"You actually made it out alive?" Captain Ling said, his disbelief obvious.
"You're the one who survived!" Owen Bing retorted coldly, refusing to let Captain Ling curse Captain Wood. At that moment, Captain Lee chimed in, "Are you trying to defy your superior?"
Everyone could see that Captain Lee had already changed into the armor of a Third-Rank General.
A Third-Rank General was indeed a superior, at least by Fiend Palace standards—just as back when Captain Wood ran the winehouse. Those who wanted to teach him a lesson could only back down once they learned he was a high-ranking general.
But now, in Captain Wood's eyes, that rank meant nothing.
"I'm not challenging my superior. What does Captain Lee mean by this?" Owen Bing snorted coldly.
"Was I talking to you?" Captain Lee glared.
"You!" Owen Bing glared back in anger.
Captain Ling smiled broadly, "Step aside now. We're talking to your former captain. If you want to speak with us, leave his command and come over to Captain Lee's side."
Ever since Captain Lee was promoted to Third-Rank General, Captain Ling had moved all his people over to Lee's unit and become vice-captain there.
Captain Lee had nothing to say to Captain Ling. Both of them hated Evan Yang, sharing the same goal—even if Evan never came out alive, they would use their high ranks to suppress him.
So seeing Evan Yang now left them both shocked and delighted.
"Unless I'm dead, I'll never join your squad," Owen Bing snorted coldly. Over the years, these people had often tried to absorb their team.
If Owen Bing and the other Fourth-Rank Generals hadn't held out, their members would have been tormented to death long ago.
"Looks like you still haven't learned your lesson. Want to spar again and end up bedridden for a month or two?" Captain Ling clicked his tongue and laughed.
Hearing Captain Ling's taunt, and seeing the anger in his squad's faces—some with scars on their necks and hands—Captain Wood at first assumed they'd gotten these wounds in the Demon-Fiend Underpalace.
"You were the ones who hurt them?" Captain Wood finally spoke, his voice cold.
Seeing Evan Yang speak, Captain Lee couldn't wait to smile and say, "They just weren't as skilled as us, but still wanted to save face."
"What's going on here?" Evan Yang asked with concern.
Owen Bing glared at Captain Lee, then explained the situation to Evan Yang.
It turned out Captain Lee had repeatedly challenged Evan Yang's men, injuring them each time—but not fatally. They didn't want Fiend Palace to investigate, so they only wounded them, let them recover, and then fought again.
In Fiend Palace, there are various types of challenges. These are called 'friendship battles,' a way for people to improve their cultivation. It's allowed here, but must be approved by Martial Hall.
While Owen Bing explained, Captain Lee and Captain Ling were grinning broadly.
Evan Yang's expression didn't change much; instead, he asked, "You didn't just come here to see if I survived, did you?"
"Kid, you know exactly what we mean. It's simple—let's settle things by Fiend Palace rules. We can fight a match inside, or, if you're afraid of losing face, we can duel outside the palace!" Captain Lee clicked his tongue and laughed.
"Outside the palace?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Captain, don't go! He's trying to kill you outside." Owen Bing was alarmed; he knew that if it happened outside, as long as Fiend Palace didn't know, even if Evan Yang was killed, there would be no consequences.
"What, scared? Fine, we can go to Martial Hall. You'll still lose convincingly." Captain Lee sneered.
"No need for that. Let's go outside. I can't be bothered with Martial Hall." Evan Yang replied.
His squad tried to persuade him, but Captain Wood just smiled, "Relax. Let's go—think of it as a warm-up show before we celebrate with drinks."