A female voice calmly replied, "En, it definitely snuck inside. If it hadn't, I wouldn't have bothered coming into this place."
The two voices were nearly identical in tone, yet subtle nuances set them apart. One was soft, almost melodious, like a gentle spring breeze. The other, while still pleasant, carried a sharper edge.
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes slightly.
Those two? He hadn't expected to run into them here of all places.
"Wow! There are so many kinds of herbs here!" the softer voice exclaimed with excitement.
"Yeah… but let's not touch anything just yet," the other cautioned. "We should first make sure this place isn't dangerous."
The sound of their footsteps echoed louder as they approached. Yang Kai didn't hide. Instead, he calmly stepped out from the shadows and into view.
"Who's there?" a voice called out, laced with wariness.
Yang Kai cleared his throat. "We meet again…"
The gentler voice let out a small gasp. "Yang Kai?!"
"Hu Mei'er," Yang Kai nodded politely, offering a respectful bow. He then turned his gaze to the other woman, "Lady Jiao'er. It's been a while."
Standing before him were none other than the Hu sisters—Hu Mei Er and Hu Jiao Er—the top beauties of the Bloody Battle Gang.
Hu Jiao Er's expression darkened the moment she recognized him. "Brat! To think I'd run into you again here!"
Hu Mei Er was more surprised than anything, jumping to question, "Why are you here?"
"I actually found this place accidentally." Yang Kai did not wish to inform them of the events that transpired.
During the chat, the two sisters walked closer to the boy, as Hu Jiao Er stared at Yang Kai indifferently, throwing out her chest and raising her hind legs. "Did you see anything enter just moments ago?" she asked, her voice thick with impatience.
Hu Mei Er opened her mouth to ask, her gaze flickering nervously.
Having eavesdropped on their conversation, Yang Kai knew Hu Mei Er was referring to the Yin Yang Monster Ginseng. He didn't try to hide the truth and nodded, "Yeah, I've seen it."
"Where is it?" Hu Jiao Er hastily asked.
Yang Kai pointed to his chest as the two sisters widened their eyes in surprise. "Did you actually manage to collect it?" Hu Jiao Er probed.
"Yeah, although I'm not sure why. Once it was placed on my chest, it became incredibly docile."
Hu Jiao Er's chest puffed up as she took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
The two sisters had actually been pursuing that thing for days, scaling several mountains, braving the wilderness, and finally ended up in this cave—only for Yang Kai to receive it without lifting a finger! How unlucky it was for them!
Hu Jiao Er nipped on her lips, considering taking the Ginseng by force, but decided otherwise due to her sister's presence. For some reason, her sister felt toward Yang Kai, and she would interject if a fight broke out. "Make sure you keep it safe." Hu Mei Er sighed, feeling like a heavy weight was lifted off her chest.
"What's so good about this brat?"
Hu Jiao Er sized up Yang Kai and suddenly asked with disbelief. "You're already in the Qi Transformation stage?"
Her face was riddled with shock. The last time they met, Yang Kai was still in the Tempered Body Boundary. How was it possible to break through to such a level in such a short span of time? Even if he had some fortuitous encounter, wasn't this a massive leap in cultivation?
Hu Mei Er was still in Initial Element Stage 2!
Yang Kai blinked, couldn't help but wonder why Hu Jiao Er, didn't ask for the Yin Yang Monster Ginseng. Normally, it would be the first thing she'd demand, especially considering how much effort she and her sister had put into finding it. Yet, she hadn't even mentioned it, not once.
Hu Jiao Er snorted to show her displeasure towards Yang Kai.
"Since there are so many different types of herbs here, don't hesitate to collect them," Yang Kai said, gesturing to the various plants around them. He knew the Yin Yang Monster Ginseng held far more value than any of the herbs in the cave, and while he'd unintentionally taken it, he felt it only fair to let the two sisters gather whatever they wanted.
"Like I need you to tell me that!" Hu Jiao Er snapped, glaring at Yang Kai, her voice full of irritation. She didn't seem to be in the mood for any pleasantries, her usual fiery attitude flaring up again.
"Elder Sister!" Hu Mei Er quickly intervened, shaking her arm to get her sister's attention. The warmth in her eyes was directed at Yang Kai, a stark contrast to her sister's anger.
"Fine… I understand…" Hu Jiao Er reluctantly muttered, the fire in her gaze cooling as she surveyed the area. Then, with a heavy sigh, she continued, "For the past few days, both of us have climbed countless mountains in chase of that thing. Right now, we must rest and recuperate. So, you, help guard the place."
"I understand." Yang Kai nodded in acknowledgment, his mind still somewhat distracted by the tension between the two sisters.
The two women walked hand in hand toward the end of the cave. As they walked, Hu Mei Er glanced back over her shoulder, her gaze softening. She smiled slightly, as if trying to apologize for her sister's earlier harsh words.
Yang Kai's brows furrowed slightly at the expression.
"No need for apologies, I understand," he muttered, though his mind wandered.
As the two sisters approached the far side of the cave, they froze in their tracks upon seeing the Old Demon's bleached bones. Their expressions shifted to one of surprise, and their gazes flicked to the left. They exchanged a knowing look, their eyes communicating something Yang Kai couldn't quite place. The subtle, shared glance felt more like a bond between them—something unspoken that was in sync.
Yang Kai caught the exchange, his curiosity piqued. He had no idea what they had discovered, and for a moment, he felt a pang of frustration. "What are you two looking at?" he asked, his voice tinged with impatience. But neither of the sisters answered him; they remained focused on whatever had caught their attention.
The lack of response left Yang Kai feeling even more confused. He glanced at them, then at the bones, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Time passed, and after half a day, the two sisters finally settled down. They crossed their legs and began to meditate. Their eyes closed, their breathing steady and deep. The cave, once filled with movement, now held an eerie stillness.
Yang Kai stared at them for a while, trying to make sense of the situation. The longer he watched, the more surreal it seemed. At first, he thought he was seeing things, seeing the forms of people moving in and out of his vision. But when he focused, there was nothing. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was simply imagining things.
"Perhaps... this is their opportunity?" Yang Kai muttered quietly to himself, his thoughts a mixture of curiosity and confusion. Whatever was happening, the sisters seemed to be on the verge of something important.
Unable to leave them alone, especially given the strange atmosphere that hung in the air, Yang Kai decided to stay. He could only stand by the entrance and wait for them to finish, uncertain of what they were meditating on.