"Do you want some water? There should be drinks in here."
Yvette Locke bent over, expertly pulled a small cooler from under the car seat, took out a box of yogurt, and handed it to Evan Lin.
Then she grabbed one for herself, drinking it in big gulps through a straw.
"The mountains and water in Mercy Bay are really pretty, and there's a place called Pedestrian Street with tons of good food to try."
"But it's been super crowded lately, so if you go out alone, you might get lost."
While Yvette talked, her eyes never left Evan Lin.
"When you have time, we should go out together."
Evan Lin nodded.
The line of cars outside didn’t look like an escort—it made Evan feel more like he was being transported under guard.
A Mercedes led the way up front, with at least six cars packed to the left, right, and rear.
Miss Stitch, who was driving, kept glancing at Yvette Locke through the rearview mirror, his gaze giving Evan an odd feeling.
Yvette, sitting in the car, seemed totally used to it. She sipped her yogurt, hummed a tune, and occasionally looked out the window, clearly in a good mood.
"This time, your unauthorized departure brought a lot of pressure on the family. Everyone is already waiting in the Locke Family Council Hall."
The car drove through Mercy Bay City, then out to the suburbs. It turned onto a side asphalt road, and after about an hour and fifteen minutes, they finally arrived at the foot of a mountain—their destination.
When the car stopped, Miss Stitch got out, opened the door, and stood respectfully.
"Is it really that much trouble? Are they going to yell at me again?"
Yvette sat in the car, looking totally unwilling, clearly not wanting to go to the council hall.
"Miss, please try to understand your family's concern. A few days ago, there was even..."
Miss Stitch stopped mid-sentence, realizing Evan was still there. He changed the subject: "Please get out of the car. Don't keep the family waiting."
"Fine."
Yvette finally sighed, got out of the car, and waved to Evan Lin. "You rest up first. When I'm done, I'll come find you and we can hang out."
She was all smiles, then walked off surrounded by several attendants.
Evan Lin got out of the car.
"Come with me. I'll arrange a place for you to stay."
Standing outside the car, Miss Stitch looked at Evan with clear annoyance. "I don't know what your relationship with the young miss is, or where you came from, but let me give you a word of advice: don't get any ideas about her."
"She's got a pure heart—someone like you isn't worthy. See this whole mountain?"
Miss Stitch pointed to the winding path ahead.
The road climbed up the mountain. The peak wasn't as grand as Sword Mountain, but it was lush and green, with high walls crisscrossing all around, enclosing the whole place tight.
There were lots of independent villas scattered around the mountainside. Just the upkeep for the bamboo groves and forests alone must cost a fortune.
Seeing Evan keep quiet, Miss Stitch got even more smug: "This whole mountain is Locke Family turf! You really don't know your limits, tagging along up here—guess you've got nerves of steel!"
"Just a little hill, and you have to hype it up like it's Mount Everest?"
Evan Lin shook his head. "Honestly, this place is barely big enough for someone's backyard."
"Just a little hill, and you think it's too small for a backyard? With talk like that, whose rich young master are you supposed to be?"
Miss Stitch snorted, all disdain, and strode ahead. "If the young miss hadn't vouched for you, you'd never even get a foot in here, let alone stay! I'm sorting your room—just don't wander and make a mess, got it?"
"And let me give you another warning: after a few days here, you'd better leave quietly. Otherwise, whatever happens is on you!"
Miss Stitch's tone was harsh. He glanced at Evan walking beside him and, seeing Evan clearly didn't care, grew even more annoyed but had to hold it in.
Yvette, clutching her yogurt, headed up the stone steps with five or six people trailing behind her.
At the top of the steps was a rustic mountain residence, fenced in with rows of wooden railings. There was a tall wooden hall, and scattered firewood off to one side in the yard.
Yvette hummed as she walked, while her attendants all stopped at the entrance.
Yvette entered the hall of the wooden house.
Inside the hall, several people sat upright, with incense curling in the air at the front.
"Yvette, you're back."
Seeing Yvette enter, someone looked delighted.
"I thought the He Family had snatched you! How could you disappear for so long without a word?"
Someone looked furious, ready to scold her.
An elder sitting above glanced at Yvette and nodded slightly. "Sit down first. We'll talk about your matters later."
Yvette didn't dare act out. She obediently pulled over a cushion and sat down quietly.
Gavin Locke, Clark Locke, and Rena Locke went to Changbai Mountain recently to search for Morgan Yang's trail. Ideally, they were supposed to bring back the Deep-Frost Iceflame, but they failed.
The elder spoke coldly. Everyone else bowed their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
"Old Master, it was because of that man—Master Lin from Seacrest—who ruined our plan and got ahead of us. That's why we lost our chance!" Gavin Locke spoke up.
"That's right! That Master Lin from Seacrest was shameless! He struck just when Rena Locke was exhausted and broke through the ice layer she'd opened with her last punch. Otherwise, she would have succeeded in retrieving the Deep-Frost Iceflame!" Clark Locke nodded repeatedly.
Rena Locke kept her head down, silent for a moment before speaking: "The Deep-Frost Iceflame is said to be both fire and water. Only someone truly powerful can seize it. Even Morgan Yang, after more than ten years with it, never managed to claim it. That shows how difficult it is. I think that Master Lin from Seacrest is probably sealed inside Heavenly Lake for now, so he won't be appearing anytime soon. That's a good thing."
"We just need to keep people stationed at Changbai Mountain. Sooner or later, we'll get the Deep-Frost Iceflame! And if Master Lin from Seacrest ever comes out, we'll take him down too!"