Martial Peak - Rise Of The Human Emperor-Chapter 66 – Quiet Days, Restless Hearts

Returning to High Heaven Pavilion, Yang Kai bid farewell to Meng Wu Ya and Xia Ning Chang before quietly making his way back to his humble wooden hut.

Though he had been gone for nearly twenty days, the place remained spotless, just as he had left it. Everything was neatly arranged—no dust on the floor, no leaves cluttering the doorway. It didn't take much guessing to know who was responsible. Li Yun Tian and the others must've continued taking care of the hut in his absence, their loyalty and camaraderie shining through even without words.

In the days that followed, life resumed its calm, steady rhythm. Yang Kai immersed himself in cultivation, focusing on stabilizing the gains he'd made during the recent ordeal. The battles had left behind more than just wounds—they had left potential, hidden power waiting to be refined.

Each day passed with quiet meditation, martial practice, and quiet meals under the rustling trees. The world felt still.

Yet no matter how deeply he sank into his training, a certain figure kept appearing unbidden in his mind.

That small, delicate form; her gentle eyes and soft voice. Her presence had become a lingering warmth in his heart. Xia Ning Chang—his little senior sister.

Since their return, she hadn't once come to see him.

It was as if all that had happened between them in the Black Wind Mountains—the closeness, the kiss, the tension, the unspoken connection—had simply been forgotten.

But Yang Kai didn't dwell on it.

What belonged to him would come to him naturally. And what didn't—no matter how tightly he grasped—would slip through his fingers like sand.

Forcing emotions served no purpose. If she truly had feelings for him, then it didn't matter if his cultivation was still lacking. That kind of bond transcended strength.

But if her heart had turned away from him because he wasn't strong enough—if her affection had been swayed by power or prestige—then there was nothing left to say.

Still... knowing her personality, she didn't seem the type to look down on others for such shallow reasons. That simple, kind-hearted nature of hers wasn't fake. At least, he didn't believe it was.

Unbeknownst to Yang Kai, his guess was absolutely right.

Xia Ning Chang hadn't come to see him, not because she didn't care—but because she was too embarrassed to face him.

From the moment they returned, her heart had been in turmoil. That kiss... the warmth of his lips, the brush of his tongue, the feel of his breath against her skin—those memories burned in her mind every night.

She hadn't been able to sleep properly for days.

Every time she thought of him, her face would flush red beneath her veil. She couldn't even look herself in the mirror, let alone go visit Yang Kai.

She had wanted to ask how he was doing. She had wanted to bring him medicine, or at least offer a simple word of comfort. But her courage melted each time she got close to leaving her room.

Her master, Meng Wu Ya, had immediately sent her into closed-door cultivation upon their return. Officially, it was to help her stabilize the effects of refining the Nine Yin Dew Crystal and strengthen her foundation after breaking through.

Unofficially... he was just buying time.

He feared that the two of them—his precious disciple and that endlessly troublesome brat—would behave like lovesick teenagers if left alone. The kiss may have been a one-time incident, but he didn't want it to escalate into anything more.

Xia Ning Chang, for all her kindness and purity, was still a young woman in the bloom of her youth. Meng Wu Ya knew all too well how these things could snowball if not handled early.

Still, that didn't stop her from thinking about Yang Kai constantly. Even in meditation, even while absorbing spiritual energy, her thoughts often wandered back to him.

And Yang Kai... though he remained outwardly calm, every now and then, when the wind shifted or a shadow flickered past, he'd find himself glancing toward the mountain path, half expecting to see her walking toward him.

But no one came.

So he continued cultivating. Quietly. Determinedly.

The ache in his chest—the longing and unanswered questions—he buried deep within his heart. There would be time for those answers later.

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During the period when Yang Kai immersed himself in cultivation, stabilizing his strength and healing his wounds, an overwhelming pressure swept across the land—one that would soon be remembered by the entire Blood Group.

Meng Wu Ya had appeared. His expression was cold and fierce, his gaze sharp like a blade. His aura carried an unmistakable killing intent.

His target? The Blood Group!

