The second brother nodded, and Blake Bai told him to step back, then left. Evan Yang searched for the second brother for quite a while, but couldn't find him, so he had to postpone it for another day.
Just as Evan Yang was about to return to his cave, he spotted the second brother coming back not far away.
Without a word, Evan Yang appeared right in front of the second brother, startling him. Knowing he was no match, the second brother tried to run and shout for help, but Evan quickly subdued him.
Evan dragged the second brother back to his cave, then questioned him, "What's going on here? If you don't tell the truth, I'll cripple you right now."
"You dare?" the second brother mustered his courage and challenged.
Evan Yang laughed, "What's there not to dare? You all say I killed your big brother—so what if I kill another?"
Hearing this, the second brother panicked and quickly pleaded, "No, don't, don't!"
"So, are you going to talk or not?" Evan Yang pressed.
"I'll talk, I'll talk! It was all Blake Bai—he told me to do it," the second brother blurted out in a panic.
"Where is he? How strong is he?" Evan Yang demanded.
"He's Emperor-level, one of Eldon Liu's four White Guards, and usually stays on Willowleaf Mountain," the second brother said anxiously.
Evan Yang said, "Good, you know your place. As for your schemes to harm me, you'd better think them through. I'm fine for now, but if you keep colluding with Blake Bai, next time I won't be so nice. You can go."
The second brother immediately ran off. Watching him flee, Evan Yang smirked to himself. At the same time, he shot a look of disgust in the direction of Blake Bai. "Just wait, Willowleaf Mountain. As long as nothing happens to me, I'll definitely go teach you a lesson!"
After that, Evan Yang focused on cultivation. When it was time, he went with Glen Lane to the next course. Oddly enough, for several days, no one came to bother Evan Yang.
It wasn't until a few months later, after Evan Yang had advanced through several courses and was just thinking about when to go after Blake Bai, that Blake suddenly showed up outside his cave. Alongside him was a man in black—the same Hall of Judgment enforcer who previously tried to arrest Evan.
"Is that you?" Evan Yang asked suspiciously.
"That's right. We're meeting again, but this time, I'm here to see you off," Blake Bai said.
Evan Yang frowned, "See me off? What does that mean? What crime have I committed now?"
"You know what you've done. Now, come with me," Blake Bai said.
Just then, a voice sounded behind them: "When did Blake Bai become a guest at our Light Guard Hall? What's the matter?"
Before teaching Blake Bai a lesson, Evan Yang made sure to prepare—otherwise, he'd just get framed again for no reason.
After getting ready, Evan Yang asked around for Willowleaf Mountain's location, then set out. The mountain wasn't too big or too small, but was covered with willow trees.
"Manager Chao, actually, here's what happened," said the White Guard, then explained the murder accusation against Yang Han.
Evan Yang used concealment to sneak onto the mountain and searched for Blake Bai. He found no houses, only caves.
"Maybe he's in a cave. I'll check it out." Evan Yang decided to enter one of the caves.
Chao Ge smiled, "Alright, let's go."
So the White Guard called the man in black away, then followed Chao Ge. As for Yang Han, he returned safely to his cave.
Inside Chao Ge's hall, the White Guard said, "Manager Chao, you know Yang Han was chosen as a guard by the Saintess, and you also know that a guard's character is extremely important, so he must be clean. But I've heard he killed someone, so Law Protector Liu is very concerned and sent me to handle it. I hope you'll let me take care of this matter."
Chao Ge smiled, "Thank you for your concern, White Guard, but the Saintess said I'm responsible for his affairs. No matter what, I'll investigate thoroughly. Whoever the killer is—even if he's the Saintess's person or anyone else's—I'll handle it according to the law."
The White Guard's heart tightened, as if he'd been seen through. But except for Yang Han, no one knew what he'd done, and Yang Han had no proof, so nobody else would know.
So the White Guard laughed and said, "Looks like Manager Chao just won't let this go?"
"This is our Guard Hall's business, and our duty," Chao Ge replied.
"If that's the case, then I'm leaving. I hope you can find some evidence and convict him!" said the White Guard.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely get to the bottom of it," Chao Ge replied.
The White Guard nodded, then left. Watching him go, Chao Ge sneered to himself, "Trying to use Law Protector Liu to pressure me—what a joke."
After leaving, the White Guard cursed Chao Ge in his heart for not giving Law Protector Liu any respect. But since this matter had to be dealt with, and he couldn't convict Yang Han now, he'd have to try something else.
