The Hall of Spirit Nourishment. Yang Kai sat in the seat of honor, with Shan Qingluo and Biluo standing at his left and right like two handmaidens — spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, a feast for the eyes.
Several elders of Ancient Cloud Island sat below them in attendance, every one of them looking stiff and uncomfortable, eyes fixed straight ahead, sitting ramrod straight.
A maidservant brought fragrant tea. The elders exchanged a few pleasantries, then noticed that Yang Kai didn't seem inclined to talk much, and one by one they lapsed into an awkward silence.
The soundless, eerie atmosphere weighed on everyone like a crushing pressure. They all stared longingly toward the door, their Divine Sense spread wide, silently praying for Han Zhao's early return.
They waited for a full two hours, and Han Zhao still hadn't shown up.
The elders felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, palms and the soles of their feet slick with sweat, yet they had no choice but to tough it out and sit there waiting.
Outside the hall doors, Gu Feng was peeking around cautiously, his face still drained with lingering fear. His expression was hesitant and conflicted — deeply unsettled. Earlier, he had harbored lustful thoughts toward Shan Qingluo, only to be sent flying by a single strike from her, nearly passing out on the spot. He'd swallowed a bellyful of seawater. Only after making it back to Ancient Cloud Island did he learn that the woman had already entered the Hall of Spirit Nourishment.
Unable to figure out who she really was, Gu Feng didn't dare barge in. He cursed himself inwardly over and over, blaming himself for being blind — how could he have dared to harbor thoughts about a woman like that?
Just as he wavered in uncertainty, Gu Feng suddenly sensed two auras approaching rapidly.
He looked up and saw Han Zhao flying alongside Li Yuanchun of the Grand Origin Sect.
Gu Feng was overjoyed. A look of reverent adoration spread across his face. Before he could even open his mouth to greet Li Yuanchun, the other man let out an angry roar: "Gu Feng! You've got some nerve!"
"Huh?" Gu Feng was dumbfounded, not understanding why this senior from the Grand Origin Sect was confronting him like this the very first second.
In a blur, Li Yuanchun appeared before him and, reaching out one hand, slapped him a dozen times in rapid succession. The crisp cracks echoed through the air. Gu Feng's head spun; his face swelled up, nose and cheeks a mess of bruises.
"Hmph! That's just a small lesson." Li Yuanchun's expression was cold and severe. "How you'll ultimately be dealt with depends on that young master's mood. You'd better pray you live to see the sun tomorrow!"
"Senior Li…" Gu Feng held his swollen cheek, staring at Li Yuanchun in bewilderment. In his mind, if Li Yuanchun had come to Ancient Cloud Island, surely he would have been on their side. After all, they were all people of the overseas territories.
With Li Yuanchun standing against that bewitching woman, she wouldn't be able to cause any real trouble.
Yet Li Yuanchun had come up and beaten him half to death right off the bat, almost knocking him senseless.
Even after being treated this way, Gu Feng couldn't summon the slightest trace of resentment. Because in the overseas territories, the Grand Origin Sect was the most powerful sect. The three Shenyou-realm experts of the Grand Origin Sect were legendary figures abroad — ordinary people could hardly even get a glimpse of them. The fact that Li Yuanchun had personally set foot on Ancient Cloud Island today was already granting the island an enormous honor.
Han Zhao watched this seemingly absurd and laughable scene unfold before him, yet couldn't bring himself to laugh at all. His emotions churned violently.
Just moments ago, he had gone to the Grand Origin Sect to request Li Yuanchun's help. Just as he'd expected, he was stopped at the sect's entrance. No matter how eloquently he pleaded, the Grand Origin Sect disciples refused to let him in.
Left with no other option, Han Zhao had tried to force his way through — and was instantly subdued by the sect's elite cultivators.
The commotion finally caught the attention of the Grand Origin Sect's elders. Han Zhao explained the whole situation, and someone who knew the truth immediately untied him and hurriedly summoned Li Yuanchun.
Among the group of overseas cultivators who had traveled to Zhongdu, there had been no disciples from Ancient Cloud Island. Their sect's treasure — the Metamorphosis Moon-Breaking Art — had long since been found, so there was naturally no need to go to Zhongdu. However, that group had included people from the Grand Origin Sect.
The people of Ancient Cloud Island didn't know Yang Kai and Shan Qingluo's identities. The Grand Origin Sect people did.
The moment Li Yuanchun heard that Yang Kai had arrived, he came flying over in a frantic hurry. Along the way, he kept berating Han Zhao for rambling incoherently and failing to highlight the key points, nearly causing a disaster.
Seeing Li Yuanchun's grave and earnest demeanor, Han Zhao finally realized just how extraordinary Yang Kai and Shan Qingluo's identities truly were.
Now even their own island master had been beaten — that showed how much weight the man and woman carried in Li Yuanchun's eyes.
Who on earth were they? To make Senior Li treat this matter with such extreme seriousness?
"Get in here, you worthless fool!" Li Yuanchun roared angrily, striding toward the Hall of Spirit Nourishment.
Gu Feng clutched his cheek without a word, following behind Li Yuanchun with a look of utter grievance.
Han Zhao sniffed and followed as well.
Inside the hall, everyone had already heard the commotion from outside. The Ancient Cloud Island elders' expressions were awkward and grim, but since it was Li Yuanchun who had beaten the island master, they naturally dared not harbor any ill will.
When they looked at Yang Kai and Shan Qingluo again, however, their expressions involuntarily became solemn and respectful.
Yang Kai actually found it rather amusing. Li Yuanchun's thorough thrashing of Gu Feng was clearly meant to help vent some of his anger on his behalf — and also to protect Gu Feng. Because Li Yuanchun knew his temperament; it was entirely possible that, over this matter, he might just wipe out every last member of Ancient Cloud Island.