A moment later, Yang Kai looked up with a helpless expression.
Yu Rumeng's Sea of Consciousness was fortified beyond belief. Even in her unconscious state, Yang Kai couldn't breach it — forcing his way in would very likely jolt her awake. After trying for a long while, he had no choice but to give up.
Yang Kai was somewhat bewildered. Yu Rumeng's cultivation was only at the second-stage Emperor Realm, so how could she possess such formidable Divine Sense? From that defensive barrier alone, he could tell that her spiritual cultivation surpassed even that of a typical third-stage Emperor Realm master.
If he couldn't even break through her defenses, there was no question of prying into her secrets.
Yang Kai could only set the matter aside. He retrieved several spirit pills, gently pried open Yu Rumeng's small mouth, and slipped a few in to help her swallow. He took a few himself, then quietly sat cross-legged in meditation.
Time trickled by.
It took a full day and night before Yu Rumeng finally let out a soft whimper. Her brows knitted together, her long lashes trembled several times, and she slowly opened her eyes.
She immediately saw Yang Kai gazing at her with a smile. Yu Rumeng blinked, her expression somewhat dazed — clearly she hadn't fully recovered her bearings yet — and out of habit offered him a small smile.
But before long, everything that had happened before she lost consciousness came flooding back. Her delicate face changed in an instant, turning cold as ice. She shoved Yang Kai hard and tried to push herself up from his lap.
His earlier arrogance and baseless insults had truly wounded her.
Yang Kai grinned and pressed her back down.
Yu Rumeng struggled a few times, but how could she match Yang Kai's brute strength? All she could do was say furiously, "Let go!"
"There, there." Yang Kai soothed her gently. "Don't get worked up — you haven't recovered yet."
"I said let me go!" Yu Rumeng stared at him icily.
Yang Kai rubbed his nose, then his expression turned serious. "Rumeng, I'm sorry. I was wrong before. Please don't be angry."
This sincere apology caught Yu Rumeng completely off guard. The fury that had been building inside her dissipated in an instant, replaced by a sudden fluster. Her lashes fluttered nonstop, and after a long daze she finally asked, "What do you mean?"
His attitude had been so resolute before — he'd refused to apologize even at the cost of mutual destruction, and hadn't yielded an inch even after she'd backed down. Now this complete about-face? Yu Rumeng truly couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
Comparing the two of them, she felt like he was the crazy one.
Yang Kai gazed at her tenderly without a word, then leaned down and kissed her.
That was undoubtedly the most impactful response possible.
Yu Rumeng's body went limp at once, all resistance gone.
A good while later, Yang Kai finally released her, his face full of mischievous amusement.
Yu Rumeng wiped her mouth and said irritably, "You're bullying me!"
This girlish display struck Yang Kai as incredibly endearing, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Well, you brought it on yourself. Who told you to plant some bullshit Heart Seal technique on me? Otherwise, how would anyone have known you were Yu Rumeng?"
Yu Rumeng huffed. "Don't get cocky just because you got your way. There'll come a time when you'll be laughing on the other side of your face."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow.
Yu Rumeng smiled smugly, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "You'll find out later. As for now… don't ask so many questions." Her expression turned earnest. "Don't talk to me like that again. I can't handle it."
Yang Kai nodded repeatedly. "Got it. I'll never speak to you like that again."
Now that he'd gotten what he wanted, there was no point in looking for trouble.
Only after receiving this promise did Yu Rumeng nestle contentedly into his embrace. After sitting in silence for a moment, she suddenly looked up, staring blankly at Yang Kai's profile. The happiness and warmth on her face slowly faded.
"What's wrong?" Yang Kai asked, lowering his gaze.
Yu Rumeng reached out a slender hand and gently caressed his cheek, murmuring as if to herself, "I don't know why, but I suddenly feel like you're so far away from me."
Yang Kai's expression didn't change. He smiled faintly. "I'm right here."