Charm Technique! A flicker of surprise passed through Yang Kai's eyes. This was the first time he'd learned that Yin Sudie actually cultivated a charm technique — and an exceptionally refined one at that. No wonder she always appeared so alluring, radiating infinite charm from head to toe every time he saw her. So this woman had been practicing charm arts all along.
Hearing Yin Sudie's words, Dai Yuan's pretty face darkened. She demanded in a low voice, "You had someone watching me?"
Yin Sudie casually brushed back a strand of her silky hair and chuckled lightly. "Whatever are you saying, Senior Sister? Little sister was merely concerned about you. Last time you left without saying goodbye, no one knew where you went — even Master didn't know. So I've been having people keep an eye out for any news about you. And just now, I heard a disciple report that you'd returned safely. What wonderful news! Not only am I happy, but Master is delighted too, and wishes to see you."
"Master..." A complicated look flickered across Dai Yuan's face. She seemed to have lost interest in bickering with Yin Sudie over this and said, "What are you doing here instead of staying properly at Hundred Butterfly Peak? You didn't come all this way just to say all this, did you?"
"What else would I say?" Yin Sudie wore an expression of delicate grievance, then suddenly her bright eyes lit up as if something had just occurred to her. "Oh, right — there's another piece of good news I want to share with Senior Sister. Master has commissioned Grand Master Xiao to refine Void Condensation Pills. Two batches have already failed, but Grand Master Xiao says the next batch has an eighty percent chance of success. When that time comes, little sister will probably enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Void Returning Stage, so I won't have time to visit anymore. If Senior Sister feels lonely, how about I send a few handmaids to keep you company?"
Her face wore an innocent smile, as though she were genuinely looking out for Dai Yuan, sisterly affection practically radiating from every word.
But anyone with ears could hear the subtle barbs and smugness buried in her words.
"Void Condensation Pills, hmm..." Dai Yuan nodded coolly. "Then I must congratulate you, Junior Sister."
"Yes! And it's all thanks to the handful of Emerald Luo Grass that Senior Sister brought back from the Flowing Flame Sand Field. Without it, we wouldn't be able to refine the Void Condensation Pills at all. Little sister wasn't so lucky — I couldn't find a single stalk of Emerald Luo Grass. Sigh!" She shook her head and sighed, looking thoroughly vexed.
A cold smile touched the corner of Dai Yuan's lips. She showed not the slightest care that the Emerald Luo Grass she'd painstakingly gathered was being used for Yin Sudie's benefit. Instead, she said, "If there's nothing else, then I'll ask Junior Sister to leave. Since you're preparing to attempt the Void Returning Stage, you naturally ought to make thorough preparations. Otherwise, if you fail, you'd be wasting all of Master's kind efforts."
The smile vanished from Yin Sudie's face, replaced by something far colder.
She hadn't even attempted her breakthrough yet, and Dai Yuan was already cursing her to fail. Though it was only a single remark, it still left a bitter lump in her heart.
"Senior Sister has guests to entertain, so I won't intrude any further!" Dai Yuan paid no attention to her ugly expression and delivered her dismissal.
But Yin Sudie showed no intention of leaving at all. Seeing that her barbs against Dai Yuan had been ineffective, her bright eyes suddenly darted sideways and locked onto Yang Kai. She smiled sweetly. "This gentleman looks so familiar — have we met somewhere before?"
Yang Kai blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected that upon arriving at the Glazed Glass Gate, he'd immediately be dragged into some internal squabble between these two senior and junior sisters. Still, he didn't mind. He broke into a wide grin. "Indeed, I've met Miss Yin a few times. I've long admired Miss Yin's reputation, though I'm sure someone as insignificant as myself probably escaped your notice."
The moment she heard this, Yin Sudie's face burst into a radiant, flower-like bloom. She giggled sweetly, clearly very pleased by Yang Kai's flattery.
Dai Yuan, on the other hand, furrowed her brow and gave Yang Kai a puzzled look. As for Yang Yan, she remained standing in place, silent and motionless, as though she didn't exist.
"Oh, I remember now — you must be the person who was with Wei Guchang. But how do you know Senior Sister as well?" Yin Sudie's voice suddenly turned soft and honeyed. To anyone else, it might have sounded perfectly normal. But Yang Kai felt the blood in his veins suddenly surge faster, and whispered murmurs drifted into his ears — like invisible hands gently caressing his face, sending waves of blissful comfort through his body.
"We met in the Flowing Flame Sand Field," Yang Kai nodded and answered cooperatively.
"So that's how it is. But if Senior Sister invited you here as a guest, your relationship must be quite close." Yin Sudie probed with a casual tone. Before Yang Kai could answer, she smiled radiantly once more, her eyes shimmering with liquid light that exuded an uncanny allure, pulling at Yang Kai's spirit. Her breath came soft as orchids. "If this gentleman doesn't mind, why not come visit Hundred Butterfly Peak when you have time? It may not be nearby, but it has its own unique charm. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."
Yang Kai's eyes went abruptly blank, and an unnatural flush crept across his face. He began nodding as if in a trance, "Yes, yes — I'd be honored beyond words!"
As he spoke, drool seemed on the verge of spilling from the corner of his mouth, his expression a nauseating display of lecherous fascination.
"Yin Sudie!" Dai Yuan suddenly barked in a low voice. She could tell that Yang Kai had fallen under her junior sister's charm technique. Sacred Yuan surged violently through her body, her face dark with menace — it was clear that if Yin Sudie didn't withdraw her technique immediately, a full-blown fight was about to erupt.
"What's wrong?" Yin Sudie looked at Dai Yuan with an expression of feigned innocence, while her invisible waves of alluring charm surged even more powerfully toward Yang Kai.
At that very moment, twin blasts of hot air erupted from Yang Kai's nostrils. As if pulled by an irresistible force, he lurched forward two steps and, seemingly of his own accord, arrived right in front of Yin Sudie. Then, under the dumbfounded stares of both Yin Sudie and Dai Yuan, he seized both of her delicate hands.