After guarding the two sisters for three days, the atmosphere in the cave grew charged with energy. Suddenly, the end where the sisters sat erupted with bright lights. Two golden lights appeared above their heads and vanished without a trace. Simultaneously, the Yuan Qi from their bodies began to circulate in perfect harmony, causing the cave walls to hum with power.
Yang Kai watched intently, his gaze narrowing as he observed the strange phenomenon. The Yuan Qi of the two sisters seemed to merge as one. A faint line of light appeared between Hu Jiao Er and Hu Mei Er, a visible manifestation of their shared energy. Slowly, their Qi balanced out, a perfect synchronization between the two.
As the light gradually faded, the energy settled back into its calm state, leaving the cave in a tranquil stillness once more.
Both sisters took a deep breath, opening their eyes at the same time. Their gazes met, and the surprise in their eyes was evident, though it was clear they had just shared something deeply profound.
"Congratulations," Yang Kai said, breaking the silence. He had been guarding the two for three days, but even now, he couldn't fathom how they had obtained the inheritance. The only thing he was certain of was that this inheritance didn't belong to the Old Demon—he had learned that from the memories he had accessed.
The Old Demon's recollections had made it clear that the war had caused the deaths of many high-level cultivators, and thus, there were likely multiple inheritances hidden within the cave. The Hu sisters had been fortunate enough to obtain one.
Upon hearing Yang Kai's voice, the sisters turned to face him simultaneously. They spoke almost in unison, their voices carrying the same tone: "Thanks!"
Yang Kai blinked in confusion, unsure of what exactly had just happened. Both women turned toward each other, their expressions softening. The synchronicity between them felt almost eerie, and for a moment, Yang Kai couldn't tell where one sister ended and the other began.
"Can you guess who I am?" the woman on the left asked, a playful gleam in her eyes. She wore a smile full of cunning and amusement, her gaze teasing.
Yang Kai chuckled, scratching his head. "Lady Jiao Er."
The woman's smile faltered almost immediately. "Did you blindly guess?" she asked, her tone tinged with annoyance.
"Hu Mei Er would never ask me such a question," Yang Kai replied confidently, recognizing the subtle differences between the two.
Hu Jiao Er pouted in response. "It seems you understand my little sister very well."
At his words, Hu Mei Er's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. She quickly avoided eye contact with Yang Kai, embarrassed by the attention.
"And what about this? You call her 'Lady,' but me—" Hu Jiao Er began playfully, but caught the faint flush on her younger sister's cheeks and the way she subtly shook her head, as if asking her not to make things awkward. With a small sigh and a smile that was half teasing, half sincere, she continued, "—Well, I really have to thank you for allowing us this opportunity."
Yang Kai hadn't just stood guard for the past three days; he had done so without asking for anything in return. The entire time, the two sisters had been in deep meditation, fully immersed in the inheritance process. Yang Kai could have easily taken advantage of their distraction, but instead, he had honored their need for privacy and security. This act of restraint didn't go unnoticed, and it made Hu Jiao Er view him with newfound respect.
Hu Jiao Er thought, Maybe Yang Kai isn't as bad as I originally thought.
"Don't worry about it," Yang Kai said, brushing off her thanks. "We should leave." His voice hinted at his growing desire to move on from this place.
The sisters nodded in agreement and stood up in unison.
As the trio began to make their way toward the exit, the sisters took their time, carefully picking as many herbs as they could find. Yang Kai, true to his word, didn't take a single one. After all, he had already obtained the Yin Yang Monster Ginseng, and that was more than sufficient for his needs.
It was an incredibly valuable herb for cultivation, capable of improving one's strength due to its unique ability to contain both Yin and Yang Qi. While the Ginseng could also be used for alchemy, it was most effective when consumed by someone in need of a boost to their cultivation.
The problem, however, lay in the herb's true potential. The Ginseng's most profound effects could only be fully realized if it were shared between two cultivators. Specifically, the Yin Yang Monster Ginseng needed a female cultivator who practiced Yin-based cultivation. If Yang Kai found such a cultivator and they formed a deep connection, the two could cultivate together, allowing the Ginseng's two energies to enter their bodies and merge, helping them both grow stronger.
The difficulty, of course, was finding such a cultivator—a female who specialized in Yin cultivation, who would also share Yang Kai's heart. A rare and challenging requirement, indeed.
Since the Yin Yang Monster Ginseng contains Yin and Yang energy, it was naturally attracted to sources of said energy. As such, it was attracted to Yang Kai, who practices the True Yang Secret Art.
In those three days, Yang Kai had fed 1 drop of his Yang Liquid to the Ginseng. Tasting the Yang Drop gave the Ginseng a look of enjoyment. It was then attracted to him more than ever, like a magnet to steel.
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After gathering the herbs, the Hu sisters exchanged a few quiet words before offering half of their harvest to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai waved his hand in refusal. "I already took your treasure. It's only right that you keep everything else to make up for it."
Hu Jiao Er smiled playfully. "Silly boy. Don't be so rigid. Who said it belonged to you in the first place?"
Yang Kai chuckled. "Alright then… but tell me, what's the situation outside like?"
Having been stuck in the cave for quite some time, he had no idea how things had developed in the outside world. He asked out of curiosity, but also caution.
Hu Jiao Er frowned. "Don't call me 'lady,' it sounds so distant. We both have names. Jiao Er and Mei Er. If you feel guilty about stealing our Ginseng, you can call me Sister Jiao Er."
Yang Kai nodded with a grin. "I think I'll stick to calling you by name."
A flicker of annoyance danced in Hu Jiao Er's eyes, but she simply puffed her cheeks and changed the topic. "Let's get moving. We can talk while we walk."
The three of them strolled through the cave path, chatting casually along the way. Bit by bit, Yang Kai began to piece together what had happened outside.
Although each disciple had entered the Heaven's Cave Inheritance from a different point, with time, they had all gradually made their way toward the center.