Yang Kai flashed him a grin, and Han Qiancheng looked utterly bewildered. He could only sense that this fellow's smile carried some hidden meaning, but he couldn't be bothered to dig into it. His face dark as he said, "Kid, you can eat whatever you want, but watch what you say—loose lips can easily bring about your own death."
In all of Yunxia Sect, who didn't know that Su Yan was his forbidden prize? Even though many of his martial brothers harbored feelings for Su Yan, they only admired her from afar in secret, never daring to show any inappropriate closeness. There had once been someone foolish enough to exchange a few words with Su Yan, and the very next day every bone in his body was broken and his meridians severed, reducing him to a cripple.
After that, not a single man in Yunxia Sect dared so much as speak to Su Yan.
And now, someone actually dared to call himself Su Yan's husband? Han Qiancheng was so furious he laughed. He looked Yang Kai up and down, his eyes sharp as knives, seemingly weighing where to strike first in order to make Yang Kai truly suffer.
He turned around and said to Han Zhengyuan, "Father, this person barged through our mountain gate, shows absolutely no respect for our Yunxia Sect, and even destroyed our mountain-protecting formation. He's utterly unforgivable—kill him. That's the only way to serve as a deterrent. If word gets out, people will only laugh at Yunxia Sect for being weak and cowardly."
Han Zhengyuan remained calm and composed. Hearing this, he said, "Step down. I'll handle it."
"Father!" Han Qiancheng protested.
"Step down!" Han Zhengyuan's face turned stern.
Only then did Han Qiancheng retreat, though his expression was far from pleasant. He muttered a few words under his breath, clearly cursing. Since childhood, he had been doted on by Han Zhengyuan, which had cultivated in him an arrogant and overbearing nature—when something didn't sit right with him, he wanted it dealt with by any means necessary. He couldn't understand why his father, who had always granted his every wish, was refusing him now.
This was terribly humiliating.
If it were any ordinary person being this brazen, Han Zhengyuan certainly wouldn't have let it slide. Even for the sake of Yunxia Sect's reputation, he would have confronted Yang Kai. But this young man before him, despite not carrying a single trace of spiritual energy fluctuation, gave off an extremely uncanny feeling.
It was as though if a fight broke out here, the one to suffer would inevitably be Yunxia Sect itself.
Han Zhengyuan had no choice but to tread carefully.
"What may I call you, young friend?" Han Zhengyuan asked.
Yang Kai introduced himself.
Han Zhengyuan furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment—the name rang no bells whatsoever. A complete unknown. He turned to look at the various elders and found them equally puzzled. Well then. Since no one had heard of him, it was clear he had no backing or support. Today's matter would be much simpler to handle.
"You claim to be Su Yan's husband? Do you have any proof?" Han Zhengyuan asked, then added, "I'm not doubting you—it's merely that Su Yan is currently a disciple of my Yunxia Sect. As Sect Master, I naturally have to inquire."
Yang Kai said, "Summon Su Yan, and one question will settle it."
Han Zhengyuan, seeing his confidence, was somewhat inclined to believe him. Han Qiancheng, however, looked even more displeased. It couldn't be true, could it? That woman actually had a husband? When had that happened? In the twenty-some years since she'd joined the sect, she'd never had any dealings with outsiders. Where had this husband even come from? What an absurd joke.
"Su Yan has been in my Yunxia Sect for twenty years, and during that entire time she has never had contact with any outsider. How could you possibly be her husband?"
"I come from the Heng Luo Star Domain!"
"What?" Han Zhengyuan was startled by this, and couldn't help but mock himself internally—had he lived too long, grown too timid? He'd become so cautious and indecisive, long since losing the directness and decisiveness of his youth.
Su Yan's origin from the Heng Luo Star Domain was no secret; many throughout Yunxia Sect knew about it, and as Sect Master, Han Zhengyuan was naturally aware. Moreover, according to Su Yan herself, she had been the first person to walk out of the Heng Luo Star Domain and enter the Ancestral Domain.
In other words, this young man had entered the Ancestral Domain even after Su Yan? If that was the case, he probably hadn't been here very long at all. How high could his cultivation possibly be? How strong could he be?
At most, he'd be at the First Level of the Dao Source Realm. The reason I can't sense his cultivation is probably because he's mastered some concealment technique or is wearing an Artifact.
He slowly shook his head and chuckled inwardly. Han Zhengyuan said, "So you're from the same Star Domain as Su Yan."
Han Qiancheng, however, was livid, cursing silently—what a slut! She usually acted all pure and untouchable, yet it turned out she was already a fallen woman. All that time and effort he'd poured into her—for nothing! If he'd known, why bother with all those wasted years? He should have just taken her by force.
"That's right. Su Yan and I betrothed ourselves to each other long ago in the Star Domain. We were also fellow disciples—she was my senior sister and I her junior brother." Yang Kai said with growing impatience, "Sect Master Han, please summon Su Yan."
He had come to find Su Yan. He had no patience to waste on these people.
Han Zhengyuan said, "Very well." Then he changed his tune: "However, Su Yan's residence is quite far from here. It will take some time for her to arrive."
"No matter. I'll wait." After all these years of waiting, what was a little while longer? No wonder he hadn't been able to sense Su Yan's aura—it was simply because the distance was too great.
"Elder Chen, please take this young friend to the side hall for tea while we wait. Then send word to Su Yan and have her come over." Han Zhengyuan addressed the red-faced man.
The red-faced man was briefly stunned, then cupped his fists and replied, "Yes!" He turned and extended a hand toward Yang Kai in a gesture. "This way, please."
Originally, a warrior from a lower Star Domain wouldn't have warranted such courtesy. But the power Yang Kai had displayed moments ago was quite extraordinary—he merited being received with proper courtesy.
Yang Kai was neither servile nor arrogant. He simply nodded and followed Elder Chen away.