Having settled the little boy, Yang Kai didn't rush to leave; after all, that night the boy had given him a packet of dry rations, and he felt he ought to wait until the boy woke before he could depart in peace.
The hunter bustled in and out, frantic, and before long the medic from the clinic shoved him out—complaining he was too noisy.
Doctor Chu said, "Thank goodness we treated him in time; otherwise your son would really have lost his life. Benefactor, your great kindness I, Zhang Shan, cannot repay; I'll be an ox or a horse for you, obeying any command."
With that, he dropped to his knees before Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn't help him up, just smiled and said, "Older brother Zhang, a man's knees hold gold; with this bow you've already repaid my favor. No need to keep it in mind, and besides I ate a packet of your son's dry rations, so in the end I'm still indebted to you."
Only then did he help the hunter Zhang Shan to his feet.
Zhang Shan, moved to tears, exclaimed, "Benefactor, you're truly a good person!"
As they were speaking, the medic emerged from the clinic and told Zhang Shan, "It's nothing serious, don't worry. However, he lost a lot of blood and may remain asleep for a while; he'll be fine when he wakes."
Hearing that, Yang Kai and Zhang Shan finally relaxed.
With his mind at ease, Yang Kai felt a wave of fatigue—today had been overly stimulating, and he had sustained many injuries, losing considerable blood. Though he'd been excited at the moment, it still took a toll on him. This relaxation caused him to drift straight into sleep, sleeping until morning.
Dawn, at Lingxiao Pavilion.
Many disciples had risen early, hearts pounding, gathering together and staring eagerly toward one place. Their longing gazes, outstretched necks, anxious hearts resembled a group of women who stay home waiting for husbands returning from years of war—so focused, so expectant.
As time passed, the crowd swelled, and everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward the same direction.
That direction was the location of Yang Kai's humble hut.
Today was another day when one could challenge Yang Kai! Since this was practically free contribution points, how could the Lingxiao Pavilion disciples let it slip? Some felt pity for Yang Kai's plight—after all, being beaten every five days was truly miserable.
But upon reflection, feeling sorry alone changes nothing; many people want to take a shot at Yang Kai, and if I don't step up, someone else will. Since he's going to get beaten anyway, I might as well give it a try.
Well, if I'm chosen, I'll strike lightly, so I won't hurt him too much; many of us tell ourselves that to justify it.
Normally Yang Kai would already be up sweeping at this hour, but today it was odd— the disciples waited a while and still didn't see his figure, tiptoeing to peek at his hut, yet seeing no one.
"What's wrong with Yang Kai? Did he oversleep? Why hasn't he come out?"
"I don't know; come to think of it, I haven't seen him these past few days."
"Could he have already left Lingxiao Pavilion?"
"Impossible—you know Yang Kai's stubbornness; even if beaten to death he wouldn't leave. If he were going to go, he'd have done so when he was demoted to trial disciple months ago; why wait until now?"
The crowd murmured, yet no one knew that Yang Kai had taken leave a few days prior to go to Black Wind Mountain and still hadn't returned. It's no surprise, since Yang Kai usually keeps to himself and his movements go unnoticed.