Ever since they had departed through the Void Passage, they had been concealing their identities and wandering from place to place. Later, they learned that their sect had been burned to the ground by fire, and that the Sect Leader and several Elders had vanished without a trace. Not daring to rashly return, they found a location to settle in temporarily, waiting for a better opportunity to make their next move.
That temporary stay had lasted until the present day.
They had indeed heard the news about the Yang Family's succession battle. Though they were living in seclusion, every month they would send people out to gather intelligence on all fronts. It was during one of those times that they learned of Yang Kai's true identity and the details of the succession battle.
But just as Yang Kai had said before, even though they knew about the succession battle and very much wanted to help him, it still wasn't convenient for them to go to War City.
As long as Lingxiao Pavilion's reputation as a heterodox sect remained un-cleared, going to War City would only bring unnecessary trouble upon Yang Kai.
Having lived here for over a year, although communication with the outside world was rather inconvenient, they enjoyed far fewer conflicts. Apart from the occasional demon beast that came to harass them, every member of Lingxiao Pavilion was dedicating themselves to bitter cultivation, hoping that one day they could restore the sect to its former glory!
"So you're saying you didn't know the sect has already been rebuilt?" Yang Kai waited for them to finish speaking before asking.
"The sect has been rebuilt?" Several of the uncles looked stunned.
"Mm, it should be rebuilt by now, but they don't dare to hang the sect's signboard up yet. Besides, Lingxiao Pavilion can only be considered a property that temporarily belongs to me. We'll have to wait until the sect's name is cleared before restoring things properly."
"Nephew, you've been thoughtful about this. I'm afraid only you could accomplish such a thing!" Several of the uncles saw the key point in his words and said earnestly, "Then we'll have to trouble you with this going forward."
Yang Kai nodded gently. "It's my duty as a disciple." He then asked, "What about the Sect Leader and the several Elders?"
The uncles' expressions darkened. "We have no leads for the time being. We only send a few people out each month to gather information. We don't know where the Sect Leader and the Elders actually are."
"Is that so..." Yang Kai sighed, then comforted them, "Don't worry. The Sect Leader is already above the Shenyou Realm. There are very few people under heaven who could harm him."
Hearing this news, everyone's spirits visibly lifted. They were extremely excited. Though they had heard rumors before, hearing it from Yang Kai's own mouth carried a completely different weight.
"The reason I've come is to ask all of you—uncles and fellow disciples—to return to War City with me. If there are no objections from the uncles, have the disciples pack their things and we'll set out as soon as possible."
Several of the uncles exchanged glances. One of them chuckled, "We didn't want to trouble you and put you in a difficult position. But since you've come to invite us personally, it would be rude of us to refuse. I imagine that even if we enter War City bearing the label of heterodox sect disciples, as long as we have your protection, no one would dare say anything, right?"
Yang Kai smiled coldly. "Anyone who dares to say anything won't live long!"
Only then did the uncles set aside their worries and readily agree.
"Then I'll go find... Su Yan first." Yang Kai scratched his nose.
The uncles' expressions immediately turned suggestive, and the one who had spoken before said, "Ah yes, yes, I actually forgot about that. Don't blame me, nephew." He turned and called out the door, "Su Mu!"
"Present." Su Mu responded and walked in from outside.
"Take your Brother Yang to the Ice Cavern."
"Of course." Su Mu smiled slightly and gestured to Yang Kai. "Brother-in-law, come with me."
Yang Kai cleared his throat and slowly walked out.
Shadow Nine wanted to follow, but Yang Kai stopped him.
Walking outward with just Su Mu, Yang Kai finally asked, "The Ice Cavern? What kind of place is that?"
"It's where my sister cultivates," Su Mu answered. "It's precisely because they discovered a freezing area here that's suitable for my sister's cultivation that we settled in this location temporarily. But the last time I went to see my sister, she seemed to say she was going into closed-door cultivation. I don't know if she's done yet."
"Mm, she really is in closed-door cultivation." Yang Kai nodded.
If she weren't in closed-door cultivation, why wouldn't Su Yan have come out to greet him? From dozens of li away, Yang Kai had already sensed Su Yan's presence. The Yin-Yang Joyful Art bound their bodies and souls with an indelible connection. Yang Kai could sense her, and naturally she could sense Yang Kai's presence too.
It was just that right now, Su Yan probably couldn't leave her place of cultivation immediately, which was why she hadn't appeared.
As the distance between them narrowed, Yang Kai's own True Yuan began to fluctuate with an almost uncontrollable tremor. It felt as though an invisible vortex on the other end was pulling at his energy.
That was Su Yan's power within her body!
After such a long time without practicing the Yin-Yang Joyful Art together, both of them—no matter who—craved the other's comfort desperately.
Even Yang Kai's typically calm and steady emotions gradually began to stir.
The Ice Cavern wasn't far from where everyone lived—less than three li. After only a short while, Su Mu led Yang Kai to a cave entrance from which waves of frigid air poured forth.
Even from outside, one could clearly see billows of icy mist surging from within the cave, a spectacular sight. And around this entrance, not a single blade of grass grew—the ground was frozen solid.
Su Mu had already reached the fifth level of the Zhenyuan Realm, but he halted his steps about ten zhang from the entrance and said, "Brother-in-law, you should go in yourself. That place is unbearably cold—I have no idea how it formed. Only my sister can endure it. Even the uncles can't go in."