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Chapter 1232: A Profound Display of Loyalty

Luo Yao and Huo Laoban's arrival greatly startled Yang Haoran. This time, he made no effort to hide his surprise; instead, he let it show plainly on his face.

However, the look of shock lasted only a fleeting instant on his face. As he quickly strode towards the two men, the startled expression vanished, replaced by one of profound respect.

"Your subordinate, Yang Haoran, greets the Great Emperor, greets the Guardian!"

Yang Haoran first bowed respectfully to Luo Yao, then offered a respectful bow to Huo Laoban. Their statuses had changed, and thus, Yang Haoran's address for them naturally shifted.

Luo Yao was now the Jingling Great Emperor, and Yang Haoran had to address him as Great Emperor at all times. As for a Guardian like Huo Laoban, addressing him as Emissary was perfectly fine, and calling him Guardian was equally reasonable.

Both men's gazes settled upon Yang Haoran. Luo Yao's expression was grave, a picture of stern solemnity. Huo Laoban's demeanor, however, was the exact opposite of Luo Yao's; a benevolent smile graced his face, and his gaze towards Yang Haoran was exceptionally gentle, as if he hadn't seen an old friend in ages.

Though Yang Haoran kept his head bowed, he felt profoundly uncomfortable. On one hand, bowing to Huo Laoban was grating, for Huo Laoban had not only been his peer but also a sworn enemy. Forcing himself to respectfully bow to him as a subordinate felt utterly wrong.

On the other hand, there was Huo Laoban's gentle gaze. Though seemingly mild, Yang Haoran felt it as sharp as a blade, slicing at his skin and flesh, a sensation he clearly perceived even without lifting his head.

Although Huo Laoban had never personally admitted to Yang Haoran that he was the hidden mastermind who sought to eliminate him, Yang Haoran knew it was Huo Laoban.

Both knew the truth as clearly as a mirror, yet neither spoke of it. Some things, even unsaid, are not unknown.

"This is not the place to speak. Let's find somewhere else," Luo Yao said.

"Yes, Great Emperor."

Yang Haoran respectfully replied, then led the two men to the Guest Reception Hall.

Luo Yao's appearance in the main hall of the Death God Temple held no special significance; it was purely because he was unfamiliar with the newly constructed temple and thus simply chose a random spot to descend.

To ensure Yang Haoran sensed their arrival, neither of them sealed their power fluctuations. While they hadn't unleashed their full power, the energy radiating from them was still incredibly potent, enough to command Yang Haoran's attention.

Upon reaching the Guest Reception Hall, Yang Haoran swiftly instructed the Night Watchers in charge to prepare the finest tea and pastries. He then respectfully invited both men to sit, extending the same reverent attitude even to Huo Laoban, without betraying any dissatisfaction or awkwardness despite their past grievances.

Luo Yao took the main seat, while Huo Laoban sat in the position directly below him. As for Yang Haoran, he seated himself below Huo Laoban.

"Before coming to the Death God Temple, I took a stroll around Gu Mo City. Heh heh, if I didn't know this was Gu Mo City, I would have thought I'd taken a wrong turn. The sheer scale of change here truly astounds me. I never dreamed that the once chaotic Gu Mo City could transform into its current state."

Luo Yao, having taken his seat, spoke while looking at Yang Haoran. As he spoke, the solemn expression on his face faded, replaced by a slight smile.

Yang Haoran merely smiled at the words. He understood Luo Yao's meaning, but he had no intention of claiming credit.

Huo Laoban also remained silent. He was now a Guardian, true, but before Luo Yao, the Great Emperor, he naturally dared not be presumptuous. The Great Emperor had spoken, and his words were not directed at him; he wouldn't be foolish enough to interject. Listening attentively was enough.

"Heh heh, Gu Mo City has changed immensely, and the atmosphere is quite good too. It's completely different from before. That you could achieve this in such a short time truly surprises me."

Luo Yao continued to speak with a smile, turning his gaze to Huo Laoban beside him as he finished.

"When you recommended Yang Haoran to me as Gu Mo City's new Emissary of Death, I was initially worried he wouldn't be able to handle it. After all, the situation in Gu Mo City was complex, and our Underworld Office had been ousted by the other factions. Revitalizing the Gu Mo City Underworld Office was no simple task. Now, it seems I underestimated not only your judgment but also Yang Haoran's capabilities."

