Yang Kai's deadline was one month. If he couldn't meet the person he wanted to see within that time, he would go and pay a visit to each of the eight hidden strongholds of the White Lotus Cult one by one.
Such a threat was intolerable to the White Lotus Cult.
The White Lotus Cult had countless members, and their strongholds were scattered far and wide — far more than eight in total. But no one could figure out which eight Yang Kai actually knew about.
Because of that, even evacuating personnel was impossible.
If they wanted their strongholds to be safe, there was only one way — uproot the threat entirely and eliminate any lingering danger.
On the final day of the deadline, deep in the night, Yang Kai was sitting in meditation. Months of effort had finally allowed him to force every last trace of residual poison from his body. The final wisp of toxin, mixed with blood, sprayed from his mouth, and in an instant he felt refreshed and clear-headed. His body, which had felt heavy for so long, finally shed its shackles and became light once more.
The people of the Grand Qi Hall had assumed that even if he survived the deadly poison, his strength would plummet. That was why the six Vice Hall Masters had joined forces to pressure him into stepping down from the position of Hall Master.
Perhaps they had selfish motivations, or perhaps they were considering the bigger picture — but after coming to terms with his own true intentions, Yang Kai no longer had any interest in serving as the Grand Qi Hall's Hall Master.
Even without anyone pressuring him, he would have abdicated and passed the role to someone more worthy.
He had far more important things to do. Everything in this Samsara World was nothing more than an illusion to him.
A sharp whistling sound suddenly pierced the air, jarring in the silence of the night. In the next moment, arrows burst through doors and windows from every direction, enveloping him like a torrential storm.
Yang Kai, seated on the bed, snatched up the long spear beside him. The next instant, a flurry of clanging rang out as arrow after arrow was deflected and knocked away.
But the rain of arrows showed no sign of stopping, continuing without pause.
Yang Kai let out a low shout and shot skyward, his body crashing straight through the roof.
Above, several figures had long been lying in ambush. Spotting him emerge, they immediately formed an unstoppable killing formation and charged at him in unison.
Each of them was a formidable fighter. Individually, none could withstand three strikes from Yang Kai's spear — but fighting together, their offense and defense complemented each other perfectly, amplifying their combined strength enormously.
After a fierce exchange lasting a dozen breaths, Yang Kai grunted as his body was forced downward involuntarily. He crashed through a house and landed back on the ground.
Suddenly, two hands reached up from beneath the earth, seized his ankles, and yanked downward with tremendous force, attempting to drag him underground.
Without even looking, Yang Kai drove his long spear straight down. It pierced three feet into the earth, and when he pulled it back out, a large pool of blood seeped to the surface.
The ambushers from above pursued him relentlessly. Yang Kai swept his spear in a wide arc and engaged them in a tangled fight.
From the perimeter, short, sharp screams rang out.
Xiao He had made her move.
In the darkness, she was like a formless phantom. Wherever she passed, it was a trail of carnage and blood.
Moments later, she fought her way in from the outer ring and joined forces with Yang Kai.
The group in formation had only been able to fight Yang Kai to a standstill. With Xiao He added to the mix, they instantly crumbled.
The two had cooperated for years, their coordination seamless. The elite fighters the White Lotus Cult had painstakingly cultivated were cut down in barely twenty breaths.
A few drops of blood splattered onto Xiao He's face. She touched them with a fingertip, brought them to her mouth, and licked them clean, her expression a mix of excitement and ferocity. Her killing intent blazed so fiercely it was like a beacon in the night.
It was as though as long as any living thing stood before her, she would slaughter every last one.
Yang Kai slapped her on the top of her head.
Xiao He shrank slightly, but the overwhelming killing intent diminished considerably. Reason returned to her eyes, and a look of grievance surfaced on her face as she pursed her lips.
"Find them," Yang Kai said in a low voice.
Xiao He twitched her nose, then suddenly pointed in a direction. "This way!"
Both of them blurred into motion and charged in that direction.
Inside a building that hadn't yet collapsed, several figures were lying perfectly still, concealing every trace of their aura. Even a top expert like Yang Kai hadn't detected them earlier.
But Xiao He had pinpointed them with unerring precision.
The wall exploded inward. Before the hidden figures could react, Yang Kai and Xiao He were already standing before them.
Their eyes met, and Yang Kai flashed a brilliant smile at the woman leading the group.
Her face had gone utterly grim, and the several guards beside her wore expressions as dark as iron.
Xiao He's gaze swept across each of them in turn. She looked eager, casting a questioning glance at Yang Kai — a look that clearly asked whether she could kill them.
Yang Kai pretended not to notice. Xiao He immediately looked a little deflated.
The atmosphere was peculiar. The two opposing sides stood barely three yards apart. The White Lotus Cult group had their hands on their weapons, taut as bowstrings, while Yang Kai and Xiao He appeared utterly relaxed, as if their opponents were hardly worth worrying about.
Yet the more casual they seemed, the more it put the other side on edge.
Then, suddenly, the woman at the front smiled — and it was as if the whole world existed only to frame that smile.
"Uncle, you were looking for me?"
Yang Kai's eye twitched.