"To me, they're no different from cats or dogs." Yang Kai turned his head toward the speaker, a cold smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"Arrogant!" the man snorted coldly, and the others slowly shook their heads, disappointment surfacing on their faces.
They had been stationed in Zhongdu all along, yet they had been monitoring the situation in Battle City every single day. Based on Yang Kai's track record, all of them had considered him a reliable candidate capable of inheriting the position of family head.
But now that they had met him in person, they suddenly realized this was some ignorant kid who had no idea how vast the world truly was, a youth who looked down on everyone else! Disappointment was inevitable.
Though the Yang Family was brazen and overbearing, they would never do something that would provoke universal outrage. Yang Kai had killed two first-tier family heirs during the War of Succession — that was unquestionably crossing a line!
If this stood, then in the future, when the Yang Family hosted another War of Succession, which family would dare send participants? It was precisely because the young masters and ladies of the great families could join without risking their lives, hone themselves, and serve as valuable investments that every War of Succession drew countless factions scrambling to take part.
Now, if Yang Kai's actions went unaddressed, if no explanation were given to the world, no one would dare show up next time. What kind of War of Succession would that be?
"Relying on your status as a direct-line disciple of the Yang Family to hold the power of life and death over heirs of other families — your actions have chilled the family's heart and left us in a terrible position!" A middle-aged woman who appeared to be in her forties or fifties stared coldly at Yang Kai, her voice hoarse and raspy.
She was not ugly — past her prime, perhaps, but still carrying a certain charm. The only problem was her voice, which for reasons unknown was deeply unpleasant to the ear.
"Even if I weren't a direct-line disciple of the Yang Family, if those two provoked me, they would still have to die!" A flash of sharp, cold light passed through Yang Kai's eyes.
The several elders shook their heads repeatedly. The woman said, "It seems there's no reasoning with you at all. Elder Zhen, you speak to him."
Yang Zhen nodded slightly and took over the conversation. "Yang Kai, what you did this time truly went too far. I understand that you're young and hot-blooded — I went through a similar phase myself, so I won't lecture you. But as a man, you must take responsibility for your actions."
"And how would you have me take responsibility?" Yang Kai smiled. "Don't tell me those two families want my life in exchange?"
Yang Zhen gave a slight nod. "Representatives from the Nan and Xiang families arrived in Zhongdu a few days ago and entered the Yang Family compound. That is indeed what they're requesting."
"And what is the family's position?" A playful smirk tugged at Yang Kai's lips.
" Naturally, the family cannot agree to such an insolent demand." Yang Zhen snorted coldly. "They didn't even bother to weigh their own standing, yet they want one of our Yang Family disciples to pay with his life. Absurdly laughable."
Yang Kai's expression remained flat. The family's refusal of their demand was not to protect him — it was a matter of family honor, and Yang Kai understood that perfectly well.
If it had been any other Yang Family disciple who had committed this act, the family would still have protected them.
So Yang Kai felt no gratitude whatsoever.
"However, this matter must be resolved regardless, or the Yang Family will lose credibility before the outside world." Yang Zhen's voice was grave. "The family orders you to offer a formal apology and compensation to those two families!"
"An apology and compensation?" Yang Kai narrowed his eyes.
"That's right!"
"And what if I refuse?"
"This is the family's command!" The man in blue robes shouted in a stern voice. "You dare refuse?"
"And what if it is?" Yang Kai shot him a sidelong glance.
"You've lost your mind!" The man sneered repeatedly. "I'd heard you were rebellious and unruly, but I never expected it to be worse than the rumors. We came here specially today and have already shown you ample face. Don't play with fire and get yourself burned."
As he spoke, his aura abruptly erupted outward, and he glared furiously at Yang Kai.
In the next instant, countless streams of divine sense and overwhelming pressure surged inward from every direction, enveloping the entire side hall completely.
Crack… crack…
The side hall shuddered, and a cascade of dust and grit rained down from the ceiling.
The aura radiating from the man in blue crumbled under those streams of divine sense and crushing pressure like spring snow under a blazing sun, shattering in an instant.
The expressions of the several elders changed drastically. They seemed to suddenly recall that Yang Kai's estate was home to a great number of powerful warriors — flexing their force here was rather like showing off one's skills before an expert…
"Stand down!" Yang Kai barked.
The terrifying pressure vanished in an instant, and all of those streams of divine sense were withdrawn.
Cold sweat beaded on the forehead of the man in blue robes. He stared at Yang Kai with a complicated expression.
He was an elder of the Yang Family, wielding immense authority — his position could almost be described as second only to one, above ten thousand. He had thought that delivering orders to Yang Kai's estate would be a simple errand, but now it was clear this was an extraordinarily dangerous affair.
The reverence those powerful fighters in the estate held for this young man before him seemed to have reached an unparalleled degree.
No wonder the family head had ordered several elders to come together. He had originally thought it was making a mountain out of a molehill, but now he could see that the family head had been far-sighted.
If he had come alone to deliver these orders, it was uncertain whether the young man would have even bothered to acknowledge him.