Yang Han didn't know what the White Guard was planning, but he was sure the guy wouldn't give up so easily. Several months passed, and Yang Han advanced through several more courses. One day, while resting in his cave, someone suddenly barged in and attacked him without a word.
But Yang Han wasn't so easy to deal with. In just a few moves, he subdued the attacker and forced a confession—it was the White Guard who sent him.
After the first time, there was a second. Over the next few months, Yang Han was attacked out of nowhere more than ten times.
After all this, Yang Han finally lost patience and decided to go to Willowleaf Mountain to teach the White Guard a lesson.
Before teaching the White Guard a lesson, Yang Han made some preparations for himself—otherwise, he'd just get framed again for no reason.
After getting ready, Yang Han asked around for the location of Willowleaf Mountain, then set out. The mountain was neither big nor small, but it was covered with willow trees.
Yang Han used concealment to sneak onto the mountain and searched for the White Guard. He found no houses, only caves.
"Maybe he's in a cave. I'll go check it out." Yang Han decided to enter one of the caves and walked in.
The cave was rugged but dry, and faint light glowed from within.
"That should be cultivation light," Yang Han muttered to himself. He kept moving forward, and after a while, reached the source of the glow—where the White Guard was cultivating.
Just as Yang Han was about to approach, the White Guard opened his eyes and said, 'Who's there? Show yourself!' "Busted?" Yang Han hadn't expected the White Guard to be so alert and discover him so quickly, so he revealed himself.
When he saw Yang Han, the White Guard said in surprise, 'It's you?' 'That's right, it's me. Surprised?' Yang Han replied.
"You've got guts, kid, coming here to find me? Ha! I was just thinking about how to deal with you!" the White Guard sneered.
"You sent so many people to kill me, all just to finish me off. Now that I've come myself, isn't that even better?" Yang Han laughed.
"That's true. But you can still laugh now—you're pretty arrogant. After today, I doubt you'll be in the mood," the White Guard snorted.
"Is that so? Then let's see," Yang Han replied.
"Are you challenging me?" asked the White Guard.
"That's right, I'm challenging you," Yang Han answered.
"Interesting, interesting. Today I'll show you what I'm capable of," the White Guard snorted. With that, he started fighting Yang Han.
Inside the cave, the space was cramped, so neither could use large-scale attacks—only small-range moves. Yang Han wasn't afraid of the White Guard at all.
The White Guard thought he had the advantage, but soon realized Yang Han's strength, speed, and attack were all on par. Despite multiple clashes, he couldn't gain the upper hand.
"Kid, you've got some skill. But now I'm going to finish you!" the furious White Guard unleashed his light, covering the entire cave and wrapping Yang Han in it.
Yang Han's whole body was enveloped in the White Guard's light, as if he was about to be completely bound.
"How about it? Can't move now, can you?" The White Guard laughed loudly.
Yang Han knew this light could become solid and immobilize him. To break free, he had a few options: use light—though his wasn't as strong as the White Guard's—or attack the White Guard directly, forcing him to abandon the technique.
Just as the White Guard was laughing, flames suddenly erupted around Yang Han—Sacred Flame. The Sacred Flame wrapped around the White Guard like venomous snakes, its heat so intense that the White Guard screamed, his light instantly retreating. Yang Han kept controlling the fire and said, "Didn't expect that, did you?"
"What kind of trick is that?" the White Guard screamed in pain and shouted angrily.
"It's nothing special. Just treat it as some kind of magic treasure," Yang Han replied.
"Damn it, I won't let you off!" The White Guard rushed to a wall, then sank into it, and the wall automatically closed behind him.
Yang Han hadn't expected the White Guard to have such a trick. He quickly withdrew his flames, checked the wall, and found it led somewhere else.
Yang Han used his earth attribute to pass through. When he reached the end, the White Guard was already gone.
"Damn, he escaped," Yang Han muttered to himself.
Helpless, Yang Han kept searching the mountain, but found no trace. He finally left Willowleaf Mountain.
Not long after Yang Han left, the White Guard slowly appeared in midair somewhere, his face pale. "Damn it, you made me use up a lot of power. I won't let you off!"
Furious, the White Guard flashed away to another cave, where Law Protector Liu was sitting. He was covered in wounds and smelled burnt, as if he'd been roasted.
Law Protector Liu frowned, "What happened to you?"
"That kid is scarier than I thought. I figured I could get rid of him, but he came to me on his own," the White Guard said, his face pale.