Chapter 1278: Constructing the Guardian District (Part 2)
Since Yang Haoran had brought Shui Ling and Lu Wu back from Gu Mo City, he naturally had plans for them. However, these plans would have to be put on hold for the time being, as the most pressing task was to successfully construct the Guardian District. Only after its completion could subsequent work proceed smoothly. Therefore, he wasn't planning to assign any duties to the two of them for now; everything would wait until the Guardian District was built.
During this period, the two had nothing else to do, so Yang Haoran simply instructed them to lead the Night Watchers under their command to assist Zhu Rong in constructing the Guardian District.
Zhu Rong managed a large number of people: Lecheng's residents and Lecheng's army. Combined, their numbers were quite formidable.
However, apart from the Spirit Police, most of the people under Zhu Rong were ordinary folk. Many tasks that non-ordinary people could handle with a mere wave of their hand would take ordinary people a long time. So, if Zhu Rong were to rely solely on her subordinates for the construction of the Guardian District, she would need to mobilize an enormous amount of labor to complete it in the shortest possible time, which would mean other development projects in Lecheng would have to be temporarily shelved.
However, with the help of non-ordinary people, the situation would be entirely different. Not only would it save immense manpower, but the progress would also be leaps and bounds faster.
“Understood, Your Excellency. After the meeting, this subordinate will transfer half of his Night Watchers to Administrative Chief Zhu. ”
As Yang Haoran finished speaking, Old Master Wu immediately responded with a smile. No sooner had Old Master Wu spoken than Lu Wu also chimed in with his reply.
“Emissary, rest assured, this subordinate will lead his forces in full cooperation, striving to complete the construction of the Guardian District as quickly as possible! ”
“This subordinate will also offer full cooperation. Both this subordinate and the Second Division under my command will heed Administrative Chief Zhu’s deployment until the Guardian District is successfully completed. ”
Yang Haoran nodded with a smile, then redirected his gaze to Zhu Rong.
“Heh heh, with so many Night Watchers assisting, I believe the construction of the Guardian District won't take too much time. ”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Rong's smile deepened considerably.
“Thank you, Boss, for considering your subordinate. With their help, the construction of the Guardian District will indeed become much easier. Not only will the time be drastically cut down, but it also won't affect the normal operation of our entire Lecheng's work. ”
Yang Haoran maintained his smile and continued to speak.
“I believe I've provided you with enough manpower. As for how to achieve a result that satisfies me, that will depend on your capabilities. ”
Speaking thus, Yang Haoran paused slightly, then continued to address Zhu Rong.
“There’s one more thing. It’s a fact that you are my, Yang Haoran’s, person. However, outwardly, you are still the Administrative Chief of the Lecheng Administrative Courtyard. The relationship between you and me is not one of superior and subordinate, but rather a cooperative one. Although some people may have already guessed the true nature of our relationship, as long as you and I don’t acknowledge it, that thin sheet of window paper will continue to exist. As long as that window paper is there, it might still prove useful later on. If, in the future, this window paper no longer serves a purpose, or if I feel there's no need to conceal it anymore, then I will personally tear it down. But before that, let this window paper remain. ”
When Zhu Rong first started following Yang Haoran, their relationship was absolutely a secret. However, as time went by, the bond between the Lecheng Underworld Office and the Lecheng Administrative Courtyard grew increasingly close, with various collaborations occurring one after another. Consequently, some observant individuals gradually began to discern the truth.
However, just as Yang Haoran said, what did it matter if they saw through it? As long as he and Zhu Rong didn't admit it, that sheet of window paper would always remain between them in front of outsiders. Although this window paper was a bit of self-deception, sometimes, there was just no dealing with people who indulged in such self-deception.
Why Yang Haoran wanted to do this, he had just explained: he wanted to make preparations for what was to come. As for what exactly he intended to do, he did not elaborate.
Zhu Rong, of course, wasn't foolish enough to ask Yang Haoran why he maintained this sheet of window paper. Her approach was simple: she respectfully assented and asked no further questions.
