Everyone thought that Meng Ru was just learning martial arts for fun, which was why she pestered her personal bodyguard to teach her. After she became exhausted and lost interest in it, she would give it up.
Therefore, after she persevered for a few days, the women in the inner court were shocked, including her maidservant Cui’er.
Every day, the Eldest Young Lady would get out of her bed before the sky turned bright. Unlike in the past when she would dress up patiently, she just had to tie up her hair and put on some tight-fitting clothes now before heading to the courtyard with a wooden sword. Yang Kai would always be waiting for her there.
She would be soaked in sweat every day, but she was still high-spirited. Even just by monotonously wielding her sword, she increasingly became better with the movements.
The two maidservants were asked to learn martial arts as well. The main reason was that the Eldest Young Lady was annoyed by Cui’er, who always tried to stop her from practising. If Cui’er could learn with her, perhaps she would keep her mouth shut.
However, not everyone had the Eldest Young Lady’s perseverance.
Cui’er gave it up barely two days later. Other than the fact that the moves were monotonous, her entire figure would ache every day. Although she was a maidservant, she grew up with the Eldest Young Lady and enjoyed the finer things in life. She had never gone through such hardship before.
With that said, after she gave it up, she rarely dissuaded the Eldest Young Lady from learning martial arts again. Perhaps she no longer had the nerve to do so.
On the other hand, even though Qian Qian appeared timid, she had impressive willpower.
Moreover, Yang Kai discovered that she was just as talented as the Eldest Young Lady when it came to learning martial arts.
Time went by quickly as he taught martial arts with an ulterior motive while the two women learned attentively.
Two months had passed. Yang Kai and the Eldest Young Lady had become much closer to each other through their contact every day. He could clearly notice that whenever the Eldest Young Lady looked at him, her gaze was filled with a sense of longing. Only when a woman was in love with a man would she gaze at him in such a way.
Back then, after he risked his life to save her, she started treating him favourably. The contact and guidance over the past few months had just pulled them closer to one another.
Yang Kai had a feeling that he was close to breaking Senior Sister Qu’s Heart Barrier, but he had no idea how much more he had to do before he could succeed. He could only play it by ear now; after all, he didn’t have similar experiences that he could refer to. This Samsara World had its own rules.
One day, after Yang Kai was done teaching the Eldest Young Lady, Cui’er came over with a wet towel and helped wipe her face. All of a sudden, the Eldest Young Lady said, “Guard Yang, I’m leaving the city tomorrow. Please come with me.”
Yang Kai became startled for a moment before nodding, “Yes.”
He had no idea why the Eldest Young Lady was leaving the city. Since she returned to the Meng Manor some time ago, she had never left her residence. She would only take a stroll in the garden at most.
She must have a matter to attend to for leaving the city. However, as a private guard, he wasn’t in a position to ask her anything.
“Is there anything I need to prepare?” Yang Kai asked.
“No, you just have to follow me.” The Eldest Young Lady forced a smile, “I’m a little tired now, so I’ll get some rest. Please rest early as well, Guard Yang.”
Yang Kai nodded his head and stepped back into the darkness.
The next day, the Eldest Young Lady was dressed in some simple clothes. A carriage was ready outside the Meng Manor. Besides that, there were a group of personal bodyguards with sabres who would escort her.
Yang Kai and Yin Zhi Yong were on either side of the carriage.
Beside Yang Kai was Qian Qian while Cui’er was leading the way at the front.
With his left hand on his hilt, Yang Kai looked around to prevent any ill-intentioned people from coming near. Although the crisis caused by the bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak had been resolved previously, he had no idea whether the Meng Manor had dealt with those from Hidden Treasure Peak in any way recently.
He had to be ready for a fight at any moment.
There was one time when he turned his head, he realised that Qian Qian was looking at him.
He nodded at her and put on a smile. In an instant, Qian Qian started blushing and hung her head low. She lost her balance and almost stumbled over.
A dextrous Yang Kai quickly took her arm, “Watch out!”
A flustered Qian Qian retracted her arm and said in a small voice, “T-Thanks.”
Yang Kai flashed a smile at her. He was pleased with this maidservant who was timid but hardworking. She was unlike the annoying Cui’er, who loved to boss others around just because she was the Eldest Young Lady’s trusted maidservant.
“What happened?” The Eldest Young Lady lifted the curtain and revealed her alluring face. She must have heard the noise just now.
“Nothing,” Yang Kai shook his head.
The Eldest Young Lady shot him a doubtful look and gazed at the blushing Qian Qian before snorting, “Don’t bully Qian Qian. If you do, I won’t let you off.”
“I would never dare to!” Yang Kai secretly smiled in a helpless manner, thinking that the Eldest Young Lady was the one he wanted to bully; however, he couldn’t say such a thing for the time being as he was just a personal bodyguard.
The Eldest Young Lady pretended to be fierce and showed him her fist before letting the curtain down.
A moment later, she was heard saying in a melancholic voice, “It’s the anniversary of my Mother’s death. I visit the Gratitude Shrine to pray for her every year.”
It was only then that Yang Kai found out why the Eldest Young Lady was leaving the city. Gratitude Shrine was more than a dozen kilometres away from the city where a lot of believers would pray to the Heavens.
Shrines were rarely seen in the 3,000 Worlds. There were no shrines in the Universe Worlds where Yang Kai had stayed before. With that said, he was aware of such places.
It had something to do with a kind of faith.
Furthermore, over the past couple of months, Yin Zhi Yong had given Yang Kai some information about the Meng Manor.
Although Meng Ru was the Eldest Young Lady, she wasn’t a legitimate child. Her Mother wasn’t Meng De Ye’s Wife; instead, the two apparently got to know each other when they were still very young.
Even though Meng De Ye had many Wives, he loved this woman, who had started following him since childhood and would never leave him, the most.
Unfortunately, she didn’t enjoy a long life. She passed away when the Eldest Young Lady was still a young child.
Perhaps Meng De Ye felt guilty as well as a sense of longing, so he doted on Meng Ru the most out of all his children. Despite the fact that she was pretty mature now, he had never forced her to marry anyone.
In this Samsara World, women who were still not married by the age of twenty-six or twenty-seven would be treated like jinxes.
However, the Eldest Young Lady was still doing perfectly well in the Meng Manor, which was a wealthy family to begin with. Despite the fact that she was a noble lady, Meng De Ye still allowed her to learn martial arts.
Gratitude Shrine was more than a dozen kilometres away from White Jade City where there were a lot of believers. While going up the mountain, they saw a lot of people walking along the path. Seeing the formation of the Meng Manor, these people would move to the sides.
The ordinary people would never dare to offend those from the Meng Manor.
One hour later, they arrived at the peak. Yang Kai looked up and saw a magnificent shrine.
In front of them stood an old monk with a scar on his head who was clad in a simple robe. Apparently, he had been informed in advance that the Eldest Young Lady from the Meng Manor was coming over.
Meng Ru and the old monk obviously knew one another; after all, she would visit Gratitude Shrine once every year. After getting out of the carriage, she saluted the old monk and followed him to enter the shrine.
The personal bodyguards followed her closely. After exchanging glances with Yin Zhi Yong, Yang Kai hid among the crowd.
While one of them was conspicuous, the other was hidden. Moreover, with the protection of other personal bodyguards from the Meng Manor, there were no worries about Meng Ru’s safety.
After following the old monk to an altar where ceremonial lamps were placed, Meng Ru poured some oil into it for her Mother and headed to another Grand Hall where she would light some incense sticks, pray, and perform divination with sticks.
Suddenly thinking of something, Meng Ru cheered up instantly and put on a smile.
After walking around for a bit, she was a little tired, so she found a stone pavilion and had a seat. Cui’er quickly fished out the cakes and tea she had prepared earlier while the personal bodyguards dispersed and guarded the stone pavilion.
Inside the stone pavilion, Meng Ru was having a joyous chat with the maidservant while looking around. She was a little disappointed when she didn’t see the person she had been longing for; however, when she thought of the fact he would protect her at any moment, she became at ease.
Right then, a young man clad in white clothes was sauntering towards them. He was followed by a servant who had a sword in his hand.
He was a tall and handsome young man who sported a harmless smile. There was no doubt that he was a gentle and good-looking nobleman.
When Cui’er caught a glimpse of the young man, she could not move her eyes away from him again.
“Stop right there! The Eldest Young Lady of the Meng Manor is resting here,” The responsible personal bodyguards tried to stop them from coming closer.
Despite the fact that the young man was a noble, he wasn’t infuriated at their rudeness. He just cupped his fist and said with a smile, “Please tell the Eldest Young Lady that Feng Cheng Si of the Feng Family would like to see her.”
The personal bodyguards were shocked as they finally recognised this young man and they quickly put away their arrogance.
Despite his gentle voice, Meng Ru could hear him as she wasn’t far from him to begin with. When she heard the name Feng Cheng Si, she turned her head and appeared surprised. Then, she beckoned to Cui’er and spoke to her in a small voice.
Cui’er nodded and walked up to Feng Cheng Si before saluting him in an elegant manner, “Young City Lord, our Young Lady would like to see you.”
Feng Cheng Si smiled and nodded his head, “Many thanks.”
Cui’er stole a glance at him and hung her head low with a blushing face.
After leading him to the stone pavilion, she stood behind Meng Ru.
Meng Ru examined Feng Cheng Si and put on a smile, “It’s really you, Young City Lord. Why are you here?” It wasn’t the first time they met each other. Previously, when she was in danger, it was Yang Kai who stood in front of her and became exhausted from fending off all the enemies while in the end, Feng Cheng Si came to the rescue with the soldiers from White Jade City.
Nevertheless, Meng Ru was concerned about Yang Kai on the way home, so she wasn’t in the mood to talk to Feng Cheng Si.
Feng Cheng Si replied with a smile, “The weather is lovely today, so I decided to leave home for a walk. I didn’t expect to see you here, Little Sister Ru. What a coincidence.”
Meng Ru reckoned that he was older than she was, and he had done her a favour previously, so she only felt awkward but not disgusted by the fact that he called her ‘Little Sister Ru’.
With a smile, she said, “I should have personally thanked you for helping to save me previously, but I haven’t had a chance to do so. Please don’t take offence, Young City Lord.”
“It was all thanks to the personal bodyguard from the Meng Manor. This Feng didn’t really do anything, so I don’t deserve your gratitude.” Feng Cheng Si put on a faint smile.
Meng Ru shook her head, “Young City Lord, if you hadn’t come to the rescue in time, the consequences would have been dreadful.” Seeing that he was still standing, she quickly invited him to have a seat.
Feng Cheng Si thanked her and elegantly took a seat.
They went on to have a chat in a joyful manner.
One hour later, Meng Ru appeared fatigued, so Cui’er promptly said, “Eldest Young Lady, it’s getting late now, so we should head home; otherwise, the Patriarch will be worried about you.”
Following a nod, Meng Ru rose from the seat and bid Feng Cheng Si farewell. The latter didn’t make her stay as he watched them leave.
It wasn’t until Meng Ru and her personal bodyguards were out of sight that Feng Cheng Si put on a smile and called out, “Junior Brother Yang!”
The sword-holding young man beside him appeared doubtful as he had no idea why the Young Master suddenly shouted at the air. Just when he wanted to ask him about it, a figure emerged from the shadow all of a sudden like a phantom. He wasn’t even aware of his presence this whole time.
Flabbergasted, the sword-holding young man dexterously hid behind Feng Cheng Si and stuck out his head before yelling, “Who are you!?”
Ignoring him, Yang Kai stared at Feng Cheng Si and cupped his fist, “Senior Brother Feng!”
As their eyes met, there seemed to be sparks flying in the air.
The sword-holding young man appeared puzzled. Judging from the way the Young Master and this strange man called each other, they seemed to be Fellow Brothers; however, at this moment, they appeared to be in a conflict for some reason.
What made the sword-holding young man feel even more perplexed was that this man surnamed Yang was apparently a personal bodyguard from the Meng Manor, so how was it possible that he and the Young City Lord were Fellow Brothers?
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Junior Brother Yang. We’ve finally met each other. You’re indeed a handsome man,” Feng Cheng Si flashed a smile at him.
“Many thanks for the compliment, Senior Brother,” Yang Kai replied dispassionately.
Sensing his impassiveness, Feng Cheng Si said with a frown, “It wasn’t my idea to come into this world; however, since I’ve received the order from my Honoured Master, I have to do my best. Please forgive me if I’ve offended you in any way.”
Yang Kai nodded, “We’ll do our best in our own ways, then. However, I still have to persuade you to quit as early as possible so that you’ll be spared the embarrassment.”
Feng Cheng Si asked with a smile, “Do you have so much confidence in yourself, Junior Brother?”
Yang Kai lifted his head and replied arrogantly, “Don’t you get it? I’m very close to her now.”
He found it somewhat laughable that he was competing against another man to win over a woman’s heart.
Feng Cheng Si said, “I’m fully aware of the advantages you have, but you’d better not underestimate me. I have my own advantages as well.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it, then,” Yang Kai turned around and disappeared into the darkness.
A moment later, the sword-holding young man, who was hiding behind Feng Cheng Si, looked around curiously, “Young Master… is that ghost gone?”
An annoyed Feng Cheng Si knocked on his head, “What nonsense are you spouting? We’re heading back now!”
“Yes!” The sword-holding young man responded as he kept looking back at the stone pavilion, as though a sabre-and-sword-wielding ghost would reappear at any moment.
Yang Kai would soon find out what Feng Cheng Si’s planned to do. That guy showcased his advantage with just one move and forced Yang Kai onto the defensive.
The day after they returned from Gratitude Shrine, the Eldest Young Lady and Qian Qian were learning martial arts from Yang Kai when Cui’er rushed over with an excited expression and shouted, “Eldest Young Lady! Eldest Young Lady! Something major has happened!”
Meng Ru, who was wielding the wooden sword, was shocked as she stopped what she was doing and looked at her; however, upon seeing Cui’er’s expression, she glared at her, “Why are you shouting? I was frightened.”
Cui’er stood in front of the Eldest Young Lady and stuck out her tongue before saying in a hushed voice, “Eldest Young Lady, something major has really happened.”
“What’s the matter?” Meng Ru asked with a frown.
While trying to be mysterious, Cui’er glanced at her and replied, “It’s something great.”
A helpless Meng Ru rapidly extended her hand and pinched the other woman’s waist, “How dare you keep me on tenterhooks? Are you going to tell me or not?”
Cui’er giggled and begged for mercy, after which Meng Ru let her off.
Qian Qian picked up a towel and passed it to Meng Ru, who wiped her face with it and listened attentively.
It was then that Cui’er said, “Those from City Lord’s Mansion have sent us several gift carts. It’s said that the Young City Lord is proposing marriage.”
Meng Ru froze for a moment before taking a glance at Yang Kai with anxiety and asking nervously, “Propose marriage? What are you talking about?”
Cui’er replied with a smile, “What else could it be? It’s the marriage between you and the Young City Lord. You saw him yesterday. He’s handsome and good at martial arts. Moreover, he’s wealthy and mild-tempered. Everything about him is good. He’s a perfect match for you…”
An anxious Meng Ru asked, “Did my Father agree to it?”
Cui’er shook her head, “I have no idea, but the Patriarch looks pleased. He’s having a chat with the Young City Lord in the Reception Hall right now.”
Upon hearing that, Meng Ru quickly tossed the towel away and sprinted off.
A shocked Cui’er asked, “Where are you going, Eldest Young Lady?”
Meng Ru ignored her. Nevertheless, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and stood there for a moment before turning around. With a conflicted expression, she gazed at Yang Kai, “Guard Yang, I’m a little tired now, so let’s call it a day.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Since you’re tired, you should get some rest, Eldest Young Lady.”
Following that, Meng Ru shuffled into her room and closed the door.
All of a sudden, Cui’er glared at Yang Kai, her eyes full of hostility.
One hour later, the Meng Family Patriarch Meng De Ye arrived at the inner court and entered Meng Ru’s room. It wasn’t certain what the conversation was about, but when he left the room, he shook his head and sighed in a helpless manner.
Cui’er followed him, but she was soon captured by the Patriarch’s personal bodyguard and brought to Meng De Ye.
She could be completely at ease in front of the Eldest Young Lady; after all, they grew up together, so they were as close as Sisters. However, in front of the Patriarch, she would never dare to cross the line.
That was because there were initially three other girls who grew up with the Eldest Young Lady, but eventually, she was the only one left.
The Eldest Young Lady was innocent and kind-hearted, so she thought that the three maidservants had found decent Husbands. Nevertheless, Cui’er knew that they had already lost their lives.
While working for the Eldest Young Lady, one might be killed for making even a small mistake.
Kneeling in front of the Patriarch, Cui’er was trembling, “Patriarch, there’s something I need to tell you.”
With his hands behind his back, Meng De Ye said impassively, “Speak.”
After hesitating for a moment, Cui’er replied in a shaking voice, “I’m not sure if I’m mistaken, but the Eldest Young Lady… She seems to have developed some feelings for Guard Yang.”
Then, she quickly added, “I don’t know if it’s just a misunderstanding. I’m not certain about anything.”
The Patriarch didn’t respond in any way; however, Cui’er knew that it was how the Patriarch reacted when he was furious, so she became increasingly anxious.
A moment later, the Patriarch asked, “When did you discover it?”
A terrified Cui’er replied, “After the Eldest Young Lady was rescued.”
Meng De Ye questioned, “It has been months since she was rescued. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Cui’er pressed her head against the ground, “I wouldn’t dare to!”
“You wouldn’t dare to?” Meng De Ye sneered, “Cut her into pieces to fertilize the plants!”
Cui’er felt her entire figure turning limp. It wasn’t until two personal bodyguards took her arms and dragged her out of the place that she started begging for mercy, “Please have mercy on me, Patriarch! Please spare my life! I’m the only long-time maidservant by the Eldest Young Lady’s side now. If I’m killed, she’ll be sad!”
Her words just barely saved her. After receiving an instruction, the two personal bodyguards dropped her.
Meng De Ye’s voice could be heard saying from a distance, “Watch over the Eldest Young Lady and inform me immediately whenever something happens. If anything goes wrong again, I will personally kill you!”
Cui’er hurriedly agreed. When she looked up, there was no one in front of her.
After that day, the Eldest Young Lady was back to her usual self. Yang Kai didn’t ask how the Young City Lord’s proposal was dealt with, but Yin Zhi Yong had found out quite a bit of information.
In fact, the Young City Lord had personally come over to propose marriage, and Meng De Ye was apparently pleased with him; after all, Feng Cheng Si was of noble background and was a perfect match for the Eldest Young Lady of the Meng Family.
Meng Ru was not getting any younger, and it was impossible for her to stay in the Meng Manor forever. If there was a suitable man for her, Meng De Ye wouldn’t reject him.
Nevertheless, Meng De Ye didn’t seem to have given a positive reply regarding the proposal.
This made Yin Zhi Yong realise that the Patriarch truly treasured the Eldest Young Lady. Even in families that were wealthier than the Meng Family, the parents held the right to make an arrangement for their children’s marriages, not to mention in ordinary families. Rarely would any woman decide for herself what man she wanted to marry.
However, in the Meng Family, the Eldest Young Lady had the final say in this matter, and even the Patriarch, who was known to be iron-fisted, didn’t try to force her.
With that said, Yang Kai clearly noticed that there were now more people who were hidden around the Eldest Young Lady’s residence. Other than paying close attention to the Eldest Young Lady, they were also watching over him.
Recently, Cui’er had been acting weirdly as well. In the past, he could sense that she detested him, but it seemed to have turned into resentment now.
She could barely contain the hatred in her eyes.
Yang Kai had a feeling that something was amiss.
One day, Yang Kai and Yin Zhi Yong were told to see the Patriarch.
Inside the Grand Hall, Meng De Ye gazed at them and said, “I have some goods that have to be sent to Great Abundance City tomorrow. These goods are extremely important, so I want you two to escort them.”
Upon hearing that, Yin Zhi Yong was startled, “What about the Eldest Young Lady?”
He and Yang Kai were the Eldest Young Lady’s personal bodyguards, so supposedly, they would have to send goods to another city. Hence, he was puzzled by Meng De Ye’s order.
Meng De Ye replied, “I’ve made arrangements for her, so you don’t have to worry about her.” He paused for a moment, “She’ll marry someone sooner or later. You two are loyal to the Meng Manor. After she gets married, I’ll need you two to work in other areas. So, try getting used to it now.”
An excited Yin Zhi Yong cupped his fist, “Many thanks for trusting us, Patriarch.”
Meng De Ye waved his hand, after which they respectfully left the hall.
It would take a person about half a month to travel from White Jade City to Great Abundance City. He would pass through a lot of desolate places where bandits might appear at any moment. The average person had to be escorted by powerful cultivators if he wanted to take this journey; otherwise, he would most likely be killed.
On the other hand, this was one of the major business routes for the Meng Family. Every year, countless goods would be sent to or dispatched from the Meng Manor through this route.
There were more than twenty people who were tasked with escorting the goods this time. Other than Yang Kai and Yin Zhi Yong, who were personal bodyguards from the Meng Manor, the rest were from Grand Abundance Bureau, an armed escort service provider from White Jade City.
The chief armed escort was surnamed Guo. He was a straightforward and well-built man.
The Meng Manor had worked with Grand Abundance Bureau many times before, so they were on good terms; therefore, after accepting the order, the chief armed escort immediately made an arrangement and even personally led the best-armed escorts in the bureau to protect the goods to show that they truly valued this partnership.
The task assigned to Yang Kai and Yin Zhi Yong was simple. They just had to follow the people from Grand Abundance Bureau and escort the goods to Great Abundance City. After the other party accepted the goods, they could return.
Yin Zhi Yong had been confined to the Eldest Young Lady’s side recently. Upon leaving the Meng Manor, he was as happy as a bird that had been released from a cage. With a wine bottle in his hand, he went everywhere to look for people who could drink wine with him. Besides that, he also boasted to Yang Kai that the women in Great Abundance City were beautiful and promised to take Yang Kai to a brothel when they arrived at the destination.
The armed escorts from Grand Abundance Bureau were professional. The scouts were regularly sent out in pairs to gather information and return with useful news.
It had been peaceful for the first five days.
On the fifth day, the team had to sleep the night in a place named Upward Mound. It was an open-air area with no places for anyone to hide. It wasn’t possible for there to be any ambushes. Even if an emergency happened, it would be easy for them to flee.
Those from Grand Abundance Bureau were careful when looking for a place to rest, and after they were done with dinner, most slept while the rest stood guard.
In the middle of the night, Yang Kai awakened in shock as he caught a whiff of a metallic tang. This faint smell of blood was imperceptible to those who hadn’t had a lot of experience in battle; however, Yang Kai had experienced countless carnage in his life. Although his strength had been significantly weakened after he was incarnated into this world, he remained sensitive to the smell of blood.
Right then, the sounds of something breaking through the air rang out. In the darkness, sharp arrows broke through the sky and poured down on them like rain.
“Enemy attack!” Yang Kai got to his feet and shouted. At the same time, he picked up Yin Zhi Yong, who was sound asleep, and rolled away before hiding behind a tree.
The sounds of arrows breaking through the air were heard amidst the grunts and shrieks. After just a short moment, the armed escorts from Grand Abundance Bureau were all either killed or injured.
Yin Zhi Yong had had some wine before going to sleep, but he was completely sober at this moment and asked in horror, “What’s going on?”
There wasn’t a need for Yang Kai to answer the question. Presently, all the tents were on fire. The arrows were aflame as they turned the tents and carriages into pyres. The horses neighed in shock as the entire place descended into chaos.
The rain of arrows didn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. Yang Kai pulled a dead-armed escort towards himself and covered his body with the corpse.
Upon seeing that, Yin Zhi Yong did the same.
The arrows that poured down like rain only stopped a cup of tea later. The entire place was ablaze as all twenty armed escorts from Grand Abundance Bureau were all dead.
It wasn’t until this moment that horses were heard approaching them from a distance.
Hiding beneath a corpse, Yin Zhi Yong looked around in horror with the help of the flickering fire. More than 100 people on horses had appeared from all directions. The burly bald man at the front was holding a sabre with a hideous expression.
Yin Zhi Yong felt his heart skipping a beat, for he recognised the bald man.
The person was none other than the Head Manager of Hidden Treasure Peak!
After those from Hidden Treasure Peak barged into the Meng Manor in the middle of the night and took the Eldest Young Lady away, their Managers were put on wanted lists, and their faces became known to everyone in the city.
That was the reason Yin Zhi Yong could instantly recognise this man.
However, why were the people from Hidden Treasure Peak here? This was a route that led to Great Abundance City, which was in the south, while Hidden Treasure Peak was in the north. Those from Hidden Treasure Peak didn’t have any business in this.
Nevertheless, he didn’t have any time to ponder on it as the Head Manager wielded his sabre and shouted, “Find the corpses!”
His subordinates then dispersed and searched around.
Yin Zhi Yong had no idea what corpses they were looking for. He only knew that he would be doomed if he couldn’t come up with a solution. He turned to look at Yang Kai’s hiding place and became dumbfounded.
That was because Yang Kai was nowhere to be seen. Only the dead armed escort, who was previously used to fend off the arrows, was left behind.
[That stinking brat is too much! How could he run away without telling me!?] Yin Zhi Yong had the urge to howl in misery. He didn’t even notice that Yang Kai had left. He only knew that when he was sound asleep, Yang Kai picked him up and rolled away to dodge the first round of arrows.
Seeing that those from Hidden Treasure Peak were about to find him, Yin Zhi Yong was struggling internally between begging for mercy or fighting to the death. Right then, someone was heard exclaiming, after which something heavy thudded on the ground. The next moment, everyone was heard yelling, “Head Manager!”
“Don’t move!” The Head Manager bellowed.
Yin Zhi Yong had no idea what was going on, but with the help of the fire, he looked up and faintly saw a figure standing behind the Head Manager, holding a sharp blade to the latter’s neck.
Stirring Clouds Saber!
Yin Zhi Yong was ecstatic. Even though he couldn’t make out the person behind the Head Manager, he could recognise the incredible weapon.
After pushing the corpse away, Yin Zhi Yong, who was drenched in blood, got to his feet. His action stunned the bandits around him.
The Head Manager took a glance at him and grinned, “You two are indeed martial arts experts. I didn’t expect you to survive.”
“Thanks for the compliment.” Yang Kai’s voice was heard coming behind him. The next moment, Yin Zhi Yong saw Yang Kai sticking out his head as the latter asked, “Are you alright, Brother Yin?”
“I’m fine,” Pretending to be tough, Yin Zhi Yong wiped the blood off his face. In fact, he wasn’t injured one bit as even his skin was still intact.
“What about you, Head Manager? What should I do about you now?” Yang Kai asked impassively, not moving the sabre away.
The Head Manager chuckled, “This is how I usually hold a woman. I hadn’t expected to be embraced in such a way one day. It’s a new experience.”
Just then, a glint flashed through the weapon as two fingers were sent flying away. The Head Manager grunted while his hand, which had secretly reached for the dagger at his thigh just now, was covered in blood.
At that moment, the Head Manager turned ferocious while the bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak were agitated.
“Nothing good will ever come out of your mouth, huh? Only say something after thinking it through and don’t do anything unnecessary. My blade is pretty sharp. If I cut off something important, you won’t be able to put it back.” Yang Kai threatened him in a hushed voice, “Tell your people to back up. I’m a timid person. My hand will shake with so many people around me.”
The Head Manager sported a hideous expression, then raised his hand, “Move back 300 metres!”
The bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak exchanged glances before they stepped backwards and disappeared into the darkness.
Despite the fact that the Head Manager was held captive while his blood was dripping from where his fingers were cut, he remained calm and collected. Yin Zhi Yong couldn’t help but think that this man was really something.
“I think we can have a talk now,” the Head Manager said.
Yang Kai sheathed Stirring Clouds Saber and leaped off the horse before shuffling towards the carriages where the goods were kept.
When the Head Manager saw Yang Kai facing away from him, he had the urge to unsheathe his sabre. However, as he recalled Yang Kai’s mastery of martial arts, he stifled his urge to do so.
When he held Meng Ru captive previously, he led more than 100 bandits to launch an attack on Yang Kai. Nevertheless, a lot of his subordinates were killed while the other party persevered until the soldiers from White Jade City came to the rescue.
This time, the Head Manager was captured by Yang Kai while he was unsuspecting, which was why he became at a disadvantage.
He still couldn’t believe that those from the Meng Manor had found such a powerful guard.
“Tell me. Who told you to do this?” Yang Kai asked with narrowed eyes while standing in front of the carriage.
Upon hearing that, the Head Manager sneered, “Do we need anyone to tell us to avenge the death of Hidden Treasure Peak’s Second Manager?”
“How did you find out our route and exact location? I’m guessing you have been hiding here for more than a day.”
The Head Manager replied impassively, “That’s what we do for a living. Of course we have our own ways of gathering information.”
While facing away from him, Yang Kai said, “It was those from the Meng Manor, right?”
Upon hearing that, Yin Zhi Yong was astounded, “Little Brother Yang, what are you talking about?”
The Head Manager flashed a smile at Yin Zhi Yong, “Your Little Brother is pretty interesting. Is there something wrong with his head?”
Yang Kai unsheathed his Covering Rain Sword. As a glint flashed through his weapon, the carriage fell apart and revealed the goods inside.
When Yin Zhi Yong took a glance, he became flabbergasted, “W-What’s going on here?”
The ‘valuable goods’ that the two of them and those from Grand Abundance Bureau had been escorting were just stones placed in crates. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He quickly went over to examine the stones. In the end, he confirmed that they were just rocks with nothing else hidden inside them.
It was the same case for the other carriages.
“How could this be?” Yin Zhi Yong found it hard to accept the truth as he still had no idea what was going on.
More than twenty people from Grand Abundance Bureau had lost their lives just to protect a few carriages of stones. If not for Yang Kai’s quick response, the two of them would have perished tonight as well.
“There’s something I don’t understand.” Yang Kai turned to look at the Head Manager, “Previously, those from Hidden Treasure Peak barged into the Meng Manor in the middle of the night and kidnapped the Eldest Young Lady from the Meng Family. There were quite a few casualties on both sides, and even the Second Manager lost his life. Supposedly, those from the Meng Manor would never work with you, but this is exactly what happened. Can you tell me the reason behind it?”
The Head Manager was no longer as calm and collected as before because he felt helpless at the fact that the other party had seen through everything; however, he chose to say nothing and simply stared at Yang Kai with a grim expression.
Yang Kai held both the sabre and sword in his hands while shuffling towards him. With his gaze lowered, he said, “A person who doesn’t speak is no different from a corpse!”
The Head Manager replied grimly, “I can only tell you that I received a piece of information that you would pass through this place while escorting goods. However, the person who told me this has nothing to do with the Meng Manor.”
“Who is that person associated with, then?” Yang Kai asked while standing in front of him.
The Head Manager shook his head, apparently unwilling to reveal anything.
“Farewell, then,” As soon as Yang Kai finished speaking, he pushed out his sabre and sword at the same time. Although the Head Manager had put his guard up, he was still unable to ward off both weapons. His head was sent flying away while blood spurted out from his neck.
On the other hand, Yang Kai leaped onto a horse and picked up the dazed Yin Zhi Yong before clenching his thighs. The next moment, they galloped off in a particular direction.
After the Head Manager was killed, the bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak madly chased after Yang Kai and Yin Zhi Yong while the latter killed those who pursued them. It wasn’t until the break of dawn that they were finally safe.
Yin Zhi Yong was already soaked in blood, and there were cuts all over his figure. With that said, those were not comparable to his mental fatigue.
In front of a river, Yang Kai cupped some water with both hands and washed his face. After that, he leaned against the tree trunk and panted.
Unable to contain the doubt in his mind, Yin Zhi Yong gazed at him and asked, “Little Brother, just what is happening?”
The incident on this night was too strange. He wasn’t really a bright person, so he was unable to figure it out. He just had a feeling that he and Yang Kai were sold out.
