"Let's go." After pocketing the token, Gao Xueting turned and headed straight out, her back to Yang Kai, a barely perceptible smile curving at the corner of her lips.
Yang Kai stood in place, sighing to himself for a moment, then quickened his stride to catch up.
So readily admitting that the formation was his handiwork — on the one hand, she had already figured it out, so there was no point in continuing to play dumb; on the other hand, he had come this time to borrow some manpower for the Lingxiao Palace. When the time came to bring people through here, the formation would inevitably be exposed. Rather than scrambling to conceal it later, he might as well show his hand now.
As for whether Gao Xueting would later trek to the Northern Region and ask him to refine pills — that was no longer a concern. With Ji Ying around, if pill refinement was really needed, he could just dump it on Ji Ying.
Spirit Jade Peak — the secluded retreat of Vice Palace Master Qiu Ran of the Qingyang Divine Hall.
When Yang Kai and Gao Xueting arrived, Qiu Ran was sitting cross-legged in meditation. After being announced, he stepped out of his room and spotted the two of them in the main hall.
Yang Kai rose and bowed. "Greetings, Senior Brother Qiu."
Gao Xueting remained seated and unmoved. They were all family here, seeing each other often — there was no need for such formalities.
"A rare guest. When did Junior Brother Yang get back?" Qiu Ran regarded him with a blank expression, made a vague pressing gesture with his hand, and settled into the seat of honor.
Yang Kai chuckled. "I just got back and came straight away to pay my respects to Senior Brother Qiu. It's been years, and the Senior Brother's bearing is as impressive as ever — a cause for celebration." He sat down as he spoke.
Qiu Ran lifted an eyelid. "I wouldn't dare claim that. Junior Brother Yang is a man of extraordinary talents — a dragon that shows its head but not its tail. If you hadn't come back, I was half afraid I'd forgotten the Divine Hall even had someone like you."
That was practically the same thing Gao Xueting had said. Yang Kai wanted to roll his eyes, but he kept his smile plastered on. "Senior Brother exaggerates. The Divine Hall has been as good as reborn to me — I've always kept the Divine Hall and all my senior brothers and sisters in my heart."
Qiu Ran offered a noncommittal hum, merely glancing at Gao Xueting. She gave an imperceptible nod, as if having transmitted a brief message via divine sense. Qiu Ran's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "As long as Junior Brother means well. Do be careful when you're out and about. You are, after all, an Elder of the Divine Hall — you represent its face. No matter the circumstances, you must never tarnish the Divine Hall's prestige."
"I'll keep that in mind." Yang Kai nodded earnestly.
Qiu Ran said, "Good. If there's nothing else, you may go attend to your own affairs. I still have matters to deal with here."
What was that supposed to mean? He was already showing him the door, and Yang Kai hadn't even gotten to the real reason for his visit. Yang Kai's face went blank with surprise. He hurriedly looked toward Gao Xueting, flashing desperate glances, only to find her gazing at her own nose with the serenity of someone contemplating the void, hands tucked in her sleeves, utterly unmoved.
You're ruthless! Crossing the bridge and burning it behind you — I knew I shouldn't have given you that token.
With Gao Xueting refusing to put in a word, Yang Kai had no choice but to speak for himself. He cupped his fists. "Senior Brother, there is one more matter I wish to report."
"What is it?" Qiu Ran raised his eyes to look at him.
Yang Kai said, "When I left all those years ago, I took a considerable number of spirit flowers and exotic herbs from the Divine Hall. Senior Sister Gao asked me to refine them into spirit pills for the Hall's use. Now, Junior Brother has not let you down — the work is done and I've returned."
"Oh?" Qiu Ran's eyebrows shot up. "So you've already finished refining the pills?"
"Indeed!"
"Let me see."
Only then did Gao Xueting speak. "They're all with me." She removed the spatial ring from her finger and handed it to Qiu Ran.
Qiu Ran accepted it and swept it with his divine sense. Astonishment crossed his face. So many? And every single one was an Emperor Pill, with what appeared to be excellent quality at that. He knew Yang Kai was an Emperor Pill Master, and he had approved the original handover of spirit flowers and herbs — but he had never imagined that after a dozen years, Yang Kai would return with such a massive haul of Emperor Pills. Having your own Emperor Pill Master in the family really was something. Qiu Ran was already calculating whether to give Yang Kai an even larger batch of spirit herbs. As long as they could be turned into Emperor Pills, what was the harm in waiting another decade or so?
"Mm, not bad," Qiu Ran said flatly. He couldn't be too effusive with his praise, or the next time he asked Yang Kai to refine pills, it might not be so easy.
Yang Kai said, "Serving the Divine Hall is my duty as a junior brother." He paused, then rubbed his nose. "Senior Brother, I wonder — how many Elder Contribution Points would this be worth?"
Qiu Ran replied, "That will need to be carefully calculated."
"Then please calculate it as soon as possible, Senior Brother."
Qiu Ran blinked at him. "In a hurry?"
"Well, not exactly in a hurry." Yang Kai cleared his throat with a fist to his mouth. "Of course, if Senior Brother could work it out now, that would be ideal."
Qiu Ran frowned at him, wondering what the fellow was up to. But thinking it over, if he wanted the man to keep refining pills in the future, he ought to provide some incentive. He nodded. "Very well. I'll do the calculations for you."
"Thank you, Senior Brother." Yang Kai's face lit up with undisguised delight.
Qiu Ran wasted no more words. He pulled all the Emperor Pills from the spatial ring at once and laid them out across the desk before him.