"Heh heh…" Yang Kai forced an awkward laugh. "What merit or virtue do I possess to—"
Before he could finish, Mo Huang cut in, "I also think it's a bit unreliable to send you for this, but Old Chu insists that only you can handle this matter."
"Why is that?" Yang Kai knit his brows, regarding Chu Tianji with curiosity.
Chu Tianji spoke in an unhurried manner, "A few days ago, I suddenly felt my heart stir with unease, as though some great event was about to unfold. I immediately cast a divination and obtained a prophetic verse. Does Young Friend Yang happen to know what that verse says?"
Yang Kai thought to himself, How would I know? If I could read prophecy, I'd be the Heavenly Pivot Emperor myself — there'd be no need for you. He promptly shook his head, putting on a look of genuine interest.
Chu Tianji turned his gaze to the side and said at a leisurely pace, "The moon falls, the crows cry — a single thread of life."
Yang Kai wracked his brain, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what this prophetic verse had to do with him. He asked humbly, "I understand the part about the moon falling and the crows crying — I imagine it portends that Master Ming Yue is in danger. But what does a single thread of life have to do with me? Why does this matter require my involvement specifically?"
Chu Tianji extended a finger. "Look over there. Do you see anything?"
Yang Kai followed his gaze and immediately spotted a poplar tree as thick as a man could embrace, its branches dense with foliage.
Chu Tianji continued, "That day, I performed my divination right here, and the object that corresponded to the casting was precisely that poplar tree over there. Take another look — in which direction is that poplar tree located?"
Yang Kai oriented himself and ventured hesitantly, "To the north?"
Chu Tianji nodded. "The moon falls, the crows cry — a single thread of life in the northern Yang! Now then, does Young Friend understand?"
Yang Kai's eyes widened in realization. Northern Yang — to the north, and the surname Yang. If not himself, who else could it be? But was this really reliable? He had nothing against the Heavenly Pivot Emperor's abilities. The man held the title of Heavenly Pivot for a reason — the power to peer into the past and see through to the future was no idle boast. But what sort of place was the Demon Realm? Even several Great Emperors had ventured in together and one of them had become trapped. What could a mere two-time Emperor Realm cultivator accomplish by charging in there? And that was before even considering the prospect of rescuing Emperor Ming Yue.
Yang Kai immediately fell into hesitation. In truth, while he was somewhat curious about what the Demon Realm actually looked like, he had never once considered going there. In front of two Great Emperors, though, he couldn't very well refuse outright. He could only say, "Senior, even if I were willing, I fear I'd be powerless to help. Setting aside the fact that I know nothing about the situation in the Demon Realm or where Master Ming Yue is trapped, simply entering the Demon Realm safely is a tremendous problem in itself. The passage between the two realms has been opened, but I can't very well waltz through it in broad daylight. If I did that, the demons would tear me to shreds before I even set foot inside. But apart from that passage, is there any other way to reach the Demon Realm?"
"You have your own means!" Chu Tianji replied with a smile.
Yang Kai's lips twitched. "What means could I possibly have?"
Chu Tianji shook his head slowly. "I don't know the details, but I know that you are capable of entering the Demon Realm, and there is a tribulation awaiting you there. Once you survive it, you will soar to incredible heights."
Yang Kai stared wide-eyed. "What tribulation?"
Chu Tianji merely smiled and said nothing.
Mo Huang, however, looked genuinely shocked. "Boy, you really do have a way into the Demon Realm?"
Yang Kai laughed bitterly. "What way could I possibly have? Unless all the Great Emperors personally escorted me in. But if that happened, the Demon Realm would know about it instantly, and even if I made it inside, I'd never get a moment's peace. They'd probably kill me on the spot." His expression turned solemn, and he cupped his fists. "Truly, I am powerless in this matter. Please don't make things difficult for me, Senior."
He genuinely did not want to go to the Demon Realm. Even if the Heavenly Pivot Emperor had said that Emperor Ming Yue's single thread of life was tied to him, that was merely a prophetic verse — its accuracy was far from certain. And even if it proved true, if this was something that even Emperor Ming Yue himself couldn't resolve, what could Yang Kai possibly do about it?
While they were still speaking, a figure caught the corner of his eye entering the pavilion.
Yang Kai turned his head and blurted in surprise, "Junior Sister Lan?"
The newcomer was none other than Lan Xun. He had no idea when she had arrived at Celestial Secrets Valley, but it was clear that after all this time, she had grown noticeably thinner. Her eyes were faintly rimmed with red, suggesting she had been crying.
It was easy to understand. Her father, Emperor Ming Yue, had been trapped in the Demon Realm for so long with no word of his fate. As his daughter, she must be wracked with worry.
Lan Xun walked straight up to Yang Kai without a word. Then, before his astonished gaze, she dropped to her knees with a thud, bowed forward until her forehead touched the ground, and said in a trembling voice, "I beg Senior Brother Yang to save my father!"
Yang Kai was shocked and scrambled to his feet at once, grasping her arms. "Junior Sister Lan, what are you doing? Get up quickly!"
Lan Xun didn't move. She simply repeated, "I beg Senior Brother Yang to save my father."
"Get up and let's talk." Yang Kai was beside himself. Ever since he had first met Lan Xun in the Four Seasons Land, they had built a decent friendship over the years. When he had been weak, Lan Xun had helped him on multiple occasions. Despite being a Great Emperor's daughter and the princess of Star God Palace, she had never once put on airs or behaved arrogantly — she was always gentle and courteous to everyone.
Yang Kai had always thought very highly of her. Compared to Yao Lin, she was incomparably better.
Now this very friend was kneeling before him. Yang Kai felt utterly wretched. If she knelt like this, their friendship might never recover. He pulled at her several times, but Lan Xun refused to rise. Growing frustrated, he hauled her to her feet by force. He was about to say a few words, but when he saw the tear-streaked face before him, those pleading eyes gazing at him through a shimmering haze, the rebuke died on his lips. He could only smile bitterly, "Junior Sister, why must you do this?"
Lan Xun shook her head in anguish. "I have no other choice." After a brief pause, she added, "I know this is asking far too much, and I know the Demon Realm is incomparably dangerous. But Uncle Chu has said that only Senior Brother Yang can save my father, and so I can only shamelessly beg you. If Senior Brother agrees, I am willing to serve as your slave, to work like an ox or a horse, to repay your great kindness."
Yang Kai felt a headache coming on. "Junior Sister Lan, you're making far too much of this." The fact that she had gone so far as to offer herself as a slave and servant spoke volumes — it showed that Lan Xun had already come to see him as her only lifeline.