The Dao Discussion Assembly had been convened in no small part because of him. Had Qu Huashang not followed him to the Shadowless Hollow Heaven to lend her support all those months ago, none of the subsequent troubles would have unfolded.
Before coming here,
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He secretly steeled himself — worst comes to worst, he would seize the championship. Once Qu Huashang finished her hundred-year seclusion as punishment, they could figure out a plan then. He simply couldn't stand by and watch her be married off to some stranger.
Qu Huashang was going to be confined for a hundred years regardless, and no one could say what would happen after that length of time. With such a long buffer, all manner of things could change.
"You said it yourself!" Xu Lingong had been waiting for exactly this response. He turned to look at
Yang Kai blinked. Why did Xu Lingong seem so pleased?
Qing Kui nodded solemnly from the side. "This disciple heard it clearly. Brother Yang truly is volunteering to participate in the Dao Discussion Assembly of his own accord."
Xu Lingong chuckled. "Good. Arrange a slot for him, then take him to handle the registration procedures."
"Yes, Master!"
Xu Lingong rose to his feet, looking Yang Kai up and down in a way that left him thoroughly confused. Then, hands clasped behind his back, the old man sauntered away with an air of serene composure.
That was it? Yang Kai stared at his retreating figure in astonishment. He had felt the killing intent rolling off the man earlier and genuinely believed he was going to be struck down. Who would have thought that a few sentences would defuse all that fury?
Xu Lingong's methods were… all thunder and no rain.
Then again, this was for the best. The man was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven, after all, and moreover the master of Qu Huashang and the others. If he had actually decided to attack, Yang Kai would have had no way to resist, and he would certainly have come out worse for it.
"Brother Yang, Master has placed great expectations on you. You must perform well." Qing Kui clapped him heartily on the shoulder with a beaming grin, his mood buoyant. Once those scheming manipulators caught wind of a Sixth-Order cultivator suddenly showing up at the Dao Discussion Assembly, they would surely lose their composure.
As for the "great expectations" — that was just something he'd said offhand.
For Xu Lingong, Yang Kai's mere participation in the Dao Discussion Assembly was enough. As for the final results, the old man had no particular concern about them and had never harbored any hope that Yang Kai could take the championship. A Sixth-Order Open Heaven who had only recently advanced was simply not on the same level as those who had immersed themselves in the Sixth-Order for hundreds, even thousands of years.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Qing. I'll give it everything I have and won't let anyone down," Yang Kai said with a sigh.
"Mm, just do your best. Let fate take its course — no need to force anything." Qing Kui responded with a perfunctory wave.
"Could I go see Senior Sister Qu?" Yang Kai asked.
He had never experienced a day quite as mortifying as this one. When Xu Lingong had kicked the door in, he had been frightened out of his wits. Qu Huashang was probably feeling no better. He had no idea what state she was in now, and his concern was genuine.
"Sister Qu has Junior Sister Su looking after her. No need for you to go." Qing Kui shook his head. "Go back and rest for now. I'll come get you tomorrow to take care of the registration."
"All right." Yang Kai didn't press the matter. Besides, given how things stood, visiting Qu Huashang now would only be awkward for them both. He might as well do as Qing Kui suggested and get some rest.
The next day, Qing Kui came by again and led Yang Kai to handle the registration for the Dao Discussion Assembly.
Yang Kai followed behind him, studying his back thoughtfully.
After a full day to process things, some of his composure had returned. Yesterday his mind had been too shaken to think clearly, but after returning to the Wangchuan Tower and turning things over carefully, something felt off. The whole affair was steeped in strangeness — it was as though he had been plotted against.
He had only gone to visit Qu Huashang and gauge her feelings and intentions. He had no other agenda. So how had the conversation somehow ended up with them in bed together? And the atmosphere in the room had been bizarre, filling his mind with all manner of distracting thoughts. Qu Huashang herself had been far more alluring than usual, making it all but impossible for him to keep his composure.
He did harbor some affection for Qu Huashang, but not to the point where he was ready to bare everything to her.
He even suspected that some kind of aphrodisiac might have been involved, but a careful examination of his body turned up no trace of any lingering drug.
Then there was the timing of Xu Lingong and the others' arrival — it had been too perfect, coming at the exact moment when he and Qu Huashang were on the verge, bowstring drawn but not yet released.
Any earlier, and they could never have been caught in the act. Any later, and the rice would have been fully cooked.
Beyond that, why would all three of them — master and two disciples — come together to visit Qu Huashang? Qing Kui and Su Yingxue, fine, they shared a bond as fellow disciples. But Xu Lingong was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven — where would he find the time for such casual visits? And he hadn't even announced himself — he had simply kicked the door open!
Even as their master, he had no right to barge unannounced into a female disciple's private chambers.
Yang Kai had a nagging feeling that he had been set up. But he had absolutely no evidence to prove it. Going to ask Qing Kui about it now would accomplish nothing — the man would never admit to it. He might as well pretend he didn't know.