Outside Xia Ningshang's room, the heavyset Chang Bao was berating Yang Kai face to spit flying everywhere.
"Miss Xia hasn't set foot outside her room in half a month, and she hasn't been refining pills either. You really are a sinner!" Hong Fang also scolded him without any restraint.
Kong Ruoyu snorted coldly. "As a man, you ought to give your woman a sense of security and reliability, not make her heartbroken. You're passable as the master of the Nine Heavens Holy Land, but as an ideal husband, you fall far short."
Even Du Wan, who had the best relationship with Yang Kai, hurriedly spoke up. "Think of something to cheer her up quick. Don't let her be too sad."
At that moment, all five Grand Masters seemed to have taken Xia Ningshang's side, staunchly defending her and pointing their collective spears at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai stood there like a wooden statue.
He hadn't expected that Little Senior Sister's relationship with the five Grand Masters had gotten this good.
He still remembered how, back when the five Grand Masters first arrived at the Holy Land, they had shamelessly insisted on staying to watch him refine pills, hoping to learn the art of alchemy from observation.
During that period, he had earned the five Grand Masters' respect.
Who would have thought that now, in the five Grand Masters' hearts, Xia Ningshang's status far surpassed his own?
"Uh…" Yang Kai opened his mouth, but before he could utter a single word in his own defense, Hong Fang cut him off.
Hong Fang eyed him sideways and said displeasedly, "Kid, I heard you're dead set on heading to the Starry Sky this time to chase after some woman. What kind of woman could possibly compare to Miss Xia?"
"Exactly! Miss Xia is already the finest girl under heaven. Don't be eyeing what's in the pot while you've got what's in the bowl."
"Miss Xia is kind-hearted, gentle as water, understanding, innocent and adorable. I just can't figure out what she sees in a little scoundrel like you?"
Another barrage of scolding rained down, leaving Yang Kai utterly speechless.
"Miss Xia, don't be sad anymore!" Kong Ruoyu suddenly called out toward the room. "A fickle man like that isn't worth keeping around. Another day I'll introduce you to someone — he may not measure up to Yang Kai, but he's still a dragon among men."
Yang Kai's face darkened, and he said coolly, "Elder Kong, if you don't want anything bad to happen to that man, you'd better not bring him to the Holy Land."
Kong Ruoyu glared at him. "What? You're allowed to be fickle, but Miss Xia can't be choosy?"
"That's not what I meant…" Yang Kai felt it was nearly impossible to explain himself. He truly had no idea why these five Grand Masters had nothing better to do than meddle in matters of the heart.
Creak…
The door opened, and from the darkness, Xia Ningshang appeared before everyone. Her beautiful eyes shone like stars, without a trace of impurity.
But everyone keenly noticed that her eyes were slightly red and swollen.
"Stop saying bad things about Junior Brother…" Xia Ningshang's voice was faint as a mosquito's buzz. She gave Yang Kai a lingering look, bit her thin lip, and said, "Besides, the person Junior Brother is going to find is Senior Sister Su Yan. Senior Sister is wonderful."
"Oh, my dear girl, you've finally come out!" Chang Bao cried out, wiping the anxious sweat from his forehead as he fussed over Xia Ningshang with warm concern.
"Junior Brother, come inside and talk," Xia Ningshang tugged Yang Kai by the hand and pulled him into the room.
Yang Kai turned around and forced a smile at the five Grand Masters. "Grand Masters, please get some rest early!"
Without waiting for their reply, he hastily shut the door.
"That brat…" Hong Fang bumped into the closing door, surprised, then broke into a helpless laugh.
"Well, now that Yang Kai has stepped in, everything should be fine," Du Wan chuckled. "Let's all go back and rest."
The Grand Masters were all seasoned veterans; they naturally understood the bitterness in Xia Ningshang's heart. Their harsh scolding of Yang Kai just now had been meant to stir Xia Ningshang's sympathy and coax her out.
They were young, after all. As long as they opened their hearts and talked things through, everything would work out.
Inside the room, once the five Grand Masters had gradually departed, Yang Kai looked at Xia Ningshang with a face full of guilt.
"I'm going to find Su Yan. I was planning to tell you as soon as I got back," he said carefully.
"I know!" Xia Ningshang nodded gently. "I won't stop you. I'm just… a little reluctant to let you go."
As she spoke, a misty haze of tears welled up in her eyes once more, and she threw herself into Yang Kai's arms, burying her head in his chest.
Her tears soaked through Yang Kai's shirt. Xia Ningshang's voice drifted out. "Don't worry about things here. You must find Su Yan and bring her back."
"Mm." Yang Kai nodded firmly. With the beauty's soft body pressed against him, the two of them closely entwined, feeling the suppleness and warmth of her figure — and yet, for once, not a single stirring of desire crossed Yang Kai's mind. All he felt was a deep reluctance to part and a heavy sense of guilt.
As though she had sensed his inner turmoil, Xia Ningshang whispered softly, "You don't need to feel guilty. Because I know that if Master had taken me to the Starry Sky, you would have come looking for me too, wouldn't you?"
"Of course." Yang Kai held her tighter, feeling gratified by his Little Senior Sister's understanding.
"And I also believe you'll definitely find her." Xia Ningshang suddenly raised her head, her beautiful eyes curving into crescent moons.