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Chapter 1262: Coming and Going in a Hurry

Whether it was the Jingling Continent Yin Division or the Yin Divisions of other continents, their headquarters were all established in the Underworld. The area of a single continent was simply too vast; if the headquarters were located in the mortal realm, attending battle conferences or discussing earth-shattering events would undoubtedly consume a significant amount of time. By the time one arrived, the day lilies would have gone cold.

However, if the headquarters were established in the Underworld, it would be entirely different. Participants would only need to open the Ghost Gate to enter the Underworld and could swiftly reach the headquarters. Furthermore, when returning to the mortal realm through the Ghost Gate, they could directly reappear in the area they departed from, saving a considerable amount of time.

Precisely for this reason, the Yin Divisions of all major continents had established a headquarters in the Underworld. No one from other continents was permitted to enter this headquarters without the approval of their respective Continent's Emperor, not even other members of the Yin Division.

Of course, even those from the same continent were not allowed free entry and exit if their rank was insufficient. To be precise, only the Emperor and the nine Guardians of each continent's Yin Division headquarters in the Underworld could enter and leave as they pleased, as this was their designated place for discussing important matters.

After Luo Yao led Yang Haoran and the eight Guardians away from the arena, they proceeded directly to their Jingling Continent Yin Division headquarters in the Underworld.

Yang Haoran had long known that their Jingling Continent Yin Division possessed such a headquarters in the Underworld. However, back when he was an Emissary of Death, he was utterly unqualified to enter, as this was a place reserved for the true powerhouses of their Jingling Continent Yin Division.

Upon entering the headquarters, Yang Haoran had initially expected Luo Yao to first introduce them to one another, then assign some tasks to him and Xu Meijing, the newly appointed Guardians, or perhaps even directly inquire, in front of everyone, why his and Xu Meijing's strength had increased so rapidly.

Yet, Yang Haoran hadn't guessed correctly at all. After Luo Yao arrived at the headquarters with the eight Guardians, he left Yang Haoran, Xu Meijing, Long Yan, and Ye Xianglan behind, instructing them to receive the best treatment there and to wait at the headquarters. He then departed without delay with the other four Guardians, not even uttering a single extra word.

Nevertheless, though Yang Haoran harbored doubts in his heart, he didn't let them show on his face, which still wore a faint smile.

Yang Haoran had never been to the place where the four of them currently stood. However, it appeared to be some kind of conference room, decorated in a distinct Underworld style. Yet, the opulence here was beyond comparison to any shops or private residences in the Underworld.

In the vast hall, apart from the servants who stood with bowed heads, ready for orders, only Yang Haoran, Xu Meijing, Long Yan, and Ye Xianglan remained.

Earlier, the four had fought tooth and nail in the arena, with Yang Haoran's final actions particularly infuriating to the other two. Now, with all four simultaneously present in this grand hall, the atmosphere instantly became exceedingly oppressive, so quiet that not a single sound could be heard.

However, this silence was soon broken by Yang Haoran.

"Haha, esteemed Guardians, I apologize for any offense given in the arena earlier. I hope you won't take it to heart."

Yang Haoran spoke with a smile, clasping his fists in a salute to the two.

"Heh, Divine Emissary Yang has now become a Guardian. Your manner of saluting us has changed; you've certainly adapted to your new role quickly."

Ye Xianglan wore a charming expression. As she spoke, her demeanor showed no hint of mockery or resentment, yet the meaning of her words clearly carried a sarcastic undertone.

Earlier, when Yang Haoran saluted her in the arena, it was entirely the manner of a subordinate greeting a superior, bowing respectfully. Now, when Yang Haoran saluted them again, he merely clasped his fists, his back ramrod straight. Ye Xianglan's sarcasm towards Yang Haoran was directed at this very point.

Yang Haoran showed no awkwardness because of Ye Xianglan's words. On the contrary, his expression remained completely unchanged, his faint smile ever present on his face.

"Heh, when one is in a different position, the way one handles things naturally changes. I would like to offer Guardian Ye a bowing salute, but I wonder what the Emperor would think if he saw it."

Yang Haoran's words immediately caused the smile on Ye Xianglan's face to freeze. Long Yan, hearing this from the side, let out a cold snort, then coldly instructed a nearby servant.

"Take me to get treated."

The servant quickly bowed and respectfully replied.

"Yes, Guardian!"

Long Yan departed. He didn't say a word to Yang Haoran, nor did he spare a glance for Xu Meijing. Ye Xianglan, having regained her composure, once again smiled, though her smile felt devoid of warmth.

"Heh, this time I truly underestimated Guardian Yang. If there's another opportunity, I'll definitely have a proper fight with Guardian Yang. I hope you won't resort to sneak attacks then."

Having left those words, Ye Xianglan also had a servant lead her away for treatment, not lingering any further.

Ye Xianglan and Long Yan's injuries were already exceedingly severe. Even though they had taken healing Dānyào during the battle, the speed of their body's recovery still couldn't keep pace with the rate of destruction. As a result, their injuries not only failed to improve significantly but instead grew progressively worse.

