Martial Peak - Rise Of The Human Emperor-Chapter 89-When Flowers Bloom Around a Scoundrel

The two Hu sisters hurried over and sat on either side of Yang Kai. No one could guess what was going through their minds. Alongside them, Du Yishuang quietly joined, taking a seat slightly apart, her shyness radiating in the air.

Yang Kai cracked his eyes open, sneaking a glance at them. The Hu sisters were both smiling sweetly at him, making it nearly impossible to tell them apart. Meanwhile, Du Yishuang lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushed as she quietly observed.

His eyes hesitated to open any wider.

"What's with that look?" Hu Jiao Er asked sharply, catching his expression. "You should count yourself lucky we're sitting next to you. Why the dirty look?"

Yang Kai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He just smiled and replied, "With two stunning flowers by my side, how could I possibly look at you like that?"

They had fought side by side more than once, and their bond had grown over time. The awkwardness of strangers was long gone, replaced by easy banter and teasing.

Hu Jiao Er huffed, a touch of playful anger in her voice. "You've got a silver tongue, huh?"

Hu Mei Er chimed in with a chuckle, "And here I thought you were the serious type. Didn't expect you to dish out such cheesy lines."

Yang Kai replied solemnly, "Those weren't just lines. I meant every word."

The two Hu sisters smiled pleasantly. It was like the blooming of two very beautiful flowers, bringing color and joy to the world. Du Yishuang, though shy, quietly joined them, her soft smile adding an extra touch of warmth to the moment. Su Yan, not far behind, observed with a calm yet slightly intrigued expression.

After a brief pause, Yang Kai couldn't help but comment, "It looks like the people on your side don't like me very much."

Both of the sisters exchanged a glance before speaking in unison, "Do you fear them?"

Yang Kai grinned, the hint of humor playing across his features. "I am actually quite fearful of them, but they don't have the qualifications to become my enemy. So, you don't need to be bothered about it."

Hu Jiao Er leaned in with a teasing grin. "You've already offended the male disciples of High Heaven Pavilion, so what can the disciples of my Bloody Battle Gang count for?"

She was referring to the incident when Yang Kai had saved Su Yan, securing a slight advantage over their enemies.

Yang Kai grimaced as though in great pain, feigning distress.

Hu Jiao Er laughed in amusement, then gave him a playful, coquettish look. "Do you want me to give you a kiss so that others can envy you?"

Yang Kai peeked at her, leaned in slightly, and extended his face with a mischievous grin. "I wish for it with all my heart."

Immediately, Hu Jiao Er blushed, her eyes flashing with a mix of surprise and annoyance. "You want a beauty like me to kiss you?"

Meanwhile, Du Yishuang shyly glanced up, her face a picture of both embarrassment and curiosity. Su Yan, ever composed, watched silently, her gaze steady and unreadable, though a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Mmm... where is the beauty?" Yang Kai teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Hu Jiao Er's face turned crimson, her cheeks burning with both embarrassment and frustration. Without thinking, she swung a punch at him, her fist moving with speed and precision. Yang Kai, reacting purely on reflex, raised his hand to divert the punch. But as he did, the angle of his movement shifted unexpectedly, and their faces collided in an accidental kiss.

The shock of the moment stunned them both. For a fleeting second, their lips met—soft, brief, and entirely unplanned. The world seemed to freeze around them as the reality of what had just occurred settled in.

Yang Kai's mind raced, his heart pounding. His reflexes had simply been too fast, too instinctive.

He quickly pulled back, his face flushed with a mix of surprise and confusion.

However, the air shifted immediately after, as though a storm were approaching. Yang Kai felt a heavy, suffocating presence bearing down on him.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and a chill crept into his bones as he turned his gaze to Su Yan. Her eyes blazed with a cold, murderous intent, as if the ground beneath them had just cracked open.

Before he could react, Hu Jiao Er's face flushed even deeper, her eyes wide with shock and a mixture of fury.

"You bastard!" Her voice cracked, more from anger than embarrassment this time. She stomped her foot hard, then quickly turned and dashed away, covering her face with both hands in a rush to escape the scene.

"Run slowly or you might slip!" Yang Kai shouted.

The remaining group stood in stunned silence, the tension thick in the air.

Su Yan's composure remained intact, but her eyes, sharp and unforgiving, betrayed the storm that was clearly brewing within her.

Du Yishuang, ever the shy one, glanced away, her cheeks turning pink as she fidgeted nervously, unsure how to handle the situation.

Hu Mei Er, on the other hand, couldn't contain her amusement. She leaned against a nearby pillar, grinning from ear to ear, thoroughly entertained by the chaos that had just unfolded.

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Two days passed in meditation—filled with silence, the occasional rustle, and scattered complaints from the restless. Yang Kai remained still throughout, slowly nursing his wounds back to health with quiet resolve.

Then, he sensed someone standing in front of him.

Opening his eyes, he looked up to see a familiar figure—Fang Ziji from Storm House, the one who had previously proposed giving Su Yan the Core of the Tortoise Monster Beast.

"Yang Kai, how are your wounds?" Fang Ziji asked with a polite tone.

Yang Kai smiled faintly, "Well, it doesn't look that bad."

He straightened up and returned the gesture as Fang Ziji cupped his fists. "And who might this brother be?"

"I am Fang Ziji," the man replied, mirroring the formality. A light chuckle followed. "Brother Yang's display two days ago was forceful and truly admirable. I must say, it stirred heartfelt admiration—and a bit of jealousy, with all the attention you've drawn."

"Brother Fang is overpraising," Yang Kai said with a casual laugh.

Fang Ziji continued, his voice sincere. "Brother Yang possesses an indomitable spirit. That's something I, Fang Ziji, have always respected. If we weren't from different sects, I would have long since asked to become sworn brothers—sharing hardships and fortune alike."

