He had no choice but to make small talk with Ji Yao for a while, if only to stave off the suffocating awkwardness.
Fortunately, Su Yan's presence now gave them at least some common ground. Yang Kai asked about how Su Yan had been getting on, and Ji Yao answered each question in turn. He learned that Su Yan had been doing quite well in Ice Heart Valley these past days — the senior sisters had all been extremely warm and welcoming to her. While some of that was undoubtedly due to Yang Kai's face, the greater part was genuine fellow-disciple camaraderie. After all, Bing Yun had personally spoken for her, which made Su Yan their little junior sister from that moment on. They were family now.
When Bing Yun learned that Su Yan possessed the Ice Crystal Jade Body, she had been practically overjoyed. Yang Kai hadn't mentioned this special physique when he'd brought Su Yan to Ice Heart Valley to formally join the sect. He'd meant to, but Bing Yun had accepted Su Yan so readily and without any fuss that he'd never had the chance.
One sat, the other stood. Yang Kai kept turning his head to glance outside.
The message was plain enough — the sky was nearly dark, so surely it was time for you to leave? Otherwise, late at night, a man and a woman alone together in the same room… if word got out, it wouldn't exactly sound proper.
Ji Yao, however, paid absolutely no mind to any of that. She simply sat there in quiet composure, seemingly suffering not the slightest discomfort.
Night fell, and the clouds and mist swirling beyond the window grew too dim to make out clearly. Through the haze there was a certain ethereal beauty to them.
Yang Kai was fairly speechless. He had no idea what Ji Yao was after. Could she be here to settle scores over what had happened last time? But that didn't quite seem right either. If she wanted to settle scores, she could just come out and say it — so why keep lingering here?
Standing around forever wasn't exactly dignified either, making him look like some disciple being lectured. Yang Kai reminded himself that he was now the proud Palace Master of the Lingxiao Palace, a man of some status and standing. Besides, this was his territory — why should she be the one sitting while he stood?
He spun around, smoothed his robes with both hands, and sat down on the edge of the bed, at a distance from Ji Yao that was neither too close nor too far.
"Oh, by the way — how's Junior Sister Liu doing lately?" Yang Kai scrambled for a topic. "Junior Sister Liu" naturally referred to Liu Qianyun, who had entered the Star Boundary alongside him through the Starlight Corridor all those years ago, only to wash up at the Feathered Jade Sect. By a twist of fate she had later ended up in a small pocket world together with Yang Kai, and it was there that she had met Bing Yun. Once they emerged from that small world, Liu Qianyun had joined Ice Heart Valley.
Truth be told, Liu Qianyun hadn't originally cultivated ice-type techniques, which by Ice Heart Valley's standards meant she shouldn't have qualified for admission. But she had nowhere to turn, and Yang Kai couldn't very well abandon her, so he'd asked Bing Yun to take her in.
"Junior Sister Liu has been in closed-door cultivation recently, attempting to break through to the Emperor Realm," Ji Yao replied evenly. "I haven't seen her in years, but I expect she's doing well enough."
Warriors who came from the lower Star Domains had this advantage — their aptitude and comprehension were invariably top-notch, giving them an excellent chance of reaching the Emperor Realm. Liu Qianyun had been one of the foremost powerhouses in the Great Desolation Star Domain back in the day. Once she entered Ice Heart Valley with its abundant Cultivation resources and superb environment, she had accumulated enough to erupt forward, showing signs of a rapid rise.
Yang Kai nodded gently, glad for her.
Ji Yao's next remark, however, sent his heart into his throat. "Does Senior Brother have feelings for Junior Sister Liu as well?"
Yang Kai stared at her, his expression dead serious. "Don't be absurd. You'll ruin her reputation."
Ji Yao toyed with the sleeve of her robe at a leisurely pace. "As if Senior Brother hasn't ruined enough reputations already."
What was that supposed to mean? So what if he'd lost control for a moment that one time — and it wasn't even entirely his fault! Now she was going to keep harping on it? If you feel you were wronged, how about I let you take advantage of me right now?
He turned to face her head-on, his expression grave. "Junior Sister Yao, I think you may have a bit of a misunderstanding about me."
"Heh…" The corner of Ji Yao's lips curved upward, neither confirming nor denying.
Yang Kai flushed with irritation, leaning his body toward her, the vein on his forehead pulsing. "Can you stop smiling like that? That kind of smile is very disrespectful."
It was a heated retort, but the moment the words left his mouth, Yang Kai's expression froze.
Because a flicker of panic had crossed Ji Yao's face, and her long lashes trembled rapidly several times.
Snapping back to his senses, Yang Kai's own features twitched as he realized he had very nearly pressed his face right against hers.
This was bloody awkward all over again. He'd wanted to explain himself properly, and now he looked like he was trying to steal a kiss. It was like mud falling into your trousers — even if nothing happened, everyone would assume the worst. Backing away now would only make him look guilty. Yang Kai's eyes darted around as he considered how to gracefully change the subject.
Then he noticed that a faint blush had risen to Ji Yao's fair cheeks, making her look extraordinarily lovely. A delicate, elusive fragrance drifted from the tip of her nose, seeping into his nostrils like an invisible hand tickling at his heart.
What was happening? Yang Kai was completely bewildered.
Why hadn't she moved away? He'd accidentally gotten far too close — logically, Ji Yao should have pulled back. But she showed no intention of retreating, her gaze merely flickering with a hint of unease as one small hand unconsciously twisted the snow-white fabric of her sleeve, her eyes downcast and demure.
Yang Kai's gaze traced across her fair cheek, her delicate earlobe, and her slender neck. From this angle he could almost glimpse a sliver of what lay at the neckline of her chest, though her robes were fastened so tightly that nothing could really be made out. Still, the shadows between the folds left endless room for imagination.
He swallowed hard, turned his head away, and blew a casual whistle, scooting his body slightly to the side — bringing himself much closer to Ji Yao.
Huh? No reaction?
He shifted a little more, and a little more…
Warmth radiated from his side, making it unmistakably clear that their bodies were now pressed together.
Even at this, Ji Yao still showed no reaction — no attempt to move away. But the moment Yang Kai made contact, he distinctly felt her shiver.