Earlier in the arena, their injuries were even more severe than Wen Hexuan's. They hadn't fallen unconscious, but Wen Hexuan had. This was partly because Wen Hexuan's injuries had worsened during his fight with Yongle, exceeding the severity of theirs. Furthermore, the sight of two Emissaries of Death falling unconscious had fueled his rage to the point of overwhelming his mind, which ultimately caused Wen Hexuan to collapse and pass out.

Although both of them felt anger, it hadn't reached the same degree as Wen Hexuan's. Moreover, they hadn't continued fighting afterward, and the Dānyào they had taken continuously worked to heal their injuries. This was why they hadn't fallen unconscious from their severe wounds, but instead seemed even more invigorated.

Of course, this so-called invigoration was merely relative; they weren't genuinely energized, just in a better state than someone at death's door.

Long Yan and Ye Xianglan departed one after another, and Yang Haoran paid them no mind. He turned his gaze to Xu Meijing, who stood nearby, and said with a smile.

"Heh, Guardian Wen must be receiving treatment now."

Yang Haoran had inexplicably uttered this sentence. Others might not understand its meaning, but Xu Meijing certainly would.

There were clearly better medical facilities here, yet Luo Yao had not brought the severely injured and unconscious Wen Hexuan back. Instead, he had left Wen Hexuan at the arena to receive treatment alongside the eliminated participants, while bringing the four of them back to the headquarters for their own treatment. Xu Meijing knew Yang Haoran was subtly referring to this, but because this was the Jingling Continent Yin Division headquarters and Yang Haoran feared eavesdroppers, he hadn't spoken more plainly.

"Since he's already receiving treatment, what are you and I waiting for here?"

Yang Haoran, whose smile had remained unchanged, saw a hint of displeasure on Xu Meijing's face. His smile immediately became a bit awkward, and he quickly and courteously summoned the service personnel stationed there, guiding the two of them to receive the best treatment their Jingling Continent Yin Division had to offer.

Although Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing hadn't used their full strength in this martial arts competition, their injuries were still very severe. After all, not using one's full power didn't mean one wouldn't get hurt.

According to Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing's true thoughts, they actually didn't want to receive treatment here. They had plenty of Dānyào; by taking it and then spending some time fully refining it, their injuries would quickly recover. While they wouldn't fully heal in a short period, their mobility wouldn't be an issue, allowing them to use that time for other matters instead of wasting it due to their wounds.

However, Luo Yao had issued a strict order before leaving, instructing them to stay here for treatment and to wait. This order didn't just apply to the two of them; Long Yan and Ye Xianglan were no exception either.

Since Luo Yao had given the order, Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing naturally wouldn't dare defy it. Wen Hexuan, Long Yan, and Ye Xianglan served as excellent cautionary examples today; they certainly didn't want to become Guardians only to immediately follow in the footsteps of the other three.

Nevertheless, Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing were both quite curious as to what Luo Yao was doing with the four Guardians under his command. From Luo Yao's hasty departure, it seemed he wasn't going sightseeing, but rather to handle some major affair.

While Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing were receiving treatment, the entire Underworld had erupted into a frenzy. Streets and alleys buzzed with discussions about the martial arts competition held by the Jingling Continent Yin Division in the arena. The news of their ultimate victory and their ascension to Guardians of Jingling Continent swept through the entire Underworld like a storm.

The most talked-about topic was the two lightning bolts Yang Haoran unleashed at the end, controlled by his Black Lightning. Regarding these two lightning strikes that determined the final victor, some considered them a stroke of genius, while others scorned them, believing Yang Haoran's actions were entirely a sneak attack. If Yang Haoran hadn't seized the opportunity to knock out the two participants with lightning, it would have been hard to say who the ultimate winner of the competition would have been.

Although different people held different opinions, the fact that Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing had become Guardians of the Jingling Continent Yin Division was unchangeable.

Today, Jingran Pharmacy's business was a bit slower compared to previous days. This wasn't because the previous commotion had affected sales; rather, it was because most of the people who had come to the Underworld to participate in the competition or watch the excitement had already purchased all the Dānyào they needed days ago. Furthermore, today was the day the Jingling Continent Yin Division was holding its martial arts competition to select Guardians, and apart from the Underworld Officials who came from the mortal realm, most of the Ghost Officials in the Underworld had rushed to the arena to watch the spectacle. This was why business was somewhat slower than a few days prior.

Not only was Jingran Pharmacy's business a bit slower than days prior, but other shops also saw less activity.

However, as the competition concluded and the spectators gradually dispersed from the arena, the streets and alleys of the Underworld grew lively once more, and business at all the shops was certainly poised to improve significantly.

Inside Jingran Pharmacy, Gu Yi sat behind the counter, absentmindedly toying with a ballpoint pen. Two shop assistants attended to the sparse, scattered customers, while Ban Kui, as always, stood guard outside Jingran Pharmacy's main entrance. Even though there was no queue outside the pharmacy today and he wasn't needed to maintain order, he hadn't forgotten his duties or abandoned his post.

