Evan Yang listened to the zither music for half the night. Only when the woman finally rose, packed up her instrument, and left did he reluctantly watch her go. Even after she disappeared from sight, he muttered to himself, "That music really is enchanting."
After listening, Evan figured it was time to head back. Returning to his quarters, he reflected on three things he'd encountered that day: first, the old man's strange cultivation method; second, the Wood Immortal Hall, a mysterious place guarded by many strong cultivators; and third—and hardest to forget—the zither music.
"If I get the chance, I'd love to hear that music again." At this moment, Evan suddenly felt like visiting tomorrow to see if the woman would still be playing there.
And so, Evan finished his first day. When dawn broke the next morning, chaos reigned outside—servants were sprawled everywhere, all looking frustrated as they watched the man bitten by the insect, who lay motionless, unsure what to do.
Evan opened the door and, seeing their state, asked curiously, "What's going on with you all?"
"Chief Steward Yang, he's been poisoned too deeply. Now he can't move at all, and we don't know what to do. We're afraid to split up in case the bug bites us, so we've just stayed here together," one servant explained.
"So that's what's going on. Well, there's nothing I can do either. Maybe the bug is just too powerful and hiding somewhere." Evan sighed.
Just then, a group arrived outside—a servant leading a team of guards, Prince Adrian Wood, and Lynn's master. The crowd surged in, and Lynn, hearing the commotion, came out as well.
Seeing the group approach, Lynn walked over and asked Evan curiously, "What's going on here?"
"No idea, I just got here myself," Evan replied.
Prince Adrian and his companions saw the ruined garden and were furious, wishing they could strike them down on the spot.
"What on earth happened here?" Prince Adrian asked angrily.
Lynn retorted, "Didn't you see? It's just like this. What's the big deal?"
Lynn's master glared and said, "Lynn!"
Lynn calmed down, while Prince Adrian surveyed the chaos—this was no garden, but more like a marketplace or construction site. His expression darkened. "Chief Steward Yang, shouldn't you explain?"
"Whoever brought you here should explain. They know best," Evan replied bluntly.
"You!" Prince Adrian was furious. One of his guards flashed behind Evan and struck him hard, sending him flying.
Lynn cursed loudly, "Is this how all members of the Wood Family behave?"
Prince Adrian, wanting to maintain his image, hadn't expected his guard's impulsiveness. To smooth things over, he scolded the guard, "What are you doing?"
"He spoke disrespectfully to the prince," the guard explained.
"Who says I was disrespectful? Luckily there were flowers behind me, or my bones would have been shattered." Evan was glad the guard only intended a light lesson and didn't use full force.
"Just now..." The guard tried to argue, but Prince Adrian waved him off and then turned to Evan: "Enough talk. I heard there's a bug here, so I brought a team to clear it out."
"You should have said so earlier, instead of making it so complicated, like an interrogation." Evan sighed.
Prince Adrian wished he could crush Evan, but quickly calmed down. "Go search," he ordered.
The guards began searching the area, while Prince Adrian turned to Evan with a smile: "Chief Steward Yang, did the armor I gave you yesterday fit well?"
"It fit perfectly. Thank you so much for the armor, Prince Adrian. I'll treasure it," Evan said.
"Really? That's great. I thought it might be too heavy for you. Since you can handle it, could I see it?" Prince Adrian asked.
"I don't like showing off in armor. It's more natural this way," Evan replied.
"Is that so? But here, all guards must wear armor, or they'll be punished according to family law. You wouldn't want me to use family law on you, would you?" Prince Adrian smiled.
Evan hadn't expected Adrian to make things difficult. If he revealed the armor, they'd be shocked, so he took it off and held it in his hands.
Prince Adrian glanced at Evan, then left with his guards. Lynn's master handed Lynn and Evan today's antidote.
After getting the antidote and seeing them off, Lynn pulled Evan into the house.
"How did you do it?" Lynn asked.
"Do what?" Evan asked curiously.
"The armor," Lynn said.
"Didn't I just say? It likes me," Evan replied with a smile.
"Impossible," Lynn said, not believing him.
"Don't believe me? Watch." Evan put on the armor, and it suddenly disappeared. Lynn was stunned. "See?" Evan smiled.
Lynn finally believed him, though she couldn't understand it. "So strange. Why does the armor like you?"
"No idea," Evan replied.
Seeing Evan didn't know either, Lynn smiled, "By the way, are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
"Now you care about me?" Evan sighed.
"I knew you'd be fine," Lynn said.
"How do you know? You didn't check," Evan smiled.
The two started arguing. Meanwhile, Prince Adrian and his guards headed back the way they came. Suddenly, a guard collapsed, convulsing on the ground.
Everyone was shocked. Prince Adrian quickly asked, "What's going on?"
"No idea. He just suddenly collapsed," someone said. Prince Adrian checked—the guard was the one who had punished Evan. Adrian wondered, 'Strange, how did he faint so suddenly?'
Prince Adrian saw the guard had been poisoned and was suspicious. But throughout, Evan hadn't done anything—how could this happen?
"Just like the servant in the garden—bitten by a bug and passed out, right?" someone asked.
Prince Adrian seemed to realize something. "Looks like that bug is really powerful—it can attack people silently and remain unnoticed."
"What do we do now? We can't let the bug keep attacking—if everyone gets bitten, it'll be a disaster," someone exclaimed.
"Don't panic. You searched already and found nothing, so let's let Master Qingling handle it. He should have a solution," Prince Adrian said.
"Okay," a guard nodded and hurried off to find someone. Prince Adrian told the others, 'Quick, carry him back to the garden.'
Everyone was confused—why go back to the garden, especially with the dangerous bug there?
"What, a single bug scares you that much?" Prince Adrian frowned.
"No," they hurried to obey Prince Adrian, lifting the man and heading back the way they came.
Evan and Lynn heard the noise outside while arguing.
They opened the door and walked out, seeing a group return—it was Prince Adrian and his men.
"Why are they back—and carrying someone?" Lynn wondered. When she saw it was the guard who had hurt Evan, she was suspicious.
Evan muttered, "Strange, another one collapsed."
"Everyone, gather here," Prince Adrian said.
All the servants quickly gathered. Evan and Lynn joined them. Evan asked, "Does Prince Adrian have any instructions?"
"There's something dangerous here—we need to clean it up, just in case. Stay here and don't wander off. If you get poisoned, it's not my responsibility," Prince Adrian said.
"What now?" Lynn asked.
Everyone was gathered, so there must be a plan. Lynn was curious—she hadn't seen the bug yet.
Prince Adrian said, "A master will arrive soon to investigate." He looked at Evan and Lynn, suspecting they were behind the trouble—before they arrived, nothing happened.
Lynn glared at Prince Adrian. "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing, I'm just worried the bug is after you two," Prince Adrian said.