The group before him didn't look particularly friendly, and Yang Kai certainly had no intention of being polite either. His mood wasn't great to begin with, and if someone wanted to pick a fight, he was more than happy to oblige.
"I hear you've been asking around about an old man and a young girl?" The middle-aged man in the lead glanced sideways at Yang Kai and spoke in a cold tone.
"You've seen them?" Yang Kai's eyes lit up.
"Would they be a lecherous old geezer and a young girl wearing a veil?" the man confirmed.
"That's them!" Yang Kai was overjoyed, and the group suddenly seemed much more amiable.
"Then we've seen them." The big man nodded slightly. "Why are you looking for them? What's your relationship to them?"
"That's none of your concern." Yang Kai shook his head. "Just tell me if they left behind any leads. I can pay you for the information."
"Payment?" The big man let out an eerie laugh. "What kind of payment?"
"Crystals or spirit pills — as long as the lead is valuable, I can compensate you."
Hearing this, a hint of surprise flickered in the big man's eyes. Looking at Yang Kai's rough, unsophisticated appearance, he hadn't expected the kid to actually have some wealth.
"Tough talk for a brat." The big man nodded slightly. "But even though we saw that old man and the girl, we never spoke to them. We don't really have any concrete information."
"Then don't waste my time." Yang Kai's mood soured again, and his expression went cold.
The big man chuckled. "We might not know, but that doesn't mean nobody else does. If you really want to find out, come with us."
Yang Kai's gaze flickered, and then he suddenly smiled. "Sure. Take me to someone who knows."
The big man nodded and led the way, with Yang Kai following close behind. The rest of the man's entourage trailed after them, subtly cutting off any path of retreat.
Yang Kai could sense that these people had bad intentions, but they had definitely encountered Meng Wuya and Xia Ningshang — otherwise their descriptions wouldn't have been so accurate.
What on earth had Old Meng done to them? Why did they seem to hold such a grudge?
Despite noticing this, Yang Kai was confident in his own abilities and felt no fear. He followed along with an easy demeanor while quietly surveying the situation around him.
He had been operating in Shuilancheng for a month, and he knew for a fact that there were no Saint Realm experts here. So he had nothing to worry about.
After walking with the big man for quite a while, they suddenly arrived in front of a large residence.
Once inside, the big man led Yang Kai through the courtyard, and before long, they reached a garden.
In that garden sat a young man with a sinister expression, lounging in a chair. At his feet, two women dressed in revealing, seductive outfits knelt half-crouched, clinging to his sides like pets.
These two women weren't powerful — probably only at the Zhenyuan Realm — and at this moment, each wore a collar around her pale neck. A rope was attached to the other end of each collar, held loosely in the young man's hand.
One of the women had full, perky hips and knelt on the ground in a provocative posture, wagging her rear like a little dog, apparently trying to curry favor with the young man. The other woman had her head buried in his lap, moving with nimble skill, her mouth apparently stuffed full as she whimpered softly.
Both women wore almost nothing — thin veils draped over their bodies, with the curves of their chests and the patch of grass between their thighs faintly visible.
When Yang Kai and the others arrived, the big man and the group of warriors all found themselves breathing a little heavier, licking their lips, their gazes turning lewd.
And the young man sitting in the chair had a look of pure ecstasy on his face.
Yang Kai's expression darkened.
He had heard before that some spoiled young masters from wealthy, powerful families had unusual tastes. Back in Zhongdu, there were people who enjoyed this sort of twisted indulgence.
But seeing it with his own eyes — that was a first.
"Young master, we've brought him." The big man watched for a moment, seemed to realize the impropriety, and hastily spoke up.
The young man in the chair grunted without much interest, still wearing that blissful expression.
Then, abruptly, his face twisted into something monstrous. He grabbed a fistful of the woman who had her head buried between his legs and slapped her several times across the face, roaring, "You cheap wench! How many times have I told you — don't use your teeth!"
The slaps were brutal. The woman's cheeks swelled up instantly, but even so, she didn't dare utter a single word of complaint. She quickly crawled to the young man's feet, her delicate body trembling.
Yang Kai's eyes narrowed, and his aura grew faintly dangerous.
The young man straightened his clothes, then looked Yang Kai over with leisurely composure and snorted coldly. "So you're the one looking for that old geezer and the little girl?"
"That's right." Yang Kai nodded. "Do you have any leads on them?"
"No. I'm looking for them too!" The young man let out a sinister laugh. "If you have any information, how about you tell me?"
"You're looking for them too?" Yang Kai frowned. "Why are you looking for them?"
"Know your place — that's the question I should be asking you." The young man's face immediately darkened, and he spoke displeasedly. "But since you asked, I suppose there's no harm in telling you."