Zhongdu was a hive of activity. Members of the Yang, Qiu, and Huo families were all busy packing their belongings. Though Yang Kai had given orders to keep everything simple, coordinating so many people at once still took considerable time.
Yang Kai waited a full ten days in Zhongdu before everything was finally prepared.
With a single command, nearly a thousand people from the three great families set out in a grand procession toward Lingxiao Pavilion.
The combined membership of the three families naturally exceeded this number, but in every clan there were some who were unwilling to leave Zhongdu and chose to stay behind. The Yang family fared relatively well—over ninety percent of its members had followed Yang Kai, with only the elderly remaining, too old and unwilling to endure the long journey.
The Huo and Qiu families had lost at least half their people. Only the direct-line descendants, under strict orders from Huo Xingchen and Qiu Yimeng, had joined the departing procession without exception.
Yang Kai's friends were also among the group. They had long since sent word back to their respective sects—the specifics of how to respond would depend on the attitudes of their elders.
Yang Kai had already told them that anyone willing to follow him to the Profound Continent could go directly to Lingxiao Pavilion. He would wait there for a time, but after that, there would be no second chance.
Outside Zhongdu's walls, the column stretched into the distance. At the city gates, a crowd had gathered, watching the procession depart with complicated expressions.
Most of these people belonged to the other five families of Zhongdu.
"Brother Meng, was it the right choice to stay here?" asked Kang Jian, patriarch of the Kang family, his eyes distant as he watched the thousand people growing smaller on the horizon. An involuntary pang of envy stirred within him.
Those people were heading to a higher world, to a greater place. But they themselves were bound to remain in Zhongdu, unable to join them.
Meng Shanyi, patriarch of the Meng family, shook his head and sighed. "Whether staying here is right or wrong, I can't say. It's just… our families have never had much of a relationship with Yang Kai. Even if we followed him, things might not necessarily be better over there. If he has any resources or treasures, he'll naturally prioritize the Yang, Qiu, and Huo families. We five families won't be valued—we might even be marginalized. Or absorbed."
"Brother Meng speaks truly," nodded Ye Jingli, patriarch of the Ye family. "That is precisely the concern that led us to decline his invitation. I imagine he could guess our worries as well, which is why he didn't insist."
"Maybe we're overthinking it," Kang Jian said, his expression uncertain. "Since it's supposed to be a higher realm, with the resources we have, perhaps Yang Kai wouldn't even want us. Maybe his invitation this time was simply a courtesy."
"If we've overthought it, then we've overthought it. We've already refused—can we very well chase after them now?"
"Brother Liu, what do you think?" Gao Rangxian, patriarch of the Gao family, turned his gaze to Liu Qingyao, seeking his opinion.
Liu Qingyao had been the number one fighter among Zhongdu's younger generation in years past. Among these men, he still carried some weight.
"I have no opinion," Liu Qingyao said slowly, shaking his head, unwilling to add a single word more.
…
Ten li outside Zhongdu, Yang Kai walked alongside Huo Xingchen and Qiu Yimeng.
Huo Xingchen glanced back and asked, "Young Master Kai, are you really going to leave those people behind?"
"What can I do? They don't want to follow me—I can't force them. Each person has their own fate. It's best to let things take their natural course."
"Indeed, it's their own choice—why should you worry about it?" Qiu Yimeng shot Huo Xingchen a look.
Huo Xingchen gave an awkward laugh. "I'm not worried about them, exactly. It's just that we've all lived together in Zhongdu for so many years, and now we're just leaving like this… there's a certain reluctance. Ah, forget it—no point me worrying about them either. Come, come, come, Young Master Kai, let me introduce you to my fifteen concubines and my wife. They're all very curious about you and insist that I arrange an introduction."
Yang Kai's face darkened. "Let's not."
A dozen sisters-in-law to greet would be trouble enough. What if they asked for meeting gifts or something…
"What do you mean, 'let's not'? If you don't go see them, they'll have my head tonight!" Huo Xingchen protested loudly.
Yang Kai was about to reluctantly agree when his brow suddenly furrowed. He turned his head sharply toward the distance, his expression growing solemn.
"My Lord!" Li Rong called out in a low voice beside him.
"I know." Yang Kai nodded slightly, then said urgently, "Brother Huo, Qiu Yimeng—take the column and keep moving. I'll be right back!"
With that, his figure flickered and vanished.
Li Rong and Han Fei exchanged a glance, then hurried after him.
Qiu Yimeng and Huo Xingchen stood frozen on the spot, wondering what had made them all suddenly dash off.
"What did Kai'er go to do?" Dong Suzhu hurried over to ask.
"I don't know. It seems he noticed something," Qiu Yimeng said thoughtfully.
"Could there be danger?" Dong Suzhu asked, worry flooding her voice.
"Don't worry, Auntie. There are two experts protecting Yang Kai. I'm not sure exactly how strong they are, but they must be very powerful." Qiu Yimeng smiled reassuringly.
Hearing this, Dong Suzhu relaxed somewhat.
Fourth Master Yang chuckled beside them. "Our son is grown—why do you always hover over him? Let him do what he wants. Our boy knows what he's doing."