Half a day later, Wei Wushuang rose to take his leave, and Yang Kai saw him off with a smile.
After the man departed, Yang Kai furrowed his brows.
Wei Wushuang was a man of striking appearance—thick brows, large eyes, and an extraordinary bearing. As the young lord of a second-rate power, he had received excellent upbringing since childhood, so it was hardly surprising he carried himself so well.
He had come to thank Yang Kai for saving Shangguan Yu's life. Shangguan Yu was his betrothed, abducted by that Mo Ning over two years ago. The Heavenly Pillar Pavilion and the Flying Flower Barge had been in pursuit for so long, all to rescue her. Unfortunately, that Ancestor Mo Yu was cunning as a fox and possessed considerable strength, managing to escape time and again.
Had he not set his sights on the Demon Domain and been lured into a trap by Yang Kai, the old fox might truly have slipped away.
Saving Shangguan Yu had been a trivial matter for Yang Kai, but to both the Heavenly Pillar Pavilion and the Flying Flower Barge, it was a tremendous favor. Now that she had returned safely, it was only natural for Wei Wushuang to come and express his gratitude.
His words were sincere, his demeanor earnest, every expression of thanks heartfelt.
Yet Yang Kai felt something oddly off. The way Wei Wushuang looked at him occasionally revealed a trace of helplessness and hidden resentment, though he concealed it with extraordinary skill. But Yang Kai had weathered countless storms and seen every shade of human nature—he was no delicate flower raised in a greenhouse like Wei Wushuang.
What was this fellow so helpless about? Why did he harbor resentment toward Yang Kai? After all, this was their first meeting. Setting aside the life-saving favor Yang Kai had rendered for Shangguan Yu, even a complete stranger shouldn't react this way.
Yang Kai was puzzled!
Though he didn't quite understand, he couldn't be bothered to dwell on it. So long as Wei Wushuang didn't come looking for trouble, that would be fine. If the man dared to act insolently, Yang Kai would be more than happy to teach him a lesson.
Another day passed. Suddenly, Yang Kai noticed some movement outside. He extended his divine sense to investigate and sensed the Heavenly Pillar Pavilion's palace speeding off in a different direction, quickly vanishing from sight.
It seemed the Heavenly Pillar Pavilion was parting ways with the Flying Flower Barge. Not surprising—the two powers were based in different great domains, so their routes home would naturally differ.
Shaking his head, Yang Kai gathered his focus and continued contemplating his Five Elements powers.
On a petal of the Lotus Artifact, Shangguan Yu sat with an ashen face, staring at the palace that rapidly disappeared from view. The light had gone out of her beautiful eyes, carrying the air of one whose grief had surpassed the point of sorrow—nothing remained but a deadened heart.
Shangguan Long stood behind her, gently patting her daughter's shoulder. "Yu'er, do you understand now?"
Shangguan Yu closed her eyes, and tears slid silently down her cheeks. Recalling how coldly and distantly Wei Wushuang had treated her these past two days, she could no longer doubt that everything her mother had said was true.
Ever since she had been abducted by Mo Ning two years ago, things had been beyond saving. Even if she were truly untainted, even if her conscience was clear, who would believe her?
In the eyes of the Heavenly Pillar Pavilion, she was probably nothing more than a fallen woman—entirely unworthy of becoming their young lord's wife. This had been confirmed by Wei Wushuang's attitude toward her these past few days.
Behind her, Tong Yuquan let out a deep sigh, heavy with helplessness.
Shangguan Long said, "Yu'er, that Wei Wushuang is not worth your devotion. There's no need to grieve for him any longer. The road ahead is long—you need to think about yourself."
Shangguan Yu stared vacantly, as if she hadn't heard a word.
Tong Yuquan's heart ached at the sight. He stepped forward quickly, murmuring words of comfort, but Shangguan Yu could only weep on in silence.
The Lotus Artifact continued to soar through the void, crossing one great domain after another.
Half a month flew by in the blink of an eye. Shangguan Yu came to visit, saying she wished to personally thank Yang Kai for saving her life.
Yang Kai invited her in, only to find she had brought along some food and wine. He couldn't help but smile. But when he looked up, he saw that Shangguan Yu was haggard and her eyes were lifeless. Alarmed, he asked, "Junior Sister Yu, has something happened to you recently?"
Though she had been sealed away for two years and her Yuan Qi had been severely depleted, she had been gradually recovering after being freed. But seeing her now, Yang Kai found she had lost considerable weight and her demeanor was utterly worn—as though she had endured some tremendous blow.
Yang Kai hadn't quite understood at first, but after a moment's reflection, recalling how the Heavenly Pillar Pavilion's people had arrived in haste and departed just as quickly, he pieced together most of what had happened.
Ah—she'd hit a wall in matters of the heart.
Shangguan Yu's eyes moved slightly, and she forced a smile. "It's nothing. I was only recently freed and damaged my Yuan Qi. I should have come to thank you sooner, but my body wouldn't cooperate, so I'm afraid I've delayed. I hope Senior Brother Yang won't hold it against me."
Yang Kai smiled. "It was never a big deal. Junior Sister Yu is too courteous."
Shangguan Yu said softly, "To Senior Brother it may have been a trivial matter, but to me it was a life-saving grace. Yu'er has nothing of value and didn't know how to repay you, so Mother taught me to prepare some food myself. I hope it suits Senior Brother's taste."
Yang Kai said, "It smells wonderful and looks exquisitely prepared—clearly made with great care. I'm sure it suits my taste perfectly."
The corner of Shangguan Yu's mouth twitched faintly into a smile. She set down the dishes, produced a jug of wine, and sat down gracefully.
In the room, the two sat across the table from each other, sipping wine and sampling dishes. A beautiful woman before him—it should have been a pleasant scene, but Shangguan Yu's heart was still broken, and no matter how much she wanted to express her gratitude, she could barely manage a smile.
Yang Kai, too, found the situation rather awkward.