The caller was Yvonne Yun.
She was from the Yun family; Evan Lin had previously guided her in pill refinement, but they hadn't been in touch for a long time.
He picked up the call.
Before Evan could say anything, Yvonne Yun already sounded a bit anxious on the other end.
"Where are you right now?"
Yvonne asked in a low voice, clearly trying not to be overheard.
It sounded like she wasn't in a convenient place to talk.
"Oceanport," Evan replied.
"Good. For now, you'd better not come back to Harborview."
Yvonne breathed a sigh of relief: "Right now, Maran Ma from the Ancient-Martial Ma Family is searching everywhere for you."
"Maran Ma is the third young master of the Ma Family. His status in the clan is high, and since the Ma Family is an Ancient Martial Clan, they're coming in strong this time, targeting the Harborview market."
"The Zane Family is about to form a marriage alliance with the Ma Family. I figured you'd be upset, so I called to warn you—don't come."
"It's dangerous. Extremely dangerous."
Yvonne kept stressing it over and over.
"Did your Yun family get the news?"
Evan asked.
Ever since Evan last visited the Yun estate, the Yun family had been working day and night to refine Youth-Preserving Beauty Pills for him.
Normally, Yun family members aren't allowed to leave the estate.
Previously, Yun Zhi had also stayed inside for a long time and hadn't shown her face.
"The Ma Family sent someone to deliver the invitation."
Yvonne hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Our Yun family has always had some connections with the Ma Family."
"Some of the pills we refined were actually supplied to the Ma Family's cultivators."
Evan listened and replied coolly, "Is anyone from your Yun family planning to go?"
Silence.
On the other end, Yvonne suddenly went quiet.
She sighed, and after a while finally said, "You told us before—without your orders, the Yun family is only to refine Youth-Preserving Beauty Pills for you."
"Most people are following that rule, but there are still a few who plan to attend the banquet."
"Evan, you might not fully understand how terrifying the Ancient Martial Clans are. Even at the Yun family's peak, we wouldn't dare offend them lightly."
"They exist outside the normal world, and their people are unbelievably powerful."
Yvonne paused, seeing that Evan wasn't going to speak, and added, "My sister asked me to pass these words on to you."
"Yuna Pu?" Evan was a bit surprised. After the last time, when she took a heavy blow, Yuna hadn't contacted him again.
A girl like Yuna Pu, raised in a sheltered environment, was always surrounded by admirers. Before meeting Evan, she lived under everyone's attention.
But after meeting Evan, she learned what cruelty really meant. Her looks and status suddenly seemed worthless—Evan's actions hit Yuna hard.
Evan hadn't expected Yuna to think of him at a time like this, and ask Yvonne to pass along a message.
"Yeah, she didn't want to go at first, but Patriarch Yun forced her to attend. Maybe she's hoping to get in good with the Ma Family."
Yvonne's tone grew somber: "Patriarch Yun was originally planning to take me, but she stopped him."
"So don't blame her. She didn't want to go, either."
Yvonne was worried Evan would misunderstand Yuna Pu, so she explained.
"Got it."
Evan hung up. The night outside the window had grown deep.