After measuring his words, Yang Kai said, “It’s me who has dragged you into this.”
Yin Zhi Yong replied, “What are you talking about?”
“That’s really the case,” Yang Kai reiterated, “Those from the Meng Manor want me dead. That was why they told us to escort some goods and orchestrated an attack in the middle of the night.”
Yin Zhi Yong parted his lips, not knowing what to say.
They were the Eldest Young Lady’s personal bodyguards, but they were suddenly tasked with escorting some goods to Great Abundance City. However, the goods from the Meng Manor were just a bunch of stones. On the other hand, the bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak lived in the opposite direction from their route, but they had laid in ambush around this business route in advance.
Moreover, before the Head Manager’s death, he said that someone told him Yang Kai would pass by Upward Mound while escorting some goods.
All of this showed that Yin Zhi Yong had been dragged into a scheme.
“Is there a… partnership between the Meng Manor and Hidden Treasure Peak?” Yin Zhi Yong found it hard to accept the notion. It wasn’t that he was surprised that those from the Meng Manor were in contact with bandits. As a wealthy family, it was expected that those from the Meng Family had contacts in both the authorities and the underworld. Nevertheless, just like what Yang Kai had said the day before, those from Hidden Treasure Peak had kidnapped the Eldest Young Lady, so there was supposed to be a blood feud between them. Given how the Meng Family Patriarch doted on the Eldest Young Lady, there was no room for partnership between the two.
“That might not be the case.” Yang Kai shook his head, “There is something in between that connects the Meng Manor and Hidden Treasure Peak.”
Yin Zhi Yong came to his senses, “Are you saying that there is no direct partnership between the Meng Manor and Hidden Treasure Peak? Instead, there is a middleman between them?”
Yang Kai nodded, “Regardless, I’ve dragged you into this mess.”
Yin Zhi Yong still couldn’t figure it out, “But… why do those from the Meng Manor want you dead? Did you do anything wrong?”
Yang Kai shook his head as he didn’t want to explain anything. He finally understood why there were more people who were hiding around the Eldest Young Lady’s residence recently and the reason Cui’er’s gaze was filled with resentment whenever she looked at him.
It was apparent that they were the Patriarch’s spies. The fact that the Eldest Young Lady and Yang Kai were in love must have been exposed, which was why the Meng Family Patriarch wanted him dead.
There was no way Meng De Ye would allow his treasured Daughter to fall in love with a mere guard.
As for Yin Zhi Yong, he was really innocent in this matter.
Yang Kai rose to his feet and declared, “Brother Yin, you’d better leave now. Stay away from White Jade City and go to a place where the Meng Family can’t find you.”
Yin Zhi Yong was startled, “What about you?”
Yang Kai leaped onto the horse and turned around, “There’s a matter I have to settle.”
Upon finishing his words, he drove the horse to leave. Yin Zhi Yong called out to him from behind, but upon getting no reply, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and leave.
There was no way he could return to White Jade City. Those from the Meng Manor hadn’t managed to achieve their goal this time, so if he dared to show up, he would certainly lose his life. Just like what Yang Kai had said, he could only go to a place where no one would recognise him.
A few days later, a young man covered in dust passed through the city’s gates. When he looked up, he saw two new faces on the wanted list on the wall. Both of them were private guards of the Meng Manor. One of them was named Yang Kai while the other was Yin Zhi Yong.
The painter was pretty skillful as the two pictures were quite life-like.
On the wanted list, it was said that both of them were the private guards of the Meng Manor, but they had worked with the bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak and ruthlessly killed more than twenty people from Grand Abundance Bureau at Upward Mound before stealing a lot of goods that belonged to the Meng Manor. They were cold-blooded and unforgivable.
With a dispassionate expression, Yang Kai looked away and directly entered the city. He had put on a disguise, so he could easily fool the people who were looking for him.
He had lived for many years and killed countless people, so it was expected that he had learned various skills and techniques.
He wasn’t particularly good at disguising himself, and in the eyes of the experts, he must have made a lot of mistakes. However, his skill was good enough for him to deal with this kind of situation.
Nevertheless, not long after he entered the city, Yang Kai realised that he was being stalked.
This surprised him quite a bit.
When the stalker barged into the alley, Yang Kai, who had been hiding in the dark, instantly appeared and clenched his neck. The stalker was apparently shocked as he pleaded, “Please don’t kill me! I’m just following orders, and I don’t intend to harm you.”
“Who gave you the order? What are you trying to do?” Yang Kai questioned coldly.
Seeing that the stalker shook his head, Yang Kai exerted more force with his hand. The person widened his eyes in horror, but he still wouldn’t expose anything.
Just when he thought he was about to get killed, Yang Kai suddenly tossed him away.
Having just escaped from death’s door, the stalker coughed violently and panted.
“Speak. What’s going on?” Yang Kai asked.
The stalker got to his feet with difficulty and looked at Yang Kai with a terrified expression. With his head lowered, he replied, “Sir said that he wants you to follow me to another place.”
Before Yang Kai even replied to him, he went on to say, “Sir also said that you don’t have to worry about anything as he has no intention to harm you. If he wanted that, I just needed to shout loudly, and you wouldn’t be able to leave White Jade City. There’s no point in going to such trouble.”
“I would kill you before you could shout,” Yang Kai threatened.
The stalker trembled, “Even if I can’t shout, someone else will.”
“Is your Sir threatening me?” Yang Kai narrowed his eyes.
The stalker shook his head, “No, no, no! It’s just his way of showing his sincerity. That was exactly what Sir said, so please don’t blame me.”
Yang Kai was suddenly interested in the so-called Sir. After giving it a thought, he asked, “Do you know who I am?”
The stalker shook his head again, “I have no idea. I’m just following orders.”
“Lead the way, then,” Yang Kai nodded.
The Sir behind this person must be aware of Yang Kai’s identity, and he had found out that the latter had entered the city. It meant that someone could recognise him just now. Perhaps that Sir had been observing the surroundings somewhere near the city’s gates.
However, just like the stalker had said, he could expose Yang Kai’s identity by simply shouting it out loudly. By then, Yang Kai would never be able to leave White Jade City.
In that case, he could only play it by ear. He wanted to find out who was behind all this and what their intentions were.
They took countless turns as Yang Kai followed that person.
He suddenly realised that White Jade City was currently bustling with noise as the sounds of drums could be heard from time to time.
As though noticing his doubt, the person at the front said in a small voice, “In three days, the Meng Manor’s Eldest Young Lady and our Young City Lord will be getting married. It’s wonderful news for all of us in the city.”
“They’ll be married in three days?” Yang Kai was astonished upon hearing that.
“That’s right. The Young City Lord has personally proposed marriage, and the Meng Family Patriarch agreed to it. It could be said that the Meng Family has found a powerful backer.”
Yang Kai’s face fell as he realized he was one step too late. Feng Cheng Si had made a quick and decisive move.
During the encounter at Gratitude Shrine, Yang Kai said that he had a better chance of winning the Eldest Young Lady’s heart as he was close to her; however, he was soon asked to escort some goods following the Meng Family Patriarch’s order. Eventually, there was an ambush that awaited him.
Now, he had lost all his advantages while Feng Cheng Si had gained the upper hand.
He didn’t think that Feng Cheng Si was a despicable person. He had his own motives for coming to this Samsara World, so he had to do his best to achieve his goals. The person with better methods would have the last laugh.
The fact that he was ambushed should have nothing to do with Feng Cheng Si. He reckoned that it was the Meng Family Patriarch’s doing.
However, Yang Kai had no idea who the middleman between the Meng Manor and Hidden Treasure Peak was.
From Yang Kai’s perspective, he naturally wouldn’t allow the wedding to take place; however, he didn’t have enough time to come up with a solution in just three days, and he was now faced with this situation that was shrouded in mystery.
“We’ve arrived at our destination,” The man stood in front of a house and extended his hand.
Yang Kai nodded and stepped into the house, but there was no one inside.
He turned to look at the man, who appeared embarrassed, “Sir told me to bring you to this place, and there were no further instructions. He said that you’ll realise he really means no harm after you enter.”
After a moment of silence, Yang Kai went further into the house and saw a red invitation card on the table.
While feeling doubtful, he picked it up and realised that it was an invitation card from the Meng Manor. With this invitation card, he would be able to attend the Eldest Young Lady’s wedding in three days.
Yang Kai arched his brow as he felt a sense of discomfort that his intentions had been seen through.
This invitation card was apparently targeted at him. The mastermind realised his thoughts and even created an opportunity for him.
There was no doubt that this invitation card was difficult to come by as the average person wouldn’t be able to get his hands on one. Fewer than 100 people in White Jade City had the right to receive such an invitation card.
The mastermind left behind one invitation card here for him, which suggested that the person had a powerful background.
The person who led Yang Kai to this place secretly fled while the latter was going through the invitation card. Yang Kai didn’t bother stopping him.
Since the mastermind had made such an arrangement, he naturally wouldn’t harm Yang Kai in the short term. It was obvious that this person wanted Yang Kai to make a scene at the wedding. His scheme would definitely be revealed by then.
Yang Kai didn’t intend to be led by the nose as he pocketed the invitation card. In the middle of the night, he put on some dark clothes and secretly left.
He had to head to the Meng Manor to see whether he could enter the inner court and see the Eldest Young Lady.
Yang Kai had been a personal bodyguard in the Meng Manor for several months, so he was fully aware of the arrangements within the manor. He felt that he had a chance to sneak in.
However, the reality was that the security in the Meng Manor had become far stricter. He still hadn’t found a chance even after waiting for a long time, so he could only give up in the end.
In that case, he could only look for an opportunity in three days. With the invitation card, he was supposedly able to enter the Meng Manor safely. The problem was how he was going to see the Eldest Young Lady in that situation and ask her about her intentions, thus allowing him to bring her out of that place.
He had snatched a bride during a wedding before, so this was not a new experience for him. At that moment, he was torn between tears and laughter.
There was no doubt that the most noble great force in White Jade City was the City Lord’s Mansion, which ruled over several hundred thousand citizens. No one in the city would dare to be disrespectful to them.
On the other hand, the Meng Family was one of the most prestigious families in White Jade City and was extremely wealthy.
Therefore, when word got out that both parties would soon be connected through marriage, it sent a shockwave across the entire city. It was rumoured that the Meng Manor’s Eldest Young Lady was a stunning beauty that was rarely seen in the world while the Young City Lord was handsome and talented. They were undoubtedly a perfect match.
On the wedding day, the entire White Jade City was bustling with noise as countless buildings were decorated with red ornaments on the outside to celebrate the occasion.
All the citizens seemed to have been infected by the jolly atmosphere of this wedding as the entire city was engulfed in a festive atmosphere.
The team that would fetch the bride departed from the City Lord’s Mansion and headed to the Meng Manor with sounds of music playing along the way. The bridegroom, who was clad in red clothes, was riding a well-built horse, which was also decorated with red ornaments, as befits the occasion.
In the meantime, Yang Kai, who had put on a disguise, showed the invitation card at the entrance and easily got into the Meng Manor. While pretending to be taking a stroll around the grounds, he surreptitiously got closer to the inner court.
He had been a private guard in the inner court for several months, so he was fully aware of the situation inside, including the places where the personal bodyguards would hide.
Over the past few days, he had repeatedly attempted to sneak into the Meng Manor; however, due to the stricter security, he was unable to achieve his goal.
It was an important day for the Meng Manor, and they were short of staff everywhere, so although the security in the inner court remained strict, it was still within Yang Kai’s ability to grasp. Hence, it was a great chance for him.
After avoiding some of the personal bodyguards who were hiding in the dark, he flipped over a wall the height of a person and entered the inner court. He was as agile as a cat while ensuring that he made no noise. Without stopping, he made a turn and hid behind a rockery garden.
A moment later, he stepped. A private guard had been knocked out within the rockery.
Like a gecko, Yang Kai climbed up the wall and reached the roof. When he jumped down more than ten breaths later, another private guard from the inner court was knocked out on the roof.
More and more private guards were knocked out. In just a cup of tea’s time, Yang Kai had incapacitated all the private guards around the Eldest Young Lady’s residence.
After that, he headed straight to the building where the Eldest Young Lady resided.
In front of the building stood two stern-looking personal bodyguards. With their hands on the hilts of their weapons, they looked around vigilantly.
With the smell of alcohol wafting from his body, Yang Kai staggered forward and covered his mouth, as though he would throw up at any moment. This alerted the two of them.
It was apparent to them that this person was a guest at the wedding, but it puzzled them as to how he even reached the inner court. Even if he had lost his way, the personal bodyguards outside should have stopped him.
How did anyone even arrive at this place?
The two personal bodyguards exchanged glances, after which one of them raised his hand and snapped, “Stop right there! You’re not supposed to be here!”
With his hand covering his mouth, Yang Kai waved at them with his other hand. At the same time, he stumbled over and crashed into them.
The personal bodyguard who spoke earlier frowned and stepped forward in an attempt to stop this mannerless guest.
As soon as they came into contact though, the personal bodyguard froze on the spot while Yang Kai was heard throwing up.
The other personal bodyguard soon realised that something was off. Just when he was ready to go over, the drunk guest appeared right in front of him the next moment like a phantom.
His clear eyes suggested that he was not intoxicated at all.
Flabbergasted, the personal bodyguard unsheathed his sabre, but it was too late. Yang Kai hit the other person’s neck with the side of his palm. The personal bodyguard turned limp and collapsed to the ground. At the same time, the other personal bodyguard behind him fell to the ground as well.
Yang Kai let out a breath and adjusted his clothes. Then, he stepped into the building and walked up the stairs.
Although he had been a private guard in the inner court for several months, it was actually the first time he stepped into this building. He just knew that the Eldest Young Lady usually lived on the second floor.
The room door on the second floor was closed, but someone could be heard speaking in a small voice inside. It was Cui’er.
“You look stunning today, Eldest Young Lady. Don’t you agree, Qian Qian?”
The next instant, Qian Qian was heard replying in a gentle tone, “Eldest Young Lady has always been good-looking.”
Cui’er said with a smile, “But she looks especially beautiful today. It’s said that a woman looks her best on her wedding day.” As she spoke, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat, “Please stop smiling like a fool, Eldest Young Lady. You make me feel worried. What’s good about Guard Yang? He’s just a private guard in the Meng Manor. He’s not comparable to the Young City Lord at all when it comes to his status. Only the Young City Lord can give you the happiness you deserve.”
“Haha!” Meng Ru was heard laughing, “Am I smiling like a fool?”
“Yes…” Cui’er replied, “Moreover, the Patriarch said that Guard Yang had worked with the bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak. He killed many of the armed escorts and took away the Meng Manor’s goods. Now, those from the City Lord’s Mansion are hunting him down. He must have had an ulterior motive for coming to the Meng Manor all along.”
Meng Ru refuted, “The man I love is not such a despicable person. He didn’t do any of that… Furthermore, he’ll come back to look for me.”
“Are you out of your mind, Eldest Young Lady?” Cui’er was furious, “You’re getting married today, and you’ll be the Young City Lord’s Madame. He is supposed to be the only man you love.”
Meng Ru said in a calm voice, “The man I love must be a hero who will go against the entire world for me.”
“He’s being hunted down. He’ll never come back to White Jade City! Will you please wake up to reality, Eldest Young Lady?”
Just then, a creak was heard. The ladies inside the room turned their heads and saw Yang Kai, who had restored his original appearance.
The next moment, the colour drained from Cui’er’s face while Qian Qian was astonished. Only Meng Ru seemed to have expected it as she rose from the chair with a joyful smile.
She was clad in red clothes with a phoenix coronet on her head. Her beauty was out of this world.
As their eyes met, Yang Kai put on a smile. Meng Ru could see nothing else as her vision was filled by this man.
Yang Kai asked, “Will you come with me?”
Without hesitation, Meng Ru lifted her dress and dashed towards him with a joying expression.
It wasn’t until this moment that Cui’er came to her senses and exclaimed, “Eldest Young Lady!”
All of a sudden, she felt someone striking her neck, after which she collapsed to the ground.
Equally shocked, Yang Kai and Meng Ru gazed at Qian Qian, who had made a move just now.
Even Qian Qian was astounded. Although she had learned martial arts from Yang Kai for several months, she had never attacked anyone before. It was all her subconscious reaction just now, so it surprised her that she had actually knocked the other maidservant out.
With a pale face, she stammered, “I-I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
Yang Kai took a glance at her and examined the unconscious Cui’er before comforting her, “It’s fine. She’s just passed out.”
Qian Qian nodded and felt slightly at ease.
“We have to leave White Jade City as soon as possible,” Yang Kai took Meng Ru’s hand and said in a small voice.
With a contented smile, Meng Ru bowed her head, “En.”
Over the past few months, they had never expressed their love for each other or done anything that crossed the line. They only exchanged glances at most; however, at this moment, they seemed to have known each other for several lifetimes. It was as though they were able to read each other’s thoughts with just one gaze or movement.
There was no gap or obstacle between them. They seemed to be fully aware of each other’s habits like a couple who had been married for years.
After summoning her courage, Qian Qian said, “I’ll follow you, Eldest Young Lady!”
Meng Ru looked inquisitively at Yang Kai, who remained silent for a moment and nodded.
The three of them then snuck out.
The private guards around the building were still unconscious, so it was easier to leave this place than when he came in. After passing through some doors, they arrived at the back street behind the Meng Manor.
Yang Kai had already gotten a carriage ready.
After telling Meng Ru and Qian Qian to get inside, he drove the horses forward.
He had successfully brought Meng Ru out of the Meng Manor, and his next step was to leave White Jade City, which would be a little difficult. Because of the wanted list, everybody who wanted to pass through the city gates of White Jade City had to be scrutinised.
It would have been easier if he were on his own. He could just put on some disguise and walk out; however, this wouldn’t work as he now had Meng Ru and Qian Qian with him. Moreover, Meng Ru was still clad in a wedding dress, which was naturally quite conspicuous.
Everything would be fine if he could pass through the gates. If he couldn’t, he had no choice but to fight his way out. Of course, Yang Kai was certain that the soldiers at the gates wouldn’t be able to stop him.
To his surprise, when he drove the carriage and emerged from the alley, several similar-looking carriages appeared from the sides and moved forward at the same time.
It was apparent that they were leaving the city as well. Yang Kai frowned as he had a feeling that something was amiss, but at this moment, he could only follow them. The team from the City Lord’s Mansion was supposed to arrive at the Meng Manor soon, so the fact that Meng Ru had gone missing would quickly be exposed. They had to leave White Jade City before that happened.
Soon, the carriages arrived at the city gates. Just when the soldiers were ready to examine them, a coachman at the front fished out a token and waved it. Seeing that, one of the soldiers shouted, “Let them pass!”
The carriages drove past the gates without any obstacles. Yang Kai followed them and easily left.
After leaving the city, Yang Kai furrowed his brows while following the carriages. He had a feeling that it was the mysterious mastermind’s doing.
In a place that was more than a dozen kilometres away from the city, the carriages suddenly dispersed. There stood a figure in silence as though he was waiting for something.
Yang Kai’s carriage stopped in front of that person as he turned his head, “Wait a moment.”
Meng Ru grunted in response.
It was then that Yang Kai leapt off the carriage and walked up to that person before cupping his fist, “Senior Brother Feng!”
Feng Cheng Si looked smilingly at him, “You don’t look surprised at all.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I had a speculation, though I was not certain about it. Many doubts are resolved now that I see you here.”
Given his disguising technique, he was still discovered after entering White Jade City, and he was subsequently followed. The only person he could think of capable of such things was Feng Cheng Si.
The events that followed also proved that his speculation was right.
Feng Cheng Si was the Young City Lord of White Jade City, so it wasn’t surprising that he could easily get an invitation card from the Meng Manor.
After Yang Kai left the Meng Manor with Meng Ru, several carriages appeared all of a sudden to help cover him up; otherwise, his plan wouldn’t have worked out smoothly.
“Since you’re here, who is the one going over to the Meng Manor?” Yang Kai appeared puzzled.
Feng Cheng Si replied with a smile, “You’ve met him before. The brat beside me previously.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai recalled that there was a sword-holding young man who hid behind Feng Cheng Si at that time. The young man and Feng Cheng Si had similar-looking builds. Although their temperaments were different, the young man just had to put on a disguise and remain silent. The people who were not familiar with Feng Cheng Si wouldn’t find out.
Moreover, even though Feng Cheng Si was the Young City Lord, it wasn’t until recently that he returned to the city. Not a lot of people in White Jade City could recognise him, let alone be familiar with him.
No one could have expected that on his own wedding day, the bridegroom would tell his servant to dress up as him and head to the bride’s house in his place. On the other hand, he was helping another man to flee with the bride.
“Why are you doing this, Senior Brother Feng?” Yang Kai asked in puzzlement. The last time they met in Gratitude Shrine, they were pretty hostile to each other; therefore, when Yang Kai speculated that the events in the past three days had something to do with Feng Cheng Si, he couldn’t really believe it.
Feng Cheng Si didn’t directly answer his question; instead, he asked, “Do you know how long I’ve stayed in this world, Junior Brother?”
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai replied, “Martial Aunt Yu told me that you came in not long after Senior Sister Qu did. It’s supposed to have been seven or eight years now.”
Feng Cheng Si nodded, “That’s right. It’s been about eight years. During this period of time, I never stopped looking for Junior Sister Qu, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I finally found her. At that time, you were soaked in blood as you stood in front of her to protect her. Although she was discomfited, she wasn’t harmed one bit. The Samsara World is an interesting place. Since Martial Aunt Yu sent you here, she must have told you about its wonders.”
“What do you mean exactly?”
Feng Cheng Si looked smilingly at him and pointed at his own chest, “Sincerity is of utmost importance in this place. The more sincere a person is, the more likely his wish will be granted. When I came across Junior Sister Qu for the first time several months ago, I lamented that life was unfair to me. I came here several years before you did, but you were the first one to approach her and protect her. The Heavenly Way can truly be cruel. However, after giving it a thought, I realised that this was one of the wonders of the Samsara World.”
“Please enlighten me, Senior Brother,” Yang Kai said humbly.
Feng Cheng Si explained, “You came here for Junior Sister Qu. Although she has lost her memory during the reincarnation, the Heart Barrier she has set up has something to do with you; therefore, even though you’re late to the game, you could still immediately appear beside her and have a chance to win her heart. On the other hand, I’m different. I came here to execute my Honoured Master’s orders, so I haven’t managed to achieve my goal despite the fact that I’ve been here for a few years. I would have stood a chance if you had never appeared, but nevertheless, since you’re here, I can only be a foil. I suppose that was the reason I suddenly had the urge to return to White Jade City a few months back.”
Yang Kai fell into his thoughts.
Feng Cheng Si went on to say, “Sincerity will affect the events that take place in this Samsara World. Junior Sister Qu is lucky enough to have someone like you who is willing to protect her even if your life is at stake. I believe that even if you two come across the same kind of danger in the real 3,000 Worlds, you will still make the same decision and will never betray her. Therefore, in this life, it’s pointless for me to keep staying here. To do so will go against my true heart.”
Yang Kai saluted him, “Many thanks for helping us, Senior Brother.”
Feng Cheng Si waved his hand, “There’s no need to thank me. I’ve just realised what it is I should do; however, you have to work harder. Although I have no idea what kind of Heart Barrier Junior Sister Qu has set up for herself, I suppose it won’t be easy to pass the tests. If you can’t help her shatter the Heart Barrier, she’ll be lost in the Samsara Pavilion forever. If that happens, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven won’t let you off.”
“I’ll do my best to bring her out of this place safely.”
“That’s for the best,” Feng Cheng Si nodded.
“I have another thing to ask you, though.”
“Go ahead.”
Yang Kai took a glance at the carriage, “It seems that I still haven’t managed to help Senior Sister Qu shatter the Heart Barrier. What can I do to help restore her memory?”
Feng Cheng Si replied with a smile, “It’s different for everyone. In fact, you have already done more than enough, but Junior Sister Qu still hasn’t retrieved her memory. It seems that her expectations of you are quite high, so you’ll have to work harder. I’ll lend you a hand as well.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai frowned. Certainly, he would work hard, but the other man didn’t specify how much more he had to do; instead, he felt that Feng Cheng Si’s smile was somewhat ominous, especially when the latter said that he would lend Yang Kai a hand.
Yang Kai had a feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
“Also, it’s the City Lord’s Mansion that has partnered up with Hidden Treasure Peak,” Feng Cheng Si said, “It’s also the City Lord’s Mansion’s arrangement that you were attacked when escorting goods.”
“I already had such a speculation,” Yang Kai dipped his head.
Feng Cheng Si appeared surprised, “It seems that you’ve seen through everything.”
Yang Kai replied impassively, “A few months ago, those from Hidden Treasure Peak easily barged into the Meng Manor while the soldiers from the City Lord’s Mansion were unusually slow to react. That in and of itself was ridiculous. If White Jade City had always been this unsafe, the City Lord’s Mansion would have lost its authority long ago.”
Feng Cheng Si nodded, “Indeed. The Meng Family is extremely wealthy, so the City Lord’s Mansion would like to have a share of that. That’s why they worked with Hidden Treasure Peak to kidnap the Eldest Young Lady so that they could have a talk with Meng De Ye. At that time, I happened to return to White Jade City. When I heard about the matter, the first thought that came into my head was that she might be the one I had been looking for. Hence, I took the initiative to lead the soldiers to chase after the bandits; however, it was too late at that time. One night had passed since the Second Manager of Hidden Treasure Peak took the Eldest Young Lady away, so even if I ran after them, I wouldn’t have stood a chance to save her.”
He then added, “However, no one could have expected that there was an outer court’s private guard from the Meng Manor who risked his life to protect the Eldest Young Lady and persevered until the soldiers from White Jade City came to the rescue. In that case, the plan between the City Lord’s Mansion and Hidden Treasure Peak was foiled. Left with no choice, I had to personally propose marriage to the Eldest Young Lady. If we could get married, the City Lord’s Mansion would be able to get their hands on the Meng Family’s wealth given their power.”
He went on to say, “Meng De Ye is fully aware of that, but he can’t resist. Moreover, I’m a young man with a promising future, so I’m more than good enough to be his Son-in-Law, and the Eldest Young Lady is mature enough to get married. Hence, he decided to just agree to it.”
Yang Kai nodded as everything was just like what he had speculated.
The connection between the Meng Manor and Hidden Treasure Peak was the City Lord’s Mansion, which was why Feng Cheng Si was aware of what was going on behind the scenes.
After agreeing to the proposal, Meng De Ye told Yang Kai and Yin Zhi Yong to escort some goods to another city while the Meng Manor provided some information to those from City Lord’s Mansion, who would then contact Hidden Treasure Peak in order to have the two of them killed.
Nevertheless, no one could have expected that Yang Kai wasn’t a native in this world; instead, he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who was incarnated into this place, so he had some skills and strength that were simply unimaginable to others here.
“Many thanks for enlightening me, Senior Brother,” Yang Kai cupped his fist. It wasn’t until this moment that he figured out the things that had been puzzling him.
“Alright, we should stop talking. You’re supposed to flee now. The Meng Manor must be in chaos, and they’ll soon be after you,” Feng Cheng Si waved his hand.
Yang Kai thanked him again and leaped onto the carriage before driving the horses forward.
Certainly, Meng Ru and Qian Qian, who were inside the carriage, must have heard their conversation just now, but Meng Ru didn’t ask anything. As a maidservant, Qian Qian naturally wouldn’t be nosy.
In the meantime, not only the Meng Manor, but the entire White Jade City was in chaos.
The bride had gone missing on the wedding day. The young man, who replaced Feng Cheng Si to head to the Meng Manor, was drenched in cold sweat as he didn’t know what to do.
Meng De Ye’s expression was as gloomy as the weather right before a storm. The people around him could hardly breathe.
Just now, they poured a basin of cold water on Cui’er to awaken her. Upon learning that it was Yang Kai who took Meng Ru away, Meng De Ye flew into a rage. He ordered the personal bodyguards of the Meng Manor to chase after them. They must capture him regardless of whether he was dead or alive.
There was no doubt that the Meng Manor was embarrassed as such an incident happened on the wedding day of their Eldest Young Lady.
It was equally humiliating for the City Lord’s Mansion. They worked together and soon found some traces, and one hour later, a large group of people set out from White Jade City, following the traces to hunt them down.
The speed at which the carriage moved forward was slow, so both Yang Kai and Meng Ru knew that they would be caught sooner or later.
What surprised Yang Kai was that there were people in front of them that attempted to stop them.
As though they had already expected that Yang Kai would come to this place, they were well prepared as several dozen riders charged forward. Yang Kai instantly recognised that they were the soldiers from the City Lord’s Mansion.
As he recalled Feng Cheng Si’s devious smile, he had the urge to curse.
Only Feng Cheng Si was able to do this.
Yang Kai had no idea what was on the other man’s mind. Earlier, Feng Cheng Si had a frank talk with him and said that he would back down from the competition; however, he had brought some people to intercept Yang Kai at this moment.
What was he trying to achieve?
It was unlikely that those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were so hypocritical; moreover, Feng Cheng Si appeared sincere when he said those words. Yang Kai believed that he wasn’t lying.
There were several dozen people over there, so if Yang Kai were on his own, he could have chosen to fight with them or flee; however, with Meng Ru and Qian Qian behind him, he didn’t have a choice.
After killing the knights that tried to block his path, he turned the horses around and headed in a different direction.
These people must have heard that Yang Kai was strong, so they wouldn’t dare to go near him again after losing some of their companions. They only chased after him while keeping a safe distance.
Nonetheless, barely an hour later, another group of knights, about several dozen of them, came right at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai’s expression darkened. Feng Cheng Si’s arrangements were impeccable, as though he had expected all of the moves that Yang Kai would make.
These groups of people came at Yang Kai from both sides. He could only choose to avoid them as he drove the carriage in a different direction.
When darkness descended, the carriage stopped.
They could no longer keep moving forward as there was a cliff in front of them. As the clouds weltered, stones could be heard rolling down the steep slope.
The horses were exhausted from all the running, so as soon as they stopped, they knelt down and kept snorting.
Two groups of knights that were more than 100 strong came together and surrounded them. They didn’t make any moves though, as though they were waiting for something.
Soon, Yang Kai found out what they were waiting for.
Torchlights could be seen flickering from the bottom of the mountain as another group of people came over.
The person leading the way was handsome and heroic. He was none other than Feng Cheng Si. The Meng Family Patriarch Meng De Ye had also tagged along.
The knights separated to the sides and revealed a passageway. The two of them passed through the knights and looked at the cornered Yang Kai. One of them sported a smile and winked at Yang Kai while the other’s expression was extremely gloomy.
On the edge of the cliff, Yang Kai stood in front of the carriage while facing the knights that had surrounded him.
There was nowhere else he could go. It could be said to be a death trap.
Meng De Ye’s eyes were fuming as he glared at Yang Kai. On the wedding day, his daughter was snatched by a private guard, which was humiliating for both the Meng Manor and himself. If this matter couldn’t be settled in a perfect manner, he would never be able to face anyone again in White Jade City.
He secretly swore that he had to rip this private guard into 10,000 pieces in order to vent out his fury.
“How dare you, you bastard!” Meng De Ye said through clenched teeth while glowering at Yang Kai, “Is this how you repay the Meng Manor for nurturing you? You’re such an ungrateful brat! Give Ru’er back to me and this Old Master will spare your life!”
Yang Kai cupped his fist, “Please forgive me, Patriarch. I have no choice but to do this. Eldest Young Lady and I are in love with each other. Please let us go!”
Like a cat whose tail had been stamped on, Meng De Ye was enraged, “Shut up! Who do you think you are? A noble lady like Ru’er would never fall in love with someone like you. Stop slandering her!” He then turned to Feng Cheng Si, “Young City Lord, please don’t believe his nonsense. He must have forcefully taken Ru’er away; otherwise, she would never have left the Meng Manor.”
With a smile on his face, Feng Cheng Si didn’t respond to him.
