The visitor's attitude was exceedingly unpleasant, leaving Yang Kai thoroughly annoyed.
However, considering that the relationships among the Jade Azure Sect disciples were never harmonious to begin with, and that he had absolutely no prior acquaintance with the man — in fact, they hadn't even known each other before — Yang Kai let it go.
Still, the fact that Kou Wu had already left a month ago to carry out a mission came as quite a surprise.
He had no idea what sort of mission could have made the man leave in such a rush.
Shaking his head, Yang Kai dismissed the thought and flew straight ahead.
The Ice Cliff was only ten thousand li from the Jade Azure Sect, a distance that meant nothing to him. Before long, he arrived at the sect's main stronghold.
Landing before his own modest dwelling, Yang Kai extended his spiritual sense to probe the neighboring house.
That was Liu Xianyun's residence. The two dwellings were barely twenty zhang apart.
Inside, Liu Xianyun appeared to be meditating. The moment she sensed Yang Kai's spiritual sense, she immediately opened her eyes and hurried out of the house, her face alight with surprise and joy. "Brother Yang, you're back?"
For these past few months she had been entirely alone, feeling quite helpless in the unfamiliar territory of the Jade Azure Sect. Though she hadn't known Yang Kai for very long, their similar fates and backgrounds had given her a natural sense of closeness toward him. Moreover, Yang Kai himself had a pleasant temperament and a generous nature.
When she had first learned that Yang Kai was sentenced to solitary confinement, she had worried about him for quite some time.
If anything had happened to him at the Ice Cliff, she would truly be all alone from then on.
"Just got back," Yang Kai replied with a faint smile.
"Nothing happened, right... Wait? Brother Yang, you've actually broken through?" Liu Xianyun quickly noticed the signs of Yang Kai's advancement. She clapped a hand over her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment. She had heard that conditions at the Ice Cliff were abysmal, and that few could emerge from there unscathed. She had been worried about Yang Kai's safety, yet not only had he returned completely unharmed — he had actually advanced a full realm.
"Just luck," Yang Kai replied with a casual nod. "How have things been these past few months?"
"What else could they be?" Liu Xianyun answered with a bitter smile and a shake of her head. "Just... like this, I suppose."
As she spoke, she suddenly gave a soft cough. A faint, unhealthy flush crept across her delicate cheeks. Though she quickly concealed it, it was impossible to escape Yang Kai's keen observation.
"You're injured?" Yang Kai's brow furrowed.
"It was just a minor accident during cultivation," Liu Xianyun hurried to reply.
Yang Kai fixed his gaze on her eyes, as though peering straight into the depths of her heart. Liu Xianyun forced a smile and said, "It's nothing serious. I was just a bit too hasty during cultivation. A few days of rest and I'll be fine."
"Really just a cultivation accident?" Yang Kai's voice gradually turned cold. Liu Xianyun was a third-stage Void King cultivator. While it was true that cultivators at this level could sometimes suffer injuries or even experience Qi Deviation during closed-door cultivation, that only happened when they were undertaking death-seclusion — necessarily while attempting to comprehend some profound truth or secret technique.
Why would Liu Xianyun ever be doing death-seclusion in a place like this?
"What reason would I have to lie to you?" Liu Xianyun said quickly. "I wanted to go into seclusion to contemplate the mysteries of the Dao Origin realm, and I didn't realize my own strength wasn't sufficient..."
"Tell me the truth — I'm not a child," Yang Kai cut her off.
Liu Xianyun opened her mouth, but in the end she only let out a sigh. "Brother Yang, please just let this go. Don't ask any more. With Protector Bian and Senior Brother Kou both away from the sect, if we stir up any more trouble, I'm afraid things could spiral out of control."
"Protector Bian is also away from the sect?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow.
"Mm. A while back, Protector Bian took a large group out. Senior Brother Kou was among them — no one knows what for. Besides, I really am fine. It was just a small injury. You and I are newcomers here; we should endure what we can."
Yang Kai nodded slightly, the corner of his lips curling into a mocking smile. "It would be best if you could truly think that way, but I'm afraid some people have no intention of letting things rest."
As he spoke, he turned his head to look to the side.
Liu Xianyun was startled. She quickly caught on and followed his gaze, her expression immediately darkening.
Over there, a group of four or five cultivators was approaching at a leisurely pace. The one in front had a stern face and a cold, impassive demeanor, his hands clasped behind his back in an air of untouchable authority. Three others followed behind him — all faces Yang Kai had seen before.
One of them was none other than Chu Fei, whom Yang Kai had thoroughly taught a lesson in the market district three months ago. After three months, Chu Fei's injuries still did not appear to have fully healed. Yang Kai had struck quite hard that day, and even with potent medicinal pills and Chu Fei's own recovery ability, three months was not enough time for complete recuperation. Right now, Chu Fei gave off the impression of outward bravado masking inner frailty, and his complexion was far less ruddy than it should have been.