"Young Master is currently in closed-door cultivation," Yue He offered. "Would you all care to return and come back after he's emerged?"
The young man said, "Just call him out."
"That might not be so convenient." Yue He shook her head slowly.
The young man's expression turned irritable. "What's inconvenient about it? My coming here in person is his honor. Would he dare refuse to show me respect?"
Yue He let out a soft, cold laugh, her patience wearing thin. She was wary of the Azure Nether Blessed Land, not this spoiled young dandy in front of her—why would she take his threats to heart? The fellow had been making rude remarks one after another. If he truly provoked her, what would be the harm in giving him a beating?
The guard who had spoken earlier stepped forward and whispered something in the young man's ear. The young man's brows knitted tight, his face turning sinister for a moment before he spoke with evident displeasure: "Fine. I'm staying at the largest inn in this town. If your young master comes out of cultivation, have him come see me."
Yue He gave a faint nod. "Very well."
The young man swept his gaze over Yue He once more, shaking his head slowly and sighing repeatedly before finally leading his people away.
Yue He turned her head and looked toward a nearby spot, a smile playing on her lips. "Manager Chen, you've arrived?"
Chen Tianfei was standing not far away, making no effort to hide his presence. Yue He naturally would not have missed him.
Fat piled upon fat on his face, his eyes narrowed into mere slits, he waddled his bulky frame over to the front of the estate and cupped his fists. "Seventh Manager." He turned his gaze in the direction the young man had departed. "Who was that?"
Yue He said, "He claimed to be from the Azure Nether Blessed Land. Who knows whether it's true or not."
Chen Tianfei nodded. "An Emperor Realm cultivator with two Open Heaven Realm guards—even if he's not from the Azure Nether Blessed Land, his background is surely no small matter. What did they want?"
Yue He covered her mouth and giggled. "He said he'd taken a fancy to our young master and wanted to recruit him under his command. Isn't that a laugh?"
Chen Tianfei chuckled. "A bit overambitious, wouldn't you say?" A freak like Yang Kai would never submit to anyone else's authority. Having witnessed the power of Yang Kai's strikes firsthand in this Grand Ancient Ruins, Chen Tianfei felt that no one in this place could be his match—short of overwhelming him with numbers or setting up formations in advance.
Changing the subject, Chen Tianfei asked, "Where's the Sixth Manager?"
"You're looking for him too?" Yue He said with a look of regret. "What terrible timing—he's in closed-door cultivation."
Chen Tianfei paused. Yang Kai had only just returned from Yuan Magnetic Mountain not long ago, and already he was in seclusion? He nodded. "Then speaking with the Seventh Manager is the same."
Yue He said, "Come inside and talk." They were all from Red Star, after all. Keeping someone standing outside wouldn't be proper. Besides, Yue He wanted to know what Chen Tianfei's intentions were.
She invited him into the guest hall. Chen Yue served tea, and Chen Tianfei didn't beat around the bush—he got straight to the point.
It was nothing more than the fallout from Yang Kai's stunt at Yuan Magnetic Mountain, which had put enormous pressure on Red Star. Lightning Radiance had already sent people to condemn the incident, demanding that Red Star provide an explanation, or else this and that would happen. He then went into vivid detail about the terror of the Sword Pavilion.
He talked at length. In short, he wanted Yang Kai to exercise more restraint when venturing out in the future, to stop being so sharp and conspicuous. As Red Star's Sixth Manager, Yang Kai ought to consider matters from Red Star's perspective now and then.
Yue He naturally played along, saying she would pass along his exact words once Yang Kai emerged from seclusion.
Unable to see Yang Kai, Chen Tianfei had no choice but to take his leave.
After seeing Chen Tianfei off, Yue He turned and instructed Chen Yue: if anyone else came knocking, no matter who it was, they were to be turned away without exception. Chen Yue nodded hurriedly.
Inside the secret chamber, Yang Kai had immersed his mind in his Dao Seal, feeling the power of wood and fire contained within.
The vitality of the Wood Element surged and blossomed, while the violent, domineering nature of the Fire Element roiled. Faintly, he seemed to catch a glimpse of understanding, yet something was always missing—like a thin membrane stretched before him, blocking his view of the divine ability beyond.
The feeling was maddening. Though he knew that once he pierced through that membrane, he would behold an entirely different world, he simply could not manage it.
Yang Kai also understood that matters of fortune could not be forced, so he could only let things take their natural course, reminding himself again and again to calm his mind, focus his spirit, and banish all distracting thoughts.
Days passed one after another.
On this particular day, Yue He—who had been idly chatting with Chen Yue with nothing to do—suddenly furrowed her brow and turned her head toward the outside.
Chen Yue asked, "What is it?" Her cultivation was lower, after all, and she hadn't sensed anything unusual. But judging by Yue He's expression, something had clearly happened.
Yue He let out a cold laugh. "A little mouse has slipped inside."
Chen Yue was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was going on. She couldn't help but be surprised—who would dare trespass into someone else's estate, and actually succeed in getting in? The estate was protected by a formation barrier; normally, anyone who wanted to enter would have to break through it.
Yet she hadn't felt a single ripple of energy. In other words, the intruder must have been exceptionally skilled with formations—otherwise, it would have been impossible to slip in so silently.
"Stay here. I'll go have a look," Yue He said. Her graceful figure flickered and vanished.
A moment later, Chen Yue felt a brief burst of energy fluctuation from somewhere within the estate—not especially violent—and then it quickly subsided.