The next moment, with the help of Qian Qian, Meng Ru got out of the carriage with a sorrowful expression.
Meng De Ye was elated upon seeing that and quickly asked, “Are you hurt, Ru’er?”
Like a child who had made a mistake, Meng Ru wouldn’t dare to look her Father in the eyes as she shook her head.
After letting out a breath, Meng De Ye comforted her by saying, “Don’t be afraid, Ru’er. I’ll save you now and let this thug know the consequences of bullying you. Also, the Young City Lord is here. He’ll never let you feel aggrieved in any way.”
“Father…” Meng Ru called out.
Meng De Ye quickly replied, “I’m here.”
Meng Ru hung her head low, “Father, please let Big Brother Yang and me go.”
As if struck by lightning, Meng De Ye instantly sported a livid expression as he stared at his daughter with a pair of piercing eyes, “What did you say?”
He could reprimand Yang Kai for spouting nonsense just now and dismiss it out of hand, but it was a different case when Meng Ru said it. The Eldest Young Lady of the Meng Manor had basically just admitted that she was in love with her bodyguard right in front of everyone.
The revelation sent a shockwave across all the knights. Upon receiving the order, they started pursuing Yang Kai, thinking that the Eldest Young Lady was kidnapped by her personal bodyguard. However, it didn’t seem to be the case now. Instead, the Eldest Young Lady of the Meng Manor had willingly left with him.
Rather than a kidnap, it was two lovebirds who had eloped together!
These were two very different scenarios. The Eldest Young Lady of Meng Family had not only humiliated the Meng Manor, but also the City Lord’s Mansion.
Many of them cautiously glanced at Feng Cheng Si, only to realise that the Young City Lord remained calm and collected with a faint smile still on his face, as though the fact that the bride had fled with another man didn’t concern him one bit.
“Father, you’ve doted on me over the years, and you’ve never forced me to marry anyone. I’ve also repeatedly told you that I’ve been waiting for the man who is destined to be with me.” Meng Ru initially hung her head low. Despite her frail figure though, she seemed to have summoned enough courage as she looked up at him and declared, “Now, the wait is over. Big Brother Yang is the man I’ve been waiting for!”
Meng De Ye trembled with fury, which was about to erupt like a volcano.
Meng Ru had indeed repeatedly told him that she was waiting for someone, but he never took it seriously and thought that she was just being perfunctory with him. Certainly, he wouldn’t believe it when she brought it up again.
“You’re sick, Ru’er,” Meng De Ye said in a grim voice, “Come home with me. I’ll get a doctor to treat you.”
Meng Ru shook her head, “I’m not sick.”
Meng De Ye took a glance at Yang Kai and said impassively, “If you’re not sick, you should be concerned about his safety. If you come home with me, I’ll spare his life, but if you’re obstinate, he will die today!”
Meng Ru instantly turned pale. Although she knew that Yang Kai was powerful, there was no way he could deal with so many people.
She also was flustered at the fact that Meng De Ye threatened her with Yang Kai’s life.
When she turned her head and met Yang Kai’s eyes though, she saw the man flashing a smile at her.
In an instant, she cast away her hesitation and turned to look at her Father with determination, “Father, please let us go.”
Meng De Ye appeared to be heartbroken as he didn’t have the final say in this situation. Only a small number of people around here were from the Meng Manor. Most of them were soldiers from the City Lord’s Mansion, and they only listened to Feng Cheng Si.
Although he had the intention to forgive his Daughter, he was unable to do that. The Young City Lord was right beside him, and as the Patriarch of the Meng Family, he had to behave appropriately in this situation.
With difficulty, he shook his head and said, “You’re being fooled by him because you’re young and naive. The Young City Lord is a magnanimous person, so I’m sure he’ll forgive you. Come home with me and serve the Young City Lord with all your heart in the future.”
The last bit of hope in Meng Ru’s eyes went out as she fell on her knees and pressed her head against the ground three times in front of her Father.
Meng De Ye was flabbergasted, “What are you doing?”
After getting to her feet, Meng Ru turned to Yang Kai and put on a bright smile, “Since we’re not able to get married in this life, we will die together at the very least. Big Brother Yang, I’m really pleased to have finally found you.”
Yang Kai let out a breath and took a step forward before unsheathing his sabre and sword. Standing in front of Meng Ru with his sturdy figure, he clanged his weapons together, “Before I die, no one can harm you!”
“Both of you have gone mad!” Meng De Ye’s eyes turned bloodshot.
Feng Cheng Si, who had kept a smile on his face, seemed to have gone crazy all of a sudden as he roared, “Kill all of them and let them know the consequences of offending this Young City Lord!”
Meng De Ye was astonished and shouted, “Please wait, Young City Lord!” Just when he wanted to stop them, he was kicked off the horse by Feng Cheng Si and fell to the ground in pain.
The knights criss-crossed one another and came at Yang Kai from all directions, ensuring that he would not be able to flee.
As glints flashed through Yang Kai’s weapons, grunts and shrieks were continuously heard. Limbs were sent flying away while blood dyed the ground crimson.
As more corpses piled up, Yang Kai didn’t take a single step while his back remained straight, just like how he protected the Eldest Young Lady in front of the cave back then.
He wielded his weapons and killed his opponents like he was cutting through straw. Just a moment later, many corpses lay strewn across the ground.
Usually, this kind of carnage was enough to make anyone feel frightened. Despite the large number of people on their side, they might not have the courage to keep going forward; after all, no one could be certain whether they would be the next to get killed.
However, Feng Cheng Si was on top of everything here. Although the people from the City Lord’s Mansion were terrified, they wouldn’t dare to back down. Only by killing Yang Kai would they be able to live to see tomorrow.
There would only be one outcome to this intense battle; either Yang Kai was killed, or all of them would perish.
Feng Cheng Si had brought a lot of people with him this time, some two or three hundred in total, which was more than twice as many as the bandits from Hidden Treasure Peak that Yang Kai had to face back then.
Yang Kai’s energy was not infinite, so despite being powerful, there was no way he could persevere forever in this situation.
Stirring Clouds Saber and Covering Rain Sword were extremely useful in this battle. Even though Meng De Ye tried to kill Yang Kai by telling him to escort some goods to Great Abundance City and then ambushing him, he had indeed regarded him highly before that.
Stirring Clouds Saber and Covering Rain Sword were two of the best weapons in this World. The opponents’ weapons would be cut through or snap as soon as they came into contact with Yang Kai’s, which saved him a lot of energy.
Meng De Ye was still begging Feng Cheng Si to spare his Daughter’s life, but the infuriated Young City Lord simply ordered someone to tie him up and toss him aside.
The personal bodyguards from the Meng Manor wouldn’t dare to protest despite being furious. They also had to deal with Yang Kai following Feng Cheng Si’s order.
As time passed, a blood river formed at the edge of the cliff, and Yang Kai was already drenched in blood.
He was covered in the opponents’ blood as well as his own.
Despite being strong, he was unable to perfectly protect Meng Ru when faced with so many opponents. Feng Cheng Si did not only order to kill him but also Meng Ru. Seeing that Yang Kai was too formidable, those from the City Lord’s Mansion attempted to harm Meng Ru instead to distract Yang Kai, thus allowing them to achieve their goal.
Even incredible weapons like Stirring Clouds Saber and Covering Rain Sword were unable to last forever in such an intense battle. The blades of both weapons were bent and chipped, rendering them less useful.
Yang Kai was already on his last legs as he staggered. Despite that, he was determined to stand strong.
Just then, he saw a sword coming at him from the left, but he was unable to dodge it. If he did that, Meng Ru would definitely be harmed.
He could only tense up his body as he got ready to be stabbed. At the same time, he had to ensure that his vital parts wouldn’t be hit.
When a grunt was heard next though, everyone was shocked.
Yang Kai didn’t feel any impact or pain. Someone seemed to have blocked the sword for him.
As he turned his head, his pupils contracted.
It was a petite figure that had blocked the sword, which had pierced through her chest. It was a fatal injury. Qian Qian, who was usually timid and bashful, spread her arms and stood in front of Yang Kai at this moment. Summoning all her courage in the last moments of her life, she bravely looked Yang Kai in the eyes.
Then, she put on a bright smile while blood streamed out of her mouth, “Big Brother Yang, I’m glad that you’re okay.”
The smile was like an invisible hand that clenched Yang Kai’s heart, making it impossible for him to breathe.
His encounters with Qian Qian over the past months flashed through his eyes as he always remembered her to be a bashful and obedient woman.
Both of them joined the Meng Manor at around the same time, and although she was a newcomer too, she instantly gained the Eldest Young Lady’s favour and became her trusted maidservant.
When she learned martial arts, she showed an aptitude that was just as great as Meng Ru’s.
Whenever their eyes met, she would become flustered like a frightened rabbit. Yang Kai suddenly recalled seeing the same kind of expression on another woman’s face.
She was a woman he was not familiar with, but it was destined that he would be tangled up with her forever.
As two figures overlapped in his mind, he suddenly called out, “Junior Sister Tao?”
Qian Qian was already on her last breath, but upon hearing Yang Kai’s words, she seemed to have been infused with a new stream of energy as her eyes brightened instantly. All the sorrow and doubts in her heart were cast away as she called out, “Senior Brother Yang!”
“Senior Brother Yang!” Qian Qian called out with a satisfied smile, “Thank you!”
Yang Kai had no idea why she thanked him, nor did he know whether she would really pass away like this. With that said, it was just a Samsara World that she had reincarnated into, so the real her wouldn’t be affected when she was killed here.
However, he had never expected that Tao Ling Wan had also come to this Samsara World, and she had been by his side without him knowing the whole time. At the critical moment, she had even blocked a fatal sword strike with her body for him.
Both Feng Cheng Si and Yu Xiang Die had said that sincerity was of utmost importance in the Samsara World. The more sincere a person was, the more likely his or her wish would be granted.
Furthermore, everything that happened here reflected one’s true heart.
Tao Ling Wan was willing to die in Yang Kai’s stead in this Samsara World; in other words, she would make the same decision in the outside world if she was faced with the same situation.
Yang Kai felt an excruciating pain in his heart. He wielded his Stirring Clouds Saber and cut off the attacker’s arm. Then, he wrapped his arm around Qian Qian’s waist and stepped backwards.
When he looked down, he realised that Qian Qian had closed her eyes. Despite the trace of blood on the corner of her mouth, she sported a contented smile.
Feng Cheng Si, who appeared to have gone mad shouting orders to his subordinates, suddenly became startled and muttered, “Junior Sister Tao?”
Nevertheless, he soon realised what had happened and sported a bitter smile, “Honoured Master made a move in the end, but not only did he fail to catch the chicken, he even lost his rice in the process!”
He couldn’t imagine how his Honoured Master would react upon learning what happened in this place, but he was certain that the latter wouldn’t be pleased.
Qian Qian’s death didn’t give Yang Kai a chance to breathe. Although the people from the City Lord’s Mansion were surprised at the maidservant’s bravery and determination, it ultimately didn’t change anything.
Before Yang Kai could even lay Qian Qian’s corpse down, he was faced with another round of attacks.
Despite his anger, he had nowhere to vent it out. He staggered and dealt with the enemies with difficulty as blood spurted out of his wounds.
Meng Ru picked up a sword and wielded it at the enemies with gritted teeth, determined to fight alongside Yang Kai.
She had never fought with anyone before, let alone killed a person; however, after learning martial arts from Yang Kai for a few months, she had built a solid foundation, so she was in a far better state than when she was saved by Yang Kai previously. At that time, she found it hard to even pick up a sword.
Nevertheless, at this moment, she was somewhat intimidating when wielding her blade. Furthermore, she was the Eldest Young Lady of the Meng Manor as well as the Young City Lord’s future wife, so no one dared to really kill her.
Qian Qian’s death seemed to have shocked Feng Cheng Si, so while riding his horse, he simply looked up at the sky and sighed.
It was getting late, so it was time everything ended. Despite the fact that he hadn’t managed to achieve his goal after staying in this world for a few years, he never lost hope as he was determined to complete the task given to him by his Honoured Master. However, the moment he realised his true heart, he discovered that all he really felt was fatigued. Everything he had done in this Samsara World seemed to be nothing more than a farce.
The Young City Lord leaped into the air and flew over everyone like a bird. With a dazzling light flashing through his weapon, he came right at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai saw the attack and knew it would be fatal. Although he wanted to ward it off, he was powerless to do that.
Just like what happened to Qian Qian, the sword penetrated his chest. However, Feng Cheng Si apparently didn’t intend to kill him. The sword didn’t pierce into his heart, thus allowing him to survive.
Yang Kai was already on his last legs with countless wounds on his figure. After getting struck by the attack, he fell backwards and collapsed into Meng Ru’s arms.
Despite the fact that blood was streaming out of his mouth, he looked gratefully towards Feng Cheng Si. All of a sudden, he realised how he was supposed to break Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier.
He had also figured out the reason Feng Cheng Si had done all of this.
Feng Cheng Si didn’t say anything as he gently nodded.
“Big Brother Yang!” Meng Ru said in a choking voice. She covered the wound on his chest with her fair hand, but she was unable to stop the blood from spurting out. Soon, her hand was dyed red.
Yang Kai took her hand, “It’s useless. I’m sorry for not being able to protect you.”
Meng Ru’s face was already soaked in tears as she repeatedly shook her head, “It’s me who has dragged you into this.” She knew that given Yang Kai’s strength, he would have been able to flee if he were on his own despite being surrounded by so many people.
However, with her around, he could not run away.
The soldiers gathered around him, but did not immediately make a move. They were horrified by the power Yang Kai had showcased earlier, but at the same time, they mourned for a dying hero.
All of a sudden, Meng Ru stopped crying and put on a smile. As she stroked the man’s face, she said gently, “I’m sorry for what happened in this life. Let me protect you in the next!”
Upon finishing her words, she carried Yang Kai up and turned around before leaping off the cliff without hesitation.
Under the moonlight, they looked like two lovebirds that sought eternal freedom.
When the tied-up Meng De Ye saw this, he instantly passed out.
Feng Cheng Si let out a breath while feeling exhausted. Everything had finally ended.
As Yang Kai heard the wind howl, he started losing consciousness.
He could feel his figure plunging rapidly as this life was finally coming to an end. All he could do was wait for Qu Hua Shang to break her own Heart Barrier.
Fortunately, Qu Hua Shang didn’t let him wait for a long time. While he was in a daze, he heard the woman calling out to him, “Junior Brother?”
Yang Kai coughed out some blood and put on a helpless smile, “You’ve finally regained your memory, Senior Sister!”
All of a sudden, Qu Hua Shang hugged him tighter as she appeared to be reeling from the shock. In a shaking voice, she said, “I knew that you’d be alright!”
Before she started cultivating in seclusion, she heard that Yang Kai had followed a Giant Spirit God to enter the Chaotic Dead Territory. Everyone from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was certain he was dead, but she firmly believed that he was still alive; therefore, she entered the Samsara Pavilion and set up a Heart Barrier as she waited for him to come for her.
This was the only way she could resist the pressure from the Sect’s Seniors, who wanted her to marry another man.
“Senior Sister, we have no time to spare. Please tell me how many more lives I’ll have to keep looking for you,” Yang Kai asked in a hurry while wiping the blood from his lips.
However, Qu Hua Shang remained calm and collected as she winked at him, “Take a guess.”
Yang Kai was torn between tears and laughter, “You do realise we’re dying, right?”
Qu Hua Shang snorted, “It won’t be easy, so you’ll have to work hard, okay? However, I can tell you that the first life is the easiest but also the hardest. What I mean is that you could easily win Meng Ru’s heart, which was why everything went smoothly for you.”
Yang Kai asked humbly, “Where’s the difficult part, then?”
Qu Hua Shang put on a smile, “The hardest part was that we’d have to live or die together. I told myself that only when you managed to achieve that in the first life would my Heart Barrier be shattered and my memory restored.”
Yang Kai nodded.
It was because of this Heart Barrier she had set up that her memory wasn’t restored even though he had won Meng Ru’s heart some time ago.
The moment they jumped off the cliff together, they managed to share life and death, thus breaking the Heart Barrier.
“However, the more times we are reincarnated, the tighter our memories will be sealed. It’s the same case for both of us. If you are reincarnated too many times, you might even lose yourself in this Samsara World and never find your true self again. So, Junior Brother, you must always stay true to your heart,” Qu Hua Shang said with a solemn expression.
“I’ll remember.” Yang Kai nodded. When he suddenly felt a pinch on his waist, he put on an aggrieved expression and asked, “What are you doing, Senior Sister?”
Qu Hua Shang had actually pinched his waist and twisted it.
She had crossed the line by treating a dying person in such a way.
“Hmph! What’s going on with you and Junior Sister Tao?” Qu Hua Shang appeared to be jealous.
Yang Kai parted his lips, but he had no idea how to explain it to her.
Qu Hua Shang asked, “Junior Sister Tao must be Tao Ling Wan, right?”
Yang Kai nodded, “En.” He didn’t know why Tao Ling Wan had also come here and even entered the same Samsara World as Qu Hua Shang.
Suddenly, Qu Hua Shang let out a long sigh, “Although I have no idea what happened between you two, she would’ve been doomed if you hadn’t recognised her.”
“Why is that?” Yang Kai frowned.
“I’m sure you know a thing or two about the wonders of the Samsara Pavilion. A disciple who enters this place will set up a Heart Barrier for herself. If the Heart Barrier isn’t broken, she will be lost in this place forever. My Heart Barrier was that I wanted you to find me and make me fall in love with you. You were aware of that, so you had a target regardless of what you did. Despite the difficulties, you knew the kind of goal you had to achieve.”
Yang Kai nodded.
“The Heart Barrier she had set up was definitely different.” Qu Hua Shang, “I guess the Heart Barrier might be that you had to recognise her without knowing who she really was.”
It wasn’t hard for Qu Hua Shang to come up with this speculation; after all, Tao Ling Wan only recovered her memory after Yang Kai called her ‘Junior Sister Tao’ earlier.
“What would have happened if I hadn’t recognised her?” Yang Kai asked.
“All her memories were sealed within Qian Qian. If you hadn’t managed to help her restore her memory when Qian Qian passed away, she would never have had a chance to awaken. It was the same for me.”
Yang Kai was instantly soaked in cold sweat as he felt somewhat horrified.
He couldn’t figure out why Tao Ling Wan would do such a thing as he had no idea that she had also entered the Samsara Pavilion. The only reason he could recognise her was that Tao Ling Wan and Qian Qian were so similar when it came to their temperaments.
At that time, he was focused on breaking Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier, so he didn’t pay much attention to Qian Qian. It wasn’t until Qian Qian was killed in his stead that he recalled everything about her.
“What is she trying to do?”
“Perhaps she’s trying to prove something,” Qu Hua Shang shook her head, “Women can be foolish and unreasonable sometimes, but she succeeded, didn’t she?”
Tao Ling Wan was willing to die in Yang Kai’s stead, and although they were in a Samsara World, she had still risked her life just by coming here.
Regardless of what Yang Kai thought of her, he now knew that this woman was willing to sacrifice her life for him.
“Will we see her again?” Yang Kai asked.
“I’m not sure.” Qu Hua Shang shook her head, “Maybe we’ll see her, but I doubt it. Her Heart Barrier is different from mine. You have recognised her, and she has expressed her sincerity. It’s pointless to go through the same thing again.”
“Senior Sister, I’m sleepy,” Yang Kai muttered under his breath.
“Get some rest. You’ll see me again when you open your eyes.” Qu Hua Shang pulled him closer to her embrace.
In the meantime, Yu Xiang Die and Chen Xiu were waiting patiently outside the Samsara Pavilion. This place was where hearts were trained, not where one would cultivate. Therefore, even though the Samsara Pavilion was amazing, it didn’t have the same advantage as Small Source Worlds in which time would pass by quicker.
The speed at which time flowed in the Samsara Worlds and the outside world was the same.
It had been three months since Yang Kai entered the Samsara Pavilion, and no one knew what was going on with him inside. It wasn’t certain if he shattered Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier or had even found her.
Certainly, they were worried, but as outsiders, their worries were meaningless. It all hinged on Yang Kai’s own capabilities.
It was because of this matter that Yu Xiang Die and Chen Xiu, who had been fellow Brother and Sister for thousands of years, got into a conflict. Presently, they were dozens of metres apart as they sat on empty clearings and waited patiently.
Just then, a figure stepped out of the shopping district just outside of the Samsara Pavilion.
Sensing something, Chen Xiu immediately opened his eyes and glanced at that person. Following that, he let out a breath almost imperceptibly.
Yu Xiang Die noticed the person as well. There was a surprised expression on her face as she watched Tao Ling Wan coming over.
This couldn’t be helped, as Tao Ling Wan came out too soon!
No one had ever managed to leave the Samsara Pavilion so soon after entering it; however, Yu Xiang Die recalled something as she narrowed her eyes and put on a smug smile.
“Honoured Master!” Tao Ling Wan walked up to Chen Xiu and saluted him in an elegant manner.
Chen Xiu examined her to make sure that she was completely fine and healthy. He parted his lips in an attempt to express his concern, but he was not able to say anything. In the end, he just nodded, “I’m glad that you’re back.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you,” Tao Ling Wan hung her head low.
Yu Xiang Die approached her and asked, “Did you meet Yang Boy?”
Tao Ling Wan nodded gently.
“How was it?”
After giving it a thought, Tao Ling Wan replied, “I believe he must have helped Junior Sister Qu restore her memory.”
Yu Xiang Die’s eyes brightened when she heard that. Then, she let out a breath, “That’s good. That’s good.”
Chen Xiu asked, “Did you see him?”
Tao Ling Wan nodded her head, “Yes.”
Chen Xiu stopped asking further. Since Yang Kai had helped Qu Hua Shang restore her memory, it meant that he had broken her Heart Barrier; hence, he had succeeded in this life. On the other hand, Feng Cheng Si had not managed to achieve his goal even though it had been eight or so years since he entered the Samsara Pavilion.
Although Chen Xiu had already expected it, he was still disappointed upon learning the outcome.
As they spoke, Feng Cheng Si stepped out of the Samsara Pavilion and saluted Chen Xiu and Yu Xiang Die.
Like a friendly Senior, Yu Xiang Die patted the young man’s shoulder and comforted him by saying, “Sincerity can never be forced. You must not think that you’re inferior to the other party just because you’ve lost this competition. You’re a Core Disciple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven after all, and a bright future is ahead of you. However, love is not something which one can control at will.”
Feng Cheng Si obediently saluted her, “Many thanks for your teaching, Martial Aunt.”
A gleeful Yu Xiang Die then shot Chen Xiu a glance and mocked, “So what if you’ve done everything you can to set others up? Look at the outcome now. You’re the one who has suffered a setback in the end. I suggest that you stop being so short-sighted, Senior Brother.”
A dispassionate Chen Xiu glanced at her, “Wan’er is my Disciple as well as a member of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.”
Yu Xiang Die batted her eyes and suddenly said through clenched teeth, “It’s basically a buy-one-get-one-free deal. We have made a loss!”
Tao Ling Wan started blushing furiously. She found it hard to deal with Yu Xiang Die, who could be unrestrained in her words sometimes, and when she thought of the fact that she had to face Qu Hua Shang in the future, she couldn’t help feeling guilty.
Although she was just executing her Honoured Master’s orders, she was the one who had acted in the end.
After struggling internally for a bit, Yu Xiang Die made up her mind, “Senior Brother, be prepared. When that brat exits the Samsara Pavilion, we’ll let him marry Xiao Hua Shang and Wan’er.”
Chen Xiu arched his brow, “How are they going to get married?”
Yu Xiang Die snorted, “Of course he has to get married into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. No Core Disciple has ever left the Sect after getting married.”
There was finally a smile on Chen Xiu’s usually stern-looking face. He nodded and said, “That’s wonderful! You should stay here then. I’ll tell the higher-ups about it and let them make a decision.”
Yu Xiang Die bowed her head, after which Chen Xiu left the place with his Disciples. The conflict between them was resolved after they came to an agreement.
…
Some heavy things seemed to have pressed against Yang Kai’s body as he realised that it was pitch-black around him.
He tried his best to break free from this situation but to no avail; he even found it increasingly difficult to breathe.
For a moment, he thought that he was going to lose his life here and now.
After falling off the cliff alongside Qu Hua Shang, he moved on to the next life; however, he had not the foggiest idea about the situation in this place. As soon as he opened his eyes, he realised that he was buried beneath some things. The sounds of people wailing and dying could faintly be heard, but they soon quieted down.
Just then, a ray of light came into his sight as the heavy things on his figure were taken away.
He got to his feet with difficulty and immediately examined his body.
When he was beneath the heavy objects, Yang Kai already felt that something was off, and upon first examination, he realised what was wrong.
Presently, he was just a boy around twelve or thirteen years old. It was no wonder that he didn’t have much strength as his body had shrunk.
[What the!?] Yang Kai secretly cursed. The reason he entered this Samsara World was to break Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier. In order to do that, he had to win her heart.
How was such a young brat supposed to do that? Did he have to grow up first?
At this moment, he was standing on some debris. It was apparent that he was pressed under a collapsed house just now.
He caught a whiff of a pleasant scent as a figure came into his sight. Looking up, he instantly saw the familiar face.
The words ‘Senior Sister Qu’ almost spurted out of his mouth.
Presently, Qu Hua Shang was just standing in front of him. She was clad in tight-fitting clothes with a sword at her waist. She tapped the dust off his shoulder and asked gently, “Are you alright, little one?”
[Little one…] Yang Kai’s brow twitched.
“Where are your parents?” Qu Hua Shang asked.
Yang Kai didn’t know how to reply to her.
Thinking that he was still reeling from the shock, Qu Hua Shang hesitated for a bit before letting out a sigh. Then, she bent her back and took his hand, “Don’t be afraid. You should follow me from now on. I’ll protect you.”
Yang Kai had the urge to curse.
This would definitely be a life that he would never want to look back on. He could already imagine that when he and Qu Hua Shang got out of the Samsara Pavilion, she would certainly tease him whenever she remembered this.
However, there was nothing he could do at this moment.
With that said, he felt fortunate that he saw Qu Hua Shang as soon as he opened his eyes. He could grow up by her side and slowly get closer to her heart.
All of a sudden, he recalled what Meng Ru said to him when she carried him up and jumped off the cliff.
“I’m sorry for what happened in this life. Let me protect you in the next!”
Her wish had been granted. In this life, it would be her turn to protect him.
The Samsara Pavilion was indeed an amazing place where sincerity was of utmost importance. When Meng Ru jumped off the cliff, she must have had a strong desire to protect Yang Kai in the next life, which was why her wish was granted after the reincarnation.
In this life, Qu Hua Shang was one of the brightest disciples in a major Sect. Not only was she talented and powerful, she was also beautiful. She had countless admirers within the Sect, and even the rising stars from other Sects had heard of her.
There was never a lack of people who proposed marriage to her, which made Yang Kai feel apprehensive as he was worried that the Sect’s Elders would pressure her to accept one of those proposals.
Fortunately, she was an important figure in the Sect, so she had a say in this matter. If she didn’t agree, no one could force her.
After Yang Kai was brought back to the Sect, he became a disciple and started cultivating under her tutelage.
They rapidly became closer to each other. In this life, Qu Hua Shang was like a Master or Elder Sister to him.
As time passed, Yang Kai grew up to be an adult. Unfortunately, in this life, his aptitude was terrible. Regardless of how hard he cultivated, he was still much weaker than Qu Hua Shang.
Perhaps it had something to do with Meng Ru’s last wish. He reckoned that he would really have to be protected by Qu Hua Shang in his life.
Additionally, since he was an adult now, he realised that she started looking at him with a different kind of gaze, which was filled with a sense of longing.
This made him feel secretly pleased.
As she continued to protect and take care of him, her love for the man became increasingly conspicuous; however, due to the difference between their age and seniority, she wouldn’t dare to cross the boundary.
Upon that realisation, Yang Kai decided to take the initiative to pursue her. She would always blush and feel her heart pounding against her chest whenever he approached her.
When he turned twenty years old, there was finally a breakthrough in their relationship.
Following Yang Kai’s years of pursuit, she finally cast away the worries in her heart and accepted the man, who was ten years younger than she was and who she had saved all those years ago.
The Heart Barrier was shattered, and Qu Hua Shang once again recovered her memory.
There wasn’t really any difficulty to speak of in this life, it just took Yang Kai a lot of time to win her heart. With that said, he once again experienced the abstrusity of the Samsara Pavilion this time.
As one’s memory was repeatedly sealed, they could realise their true heart and train it more effectively.
This was true for both Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang.
Every reincarnation and success meant a new start.
For the first three lives, it wasn’t difficult for Yang Kai. Be it Meng Ru in the first life, his Senior Sister in the second life, or the Little Sister in the neighbouring village in the third life, he could immediately find Qu Hua Shang and start taking action.
As long as he could find her, the rest wouldn’t be hard. That was because her Heart Barriers had something to do with him, so he had a natural advantage when it came to breaking them.
However, after the third life, the difficulty began to increase.
In the fourth life, it took him half a year before he found Qu Hua Shang, and during that period of time, he came across a lot of danger and almost lost his life.
It was the same case in the fifth life, and it became even more difficult to break Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier. It was no longer easy to win her heart. After they met each other, they even got into a fight due to some misunderstandings.
The level of difficulty further increased in the sixth life. She no longer looked like her original self; instead, she appeared with an entirely different face, just like what happened to Tao Ling Wan, who was reincarnated as Qian Qian in her first life.
However, Tao Ling Wan’s situation was unique. Her Heart Barrier was that Yang Kai had to recognise her true identity without knowing who she actually was; therefore, she wouldn’t appear before Yang Kai with her original appearance.
It was different for Qu Hua Shang. Her appearance didn’t change in the first five lives, so Yang Kai could instantly recognise her after finding her.
Nevertheless, in the sixth life, she had turned into an entirely different person. If Yang Kai hadn’t repeatedly made sure she was Qu Hua Shang, he would have missed her.
The more reincarnations one went through in the Samsara Pavilion, the more difficult the challenge would be. One’s memory was greatly affected during reincarnation, and for every reincarnation, Qu Hua Shang’s memory would be sealed. Yang Kai was fine initially, but as he went through rounds of reincarnation, his memory began to be affected as well.
They moved on to the seventh life, eighth life, and finally arrived at their ninth life.
There were a lot of Grand Halls in the Grand Qi Temple where many powerful cultivators resided.
The fight between the forces of righteousness and evil had persisted for hundreds of years. Due to the never-ending war, countless people had lost their lives. As a result, the entire continent had turned into living Hell where blood rivers had formed.
About 100 years ago, Grand Qi Temple was born from an alliance of seven Sects. Only the most powerful and upright person had the right to become the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple and lead all the righteous great forces in the world.
On the other hand, there were those from White Lotus Sect who were good at bewitching people and causing trouble in the world. In this chaotic world, they had taken on innumerable disciples to fight against Grand Qi Temple, becoming their greatest enemy.
There were victories and losses on both sides following years of fighting between the righteous and the wicked. Evil had steadily gained the upper hand over the past few decades, but perhaps the righteous would gain an upper hand in the decades that followed. However, regardless of which side was at an advantage, they couldn’t completely destroy the other.
There were the top seven Sects on the continent, which were Divine Method Hall, Grand Battle Sect, Swaying Willow Sect, Hidden Sword Villa, Shooting Star Palace, Emerald Smoke Sect, and Lion Hall. These were the seven Sects that had propped up the righteous side and jointly founded Grand Qi Temple.
It had been about 130 years since Grand Qi Temple was born. There had been four Temple Masters in the past who had all died in the battle against the powerful Masters from White Lotus Sect.
Yang Kai, who was in his prime, was the Fifth Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple. He was from one of the seven Sects, Divine Method Hall. His mastery over the spear was unrivalled, and he was an upright and honest man. After the Fourth Temple Master passed away three years ago, he single-handedly saved Grand Qi Temple, which was on the brink of falling apart.
In comparison, the Fifth Temple Master was much stronger than the previous four Temple Masters when it came to raw strength, determination, and intelligence.
