"Saving me sooner, huh?" Kulas muttered before shaking his head. "Although it was quite painful and felt like an eternity at first, I quickly got used to it—the physical pain, that is. Due to the Great Mammoth Body Refinement technique you gave me, I was not only able to grow temper by physique to an extreme level, but it stopped being painful after a couple of months."
"As for the mental torture… that took far longer to overcome. It took me years to realize that all I had to do was stop believing in what I saw; once I did, it became much easier to endure. That said, I wasn't close to many people—if any at all—so they usually used you to torment me."
"If I have to be honest, I am sort of glad that it happened. After all, if not, I wouldn't be in my current position right now. Not only have I surpassed my entire family during their peak, but I also gained a real family who wouldn't betray me over some pressure."
Kulas spoke with barely a pause, hardly stopping to breathe.
"Speaking of my family… I've heard what you've accomplished. The downfall of the Immortal Clans. You've finally achieved your goal. What was once mocked as foolish and impossible, you brought to reality. I wanted to help you, but doing so would have lessened your achievement, so I held back and watched from here."
"Hey, I have been trying my best to keep quiet so the two of you can have a moment, but you're acting like I am not even here. I also had a hand in the Immortal Clans' downfall, you know?" Ren Xia finally spoke up.
Kulas shifted his gaze to her, and the instant he did, it grew noticeably colder, faint but impossible to miss. He was clearly displeased by Ren Xia's presence.
"Why did you have to come here, too?" he sighed, not even bothering to hide his displeasure.
Ren Xia narrowed her eyes at him.
"I don't recall doing anything to deserve that reaction—especially since we haven't spoken since Han Zexian's Tomb. Tell me, did you not mature even a little over all these years?"
"You didn't do anything?" Kulas sneered. "You touched my brother with your foul hands even though I warned you not to! What are you scheming, you damn fox? Are you trying to steal his techniques? Or do you have other ulterior motives? How many men have you snared so far?"
"This son of a bitch… Can I beat some sense into him?" Ren Xia asked Tian Yang as she pulled up her sleeves.
"Oh? You want to fight? Bring it on! I have always wanted to punch that annoying face of yours at least once!" Kulas said, raising his thick arms like a boxer.
Tian Yang pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "I can't believe the two of you are still stuck in this childish feud."
"I was ready to be nice," Ren Xia protested, "but he insulted my character, implying that I am a slut even though you are the only one I've ever been with! Dear, you can vouch for me! That during our first connection, I gushed with blood after you penetrated me with your sword!" Tian Yang's jaw dropped at Ren Xia's description. "I wouldn't say it 'gushed with blood', but it was definitely there…" he responded in an awkward tone.
"Wait, what the hell are you making me say?" "That doesn't prove anything!" Kulas then said. "There are plenty of ways to fake something like that! I bet you do that to everyone you meet!"
"Fuck! I've had it with this rude bastard! I'm going to beat him to death! Don't try to stop me!" Ren Xia's aura soared the next moment.
"Haha! Beat me to death? A mere Silver Immortal like you?! I'd love to see you try!" Kulas also released his aura, revealing his cultivation to be at the True Immortal level.
"Enough!" Tian Yang suddenly roared, his voice shaking the entire room.
"..."
Both Ren Xia and Kulas retrieved their aura after a brief moment of stillness.
"Kulas, you can trust her." Tian Yang continued as he stared Kulas in the eyes. "She's been by my side ever since we rescued you, and we've fought with our lives on the line multiple times. Hell, she even saved my butt many times. If it weren't for her, neither of us would be where we are right now."
"..."
After a moment of silence, Kulas burst out laughing, "I guess I went out of line with my jokes. My apologies."
"Jokes? You really expect me to believe that you were just joking around?" Ren Xia frowned.
Kulas shrugged and replied calmly, "I'm fully aware of your relationship with Tian Yang. Every time someone mentions his name, yours follows right after. Even a blind man could see your devotion to him. I just wanted to tease you a little. Consider it repayment for all the times you annoyed me in the past. Whether you believe me or not is up to you."
"Let's leave it at that." Tian Yang then said. Ren Xia didn't say anything, quietly nodding her head.
"Let's continue our conversation elsewhere. Somewhere more comfortable and accommodating," Kulas said.
"Alright."
The three of them left the room shortly after.
"Prepare a feast, and bring our finest tea to my private dwelling," Kulas said to the guards waiting outside.
"A-As your Majesty commands!" The guards immediately scurried away.
"Does this mean…?" The blonde woman muttered as she stared at Tian Yang.
"Yes, he's the real deal." Kulas nodded.
"Let me introduce you to each other. Tian Yang, this is my youngest daughter, Xie Mey."
"Xie Mey, this is my sworn brother, Tian Yang. There's nobody I trust more than him in this world."
"It's an honor to meet you, Senior…" Xie Mey bowed hurriedly, caught off guard by Kulas's shocking remark.
"I figured she was your daughter when the guards addressed her as 'Highness', but the youngest? How many children do you have?" Tian Yang looked at him with wide eyes.
"You curious? Then I'll introduce all of them to you later." Kulas chuckled.