Hounded Like Stray Dogs
When Xiang Chuan collected the Quicksand Four-Leaf Flower, Yang Haoran stood alone outside, smoking, his usual smile absent, his face lost in thought.
This time, he not only didn't kill Huang Sha but actually brought him under his command. On one hand, he had no deep-seated animosity with Huang Sha, no compelling reason to kill him. On the other hand, he was currently in urgent need of manpower. Compared to the former, the latter was the main reason he spared Huang Sha.
Having come to Gu Mo City this time, he had only brought Xiang Chuan. There were many things he couldn't personally handle, and he didn't feel at ease leaving them to Xiang Chuan. Thus, he needed more hands, people to work for him.
Finding people to do things was certainly simple, but finding subordinates whose strength satisfied him was much more difficult. Huang Sha was quite capable; among those at the Demon Saint realm, he was considered a formidable presence. Although he couldn't compare to Bai Xue, who was on the verge of breaking through to the Demon King realm, he had definitely reached the upper-middle tier of the Demon Saint realm. Such a powerful individual was precisely what Yang Haoran needed right now.
Although Huang Sha was a demon and not human, Luo Yao's appearance and his lack of concern regarding Bai Xue gave Yang Haoran confidence. If his direct superior didn't mind, he naturally wouldn't have any qualms. As for what others might say, that was their business.
However, with only Huang Sha as his new subordinate, he felt it was far from enough. He hadn't yet witnessed the extent of Gu Mo City's chaos firsthand, but he had looked up some information about it in the Underworld Iron Tome. Moreover, even Luo Yao himself had said that Gu Mo City was very chaotic, which confirmed that it was undoubtedly unstable, perhaps even more tumultuous than he imagined. Under such circumstances, if he wanted to gain a firm footing in Gu Mo City, his own strength alone would certainly not suffice. He needed more powerful individuals to serve him.
Footsteps from behind brought Yang Haoran out of his reverie. He lowered his gaze to the cigarette in his hand; it had already burned down, but he had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed.
Turning to look behind him, the faint smile returned to his face.
Xiang Chuan chuckled, the dissatisfaction he'd shown earlier completely gone, replaced by a cheeky grin.
"Heh heh, all done."
Although Xiang Chuan didn't say much, Yang Haoran could largely guess what had transpired based on his reaction.
"Alright then, let's go."
Yang Haoran had no intention of digging for details. After learning that the two had handled the matter, he gave the order to leave. As for how they had handled it, he didn't wish to inquire.
"Boss, I'm very familiar with Gu Mo City. If you need to go anywhere, I can lead the way for you."
Huang Sha spoke, and Yang Haoran, hearing him, nodded with a smile.
"Alright, I'll trouble you with that then."
With Yang Haoran's assent, Huang Sha immediately tore open space, then respectfully gestured for Yang Haoran to enter. The three entered the spatial rift one after another, with Huang Sha, who had torn open the space, entering last.
When the three emerged from the spatial rift, they were already outside Gu Mo City. They hadn't directly descended inside the city, not because the entire Gu Mo City was enveloped by a restrictive barrier that prevented entry, but because Yang Haoran had some questions he needed to ask Huang Sha.
Yang Haoran's understanding of Gu Mo City was very limited, but Huang Sha was different. In his opinion, as a native of Gu Mo City, even if Huang Sha hid in the desert, his knowledge of the city would undoubtedly be much clearer than Yang Haoran's. Therefore, he intended to obtain more information about Gu Mo City from Huang Sha.
"Huang Sha, my understanding of Gu Mo City is quite limited. I trust you know this city better than I do. Tell me about its situation so I can get a clearer picture."
Yang Haoran spoke, and Huang Sha, hearing him, immediately asked,
"What would you like to know, Boss?"
Yang Haoran thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"First, tell me about the situation of the Gu Mo City Underworld Office."
As an agent of the Underworld Office, Yang Haoran naturally needed to first understand its situation upon arriving in Gu Mo City. Although he had gained some knowledge of the Gu Mo City Underworld Office through the Underworld Iron Tome, he couldn't guarantee that what he had learned was entirely accurate or comprehensive. After all, official information, for various interests, inevitably contained discrepancies.
