She was not entirely ignorant of what Yang Kai had gone through these years. On the way here, she had already asked Lu Xue about it. Lu Xue hadn't hidden much — since Yang Kai had sought the Innkeeper's help, it meant he trusted her, so she had revealed quite a bit of intelligence from within the Void World.
It was no surprise that the Innkeeper knew of Zhu Jiuyin's existence.
Yang Kai nodded solemnly.
The Innkeeper spoke in a grave tone: "Is she reliable?"
Zhu Jiuyin was a Holy Spirit — the Heavenly Moon Demon Spider — a being equivalent to a High-Rank Open Heaven. Facing such a powerhouse, even the Innkeeper felt mountains of pressure. If Zhu Jiuyin turned out to be unreliable, the trouble would be immense.
Yang Kai transmitted his voice: "Rest assured, Boss. That woman swore an oath upon her own Origin. She wasn't joking."
"Good." The Innkeeper gave a slight nod. A Holy Spirit's Origin and a cultivator's Dao Seal were the very foundations of their existence — they would never swear oaths lightly upon them. Should they break such an oath, it was bound to cause damage, and most likely irreparable damage at that.
She shifted her position, settling into a chair with her chin resting on one hand, smiling as she said: "Tell me about what happened inside the Void World."
The Void World — she had only ever heard of it, never had the fortune to enter. For the cultivators of the Three Thousand Worlds, this secret realm was the stuff of legend, and naturally she was very curious about it.
If she wanted to know, Yang Kai had no reason to hold back. He immediately took a seat and began recounting from the very start.
When he described how Yue He had captured him and intended to bring him to Emerald Mist Palace, the Innkeeper let out a cold snort. Later, when he spoke of being accidentally swept into the Void Mist within the Star Market, a look of worry crossed her face.
Though Yang Kai had since escaped and returned safely, the journey had undoubtedly been fraught with peril.
Over more than a decade in the Void World — from the initial struggle to survive a beast tide, barely clinging to life, to subduing the Earth Dragon and the Scarlet Flood Dragon, to taking control of Scarlet Star's Star Market, to the great battle at the Magnetic Mountain against the Radiant Sword Pavilion, where his fame first skyrocketed.
Outside the Star Market, he comprehended a Divine Ability and a Dao Avatar, and single-handedly annihilated thousands from the Radiant Sword Pavilion, establishing an invincible presence.
He ventured into the sea alongside several disciples from the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, battling the Sea Clan, fleeing for his life beneath the Kun Shark, while Zhu Jiuyin lurked in the Star Market and chose him as her Vessel.
Then the Land of No Old opened, and the various Vessels schemes and fought against one another. Yang Kai came out on top. After emerging from the Land of No Old came yet another life-and-death escape…
All in all, those ten-plus years had been utterly spectacular — and brimming with danger at every turn!
As Yang Kai spoke, Bai Qi also walked in and stood behind the Innkeeper, listening with rapt attention, his eyes gleaming with longing. He wished he could have been there in Yang Kai's place, to witness all the excitement within the Void World.
The Innkeeper had been smiling throughout, but behind that smile was clearly hidden a thick current of worry.
Yang Kai didn't notice, but he deliberately — and not so subtly — played up Yue He's contributions, telling the Innkeeper that if Yue He hadn't supported him so much within the Void World, he could never have achieved what he had today.
The Innkeeper smiled without saying a word — as if she couldn't see right through his intentions.
Seeing her unmoved expression, Yang Kai had no choice but to call out: "I've been talking so much, Boss — have some water."
Outside the hall, Yue He walked in with her head bowed, carrying fragrant tea. She poured a cup each for the Innkeeper and Yang Kai, then stood with her head lowered before the Innkeeper, looking as meek and obedient as a child awaiting judgment.
Yang Kai picked up his cup, using the pretense of drinking to study the Innkeeper's expression, but found her face utterly indifferent, as though Yue He were invisible.
With no other option, he could only signal Old Bai with his eyes.
Old Bai understood, returned a reassuring look, and spoke up: "Boss, didn't you always teach us that the road lies beneath our feet and our eyes should look forward? Let the past be the past — things you can't let go of only become burdens!"
The Innkeeper took a sip of tea, then slammed the cup hard onto the table, sending tea splashing everywhere. "Who asked for your opinion!"
Bai Qi grinned sheepishly: "Yes, yes, yes — this one spoke out of turn. I deserve a slap." As he said this, he lightly tapped his own mouth twice, putting on the air of a servile lackey that left Yang Kai staring in stunned silence.
The Innkeeper snorted coldly: "You escaped death and enjoyed over a decade of peace — I suppose you've forgotten who nearly ruined you back then. If Yang Kai hadn't devoted all his efforts to saving you, you wouldn't be alive today! Your soul would have scattered long ago!"
Bai Qi's expression turned grave upon hearing this: "Who has wronged me, and who has shown me kindness — this one remembers it all in his heart and would never dare forget. The Boss also taught us that kindness must be repaid and grudges must be settled. Since that's the case, then today this one shall first settle that old debt!"
With that, he suddenly wheeled on Yue He and roared: "Yue He! Back then you colluded with Qi Jin and the others to destroy my path of ascension, nearly costing me my life! This grudge cannot exist under the same sky — today I shall strike you down, and that will repay what you did to me!"
He thrust his palm forward and slapped toward Yue He. The aura of World Force erupted with a deafening rush.
The blow was utterly without mercy.
Yang Kai's face drained of color as he shouted: "Old Bai, stop!"
But Bai Qi was now a Fifth-Rank Open Heaven cultivator. Even though he had only recently ascended to that level, Yang Kai was no match for him. By the time Yang Kai reacted, Bai Qi's palm had already struck Yue He square on the shoulder.
Yue He grunted. The sound of bones cracking rang out from her shoulder, and her entire body went flying backward like a tattered cloth sack. World Force rampaged through her body. Halfway through the air, she coughed up a mouthful of blood, then crashed heavily to the ground.
After the single strike, Bai Qi withdrew his hand and stood upright, returning to his place behind the Innkeeper. He grinned cheerfully: "Boss, the grudge has been settled. Unfortunately, this one's strength wasn't enough to finish her off. Sigh — after all, she's been a Fifth-Rank Open Heaven for years now. Truly extraordinary."