Feeling... really tired, barely able to get up this morning, and today I have to visit my in-laws for the festival.
Happy Lantern Festival to everyone, by the way.
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The four people who had been killed—one at the first level of the Shenyou Realm, and the other three all at the eighth or ninth level of the Zhenyuan Realm.
Such cultivation wouldn't stand out in the whole of Zhongdu, but for the Bamboo Joint Gang, these were rare talents. The people here came from humble backgrounds, with no good techniques or martial arts, and reaching this level of strength was no small feat.
Yet in the span of a heartbeat, all four had been slain one after another!
The ruthlessness and cold decisiveness of this young master, the son of Fourth Master Yang, was plain for all to see.
Everyone else in the hall had gone pale, all looking toward Yang Kai in terror, their hearts flooding with fear. It was only now that they truly understood the might of someone from one of the Eight Great Families' main bloodlines.
The strongest person present was Pang Chi, who was only at the second level of the Shenyou Realm. He knew he couldn't have killed all four in such a short time, but Yang Kai had done exactly that.
Did that mean... in a real fight, even he wouldn't stand a chance?
A terrifying young man! To possess such formidable combat power at only the seventh level of the Zhenyuan Realm.
"Anyone else want to swear allegiance to the Huo family? I won't mind sending them on their way!" Yang Kai swept a cold gaze around the room. Every face was calm, utterly devoid of guilt.
"Young Master... please, show mercy!" Pang Chi pleaded in a trembling voice. The four who had been inclined to swear loyalty to the Huo family were all dead now. The rest had been fiercely opposed during the discussion. Pang Chi was terrified that Yang Kai's killing intent might carry him away and he'd strike down the wrong people—that would be impossible to clean up.
But... just a moment ago, this young master had clearly been outside the hall. How could he have pinpointed those four so precisely? Such a method was simply incomprehensible.
Yang Kai gave a slight nod, showing no intention of killing anyone else. He withdrew his two Artifacts and slowly sat back down. The remaining people couldn't help but let out a breath of relief.
Pang Chi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and shouted toward the entrance.
Before long, someone rushed in hurriedly and said respectfully, "What are your orders, Gang Leader?"
"Drag these ungrateful traitors outside and bury them." Pang Chi pointed at the four corpses.
The guard froze, and when he saw the pool of blood on the ground, his face went deathly pale. He hurriedly complied, ran out to call for help, and dragged the bodies away with trembling hands.
The hall still reeked of blood. No one dared draw a deep breath. They were all waiting for Yang Kai to speak.
"From today onward, the Bamboo Joint Gang answers to me!" Yang Kai swept a casual glance around the room. "Any objections?"
"We wouldn't dare! The Bamboo Joint Gang was secretly built up under Fourth Master's support. Since you are Fourth Master's son, we are willing to follow your orders!" Pang Chi said quickly.
"Mm. Tell me about the Huo family."
Outside the hall earlier, Yang Kai had only caught fragments of the conversation and didn't know the full picture.
Pang Chi hesitated for a moment, then recounted the argument in detail.
The Huo family was one of the Eight Great Families of Zhongdu. Naturally, they also backed hidden forces.
The one trying to absorb the Bamboo Joint Gang this time wasn't the Huo family directly, but another faction of similar size that they supported. They had promised generous benefits and had probably already bought off a few of the Bamboo Joint Gang's core members, which was why the meeting in the hall had devolved into such a heated argument.
Pang Chi and his people hadn't wanted to betray Yang Yingfeng, but the other four thought differently. People flow toward higher ground, water runs downhill. Although the Bamboo Joint Gang had been established under Fourth Master's patronage, over all these years they had never once laid eyes on Yang Yingfeng. Their loyalty to him naturally wasn't that deep, and with outside pressure, it was only inevitable that some would waver.
Moreover, even if they did betray Yang Yingfeng, given Fourth Master's stoic personality, he probably wouldn't pursue the matter too aggressively. But rejecting the Huo family's olive branch? That was sure to bring trouble.
Thinking about it that way, the four wanting to join the Huo family for better prospects was understandable.
But now those four were dead, and naturally no one was arguing anymore.
After hearing Pang Chi's account, Yang Kai nodded inwardly, satisfied that the man hadn't lied to him.
Once he finished, Pang Chi stood quietly at Yang Kai's side with his head lowered, saying nothing. The others all stared at Yang Kai expectantly, as if waiting for instructions.
After a long silence, Yang Kai finally spoke. "Before I came here, my father's intention was for me to win your hearts through virtue and have you submit willingly. But I don't have the time for that, and I don't have the patience."
"I'm going to participate in the War of Succession. Joining me means you'll also be pulled into the War of Succession. That's an opportunity, but it's also dangerous. None of you are children—you should understand that."
Everyone nodded in unison. Not a single person in the room was under thirty. Compared to them, Yang Kai was the child here. Yet hearing him speak like that, they couldn't help but feel a bit sullen.
"Make your choice. Anyone who doesn't want to take part in this War of Succession can leave right now. I won't hold it against you. But this is the only chance you'll get—leave now or you'll never have the option again."
He finished and waited quietly.
Everyone exchanged glances. Yang Kai's frankness had taken them completely by surprise. Combined with the decisive killing earlier, they all realized this young Yang family member was a man of action who didn't like to dither.
A long time passed, and no one dared stand up to leave.
Pang Chi smiled faintly and spoke up. "We may never have even seen Fourth Master in person, but for all these years, we've sheltered under the shade of his great tree and enjoyed our peace. Now that the young master has need of us, it is our duty to step forward."
The words were delivered in an indifferent tone, making it clear he hadn't truly accepted Yang Kai from the heart.
Yang Kai saw through this perfectly well. It was just that he truly had no time, and no inclination, to win over this Bamboo Joint Gang the way he had subdued the two Blood Guards.