Yang Kai's expression shifted slightly at these words, and he smiled. "Island Master Hua, rest easy. As for the Twin Islands, you have full authority to make decisions. I won't interfere in the slightest."
Only then did Hua Yong express his gratitude and leave.
Watching the couple's figures disappear, the proprietress chuckled softly. "He's certainly cautious. He's terrified the news will leak and his people will grow restless."
"That's only natural," Yang Kai said, quite understanding. If word really did spread that he could lead people out of the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven, plenty of people on the Twin Islands would surely be tempted. And if, when that happened, Hua Yong and his wife decided to stay while Yang Kai left with others, it would deal a blow to the Twin Islands' strength.
He naturally didn't want the news to get out so quickly. Yang Kai's words had given Hua Yong an assurance, putting his mind at ease.
"You're really planning to notify the Peerless Society too?" the proprietress asked.
"They're all pitiful people. If I can help, I might as well. Whether they believe it or not—that's their own business."
The proprietress nodded gently. "Give me a month. If what you say is true and leaving the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven will bring no small amount of trouble, then I need to restore my strength first."
"That's only natural."
A moment later, Yang Kai walked out of the bamboo building.
The cook, the bookkeeper, Mao Zhe, and the others were still glowering at each other. Yang Kai walked straight into the space between the two groups and turned to Mao Zhe. "I'm going to pay a visit to the Peerless Society."
Mao Zhe withdrew his gaze and frowned. "What for?"
"To see if anyone in the Peerless Society wants to leave the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven. If so, they can come along."
Geng Qing's eyes widened. "You want to bring people from the Peerless Society?"
"Is there a problem?"
Geng Qing fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "No problem." If it were up to him, he naturally wouldn't want the Peerless Society people to benefit from Yang Kai's arrangement. After Xuanyang Mountain had been destroyed, the three of them had sought to join the Peerless Society, only to be subtly rebuffed by its three leaders before leaving in anger. If not for that, they wouldn't have gone to such desperate lengths searching for the possible exit. He would have been perfectly happy if the Peerless Society bunch remained trapped in the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven forever.
But if Yang Kai had made up his mind, there was nothing he could say against it. After all, in name all three Mountain Masters were now Yang Kai's subordinates—life and death in his hands. What right did he have to speak out of turn?
"Zhou Ya, come with me. I don't know where the Peerless Society is located," Yang Kai said, looking at Zhou Ya.
Zhou Ya turned to look at Mao Zhe, a questioning expression on her face.
Mao Zhe said, "The master has given his order. Go along with him."
Zhou Ya nodded lightly.
Yang Kai cast a cool glance at Mao Zhe before striding forward.
Leaving the Twin Islands, under Zhou Ya's guidance they flew swiftly in the direction of the Peerless Society.
After traveling a short while, Zhou Ya suddenly spoke up. "With such power at such a young age, the master must surely come from one of the grotto-heavens and blessed lands?"
Yang Kai glanced at her. "Did Mao Zhe ask you to probe my background and origins?"
Zhou Ya's expression stiffened momentarily, and she forced a smile. "The master has misunderstood. I was merely making casual conversation. If the master doesn't wish to say, pretend I never asked." She brushed the hair from her ear, revealing a captivating side profile—snow-white skin that seemed as though it might bruise at the slightest touch.
"My identity and origins will become clear once you all get out. Even if I told you now, would you believe me?"
"Yes!" Zhou Ya lowered her head in response.
For so many years she had stood above others—the Fourth Mountain Master of Xuanyang Mountain, her renown resounding throughout the entire Shadowless Grotto-Heaven. To suddenly become someone else's subordinate one day, with life and death in another's hands, was truly difficult to adjust to.
Still, among the three from Xuanyang Mountain they all guessed that Yang Kai must surely come from one of the grotto-heavens and blessed lands—an elite Core Disciple nurtured by one of those top-tier powers. Otherwise, he absolutely could not possess the ability to overwhelm cultivators of the same realm.
And the fact that Yang Kai had refined so many superior-grade resources only reinforced their conviction.
The Peerless Society was several days' journey from the Twin Islands. After a full five days, Zhou Ya suddenly warned, "The Peerless Society's headquarters aren't far ahead. Be careful, the master."
Yang Kai looked ahead but saw nothing. Suppressing his curiosity, he continued forward with Zhou Ya.
In short order the two arrived before a cliff face as smooth as a mirror, its surface flat as if carved by a blade. In the center of the cliff, a massive boulder protruded outward, forming a natural platform.
Zhou Ya led Yang Kai down onto the platform and pointed at the stone wall before them. "This is the Peerless Society's headquarters."
Yang Kai probed with his senses for a moment and faintly detected traces of formation restrictions on the cliff face, as if the interior held far more than met the eye.
"Announce our arrival," Yang Kai instructed.
Zhou Ya nodded, her hands rapidly forming seals. Moments later, she raised a hand and pressed it gently against the stone wall. Immediately a layer of visible ripples spread across its surface, quickly expanding outward.