Zhou Yunxuan pushed herself up from the snow, one hand clamped over her cheek, her face blank with shock as she stared at Yang Kai.
She had never imagined that, in front of the Valley Master and so many Elders, Yang Kai would actually dare to strike her.
"Apologize!" Yang Kai's gaze was cold as he looked down at her.
Zhou Yunxuan's slender body trembled. Humiliated like this in front of so many fellow disciples, as a Return Void Realm cultivator, how could she endure it? Her face twisted violently and she shrieked, "You dare hit me?"
Smack…
Another crisp sound rang out, and Zhou Yunxuan was sent flying once more.
The other side of her face had gone numb too.
"Apologize!" Yang Kai's voice was ice-cold and mechanical, devoid of any emotion, sending chills down the spine.
Zhou Yunxuan climbed to her feet for the second time, a look of terror now surfacing on her face. She twisted her head toward Ran Yunting, as though begging her to seek justice on her behalf—but the moment her gaze landed, a wave of icy dread surged from the soles of her feet straight to the crown of her head, leaving her utterly stunned.
The Grand Elder's expression was dark as storm clouds. Though her eyes were fixed firmly on Yang Kai, she didn't dare utter a single word.
The other Elders wore the same look—even the Valley Master's brows were tightly furrowed.
No one was going to stand up for her!
Zhou Yunxuan's heart was gripped by horror! She knew that while she had certainly been in the wrong—she shouldn't have hurled such vicious insults at Su Yan—there had to be other reasons she wasn't aware of.
This young man had made everyone here terrified of crossing him!
"Apologize, or… die!" Yang Kai issued his final ultimatum. Killing intent erupted from him once more, locking onto Zhou Yunxuan. Having failed to kill Ran Yunting had put him in an exceptionally foul mood, and this Zhou Yunxuan had walked straight into the line of fire.
Bing Long finally spoke, frowning. "Yang Kai, that's enough. This disciple was indeed disrespectful, but you've already punished her. Let it go."
Zhou Yunxuan was still, after all, a disciple of Ice Heart Valley. Being slapped twice in front of the Valley Master had already pushed Bing Long's tolerance to its limit. If Yang Kai kept pressing, Bing Long would have no choice but to intervene.
If she let that happen, it would only chill the hearts of her disciples.
"Junior Brother, let it go," Su Yan also pleaded on Zhou Yunxuan's behalf.
For her, Zhou Yunxuan's insult hadn't truly harmed her at all. Now that Yang Kai had struck her twice, she had already tasted the consequences of her actions.
Still, knowing that Yang Kai had stood up for her, Su Yan felt a warmth bloom in her chest.
"Since Senior Sister says so… I won't push for a killing blow." Yang Kai's expression softened slightly as he turned to Bing Long. "Let her apologize, and I'll let her go!"
Bing Long was speechless, thinking that this was hardly a concession. A flicker of irritation stirred within her.
Just then, the expressions of every senior figure in Ice Heart Valley suddenly sharpened. They tilted their heads as if listening to something, their faces intent, their looks shifting unpredictably.
Yang Kai's brows drew together. He faintly detected a wave of divine sense rippling through the void—subtle and veiled.
He immediately understood. The Supreme Elder of Ice Heart Valley was likely communicating something to Bing Long and the others.
He didn't interrupt, choosing instead to wait in silence.
Bing Long and the others' expressions fluctuated between light and dark. After quite some time, they exchanged glances, and every one of them wore a grave, weighty look—as if a storm was brewing on the horizon.
Something major seemed to have happened in Ice Heart Valley.
"Apologize to Su Yan, and this matter is settled!" Bing Long suddenly turned to Zhou Yunxuan, her tone tinged with urgency.
Zhou Yunxuan's face went blank. She hadn't expected the Valley Master to side with Yang Kai and Su Yan as well. Though resentment churned inside her, her last pillar of support had crumbled. Gritting her teeth, she forced out unwillingly, "Junior Sister Su, what happened earlier was this Senior Sister's fault. Please don't take it to heart!"
She clenched her jaw, and deep within her eyes, a venomous, almost crazed light flickered—like a dormant viper coiled in the shadows.
She knew that from this day forward, she would become the laughingstock of all Ice Heart Valley, a topic of gossip over every meal and tea session among her fellow disciples! Her reputation was completely shattered.
"You may go," Bing Long said, waving her hand at Zhou Yunxuan with a cool command.
Zhou Yunxuan bowed stiffly and turned to leave. Before she departed, she shot a vicious glare at Yang Kai and Su Yan, as though searing their images into her mind, etching them into her very bones.
"Everyone else, disperse!" Bing Long called out sharply.
The numerous Ice Heart Valley disciples promptly withdrew.
Soon, only the senior figures of Ice Heart Valley along with Yang Kai and Su Yan remained. Qing Ya stood at a considerable distance, watching with an expression full of worry.
"Yang Kai, come with me!" Bing Long looked at him with a complicated expression.
"Who wants to see me?" Yang Kai had already half-guessed.
Bing Long let out a sigh. "The Supreme Elder wishes to see you… and not only that—Lord Luo Hai, Star Lord of the Emerald Star, and Senior Chi Huo of the Fire Radiance Sect also want an audience with you!"
"Luo Hai is here?" Yang Kai's eyes narrowed.