Bai Zhuo chuckled. "Sovereign Huang Wuji spoke first, and the other Sovereigns have their own reservations, so naturally they won't cause you any more trouble. But those Half-Saints are another matter entirely."
Yang Kai was taken aback. "If even the Sovereigns have reservations, would those Half-Saints really dare act without restraint?"
Bai Zhuo shook his head slowly and let out a soft sigh. "Brother Yang, you need to understand — the fortune you carry was originally prepared for the Half-Saints of the Demon Domain. It only ended up in your hands by some strange twist of fate. If you were truly a member of the Demon Race, that would be one thing, but as you well know your current situation, it's inevitable that some will use your origins as leverage and try to bargain with you."
"I understand what you mean, Brother Bai Zhuo. In this Demon Domain, the Demon Sovereigns won't move against me out of concern for their status and face, but those Half-Saints won't let it go so easily. Is that correct?"
Bai Zhuo said, "Since ancient times, wealth has dazzled men's eyes and fortune has clouded their minds. Moreover, this fortune represents a path to the heavens for those of us at the Half-Saint level. If I hadn't already known you, Brother Yang, and if we weren't both serving under the same Sovereign, I'd be tempted as well."
Yang Kai nodded slightly.
Bai Zhuo lowered his voice. "This is the result of the Sovereign's consultation with the other Sovereigns, and the position taken by those Sovereigns is hard to fault — if you lack the strength to protect your own fortune, you might as well hand it over early." He paused, then added, "The Sovereign asked me to pass along a message: since you've already obtained the fortune, it would be best to remain in the Holy City and cultivate in peace. Once your cultivation reaches completion, no one in this Demon Domain will be able to touch you."
Yang Kai looked at him. "Are these the Sovereign's own words?"
Bai Zhuo answered gravely, "Not a word more, not a word less." Then his expression turned oddly mischievous. "Brother Yang, if you'll forgive a question I probably shouldn't ask — did you offend the Sovereign somehow?"
He couldn't shake the feeling that the Sovereign's attitude toward Yang Kai was somewhat peculiar this time. There was concern there, but beneath it lurked a kind of unwillingness to face him directly — tsundere! Yes, that was the word, tsundere. Bai Zhuo would never forget that expression. Having served her for so many years, he had never once seen Yu Rumeng display a look like that — it was the very picture of a young girl experiencing her first crush. Seeing it had truly startled him.
If it had been anyone else showing that sort of expression, it would have been one thing. But Yu Rumeng was who she was — one of the twelve Demon Sovereigns of the Demon Domain, an existence standing at the absolute pinnacle. To think she could make a face like that...
Yang Kai let out a sly laugh and deflected with a question of his own. "Since the Sovereign sent you to deliver a message, that means she doesn't want to see me, right?"
Bai Zhuo cleared his throat evasively. "I wouldn't know about that. I only know that the Sovereign thinks very highly of you, Brother Yang."
"I see." Yang Kai nodded faintly.
"Brother Yang, you mean..." Bai Zhuo looked at him questioningly.
Yang Kai grabbed the wine jug on the table and took a long swig. A moment later, he set it down hard on the table, wiped the corner of his mouth, and declared, "Time waits for no one. I can't stay in the Holy City for long!"
Bai Zhuo sighed again, clicking his tongue. "The Sovereign said that if Brother Yang wishes to leave, he may do so at any time. There's no need to say goodbye to her."
Hearing this, Yang Kai nodded. "Fair enough. Women are high-maintenance — meeting in person would only cause trouble."
Bai Zhuo lowered his gaze to his own shoes, pretending he hadn't heard a thing...
"Oh, right, Brother Bai Zhuo." Yang Kai's eyes suddenly blazed with intensity as he fixed his gaze on the man. "Let me ask one question: if any Half-Saint does come after me, am I permitted to kill him?"
Bai Zhuo's heart jolted. He looked up to see Yang Kai brimming with killing intent, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. "Who exactly does Brother Yang want to kill?"
"Anyone who gives me trouble!"
If an ordinary High-Rank Demon King had spouted such bold words, Bai Zhuo would likely have laughed it off, dismissing the speaker as someone who didn't know his own place. The gulf between a Demon King and a Half-Saint was vast — the difference between an elephant and an ant. An ant dreaming of killing an elephant? Ridiculous.
But this was Yang Kai saying it, and that made it impossible for Bai Zhuo to dismiss. The man before him was no ordinary High-Rank Demon King.
After a moment's deliberation, Bai Zhuo said, "No one willingly offers up their neck for someone else to chop. If someone truly means to do you harm, Brother Yang, then naturally you may repay blood with blood and fang for fang. That is your right."
"Good!" Yang Kai rose to his feet, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Thank you for your hospitality, Brother Bai Zhuo. Until we meet again."
With that, he strode out through the door.