Chapter 1045: I'll Remember This Debt
Upon arriving, Yang Haoran hadn't immediately set up a restrictive formation because he never intended to act against Zaomeng and the other Saint Servants—or rather, he harbored no killing intent towards them.
Soon after he revealed himself, Zaomeng secretly produced a Communication Talisman and sent it away. Despite Zaomeng's extreme caution, Yang Haoran still detected her actions.
However, he did not intervene. Instead, he feigned ignorance, allowing Zaomeng to quietly dispatch the message.
Not long after the Communication Talisman was sent, Xia Xinger arrived. From this, it was clear that Zaomeng had sent the talisman to tip off Xia Xinger—a possibility Yang Haoran had already anticipated, which was why he hadn't stopped Zaomeng.
According to his previous scheme, he hadn't wished to encounter the Holy Mother Cult's Saints so soon. However, the tragic demise of the individuals in the small courtyard had forced his hand, revealing his presence to the cult members. Thus, he had made a snap decision to alter his plans and meet the Holy Mother Cult's Saints ahead of schedule.
Since he had decided to meet the Holy Mother Cult's Saints, he naturally wouldn't prevent Zaomeng from sending the Communication Talisman.
His false accusation that the Holy Mother Cult had murdered the inhabitants of the small courtyard, and his demand for their souls, were merely ploys to gain more bargaining chips and excuses. However, Xia Xinger proved far shrewder than he'd anticipated. Upon her arrival, she showed no inclination to argue or settle scores; instead, she promptly returned the area to him, forcing him to revise his plans yet again.
Gazing at the desiccated corpses on the ground, Yang Haoran felt a pang of regret mixed with a hint of bewilderment. He turned his attention to Shui Ling, who stood nearby, and spoke.
"Do these killing methods appear to be the work of the Demon Cult?"
While he hadn't witnessed the full extent of the Demon Cult's cruelty, he trusted that Shui Ling had, which was why he directed his question to her.
At his words, Shui Ling nodded gently.
"From the methods, it certainly resembles the work of the Demon Cult. However, we cannot definitively conclude it was them. Some twisted individuals employ equally, if not more, barbaric means when murdering ordinary people, even surpassing what we currently witness. Still, if the Holy Mother Cult truly discovered a Demon Cult restriction formation upon their arrival, then the likelihood of this being their handiwork increases significantly."
Yang Haoran's doubts deepened considerably at her words.
"I've only been here for a few days. I've never interacted with the Demon Cult, nor do I have any grievances with them. Why would they do this? Could it be that the Spirit Masters are playing some trick?"
Shui Ling pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
"Your subordinate cannot be certain if the Spirit Masters are secretly meddling, but the Demon Cult's actions are notoriously unpredictable. In this Gu Mo City, they frequently target ordinary people due to their cultivation of wicked arts. Any common folk, regardless of which faction protects them, can become their prey. It's quite possible this incident is merely a coincidence, not an attack specifically aimed at the Funeral Director."
Yang Haoran's eyes narrowed slightly before he spoke.
"Whether it's a coincidence or the Spirit Masters' covert mischief, I will hold the Demon Cult accountable for this. Once I've firmly established myself here, I'll slowly settle this debt with them."
Having spoken, he cast a faint glance towards Huang Sha and spoke calmly.
"Bury them. This small courtyard will do; after all, it was their home."
Upon receiving the command, Huang Sha immediately struck the ground with his palm. Following this, the earth around the corpses rapidly transformed into sand before their eyes, swirling to envelop the desiccated remains. Soon, small burial mounds formed.
Though his time with these individuals had been brief, Huang Sha recalled their names. He quickly procured wooden planks, inscribed each person's name, and erected them before their respective graves.
"Let's go. The departed are gone, but we, the living, still have much to attend to."
Once Huang Sha had completed everything with the utmost speed, Yang Haoran did not linger. He beckoned to the others, then led them away from the small courtyard. Now that Xia Xinger had returned this area to him, he needed to make specific arrangements.
As Yang Haoran and his companions departed, the small courtyard lapsed into the stillness of night. The old man who had guided the Saint Servants, however, wasted no time fleeing the moment the Holy Mother Cult members were gone.