From the side, Hu Jiao Er, who had been listening with a sour expression, twisted her lips and muttered just loud enough for Yang Kai to hear, "Disgusting."

Fang Ziji glanced at her coldly, clearly offended.

Yang Kai waved it off with a light shrug. "Please don't mind her. My fellow sister has... issues."

Hu Jiao Er's head whipped toward him. "What... what did you just say?"

"Brother Fang, you've got a big heart. Why bother with such trivial matters?" Yang Kai said smoothly, lips curling into an amused smirk.

"Brother Yang, only you understand me." Fang Ziji said with visible emotion, moved by the kindness.

But before the conversation could get any warmer, Hu Jiao Er tossed out casually, "Yang Kai, you should be careful. This man here—he doesn't like women. To him, they're like mud, not worth the effort. If you get too friendly, he might develop... a special fondness for you."

She covered her mouth with mock modesty, a wry giggle escaping.

Yang Kai froze. His expression darkened instantly, turning a distinct shade of blue as he subtly edged away from Fang Ziji.

"Hey! Don't slander me like that!" Fang Ziji cried in panic. "Brother Yang, don't listen to her nonsense. I'm not that kind of person!"

Yang Kai cleared his throat awkwardly, casting him a complicated look.

*"Giggles..." Hu Jiao Er and Hu Mei Er giggled uncontrollably from the side, unable to hold it in any longer.

Their laughter only made Fang Ziji's face twist further in frustration, his expression somewhere between embarrassment and helplessness.

"You two..." he muttered, glaring at the sisters as if they were sworn enemies of his dignity. "This is why I don't associate with women!"

Hu Mei Er raised an eyebrow mischievously, "Oh? But weren't you just pouring your heart out to Brother Yang a moment ago?"

Fang Ziji opened his mouth, but no words came out—only a strangled sound of protest as Yang Kai looked away, doing his best to pretend he hadn't heard anything.

Even Du Yishuang, who rarely spoke up, had her hand covering her mouth, her eyes sparkling as she fought back a quiet laugh.

"Brother Fang, did you come to me for something?" Yang Kai asked calmly, breaking the odd tension that still lingered from earlier.

Fang Ziji's expression grew serious as he turned his gaze toward the location ten li away. His brows furrowed slightly before he asked in a low, earnest voice, "I came only to ask if Brother Yang knows something about what's happening over there."

His question immediately caught the attention of Hu Jiao Er and Hu Mei Er, who both turned toward Yang Kai, their expressions focused and full of interest.

Yang Kai's eyes glittered slightly. He didn't respond right away.

Fang Ziji continued, sensing his hesitation, "Brother Yang need not hide it. It's obvious to everyone that you know something. But... if it's not something convenient to share publicly, I'll understand."

Yang Kai tilted his head slightly, thinking it through. He understood why Fang Ziji asked—after all, when Yang Kai had warned everyone about the strange phenomenon ten li away, he'd clearly known something others didn't. That had been enough to convince many to retreat cautiously. If he hadn't known anything, how could he have warned them in time?

Still, it wasn't a big deal. Sooner or later, once the cloud layers finished descending, someone would go poking around. Secrets didn't stay secrets forever.

His gaze slid to Hu Jiao Er and Hu Mei Er, who were still watching him with rapt attention, waiting for his answer.

After a pause, Yang Kai exhaled lightly and said, "I don't know too much about it. Once the steps in the sky descend completely, I'll inspect it."

Fang Ziji nodded, not fully satisfied. "Will it be dangerous?"

Yang Kai smiled faintly. "Even I am not too clear about that, Brother Fang."

"I see," Fang Ziji said, cupping his fists respectfully. "Thank you, Brother Yang. When you have time, I sincerely invite you to visit Storm House as a guest. We'll sit, drink, and talk properly."

Yang Kai returned the gesture. "Thank you."

Once Fang Ziji left, Yang Kai looked at the two sisters, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "I know you two are curious as well. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to sit beside me just to make the Bloody Battle Gang disciples jealous."

Hu Jiao Er scoffed, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "You think we're here to gather information?"

Hu Mei Er instantly became flustered. "We're not here because of that! We were just—"

Before she could finish, Hu Jiao Er cut in sharply, voice tinged with frustration. "Did you really think we approached you to squeeze secrets out of you?" Her eyes narrowed, the usual playful glint replaced with something more serious.

Her tone held weight—not loud, but cutting, her pride clearly wounded.

For a heartbeat, Yang Kai saw through the thorns. So she does care what I think... he mused.

Hu Jiao Er looked away, biting the inside of her cheek. Does he actually think we came to manipulate him? After all we've been through... I thought—

Noticing the shift in atmosphere, Yang Kai scratched the back of his head and let out a low chuckle. "Don't panic," he said, flashing a smile. "I'm just joking."

Hu Jiao Er glared at him for a second longer before finally clicking her tongue and turning away with a huff. "You're terrible at joking, you know."

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Hu Mei Er sighed with visible relief, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You gave her a scare. I thought she was going to toss you off the mountain."

Yang Kai raised his eyebrows, amused. "Then I'd count on you to catch me."

Hu Mei Er blushed, unable to meet his eyes. "W-Why would I—?!"

Just then, Du Yishuang stepped forward quietly, her gaze flickering between them. She didn't say anything at first, simply stood there like a small shadow trying not to be seen.

Yang Kai's eyes softened. "Don't tell me you're here to interrogate me too?"

Du Yishuang shook her head quickly, her voice so soft it was almost lost to the wind. "I... I just wanted to sit with you."

Hu Jiao Er scoffed again, but this time with far less bite. "Look at you, building a fan club."

"Alright," he said lightly. "Let's sit, then. No more interrogations. I surrender."