"I understand." Yang Kai nodded solemnly.
"If you really can't hold it back... you could find other women." Su Yan's long lashes fluttered, her expression grave.
"I don't think it's that bad; I'm not some pervert," Yang Kai said with a bitter smile.
Su Yan slowly shook her head. "You don't understand. When that desire surges up, the pain when you're not there... I came to find you two days ago, but that junior sister Xia was always nearby. I had no choice but to act against her. I just hope she won't blame me when she wakes."
"Is the urge that strong?" Yang Kai frowned. He knew Su Yan's nature well; for a woman of such pure and icy demeanor to shamelessly come and seek him out, one could only imagine the extreme she must have reached.
"Very strong. So strong that both body and soul tremble!" Su Yan said seriously. "That's why I'm not opposed to you seeking other women."
Her words made Yang Kai feel a twinge of guilt. Without absolute confidence, he didn't dare respond.
Su Yan nestled closer in his arms, her gaze drifting to the side. "For example, this junior sister Xia is a good candidate. I can tell she cares about you. Though she wears a veil, she must be beautiful. Her strength isn't low, she's kind-hearted and gentle. Why not get to know her better? If you can't hold on and I'm not around, she could comfort you."
"Don't even say that; the consequences would be severe." Just thinking about Meng Wuya gave Yang Kai a headache.
"How did you meet?"
Yang Kai briefly recounted what happened in the Nine Yin Valley last time, though he omitted the kiss in that moment of passion. It wasn't that he wanted to hide it from Su Yan, but it involved Xia Ningshang's reputation—how could he speak of it casually?
"Is that so? Then I really should thank her," Su Yan said after listening. Hearing this, she felt a touch of goodwill toward Xia Ningshang. The Nine Yin Essence Condensation Dew Yang Kai had given her came precisely from Xia's share.
"When she wakes, find a time to apologize. Senior Sister Xia won't blame you," Yang Kai said with a wry smile.
"Mm. I will."
The two embraced until nearly midnight, sharing many intimate words.
Around the fourth watch of the night, Su Yan rose and dressed.
"I should go," she said softly. Leaving Yang Kai was, for her, a trial and test of her own state of mind.
"Don't rush off!" Yang Kai pulled her to the mouth of the cave and pointed to the Yin-Yang Demon Ginseng rooted nearby. "First, give it some true essence."
"What is this?" Su Yan crouched down, looking at the ginseng with curiosity. She couldn't help but remark, "It seems to be smiling at me. Is it a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth?"
"Yes. A spiritual treasure that survives by absorbing yin and yang qi. This place only has yang qi; the yin qi needs to be supplied by you."
Su Yan didn't hesitate. She reached out to touch the ginseng and channeled her true essence into it, making the expression of this spiritual treasure grow even more content.
After a moment, Su Yan withdrew her hand, stood up, and embraced Yang Kai again.
After the embrace, she turned and left.
Yang Kai watched her retreating figure with a smile, not trying to keep her.
Only when Su Yan's figure was about to vanish from view did he suddenly remember something and call out, "By the way, when will Senior Sister Xia wake?"
"At dawn," Su Yan's voice drifted back from afar.
She hadn't taken Xia Ningshang with her. Leaving her here deliberately was, of course, so Yang Kai could interact with her more. As for what Yang Kai should say when the girl woke, that was no concern of hers. With Yang Kai's cleverness, cooking up a little lie to win her favor would be child's play.
After leaving Yang Kai's cave abode and flying to the Kunlong Gorge, Su Yan turned her head to look back, her heart filled with both guilt and unease. In that moment, she felt like a wicked woman—driven by desire, she'd rushed over, ravaged Yang Kai thoroughly, and then left satisfied.
As this thought arose, Su Yan's face flushed red.
While Su Yan was berating herself atop the Kunlong Gorge, Yang Kai stood at the cave entrance in a state of turmoil. After thinking for a while, he suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
He had just realized he had overlooked something crucial.
According to Su Yan, she had used a drug to knock Xia Ningshang unconscious. However, she had no idea what kind of physique Xia possessed!
The Medicine Spirit Sacred Physique! Her very body was the finest medicinal cauldron in heaven and earth. Combined with the cultivation method she practiced, she could refine any energy in heaven and earth into pills.
When it came to alchemy, Xia Ningshang was a grandmaster! How could such a person be knocked out by a mere drug?
Even if she had fainted momentarily, she certainly wouldn't need until dawn to wake. With her special physique, she would regain consciousness in moments.
No way...
Yang Kai's sweat streamed down...
He stood stiffly at the cave entrance for a solid hour or two, not daring to move, gripped by an overwhelming urge to dig a hole and crawl into it.
After a very long time, Yang Kai mechanically turned around and walked step by step back into the stone chamber where the bed was placed.
In the sealed stone chamber, the scent of dampness still lingered.