Unable to figure out the other party's intentions, Evan Yang could only continue pretending to sleep, planning to think up a solution over the next few days. So he just lay there and passed the night.
By morning, the downstairs was already bustling again, welcoming another early rush. Many mortals had come in for some simple breakfast, enjoying a carefree life.
Evan Yang noticed that the woman hadn't gotten up yet, while he slowly left his room and went downstairs to order some breakfast.
Then he joined the crowd, joining the lively discussion and chatting aimlessly, all the while thinking about how he could break through that blockade and meet the Wine Immortal.
"Sigh, I really don’t know how to get onto Phoenixcrest Mountain," Evan Yang said with a sigh.
Someone laughed, "Brother, stop dreaming. Right now all we can do is complain. If we really went up there, we'd just get chased down by those noble retainers."
The others all agreed. Now that everyone was familiar, they not only chatted, but even started commenting on Evan Yang’s words.
At first there weren’t many people, but gradually the crowd grew.
"So does that mean we’ll never have wine again?" Evan Yang said helplessly.
Everyone nodded, feeling sad. Just then, the woman came downstairs with her four guards. The guards walked straight out of Mortal’s Rest, unwilling to mingle with the mortals, but the woman sat nearby, quietly listening to Evan Yang and the others talk.
"Waiter, how many days until the Wine Immortal’s disciple recruitment?" the woman asked a passing waiter.
"Two days left," the waiter replied briefly, then went back to his work.
The woman thought for a moment, then continued sitting quietly, listening to the group chat.
Once everyone finished breakfast and left to get busy, Evan Yang was still sitting there.
The woman looked toward Evan Yang and said, "Interested in coming over and sitting for a bit?"
The woman looked around, pointed at herself, and asked, "Are you talking to me?"
"Mm, is there anyone else here besides you?" the woman replied.
Evan Yang stood up and smiled, "That’s true. I wonder what business you have with me, miss."
Although Evan Yang’s appearance, tone, and aura had changed, his bearing made it hard for anyone to believe he was just an ordinary herb farmer.
So the woman studied Evan Yang curiously. He felt a bit awkward—he’d been chatting so enthusiastically just now that he almost forgot how sharp she was. He quickly gave a simple, honest smile: "Miss, are you looking for herbs? I’ve just gathered some and was planning to sort them for sale. Are you interested?"
The woman was pulled back to reality by Evan Yang’s simple, honest laugh. "No, I don’t want herbs. I just wanted to ask you something—do you really want to go to the Wine Immortal’s disciple recruitment?"
"Of course I do. If I could become his disciple, then I could brew my own wine and wouldn’t have to climb dangerous mountains every day just for a few herbs, risking my life." Evan Yang nodded quickly, acting just like a simple mortal.
"Short-sighted," the woman sighed inwardly, but outwardly said, "How about this? I want to go too, but there aren’t enough people. We can’t compete with those clan members."
"Miss, you mean—?" Evan Yang exclaimed in surprise, secretly delighted that the woman also wanted to go.
"I mean, we need more people like you. Are you interested in helping gather everyone to go to Phoenixcrest Mountain?" the woman said.
"Well, there are a lot of cultivators who can fly up there. We only have knives, hoes, and climbing tools—we can’t beat them." Evan Yang said, troubled.
"Don’t worry about that. Just bring everyone, and leave those people to me," the woman said.
"Oh? You know powerful cultivators who can teach them a lesson? Or are you from a major clan yourself?" Evan Yang looked at her suspiciously, secretly thinking, "Come on, just say it—what’s your real identity?"
The woman replied, "That’s not your concern. When the time comes, just wait at the foot of the mountain. Remember, the more people the better—otherwise, when it’s time to compete for spots, how can we match those other groups with so few?"
Evan Yang asked with a silly look, "You’re not tricking us into getting beaten up, are you?"
"Do I look like someone who would trick you?" the woman retorted.
"You wouldn't, but those four outside would," Evan said, pointing at the guards at the door. His voice was loud enough for them to hear, and they immediately looked annoyed.
But the woman sent them a sound transmission, ordering them not to move, so they stayed at the entrance.
"Don't worry. Just bring people to the mountain early, and you'll see how we get up there," the woman promised.
Evan nodded half-believingly. Over the next few days, he spread the word: a rogue cultivator would help everyone get onto Phoenixcrest Mountain, so anyone interested should gather at the mountain's base on the appointed day.
The news instantly lifted everyone's spirits. It spread quickly, and soon crowds came to Mortal's Rest to ask Evan if the rumor was true.
