Shadowhand Guild? The two guards had never met anyone from Shadowhand Guild, so they had no idea how to verify their identity. The only way was to have someone else confirm it.
Shadowhand Guild members have been secluded from the world for millennia. Now that they've appeared, probably only the Blue Clan and Huang Clan know who they really are.
So one of the guards quickly reported the situation to their superiors, asking them to send someone to identify the newcomers.
This meant that Xin Jiang and her group had to wait to the side. As they waited, a crowd gathered—some out of curiosity, others drawn by rumors of Shadowhand Guild's vast wealth.
Everyone knew Shadowhand Guild possessed immense riches, a rumor from before their stronghold was breached. Now that Shadowhand Guild members had reappeared, people couldn't help but feel tempted, though current rules meant they could only watch and probe Xin Jiang's group from the sidelines.
"Are you really from Shadowhand Guild?" someone pushed forward from the crowd and asked curiously. Everyone else stared at Xin Jiang.
Xin Jiang smiled. "That's right. We came here at the Blue Clan's invitation, and figured we'd take the chance to meet everyone."
Hearing that it was the Blue Clan who invited them, the crowd accepted it. No one dared make a move now—if they wanted to, they'd have to wait for another opportunity.
"Damn it, so many divine senses scanning us already." Damon Li grumbled in a voice transmission.
Xin Jiang had expected this outcome. Now that they'd exposed themselves, everyone would be watching, and someone might try to force them to reveal Shadowhand Guild's whereabouts. That would be a real headache, but she had no choice. She'd take things one step at a time. Today was the day Shadowhand Guild had to step back into the world, to show everyone they still existed and hadn't been wiped out.
Soon someone arrived—it was none other than Benson Blue.
Benson Blue's avatar had once captured Xin Jiang and destroyed Damon Li's body, so he easily recognized them and nodded in confirmation.
Damon Li, meanwhile, glared at Benson Blue, his anger undiminished. If Xin Jiang hadn't warned him not to fight the Blue Clan here, he'd have cursed Benson out already.
"We meet again," Xin Jiang stepped forward and smiled at Benson Blue.
Benson Blue smiled. "You all have guts. But don't worry—since the Blue Clan invited Shadowhand Guild here, we'll guarantee your safety. And you—your recovery is pretty fast."
"Thanks for the compliment," Damon Li replied.
With the Blue Clan's public confirmation that Xin Jiang and her group were indeed from Shadowhand Guild, the hidden forces started scheming even harder.
"Go on in," Benson Blue said to Xin Jiang and the others.
Xin Jiang nodded and, under everyone's amazed gaze, walked into the hall.
Once Benson Blue saw that Shadowhand Guild was settled, he returned to the castle.
Inside the castle, the Blue Clan Patriarch asked curiously, "Why did you invite the Shadowhand Guild as well?"
"If I tell you something, you'll be shocked. It might be nearly as terrifying as those bugs." Benson Blue frowned as he spoke.
"What could possibly compare to those bugs?" The Blue Clan Patriarch asked, confused.
"He's still alive," Benson Blue said.
"He? Who?" The Blue Clan Patriarch asked suspiciously.
"The little beggar," Benson Blue continued, seeing the Patriarch hadn't realized yet.
"What?!" The Blue Clan Patriarch jumped up, even more dramatic than when he first heard about the bugs escaping. He paced back and forth, asking, "When did this happen?"
"Just a few days before the bugs broke out." Benson Blue hadn't told the Patriarch about Evan Yang before, since the bugs were the top priority and Evan's whereabouts were unknown. The only way was to lure Shadowhand Guild here.
"So why did you bring Shadowhand Guild? Why not just grab those two guys from Sky Unity Sect?" The Patriarch asked after a while, curiosity getting the better of him.
"With a crisis this big, you think we should arrest people? You know what would happen? That kid would have us all spinning in circles. This way, we openly attract Shadowhand Guild, then quietly spread rumors about their treasures and artifacts. That'll get everyone watching Shadowhand Guild. And you know what happens next." Benson Blue sneered.
Benson Blue finally understood why he chose the Shadowhand Guild as bait. Only the Shadowhand Guild could tempt others, and since their strongest experts were gone, they could only rely on Evan Yang. That way, Evan would offend many people, and the Blue Clan wouldn’t even need to act—he’d suffer enough.
Hearing some good news at last, the Blue Clan Patriarch laughed, "I didn't expect your plan to be so clever."
"That brat forced my hand. If I could capture him, I wouldn't have to use such a dirty trick." Benson Blue snorted, especially remembering Evan Yang’s last words to him about challenging the Blue Clan someday—it made him angry all over again.
"So where is he now?" The Blue Clan Patriarch asked Benson Blue curiously.
Benson Blue calmed down and said, "The last I heard, he was being chased by a monster—the one that came out of that cave. Not only that, its strength was terrifying. If it were me, I'd probably be easily defeated."
"Oh? A monster? Is it really that strong? Then isn't he doomed!" The Blue Clan Patriarch exclaimed.
"I'm not sure. Unless I see his corpse, I won't believe he's dead. Just like years ago, everyone thought he'd die falling into a spatial crack. But when he showed up in front of me, I was stunned. I won't believe Evan Yang is dead unless I see his body." Benson Blue shook his head, now fully convinced.
"Yeah, that guy's like an undying cockroach. This time, let him clash with those factions and we'll just watch. Maybe, in the end, we can step in as the good guys and finish him off, making everyone respect the Blue Clan even more." The Patriarch replied, imagining a perfect outcome.
If things go that way, all the better. So for now, we need to keep a good relationship with the Shadowhand Guild—don’t let that beggar get wiped out by someone else before he’s even noticed. That’d ruin the fun." Benson Blue laughed.
The Blue Clan Patriarch nodded. Just then, the captain of the guards walked in, "Patriarch, there's trouble downstairs."