Old Meng let out a quiet sigh. "This time, to help her break through into the next major realm, she needs to refine and form something inside her body. The problem is, she can't do it on her own."
Yang Kai asked directly, "What is it?"
Meng Wu Ya replied, "Foundation Building Nectar of Nine Yin. It's extremely useful for cultivators at the True Element Boundary. If she manages to refine and form it, it will ensure her cultivation path is smoother and more stable."
He paused for a moment, then added, "To break through from the Separation and Reunion Boundary to the True Element Boundary, one needs to transform ordinary Qi into True Qi. That step is critical, and if aided by a rare treasure like this, the resulting True Qi will be much purer and stronger than usual."
Yang Kai nodded, understanding the importance. "So this Foundation Building Nectar is some kind of spirit essence?"
"Yes," Meng Wu Ya said. "It forms naturally, but it's incredibly rare. More importantly, only those who cultivate Yang-type energy can handle it. And not just anyone—you need to have Yang World Qi at a high enough purity level. That's why I need your help."
"Where can we find it?" Yang Kai asked.
"It's located in Black Wind Mountain," Meng Wu Ya answered. "A place where Nine Yin Qi has slowly accumulated. On the 7th of July, the Yin Qi reaches its peak. That's the only time it can be harvested safely."
Yang Kai frowned slightly. "That's just ten days from now. Traveling there and preparing will take time."
"Exactly," Meng nodded. "So if you're free, I suggest we act quickly. Otherwise, we'll have to wait another year."
"I'm ready to go whenever," Yang Kai said with a small grin.
"Good," Meng said with a rare warmth. "Come find me at the Contribution Hall in two days. I'll have the necessary items ready by then."
"Alright, see you in two days. And old man—take care of my senior sister."
As Yang Kai walked away, Meng Wu Ya quietly watched him. His expression turned thoughtful, his eyes a bit complicated. After a while, he muttered, "Disciple… are you really sure about this?"
Xia Ning Chang stood silently nearby. Her clothes moved slightly in the wind as she nodded, a little embarrassed. "En."
Meng Wu Ya looked at her seriously. "Even if you don't refine the Foundation Building Nectar, you can still break through. Your cultivation path won't be blocked. It's just that the power you'll gain won't be as strong."
Xia Ning Chang smiled softly. "But if I want to be more helpful to Master, wouldn't it be better to have purer True Qi? Master, you saved me and raised me. I want to repay that."
Meng Wu Ya didn't say anything for a moment. The reason he asked for two days wasn't for materials—but to give her time to reconsider.
Blushing slightly, Xia Ning Chang added, "Also… I don't really hate him."
Meng Wu Ya sighed. "Looks like we're using that boy…"
Meanwhile, Yang Kai didn't return to Su Yan's place that night. Instead, he went back to his own quiet wooden hut, readying himself for what lay ahead.
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Early on the second morning, just as the sun had begun to peek over the horizon, Yang Kai stood before the Contribution Hall's large gate. He knocked lightly, his fingers tapping a quiet rhythm as the early dew clung to his robes.
A short while later, the door creaked open, and Xia Ning Chang stepped out. Slung over her shoulder was an arm-length package filled with essentials for their journey. Her face held a faint flush, as if she'd barely slept the night before.
"Junior brother, you came," she greeted softly, her voice carrying the warmth of familiarity.
Yang Kai smiled, his eyes sweeping over her with quiet appreciation. "Senior sister, you look even more beautiful today. Where's Treasurer Meng?"
Xia Ning Chang looked a little flustered. "Yesterday… Master had a sudden relapse of an old illness. He left to heal and won't be able to accompany us."
Her long lashes trembled nervously, clearly trying not to meet Yang Kai's gaze. Her fingers clutched the strap of her bag a little tighter.
Yang Kai stared at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. There was something suspicious about her explanation, but he didn't press. "Do we need to wait for him?"
"No," she quickly said, hiding her expression, "Master gave me the location. We don't have time to delay. If we miss the timing, we'll lose the opportunity."
