On Cloud Hidden Peak, Meng Wuya wore an expression of utter grief and indignation while Xia Ningshang supported her master, biting her lip to suppress a smile.
Xiao Fusheng looked oddly amused, glancing between Xia Ningshang and Yang Kai, a flicker of understanding crossing his eyes. Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan were completely bewildered, as though lost in a fog.
Dong Qingyan, meanwhile, had quietly sidled up to Yang Kai and poked him with her finger. "Hey… stop staring at her like that. You're making her face turn red."
"You two know each other?" Xiao Fusheng asked with a beaming smile, looking at the group.
Yang Kai gave a slight nod, smiled, and performed a disciple's bow. "Manager Meng…"
He turned his head, his expression soft and gentle. "Little Senior Sister!"
The delicate lobes of Xia Ningshang's ears flushed crimson. She lowered her head slightly and answered softly, "Junior Brother…"
Her voice trembled faintly — her heart was clearly far from calm.
"Ahem…" Meng Wuya hurriedly cleared his throat twice, breaking the tender atmosphere. He didn't even bother with pleasantries toward Yang Kai, rolling his eyes instead. "Old Xiao, a guest has traveled a long way, and you just block me outside the door like this?"
Xiao Fusheng laughed heartily. "Please, Brother Meng, come inside and talk!"
Though he was brimming with questions, Xiao Fusheng was a wily old fox. How could he not see that this disciple of Meng Wuya had feelings for Yang Kai? When they'd met years ago, the girl had only been about twelve, and Meng Wuya had treated her like a treasure. Now that the young woman's heart had awakened, Meng Wuya was probably tormented over exactly this matter.
It was understandable! If such a beautiful, innocent girl were one's own disciple, one would naturally worry about her being deceived by the wrong person.
Meng Wuya and Xiao Fusheng walked off together toward the hall. Xia Ningshang gave Yang Kai a slight nod and hurried after them.
Softly, Meng Wuya's voice drifted back on the wind: "Disciple, look at that brat — he's quite the ladies' man, isn't he? There's a beautiful woman by his side wherever he goes. A total womanizer, every bit of him. You'd better keep your eyes wide open."
Xia Ningshang obediently nodded.
"That old man…" Dong Qingyan immediately pouted, looking rather displeased.
Aunt Xiang and Aunt Lan stifled giggles. They glanced at Yang Kai with surprise, then followed after to serve tea.
"Cousin… who was that?" Once everyone had gone inside, Dong Qingyan asked with open curiosity.
"A senior sister from Lingxiao Pavilion," Yang Kai replied casually.
"Just a senior sister? Is that all?" Dong Qingyan snickered knowingly.
Yang Kai shot her a look and walked straight back to his room.
Dong Qingyan stood there, a fingertip resting on her red lips, her eyes spinning with mischief. After a long moment she huffed, "Hmph, you really think I can't tell? I'm not a little kid anymore!"
She thought for a moment, then suddenly burst into giggles again.
Meng Wuya and Xia Ningshang arriving at Medicine King Valley had taken Yang Kai by surprise.
The Alchemy Grand Assembly was fast approaching, and Yang Kai had considered that Lingxiao Pavilion might send representatives. But his Little Senior Sister's constitution was extraordinary — her alchemy skills were beyond what any young-generation alchemist could hope to match. If she participated, there'd be no need to hold the assembly at all. First place would be hers by default.
A short while later, a gentle knock came at the door. Yang Kai smiled faintly, rose, and opened it. Xia Ningshang was standing there, looking radiant.
"Junior Brother!" Xia Ningshang's starry eyes sparkled with the joy of a reunion. She called out softly.
"Come in," Yang Kai said, stepping aside.
Xia Ningshang nodded gently, carrying a faint breeze of fragrance as she stepped inside.
Yang Kai closed the door behind her.
"How did you end up here?" He poured a cup of water and handed it over as he asked.
"Master said there was the finest alchemist in the world here, and told me to come seek his guidance!" Xia Ningshang sat down quietly. After more than a year apart, she was clearly a bit nervous and shy, though her happiness was far more evident.
"Mm, Elder Xiao really is the finest alchemist in the world." Yang Kai nodded slightly.
"Why are you here, Junior Brother?" Xia Ningshang looked up. "Didn't you go to the Underworld Mountains?"
"It's a long story," Yang Kai said with a wry smile. He didn't go into detail, simply adding, "I have something to take care of here."
"Something? Can I help?"
Yang Kai didn't want to hide it from her, but somewhere in the room a faint wisp of divine sense was drifting about. No need to guess — it was Meng Wuya keeping watch.
Yang Kai chuckled softly, beckoned Xia Ningshang over, and leaned close to her ear.
Xia Ningshang's heart fluttered. Her body went rigid, her cheeks flushing scarlet. She didn't dare move, even holding her breath.
Yang Kai paid no attention to her stiffness. He still pressed close to that delicate, rosy ear and whispered, "I need to go to Pill Saint Peak and take a look at the Myriad Medicine Pool."
"Mm… oh…" Xia Ningshang responded in a daze, barely a whisper. Her fingers gripped the teacup so tightly they turned white — she hadn't caught a single word of what he said.
"Ahem… ahem…" From a nearby room came the sound of Meng Wuya coughing violently.
"Brother Meng!" Across from him, Xiao Fusheng looked at the old man helplessly and tried to console him with an amused expression. "Some things are best left to take their own course. You can't guard against everything."
"Right, right." Meng Wuya's expression was awkward. He nodded repeatedly, his old face turning red as he pulled his divine sense back.
He cared about his disciple, of course, but he couldn't spy on her every waking moment. Yet the thought that just a dozen-odd zhang away, his precious little disciple was alone in a room with that scoundrel — just the two of them, and acting so intimately — made Meng Wuya's stomach churn.
Ah, out of sight, out of mind!
Inside the room, Xia Ningshang's body remained stiff for a good while. She could still feel the warmth of his breath near her ear. Her heart pounded wildly inside her chest. It took her a long, wandering moment before she suddenly snapped back to awareness. "Ah… Junior Brother, you want to go to…"