Luo Yao's words made Huo Laoban's face bloom with a smile. Yang Haoran, who had maintained a faint smile throughout, found his expression neither deepening nor lessening at Luo Yao's comments.

In comparison, the smile on Yang Haoran's face was not as pronounced as Huo Laoban's.

Though Yang Haoran's smile didn't waver in the slightest, inwardly, he had already 'greeted' every member of Huo Laoban's family.

When Luo Yao had suddenly sought him out and proposed transferring him to Gu Mo City as its Emissary of Death, Yang Haoran only knew that someone had recommended him to Luo Yao. As for who that person was, he had a hunch it might be Huo Laoban, but he couldn't be entirely sure.

Now, hearing Luo Yao's words, his earlier suspicion was instantly confirmed. Given the deep animosity between him and Huo Laoban, he could be certain that Huo Laoban's recommendation for him to serve as Emissary of Death in Gu Mo City was definitely ill-intentioned, likely an attempt to use the city's chaos to eliminate him.

And indeed, that was the truth. When Huo Laoban recommended Yang Haoran to Luo Yao, he harbored no good intentions. After all, Gu Mo City was notorious for its chaos, and the Gu Mo City Underworld Office had been annihilated by the city's other factions, losing not only its territory but almost all its Night Watchers. For Yang Haoran to take on the role of Emissary of Death at that time was akin to jumping into a pit of fire.

Despite Huo Laoban's radiant smile, his true feelings were far from joyful. His original intention in recommending Yang Haoran to become Gu Mo City's Emissary of Death was to ensure Yang Haoran's demise there. Even if Yang Haoran miraculously survived, failure to manage Gu Mo City's affairs would surely incur Luo Yao's displeasure, which would be equally detrimental to Yang Haoran.

However, to his utter surprise, Yang Haoran not only survived but also achieved such significant accomplishments in a short span of time. He not only revived the Gu Mo City Underworld Office but also elevated it to become Gu Mo City's foremost power. If not for the continued presence of the Saint Mother Cult, the Underworld Office would now be the sole dominant force in Gu Mo City.

These were no ordinary achievements. Huo Laoban could see that Luo Yao was exceptionally pleased and satisfied with Yang Haoran's results. For someone who had earnestly desired Yang Haoran's death, how could he possibly be happy in the face of such an outcome?

Though inwardly unhappy, even profoundly vexed, Huo Laoban did not betray his true emotions. Instead, he maintained a brilliant smile, seemingly just as delighted by Yang Haoran's astonishing success.

As Luo Yao's words fell silent, Huo Laoban immediately spoke, his face still adorned with a brilliant smile.

"I have had several interactions with Emissary Yang, and I know he is a capable individual, which is why I recommended him to the Great Emperor. However, I merely recommended Emissary Yang; the ultimate decision to employ him or not always rested with the Great Emperor. The Great Emperor's final decision to transfer Emissary Yang to Gu Mo City to serve as Emissary of Death was naturally because Emissary Yang had earned the Great Emperor's approval. Otherwise, how could the Great Emperor have entrusted such an important task to Emissary Yang?"

Huo Laoban's words were indeed accurate. He had only recommended Yang Haoran to Luo Yao; whether Luo Yao would ultimately choose Yang Haoran rested solely with Luo Yao, not with Huo Laoban.

Though Huo Laoban had recommended Yang Haoran, Luo Yao was not so naive as to believe Yang Haoran was capable based solely on Huo Laoban's word. Luo Yao's ultimate decision to transfer Yang Haoran to Gu Mo City as Emissary of Death was indeed, as Huo Laoban now stated, because Yang Haoran had earned Luo Yao's personal approval.

"Heh heh, you are right. I did indeed approve of him then, which is why I decided to transfer him to Gu Mo City," Luo Yao said with a smile.

"Heh heh, what does this show? It shows that the Great Emperor possesses greater foresight than I do. For me to realize Emissary Yang's capabilities, I had to interact with him multiple times and gain a deep understanding. Yet, the Great Emperor, after only a brief acquaintance with Emissary Yang, affirmed his ability inwardly and then transferred him to Gu Mo City to unleash his talents. The Great Emperor's discerning eye burns like a torch; such vision is simply beyond your subordinate's humble capabilities."

