The man asked, "You've been managing the family lately. Have you noticed anyone suspicious?"
"Suspicious? Dad, why are you asking me this?" Prince Adrian Wood asked, puzzled.
"There are things you don't need to know. Just tell me if there are any." The man replied.
"There have been a few, like the attendant of the woman I'm about to marry." Prince Adrian Wood said.
"The one you're marrying? From Southspirit Palace?" The man asked curiously.
"Yes, that's right. I was actually going to ask when you could pick a date for our wedding." Prince Adrian Wood said awkwardly.
"Lately, your uncles and I have been in seclusion. I came out mainly because of some strange things happening, and I heard about your marriage. Since that's the case, I'll help arrange it." The man said.
"Thank you, Dad." Prince Adrian Wood said, pleasantly surprised.
The man also hoped his son would marry soon and give him a grandson, which he looked forward to. So he agreed without hesitation, but business still came first. He asked, "You just said there's a problem with that attendant?"
"Yes, lately some strange bugs have appeared and bitten my men, leaving them unconscious. I had Master Quentin Green test him and found something odd about the attendant. So today I set up a barrier and had people test him, but those people also got bitten. I'm suspicious." Prince Adrian Wood voiced his doubts.
"So you suspect those bugs are controlled by that attendant?" the man asked.
"That's right, exactly." Prince Adrian Wood replied.
"What is his actual strength? Tell me everything." the man asked curiously.
Prince Adrian Wood described Evan Yang's strength to the man. When the man heard Evan hadn't even reached Immortal Body level, he asked doubtfully, "You're sure he hasn't even achieved Immortal Body?"
"Yes." Prince Adrian Wood replied.
"That's odd. Do you have any other details about him?" The man was now interested in Evan Yang, so he asked curiously.
Prince Adrian Wood thought for a moment, then said, "Yes, he can easily lift the Purple Spirit Armor."
"What? The Purple Spirit Armor? Isn't that the treasure I gave you before?" the man asked in shock.
"I already have other treasures and can't wear it anymore, so I wanted to punish him with it. But he could easily pick it up." Prince Adrian Wood said awkwardly.
"How did that happen? Explain in detail." the man asked, puzzled.
So Prince Adrian Wood told the man about how Evan Yang could easily lift the armor. After listening, the man muttered, "Looks like there's something off about him."
"So, Dad, do you have any ideas?" Prince Adrian Wood asked.
"We'll bewitch him, using our Wood Family's ancestral mind-fog incense, then interrogate him." the man said.
"But isn't the ancestral incense forbidden for casual use?" Prince Adrian Wood said in surprise.
"This is serious, so we have no choice. Tonight, I'll go bewitch him. Just tell me where he is." the man said.
Prince Adrian Wood nodded. "Alright."
After Prince Adrian Wood told the man Evan Yang's garden location, the man ordered him to withdraw all the guards around it to avoid being discovered.
Prince Adrian Wood naturally complied. After Evan Yang and Lynn Lin returned to their residence, Lynn Lin asked, "How did you come out first?"
Evan Yang explained the fighting among the others and how he easily walked out. After Lynn Lin heard his story, she felt like she was listening to a myth—it was unbelievable. She laughed, "Those guys really underestimated you. In the end, no one tried to stop you."
"That's what happens when there's a huge gap in strength. They didn't even see me as a threat." Evan Yang said with a smile.
"I didn't expect that having no cultivation has its own advantages." Lynn Lin said with a laugh.
Evan Yang smiled, then took out the box and asked, "What exactly is this Divine Woodheart Elixir?"
"It's a divine pill, incredibly powerful and filled with immense energy. For ordinary people, it's poison, but for cultivators, it's absorbable energy and often helps with breakthroughs." Lynn Lin explained with a smile.
"I'm giving it to you. Don't let anyone know, or it could bring fatal trouble." Evan Yang warned, his tone serious.
Lynn Lin was stunned—this thing is incredibly precious, yet Evan Yang gave it to her. "Why?" she asked, surprised.
"Why what?" Evan Yang replied casually. He knew this thing was useless to him, so he gave it to Lynn Lin; at least it could help her break through.
"It's so precious, why are you giving it to me?" Lynn Lin asked, earnest and a little confused.
"Because it's useless to me. Should I just throw it away?" Evan Yang said, direct and nonchalant.
Lynn Lin was taken aback—she hadn't expected Evan Yang to say that. Slightly disappointed, she accepted it and said, "Thanks."
"Giving you something, and you still look worried." Evan Yang shook his head with a helpless smile.
"You're the one who's worried. Alright, let's not talk about this. Let's discuss how to leave." Lynn Lin said, lightly teasing.
"Did you come up with a solution?" Evan Yang asked, curious and hopeful.
"No, but I plan to go out tonight. We can't just stay inside all the time anymore." Lynn Lin said, determined.
