The self-detonation of a Return Void Stage first-level warrior, while not lacking in power, posed no real threat to a Void King Stage third-level powerhouse. At most, the explosion could leave Lu Baichuan looking worse for wear.
Yet the sheer madness of it sent a chill down his spine.
What alarmed and puzzled Lu Baichuan even more was the young man who had suddenly appeared before him. The moment this youth materialized, he had casually swatted aside Lu Baichuan's domain field and offensive strike, saving the Zhang family's thin warrior and positioning himself directly in Lu Baichuan's path.
The aura radiating from the newcomer told Lu Baichuan that this person was no weaker than himself.
When had the Zhang family gained another Void King Stage third-level expert? Lu Baichuan racked his mind but could find no answer. Not daring to attack rashly, he hastily retreated.
Yang Kai regarded him with an indifferent gaze, showing no intention of giving chase. Instead, he reached out and patted the thin warrior's body. The violent, raging power within the man's body dissipated in an instant, and he stumbled, nearly collapsing to the ground.
The thin warrior raised his head, staring blankly at Yang Kai who had appeared out of nowhere. It took him quite a while to collect himself.
"Third Brother, get back here now!" The fat warrior, drenched in cold sweat, called out urgently to the thin one. Seeing no response, he dashed over and pulled the thin warrior back into the group.
"Who might you be?" Lu Baichuan fixed his gaze on Yang Kai, instinctively sensing that this was no easy opponent. He spoke in a deep voice, "You don't appear to be from the Zhang family?"
Yang Kai smiled and shook his head. "I'm not."
"Then who are you, and why are you interfering in the Zhang family's affairs?" Lu Baichuan frowned.
That casual move Yang Kai had made moments ago was enough for him to realize that Yang Kai's strength was on par with his own. He had no desire to make an enemy of Yang Kai, so the safest course was to first learn the man's background and his connection to the Zhang family.
"For certain reasons, the Zhang family's business is now my business," Yang Kai replied with a chuckle.
Lu Baichuan said, "What do you mean by that, friend? If you insist on meddling in the Zhang family's affairs, at least provide a reason. Besides, I have come here today to take a bride, not to make trouble for the Zhang family. Surely there's been some misunderstanding."
"Lu Baichuan, enough of your honeyed words! My husband was killed by your hand inside the Five-Colored Pagoda—a grudge that cannot be shared under the same sky!" At that moment, a striking middle-aged woman wielding a sharp sword burst out from the estate and appeared at Yang Kai's side, her voice sharp as a blade.
Hearing this, Lu Baichuan smiled. "Sister-in-law. Brother Zhang's death is a regret for me as well, but it truly had nothing to do with me. What would it take for you to believe me?"
"This young brother has already brought back my husband's final words before his death, and you still dare to deny it?" The middle-aged woman pointed at Yang Kai, her teeth clenched as she spoke through gritted words.
Lu Baichuan's eyes narrowed. He immediately turned to Yang Kai. "You saw Brother Zhang inside the Five-Colored Pagoda?"
There was actually a hint of delight in his expression as he asked this, as if the news were somehow good news for him.
Yang Kai replied candidly, "I did see him. But why are you so happy about it? Heh heh—did something occur to you?"
Lu Baichuan's expression shifted several times before he said in a low voice, "If that's the case, then that item must be on your person?"
"So you figured it out after all. That's right—the item is on me. What are you going to do about it?" Yang Kai stared at him brazenly.
At that moment, a flash of vexation crossed the middle-aged woman's face. She silently berated herself for letting her words slip and inadvertently revealing that Yang Kai had obtained the Dao Source Fruit.
After all, Lu Baichuan and Zhang Gaoxuan had entered the Five-Colored Pagoda together, and they had crossed paths inside as well. It was entirely possible that the two of them had discovered the Dao Source Fruit together. Even though the woman hadn't explicitly stated that the Dao Source Fruit was on Yang Kai, with Lu Baichuan's cunning, he could easily deduce as much.
"So that's how it is. You killed Brother Zhang in secret because of that thing," Yang Kai said, gazing at Lu Baichuan with undisguised contempt.
"Hmph. Even without that thing, I would still have made my move. However, this is a matter between the Lu and Zhang families. Now that the item is in your possession, I have a few words I'd like to say to you, friend."
"What words?" Yang Kai asked, watching him with keen interest.
Lu Baichuan's expression turned solemn. His lips moved slightly as he transmitted his voice.
But just at that moment, Yang Kai smiled mysteriously, then sprang into the air. The instant he moved, a pitch-black snake burst from the ground beneath, silent as the grave, and lunged at Yang Kai's calf—biting nothing but air.
Not a single person present had detected how this black snake had burrowed underground. Only when it exposed itself did the onlookers cry out in alarm.
"Quite the insidious one, aren't you, friend?" Yang Kai looked down from above, fixing Lu Baichuan with a cold sneer. "So this is how you ambushed Brother Zhang, and then he died from the poison, wasn't it?"
As he spoke, Yang Kai flicked a finger. A single Gold Blood Thread shot forth, transforming into a strand of golden silk that wound toward the black snake with an almost living, instinctive grace.
Lu Baichuan hadn't expected Yang Kai to be so alert—sharp enough to dodge such a concealed strike. Back when he had ambushed Zhang Gaoxuan inside the Five-Colored Pagoda, his attack had landed successfully on the first attempt.
Seeing things had gone awry, he let out a soft whistle. The black snake, as if receiving a command, immediately tried to burrow back underground.