Just as Warren Wong was about to lead everyone back to report, Evan Yang called out, "Wait!" All eyes turned to Evan. Even Lana Situ was puzzled as to why he stopped them.
Evan wasn't bothered by everyone's gaze. He walked up to Warren and said, "Can you take me with you?"
"You?" Warren had never seen someone without spiritual roots dare ask to enter the sect. Leon Wong sneered, "How shameless! No spiritual roots, just a useless waste, and you still dare to come!" Evan found Leon's words deeply insulting and wanted to fight, but remembering Warren's presence, he restrained himself and replied, "My father is inside. I want to see him."
"Your father?" Hearing this, the others wondered if Evan was an illegitimate child of a Rising Sun Sect disciple. Warren's eyes lit up—he was glad he hadn't mistreated Evan, just in case Evan's father was a sect master. Leon's face also turned ugly, until Evan took out a token and handed it to Warren.
Warren immediately recognized the token as belonging to the Rising Sun Sect. As he took it, he stared and said, "Uncle Lee's token! Is your father...?"
Seeing their expressions, Evan realized they mistook the sect disciple for his father. Although he disliked the Wong brothers, he explained, "My father was rescued by this elder, so I came to see him."
With Evan's explanation, everyone relaxed. Leon snorted, "I thought your father was someone important!" Though he said this, he was still wary that Evan's father might be a cultivator. Warren smiled, "How did your father come up with Uncle Lee? Is he also a cultivator?" He was cautious, and Lana Situ thought, "Warren won't let Evan in until he figures out his identity."
Evan felt the same way—Warren was cunning. If he didn't explain, Warren wouldn't let him go; but if he admitted his father was just a mortal saved by Elder Lee, he might not get in at all. As Evan hesitated, someone suddenly appeared on the platform, standing with his back to Evan and facing Warren. The crowd reacted with surprise. Warren nervously called out, "Uncle Lee!"
When the man called Uncle Lee turned and looked at Evan, Evan immediately bowed and said, "Senior!"
"Hmm, I didn't expect you to come too. Come with me." Uncle Lee grabbed Evan with one hand and flew toward a mist-covered peak opposite the platform, with Warren following close behind.
Now, only Mr. Li and the rejected boys and girls remained on the platform. Lana Situ glanced at the distant peak, then left as well.
Evan soon landed with Elder Lee at a small house in the sect. Elder Lee had joined the Rising Sun Sect decades ago and had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, striving toward Core Formation. Because his cultivation was among the best, he was one of the sect's external elders. Seeing Evan's dazed look, Elder Lee smiled and said, "Your father is in my house."
Still in a daze, Evan was led inside by Elder Lee. Liam Yang lay on a simple bed, looking much better than before. Evan was relieved and knelt down, saying, "Thank you, Senior Lee, for saving my father."
"Get up, get up. As a cultivator, saving people is what I should do. Your father won't recover quickly, but I promise that within a year or two, the poison in his body will be completely cleared, and you'll see him whole again. For now, you can stay in the Rising Sun Sect. However, since I brought you in privately, I can't bend the rules—you'll be an outer sect disciple." Elder Lee helped Evan up with a smile. Evan felt warm and grateful, saying, "Even as an outer disciple, I'm already satisfied. Thank you, Senior Lee."