Evan Yang also had plans to go out that night, so this was a good opportunity. He smiled, "I agree. How about tonight we split up and each search in a different direction to see if there's a way out?"
"But Prince Adrian Wood and his people are hostile toward you. What if he sees you alone and tries to harm you?" Lynn Lin asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, I have my own way. Just take care of yourself." Evan Yang said with a reassuring smile.
"Are you sure you have a way?" Lynn Lin asked skeptically.
"Of course I do. Here, this is your shovel—even though I didn't use it, thanks." Evan Yang said with a friendly smile.
"You should keep it. It'll be more useful for you." Lynn Lin said sincerely.
Evan Yang looked at the shovel and said, "Then I'll borrow it for now and return it to you next time." He planned to check the underground again if he had the chance.
Lynn Lin nodded, and the two began discussing which direction to go. Evan Yang naturally chose the lakeside, while Lynn Lin, unaware of his intent, chose another direction. Thus, once night fell, the two set out.
When leaving the garden, Evan Yang noticed it was unusually quiet, with no guards around. This made him feel the night was strange, but since they were gone, he didn't worry and just reminded Lynn Lin to be careful before heading to the lakeside.
The lakeside is the most beautiful spot in Wood Manor, often used to host guests. Evan Yang and Lynn Lin were invited here before. At night, it's peaceful and serene, and you can hear beautiful music.
As soon as Evan Yang arrived at the lakeside, he heard the familiar sound of the zither, which he'd been listening to for over half a month. Enchanted, he walked in and saw Melody Wood playing the zither in the pavilion.
One played, one listened, until the music ended. Evan Yang snapped out of his reverie and smiled, "Beautiful music."
"That also requires someone who knows how to appreciate it." Melody Wood said with a smile.
"Miss Wood, your zither music is so beautiful—it's beyond our comprehension." Evan Yang said with a smile.
"You're joking. After all this time, only you can keep listening for so long." Melody Wood said with a smile.
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Most people can't handle listening for long; they lose control and their temperament changes. That's why the lakeside is my refuge, and it's also off-limits to others at night." Melody Wood said with a smile.
Evan Yang understood—he wasn't affected because his mind was extraordinary, or rather, his cultivation was high enough. Still, he found the music beautiful, so he smiled and said, "Maybe they just don't know how to enjoy beautiful zither music."
Melody Wood smiled, "Why don't you say your mind is strong, or that you're just special?"
"Miss Wood, did you discover something?" Evan Yang smiled.
"The fact you could come here today proves my guess was right, doesn't it?" Melody Wood said with a smile, looking at Evan Yang.
"That's right. I was the one listening to the zither here those days." Evan Yang knew she was testing him.
After Evan Yang confirmed it, Melody Wood smiled, "Aren't you afraid I'll reveal your secret?"
Evan Yang smiled, "You won't."
"Why are you so confident?" Melody Wood asked with a smile.
"If you were going to reveal it, you would have done so already. Why invite me here today and play such beautiful music for me?" Evan Yang answered with a smile.
"You're really hard to figure out, but you're right—I don't plan to reveal it. Sit down." Melody Wood said, then put away the zither and let Evan Yang sit across from her.
After sitting down, Evan Yang smiled and said, "I wonder why Miss Wood called me here today? Surely it wasn't just to confirm my identity?"
Seeing Evan Yang's smile, Melody Wood said, "Besides confirming your identity, I wanted to make friends with you."
"Make friends? Aren't you afraid I'm a bad person?" Evan Yang asked playfully.
"If you were a bad person, you would have caused trouble long ago. Why would you still be talking calmly with me?" Melody Wood said with a smile.
"Alright, you got it all right. I also want to be friends with a beautiful lady like you." Evan Yang said with a smile.
"You really know how to talk. Thank you for being my friend—you're actually my first friend in all this time." Melody Wood said with a smile.
"Your first friend? Don't you ever go out to make friends?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Women of the Wood family aren't allowed to go out—it's a strict rule, always has been." Melody Wood's smile faded as she sighed.
Hearing this, Evan Yang was surprised—he hadn't expected such a rule in the Wood family. He said, "So all the music you play here is your longing for the outside world."
"That's right, but there's nothing I can do. I still can't leave—it's the rule, always has been. I can't even go see my own master; she has to come see me." Melody Wood sighed.
Evan Yang couldn't imagine how strong-willed a woman who'd been here so long must be. He asked curiously, "Don't you ever want to sneak out?"
"Go out? There's only one outcome—death. Even as a Wood family woman, I'd be treated the same." Melody Wood said, stunned, then forced a bitter smile.
Evan Yang was stunned. Who made such strict rules in the Wood family?
Seeing Evan Yang stunned, Melody Wood smiled and said, "Now that you've become my friend, could you tell me about the outside world and help me understand it?"