Chapter 1032: Grumbling Discontent
After the Black-haired Woman finished speaking, an elder seated below her also spoke.
"The Big Sister is right. This person indeed gives off a unique aura. Though I haven't directly faced him, I have a bad feeling about him. He's probably genuinely difficult to deal with."
The elder’s power was restrained; the fluctuations emanating from him were not strong. However, his ability to sit below the Black-haired Woman indicated his extraordinary nature. Among their thirteen members, at the very least, his status was quite high.
And indeed it was so. Among their thirteen, his status was the highest, second only to the Black-haired Woman. To put it simply, he was the second-in-command among the Spirit Summoners of Gu Mo City, and he hadn't achieved this position through the Black-haired Woman's patronage, but rather by his own strength.
Precisely because his strength and status were undisputed, when he spoke, none of the other Spirit Masters present dared to contradict him.
"Big Sister, since this person is difficult to deal with, what should we do next?"
A young woman looked at the Black-haired Woman and asked.
Hearing this, the Black-haired Woman took a drag from her cigarette before slowly answering.
Pausing, the Black-haired Woman took another drag from her cigarette, then continued.
"Since he's been transferred to Gu Mo City to clean up this mess, he shouldn't leave before resolving the situation. As for whether he'll hunker down within Gu Mo City or hide outside, that's hard to say. Pass down my order: have our people pay closer attention. The moment this person's tracks are discovered, report to me immediately."
Following this, the Black-haired Woman made several other arrangements for the Spirit Masters present. These Spirit Masters, in turn, reported various recent matters, both big and small. After all, if they, as Spirit Masters, wanted to establish a firm foothold in Gu Mo City and maintain their status, they faced not only the Underworld Office but also other factions. Thus, they had many concerns.
As for the traitorous Night Watcher, the Black-haired Woman didn't mention him, nor did the other Spirit Masters. Since this person had fallen into Yang Haoran's hands and was under his control, he had consequently lost his value. Therefore, none of them spoke of him, much less entertained any thoughts of rescuing him.
Led by Shui Ling, Yang Haoran and his companions arrived at a slum within Gu Mo City.
Although Gu Mo City was in utter chaos, it still had its rich and poor. Where the rich resided was clean and luxurious; where the poor lived was naturally filthy and dilapidated.
The rich here were all protected by powerful factions. In the current climate, if one wasn't backed by a powerful faction, merely having enough to eat was quite good; getting rich was completely unrealistic. Even if they accumulated wealth, it would certainly be plundered by others.
Why would powerful factions protect these people, allowing them to become the rich of Gu Mo City? Naturally, there were various reasons. The vast majority of the wealthy became so because they had someone in their family who was part of a powerful faction and was doing quite well within it. Thus, they received different treatment, which enabled them to prosper.
Conversely, those not protected by powerful factions, whether individuals or families, found it extremely difficult to get rich in Gu Mo City. Unless their own strength was immense, or their family had a master overseeing them, all others would only become paupers, living lives of hunger and rags.
Throughout Gu Mo City, such paupers were countless. Although the rich enjoyed noble status and exquisite food and clothing, their numbers were minuscule compared to the vast populace of the poor.
Gu Mo City had many slums; the one Yang Haoran and his companions were currently in was merely one among many.
"Is this really a place where people live?"
Xiang Chuan, usually all smiles and jokes, now furrowed his brows. His gaze swept around, and he couldn't help but speak, his tone revealing a strong sense of displeasure.
It was no wonder he reacted that way. They were currently in a small, dilapidated courtyard, where bamboo poles lay haphazardly about. From these poles hung numerous tattered clothes and pants. Judging by the extent of their raggedness, it would be more accurate to call them scraps of fabric rather than garments.
Surrounding the courtyard were ordinary houses, which, grouped together, formed this small yard. From the courtyard's ruined appearance and the clothing, it was clear the interior conditions of these rooms couldn't be much better.
The dilapidated state of the courtyard was one thing—after all, to people like Xiang Chuan, dilapidation was nothing. The crucial point was that this courtyard was also incredibly messy and constantly emitted a nauseating stench.
It was precisely because of this that Xiang Chuan couldn't help but voice his complaints at this moment.
"I'm truly sorry. The conditions here are indeed rather poor. However, relatively speaking, it's much safer here than anywhere else. If we were to stay at an inn, we'd be discovered by the Spirit Masters in no time; they have far too many informants within Gu Mo City."
Hearing Xiang Chuan's complaints, Shui Ling explained with an apologetic expression. Xiang Chuan, meanwhile, waved his hand dismissively, a helpless sigh escaping his lips, and turned his gaze to Yang Haoran.
"Big Brother, you said you'd take me to enjoy the good life, eating well and drinking fine liquor! Look at this place! You're not planning to sell me off as a slave, are you?"
Shui Ling, standing nearby, couldn't help but reveal an awkward expression upon hearing this, then turned her gaze to Yang Haoran.
To her slight surprise, Yang Haoran remained his usual self, a faint smile on his face, unchanged by either the environment or Xiang Chuan's complaints.
Hearing Xiang Chuan's complaints, Yang Haoran looked at him, then asked with a faint smile.
"Heh heh, did I say I'd take you to enjoy the good life? I don't recall that."
Xiang Chuan's expression froze. Then, realizing what was happening, he showed a furious look, pointed at Yang Haoran, and couldn't squeeze out a single word for a long while.
"Alright, the environment here might be a bit harsh, but this is only temporary; you're not meant to live here forever, so just bear with it for now. Besides, while the smell here is strong, it's still far from the stench of corpses."
Yang Haoran spoke with a smile. Although Xiang Chuan was annoyed, he didn't dare genuinely lash out at Yang Haoran. Moreover, Yang Haoran wasn't intentionally making him stay here; it was entirely due to the circumstances. So, he could only sigh helplessly.
"Sigh, I really don't know what sins I committed in my last life to encounter a fellow like you in this one!"
Yang Haoran chuckled, no longer paying attention to Xiang Chuan. He shifted his gaze from Xiang Chuan to the awkward-faced Shui Ling.
"My Lord, I'm truly sorry for making you temporarily stay in a place like this, I. . ."
Yang Haoran smiled and waved his hand, signaling Shui Ling to say no more. Seeing this, Shui Ling obediently shut her mouth.
"It looks like many people should live here, but why can't I sense a single living aura?"
Yang Haoran asked Shui Ling. Hearing him, Shui Ling immediately replied.
"They are still working for other factions, and it's not time for them to finish yet, which is why this courtyard is empty. It's not just here; most of the paupers in this entire area are still working at this moment."
Hearing this, Yang Haoran nodded slightly.
"So they haven't gotten off work yet. No wonder there's no one here."
As he spoke, Yang Haoran glanced at his watch and saw that it was already eleven o'clock at night.
"Still not off work this late? Is this a night shift?"
Shui Ling shook her head, then began to explain.
"They have to work until midnight every day. It's not wrong for My Lord to consider their work as 'going to work. ' However, ordinary people work to earn money, while they work to obtain some food and daily necessities. Because only by working for other factions can they exchange their labor for some simple and pitifully scarce food. Otherwise, they would starve to death."
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