"Likes him? Grows close to him?" The Steward's face showed surprise. "I'm somewhat familiar with General Sichen's temperament — it ignores ordinary people entirely. What's so special about this menial worker that he's earned the General's favor?"
Du Rufang chuckled. "This Disciple wouldn't know. Perhaps the General has its own discerning eye."
"Let's go down and take a look!" The Steward's interest was piqued. With a wave of his large hand, he led a group of people downward.
Yang Kai, seeing this from below, felt an urge to curse. But fortune or disaster, one could only face what came. Watching the crowd descend in a clamor, he steeled himself and stepped forward to greet them, cupping his fists in a distant salute. "Yang Kai greets the esteemed lords!"
The Steward didn't so much as glance at him. His gaze was fixed on the General Sichen perched atop Yang Kai's head, a smile on his face. A mere menial worker wasn't worth his attention — he'd come down primarily because of the General.
It was Du Rufang, trailing behind the Steward, who spoke up. "Yang Kai, this is the Grand Steward of our Qiaodi, responsible for all matters great and small." As he spoke, he gave Yang Kai a look that said *don't be nervous.*
Yang Kai bowed again. "Greetings, Grand Steward." He thought to himself that staying calm was easier said than done. A fruit had gone missing from the orchard without explanation — if no one noticed, fine, but if they found out, what explanation could he offer? That someone stole it? Where was the proof? If the thief couldn't be found, the blame for the lost Fire Spirit Fruit would fall squarely on him. The only question was whether Du Rufang could protect him when that time came.
He wanted to transmit a message to Du Rufang to explain the situation, but this Grand Steward was clearly an Open Heaven Realm powerhouse. Attempting telepathic communication in front of him would be completely transparent.
Frustrated inside, Yang Kai kept his composure on the surface. Even when he caught sight of the people who'd followed the Steward fanning out into his orchard to inspect it, his expression didn't change and his heart didn't race.
At this point, all he could do was pray they wouldn't bother to carefully count the Fire Spirit Fruits. Only then might he escape this ordeal.
Without warning, he noticed Zhou Zheng among the group, offering him a faint smile — a smile that seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
There was no time to dwell on it before the Grand Steward before him asked, "How did you get General Sichen to grow so attached to you?"
Yang Kai kept his eyes lowered respectfully. "I don't know myself."
"You don't know?" The Grand Steward raised an eyebrow.
Du Rufang chimed in from the side. "Yang Kai, just speak freely. The Grand Steward is merely making casual conversation — it's nothing serious."
Yang Kai said with a pained expression, "I truly don't know. A few months ago when I first arrived at the orchard, the General happened to pass by. Something went wrong and it fell right out of the sky, landing in front of me. The General probably thought I'd done something to it and, furious, tried to peck at the fruits in my orchard. How could I tolerate that? As the orchard's menial worker, tending the fruits is my duty — so in a fit of anger, I fought it."
"You fought it?" The Grand Steward burst out laughing. "You've got nerve."
Yang Kai said sheepishly, "Back then I was new and didn't know the General's identity, so I dared to act so rashly. If it were today, I certainly wouldn't have the courage."
Du Rufang nodded. "Allow me to inform the Grand Steward — this Disciple has been at the Fire Spirit Land for less than half a year and is indeed a newcomer. However, he has already rendered a significant service!"
"Oh?" The Grand Steward looked surprised and gave Yang Kai a proper appraising look for the first time. He didn't bother asking what service Yang Kai had rendered, merely nodding. "Continue."
Yang Kai spread his hands. "That's all. After that incident, every time I come to the orchard, the General has been like this."
"So you beat your way to a friendship!" The Grand Steward smiled and nodded. "That is rather interesting."
Du Rufang was hearing about this for the first time as well. He pointed at Yang Kai and said, "You should be grateful you didn't actually hurt the General back then — otherwise the Honored One would have flayed you alive."
Yang Kai gave a dry chuckle, thinking to himself that quite a few feathers had fallen out of the General's plumage during that fight.
Just then, the people who had scattered into the orchard began returning one after another. One of them glanced at Yang Kai, then handed a jade slip to the Grand Steward.
Yang Kai's heart tightened. He had a nagging sense that things were about to go badly.
The Grand Steward took the jade slip, swept it with his spiritual sense, and then held it out toward Du Rufang. "Take a look."
Du Rufang accepted it with curiosity, glancing at Yang Kai one way or another as he did so. He suspected something had gone wrong with the orchard — why else would the Grand Steward be asking him to review this? It wasn't within his jurisdiction at all.
But what could possibly go wrong with this orchard?
After examining the jade slip carefully, Du Rufang's expression shifted. His face turned stern as he looked at Yang Kai. "Yang Kai, can you tell me why there is one fewer Fire Spirit Fruit in your orchard than there should be?"
"Is one really missing?" Yang Kai said in surprise.
"You didn't know?" Du Rufang frowned.