Yang Haoran didn't give Zhu Rong any further instructions. He glanced at Feng Xiao, then turned his gaze to Xiang Chuan.
“Xiang Chuan, starting today, you no longer need to alter your appearance in front of outsiders, nor do you need to use the false name Xiang Hai. ”
Yang Haoran said with a faint smile. Upon hearing this, Xiang Chuan's face immediately lit up with joy. He then chuckled at Yang Haoran.
“Heh heh, Big Brother, if I revert to my original appearance, aren’t you worried I’ll bring you trouble? ”
Yang Haoran’s expression didn't change in the slightest at Xiang Chuan's words.
“Heh heh, don’t worry. Even if the sky falls, I’ll be here to hold it up for you. If trouble truly comes knocking, I will bear it for you. If you’re really uneasy, once I finish handling my urgent matters, I can accompany you on a trip. If trouble doesn’t come looking for you, we’ll actively go find it and resolve the issue at its root. ”
Yang Haoran said with a faint smile. Although his words were calm, their meaning was quite arrogant.
To be honest, Yang Haoran had never truly concerned himself with Xiang Chuan's enemies. The reason he had Xiang Chuan change his appearance, even altering his name, was solely to prevent Huo Laoban from following the clues to find him and deduce that he was the killer of Huo Laoban’s trusted subordinate.
Furthermore, he had also killed a Golden Talisman Master back then. A Golden Talisman Master held a very high position within the Talisman Order. If the Talisman Order were to discover that this Golden Talisman Master died by his hand, it would certainly bring him a great deal of trouble. His decision to prevent Xiang Chuan from showing his true face also took this into consideration.
Now, he could tell that Huo Laoban had already confirmed that Xia Yu died by Yang Haoran’s hand. Likewise, he was certain that the person who wanted to eliminate him was Huo Laoban, and he had also guessed why Huo Laoban wished to do so. Therefore, there was no longer any need for Xiang Chuan to conceal himself.
As for the Talisman Order, so much time had passed since the incident that it was unlikely they would be able to follow the clues and find him. After all, he had handled the matter very cleanly back then, leaving no trace or hint. It was not only unlikely for the Talisman Order to find Yang Haoran, but even the possibility of them finding Xiang Chuan was small.
Moreover, with his current status and position, even if the Talisman Order came looking for him because of Xiang Chuan, what could they do? As long as he didn’t admit it, who could do anything to him, a Guardian of the Underworld Office? Not to mention whether the Talisman Order could produce convincing evidence, even if they truly presented some, if he outright refused to acknowledge it, they would be powerless against him.
Yang Haoran had thoroughly considered this matter in his heart long ago. Only after confirming there were no issues did he make this decision.
Yang Haoran’s words made Xiang Chuan’s blood boil with excitement. His expression consequently became agitated, as he too disliked having to alter his appearance or even use a false name when facing outsiders. Now that he finally didn't have to be secretive anymore, he was naturally overjoyed.
“Heh heh, Big Brother, you said that yourself. Don’t go back on your word when the time comes; everyone heard it clearly. ”
Xiang Chuan said with a grin. Although his words carried a hint of uncertainty, his tone showed no doubt whatsoever. From this, it was clear that he truly believed Yang Haoran’s words in his heart.
“Heh heh, don’t worry. I wouldn’t joke about something like this, and it’s even less likely I’d make such a joke with you in front of so many of our own people. ”
Far from showing any displeasure at Xiang Chuan’s doubt, Yang Haoran, in front of everyone, once again gave Xiang Chuan a definite affirmative.
“Since Big Brother has said so, then I definitely believe you one hundred percent. Heh heh, I know you must be planning to assign me another task. We’re all family here, no need to be polite with me. Just tell your little brother what needs to be done, and I’ll get it done. ”
Xiang Chuan was beaming, looking as though he was ready to go through a mountain of knives and a sea of fire for Yang Haoran.
