.
"Who knows? No one’s ever managed to clear the tenth floor. Even if you go in, you never come back out," the woman answered.
Evan thought about it—if you win, there’d naturally be a way out. If you lose, you’d die right there.
"That’s true," Evan said with a smile.
"I have high hopes for you," the woman said with a smile.
"Thanks for the compliment," Evan smiled.
The two continued chatting, occasionally raising their cups together. While drinking, Evan asked, "Does the Fiend Realm have any powerful medicinal herbs suitable for refining Immortal‑grade elixirs?"
"Why are you asking about that?" The woman set down her cup, curious.
"Just curious," Evan replied with a smile.
"I wouldn’t know. Only those old guys who specialize in collecting herbs and refining pills would know about that," the woman said, shaking her head.
"Fiend Palace has people who specialize in collecting herbs?" Evan asked.
"Of course. For example, some rare herbs are posted as missions in the Merit Hall. Whoever finds them can exchange them for merit points," she explained.
Listening to her explanation, Evan remembered that last time he’d traded some Qi Leaf Grass for merit points. He smiled, "I almost forgot about that."
"You’ve spent most of your years in Fiend Palace inside the Demon‑Fiend Underpalace, so it’s normal not to know," the woman said with a smile.
Evan nodded, deciding to check out the Merit Hall when he had time to see if there were any rare herbs listed. Usually, the collection missions would specify exactly where the herbs came from.
With this information, Evan felt reassured. As long as he could find enough medicinal power to break through safely, he’d be fine.
Just as Evan was feeling pleased, Logan Liu showed up again, this time bringing even more people than before. Not only that, Evan spotted a familiar figure—Mason Liu.
The woman noticed Mason Liu as well and frowned, "That guy’s here too."
"You know him?" Evan asked.
"Yeah, he’s Elder Liu’s other grandson—Mason Liu," the woman replied.
"This is the place," Logan Liu said angrily.
Mason Liu had originally been at Fiend Palace and wasn’t supposed to leave, but he’d gotten news about the Liu Family Winery—news that promised huge profits. For the sake of the family, he came out, bringing along several Third‑Rank Generals. After all, First‑ and Second‑Rank Generals never leave Fiend Palace.
As soon as Mason Liu entered, he had a Third‑Rank General make an announcement inside.
"Fiend Palace is handling a case. All unrelated persons, please leave the premises," a Third‑Rank General declared.
Everyone glanced at the Third‑Rank Generals, then hurried out. The members of the major clans shot them angry looks before leaving, and some cast sympathetic glances at Evan.
Soon, only the waiters, Evan, and the woman were left in the tavern.
Mason Liu scanned the tavern. When he spotted the woman at one table, his expression turned to surprise. He hurried over with his group and smiled, "Miss, you’re here too?"
"I was just here drinking, but you all had to cause a scene," the woman said angrily.
"Uh, we’re just here on official business. If we’ve offended you, we’ll leave once we’re done," Mason Liu replied awkwardly.
"What case?" the woman snorted coldly.
"Logan, you explain," Mason Liu quickly called Logan Liu over.
Logan Liu had already prepared his excuse. He hurried over, and although he didn’t know the woman’s identity, seeing Mason Liu treat her so politely, he was respectful as well. "We suspect the owner of this shop—that’s him—has assaulted Fiend Palace people and shown disrespect to Fiend Palace."
"You actually came up with that excuse?" Evan couldn’t help but smile helplessly at their reasoning.
"No one asked you. Why are you interrupting?" Mason Liu snorted coldly.
Evan smiled, "I’m the owner here. If he’s slandering me, shouldn’t I be allowed to defend myself?"
"Fiend Palace is handling a case—you don’t get to argue," Mason Liu snorted coldly.
The woman spoke up, "I’ve been here since early on. It’s clearly your people who keep harassing me. How do you explain that?"
Mason Liu hadn’t expected the woman to speak up for the shop owner. He felt a surge of resentment—he’d never enjoyed such relaxed drinks with her, so why should a mere Fourth‑Rank General get to?
He forced a smile. "Miss, you may not know, but he’s a dangerous figure—a Fourth‑Rank General of Fiend Palace. He’s repeatedly violated palace rules and just injured a Third‑Rank General. I think you should avoid associating with him."
"I asked for an explanation, not for you to slander him," the woman snorted coldly.
Mason Liu knew it was Logan Liu who kept causing trouble, but he couldn’t admit it—instead, he tried to cover it up, smiling, "They just came to drink, but he wouldn’t let them sit and started beating people. What do you say to that?"
"There were no seats left, so of course I wouldn’t let them sit. What do you want to do about it?" the woman replied.
Mason Liu realized this was going nowhere, so he glanced around, saw no one else nearby, and said, "Miss, let’s put it simply. The Liu Family values his brewing skills and wants to recruit him. I hope you’ll give us some face and not oppose us over a mere Fourth‑Rank General."
His words were a blatant threat, and the woman couldn’t possibly miss it. Normally, she wouldn’t dare reprimand him for fear that Elder Liu might snap, but now they were trying to threaten her. She snorted coldly, "You want him to brew for you? You really thought of that, but forget it—he’s my brewmaster, and none of you can take him. Also, let me tell you, this winery is mine. If you try to take him, you’re openly making an enemy of me."
"The winery is yours?" Mason Liu nearly stumbled, and Logan Liu also sensed trouble.
"I just opened today and already people are causing trouble. I had a Fourth‑Rank General teach them a lesson—what’s wrong with that? Do I have to hand over my own winery to your Liu Family?" the woman said, every word sharp as a blade.
The more Logan Liu listened, the worse he felt. Mason Liu’s expression changed dramatically—he hadn’t expected the winery to belong to the woman, nor that the brewmaster’s actions were at her instruction.
"Miss, we were mistaken. We’ll take our leave and apologize another day," Mason Liu said with a forced smile.
"If anyone brings Fiend Palace people to cause trouble again, I’ll report it directly and see if your Liu Family is abusing its authority," the woman said, growing more energetic as she spoke.
Mason Liu’s face changed again, and he hurriedly led everyone out. Logan Liu hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.
"Unbelievable! How dare they threaten me!" The woman slammed the table after the group left.
Evan’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly he was laughing, especially seeing the Liu Family members’ frustrated faces. Even though he hadn’t handled it himself, watching them get scolded and chased out was truly satisfying.
"Resume business," Evan said to the waiters after regaining his composure.
The tavern quickly became lively again.
"Don’t be angry. Let’s drink," Evan said with a smile.
"You got your way," the woman said. She knew she’d basically become Evan’s shield and mouthpiece, but she didn’t mind—she’d taken the chance to vent her own frustrations with the Liu Family.
Mason Liu led the group out, Logan Liu following behind. Neither spoke until they were about to leave the city, when Mason Liu suddenly stopped and said angrily, "Damn it, when have I ever been humiliated like this? Damn it!"