Chapter 1090: The Demand for a Person
Some matters, naturally, aren't best discussed in front of believers and subordinate Night Watchers. Yang Haoran understood this principle well. That's why he invited Zhuang Yingjie to step aside and talk elsewhere. His demeanor towards Zhuang Yingjie was quite courteous, but Zhuang Yingjie's towards him was anything but.
Led by Yang Haoran, the trio arrived at the Death God Temple's dedicated reception hall. While the conference room was also a suitable venue for discussion, Yang Haoran had no desire to usher an outsider into it, especially one who clearly harbored ill intent.
Inside the reception hall, Yang Haoran and Zhuang Yingjie sat facing each other. Huang Sha stood respectfully behind Yang Haoran, while a Night Watcher, meanwhile, was tasked with serving them tea.
"Heh heh, this tea is quite good, President Zhuang. Do have a taste," Yang Haoran chuckled, saying.
"Emissary Yang, I didn't come here today for tea and pleasantries. Everyone is busy, so I'd rather get straight to the point."
Zhuang Yingjie's face was impassive. He made no move to touch the tea beside him, but spoke to Yang Haoran in a grave tone.
Yang Haoran's expression remained placid, a faint smile still gracing his lips. He said nothing, simply picking up his teacup and taking a leisurely sip.
Zhuang Yingjie observed Yang Haoran's every reaction. Seeing Yang Haoran act as if nothing were amiss, a wave of displeasure surged within him, and his brow involuntarily furrowed.
Zhuang Yingjie spoke in a grave voice. Yang Haoran, hearing this, set down his teacup and then responded with a smile.
"Heh heh, President Zhuang, your lack of acquaintance with something does not preclude its existence."
Zhuang Yingjie, whose heart already seethed with anger, felt his temper flare further upon hearing Yang Haoran's words.
"Even if such practices exist, they are never as blatant as yours, Emissary Yang. For they would at least show some consideration for our Demon Hunter Association's sensibilities. Yet, Emissary Yang, you arrive as a newcomer and show absolutely no regard for our Demon Hunter Association's face. What else could this be but a blatant provocation?"
Yang Haoran didn't rise to the bait of Zhuang Yingjie's words. He chuckled and shook his head, clearly disagreeing with Zhuang Yingjie's assertion.
"Heh heh, I am new here, and I am rather short on capable hands. As long as they can serve my purpose, I pay no mind to their identity; after all, I've never been one for racial discrimination. As for President Zhuang's assertion that my actions constitute a provocation of the Demon Hunter Association, those words are far too weighty. I sincerely hope President Zhuang refrains from repeating such claims."
Yang Haoran's retort caused Zhuang Yingjie's face to instantly darken.
"Demons view us humans as mere sustenance—they drink our blood, consume our flesh, and devour our human spirits. In the eyes of humanity, demons are utterly unforgivable. And our duty as Demon Hunters is to eradicate every demon under heaven, ensuring humanity is no longer subjected to their persecution. Emissary Yang, recruiting demons as your subordinates is not merely a provocation of our Demon Hunter Association; you are provoking the entirety of humankind!"
Yang Haoran had originally assumed his words would cause Zhuang Yingjie to temper his approach somewhat. But to his surprise, Zhuang Yingjie had instead slapped an even grander label upon him, escalating the charge from merely provoking the Demon Hunter Association to outright challenging the entire human race.
"President Zhuang, don't you find your statement. . . rather exaggerated? " Yang Haoran asked, a trace of amusement in his expression.
"Exaggerated? Hmph, it seems Emissary Yang has yet to grasp the gravity of the situation. It's hardly surprising; if Emissary Yang truly understood the severity of the issue, he wouldn't have committed such an act of defiance against all humanity. " Zhuang Yingjie first let out a cold snort, then continued.
Yang Haoran maintained his smile, not immediately responding. When he had first brought Huang Sha to Gu Mo City, he had anticipated that a situation like this would eventually arise. Given the Demon Hunter Association's branch in Gu Mo City, and the long-standing enmity between Demon Hunters and demons, it was inconceivable that the Demon Hunter Association would remain oblivious to Huang Sha's presence.
It was precisely for this reason that he had initially urged Huang Sha to refrain from using his powers whenever possible, so as to avoid drawing the attention of the Demon Hunter Association and inviting unnecessary trouble.
However, subsequent unforeseen circumstances meant he no longer insisted on this from Huang Sha. Huang Sha's existence was no longer a secret; everyone knew he was a sand spirit who had transformed into a Great Demon. Under such circumstances, concealment served no purpose, so he simply allowed Huang Sha to appear openly before everyone's eyes.
