Evan Yang smiled. "If you follow me, I can't guarantee your safety."
"If you think I'm a burden, just say it," Lynn Lin said, feeling annoyed.
"Uh." Evan hadn't expected her to be so direct, so he laughed and said, "How about this: you travel with me for a while, see if you can adapt. If it doesn't work out, we'll go our separate ways. Is that okay?"
"No problem," Lynn Lin replied with a smile.
"You should bring Melody along too," Melody's Master suddenly said.
The three were confused—why would Melody's Master say that? Wasn't Melody supposed to follow her own master?
"Master, can't I stay with you?" Melody Wood looked at Evan, then spoke to Melody's Master.
"Following me is dangerous, and your identity is special. No matter what, you need protection—and he can provide that," Melody's Master said.
"Can't we just hide?" Melody Wood asked.
"Melody, don't you understand your status in the family? If that God returns, she'll do everything to find you. After all, you have her seed inside you," Melody's Master sighed.
Evan and Lynn were puzzled—what seed? Melody Wood seemed to already know, sighing, "This is my fate. What must come, can't be stopped."
"Excuse me, what is this 'seed'?" Evan asked, confused. Lynn Lin was curious too: "Yeah, I want to know as well."
"The seed is, strictly speaking, an avatar. Once it forms, it replaces the original person. In other words, once the seed inside Melody matures, she'll be replaced by another soul—the soul of the Wood Family's God," Melody's Master sighed.
Evan and Lynn were shocked by this, while Melody Wood gave a bitter smile. "Master, this is just my destiny."
"You're Evan Yang, right? Could you come with me for a moment?" Melody's Master said.
Evan nodded. Lynn and Melody were curious about what Melody's Master wanted with Evan, but Evan had already followed her to a corner inside the cave.
"I know your strength—it's enough to take Melody away. If she stays with me, she'll never escape that evil grasp," Melody's Master sighed.
"Senior, what's really going on? Could you explain in detail?" Evan was still completely confused.
"Yes, I'll explain everything," Melody's Master replied.
So Melody's Master began to explain to Evan. Long ago, the Wood Family's God learned a new cultivation method: refining avatars. Each time, she would create a seed of this method and implant it in a girl. When the avatar matured, she would refine it back into herself, thus increasing her own power.
"That's just twisted!" Evan Yang exclaimed after hearing Melody's Master's explanation.
"Yes, I only learned about it later. The Wood Family already had three girls suffer this fate, and Melody is the fourth," Melody's Master sighed.
"But she's a member of the Wood Family—how could they be so cruel? Don't they care about their own?" Evan said angrily.
"She? Actually, she's not really a Wood Family member—she was taken from outside and raised in the Wood Family. To cover it up, they had her pose as a descendant, and when the time was right, they'd announce something like a cultivation accident or seclusion, and then replace her," Melody's Master explained.
"That's truly cruel," Evan Yang said, shocked and angry.
"I don't want Melody to end up like that. That's why I taught her zither music since she was young—the music soothes the seed inside her, helps it sleep, and keeps it from erupting too quickly. But I'm worried that if the Wood Family's God returns and finds Melody missing, she'll search everywhere. I can't resist her, and Melody even less so. So this is up to you," Melody's Master said.
Evan finally understood why Melody always played those moving zither tunes—it was to calm the power inside her. Now, seeing Melody facing such a situation, he was determined not to let her become a sacrifice. He smiled, "Senior, I understand."
"That's good. Thank you. But don't tell anyone else about this—the more people know, the more danger for Melody. Right now she's like a bundle of energy. Even though the avatar was planted by the Wood Family's God, other Gods or powerful experts could steal that power. If it's taken, Melody will still die, turning to ash," Melody's Master said.
Hearing this, Evan—who had originally considered extracting that power—was shocked. "I see. I'll keep it in mind."
"Alright, go on. I have things to do, so I won't see you off," Melody's Master said.
Evan nodded, then left the cave and walked to the entrance, where Lynn Lin and Melody Wood were waiting.
"Miss Melody, come with us. Your master has things to handle and can't leave with you right now," Evan said.
"What? My master...?" Melody Wood was surprised by Evan's words.
"Go, Melody." A voice came from inside. Melody could only reply, "I understand, Master. Please take care."
"Go on," the voice inside said again.
So the three of them set out together again, leaving the snowy peak. On the road, Lynn Lin became unusually restrained—no more jokes, and she didn't dare tease Evan anymore.
