Evan Yang felt the initial coolness in his mouth spread through his body, only to turn into unbearable heat. Sweating profusely, he grumbled, "You get to sleep soundly, but I have to suffer so much."
Even though Evan Yang and the Sage Monkey both ate the same fruit, the difference was staggering. Evan was drenched in sweat, forced to circulate his Ice-fire Sacred Flame to cool down. His internal temperature dropped, but his skin still radiated heat, leaving him baffled.
Faced with this situation, Evan Yang could only let his body freeze over, layer after layer of ice forming around him until he finally felt comfortable. Sleepiness washed over him, and he gradually slipped into deep sleep, just like the Sage Monkey.
At this point, Evan Yang was completely encased in ice, like a massive ice sculpture. Fortunately, no one came by—otherwise, he had no idea what they might do to him.
After a few days, the Sage Monkey slowly woke up, looking utterly satisfied. But when it saw Evan Yang frozen into a block of ice, it jumped around anxiously. Lacking the strength to break the ice and wake him, it could only return the way it came.
Meanwhile, Lena King was busy making ice, and her cup was already half frozen. Proud of her achievement, she was about to try for more when she heard the Sage Monkey chattering nearby.
“What’s wrong?” Lena King asked curiously.
After a bout of chattering, Lena King exclaimed in shock, “What? You two went to steal and eat Stone-Monkey Fruit?”
The Sage Monkey chattered, looking a bit aggrieved. Lena King didn’t hesitate; she flashed over to Evan Yang’s location, with the Sage Monkey following behind.
Soon, girl and beast arrived. Lena King came to Evan Yang’s side, looked at the tree, and found two holes. She exclaimed, “Two?”
"A bigger cup?" Lena King asked, curious.
"That's right. Start small and gradually move up. That way, your ability will keep getting stronger," Evan Yang advised.
"I see, thank you! I'll make sure my sister is impressed," Lena King said with a smile.
Evan Yang glanced at the Sage Monkey, which hadn't changed much after eating the fruit—a curious thing. Then he said, "Looks like my task is done, so it's time for me to leave." "Leaving so soon?" Lena King asked, a little reluctant. She'd finally found someone to play with.
Evan Yang smiled. "My mission here was to teach you how to freeze water, and now you can do it. That means I've finished my task. If I stay any longer, there's no point—plus, the Water Temple has rules about outsiders."
Evan Yang said the last line to probe for information about his mother.
Lena King replied awkwardly, "That rule does exist, but we're teacher and student now. You taught me, so you're my master. That shouldn't count."
"Is that allowed?" Evan Yang wondered, but frowned. "If the Palace Lord finds out you've learned it and I haven't left, won't I be in trouble?" "Don't worry. My sister's busy cultivating and won't bother with me, and you were sent by her to teach me. She won't blame you," Lena King said.
Evan Yang smiled. "That's true. But are you really willing to call yourself my disciple?"
"What are you up to?" Lena King asked, suspicious of Evan Yang's smile.
"Nothing. You look so scared—I'm just curious, have you really never left here?" Evan Yang asked.
"No," Lena King replied.
"Why not? The outside world is great—food, clothes, everything you could want," Evan Yang said.
Lena King's eyes lit up at the temptation, but she quickly calmed down. "No way—that's just the Water Temple's rule. Even if I want to go out, I can't. If I'm caught leaving, I'll be punished."
"That serious? Isn't that like being locked up?" Evan Yang exclaimed.
"You could say that. Sometimes I really want to go out, but palace rules keep me here. Still, I'm glad you came—tell me about the outside world, so I can learn something new," Lena King said, her eyes shining.
Evan Yang hadn't expected Lena King would want to hear about the outside world, so he began describing everything—sects, clans, food, drink, all the colorful things out there.
After Evan Yang finished, he smiled and asked, "So, what do you think?"
"Sounds amazing! If I ever get the chance, I'll definitely go out," Lena King said excitedly.
"But it seems there's no way. The Water Temple forbids relationships with outsiders—even friends. If you leave, you'd have to live alone, never knowing the joy of friendship," Evan Yang said.
"You're right, but there's nothing to be done. The Water Temple's rules can't be broken, especially the one about outsiders. Years ago, a woman broke it, and she's still being punished," Lena King said, feeling sad and helpless.
Evan Yang was delighted—at least his mother wasn't dead, just being punished. He asked, "Is it true she's suffering from Netherfire?"
"Yeah, looks like you know the Water Temple's rules well," Lena King said with a smile.
"But how could a place like the Water Temple have Netherfire?" Evan Yang asked, curious.
"You don't understand. I heard a few masters brought it from other places. Over time, they gathered a lot, so they created a special place for punishment," Lena King explained.
"I see. That woman really is pitiful," Evan Yang said.
"Exactly. I've seen her twice, and each time she cried nonstop," Lena King said, her eyes red.
Evan Yang's heart trembled—he wanted to see his mother, but couldn't say so directly. He asked, "Can you take me to see her?" "No way. Only my sister can open that place. Without her permission, no one can see it. You should give up that idea," Lena King replied, shaking her head.
Evan Yang smiled. "That's true. But are you really willing to call yourself my disciple?"
"What are you up to?" Lena King asked, suspicious of Evan Yang's smile.
"Nothing. You look so scared—I'm just curious, have you really never left here?" Evan Yang asked.
"No," Lena King replied.
"Why not? The outside world is great—food, clothes, everything you could want," Evan Yang said.
Lena King's eyes lit up at the temptation, but she quickly calmed down. "No way—that's just the Water Temple's rule. Even if I want to go out, I can't. If I'm caught leaving, I'll be punished."
"That serious? Isn't that like being locked up?" Evan Yang exclaimed.
"You could say that. Sometimes I really want to go out, but palace rules keep me here. Still, I'm glad you came—tell me about the outside world, so I can learn something new," Lena King said, her eyes shining.
Evan Yang hadn't expected Lena King would want to hear about the outside world, so he began describing everything—sects, clans, food, drink, all the colorful things out there.
After Evan Yang finished, he smiled and asked, "So, what do you think?"
"Sounds amazing! If I ever get the chance, I'll definitely go out," Lena King said excitedly.
"But it seems there's no way. The Water Temple forbids relationships with outsiders—even friends. If you leave, you'd have to live alone, never knowing the joy of friendship," Evan Yang said.
"You're right, but there's nothing to be done. The Water Temple's rules can't be broken, especially the one about outsiders. Years ago, a woman broke it, and she's still being punished," Lena King said, feeling sad and helpless.
Evan Yang was delighted—at least his mother wasn't dead, just being punished. He asked, "Is it true she's suffering from Netherfire?"
"Yeah, looks like you know the Water Temple's rules well," Lena King said with a smile.
"But how could a place like the Water Temple have Netherfire?" Evan Yang asked, curious.
"You don't understand. I heard a few masters brought it from other places. Over time, they gathered a lot, so they created a special place for punishment," Lena King explained.
"I see. That woman really is pitiful," Evan Yang said.
"Exactly. I've seen her twice, and each time she cried nonstop," Lena King said, her eyes red.
Evan Yang's heart trembled—he wanted to see his mother, but couldn't say so directly. He asked, "Can you take me to see her?" "No way. Only my sister can open that place. Without her permission, no one can see it. You should give up that idea," Lena King replied, shaking her head.