All four employees of Jingran Pharmacy, including Gu Yi, knew that Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing would be participating in today's competition. They all wanted to go to the arena to watch and cheer for their boss and boss-lady. However, since the shop had to remain open for business and each of them had their own duties, they simply couldn't get away. Thus, they could only reluctantly give up and stay at the shop.

Although she remained inside the shop, Gu Yi's heart was at the arena. She couldn't stop wondering how the competition was progressing, how their boss and boss-lady were faring, whether they had advanced or been eliminated. It was precisely because her mind was entirely consumed by these thoughts that she couldn't focus on the shop, leading to her current absentmindedness.

"Sigh, I should have known to ask the boss in advance to close the shop for a day. That way, we could have watched the Guardian selection competition too. What a pity!"

Gu Yi sighed helplessly, toying with the ballpoint pen in her hand as she muttered to herself weakly.

No sooner had Gu Yi's words faded than two shop assistants immediately drew closer.

"Manager, do you think the boss and boss-lady can overwhelm the competition this time and become Guardians?"

One shop assistant, her face full of anticipation, asked Gu Yi.

Gu Yi, who had been lost in thought, was snapped back to reality by the shop assistant's voice. Her hand, toying with the pen, paused, and she looked towards the two shop assistants in front of the counter. Their expressions immediately registered in her eyes.

At that moment, not only was the speaking shop assistant's face filled with anticipation, but the other, silent one also wore an expectant expression, staring intently at her, as if eager for her to give an affirmative answer.

"Why aren't you two attending to customers? What are you doing over here?"

Gu Yi said, glancing around the shop's interior, only to see that at some point, there wasn't a single customer left.

"Business is slow today, Manager. Those few customers just now only looked around the shop and left; they didn't decide to buy anything."

The shop assistant who had spoken earlier observed Gu Yi's reaction and immediately explained, afraid that Gu Yi might misunderstand and think they were slacking off.

"Oh, so that's what happened."

Gu Yi's face showed an expression of sudden realization. Immediately afterward, as if something had just occurred to her, she asked the two.

"Which of you two spoke just now, and what did you say?"

Although Gu Yi had been brought back to her senses by the female shop assistant's voice just now, being so engrossed in her thoughts, she couldn't determine who had spoken, nor had she clearly heard what was said. That was why she was now asking the two of them this question.

"Manager, I was the one who spoke just now. I asked if you thought the boss and boss-lady could overwhelm the competition this time and successfully secure the Guardian positions."

The shop assistant who had spoken earlier repeated her words with a smile. Gu Yi, without even thinking, immediately gave an affirmative reply.

"Is there even a need to ask? The boss and boss-lady will definitely succeed! Although I don't know exactly how strong they are, or how powerful the other contestants in this competition are, I believe the boss and boss-lady will succeed. Those two Guardian positions belong to no one but them!"

Gu Yi's words were uttered with absolute certainty. The two shop assistants naturally understood that her words were merely blind faith in Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing, completely without basis. However, this didn't prevent the smiles on their faces from growing even wider with joy.

This was because they, too, hoped that Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing would emerge victorious. If the two successfully claimed the Guardian positions, then in the future, no short-sighted individuals would dare cause trouble at their Jingran Pharmacy again. And while they themselves were just ordinary shop assistants, they were still Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing's people. If anyone wanted to bully them, they would first have to consider their own standing.

"Hehe, I also believe the boss and boss-lady will win the final victory. Although I haven't seen the boss make a move, I have seen the boss-lady in action. Just her aura that day, one look was enough to tell she was a master. And the jade pendants the boss-lady gave us—those must have been personally blessed by her, otherwise how could she have produced four at once without a hint of pain? The boss-lady personally said that those jade pendants could block attacks from Earth Soul realm experts. Since she can bless such powerful jade pendants, it's obvious her strength is ridiculously immense!"

The other female shop assistant spoke with a beaming smile. Compared to Gu Yi's blind faith, her words were quite well-reasoned and logical.

Gu Yi naturally understood the reasoning the shop assistant presented. However, Gu Yi was different from this assistant; even without that point, Gu Yi still firmly believed that Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing would successfully claim the championship. It was a matter of intuition.

Just as the female shop assistant's words fell, Ban Kui's voice suddenly echoed from outside.

"Jiang Dashi, hello."

Ordinarily, when business was good, Jingran Pharmacy would be filled with bustling noise. Ban Kui's normal speaking voice would naturally not carry into the inner parts of the shop, much less reach the ears of Gu Yi and the two shop assistants.

However, at this moment, their shop had no customers at all. Apart from Gu Yi and the shop assistants' conversation, there was no other sound in the entire shop. Furthermore, Ban Kui's words happened to coincide with the female shop assistant's voice fading, leaving the entire shop in silence. Naturally, Ban Kui's voice reached the ears of all three.

Who Jiang Dashi was, Gu Yi and the two needn't even think to know. Although there were far too many people named Jiang in this world, only one would come to their Jingran Pharmacy and be addressed by Ban Kui with such a respectful tone.

"Don't just stand at the door, come in quickly! I've brought good news for the four of you!"