Huo Laoban laid on the flattery, yet neither the speaker nor the listeners showed any embarrassment. Neither Yang Haoran nor Luo Yao displayed the slightest awkwardness or any other unnatural expression.

Yang Haoran, with a faint smile on his face, chuckled.

"Many thanks for the Great Emperor's and Guardian's appreciation. However, Gu Mo City's transformation today, and our Gu Mo City Underworld Office's rise to become the foremost power, was truly no easy feat. Had your subordinate not been extraordinarily lucky, I fear the Great Emperor and Guardian would not be seeing me today."

Huo Laoban smiled faintly at the words. He understood Yang Haoran's meaning, but he did not speak further.

At the same time, the Night Watchers delivered the finest tea and pastries. After respectfully arranging them, they departed the Guest Reception Hall at Yang Haoran's dismissive gesture.

"Great Emperor, Guardian, please taste our Gu Mo City specialty. While it won't enhance your Spirit Power, it tastes quite good,"

Yang Haoran made a respectful inviting gesture to Luo Yao and Huo Laoban. He did not carelessly begin drinking tea or eating pastries first. Not only did he have no interest in these things at the moment, but even if he did, he wouldn't touch them at this time.

Luo Yao, without ceremony, picked up his teacup and took a light sip. Seeing this, Huo Laoban also smiled and raised his cup.

"This tea is excellent. When one is in a good mood, anything tastes comforting,"

Luo Yao said with a smile, then set down his teacup. Immediately after, his gaze once again settled on Yang Haoran.

"I told you before that Gu Mo City is one of the few large cities within my jurisdiction. Although chaotic, it is rich in resources. Now that you manage ninety percent of Gu Mo City's territory, I trust you are even more aware than I of its abundant resources."

Yang Haoran knew that Luo Yao must already have a complete grasp of Gu Mo City's current situation, including all the events that had transpired before. After all, these matters were out in the open, no secret, and one could easily inquire about the major events that had occurred since his arrival in Gu Mo City.

If Luo Yao didn't have a certain understanding of Gu Mo City, how could he know that ninety percent of its territory now belonged to their Underworld Office?

"The Great Emperor is right, Gu Mo City's resources are indeed abundant. Your subordinate is very grateful that the Great Emperor gave me this opportunity,"

Yang Haoran replied respectfully. As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Huo Laoban, a faint smile on his face, and continued with the same reverent demeanor.

"And of course, I am also grateful to the Guardian for recommending me to the Great Emperor; otherwise, your subordinate would not have had such an excellent opportunity to demonstrate my capabilities."

"Heh heh, Emissary Yang, you are too kind. We are friends, regardless, and you truly are capable. The Great Emperor needs people like you. Since the opportunity to recommend you arose, of course, I wouldn't miss it."

Huo Laoban said with a smile, his expression natural, betraying no hint of anything amiss. The killing intent and resentment he harbored for Yang Haoran were not revealed in the slightest.

After Huo Laoban's words concluded, Luo Yao then spoke.

"When I initially sent you to Gu Mo City, I had high expectations for you. This was because Gu Mo City harbored a large number of Spirit Masters. Our Underworld Office was annihilated and expelled from Gu Mo City by the major factions, a significant part of which was due to these Spirit Masters. This matter involved not just losses, but more importantly, our face. If the situation in Gu Mo City hadn't been handled properly, it would certainly have become a laughingstock and negatively impacted my career."

Luo Yao's words, of course, were not directed at Huo Laoban, but at Yang Haoran. Yang Haoran listened respectfully without speaking. After a brief pause, Luo Yao continued.

"I am well aware of the major events that have transpired in Gu Mo City since your arrival, and I know you've sacrificed much for it. My initial requirement for you was simple: as long as the Gu Mo City Underworld Office could rise again and establish stability within the city, I would be satisfied. That way, I would have one less weakness for my rivals to exploit.

However, I truly didn't expect that your capabilities would be stronger than I imagined, and your methods more violent than I conceived. You actually wiped out every single faction in Gu Mo City, except for the Saint Mother Cult, and even plundered their strongholds clean. You truly are formidable."

As Luo Yao's words ceased, Yang Haoran quickly began to explain.

"Great Emperor, while the annihilation of Gu Mo City's other factions is certainly related to me, the primary cause wasn't me, but the Demon Cult. At that time, I was caught in the Demon Cult's machinations, which awakened my inner demon, causing me to lose control and go on a killing spree. Although many from the major factions died by my hand, even more perished by the hand of Wan Wu Yi of the Demon Cult."

