Evan Yang leapt inside. Outside, the Bear Tribe Chief asked, "What's your name? How did you end up with the special envoy?"
"I'm Master Clara. Our tribe was suddenly struck by a disaster—flames consumed us. The special envoy descended from the sky and rescued us." Master Clara answered immediately.
"So that's what happened," the Bear Tribe Chief muttered. The other chiefs nodded in understanding, but one chief was still puzzled and asked, "Why doesn't this special envoy have an envoy token?"
"Oh, I almost forgot," the Bear Tribe Chief looked at Master Clara.
Master Clara smiled, "It's like this: To extinguish all the flames, he went to the fire source underground and accidentally lost his token. He couldn't find it—after all, the underground fire source is so vast."
The Bear Tribe Chief nodded, though the chief who had questioned earlier still felt something was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
As for Evan Yang, he had already entered. Inside, he saw a pool of water—large, but with very little liquid. Beside it hung a stone stele inscribed with 'Yang Water.' Evan became excited, "So this is Yang Water? I need to find something to collect it with."
Evan Yang took out a pill bottle and tried to fill it. Strangely, when he dipped the bottle into the liquid, not a single drop entered.
Evan Yang wondered, "Strange, why won't it go into the bottle?"
This was a bizarre experience for Evan Yang. He tried several more times, but the result was the same. He muttered, "Damn it, this is really strange."
Evan Yang tried scooping the liquid with his hands, but found that it slowly vanished from his palms.
"What the—what's going on?" Evan Yang was stunned by the scene before him. It was the first time he'd seen such a bizarre pool of water.
Curious, Evan Yang set the bottle aside and looked around, but found nothing unusual. He tried again with his hands—same result. Finally, he drank directly. The moment the Yang Water touched his lips, it slipped into his body, where it combined with the Yin Water wrapped in Heaven‑Cold Qi and turned into ordinary liquid, which his body absorbed.
Seeing this strange phenomenon, Evan Yang muttered, "Do I have to drink it on the spot? That can't be right. How did Lord Yang and the others take it out before?"
Right now, Evan Yang really wanted to go out and ask those people, but if he left, he might expose himself. He was running out of time—he had only half an hour to figure out a way to take the liquid. What should he do?
Thinking of this, Evan Yang muttered, "If Heaven‑Cold Qi can wrap Yin Water, maybe it can wrap Yang Water too?" So Evan Yang began crazily absorbing Yang Water, and just as he hoped, inside his body, the Yang Water was enveloped by Heaven‑Cold Qi. Excited, he said, "Got it—keep going."
He had no idea how much Yang Water would be needed to save a person. Evan Yang absorbed it frantically, and in no time the pool was dry, with only the spring source dripping out slowly, drop by drop.
Seeing this, Evan Yang muttered, "I should be able to leave now."
After saying that, Evan Yang prepared to turn and leave. But suddenly, four wild men with camouflage paint on their faces appeared around him. These people were different from the wild men outside—their aura was powerful, at least Heavenly Dao expert level.
One of them gripped a javelin and hurled it at Evan Yang. Seeing it was just a spear, Evan Yang quickly dodged, but after passing him, the javelin suddenly curved and struck straight at his back.
One of the spears could even curve in midair. It looked ordinary, but was anything but. The other four also threw various cultivation treasures, shouting in a language Evan Yang couldn't understand. All he could do was keep dodging their attacks, rushing toward the exit.
When Evan Yang dashed out, Master Clara raised her eyebrows. The others were puzzled—why was Evan Yang in such a panic? Evan Yang smiled at Master Clara, "Let's go, quickly."
Before Master Clara could react, Evan Yang dragged her away.
Soon, four figures appeared at the exit. When the tribal chiefs saw them, they immediately knelt. The Bear Tribe Chief said respectfully, "Guardians, what brings you here?"
"You idiots! The Yang Water was taken by that kid—it's nearly dried up." one of them said angrily.
"That can't be. He's a special envoy; he should only take a little, not all of it," the Bear Tribe Chief said, confused. After all, Yang Water isn't supposed to be so easy to collect.
The Guardian replied, "You'll find out soon enough. Everyone, after him!"
With that, they rushed out. The tribal chiefs realized something serious was happening—forget the special envoy, they quickly gathered everyone to surround Evan Yang and Master Clara.
On the way, Master Clara asked, "What did you do? Why have all four Guardians appeared?"
