Joseph Cortez froze.

He rubbed his eyes.

He rolled an egg over his eyelids.

He muttered, "Am I seeing things? Did I just see my little disciple again?"

Evelyn Ross couldn't help but laugh.

Joseph paused.

He abruptly put the egg down.

He looked at Evelyn again!

The girl suddenly leaned in.

Her blurry face instantly magnified.

Joseph jumped back in fright.

He looked panicked as he glanced out the window. "Disciple, it's broad daylight. Why are you appearing now?"

Evelyn Ross fell silent.

Did he think she was a ghost?

She walked forward helplessly.

She grabbed Joseph's arm.

Joseph grew even more frantic. "Disciple, I miss you, but I don't want to go to the underworld yet! Don't take me!"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "I'm not dead."

"Not dead?"

Joseph was stunned.

He squinted his swollen eyes and leaned in for a closer look.

Sunlight shone on the ground.

Evelyn had a clear shadow at her feet.

He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he became angry. "You rebellious disciple! Where have you been all this time? You're not dead, yet you didn't even send your master a message! Look at my eyes. I've almost cried myself blind!"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "You've almost cried yourself blind, yet you're still afraid when you see me?"

Joseph fell silent.

He pursed his lips. "Isn't it normal for people to be afraid of ghosts?"

Evelyn couldn't be bothered with him.

She directly sat on a nearby cushion. "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you're the Cortez Sect Leader?"

She had been struggling in the Cortez Sect's outer circle for so long!

Joseph coughed. "I was chasing you around the park trying to teach you martial arts. All the old men and women laughed at me for trying too hard. I'm the dignified sect leader. Don't I need to save face?"

Evelyn was speechless.

She glanced at Joseph's red, swollen eyes.

She took a tube of ointment from her pocket and tossed it to him.

Joseph caught it. "What's this?"

"For the swelling. Stop crying."

Joseph immediately beamed. "Good disciple, you still care about me... Wait, how did you get in?"

He finally noticed Evelyn's clothing. "These clothes are the outer disciples' training uniform? Why are you wearing this?"

Evelyn said calmly, "I'm now Evelyn, an outer disciple of the Cortez Sect."

Joseph's expression turned serious.

He looked at Evelyn seriously. "Disciple, what happened to you? I remember you know how to swim. How could you have drowned? Wait, you're not dead, so who died..."

Evelyn lowered her gaze. "My twin sister, Evelyn."

Joseph sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you're okay."

He then realized his slip of the tongue and quickly coughed twice. "I didn't mean it like that... So you're Evelyn now?"

"Yes. I need your help with something."

Joseph immediately nodded. "What is it?"

"I want the Cortez Sect's First Senior Sister to be Evelyn."

Joseph fell silent for a moment.

He looked deeply at Evelyn.

After a long while, he sighed. "The name has already been registered. It can't be changed."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "Then why did you hesitate just now?"

"Well..."

Joseph smiled. "But there's no problem with you entering the inner sect. I'll arrange it for you."

"Okay."

Evelyn stood up. "Since it's settled for tomorrow, then tomorrow it is. I've already spoken with Second Uncle..."

"Second Uncle!" Joseph corrected.

Evelyn curled her lip. "Fine. Second Uncle and I have agreed. I'll first use Evelyn's identity to be his registered disciple."

"No problem. I'll have everything arranged for you tomorrow!"

Joseph agreed readily.

He looked at Evelyn and sighed again. "Disciple, I don't know what you've been through, but remember, the Cortez Sect will always be your support!"

Evelyn was slightly taken aback.

Joseph was the master she met when she was fifteen.

He chased her every day wanting to teach her martial arts and even offered to pay her.

At the time, she thought he was a weirdo.

But she grew accustomed to him and felt somewhat reluctant when he left.

Thinking back now, William Ashcroft treated her poorly. She craved paternal love and perhaps transferred some of that longing onto Joseph.

She suppressed the ache in her heart. "Okay, Master."

Leaving the sect leader's courtyard.

Ethan Valentine and Kiki Cortez were looking for her.

They asked upon seeing her, "Where did you just go?"

Evelyn said calmly, "Just wandered around. Nothing else for today, right?"

"Nothing. Where are you going?"

Evelyn waved at Ethan Valentine. "I'm going to see John Evans."

Jane Evans had given an address. John Evans was seriously injured. She was still worried and wanted to check on him.

Exiting the Cortez Sect.

Alexander Vance's car was waiting ahead.

Evelyn got in the car.

The two quickly found John Evans's residence using the address Jane provided.

This was an old neighborhood of single-story homes in downtown New York.

The surroundings were dilapidated. Cars couldn't drive in.

Evelyn and Alexander Vance walked in.

On the way, Evelyn asked, "You knew all along that my martial arts were pretty good?"

"Yes."

Alexander smiled dotingly. "Do you even know how skilled you are?"

"Obviously not." Evelyn glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I was terrified every time I fought, afraid I'd see blood!"

Alexander's smile deepened. "I thought you were adorable like that."

Evelyn rolled her eyes.

She looked around and couldn't help but sigh. "Living in New York isn't easy. Living downtown isn't necessarily happiness. It's worse than a big house in the suburbs."

Alexander nodded.

Evelyn suddenly looked at him. "Have you been in contact with Marcus Valentine recently?"

Alexander coughed. "Why?"

Not answering directly meant he had been in contact.

Evelyn said calmly, "Send him the divorce agreement later. Have him sign it."

Alexander was stunned. "What?"

Evelyn counted on her fingers. "In two more days, Mina can have the amniocentesis. Before that, have him sign the divorce agreement!"

Alexander fell silent.