"If he's the type who values relationships, he'll come looking for you. If he was just using you, then he won't return." The man said. At this moment, he was out of options—he and the Li Family had lost their bait, and Sharla was his only hope.
Sharla froze for a moment, surprised by her lord's answer, but it left her feeling uneasy inside.
"Alright, go rest for now. It's safe here—all our people. As long as you don't go out, the Li Family won't find you. If that guy contacts you, tell me immediately." The man instructed.
"Yes, my lord." Sharla replied, then left for the next room.
"Let's hope you're useful." The man muttered after Sharla left.
Late at night, with the city quiet, Sharla sat at her bedside, thinking about the mission, about the man who impersonated Gary Li, and all that happened with him.
"Can I really trust what he said? Will he actually come for me? And give me the antidote?" At this point, Sharla was nearly lost, unsure which side she belonged to, or who she was really helping.
But she was certain she couldn't tell anyone about what happened between her and Gary Li right now. Otherwise, her lord would skin her alive.
As for Evan Yang, he had no idea what was happening in the city. At that moment, he was busy detoxifying Victor Chu. Time ticked by until, finally, the next day, Victor Chu regained consciousness.
The moment Victor Chu saw Evan Yang, he was shocked. "You?"
When Evan Yang restored his true appearance, Victor Chu saw it was really him and was overjoyed. "It's you! I thought..."
"You're fine now, Victor Chu," Evan Yang said.
"You saved me?" Victor Chu exclaimed in shock.
"Yeah." Evan Yang replied.
"Thank you." Victor Chu said.
"Alright, your younger brother is waiting for you in the city. I'll take you there now, and then you two should leave. As for Chase Chu, he's doing well—currently in seclusion with the Blue Robes." Evan Yang said.
"You went to see him?" Victor Chu asked, moved.
Evan Yang nodded. "Yeah, I saw him."
"How is he? Has he gotten thinner? Is he slacking off?" Over the years, Victor Chu had worried most about Chase Chu. Hearing Evan had seen him, he fired off a series of questions.
"He's doing great. Not slacking off at all. Don't worry, Victor Chu." Evan Yang smiled.
"As long as he's alright, that's all that matters. It's been nearly a hundred years—I've missed him so much." Victor Chu had watched Chase grow up and had never been apart from him for so long, so he sighed emotionally.
"You'll have a chance in the future." Evan Yang said.
"How did you know I was captured by them?" Victor Chu asked curiously.
"Your younger brother told me." Evan Yang replied.
"How did you run into him?" Victor Chu asked, puzzled.
So Evan Yang explained how he went to the Chu estate to find Victor Chu. After Victor heard the story, he said, "I see."
"Yeah, I came looking for you, Victor Chu, because I wanted to ask about the contest." Evan Yang said.
"The contest will be held by the eighth great power of Flowcloud Star on their main world, Mistmount Star. A month before the contest, the place will open up, and representatives from all over, as well as hidden experts and rogue immortals, will gather there. It'll be lively, with all sorts of treasures and opportunities, until the contest officially begins after that month." Victor Chu briefly explained the details to Evan Yang.
"I see. That makes sense now," Evan Yang said.
"Are you planning to enter the contest?" Victor Chu asked curiously.
"Yeah." Evan Yang replied.
"Then be careful. I heard that Ethereal Sanctuary is searching everywhere for you and Miss Nangong." Victor Chu said.
"They're searching everywhere for us?" Evan Yang asked skeptically.
"That's right. I heard you were poisoned and won't live more than ten years, so you should know about it." Victor Chu said.
"So that's what it was." Evan Yang laughed.
"Were you really poisoned?" Victor Chu asked, worried.
"Poisoned, won't live ten years—then how am I still here?" Evan Yang laughed.
"That's what I thought. So it was fake after all." Victor Chu laughed.
"Yeah, it was just to mislead some people at the time." Evan Yang laughed. Back then, he took advantage of the situation to leave the Sacred Palace and avoid Ethereal Sanctuary's interference.
"That's good then." Victor Chu laughed.
Evan Yang nodded. "If you go back like this, the Li family will definitely notice you. It's better if you enter my spatial ring, I'll take you there."
"Alright." Victor Chu nodded.
Knowing Evan Yang could disguise himself, Victor Chu entered Evan's spatial ring without hesitation.
After preparing, Evan Yang changed his appearance again and headed into the city.
At a restaurant next to the Chu estate, Evan Yang found Victor Chu's younger brother.
Of course, the younger brother didn't know the person in front of him was Evan Yang.
Evan Yang said, "The family head has been rescued. Come with me to the east side of the city."
Victor Chu's younger brother heard this, looked at Evan Yang curiously, and followed him to the east side of the city, half skeptical.
"Who exactly are you? Where's my big brother?" he asked.
