Dong Qinghan's words reached Lan Chudie's ears, and her beautiful eyes flickered. She gazed at him with a faint smile. "Why are you suddenly bringing this up, Young Master?"
Dong Qinghan shrugged. "Just making conversation."
With that, he turned to chat with Dong Qingyan beside him, as though it really had been nothing more than a passing remark.
Lan Chudie opened her mouth, wanting to press Dong Qinghan further about Yang Kai, but found she couldn't bring herself to push the matter.
She stared at the figure ahead and slowly shook her head, knowing that a chance like the one she'd once had might never come again in this lifetime.
Half an hour later, the group arrived at the manor together.
The estate was quiet, without a soul in sight. Apart from Qu Gaoyi standing guard outside the central hall and the handful of ordinary maids, everyone else had been taken out by Qiu Yimeng.
Yang Kai bustled back and forth, settling the Medicine King Valley people into the great hall and ordering servants to serve tea. He didn't even have a moment to exchange a few words with his little senior sister.
The people from Medicine King Valley weren't the type for empty pleasantries, and since they didn't treat Yang Kai as an outsider, the atmosphere was naturally lively and warm.
An hour later, Qiu Yimeng returned in a cloud of dust with her entourage. The nine groups she'd taken out had merely done a tour around Battle City—she hadn't actually attacked anyone. Still, it was enough to keep the other Yang family heirs on edge.
Yang Kai introduced his backers to Qin Ze one by one. Qin Ze simply gave a faint nod in acknowledgment, offering little reaction.
That was the arrogance of an alchemist for you. Even this was only because of Yang Kai's face. Under normal circumstances, Qin Ze probably wouldn't have bothered meeting any of these people at all.
Qiu Yimeng hurried to arrange lodgings for the Medicine King Valley group. To the young miss of the Qiu family, Qin Ze did extend a measure of courtesy. He offered a few pleasant words, praising the Qiu family for producing capable successors, which left Qiu Yimeng beaming and bowing her head in modesty.
Before long, everything was in order.
While Qiu Yimeng was busy, Yang Kai was too. This forced show of strength had thrown his original plans into disarray, so tonight he needed to shore up his defenses in case his brothers, nursing their grievances, banded together for a sneak attack.
He worked straight into the night before finally finding a moment of respite.
He was just about to turn in when the young miss of the Qiu family stepped out of the shadows and blocked his path.
"What is it?" Yang Kai regarded the pair of beautiful eyes glistening in the dark, a puzzled look on his face.
"Hmph. I should be asking you that. Why were you in such a rush?" Qiu Yimeng planted herself in front of him, her gaze sweeping him up and down.
"That's none of your business."
Qiu Yimeng snorted again, her tone peculiar. "You don't have to tell me. I already know—you're going to see your little senior sister, aren't you?"
"Yes." Yang Kai admitted without hesitation.
"I could tell there was something between you two." A trace of sourness crept into Qiu Yimeng's voice. She pouted, then asked, "Is she from your sect?"
"That's right. She's also from Lingxiao Pavilion."
"But why does Qin Ze and his lot seem so respectful toward her? It looked even more deferential than the way they treat you, and she's not that old either. Strange—is there something going on?" Qiu Yimeng's face was full of suspicion. While she'd been arranging lodgings for the Medicine King Valley group, she'd overheard a conversation between Qin Ze and Xia Ningshang. The tone was unmistakably that of a junior addressing an elder, and that struck her as far from ordinary.
"There are reasons, but it's hard to explain. You'll understand in a few days." Yang Kai didn't bother elaborating.
"They were part of your plan as reinforcements, weren't they?"
"They were in the plan, but I wasn't expecting this many to actually show up."
Qiu Yimeng laughed. "Thirty alchemists from Medicine King Valley, and one at mysterious grade on top of that. Yang Kai, you've really struck it rich. Word gets out, and people will be flocking to join you."
Yang Kai slowly shook his head. "There are advantages, and there are disadvantages. You should see that more clearly than I do."
Qiu Yimeng nodded. "You don't want to stand out above the forest, but now the tree is already tall enough to catch the wind. What next—keep lying low?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Yang Kai flashed a grin. "Beauty, I think you're only seeing the sensation Medicine King Valley's arrival has caused. You haven't stopped to consider their actual combat strength. Sure, their coming to join me will make my brothers wary, but don't forget—this lot doesn't have much cultivation to speak of. Once my brothers calm down and realize that, they won't take them seriously anymore."
Qiu Yimeng blinked, then nodded. "You're right. I got a little carried away by their arrival and overlooked that."
Even with these alchemists on board, it would take at least three months for Yang Kai's side to see any real leap in cultivation power—and that was only if materials were supplied in abundance.
Three months. More than enough time for anything to happen.
Besides, they had alchemists of their own back at the manor. It was just that their overall level couldn't compare to what Medicine King Valley brought to the table.