In fact, as the Temple Master, he had launched dozens of attacks on White Lotus Sect in the past three years and been victorious every time. As a result, White Lotus Sect had suffered immense losses.
Everyone believed this was an opportunity for Grand Qi Temple. Under the leadership of Temple Master Yang, they might stand a chance to finally destroy White Lotus Sect once and for all.
In the middle of the night, Yang Kai awakened from his dream in shock.
A figure appeared beside his bed like a phantom and examined him before giggling, “Did you have a dream again?”
After shooting her a dispassionate glance, Yang Kai sat up on the bed and nodded.
The person was his personal bodyguard, Luo Ting He from Emerald Smoke Sect. Although she was a bit petite, she was extremely powerful. Three years ago, she was the one who competed against Yang Kai for the position of Temple Master. Nevertheless, she was defeated by Yang Kai in the end.
It wasn’t certain what was on her mind at that time. Given her strength, she was more than good enough to be the Vice Temple Master even though she had lost the competition to be the next Temple Master.
However, she didn’t do that; instead, she requested to become Yang Kai’s personal bodyguard.
Those from Emerald Smoke Sect were against the idea; after all, if a person from their Sect could become the Vice Temple Master, they would have a bigger influence in Grand Qi Temple.
Nevertheless, Luo Ting He obstinately wanted to become Yang Kai’s personal bodyguard, and no one could change her mind.
Although she was a personal bodyguard on paper, she was more like a friend to Yang Kai now. She could be at ease in front of the man. As they had spent the past three years together, she was fully aware of all the man’s secrets as well.
Therefore, she knew that this Temple Master, who was the hope of Grand Qi Temple’s future, had a problem.
He would always have strange dreams in the middle of the night. In those dreams, he would see a woman with a vague appearance. He had no idea who the woman was, nor had he met her before; however, he had a feeling that she was very important to him.
“Have you not recalled it?” Luo Ting He suddenly asked.
A speechless Yang Kai rolled his eyes, “Do you even know what you’re asking?”
Luo Ting He shrugged, “I don’t know. I just wanted to ask.”
The problem with Temple Master Yang Kai was that he would always have strange dreams. On the other hand, his personal bodyguard also had a problem. Whenever Yang Kai awakened from his dream in shock, she would always ask this exact question.
Yang Kai had a serious discussion with her the first time around, but she was unable to explain anything.
Furthermore, after three years of getting along with one another, Yang Kai realised that something was wrong with his personal bodyguard’s head. She would always do things that were unexpected.
For example, she would suddenly laugh for no reason, but sometimes, she would weep in silence. Her mood swings were pretty drastic.
“What time is it?” Yang Kai looked out the window.
“Just after midnight,” as Luo Ting He spoke, she soaked a towel in a basin of water and wrung it before passing it to Yang Kai.
After taking it, Yang Kai wiped his face and felt refreshed.
However, the vague image of that woman in his dream still lingered in his mind.
He had a feeling that the woman in his dream was someone very important to him, but as he went through the past experiences in his life, he was certain that he had never met her before.
This strange matter puzzled him.
Just then, a slight noise was heard coming from outside. Yang Kai’s gaze turned ferocious while Luo Ting He’s petite figure instantly disappeared from the spot.
A cold breeze swept through the gap of the door.
A moment later, Luo Ting He returned to the room with blood still dripping from her sword.
Yang Kai looked up while a calm and collected Luo Ting He said, “Some of the conceited disciples from White Lotus Sect wanted to assassinate you.”
“How many of them are still alive?” Yang Kai asked in a grim voice.
“Three.” Luo Ting He chuckled.
“You must do whatever it takes to find out everything they know.” Yang Kai snorted.
“Don’t worry.” Luo Ting He nodded repeatedly, “I’ll dig out everything from their heads.”
Upon finishing her words, she turned around and left.
The next day, powerful cultivators gathered together in the Main Conference Hall of Grand Qi Temple.
There were six Vice Temple Masters under Temple Master Yang Kai. Since Yang Kai was from Divine Method Hall, which was one of the seven Sects, the other Vice Temple Masters were the ones who were in charge of the remaining six Sects.
Under the Vice Temple Masters were the Hall Masters. There were about thirty of them.
These were the Managers of Grand Qi Temple that had gathered together. They could command all the cultivators in the world who belonged to the righteous path.
At this moment, all of them were gazing at Yang Kai. The past three years were more than enough time for Yang Kai to build sufficient authority as the Fifth Temple Master. Presently, he remained silent, and even though there were a lot of people in the Grand Hall, no one dared to say anything.
A moment later, Yang Kai suddenly opened his eyes and said, “In ten days, those from White Lotus Sect intend to hold a sacrificial ceremony in East Star City and refine a Ten Thousand Soul Banner.”
All of them had their expressions changed drastically upon hearing that.
Vice Temple Master Gan Wen Shan, who was from Grand Battle Sect, asked in horror, “Are you serious, Temple Master?”
Yang Kai nodded, “Xiao He personally obtained the information from the assassins last night.”
At the mention of Xiao He, all of them shuddered, including Vice Temple Master Xia Hong Tao, who was also from Emerald Smoke Sect.
Although Luo Ting He appeared to be crazy sometimes, all of them knew how ruthless she was. She was the oddest one in Grand Qi Temple. If not for the fact that she had never done anything wicked, and that she was really from Emerald Smoke Sect, many would have condemned her as the things she had done were no different from, if not worse than, those from the wicked path.
No one could hide any secrets following her interrogation.
Yu Xing Zhou, who was from Shooting Star Palace, frowned, “Can we believe what the assassins have said? Holding a sacrificial ceremony in East Star City to refine a Ten Thousand Soul Banner is no small matter. It’s supposed to be a top secret that only the leaders of White Lotus Sect have the right to know.”
Yang Kai explained, “It’s a major event to hold a sacrificial ceremony in East Star City, so they will need a lot of people to carry it out. Even if White Lotus Sect wanted to hide this news, some people might still be able to figure out what’s going on. Xiao He has already speculated that something like this was about to occur, so this conclusion is not entirely based on what the assassins have said.”
Upon hearing that, Yu Xing Zhou nodded, “In that case, East Star City will be in danger.”
Yang Kai rose from the seat and declared, “Although East Star City is not big, there are still around 100,000 residents, all of whom are innocent. If those from White Lotus Sect succeed in refining the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, many more innocent people will be affected. We have to stop them. Moreover, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner is very important to White Lotus Sect, so the White Lotus Matriarch might personally host the sacrificial ceremony. If we can kill the White Lotus Matriarch in East Star City, White Lotus Sect will definitely collapse. The fight between the righteous and wicked path that has spanned hundreds of years will come to an end, and peace will be restored to our world!”
Upon hearing that, all of them felt their blood boiling as they got up and said, “We will follow your lead, Temple Master!”
With a satisfied expression, Yang Kai nodded. He calmly gave the orders as it was apparent that he was well prepared.
When all the arrangements were made a moment later, Yang Kai swept an authoritative glance over them, “This is a great opportunity for Grand Qi Temple. If we succeed, we’ll be able to destroy White Lotus Sect. All of you should lead your own people and wait for further orders. Any leak of information will be punishable by death!”
In the middle of the night in East Star City, only the sounds of dogs barking and babies crying could be heard from time to time.
Under the moonlight, Yang Kai was standing on top of a tower and looking down with a pair of eagle-like eyes.
Below the calm surface was a violent undercurrent.
The people from Grand Qi Temple and the disciples from White Lotus Sect had hidden themselves in this small city, but they seemed to be aware of each other’s presence.
An hour to midnight, the first conflict broke out. It ended just as quickly as it started though and nothing much had been affected.
However, the second and third conflicts soon followed.
An hour after midnight, the battle was in full swing and carnage could be seen on every street of East Star City.
All of the citizens shut their doors and wouldn’t even dare to breathe loudly.
Just then, a high-pitched sound was heard coming from a particular direction. Yang Kai’s eyes turned ferocious as he looked in that direction.
Booms were continuously heard coming from over there. As the World Energy surged, more than ten figures engaged in an intense battle. Lights flickered following the use of different Secret Techniques.
Despite the long distance, Yang Kai could immediately see a middle-aged woman who was clad in white robes.
She was none other than the White Lotus Matriarch!
White Lotus Sect was founded a long time before Grand Qi Temple. The current Sect Master of White Lotus Sect was this White Lotus Matriarch, who was known for her ruthlessness. Countless Sects had been destroyed on the continent because they had offended White Lotus Sect.
Although those from Grand Qi Temple had launched several attacks to kill White Lotus Matriarch, they hadn’t managed to achieve their goal so far as she was cunning and elusive.
Just like they had expected though, the White Lotus Matriarch had really appeared to host the sacrificial ceremony in East Star City.
At this moment, she was leading some of the powerful Masters from White Lotus Sect to break through the siege. Unfortunately, several Vice Temple Masters from Grand Qi Temple had joined forces to stop them, so they were unable to break free for the time being.
With that said, the White Lotus Matriarch was one of the most powerful cultivators on the continent. Although the Vice Temple Masters from Grand Qi Temple were fairly strong themselves, they were unable to keep her trapped for long.
After several exchanges of moves, one of the Vice Temple Masters was wounded by a sword. A violent force exploded in his body, rendering him powerless to fight. It wasn’t certain if he could survive.
Yang Kai leaped off from the top of the tower and flew towards them like an eagle.
While in mid-air, he lifted his spear.
In that instant, the White Lotus Matriarch felt cold all over her body. When she turned her head, her expression changed drastically. She threw the people around her away without any hesitation and as a glint flashed through her blade, a sword wave slashed at Yang Kai.
As Yang Kai flourished his spear, and the sword wave shattered. Blood started streaming out of a wound on his face that was caused by the remnant Sword Qi, yet he did not even bat his eyes as he continued with his attack.
The next moment, the White Lotus Matriarch was sent flying away while spraying out a mouthful of blood. She seemed to have lost all her strength.
Technically speaking, both Yang Kai and the White Lotus Matriarch were equally matched as they were some of the most powerful cultivators in the world. However, Yang Kai had basically launched a sneak attack while the White Lotus Matriarch was unsuspecting, which was why she suffered a serious setback.
Before the enemy even landed, Luo Ting He appeared right on the spot where she was falling.
No one knew when Luo Ting He had appeared. She was just as silent as a phantom, but a sword cry was heard coming from her weapon.
From the looks of it, it was as if the White Lotus Matriarch took the initiative to throw herself onto the sword.
At the most critical moment, the White Lotus Matriarch forcefully twisted her figure to make sure her vitals wouldn’t be pierced. Despite that, she was still greatly harmed by Luo Ting He as the sword penetrated her chest.
However, the White Lotus Matriarch had also managed to land a palm on Luo Ting He with all her might and sent her flying away. Luo Ting He crashed into a house, and it wasn’t certain whether she was dead or alive.
After getting struck by two powerful cultivators consecutively, the White Lotus Matriarch had managed to survive, but she was in a terrible state. Her face was as pale as a white sheet, and her white dress had been dyed red.
She stared fixedly at Yang Kai with a hideous grin. As she performed different hand seals, she said through clenched teeth, “Activate!”
The next moment, she crouched down and pressed her hands against the ground as a violent force burst forth.
It was too late for Yang Kai to stop her.
The entire East Star City shook as everyone found it hard to keep their balance.
The blood flowing on the ground seemed to have been infused with life as it squirmed and formed a gigantic Spirit Array.
An eerie red light engulfed the entire East Star City as everyone could hear the sounds of crying and howling and the cold wind which was whipped up made them shudder.
The expressions of the Vice Temple Masters changed drastically. Xia Hong Tao from Emerald Smoke Sect exclaimed, “The Ten Thousand Souls Array!”
Seizing the chance, the White Lotus Matriarch escaped and disappeared into the darkness. Her voice could be heard saying from a distance, “I’ll remember what all of you from Grand Qi Temple have done to me today. I’ll make you pay a price that’s a hundred times greater than this!”
After hesitating between chasing after the enemy and saving lives for a moment, Yang Kai made a decision as he ordered, “Break the array and save the people!”
If this Spirit Array was allowed to fulfil its purpose, all 100,000 innocents in East Star City would be sacrificed. The White Lotus Matriarch certainly shouldn’t be allowed to escape, but they still had a chance to kill her in the future. The most important thing for them now was to save lives.
There were other remnants of White Lotus Sect in the city who still steadfastly guarded the Array Nodes; however, since the White Lotus Matriarch had fled, the disciples from White Lotus Sect were now leaderless. On the other hand, those from Grand Qi Temple were still moving forward in an orderly manner following the Temple Masters’ instructions.
The Array Nodes were occupied by those from Grand Qi Temple one by one, causing the Spirit Array’s operation to become increasingly sluggish.
Yang Kai charged towards the centre of the Ten Thousand Souls Array on his own, where the most important Array Node of the Spirit Array was located. As long as it was destroyed, the Spirit Array’s efficacy would be halved.
To his surprise, no sounds of fighting could be heard coming from over there; instead, the place was in dead silence.
With that said, the stench of blood here was the strongest.
With the spear in his hand, Yang Kai arrived at the Array Node, only to see the corpses of White Lotus Sect’s disciples scattered across the ground. In front of the Array Node stood an alluring figure. As she performed different hand seals, she used some fairly powerful Secret Techniques at the Array Node.
She must have been at this for quite some time as she was soaked in sweat. Her damp clothes stuck close to her back.
Looking at the woman’s figure, Yang Kai fell into a dazed state.
He recognised this figure. The vague image that had appeared in his dream countless times perfectly overlapped with this woman’s back.
Sensing the man’s presence, the woman turned her head and revealed a strikingly beautiful face. With sweat still streaming from her forehead, she bit her lip and said, “Help me quickly! Otherwise, it’ll be too late!”
“Step aside!” Yang Kai came to his senses and shouted. The next moment, he thrust his spear towards the Array Node.
The woman hurriedly moved out of the way. As innumerable spear shadows surged out, a violent force exploded. In an instant, the Array Node that no one was guarding collapsed.
The next moment, the red light that had engulfed the entire East Star City turned dim.
Yang Kai let out a long breath as he could finally be at ease. He had been apprehensive for the entire night. Thinking of the woman beside him, he turned around as he wanted to ask which Sect she was from; however, he soon felt a pain in his chest.
Looking down, he saw that a sword had penetrated his chest while a fair hand was clenching the hilt. The owner of the sword sported a strange expression. It was a combination of excitement, guilt, and even a sense of agony.
The power in his body exploded as the muscles in his chest locked the sword in place. He raised his hand as his force gathered together on his palm before he pushed it towards the woman.
As the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, it was expected that Yang Kai was extremely powerful. Even if there was a boulder in front of him, it would turn into dust following his attack.
The woman wanted to dodge the attack, but it was too late for her to do so.
The next moment, the hand that could shatter a mountain gently landed on the head of the sword’s owner, but no force could be felt bursting forth.
“Are you from White Lotus Sect?” Yang Kai asked gently, as though he was worried that he would frighten her if he spoke too loudly.
The sword’s owner sported an even stranger expression now. The moment she received her mission, she knew that she was bound to lose her life; after all, she was aware that the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple was formidable. Even if she could achieve her goal, there was no way she could survive.
However, that was really what had happened. The Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple didn’t kill her.
In the meantime, the hand that rested on her head gave her a sense of warmth for some reason.
“What’s your name?” Yang Kai asked.
The sword’s owner pressed her lips together, “Qu Hua Shang!”
Yang Kai flashed a smile at her, “My name is Yang Kai.”
Upon finishing his words, he frowned and turned his head. Following that, he said to Qu Hua Shang, “Run quickly. Or else it will be too late.”
Qu Hua Shang had apparently noticed company was approaching as she looked in the same direction. The next instant, she released the hilt and ran away.
A short while later, a petite figure arrived with a sword in hand.
Luo Ting He could immediately see that Yang Kai was seated on some rubble while holding his spear. There was a sword that had jabbed into his chest.
She walked over and took a glance at him. Then, she grabbed the hilt with one hand and pressed her other hand on the man’s shoulder, “It may hurt a little.”
Yang Kai nodded.
The next instant, the sword was pulled out while blood spurted from the wound. Yang Kai’s figure shook a little.
A dextrous Luo Ting He struck some of the man’s acupoints to stop his blood from streaming out. Then, she said, “The White Lotus Matriarch escaped.”
The White Lotus Matriarch ran away after activating the Spirit Array. Luo Ting He chased after her, but despite her injuries, the White Lotus Matriarch was as agile as ever when fleeing.
After pursuing for more than a dozen kilometres, Luo Ting He realised that the enemy was nowhere to be seen. Left with no other choice, she could only return to the city.
Following that, she saw that Yang Kai was hurt.
“We’ll have another chance to kill her in the future.” Yang Kai nonchalantly nodded. Since the White Lotus Matriarch had been badly injured, it would take her about a year for her to recuperate. He then asked, “Have you heard of the name Qu Hua Shang?”
Luo Ting He shook her head, “No.”
She furrowed her brows while staring at the wound on the man’s chest.
Given her eyesight, she could see that Yang Kai was directly facing the opponent when he was hurt; however, she couldn’t think of anyone in the world who could harm this man while facing him head-on.
Even the White Lotus Matriarch wouldn’t be able to do that.
Nevertheless, she didn’t intend to ask him about what had happened. Yang Kai would tell her about it if he wanted to.
“Ask around,” Yang Kai ordered.
Luo Ting He said, “You’d better recuperate first.”
Yang Kai nodded, “There’s poison on the tip of that sword, so I’ll probably pass out soon. Before I wake up, the Vice Temple Masters will handle the affairs in the Temple while you’ll assist them from the side.”
“Got it,” Luo Ting He replied.
When she took a glance at Yang Kai, she realised that he had already lost consciousness. She let out a sigh and carried Yang Kai up before dexterously leaving the city at full speed. She intended to return to Grand Qi Temple first.
Strange images kept flashing through Yang Kai’s mind. The name Qu Hua Shang seemed to have a special power as it repeatedly resonated across his head while he was unconscious, knocking on his sealed memory.
There came a moment when the seal was broken as he went through the experiences in his previous lives in his dream.
The figure that had always been vague in his dreams finally became crystal clear. As she turned her head, a joyful and coquettish face came into his sight.
Yang Kai abruptly opened his eyes.
He was still weak due to the injury and poison he had suffered from. Even though he was strong, it was impossible that he could fully recover as soon as he awakened.
Everything around him looked familiar to him. He supposed he was in his own bedroom in Grand Qi Temple.
A person was seated beside his bed. The only person who could enter his bedroom as she pleased and protected him while he was unconscious was none other than Luo Ting He.
At this moment, she was looking at him with a weird expression. As though realising something, she once again asked the question she had asked countless times before, “Have you recalled it?”
Yang Kai nodded his head.
An energised Luo Ting He asked, “What did you recall?”
“Many things,” Yang Kai struggled to sit up, but he didn’t have the strength to do so. Seeing that, Luo Ting He quickly helped him up and placed a pillow behind his back.
Then, she stared at him with a longing expression, “Tell me all about it.”
Yang Kai shook his head, then gazed at her with an awkward expression and asked, “Have you recalled it?”
In an instant, Luo Ting He appeared puzzled, “What am I supposed to recall?”
“I don’t know.”
In the dream, he finally shattered the shackles that had locked his memory and remembered who he truly was. He recalled where this place was and his reason for coming here.
Yang Kai felt a lingering fear in his heart and realized once more how mysterious the Samsara Pavilion was. It was already his ninth life. After living in this world for so long, he had forgotten about who he was, not to mention the fact that he was supposed to shatter Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier.
After many rounds of reincarnation, his memory had been greatly affected.
If he hadn’t come across Qu Hua Shang by chance this time, his memory wouldn’t have been restored. He would have still regarded himself to be the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple who strived to achieve victory for the righteous path.
The challenge he had to face in this life was unusually difficult.
Now, he was the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple while Qu Hua Shang was a disciple of White Lotus Sect. Both parties had been arch nemeses for a very long time.
During their first encounter, Qu Hua Shang thrust her sword into his chest and almost killed him.
This wasn’t a good sign. He reckoned that he had to come up with a good plan in order to win her heart and shatter her Heart Barrier in this kind of situation.
Besides that, the existence of Luo Ting He concerned him.
After his memory was restored, Yang Kai realised that his personal bodyguard was no ordinary person.
That was because she had been by his side since the sixth life!
In the sixth life, he saved a starving beggar, who was none other than Luo Ting He. The person had the same name and appearance as his current personal bodyguard.
He initially thought that she was just an illusory figure in the Samsara World, so he wasn’t bothered by it.
However, in the seventh life, she once again appeared by his side. This time, she was no longer a beggar; instead, she was a valiant General who had made countless contributions on the battlefields. On the other hand, he was the King of the country.
In the eighth life, she became a Sect Master while he was a disciple of that Sect.
After so many rounds of reincarnation, he finally figured out a thing or two about the Samsara Worlds.
These Samsara Worlds were born on the foundation of Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier. In other words, her heart was the key to solving the mystery in the Samsara Worlds.
The reason Yang Kai could always smoothly appear in these Samsara Worlds was that Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier had something to do with him as it connected both of them. Therefore, regardless of how many rounds of reincarnation he went through, he would always appear in the Samsara World where she was located.
While that was the case for him, what was going on with Xiao He? Since the sixth life, she had always appeared in the Samsara Worlds that were born on the foundation of Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier, which suggested that she had something to do with the latter.
Was she someone important to Qu Hua Shang? Was that the reason she had always been around in the previous few lives?
However, Yang Kai had never heard Qu Hua Shang mention this person before.
What was even more puzzling was that Xiao He would always be by Yang Kai’s side every time she appeared.
Now, he wasn’t certain whether Xiao He was someone who had entered the Samsara Pavilion and become reincarnated into the Samsara Worlds just like himself or an illusory figure created by these Samsara Worlds.
If it was the former, it meant that Luo Ting He was training her heart in the Samsara Pavilion while her true body was hidden in one of the trees.
If it was the latter, she should be a manifestation of Qu Hua Shang’s memories somehow.
She repeatedly asked him if he had recalled anything, which seemed to suggest that she was aware that her memory had been sealed too. In that case, she was probably not an illusory figure; instead, she was a real person who had barged into these Samsara Worlds somehow.
However, she was muddle-headed and even acted somewhat crazed most of the time, so it was impossible for Yang Kai to ask her anything about it.
Luo Ting He stared at him with a tilted head for a moment. Upon realising that he didn’t intend to delve into this topic, she stopped asking. Instead, she said, “I’ve found out what you want to know. Qu Hua Shang is one of the Saintesses under the White Lotus Matriarch. She had only stopped cultivating in seclusion some time ago. The White Lotus Matriarch has very high hopes of her.”
“She’s a Saintess?” Yang Kai was rendered speechless. He initially thought that Qu Hua Shang was just an ordinary disciple of White Lotus Sect, so it surprised him when he learned that she was a Saintess.
This was a knotty issue.
There were countless disciples in White Lotus Sect, but there were only a small number of Saintesses who all had the right to become the next Sect Master. Every Saintess had extraordinary aptitude and influence.
Moreover, they were all loyal to White Lotus Sect and regarded Grand Qi Temple to be the arch-nemesis.
In this kind of situation, it was close to impossible for him to win Qu Hua Shang’s heart as the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple.
Furthermore, it was already the ninth life.
He reckoned that the last round of reincarnation was also the hardest as even his memory had been sealed for several dozen years. It wasn’t until he came across Qu Hua Shang that his memory was unsealed. It must be even worse for her.
Unlike the first life, she wouldn’t fall in love with him just because he had saved her life.
Therefore, it was practically hopeless to wait for Qu Hua Shang to fall in love with him. When they met again, she would only try to kill him without hesitation, just like how she steadfastly thrust her sword into his chest during their first encounter.
“From what we’ve gathered, it was just a pretence that those from White Lotus Sect wanted to hold a sacrificial ceremony in East Star City. Their original intention was to kill you,” Seeing that he didn’t say anything, Xiao He took the initiative to report the information that Grand Qi Temple had gathered recently.
Yang Kai nodded, “I figured.”
In fact, the White Lotus Matriarch had made an incredible move. Holding a sacrificial ceremony in East Star City might not be entirely a pretence. If those from Grand Qi Temple were unable to stop them, they would achieve something great by successfully refining the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
If those from Grand Qi Temple decided to interfere, they could attempt to kill Temple Master Yang Kai.
In reality, they had almost succeeded. Yang Kai was fully aware of who the Saintesses in White Lotus Sect were, but those from Grand Qi Temple were completely clueless about this new Saintess, Qu Hua Shang.
Moreover, Yang Kai fell into a dazed state when he saw the familiar figure; therefore, he was unsuspecting when Qu Hua Shang made her move.
“The people outside are flustered. They thought that you might not ever awaken,” Xiao He said, “The Vice Temple Masters have had some arguments. Do you want to go out and placate them?”
“There’s no need for that,” Yang Kai shook his head.
“Okay,” Luo Ting He appeared nonchalant. Everyone knew that Yang Kai was the only person in the world that she cared about. She wasn’t even concerned about her own Master Sect, the Emerald Smoke Sect.
That was the reason she decided to become Yang Kai’s personal bodyguard back then instead of one of the six Vice Temple Masters.
The fact that the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple was badly injured wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. Basically, every cultivator would become wounded at some point in their lives; however, the injury Yang Kai had suffered was not ordinary and there was fatal poison on the sword that had wounded him.
Everyone thought that the Temple Master was doomed. Even if he was lucky enough to survive, his strength would diminish significantly.
In fact, that was indeed the case. The Temple Master was lucky enough to have escaped from death’s door, but he had rarely stepped out of his room since he awakened. When he did show up sometimes, he was seen with a pale face, and it was apparent that he had difficulty walking.
This was a sign that his condition had deteriorated.
One month later, all six Vice Temple Masters came to an agreement. During a meeting in Grand Qi Temple, they implicitly suggested that Yang Kai step down from the position of Temple Master.
After all, the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple was supposed to be the most powerful cultivator of all seven great Sects. The Temple Master wasn’t just a symbol, but also the spiritual support of Grand Qi Temple.
Every year, those from White Lotus Sect would make countless attempts to kill the leaders of Grand Qi Temple. If the Temple Master was weak, the entire Grand Qi Temple would be greatly impacted if he was assassinated. By then, everyone would be flustered, and those from White Lotus Sect would seize the chance to destroy them.
Faced with the Vice Temple Masters’ implicit request, Yang Kai didn’t hesitate to step down as the Temple Master. As for who would be the next Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, it was none of his business.
If his memory hadn’t been restored, he wouldn’t have easily made a concession; after all, he was a disciple from Divine Method Hall in this life, and he had always been involved in the fight against White Lotus Sect. Furthermore, his biggest wish had been to destroy White Lotus Sect once and for all.
However, since his memory had been restored, he knew what he was supposed to do.
Yang Kai turned down their invitation to become one of the Vice Temple Masters and one fine morning, he simply left Grand Qi Temple with a horse and some belongings.
Luo Ting He followed him closely. Although those from Emerald Smoke Sect were against the idea, they were powerless to stop her. As far as they were concerned, she was a crazy woman, and only Yang Kai was able to communicate with her. She wouldn’t bother to talk to others at all.
Barely after three years, she seemed to have perfectly accepted the fact that she was Yang Kai’s personal bodyguard. Even though he had stepped down from the position of Temple Master, she still followed him wherever he went.
One month later, a man and a woman, who were covered in dust, arrived at a certain village.
The man’s face was slightly pale as he coughed from time to time. There was a spear on his back. On the other hand, the woman was petite while her face was alluring. There was a sword in her hand.
They were none other than Yang Kai and Luo Ting He, who had come all the way here from Grand Qi Temple.
It was just an ordinary village. Beside the dilapidated walls were kids who were playing around. Smoke could be seen billowing from the chimney of every house as the smell of food lingered in the air.
There were some plump women who called out to their kids to go home and have a meal.
The kids, who were playing around with some weapons made from wood in their hands, were curious about these visitors as they surrounded and examined them.
Xiao He sniffled and stroked her flat belly, “I’m hungry.”
She then looked pleadingly at Yang Kai.
Following a sigh, Yang Kai took the pouch from his waist and fished out a silver coin. He then said to the kids around him, “Whoever can bring us to have some delicious food will get this.”
The eyes of those kids brightened as they streamed towards him.
“I have some delicious food in my house. I’ll bring you there!”
“Come to my house!”
“They’re lying. They don’t eat meat at all. There’s salted fish in my house!”
…..
After a tug of war, a slightly older kid managed to grab the silver coin. Although he was punched a bit by the other kids because of that, he didn’t mind it. As he clenched the silver coin in his hand, he took Yang Kai’s clothes with his other hand and said, “Come with me!”
Yang Kai nodded and motioned for Xiao He to follow him.
They soon arrived at the kid’s house. His parents were around, wearing simple clothes that most farmers would own. Years of hard work had left some clear marks on their bodies.
The man wasn’t good with words as he smiled like a fool. Realising that Yang Kai and Xiao He were wealthy though, he treated them in a friendly manner.
On the other hand, his Wife was stocky, but she was pretty hospitable.
Seeing the silver coin presented to them by their son, they generously gave Yang Kai and Xiao He two bowls of rice as well as a salted fish they had kept for quite some time.
Xiao He picked up the bowl and wolfed down the meal.
The man was squatting at the door and smoking while the woman stood on the side with a smile. The kid was seated by the table as he watched Xiao He devour the food with a pair of curious eyes.
“Are you not going to eat?” After finishing her own food, Xiao He looked up and realised that Yang Kai hadn’t had anything.
“You can have it,” Yang Kai put on a smile.
Without hesitation, Xiao He picked up his bowl of rice and gobbled it up.
It was hard to imagine that such a small woman had such a big appetite. In fact, Yang Kai had brought quite a bit of money with him when he left Grand Qi Temple, but barely one month later, he had used up almost all of it to buy food for Xiao He.
“My sister was born to have a big appetite. Please don’t mind her, Madam,” Yang Kai turned to look at the smiling woman.
Although the woman was hospitable, she wasn’t good with words. Upon hearing that, she waved her hand and said, “It’s fine. We still have quite a lot of rice. She can have as much of it as she pleases.”
Yang Kai then gazed at the kid beside him, “You’re still growing. Why don’t you eat something?”
The kid replied with a smile, “You can eat first. I’ll eat later.”
In response, Yang Kai nodded and stopped objecting.
All of a sudden, Xiao He raised the bowl and said to the woman, “More rice, please.”
Upon hearing that, the man, who was smoking at the door, started coughing violently. He almost couldn’t breathe because of that.
The woman’s eyelids twitched as she took the bowl with an awkward expression before she entered the kitchen to get more rice for her.
Xiao He proceeded to devour that bowl and then asked for more.
One hour later, the woman took the empty bowl with a bitter expression and looked at Xiao He, who was still asking for more rice, “That’s all we have.”
The man was no longer in the mood to smoke. Since Xiao He asked for more rice for the third time, he had kept turning his head to stare fixedly at her.
The kid beside Yang Kai sported a cold expression.
A disappointed Xiao He said, “I’m not full yet.”
Disbelief was written all over the woman’s face as she gazed at Yang Kai. She couldn’t figure out how he managed to raise his sister. This kind of appetite was enough to make a wealthy family go broke.
“Was the food delicious?” Yang Kai gaped at Xiao He.
“It was delicious, but there was a bitter aftertaste,” Xiao He replied honestly.
“Of course the food was bitter since there was poison in it,” Yang Kai chuckled.
As soon as he finished speaking, three figures came right at Xiao He and him at the same time.
The man, who had been seated by the door, suddenly attempted to tackle them. The sabre in his hand flickered as he was engulfed in murderous intent.
The woman tossed the bowl away as she took a step forward and pushed out her palm towards Xiao He.
Even the kid beside Yang Kai suddenly fished out a sword and tried to stab it into the latter’s heart from a tricky angle.
The next moment, Xiao He made a move.
