The dinner proceeded with an air of quiet tension, each member of the Mu family lost in their own thoughts.
However, the calm was abruptly shattered when Mu Mengyan directed her attention to Yang Kai.
"Yang Kai, did you happen to leave the Estate earlier today?" she inquired.
Yang Kai's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected question, though he wasn't entirely surprised that his movements were being monitored.
He composed himself before responding, "Yes, I went for a leisurely stroll near the Mu Estate. Is there something wrong?"
Mu Mengyan's brows furrowed, "Our family's experts have reported the presence of several unidentified individuals in the vicinity, along with the discovery of a dead body. Do you happen to know anything about these incidents?"
Mu Zhangwei interjected and said. "If you have any information, it is crucial that you inform us. These unknown individuals managed to evade our guards' watchful eyes."
As Yang Kai's mind raced, he carefully considered the potential consequences of sharing his encounter with the mysterious figure and the blood-stained book.
The fragility of his position within the Mu Family weighed heavily on his decision-making process.
Ultimately, he concluded that it would be wiser to keep this newfound knowledge to himself, at least for the time being.
With a composed demeanor, Yang Kai replied, "I'm afraid I don't have any knowledge about the incidents you mentioned. During my stroll, I didn't come across anything unusual or encounter any unknown individuals."
Mu Mengyan nodded, her expression showing a mix of relief. "I see. It's good to know that you weren't involved."
Mu Zhangwei glanced at Yang Kai, his gaze probing for any signs of deception.
Satisfied with Yang Kai's response, he spoke, "Very well, if you happen to notice anything unusual in the future, please inform us immediately."
Yang Kai nodded in agreement, concealing his inner turmoil. He had to keep what happened earlier a secret, at least for the time being."
After the dinner, Yang Kai politely excused himself, intending to retire to his room and gather his thoughts in solitude.
However, as he made his way towards the door, Mu Mengyan intercepted him, her expression laced with suspicion.
"Did you do something to Xuanxuan?" she inquired, her tone cautious.
Caught off guard by the unexpected accusation, Yang Kai coughed lightly and replied, "No, not at all. What makes you ask?"
"I couldn't help but notice that she kept glancing at you during dinner. Did something happen between you two?" Mu Mengyan pressed, her concern evident.
Yang Kai, momentarily caught off guard, searched for an appropriate response. "Well, perhaps she just finds her brother-in-law quite handsome," he blurted out.
"Is that so?" she responded, her tone carrying a touch of skepticism. "Well, in that case, nevermind then."
With those words, Mu Mengyan turned and proceeded to leave, leaving Yang Kai relieved.
A question suddenly rosed up in his mind, "Wifey!" he shouted.
Seemingly oblivious to his call, Mu Mengyan continued on her way, her steps unhindered.
"A-hem, Mengyan!" he called out once more.
This time, Mu Mengyan paused and turned around, a victorious smile playing on her lips. Yet, a pang of guilt stirred within her, questioning her own pettiness.
"What is it?" she inquired, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
Yang Kai took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Do you know anything about the Immortal Scriptures?" he asked, his eyes searching hers for any hint of recognition.
Surprise flickered across Mu Mengyan's face, followed by a glimmer of suspicion. "Why do you possess knowledge about such sacred texts?" she asked, her tone guarded. "Where did you come across this information?"
Yang Kai took a deep breath, his mind racing to find a suitable response. "I stumbled upon some information about the Immortal Scriptures in a book," he replied casually, hoping to downplay the significance of his discovery.
Mu Mengyan's frown deepened as skepticism clouded her expression. "It's impossible that such sacred texts would be casually mentioned in any random book," she retorted.
Her tone turned more serious as she continued, "I don't care where you obtained this information, but I must warn you. The Immortal Scriptures are a dangerous and coveted treasure. Mentioning them carelessly can get you killed."
Yang Kai nodded gravely, his inner thoughts racing. 'There are twelve of these immortal scriptures, but I've only managed to stumble upon one by sheer luck. Finding the remaining eleven seems like an impossible task. If even casually mentioning them can lead to death, then the consequences of actively seeking them out may be catastrophic.'
As Mu Mengyan turned and walked away, Yang Kai's focus shifted back to his own concerns. He hastened back to his room, eager to explore the newfound abilities of his system.
Upon entering his room, Yang Kai was bombarded with a flurry of notifications from the system.
"You have successfully incited hatred in Mu Xuanxuan for +111... +111... +111... Hatred points"
Startled, he quickly turned around, only to come face to face with a figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to Mu Mengyan.
She stood just outside his room, her eyes fixed on him with an intense glare of rage.
It was Mu Xuanxuan, his sister-in-law.
Clearing his throat, Yang Kai attempted to diffuse the tension. "Xuanxuan, is there something you need?"
"Hmph! Don't address me so familiarly. Call me Second Miss," she retorted coldly.
"You better not tell anyone about what happened earlier today, or you'll face the consequences!" She clenched her fists, radiating a sense of anger.
Amused by her display, Yang Kai chuckled. "Don't worry, as long as you keep it a secret, I will too."
"You have successfully incited hatred in Mu Xuanxuan for +66... +66... +66... Hatred points"
"Hmph," she huffed before storming off.
Yang Kai let out a groan as he closed the door. "Does this family live in a perpetual state of anger?"
Taking a seat on his bed, Yang Kai opened up his system to see what new features had been unlocked.
He noticed that he now had access to the "Items," "Techniques," and "Lottery" sections.
Intrigued, he decided to start with the "Items" section to explore potential options for boosting his cultivation.
One item caught his attention: the "Sword of the Star God." Legend had it that the Star God, Su Xing, used this sword to slay millions of enemies. It was said to possess the ability to cut through the void, allowing its wielder to travel through space.
Price: 5,000,000,000 Hatred points
"Holy sh*t! What the...?" Yang Kai was taken aback by the exorbitant price of the sword. He quickly checked his current Hatred points.
Current Hatred Points: 3,006
His hopes were instantly shattered. "Wouldn't I have to enrage the entire world to accumulate that many Hatred points...? I'd be dead before I even come close."
Letting out a sigh, Yang Kai sorted the items by price, hoping to find something more within his reach.
His eyes landed on the "Farmer's Trusted Sword." The description explained that it was a sword once used by a farmer who trusted it so much that he slept with it, only to be fatally stabbed in his sleep by the same sword.
Price: 50,000 Hatred points
Yang Kai's mouth twitched as he read the peculiar description of the weapon. While he also noticed healing potions and body cleansing potions, they were beyond his current means.
Assuming that the "Techniques" section would be similarly expensive, Yang Kai turned his attention to the "Lottery" section.
"Legends say that one man gambled his way to the top! What's stopping you?! Just keep gambling, and you too can make it to the top!"
"For every 100 Hatred points spent, you have a chance to win a random item from the store!"
Yang Kai considered trying his luck with the system's lottery, hoping to obtain a valuable item. He clicked the "Gamble" button, filled with anticipation as he awaited his rewards.
The notifications flooded in:
[Your Participation is Appreciated!]
[Do you wish to continue drawing prizes?]
"Yes!"
[Your Participation is Appreciated!]
[Do you wish to conti-]
"Yes"
[Your Participation is Appreciated!]
[Do you wi-]
"YES"
[Your Participation is Appreciated!]
[Do-]
"YES!"
[Your Participation is Appreciated!]
"..."
"???????" Yang Kai was dumbfounded, "What the hell? The rates are that low!?"