News of the battle spread like wildfire among the disciples. Those who had not witnessed it firsthand eagerly sought out details from those who had. Were it not for Su Mu's status, the story would have already reached every corner of the sect. However, since the young master was involved, the disciples spoke of it only in hushed whispers, careful not to offend the wrong person.
Meanwhile, within Yang Kai 's small hut, things had finally quieted down.
He glanced up at the sky, his mood souring. Thanks to Su Mu's interference, he had lost valuable time he could have spent practicing the Tempered Body Record. It was a shame, really.
Sighing, he pulled out a fresh set of clothes and made his way to the small pond near his hut. Stripping off his tattered garments, he prepared to bathe. Days of wandering the mountains, combined with his brutal fight against the Flower Patterned Spider, had left him covered in dirt and grime. The scent clinging to him was far from pleasant.
Not far away, Xia Ning Chang crept silently toward his hut. She had hoped to observe him, to uncover the true extent of his strength. However, as she rounded the corner, she was met with an entirely different sight—a pair of bare white buttocks gleaming under the sunlight.
Yang Kai had already stripped completely and was poised to dive into the water.
Xia Ning Chang's face instantly turned scarlet. Despite her high cultivation, she was still an innocent young woman. She had never seen a man's thigh before—let alone this!
This… this was far too shameless!
Her heart pounded erratically as she instinctively ducked out of sight, her entire body burning with embarrassment. How… how could she be so unlucky today?! She had come to spy on his cultivation, not witness this! Stamping her foot in frustration, she vanished in a flash, her cheeks still flushed.
That disgraceful disciple! she fumed. The sect's entrance exams must have been far too lenient! How could they allow such an indecent person to pass? Stripping stark naked in broad daylight? Truly, truly shameless!
Meanwhile, Yang Kai remained blissfully unaware of her turmoil.
As he washed, he took a moment to examine his body. Ever since he had begun practicing the Tempered Body Record, his muscles had become more defined—though he was still lean, his physique had grown considerably sturdier.
His wounds from the battle with the Flower Patterned Spider had mostly healed.
Reflecting on the life-and-death struggle with the spider, Yang Kai felt a strange sense of excitement. The greater the danger, the more exhilarated he became. Was he secretly a battle maniac?
Chuckling at the thought, he took a deep breath and submerged himself in the pond, remaining underwater for a while.
As he moved through the sect, he noticed the strange looks from his fellow disciples. They were the same ones who had witnessed his duel earlier that morning. Their gazes were filled with curiosity and confusion—how had he, a trial disciple, managed to knock Zhou Hu unconscious?
Ignoring them, Yang Kai continued his work as if nothing had happened.
Once he finished sweeping, he returned to his hut and opened his bag. Carefully, he retrieved the herbs he had collected in the mountains, setting aside the Three-Leaved Chaos Spirit Flower and the Dead Jedi Tree Grass. The remaining herbs were of no use to him, but he could sell them at the Contribution Hall in exchange for contribution points.
Just as he was about to leave, he paused.
After some thought, he returned to his hut and changed into his tattered, bloodstained clothes. He even went so far as to dirty his face. Only once he looked appropriately pitiful did he set off again.
..........
Treasurer Meng sat behind the counter, humming contentedly as he sipped his tea. Legs crossed, he enjoyed the peace and quiet of the morning.
Then, a figure appeared at the entrance.
Old Man Meng barely lifted his head, already prepared to scold whoever had come to disturb his tranquility. But when he saw Yang Kai dragging himself in, battered and exhausted, his eyes widened.
Yang Kai 's clothes were in shreds, barely clinging to his frame. His legs—completely visible through the tattered fabric—were covered in dust, grime, and, of all things, leg hair.
At the sight of him, the two female disciples near the entrance shrieked in horror and quickly backed away.
Treasurer Meng, a man known for his unshakable composure, nearly lost his grip on reality. He had faced countless perils, walked through mountains and seas, and yet—this? This was enough to make him spit out his tea in shock.
"Little Yang Kai ! What in the heavens happened to you?!" he blurted out, nearly jumping from his seat.
Yang Kai stumbled up to the counter, inhaling deeply before declaring, "I have returned!"
"…And you look like you've been to hell and back." Treasurer Meng's expression twisted in disbelief. Just a few days ago, this boy had looked perfectly fine. Now? He resembled neither man nor ghost—a tragic sight indeed.
Yang Kai simply nodded. "It was… a rough trip."
Treasurer Meng felt a rare twinge of sympathy. Looking down at the bag Yang Kai had placed on the counter, he raised an eyebrow. "And what have you brought me?"
Yang Kai opened the bag, revealing a collection of low-grade herbs.
Treasurer Meng's face fell.
These were ordinary herbs, barely worth anything. The Contribution Hall was already overflowing with them. Just as he was about to reject the offer, he saw the expectation in Yang Kai 's eyes… and then glanced again at his pathetic state.
With a sigh, he softened. "Fine. I'll accept them. Two herbs for one contribution point."
"Deal!" Yang Kai immediately pushed the bag forward.
Treasurer Meng counted them up—thirty-two herbs, sixteen contribution points. He recorded them in the ledger.
"You spent three days in Black Wind Mountain and only found this much?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
Yang Kai shrugged. "Given the dangers I faced, this is already a good harvest."
Treasurer Meng chuckled but didn't argue. Though Yang Kai lacked natural talent, he was certainly hardworking—a rarity these days. If only his aptitude were better… what a shame.
As the old man mused, he noticed Yang Kai looking around suspiciously.
"What are you searching for?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Yang Kai leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Treasurer Meng, while I was in the mountains, I may have stumbled upon something… incredible."
Treasurer Meng's curiosity piqued. His expression grew serious. "Oh? And what might that be?"
Yang Kai hesitated for a moment before reaching behind his back. From his waistband, he retrieved a small cloth bundle and carefully placed it on the counter.
Then, with a mysterious glint in his eye, he said, "I need you to take a look at this."