"Old man..." Yang Kai had just started speaking when the elderly man gestured at him. "Don't talk."
Yang Kai frowned. Although he didn't know what the old man was afraid of, it clearly had something to do with the martial artists who were coming.
Before long, the visitors had arrived outside the door, pounding on the dilapidated entrance.
Little Yu woke with a start and clung to her grandfather in bed, trembling.
Yang Kai's expression turned cold.
"Old fool, open the door!" an angry shout came from outside.
"If you don't open up, don't blame us for being rough," a second voice followed.
The old man held his granddaughter close, anger and helplessness flickering through his cloudy eyes. He whispered softly to comfort her: "Little Yu, don't be scared. Grandpa's right here. Don't be afraid!"
The people knocking outside clearly had no patience. Seeing that the old man still refused to open the door, they simply kicked it wide open. The sea wind rushed into the room, scattering what little warmth remained.
"Old fool!" One of them barged in with a menacing glare. "You've got some nerve keeping that door shut. Believe it or not, I'll put a knife right through you!"
"What are you doing here again! Get out!" The old man shielded his granddaughter, wailing bitterly. "You took my son-in-law, you took my daughter. Now it's just the two of us, grandfather and grandchild, clinging to each other for survival. Won't you even let us be?"
"Heh heh, old man, why talk like that?" The first one said with a sinister grin as he strode inside. "We invited the couple to Cloud Mist Island as honored guests. Now they're missing you, so they specifically asked us to bring you two along as well. A family should be together, right?" He paused abruptly when he caught sight of Yang Kai, his expression freezing for a moment.
He eyed Yang Kai warily, but sensing no trace of martial cultivation from the youth, he dismissed him as an ordinary person and lost interest. Still, he muttered to himself in puzzlement — when did this family get an extra person?
The old man pleaded through tears: "Ordinary folk like us can't enjoy that kind of fortune. Please, sirs, have mercy. Could you bring the child's parents back? She misses them so much."
"You just don't know what's good for you!" The man's face turned severe. "If you miss them, then come with us. Once you're on Cloud Mist Island, there'll be plenty of time for your little reunion. Why all the wailing and howling here?"
Since the two martial artists had entered, they hadn't said much. But Yang Kai had already pieced together a fair amount of information.
Cloud Mist Island — Yang Kai knew of it. There was a Cloud Mist Sect on the island, which ranked as only a third-rate force, not even comparable to Lingxiao Pavilion.
But Yang Kai couldn't figure out why they'd come all the way here to abduct people. And from the looks of it, this wasn't the first time.
The old man had mentioned earlier that Little Yu had stopped speaking because of something that happened to the family. It must have been this.
Yang Kai wasn't the type to meddle in other people's business. He'd helped Cui'er and the others before because they'd looked after him. Now this grandfather and granddaughter were in trouble, and he wasn't going to stand by.
A person should repay kindness when they received it. Little Yu's innocence and kindness were enough to move him.
These two martial artists both possessed only Qi Movement Realm strength. Not particularly powerful — Yang Kai was confident he could handle them with ease if it came to a fight. But this wasn't the right place to start something. Besides, they had a sect backing them. If things got messy, the old man and Little Yu could end up suffering for it.
He'd have to plan this carefully.
"I'm begging you, sirs. Please bring back the child's parents and let our family be together," the old man sobbed uncontrollably, kneeling on the bed and kowtowing over and over.
"Damn it, old fool, your whining is making my blood boil." The Cloud Mist Sect disciple cursed under his breath, clearly about to lunge forward and strike.
Yang Kai sidestepped and planted himself in the man's path.
"Kid, who are you?" The Cloud Mist Sect martial artist glared at Yang Kai and barked the question he'd been wanting to ask since the start. The old man had been carrying on nonstop the moment they walked in, leaving him no chance.
Yang Kai wore a pleasant smile and bowed repeatedly. "I'm a distant relative of this family."
"Distant relative?" The man eyed him suspiciously but didn't press further. "What are you doing here?"
Yang Kai answered quickly: "I was running a business outside, but things fell apart. I came here hoping to seek shelter with relatives. I had no idea my uncle and aunt had already been taken to Cloud Mist Island by you two — what an unexpected turn. I've long admired the Cloud Mist Sect and have wanted to become a disciple for the longest time, but I never had the opportunity. Meeting you two today must be heaven's blessing! Could I trouble you to do me a favor and bring me along to Cloud Mist Island as well?"
Yang Kai's voice was humble, his expression a perfectly balanced mix of nervous anticipation and the reverence of someone who'd held the sect in high regard for years. The two Cloud Mist Island martial artists stared at him, dumbfounded.
This... someone actually wanted to go to their island voluntarily? Was this kid crazy or just stupid?
They shot sidelong glances at Yang Kai, their expressions peculiar, and said nothing.
Yang Kai appeared to grow even more flustered and uneasy. "Gentlemen, I only arrived in Sea City today, so my funds are a bit tight. But don't worry — if I'm accepted into the Cloud Mist Sect, I'll make sure to show my appreciation to you senior brothers in the future."
Wait... was he trying to bribe them? The two Cloud Mist Island martial artists exchanged a glance, their brains struggling to keep up.
Over all the rounds of abducting people, they'd seen every kind of reaction. But this idiot's response today was truly something else.
Oh, so he was a newcomer!
Well, why didn't you say so earlier! They loved picking on out-of-towners who'd just arrived in Sea City.
Yang Kai watched them with an anxious expression, his mind also working furiously. He didn't know what the Cloud Mist Sect wanted with these ordinary people, but right now, this was the only way he could help the grandfather and granddaughter escape their predicament.