Seeing her expression, Evan Yang, suddenly missing the fun, laughed, "What's wrong? Why so quiet?"
"I'm afraid if I annoy you, you'll just slap me away," Lynn Lin said.
Evan Yang stopped and said with a smile, "If you really think that way, then we should go our separate ways."
"What do you mean?" Lynn Lin glared.
"What I'm saying is, just treat me like you did before—say whatever you want, don't be so awkward, okay? And Miss Melody, relax. Don't worry anymore," Evan Yang said.
Lynn Lin finally couldn't hold back. "I've been holding it in forever! You idiot, don't think you're so great just because you're strong. I'm telling you, one day I'll surpass you!"
Evan Yang and Melody Wood were stunned—they hadn't expected Lynn to explode like that.
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"See? That's more like it," Evan Yang laughed.
Lynn Lin felt much better, though she also felt she'd said too much.
"Uh..." Lynn was momentarily stunned, while Melody Wood smiled and said, "Thank you."
Evan Yang nodded, then said, "You two tell me about this world. I really don't know anything about it."
"I rarely go out. Let Sister Lynn explain instead," Melody Wood said.
The two looked at Lynn Lin. Truth was, she rarely went out too, but with everyone looking at her, she couldn't admit she knew nothing.
"I know a place that's really interesting. I'll take you both there now," Lynn Lin said with a smile.
"What place?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"The Monster Specimen Convention," Lynn Lin said with a smile.
Hearing the word 'monster,' Evan remembered how Lynn had once caught him because of that. Still, he was curious and smiled, "Why are you so interested in monsters?"
"That's my business. Ever since I was young, I've vowed to catch powerful monsters and wipe them out," Lynn Lin said.
Evan Yang was curious about these so-called monsters. They were spirit beasts transformed by some method, and the place was so strange that even Gods avoided it. Evan definitely wanted to see what was really going on.
So he said, "Alright, let's go check it out."
"Okay, let's go!" Lynn Lin said with a smile, then led Evan Yang and Melody Wood onward.
The three of them headed toward another dynasty together.
Back in the Wood Immortal Hall, Hamilton Wood was furious. "That Evan Yang—what power backs him? How is he so terrifyingly strong?"
"Why did he come here? Is it because of Melody?" the old man asked suspiciously.
Hearing this, Hamilton Wood was shocked. "If that's the case, we're in trouble."
"We have to find a way to get Melody back from them. In the imperial capital, we can use the guardian beast against Evan Yang," the old man said.
"How can we get her back? You saw his strength," Hamilton Wood sighed.
"If brute force won't work, we'll have to use our wits," the old man said thoughtfully.
"Use our wits? How exactly?" Hamilton Wood asked suspiciously.
"Leave it to the Defiant Organization," the old man said.
Hamilton Wood took a sharp breath. "What? The Defiant Organization? Their temper isn't exactly good."
"I know, but I have connections. Even so, getting them to act will cost us hundreds of years' worth of the Wood Mansion's income," the old man said.
Hamilton Wood took another deep breath. Normally he'd never agree, but this was serious. "Fine. No matter what, make sure they bring Melody back for me."
"Alright, I'll contact them right away," the old man said.
After the old man left, Hamilton Wood muttered, "Evan Yang, just wait. When the God returns, you'll be finished. For now, I'll let you live."
Just then, Young Master Wood and his two uncles entered from outside.
"What are you doing here?" Hamilton Wood frowned at the three.
"Patriarch, is that it?" Young Master Wood said, unwilling to accept it. He'd wanted to speak earlier but was afraid of the patriarch's anger, so he waited until now.
"I have my plans. Don't worry about Evan Yang for now. Go investigate the remaining troublemakers from the Nangong Dynasty in Wood City and the imperial capital," the patriarch said.
The three had no choice but to leave. Outside the Wood Immortal Hall, Young Master Wood asked, "Uncle, Second Uncle, what do you think the patriarch will do?"
"Don't worry about that. Just focus on the city's affairs. The Nangong Dynasty's attack hit us hard this time," said Young Master Wood's uncle.
"Yeah, I know. But my sister, Evan Yang, and my friend just disappeared. I really can't accept that," Young Master Wood said, frustrated.
"What can you do? He's stronger than you—even stronger than the patriarch. There's nothing we can do," Young Master Wood's uncle sighed.
Young Master Wood was extremely frustrated, wishing he could be stronger. But for now, all he could do was discuss how to handle matters in the city with his uncles.