Evan Yang frowned. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but he could sense people approaching nearby.
A man suddenly appeared beside Young Master Wei, glanced around, and asked, "Young Master Wei, what’s going on here?"
"Look, someone tried to assassinate me! Hurry up and arrest him," Young Master Wei said, secretly hoping these people would actually make a move.
Evan had no idea what the relationship between this man and Young Master Wei was, but judging by his outfit, it looked similar to those who collected fees at the Territory War Contest formation entrance—except for the eagle emblem embroidered on his chest.
"Who are you two? Why did you try to assassinate Young Master Wei!" The man, angered by Young Master Wei’s words and the scene before him, demanded.
"They were trying to catch us. We were only defending ourselves," Evan replied.
"You dare lie! You clearly stole my property!" Young Master Wei immediately retorted when he saw this.
Hearing the exchange between Evan and his companion, and considering Young Master Wei’s special status, the man spoke up: "Hand it over now and your crime can be forgiven. If you refuse, you’ll be barred from leaving Mistmount Star."
"Who are you, exactly? And what crime have we committed?" Evan answered.
"I’m Ian Gray, squad captain responsible for Territory War Contest security on Mistmount Star," the man introduced himself proudly.
"Oh? Are you saying there are others like that?" Evan Yang asked, unfazed.
"There are. A hundred years ago, Evan Yang made waves everywhere—though I doubt you know about it. He was a Heavenly-Immortal who could defeat Immortal-Lords, which was unheard of. As for you, your speed is impressive, but your true strength is unknown. If you really are that strong, then geniuses in the Immortal Realm are getting cheaper by the day—seems like they're everywhere now," Ian Gray said.
Evan Yang hadn’t expected his reputation to have spread this far, even causing such a stir, but he remained calm and said, “Try me and you’ll know.”
"You’ve got guts, daring to ignore the rules on Mistmount Star," Ian Gray snorted coldly at Evan’s attitude.
"Ignore the rules? Looks to me like you’re just bullying the weak with your power," Evan Yang retorted.
"Bullying the weak? Kid, I don’t like that talk. Today you stole someone’s property, so I have to arrest you and bring you in for questioning," Ian Gray said.
"Oh? That depends on whether you have the ability to take me down," Evan Yang replied with a laugh.
"What a joke! If I can’t subdue you, I might as well bang my head against a wall," Ian Gray snorted. He flashed forward, arriving beside Evan Yang, and threw a punch straight at Evan’s side.
Evan Yang didn’t dodge. Liam Willow, not far away, thought Evan couldn’t avoid the attack and was shocked. “We’re doomed,” he muttered.
But in the next moment, Liam Willow was stunned, and even Ian Gray found it hard to believe—a Heavenly-Immortal like Evan Yang simply raised his palm and blocked Ian’s attack.
Ian Gray knew he hadn’t used his full strength, but even against a low-tier Profound-Immortal, it would have been more than enough. Yet Evan Yang, a Heavenly-Immortal, blocked it easily.
"If I wasn’t trying to avoid a fight with you, I could cripple you right now," Evan Yang said calmly.
"You—" Ian Gray couldn’t believe these words were coming from a Heavenly-Immortal.
Ian Gray put away his fist and stared at Evan Yang. “I don’t believe it!” he said, and launched another attack. Evan didn’t strike back—he just kept blocking.
After several exchanges, Ian Gray realized he couldn’t defeat Evan Yang. Without overwhelming strength, it was impossible to subdue him. Seeing Ian hesitate, Evan said, “I told you we’re not thieves. This whole thing was started by Young Master Wei! If you keep acting unreasonably, I’ll fight back—and if you get hurt, that’s your problem.”
Ian Gray looked at Evan Yang. “What proof do you have that Young Master Wei is lying?”
“And what proof do you have that Young Master Wei is telling the truth?” Evan Yang countered.
Ian Gray hesitated, then said, “He’s from the Wei Family—there’s no way he’d do something like that. Besides, they don’t lack money.”
“I don’t know what the Wei Family is, but if you blindly cover for him and assume we’re guilty, then there’s nothing I can do. If you get hurt, it’s just how it is,” Evan Yang stated bluntly.
Ian Gray knew he had two choices: either try to hold Evan Yang here, or side with him and investigate what was really going on.