The man and woman grunted before they were sent flying away while spraying a mouthful of blood.
Yang Kai extended two fingers and gently caught the blade. Regardless of how hard the kid tried, he was unable to retract his sword as his face started flushing.
A furious Xiao He snapped, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that there was poison in the food?”
“Aren’t you immune to all kinds of poison?” Yang Kai batted his eyes.
“Oh, right.” Xiao He calmed down instantly, but she still felt aggrieved, “But you should have told me about it.”
“Would you not eat it if I told you?”
A bashful Xiao He replied hesitantly, “I would still eat it anyway.”
“See?” Yang Kai shrugged and extended his hand. The kid grunted and fell backwards. Then, he was shocked to realise that he was unable to move as a mysterious force passed through all his meridians.
“Who are they?” Xiao He frowned. The three of them were cultivators, and they put poison into their food. It was apparent that they were ill-intentioned.
“They’re disciples of White Lotus Sect.” Yang Kai rose from the chair, “This place is one of their secret hideouts.”
Upon hearing that, Xiao He was astounded. She just followed Yang Kai wherever he went and didn’t care about anything else, so she was surprised to learn that he had brought her to this kind of place.
It wasn’t that she was afraid. Given their strength, there were rarely any cultivators in the world who could harm them if they were in a one-on-one fight.
The reason Yang Kai knew this was one of the secret hideouts of White Lotus Sect was that he had been the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple for three years.
He was also aware of other hideouts like this. The reason he didn’t tell anyone to destroy them previously was that he didn’t want to alert the enemy to his knowledge. Nevertheless, since he was no longer the Temple Master, the previous arrangements didn’t matter anymore.
“What are we doing here?”
“Looking for someone,” As soon as Yang Kai finished speaking, he frowned and looked out the door.
He could sense that many people had surrounded the house. It was apparent that the fight just now had caught the attention of other White Lotus Sect’s disciples.
“I’ll deal with them,” After having some poisonous food, Xiao He was furious. Then, she raised her sword and dashed out of the house.
Soon, shrieks were continuously heard from all directions.
The woman and the man, who were lying on the ground, finally had their expressions changed drastically.
The woman asked, “Who are you?”
Turning to her, he slowly spoke his name, “Yang Kai.”
Upon hearing that, the man widened his eyes and started trembling. With a pale face, the woman exclaimed, “Grand Qi Temple’s Temple Master, Yang Kai?”
The war between good and evil had raged for hundreds of years. Even though the grassroots disciples of White Lotus Sect had never seen Yang Kai before, all of them had heard his name at least.
To them, the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple was just as noble as their own White Lotus Matriarch. The average person wouldn’t have a chance to see either of them.
No one could have expected that the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple would appear in such a remote village.
“I’m no longer the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple,” Yang Kai shook his head. His words confirmed the woman’s speculation.
The woman appeared dejected. Just now, she was trying to come up with a way to flee; however, upon learning that the man before her eyes was the legendary Yang Kai, she gave up on the idea. The gap between their strength was insurmountable, so how was she supposed to flee?
“What are you doing in our White Lotus Sect’s stronghold?” the woman asked.
“I already said I’m looking for someone from White Lotus Sect.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“It’s none of your business. Just tell your higher-ups about it, and the person I’m looking for will come to see me.”
A myriad of expressions came over the woman’s face. With her hand pressed against her chest, she got to her feet slowly. Then, she forcefully moved backwards and destroyed the wall behind her before running away at full speed.
Then, she heard Yang Kai saying, “I’ll wait here for a month. If I don’t see the person I’m looking for by then, I’ll personally visit the eight secret hideouts of White Lotus Sect.”
The woman shuddered and ran faster.
Xiao He dashed into the house and looked around, “She fled?”
“It’s fine.” Yang Kai waved his hand and took a look at her sword, which was soaked in blood, “Have you killed all of them?”
A nonchalantly Xiao He replied, “Yes. You wanted some of them to live? You should’ve told me earlier.”
Then, she gazed at the man and the kid on the ground as her murderous intent surged.
“Well, you should probably keep them alive to cook for you. I don’t know how to cook,” Yang Kai’s words were effective in stopping her from killing the last two survivors.
Although the man and the kid had escaped from death’s door, they felt devastated; after all, as disciples of White Lotus Sect, they had fallen into the hands of these two. It was expected that life would be like living Hell for them.
They could already imagine the kind of torture they would face.
In reality, things were different from what they imagined. In the following days, they were not tortured in any way.
The man was responsible for cooking meals for Xiao He and Yang Kai every day. On the other hand, the kid had no choice but to play some childish games with Xiao He.
During this period of time, they repeatedly tried to flee using many different methods.
However, what was a matter of life or death to them was like another game in Xiao He’s eyes.
She would always appear at the most unexpected moments and capture the two of them, who were ready to run away or had already left the village.
Every time they were captured, some of their hair would be cut as a punishment.
After just half a month, both of them became bald.
Since there was no hair left on their heads, Xiao He said to them in a serious manner, “If I catch you again, I’ll have no choice but to cut your heads!”
Their hair would grow back after it was cut, but their heads certainly wouldn’t.
They wouldn’t dare to find out whether Xiao He was serious, so after that day, they became obedient and didn’t dare to flee again.
Meanwhile, having lost a source of entertainment, Xiao He found it to be boring and soon regretted threatening them in such a way.
The deadline Yang Kai had given was one month. If he couldn’t see the person he was looking for within that time, he would personally visit eight of White Lotus Sect’s secret hideouts.
This kind of threat was intolerable to those from White Lotus Sect.
There were countless disciples in White Lotus Sect, so there were definitely a lot more than eight secret hideouts; however, no one knew exactly which eight hideouts Yang Kai was talking about.
In that case, it wouldn’t be possible for them to move the people there to another place.
In order to keep the hideouts safe, the only way was to kill Yang Kai once and for all.
On the last day of the deadline, Yang Kai was cultivating with his legs crossed in the middle of the night. After a few months of hard work, he finally managed to force out the remaining poison. The last bit of poison was sprayed out from his mouth along with some black blood. At that instant, he felt energised and refreshed, as though the shackles around his body had been lifted.
Those from Grand Qi Temple thought that even though he had survived the fatal poison, his strength must have decreased significantly. That was the reason the six Vice Temple Masters joined forces to make him step down as the Temple Master.
They might be doing it out of greed or for the greater good of everyone; however, after realising his true heart, Yang Kai was no longer interested in the position of Temple Master.
Even if no one had forced him to resign, he would still have stepped down from the position.
There were more important things he had to do. His experiences in the Samsara Worlds were nothing more than illusions.
All of a sudden, the sounds of something breaking through the air were heard, which were extremely ear-catching in this serene night. Following that, arrows penetrated the door and windows from all directions and engulfed him like a storm.
Yang Kai, who was seated on the bed, picked up his spear and spun it. Following some clangs, all the arrows were deflected.
However, the rain of arrows didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Yang Kai roared and leaped into the air before smashing through the roof.
There were already some people waiting for him on the roof. As soon as he appeared, they assumed a Formation and tried to kill him together.
All of them were fairly powerful. In a one-on-one fight, none of them could last even three of Yang Kai’s moves, but after they joined forces, they could make up for each other’s weaknesses and greatly increase their collective strength.
After more than ten breaths of intense battle, Yang Kai grunted and fell backwards. He crashed through the roof and landed on the ground.
Just then, two hands suddenly emerged from the ground and grabbed his ankles. The person then exerted more force with his hands in an attempt to drag Yang Kai into the ground.
Without sparing a glance, Yang Kai stabbed his spear a metre deep into the ground. When he pulled out his weapon, the ground was already dyed crimson.
The attackers came at him from the rooftop, but Yang Kai wielded his spear and dealt with them.
Right then, shrieks could be heard coming from outside the house.
Xiao He had made her move!
In the darkness, she was like a phantom. Wherever she drifted, enemies would shriek and lose their lives.
A moment later, she arrived at Yang Kai’s side.
The people that had been using a Formation were initially an equal match for Yang Kai. However, with Xiao He joining the battle, they instantly found it hard to persevere.
Yang Kai and Xiao He had worked together for many years, so they could easily coordinate with each other. The powerful cultivators that White Lotus Sect had spent years nurturing were all killed in fewer than twenty breaths.
There was some blood on Xiao He’s face. She dabbed it with her finger and licked it with her tongue. Her expression became excited and hideous while her murderous intent radiated like a bright light in the darkness.
It was as though she would kill any living creature that was in front of her.
Yang Kai directly landed a smack on her head.
Xiao He’s figure was forced to lower, but her murderous intent had subsided significantly. She had restored some sensibility as she sported an aggrieved expression and pressed her lips together.
“Look for her!” Yang Kai demanded.
Xiao He sniffled, then pointed in a particular direction, “That way!”
They moved at the same time and charged forward in that direction.
Inside a house that was still intact stood several figures in silence as they had hidden their auras. Even a top cultivator like Yang Kai hadn’t noticed it before.
Nevertheless, Xiao He could accurately find them.
The wall shattered, but before those people could react, Yang Kai and Xiao He had already appeared right in front of them.
As their eyes met, Yang Kai flashed a bright smile at the woman at the front.
However, the woman sported an extremely gloomy expression while the faces of her personal bodyguards were tight.
Xiao He swept a glance over them while appearing eager. She looked inquisitively at Yang Kai to seek his permission to kill them.
While Yang Kai pretended that he hadn’t seen it, Xiao He appeared disappointed.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Both parties were only ten metres apart. While those from White Lotus Sect were hostile, Yang Kai and Xiao He remained calm and collected, as though they didn’t have any regard for the other party.
At that, those from White Lotus Sect became even more apprehensive.
All of a sudden, the woman at the front put on a smile. Everything else in the world paled compared to her smile at this moment.
“I heard you were looking for me, old man.”
Yang Kai’s brow twitched.
In one of their lives, the woman called him little one and told him not to be afraid.
This life, she called him old man. It seemed that what went around came around.
“Yes, I was looking for you,” Yang Kai nodded.
There was an innocent expression on the face of the White Lotus Sect’s Saintess, Qu Hua Shang. She tilted her head and placed her finger on her lips, “What’s the matter?”
Yang Kai flashed a smile at her. There was no murderous intent in his eyes, which were only filled with tenderness.
A shocked Qu Hua Shang asked, “Have you fallen in love with me, old man?”
An unabashed Yang Kai directly admitted it, “It was love at first sight.”
Upon hearing that, Qu Hua Shang and her personal bodyguards were stunned.
Only Xiao He’s eyes brightened as though she had just heard something interesting. With an excited expression, she darted her gaze between Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang while for some reason feeling anxious.
Qu Hua Shang was lost for words. She wasn’t serious when she said that just now, so it surprised her that the other party directly admitted it. Moreover, his expression and tone seemed to suggest that he was completely sincere.
Although she was young, she was good at reading people’s faces; therefore, she could judge whether a person was lying through his gaze and tone.
She wanted to look for the traces of Yang Kai lying, but her attempt was futile.
All of a sudden, she started laughing and bent her back as though she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
Yang Kai only looked silently at her with a pair of loving eyes.
A moment later, Qu Hua Shang stopped laughing and wiped the tears off the corners of her eyes. She gazed at the man and said, “It was love at first sight? Did you forget I wounded you at that time?”
Yang Kai nodded, “Your attack almost killed me, so you have to make up for it for the rest of this life.”
Xiao He’s face started flushing as she became more agitated. She pressed her hands against her chest with an enchanted expression, as though she had just heard the most loving words in the world.
The smile on Qu Hua Shang’s face froze as she pursed her lips, “You’re pretty good at spewing nonsense, old man.”
Yang Kai took a step forward and looked her in the eyes, “I speak only the truth.”
Qu Hua Shang suddenly became flustered and frowned, “You’re the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple while I’m a Saintess of White Lotus Sect. We’re basically blood enemies. Just tell me straight if there’s anything you want to say and stop teasing a little girl like me.”
“Do you think I’m teasing you?” Yang Kai took another step forward.
Qu Hua Shang instinctively took a step backwards while her personal bodyguards felt threatened; after all, one of the strongest Masters in this world was standing right in front of them. Given the short distance between them, they wouldn’t have time to react if the other party abruptly made a move.
“Are you not?”
“Of course not. Everything I’ve said is from the bottom of my heart.”
Qu Hua Shang stared fixedly at him for a moment before turning to Xiao He and asking, “Big Sister, has he always been so crazy?”
Upon hearing that, Xiao He shook her head, “This has never happened before. I always thought that he wasn’t interested in women. Well, since he’s finally in love with one, you should just get together with him. What’s there to hesitate about? Although there’s a huge gap between your age and he’s old enough to be your Father… age has nothing to do with love. I’m telling you, even though he’s old, he’s still a virgin!”
A speechless Qu Hua Shang gazed at Xiao He. Since she was aware of Yang Kai’s identity, she certainly knew who Xiao He was as well. This woman was from Emerald Smoke Sect, but she wasn’t interested in the position of Vice Temple Master. Instead, she decided to become Yang Kai’s personal bodyguard. She was the nightmare of many powerful cultivators from White Lotus Sect, and she had killed many of them as well.
Almost everyone in the world believed that she was Yang Kai’s woman.
However, that didn’t seem to be the case now.
Although they were close to each other, they were apparently not lovers.
Both the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple and this woman were insane.
“Those from White Lotus Sect have placed a lot of moles in Grand Qi Temple. As a Saintess, you should know that I stepped down as Temple Master two months ago. I’m no longer a member of Grand Qi Temple, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”
Qu Hua Shang snorted, “Who knows if this is a plot of those from Grand Qi Temple?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “There’s no point in explaining. Time will prove everything.”
After a moment of silence, Qu Hua Shang suddenly winked at him, “Why don’t you prove it to me now?”
“How do you want me to do that?” Yang Kai asked.
“It’s simple.” As soon as Qu Hua Shang finished speaking, she pulled out a sword from her personal bodyguard’s waist and directly dashed towards Yang Kai before pressing her weapon against the man’s chest. The sharp tip penetrated his skin as blood started streaming out of his wound.
Qu Hua Shang was astounded.
She was surprised at the fact that the man didn’t try to resist or dodge the attack.
The Temple Master of every generation was one of the top cultivators in the world in their time. Although her movements were quick just now, Yang Kai should have been agile enough to react.
The reason she could harm him two months ago was that she caught him unsuspecting.
However, she succeeded in hurting him this time because he didn’t intend to dodge the attack, which was different.
They were so close to each other that she could feel the man’s breath brushing across her face. As their eyes met, Qu Hua Shang only saw a clear gaze that was void of any deception. Despite the fact that a sword had been jabbed into his body, he remained calm and collected. The smile on his face was so bright that it was almost piercing.
An infuriated Qu Hua Shang pushed the sword forward a bit further.
As Yang Kai’s personal bodyguard, Xiao He was responsible for ensuring his safety. Over the years, she had done a great job as she could always discover and easily resolve the assassination attempts targeted at Yang Kai by those from White Lotus Sect.
It was close to impossible for anyone to press his sword against Yang Kai’s chest. As soon as Xiao He detected a hint of murderous intent, she would decisively make a move and kill the enemy; however, at this moment, Xiao He didn’t seem to have the intention of stopping the Saintess of White Lotus Sect even though the sword had been stabbed into his chest. Instead, she just looked at them with interest.
The cultivators behind Qu Hua Shang were all tensed up and soaked in a cold sweat.
They felt that the Saintess was playing with fire, for any slight negligence would cause her to lose her life. The assassination attempt tonight was already a failure. The moment their whereabouts were exposed, they were already at a huge disadvantage.
They were fully aware that they were unable to go up against the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple and his personal bodyguard. If the two of them had any murderous intent, none of them would survive.
The fact that the Saintess had penetrated Yang Kai’s flesh with her sword was no different from a mad provocation.
Nevertheless, while they were apprehensive, they also hoped that she would succeed.
If the Saintess could really kill the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple here, that would be a huge contribution to the Sect, and they would be rewarded handsomely as well.
Her sword was just finger widths away from his heart. If she could penetrate it, Yang Kai would instantly lose his life regardless how strong he was.
Although Qu Hua Shang could easily determine the life or death of the man in front of her, she found it hard to really do it.
She had the intention to kill him, and she was aware that her reputation would be greatly enhanced by killing Yang Kai here, which would help her stand a better chance of becoming the next Sect Master of White Lotus Sect; however, there seemed to be a voice in her heart that kept screaming at her that she would regret it for all her life if she really made a move.
A myriad of expressions came over her, then she said through clenched teeth, “You’re insane!”
As soon as she retracted her sword, blood started streaming out of the man’s wound.
She wouldn’t dare to look him in the eye as her gaze anxiously moved away. After tossing the sword at one of the personal bodyguards, she ordered, “Let’s go!”
The moment she turned around, Yang Kai clenched her arm.
“What are you doing? Let go of my arm!” Qu Hua Shang demanded.
“Kill them all!” Yang Kai ordered, then carried Qu Hua Shang up with both hands. She intended to resist, but he exerted some kind of force through his hands and rendered her powerless to do so.
Like a tornado, Xiao He charged towards the personal bodyguards as sword lights flashed through her weapon. By the time she stopped in her tracks, the personal bodyguards had already all collapsed to the ground.
Carried in the man’s arms like a child, Qu Hua Shang felt utterly ashamed. She kept thumping her fists against his chest, but her action was rather coquettish since she had lost her strength.
To the side, Xiao He just watched them with interest.
Yang Kai flashed a smile at the woman in his arms, “You stabbed your sword into my body twice. You probably can’t make up for it for your entire life, so you’ll have to continue doing it in your next life.”
Qu Hua Shang snapped, “I’m not going to make up for anything. I should’ve killed you just now!”
“Why don’t I give you one more chance?” Yang Kai winked at her.
Qu Hua Shang snorted, thinking that he was just probing her. She even suspected that if she had really tried to kill him just now, the man would’ve counterattacked. When that happened, she would’ve fallen into a worse state than being captured.
Since she was unable to defeat him or flee, she decided to make a concession and let him carry her. She took the initiative to wrap her hands around the man’s neck to stabilise herself. Wind could be heard howling while the view around her flew backwards rapidly.
“Where are you taking me?” Qu Hua Shang asked.
“You’ll find out when we arrive,” Yang Kai replied nonchalantly.
Three days later, Yang Kai found a lake in a certain valley. There were no traces that suggested that anyone had visited this place before, and the view was excellent. This place was suitable for a reclusive life.
After putting the woman down, Yang Kai said to Xiao He, “Keep an eye on her and make sure that she doesn’t flee.”
Xiao He nodded, “Don’t worry, she won’t be able to run away.” She then took a look at Qu Hua Shang’s legs, “Why don’t I break her legs?”
Qu Hua Shang couldn’t help but shudder as she looked at Xiao He as if she was a demon, and firmly declared, “Don’t do that. I’m not going to run away.”
Xiao He nodded, “You’d better be obedient, then.”
After that, Yang Kai left the place to fell some trees. It took him several days to build three log houses by the lake for the three of them.
The difficulty in the ninth life was very high. It wasn’t until Yang Kai had lived in this world for decades that his memory was restored, so it would be even harder to bring back Qu Hua Shang’s memory and shatter her Heart Barrier.
However, since he had found her, there was a target he could aim to achieve. He was ready to make Qu Hua Shang slowly open up to him. He believed that she would fall in love with him one day.
Moreover, it was a good sign that she had decided to give up on the idea of killing him in the end some time ago.
This meant that even though her memory had been sealed, she still had some instincts that pulled her back from killing him.
No one would come to this valley. Every day, Yang Kai would head out to hunt some food and collect firewood while Xiao He would keep an eye on Qu Hua Shang. No one in the world would’ve thought that three top cultivators were living a reclusive life in such a remote place.
Time passed by slowly.
Initially, Qu Hua Shang was against this kind of life. Those from White Lotus Sect had nurtured her for years. As soon as she stopped cultivating in seclusion, the White Lotus Matriarch gave her the title of Saintess. She was also one of the candidates who had the hope of becoming the next Sect Master.
As a powerful young woman with a bright future, it was expected that she hated to live like a captive.
Nevertheless, she was clever enough not to try fleeing. That was because she knew that it was impossible for her to flee from Xiao He.
With that said, she made sure to let Yang Kai and Xiao He know that she abhorred them by glowering at them every time they met. Other than having meals, she would never leave her house.
Yang Kai had already expected it, so he didn’t mind it, nor did it bother Xiao He. The only person in the world she was concerned about was Yang Kai.
Soon, three months had passed.
Time could really change a person.
Qu Hua Shang was initially doubtful, but now, she could confirm that the man who was old enough to be her father had really fallen in love with her.
Although he had restricted her freedom over the past few months, he took very good care of her in all other ways. Every time he looked at her, his eyes were brimming with care. Anyone could see the longing behind his eyes as long as they were not blind.
Qu Hua Shang didn’t understand the reason behind it. Before she was captured by Yang Kai, she had only met the man once. At that time, she had stabbed her sword into his chest and almost killed him.
She was fully aware that she was beautiful, but she didn’t think she was charming enough to make someone like the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple fall head over heels for her.
If he could easily be attracted to beauty, he couldn’t have become the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple.
After three months of living together, the tension between them had eased.
In the middle of the night, Qu Hua Shang and Yang Kai were lying on the roof of a log house. With their hands placed behind their heads, they looked up at the starry sky.
“Old man, where did we stop last night?” Qu Hua Shang gazed at the brightest Star in the sky and asked.
“The eighth life,” Yang Kai replied.
“Oh, continue from there, then. Who were you and me in the eighth life?”
These days, Yang Kai had been telling Qu Hua Shang about a love story of nine lives.
Everything he had said came from his own experiences, but to Qu Hua Shang, it was a strange story that was touching enough to elicit tears from naive young people.
She was willing to listen to it as there was nothing else she could do here, so it was a good way to kill time.
In the eighth life, both of them were from different Sects. However, these Sects were arch nemeses, just like what was going on between Grand Qi Temple and White Lotus Sect. It was expected that their love story was full of hardship.
Nevertheless, they were just Common Disciples of their own Sects, unlike in this life where both of them held powerful positions.
Despite the hardship and several attempts to kill each other, they resolved their differences in the end and married.
Qu Hua Shang attentively listened to the story. Although the story itself was banal, Yang Kai was able to make it interesting with his vivid descriptions. It was as though he had personally experienced it.
Just then, someone could be heard sobbing from behind them.
Without even turning her head, Qu Hua Shang let out a sigh, “Big Sister Xiao He, why are you crying again?”
“It’s such a touching story…” Presently, Xiao He was seated with her legs crossed behind them. She started bawling her eyes out as tears slid down her face like pearls with a snapped string.
Every time Yang Kai told Qu Hua Shang about this love story of nine lives, Xiao He would come over and listen to it as well. Without fail, she would always break into tears in the end.
She was more passionate about the story than Qu Hua Shang.
Suddenly thinking of something, Yang Kai asked, “Xiao He, if you were the Sect Master of one of the Sects in the eighth life, what would you do after finding out that someone in your Sect was in love with a disciple from an opposing Sect?”
Without pondering on it, Xiao He replied, “I would have agreed to let them get together regardless of what it took!”
Yang Kai put on a bright smile, “You really did. Thanks!”
Xiao He was perplexed, “What do you mean?”
Yang Kai didn’t explain anything.
In fact, Xiao He, as his Sect Master in the eighth life, had really allowed Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang to get together, just like she had said just now. In order to help them, she even decided to destroy the opposing Sect despite knowing that she would also be killed, thus clearing the biggest obstacle between the two of them.
Now that they were in their ninth life, Xiao He’s reply matched what she had done.
Yang Kai could now confirm that Xiao He was a real person who had barged into this Samsara World somehow. However, it wasn’t certain about her identity in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
“Old man, according to you, we’re supposedly in our ninth life now, right?” Qu Hua Shang asked.
“Yes, it’s the ninth life, as well as the last.”
“Is it because of what we went through in our previous lives that you fell in love with me at first sight?”
“Yes.”
Qu Hua Shang couldn’t help but sneer, “You’re pretty amazing, old man. The story you’ve fabricated is so moving that I’ve almost believed it.”
Xiao He appeared beside her and looked down at her, “How could you not believe him? You should believe it and get married to him tomorrow. It’s a love story of nine lives. It will be complete after you two get together.”
Qu Hua Shang snapped, “I’m not going to get married. You should do that yourself.”
After giving it a thought, Xiao He shook her head, “The person I’m waiting for hasn’t found me. I’m not going to get married.”
Xiao He had always been a straightforward but crazy woman.
Yang Kai had never seen this kind of melancholic expression on her face before, and it made him think of something. Just when he wanted to ask her though, Qu Hua Shang suddenly grunted and started trembling.
With his expression changed, Yang Kai turned to look at her, “What’s wrong?”
“I-I’m fine!” Qu Hua Shang obstinately shook her head.
However, Yang Kai already realised that something was off. Under the moonlight, her face appeared slightly pale while her Internal Qi was unstable.
Xiao He placed her hand on the other woman’s forehead and exclaimed, “It’s cold!”
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai took Qu Hua Shang’s wrist and placed two fingers on her pulse before injecting some of his power to check on her.
Just like Xiao He had said, Qu Hua Shang’s figure was as cold as an ice block. While being close to her, he could feel the coldness wafting from her body.
Nevertheless, the coldness soon dissipated and was replaced by scorching heat.
Qu Hua Shang gasped for breath. Her vision had turned blurry, and her face flushed.
Upon examination, he realised that her Qi was in chaos. The power she had obtained by cultivating was rampaging around her meridians like an out-of-control horse.
Yang Kai and Xiao He exchanged glances before saying at the same time, “Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill!”
There were countless kinds of pills in the world, but the wickedest of them all was the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill.
This pill was invented by the second Sect Master of White Lotus Sect, and its recipe was a top secret. Only the current Sect Master of White Lotus Sect knew how to refine it.
The pill was also one of the best ways for the leader of White Lotus Sect to control their subordinates.
The person who had taken this pill would see their aura turning chaotic if they didn’t consume the antidote at regular intervals, just like Qu Hua Shang was going through now. One would feel extremely cold or hot in a vicious cycle, and the situation would only exacerbate as time passed, eventually resulting in them exploding in a gruesome death.
There were countless disciples in White Lotus Sect. There were already a lot of disciples in the middle of the hierarchy, not to mention the grassroot disciples. Although the White Lotus Matriarch was powerful, she couldn’t ensure that her subordinates would always be faithful to her.
Therefore, many disciples in the middle of the hierarchy, especially the Hall Masters, were controlled by her using Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills. Only by gaining the White Lotus Matriarch’s trust would they be spared from this kind of treatment.
Yang Kai initially thought that as a Saintess, Qu Hua Shang had gained the White Lotus Matriarch’s complete trust, and she didn’t have to take the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill.
It wasn’t until the poison struck her that he realised he was wrong. Although Qu Hua Shang was one of the few Saintesses of White Lotus Sect, she was still controlled by the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill.
From what those from Grand Qi Temple had gathered, after a person took the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill, they would have to consume an antidote every three months; otherwise, life would become a living Hell for them.
After some calculations, Yang Kai realised that it had been three months since Qu Hua Shang was brought to this place.
In other words, the last time they met, she must have just consumed the antidote. Since time was up now, the medicinal efficacies of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill started taking effect.
“Whose blood was used?” Yang Kai asked with a solemn expression.
Needless to say, he knew that the White Lotus Matriarch’s blood had been used.
The refinement of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill required Human blood, and it also took the same person’s blood to produce the antidote.
Qu Hua Shang was the Saintess of White Lotus Sect; hence, only the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill made from the White Lotus Matriarch’s blood could ensure her loyalty.
“What should we do now?” Xiao He asked anxiously. She was fully aware of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill’s effects, so she was afraid that Qu Hua Shang would lose her life just like that.
If Qu Hua Shang died, she wouldn’t be able to see the things she had always wanted to get a glimpse of.
After a moment of hesitation, Yang Kai carried Qu Hua Shang up. While using his own strength to protect her meridians, he walked out and said, “Let’s go!”
In order to save Qu Hua Shang, they had to look for the White Lotus Matriarch.
He had underestimated the difficulty he had to face in his ninth life. Initially, he thought that after bringing her to this place, he just had to spend years with her, and she would eventually fall in love with him; however, since she had been struck by the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill, he had to give up on this plan.
The most important thing he had to do now was to save her life.
Although the fight between Grand Qi Temple and White Lotus Sect had been ongoing for many years, they still hadn’t found the location of White Lotus Sect’s Headquarters. It wasn’t that those from Grand Qi Temple were terrible at gathering information, it was just that those from White Lotus Sect didn’t have a fixed Headquarters.
White Lotus Sect had countless hideouts, so wherever the White Lotus Matriarch was located would be the Headquarters; however, she would always go to a different place after some time. Only the people closest to her knew the regular switching pattern. Usually, even the Hall Masters of White Lotus Sect were unable to find her.
Fortunately, Qu Hua Shang held a very important position, so she had the right to know the hiding place of the White Lotus Matriarch.
Sometimes, she was conscious, but sometimes, she would pass out. Yang Kai could only intermittently ask her about the White Lotus Matriarch’s whereabouts.
It took Yang Kai and Xiao He a month before they arrived at a certain valley.
There were some traces that suggested that there were people living here, and in the deepest part of the forest there were a number of buildings.
Apparently, this was another secret hideout of White Lotus Sect.
Certainly, the disciples of White Lotus Sect who were in the periphery had noticed Yang Kai and Xiao He’s arrival; therefore, as soon as they stepped into this place, they were surrounded by countless White Lotus Sect’s disciples from all directions.
Innumerable streams of Divine Sense had locked onto them. Some of them darted their gazes between Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang, who was in his arms, with doubtful expressions.
They definitely knew that she was a Saintess, but they had no idea why she was in a man’s arms at the moment. This prompted many of them to look resentfully at him.
Like an enraged cheetah, Xiao He growled from time to time while appearing tempted.
Since there were so many disciples of White Lotus Sect around, she had the urge to slaughter them all.
However, even though they were two of the most powerful cultivators in the world, they would be doomed if they had to deal with so many formidable enemies from White Lotus Sect.
In other words, the moment they stepped into this place, they already lost control of their own fates.
“I was wondering why the magpies were chirping early in the morning. I can understand now. There are some honoured guests here,” Someone was heard laughing as a middle-aged woman clad in white clothes emerged from the crowd.
Although she was no longer young, she was still charming. It was obvious that she must have been alluring in her youth. Despite her age, she was still pretty attractive as age didn’t seem to have left any marks on her.
Her white clothes made her look very pure, just like a lotus.
With a dispassionate expression, Yang Kai turned to look at her.
They had been arch nemeses for a long time, and it wasn’t the first time they dealt with each other, so there wasn’t a need to say anything else.
“Don’t be so nervous. Do you all know who that is?” The White Lotus Matriarch chuckled like a young maiden, “He is the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, Yang Kai. If he wants to kill you all, I won’t be able to save you.”
In an instant, the disciples of White Lotus Sect around her appeared flustered.
The name Yang Kai was intimidating to the disciples of White Lotus Sect as he had killed a lot of their companions. In their eyes, he was their greatest enemy.
Upon seeing how her subordinates reacted, the White Lotus Matriarch snorted. Then, she looked condescendingly at Yang Kai, “What brings you, a Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, here?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “I’m no longer the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, and they have nothing to do with me anymore. So, you don’t have to be resentful of me. I’ve come all the way here to save a person.”
The White Lotus Matriarch’s gaze fell upon Qu Hua Shang, who was in Yang Kai’s arms, and then she asked, “Do you want to save her?”
“Yes.”
The White Lotus Matriarch scoffed, “There are only two kinds of people in this world; those that are useful to me and those that are useless. Since she’s been captured by you, she’s useless. You have the liberty to decide if you want to kill her.”
The beautiful women behind the White Lotus Matriarch were supposed to be the other Saintesses of White Lotus Sect. Upon hearing what the Sect Master had said, they appeared elated.