When he made that decision, he had fully expected the Demon Hunter Association to come seeking trouble. His only surprise was how belatedly this trouble arrived. What astonished him even more was Zhuang Yingjie's audacious attempt to pin such a grand accusation on him, elevating the matter to a racial conflict. To spin such a tale, to this extreme, made even Yang Haoran—a self-proclaimed expert at labeling others—admit inferiority.
After a brief pause, Yang Haoran spoke with a chuckle.
"Heh heh, it seems President Zhuang is here for my subordinate today. "
Zhuang Yingjie's brows furrowed deeply as he retorted to Yang Haoran.
"Emissary Yang, isn't that merely stating the obvious?"
Yang Haoran nodded, a smile on his face, indicating his understanding. Then, he continued to inquire with the same jovial tone.
"Since that's the case, President Zhuang, what precisely do you intend to do? And what outcome do you seek from me?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yingjie cast a fleeting, indifferent glance at Huang Sha standing behind Yang Haoran, before addressing Yang Haoran in a grave voice.
"What am I prepared to do? I intend to take him away. Demons are ferocious and cunning; I will not idly stand by and watch him pose a threat to the safety of ordinary people. As for the outcome I seek from you, it's quite simple: do not interfere in this matter, and allow me to smoothly escort this sand demon away."
Huang Sha seethed with anger internally, yet he remained silent, making no move to intervene, for Yang Haoran was present.
However, he had, for some time now, followed Yang Haoran. While he couldn't claim to fully fathom Yang Haoran's temperament, he certainly had some understanding. His intuition told him that Yang Haoran would not hand him over to Zhuang Yingjie.
Thus, even with anger festering within him, he did not immediately erupt, trusting that Yang Haoran would handle the situation appropriately.
Yang Haoran chuckled. He found Zhuang Yingjie's demand entirely unsurprising, yet he did not nod in agreement. Instead, he shook his head with a decisive finality.
"Heh heh, President Zhuang, I apologize, but I cannot accede to your demand."
Yang Haoran's refusal was utterly unreserved, leaving no room for negotiation. His words immediately brought a sharp expression of displeasure to Zhuang Yingjie's face.
"I advise Emissary Yang to exercise caution; do not so readily make such a decision. Truth be told, I have no desire to clash with Emissary Yang. However, if Emissary Yang insists on this path, then you cannot lay the blame at my feet," Zhuang Yingjie stated.
"Heh heh, as I stated earlier, I am currently quite short-staffed. If I were to hand Huang Sha over to you, how would my work proceed on this end? " Yang Haoran asked with a smile.
"While this sand demon possesses some strength, it is, ultimately, merely a Great Demon. Emissary Yang, with a Three-star Demon Hunter assisting you, would you truly care about a mere Great Demon? Compared to a Three-star Demon Hunter, what significance does a Great Demon hold? " Zhuang Yingjie retorted.
Yang Haoran smiled and waved a dismissive hand.
"The disparity between a Great Demon and a Three-star Demon Hunter is indeed vast, yet that hardly negates the inherent strength of a Great Demon. With one more Great Demon at my disposal, I gain another formidable general. This is an entirely advantageous proposition for me. Furthermore, Huang Sha is someone I personally brought out of the desert. He willingly chose to follow me, to serve me with his entire being. Do you truly think I could bear to disappoint him? If you were in my shoes, what would your course of action be? Would you truly hand him over to face certain death?"
Yang Haoran's words caused Zhuang Yingjie's brows to furrow even more deeply.
"From Emissary Yang's words, I gather you have no intention of surrendering this sand demon? " Zhuang Yingjie asked, his voice, when he spoke, carried a newfound chill, laced with a hint of murderous intent.
Yang Haoran remained unperturbed, the faint smile still gracing his lips. His expression didn't waver in the slightest, despite the killing intent that permeated Zhuang Yingjie's tone.
"Heh heh, President Zhuang, your powers of comprehension are truly remarkable. Indeed, I have no intention of surrendering Huang Sha. Were you to find yourself in my position, I cannot say what decision you would make. However, I know precisely what decision I shall make. Regardless of the circumstances, I cannot allow my subordinates to be disappointed in me. Though I am far from a virtuous man, I have not yet sunk so low as to betray my own."
Yang Haoran spoke with a smile, and though his tone and expression remained unaltered, Zhuang Yingjie distinctly caught a note of sarcasm in his words.
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