Faced with Patriarch Leon Ward's so-called 'empty promise,' Evan Chu showed no sign of being moved—not to mention the backlash and resistance he'd face as an out-surnamed heir to the Ward Family.
Besides, Evan Chu had absolutely zero interest in the Ward Patriarch's seat—his sights were set on the stars and seas, so why would he care about a small-time clan like the Wards?
Seeing Evan Chu so unmoved, Patriarch Leon Ward felt his heart sink and grew more annoyed. "Evan Chu, what will it take for you to agree to be Princess Myra Vance’s personal bodyguard?"
"Sorry, Patriarch Leon, but no matter what, I will not become Princess Myra’s bodyguard!" Evan Chu shook his head, his tone utterly firm.
Bang!
Patriarch Leon Ward slammed his palm onto the tea table, his face turning especially grim.
“Outrageous!”
“Audacious!”
“Evan Chu, don’t be so ungrateful!”
“We’re negotiating out of respect for you—don’t refuse a toast only to drink a penalty!”
Elder Sean, Elder Miles, and two other Demigod elders were furious too!
Patriarch Leon Ward spoke again, his tone brooking no argument: "This is not up for debate! No matter what, you must become Princess Myra’s personal bodyguard!"
Heh.
Evan Chu just chuckled. He’d originally planned to keep playing along with the Ward Family for a while, but since they insisted on forcing him to be Princess Myra’s bodyguard, it was time to drop the act.
For some reason, the sound of Ian’s laughter was deeply unpleasant to the Ward Patriarch and the four elders.
“Evan Chu, I’ll ask you one more time—are you going to agree or not?” the Ward Patriarch pressed.
“There’s nothing to discuss!”
Evan Chu answered in a tone just as unyielding.
Patriarch Leon Ward, enraged, actually laughed. "Good! Very good! You really think you’re so tough now that the Ward Family has no way to deal with you?"
"Is that so?" Evan Chu smiled indifferently, utterly fearless. "I’m actually curious—what countermeasures do you think you have against me?"
“Truly courting death!”
With a flick of his wrist, the Ward Patriarch produced a bronze lamp.
“The Same-Heart Lamp!”
The moment Evan Chu saw the bronze lamp, he recognized it as the Same-Heart Lamp—the one he’d dripped blood on during his wedding to Lynne Ward. (Also known as the Soul-Control Lamp, as clarified below.)
"That’s right!" Patriarch Leon Ward nodded. "This is indeed the Same-Heart Lamp, also called the Soul-Control Lamp. As long as someone’s blood is dripped onto its flame, their soul will be bound by the lamp’s power. Unless you become a true god, you’ll never break free!"
At this, Patriarch Leon Ward’s face grew smug. "If the Soul-Control Lamp didn’t exist, I’d never have let you enter the ancestral grounds to cultivate, nor would I have taught you the Sovereign-grade scripture. If you’d obeyed our arrangements, I wouldn’t have needed to threaten you with the lamp—but since you insist on being difficult, I’ll have to use it now. Let me show you its true power!"
As he spoke, the patriarch formed a hand seal and sent it into the Soul-Control Lamp. The violet flame flared brighter. “Let’s start by letting you taste the pain of soul-burning!”
But soon, the patriarch’s expression turned uncertain—he realized that Ian, standing nearby, showed no reaction at all. “Why aren’t you affected?” he blurted.
“What reaction do you expect?”
Evan Chu’s tone was amused. He’d known the Ward Family harbored ill intent, so he’d been on guard—back at the wedding, the blood he dripped onto the lamp’s flame hadn’t been his at all, but drawn from a demon beast inside the Divine Temple.