"You mean those four people are the Guardians?" Evan Yang asked.
"Of course. They're the Guardians of each major tribe—their status is even higher than the special envoy's," Master Clara explained.
"So that's it. Seriously, I only took a bit of Yang Water and suddenly they showed up, attacking me nonstop," Evan Yang complained as he ran.
Master Clara eyed him suspiciously. "Did you do something? It's really hard for them to appear, unless certain things happen. Given where you were, the only way they'd show up is if the Yang Water dried up. You didn't dry up the Yang Water, did you?"
"Dry up the Yang Water? I don't think so. I just took all the water from the pool, but the spring was still flowing," Evan Yang replied.
Hearing this, Master Clara didn't know what to say to Evan Yang. She could only point at him and say, "You—you ruined the entire pool!"
"Why?" Evan Yang asked, confused.
"Yang Water can't be taken all at once. If the water drops below a certain level, the spring will dry up. The tribes rely on circulating Yang Water to replenish it—if there's not enough, the spring is ruined," Master Clara explained.
Hearing this, Evan finally understood. He muttered, "So that's how it works. Maybe I should put some back."
"It's useless. Once you've taken it, you can't change it," Master Clara said.
Evan Yang sighed, "So what now? It feels like everyone is out looking for us."
"There's no other way. I'll have to take you down the dangerous path," Master Clara said. She knew Evan Yang was wanted now—if she didn't help, he'd never escape the forest.
"Oh? You know a dangerous path?" Evan Yang asked, curious.
"Yeah. I've heard there's a secret cave in this forest. It's sealed, but it leads to the other side," Master Clara said.
Evan Yang asked skeptically, "What do you mean by 'the other side'?"
"The other side refers to the earth hill where the Yin Water is found," Master Clara explained.
Evan Yang still couldn't quite grasp it. "Isn't that place outside your people's control?"
"That place is shrouded in death energy. Our people don't go there, and it's forbidden. Hardly anyone uses this passage. Now that I've told you, you'll have to rely on yourself—I can't go any further," Master Clara said to Evan Yang.
Evan Yang glanced at Master Clara. "Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome. Let's go—this is the last time I'll help you," Master Clara sighed. She led Evan Yang to the entrance of the secret passage, which was blocked by all kinds of plants, clearly untouched for many years.
Evan Yang was curious—Master Clara had only heard of the passage, yet found it so accurately. He wondered about it, but people were already closing in. He could only say to her, "Farewell."
"Go on," Master Clara said. Evan Yang nodded and dashed into the secret cave, leaving the area.
As for Master Clara, she turned around and transformed into a giant bird, soaring into the sky and disappearing.
When the others arrived, Evan Yang was already gone. But they could see traces at the entrance to the secret passage.
"Damn it, he actually took this route," one of the Guardians said angrily. Soon, the other Guardians arrived as well.
After questioning the three people one by one, they learned Evan Yang had gone inside. The four Guardians discussed briefly, then left with their group.
Evan Yang raced through the secret passage, spending most of the day. It felt as if he'd crossed an entire space, until finally he saw the exit.
He stepped out and found himself surrounded by sand and earth—nothing else. The difference was like night and day.
"What a strange pair of places—one barren, one so lush," Evan Yang muttered.
"Is that so? We've been waiting for you a long time." At that moment, a group of people emerged from the sand. The speaker was draped in bear skin—he was the one who could communicate with the special envoy.
Seeing someone who understood him, Evan Yang asked suspiciously, "Who are you?"
"We're under orders to capture you, troublemaker," the man snorted. The people around him were ready to act. Evan Yang noticed their strength was mediocre—they didn't even have cultivation treasures.
Evan Yang said helplessly, "You all should just go back. With your abilities, you can't threaten me at all."
"Arrogant! We won't back down. No matter what, we'll take you," the man snorted.
The group shouted wildly. One of them took out a bottle and drank it in one gulp. His body swelled, turning into a giant, his strength increasing and even breaking through to the Heavenly Dao Intent expert level. Seeing this, Evan Yang wondered what kind of enhancer they had taken to become so powerful.
"Scared now? Let's see how you escape—everyone, attack!" the man snorted. The giants each threw a punch, the force so strong it aimed straight at Evan Yang.
Evan Yang couldn't fly or use flash steps here—he could only spin in place, defending himself with his hands against their attacks.
Fighting so many alone—this was their first time seeing it. Yet they weren't afraid, and kept attacking wildly.