Chapter 135: Dong Qing Han

"Come inside so we can talk," Yang Kai greeted.

"Sit!" Dong Qing Han said curtly.

After they had drunk several cups, they looked up at one another, each letting out a long sigh. Although their relationship was not very good, Yang Kai knew that this cousin of his had no ill intentions toward him.

"I did not expect you to come to this place!" Dong Qing Han all of a sudden chuckled. "When I arrived here and heard your name, I really couldn't believe it. It was only after several inquiries that I was sure it was you."

"You always did have a nose for gossip," Yang Kai muttered under his breath, lips curling slightly.

Dong Qing Han laughed. "And you always had a way of showing up where no one expected you to be."

"How are my father and mother?" After remaining silent for a while, Yang Kai looked up and asked.

Dong Qing Han looked at him and said, "Aunty misses you, and she also seems to be a bit thinner now." His voice dropped a note, more serious. "Also… Aunty was put under house arrest in the Yang Family for half a year; Uncle was even more harshly punished and had to take thirty lashes."

Yang Kai's hand froze slightly around his cup.

Dong Qing Han sneered. "Because Aunty missed you, she wanted to sneak out and see how you were doing, but then some of the old ghosts from your Yang Family caught her. You know your Yang Family's rules—no one from the family shall make contact with any direct descendant while they are out for their life experience, and any offender shall be heavily punished. If Uncle had not volunteered to replace her, Aunty would have had to endure those thirty lashes too."

Yang Kai lowered his gaze. Although he had thought they were not his real parents, he still felt the weight of his duty for taking over the body of their child. He sighed heavily.

"Family rules..." he muttered, voice barely above a whisper. "Cold and merciless."

Yang Kai took a deep breath, gradually calming. "When you go back this time, pass a message from me to my father and mother. Tell them that I am well and that they can rest assured I will return safely."

"I will," Dong Qing Han nodded seriously. "She is my aunt, after all."

Finished with these heavy topics, the conversation gradually lightened, shifting to miscellaneous anecdotes.

"So, you also came to High Heaven Pavilion because of the Heaven's Cave Inheritance?" asked Yang Kai.

"Of course, or else why would I have come to this remote godforsaken place?" Dong Qing Han said dismissively. Then suddenly he smirked, eyes narrowing slightly. "But you really do have a few geniuses here, especially that girl called Su Yan. It's said that she not only has outstanding talent but is also a city-destroying beauty, with a pure-as-ice radiance."

He leaned in a little, eyebrow raised. "It's unfortunate that I've not had the pleasure of seeing her face. Any chance you could make an introduction?"

While he talked, Dong Qing Han looked towards Yang Kai meaningfully, like he was eager to observe his reaction, probing to see if the rumors were true.

"That's your sister-in-law you're talking about," Yang Kai said flatly, not mincing words.

Dong Qing Han couldn't help his jaw from dropping as he blankly stared at Yang Kai. He blinked once, twice.

"You're not joking," he murmured, stunned. "You're really not joking…"

Apparently, he had not expected the rumors to be true—that somehow, his little cousin had won the heart of this Sect's heavenly princess.

Yang Family men, sure enough, none of them should be underestimated, every one of them is definitely a wolf.

Dong Qing Han shook his head, laughing bitterly. "Fortunately I didn't go along with those Bai Family and Purple Fern Valley idiots, or else I'd have been digging up my own backyard, right?"

When he had first heard the rumors about Yang Kai having more than a simple Senior Sister–Junior Brother relationship with Su Yan, Dong Qing Han had been cautious. Unlike others, he hadn't rushed in to chase her favor or collude with the Bai Family or Purple Fern Valley people. He had only wanted to test the waters and observe.

But now, faced with the truth, he felt fortunate. Very fortunate. If he had made a wrong move back then, he might really be facing a life-and-death battle with his cousin right now.

Yang Kai naturally understood the temperament of these young lords from great families, so he had said it directly—not to show off, but to make things clear.

He had told him plainly—Su Yan was his woman. Anyone who wanted to touch her would have to step over his corpse.

"You smelly brat," Dong Qing Han finally laughed, shaking his head. "Your charm's not small."

Although High Heaven Pavilion was just a small sect, Dong Qing Han had heard that this Su Yan had a cultivation at the True Element Boundary Fourth or Fifth Stage. Even among the Eight Great Families, such aptitude would be enough to rank her among the top geniuses.

If she had sought refuge with one of those great powers, she would have been treated as a treasure—pampered, trained, and fought over.

"Since she's already your woman…" he sighed dramatically, "…it seems my Dong Family has no chance of attracting her now."

He raised his cup toward Yang Kai with a wry smile. "Here's to family losses."