"Leave? Do you really think we can leave now?" Xin Jiang sighed helplessly. Right now, they were being watched by multiple groups—especially after the news about Evan Yang spread, even more people had gathered around them.
"So what should we do?" Damon Li was anxious. He didn't want Evan Yang to just reappear, only to fall into the hands of so many powerful people because of them.
"Wait." Xin Jiang had no other option; she could only say this single word.
That single word—wait—ended up lasting several days.
Meanwhile, Evan Yang was disguised as an ordinary person, staying in an inn in Baina. For days, he'd been searching everywhere for news about Xin Jiang and the others.
"Did you hear? Evan Yang is about to arrive in Baina." One person smiled at the two others at the table.
"Of course. Every time he shows up, a whole mess breaks out." Another replied with a laugh.
"I really admire him—so many people are obsessed with tracking him down." The last person chuckled.
Evan Yang listened to their chatter, secretly amused. Then he turned his attention to others in the room, searching for any clues related to Xin Jiang and the rest.
Not only that, but countless divine senses were scanning every corner of the city, all aiming to find Xin Jiang.
But Xin Jiang had vanished as if into thin air. In truth, before Evan Yang even arrived, the Blue Clan had already made their move, dragging them straight into the castle.
"Your Blue Clan is truly despicable," Xin Jiang snorted coldly.
"Despicable? If being despicable lets us catch that brat, we don't mind," Benson Blue sneered.
"Tch. You Blue Clan claim to be the number one family, but treat us like this? We'll make sure the whole world knows about it," Damon Li snorted.
"The whole world? You're overthinking it. Plenty of people already know you're in our hands—and honestly, they're just as eager to catch you as we are," Benson Blue laughed.
Benson Blue wasn't wrong. Many people were secretly watching Xin Jiang and the others. As soon as they were taken, those groups finally emerged—but it was too late. All they could do was curse the Blue Clan for acting so quickly.
Originally, the Blue Clan planned to wait for Evan Yang to appear before moving against Shadowhand. But now they'd changed their plans; they didn't want anyone else interfering, so they struck early.
Xin Jiang had seen this coming, but there was nothing she could do. Right now, she could only keep her eyes shut and say nothing.
"Bear with it. We're about to announce that you're our guests. I'm sure that guy will show up soon," Benson Blue said again, seeing the two stay silent.
"Despicable!" Xin Jiang, eyes still closed, cursed. She never expected the Blue Clan would use their alliance leader status to 'invite' Shadowhand as guests. Now, everyone wanted to know what was really going on, but no one could figure it out.
Only those who understood the Blue Clan's true intentions knew that Shadowhand 'visiting' the Blues was just code for being taken captive—waiting for Evan Yang to show up.
When Evan Yang learned that Xin Jiang and the others were inside the castle, he finally stood up. "Some things just have to be settled."
He set off for the castle. At the gate, Evan Yang dropped his disguise and showed his true face. Crowds gathered, but the Blue Clan kept everyone else blocked outside.
Inside the castle, Xin Jiang, Damon Li, Benson Blue, and the Blue Clan Patriarch all stepped out.
"Kid, we meet again," Benson Blue said with a smile.
"Why did you come?" Xin Jiang sighed helplessly when she saw it was really Evan Yang.
Evan Yang looked over at Xin Jiang and Damon Li, confirmed they were unharmed, then smiled at the Blue Clan. "You've always wanted to catch me, right? Why threaten Shadowhand just to lure me here?"
"Threaten? You're overthinking it. We're just inviting them as guests," Benson Blue replied with a smile, then ordered his men to release Xin Jiang and Damon Li.
Xin Jiang and Damon Li walked to Evan Yang's side, both giving him a pair of helpless looks.
At this moment, the area was full of Blue Clan experts. There was no way Evan Yang could escape, and the Blue Clan Patriarch had even banned flying here. Even if Evan wanted to run, that strange bird wouldn't show up.
"Is that Evan Yang?" Some people who'd never seen him whispered outside. Those who had nodded in confirmation.
Evan Yang was famous in Baina—especially for the second time, when he set up formations at the city gate and cost the Blue Clan dearly. Even the Blue Clan Patriarch suffered losses.
Not just in Baina; many people had heard of Evan Yang's exploits, and admired him for daring to take on the Blue Clan single-handedly.
"Kid, since you've shown up, come inside the castle and be our guest." Hearing the voices outside, Benson Blue said awkwardly.
"Guest? Aren't you worried I might just demolish your castle?" Evan Yang replied with a smile.
"Demolish? That depends on whether you actually have the ability," Benson Blue snorted.
"Alright, enough nonsense. Let's get started—who's up first?" Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Who's up first? Is he crazy?" The crowd heard Evan Yang's words and thought he must be mad.
Benson Blue gave a strange laugh. "Kid, what do you mean by that?"
"Back in the Death Crystal Field, I promised I'd come challenge your Blue Clan. Now's the perfect time—I'm here to challenge you," Evan Yang said, standing motionless.
