Returning to Lingxiao Palace from the Celestial Secret Valley, Yang Kai summoned Li Jiao and got straight to the point. "Brother Li, I may need to go into seclusion for a while soon. I'll be entrusting complete management of Tiger Roar City to you."
Li Jiao was stunned. "Going into seclusion at a time like this?"
The war between the two realms was raging. Although Tiger Roar City had been peaceful for the past half year, no one could guarantee that the Demon Race army wouldn't attack again. Now was clearly not the right time for seclusion. If the demons truly came and Yang Kai, as their commander-in-chief, was absent, the city's combat strength would be severely diminished.
Yang Kai said in a low voice, "I've recently had a minor breakthrough of insight. It can't be helped."
Li Jiao nodded upon hearing this. He understood that the path of martial arts was not easy to cultivate, and if one truly gained some insight, it was best to go into seclusion as soon as possible. Once that opportunity was lost, it might take decades or even centuries to make up for it. All he could say was, "Very well then. I'll do my best to look after Tiger Roar City. But Brother Yang, those people from Half-Dragon City and that Lord Fu Ling..."
"Rest assured, I'll instruct them properly and have them follow your arrangements."
With Li Jiao's cultivation and status, commanding Tiger Roar City was essentially no problem. The only issue was Fu Ling. As a sixth-grade pure-blooded dragon, Li Jiao might not be able to keep her in check. Fu Ling was also somewhat unreliable — when Yang Kai was around she was obedient and well-behaved, but if Yang Kai wasn't there, heaven and earth were vast and she'd consider herself the greatest. She probably wouldn't give Li Jiao much face. But since Yang Kai intended to entrust Tiger Roar City to Li Jiao, he naturally had to make all the necessary arrangements in advance.
Shortly after, he summoned Fu Ling and, in front of Li Jiao, instructed her firmly to behave and follow orders from now on, or she would be sent straight back to Dragon Island.
How would Fu Ling dare disobey? She nodded her head vigorously, like a little chick pecking at rice. For her, this rare chance to leave Dragon Island was precious — she certainly didn't want to be sent back so soon.
Next, Yang Kai sent word to all the Emperor Realm cultivators in the city, informing them that he would be entering seclusion for Cultivation starting today and was not to be disturbed without good cause. Only then did he enter the City Lord's Manor's secret chamber under the watchful eyes of the crowd and shut the heavy doors.
Going into seclusion for Cultivation was naturally just a pretense. Having agreed to visit the Demon Domain with Heavenly Pivot Great Emperor and Beast Martial Great Emperor, he needed to make arrangements for the people of Tiger Roar City in advance. If he waited until the day arrived and the city was left leaderless, things would get complicated. Letting Li Jiao familiarize himself with things for a period of time meant that even when Yang Kai departed, Tiger Roar City wouldn't suffer too great an impact.
Inside the secret chamber, Yang Kai activated a Void Spirit Pearl on his wrist. With the Laws of Space fluctuating, he vanished.
When he reappeared, he was inside a lady's bedchamber.
"Who's there!" A sharp cry rang out as a cold flash bloomed. A gleaming sword thrust toward his face.
Yang Kai flicked his finger, knocking the blade aside, then reached out and grasped a slender white wrist. With a gentle tug, a soft, delicate figure was pulled into his arms. He looked down at her with a smile. "Yao'er, that's a rather unique way to welcome me."
Ji Yao froze for a moment. "How did you come here?"
"I came to see you." Yang Kai reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her face, gazing at her quietly.
Ji Yao grew somewhat self-conscious under his gaze. She noticed that Yang Kai's eyes today were especially tender and filled with a reluctant reluctance to part. Lying in the crook of his broad arm, she slowly averted her eyes.
But Yang Kai reached out, cupped her chin, and turned her face back toward him.
Before she could react, his powerful aura had already enveloped her. Their lips met, and Ji Yao slowly closed her eyes. The long sword in her hand clattered to the floor, and her arms wound around Yang Kai's neck, holding him tightly.
After a fierce, lingering kiss, Yang Kai lifted her by the waist, gently set her down on the bed, and lowered himself for another bout of passionate, indulgent exploration.
Ever since that day in the Ice Heart Valley's Technique Pavilion, when they had finally broken through that last layer of pretense, their relationship had progressed considerably — though they had never crossed the final boundary. Ji Yao seemed to thoroughly enjoy this clandestine atmosphere and had never asked anything of Yang Kai, nor had she asked him to make their relationship public.
Yang Kai naturally wouldn't force her.
What followed was a bout of blazing passion, two fiery bodies tangled and rolling across the great bed, filling the boudoir with an intoxicating, amorous air. A long while later, Yang Kai finally let her go. Ji Yao lay completely limp, her breath coming in rapid gasps, her entire body draped across Yang Kai.
Suddenly, Yang Kai spoke. "Yao'er, no matter what happens to me, don't worry, and don't hold a grudge against anyone."
The words came out of nowhere. Ji Yao's head snapped up, as if struck by a premonition. Her bright, beautiful eyes looked at Yang Kai as she asked, "What could happen?"
Yang Kai pinched her nose gently. "Don't ask too much. You'll know when the time comes. Just remember what I've said."
Ji Yao said nothing, only gazed at him.
Yang Kai asked, "Did you remember?"
Ji Yao nodded softly. "I remembered."
Yang Kai looked at her with satisfaction, then rolled over and once more fell upon her with renewed vigor.
He stayed in Ji Yao's chambers with her the entire night. Only at the break of dawn the next day did he speak a few final words of instruction before slipping away without a sound.
At the Spirit Medicine Peak of Lingxiao Palace, Yang Kai strode in carrying a jug of wine with a bold, unconcerned air.
The several medicine boys at the entrance saw him approaching and immediately bowed respectfully. However, the eldest among them stepped forward with a troubled expression and said, "Palace Master, Grandmaster Ji and Madam Xia are currently refining pills. They instructed that no one is to disturb them under any circumstances."