Chapter 100: Funeral
Yang Haoran claimed to be an Underworld Official, and while the human face didn't seem to fully believe him, its fear of Yang Haoran was undeniably genuine.
"Are you really an Underworld Official? " The human face's tone was uncertain.
Yang Haoran nodded with a smile and said, "I have no reason to lie to you."
As his words fell, the Soul-Gathering Bead embedded in his ring detached. With a flick of his hand, the Soul-Gathering Bead returned to its normal size, floating suspended in the air before the tombstone. Innumerable Soul Threads drifted within the bead, a truly wondrous sight.
"They are just like you, having lost their lives for various reasons before I found them. Whether I'm lying to you, you'll know once you go inside and ask them. " Yang Haoran said with a smile.
For wanglings of this caliber, Yang Haoran could have easily used forceful means to directly collect them into the Soul-Gathering Bead; the other party wouldn't even have had the ability to resist. However, he didn't do so, for in his view, this was the proper respect due to the deceased.
Of course, if the other party didn't take him seriously, or even harbored other intentions towards him, that would be another matter entirely.
Seeing the innumerable Soul Threads within the Soul-Gathering Bead, coupled with Yang Haoran's Ghost Eye that instilled fear in it, it began to believe Yang Haoran's words to some extent.
"I have one last wish, can you help me fulfill it? " The human face's gaze shifted from the Soul-Gathering Bead to Yang Haoran, its tone filled with entreaty.
Upon hearing Yang Haoran's words, a look of disappointment appeared on the human face. Just as it was about to speak again, Yang Haoran interrupted it preemptively.
"I have many other matters to attend to and cannot delay here for too long. Moreover, if ordinary people were to see me in my current state, it would surely cause unnecessary trouble and misunderstandings. So, prepare yourself. I will now collect you into the Soul-Gathering Bead and guide you away from this place. " Yang Haoran said to the human face, revealing a gentle smile.
"No! I don't want to leave yet! I still have an unfulfilled wish!"
The human face refused Yang Haoran. It had no intention of leaving with Yang Haoran at that moment. After a distortion of its features, the human face vanished from the tombstone.
Yang Haoran shook his head with a wry smile. This wasn't the first time he had encountered such a situation. While he disliked using forceful means against ordinary wanglings, sometimes there was simply no other way; he had no choice but to do so, just like now.
He snapped his fingers, and the Soul-Gathering Bead was activated. As black Yin Qi surged upward, a powerful suction force, effective only on spirit bodies, burst forth from within the Soul-Gathering Bead. The human face, which had just vanished, reappeared on the tombstone.
Under the powerful suction, the human face's entire Spirit Body was forcibly pulled out from within the tombstone, then completely drawn into the Soul-Gathering Bead amidst its unwilling protests. From beginning to end, it took merely a few breaths.
With a wave of his hand, the Soul-Gathering Bead returned to his grasp. Looking at the additional Soul Thread, Yang Haoran said with a smile, "My apologies, but if every wangling expected me to fulfill their dying wishes, even if I had the art of clone-creation, I wouldn't be able to handle it all. Since you are already dead, let the matters of your former life simply drift away with the wind."
As his words fell, the Soul-Gathering Bead rapidly shrunk in Yang Haoran's palm, then automatically embedded itself back into the ring.
Lighting a cigarette, Yang Haoran glanced at the fresh grave before him and sighed softly: "Everyone dies, but how many can truly let go before death? Whose life is without regrets?"
Shaking his head, Yang Haoran exhaled a thick plume of smoke, then turned and left.
Back in his car, Yang Haoran continued to drive home. Due to the delay, the roads were now considerably more crowded with pedestrians and vehicles.
To avoid causing trouble for others and for himself, he maintained a steady speed, neither fast nor slow.
At this current pace, he estimated he'd arrive home before noon, just in time to have lunch with his parents.
Meanwhile, in Lecheng, Old Master Wu had unexpectedly appeared outside the South Lake Death God Temple. By his side, only a young, strong bodyguard accompanied him; there was no one else.
Standing outside the temple gates, Old Master Wu took a Death God Pendant from around his neck and meticulously examined it in his hand. Although he had scrutinized this pendant countless times before, he still couldn't resist taking it out for another look.
This was merely a seemingly ordinary Death God Pendant; both its craftsmanship and materials were utterly ordinary. Yet, Old Master Wu, a man of great standing, wore it personally as if it were a treasure.
If Yang Haoran were here, he would instantly recognize the Death God Pendant around Old Master Wu's neck as having been made by his own hands. This was because the Death God Pendant bore his Spirit Power blessing, which he could easily sense.
Having lived to his current age, Old Master Wu's experience and insight were naturally beyond question. Even before the haunting of his villa, he had witnessed some strange and scientifically inexplicable phenomena. It was precisely for this reason that he came to know Wang Yiming of the Talisman Order and the exorcist Ma Ling.
