Evan's words left everyone present torn, but Selena spoke up, "Father, just let him treat Shui Tian."
Patriarch Water did not immediately agree. Instead, he asked, "Are you sure you don't represent anyone? And if you fail to cure him, what responsibility will you bear? Will the Yang Clan be involved?"
"That's right. I am myself," Evan replied.
"Since you claim not to represent anyone, let me clarify again: even if you succeed in treatment, you won't gain any benefits. What do you think?" Patriarch Water was well aware of the situation—if Evan succeeded, would his daughter have to marry into the Yang Clan? That was something he would never agree to.
Evan smiled, "If I happen to cure him, I don't need anything. I only want to know one thing." "What is it?" Patriarch Water frowned. "I want to leave this place—just tell me how to leave Water territory," Evan said.
Patriarch Water asked suspiciously, "Then how did you get in here?" "Well, that's a long story—it's hard to explain," Evan replied.
Patriarch Water was uneasy. How did a Yang clansman get in? Hearing Evan's answer made him even more anxious. After all, every clan's entrances and exits are tightly guarded secrets—if outsiders learn them, it's a grave taboo.
Seeing Patriarch Water's suspicion, Evan smiled, "Don't look at me like that, Patriarch Water. I really don't know the entrance. To be precise, I crossed through some spatial passage—I didn't even know this was Water territory until later."
"You crossed over? What place lets you cross into here?" Patriarch Water exclaimed in shock.
Evan knew that if he didn't explain clearly, they'd always be on guard against him. He sighed helplessly and said, "The Devil Realm."
"Devil Realm? Kid, you came from the Devil Realm? What's going on?" Patriarch Water exclaimed, startling everyone present. Evan had actually come from the Devil Realm.
"It's a long story. In short, I accidentally entered the Devil Realm, then accidentally ended up here. Now I just want to leave," Evan explained.
"So your reason for joining the husband-selection is just to leave?" Patriarch Water asked.
"That's right, Patriarch Water. I'm not interested in the husband-selection. I just want to know how to leave this place," Evan replied.
Patriarch Water nodded. "Alright, if you can cure my son, I'll personally take you out. But if you fail, you'll just wait for the Yang Clan to collect your corpse."
"Deal. In three days, I'll cure him," Evan promised.
"I hope you're telling the truth," Patriarch Water said, then turned to Shui Tian. "Son, I know you don't want to, but this is an opportunity. If you recover, you can stand again and challenge the Yang Clan. Wouldn't that be better?"
"But..." Shui Tian really didn't want to let himself be treated by someone from the Yang Clan.
"Brother, why are you so stubborn? If your injury is healed, you can do whatever you want. Isn't it just about Yang Lin's grudge? You can challenge him then," Selena said.
"Challenge him? Do you think I'm a fool? I heard he's already been suppressed by the Yang Clan in a forbidden land. How could I possibly compete with him?" Shui Tian sneered.
Patriarch Water and Selena fell silent, but Evan spoke up, "Then I'll represent him and compete with you."
"You? Kid, who are you? My business with Yang Lin has nothing to do with you." Shui Tian said dismissively. In his eyes, Evan was just a Profound Immortal; competing with him—even winning—would bring no honor.
"It absolutely matters. What if I told you I'm Yang Lin's son—would you believe it?" Evan said.
Evan's words froze the atmosphere again. Even Patriarch Water lost his composure. Selena quickly said, "Father, calm down."
"Yes, I understand," Patriarch Water slowly calmed down, while Shui Tian stared at Evan for a long time and said, "No wonder—you look so much like him. So that's it. But do you think this makes up for the harm your father caused me? And a Profound Immortal wants to compete with me? Are you mocking me?"
"Senior Shui, don't be so hasty. I didn't mean now—I want to set a date. And I'm not mocking you. When the next Heaven-Battling Clan Tournament comes, you'll see," Evan said.
"Heaven-Battling Clan Tournament? You're going to participate?" Shui Tian stared at Evan.
"That's right," Evan said.
"Ridiculous! You're just a Profound Immortal. Do you know what the Heaven-Battling Clan Tournament means? All the participants are the elite of the four clans, all at Emperor level! Only a few hundred years left, and with your cultivation, you won't reach Emperor even in ten thousand years!" Shui Tian felt Evan was just boasting.
"You can't judge a person by their appearance. If I win first place, I'll represent my father and duel you, to settle your grudge with him," Evan said.
