"Because I got beaten up." Faced with his sister's question, Su Mu didn't dare not answer, his eyes darting towards Su Yan even as he spoke.
Her expression was cold. "Why did someone beat you?"
"Because my skills weren't good enough..." Su Mu's head drooped a little.
"Why weren't your skills good enough?" Su Yan pressed relentlessly.
Su Mu answered listlessly, "I haven't been cultivating properly."
Su Yan nodded slightly. "At least you have some self-awareness! Do you know what you should do from now on?"
"I know."
"Remember what you said today. If you dare slack off again in the future, the one beating you won't be someone else. It will be me, personally."
Su Mu's face changed color. He hurriedly promised to cultivate diligently and not disappoint his sister's expectations.
After lecturing Su Mu, Su Yan finally looked up at the group behind him. Her beautiful eyes swept over them, settling on Yang Kai, a flash of surprise crossing her gaze. She spoke, "So you're the one who beat up Cheng Shaofeng?"
Yang Kai thought to himself that this senior sister's news was remarkably well-informed, knowing about events outside even while cultivating here. He nodded slightly. "Yes."
"A bit more promising than Su Mu." Su Yan didn't seem particularly concerned. Yang Kai looked young, perhaps fifteen or sixteen, but to only be at the eighth layer of the Body Tempering Realm meant his aptitude probably wasn't great. He naturally didn't catch her eye, and the fact she spoke a word to him was only because he had once saved Su Mu.
"I'll give you a piece of advice."
"Please speak, Senior Sister," Yang Kai replied evenly.
"Stay away from Su Mu. If you keep associating with him, your potential achievements will end right there."
Yang Kai offered a faint smile but didn't reply. She could belittle Su Mu, but he could not.
Hearing this, Su Mu's face immediately fell into a bitter expression, though he didn't dare utter a sound.
"Leave now. I need to cultivate." After speaking, Su Yan closed her eyes once more.
The group tiptoed out of the room and closed the door. They looked at each other, each involuntarily letting out a deep breath. The pressure inside had been immense. While the beautiful woman was certainly pleasing to look at, staying in there too long would probably freeze one's body and soul solid.
"I'm going to check on the pills I had someone refine the other day," Li Yuntian said, then took his leave.
"I'm going too." Several others hurried to follow him.
Shortly after, the crowd dispersed, everyone going off to their own business, leaving only Su Mu and Yang Kai.
Seeing that Su Mu seemed to have things to do as well, Yang Kai smiled. "Go ahead, Junior Brother. I'll just wander around here."
Su Mu nodded. "Alright. If you see something you like, just let me know. I'll help you check it out. While most people here are decent, there are still some incredibly shrewd ones. Don't let them rip you off."
After parting ways with Su Mu, Yang Kai began to stroll casually around the Black Wind Market.
Disciples from the three sects sat everywhere on the ground, their stalls spread out before them, displaying the items they wanted to sell or posting signs listing what they were looking to buy.
The stall owners were a varied bunch. Some shouted loudly like vegetable vendors at a market, enthusiastically hawking their wares. Others wore haughty expressions, putting on an act of "buy it or leave it" to attract curiosity seekers. Others, idle and bored, would even cultivate right there, unafraid their goods might be casually pilfered. All manner of behaviors were on display.