Challenge the Blue Clan? Alone? Not trying to escape? Evan Yang's intentions were beyond everyone's expectations, and they all stared at him in disbelief.
The Blue Clan was furious. No one had ever dared to challenge them like this—and now Evan Yang was doing it right at the castle gate, with so many top experts from the continent gathered in Baina.
With so many experts watching, Evan Yang's challenge was a public slap in the Blue Clan's face.
Benson Blue stepped out angrily. "Fine. Let's see how I destroy you today."
"I'd like to see that too," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Evan, no! You need to get out of here!" Xin Jiang quickly sent a secret message when she saw Benson Blue step forward.
Evan Yang just smiled. "It's fine."
"But if you do this, you'll just get yourself killed! Shadowhand still needs you as its leader," Xin Jiang said worriedly.
"Leader? Then let's treat today as our first battle together," Evan Yang comforted her.
Xin Jiang was confused; she couldn't understand where Evan Yang's confidence came from.
The people around were baffled too. They thought Evan Yang had lost his mind, daring to challenge the Blue Clan on their own turf.
This instantly turned the previously quiet Baina into an uproar.
Inside Baina City, the Blue Clan cleared out a patch of ground for Evan Yang and Benson Blue to duel.
"Are you confident?" The Blue Clan Patriarch couldn't shake the feeling that Evan Yang was acting strange today. He'd never seen Evan so bold, openly provoking them at their own gate.
Benson Blue was already enraged by Evan Yang. He didn't care how strong Evan was now. He just sneered, "Hmph, no matter what, today I'll kill him and restore the Blue Clan's honor."
"Mhm," the Blue Clan Patriarch nodded, his eyes fixed on Evan Yang. He was just as angry as Benson Blue—years ago, Evan had provoked him so badly he gave up on advancing, just to settle the score.
This battle was sure to attract attention. The ones who wanted to capture Evan Yang didn't move yet—they wanted to see his true strength first, then decide what to do.
But their plans would all come to nothing. The most unlucky of all would be Benson Blue.
He stepped forward, unleashing his full aura and preparing to strike Evan Yang with his strongest attack.
Evan Yang stood there unmoving, wearing a strange smile.
"Is he crazy? Not fighting back?" The crowd was shocked to see Evan Yang just standing there, while Benson Blue was already preparing his strongest attack.
Benson Blue felt uneasy—he had no idea what Evan Yang was up to. But with his fist already powered up, he couldn't stop now or he'd be laughed at. So he shouted, "Die!"
Benson Blue charged at Evan Yang, his fist at full power, aiming straight for him.
Just when everyone thought Evan Yang was doomed, he struck. He extended his right hand and punched directly at Benson Blue's fist.
It was a simple punch, yet it sent Benson Blue stumbling back several steps. Evan Yang, on the other hand, seemed completely unscathed.
"Impossible!" Everyone present had the same incredulous thought.
Benson Blue experienced it firsthand. He couldn't believe it either—Evan Yang's punch was clearly powerful, forcing him to retreat.
"If that's all the strength you have, then please step aside. Don't say I didn't warn the Blue Clan," Evan Yang said with a smile, hand behind his back.
"What? This kid is way too arrogant!" Evan Yang's actions and words left the crowd in disbelief. Some wondered if it was really Evan's attack, or if Benson Blue had gone easy on him.
But could Benson Blue really have gone easy on him? When he told the Blue Clan Patriarch what happened, the Patriarch was shocked. If even Benson couldn't handle Evan Yang, then the Blue Clan truly had no one who could.
Seeing no one else step forward, Evan Yang laughed. "Looks like, aside from that one person, your Blue Clan isn't much. If that's all, we're leaving."
He turned and returned to Xin Jiang and Damon Li. The two were so stunned, it felt like everything that just happened was a dream.
Evan Yang had cowed the Blue Clan, leaving them too intimidated to even try attacking. That kind of strength changed everyone's plans; hidden observers showed strange expressions, reconsidering their schemes against Evan.
Would the Blue Clan really just let Evan Yang leave? Impossible—they immediately surrounded him.
"What? Planning to gang up on me?" Evan Yang asked suspiciously.
"Today, no matter what, you won't escape!" the Blue Clan Patriarch snorted. Several Blue Clan Divine Wanderers blocked Evan's path, hoping numbers would win the day.
But he was wrong. When Evan Yang unleashed his Phantom Steps, the whole arena was stunned. By the time they came to, all the clueless Blue Clan members had collapsed.
Chaos erupted. What did it mean, for one man to challenge the entire Blue Clan—and win without breaking a sweat?
Benson Blue and the Blue Clan Patriarch were both dumbfounded. Evan Yang's strength was far beyond anything they could have imagined.
"Let's end it here for today," Evan Yang said with a smile. He didn't want to force a showdown with the Blue Clan now—especially since there was still that terrifying figure lurking behind them, who could strike at any moment.
"You think you can just leave?" Benson Blue said angrily.
"What do you think?" Evan Yang's smile startled Benson Blue, who could only glare at him. "You... damn you. The Blue Clan will never let you off."