Luo Yao's smile remained undiminished. After listening to Yang Haoran's explanation, he spoke again.

"In your explanation, why did you not mention a single word about plundering the wealth of the major factions?"

The smile on Yang Haoran's face turned somewhat awkward. He hadn't mentioned it, naturally, because he knew bringing it up would be of no benefit to him, so he simply decided not to. Yet, despite his omission, Luo Yao still questioned him about it.

"Forgive me, Great Emperor. It was all due to your subordinate's momentary greed for wealth, which led me to do such a thing. However, in that situation, if your subordinate hadn't acted that way, then. . ."

Yang Haoran spoke with an awkward expression. As he reached the end, he paused, not continuing his words, but Luo Yao chuckled and pressed on.

"Heh heh, then what?"

Yang Haoran lowered his head and did not respond. Seeing that Yang Haoran remained silent, Luo Yao chuckled and answered himself.

"Then it would have been a great pity, wouldn't it?"

Yang Haoran nodded gently at the words.

"Your subordinate did indeed think that way at the time. After all, with the major factions annihilated, the resources they had accumulated over the years were considerable. If your subordinate hadn't collected them, they would have fallen into others' hands anyway. It was precisely because this thought arose in my mind that your subordinate momentarily lost self-control and committed such a foolish act."

Luo Yao's expression remained unchanged. He did not appear exceedingly angry due to Yang Haoran's explanation, nor did he show any dissatisfaction. The look on his face remained utterly the same.

"Heh heh, do you know, since Gu Mo City has always been within my jurisdiction, some of the faction leaders had some dealings with me. After they learned of this matter, they immediately tried to contact me, wanting to 'discuss' it."

Luo Yao chuckled. His words caused Yang Haoran's expression to subtly shift; the smile vanished, replaced by a serious countenance.

Of course, the expression on his face was merely a deliberate act by Yang Haoran. In truth, no emotional fluctuations stirred within him at that moment. The reason he intentionally dropped his smile and adopted a serious demeanor was solely to match Luo Yao's current words.

"This matter was due to your subordinate's lack of foresight. Since it has caused trouble for the Great Emperor, your subordinate can return all the treasures collected from the major factions to their original owners!"

Yang Haoran quickly offered, but Luo Yao, upon hearing his words, waved a hand.

"Return them exactly? Why would you do that? Heh heh, I think you've misunderstood my meaning. I never said there was anything wrong with what you did. Not only will I not blame your actions, I even appreciate them. Many factions nowadays are like weeds on a wall, swaying wherever the wind blows, and some even secretly associate closely with Spirit Masters, constantly laying traps for our Underworld Office in the dark. When our Gu Mo City Underworld Office was annihilated by the Spirit Masters last time, some of these factions certainly lent a hand. So, your actions this time have perfectly vented my frustration."

At this point, Luo Yao's tone paused slightly, then he continued to speak to Yang Haoran.

"If, in the future, anyone brings this up and demands you hand over the resources you plundered from the major factions, simply tell them to scram. If they persist, tell them to come demand it from me."

Luo Yao's words were utterly domineering. Yang Haoran had never sensed such dominance from Luo Yao before, but today he felt it. Whether it was because he hadn't understood Luo Yao well enough in the past to perceive it, or if Luo Yao now displayed this assertiveness because he had become the Great Emperor of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office, Yang Haoran couldn't say.

However, that wasn't the main point. The crucial thing was that Luo Yao's words at this moment amounted to a promise to him. He had originally been wary of the major factions potentially using this incident as an excuse to cause trouble for him whenever they pleased, but now it seemed there was no need to worry about it at all. With Luo Yao, the newly appointed Jingling Great Emperor, supporting him, why would he still need to fret over this matter?

"Many thanks, Great Emperor!"

Yang Haoran quickly expressed his gratitude, and a smile returned to his face.

"To be honest, I should be thanking you greatly this time. Gu Mo City's current transformation has at least helped me regain some face. My becoming the new Great Emperor of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office, all that you've accomplished in Gu Mo City, has played no small part."

Luo Yao's words indeed stirred a touch of surprise within Yang Haoran.

However, Yang Haoran's mind quickly connected various pieces of related information, leading to some conjectures.