All of these Saintesses had experienced countless hardships before they were promoted to their current position. On the other hand, Qu Hua Shang was given the title of Saintess without making any contributions to White Lotus Sect. That was why they were jealous and thought that the Matriarch was biased towards her.
Nonetheless, they wouldn’t dare to complain about anything to the Matriarch. If they could see Qu Hua Shang lose her life, thus eliminating a powerful rival, they were expected to be joyful.
“I have to save her,” Yang Kai said impassively.
“Go save her, then!”
“She’s been struck by the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill’s poison!”
Upon hearing that, the White Lotus Matriarch started guffawing and looked mockingly at Yang Kai, “Of course I know she’s been struck by the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill, but what does that have to do with me? What benefits would I get by saving her?”
“She’s the Saintess of White Lotus Sect after all. If you don’t save her, aren’t you worried that your subordinates will feel disappointed?”
“Who would dare?” The White Lotus Matriarch roared as the disciples of White Lotus Sect were instantly frightened. As she swept a glance over everyone with her eagle-like eyes, those who met her gaze couldn’t help but hang their heads low.
Meanwhile, the Saintesses behind her were quivering like quails in the winter.
A moment later, she gazed at Yang Kai and said through clenched teeth, “Good, I wasn’t aware that you’re such a sharp-tongued person.”
“Are you saving her or not?” Yang Kai stared fixedly at her as his murderous intent spread out. It was as though he would go into a frenzy if the White Lotus Matriarch dared to say no.
“She’s a disciple of White Lotus Sect, and you have no right to interfere. I have the liberty to decide whether I want to save her or not!” The White Lotus Matriarch said through gritted teeth. Despite what she had said, she jerked her head to the side.
The next moment, one of the Saintesses leaped forward and soon stood in front of Yang Kai.
It was apparent that this Saintess was anxious; after all, she had to summon her courage in order to stand before a powerful cultivator like Yang Kai.
She cautiously extended both hands to show that she didn’t mean any harm.
Yang Kai passed Qu Hua Shang to the Saintess, who quickly brought her back to the White Lotus Matriarch and put her down in front of the latter.
The White Lotus Matriarch looked down at Qu Hua Shang and extended her left hand. As she activated her power, she sucked Qu Hua Shang towards her and struck the woman’s acupoints with her right hand.
After a cough, Qu Hua Shang slowly awakened.
She still appeared to be in pain. As the force in her body charged around, she felt cold or hot from time to time, as though she would lose her life by exploding at any moment.
Faced with the White Lotus Matriarch’s impassive gaze, she fell on one knee and said through chattering teeth, “I’ve brought you a gift, Matriarch!”
The White Lotus Matriarch nodded gently, “You’ve done well. You never disappoint me.”
Qu Hua Shang hung her head low, “It is what I should do.”
“Step aside for now,” The White Lotus Matriarch waved her hand.
Upon hearing that, Qu Hua Shang got to her feet and stood behind the White Lotus Matriarch. Then, she fished out a Spirit Pill from somewhere and stuffed it into her mouth.
As soon as she swallowed the pill, she was in a much better state.
Upon seeing that, a dumbfounded Xiao He exclaimed, “Hey, she lied to us! We’ve been tricked!”
It was apparent that Qu Hua Shang had the antidote to the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill with her all along, but despite the fact that she might explode at any moment, she insisted on not using it. Instead, she slowly lured Yang Kai to this place.
This was undoubtedly a risky bet. If she failed, she would lose everything. Nevertheless, the outcome showed that she had won her gamble.
She successfully lured Yang Kai to this place where he was surrounded by countless powerful cultivators from White Lotus Sect. The White Lotus Matriarch was also present.
Basically, she was making use of Yang Kai’s love for her. Perhaps she wanted to prove something, but the outcome was somewhat unbearable to the average person.
She secretly examined Yang Kai’s expression, but there was no hint of fury on his face. He still remained calm and collected.
On the other hand, Luo Ting He, who was beside Yang Kai, was infuriated, “That woman is so ungrateful! You’ve been treating her so well, but she still decided to harm you. Don’t you feel upset about it?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I’m fine.”
The White Lotus Matriarch guffawed, “Who could have expected that the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple would fall into a trap because of love? I’ve just watched a good show. Fortunately, my disciples are all very loyal to me. You’ve made a wrong move by trying to make her side with you.”
All of a sudden, her voice turned grim, “Yang Kai, you’ve killed countless White Lotus Sect disciples over the years. Now that you’ve fallen into such a state, do you have any last words to say?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “Are you confident you can kill me?”
The White Lotus Matriarch sneered, “I’m fully aware of how powerful you are; however, the disciples of White Lotus Sect are not weaklings either. I have the confidence to kill you.”
Yang Kai looked around, “Well, let’s see the price you’re prepared to pay for that.”
He then turned to Xiao He, “Do we kill half of them?”
An excited Xiao He unsheathed her sword, “That’s not enough. We have to kill 60% of them at the very least.”
“Why don’t we aim for 70% of them?”
“Sounds good!”
Yang Kai gazed at the White Lotus Matriarch and said with a smile, “Are you prepared to sacrifice 70% of the people here? I suppose they’re all the strongest Masters and brightest rising stars in White Lotus Sect. If so many die, White Lotus Sect will be all but crippled. By then, it’ll take you many years to recover.”
Instantly, the White Lotus Matriarch’s face turned livid. Although Yang Kai and Xiao He were arrogant, she didn’t think they were exaggerating.
For top cultivators like Yang Kai and Luo Ting He, it was very likely that they would be able to kill sixty to seventy percent of the people here if they were willing to throw their lives away.
Perhaps even the Matriarch herself would be badly injured. When that happened, Grand Qi Temple would be at a huge, possibly even decisive advantage.
However, the chance before her eyes was difficult to come by, so it would be unrealistic for her to give it up. At that instant, she was caught in a dilemma.
Yang Kai didn’t intend to make things difficult for her though, so he pressed Luo Ting He’s sword down and said loudly, “I have a suggestion. I’m not sure if you’re interested in listening to it.”
The White Lotus Matriarch scoffed, “Stop beating around the bush.”
Yang Kai stuck out two fingers, “Please give me two Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills.”
Upon hearing that, everyone was stunned.
Qu Hua Shang, who was standing behind the White Lotus Matriarch, widened her eyes and stared at Yang Kai in disbelief. She even suspected that she had heard it wrong.
The White Lotus Matriarch was equally shocked as she spurted out, “What do you want two Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills for?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Rather than risking the lives of so many people just to kill us, don’t you want two more powerful cultivators to work under you?”
“You…” The White Lotus Matriarch was dumbfounded. Although she already had a speculation before, she still found it hard to believe even after he spoke the words.
After all, the person standing in front of her was Yang Kai, the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple.
She even suspected that there was something wrong with the information she had gathered. Was Yang Kai stepping down as the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple just a pretence? Presently, was this place already surrounded by many cultivators from Grand Qi Temple and as soon as Yang Kai gave the order, they would storm inside?
The idea soon became rooted in the White Lotus Matriarch’s mind and started growing. She was instantly alerted as she looked around, thinking that many people had hidden behind the bushes. It was as though they would jump out at any moment to kill her.
“What are you playing at!?” The White Lotus Matriarch questioned sternly.
Yang Kai shook his head, “There’s no point in explaining anything. You just have to pass me two Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills and wait.”
The White Lotus Matriarch stared at Yang Kai as though it was the first time they had met. There was a conflicted expression on her face.
After all, she was no ordinary woman. Yang Kai’s suggestion was tempting to her. Rather than risking the lives of many in order to kill Yang Kai and Luo Ting He, the power of White Lotus Sect would be enhanced greatly if they could take control of these two people.
Other than being one of the most powerful cultivators in the world, Yang Kai was also the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple. As soon as the news was spread, it would deal a heavy blow to Grand Qi Temple.
Therefore, she soon made a decision and fished out a jade bottle, which was filled with red pills. She poured out two pills and flicked them at the two of them.
Yang Kai and Xiao He respectively took a pill.
The White Lotus Matriarch’s eyes started brightening as she stared fixedly at Yang Kai. If the man really swallowed the pill, it would prove that he was a trustworthy person, or he could at least be controlled. If he dared to pull a trick, she would immediately give the order to kill him regardless of what price she had to pay.
To her surprise, Yang Kai didn’t even hesitate to take the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill in his hand.
After examining the pill for a moment, Xiao He tossed it into her mouth and started chewing it. After gulping it down, she spat and complained, “It tastes terrible. What the Hell is it?”
Gazing at Yang Kai with an excited expression, the White Lotus Matriarch demanded, “Open your mouth and let me see.”
Yang Kai opened his mouth as he was told. There was nothing in it.
The White Lotus Matriarch’s eyes were as bright as stars. She couldn’t help but start laughing as the tears of joy slid down her face.
The tensed-up White Lotus Sect’s disciples could finally be at ease. They exchanged glances and smiled.
After Yang Kai consumed the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill, he would be under their control. Regardless of how powerful he was, he wouldn’t be able to escape now. In other words, the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple was now also a member of White Lotus Sect.
Life was truly unpredictable.
This kind of top cultivator was terrifying as an enemy, but now that he was one of them, he gave them a great sense of security.
They could already imagine that when he appeared in the battle against Grand Qi Temple, his presence would send shockwaves across the latter.
“Kneel down!” The White Lotus Matriarch suddenly stopped laughing and stared coldly at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai slowly shook his head, “It seems you’re mistaken about something. Although I’ve willingly taken the pill, I won’t be led by the nose by anyone. From now on, I’ll only listen to one person.”
The White Lotus Matriarch’s eyes turned piercing as she took a glance at Qu Hua Shang. Then, she said to Yang Kai, “Only I am able to refine your antidote. She can’t.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I believe you won’t let the poison kill me.”
After giving it a thought, the White Lotus Matriarch nodded, “Of course I won’t. Someone like you is of great help to us. From now on, you shall be the Left Protector of White Lotus Sect and I will allow you to listen to Qu Hua Shang only.”
It was expected that a top cultivator was haughty. If the White Lotus Matriarch insisted on making things difficult for Yang Kai, it would only bring about the opposite of the desired outcome; therefore, she decided to make a concession by granting Yang Kai’s wish. Although she had given him the title of Left Protector, that was nothing more than another chain to bind him.
Regardless, when word got out that Yang Kai was now the Left Protector of White Lotus Sect, the reputation of Grand Qi Temple would be tarnished.
Yang Kai nodded his head, “Many thanks for the promotion, Sect Master.”
The White Lotus Matriarch then said to Qu Hua Shang, “You must treat him well from now on.”
“Yes,” Qu Hua Shang replied with a serious expression.
Appearing to be elated, the White Lotus Matriarch declared, “Since we have a new Left Protector, we should celebrate. Come, prepare a banquet now to welcome the new Left Protector!”
The disciples of White Lotus Sect immediately set to work.
There were a lot of animals in the forest that could be hunted. It must have been quite a long time since those from White Lotus Sect occupied this hideout. Following the Sect Master’s order, a banquet full of wine and dishes was presented. The disciples, regardless of their statuses, gathered together. The atmosphere was initially awkward, but the place was soon bustling with noises after they drank and celebrated.
Yang Kai just sat beside Qu Hua Shang while there would be people who came over to propose a toast to him from time to time.
Although Yang Kai had killed a lot of White Lotus Sect’s disciples when he was the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, things were different now. Presently, he was one of them, so they naturally had to strike up a relationship with him. Perhaps he would save their lives on the battlefield one day.
Yang Kai could actually handle his wine quite well, though he would usually steer clear of it. He wouldn’t turn anyone down when they proposed a toast to him, which was why the disciples of White Lotus Sect started growing fond of him.
It was the first time they discovered that this man that they regarded as a terrifying monster in the past was actually so amiable.
Xiao He was the most ecstatic of all. When no one proposed a toast to her, she would go around with a jar of wine and do so instead. Her straightforward attitude stunned the disciples of White Lotus Sect.
There was already a Left and Right Protector in White Lotus Sect, and they were both fairly strong; however, following the White Lotus Matriarch’s order, Yang Kai became the new Left Protector, and his predecessor didn’t even dare to object.
First of all, he revered the White Lotus Matriarch. Secondly, he was fully aware that he was indeed no match for Yang Kai. He would only be embarrassed if he fought for the position.
At the banquet, this previous Left Protector proposed a toast to Yang Kai many times.
After the welcoming party, Yang Kai and Xiao He perfectly mingled with those from White Lotus Sect. Since then, no one regarded them as outsiders anymore.
It was peaceful in the days that followed. There was no doubt that the White Lotus Matriarch regarded Yang Kai highly as she would frequently visit him to discuss the current situation in the world and analyse the difference in power between White Lotus Sect and Grand Qi Temple. It seemed that she had started treating him like a confidant.
However, she had never demanded Yang Kai to do anything. Instead, she essentially treated him as an equal.
A few months passed just like that.
One day, the White Lotus Matriarch was having a discussion with Qu Hua Shang about the assassination attempt on the current Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple when she abruptly stopped and turned her head.
Yang Kai and Xiao He were standing beside Qu Hua Shang like two personal bodyguards. Nevertheless, they couldn’t help but start trembling at this moment as a sense of coldness rose within their bodies.
Xiao He shuddered and asked in puzzlement, “Why do I feel cold all of a sudden?”
The White Lotus Matriarch said with a smile, “The effects of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills have started taking effect. It’s cold now, but you’ll feel hot in a moment. It will alternate between the two, and the feeling will intensify after every round until you can’t stand it anymore and explode.”
She spoke in such a nonchalant manner that it was as though she was talking about something insignificant.
“Hm? Three months have passed already?” Xiao He was surprised. She had fun playing with the other disciples of White Lotus Sect every day, so she had lost track of time. She extended her hand towards the White Lotus Matriarch, “Give me the antidote, then.”
The White Lotus Matriarch shook her head, “There’s no rush. It’s the first time you’ve been struck by the pill’s effects, so you should take some time to feel it; after all, you might not always immediately get the antidote every time the effects appear. You might have to persevere for quite some time. After getting used to it now, you won’t feel so terrible in the future.”
“You have a point,” Upon hearing her suggestion, Xiao He closed her eyes and focused on the sensation she was experiencing.
Yang Kai was in the same state as Xiao He. The sense of coldness in his body broke out without warning, seemingly using his own strength to disturb the flow within his meridians in an uncontrollable manner. The next instant, the coldness turned into a scorching stream of heat that burned every part of his physique like magma.
An excruciating pain overwhelmed him. Despite his impassive expression, he was already soaked in sweat.
He then turned to look at Xiao He in surprise.
Xiao He had a unique physique that allowed her to be immune to all sorts of poisons. Yang Kai didn’t know why she had this kind of physique, but it had always been like this since they got to know each other.
When they were in a secret hideout of White Lotus Sect half a year ago, it was thanks to her physique that she was still fine after eating so much poisoned food.
It could be said that ordinary poisons wouldn’t have any effects on her.
Nevertheless, even with such a physique, she was still unable to resist the medicinal efficacies of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill.
Therefore, it was apparent that the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill wasn’t purely a poison.
The White Lotus Matriarch and Qu Hua Shang were still talking about the details of the assassination as they deduced what would possibly happen and how they should proceed so that the assassination attempt would be successful.
Qu Hua Shang attentively listened to her as she ignored the pain that the two people behind her were going through.
About four hours later. the White Lotus Matriarch nodded, “That’s all. If you fail again this time, you don’t have to return.”
Qu Hua Shang replied, “Don’t worry, Sect Master. I will definitely succeed.”
The White Lotus Matriarch nodded her head again, then suddenly ordered, “Kill them!”
There were only four people in the room. Other than the White Lotus Matriarch and Qu Hua Shang, only Yang Kai and Xiao He, who were struck with medicinal efficacies of the pill, were left.
They had been tortured by rounds of alternating coldness and heat for the past four hours. The powers within their bodies were in chaos, and all their energy was used to resist the medicinal efficacies of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills.
Even an ordinary mortal would be able to easily kill the two of them, not to mention powerful cultivators like Qu Hua Shang and the White Lotus Matriarch.
Upon receiving the order, Qu Hua Shang didn’t hesitate to reply in agreement and appeared in front of Yang Kai. As she extended her hand, a sharp dagger suddenly appeared in her hand, then she directly stabbed it towards Yang Kai’s heart.
The dagger penetrated his chest barely a finger’s length before Qu Hua Shang’s wrist was grabbed. She was unable to continue pushing the dagger in further.
A puzzled Qu Hua Shang turned to look at the White Lotus Matriarch, who said with a smile, “It’s enough. Take them with you when you carry out your mission.”
Qu Hua Shang cupped her fist, “Yes.”
The next moment, the White Lotus Matriarch left behind two antidotes on the table and shuffled out of the place.
Qu Hua Shang picked up the antidotes and stuffed them into Yang Kai and Xiao He’s mouths, allowing them to quickly feel much better.
Upon opening his eyes, Yang Kai gazed at Qu Hua Shang and said with a light smile, “You’ve stabbed me another time. I suppose even the next life won’t be enough to pay off this debt.”
Qu Hua Shang replied dispassionately, “In that case, I’m not going to pay up at all. It’s not like I planned to from the beginning.”
She then turned around and reached for the door. When brushing past Yang Kai, she halted and said in a small voice, “Sect Master is a suspicious person. It was just a test, so you don’t have to mind it.”
Certainly, Yang Kai knew it was just a test. First of all, the White Lotus Matriarch wanted to find out if Qu Hua Shang was loyal enough to her.
If she had appeared hesitant upon hearing the order, she would’ve been removed from the position of Saintess. The White Lotus Matriarch only wanted subordinates who would unconditionally obey her orders, not those who had their own opinions.
Secondly, she wanted to ascertain whether Yang Kai and Luo Ting He had really been struck with the poison of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills.
Although the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills were powerful, both Yang Kai and Luo Ting He were some of the most formidable cultivators in the world; hence, the White Lotus Matriarch wasn’t certain if she could control them using the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills.
If they only pretended to be struck with the medicinal efficacies, she wouldn’t be able to find out the truth.
When Qu Hua Shang made a move, Yang Kai was completely powerless to resist, which suggested that he was really affected.
Just a simple order could allow the White Lotus Matriarch to cast away a number of her doubts. It could be said that she was a very cunning person.
After Yang Kai stepped down as the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, the sixth Temple Master was Yu Xing Zhou, who was from Shooting Star Palace. He was already one of the six Vice Temple Masters when Yang Kai was still the Temple Master, and he was slightly more powerful than the other Vice Temple Masters. Moreover, he had built up enough reputation, so it was reasonable that he became the next Temple Master.
Usually, it would be extremely difficult to assassinate the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple. When Yang Kai was still the Temple Master, he had encountered countless assassination attempts, but those from White Lotus Sect would always fail in the end.
Nevertheless, there was a great chance to succeed today.
It was the 80th birthday of the Palace Master of Shooting Star Palace. As his Legacy Disciple, Yu Xing Zhou was expected to return to celebrate the occasion. It was also the biggest news in the world recently as countless cultivators headed to Shooting Star Palace. Those from White Lotus Sect, who had been dormant for half a year, became active again.
After the White Lotus Matriarch was badly injured in East Star City back then, she went into hiding to recuperate. It wasn’t until recently that she fully recovered.
When those from White Lotus Sect finally made a move, it sent a shock wave across the world.
Temple Master Yu Xing Zhou was assassinated on the way back to Shooting Star Palace. All sixteen Masters from Grand Qi Temple who had accompanied him were also killed.
Many cultivators, who were heading to Shooting Star Palace, also lost their lives. It was apparent that those from White Lotus Sect were trying to create a disturbance.
The 80th birthday of the Palace Master of Shooting Star Palace was supposed to be a joyous event, but it turned into a calamity instead. Upon learning the news, the aged Palace Master fell ill.
Additionally, when it was revealed that Yu Xing Zhou was killed by Yang Kai’s Supreme Limitless Spear Art, all the people on the righteous side were shocked.
It had to be noted that the Supreme Limitless Spear Art was unique to Yang Kai, and no one else had mastered it.
Some experienced cultivators, who didn’t believe the news, headed to the scene and looked into the matter, but they all expressed with grief that Yu Xing Zhou was indeed killed by Yang Kai’s spear technique.
In other words, the sixth Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple was killed by the fifth Temple Master.
In fact, there was already a rumour spreading around that after Yang Kai stepped down as the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple, he brought his trusted aide Luo Ting He to betray the righteous path and side with White Lotus Sect. Now, he was the Left Protector of White Lotus Sect.
However, no one believed the news as everyone knew the efforts Yang Kai had made against the White Lotus Sect when he was still the Temple Master. Those from Divine Method Hall were especially resentful of people who spread such rumours and would always defend Yang Kai’s reputation in public.
Nevertheless, those from Divine Method Hall wouldn’t dare to say anything this time.
Yang Kai’s Supreme Limitless Spear Art was very special. He had tried looking for disciples with excellent aptitudes from Divine Method Hall in an attempt to pass down his spear technique; however, after two or three years, those bright disciples were unable to grasp the abstrusity of this Art. They could learn the basics, but none could master it.
Hence, Yang Kai was the only one who could use the Supreme Limitless Spear Art in this world.
Since there was solid evidence now, even those from Divine Method Hall were unable to stand up for Yang Kai.
After the Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple was assassinated, the world descended into chaos. In the meantime, those from White Lotus Sect made a comeback and caused everyone to fall into a state of terror.
The Palace Master of Shooting Star Palace passed away several days after he fell ill. He didn’t even last until his 80th birthday.
After Yu Xing Zhou was killed and the Palace Master passed away, those from Shooting Star Palace blamed it all on Yang Kai. Even Divine Method Hall was marginalised within Grand Qi Temple.
This kind of marginalisation was exacerbated after Yang Kai’s whereabouts were exposed.
After killing Yu Xing Zhou alongside Qu Hua Shang, Yang Kai and Xiao He headed to the next battlefield. As they fought against the Masters from Grand Qi Temple, it was only natural that Yang Kai’s identity was exposed.
In fact, he didn’t even try to hide his identity.
This Samsara World was built on Qu Hua Shang’s imagination and was thus not real. It was just an illusory world he had reincarnated into, so there was no need to worry about things like morality or innocents. He just had to shatter Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier in order to achieve his goal.
On that front, progress wasn’t so satisfactory.
It wasn’t easy to shatter Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier in this life. Yang Kai became aware of that after spending months with her.
Although she was still a woman who appeared obedient to the White Lotus Matriarch, she was clearly a very ambitious person. This kind of ambition was as scorching as the sun, something Yang Kai had never seen before.
Previously, she was captured by Yang Kai and went on to spend months living in the secluded valley. The way she reacted might be a pretence or a revelation of her true feelings; however, after she was freed, her latent ambitions were reignited.
With Yang Kai and Luo Ting He joining White Lotus Sect, the latter’s strength had greatly increased. Both of them were already two of the most powerful cultivators in the world, so with the two of them joining forces, rarely was there anyone in the world who could go up against them.
When news spread that more and more leaders of Grand Qi Temple were killed, the world became anxious.
If the seven major Sects could work together at this point, they might stand a chance to weather the storm; however, because of Yang Kai, the entire Divine Method Hall was marginalised. Even Emerald Smoke Sect, which was the Sect that Luo Ting He hailed from, received this treatment.
Moreover, following the assassination of Temple Master Yu Xing Zhou, Grand Qi Temple became leaderless. The entire Grand Qi Temple had descended into chaos.
At this point, the White Lotus Matriarch resolutely made a decision and led the disciples of White Lotus Sect to storm the Headquarters of Grand Qi Temple.
The battle went on for half a month. Countless people were killed on both sides.
In the end, those from Grand Qi Temple lost the battle and their Headquarters exchanged owners. The cultivators from the seven major Sects who survived retreated to their own Sects to recuperate.
The power that those from White Lotus Sect had showcased in this war sent a shockwave across the world. In the past, they would only launch sneak attacks as they were as furtive as rats. Although everyone knew that White Lotus Sect had taken on a lot of disciples, no one knew the exact figure.
This time, they finally experienced it.
When storming into the Headquarters of Grand Qi Temple, the countless disciples of White Lotus Sect were like a rising tide.
After the war, White Lotus Sect became a name that most people would fear.
The White Lotus Matriarch had done something that her predecessors had never managed to achieve; she had successfully occupied the Headquarters of Grand Qi Temple.
Over the past 100 years, those from White Lotus Sect had made three attempts on Grand Qi Temple, but all three attempts failed. There was even a time when the Sect Master of White Lotus Sect was killed in battle.
After successfully seizing the Headquarters of Grand Qi Temple, the White Lotus Matriarch saw her reputation rising to unprecedented heights.
Following the incident, those from White Lotus Sect also had their own Headquarters, which originally belonged to those from Grand Qi Temple. They were now visible to the public, which was unlike in the past when they had to hide in the dark.
In this battle, Yang Kai had put in a lot of effort as he had killed more than 20 Masters from Grand Qi Temple, which contributed greatly to the success of White Lotus Sect occupying the Headquarters.
It wasn’t until this moment that the White Lotus Matriarch had complete trust in him.
Because of him, Qu Hua Shang’s status in White Lotus Sect was fortified. Initially, there were other Saintesses who were equal matches for her, but she was now the most outstanding of them all. The White Lotus Matriarch regarded her especially highly. Although it was never made official, all the disciples of White Lotus Sect believed that Qu Hua Shang would be the next Sect Master.
White Lotus Sect practically had no other rivals now. On the continent, those smaller Sects that originally relied on Grand Qi Temple to survive had all pledged loyalty to White Lotus Sect now.
Like a snowball, the power of White Lotus Sect increasingly strengthened.
Yang Kai returned to this familiar Headquarters barely a few months after he had left. He still lived in the place he had previously resided, and every day, he would follow Qu Hua Shang around to protect her.
All the disciples of White Lotus Sect knew that whatever demands Qu Hua Shang came up with, Yang Kai would immediately execute regardless of whether they were reasonable or not.
It could be said that Yang Kai was the biggest contributor in helping Qu Hua Shang attain her current status. If not for him, the several assassination attempts wouldn’t have been carried out so smoothly and caused immense pressure to the leaders of Grand Qi Temple. Those from White Lotus Sect wouldn’t have been able to defeat Grand Qi Temple with ease either.
Qu Hua Shang became increasingly ambitious following her rise in status and the White Lotus Matriarch’s appreciation of her. She was practically the second most influential person in White Lotus Sect now.
Presently, Yang Kai and Xiao He were following Qu Hua Shang as they walked along a corridor.
From the opposite direction, a charming woman who was leading her two personal bodyguards approached them.
As their eyes met, the charming woman flashed a smile at Qu Hua Shang and nodded, “Little Sister Qu.”
Qu Hua Shang responded with a smile, “Big Sister Tian.”
This charming woman was one of the other Saintesses of White Lotus Sect. Before the rise of Qu Hua Shang, she was the most outstanding Saintess as she was slightly more beautiful and powerful than the others. She was also most valued by the White Lotus Matriarch at that time.
“Where are you going, Little Sister Qu?” Tian Jie asked with concern.
Qu Hua Shang replied, “I just visited the Sect Master, and was going to get some rest now. Are you going to visit the Sect Master as well, Big Sister?”
Tian Jie put on a faint smile, “No, I’m just walking around since I have nothing to do. In the past, I thought that Grand Qi Temple’s Headquarters was profound and mysterious. Now, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about this place.”
“We’ll feel that something is mysterious before we obtain it. After we get it, we’ll realise that there’s nothing special about it.” Qu Hua Shang smiled gently.
Tian Jie shot her a meaningful glance and chuckled, “You have a point, Little Sister Qu; however, we’ll long for something before we get it. As for whether it’s really so mysterious, we’ll only find out after obtaining it. Don’t you agree, Little Sister?”
“You’re quite right.” Qu Hua Shang nodded, then sported a cold expression, “I heard you’re interested in my personal bodyguard, Big Sister.”
A shocked Tian Jie refuted, “Where did you hear such a rumour, Little Sister? Everyone in the Sect knows that he’s your personal bodyguard. Why would I even have my eyes on him?”
Qu Hua Shang said with a smile, “Oh, really? Why did someone not sleep in the middle of the night yesterday and sneak into his room while naked, then?”
A sense of fury overwhelmed Tian Jie as she glowered at Yang Kai, who was behind Qu Hua Shang.
She had never expected that he would tell Qu Hua Shang about this kind of matter.
On the other hand, Yang Kai remained unfazed.
Just then, Qu Hua Shang charged forward as she extended her fair hand and circulated her strength in an attempt to seize Tian Jie’s neck.
Tian Jie had never expected that Qu Hua Shang, who was also a Saintess of White Lotus Sect, had the guts to make a move on her. The assault on a fellow disciple was a taboo in White Lotus Sect, which was why she hadn’t managed to react.
Fortunately, the personal bodyguards behind her never put down their guard. The moment Qu Hua Shang made a move, they unsheathed their swords and hacked at her.
If Qu Hua Shang didn’t retract her hand, her arm would be cut off. Personal bodyguards were the most loyal servants to their Saintess, and they wouldn’t care about killing others to keep their charge safe.
However, instead of withdrawing her hand, Qu Hua Shang only hastened her speed.
Their swords didn’t manage to come into contact with Qu Hua Shang as Yang Kai and Xiao He gently pushed their palms forward and sent the two personal bodyguards flying away. At the same time, Qu Hua Shang clenched Tian Jie’s fair neck and exerted more force with her hand. At that instant, Tian Jie froze and wouldn’t dare to move a muscle.
“A-Are you out of your mind?” The colour drained from Tian Jie’s face.
Qu Hua Shang stared coldly at her, “How did you even have the nerve to try to seduce my personal bodyguard?”
The intensifying force on her neck and the murderous intent in Qu Hua Shang’s eyes made Tian Jie feel anxious.
Upon realising that the other woman really wanted to kill her, she regretted the decision she had made last night.
In fact, all the Saintesses believed that it was thanks to Yang Kai that Qu Hua Shang had attained her current achievements. As long as they could lure the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple to their side, Qu Hua Shang would no longer be a threat.
Yang Kai was a man while the Saintesses were women. The only way they could think of to make him side with them was to seduce him. Tian Jie had never expected that not only would Yang Kai not accept her, he had also immediately told Qu Hua Shang about the scandal, which rendered her powerless to defend herself.
“Please forgive me, Little Sister. I’ll never dare to do it again. I’ll obey you from now on.” Tian Jie begged for mercy with a pitiful expression, “If you kill me here, you’ll be punished.”
Qu Hua Shang remained unperturbed.
Yang Kai frowned and recommended, “Forgive her for once. I believe she won’t do it again.”
*Kacka…*
The light in Tian Jie’s eyes went out as her entire figure went limp.
Qu Hua Shang turned around and glared at Yang Kai, “Why did you ask for forgiveness on her behalf?”
Yang Kai parted his lips, then let out a sigh.
Everything in this Samsara World was built on Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier, so all the places and people here were nothing but illusions. As the Saintess of White Lotus Sect, she was obliged to go against those from Grand Qi Temple. Both parties tried to destroy each other because they had different stances. Therefore, Yang Kai wouldn’t say anything regardless of how many people from Grand Qi Temple that she had killed.
With that said, he wouldn’t want to see Qu Hua Shang act so ruthless and without qualms about killing her own people.
It never crossed his mind that his persuasion yielded the opposite of the desired outcome instead. Tian Jie lost her life because of that.
Certainly, the real Qu Hua Shang wasn’t like this. Her memory had been completely sealed in the ninth life, and she was a totally different person now.
“Although she was in the wrong, you shouldn’t have killed her,” Yang Kai replied with a frown.
Like a child who was defending her favourite toy, she spat through clenched teeth, “I’ll kill anyone who has their eyes on you!”
A joyful Xiao He watched on from the side as she poked Yang Kai with her elbow and said in a small voice, “She has fallen in love with you.”
Yang Kai wasn’t certain if he should be happy or sad.
