With Yang Kai's reminder, everyone suddenly caught on.
"There's a gap!" Tu Feng said gravely.
"Exactly, there's a gap." Yang Kai nodded slightly. "The experts within any single organization should be distributed in a stepped pattern. Since they have first, third, fifth, and seventh-layer Shenyou Realm cultivators, they must also have second, fourth, and sixth-layer ones. Assassinating a Yang family Disciple is a matter of utmost importance. If it really is a single faction stirring up trouble, they would certainly send out all their experts rather than holding anyone back."
He paused, then continued: "Tu Feng, Yuxian — when you were fighting those three, did you manage to identify which Sect they belonged to from their techniques?"
Both shook their heads. Tu Feng replied, "Those people were very cautious. They never used any distinctive martial arts, afraid we'd spot something. But I had a feeling they weren't very familiar with each other — their coordination wasn't all that smooth or intimate."
"Of course they weren't familiar. If I'm not mistaken, they didn't even come from the same faction." Yang Kai snorted coldly. "No single faction would dare move against the Yang family."
"What do you mean?"
"These people… were gathered from several different factions. They pooled some of their experts together, tracked the movements of the Golden Feathered Eagles to predict our route, and set an ambush here!"
Qiu Yimeng nodded in agreement upon hearing this. "That makes sense. If that's the case, it explains why their strength distribution had such a gap."
When experts from multiple factions were assembled and a selection drawn from among them, that kind of discrepancy was inevitable.
"Young Master has a sharp eye," Tu Feng chuckled.
Yang Kai's gaze flickered, and he suddenly let out an odd laugh. He looked at them and said, "Since these were experts gathered from several factions, there's no way they could have been this few in number."
The two Blood Guards' expressions changed sharply. "You mean they have reinforcements?"
Yang Kai shook his head. "No! The ones ambushing me along this route really were just those people… But have you considered — what were the rest of the experts doing?"
The group froze in thought for a moment, then a jolt of horror ran through them. Their shocked gazes turned to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai's eyes turned cold. "It seems my dear brothers aren't having a peaceful journey either. This is a coordinated operation targeting all of Yang family Disciples. Quite the grand scheme!"
If Yang Kai's deduction was correct, then the scale truly was staggering. Multiple factions had divided their experts into several groups, each tracking down Yang family Disciples and intercepting them en route.
And the Golden Feathered Eagles circling above the Yang family young masters' heads served as beacons guiding the way.
Yang Kai had made it through this time with a scare but no harm — but what about the other Yang family young masters? Could some of them have been killed outright along the way?
Whoever dared orchestrate something like this — whether in terms of methods or sheer audacity — was no ordinary person.
"Your Yang family has offended too many people. You brought this on yourselves," Qiu Yimeng said with cold mockery.
"We can't conclude it was enemies acting out of grudge just yet," Yang Kai shook his head slowly. "The Battle of Succession involves far too many interests."
Qiu Yimeng stared at him, seeming to have already divined what was on his mind.
"The clan will investigate. There's no need for us to dwell on it." Yang Kai suddenly smiled mildly, rose to his feet, and walked off to one side. "Tu Feng, Yuxian — come with me."
Both Blood Guards stiffened and hurried to their feet, following him out.
Qiu Yimeng and Luo Xiaoman pouted in unison. "So secretive!"
Only once they had moved into the darkness off to the side did Yang Kai stop and turn to face the two Blood Guards.
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian's hearts were in turmoil, unsure what Yang Kai had called them out for. They felt deep guilt over today's events. Though they had silently sworn to be far more careful on the road ahead, the incident had still happened.
Is the young master going to scold us? Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian stood in silence, their stomachs in knots. In the darkness, their faces flushed red.
"How are your injuries?" Just as the two were bracing themselves, Yang Kai suddenly asked.
Tu Feng blinked, never having expected Yang Kai to ask something like that. Hearing the genuine concern in his voice, both he and Tang Yuxian felt a quiet stir of emotion.
Tu Feng replied quickly, "We're feeling a bit weak. I can probably only fight at about sixty percent strength. Yuxian is in slightly better shape, but she has some internal injuries as well. Full recovery will likely take several days."
He hurriedly added, "Young Master, please rest assured. Even if Yuxian and I have to give our lives, we will escort you safely back to the clan!"
Tang Yuxian spoke up softly. "We won't be so careless again. Once we return to the Central Capital, we will report to the clan and accept our punishment."
Yang Kai nodded slightly without saying more. After a moment, he extended his hand and produced two pills. "One for each of you. Take them now, in front of me."
Both Blood Guards were taken aback, unsure why Yang Kai was being so solemn about it. But they also knew he would never do anything to harm them. Without hesitation, they accepted the pills and swallowed them.
They seemed to be ordinary healing pills — earth grade, upper quality at best. Both Blood Guards, their senses attuned, immediately identified the grade. A flicker of puzzlement crossed their minds: why had the young master presented them as though he were handing over some miraculous elixir?
Puzzled though they were, not a trace of it showed on their faces.