Chapter 1136: Looting a Burning House
Lu Wu had thought Yang Haoran would take him to the suddenly appeared palace, but he hadn't expected Yang Haoran to give him such an order.
"To. . . to protect the believers?"
Lu Wu, who had come back to his senses, looked surprised. He seemed to disbelieve his own ears, wondering if he had misheard, so he spoke to Yang Haoran for confirmation, his surprise making him stutter.
"Heh, you didn't mishear. It is indeed to protect the ordinary faithful. No one knows what else might happen next, and if they encounter danger without protection, their fragility makes it hard for them to survive."
Yang Haoran smiled faintly and gave Lu Wu a definite answer.
"This. . ."
Lu Wu looked troubled, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and decided to speak his mind.
"Divine Envoy, I wish to accompany you. Now that I've opened my Heaven Soul, my strength is far beyond what it once was. With me by your side, I can surely share some of your burden."
"I can somewhat guess your thoughts. Though you've now opened your Heaven Soul, you are not invincible. I'm also unsure of the situation within the palace; perhaps there's no danger, or perhaps it's even more perilous than I imagine. I still wish to properly cultivate you, and I certainly don't want you to die in vain within that palace. Furthermore, protecting the faithful is no small matter. Though they are but ordinary mortals, they are exceedingly important."
Though Lu Wu still harbored some reluctance, Yang Haoran had spoken to this degree, so he naturally couldn't push the matter. Moreover, Yang Haoran's words sparked a warm current in his heart, for they conveyed his genuine concern.
"Divine Envoy, rest assured, as long as I, Lu Wu, draw a single breath, I will not allow the faithful to suffer harm!"
Lu Wu bowed to Yang Haoran and made his promise.
"Heh, I believe you. But first, you must safeguard your own life. Compared to the faithful, you are far more crucial. Go now, waste no more time."
Yang Haoran's words dispelled Lu Wu's last bit of resistance.
"This subordinate will most certainly complete the mission!"
Lu Wu made his guarantee again, then turned to look at the Night Watchers behind him.
"All members of the First Division, heed my command! Every one of you still alive, get your asses up and follow me!"
Barely any Night Watchers from the First Division remained unscathed; all who were still alive had suffered injuries, some of them quite severe.
Yet, when Lu Wu issued the command, not a single one complained, nor did any expression of displeasure cross their faces. Even grievously wounded, they braced their bodies and delivered a uniform, resounding reply.
"Yes! ! !"
Lu Wu wasted no time, immediately leading the Night Watchers of the First Division away, in accordance with Yang Haoran's request to protect the ordinary faithful of their Underworld Office.
At this moment, Yang Haoran turned his gaze to Huang Sha.
"Huang Sha, you are to remain here and hold the fort. Though this place has once again been largely laid to waste, it remains my face, and I will not tolerate anyone trampling upon it. Should individuals from other factions trespass here, do not bother asking them to leave; simply kill them."
Yang Haoran smiled faintly. Though his expression was natural and his tone serene, his words were laced with potent killing intent.
No wonder he was so. This Death God Temple had only recently been completed, and now it had suffered another devastating blow. Although some structures had collapsed due to the palace's emergence, others had been ruined by the various factions. How could he, as the Emissary of Death for Gu Mo City's Underworld Office, not feel even a sliver of fury?
He didn't elaborate on the matter, but that didn't mean he would simply overlook it. On the contrary, he cared deeply. It was just not the right time to settle accounts with the various factions. Given his personality, this debt would absolutely be settled. He would never swallow this bitter pill in silence, not unless he was dead!
Huang Sha was different from Lu Wu. He spoke not a single superfluous word, nor did he show any dissatisfaction with Yang Haoran's arrangement. He gave his response directly and decisively.
"This subordinate obeys your command!"
Yang Haoran smiled and nodded, pleased with Huang Sha's response.
"My reason for not letting you go to the palace, besides needing a master of your caliber to hold the fort here at my Death God Temple, is that your current injuries are too severe. I, too, do not wish for you to take that risk."
"Thank you for your concern, Boss!"
"You're being too polite. I brought you out of the desert not to have an expendable shield, to be cast aside once broken. Rather, I sought to gain a powerful general who would stand with me as I conquer the world."
"This subordinate will not disappoint you, Boss!"
"Heh, I believe in you, and I have great expectations for you. I'm temporarily entrusting this old base of mine to you!"
As his voice fell, Yang Haoran's gaze withdrew from Huang Sha and turned towards Shui Ling and Yao Guozhi.
Seeing Yang Haoran's gaze fall upon them, Shui Ling and Yao Guozhi both understood that he was about to assign them a task. Thus, they immediately straightened their postures, their expressions growing serious.
"The mission I am about to entrust to the two of you is of paramount importance. It pertains to the future development of our Underworld Office in Gu Mo City. Therefore, I expect you to absolutely complete this task, and not fall below the minimum standard I have in mind. Can you achieve this?"
Yang Haoran hadn't yet revealed their mission, but he had already begun to inquire if they could achieve it. This approach was somewhat unreasonable, yet neither of them questioned it, nor did they even hesitate, immediately giving Yang Haoran a definitive response.
"We can!"
The two spoke in unison, their voices, though not particularly loud or resonant, were firm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation.
"Heh, very good. But rest assured, I won't ask you to do what you're incapable of. It's unrealistic to expect a mother to lay a duck egg, after all. What I want you to do is both simple and complex, which is precisely why I've decided to entrust it to the two of you. If you cooperate well, then this mission will not be difficult."
Yang Haoran's words were not mere pleasantries, but his genuine thoughts. If Shui Ling and Yao Guozhi could cooperate effectively, then the task he was about to assign them would indeed not prove overly difficult.
"Boss, please give your orders. We two will absolutely complete the mission, and it won't be merely the minimum standard in the Divine Envoy's mind, but an absolutely satisfactory one!"
Yao Guozhi spoke, his tone brimming with confidence. His self-assurance stemmed not only from Yang Haoran's words, but more significantly, from his faith in his own capabilities.
"Currently, Gu Mo City has undergone a tremendous upheaval, and all ordinary mortals are in grave peril. Their respective factions will undoubtedly venture into the palace to investigate, for no one wishes to miss such an event. Consequently, their factions have no spare time to concern themselves with these ordinary people. What you are to do is extend a helping hand to these mortals. Regardless of the methods you employ, you must ensure that more ordinary people become faithful of the Death God, and that they do so willingly. Do you understand my meaning?"
Yang Haoran asked with a smile. Both nodded upon hearing this, but then a hint of worry appeared on Shui Ling's face as she spoke to Yang Haoran.
"Divine Envoy, seizing this opportunity to convert these ordinary mortals into faithful of our Death God is indeed not terribly difficult, but what about afterward? Other factions will likely not let the matter rest, after all, our method. . ."
Shui Ling articulated her underlying worry. Yang Haoran's expression remained impassive upon hearing it, seemingly unconcerned by Shui Ling's apprehension.
"You need not worry about this matter; I will naturally handle it appropriately. The two of you merely need to recruit more faithful of the Death God. I believe that with your combined intellects, and if you cooperate well, this matter will absolutely not be difficult. Furthermore, these ordinary mortals are currently in desperate need of assistance, and at such a time, getting them to change their faith will be relatively simpler."
Yang Haoran spoke with a smile. The two said nothing further after hearing this, accepting their orders and departing. As for the members of Shui Ling's Second Division, Yang Haoran also had Shui Ling bring them along, as such an undertaking likewise required manpower.
After Shui Ling and Yao Guozhi departed, Yang Haoran finally turned his gaze towards Xiang Chuan.
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