Evan Yang smiled and released Victor Chu from the spatial ring.
The two brothers were overjoyed to see each other. Evan Yang, having completed his mission, said, "Alright, my job here is done. You two should go."
With a flash, Evan Yang disappeared.
Watching Evan Yang leave, Victor Chu's brother asked skeptically, "Big brother, who was that? Why have I never heard you mention him before?"
"Him? He's someone I've often told you about—a truly remarkable person." Victor Chu laughed.
"Who?" Victor Chu's brother still didn't understand.
"Evan Yang." Victor Chu laughed.
"Him? That's impossible!" The brother didn't believe it, since Evan's appearance was different.
Victor Chu explained that Evan Yang could disguise himself. After hearing this, his brother suddenly understood. "So that's it! No wonder he impersonated Li Gui from the Li family and rescued you."
"Oh? What happened exactly?" Victor Chu still didn't know how Evan rescued him, so he asked curiously.
So Victor Chu's brother explained everything. After hearing it all, Victor Chu laughed, "That kid is truly elusive. He even fooled both the Li family and the Shadow Spirit Sect!"
"I'm starting to think this kid is really something else too," Victor Chu's brother remarked.
"Alright, enough talk. Let's go. We can't let them catch us again," Victor Chu said.
So the two of them left together.
As for Evan Yang, he arrived in the city and went to an inn.
He went upstairs, found a room, and walked in.
As soon as he entered, he drew the attention of the hidden sentries nearby.
Even the veiled middle-aged man next door looked surprised. "Strange, who is that kid? Sharla's friend?"
Evan Yang had entered Sharla's room, but he was using a different appearance.
When Sharla received Evan Yang's message that he was back, she struggled with what to do, but eventually told him her location and warned him of the dangers nearby. She thought Evan would never come alone after hearing that.
At first, seeing a stranger enter her room, Sharla frowned. "Who are you?"
Evan Yang closed the door and set up an array around the room. Seeing how methodical he was, Sharla became even more puzzled about his identity.
"Alright, we can talk now," Evan Yang said.
"Who are you really?" Sharla asked, curious.
Evan Yang changed his appearance to look like Li Gui. When she saw Li Gui, Sharla was shocked and delighted, but soon grew suspicious. "You're not Li Gui. Who are you really?"
"Oh? So you figured it out?" Evan Yang laughed when he saw Sharla's suspicious look.
"That's right. Even though you controlled me, I can't not know who you are." Sharla felt complicated emotions, having given herself to a stranger.
Evan Yang knew it was time to reveal the truth, so he changed back to his own appearance. When Sharla saw his real face, she exclaimed, "You're Evan Yang?"
"I didn't expect you to recognize me," Evan Yang laughed.
"My master wanted to capture you, so of course I paid attention," Sharla said. But her heart felt uneasy—she suddenly realized the person she'd slept with was someone else entirely.
"Thank you for your help this time. Without you, I couldn't have rescued him so smoothly," Evan Yang said.
"You've been using me all along?" Sharla seemed a bit angry.
"Didn't we agree on this before? You help me, I detoxify you." Evan Yang said.
Sharla felt helpless hearing this. She had tried to control Evan, but ended up being controlled herself.
"I'm here now to detoxify you," Evan Yang said. With a flash, he moved behind Sharla and worked on several points on her body before returning to his original spot.
Seeing Evan Yang's skill, Sharla was deeply impressed, but quickly asked, "Is it done?"
"Yes, it's done. Try it out," Evan Yang said.
Sharla checked herself and found the pain was gone. Still, she couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid I'll rush out and call for help now?"
"If you were going to call for help, you would have already. Besides, didn't you already try?" Evan Yang laughed.
"Why do you trust me so much?" Sharla asked.
"Just intuition," Evan Yang said.
"I thought you'd never come back. After all, I'm no longer useful, and coming here could get you caught by my master," Sharla said, suddenly emotional.
"I'm not that kind of person. Though we used each other, I never meant to truly exploit you. Now that things are settled, we'll go our separate ways. As for what happened, let's just treat it as a memory," Evan Yang said, then stood up to leave.
"You're just as my master said—loyal and righteous. You wouldn't sacrifice yourself for Victor Chu, and you even helped someone like me, who has nothing to do with you," Sharla said.
"Thank you for your kind words," Evan Yang said.
Knowing her situation, Sharla finally said, "Take me with you."
"What?" Evan Yang was stunned. He'd never thought of taking anyone with him, only coming to detoxify Sharla.
"You're so loyal and righteous—do you really want to leave me behind?" Sharla asked.
"What do you mean?" Evan Yang didn't understand.
"Even though what happened between us was confusing, it was my first time. Are you really going to abandon your woman?" Sharla asked.