One day and one night later.
Yang Kai strode out from inside.
The two Blood Guards, Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian, along with Qiu Yimeng and Luo Xiaoman, had been waiting outside the entire time. Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian stood with solemn, focused expressions, while Qiu Yimeng and Luo Xiaoman had long since grown bored and sat off to the side.
When they saw Yang Kai emerge with a steady demeanor, both Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise.
During the past day and night, though they hadn't seen Yang Kai, they had clearly sensed the waves of pain emanating from within.
Yet now the Young Master had completely readjusted himself, without a single trace of what had happened before.
His expression was calm and composed, radiating a full measure of confidence. Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian's eyes lit up at the sight.
"Make yourselves at home. I'm going down!" Yang Kai called out to everyone and headed straight for the entrance of the gorge.
Qiu Yimeng perked up immediately, gazing at him eagerly. "What's down there?"
She had already been here for some time and had grown quite curious about what lay beneath Kunlong Gorge. But the people from Lingxiao Pavilion were all deeply wary of going below, and even the members of the Blood Battle Gang and Wind and Rain Tower had warned her never to venture deep into Kunlong Gorge.
So up until now, Qiu Yimeng hadn't even considered going down to take a look.
But now, seeing Yang Kai preparing to descend, her curiosity naturally stirred.
"Heh..." Yang Kai gave a perfunctory half-smile that didn't reach his eyes, then dove straight down into the gorge without another word.
"That man..." Qiu Yimeng stamped her foot but didn't pursue him.
It was obvious that Yang Kai didn't want her following. If she barged in after him, it would only irritate him.
In the blink of an eye, Yang Kai vanished, plunging into the depths of Kunlong Gorge.
"Miss Qiu, please don't take offense. Our Young Master's temperament can be a bit... direct," Tang Yuxian said with a light laugh. She hadn't known Yang Kai for many days, but she had keenly noticed quite a few admirable qualities about him — qualities that were rare among people his age.
For precisely that reason, Tang Yuxian actually had a fairly positive impression of this Young Master, and she offered a word in his defense.
"It's nothing," Qiu Yimeng said, completely unfazed.
Tu Feng regarded her thoughtfully and asked casually, "Miss Qiu, you and the Young Master are acquainted?"
"Heh, I wouldn't dare presume to put myself on his level," Qiu Yimeng replied with a wry smile, slowly shaking her head.
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian couldn't help but be somewhat moved. In terms of both status and talent, Qiu Yimeng was a prominent figure among the younger generation in Zhongdu. The young lords of the Eight Great Families considered it an honor to befriend her. And yet here she was, adopting such a humble posture — she didn't even feel confident enough to claim she was on familiar terms with Yang Kai. What was going on?
The bitterness and reluctance in her smile were genuine, not an act. Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian could see that clearly enough.
"You can both sense his coldness toward me, I'm sure," Qiu Yimeng said without any embarrassment. On the contrary, she was remarkably candid as she continued in a calm voice, "He and I... I'd say we barely know each other. That's all."
The two Blood Guards were immediately intrigued. Tu Feng said, "If it's not too much trouble, could Miss Qiu tell us a bit more about that? If it's inconvenient, just pretend I didn't ask."
Qiu Yimeng's long lashes fluttered. Her expression remained composed, and after a long pause, she finally spoke. "There's nothing inconvenient about it, really. I met him the last time I led a team to Lingxiao Pavilion to investigate the Evil Lord. Back then, we were enemies. You probably already know most of what happened that day."
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian nodded in unison. The Sect Leader of Lingxiao Pavilion, along with four elders, had battled over a dozen Shenyou Realm experts from the Qiu, Bai, and Ziwei Valley factions. Not only had they escaped safely, but they had injured several opponents. It was precisely because of that battle that the world learned Lingxiao Pavilion harbored someone who had surpassed the Shenyou Realm.
"But there are parts the world doesn't know about... and those parts are truly remarkable."
"Remarkable?" The two Blood Guards were taken aback. Coming from Qiu Yimeng, that kind of assessment suggested there were still hidden secrets from that day.
"Yes, remarkable. Lingxiao Pavilion is a remarkable sect, and your Young Master is a remarkable person!" Qiu Yimeng chuckled softly.
Before that, she had never known there existed a place in the world that could connect two locations separated by tens of thousands of li — one in the north and one in the south.
She had never known that a man whose realm was far below her own could leave her completely helpless, making her suffer defeat after defeat.
And she had certainly never known that someone could win over the bewitching beauty queen's heart in the span of a single month.
Qiu Yimeng considered herself a top-tier individual. Had she been born male, she would undoubtedly have become the next head of the Qiu family. It was a pity she was born a woman — a regret she couldn't help but feel.
But even she wouldn't dare place herself on the same level as Yang Kai.
This man's potential was terrifyingly vast. If he truly grew to maturity, his achievements would far surpass anything the current generation of elites could reach.
Perhaps he would even forge a legend for the ages.
"How remarkable?" Tang Yuxian's beautiful eyes shimmered with fascination as she asked expectantly.
"How remarkable... hmm-hmm, I can't really say. If you want to know, go ask Young Master Yang yourself. If I run my mouth too much, he might actually hold a grudge against me. Why would I do something so thankless?"
"Uh..." The two Blood Guards were dumbfounded. Qiu Yimeng had just worked up their interest and then refused to give them a satisfying answer. That half-hung feeling was utterly vexing — it was like having a cat clawing at their insides.
If anyone else had spoken to them like that, the two Blood Guards would have used the Yang family's most brutal methods to force a full confession. But Qiu Yimeng was Qiu Yimeng, and they were powerless.
Her expression turned serious. Qiu Yimeng said, "Although I can't say too much, I can tell you one thing — absolutely, absolutely, absolutely do not underestimate your Young Master!"
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian were struck speechless, shock reverberating through their hearts.
Qiu Yimeng had used the word "absolutely" three times in succession, and her tone had been thoroughly grave.
What did that mean? It meant that the eldest young miss of the Qiu family was entirely, unequivocally confident in Yang Kai's prospects. Confident to an extraordinary degree.
"Anyone who underestimates him will pay a terrible price!" Qiu Yimeng's lovely face turned, and she broke into a mischievous grin once more.