Of course, Evan said it was true—and exaggerated the backing behind it.
The night before the disciple recruitment, Evan lay down again, while the woman's room had an extra guard.
"Miss, why do you want these people to go to Phoenixcrest Mountain?" The guard, still puzzled after two days, finally asked as the woman's promise was about to be fulfilled.
"I want to learn how to brew wine, but I don't want anyone to discover my identity. That's why I need to blend in with a crowd—and these mortals are perfect for that," the woman replied.
"But tomorrow these people are bound to clash with the others. How do you plan to get up the mountain?" The guard still didn't understand.
"That's your job. Go now—make those clan people open a path for the mortals tomorrow. They are not allowed to disobey," the woman instructed.
"But what if those above find out and pursue responsibility?" the guard worried.
"Don't worry, I'll take all the responsibility. It's just opening a path, not stealing their Immortal artifacts. They won't bother to pursue it," the woman said coldly.
The guard felt that made sense. It was just opening a path for mortals—it wouldn't cause any real trouble.
As he was about to leave, the woman added, "Tomorrow, recruit some women to mix in with the mortals. I'll be among them, so those people won't suspect I'm hidden in the crowd."
"Understood," the guard replied, then went to carry out her orders.
Evan was startled. What kind of status did this woman have, that a single word from her could make the major clans open a path—even the Feng Family must be included.
What was her background, that even the Feng Family would give her face? Evan grew more and more curious, eager to see what would happen tomorrow—whether mortals could really get up the mountain, and just who this woman truly was.
With a half-believing attitude, Evan waited for the next day, determined to see for himself whether the clans would really let mortals up. If so, his plan would go smoothly.
So, at dawn the next day, Evan told the waiter that if anyone still wanted to go, just send them to the foot of Phoenixcrest Mountain.
The woman had already come downstairs and asked Evan, "Is everything ready?"
"Yeah, I told everyone what they need to know. We can head out," Evan replied with a simple smile, though he was still unsure if they could really get up the mountain. If they could, it would prove this woman had an extraordinary background.
The woman nodded, then told the four guards behind her, "You all stay in the city these next few days."
The four guards nodded. The woman then said to Evan, "Let's go."
Evan followed her, but soon she stopped at a clothing store.
"You want to buy clothes?" Evan asked suspiciously.
"Yes. Wait here for me, I'll be right out," the woman said, then went inside.
She asked the shopkeeper for a few sets of plain, ordinary clothes.
"Is she going to disguise herself as a commoner?" Evan muttered, watching her enter the changing room.
After she went in, Evan debated with himself, "Should I look or not?"
Curiosity got the better of him—he really wanted to see what she looked like. Unable to resist, he sent his divine sense inside. But as soon as he did, the woman waved her hand and snapped, "Who's there!"
Evan was shocked. He hadn't expected her to be so strong, noticing his spiritual sense instantly. He didn't dare try again and cursed inwardly, "Just how powerful is she?"
He grumbled to himself, disappointed he hadn't seen her true face.
Soon the woman came out, having changed clothes and removed her veil. But to Evan's surprise, her face was covered in scars and burn marks—he couldn't tell what she originally looked like at all.
"That's pretty thorough," Evan muttered to himself, impressed by her disguise.
The woman walked over and said, "Let's go."
Evan started to ask something, but held back.
"You want to ask why I dressed like this?" the woman said.
Evan nodded, though he thought to himself, "Of course I know why—otherwise, eavesdropping on your conversation would have been pointless."
He glanced at her eyes, noticing they were the only beautiful part left.
"No special reason—just wanted to look a bit more like you all," the woman replied.
"More like us? You still look like a noble young lady. Even with this disguise, something feels off," Evan said.
"Oh? What's off about it?" the woman stopped and asked curiously.
"It's your eyes. Mortals rarely have eyes like yours," Evan replied casually.
"Is that so? Maybe you're right." She knew her eyes were hard to hide, but there was nothing she could do—she'd just have to make do.
Not only that, but her hands were far fairer than any commoner's, though Evan didn't mention it. It only confirmed for him that she was at least from a major clan.
Evan kept that observation to himself, further convinced she was someone important.
So, both of them hid their true identities and chatted as they walked.
Evan introduced himself as Ian Wood, a humble herb farmer, while the woman called herself Sienna Rivers, a well-born young lady traveling with guards sent by her family.
If Evan hadn't overheard her plans, he might have believed her story. But knowing the truth, he kept his thoughts to himself and played along.