Yang Kai blinked in surprise. If he remembered correctly, that should be the woman who'd fought in the very first match of the martial meeting, on arena number eight.
She didn't seem to be stupid, at least. Yang Kai smiled faintly. His first instinct was to refuse — on the day in question, he'd been the referee, and when Yu Zhuo was sent flying, stepping in to help had simply been part of the job. He hadn't exactly been fishing for gratitude. But after a moment's thought, he reconsidered: she'd already made the effort to come here, and turning her away would come across as cold-hearted. The words of refusal died on his lips, replaced by: "Send her in."
"Yes!" The maidservant bowed and withdrew.
Outside the hall, Yu Zhuo stood with utmost propriety, both hands raised and holding a freshly laundered garment. Her expression was somewhat anxious — she had no idea whether Elder Yang would agree to see her. After being rescued by Yang Kai that day, she'd recovered completely after a single day's rest. She'd wanted to come thank him right away, but she hadn't known who he was or which faction he belonged to. She'd spent the past several days making inquiries, and had only just managed to piece together some information.
The referee who'd saved her — and secretly fed her a spirit pill — turned out to be a Guest Elder of the Qingyang Divine Temple. Yang Kai's name was hardly unfamiliar to many people in the Southern Region. He had refined the Supreme Mystery Pill in the Four Seasons Land, been appointed Guest Elder of the Qingyang Divine Temple, and even clashed with an Elder of the Star God Palace during the appointment ceremony. News of those events had spread far and wide long ago.
It was just that he'd kept a relatively low profile over the past decade or so, and people had gradually forgotten about him.
Yu Zhuo hadn't expected that she'd ever have the chance to cross paths with someone like that, and she couldn't help feeling a little stunned. Now that she'd learned Yang Kai's identity, she'd hurried over at once.
Disciples of the Qingyang Divine Temple came and went, and upon spotting her they threw curious glances her way. A few even asked what she was doing there. When they heard she'd come to pay respects to Elder Yang, they left her alone.
Just as she stood there wrestling with her apprehension, the maidservant returned. Yu Zhuo straightened up immediately, watching her with barely concealed nerves.
Fortunately, the maidservant smiled gently. "Elder Yang invites you in."
"Thank you." Yu Zhuo nodded politely.
The maidservant said nothing more and turned to lead the way. Yu Zhuo followed behind without letting her gaze wander. Before long, they arrived at the door of a private chamber. The maidservant gestured with her hand, and Yu Zhuo drew a soft breath before stepping inside.
Only one person was in the room, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out the window at the distant scenery. Hearing her enter, he turned to look. Their eyes met, and Yu Zhuo recognized him at once — this was the referee from arena number eight.
"Yu Zhuo, Disciple of the Rakshasa Gate, pays respects to Senior!" She stepped forward quickly and dropped into a half-kneeling salute.
Yang Kai looked her over, his gaze settling on the garment in her hands. Understanding dawned, and he smiled. "Is there something you need?"
Yu Zhuo raised her head, her bright, clear eyes meeting his gaze without flinching. "A few days ago, Senior graciously intervened to save my life and even bestowed a spirit pill to aid my recovery. Yu Zhuo has come specifically to express her gratitude."
Yang Kai waved a hand. "It was simply part of my duties. Miss Yu, you're too kind."
Yu Zhuo smiled, pressing her lips together. "Saving my life may have been part of Senior's duties, but bestowing the spirit pill was an act of pure kindness. I may have been barely conscious at the time, but I wasn't completely senseless. Without that pill, I'm afraid I wouldn't have had the strength to continue competing in the following days."
This was the plain truth. She didn't know what grade the spirit pill Yang Kai had secretly fed her was, but without it, she certainly couldn't have fought at full strength in the days that followed. She strongly suspected it had been an Emperor Pill, since only an Emperor Pill could have such powerful healing effects, restoring her completely by the very next day.
Yang Kai smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it.
In theory, a referee wasn't supposed to administer spirit pills to contestants. But he'd done it so covertly that no one could have noticed. Yu Zhuo wouldn't go spreading the word either, and since the pill had been given after the match was over, it really didn't matter.
Yu Zhuo stepped forward and raised the garment in her hands slightly. "Senior, your clothes have been washed clean. I've come to return them."
Yang Kai nodded. "Set them down." He didn't reach out to take them.
They were just an ordinary set of clothes — he'd pulled them out on the spot to cover the wound on her body, with no expectation of getting them back. But this woman's gesture had earned a measure of his respect.
Yu Zhuo dutifully placed the garment on a nearby table, then turned to look around the room with open curiosity. She showed no trace of timidity, carrying herself with an easy grace.
Yang Kai rubbed the tip of his nose. "Is there anything else?"
Though the door was left open specifically to avoid impropriety, a man and a woman alone in a room together would still look bad if someone happened to see. What was more, he was a referee — having private dealings with a contestant was hardly appropriate. If word got out, it would only give malicious gossips ammunition to smear his reputation.
His words carried a clear hint of dismissal.
Yu Zhuo was no fool; she caught the meaning at once. Hastily, she produced an elegant garment from her spatial ring and said, somewhat sheepishly, "Senior's great kindness is engraved in Yu Zhuo's heart. I had no idea what would make a suitable gift, but when I happened to see a beautiful piece of clothing in the market, I bought it on impulse. If Senior doesn't find it beneath him… please do accept it." Her voice grew quieter with each word — she clearly felt that a woman giving clothes to a man was rather awkward. But she truly couldn't think of anything else appropriate to give Yang Kai as thanks.
His cultivation was what it was; he'd parted with an Emperor Pill to heal her injuries on the spot, which spoke to substantial wealth. Anything she could afford, even if she bankrupted herself, would likely be worthless in his eyes.
Rather than waste money on something pointless, she'd simply bought a new garment. She'd dirtied one of his shirts; returning a fresh one felt like a fitting reciprocity. Regardless of its value, at least it represented genuine sincerity.
Glancing at the exquisite clothing, Yang Kai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This was the first time anyone had ever given him clothes — and it was someone he'd barely interacted with, no less. A woman, at that.