Evan Yang frowned as he saw the two bodies lying motionless. "That's strange. Why are they both just lying there?"
Curious, Evan walked over and found both bodies were empty shells, missing their souls. He cursed, "Damn it, I forgot to lock their souls."
The thought gave Evan a headache. Letting the two escape would only bring trouble. He went to gather the Yang clan and addressed everyone, "I have something important to tell you."
Seeing Evan's grave expression, Gavin White asked, "What's going on? Did you find something?"
Evan tossed out the two bodies. Everyone was shocked at the sight. Evan explained, "The enemy is cunning. Once the bodies were bound, they simply took the souls away."
"It's so strange. Why do they want these two? They're not that strong. Couldn't they just pick someone else?" Yang Ling wondered. The enemy got into the secret chamber so easily, their strength must be impressive, but why take away two who failed so many times? He couldn't figure it out.
Evan sighed, "I don't know what's so special about these two either, or why they'd risk so much to take them."
"Strange," Yang Lin frowned. At that moment, Patriarch Yang wished he could curse his unfilial son to his face.
Since no one had any answers, Evan said, "If nobody knows, let's leave it for now. But listen: from now on, whenever you go out, move in groups. We have to do this until these hostile forces are dealt with."
"Alright, I'll inform the rest of the Yang clan right away," Patriarch Yang replied.
Evan nodded, "Okay, that's all. Everyone get back to work."
Once everyone left, Evan stood alone in the dark void, gazing at his planets and muttering, "What are you after? And who are you, really? Damn it!"
"Boss, what are you thinking about?" Brocade asked, curious.
When he saw it was Brocade, Evan sighed, "Just thinking about what happened earlier."
"Boss, that's not like you. You're never this worried," Brocade said with a laugh.
"If it were just me, I wouldn't care. But now I have a whole clan, and an entire world-realm, with so many people. I can't just stash everyone in a spatial treasure," Evan said, rubbing his temples.
"Boss, don't forget—you have this crazy world-realm. Who would dare act arrogant here?" Brocade reminded him.
Evan shook his head. "Those people are weird. Their bodies can turn into smoke, into gas, and just vanish. I really don't have a way to handle something like that."
"That's easy. However much gas there is, just collect that much gas," Brocade replied.
Hearing Brocade's suggestion, Evan seemed inspired. "Thanks. I wonder what would happen if those gases met water, or if I froze them solid."
"Boss, what kind of idea is that?" Brocade asked, a little suspicious.
Evan grinned, "It's nothing. However many they send, I'll just collect them all."
"That's the boss I know." Seeing Evan smile, Brocade chuckled too.
Evan smiled and sent Brocade off, wanting some time alone. After Brocade left, Evan wondered aloud, "Why do they like capturing Elder Master Yang so much?"
While Evan pondered this, on a deserted planet elsewhere, three figures hid underground—two souls and a person made of black smoke.
"Emissary, thank you for saving us," Elder Master Yang said, overjoyed.
"Hmph, useless fools. Are you really so incompetent? You can't even handle one person," the black smoke said angrily.
"Emissary, he's just too terrifying," Elder Master Yang replied awkwardly.
"Enough nonsense. I'll help you now—I'll implant your souls into two bodies, both strangers to them. I expect you to show me some results," the black smoke said.
"Emissary, Evan Yang is just too powerful." Although Elder Master Yang hated Evan and had tried to kill him several times, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Now he was nearly out of confidence.
Seeing Elder Master Yang in such a state, the black smoke cursed, "Pathetic! Can't you come up with something? Is everyone in the Yang clan as strong as Evan Yang? Aren't there any other targets?"
"What exactly do you want us to do?" Elder Master Yang asked, intrigued by the black smoke's words.
The black smoke sighed. "Once your souls enter these new bodies, you'll need some time to fuse and adapt. During that period, find ways to get close to the Yang clan members. You know their background well—use your knowledge to blend in and gain their trust."
Elder Master Yang nodded quickly. "Understood."
The black smoke nodded, then summoned two unfamiliar bodies—a middle-aged man and woman. He seized Elder Master Yang and his wife's souls and forcibly injected them into the new hosts.