"You're arrogant—and that's surprising. If you really get first place, I'll accept your challenge. But if you don't, what then?" Shui Tian stared at Evan.
Evan smiled, "If not, I'll let you deal with me however you wish—as atonement for my father's sins."
"I didn't expect Yang Lin to have such a principled son. Alright, I'll agree today. If you cure me, I'll take you out. Next time at the Heaven-Battling Clan Tournament, I'll definitely watch, and see if you can get first place. If not, I won't go easy on you!" Shui Tian said, seeing Evan's resolve.
Evan said gratefully, "Thank you, Senior, for understanding."
"Little sister, I want to rest. These days, you arrange for him to stay here. Father, I'll handle this—you don't need to worry," Shui Tian said to Selena and Patriarch Water.
Patriarch Water nodded, "Alright, that's settled. Selena, I'll leave it to you." He turned and left. Shui Tian said to Shui Yun, "Yun, come push me."
Shui Yun happily pushed Shui Tian's wheelchair away. Selena said to Evan, "I hope you can heal my brother."
"I'll do my best," Evan said.
Selena hadn't thought about all this. She just wanted her brother's issue resolved, but now Patriarch Water brought up many complications.
"That's good. Come, I'll arrange your accommodation. Three days later, you'll treat my brother," Selena said, then led Evan to some rooms in the Crystal Palace. Evan's room happened to be near the outside, with a view of the scenery below—a unique perspective from above.
"Stay here. If you need anything, contact me through the people outside," Selena said.
"Understood, Miss Water. Go ahead and take care of your business," Evan said.
Selena nodded and left. Evan sighed quietly, "I wonder if the Water Clan has truly let go of past grudges."
Selena went to Patriarch Water's residence, where he stood, worried, gazing outside.
"Father, did you call me for something?" Selena asked.
"It's absurd—how could someone from the Yang Clan get in?" Patriarch Water said.
"Father, I went through several rounds of selection. I didn't know he was from the Yang Clan," Selena said.
"You were too careless, posting an open notice—anyone could come. Luckily, he's not interested in becoming a son-in-law. But what will outsiders think? If they learn his identity and see he doesn't want to be our son-in-law, how will I save face?" Patriarch Water said angrily.
Selena hadn't thought about all this. She just wanted her brother's issue resolved, but now Patriarch Water brought up many complications.
After Selena fell silent, Patriarch Water said, "Three days. If he really cures your brother, take him away. But after you leave, deal with him outside—I don't want to see him again. Then announce to the public that he stole from the Water Clan and was killed by us."
"What?" Selena exclaimed in shock.
"Didn't I make myself clear?" Patriarch Water said.
"But Father, how are we any different from villains then?" Selena protested.
Patriarch Water looked at Selena and said, "This has nothing to do with being a villain. I'm doing this for the greater good. Unless you'd rather marry him and settle the matter?"
"Father, isn't it not that serious? Isn't everything fine now?" Selena said.
"Fine? Go outside and see for yourself. I just received the news—I'm furious," Patriarch Water said.
Selena curiously left the room to find out what had happened outside. When she saw the news, she was stunned.
Someone had already spread the word: Evan had passed all the trials in the Water Clan and was now treating the clan's young master. Once he succeeded, he'd be the clan's future son-in-law. Selena hadn't expected this and immediately sent someone to investigate.
In a city, Kevin Chance chuckled, "Brother Mu, I've helped you out. With the rumors locking in your status as the future Water son-in-law, even if the Water Clan wants to break their promise, it'll be hard to do so without losing face."
Selena didn't know about this. If she had, she'd have locked him up. Evan knew nothing of what was happening outside. He could only wait for three days to cure Shui Tian completely. "Uncle, are you unhappy?" Shui Yun, who was pushing Shui Tian, asked. "No, uncle just has things on his mind," Shui Tian smiled.
"Then, uncle, can you tell me about the Yang Clan? I always heard they were bad, but today, big brother didn't seem like a bad person. He was the first to spot the person using demonic techniques, and he rushed to heal uncle after the first person had trouble. My test, the poisoning, was also his doing. I don't think he's a bad person," Shui Yun said.
"Yes, actually, the Yang Clan and Water Clan didn't have major issues. They were friendly once, but because uncle wasn't as skilled and lost, things changed. Your grandfather and I became hostile to the Yang Clan. I always hoped to stand again and avenge myself, but that was just a dream. Today, I realized how much I longed for it, but my opponent is no longer the same person—now his son must bear it," Shui Tian sighed.