In front of Yang Kai's quarters within the mansion, a chubby little fellow with an endearing face and fair skin stood side by side with Yue He, waiting with a look of considerable anxiety.
The chubby boy was none other than Xu Zhen from the Divine Cauldron Heaven. After refining the Elemental Magnetic Gourd that day, he had departed without fanfare, presumably to condense his Metal-attribute power. Now that he had reappeared, it could only mean he had succeeded.
After all, he was a Disciple of the Divine Cauldron Heaven — his aptitude was extraordinary. If he had dared to ask Yang Kai for a sixth-grade Elemental Magnetic Stone, he naturally had every confidence in his ability to refine it.
"Senior, when exactly will Brother Yang emerge from seclusion?" Xu Zhen turned his head to look at Yue He.
"I don't know either."
Yue He shook her head slowly. "In the past, the Young Master typically comes out of seclusion after about two months. This time, I'm not sure what happened — there hasn't been a word from him for an entire year."
Xu Zhen's eyes darted around, and he said worriedly, "Brother Yang hasn't suffered a Qi Deviation, has he?"
Yue He's expression shifted slightly. "How could that be possible? The Young Master is a once-in-a-generation genius — there's no way he'd suffer a Qi Deviation. Besides, he wasn't at any critical juncture in his cultivation, so this seclusion shouldn't be that dangerous."
The chubby boy bobbed his head from side to side. "Well, you can never be sure. The path of cultivation is fraught with peril — a single misstep and the consequences are unimaginable."
His words left Yue He feeling flustered and uncertain.
Xu Zhen pressed his advantage. "How about I break the sealing array and take a look at the situation?"
"Don't you dare!"
Yue He glared at him furiously. Having witnessed this little fellow's abilities before, she knew that if he truly wanted to break the seal, he probably wouldn't need to exert much effort at all. But if he did so, it would inevitably disturb Yang Kai. If the Young Master happened to be at a critical moment in his cultivation, then even if he hadn't been on the verge of Qi Deviation, he would be forced into one.
Xu Zhen chuckled awkwardly. "I was only suggesting it, Senior — please don't be angry. Ah, what a pity, though. I wanted to bestow another blessing upon Brother Yang, but it seems he — oh, he's coming out!"
The sealing array before the quarters suddenly dissipated, and with a soft creak, the door swung open. A tall, imposing young man stepped out — and who could it be but Yang Kai.
A small smile graced Yue He's lips, and the heart she had been holding in suspense finally settled. She moved forward to greet him with a warm smile, but after only two steps, the expression on her face froze solid as she caught sight of the person behind Yang Kai. She stared, dumbfounded.
Xu Zhen was equally stunned. He turned to Yue He and said, "Senior, didn't you say Brother Yang was in seclusion? How come... how come..."
Since when did seclusion come with a woman in tow? And this woman just happened to be the leader of the Sword Pavilion!
It was said that Yang Kai had been in seclusion for an entire year this time. Tsk, tsk, tsk — what on earth had happened over this past year? Xu Zhen gazed at Lu Xue, his imagination running wild, utterly envious of Yang Kai's fortune with women.
"What are you two doing here?" Yang Kai looked up to find Xu Zhen and Yue He standing before him, thoroughly confused. The chubby boy wore a lecherous grin on his face, while Yue He's expression was ashen, her slender body trembling slightly, eyes blazing with fury as she stared past him — fixed intently on someone behind him.
Yang Kai turned his head to look. Seeing Lu Xue's flushed face and lowered head, he suddenly understood. "You two must have gotten the wrong idea..."
The Spirit Pearl was kept in his bedroom. Having returned from Wolong Mountain, he had naturally materialized directly in his quarters. If no one had seen them, there would be no issue — but being caught red-handed like this would certainly put certain unsavory ideas into people's minds.
"What a spectacular misunderstanding!" Yue He sneered, turning on her heel and sweeping away in a flurry of robes. A bone-chilling cold radiated wherever she passed, and Guo Ziyan, who happened to be approaching from the opposite direction, nearly jumped out of his skin. He scrambled to the side, terrified of being dragged into whatever storm was unfolding.
Xu Zhen grinned mischievously. "Brother Yang, your backyard's on fire. You should go put it out first — I'll come find you to talk later."
Yang Kai maintained a serious expression. "Brother Xu, you've truly gotten the wrong idea. It's not what you think."
Xu Zhen shrugged. "Explaining it to me won't help."
Yang Kai glanced at Lu Xue, then back at Xu Zhen, and shook his head speechlessly. He made no move to offer any further explanation. Instead, he summoned Guo Ziyan and said, "Miss Lu Xue is one of us now. Take her downstairs and arrange a room for her to stay in."
"One of us!"
Guo Ziyan's heart jolted. He sensed there might be deeper meaning behind those words, and quickly responded, "Yes, sir!"
Lu Xue offered a quiet word of apology and departed with Guo Ziyan.
Along the way, Guo Ziyan was impeccably respectful, conducting himself as though he were attending to a mistress of the house — an attitude that only deepened Lu Xue's mortification.
In the guest hall, Chen Yue served the tea and withdrew respectfully. Yang Kai and Xu Zhen sat across from each other at the table, and only then did Xu Zhen reveal the purpose of his visit.
"Brother Yang, I've come to bestow another great blessing upon you!"
The last time he had said something like that, he had proceeded to refine the Elemental Magnetic Gourd for Yang Kai. Hearing him say it again now naturally piqued Yang Kai's interest. "Please, do tell, Brother Xu."
Xu Zhen said, "Brother Yang, you're a peerless genius. The power you condensed should be seventh-grade Fire-attribute energy, correct?"
"That's right."