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Chapter 1107: Produce Evidence

Killing the chicken to scare the monkey was not a particularly brilliant strategy, and if mishandled, it could even backfire. However, when pushed to a dead end, Yang Haoran felt this was the only viable option. He couldn't just let these people run wild here.

As Yang Haoran finished his explanation, not many believed his words. If they could be so easily swayed by Yang Haoran, they wouldn't have appeared here today.

Moreover, even those who inwardly believed the incident was likely not Yang Haoran's doing did not immediately withdraw from the Death God Temple. Instead, for the sake of their respective factions' interests, they feigned extreme indignation, as if certain Yang Haoran was indeed responsible.

Those who could rise to become leaders of major factions were not necessarily all shrewd individuals, but there were truly few fools among them. They had, in fact, considered the possibility that someone was deliberately spreading rumors to frame Yang Haoran.

To still come and trouble Yang Haoran despite such considerations naturally involved a conflict of interests. Otherwise, why would they bother coming to Yang Haoran's Death God Temple to stir up trouble, especially when such actions carried a certain degree of risk?

"Divine Emissary Yang, I believe this matter has nothing to do with you. However, I am not the only Demon Hunter in our Demon Hunter Association. While I can trust you, other Demon Hunters likely won't believe you based on a few words. Furthermore, my direct superior won't believe it either. Therefore, Divine Emissary Yang, if you wish to clear your name, you must provide concrete evidence."

After listening to Yang Haoran's explanation, Zhuang Yingjie's face was solemn. After a slight hesitation, he uttered these words to Yang Haoran.

If he had a choice, he truly didn't want to confront Yang Haoran with such a stern expression, nor did he want to say these words in this setting, for he was still counting on Yang Haoran to take him to see Ye Zhiqiu.

However, this time their branch had suffered heavy losses; three Two-star Demon Hunters had gone missing, and eight One-star Demon Hunters were unaccounted for. Such extensive losses within a mere few days made it incredibly difficult for him, the branch president, to account for to the higher-ups. If he could successfully resolve the matter, it might ease the burden slightly. But if he couldn't find someone to take the blame for this, and the higher-ups assigned blame, the punishment he faced wouldn't be a simple matter of a minor penalty.

If it truly came to that, his aspirations for a promotion, a raise, and a transfer to the Jingling Continent branch would become even more challenging than before. It was precisely because he considered this point that, despite knowing he had a favor to ask of Yang Haoran, he still brought his people and came knocking on his door, speaking these words with a grim expression.

As soon as he spoke, his words were immediately echoed by some. Although some of these individuals were not on good terms with Zhuang Yingjie, they now felt they were on the same boat as him. Moreover, they believed what Zhuang Yingjie said made a lot of sense, so they naturally offered their support.

"President Zhuang is right! No evidence, yet you want to clear your name with just a few words? It's not that simple!"

"Exactly! If you want to clear your name, you must provide evidence! Without evidence, who would believe your baloney!"

"Until I see evidence, I won't believe a word you say, and I certainly won't let it go! If anything happens to my sister, I will devote my entire life to revenge!"

Voices of agreement and affirmation, along with furious threats, erupted across the plaza, making it instantly tumultuous, rising higher and higher, like waves. Only a small portion of people did not participate, silently observing it all. Among them were Xia Xinger and Zuo Meng.

Xiang Chuan appeared not long after Zhuang Yingjie arrived at the Death God Temple. According to him, the reason he didn't immediately rush to the plaza was that his pill concoction had reached a critical juncture, causing a slight delay.

Standing beside Yang Haoran, he naturally took in the entire scene before him. Listening to the shouts of the crowd, he grinned, looking exaggeratedly towards Yang Haoran.

"Heh heh, Big Brother, they're provoking you like this, and you can still hold back?"

Yang Haoran smiled. Xiang Chuan's words did not succeed in stirring his emotions; he acted as if he hadn't heard Xiang Chuan at all, his expression remaining utterly unchanged.

It was Lu Wu and the Night Watchers he led who, upon hearing Xiang Chuan's words, all had furious expressions on their faces. Especially Lu Wu, whose face looked as if it were about to burst into flames.

They were already seething with anger over today's incident. They had only held back until now because Yang Haoran had not given the order to attack. Now, Xiang Chuan's sudden remark to Yang Haoran, even if not directed at them, poured a ladle of hot oil onto the anger in their hearts, causing their fury to burn even brighter.

None of the ordinary Night Watchers spoke, as they were not yet so enraged that they forgot their own identities. In this situation, with their captain here, and Yang Haoran, their Emissary of Death, also present, it was certainly not their place as ordinary Night Watchers to speak.

Lu Wu, however, didn't care as much. The anger in his heart made his face extremely grim. He looked at Yang Haoran and spoke with a murderous glint in his eyes.

"Divine Emissary, these fellows have gone too far! If we don't teach them a lesson, they'll think we're afraid of them. Just give the order, and even if your subordinate dies in battle, I will uphold the honor of our Underworld Office!"

Yang Haoran had long understood Lu Wu's character, so he paid no mind to Lu Wu's impatience and had no intention of holding it against him.

"Now is not the time to act. This matter has already put us in a very passive position. If we act rashly against them without a valid excuse now, it will only make us even more passive. " Yang Haoran waved his hand dismissively, saying with a faint smile.

Although Lu Wu felt indignant, since Yang Haoran had said so, he could only temporarily suppress the anger in his heart and did not act rashly against Yang Haoran's wishes.

"Heh heh, so Big Brother had this idea in mind. That's right, if they act first, they'll be digging their own graves. Even if we kill them, it would be justifiable, and it would be hard for the forces behind them to justifiably cause you trouble."

Xiang Chuan chuckled. He wasn't worried that Yang Haoran couldn't handle these people, because in his opinion, with Yang Haoran's strength, dealing with them was entirely within his capabilities. Not acting for now was merely waiting for a justifiable reason, or rather, an excuse. Once there was an excuse to act, it would surely avert some complications for this slaughter.

However, he didn't know that his words were only half-right. Yang Haoran had other considerations in mind when he said now was not the time to act.

Yang Haoran merely smiled, offering no explanation to Xiang Chuan. Watching the people from the various factions growing increasingly boisterous, a solution suddenly came to his mind.

Although he didn't consider this method particularly brilliant, it was definitely better than embarking on a massacre. Solving problems through slaughter was the worst possible option, because once he did that, he would fall right into the trap of the mastermind behind the scenes. He believed the hidden puppet master would surely be thrilled if he did.

Therefore, as long as there were other solutions, he would not choose to settle this matter through slaughter.

"Everyone, please quiet down for a moment and listen to one last thing I have to say."

Yang Haoran spoke with a smile. Augmented by his Spirit Power, his voice overrode the clamor, reaching every ear present without missing a single word.

The clamor gradually subsided. Yang Haoran's words had some effect. Although not everyone fell silent, the vast majority still wanted to hear what else Yang Haoran had to say.

Yang Haoran ignored the presence of those who were still clamoring and continued speaking, unperturbed.

"Heh heh, while I temporarily lack concrete evidence to prove my innocence, I have thought of a way that can prove it. I wonder if you all would be interested in hearing it?"

Yang Haoran smiled faintly. As he spoke, he used some of his Spirit Power, just as before, ensuring his words reached every ear present without missing a single one. This caused the expressions of everyone present to change, though their expressions varied, clearly indicating their inner thoughts were not aligned.

As for those who were still clamoring, upon hearing Yang Haoran's words, they also fell silent.