Although the conflict didn’t last long, the White Lotus Matriarch soon got wind of it and rushed over to the scene a moment later.
Upon seeing Tian Jie’s corpse, she sported a gloomy expression.
Of all the Saintesses, besides Qu Hua Shang, she regarded Tian Jie as the most important; however, Tian Jie was killed by another Saintess that she treasured.
This had never happened before.
Qu Hua Shang was confined following her actions.
It was a taboo to assault a fellow disciple within White Lotus Sect, not to mention that a Saintess was killed for no reason in public. Everyone knew that if the murderer wasn’t Qu Hua Shang, she would’ve lost her life then and there.
The White Lotus Matriarch wouldn’t allow anyone to challenge her authority and the Saintesses were valuable assets of White Lotus Sect. Only the Sect Master had the right to determine their life or death.
There was no doubt that Qu Hua Shang had crossed the line.
Certainly, the other Saintesses were gleeful that such an incident had happened. Everyone believed that regardless of how much Qu Hua Shang was treasured in the past, the Sect Master would no longer regard her as important following the incident.
On the other hand, Qu Hua Shang was confined in an underground prison. The prison was where those from Grand Qi Temple imprisoned their enemies in the past. It was cold and damp, so it wasn’t suitable for Humans to live long-term.
The White Lotus Matriarch had also ordered that no one was allowed to visit her, and only a small amount of water and food would be provided to her every day. In that case, regardless of how powerful Qu Hua Shang was, her health would deteriorate as time went by.
The prison was guarded by some powerful cultivators, so there was nothing Yang Kai could do. Certainly, he could barge into the prison, and he believed that no one could stop him; however, by doing so, he would only bring bigger trouble to Qu Hua Shang.
He had to wait for a chance, and one came sooner than expected.
After those from Grand Qi Temple were destroyed, those from White Lotus Sect took over their Headquarters. Following the war, countless people from the seven major Sects were either killed or injured. Those who were still alive had returned to their own Sects to recuperate.
As expected, the White Lotus Matriarch wouldn’t miss this opportunity to destroy the rest of the survivors as it was her biggest dream to rule over the righteous path and the wicked path. Now, the chance was right in front of her eyes. As long as she could devastate the seven major Sects, she would pull off a feat that the other Sect Masters of White Lotus Sect had never been able to achieve before.
Since many of the powerful cultivators from the major Sects were either killed or wounded, it was the best time for White Lotus Sect to launch a decisive attack and destroy them once and for all.
However, those from White Lotus Sect were used to acting in the shadows, so it wasn’t their forte to deal with those Sects directly. The reason they could occupy the Headquarters of Grand Qi Temple previously was that they had some distinct advantages.
Moreover, they had also suffered a lot of losses after the war.
Now, the White Lotus Matriarch had fallen into an embarrassing situation as she didn’t have anyone who could help her to deal with the seven major Sects.
It wasn’t that her subordinates were weak. She had many underlings who were good at one-on-one fights or assassinations; however, they were not skillful enough when it came to leading an army and marshalling soldiers.
Such an opportunity was hard to come by, and if they missed it, they might not get another one.
It was at that moment that Yang Kai and Xiao He suddenly barged into the Main Conference Hall.
The White Lotus Matriarch sported a displeased expression and looked at him, “What’s wrong, Left Protector?”
Because of Qu Hua Shang, the White Lotus Matriarch had been giving Yang Kai the cold shoulder recently. Rumour had it that the reason Qu Hua Shang was so reckless was that she had Yang Kai on her side. That was why she was so haughty.
Regardless of whether the rumours were true, the White Lotus Matriarch had to show everyone that she was acting impartial in this matter.
Yang Kai cut to the chase by saying, “Give me 500 people and I’ll destroy Lion Hall within one month.”
The other Hall Masters broke into a commotion upon hearing that.
They were having a discussion on launching an attack on Lion Hall just now. Of the seven major Sects, Lion Hall was currently the weakest. That was the reason they had to target them first. This war was very important, so those from White Lotus Sect had to ensure they wouldn’t fail in their attempt.
If they won the battle, their morale would be boosted. If they lost the battle, the advantages they had accumulated would be gone for good.
The discussion hadn’t gone smoothly. According to their estimation, in order to destroy Lion Hall, they had to send 1,500 people to gain the upper hand, and they must be prepared to suffer an immense loss.
Certainly, they felt that Yang Kai had overestimated himself even though he was the former Temple Master of Grand Qi Temple.
The White Lotus Matriarch gazed at him with narrowed eyes, “What if you can’t destroy them?”
Yang Kai replied flatly, “You have complete control over my life or death. If I can’t achieve my goal, I’m willing to die as a punishment.”
The White Lotus Matriarch’s lips curled up, “So, you are aware that I also have control over your life or death. Since your life belongs to me, it’s not up to you to make decisions about it; otherwise, you won’t be risking anything.”
Yang Kai frowned, “What condition do you have, then?”
The White Lotus Matriarch was apparently well prepared. In fact, she had already come up with such a plan after Qu Hua Shang was imprisoned following Tian Jie’s death, so she said, “If you fail, Qu Hua Shang will lose her life!”
Yang Kai was willing to take the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill and join White Lotus Sect for Qu Hua Shang. The White Lotus Matriarch believed that by threatening to kill Qu Hua Shang, Yang Kai would do his best to achieve his goal.
That was the reason she had only confined Qu Hua Shang instead of punishing her according to the Sect’s rules.
She needed a competent General who could lead the army for her, and Yang Kai was the most qualified. However, she didn’t want to take the initiative and asked him to do it lest she appear desperate.
Now, everything was within her control.
“Good.” Yang Kai directly agreed to it, “However, I’d also like you to agree to a condition I have.”
The White Lotus Matriarch was fully aware of his intentions. Upon hearing that, she said with a smile, “Don’t worry. If you can really destroy Lion Hall in one month, I’ll forgive Qu Hua Shang for what she has done.”
Yang Kai nodded, “It’s a deal, then.”
“I’ll give you 800 people, and I want to see success within a month,” the White Lotus Matriarch ordered.
The next day, 300 people departed from the Headquarters of White Lotus Sect and headed straight towards Lion Hall. More and more people joined them along the way, and by the time they arrived at the gates of Lion Hall, there were exactly 800 of them.
Yang Kai already had some experience in mobilising soldiers during the war between the Star Boundary and Demon Realm. Forget 800 people, he had even commanded 800,000 people in battle before.
Attacking Lion Hall might be a difficult task to others, but it was just a matter of time in his eyes.
Those from Lion Hall were alerted long before the soldiers of White Lotus Sect arrived. Not only was the entrance closed, but they had also set up some traps and a Grand Array to deal with the enemies.
These 800 disciples from White Lotus Sect didn’t immediately launch an attack though.
Yang Kai and Xiao He spent the next ten days leading the powerful cultivators from White Lotus Sect to launch continuous probing attacks both day and night.
Sometimes, several raids would take place at the same time. Lion Hall was like a dilapidated house during a storm, so they were unable to fend off the disciples of White Lotus Sect, who relentlessly attacked them from all directions.
Ten days later, those from White Lotus Sect had lost more than 300 people while half of the Lion Hall’s leaders were killed. Countless other cultivators from Lion Hall were also killed or injured, and morale was low.
It wasn’t until this moment that Yang Kai gave the order to deal directly with the opponents.
The remaining 500 White Lotus Sect’s disciples were high-spirited as they stormed into Lion Hall. Following a bloody carnage, they occupied Lion Hall.
When Yang Kai returned to the Headquarters of White Lotus Sect, about one month had passed since he offered to destroy Lion Hall.
The White Lotus Matriarch was elated as she held a celebratory feast for Yang Kai. At the banquet, Qu Hua Shang, who had been confined for one month, reappeared and she was seated beside the White Lotus Matriarch. They looked as close as a Mother and Daughter.
Destroying Lion Hall served as a good start as those from White Lotus Sect aimed to conquer the world. In the next three years, they launched even more attacks on the remaining six major Sects. There were victories and losses on both sides, but generally speaking, White Lotus Sect gained the upper hand.
After Lion Hall was destroyed, Divine Method Hall, Swaying Willow Sect, Shooting Star Palace, Hidden Sword Villa, and Emerald Smoke Sect were also wiped out. White Lotus Sect practically had no rivals in the world anymore.
It had come to a point where those who showed the slightest disapproval of White Lotus Sect would be killed without mercy. The smaller Sects either had to go into hiding in the mountains or submit to White Lotus Sect.
Of the seven major Sects, only the struggling Grand Battle Sect remained.
A hero would always emerge in chaotic times. An extraordinary person from Grand Battle Sect soon attracted everyone’s attention. He was the Legacy Disciple of the current Sect Master of Grand Battle Sect. His name was Lin Tai Dou, which had something to do with the Sect’s name. He was brought back to the Sect when he was a young child and was a righteous man who hated all things evil in the world. Besides that, he also had exceptional aptitude and intelligence.
It had only been 20 years since he joined the Sect, but he was already more powerful than all the previous Sect Masters of Grand Battle Sect. He was only 25 years old now.
Those from White Lotus Sect were high-spirited as they charged towards Grand Battle Sect. They initially thought that it would be an easy victory, but it turned out that they were faced with an unimaginable challenge.
Under Lin Tai Dou’s leadership, the battle against White Lotus Sect went on for about half a year. A lot of disciples from White Lotus Sect were killed, but they hadn’t managed to achieve their goal. An infuriated White Lotus Matriarch directly ordered Qu Hua Shang to occupy Grand Battle Sect within three months. Failure to do so would lead to the loss of her life.
The White Lotus Matriarch was not joking. Grand Battle Sect was the last obstacle for White Lotus Sect before they could declare hegemony over the world. By destroying Grand Battle Sect, she would pull off a feat that the previous Sect Masters had never been able to achieve. She would be able to be the ruler of the world. Certainly, she wouldn’t allow such an obstacle to get in her way.
All of them knew that the White Lotus Matriarch valued Yang Kai’s capabilities; however, when he joined White Lotus Sect back then, he said that he would only obey Qu Hua Shang’s orders.
The White Lotus Matriarch was unable to directly give orders to Yang Kai, so she could only make use of Qu Hua Shang.
Upon receiving the order, Yang Kai once again showcased his talent and capabilities in leading an army.
It took them two months before they finally seized Grand Battle Sect. The White Lotus Matriarch personally made a move to kill the Sect Master of Grand Battle Sect, which would mean that they had finally gained total victory.
However, after the war, they realised that many of the important figures from Grand Battle Sect had already fled, including the young and famous Lin Tai Dou.
Although the White Lotus Matriarch had given the order to find their whereabouts, she wasn’t really bothered; after all, the seven major Sects had been destroyed. From now on, White Lotus Sect was the only supreme entity that could lead the righteous and wicked paths on this continent.
Nevertheless, a single spark could start a huge blaze.
The White Lotus Matriarch had never expected that Lin Tai Dou would bring huge trouble to her one day.
Over the next six months, everyone on the continent went through a period of terror under the rule of White Lotus Sect. The disciples of White Lotus Sect became increasingly ruthless, which caused everyone to be resentful of them.
On the other hand, Lin Tai Dou gathered the remaining members of the seven major Sects together and attracted other disgruntled people to join him before he started a 20-year war against White Lotus Sect.
When the seven major Sects were destroyed, not everyone was killed. Some of them were lucky enough to have survived. Since they had a blood feud with White Lotus Sect, they naturally wanted to obtain their revenge.
Other than the seven major Sects, countless people in the world were resentful of White Lotus Sect. Under their reign of terror, innumerable people lost their friends and family.
That was why more and more people gathered around Lin Tai Dou.
Since White Lotus Sect now ruled over the world, they had no more rivals left. The Sect’s leaders all indulged in an extravagant life, and even the White Lotus Matriarch had put down her guard.
It wasn’t until half a year later when Righteous Union, led by Lin Tai Dou, rose into the light that the White Lotus Matriarch was alerted.
However, she still wasn’t bothered by it; after all, Grand Qi Temple and the seven major Sects had been destroyed by White Lotus Sect, so how was Righteous Union supposed to last long?
Nevertheless, every time White Lotus Sect clashed with Righteous Union, they would always suffer a loss. More and more disciples were killed, and even several Hall Masters lost their lives within half a year.
It was only then that the White Lotus Matriarch woke up to reality and became wary of the newly founded Righteous Union. She ordered some powerful subordinates to find out the whereabouts of those from Righteous Union and kill them ruthlessly.
Nonetheless, Righteous Union was different from Grand Qi Temple or the seven major Sects.
When White Lotus Sect was going up against Grand Qi Temple and the seven major Sects in the past, they were in the dark while the latter was exposed under sunlight, but it was the other way round now.
After destroying Grand Qi Temple, those from White Lotus Sect had their own Headquarters now, but they also exposed themselves to the public.
On the other hand, those from Righteous Union remained hidden since their founding.
Furthermore, Lin Tai Dou was a powerful and charismatic Union Master. Every time those from Righteous Union launched an attack, they would bring huge trouble to White Lotus Sect. It had also earned Lin Tai Dou unrivalled reputation and influence.
In just five years, Righteous Union became increasingly powerful instead of being destroyed by White Lotus Sect.
Although they were still unable to go up against White Lotus Sect in a frontal clash, they were strong enough to not be simply wiped out. There were even times when they were able to pose serious threats to White Lotus Sect.
Certainly, the White Lotus Matriarch wouldn’t allow an opposing power to rise in her territory. She initially thought that she had pulled off a feat that the previous Sect Masters had never been able to achieve after destroying Grand Battle Sect. Now, it seemed that she could not achieve her goal before she destroyed Righteous Union.
Upon realising the dangerous situation she was in, the White Lotus Matriarch stopped being decadent and focused on fighting against Righteous Union.
She had never expected that it would be so hard to deal with this new foe though.
By the tenth year, Righteous Union was already as powerful as Grand Qi Temple was back then. There were victories and losses on both sides as Righteous Union and White Lotus Sect clashed with one another.
This made the White Lotus Matriarch infuriated as she felt regretful of what she failed to do after destroying Grand Battle Sect.
If she had paid more attention to Lin Tai Dou and ordered her subordinates to hunt down and kill him at all cost, all of this wouldn’t have happened.
However, there was no use crying over spilled milk. Her negligence in the past had caused her to be in so much trouble now. Regardless of how furious she was, she had to deal with it.
Over the next ten years, the entire world was dragged into the battle between the righteous and wicked paths.
All cultivators would either have to join White Lotus Sect or Righteous Union, there wasn’t a third option, nor could they steer clear of the fight. The battles between both sides could be seen everywhere on this continent.
The White Lotus Matriarch’s days were numbered as she was now old and frail. Her dark hair had turned grey, and her face was full of wrinkles.
She could feel that she wouldn’t live for much longer. When she was young, she suffered a lot of injuries when fighting against Grand Qi Temple, and these dark injuries had started affecting her health as she became older.
Perhaps she would slumber off one night and not see the sun the next morning.
However, she hadn’t managed to obtain total dominance over the wicked and righteous paths. Her victory more than ten years ago was nothing more than an illusion. She would never be able to rest in peace before destroying Lin Tai Dou and Righteous Union.
Therefore, she did whatever it took to crush her last remaining foe.
In just one year, more than half of the cultivators from both White Lotus Sect and Righteous Union were killed. Every battle was significantly more intense than the ones in the past decades.
Eventually, the White Lotus Matriarch’s wish was granted. The White Lotus Sect’s army managed to trap those from Righteous Union inside Crimson Wind Canyon.
Crimson Wind Canyon was a natural canyon where the wide path could accommodate dozens of horses while the narrow spots would only allow several people to pass by at once.
The sides of the canyon were tall precipices.
With both sides of Crimson Wind Canyon blocked, those from Righteous Union had practically fallen into a death trap.
Yang Kai was the biggest contributor in successfully blocking them here. It was thanks to his skills in mobilising soldiers that they managed to lure the enemy to this place after just three months of battle. During that period of time, they fought with those from Righteous Union multiple times and almost failed their mission on numerous occasions. Fortunately, they succeeded in the end.
The final battle was right before their eyes. The well-prepared White Lotus Sect disciples stormed into Crimson Wind Canyon from both sides as both parties clashed.
There would be people losing their lives every breath, and within just one hour, a blood river had formed in Crimson Wind Canyon.
After days of intense battle, those from White Lotus Sect were still being pushed back despite their multiple attempts to charge forward. Both parties were exhausted as their eyes had turned bloodshot.
The White Lotus Matriarch stood on a boulder above Crimson Wind Canyon as she looked down at the fight in silence. All of a sudden, she beckoned in a particular direction.
Qu Hua Shang took a few steps forward and stood beside her.
The White Lotus Matriarch asked, “Qu’er, do you have any solution to destroy the enemy?”
Qu Hua Shang was fully aware of what was going on as she had been watching the fight all along, so she frankly replied, “We have to kill their leader. The others in Righteous Union pose no threat to us. As long as we can kill Lin Tai Dou, Righteous Union will collapse.”
Upon finishing her words, she cupped her fist, “Sect Master, please allow me to personally slay Lin Tai Dou!”
The White Lotus Matriarch shook her head with a smile, “I’m glad that you’re so loyal. I believe that White Lotus Sect will be in good hands after you take over my position.”
“Sect Master…” Qu Hua Shang hung her head low. In recent years, the White Lotus Matriarch had repeatedly told her this. It was as though she intended to pass the position of Sect Master to her after she passed away.
Although Qu Hua Shang was indeed the most qualified one to take over the position of Sect Master in White Lotus Sect, she wouldn’t dare to reveal her true feelings. She would always appear obedient every time the White Lotus Matriarch mentioned it.
The White Lotus Matriarch cut her off by raising her hand, “I’m old, and my predestined time is near. Every night, I can feel those I’ve killed in the past come back to haunt me in my dreams. I’ll pass the position of Sect Master to you sooner or later.”
She appeared sincere as it didn’t seem like a test, but Qu Hua Shang remained silent.
“Lin Tai Dou is formidable. Even though you are strong, you’re no match for him. There’s only one person in this world who can deal with him!”
As the White Lotus Matriarch spoke, she suddenly looked fervently at Qu Hua Shang.
Although she never said it, Qu Hua Shang knew who the person was that the older woman was talking about.
Yang Kai!
Although they had spent nearly twenty years together, Qu Hua Shang still hadn’t figured out how strong Yang Kai truly was. If there was anyone in the world who could defeat Lin Tai Dou, it had to be Yang Kai.
“Tell him to make a move. After Lin Tai Dou is killed, there won’t be Righteous Union anymore,” the White Lotus Matriarch ordered.
Qu Hua Shang had been staying by the White Lotus Matriarch’s side all along, so she had discovered something that those disciples of White Lotus Sect were not aware of.
She suddenly realised something upon hearing what the White Lotus Matriarch had said, so she appeared conflicted for a moment.
The White Lotus Matriarch took the younger woman’s hand and patted it, “I know you’re an ambitious person who wants to take over the position of Sect Master. You want to be the noblest woman in the world. Love doesn’t really matter to you, does it? I’m sure you’ve realised Yang Kai’s feelings for you after spending 20 years with him. Why do you always keep a distance from him? I promise you that after this war, I will pass you the position of Sect Master. That’s my only wish before my death. After you become the Sect Master, you’ll rule over both the wicked and righteous paths.”
Qu Hua Shang pressed her lips together and appeared hesitant.
“Think it over,” The White Lotus Matriarch shot her a glance and spoke no further.
She knew that Qu Hua Shang would make a wise decision.
As expected, Qu Hua Shang lifted her head a moment later and replied, “I will give him the order.”
“Go on,” The White Lotus Matriarch nodded.
It was only then that Qu Hua Shang turned around and flew towards the canyon.
On one side of the canyon, Yang Kai was monitoring the battle.
Time didn’t seem to have left any marks on him even though 20 years had passed. He looked almost the same as the time when he first joined White Lotus Sect. Although he was also older now, he wasn’t as wrinkled as the White Lotus Matriarch.
Xiao He still steadfastly stayed by his side.
Yang Kai saw Qu Hua Shang the moment she arrived as he flashed a smile at her, “Is the Sect Master running out of patience? Tell her that Righteous Union will collapse within seven days. Although Lin Tai Dou is impressive, this is all he can do.”
Qu Hua Shang stared silently at him for a moment before saying, “I want you to kill Lin Tai Dou.”
“Now?” Yang Kai arched his brow.
Qu Hua Shang nodded almost imperceptibly.
After a moment of silence, Yang Kai put on a smile, “Anything you say. If you want him dead now, I’ll behead him right away. I’m sure he won’t be able to go against my spear.”
Qu Hua Shang’s face turned pale. She parted her lips in an attempt to say something, but she couldn’t utter a word in the end.
Seemingly thinking of something, Yang Kai fished out something from his pocket and passed it to her, “Keep this and don’t let anyone discover it.”
A flustered Qu Hua Shang took it in a dazed manner.
After taking a glance at where the White Lotus Matriarch was located, Yang Kai said in a small voice, “You must never trust the White Lotus Matriarch!”
In an instant, Qu Hua Shang became stunned as if struck by lightning while the colour drained from her face.
When she raised her head, she realised that Yang Kai was already stepping towards the battlefield with his spear.
Xiao He followed him closely. All of a sudden, she turned her head and said to Qu Hua Shang, “You have to take good care of yourself from now on!”
Upon finishing her words, she pulled a face at her.
Qu Hua Shang’s eyes were soon drenched in tears as they slid down her face.
When she returned to the White Lotus Matriarch’s side, the intense battle had begun. The morale of White Lotus Sect’s disciples had been boosted with Yang Kai joining the battle. Those from Righteous Union, who initially could go up against them, were instantly put at a disadvantage as more and more of them lost their lives.
The White Lotus Matriarch looked down at the battle with a smile, “Qu’er, you’re lucky to have a man who is so loyal to you.”
Qu Hua Shang remained silent while feeling heartbroken.
Both sides had respectively sent more than 10,000 people to take part in the battle. Towards the end of the battle, only 10% were left. Even the most powerful cultivators were unable to ensure their own safety in this kind of situation.
Lin Tai Dou was eventually killed by Yang Kai while the rest of the leaders of Righteous Union were all destroyed.
However, Yang Kai had been badly injured; after all, he was much older than Lin Tai Dou, so he was no longer as energetic as in the past.
He had to take the risk of getting wounded in order to kill Lin Tai Dou with his spear.
Xiao He was also soaked in blood as her aura was weak.
Both of them were on their last legs.
Before the remaining White Lotus Sect’s disciples could cheer for their victory, they heard rumbling sounds coming from the cliffs. At that moment, the ground started shaking.
When those who were still alive looked up, their expressions changed drastically.
That was because huge rocks could be seen rolling down the precipices while burning arrows rained down on them.
Although Yang Kai was drenched in blood, he still held his spear firmly and looked up in a particular direction.
Over there, the White Lotus Matriarch no longer appeared frail as she looked down with a flushing face. Behind her was Qu Hua Shang, who clenched her fists while trembling slightly.
When rocks and burning arrows finally buried the entire Crimson Wind Canyon, the White Lotus Matriarch couldn’t help but start guffawing.
The last obstacle that hindered her from ruling over the world wasn’t Righteous Union, but Yang Kai!
She had never been a match for Yang Kai since the beginning. Even though Righteous Union was destroyed, she still couldn’t be the overlord of the world.
Now, this obstacle was finally wiped out.
The Death Qi that had surrounded her over the years vanished in an instant, and there seemed to be fewer wrinkles on her face now. Judging from how healthy she looked, she could probably live for decades to come.
Qu Hua Shang knew that she had been set up. The White Lotus Matriarch had made use of the ambition that had been burning in her heart for years.
In recent years, the White Lotus Matriarch always appeared to be frail in order to help fan the burning ambition in her heart.
The boisterous White Lotus Sect’s disciples around Qu Hua Shang cheered for their victory; however, the noises sounded so distant to her, as though everything in this world had nothing to do with her anymore.
Righteous Union and Lin Tai Dou were destroyed while Yang Kai was killed. There was nothing in the world that could stop White Lotus Sect from dominating the world.
White Lotus Sect was now the only great force in the world, and the White Lotus Matriarch finally showcased zest that was unlike her age. She was worshipped like an overlord in the Headquarters of White Lotus Sect by all others.
Two months later, a metallic tang permeated the Grand Hall.
There was a dagger plunged into the White Lotus Matriarch’s chest as she lay on her throne, her clothes soaked in blood.
She pressed her hand against her chest while gazing at Qu Hua Shang in disbelief, “Y-You dare!”
Qu Hua Shang was standing on a spot that was a couple of metres away from her. Even though the White Lotus Matriarch was dying, a cunning person like her might make the final strike before her death. Certainly, Qu Hua Shang wouldn’t give her the chance.
Despite her alluring face, she looked as devious as a viper at this moment. With a dispassionate expression, she said, “Why wouldn’t I dare?”
The White Lotus Matriarch coughed up blood, “I haven’t passed you the recipe for the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills. If I die, you won’t be able to live either. You’ll die in just three months!”
She had complete trust in the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills, so she had never been suspicious of Qu Hua Shang. That was the reason she was caught off guard.
Only the Sect Master of White Lotus Sect had the right to take control of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills. Every Sect Master would pass the recipe to their successor before their death.
“Are you talking about this?” Qu Hua Shang suddenly fished out a jade bottle from her clothes and poured out dozens of red pills.
The White Lotus Matriarch widened her eyes in disbelief, “H-How can this be? W-Where did you get the recipe?”
She was certain that she had never told anyone the recipe before, nor had she left behind any clues about it. There was no way Qu Hua Shang could have obtained it.
“He gave it to me,” Qu Hua Shang appeared melancholic when she spoke about that person and recalled the incident in Crimson Wind Canyon two months ago.
Yang Kai passed her something before he left. After the war ended, she checked it and realised that it was the recipe for the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pill’s antidotes.
Judging from the weathered look of the scroll, it must have been more than ten years old.
In other words, Yang Kai had already obtained this recipe more than ten years ago. He and Xiao He had probably resolved the poison of the Freezing Blood Burning Soul Pills long ago and were no longer controlled by it.
He could have left at any moment, but he had always stayed by her side instead. Regardless of how unreasonable her demands were, he had never refused her.
Even when she ordered him to die, he still willingly obliged!
Certainly, the White Lotus Matriarch knew who the person was that Qu Hua Shang was talking about. After becoming startled for a moment, she put on a bitter smile, “I’d never expected that he was an expert in the Alchemic Dao on top of everything else.”
Yang Kai had somehow obtained the antidote recipe while being clueless about it. The only possibility that the White Lotus Matriarch could think of was that merely through ingesting and studying the antidotes he got every three months, he was able to determine the ingredients and figured out the recipe.
Ordinary Alchemists would never have been able to pull off such a feat. The White Lotus Matriarch even doubted whether her speculation was right despite it being the only possibility.
“Yes… Who could have expected that?” Qu Hua Shang muttered under her breath.
The White Lotus Matriarch suddenly put on a smile, “Good, very good! The Sect Master of White Lotus Sect must be cruel and cold-hearted. You’re a woman, so you’re already weaker than men to begin with. If you remain so indecisive, you will destroy our foundation that has been built up for hundreds of years. I knew you were the right person. I’ll be able to rest in peace, knowing that you’ll be the next Sect Master.”
Qu Hua Shang saluted her in an elegant manner, “I ask Sect Master to go on ahead!”
The White Lotus Matriarch nodded and closed her eyes. Her aura became increasingly weaker until it was completely gone.
A moment later, Qu Hua Shang stepped forward and placed her finger under the White Lotus Matriarch’s nose. Upon confirming that the older woman was really dead, she moved her corpse and adjusted her own clothes before sitting on the throne of the Sect Master.
She had always dreamed of becoming the Sect Master, and now, her wish had finally been granted.
The magnificent throne symbolised unlimited power. She had the right to determine anyone’s life or death and command both the righteous and wicked path.
The power she had obtained was even greater than the dreams she had as a young child. In this world, White Lotus Sect had no more rivals.
She looked down at the hall as though she could already envision the countless Masters who would come over to pay respects to her.
The corners of her mouth curled as she suddenly began to laugh.
Life was too short to have a lot of dreams, and a person would be considered lucky if they could make even one of them come true.
Qu Hua Shang had managed to achieve that and more though.
However, innumerable people had lost their lives for her victory.
Her unrestrained laugh reverberated across the empty hall, but no one could share her happiness. Presently, she was only accompanied by a corpse.
As she laughed, she suddenly broke down into tears.
Her tears slid down her face like pearls after the string had snapped. Appearing heartbroken, she covered her face with her hands.
There was nothing in the world she feared while she had the unconditional love of that man. It wasn’t until she lost him that she realised he had become an inseparable part of her life.
While sitting on the throne, she finally discovered that her dream wasn’t worth anything. The man she had always neglected in the past was the most valuable treasure she had; however, she had lost him forever. All she could think of now were those few months she had spent living in that log house by the lake. That was undoubtedly the happiest time in her life.
At that moment, she felt she could feel the gentle breeze brushing past her cheek as she placed her hands behind her head. While looking up at the starry sky, she listened to the love story of nine lives. At that time, there were no deceptions and battles in her life. All she had was that man’s unconditional love.
She missed that time so much.
“In the next life, I’ll repay what I owe you!”
Qu Hua Shang lifted her sword to her neck as the sharp blade cut her delicate skin, preparing to end it all, but while her eyes were drenched in tears, she suddenly caught sight of a figure abruptly appearing before her.
The person was wearing a mask made from iron, but even though his face was covered, his figure was all too familiar.
Qu Hua Shang thought that her sorrow was causing her to hallucinate as she looked dazedly at the person, so she did not hesitate to exert more force with her hand.
It wasn’t until her wrist was clenched by the person that her entire figure shook.
Behind that person, Xiao He stuck out her head while appearing puzzled, “Why are you trying to kill yourself all of a sudden? You looked so happy a moment ago. How strange!”
“O-Old man?” Qu Hua Shang quickly wiped away her tears and asked in a shaking voice.
The person took her sword and tossed it away before the weapon clanged to the ground. He gently stroked her head and said, “Good people don’t live long while a scourge lasts 1,000 years. I won’t die so easily.”
Qu Hua Shang couldn’t believe her eyes as she attempted to take off the person’s iron mask.
“My face was burned. It might scare you,” Yang Kai said.
Without hesitation, Qu Hua Shang took off the mask and saw a contorted face that was caused by burn marks. The face was so hideous that a toddler would break into tears upon seeing it.
However, Qu Hua Shang crashed into the man’s embrace and hugged him tightly as though she was trying to merge with his body. She sniffed at the man’s scent as if she was trying to imprint it in the deepest part of her mind. Regardless of how many rounds of reincarnation she had to go through, she would never forget his scent.
Yang Kai’s clothes were smeared by her tears and snot while the woman was laughing and crying at the same time.
Xiao He looked at them with a tilted head and couldn’t help but remark, “The couple has finally gotten together. How wonderful!”
All of a sudden, Qu Hua Shang froze, and the next moment, she lifted her head from the man’s embrace and looked up at him with a perplexed expression, “Junior Brother?”
Yang Kai let out a long breath, “You’re finally awake, Senior Sister!”
It had been a difficult life for him as it was much harder to wake Qu Hua Shang up compared to the previous eight lives.
This couldn’t be helped, as Qu Hua Shang was overly ambitious in this life to the point that she neglected her own feelings. Yang Kai had been working hard to win her heart by staying by her side for 20 years. Even though he had made some progress, he still hadn’t managed to shatter her Heart Barrier.
Therefore, he decided to take a risk by helping her fulfil her wish and satisfy her ambition. She would only have time to examine her true feelings after that.
Even if the White Lotus Matriarch hadn’t come up with the plot during the battle at Crimson Wind Canyon, Yang Kai would still have pretended to die to fulfil his plan.
However, the White Lotus Matriarch’s plot almost caused him to really lose his life there.
Yang Kai had no idea what would have happened if he was really killed. Fortunately, the outcome turned out to be what he had hoped to see.