"Boss must be the new Emissary of Death assigned here by the Underworld Office, correct?"
Huang Sha didn't immediately explain the situation of the Gu Mo City Underworld Office but instead first posed this question to Yang Haoran. Although he was asking Yang Haoran, his tone indicated he was almost certain of his conjecture.
Yang Haoran didn't hide it. After all, there was nothing to conceal about such a matter; before long, all the other factions in Gu Mo City would know that he, Yang Haoran, was the newly appointed Emissary of Death for the Gu Mo City Underworld Office.
"That's right, I'm the Emissary of Death who was just transferred to Gu Mo City."
Yang Haoran wasn't surprised at all that Huang Sha could guess his identity. After all, Huang Sha was somewhat of a local informant in Gu Mo City; he would certainly know who the previous Emissary of Death for Gu Mo City's Underworld Office was, and that this Emissary had died.
Being new to the city and an agent of the Underworld Office, it was only natural that he would likely be the new Emissary of Death taking over the Gu Mo City Underworld Office. Thus, Huang Sha's ability to guess that he was the newly appointed Emissary of Death for the Gu Mo City Underworld Office didn't surprise him in the least.
After receiving Yang Haoran's affirmative reply, Huang Sha continued speaking.
"When the previous Emissary of Death for the Gu Mo City Underworld Office was still alive, while the Gu Mo City Underworld Office couldn't be called the city's top power, it wasn't something minor factions dared to provoke. But after that Emissary of Death died, the Gu Mo City Underworld Office fell on hard times. Not only were they suppressed by other forces, but they were also frequently hunted by Spirit Mediums."
At this point, Huang Sha paused, glancing at Yang Haoran's expression. Seeing that Yang Haoran's face hadn't changed, still bearing that faint, unchanging smile, he let out a soft sigh before continuing.
"Nowadays, to describe the Gu Mo City Underworld Office as being in 'dire straits' is no exaggeration at all. Not only have their believers drastically dwindled, but a large number of Night Watchers have also tragically died for various reasons. There shouldn't be many Night Watchers still alive now, and moreover. . ."
Huang Sha's voice trailed off again. Seeing this, Yang Haoran asked with a smile,
"Heh heh, go on and speak your mind. Don't hold back."
Yang Haoran's words seemed to embolden Huang Sha. He nodded, then continued,
"Furthermore, the Spirit Mediums of Gu Mo City have been relentlessly hunting the Night Watchers of the Gu Mo City Underworld Office, forcing the surviving Night Watchers to go into hiding, just like the Spirit Mediums used to do."
After saying this, Huang Sha once again looked at Yang Haoran's expression. To his surprise, even upon hearing this news, Yang Haoran's demeanor remained unchanged, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
"Heh heh, it seems the Underworld Iron Tome indeed concealed some information regarding the current situation of the Gu Mo City Underworld Office. I never expected the Gu Mo City Underworld Office to have fallen to such a state; to think that the Night Watchers of the esteemed Underworld Office are being hunted by Spirit Mediums like stray dogs. How truly lamentable."
Yang Haoran smiled faintly. Huang Sha didn't dare to respond to that, merely standing respectfully to the side, awaiting Yang Haoran's next question.
"Huang Sha, haven't you always been hiding in the desert? How are you so well-informed about the Gu Mo City Underworld Office's situation? Do you perhaps have informants here in Gu Mo City?"
Xiang Chuan asked at this moment. Huang Sha, hearing him, immediately replied,
"What informants? All this information I gathered myself. Although I've always preferred to hide in the desert, I occasionally come to Gu Mo City for various errands. Gu Mo City might be chaotic, but it has many good things, and naturally, some things I need. So, every now and then, I secretly make a trip to Gu Mo City, and naturally, I'd learn some information about the Underworld Office."
After listening to Huang Sha's explanation, an "aha" expression appeared on Xiang Chuan's face. Huang Sha paused briefly, then continued speaking.
"In the past, I had no dealings with the Gu Mo City Underworld Office, so I never deliberately inquired about their situation. What I just told you isn't any secret; everyone in Gu Mo City knows about it, so I naturally heard it easily from others. However, I can't guarantee that this information is one hundred percent accurate; there might be some embellishments."
Comments