Yang Kai flew straight toward the great hall where he had first entered the Fire Spirit Land, figuring that Du Rufeng was probably stationed around there.
And sure enough, Du Rufeng was. From a distance, Yang Kai spotted a familiar figure standing before the hall — clad in white robes, waiting silently. Who else could it be but Du Rufeng?
After landing, Yang Kai cupped his fists. "Senior Brother, I have not failed my mission. Here is that traitor's head!" As he spoke, he produced Fang Tai's severed head.
Du Rufeng glanced at it, confirmed it was indeed Fang Tai's, and tilted his head slightly. A maidservant dressed in simple robes immediately stepped forward and took the head. Du Rufeng then reached out and steadied Yang Kai. "Junior Brother, you've worked hard on this one." He peered suspiciously behind him. "Why are you alone? Where are the two Junior Brothers, Ma Liu and Jiang Sheng? Didn't they go out with you? Why aren't they here?"
Yang Kai's expression turned sorrowful. "Senior Brother, you don't know — everything went smoothly at first, but on the way back we ran into some kind of aberrant beast. The two Senior Brothers… the two Senior Brothers perished. I was too weak to avenge them, and I nearly didn't make it back myself. It took tremendous effort just to find the way home."
"An aberrant beast? What kind?" Du furrowed his brow.
Yang Kai pretended to think carefully. "I've never seen one before, but the two Senior Brothers called it a Wandering Beast!"
"What did it look like?" Du Rufeng pressed.
Yang Kai quickly launched into a description. Fortunately, he had had the foresight to ask Elder Xu about the Wandering Beast's appearance beforehand — otherwise, he would have been at a loss for words. After all, he had only recently arrived beyond the Void and had never actually encountered one.
After hearing Yang Kai's account, the sliver of suspicion in Du Rufeng's eyes gradually faded. The description had been vivid and precise — clearly the mark of someone who had witnessed the creature firsthand. He patted Yang Kai on the shoulder. "Wandering Beasts have no fixed dwelling and possess formidable strength. Running into one in this vast expanse is genuinely dangerous. That you escaped with your life speaks to extraordinary fortune, Junior Brother."
"It's just a pity about Senior Brother Ma and Senior Brother Jiang…" Yang Kai's eyes reddened at the rims.
Du Rufeng sighed. "That was their fate. There's no need for you to grieve any further. You've had a hard time of it — go back and rest."
"Understood!" Yang Kai nodded. After the whole business with Elder Xu, he had lost any appetite for asking about the steward position. He had brought Elder Xu into the Seven Skills Earth — who knew how much longer he could hold that post? It was entirely possible that Elder Xu would make his move for revenge within days. He didn't know how powerful Elder Xu was, or whether the man would succeed, but regardless of the outcome, the Seven Skills Earth was no longer a place he could stay. Better to find a way to slip away early.
He chose not to ask, but Du Rufeng brought it up of his own accord. "A few more days and the month will be up. When we go to the orchard next month, I'll announce your appointment to all of the Fire Spirit Land."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Yang Kai quickly adopted a look of delight. "Then this Junior Brother will take his leave."
Du Rufeng nodded.
Yang Kai turned to go, but after only a few steps, Du Rufeng called out from behind with a laugh. "Junior Brother, where are you headed?"
Is this where he kills me to silence me? Yang Kai turned back, carefully hiding the wariness in his eyes. "Didn't Senior Brother tell me to go rest for a few days?"
"You're already wearing the Seven-Colored Garb now, which makes you an official Disciple of the Seven Skills Earth. You should report to the Personnel Hall first to handle the formalities and get registered."
Yang Kai slapped his forehead. "I'd completely forgotten."
Du Rufeng tilted his head. "Xiao He, escort the Junior Brother there."
The maidservant from before answered crisply. "Yes, sir!"
Under the guidance of the young woman called Xiao He, Yang Kai entered the Personnel Hall without incident. He completed his registration, collected several sets of new clothing, and left looking thoroughly pleased.
Xiao He remarked, "You really are lucky, sir. I've served by Lord Du's side for years, and this is the first time I've seen a menial worker rise to ordinary Disciple in just half a year."
Yang Kai cupped his fists toward the distant great hall. "It's all thanks to Senior Brother Du's patronage." After a pause, he added, "By the way, Miss Xiao He, where should I be living now?"
Xiao He smiled behind her hand. "Wherever Steward Zhou used to live, that's where you'll stay."
"So the menial quarters after all!" Yang Kai snapped his fingers. Though naturally, wherever Zhou Zheng had lived would differ somewhat from the regular workers' quarters — larger, nicer surroundings. He hadn't seen it yet, so he wasn't entirely sure.
"Then please go back and rest, sir. I need to return and report as well." Xiao He curtsied gracefully. She served by Du Rufeng's side, but she was not an official Disciple of the Seven Skills Earth. Yang Kai guessed she had probably been a menial worker herself before Du Rufeng noticed her looks and took her in.
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss." As he spoke, Yang Kai casually slipped a few Open Heaven Pills into her hand.
Xiao He accepted them with a dimpled smile and a glance, then turned and soared into the sky, leaving Yang Kai to amble back toward the menial quarters at his leisure.
Before long, he arrived. The entire village was deserted — every last menial worker had been sent to the orchard, so naturally no one was here. There was no need to return to his old quarters either; he had nothing worth packing. He headed straight for the largest building instead.
This was where Zhou Zheng had once lived. Now it would serve him. Yang Kai checked the interior and exterior, and once he was certain no one was around, he cautiously activated all the restrictions and slipped into the secret chamber, where he released Elder Xu.