He realized there was little chance of detaining Evan Yang, so he might as well investigate further. But thinking of the Wei Family, he felt a headache coming on. Finally, he sighed. “Go on, then.”
"Are you sure?" Evan Yang asked.
"That’s right. Go—but if I ever find evidence, even if I can’t beat you, I’ll risk my life to catch you!" Ian Gray said.
“You’re pretty dedicated—and I respect that. If it were someone else, they’d probably still be stubbornly blaming us right now,” Evan Yang said.
“I can’t speak for others, but I only look at the facts,” Ian Gray replied.
“I hope you’re right. Goodbye.” With that, Evan Yang flashed over to Liam Willow, grabbed the still-confused Liam, and left.
“Fast enough—so he was still holding back earlier. Scary. Just who is this guy? Is he another peerless genius?” Ian Gray muttered to himself.
Still puzzled, Ian Gray was about to head back when another person appeared at his side. "Where are they?"
"Why are you here?" Ian Gray was startled to see the newcomer.
The newcomer was none other than Ethan Lee, a high-ranking squad captain and Ian Gray’s direct superior, with cultivation at high Immortal-Lord level. Ian couldn’t understand why he’d come in person.
"I asked you a question. Is this how you talk to your superior?" Ethan Lee said impatiently.
"They’re gone," Ian Gray replied.
"Gone? What kind of job are you doing? Wasn’t he just a Heavenly-Immortal?" Ethan Lee said angrily.
"Captain Lee, I—" Ian Gray tried to explain, but Ethan Lee immediately cut him off. "The Wei Family contacted me. They said you’re investigating their Young Master’s missing item and it’s urgent, so I came. But you lost them? Useless."
Ian Gray hadn’t expected the Wei Family to reach Ethan Lee so quickly.
"Hmph. Come with me to see the Wei Family—you can explain yourself," Ethan Lee snorted, then brought Ian Gray back to the city.
In a luxurious inn, a crowd had gathered. Young Master Wei was there, surrounded by bodyguards and his butler.
Ethan Lee led Ian Gray inside and respectfully addressed an elder beside Young Master Wei. "Senior, I’ve brought him."
Young Master Wei saw Ian Gray and asked excitedly, "Well? Did you catch them?"
"No," Ian Gray replied.
"What? Didn’t you go after them? How could you fail?" Young Master Wei shouted in anger.
“I did, but I couldn’t beat them,” Ian Gray replied honestly.
Young Master Wei was stunned. He hadn’t expected this answer.
Ethan Lee hurried to explain, "Senior, it’s not that Ian Gray didn’t try—it’s just that the suspect was unexpectedly strong. He was only a Heavenly-Immortal, but he blocked Ian’s attacks with ease."
The elder beside Young Master Wei frowned, his gaze turning sharp. "A Heavenly-Immortal blocked a Profound-Immortal’s attacks?"
"That’s right," Ethan Lee confirmed.
The elder’s expression darkened. "That’s impossible. Unless he’s hiding his cultivation, or has some powerful artifact."
"Senior, I suspect he’s hiding his cultivation. He didn’t fight back—he just kept blocking," Ethan Lee said.
The elder nodded. "Then we’ll have to investigate further. Tell me everything that happened."
Ethan Lee recounted the events in detail.
The elder’s expression grew even darker.
Young Master Wei said, "Senior, please help me get my item back!"
"Don’t worry, I’ll handle it," the elder replied.
Meanwhile, Evan Yang and Liam Willow had returned to their inn.
Liam Willow was still in shock. "Evan, you’re way stronger than I thought!"
Evan Yang smiled. "Just a little bit. If I really fought, Ian Gray wouldn’t stand a chance."
Liam Willow was speechless.
Evan Yang said, "Let’s rest for now. We’ll deal with the Wei Family later."
Liam Willow nodded.
But at that moment, a powerful aura descended on the inn, and a cold voice echoed: "Evan Yang, come out!"
Evan Yang’s expression changed. "Looks like trouble has come to us."
Liam Willow was nervous. "What do we do?"
Evan Yang said calmly, "Let’s go see who it is."
The two walked out of the room. In the courtyard stood the elder from the Wei Family, exuding a terrifying aura.
Evan Yang asked, "Are you from the Wei Family?"
The elder said coldly, "Hand over the item, and I’ll spare your lives."