"This Cloud-Turning Blade and Rain-Veil Sword are genuine treasures," Yin Zhiyong said, his eyes blazing with fervor as he turned the blade and sword over in his hands. "Word has it they were left behind by some expert several hundred years ago. The last time they surfaced was thirty years ago, claimed by some lone wanderer. To think they'd end up in the Meng Residence of all places!" As a cultivator himself, he naturally couldn't bear to put such treasures down.
Any ordinary person who came into possession of such divine weapons would see their strength surge by at least thirty percent, let alone a powerhouse like Yang Kai.
Moreover, with his trained eye, Yang Kai could confirm that both the Cloud-Turning Blade and the Rain-Veil Sword were authentic—not the cheap knockoffs flooding the markets.
Reluctantly sliding the blade and sword back into their sheaths, Yin Zhiyong sighed with envy. "The Family Head truly values you, Brother Yang. To gift you such treasures—hah, but then again, only someone of your caliber is worthy of this blade and sword."
The battle in which Yang Kai had guarded Eldest Miss Meng Ru had not only proven his unwavering loyalty but also showcased his superior strength. In truth, Meng Deye had previously sent trusted subordinates to investigate the battlefield. Their conclusion: fewer than ten people under heaven could single-handedly hold off a hundred bandits charging at full force and inflict that level of casualties.
With both loyalty and power, Yang Kai naturally earned Meng Deye's regard. In hand, the Cloud-Turning Blade and Rain-Veil Sword would only make him more formidable.
Duty within the inner residence was actually quite relaxed, since Meng Ru rarely ventured out and seldom strayed beyond the confines of her embroidered chambers.
Whether this was simply her nature or a lingering effect of her recent ordeal was unclear.
Either way, Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong only needed to conceal themselves in the shadows during their shifts, keeping close watch on her and guarding against any unexpected incidents.
And how many surprises could truly occur within the inner residence? Beyond the two of them serving as close protectors, additional guards lurked in the shadows as well. No untrusted person could set foot inside.
This presented Yang Kai with a problem: there was simply no way to get close to the Eldest Miss in any meaningful sense, which gave him a headache.
The battle to protect the Eldest Miss had undoubtedly left an indelible impression on her. Now, having secured a position as her personal guard through sheer luck, failing to press the advantage now could mean losing everything he had worked for.
But his current station was merely that of a guard within the Meng household, while Meng Ru was the Eldest Miss—their statuses were worlds apart. If he overstepped, he would only invite disaster upon himself.
Winning the Eldest Miss's favor would require patience and careful planning.
One day, Meng Ru was in high spirits and took her two personal maids to stroll through the garden.
Though Miss Qianxi had only recently entered the inner residence, she had somehow won the Eldest Miss's particular favor. In just about a month, she had risen to become one of Meng Ru's personal maids.
In terms of rank, she was now equal to Cui'er, though naturally their bonds with the Eldest Miss were not the same—Cui'er had grown up alongside her.
Still, Qianxi's meteoric rise made many of the inner residence maids green with envy. No one could fathom why the Eldest Miss had taken such a shine to this newcomer, Qianxi.
Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong shadowed them from the shadows without revealing themselves. The Eldest Miss and her two maids had no idea where they were concealed.
Yet Meng Ru knew that Yang Kai and Yin Zhiyong were somewhere nearby, ready to respond at a moment's notice. She had tested it before—no matter where she went, a single call would bring Yang Kai stepping out from some unassuming corner to stand before her, like her own shadow.
For several days, she had been delighted by this little game. Whenever she found even the flimsiest excuse, she would summon Yang Kai out into the open.
The result was that Cui'er's gaze toward Yang Kai grew ever more piercing!
The Eldest Miss was in a fine mood today. In fact, her spirits had been buoyant for quite some time now—the shadow of her kidnapping had faded, and a captivating smile graced her face regularly.
But she was, after all, a young lady who rarely left her chambers. After less than an hour's stroll, she was already slightly out of breath. "I'm a little tired," she said.
Cui'er replied, "Then let's head back. The wind's picking up out here—be careful you don't catch a chill."
The Eldest Miss tilted her head in thought, as if something had just occurred to her. She suddenly broke into a smile and called out softly, "Guard Yang!"
Footsteps sounded from behind. Yang Kai materialized like a phantom, stopping three zhang behind Meng Ru and cupping his fists. "Eldest Miss!"
"Oh, you're here." Meng Ru turned around, her lips pouting slightly with disappointment. "I was wondering if you might come out from over there instead. Why are you behind me?"
Cui'er noticed the girlish, youthful expression on the Eldest Miss's face and said quietly, "Eldest Miss, why did you call Guard Yang out again? He needs to stay hidden in order to protect you."
She then shot Yang Kai a glare. "You may withdraw."
The Eldest Miss said, "There's no danger inside the inner residence. Besides, Guard Yang is so capable—even if something were to happen, whether hidden or out in the open, he could protect me. Right, Guard Yang?"
Yang Kai lowered his head. "Protecting the Eldest Miss's safety is my duty."
"That's enough. The Eldest Miss knows of your loyalty. Withdraw now." Cui'er waved her hand.
Yang Kai remained in place. "Does the Eldest Miss have instructions?"
"Mm." Meng Ru nodded cheerfully. "I want to learn martial arts. Will you teach me?"
Cui'er was startled. "Eldest Miss, you want to learn martial arts? You've never been interested in them since you were little!"
Meng Ru smiled. "That was when I was little. Now is now."
Cui'er pressed on, "But Eldest Miss, wouldn't it be too late to start now? You wouldn't get anywhere with it. And learning martial arts means..."
Meng Ru cut her off. "I'm not trying to achieve anything spectacular. I just want to build my body up. Doesn't everyone say martial arts make you stronger? I only walked around for a little while and I'm already exhausted—it must be because my body is weak. And last time, I could barely lift a sword. It nearly slipped from my hands. If I learned martial arts, that wouldn't happen. And if I ever do run into real danger again, I'd at least have some ability to protect myself."