“During the construction of the Guardian District, I won’t assign any tasks to you, and the same goes for Feng Xiao. You two have worked hard refining medicine lately, so I plan to give you both a proper break. If you find yourselves bored, you can exchange insights on refining medicine. Since you are both Medicine Spirits, you're bound to gain something from the exchange. ”
Xiang Chuan was a hundred percent willing to accept Yang Haoran's arrangement. Even though he had just spoken so solemnly, he was secretly eager for an easy time.
“Heh heh, Big Brother is truly considerate. Since Big Brother has made such arrangements, your little brother will certainly follow them without any complaints. ”
Xiang Chuan laughed with a mischievous grin. After his words fell, Feng Xiao then timidly spoke up.
“Brother Yang, well. . . I. . . ”
Feng Xiao stammered, looking as if she wanted to speak but held back. Seeing this, Yang Haoran immediately said with a smile,
“Heh heh, you can speak your mind. We are all our own people here. ”
Yang Haoran’s words gave Feng Xiao a great deal of courage. She hesitated for a moment, then continued to speak.
“Recently. . . I’m afraid I won’t have time to discuss insights on refining medicine with Big Brother Xiang. ”
Upon hearing this, Xiang Chuan couldn't help but tease with a chuckle.
“What’s wrong, Little Fengfeng? Don’t tell me you think your Big Brother Xiang isn’t qualified to discuss medicinal alchemy with you? ”
Feng Xiao's expression immediately became anxious upon hearing this, and she hastily began to explain.
“No, no, no, it’s not like that. I simply genuinely don’t have time, not that I think Big Brother Xiang isn’t qualified. I don’t have time to discuss medicinal alchemy with Big Brother Xiang, and even less time to help with the Guardian District’s construction, because. . . because I feel like I’m about to break through to the Medicine Sect realm, so I need to go into seclusion for a period of time. ”
Feng Xiao’s words made the smile on Xiang Chuan’s face instantly stiffen, and his mouth couldn’t help but twitch a few times.
Not only did Xiang Chuan react strongly, but the expressions of everyone else present, except for the siblings Jing Qi and Jing Miao, also changed to varying degrees.
The reason Jing Qi and Jing Miao's expressions didn't change at all was that the siblings had no idea what the Medicine Sect implied. Ever since they started following Yang Haoran, their daily routine, apart from eating and resting, consisted of only one thing: relentlessly boosting their strength through massive amounts of resources.
Because the two of them wanted to increase their strength as much as possible in the shortest amount of time, to help Yang Haoran resolve his worries and problems and demonstrate their own value, they had no inclination or time to broaden their knowledge.
If it involved anything related to the Demon Cult, the siblings might have known, as that was their area of expertise. But outside of the Demon Cult, their knowledge was extremely limited, even when it came to common sense.
It was precisely because they didn't know what the Medicine Sect realm entailed that Feng Xiao's words at this moment had no psychological impact on the siblings.
The others' expressions changed, of course, because they all more or less understood what the Medicine Sect realm meant.
“Holy moly, Xiaoxiao, you’re not joking, are you? ”
Xiang Chuan, who usually spoke in an informal manner, now stared at Feng Xiao with a look of astonishment. Not only was his tone incredulous, but even his address for Feng Xiao had become normal.
In truth, Xiang Chuan already had the answer in his heart even without Feng Xiao’s reply. Although he hadn't spent much time with Feng Xiao, he had a certain understanding of her personality. He knew that Feng Xiao was not someone who liked to joke around, nor was she one to exaggerate. Therefore, since Feng Xiao had said it, it had to be the truth.
He asked, despite knowing, not because he disbelieved Feng Xiao, but because he didn’t quite believe his own ears. He was wondering if he had misheard, and thus asked for confirmation.
“Big Brother Xiang, you know I don’t joke around. ”
Feng Xiao said somewhat timidly. Her answer didn’t surprise Xiang Chuan. After hearing it, Xiang Chuan gave a bitter smile, feeling both envy and admiration.