"Alright then."
"This time I'll trouble junior brother," she said in one breath, her tone half-guilty, half-hopeful.
Yang Kai smiled faintly, shrugging off the implication. "Senior sister is too polite. Even if you asked for my life, I'd give it to you."
I have many lives to spend.
"W-What are you saying?" she blurted out, her face rapidly turning pink. "I don't want your life!"
She was flustered but strangely touched. No one had ever said something like that to her—no one besides her master had ever shown her such care. The silence that followed between them was not awkward, but filled with something unspoken, gently binding.
The two quickly departed from the Contribution Hall, leaving the air of their exchange hanging like a warm mist. Inside the inner chamber, Treasurer Meng was sleeping like a log—deep in unconsciousness. He wasn't ill at all. In fact, the truth was Xia Ning Chang had tricked and drugged him the night before. Meng Wu Ya, famed for his shrewdness, never imagined his beloved disciple would one day outsmart him with a dose of her alchemical concoction.
Yang Kai and Xia Ning Chang made their way to Black Plum Village. There, they purchased two sturdy horses and stocked up on food and travel necessities. The village was quaint, bustling with morning activity, and the sound of roosters and clinking pottery filled the air.
While handling purchases, Yang Kai asked about the terrain and route. According to Xia Ning Chang, the place they needed to reach was nine to ten days away, through the treacherous paths of Black Wind Mountain. It would be a long ride, but they had just enough time.
The journey promised to be difficult, but both of them were in high spirits. The road ahead was uncertain, yet walking it together brought an unfamiliar sense of companionship neither had truly experienced before.
Not long after the pair left the village, word reached someone they hadn't expected—Xie Hong Chen.
Since witnessing Su Yan and Yang Kai together in the Forest Prison, Xie Hong Chen had drowned himself in wine and bitterness. His pride couldn't accept what he had seen. It felt like a betrayal, not just from Su Yan, but from the universe itself.
He knew Su Yan's icy personality well. With her pride and strength, how could she possibly be involved with someone like Yang Kai? It had to be an act, he had told himself over and over again.
After cooling his head, he convinced himself that it was staged—that Su Yan was simply manipulating Yang Kai for some purpose. The more he thought about it, the more his confidence returned, though it was laced with a toxic jealousy.
Just that morning, he had planned to visit Su Yan at Black Wind Trade, hoping to speak with her and possibly reaffirm his position in her heart. A foolish hope, but one he clung to.
But right before he could leave, a disciplinary disciple rushed up to him breathlessly. "Brother Xie! I just saw Yang Kai leave High Heaven Pavilion a little while ago!"
"Was he alone?" Xie Hong Chen asked coldly.
"No. He left with a Dark Hall disciple. Her name is Xia Ning Chang."
"Xia Ning Chang…" Xie Hong Chen narrowed his eyes. "I know her. Her strength is similar to mine, but she's not a core disciple. She's… odd. Always keeps to herself."
"Where were they headed?" he asked sharply.
"I'm not sure, but they bought two horses in Black Plum Village. Looked like they were headed far."
"That far, huh?" Xie Hong Chen's voice grew cold. "Good… very good."
His expression twisted. Without another word, he turned around and growled, "Go find a few disciples at the Separation and Reunion Boundary or higher. I want them to accompany me."
The disciplinary disciple hesitated. "Brother, what are you planning?"
"Are you deaf? Must I say it again?" Xie Hong Chen's face was dark and dangerous. His thoughts were clear—he wanted Yang Kai dead.
"But Brother," the disciple said anxiously, "the Grand Elder gave strict orders after the last incident. No one is to harm Yang Kai. And Xia Ning Chang… she's not someone we should mess with. Her background is murky, and she's powerful. If something happens to her and the Sect investigates…"
"Enough with the whining!" Xie Hong Chen snapped. "You want me to do it myself?"