After going through nine rounds of reincarnation, Qu Hua Shang finally resolved her heart and regained herself after her Heart Barrier was shattered.
“Yes, I’m awake.” Qu Hua Shang snuggled up to Yang Kai with a joyous expression, “Thank you, for everything.”
Yang Kai slowly shook his head and ran his fingers through her hair.
Then, Qu Hua Shang lifted her head and looked over his shoulder before asking in puzzlement, “What’s going on with Xiao He?”
Since her Heart Barrier was shattered, her memory was also restored. Certainly, she had recalled everything that had happened in the rounds of reincarnation. Since the sixth life, Xiao He had always appeared in the Samsara Worlds that were built upon her Heart Barrier, which concerned her.
She didn’t remember anything about a woman named Luo Ting He. Supposedly, such a person shouldn’t have appeared in her Samsara Worlds.
“I have no idea either; however, I think we’ll find out about it after we leave this place.”
Qu Hua Shang nodded and lifted her head from the man’s embrace before looking at him with a sly gaze, “Well… I’ll see you in the next life then!”
Yang Kai was flabbergasted upon hearing that and in a half-panic asked, “There’s a next life!?”
Without replying to him, Qu Hua Shang winked at him in a cheeky manner. Just then, everything around him started dissipating like a burning picture scroll.
Yang Kai watched his own figure disappearing into the void as his consciousness seemed to have set off on a long journey.
When he came to his senses, he realised that it was pitch-black around him.
Soon, a light tore through the darkness and expanded as the view inside the Samsara Pavilion came into his sight.
Yang Kai was startled for a moment before realising that there wasn’t a next life. Nine lives was the limit in the Samsara Pavilion, which was also the number of lives Qu Hua Shang had set up for her Heart Barrier. She was just pulling a prank earlier.
He slowly shook his head as he was torn between tears and laughter. After stepping out of the tree cave, he looked up at the sky.
Although he finally returned to the real world, Yang Kai still found it to be surreal. The experiences and hardships he had gone through in the nine lives were so vivid that it was as though they had just happened the day before.
The experiences felt so real that it could be said they had actually happened.
Yang Kai could clearly feel that after nine rounds of reincarnation, he was now in a much calmer state. Only a bit more than 100 years had passed after nine rounds of reincarnation, but it was equivalent to 1,000 years of training for his mental state.
The Samsara Pavilion was indeed a place where hearts were trained and tempered.
If a person’s cultivation had progressed too quickly while he was in an unstable mental state, he would gain a lot of benefits by training inside the Samsara Pavilion.
Without the need for any reason, Yang Kai started walking in a particular direction. Although there were no clear indications, he was certain that Qu Hua Shang was in that direction.
Their hearts were now connected after nine rounds of reincarnation.
While he was on his way, he saw an alluring woman moving towards him.
As their eyes met, Qu Hua Shang put on a smile and shuffled over.
Yang Kai extended his hand and said, “Let’s go. Martial Aunt Yu must be worried about us.”
“En,” Qu Hua Shang obediently placed her hand in Yang Kai’s.
A lot of people were moving around outside the Samsara Pavilion.
It had been about 130 years since Yang Kai entered the Samsara Pavilion. To an ordinary mortal who had never cultivated before, this was a period of time that was longer than their lifetime; however, to an Open Heaven Realm Master, it was no more than a short, secluded cultivation session.
When Yu Xiang Die had some free time recently, she would come here to wait outside the Samsara Pavilion.
Unfortunately, after she waited for many years, Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang were still nowhere in sight. On the other hand, Chen Xiu’s two disciples had walked out of the Samsara Pavilion not long after they entered it.
During the past ten-plus years, Yu Xiang Die had spent more time waiting in this place. That was because according to her estimations, if Yang Kai could successfully bring Qu Hua Shang out of the Samsara Pavilion, it would happen around this time.
Waiting wasn’t something that felt boring to her. She had been waiting for a particular man to notice her for many more years, so she was already used to the feeling.
When two familiar figures stepped out of the Samsara Pavilion hand in hand, Yu Xiang Die let out a long breath as the worry in her heart over the years finally abated.
“Martial Aunt Yu!”
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang saluted her at the same time.
Yu Xiang Die darted her gaze between the two of them with an amiable smile before nodding with satisfaction, “I’m glad that both of you are back. You must have suffered a lot.”
She had received training in the Samsara Pavilion before, so she knew what they would face inside. Contrary to her initial assumptions, the Heart Barrier that Qu Hua Shang had set up must have been extremely difficult to overcome, so the hardships they had gone through must be more intense than her own experiences in the past.
“Many thanks for your concern, Martial Aunt,” Yang Kai said.
Yu Xiang Die shook her head, “It’s nothing. In any case, both of you must be exhausted. Go get some rest now.”
“There’s no hurry.” Yang Kai shook his head and turned to look in the Samsara Pavilion’s direction, “Let’s wait a while longer.”
A puzzled Yu Xiang Die asked, “What are you waiting for?”
Qu Hua Shang knew what Yang Kai was waiting for, but just when she was ready to ask Yu Xiang Die whether the latter knew someone named Luo Ting He, Yu Xiang Die widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked over their shoulders.
At that moment, a powerful aura could be felt rapidly approaching them.
Qu Hua Shang turned her head and saw Xiao He descending from the sky with a smile. She soon landed on the ground.
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang traded glances as they had already expected it.
Xiao He had always appeared by their side since the sixth life; therefore, they speculated that she must be a powerful cultivator from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven who for some reason was swept into their Samsara Worlds.
Now, they had gone through nine rounds of reincarnation and left the Samsara Pavilion. It must be the same case for Luo Ting He.
The person Yang Kai was waiting for was naturally Luo Ting He.
Judging from Yu Xiang Die’s expression, it was apparent that she knew Luo Ting He. Moreover, they seemed really close.
“Senior Sister Luo…” Disbelief was written all over Yu Xiang Die’s face as she spoke in a shaking voice, clearly on the brink of breaking into tears as she asked, “Is that really you?”
[Senior Sister Luo…]
Upon hearing how Yu Xiang Die addressed the woman, Qu Hua Shang realised something. Luo Ting He and her Honoured Master were supposedly from the same generation, but she had never heard of her before.
“Xiao Die!” Luo Ting He called out with a smile.
The next moment, Yu Xiang Die crashed into Luo Ting He’s arms and hugged her tightly as her shoulders trembled.
Luo Ting He’s face twitched as she gazed at Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang with a helpless expression. She patted Yu Xiang Die’s back and said, “There, there. You’re an adult now, so why do you still love to cry just like when you were a child? Where’s that good-for-nothing boy? Did he bully you?”
While hugging her tightly, Yu Xiang Die shook her head.
A helpless Luo Ting He muttered in a small voice, “They’re watching you.”
It was only then that Yu Xiang Die started flushing as she bashfully moved away. Then, she turned her head to glower at Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang.
One of them quickly looked up at the sky while the other gazed at the ground.
“Why haven’t you saluted her yet?” Yu Xiang Die spoke in a stern voice in an attempt to restore her authority.
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang quickly cupped their fists, “Greetings, Martial Aunt Luo!”
Luo Ting He waved her hand, “Stop calling me that. It’s not like we’re strangers. Just call me Xiao He as usual.”
Yang Kai’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, “This Junior wouldn’t dare.”
In their ninth life, he had always called his crazy and muddle-headed personal bodyguard ‘Xiao He’. Since he was aware of her true identity now, Yang Kai wouldn’t dare to be impolite.
A perplexed Yu Xiang Die gazed at Luo Ting He as she had no idea why her Senior Sister and Yang Kai seemed to be so familiar with one another.
Just then, Luo Ting He frowned as though she was bothered by some kind of difficulty, “We’ll catch up later. There’s something I have to do now.”
Yu Xiang Die quickly asked, “Do you need any help?”
With a smile, Luo Ting He stroked the other woman’s head, “My Internal Qi is surging and my Small Universe is trembling now. I’m about to achieve a breakthrough. How are you going to help me?”
A pleasantly surprised Yu Xiang Die asked, “You’re about to achieve a breakthrough?”
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang were shocked as well.
Luo Ting He’s aura had been conspicuous since she stepped out of the Samsara Pavilion, and the fluctuations she gave off indicated that she was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Yang Kai initially thought that she was unable to curb her aura after staying in the Samsara Pavilion for too long.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case though. The reason behind it was that she was about to achieve a breakthrough.
Since she was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now, naturally she was going to ascend to the Eighth-Order.
An Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would be considered a Supreme Elder or Ancestor in any of those Cave Heavens or Paradises.
It wasn’t that Yang Kai had never seen Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters before, but it was the first time he was about to witness a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master ascending to the Eighth-Order. His interest had been piqued.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would make it to the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm one day as well. If he could observe the process now, he might gain something from it that would help with his breakthrough in the future.
Qu Hua Shang shared the same sentiment, so she stared fixedly at Luo Ting He.
The next instant, Luo Ting He leaped into the air and said to Yu Xiang Die, “Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
Certainly, Yu Xiang Die would wait for her return.
Luo Ting He didn’t head to a faraway place, stopping at a spot that was 1,000 or so kilometres away from the Spirit Province where the Samsara Pavilion was located as she sat down with her legs crossed and formed a hand seal. The World Force swirled around her as the illusory phantom of her Small Universe flickered behind her back.
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang stared fixedly at her.
All of a sudden, Yu Xiang Die turned around and saluted the two of them, “Thank you!”
A flabbergasted Yang Kai stepped aside and asked in puzzlement, “What do you mean, Martial Aunt Yu?”
Qu Hua Shang also had no idea what was going on. She didn’t understand why Yu Xiang Die saluted them as they were her Juniors.
Yu Xiang Die said, “Thank you for bringing Senior Sister Luo out of the Samsara Pavilion.”
Yang Kai exchanged glances with Qu Hua Shang, then shook his head, “You’ve got it wrong, Martial Aunt Yu. We didn’t do anything. Instead, Martial Aunt Luo helped us a lot. It is we who should thank her.”
Yu Xiang Die put on a smile, “Do you know how long Senior Sister Luo has been trapped inside the Samsara Pavilion?” Before they could reply to her, she went on to say, “It has been 2,000 years. 2,000 years.”
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang were astounded upon hearing that.
Although they had speculated that Luo Ting He was a powerful cultivator from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven who had barged into their Samsara Worlds, they hadn’t expected that she had been trapped inside for 2,000 years.
The Samsara Pavilion was a place where Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples trained their hearts. Although the place appeared serene, it was paved with danger.
Regardless of whether they cultivated the Heartfelt Dao or the Heartless Dao, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s disciples had to fall in love at some point in order to advance.
It was rumoured that the disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were all lascivious people; however, they didn’t know that these seemingly unscrupulous people were the most loyal partners out there.
A lot of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s disciples entered the Samsara Pavilion to receive training and set up Heart Barriers for themselves, but they became lost inside forever.
Since time immemorial, countless Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s disciples had been trapped inside the Samsara Pavilion as they were no longer able to tell reality and illusion apart. They had lost their way in the rounds of reincarnation.
Luo Ting He was one of them. There had never been any news about her since she entered the Samsara Pavilion 2,000 years ago. It wasn’t until this day that she reappeared.
“Senior Sister cultivated the Heartfelt Dao, and she had a partner who was also deeply in love with her. Although the challenge was difficult for them, they were supposedly able to surmount it. Unfortunately…”
“What happened?” Qu Hua Shang asked with anxiety. Although she knew that something must have happened that caused Luo Ting He to be trapped inside the Samsara Pavilion for 2,000 years, she still couldn’t help but feel nervous at this moment.
Yu Xiang Die shook her head and let out a sigh, “Senior Sister is a willful person. When she decides to do something, no one can stop her. That day, Brother Xu had an argument with her, saying that no one could pass the test of nine reincarnations in the Samsara Pavilion. Senior Sister argued that she could do it, so she entered the Samsara Pavilion without telling anyone about it. Brother Xu and I were unable to stop her and, at that time, Senior Brother Sun was trying to break through to the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm.”
Although she didn’t explain who Senior Brother Sun was, Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang knew that he was supposed to be Luo Ting He’s partner. She had faith in the love between them, and she believed that Senior Brother Sun would be able to bring her out of the Samsara Pavilion, so she didn’t have a discussion with him before that.
“An accident happened when Senior Brother Sun was trying to ascend to the Eighth Order, and he passed away.” Yu Xiang Die appeared melancholic as she recalled the incident from 2,000 years ago, “The higher the Order in the Open Heaven Realm, the harder it is to achieve a breakthrough. Although Senior Brother Sun was well prepared, he still failed in his attempt in the end.”
“Was that why Martial Aunt Luo was trapped inside the Samsara Pavilion?” Qu Hua Shang asked.
Yu Xiang Die nodded, “Since Senior Brother Sun had passed away, no one could shatter Senior Sister Luo’s Heart Barrier anymore. That was why no one was able to bring her out of that place.”
Qu Hua Shang suddenly recalled something as she said, “So, the person that Honoured Master had mentioned was Martial Aunt Luo.”
Yu Xiang Die shot her a curious glance, “What did Brother Xu say?”
Qu Hua Shang replied, “There was once when Honoured Master was quite drunk. He said he had wronged a Senior Sister long ago, but he didn’t delve into it, so I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Now, it seems that the person he had mentioned was Martial Aunt Luo.”
If he hadn’t argued with Luo Ting He, she wouldn’t have dashed into the Samsara Pavilion on a whim and become trapped inside it for such a long time.
Yu Xiang Die snorted, “Hmph, he’s guilty of wronging more than just one Senior Sister!”
Qu Hua Shang knew a thing or two about what was going on between her Honoured Master and Yu Xiang Die, but she wouldn’t dare to say anything now, so she just stuck out her tongue at Yang Kai.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai realised a problem, “Martial Uncle Sun passed away after Martial Aunt Luo entered the Samsara Pavilion. It wasn’t until 2,000 years had passed that she got out of the Samsara Pavilion. Does it mean that she isn’t aware of what happened?”
“I suppose she’s aware of it.” Yu Xiang Die put on a bitter smile, “Back then, Brother Xu and I entered the Samsara Pavilion to look for her. There was once when we finally found her and told her about the news. At that time, her memory had been restored, but she soon reincarnated into the next life. Brother Xu and I couldn’t find her again after that.”
Yang Kai nodded in response.
A puzzled Qu Hua Shang asked, “In that case, how did Martial Aunt Luo manage to leave the Samsara Pavilion together with me?”
Yu Xiang Die replied, “That’s where I have to thank you. Both of you have been through nine reincarnations, right?”
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang nodded their heads together.
“At that time, Brother Xu argued with Senior Sister that no one could ever pass the test of nine reincarnations. Senior Sister said that she and Senior Brother Sun could do that, so she entered the Samsara Pavilion without telling anyone. Brother Xu and I thought that the Heart Barrier she had set up must have something to do with Senior Brother Sun and her, and that they must experience nine reincarnations together for her to leave. However, now it seems that it was just one of the ways to break the Heart Barrier. Another way to do it was to witness another couple passing the test of nine reincarnations. The two of you completed just that, so Senior Sister Luo’s Heart Barrier was also shattered. That was why she could leave the Samsara Pavilion.”
Upon hearing her explanation, Yang Kai said, “It was no wonder that Martial Aunt Luo had started appearing by our side after the sixth life. It seems that our reincarnations had something to do with her Heart Barrier.”
That was the only reasonable explanation.
Yang Kai had always wondered why Xiao He had started appearing by Qu Hua Shang and his side with different identities since the sixth life. He initially thought that she was a powerful cultivator from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven whose consciousness happened to be tangled up with their reincarnations. Now, it seemed that it had something to do with the Heart Barrier she had built as she had to witness another couple completing the test of nine reincarnations. Hence, she started taking part in their journey in the sixth life.
The experiences in the previous lives were still alright, but when Yang Kai recalled that he had been bossing Luo Ting He around when she was his personal bodyguard in the ninth life, he couldn’t help but feel guilty.
He thus asked in a small voice, “Martial Aunt Yu, is Martial Aunt Luo a small-minded person?”
Yu Xiang Die shot him a glance, “What’s wrong? Did you do anything wrong to her in the Samsara Pavilion?”
Yang Kai quickly denied it, “No, no, no. How could that be possible?”
Yu Xiang Die smiled gently, “I don’t know if Senior Sister is a small-minded person, but Brother Xu was always bullied by her when he was a boy. Both of us were raised by Senior Sister, so while she’s like an Elder Sister, she is also like a Mother to us. If Brother Xu finds out that she has gotten out of the Samsara Pavilion, I’m sure he’ll be relieved.”
Yang Kai said nonchalantly, “When Martial Uncle Xu returns to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, he’ll naturally find out about this good news.”
Yu Xiang Die and Qu Hua Shang fell silent.
“A lot of people are coming.” Yang Kai suddenly looked into the distance. Although they were 1,000 kilometres apart, Yang Kai could still feel the surging World Force coming from Luo Ting He. As they spoke, the elders from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven who had rarely stepped out of their homes began showing up. It was apparent that they became aware of the ascension attempt.
Chen Xiu rushed over to this place with his two Disciples as they watched the ascension from a place that was several dozen kilometres away from Yang Kai. Beside him were Tao Ling Wan and Feng Cheng Si, who gently nodded at Yang Kai.
In response, Yang Kai nodded back at them.
There were also a lot of Sixth-Order and Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters that Yang Kai had never seen before.
In just over an hour, hundreds of Open Heaven Realm Masters had arrived in groups or as individuals as they found suitable locations to observe Luo Ting He’s ascension.
It was rare to see a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master ascending to the Eighth-Order even in the Cave Heavens and Paradises, so whenever that happened, it would attract countless Open Heaven Realm Masters to come over.
To those who intended to make it to the Eighth-Order, such observation was greatly beneficial to them. Even those who didn’t have the chance to ascend to the Eighth-Order, they could still watch it as they might get something out of it.
Although Yang Kai couldn’t detect the presence of any Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, he could faintly feel that some people were paying attention to this place in the dark. There was no doubt that they were the Ancestors of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
“Senior Sister is a genius who is one of the most talented people in the Cave Heavens and Paradises. When she ascended to the Open Heaven Realm, she did so directly to the Seventh Order.” There was a proud expression on Yu Xiang Die’s face when she mentioned Luo Ting He.
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang were astounded, “She directly broke through to the Seventh Order?”
Yu Xiang Die nodded.
The two of them exchanged glances and saw the shock in each other’s eyes.
Most of the Open Heaven Realm Masters in the world had no hope of making it to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm in their lifetime. Their starting point determined how far they could go in the Open Heaven Realm.
Those who started out below the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm would never see the High-Rank.
Even those who directly ascended to the Fifth Order would be at risk of losing their lives when trying to break through.
However, Luo Ting He had directly made it to the Seventh Order. In other words, her starting point in the Open Heaven Realm was already much higher than 99% of all Open Heaven Realm Masters.
This kind of disparity was truly dispiriting.
Yang Kai knew that there were people who could directly ascend to the Seventh Order as he too had such a dream in the past. Only by directly ascending to the Seventh Order would one stand a chance to reach the highest Ninth Order.
That was the peak of the Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, life was not a bed of flowers. Although he had a solid foundation and heritage, Yang Kai was forced and made his decision to ascend to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm outside of Shadowless Cave Heaven in the end.
After he consumed a Mid-Rank World Fruit, his starting point in the Open Heaven Realm became the Sixth-Order, which was equivalent to the Core Disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
At that time, he didn’t understand why those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises repeatedly stopped him from ascending to the Seventh Order and even risked tarnishing their reputations to oppress him, so he was furious about it. Although he found out that it had something to do with the Black Ink Clan at a later time, he still couldn’t get over it completely.
After all, his pursuit of the peak of the Martial Dao had been cut off.
This was something that was unforgivable.
In the 3,000 Worlds, apparently, only the disciples born in the Cave Heavens and Paradises who were proven to be loyal and righteous had the right to directly ascend to the Seventh-Order.
Even taking all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises into consideration, only one such disciple would emerge every 1,000 years or so.
Luo Ting He was one such disciple.
It was the greatest honour to be able to directly ascend to the Seventh Order, and it was also a symbol of power.
Only a person like her had the right to take a peek at the greatest power of the Ninth Order.
Yang Kai had never expected that Luo Ting He was a cultivator who had directly broken through to the Seventh Order. It was also his first time meeting such a person.
He could imagine that those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven must have been heartbroken when Luo Ting He was trapped in the Samsara Pavilion back then. They must have put in a lot of effort to save her, but it was apparent that their attempts had failed.
By going through nine reincarnations, Qu Hua Shang and Yang Kai accidentally brought Luo Ting He out of the Samsara Pavilion. In other words, both of them had made an incredible contribution to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
That was because they didn’t just save a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, but a potential Master who could rise to the greatest heights in the future.
There was no doubt that of the two of them, Yang Kai had made a bigger contribution. That was because he was the one who had been working hard to shatter Qu Hua Shang’s Heart Barrier throughout the nine reincarnations. It was not an exaggeration to say that he had saved both Luo Ting He and Qu Hua Shang.
An ascension from the Seventh-Order to the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm couldn’t be achieved in a short time. Perhaps it would take days or even months; however, the spectators didn’t appear to be impatient at all as they wouldn’t miss any details.
The Samsara Pavilion was where hearts were trained, so regardless of how long a person stayed inside it, their cultivation wouldn’t increase one bit.
Luo Ting He must have reached the critical point of achieving a breakthrough 2,000 ago; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to achieve an ascension as soon as she got out of the Samsara Pavilion. 2,000 years of reincarnation may have even been what triggered the chance for her to achieve ascension.
In other words, if she hadn’t dashed into the Samsara Pavilion on a whim, she would’ve become an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master a long time ago.
“Xiao Qu’er, you directly ascended to the Sixth Order back then, so you’ll have a chance to make it to the Eighth Order. It will be beneficial for you to observe,” Yu Xiang Die said.
Qu Hua Shang nodded with a solemn expression.
“The danger that an Open Heaven Realm Master faces when achieving an ascension is related to the strengthening of their Small Universe. There is a limit to a Small Universe’s capacity, so if the cultivator is unable to bear the sudden increase in power, their Small Universe would be at risk of collapsing. That is the kind of risk that Senior Sister Luo has to face now, and it is also the kind of risk that all Open Heaven Realm Masters have to deal with. In your case, you’re a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who will make it to the Seventh-Order one day. The risk you will have to face at that time is that your Small Universe must materialise, which is the hardest part. It’s even more dangerous than what your Martial Aunt Luo is facing.”
Qu Hua Shang said respectfully, “Please enlighten me, Martial Aunt.”
Yu Xiang Die let out a sigh, “Brother Xu is supposed to be the one who tells you this; however, since he’s not around, I’ll do so on his behalf. During the materialisation process, your Small Universe will face an unimaginable impact. It’s just like a Monster Beast that has to condense a Monster Core in their body when their cultivation reaches a certain level. If your power is unstable, you won’t be able to achieve your goal; therefore, before you ascend to the Seventh Order, you have to make sure that you have accumulated enough heritage. If your heritage is insufficient, your Small Universe won’t be able to materialise, and that will be a fatal disaster. Countless disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises have lost their lives during the process. That’s the reason there are so few High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Cave Heavens and Paradises.”
Since time immemorial, there were not many in the Cave Heavens and Paradises who directly ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but there must be many people who had directly made it to the Fifth-Order.
After years of accumulation, these disciples who had directly ascended to the Fifth Order were supposed to make it to the Sixth Order and even the Seventh Order if nothing unexpected happened; however, if it was so easy to ascend to the Seventh Order, there would have been more than 10,000 High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in each of the Cave Heavens and Paradises by now.
Besides the Cave Heavens and Paradises, there should also be a lot of Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Second Class great forces.
Nevertheless, the truth was that none of the Cave Heavens or Paradises had a lot of High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. There were likely other reasons for this situation as well, but the huge risk associated with crossing over to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm was undoubtedly a big one. Those disciples who had the right to attempt an ascension to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm either didn’t have the confidence to give it a try as they hadn’t accumulated enough heritage, or had lost their lives during the process.
The gap between the Sixth Order and the Seventh Order was a dividing line, and even after one made it to the Seventh Order, it would be extremely difficult to ascend to the next realm.
Yang Kai suddenly recalled something as he asked, “In that case, the Four Great Pillars and Twelve Minor Pillars must be very useful for the Open Heaven Realm Masters when ascending to the next Order.”
Yu Xiang Die nodded, “That’s to be expected. When an Open Heaven Realm Master achieves an ascension, their Small Universe will be faced with a violent impact. The Four Great Pillars and Twelve Minor Pillars are very useful in stabilising one’s Small Universes; however, you have to understand that only the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters have the right to refine the Twelve Minor Pillars. Although those things might be useful to cultivators below the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm, they’re unable to use them. The only things that are useful to them are the Four Great Pillars. Nevertheless, those are even rarer. How is the average person supposed to get their hands on them?”
As she spoke, she shot Yang Kai a wry glance to mean that he was truly lucky.
It wasn’t a secret in the Cave Heavens and Paradises that Yang Kai possessed the World Spring, which could protect his Small Universe from external intrusion or impact. Even the Black Ink Strength didn’t have any effect on Yang Kai. The High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were envious of him because of that.
Yang Kai initially thought that the only uses of the World Spring were to help him fend off external forces and fortify his Small Universe, so it surprised him to learn that it was also useful during breakthroughs.
With one of the Four Great Pillars in one’s body, not only could they ensure that their Small Universe would be freed from any external influences, but it could also allow the cultivator to have no worries about raising living creatures in his or her body to strengthen their heritage. Additionally, it could fend off the invasion of Black Ink Strength. Furthermore, it was very useful when the cultivator achieved an ascension.
Now, it seemed that the Four Great Pillars were indeed some of the most precious treasures in the world. They were just as precious as the Soul Warming Lotus and the Immortal Tree that Yang Kai had obtained. To the Open Heaven Realm Masters, perhaps the Four Great Pillars may even be more valuable.
“Martial Aunt Yu, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask you about,” Yang Kai said humbly.
Yu Xiang Die replied, “Go ahead.”
“I’m sure you know a thing or two about my situation. I’m a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now, and I feel that I’m just one step away from the Seventh-Order. What would I face when I try to break through to the Seventh Order?”
Yu Xiang Die was shocked by how fast Yang Kai could accumulate his heritage.
It had to be noted that it had only been 300 or so years since he directly ascended to the Fifth Order outside of Shadowless Cave Heaven in the Shattered Heaven. On top of that, the 130 years he had spent in the Samsara Pavilion had to be excluded because he wasn’t cultivating at all during that period.
Not only had Yang Kai ascended from the Fifth Order to the Sixth Order so quickly, but he was also now just one step away from the Seventh Order.
She had never heard that anyone was able to cultivate so quickly in the Open Heaven Realm. Accumulation was of utmost importance in the cultivation of an Open Heaven Realm Master. There were no other ways to rapidly increase one’s heritage. A long period of accumulation was inevitable for all Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Every Open Heaven Realm Master had to spend a painfully long time cultivating to reach the next Order.
It was possible for a Third-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to ascend to the Fourth-Order after 300 years of cultivating, but it was close to impossible for a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to make it to the Seventh-Order within the same amount of time.
However, the truth was right before Yu Xiang Die’s eyes. She knew and could even feel that Yang Kai was indeed strong. In Lang Ya Paradise, he single-handedly defeated all its Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. No one was a match for him. It was apparent that the average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master couldn’t compete against him. He must be at the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, she was unable to answer Yang Kai’s question.
Usually, the most important thing when a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master ascended to the Seventh-Order was the materialisation of the Small Universe, but Yang Kai was different. His Small Universe had already materialised when he made it to the Fifth Order, so he didn’t have to face the biggest problem that troubled other Open Heaven Realm Masters.
After giving it a thought, Yu Xiang Die shook her head, “To be honest with you, I’ve never met an Open Heaven Realm Master like you before. I’ve discussed with my Fellow Brothers and Sisters regarding your situation, and we believe that the uniqueness of your Small Universe might have something to do with the fact that you’re an expert in the Dao of Space.”
“Has no one cultivated the Dao of Space before me?”
“There were many people who had cultivated the Dao of Space before, but none had attainments as high as yours; therefore, I’m not sure what you will face when ascending to the Seventh Order. However, I suppose you won’t face the common problems that trouble other cultivators. Moreover, you have the World Spring to protect your Small Universe, so I think that there won’t be a problem when try to reach the Seventh Order.” She then paused for a moment before continuing, “With that said, you’d still better be careful. Look for a quiet place and cultivate in seclusion. Deduce the problems you might face when achieving an ascension so that you won’t be flustered when that time comes.”
“I understand,” Yang Kai nodded.
He already had the intention to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm a long time ago; however, his 100-year promise with Qu Hua Shang was about to be due at that time, so he put it off until now. Presently, Qu Hua Shang had gotten out of the Samsara Pavilion, so after everything was settled in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Yang Kai planned to start cultivating in seclusion.
As he thought of the Proprietress all of a sudden, he quickly asked, “Martial Aunt Yu, has Lan You Ruo from Void Land exited seclusion yet?”
Yu Xiang Die replied, “She had already left seclusion while you were inside the Chaotic Dead Territory. Don’t worry, she’s now a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.”
Yang Kai arched his brow. He had spent several dozen years in the Chaotic Dead Territory and more than 100 years in the Samsara Pavilion. So, it had been quite a long time since the Proprietress stopped cultivating in seclusion.
Upon learning that she had successfully made it to the Seventh Order, he was relieved. The main reason was that the Proprietress had cultivated in seclusion for a very long time, so he wasn’t sure if everything was going well for her. Even if she was facing any problems though, outsiders were unable to lend her a hand.
Since she had ascended to the Seventh Order, she had to face the problem that the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were not from the Cave Heavens and Paradises, had to deal with.
“What’s the stance of the Cave Heavens and Paradises about her?” Yang Kai asked.
Yu Xiang Die replied, “Si Tu Kong from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven has stepped forward to vouch for her, so no one will make a move on her. Don’t worry about it.”
Because of the matter regarding the Black Ink Disciples, the Cave Heavens and Paradises were wary of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters that emerged in other great forces. As such, they would lure those High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters to their own Sects to keep an eye on them, which caused a misunderstanding among the general public.
Some people would secretly ascend to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm and then sneak into the Shattered Heaven.
It was the same case for Bright Sun Divine Monarch Cheng Yang, Xia Lin Lang, and others; however, those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises were unable to explain anything about the Black Ink Clan to the public. Even the Vice Sect Master of Lang Ya Paradise, Yuan Du, was unable to resist the allure of the Black Ink Strength as he took the initiative to give a sacrificial offering to the Black Ink Clan in order to break through his own shackles. It couldn’t be guaranteed that others wouldn’t be tempted upon learning the powers of the Black Ink Strength.
After turning into Black Ink Disciples, they would no longer be restricted by their starting point in the Open Heaven Realm, which was temptation enough for a lot of people, especially those ambitious people who had a low starting point.
However, the Proprietress was originally from First Inn, which was a business backed by Si Tu Kong, who was from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven. With his assurance, together with the connections the Proprietress had built up over the years, she could ensure her own independence. At the very least, she wouldn’t fall into the situation that the other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who were not from the Cave Heavens and Paradises had to deal with.
All of a sudden, Yu Xiang Die shot a meaningful glance at Qu Hua Shang, “Xiao Qu’er, you must be careful in the future. This brat is not someone who is content with his lot. He might even bring back more women in the future.”
Qu Hua Shang nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Martial Aunt.”
An aggrieved Yang Kai refuted, “Please stop slandering me, Martial Aunt Yu. I’ve never been a licentious man. I’m a well-behaved person who always stays within his bounds.”
Qu Hua Shang looked smilingly at him, “Oh, really? What’s going on with you and Senior Sister Tao then? Weren’t you supposed to tell me about that?”
Yang Kai hurriedly said, “I was just about to explain.