Evan Lin gazed into the distance.
Over there, all he could see was pitch-black darkness.
At the edge of the night.
A sigh echoed out.
"Master Lin from Seacrest—well, well. Master Lin from Seacrest indeed."
An aged voice crossed the sky, carrying a hint of weariness and indifference. The moment it reached the ear, it gave off an indescribable chill.
"You destroyed my disciple in Oceanport. I haven't settled that score with you yet, and now you actually come knocking on my door. That truly surprises me."
His voice was calm, like a still well—no trace of anger could be heard.
"You sent your disciple and the Hong Kong Li family to Oceanport to compete for market share. That wasn't wrong. But you copied my pills, and let them injure my people."
"That was mistake upon mistake."
Evan stood in mid-air, looking that way, not in any hurry. "Now, I've come to Hong Kong, seeking you and the Li family—just to settle things once and for all."
"It's not a big deal. If Grandmaster Victor Zhou comes out and kneels before me, maybe I'll forgive it."
Evan's face was completely indifferent.
His words echoed across all of Hong Kong.
"Did he just say that?"
"This Master Lin from Seacrest actually wants Grandmaster Victor Zhou to come out and kneel in front of him and apologize?"
"Insane—this world has gone completely insane!"
Everyone who heard Evan's words, already agitated and shocked, found their emotions rising to an indescribable level.
When Master Lin from Seacrest faced Grandmaster Victor Zhou's disciple, Aiden Zhou, his dominance only made people marvel at his strength and confidence.
But now, facing the legendary Grandmaster Victor Zhou himself, Master Lin from Seacrest showed not a hint of fear—he demanded Victor Zhou kneel before him.
Words like these left everyone present completely stunned.
"You dare demand my master kneel to you?"
Aiden Zhou, still hanging there, barked angrily: "You think you're worthy of that?"
No sooner had he finished speaking—
Smack!
Yvette Locke's fire whip lashed across his body.
The whip made Aiden Zhou scream in pain like a slaughtered pig.
A clear whip mark appeared on his stylish bald head.
"Loser—shut up."
Yvette shot him a glare. Aiden wanted to retort, but seeing her whip flick, his whole expression changed and he quickly shut up, not daring to say another word.
"You want me to kneel to you?"
From afar, Grandmaster Victor Zhou paused, then spoke slowly: "Your demand isn't unreasonable."
Not unreasonable!
Hearing Victor Zhou's words, everyone in Hong Kong was visibly shaken.
"What does Grandmaster Victor Zhou mean by that? Is he actually planning to kneel to Master Lin from Seacrest?"
"Did I hear that right? There's not even a hint of anger in Grandmaster Victor Zhou's voice."
"Shouldn't Grandmaster Victor Zhou be furious, and just slap Master Lin from Seacrest into dust?"
Hearing this, everyone's minds went blank.
The entire Hong Kong, full of people who revered Grandmaster Victor Zhou, was stunned by his answer.
"Even so, why not come out and kneel?"
Evan spoke calmly, showing no emotional fluctuation at those words.
To him, making Grandmaster Victor Zhou kneel and apologize seemed like nothing out of the ordinary.
"In this world, the winner is king and the loser is nothing—that's the unchanging truth."
"You're from the mainland. Asking me to kneel isn't excessive, but only if you can beat me."
From beyond the horizon, Grandmaster Victor Zhou's voice drifted in: "I can agree to that."
"If you lose, as long as you kneel, I'll let bygones be bygones and spare your life."
"That's fairness."
Victor Zhou's voice lingered, echoing between heaven and earth.
This method of speaking from afar made it all the more mysterious.
"See? Grandmaster Victor Zhou isn't so easily cowed!"
"Turns out he just wants fairness. Even when Master Lin from Seacrest brazenly demands he kneel, he doesn't get angry—what incredible composure!"
"Grandmaster Victor Zhou really lives up to his name!"
Just a second ago, everyone was shocked—now, their attitudes shifted.
One by one, they nodded, feeling relieved.
"Even so, come out and fight."
Evan looked toward the clouds, reached out, and a long sword appeared in his hand.
"Not today."
Victor Zhou's voice carried a hint of indifference: "I'm still in seclusion. Besides, in seven days, Hong Kong's three great masters will gather atop Coldspire Peak to discourse on the Dao."
"Since you've come, I'll take the lead and invite you to join us—how about it?"
"If you use my disciple and the Hong Kong Li family's Third Young Master as leverage to force me out now, it's not impossible. But no matter who wins, your victory would be dishonorable."
Victor Zhou's voice remained unchanged.
He was still in seclusion, striving for a higher realm.
When he mentioned the Dao discourse atop Coldspire Peak, before Evan could reply, all of Hong Kong erupted.
"After all that talk, you're just afraid to fight now, aren't you?"
Yvette Locke shouted toward him, ignoring all the Coldspire Peak business.
"It's just inconvenient to act for now."
Victor Zhou's voice continued: "This Dao discourse at Coldspire Peak is of great importance. Why not give me some face, young friend?"
"We will fight, that's certain. If you show me some courtesy and release these two, I'll promise you this: when we battle, you can take the first move. How about it?"
Victor Zhou's voice drifted in softly.
From beginning to end, he showed not a trace of anger or resentment.
There was no sign of any emotional fluctuation in his words.
Just this level of self-restraint made many people regard Grandmaster Victor Zhou with even greater respect.
"Fine."
Evan didn't refuse. He sat cross-legged in midair: "If that's so, I'll wait here for you to come out and discourse on the Dao."
"With your word, I'll trust you for now."
"Let these two leave first."
"On the day of the Dao discourse, I hope you'll bring your peak strength for our battle. As for letting me take the first move, that's unnecessary."
Evan shook his head and waved his hand.
Two chains of qi exploded in midair with a thunderous crack.
With a loud snap—
Aiden Zhou and Liam Li, bound on the chains, plummeted toward the ground from high above.
Just as they were about to hit the ground, a surge of qi appeared out of nowhere, ensuring they landed safely.
"That'll do."
"See you at Coldspire Peak in seven days."
Victor Zhou's final words faded, and the sky fell silent, as if nothing had happened.