He had once been a devotee of the Death God, but now he served the Holy Mother. With Yang Haoran, the new Funeral Director of Gu Mo City's Underworld Office, having arrived, the old man feared being held accountable. Thus, as soon as the Holy Mother Cult departed, he slinked away, not daring to linger.
Given Yang Haoran's capabilities, there was no way he wouldn't sense the man's departure. However, he hadn't given the fellow a second thought, and thus made no move to stop him, allowing him to flee.
Inside the Holy Mother Cult's largest temple in Gu Mo City, Zaomeng looked at Xia Xinger, her gaze tinged with doubt.
"Holy Maiden, securing that area wasn't easy for us back then, and we paid a considerable price. To hand it over just like that, isn't it letting that Yang Haoran off too cheaply?"
Xia Xinger was silent for a moment before responding.
"Consider it a welcoming gift for our first encounter. And he wasn't wrong: once I withdraw all the believers, that area will have hardly any ordinary people left. It would be little more than an empty shell."
Despite Xia Xinger's explanation, Zaomeng remained somewhat unconvinced.
"Even an empty shell is still a considerable territory. Which other faction wouldn't be scrambling to acquire it? If this Yang Haoran possessed some actual skill, then giving it to him might be considered an advance investment, and perhaps he could even offer some assistance to our Holy Mother Cult in the future. But that Yang Haoran acts like a fool—a brainless man like him, I estimate, won't last long in Gu Mo City. He might even suffer a worse fate than the previous Funeral Director. Should that happen, he won't have brought our Holy Mother Cult any benefit, and we'll have simply forfeited a territory for nothing."
Xia Xinger gently shook her head, disagreeing with Zaomeng's assessment.
"A place devoid of people holds little value for sects like ours that rely on believers. To put it plainly, it's a 'chicken rib'—too tasteless to eat, yet too regrettable to discard. Given that, why not use it to extend goodwill? Furthermore, I don't believe Yang Haoran is the fool you make him out to be; quite the opposite, I find him rather astute. As for his true abilities, we shall soon see if he can hold onto that area."
Upon hearing this, Zaomeng started to speak again, but Xia Xinger cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"You are too quick to anger, and when provoked, you neglect to use your intellect. This is not a good trait, as it makes you easily exploited. While our Holy Mother Cult does not advocate for slaughter, we cannot allow ourselves to become tools for others. In our Holy Mother Cult in Gu Mo City, your standing is second only to mine. Therefore, I expect you to be more composed. Often, strength alone is insufficient; one must also possess a keen mind. Otherwise, no matter how formidable your power, you'll merely be used as a pawn."
Though Xia Xinger remained as calm as ever while speaking, Zaomeng keenly sensed her displeasure. In such a situation, how could she dare to utter another word? She could only nod profusely in affirmation.
"And further, you must exercise patience with believers—even with infidels. You must never use another's life as a threat, not even through insinuation. What I seek is heartfelt reverence from our followers, not mere outward displays of respect contrived to save their own lives. I trust you understand my meaning, and I also trust you know how to proceed from now on."
Upon hearing this, Zaomeng quickly lowered her head. Her reaction clearly indicated that she had grasped Xia Xinger's meaning. Before she could utter a word, Xia Xinger's tranquil voice once again reached her ears.
"Any mistake can be forgiven. If you err, I can forgive you. But if you repeatedly commit the same error, I will certainly devise a way to correct you; I cannot allow you to stumble again and again. Therefore, should similar incidents recur, I will be forced to handle them according to cult regulations. Yet, I truly hope that day never comes, for I would be deeply disappointed in you."
Xia Xinger's words were utterly calm, but Zaomeng, upon hearing them, found no calm within herself.
"Holy Maiden, rest assured. Your subordinate guarantees you: I will absolutely not repeat the same mistake!"
Xia Xinger nodded gently, then spoke.
"I trust you won't disappoint me. Go now, withdraw our people and all believers from the Underworld Office's territory tonight. The sooner, the better."
Zaomeng respectfully acknowledged the command, then immediately withdrew from the temple.
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