When the process was finished, the two found themselves in entirely new bodies. Sensing their aura had changed, Elder Master Yang laughed, "If the Yang clan can still recognize me like this, I'll just accept my fate."
Before disappearing, the black smoke issued a chilling warning: "If you fail again this time, I'll simply devour your souls."
The two were instantly terrified. They knew how easily the black smoke could destroy souls—if he wanted to kill them, it would take no effort at all.
They hurriedly promised, "We won't fail this time."
Once the smoke faded, Elder Master Yang and his wife collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Husband, do you think we've chosen the wrong side? What if they really kill us?" the woman sighed, regretful about following the emissary.
"Enough, don't say that. If he hears, we're finished," Elder Master Yang warned.
The woman could only fall silent. A few days later, after their souls had fully integrated, the two left the planet. Elder Master Yang knew the Yang clan was a big family—construction and living supplies had to be imported from the Immortal Realm. If they wanted to get close, they'd have to start as merchants.
So the two disguised themselves as merchants. After a few days, they became familiar with the Yang clan's guards, who even brought them into the compound to deliver goods.
Seeing how much the Yang clan had changed, Elder Master Yang could hardly believe it was the same family.
"Husband, what's wrong?" the woman asked, seeing Elder Master Yang lost in thought.
Elder Master Yang snapped out of it. "Why does Heaven mock me so? Why did my brother get such a son?"
"Don't say that. Our son was talented too—he just died at Evan's hands. We must avenge him." Elder Master Yang nodded. "You're right. Let's finish these deliveries and come back a few more times. Soon we'll be trusted by the Yang clan."
The woman nodded, and after a few more deliveries, the guards stopped checking them. They could enter freely, almost like VIPs.
One day, Liam Yang and Brocade were playing when they spotted two strangers in the courtyard. Liam immediately stopped them. "Wait, who are you?"
"Oh, we're merchants," Elder Master Yang replied with a quick smile.
"Merchants? What kind of merchants? When did the Yang clan start working with people like you?" Liam asked, confused.
Elder Master Yang quickly explained, "I deal in rare iron ore. The Yang clan has imported from me several times. Maybe you just haven't seen me around."
"Oh, I see. Go ahead then," Liam said.
The two thanked him and left. Brocade watched them, frowning. "Why do they sound so much like certain people I remember?"
"Uncle Brocade, who do they remind you of? Your nose is always so sharp," Liam joked.
"I can't say for sure, but I need to tell your dad. He'll know what to do," Brocade said, then left. Liam muttered, "Left me alone again. This is boring. If things keep going like this, I have to search for those people myself. In this world-realm, I refuse to believe I can't find whoever Dad is worried about."
No one noticed Liam slip away from the busy Yang clan, bored and determined to investigate on his own.
Meanwhile, Evan Yang was strolling when Brocade hurried over. "What's up?" Evan asked.
"Boss, two merchants just showed up, said they deal in iron ore, but something feels off. You should check it out," Brocade told Evan.
Evan nodded. "I trust your instincts. Let's go."
At the Yang clan gate, Brocade and Evan saw the two merchants leaving. Evan smiled, "You're merchants?"
Elder Master Yang was nervous, afraid Evan might see through him, so he smiled, "Yes."
"What do you sell?" Evan asked with a smile.
"Iron ore," Elder Master Yang replied.
Evan nodded. "Is it for the Yang clan's construction projects?"
"Exactly," Elder Master Yang confirmed. Evan smiled, "Alright, understood. You may go."
After thanking Evan, the two left. Once outside the Yang clan, they traveled to a deserted planet. Elder Master Yang laughed, "That was close."
"Looks like he really didn't recognize us," the woman said with a smile.
"This emissary's method is impressive. Even Evan can't see through us now, let alone anyone else. We can start our operation," Elder Master Yang said, grinning.
The old woman nodded. "Yes."
Little did they know, elsewhere Evan was smiling. "It's definitely them."
"What? Why didn't you stop them?" Brocade asked, confused.
"I'm trying to follow the vine to the root. We've never found their organization, so this time I'll let them think we haven't noticed. That way, they'll definitely make a move," Evan explained, shaking his head.
Brocade pondered for a moment, then asked, "Boss, how did you recognize them? I couldn't tell at all—does your nose work better than mine?"