Before this, Yang Kai hadn't been entirely sure just how much the Soul Chain had truly affected him, but the moment it was undone, he realized just how many profound mysteries this soul technique contained.
It could not only bind two people's life forces tightly together, but could even make two people develop feelings of fondness for each other without any reason at all, making them unable to bear leaving the other's side.
Yang Kai shivered at the thought, secretly wondering what would have happened if Xue Yue had cast this not on a young man like himself, but on some old geezer half-buried in the grave—or on a woman instead.
Would it still have made them fall deeply in love with each other?
At the very possibility, Yang Kai couldn't help but shudder.
But now it was over. With both parties willing, the Soul Chain had been completely dissolved, and the feelings forced upon Yang Kai had dissipated along with it. Now, apart from a faint trace of regret, he no longer felt that lingering attachment from moments ago.
In terms of appearance, status, or cultivation, Xue Yue was an excellent woman. Any man would regret missing such a fine match.
The instant the Soul Chain was undone, Yang Kai reached out and tore through the void, fleeing thousands of miles away.
Xue Yue had told him that once freed from the Soul Chain's bindings, she didn't know what she might do. Yang Kai figured a merciless hunt to the finish was more than likely.
He knew too many of her secrets, and he'd held her in his arms to boot. With her ruthless nature, it would be a miracle if she let him leave unscathed.
That was precisely why Yang Kai had first ridden the Star Shuttle away from Rainwater Star, waiting until they were at maximum range before dissolving the Soul Chain together—it was to buy himself a window to escape, in case Xue Yue turned on him on the spot and he wouldn't be able to get away.
He tore through space ten times in succession, putting over ten thousand miles between them. Tossing Divine Sense Recovery Pills into his mouth to restore his strength, he poured everything he had into piloting the Star Shuttle, fleeing for his life.
He could feel a murderous intent clinging to his back, shadowing his every move.
More than ten days later, in the Star Domain. Yang Kai sat cross-legged atop his Star Shuttle, letting it carry him forward on its own.
He had carved a star chart into the shuttle, and it was now heading toward a distant location. Rainwater Star had long since vanished from view. Looking back, he could see only countless stars, flickering in the endless dark.
After more than ten days of flight with no pursuers in sight, Yang Kai figured he should be safe by now. Otherwise, with the resources at Xue Yue's disposal, she should have caught up long ago.
He had even devised various escape plans—if things got desperate, he could plunge straight into the Void Turbulence and refuse to come out. Surely even Xue Yue wouldn't be able to do anything about that.
Just as he was finally letting out a breath of relief, Yang Kai sensed several life forces breach the range of his Divine Sense.
His spiritual sense, imbued with spatial subtlety, touched and withdrew in an instant. Before the three even realized it, Yang Kai had already gathered all their information.
Three people. Three Sovereign Realm cultivators, Stage One—not particularly strong. Each was riding a Star Shuttle, speeding in his direction. Yang Kai could tell they had been flying through the Star Domain for quite some time; each of them was heavily depleted.
Were they sent by Xue Yue, or just passers-by? Yang Kai couldn't tell. He simply suppressed his aura and veered off in a different direction, planning to give the three a wide berth without attracting unnecessary trouble.
But to his surprise, no matter how many times he changed course, the three kept right behind him—clinging on like leeches to bone, impossible to shake. And as time passed, the gap only grew smaller.
At this point, if Yang Kai still couldn't figure out these three's intentions, he'd have wasted all his years of living.
These three were absolutely pursuers sent by Xue Yue. Otherwise, their target couldn't possibly be this precise.
Sitting on his Star Shuttle, Yang Kai squinted toward the rear and stopped advancing.
What was Xue Yue playing at? Three Sovereign Realm Stage One cultivators, and she thought they could bring him back?
She knew his strength. Back on Water Moon Star, he had killed a Sovereign Realm cultivator with only a Saint Realm Stage Two cultivation. Now at Stage Three, how could three such warriors possibly capture him?
She had stronger fighters under her command. Harika, Lin Mufeng—both were at the Void Returning Realm. The branch office had Sovereign Realm Stage Two or Three cultivators by the dozen. With a single word from her, even Harika would have had no choice but to come.
Yet she had sent only three at Stage One!
Was she using these three to sever all ties with him, to declare the thoughts and resolve buried deep in her heart?
That did fit her character. Having seen through her intent, Yang Kai grinned.
This was fine, actually. Xue Yue's approach had erased even the last shred of regret from his heart.
If they ever met again, Yang Kai believed Xue Yue would certainly try to kill him without mercy to settle her grudge—and she would never again be the alluring, captivating woman she had been during this time.