Watching Xu Linggong's departing figure, Yang Kai frowned endlessly, vaguely sensing that the old man's words carried hidden meaning.
The shopkeeper's boy walked over at this point, beaming at Yang Kai. "That'll be a thousand wen, sir. The boss says since you've been so good for business, you won't need to pay for the table you broke."
Yang Kai's face darkened, and he felt an immediate urge to curse the heavens.
Despite his simmering frustration, he ultimately settled the bill with a single Grade Seven Yellow Crystal and left.
Upon returning to his residence from the market district, he was surprised to find Qing Kui and Su Yingxue actually waiting outside for him.
Spotting the pair, Yang Kai's eyes lit up. He hurried forward and called out, "Brother Qing Kui! Senior Sister Su!"
Qing Kui nodded, glancing left and right in a furtive manner before lowering his voice. "Let's go inside first."
As he spoke, he grabbed Yang Kai's arm and pulled him through the gate, with Su Yingxue trailing behind. Once inside the courtyard, Qing Kui anxiously urged Yang Kai to activate the protective restrictions, sealing off the interior from the outside.
Completely baffled, Yang Kai invited them both to sit and served tea before settling across from Qing Kui. "Brother Qing Kui, what's going on?"
Judging by the behavior of both Qing Kui and Su Yingxue, they seemed to be guarding against someone — but inside Yin-Yang Pass, who would they need to guard against?
Qing Kui didn't answer. He simply stared at Yang Kai, his tone grave. "You really are fearlessly reckless — ignorant of danger!"
Yang Kai was confused. "What do you mean, Brother Qing Kui?"
Qing Kui said solemnly, "Do you have any idea who that little girl at the bun shop with you was?"
Yang Kai blinked. "Just an orphan whose parents died early, with no one to look after her?" Seeing the grave expressions on both Qing Kui and Su Yingxue's faces, he was taken aback. "Could it be that the little girl's identity is something special?"
Qing Kui jabbed a finger at him, exasperated. "You — honestly, what am I going to do with you? You come to Biluo Pass and instead of keeping your head down, you just had to go and provoke her!"
Yang Kai's expression sobered instantly. He clasped his fists. "What exactly is that little girl's identity, that it concerns Brother Qing Kui so deeply? I humbly ask for your guidance."
Qing Kui glanced around once more, leaned forward, and dropped his voice to barely a whisper. "She is our Yin-Yang Pass's Ancestral Founder's —"
"The Ancestral Founder?" Yang Kai jumped in surprise, then caught himself. "That can't be right. I initially thought she might be an Open Heaven realm powerhouse, but I carefully probed her cultivation and it's only at the Void King realm. How could she be the Ancestral Founder?"
Qing Kui went rigid on the spot, his face contorted with strain, sweat beading on his forehead, the corners of his eyes twitching uncontrollably. "...The Ancestral Founder's attendant girl!"
Yang Kai hurriedly picked up his tea to wet his throat, rendered speechless. "Brother Qing Kui, stopping halfway like that could give someone a heart attack."
Qing Kui nodded heavily. "Yes — she is the attendant girl at the Ancestral Founder's side! Senior Sister, isn't that right?"
Beside them, Su Yingxue maintained her placid demeanor. "Correct."
Yang Kai came to a sudden realization. "No wonder she has Void King realm cultivation at such a young age — she's the Ancestral Founder's attendant."
Qing Kui said flatly, "Indeed. The little girl has had a hard life. Her parents passed not long after she was born. She was naturally talented and quite the beauty to boot. When the Ancestral Founder saw her, he took a liking to her and kept her by his side for personal instruction."
Yang Kai let out a soft sigh. "To receive personal instruction from the Ancestral Founder — that's quite the fortune for the little girl. Given her talent, it's only a matter of time before she accomplishes great things!"
He turned to look at Qing Kui. "By the way, what brings you here, Brother Qing?"
Qing Kui turned to Su Yingxue. "Senior Sister, why are we here again?"
Su Yingxue remained perfectly composed. "No particular reason."
Qing Kui nodded vigorously. "Right, no reason at all — just here for a friendly visit!" He looked Yang Kai up and down and let out a wistful breath. "I can't believe you've actually surpassed us. Seventh Order already."
Yang Kai smiled. "Just good fortune, really. The Ink Battlefield is an incredibly demanding place for tempering oneself, so I managed to advance. Brother Qing Kui and Senior Sister Su, your auras have both become incredibly refined — your breakthrough can't be far off either, right?"
Qing Kui flashed a proud grin. "Within twenty years."
For Open Heaven cultivators who routinely spent thousands or even tens of thousands of years in cultivation, twenty years was practically nothing. And since Qing Kui had said it so confidently, he clearly had considerable certainty.
Yang Kai offered his congratulations.
The two then asked about Qu Huashang's situation, which Yang Kai naturally filled them in on.
An hour later, they took their leave.
Shortly after departing from Yang Kai's place, Qing Kui and Su Yingxue rounded a street corner — and abruptly froze in their tracks.
Up ahead, a little girl was skipping along toward them, seemingly in excellent spirits. She wore a perfectly ordinary hair clip on her head, and in each hand she clutched a stick of candied hawthorns, one of which had already been half eaten.
And as she drew nearer, both Qing Kui and Su Yingxue were seized by a startling illusion — the entire world seemed to be receding rapidly from them, as though they had been cast into the boundless void.
In barely a moment, the little girl stood before them. Only then did the distant world abruptly rush back, granting Qing Kui and Su Yingxue solid perception once more.
Unknowingly, both had broken into a cold sweat.
The little girl stood right in front of him, looking up.
Qing Kui forced out a wretched smile.
The little girl smiled back, then suddenly sprang high into the air, hooking one small finger and flicking it gently at him.
By the time Qing Kui came to his senses, the little girl had already brushed past him, her crisp voice ringing in his ears. "Let's see if you dare run your mouth again!"
Qing Kui stood there trembling like a quail caught without shelter in the dead of winter. He and Su Yingxue turned around and held the Disciple's salute, respectfully seeing her off!