Returning to the Yunxia Sect's compound to settle back in, Yang Kai felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
If he hadn't met the woman, he would have been scheming to steal a boat and leave this place. But now, he didn't want to go.
The Yunxia Sect had obtained the entire turtle shell, and they would certainly take action.
The map they possessed was only the exterior map — the most crucial part was in his hands. Yang Kai felt he couldn't let the woman's efforts go to waste. She had summoned her courage to let him memorize the map, and he wasn't about to let that be for nothing.
If his guess was correct, the Yunxia Sect would make their move within the next few days, or at most a month or two.
Yang Kai had thought it through at length and had his own deductions.
Miao Huacheng had obtained the complete turtle shell, yet still chose to present it to the Yunxia Sect. Yang Kai figured that on one hand, it was for his son's prospects, and on the other, because the Miao family lacked the strength to explore that mysterious island.
So he offered the gift through someone else's hands — winning the Yunxia Sect's favor while also creating a future for Miao Lin.
As for the interior map of the island in his possession, it was enough to help him avoid the vast majority of risks and head straight to the most important location. What kind of secret that mysterious island harbored, Yang Kai didn't know, but it was certainly worth the gamble.
The only question now was: how could he quietly tag along with the Yunxia Sect's operation? They held the map for finding the mysterious island, and without going with them, he'd never reach the place.
Over the next several nights, Yang Kai frequently slipped out to gather intelligence. From the idle chatter of certain disciples, he learned that the Yunxia Sect's higher-ups had indeed recently obtained a mysterious sea chart and were mobilizing at full speed to mount an expedition.
These ordinary disciples didn't know much — they had only overheard fragments of conversations among the higher-ups. As for the specifics, they were just as in the dark.
Just as Yang Kai was racking his brains over how to safely infiltrate the Yunxia Sect's expedition party, one morning, the shouts of Yunxia Sect disciples echoed through the compound. Before long, all the captured commoners were gathered together.
The people wore frightened expressions. Some muttered, "Are we going herb-gathering again? We just got back a few days ago — wasn't it once a month before?"
"Heh heh. This time it's not for herbs. As for what you'll actually be doing, don't bother asking. Just get on the ship like before." The Yunxia Sect disciple answered with a insincere smile.
Yang Kai's ears perked up, and his mind raced. He had been thinking for a long time, and suddenly everything clicked.
If his guess was right, then this time… it was truly an opportunity!
They made their way to the shore as usual. A massive ship was docked there, noticeably larger than any he had seen before — over twenty chang in length, with five masts, its sails snapping in the wind. The prow rose high like a dragon's head, its design bold and imposing.
Many of these people had never seen such a large ship in their lives and couldn't help but be stunned.
"Heavens. That's the Yunxia Sect's great dragon ship. Where are they taking us?" someone who knew his ships whispered quietly.
Yang Kai grew even more certain of his suspicion.
He never expected — after all his desperate scheming and agonizing over how to infiltrate the Yunxia Sect's expedition, they had gone and brought him along themselves.
The Yunxia Sect bringing these commoners along was obviously not to let them share in any treasures. They needed hands to work the ship. A vessel this size required no small number of crew.
At the thought, Yang Kai's expression steadied.
Since this was the Yunxia Sect's expedition ship, there would certainly be experts aboard — experts even stronger than those in the Zhenyuan Realm. Meaning: Shenyou Realm!
He could hide his secrets from Zhenyuan Realm warriors, but if any Shenyou Realm expert took a casual interest and probed him with Divine Sense, he'd be exposed in an instant. So for this entire journey, he had to be careful, then careful again — absolutely no room for the slightest slip, or he'd die without even a burial.
Following the crowd, herded aboard by the Yunxia Sect's warriors, nearly seventy commoners were organized and assigned different tasks under the warriors' direction.
Yang Kai's luck held — he wasn't put in the lowest ranks rowing oars. Instead, he was assigned to general duties, with no fixed task but expected to do a bit of everything.
This suited Yang Kai perfectly. While hiding below deck among the rowers might have been safer, he much preferred staying on the deck to gather all manner of intelligence. He just needed to be careful enough not to attract the attention of any Shenyou Realm expert.
After a long wait, a group arrived from the Yunxia Sect's side. Leading them were two elders, well advanced in years, with ruddy complexions and white hair, their eyes sharp as lightning, exuding an unmistakable aura of authority. These two had to be the Yunxia Sect's top experts.
One was an old man, the other an old woman, and they walked toward the ship chatting amiably.
Behind them followed a host of Yunxia Sect warriors, men and women, numbering roughly fifty — all elites of the sect.
A Yunxia Sect man who had been on the ship all along quickly called out with deep respect, "Welcome, Grand-Uncle and Grand-Aunt!"
At his call, the Yunxia Sect disciples on the ship hastened to echo the greeting.