The reunion of two pairs of senior and junior martial sisters, separated by an entire generation, was a truly moving sight.
Most of the Ice Heart Valley disciples were women, and being the sentimental sort they were, they glanced back and forth between the two pairs, their eyes gradually reddening until they glistened with tears. As if caught up in the emotion, those who had drawn their swords quietly sheathed them and stood there in silence.
"Ahem..." Yang Kai raised a fist to his lips and cleared his throat lightly, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"Oh, Seventh Junior Sister, I came back together with Master." Ji Yao, startled out of her daze, turned to the petite figure with a bright smile on her face.
"Master?" The petite figure looked blank, her expression doubtful. "Isn't Master still..."
"Miss Changsun, we meet again." Yang Kai smiled faintly, cutting her off before she could finish.
This petite woman was none other than Changsun Ying — Bing Yun's seventh disciple, whom Yang Kai had met several years ago.
Changsun Ying turned her head toward Yang Kai, her face filled with surprise. "Senior Brother Yang? How is it you?"
She was genuinely shocked. Before, she had been so immersed in the joy of reuniting with Ji Yao that she hadn't paid much attention to anything else. Only now did she realize that her Third Senior Sister had actually come here with Yang Kai.
She addressed Yang Kai as Senior Brother, not because his cultivation surpassed hers — she was at the First-Order Emperor Realm, and the last time she had seen Yang Kai years ago, he had only been at the Third-Order Dao Source Realm. It was simply a title born of respect.
After all, it was largely thanks to Yang Kai that Bing Yun had been able to escape the Secret Land of Silence and return to Ice Heart Valley. Once Bing Yun's other disciples had learned of this, they had all been profoundly grateful, and addressing Yang Kai as Senior Brother was a matter of basic courtesy.
"Does Miss Changsun not welcome me?" Yang Kai asked with a slight smile.
Changsun Ying's cheeks flushed red. "Not at all! Senior Brother Yang has shown an immense kindness to our Ice Heart Valley — how could we possibly not welcome you? Master has instructed long ago that Senior Brother Yang is to be treated as one of our own."
"Elder Bing Yun is too kind." Yang Kai gave a gentle nod.
Over on the other side, Ji Yao was frowning, staring at Yang Kai in confusion, her beautiful eyes growing increasingly clouded with bewilderment.
In her understanding, Yang Kai *was* her Master — he was Bing Yun. But hearing him speak now, nothing made sense. No matter how hard she tried, she simply could not figure out what was going on.
Yang Kai noticed her anomaly and his expression turned serious. "Is Elder Bing Yun currently available? I have matters that require an audience with her."
Changsun Ying quickly replied, "Master hasn't entered seclusion recently. If she hears that you've come, she'll certainly be delighted — and Third Senior Sister has returned as well... Come with me!"
As she spoke, she took Ji Yao by the hand and led the way forward.
Yang Kai grabbed Fang Minghui by the collar and hauled him along. After a few steps, he turned back and called out, "Tianhe, come along too. It's time you see your Master."
Shi Tianhe's body trembled, her face filled with unease.
"Don't be afraid, Junior Sister. I'll go with you." Yu Dan patted the back of Shi Tianhe's hand gently, and Shi Tianhe's emotions settled somewhat. The two of them fell in step behind Yang Kai.
Along the way, Shi Tianhe asked nervously, "Senior Sister... is Master still angry with me after all these years?"
Yu Dan nodded gravely. "Of course she is."
Shi Tianhe's face went pale, and her legs felt as though they were filled with lead — she could barely force herself to walk.
Yu Dan, however, gave a mysterious little smile. "You defied Master all those years ago to be with that man from the Dong family. Naturally she was angry. After all, you were raised and trained by her personally — how could she not be upset when you disobeyed her like that?"
Shi Tianhe said bitterly, "It was this Junior Sister who disappointed Master."
Yu Dan said, "But don't worry too much. Angry as Master may be, the truth is she's been thinking about you all along these years."
"Really?" Shi Tianhe asked, her spirits lifting.
Yu Dan leaned in and said quietly, "Over the past hundred years, every two years I've been sent to Taiping City on Master's orders. To look into how you were doing, to see if you'd suffered any grievances."
Shi Tianhe's body shook. "It was Master who sent you?"
Yu Dan smiled. "Do you think I'd have dared go on my own without Master's word? Master said that if you suffered even the slightest injustice in the Dong household, she would go and annihilate the entire family. So don't think that Master has ignored you these past hundred years — in truth, she's always kept you in her heart."
Hearing this, Shi Tianhe's eyes reddened again and she nearly broke into tears once more. Yu Dan spent quite some time soothing her before her emotions finally calmed.
...
In the grand hall of Ice Heart Valley, Yang Kai sat upright in the seat of honor. Ji Yao and Shi Tianhe both stood behind him. As for Fang Minghui, he was still unconscious — Yang Kai had simply dumped him on the ground at his feet and paid him no further attention. Yu Dan sat beside Shi Tianhe, quietly exchanging messages through divine sense.
After Changsun Ying served the tea, she spoke up: "Senior Brother Yang, please wait just a moment. Master has received the news and will be here very soon."
"She's already here!" Yang Kai's expression shifted, and he looked toward the entrance of the hall.
A flash of light appeared beyond the doorway, and Bing Yun's figure materialized. Close behind her followed a group of Ice Heart Valley's Emperor Realm experts — not many, fewer than ten in total.
First Disciple An Ruoyun, Second Disciple Sun Yunxiu, and the rest were all present.
Yang Kai rose quickly and stepped forward to greet her, cupping his fists in salute. "Yang Kai pays his respects to Elder Bing Yun!"