Hah, the monthly tickets got blown out of the water again. But you brothers and sisters gave it your all — the subscriber base is really small, only a few hundred, yet an eighth of our readers still cast their precious monthly tickets. That ratio is already pretty high, and I'm genuinely grateful. Thank you all.
Anyway, the protagonist of this book never gives up, and neither will I.
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"Yang Kai, get over here right now and kowtow to Brother Xie to apologize!" A furious shout rang out from the other side.
"Yang Kai, Brother Xie doesn't want to bother with you, but that doesn't mean us senior brothers will forgive you. If you don't apologize today, you'll be our enemy from now on! We won't consider you a junior brother anymore!"
"Exactly. What kind of junior brother has no shame like this? His strength is at the bottom and yet he's toad-trying-to-eat-swan — completely delusional. He won't even look in a mirror to see what he really is." It wasn't just the senior brothers who were shouting; even one of the senior sisters had joined the chorus condemning Yang Kai, her voice shrill like a shrew cursing in the street.
Yang Kai's expression remained indifferent, letting all these words blow past his ears like wind, utterly unmoved.
Lan Chudie tugged on Yang Kai again and whispered, "Junior Brother, don't be so stubborn. A real man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. It's just an apology — what's the big deal?"
Yang Kai turned his head and looked at Lan Chudie with a flat gaze.
That cold look made Lan Chudie's heart skip a beat. She frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Don't tell me you don't know what Xie Hongchen's real intentions are. Don't tell me you can't imagine what kind of reception I'd get if I walked over there." Yang Kai's voice carried a slight chill.
Lan Chudie flushed with anger. "How would I know about your affairs?"
"We may be senior and junior brother, and we've weathered some storms together these past few days. But there's no real bond between us. You don't need to feel guilty about leaving me here — go on ahead. My business is none of your concern."
Lan Chudie's sore spot had been struck dead-on. Her face paled involuntarily, and she snapped, "How can someone be so ungrateful?"
She stomped her foot, stopped paying attention to Yang Kai, and walked toward Xie Hongchen. After a few steps she paused, looked back, and said, "I don't owe you anything, so don't act so high and mighty!"
With that, she didn't linger another moment.
Over at the Lingxiao Pavilion side, the verbal assault on Yang Kai had never ceased. A cold smile played at the corner of Xie Hongchen's lips as he gazed at Yang Kai with smug satisfaction, radiating the pride and self-satisfaction of someone standing on a cloud looking down on the masses below.
In this situation, no matter what choice Yang Kai made, Xie Hongchen would be pleased.
Want to join their group to keep yourself safe? Fine! Come crawling over and admit your mistake. Kneel and kowtow!
Don't want to? That's fine too! Go roam the Inheritance Grotto-heaven by yourself — a place crawling with danger! We'll see how long you survive!
Xie Hongchen didn't even know which choice he was hoping for.
As he waited, Yang Kai's icy voice drifted over from that direction: "A bunch of know-nothings who only know how to cling to the powerful and curry favor with those above them! Yang here will not be joining you!"
Lan Chudie, who was walking toward Xie Hongchen, faltered at those words. She couldn't help but feel they were directed at her, and a wave of humiliation and discomfort surged in her chest.
But then Lan Chudie became bitterly angry! How was she clinging to the powerful? In a place this dangerous, it was only natural to follow someone stronger for safety — was she supposed to take her chances with a junior brother at the seventh level of the Kaiyuan Realm? You refuse to recognize a good thing and then blame others? If you've got the ability, go improve your own strength, and naturally people will gather around you. When that day comes, your senior sister will be on your side too.
It's not like I didn't try to talk to you. It's not like I truly abandoned you — you chose your own path, so why blame me? With those thoughts, Lan Chudie felt increasingly wronged, though the guilt she carried toward Yang Kai eased somewhat.
In the jungle, Yang Kai's figure gradually melted into the darkness.
But those words had been like throwing a handful of salt into boiling water. Nie Yong, ever eager to stir up trouble, shouted, "Yang Kai, you're insolent! How dare you speak to our senior brothers and sisters like that — and you think you can just leave? Stay right there!"
As he spoke, he threw a punch from afar in the direction Yang Kai was retreating.
Crack — a burst of flame erupted in the darkness, and Yang Kai's grim face flashed for an instant before vanishing.
Yang Kai's cold voice followed: "Xie Hongchen, you know exactly what you've done. That debt — your junior brother will collect it sooner or later!"
Hearing those words, Xie Hongchen's face darkened.
He naturally knew what Yang Kai was referring to — the time he'd secretly tipped off Long Hui. Back then, Xie Hongchen had expected Long Hui to eliminate Yang Kai without a hitch, but somehow the man had failed.
After Yang Kai returned to Lingxiao Pavilion some days ago, Xie Hongchen had been on edge for several days. He wasn't afraid of Yang Kai — he was afraid of Meng Wuya. After all, the three of them had returned to the pavilion together.
But Meng Wuya had never come looking for trouble, and Xie Hongchen had assumed his scheme had been airtight, that he'd left no trail.
Hearing Yang Kai's words today, he realized the matter had been exposed.
Murderous intent surged! Xie Hongchen quickly shot a meaningful glance at Nie Yong.
Nie Yong was delighted by the signal. Just moments ago his attempt to spy on Lan Chudie and Du Yishuang had been exposed by Yang Kai, and he already hated the man to the bone. Now, with Xie Hongchen's tacit approval, he roared, "This is outrageous! Yang Kai, how dare you speak to Brother Xie like that — let me teach you a lesson!"
At the same time he raised his arm and rallied the others: "Which brothers will come with me to vent Brother Xie's anger!"
Several figures shot out alongside Nie Yong.