His thoughts racing, Tang Sheng relaxed.
Over there, Cang Mo offered a bitter, helpless laugh again and again. "Since you're from Spirit Beast Island, then this was Cang's fault entirely. I hope Brother Li and Miss Jiu Feng will be magnanimous."
Though he was a Pseudo-Emperor, he was no rigid fool. In this situation — his own strength no longer at its peak, Yang Kai backed by that wretched spirit, and now Li Wuyi and Jiu Feng had arrived — there was simply no way he could do anything to Yang Kai this time around. So he admitted his mistake freely, lowered his stance, and gave Spirit Beast Island all the face he could.
He had no choice but to give them face. The Beast Martial Great Emperor was not someone he could afford to cross. He served the Star Court, yes, but the Star Court's masters rotated among the Ten Great Emperors. Who knew? One day he might end up serving under the Beast Martial Great Emperor himself.
Li Wuyi nodded. "Fortunately, nothing too serious came of this." Although both Cang Mo and Yang Kai looked wretched enough, their injuries far from light, neither was in any mortal danger. That was a blessing amid misfortune.
Still, he couldn't quite figure out why Cang Mo had gone after Yang Kai in the first place. That earlier remark about killing someone for their treasure undoubtedly meant Yang Kai possessed something Cang Mo coveted. Li Wuyi glanced at the Mountain and River Bell clutched in Yang Kai's hand, his heart stirring as he vaguely understood. He wondered whether it was the bell that had brought this trouble upon Yang Kai.
But the kid was something else — actually managing to trade blows with Cang Mo and survive. Last time they had met on Dragon Island, Li Wuyi had already sensed that this young man had an absurd amount of nerve, daring to barge into that dragon's lair with so little cultivation. Seeing him now, nothing had changed.
This kid was even more troublesome than he himself had been in his youth… Only, he had no idea whether today's affair could be resolved peacefully.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard Yang Kai suddenly ask, "Brother Li, you know this guy?"
Li Wuyi nodded. "We've known each other for a long time."
Yang Kai inclined his head slightly. "Then Brother Li should keep his eyes open when making friends in the future. Some people look decent enough on the outside but hide rotten hearts beneath. They're fond of sinking to the most underhanded, shameless tricks. One day you might just find yourself backstabbed."
Cang Mo's expression turned cold. Being openly mocked like this by Yang Kai was naturally unpleasant, but he had no desire to argue the point. Li Wuyi also looked somewhat awkward. He realized he really shouldn't have come here today — now he was caught in the middle, and it was an exceedingly difficult position. He shot an irritated glance at that flamboyant old man. If not for him, why would he have tracked them all the way out here?
Yang Kai's face turned grave, and he asked in a low voice, "If I wanted to kill him, Brother Li — would you help me or help him?"
Li Wuyi considered for a moment before answering, "If you're truly determined, then Li can only stand by and watch."
Yang Kai was half a member of Spirit Beast Island, and he himself had some history with Cang Mo. If the two of them really fought to the death, there was no good side for him to take. He could only choose to stay out of it. Of course, the ideal outcome would be to defuse today's situation entirely. But seeing the murderous look on Yang Kai's face, he knew that trying to persuade the young man right now probably wouldn't accomplish anything, so he chose to state his position plainly instead.
"Good!" Yang Kai barked, then bared his teeth in a savage grin. "That's all I needed to hear from Brother Li."
Li Wuyi blinked in surprise, thinking: did this kid really believe he would have sided with Cang Mo? So he'd been cornering him with his words from the start? But with his current strength, how could he possibly kill Cang Mo?
Yang Kai's expression turned sharp and cold. He glanced sideways at the flamboyant old man standing beside him, but the fellow seemed oblivious, gazing serenely at nothing in particular. Yang Kai's mouth twitched — that old codger was probably useless.
Though he didn't know why the old man had sought his protection, he'd made it clear just moments ago that killing Cang Mo would be difficult, and he had no desire to provoke the Iron Blood Great Emperor. Yang Kai had no real connection to him, and asking the old man to help him kill a Pseudo-Emperor was something he would never agree to.
With just himself and the Dharma Idol combined, they couldn't take down Cang Mo.
Yang Kai sighed inwardly. To let such a golden opportunity slip away was somewhat galling, but with things as they were, he had no desire to keep stirring up trouble. He changed the subject: "Since Brother Li is on good terms with this man, then today I'll let him live for Brother Li's sake. Cherish what you have, old dog!"
Cang Mo's expression darkened, and he laughed from sheer fury. "Let me live? Your mouth writes checks your body can't cash, boy. Aren't you afraid of biting off your tongue?"
Yang Kai's face turned vicious. "If you're looking to die, I'll be happy to oblige."
Cang Mo was about to retort when Li Wuyi spoke up. "Brother Cang, regardless of who was right or wrong today, let's call it here."
Yang Kai had already shown willingness to let things go. How could Li Wuyi stand by and watch them escalate again? Both sides backing down was exactly what he wanted to see. Yang Kai was young and hot-blooded — not easy to talk down. Cang Mo was different. He couldn't possibly be unaware of the wisdom in weathering a storm to reach calm waters. So instead of trying to persuade Yang Kai, he directed his words to Cang Mo.
True enough, Cang Mo gave him face — or perhaps he was simply glad for a way out. He nodded. "Since Brother Li puts it that way, then Cang won't hold it against him." He paused, then cupped his fists. "Today isn't convenient. I'll visit Spirit Beast Island another day to see Brother Li and Miss Jiu Feng. Cang takes his leave."
As he spoke, his figure blurred and he shot off toward the distance, unwilling to linger for even a single moment longer.
Nearby, Wu Heng — his face pale — saw Cang Mo leaving and hurried after him. The moment he'd appeared, he'd been struck squarely by Yang Kai's carefully prepared attack, the power of Time eroding him ceaselessly. He'd been fighting it off ever since, and when Yang Kai and the Dharma Idol had teamed up against Cang Mo afterward, he'd had no chance to intervene anyway. He'd simply watched from the sidelines until now.
But wanting to leave and actually managing it were two different things. He caught a flash before his eyes as a massive figure suddenly materialized in his path, blotting out the light overhead. Its enormous shadow swallowed him entirely.