"Grandpa Yang, we're almost there," Megan Rain said.
Evan Yang nodded, looked ahead, hesitated for a moment, and finally knocked on the door. The door opened, and the unfamiliar man looked at them and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Ah, sorry, wrong door," Evan Yang said in surprise.
"You can even get the wrong door? What a useless old man," the man said.
"It's because you look a lot like my friend, and you both have Nether-Origin Force on you. I thought you were him," Evan Yang said awkwardly.
The man froze for a moment when he heard this, then looked at Evan Yang suspiciously. "What are you talking about? Can you actually see it?"
"I can't really see it, you just looked familiar to me. Guess I got it wrong, sorry," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Old man, don't just leave halfway through your sentence, or I'll cripple you," the man said, blocking Evan Yang from leaving.
Megan Rain spoke up, "How can you be like this? He's just an old grandpa, his eyesight is bad and he got the wrong person. What's the big deal?"
"Little girl, what do you know? Get out of my way," the man said, not believing Evan Yang was an ordinary person. He himself possessed Nether-Origin Force, which ordinary people couldn't possibly recognize.
"He's very strong—not someone ordinary people can deal with," Evan Yang said.
Megan Rain shook her head and looked at the man. "If you want to hurt Grandpa Yang, you'll have to get past me first."
"You brat, you're really asking for it. Today I'll cripple you too," the man sneered, grabbing Megan Rain and tossing her into a nearby tree.
A loud crash sounded. Evan Yang couldn't bear to watch—it was brutal abuse for a mortal. But it was too late to regret; he could only hope Megan Rain would erupt soon.
Despite being thrown again and again, Megan Rain kept standing up, leaving the man puzzled—how could a mortal girl be so tough?
Seeing that Megan still hadn't erupted, Evan Yang said, "Forget it, Megan, just go."
"No way, even if I die, I'll drag him down with me," Megan Rain panted.
She was thrown out again, and the man said, "Let's see if you die now."
After countless cruel throws, Evan Yang couldn't bear to watch. Finally, the man lifted Megan Rain high, preparing to deliver a final, fatal blow.
A dazzling light exploded in the air, and both Evan Yang and the man saw a powerful arrow descend, striking the man's head. He collapsed, gravely injured and motionless, blood pouring from his mouth, while Megan Rain crashed to the ground and lay still.
Evan Yang, shocked, struggled over to Megan Rain and checked her—she was only exhausted, nothing serious. Then he approached the half-paralyzed man.
"Soul-Reaping Water, it's your turn," Evan Yang called out, and Soul-Reaping Water appeared, enveloping the man's soul and whisking it away.
Mission accomplished—Evan Yang had nearly sacrificed himself, but thankfully Megan Rain erupted at the last moment and was unharmed.
After making himself appear unconscious, Evan Yang lay down nearby, pretending to sleep.
After a while, Megan Rain woke up groggily and found herself lying on the ground. She quickly got up, checked herself, then saw Evan Yang unconscious nearby and hurried over to help him. "Grandpa Yang, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine," Evan Yang said.
Seeing Evan Yang was unharmed, Megan Rain smiled. "That's good."
"What about him?" Evan Yang asked, pretending to point at the man.
"I don't know. When I woke up, he was already dead—maybe someone else couldn't stand him and killed him," Megan Rain said with a smile.
Evan Yang nodded. "Alright, let's head back. It's too dangerous here."
Megan Rain nodded, brought Evan Yang back to the noodle shop, and got busy preparing something for him to eat.
Lying on the bed, Evan Yang summoned Soul-Reaping Water and smiled at the wounded soul. "Hello there."
"Damn it, I always thought you were weak, but I didn't expect you to have such terrifying power," the soul said angrily.
"That's called karma," Evan Yang said with a smirk.
"Why did you pretend to mistake me for someone else? What was your purpose?" the soul asked angrily.
"Simple—I wanted to meet you. But as you can see, I'm just an old man with no real power, so I had to borrow someone else's strength," Evan Yang said.