Driven mad by jealousy, Xie Hong Chen had already lost control of himself. He didn't care about orders or consequences anymore. He only wanted Yang Kai gone.
Whatever it took.
----------------------------------------------------
Hearing this reminder jolted Xie Hong Chen back to his senses.
He wasn't willing to let go of this rare opportunity to strike. But he also knew he couldn't take action himself—not directly. Just then, the disciplinary disciple standing nearby seemed to think of something. His lips curled into a sly smile as he spoke in a low, conspiratorial voice.
"Brother Xie, although we can't make a move... others might be very interested in doing so. I believe there are plenty of people who would jump at the chance—if they had the right motivation."
Xie Hong Chen's brows furrowed as he narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
The disciple leaned in, whispering, "Word has it that Blood Group's people have been asking around—looking for information about Yang Kai for nearly a month now."
Xie Hong Chen blinked, confused. "Why would they care about him? What business does Yang Kai have with the Blood Group?"
The other man sighed in mild exasperation, clearly surprised Xie hadn't figured it out already. "Because of Hu Mei Er, of course—that seductive fox. No one knows the exact nature of their relationship, but there have been... rumors. Enough for Blood Group to brand him as someone who's overstepping his bounds. And you know how they are—anyone who dares lay a hand on one of their women is marked for death. They're planning to teach him a lesson he won't survive."
"Hu Mei Er..." Xie Hong Chen murmured, his voice thick with sudden emotion. In his mind, an alluring image of her appeared—voluptuous, full-chested, hips high and tight, that bewitching smile that could hook a man's soul. Just picturing her made his breathing grow heavier, less controlled.
"That useless trash," he spat, though his tone betrayed more jealousy than disdain. "How dare he even get close to that woman?"
His words were righteous on the surface, but his thoughts were venomous. In his heart, he wasn't just cursing Yang Kai—he was raging over the fact that the boy seemed to attract every rare and precious woman, while he, a proud and powerful disciple, was left simmering in frustration.
After a few moments of brooding, Xie Hong Chen suddenly frowned. "Wait. That's a very detailed rumor you're spouting. Where exactly did you hear this?"
The disciplinary disciple looked sheepish, then quickly confessed. "Three nights ago, I was drinking at the Spring Wind Rain House in Black Plum Village..."
Xie Hong Chen gave him a pointed look. "Drinking?"
"Well... I may have been there for other reasons too," the disciple admitted hurriedly. "Anyway, Blood Group members were in the room next to mine. I overheard them talking—something about Hu Mei Er and a warning to eliminate a certain boy before she gets too attached. They didn't mention Yang Kai by name at first, but then they said, 'that outer disciple from High Heaven Pavilion,' and... well, it wasn't hard to figure out."
"Spring Wind Rain House..." Xie Hong Chen gave the man an unimpressed look out of the corner of his eye. "So that's where you spend your time."
The disciple gave a forced laugh, but quickly pressed on. "The point is, Brother Xie, we don't have to lift a finger. If Blood Group gets wind of this, they'll deal with Yang Kai themselves. All we need to do is point them in the right direction—quietly."
Xie Hong Chen's eyes lit up with cold satisfaction. He let out a low chuckle. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
He stepped forward, clapping the other man on the shoulder. "Pass the information along. But keep it subtle—no names, no ties. If this blows back, I'll have your head first."
"Understood!" the disciple said, bowing quickly before hurrying off to set the plan in motion.
Left alone, Xie Hong Chen stared into the distance, eyes gleaming with malice. "Yang Kai... let's see how you escape death this time."
But even as he plotted, another thought crept into his mind—a softer one, tinted with longing.
Xia Ning Chang.
Though she kept her veil on at all times, her graceful movements, her gentle voice, her quiet confidence—Xie Hong Chen was certain she was a beauty that would rival even Su Yan. Perhaps even surpass her.
A pity, he mused. A real pity… that she had chosen to walk beside Yang Kai. But perhaps, after the boy's death, she would need someone to console her.
Someone... stronger.
Someone like him.