Before leaving, Grizzly glanced at Melissa Mu again. He’d never met her before, but judging by her aura and the fact that she could appear in a place like this, there was no way she was just an ordinary girl.
This made Grizzly admire Evan Lin even more from the bottom of his heart.
“How is your father’s condition?”
Evan looked at Melissa, nodded lightly, and considered it a greeting.
Last time, Evan refined the old Immortal Sage’s remains into a pill. Even if its effect was far inferior to a Nourishing Spirit Pill, it was more than enough to prolong someone’s life against ordinary illnesses.
Originally, he’d planned to cure her father completely when he went to retrieve the Ancient Sword, so running into her here was a bit unexpected.
“After my father took the pill you gave him, his illness stabilized, but...”
At this, Melissa bit her lip, her expression tinged with loneliness.
“But what?”
Evan frowned.
“After taking the pill, my father’s meridians were completely crippled. Now he can only lie in bed, barely hanging onto life.” As she spoke, Melissa clenched her fists tightly, her face bleak.
“Impossible. Even if that pill wasn’t very potent, it should’ve kept your father alive. There’s no way it would’ve destroyed all his meridians.” Evan’s face darkened as he spoke slowly.
“It wasn’t your fault, Master. It was my uncle—he personally crippled my father’s meridians.” Melissa’s face was filled with grief as she wiped away tears and explained, “My uncle found out I’d secretly traded the Ancient Sword for your pill, so he destroyed my father’s cultivation. When you come to the Moore family for the sword, they’ll use my father’s life to repay you for the pill, but they’ll never let you take the Ancient Sword easily.”
By the end, Melissa bowed deeply to Evan, pleading, “It was my carelessness. I beg you, Master, please don’t come to my family for the sword—otherwise, my father’s life will be forfeit.”
Melissa’s eyes were red, her voice trembling, full of anxiety and fear.
She finished speaking, but Evan didn’t reply for a long time, making her even more restless inside.
Others might not understand Evan’s methods, but she knew all too well. Back on Fenghua Mountain, he’d wiped out the Fire Elder and the Old Immortal Sage in an instant, as easy as a passing thought.
But the Moore family is connected to the Southriver Sword Sect. If Evan really goes alone to claim the sword, another major battle is inevitable.
“Stand up.” Evan said calmly, looking at Melissa bowing before him—nothing like the proud heiress who used to arrive with dozens of bodyguards. He sighed softly.
If it were anyone else breaking their word, Evan would at least make them suffer a little, if not kill them outright.
But everything Melissa did was for her father, and she was powerless to change her situation—just like Evan wanting to protect his own mother. Because of that, Evan didn’t hold anything against her.
“Master... does that mean you agree?” Melissa’s eyes were red and pleading, but Evan simply shook his head.
Melissa’s heart sank. Tears welled up as she imagined her father dying the moment Evan stepped into the Moore family’s house.
“Our agreement still stands. I’ll personally take the Ancient Sword, and I’ll also cure your father and save his life.”
Evan spoke in a calm tone.
For the Moore family to sacrifice someone’s life for a sword—and considering Melissa’s status, her father must be a direct descendant—Evan grew even more curious about the Ancient Sword.
Melissa’s eyes, once dim, now lit up with hope. "You really can do that?!"
Evan nodded.
Melissa seemed to make up her mind. She wiped her tears and looked at Evan, her face determined. "If you can really save my father, Master, then my life will belong to you from now on."
As soon as she finished speaking, a mocking voice rang out from nearby: "Master? Just look at him—how could he possibly deserve that title?"
Melissa’s face changed, worried that Evan might get angry.
Evan turned and saw a group of stylish, trendy young men and women walking over.
Most of them looked eighteen or nineteen, carrying that unique arrogance of wealthy heirs.
"Leon Lin! Don’t be rude to Master!" Melissa snapped, her pretty face darkening.
"Master, huh? Melissa, don’t tell me you’ve been fooled by this guy. Him, a master? Please, when did ‘master’ become so cheap?" Leon Lin sneered, arms crossed.
"Kid, you look unfamiliar. Which family in Jinnan are you from? If you’re qualified to be here, you must be from somewhere decent, right?"
Leon’s face was full of ridicule.
He was from the Lin clan, and today he’d come along with Henry Lin just to see the world. The people around him were all second-generation elites from Jinnan’s upper circles.
The Lin and Moore families never really interacted much. Melissa was a bit spoiled but popular thanks to her looks and figure.
Leon came over today mainly to chat with Melissa, but every time he tried, she brushed him off.
This made Leon Lin even more annoyed—especially when he saw Melissa admiring this seemingly ordinary guy, getting excited after just a few words, as if she wanted to jump into his bed. That only made Leon more upset.
“What’s wrong? Leon’s talking to you—don’t you understand?”
“Who is this guy anyway? I’ve never seen him before. Maybe he’s just here to freeload.”
“Sounds about right.”
Leon’s posse chimed in one after another, all eyeing Evan like hungry wolves, eager to show off for Leon and score some points.
“That’s enough!” Melissa said, getting anxious.
Leon glanced at her and said, “Don’t worry, Melissa. I know you’ve been fooled by him—he’s probably just some con artist who tricked you.”
“But don’t worry. As long as I’m here, you’ll be safe!”
Leon smiled and then looked at Evan. “Hey, you still haven’t said—whose family are you from? Or are you just a nobody?”
Evan looked at Leon calmly and replied, “My surname is Lin. I come from the Lin family.”
“The Lin family? There’s only one Lin clan that rules Jinnan—and that’s mine. Are you claiming to be some distant relative?” Leon sneered, and his friends burst out laughing.
Evan’s gaze swept over the crowd. Instantly, the ones who had been laughing felt a chill run down their spines, some so scared their knees nearly buckled.
“I am a Lin family of one.”
“I alone am a noble house.”