Even though the Blood Group was considered one of the three major forces in the area, Meng Wu Ya felt no fear. His precious disciple had narrowly escaped with her life and had almost been violated. Such an act could not be forgiven. This account had to be settled—swiftly and without mercy.

Long Hui's death? That wasn't enough. Didn't Long Hui still have a grandfather? When the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams would naturally follow. Without the support of a powerful backer, how could someone like Long Hui act so arrogantly and recklessly? In Meng Wu Ya's eyes, the one truly deserving of punishment was not the already-dead Long Hui—but Long Zai Tian. That man had to pay!

The distance between High Heaven Pavilion and the Blood Group's territory wasn't far. For an expert like Meng Wu Ya, it only took the time it would take to drink a cup of tea to reach it.

At that moment, inside the Blood Group's Grand Hall, a meeting was in full swing. The senior members were gathered, discussing various affairs.

At the head of the hall sat Hu Man, the Group Head of the Blood Group. His robust frame and fierce features gave him an aura of dominance. Even without speaking, his presence alone made others cautious.

Below him sat the Hallmasters and elders, all seated in respectful silence, reporting the recent activities and developments of the group. They spoke of monthly profits, expenditures, and matters of import. However, Hu Man was clearly growing impatient.

"Stop speaking of these trifling matters," he interrupted with a wave of his hand. "What's the situation with the sealed area in the mine?"

A young man of around twenty-seven or twenty-eight stood up. With a respectful tone, he responded, "Reporting to the Group Head, my grandfather has already developed some rough strategies. However, the number of experts we currently have is insufficient. Although the seal is old, it's exceptionally difficult to break. Grandfather has already instructed me to inform you that he is doing everything he can to resolve the matter quickly."

This young man was none other than Long Jun—Long Zai Tian's eldest grandson and Long Hui's elder brother. Though he was only at the True Element Second Stage, his aptitude wasn't lacking. Given the status of the Long family within the Blood Group, Long Jun had already been entrusted with a high-level position and was serving as a Hallmaster.

Hu Man nodded. "Good. Long Jun, when you have time, visit the site and thank your grandfather for his efforts on my behalf."

"Yes, sir," Long Jun replied solemnly.

Another elder chimed in, "It's still quite mysterious how those seals came to be buried so deep underground."

"If it weren't for Lady Mei Er and her keen insight, we never would've discovered the anomaly in the mine," someone added.

"That's right. Lady Mei Er may be young, but her perception is unmatched. It's hard to say how she noticed it."

Their words, while filled with flattery, brought a sense of satisfaction to Hu Man. Though he enjoyed the praise being lavished on his daughter, he also sighed internally. Despite his power and influence, he had only two daughters and no son to continue his legacy.

"I, your father, work tirelessly night after night," he muttered to himself, "yet my family line has no heir. What use is all this power?"

The discussion continued, and soon the elders included praises for Hu Jiao Er as well. The atmosphere was harmonious—perhaps even overly so, with everyone seeking favor and recognition.

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Yet amidst this, Hu Man remained pensive. The issue of the sealed mine troubled him deeply. Though it had been a rich source of Bright Yang Stones and Bright Yin Stones for years, no one had ever imagined something profound was buried deeper beneath.

His thoughts shifted again. His younger daughter, Mei Er, had recently entered closed-door cultivation, something very unlike her usual playful personality. Her cultivation had improved noticeably, but he worried that her lack of social interaction might hinder her chances of forming a powerful marriage alliance.

The voices of the elders praising his daughters continued to echo around him, but to Hu Man, it was all just noise.

He was just about to rise and leave when he suddenly paused. Lifting his head, his face darkened instantly.

At the same moment, every elder and Hallmaster in the room fell silent and turned to look outside the hall.

An overwhelming pressure, invisible yet suffocating, pressed down on everyone. It was as though the heavens themselves were weighing upon their shoulders.

An expert had arrived!

The sheer intensity of the presence made every person in the hall tremble. They could all sense it—the power, the authority, the fury.

Then, a deep, aged voice resonated through the hall like a thunderclap:

"Where is Long Zai Tian?"