Only two updates today — I'll probably have a lot to deal with tonight.
Also, there are tons of things to do during the first lunar month. I'll definitely have to go out and pay New Year's visits to the elders. I'll try my best to keep the updates coming. I absolutely won't go dark, so please bear with me, my dear readers.
The next arc is about to begin, and I need to think carefully about how to approach it.
Finally —
Wishing all my readers a happy new year, good health, and happiness!
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There were still unsettled grievances between Yang Kai and them. Xiang Chu had just tried to force Yang Kai to his death, and if the Golden Feather Eagle hadn't shown up in time, a fight would have broken out for sure.
Yang Kai clearly had no intention of letting things slide, which was why he'd plucked the eagle feather and gotten his revenge right on the spot!
Hearing his words, Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian remained calm, not showing the slightest hint of surprise — as if they'd already sensed the tension in the air.
The two of them simply stayed silent, watching Yang Kai with curiosity, wanting to see what he would do.
The Blood Guard's mission this time was simply to bring the young master of the Yang family back safely. There were no other instructions. Forcing the experts of the Nan and Xiang families to submit earlier had only been because the Golden Feather Eagle was injured.
Now, if Yang Kai wanted to settle things with those people, that was his business. The two Blood Guards wouldn't interfere!
Their loyalty was to the Yang family, not to Yang Kai specifically. In other words, Yang Kai currently had neither the authority nor the strength to order them around. The only time the two Blood Guards would step in was when his life was in danger.
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian suddenly felt that the young master they'd been assigned to this time was rather interesting.
Both of them were Yang family through and through — proud by nature and used to throwing their weight around. Yang Kai's aggressive, relentless attitude was right up their alley.
For a moment, the two of them were actually looking forward to what would happen next.
Xiang Chu forced an awkward laugh. "What would Young Master Yang have us do?"
His fist wasn't as big as the other guy's. Xiang Chu had no choice but to tuck his tail between his legs.
Old Xu, enduring the seething pain, also spoke up with a frown: "We accept our loss this time. But as the saying goes, it's better to resolve a grudge than to carry it. One more friend is always better than one more enemy. Young Master Yang, you'll be participating in the Battle for Succession as well — please consider carefully."
Yang Kai's expression turned cold. He gave a disdainful snort. "Consider carefully? What a joke!"
As his words fell, two blood-red petals suddenly shot out from inside his body, carrying a waft of floral fragrance that lingered around everyone's noses.
The Thousand-Petal Blood Begonia!
The petals drifted and swayed in midair, then suddenly transformed into two streaks of crimson light that vanished in a flash.
Two muffled grunts rang out. Xie Rong of Leiguang and Li Fu of Feihong Yuan collapsed limply to the ground, their life force extinguished.
The entire crowd erupted!
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian stared at Yang Kai with astonished expressions. Everyone from the Nan and Xiang families saw their faces change at once.
It seemed no one had expected that, under the watchful eyes of so many, he would actually dare to kill someone outright.
With Xie Rong and Li Fu dead, the remaining members of Leiguang and Feihong Yuan all went limp on the ground, staring at Yang Kai in terror. A chill ran from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet.
The two petals flashed again and again. Muffled thuds rang out one after another — every disciple belonging to Leiguang and Feihong Yuan, without exception, was dead within the span of ten breaths.
Corpses littered the ground. Xiang Chu and Nan Sheng's breathing came to an abrupt halt, and they couldn't help but swallow hard.
"Within three months, I want to see your sincerity in Zhongdu. Otherwise… I won't mind putting a first-rate aristocratic family in its place!" Yang Kai's eyes were frigid, but then he suddenly let out a light laugh. "As for your lives — I'll let you keep them for now."
Xiang Chu's face turned utterly awful, a bitter taste spreading through his mouth.
Nan Sheng was practically splitting his eyes with fury, clutching his wound and glaring at Yang Kai without looking away.
After a long while, Xiang Chu finally forced out a strained smile. "Thank you! Let's go!"
With a shout, he led his entire group away.
"Those three Cloud-Treading Steeds — I want them," Yang Kai said lightly, glancing at the three demon beasts the Nan family had ridden over.
Nan Sheng had already mounted one, but upon hearing this, he drew a deep breath and quickly dismounted. Grabbed and tugged by the two Shenyou Realm experts beside him, he hurried off.
Tang Yuxian pressed her lips together, looking at Yang Kai with amusement. She felt that this young master of theirs was like a child who hadn't quite grown up — the moment he gained the upper hand, he went around bullying everyone he could.
She opened her mouth, about to say something, but Tu Feng slowly shook his head at her.
"Young Master, Yuxian and I will wait for you over there." Tu Feng had a rough appearance but a surprisingly sharp mind. He knew Yang Kai still had things to discuss with his friends, so he and Tang Yuxian took their leave first.
"Mm." Yang Kai nodded.
Once everyone was gone and only the people from the Blood Battle Gang and the Wind and Rain Tower remained, Yang Kai noticed that every single one of them was staring at him with a peculiar look in their eyes.
Quite a few gazes held a trace of awe, but what pleased Yang Kai was that the Hu sisters and Fang Ziqi didn't look at him that way. Not only that — Hu Meier's beautiful eyes even carried a hint of resentment.
"Anything you want to ask?" Yang Kai pinched the bridge of his nose, looking at the Hu sisters.
Hu Me'er pressed her lips together, wanting to ask something but unable to get the words out.