With those words, he turned and walked off.
He had barely taken a few steps before a furious shout came from behind: "You little brat, you dare!"
Yang Kai didn't even glance back, jutting his chin stubbornly as he called over his shoulder, "Just watch whether I dare or not!"
He strode forward with long, confident steps.
Zhong Liang, who had been pretending to be away, could no longer sit still. His figure flickered as he burst from the main hall, sweeping directly in front of Yang Kai and blocking his path.
Yang Kai regarded him with a look of pure mockery. "I thought the Army Commander was out and hadn't returned?"
Zhong Liang's expression remained perfectly composed. "I just got back. Quite the coincidence, isn't it?"
Yang Kai chuckled. "What a coincidence indeed. Since the Army Commander is here, then in front of the Army Commander, this Disciple formally submits a request to lead a team—"
Before he could finish, Zhong Liang waved his hand dismissively. "Rejected."
Yang Kai choked on his words, nearly coughing up a mouthful of blood. He drew a deep breath and looked at Zhong Liang with helpless exasperation. "Army Commander, since this Disciple entered the world, I have fought and killed my way forward every step of the way. I was not raised as some delicate flower in a greenhouse."
Zhong Liang replied, "That has nothing to do with it. The fact is, your existence is of critical importance to our Human Race. There is no room for the slightest carelessness. I understand how you feel, but Yang, I need you to prioritize the bigger picture."
Yang Kai lowered his head. "This Disciple is merely a newly advanced Seventh-Order master. The bigger picture of the Ink Battlefield is far too vast for someone like me to concern myself with. I only wish to do what I can."
Zhong Liang raised an eyebrow. "Staying safely within the Pass is what you can do right now, and it is what us old folks desire above all else."
Yang Kai fell silent. How could he not understand the thinking of Zhong Liang and the others? He understood why they felt the way they did. If he were in Zhong Liang's position, he probably wouldn't be willing to let someone like himself run out and put himself in danger either.
Understanding was one thing, but Yang Kai had his own principles and plans.
He now possessed the Spring of Heaven and Earth, which made him fearless against the erosion of Ink Force. He had the means of the Purifying Light, and he had just advanced to the Seventh Order, his strength greatly increased. On this Ink Battlefield, he should have been in his element.
If he were cooped up inside Biluo Pass for the long term, he would inevitably lose his edge, which would do nothing for his future growth.
In times like these, the only answer was to fight.
"The Human Race has over a hundred passes on the Ink Battlefield and millions of soldiers. This Disciple is merely one among them. What others can do, I can do. Where others can go, I can go. I do not wish to be given special treatment. I humbly ask the Army Commander to grant me this." Yang Kai clasped his fists with a solemn expression.
Zhong Liang sighed slowly. "Life is full of frustrations — nine times out of ten, things don't go your way. There will always be people in this world who possess abilities that others do not, and they must bear responsibilities that others cannot. You say you don't want to be treated differently, but when you possess such unique capabilities, there is simply no way to avoid it."
Yang Kai looked at him helplessly. "They say people grow more stubborn with age. This Disciple never believed it, but seeing the Army Commander like this, I'm afraid I have no choice but to believe it now."
Several of the guards watching from the side couldn't help but laugh at this.
Zhong Liang clicked his tongue. "Insolent brat," he snapped, shooting a glare at those guards.
Yang Kai clenched his teeth and called out in a low voice, "Army Commandeer, this Disciple is a master of the Space Dao!"
Zhong Liang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, I know. What's your point?"
"My point is this: if I am determined to leave, the Army Commander cannot stop me. Unless you seal off the entirety of Biluo Pass, I can leave here as easily as breathing."
Zhong Liang's eyelid twitched. "Don't forget — you are currently a soldier of Biluo Pass. Defying military orders is a court-martial offense."
Yang Kai snorted, clearly not taking the threat to heart.
"How about this, Army Commander — let's make a bet."
"What kind of bet?" Zhong Liang frowned at him.
"Within the time it takes one incense stick to burn, and with the confines of Biluo Pass as the boundary: if you can catch me, I'll stay. If you can't catch me, you have to approve my application. What do you say?"
Zhong Liang was so angry he almost laughed. "You're that confident in yourself?" How could he not know that one who had mastered the Space Dao was a consummate escape artist? If the battlefield were the open void beyond, he might not have been so sure he could catch Yang Kai. But with Biluo Pass as the enclosed boundary, an Eighth-Order master capturing a Seventh-Order would be as easy as picking a snail out of its shell.
Yang Kai lifted his chin high, looking at Zhong Liang with a haughty expression. "I'm just asking — does the Army Commander dare to take the bet? If you don't, just say so. This Disciple promises not to laugh at you."
Even though he knew perfectly well that Yang Kai was trying to goad him, Zhong Liang's face turned ugly with frustration. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll take your bet. But kid, if I catch you, you won't just be staying in Biluo Pass — I'll give you such a beating your face will bloom like a flower!"
He swept his hand forward and barked the order: "Someone! Light the incense!"
One of the guards who had been watching the show promptly pulled an incense stick and an incense burner from his Small Universe.