“I always considered myself a genius, and I had profound faith in that. Now, I realize that compared to you, my genius seems to be nothing more than an imposter. Truly, I am so utterly impressed that I prostrate myself in admiration! ”
Xiang Chuan couldn't help but exclaim. His words were unlike his usual playful teasing; they felt entirely heartfelt. And indeed, his remarks were truly from the bottom of his heart, without a hint of jest.
Xiang Chuan’s exclamation stemmed from the fact that he knew Feng Xiao was not very old, significantly younger than him. Yet, he was still a long way from the peak of the Medicine Spirit realm, while Feng Xiao was already preparing to enter seclusion to break through to the Medicine Sect realm. This was why he sighed and admired her.
Although he had never seen Feng Xiao take action, based on her age, he had presumed that even if Feng Xiao had reached the Medicine Spirit realm, there would certainly be a gap between her and him.
Now it seemed there indeed was a gap between them, but the one significantly lagging was not the younger Feng Xiao, but him, Big Brother Xiang, who was considerably older.
Don't let Xiang Chuan's constant grinning and mischievous demeanor fool you; in truth, he also harbored his own pride. He had always believed himself to be a genius, and not just in the field of medicinal alchemy. He simply wasn't like some people who constantly boasted about their abilities.
Yet at this moment, he was deeply struck by Feng Xiao. He, who had always considered himself a genius, couldn't help but begin to doubt his own abilities: was he truly a genius after all?
What Xiang Chuan didn't know was that before Feng Xiao followed Yang Haoran, she didn't even know what realm she was in. She had been so solely focused on researching and refining various medicines that she had no mind to pay attention to other matters. Had Yang Haoran not educated her, she wouldn't have known at the time that she had already stepped into the Medicine Spirit realm.
If Xiang Chuan had known this, the expression on his face at this moment would surely have been even more priceless.
“Um. . . um, Big Brother Xiang, I’m actually not as formidable as you say. There are many issues in medicinal alchemy that I still haven’t fully grasped, and I’ll have to ask for your guidance then. ”
Feng Xiao said with an embarrassed expression, her voice barely audible. Had the scene not been so quiet, it would have been impossible to hear what she was saying.
Xiang Chuan wore an awkward expression. He, who was usually talkative, merely smiled this time and didn't speak up.
Among everyone present, only Lu Wu, Shui Ling, and Huang Sha were unfamiliar with Feng Xiao. Everyone else knew what kind of personality Feng Xiao had. Although these three were unfamiliar with her, through Feng Xiao's tone and expression, they could tell that she wasn't lying, nor was she deliberately showing off her abilities in front of them. The impression she gave was very pure: she was simply stating a fact.
Regarding this matter, Yang Haoran was undoubtedly the happiest. Once Feng Xiao truly succeeded in breaking through to the Medicine Sect realm, the help she would bring to their team would multiply.
He hadn't considered how much combat power Feng Xiao would possess after breaking through to the Medicine Sect realm. Although the combat power of a Medicine Sect master was not weak, being on the same level as Underworld officials who had opened their Heaven and Earth Souls, and given the various strange and wondrous medicines in a Pharmacist’s hands, they were incredibly difficult to deal with.
But Feng Xiao was different. Feng Xiao inherently disliked fighting and wasn't skilled at it. Thus, she had no combat experience whatsoever. Even with immense power, it would be difficult for her to unleash the proper combat strength. Yang Haoran was very clear on this point, so he hadn't even considered how much combat power Feng Xiao would have after breaking through to the Medicine Sect realm.
Setting aside her combat power, simply considering the various medicines Feng Xiao could refine: once she broke through to the Medicine Sect realm, the efficacy of her concoctions would be far beyond what Medicine Spirits could produce. This would not only generate even more astonishing wealth for him but also elevate the assistance she provided to their team by an entire grade. He was naturally very pleased in his heart, though he merely didn't let his joy show completely on his face.
“Heh heh, since you’re preparing to go into seclusion for your breakthrough, I will naturally support you with all my might. You don't need to worry about anything else; just focus on your breakthrough. Feel free to tell me whatever you need. No matter what it is, I will find every possible way to get it for you in the shortest amount of time. ”
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