The Jiang Family of Maple Leaf City — Yang Kai hadn't had much direct dealings with them, but he'd heard their name mentioned on numerous occasions. He knew they were a considerable force within the city, apparently with a Dao Source Realm ancestor presiding over them.
Maple Leaf City housed many families, but those with Dao Source Realm powerhouses among their ranks were few — the Jiang Family was one, the Qin Family another...
Jiang Chuhe, whom Yang Kai had encountered at the Ascending Dragon Stage on the first floor of the Five Elements Treasure Pagoda, was a standout among the Jiang Family's younger generation. He possessed a Void King Realm Tier Three cultivation, and with sufficient opportunity, he could break through to the Dao Source Realm.
The Jiang Family had held sway in Maple Leaf City for several hundred to a thousand years, their relationships with the other major families — and even the City Lord's Manor — deeply entangled and rather complex.
Though Yang Kai didn't know what the Jiang Family wanted with Zhang Ruoxi, a Saint King Realm girl would hold little practical value for a clan of their standing. What worried him was that some spoiled young master of the Jiang Family might have taken a fancy to Zhang Ruoxi's beauty and intended to force himself on her. If that were the case, it might already be too late.
After all, Zhang Ruoxi had been taken by the Jiang Family a full month ago. A month was more than enough time for anything to happen.
What nagged at Yang Kai even more, however, was why Zhang Ruoxi had willingly gone with the Jiang Family men in the first place. But thinking it through, she was still young, had never ventured far from the Zhang Family before, and was simple-minded. It was entirely possible she'd been deceived.
A girl like her could easily be swayed with nothing more than a few honeyed words.
Anxiety churned quietly within him, and so did a measure of anger — anger at himself for failing to look after a single young girl properly.
Since he needed to find Zhang Ruoxi within the Jiang Family estate, showing up openly was out of the question. If he provoked the wrong nerves and forced their hand into silencing Zhang Ruoxi permanently, it would be a regret he could never undo.
So Yang Kai decided to first feel out the Jiang Family's true strength.
If Zhang Ruoxi was truly within the Jiang Family compound, his powerful divine sense should be able to locate her without anyone being the wiser.
With his decision made, Yang Kai didn't bother waiting for nightfall and headed straight for the Jiang Family's location.
On the eastern side of Maple Leaf City lay a sprawling residential complex. Covering an area of several dozen mu, enclosed by tall walls of red brick and grey tiles — anyone who had spent any amount of time in Maple Leaf City would recognize it. This was the Jiang Family's stronghold.
Most of the Jiang Family's important members resided here.
Yang Kai arrived at a stretch of the outer wall and extended his divine sense, probing for a moment. To his surprise, the interior was riddled with restrictions and traps.
Such restrictions were no obstacle for him now that he'd detected them — he certainly wouldn't trigger them.
Just as Yang Kai was about to vault over the wall and investigate, his expression shifted subtly. He spun on his heel and activated his Void Technique, vanishing to one side.
Moments later, a graceful figure shot toward him from a short distance away, landing right where Yang Kai had been standing. She looked around, scratched her head, and muttered to herself with a bewildered expression, "It should be right here... Where did he go? How strange."
Hearing her voice, Yang Kai paused and couldn't help glancing over. His face lit up with surprise. "Xiao Qi?"
The newcomer was none other than the ever-enigmatic Mo Xiaoqi!
It had been over a year since they'd parted ways inside the Five Elements Treasure Pagoda, and now, the very moment Yang Kai returned to Maple Leaf City, this girl had managed to track him down on her own.
Since she was no stranger, there was no need for Yang Kai to remain hidden. He dispelled his Void Technique and reappeared. Mo Xiaoqi spotted him immediately, grinned happily, and bounced over. "Big Brother Yang, it really is you! I thought I might have been mistaken! Where have you been all these months? Why weren't you in Maple Leaf City?"
She fired off a barrage of questions before Yang Kai could even get a word in.
Yang Kai gave a wry smile. "I had to take care of some matters and only just got back today."
"Oh." Mo Xiaoqi nodded at this, then giggled. "I thought you'd left without saying goodbye. I was upset for quite a while."
Yang Kai chuckled. "If I were really leaving, I would have told you. But how did you manage to find me?"
Mo Xiaoqi stuck out her tongue sheepishly. "That communication bead I gave you before... it has a tracking imprint on it. As long as the distance isn't too great, I can track it."
Yang Kai's expression cleared with understanding. He retrieved the bead from his spatial ring, examined it briefly, found nothing remarkable, and tucked it back in.
Mo Xiaoqi glanced around and suddenly lowered her voice. "This is the Jiang Family estate. Big Brother Yang, are you about to go in there?"
Yang Kai nodded.
Mo Xiaoqi's eyes lit up, and she whispered excitedly, "What for? Did the Jiang Family offend you somehow? Do you want me to help?"
She looked positively thrilled, as though she'd stumbled upon something far too entertaining to pass up.
Yang Kai let out a heavy sigh and gave a brief account of Zhang Ruoxi's situation. Upon hearing it, Mo Xiaoqi bristled with indignation. "The Jiang Family's reputation has never been good, but to go after little Ruoxi like this — it's absolutely despicable."
"I'm still not sure what the Jiang Family intends with Ruoxi," Yang Kai said, his brow furrowed tightly. "That's why I wanted to come and investigate quietly."