"My husband, you seem rather reluctant to part," Yu Rumeng pressed herself close to Yang Kai's body, her warm breath tickling his ear.
Yang Kai's knees went weak. He said hoarsely, "Don't be ridiculous. It's not like this is some permanent separation."
Yu Rumeng smiled and shot him a sidelong glance. "Why are you so nervous, husband? It's not like I'm going to eat you." As she spoke, she licked her lips with her scarlet tongue.
A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and every hair on Yang Kai's body stood on end!
He caught sight of someone passing by not far away and quickly called out, "Second Steward!"
Bian Yuqing halted and turned around. "Sect Master!"
Yang Kai put on a serious expression. "Second Steward, are you looking for me about something?"
Bian Yuqing looked somewhat blank. "No, I was just passing through on my way to the Star Market."
"You must be looking for me for a reason," Yang Kai repeated, his expression solemn.
Bian Yuqing blinked uncertainly. "Perhaps… there is something?"
Yang Kai gave a slight nod. "Then it must be urgent. We'll discuss it on the way." He flickered to Bian Yuqing's side in a flash and gave her a meaningful glance.
Bian Yuqing followed along, utterly confused.
Behind them, Yu Rumeng let out a cold laugh. "Men!"
"Second Steward, you've worked hard all these years," Yang Kai said suddenly as he led Bian Yuqing forward.
Bian Yuqing smiled. "It's no hardship at all. If the Sect Master hadn't shown me mercy back then, I'd probably be long dead. I wouldn't have what I have today. Everything here in the Void Land is wonderful."
If only that man were still alive, it would be even better. She still couldn't forget someone named Kou Wu, who had given his life for her.
If he were still alive, he would surely have achieved something significant by now.
"Now that the Great Evolution matter is settled, you should find some time to go into seclusion and advance to Open Heaven. Running the affairs of the Void Land all these years has held back your cultivation," Yang Kai said with a hint of guilt.
The Void Land and the Star Boundary — two major territories, each managed by one of two women. Hua Qingsi as Chief Steward, Bian Yuqing as Second Steward. Both were women, yet over the years Yang Kai had often been an absentee leader, relying on the two of them like household managers to take care of everything.
The sheer volume of matters, large and small, in any power was staggering.
Neither of their cultivations had ever been particularly high.
Thanks to the World Tree of the Star Boundary, Hua Qingsi had once condensed a Dao Seal, but before Yang Kai departed, she still hadn't advanced to Open Heaven. He had no idea how she was doing now.
Bian Yuqing was in the same situation!
Hearing Yang Kai's words, Bian Yuqing felt warmth bloom in her heart. She nodded obediently. "Alright. Once the Great Evolution matter is handled, I'll go into seclusion. I won't disappoint you, Sect Master. But Sect Master, if I enter seclusion, who will manage things here at the Void Land?"
Yang Kai asked, "Do you have anyone you'd recommend?"
Bian Yuqing said, "Right now at the Void Land, aside from Elder Bixi who has the highest cultivation, there are only a few of the Sect Master's wives and Grand Marshal Mo Mei of the Star Market. Elder Bixi certainly wouldn't want to handle these affairs, and none of the Sect Master's wives have any experience in this — handing things over to them abruptly might not be appropriate. It might be better to give the responsibility to Grand Marshal Mo Mei. She's managed the Star Market very well over the years."
Yang Kai nodded. "That's what I was thinking as well. As it happens, I'll visit the Star Market and discuss this with Mo Mei."
The two of them headed to the Star Market together. When Mo Mei saw that Yang Kai had returned, she was naturally delighted.
She had already received word of his return — the Star Market and the Void Land were neighbors, after all, and news traveled quickly. She simply hadn't been able to leave while holding down the fort at the Star Market.
Yang Kai informed Mo Mei that Bian Yuqing would soon be going into seclusion to attempt her breakthrough to Open Heaven, and that the Void Land would be placed under her temporary management in the meantime. Mo Mei nodded in agreement.
After casually checking on the financial situation of the Star Boundary, Yang Kai finally departed.
He didn't dare stay long at the Void Land. The day after seeing off the Honghu, he exchanged a few words with Bian Yuqing and set off once more, heading for the Star Boundary.
He had always intended to make that trip to the Star Boundary as soon as possible — after all, he needed to negotiate with the various Great Domains and Blessed Lands about the Creation Divine Furnace. Now that Hua Qingsi had sent word that something interesting had been discovered in a new Great Domain over there, the sooner he set out, the better.
It absolutely had nothing to do with fear of anyone!
Since he first set foot on the path, he had fought countless battles of every scale. Who could possibly make him afraid?
He made this journey to the Star Boundary alone.
Under the power of the Space Principles, he shifted through the void, making occasional use of the Heaven and Earth Temple as a waypoint. In this manner, he arrived at the Lingxiao Domain in just a month and a half.