Before Luo Yao became the Jingling Great Emperor, there were still seven Guardians within the entire Jingling Continent Underworld Office. If the new Jingling Great Emperor was to be chosen from among these seven Guardians, an earth-shattering struggle was inevitable. And the respective political achievements of these seven Guardians would naturally be one of the factors determining the success or failure of their bid for the Great Emperor's position.

Currently, the Jingling Continent Underworld Office had suffered the greatest losses and was the weakest in strength compared to the Underworld Offices of other continents.

However, according to the information Yang Haoran had gleaned from the Underworld Iron Tome, Luo Yao's jurisdiction had suffered the smallest losses. The other six Guardians' jurisdictions had incurred significantly greater damage than Luo Yao's.

If the Gu Mo City Underworld Office had remained as it was before, it would not only have failed to assist Luo Yao in his bid for the Great Emperor's position but would have actively held him back. After all, Gu Mo City was one of the few large cities within Luo Yao's jurisdiction, and for such a major city to be annihilated by Spirit Masters would undoubtedly have brought negative repercussions upon Luo Yao.

Conversely, the Gu Mo City Underworld Office's resurgence, its becoming the foremost power under Yang Haoran's leadership, and the complete annihilation of all other factions save for the Saint Mother Cult, naturally brought considerable benefits to Luo Yao's bid for the Great Emperor's position. While it might not have been a decisive factor, it certainly helped.

Of course, this was merely Yang Haoran's unilateral conjecture. He couldn't be entirely certain if it was true, but judging by Luo Yao's words and attitude at this moment, he felt his guess was highly likely correct.

"To be able to share the Great Emperor's burdens is your subordinate's honor. As long as I can perfectly complete every task assigned by the Great Emperor, your subordinate will not hesitate to give my life!"

Luo Yao had said so much, yet Yang Haoran still showed no inclination to claim credit. Instead, he made a profound display of loyalty to Luo Yao.

"Heh heh, for you to think that way is, of course, for the best. When I first sent you to Gu Mo City, I had considered dispatching two more Emissaries of Death to support you. After all, Gu Mo City's situation was complex, and it did have some bearing on my bid for the Great Emperor's position. However, I was then preoccupied with crucial matters and simply couldn't spare the time to deal with it. Additionally, I also wanted to see just how capable you truly were, so I decided to let you try for a period in Gu Mo City. If your abilities proved insufficient, far from meeting my requirements, then it wouldn't be too late for me to send reinforcements or even replace you directly."

As he spoke, Luo Yao's gaze towards Yang Haoran revealed undisguised admiration.

"After you had been in Gu Mo City for some time, I managed to spare a little time to investigate your performance there. The results utterly astonished me. Your abilities did not disappoint; the accomplishments you achieved even far surpassed my most ideal expectations. However, at that time, I was at a critical juncture in my bid for the Great Emperor's position, so I had no opportunity to come to Gu Mo City and see for myself. Now that I have successfully secured the Great Emperor's position, my time is no longer as constrained as before, and thus I personally came here to see. I came to witness Gu Mo City's transformation with my own eyes, and also to see you. You've done exceptionally well."

Luo Yao was no longer merely the Guardian of Jingling Continent; he was now the new Jingling Great Emperor of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office. For him to speak such words to Yang Haoran, given his new status, clearly demonstrated his favor and regard for Yang Haoran.

Yang Haoran naturally understood what it meant for Luo Yao, given his status as a Great Emperor, to say such words to him. Therefore, he was incredibly pleased. After all, this was a tremendous boon for him. To garner the attention of an Emperor would make his future path considerably smoother and reduce a great deal of trouble, for he now had an Emperor-tier powerhouse covering his back.

Compared to Yang Haoran, Huo Laoban, though his face was wreathed in smiles, his mood, on the other hand, was far from it—in fact, it could be said to be utterly dreadful.

"That this subordinate has achieved what he has today is entirely due to your abundant grace, Great Emperor. If not for you, this subordinate might still be but a humble Night Watcher in Lecheng, or perhaps would have already perished in these tumultuous times. Therefore, this subordinate harbors not only profound respect for you, Great Emperor, but also an immeasurable debt of gratitude. Henceforth, no matter what crucial mission you entrust to me, Great Emperor, even if it be a task that demands my very life, so long as you are willing to bestow it upon me, I shall exert every ounce of my being to accomplish it!"