Three factions had taken up residence in Lingxiao Pavilion — the Dong family, the Bai family, and Ziwei Valley. None of them were to be trifled with. These forces stood just below the Eight Great Families of Zhongdu, backed by deep foundations and countless experts. They might be able to intimidate others, but they certainly couldn't intimidate Yang Kai.
Over the past few days, Yang Kai had gathered a fair amount of information from Xia Ningshang, and he already had a plan forming in his mind.
Walking through Lingxiao Pavilion, Yang Kai first headed to the Contribution Hall to greet Meng Wuya.
The moment he laid eyes on Yang Kai, Meng Wuya's old face lengthened as though Yang Kai owed him several million taels of silver.
The old man had finally figured out why his precious disciple had swept away her usual gloom and melancholy these past days, skipping about cheerfully and disappearing at odd hours.
So... the kid had already come back. It went without saying that his precious disciple must have met with him ages ago — otherwise, how else could she have changed so drastically?
Well, fortune or misfortune, there was no dodging it. He just hoped his precious disciple could weather this storm safely.
"Manager Meng, I'm back!" Yang Kai greeted with a smile.
Meng Wuya gave a dry chuckle. "Mm, good, you're back, you're back."
His expression was the very picture of perfunctory indifference — not a trace of genuine joy.
Midway through the conversation, Meng Wuya's expression suddenly shifted. His Divine Sense swept over Yang Kai, and shock flooded his face. "You... you've already broken through to the Separation-Union Realm?"
"Mm." Yang Kai gave a slight nod.
Meng Wuya nearly bit his own tongue. How long had it been? By the most generous count, it had been barely half a year since Yang Kai left Lingxiao Pavilion. Six months ago, he had only just entered the Qi Movement Realm, and now he had already reached Separation-Union — this pace of advancement was absurd, almost beyond belief.
"How did you manage that?" Meng Wuya stared wide-eyed at Yang Kai as if he had discovered a treasure.
"Just kept training, and this happened," Yang Kai said with a grin.
Meng Wuya fell silent for a long while, thinking that if the kid kept advancing at this rate, he might actually be able to leave this small world — and might truly be worthy of his precious disciple.
His brow furrowed, and he spoke again. "Your timing isn't great. A lot of people are looking for you."
"What do they want with me?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow.
"To probe that martial technique," Meng Wuya answered gravely. "The one you used to severely wound the sixth-stage demon beast in the Inheritance Grotto-heaven. Quite a few people are interested."
Yang Kai chuckled softly. "If they want it, they just need to offer a price that makes my heart stir. I wouldn't mind selling it."
The Star Trace technique was powerful, but it was a one-shot deal, and gathering Yuan Qi for it was exhausting. Moreover, if one's physical body wasn't strong enough, using it would only backfire. If those people could truly come up with a price that tempted him, there was no reason they couldn't sit down and negotiate.
"Just be careful, kid. Don't say I didn't warn you. The Bai family and Ziwei Valley aren't particularly focused on you — Su Yan has drawn most of their attention. But that kid from the Dong family seems to have his sights set on you. He's come to me multiple times trying to get information."
"I've got my eye on him too," Yang Kai said with a faint smile. "Where is he now?"
"Staying in your old little hovel. Strange fellow, that one. The Bai family and Ziwei Valley people were all given comfortable quarters, but he insists on squatting in your rundown shack. He's dead set on getting to you — you'd better lie low for a while." Meng Wuya's eyes darted about as he tried his best to push the idea. "Why don't you just go back out and hide for another year or two?"
If you come back in a year or two, maybe my precious disciple will have forgotten all about you, Meng Wuya thought.
Yang Kai shook his head slowly. They weren't even the ones he needed to hide from — he was the one who should be seeking them out. Why would he avoid them?
After taking his leave of Meng Wuya, Yang Kai headed toward his old small wooden house.
"Yang Kai! It's Yang Kai — he actually came back at a time like this!" Someone spotted him and gasped in surprise.
"The three big factions are looking for him. Isn't he walking right into the trap?"
"Do you think they'll recruit him too?"
"Of course they will. Haven't they been recruiting plenty of people lately? Yang Kai has endured a lot of hardship in the sect over the years, and he's only a Trial Disciple. Now that there's a better opportunity, why would he stay? Those three factions are offering very tempting terms."
"Another ungrateful wolf that can't be raised." The words of contempt came thick and fast, laced with endless disdain — and a good measure of envy too.
Yang Kai's expression remained indifferent. He couldn't be bothered to respond.
He may have held the title of Trial Disciple in Lingxiao Pavilion, but every ounce of his skill and strength had been earned through his own struggle. The sect had never given him the slightest bit of support. He could come and go as he pleased — even if he left, he would carry no burden of guilt. Why would he care about what they had to say?
Before long, he arrived in front of the small wooden house.
Outside, two elderly men stood watch. One stood upright with his hands at his sides, the other was stooped with his hands tucked into his sleeves. Yang Kai strolled up, and neither of them so much as glanced at him — they just stood there with half-closed eyes, basking lazily in the sun.
When Yang Kai drew within thirty zhang of the wooden house, two streams of Divine Sense suddenly lashed toward him — not carrying killing intent, merely a warning.
Yang Kai's body trembled faintly as the two surges of Divine Sense entered him, sinking into the depths like stones dropped into the sea without so much as a ripple. With the Warm Spirit Lotus aiding him, such a minor warning could do nothing to him.
He continued walking forward, his steps steady and resolute.
The two drowsy old men's eyes snapped open, sharp as lightning, as they stared at Yang Kai in undisguised surprise. Clearly, they hadn't expected this young man to be so unusual.
Just as they were about to act again, a voice rang out from inside the wooden house: "Stop!"