In a pavilion on Dragon Cave Mountain, Dai Yuan sat by the window on the second floor, her chin resting in her palm as she gazed downward, her face a mask of anxious uncertainty.
Dragon Cave Mountain had always been quiet and serene. The warriors who lived here were few in number—only a few dozen—and while their cultivation levels weren't particularly high, they were exceptionally diligent. Most of the time, everyone was sealed away in secluded cultivation, with only those standing guard moving about now and then to check the surroundings.
Today was the third day—the deadline she had agreed upon with Yang Kai. Dai Yuan had woken from her meditation at dawn, her heart unsettled, and had been sitting here ever since, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yang Kai's figure below the pavilion.
She knew it was probably a vain hope, but she still clung to that last thread of expectation.
The sun had already risen, its warm light bathing everything, lending Dragon Cave Mountain an additional layer of hazy beauty. This was truly an excellent place for cultivation and self-refinement—she doubted it was any worse than her own Thousand Illusion Peak at the Glazed Glass Gate.
She really couldn't understand how these people had transformed an unremarkable mountain range into something like this. She had heard that no one had bothered with this place before, yet now it had become a renowned cultivation sanctuary in the surrounding area, drawing many unaffiliated warriors who sought to join and find a foothold here.
But the warriors of this place didn't accept outsiders, nor did they seem interested in expanding. They simply lived and cultivated on their own terms.
It was a wise decision. After all, this place was still under the watchful eye of the Shadow Moon Hall. If they showed any ambition to grow, the Shadow Moon Hall certainly wouldn't stand by idly.
At that thought, Dai Yuan couldn't help but smile to herself. With Yang Kai stationed here, with his shrewdness and cunning, he would certainly never do something as foolish as dig his own grave. She was worrying about nothing.
After letting her thoughts wander for a while, her heart grew somewhat calmer. She looked up—the sun was already high in the sky. She looked down again. There was no sign of the figure she hoped to see.
Dai Yuan sighed softly, knowing she had likely waited for nothing. There was no resentment or frustration in her heart, just a faint bitter smile at the corner of her lips. She turned around, her heart heavy with disappointment, ready to leave—when suddenly her expression shifted, and she looked back.
In an instant, Dai Yuan's eyes brightened with a glow of startled joy as she stared fixedly at a figure that had appeared below at some point.
"Miss Dai Yuan, good morning!" Yang Kai stood below, greeting her with a cheerful grin.
Dai Yuan was stunned motionless for a moment, but her composure returned quickly. She gave Yang Kai a slight nod. "Good morning, Junior Brother Yang. Please wait—I'll come down right away!"
As she spoke, she turned briskly and headed downstairs. Though she maintained a composed demeanor, her slightly hurried footsteps betrayed the nervousness churning inside.
She didn't know what answer Yang Kai would give. If he meant to refuse her, there seemed no need to come all the way here this early in the morning. Besides, his evasiveness over the past few days had been obvious enough—even if he refused, she wouldn't have been surprised.
But if he had agreed, then why? She hadn't the slightest confidence in her ability to persuade him.
Her mind raced with anxious thoughts as Dai Yuan quickly reached the ground floor. When she saw Yang Kai, she stared straight at him, at a complete loss for words.
"Is there anything Miss Dai Yuan needs to pack? If not, shall we set out right away?" Yang Kai wore a warm, pleasant smile.
"Huh?" Dai Yuan was taken aback, rooted to the spot.
Yang Kai chuckled. "What's wrong? Didn't Miss Dai Yuan want me to accompany her to the Glazed Glass Gate? Could it be that Dragon Cave Mountain's scenery has captivated you so much you can't bear to leave? If that's the case, by all means, stay a few more days."
"No, no!" Dai Yuan finally snapped out of it, waving her hands hurriedly, her eyes brimming with delight. "The scenery here is lovely, but I have no heart to enjoy it. It's just—"
"Just that Miss Dai Yuan is wondering why I agreed to go with you?" Yang Kai gazed at Dai Yuan with a half-smile, seeing right through her doubts.
Dai Yuan's expression grew somewhat awkward. She had been the one asking Yang Kai to come to the Glazed Glass Gate with her, yet now that he had agreed without hesitation, she was second-guessing his intentions. That was rather unreasonable.
"It's simple enough." Yang Kai had prepared his explanation in advance and spoke readily. "After returning from the Flowing Flame Desert, I spent over half a year in seclusion. I felt it was time to get out and move around. I've hit another bottleneck in my cultivation, so naturally I don't want to shut myself away and train in isolation. Besides, you must know my background—I'm quite curious about the major sects on Dark Star. Now that I have this opportunity to take a closer look, I naturally don't want to miss it. Broadening my horizons can only be a good thing."
Hearing this, Dai Yuan's doubts melted away entirely. She smiled brightly. "So that's it. Although our Glazed Glass Gate is no weak force on Dark Star, when it comes to the grandeur and prestige of a sect, we can't compare to the War Heaven Alliance or the Thunder Terrace Sect. If Junior Brother Yang ever gets the chance to visit those two, you'll see our Glazed Glass Gate's shortcomings for yourself. But to think that Junior Brother Yang has already reached another bottleneck in his cultivation—your talent really is astonishing."