"Meet me? Why? What did I ever do to you? My body was destroyed because of this," the soul said angrily.
"You didn't offend me. I just wanted to ask if you possess Nether-Origin Force—are you from the Nether-Heaven Realm?" Evan Yang asked.
"Isn't that obvious? Have you seen anyone else with Nether-Origin Force?" the soul snorted.
"Exactly. So, where is the Nether-Heaven Realm?" Evan Yang asked.
"Why should I tell you?" the soul said angrily.
"If you want your soul to remain intact, you'd better tell me. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Your threats are useless. I'm just a soul now—if I die, so be it," the soul said, unconcerned.
"Interesting, you're not afraid of death. Fine, let's change the subject—what are you doing here? It seems some others also possess Nether-Origin Force," Evan Yang said.
"This is Nether-Heaven Realm territory. What's the problem with me being here? Don't make a fuss," the soul replied dismissively.
"You have a pretty nasty attitude, but that's fine—I'll get my answers from someone else," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Impossible. No one else will talk either—if they do, their souls will be destroyed. Nothing is worse than that," he said.
Evan Yang casually remarked, realizing those from Nether-Heaven Realm had a purpose. He smiled, "You say you're just here for nothing—so, what's your real reason?"
"So what if you found out? I still won't tell you anything," the soul said gloomily.
"Fine, if you won't talk, I'll find out some other way. There are eight of you at the inn—now there are seven left," Evan Yang analyzed.
"You're meticulous, but without me, the other seven will soon realize what's happened. Once they find me, it'll be your death day. You always get lucky," the soul said angrily.
"That's fine—I hope some of you come. I'll deal with each of you one by one. Surely someone will give in," Evan Yang said with a smile, then put away the soul. Just then, Megan Rain entered from outside.
Megan Rain walked in, carrying noodles for Evan Yang.
After finishing the noodles, Evan Yang apologized, "Sorry for causing you trouble earlier."
"Grandpa Yang, it's nothing. That guy's dead anyway," Megan Rain said optimistically.
"I'm just worried he has companions—if they come, we'll be in trouble," Evan Yang sighed.
"I doubt they'll find us, Grandpa Yang. You should rest first, and when you're better, I'll take you to look for them," Megan Rain said.
Evan Yang nodded, and Megan Rain went back to work. Meanwhile, Evan Yang used his spiritual sense to monitor the inn—sure enough, the seven searched for him and Megan Rain, worried their companion hadn't returned.
The seven kept searching until they found the corpse outside the city. Evan Yang was startled—he'd forgotten to deal with the body. When they found it, they were furious and immediately thought of Evan Yang and Megan Rain.
The seven immediately returned to the city to search for Evan Yang and Megan Rain. Worried Megan Rain might be found, Evan Yang called out for her.
Megan Rain entered, curious. "Grandpa Yang, what's wrong?"
That's fine—I hope some of you come. I'll deal with each of you one by one. Surely someone will give in," Evan Yang said with a smile, then put away the soul. Just then, Megan Rain entered from outside.
Megan Rain walked in, carrying noodles for Evan Yang.
After finishing the noodles, Evan Yang apologized, "Sorry for causing you trouble earlier."
Grandpa Yang, it's nothing. That guy's dead anyway," Megan Rain said optimistically.
I'm just worried he has companions—if they come, we'll be in trouble," Evan Yang sighed.
I doubt they'll find us, Grandpa Yang. You should rest first, and when you're better, I'll take you to look for them," Megan Rain said.
Evan Yang nodded, and Megan Rain went back to work. Meanwhile, Evan Yang used his spiritual sense to monitor the inn—sure enough, the seven searched for him and Megan Rain, worried their companion hadn't returned.
The seven kept searching until they found the corpse outside the city. Evan Yang was startled—he'd forgotten to deal with the body. When they found it, they were furious and immediately thought of Evan Yang and Megan Rain.
The seven immediately returned to the city to search for Evan Yang and Megan Rain. Worried Megan Rain might be found, Evan Yang called out for her.
Megan Rain entered, curious. "Grandpa Yang, what's wrong?"