"My master says, if you don't pull up the weeds by the roots, they'll grow back when the spring wind blows," Lin Yun'er explained.
Yang Kai broke out in a cold sweat, wondering just who in the world this master of hers could possibly be — so ruthless and cold-blooded. After all these years, who exactly had Yang Yan entrusted Lin Yun'er to after bringing her to the Star Boundary?
Lin Yun'er had already seized Yang Kai's large hand and was pulling him forward at high speed toward some destination, chattering away with boundless excitement.
As they flew through the scenery, Yang Kai spent most of his time simply listening. He wanted to ask about her circumstances over the years, but couldn't bring himself to dampen her enthusiasm.
Before long, Yang Kai noticed something peculiar about Lin Yun'er.
The girl was an absolute glutton!
Those three spirit fruits he'd given her were all Emperor-grade — even an Emperor Realm cultivator would need time to fully digest them. Yet in this girl's hands, the three fruits were no different from snacks. Devouring them without pause, she then rummaged through her spatial ring and produced a mountain of dried meat jerky. A single glance at the jerky was enough to tell that it had been crafted from extremely high-level demon beasts, packed with tremendous energy.
"Are you sure it's fine to eat so much?" Yang Kai couldn't help asking.
Lin Yun'er answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "My master says you need a full stomach to have the strength for Cultivation, and to have the strength to fight."
What kind of philosophy was that? Yang Kai's curiosity about her master only deepened.
A day later, the two arrived at another city that was in no way inferior to Qidian Star City. The streets teemed with people jostling shoulder to shoulder, like so many fish crossing a river.
Given Lin Yun'er's performance along the way, Yang Kai took her straight into the largest restaurant in the city, secured a private dining room, called over a server, and ordered a full table of lavish dishes.
These delicacies were no ordinary fare — every dish was prepared with spiritual herbs and demon beast meat and blood. Even for the strong, consuming such meals was tremendously beneficial for one's Cultivation.
Lin Yun'er's eyes lit up like lanterns. She devoured everything at the table with a fury that left the serving staff staring in stunned disbelief.
It was almost impossible to imagine that such a heavenly beautiful young woman could eat like this.
Only after she'd eaten and drunk her fill did Yang Kai finally speak. "Little Yun'er, where's your Aunt Yang Yan?"
Lin Yun'er sprawled back in her chair, one hand resting on her stomach. Despite everything she'd consumed, her belly hadn't grown in the slightest — it remained perfectly flat. She'd been wearing an expression of blissful satisfaction, but the moment those words reached her ears, her pouty lips jutted outward, her face crumpling with grievance. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Yang Kai was taken aback. "Wasn't she the one who brought you here?"
Lin Yun'er nodded. "Yes, but after she brought me over, she handed me off to Master, and then I never saw her again. She never came to visit me either." The girl's eyes glistened with tears, clearly wounded to the very depths of her heart. Even as she spoke, she snatched up a beast's leg from the table and began nibbling at it — transforming her sorrow into appetite, it seemed.
Yang Kai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and pressed on. "Then what about your master? Who exactly is your master?"
Without looking up, Lin Yun'er said, "Master is Master."
"There has to be some name, some title," Yang Kai tried.
Lin Yun'er looked up, staring at Yang Kai blankly for a long while before breaking into a sheepish grin. "I don't know that either. I've just always called him Master."
This girl was not only carefree to a fault — she was apparently quite simple-minded as well. Yang Kai couldn't help worrying about her future. How could someone with this sort of personality ever hold her own in the Star Boundary? No wonder she'd managed to offend the Fengyun Pavilion and had the whole world chasing after her.
He had no idea how she'd managed to grow up over these years.
Then again, if Yang Yan had entrusted Lin Yun'er to that person, he had to be extraordinarily trustworthy. From Lin Yun'er's growth alone, it was clear that her master was no ordinary expert — more likely some towering figure of immense stature.
It was a shame that Lin Yun'er knew nothing whatsoever about the man's identity. Even if Yang Kai wanted to investigate, there were no leads to pursue.
He recalled that Lin Yun'er's physique was somewhat special. Yang Yan had once said she possessed a Dominant Force Body, and the reason she'd taken Lin Yun'er away was that a friend of hers practiced a martial technique perfectly suited to the girl.
Now it seemed Yang Yan's decision had been the right one. Though it had separated the girl from her loved ones for many years, the results were undeniable. If Lin Yun'er had remained on the Dark Star, she could never have achieved what she had today.
"Can you take me to find your master?" Yang Kai asked in a low voice.
"Why would we go find him?" Lin Yun'er was startled. The food forgotten, she stared at Yang Kai wide-eyed, her expression suddenly panicked.
"I want to ask him about your Aunt Yang Yan's whereabouts."
"Oh." The girl nodded slowly, then added, "If that's all, there's no need to go find him."
"Why not?" Yang Kai frowned.
"Because he won't tell you. I've asked him so many times over the years, and he's never said a word."
Yang Kai smiled. "When you ask, he may have his reasons for staying silent — but it'll be different when I ask. So if possible, I'd like you to take me to your master."
Lin Yun'er's expression grew awkward. She let out a couple of dry, nervous laughs, her eyes darting about, and even her chewing became distracted.
Yang Kai frowned. "Is there some problem?"
The girl waved her hands frantically. "No, no, no — no problem at all…" But even as she spoke, her shoulders drooped and her face fell. With a resigned honesty, she confessed, "Uncle Yang Kai, I ran away."
Yang Kai nearly leapt out of his seat. "What do you mean you ran away? From where? Was someone holding you prisoner?"
Lin Yun'er lowered her head. "Nobody was holding me prisoner. I ran away from Master."