Yang Kai smiled faintly and said, "Everyone understands the principle, but very few can truly live by it."
Shi Cangying regarded him and replied, "I think you're quite admirable. Since you can say such things, you must be a reasonable man. In that case, I'll speak plainly." His expression darkened as he waved his hand. "The Thousand Leaves Sect does not welcome you. All of you should go back the way you came."
"Vice Sect Master Shi!" Ye Hen couldn't help but snap, fury written across his face.
Yang Kai had been invited with great difficulty by Ye Jinghan to repair the inter-realm spatial formation. If it succeeded, the Thousand Leaves Sect would make a dramatic comeback, no longer having to scrape by as they had before. This was a matter of the utmost importance for the Sect's future. If it weren't, how could Ye Hen have come out personally to welcome Yang Kai and his companions? Yet what he never expected was that Shi Cangying would try to sabotage this opportunity. How could he not be furious?
Ye Jinghan's beautiful face also darkened. She looked at Shi Cangying and said, "Uncle-Master, Young Master Yang is a friend I personally invited. Please treat them with some courtesy."
Shi Cangying let out a cold laugh. "I would naturally be courteous to a true friend, but I have no desire to see those who would bring disaster upon our Sect. Send them away."
Ye Jinghan shot back sharply, "Out of the question! Uncle-Master, you need to apologize to Young Master Yang immediately."
"Insolent!" Shi Cangying erupted in rage, glaring at Ye Hen. "Sect Master, is this the fine daughter you've raised? So utterly disrespectful, shouting at her own Uncle-Master — what kind of behavior is this?!"
Ye Hen said with a somber expression, "Jinghan has always been gentle and kind-hearted. If she's angry, there must be a reason."
"You… you all…" Shi Cangying's beard quivered with fury, his face a mask of exasperation.
"It seems my arrival has stirred up some discord within your esteemed Sect." Yang Kai rubbed his nose and smiled.
"Boy, save the glib remarks," Shi Cangying growled, fixing Yang Kai with an unhappy glare.
Yang Kai chuckled, "Sir, you're quite advanced in years. There's no need to get so worked up — excessive anger is bad for your health."
"Drop the crocodile tears. If you truly care about that girl Ye, then the right thing to do is to leave the Thousand Leaves Sect at once." Shi Cangying seemed absolutely determined to drive Yang Kai away, making no effort to hide his intentions — every other sentence circled back to the same point.
Yang Kai's smile didn't waver. "I keep telling you not to get so angry. Just a few days ago, an old fool named Ke Tian acted the same way in front of me, and then… he died!"
At those words, Shi Cangying's expression changed drastically. He retreated several steps in alarm, horror filling his voice. "What are you going to do?"
Though Yang Kai's words were brief and carried no overt threat, they sent a chill down Shi Cangying's spine. Cold sweat drenched his robes in an instant. Even Ye Hen's face changed, apparently afraid that Yang Kai might start killing people right here.
They had all received the news — Yang Kai had slain numerous people in the City Lord's Manor, including Ke Tian of the Heavenly Pinnacle Hall. They hadn't dared believe it before, but hearing him say it himself now, disbelief was no longer an option.
Yang Kai sneered, "Going by your earlier philosophy, Sir — the strong rule, might makes right — I happen to be stronger than you. In that case, you should behave yourself in my presence. Otherwise… I won't mind showing you just how vast the gap between us really is."
Chi Yue, hearing this, fanned the flames from the side. "Young Yang is a mighty tree, old man — want to lean against him or not? Don't miss this chance, or you'll regret it too late."
Ghost Ancestor cackled darkly. "If you've got granddaughters or daughters or anything of the sort, you could always marry them off to Young Yang as concubines. Don't be ungrateful while you're sitting in good fortune."
Aio and Chi Yue both glared at him in unison. "Big Brother, do you ever plan on having someone look after you in your old age or not?"
Ghost Ancestor broke into a cold sweat and sheepishly said, "Pretend I said nothing."
Their barbed exchanges and cutting sarcasm left Shi Cangying's aged face cycling between green and red. His Source Power churned violently, and he looked as though he might strike at any moment. But the thought that even Ke Tian had fallen at Yang Kai's hands — that this young man's true strength could never be gauged by his cultivation alone — filled him with dread. He didn't dare make a rash move, and the frustration built inside him until he felt he might vomit blood. Gritting his teeth, he turned on Ye Hen and roared, "Sect Master, are you just going to stand there and watch these outsiders humiliate your own Vice Sect Master?!"
Ye Hen said gravely, "Brother Shi, if you truly have the Sect's best interests at heart, then stop this now. Young Master Yang is a friend Jinghan invited — he is our guest, and this is not how the Thousand Leaves Sect treats its guests!"
"You…" Shi Cangying glared at Ye Hen, forced down the churning rage in his chest, and bellowed, "Since the Sect Master treats my good intentions like donkey liver, then I say — suit yourself!"
With that, he turned and swept away in a flurry of robes, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Only when Shi Cangying had truly left did Ye Jinghan finally release a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She looked at Yang Kai apologetically. "Young Master Yang…"
She had barely begun to speak when she froze, terror flooding her eyes, for at this very moment, Yang Kai was gazing at her with an icy stare, his expression one of unmistakable displeasure.
"Miss Ye, you owe me an explanation. If it doesn't satisfy me, I'll be turning around and heading home — I won't be staying for this!" Yang Kai said coldly.
He was furious too.