Because he had witnessed such things, he had always known of the existence of extraordinary individuals and practitioners in this world. However, as for gods, he had never seen them, and thus did not believe in them.
It was precisely for this reason that he had never harbored any faith in gods, nor did he believe in concepts like karma, reincarnation, or transmigration. Until Yang Haoran's appearance, this changed.
Yang Haoran was a member of the Underworld Office. Old Master Wu first heard this from Wang Yiming and Ma Ling. Afterward, he questioned Yang Haoran privately and confirmed Wang Yiming and Ma Ling's claims.
Since the Underworld Office and Underworld Officials existed, did that not mean that the Underworld Office's supreme ruler, the Death God, also existed? And that reincarnation after death was also true?
Old Master Wu's perception changed as a result. Considering his advanced age and that he didn't have much time left to live in this world, he wanted to make one last effort before his death, to do something for himself.
Given his status and age, he had long given up any thoughts of striving. For time was like a blade suspended at his neck, inching closer and closer. He knew resistance was futile, and naturally, he had no intention of trying to change it—after all, everyone would face that day.
But after Yang Haoran's appearance, he saw hope once more. He felt that he wasn't entirely without the ability to resist. If he could summon the drive of his youth and strive one last time, it might yield unexpected results.
He wanted to live for a few more years, as many as possible. Even if he couldn't extend his life, he didn't want to suffer after death. And Yang Haoran, as an Underworld Official, was of immense value to him in his eyes.
Why was he so courteous to Yang Haoran?
Why did he go to such lengths to win Yang Haoran over?
Money was given if asked, cars were provided if requested. If trouble arose, he didn't even need to ask; Yang Haoran would simply appear. All of this was because Yang Haoran was too important to Old Master Wu at this moment.
Whether his final ambition in this life could be achieved, in his view, Yang Haoran played a crucial role.
There was no real affection between him and Yang Haoran; they were simply satisfying each other's needs. It was merely that both were shrewd individuals, and neither had broken that thin veneer of pretense.
Coming to the Death God Temple today, he had decided to become a believer of the Death God. This was the first step in his upcoming plan.
Old Master Wu revealed a benevolent smile. Anyone who saw him would subconsciously feel that this was a benevolent old man. He carefully tucked the Death God Pendant into his bosom, then stepped into the Death God Temple.
Yang Haoran was unaware that Old Master Wu had already stepped into the Death God Temple. At this moment, he was somewhat flusteredly dodging the constant flow of vehicles.
Although he had obtained his driver's license many years ago, at this moment, he could entirely be considered a novice. He could only do his best to control his speed and maintain a safe distance, to avoid becoming one of those "road killers."
In his plan, getting home for lunch shouldn't have been an issue, but often plans go awry. By the time he returned home, it was already approaching evening.
The reason for such a long delay was partly due to his poor driving skills, but that wasn't the main cause. The primary reason was that throughout his journey, he had successively sensed the presence of several wanglings.
As a Night Watcher, a wangling guide, he certainly couldn't pretend not to know when encountering such things. Not only did he not pretend, but he was also quite pleased to complete one guidance after another.
Since cars couldn't enter these locations, Yang Haoran had to first find a place to park his car, then proceed to the areas where he sensed wanglings. This was quite time-consuming.
Furthermore, Yang Haoran didn't have the habit of collecting wanglings into the Soul-Gathering Bead without a word. He would always communicate with them to achieve the goal of them willingly entering the Soul-Gathering Bead. This, in turn, made it even more time-consuming.
It was precisely for these reasons that, stopping and starting along the way, he arrived home already close to evening.
During this time, Yang Haoran's elderly mother had called him several times, worried that something might have happened to him on the road. After all, it was the Lunar New Year, with many people and vehicles, and accidents were common occurrences.
In response, Yang Haoran assured his parents of his safety and told the two elders not to wait for him, as he would get home as quickly as possible.
Under the setting sun, Yang Haoran parked his car in front of his house. Everything before him was so familiar: the familiar tiled roof house, the familiar road, the familiar air, the familiar trees. He couldn't help but close his eyes and take a deep breath of the familiar air, feeling his entire body revel in the sensation.
The only thing that left him with regret was that he didn't see the familiar smiles of his elderly parents, and the house door was tightly shut. This couldn't help but stir some doubt in his heart.
"That's strange, where did Mom and Dad go?"
No sooner had the doubt arisen in his mind than a burst of gongs and drums reached his ears, followed by heart-wrenching wails.
Yang Haoran frowned. Having grown up in the countryside, he was all too familiar with these sounds. Someone was holding a funeral.
Following the source of the sound, though trees obscured his view, he could be certain that the sounds of gongs, drums, and mourning cries were coming from his Third Granduncle's house.
"Something happened at Third Granduncle's house? Why hadn't Mom and Dad mentioned it before?"
Carrying the doubt in his heart, Yang Haoran quickened his pace towards Third Granduncle's house.
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