"If you think it'll work, then it'll work. I trust you!" Yang Kai nodded casually, without a care.
"Talking like that, so generous." Qiu Yimeng huffed. "When something goes wrong, don't come crying to me. Your fellow disciple looks decent enough, but compared to you, he's miles behind. Still, picking the tallest of a short bunch, I guess he'll have to manage."
Luo Xiaoman, standing nearby, bobbed her small head vigorously in agreement.
Even though she had no fondness for Yang Kai — one could even say she feared him — there was no denying that this man stood head and shoulders above his peers.
Whether it was temperament, composure, perseverance, or strength, he surpassed the others by a wide margin.
"You should know your fellow disciple better than I do. If you think he's not up to it, just replace him," Qiu Yimeng said, as if it were of no consequence.
"No need to bother. Rebuilding the sect isn't exactly a monumental task. Just let him handle it." Yang Kai shook his head slowly. As he spoke, he glanced toward the doorway and chuckled softly: "He's here!"
Qiu Yimeng was startled for a moment, and soon heard Xie Hongchen's shouting from outside: "Why are you blocking me? I need to see Miss Qiu!"
"Miss Qiu is discussing important matters with my young master. You cannot enter!" Tu Feng stood in the doorway, his tone flat and his expression cold.
Xie Hongchen couldn't help but laugh. He sized up Tu Feng with a leisurely air and said: "Your young master? Heh heh… what young master? Don't tell me you mean Yang Kai? You must be mistaken. This is Lingxiao Pavilion's territory — is there anywhere I can't go?"
As he spoke, he pushed forward to barge in.
"You cannot enter!" Tu Feng stood firm, blocking his path, his expression unwavering.
Xie Hongchen's face darkened, and he said in a low voice: "I'm giving you face because you were brought here by Yang Kai. Don't push your luck. Step aside now, or don't blame me for being ungracious."
Tang Yuxian immediately flashed an attractive smile, one filled with intrigue.
Tu Feng regarded Xie Hongchen with detached indifference, his expression unchanged.
Inside the room, Qiu Yimeng watched Yang Kai with a grin, seeming to search his face for some clue.
"Let him in." Yang Kai furrowed his brows. No matter what, Xie Hongchen was still a disciple of Lingxiao Pavilion — once a notable figure within the sect. Now, acting this dense and foolish, it reflected poorly on Yang Kai himself.
Upon receiving the order, Tu Feng shifted to the side.
Xie Hongchen snorted coldly, brushed off his clothes, and strode inside with his head held high, radiating arrogance.
The moment he saw the situation inside, his expression froze.
He found that Yang Kai was actually sitting at the table alongside Qiu Yimeng and Luo Xiaoman. Such treatment — Xie Hongchen had never enjoyed that kind of privilege. Every time he came to see Qiu Yimeng, he had to stand respectfully at the doorway and was sent away after barely exchanging a few words.
What right did Yang Kai have to sit here?
A mix of suspicion and frustration churned within him, but he plastered on a smile and spoke with impeccable courtesy: "Greetings, Miss Qiu. Miss Luo."
"Mm." Qiu Yimeng responded with a faint acknowledgment, then said with a grin: "You've come at just the right time. I'm discussing the rebuilding of Lingxiao Pavilion with your junior brother. It seems he has some thoughts he'd like to share with you."
"Oh?" Xie Hongchen chuckled lightly and narrowed his eyes at Yang Kai. "I wonder what insights my junior brother might have?"
His tone was casual, tinged with a hint of provocation.
Qiu Yimeng immediately settled into a better position, wearing the expression of someone settling in to watch a good show.
This was getting interesting. The fool still hadn't figured out Yang Kai's true identity — not only had he been running his mouth in front of two Blood Guards, but he was even trying to antagonize a direct descendant of the Yang Family.
Could anyone really be that stupid?
Yang Kai frowned and said: "I don't have any suggestions, but I do have a requirement."
Xie Hongchen laughed. "A requirement?"
"Mm."
In front of Qiu Yimeng and Luo Xiaoman, Xie Hongchen couldn't very well throw a fit. He feigned magnanimity and nodded: "Let's hear it."
"Everything within the sect should be rebuilt according to the original layout and design. Every building should be reconstructed down to the last detail — not a single thing out of place. You've lived in the sect for years, Brother. You're familiar with every blade of grass and every tree here, aren't you? Supervising the work should be well within your capability."
Xie Hongchen's face twitched slightly. Yang Kai wasn't speaking in the tone of someone making a suggestion — it was an order. Naturally, this sat poorly with him.
This really was a demand!
Just as he was about to mock him, Yang Kai continued: "If you're short on manpower, pull workers from the nearby Blood Battle Gang and Wind and Rain Tower. Use… the name of Miss Qiu of the Qiu Family. Afterwards, just compensate them."
Qiu Yimeng rolled her eyes but said nothing.
Xie Hongchen was taken aback, not understanding why Qiu Yimeng hadn't objected.
"If you're short on funds or materials… send word to Zhongdu and have Miss Qiu allocate them. The Qiu Family's finances are more than adequate — they won't miss it, right?" Yang Kai looked at Qiu Yimeng with a beaming smile.
"Shameless!" Qiu Yimeng gnashed her teeth in frustration.
Xie Hongchen finally began to find the whole thing unbelievable, his expression shifting rapidly. At this point, if he still couldn't see that something was off, he really would be a fool.
This junior brother Yang seemed to have a rather different relationship with Qiu Yimeng than he'd imagined. Otherwise, how could he say something like that and have Qiu Yimeng not react at all?
Rebuilding a second-tier sect — while it wasn't a big deal for the Qiu Family, it would still require a considerable expenditure of resources.
Yang Kai had decided it all in just a few sentences? If he and Qiu Yimeng didn't have some kind of connection, how could she possibly agree?
A storm of shock surged through Xie Hongchen's heart. He instinctively realized that this junior brother of his was no longer the same person he had been before.
"Additionally…" Yang Kai tapped the table lightly with his finger. After a long pause, he spoke in a low voice: "Send out a summoning decree across the land, calling back all disciples of our Lingxiao Pavilion who have scattered far and wide…"
"Come home!"