Chapter 1164: News of Spiritualists Gathering
The appearance of Shi Kai and Gan Ning was merely an interlude in Yang Haoran’s recovery process. He had hoped to learn of some people or events that might interest him from their mouths, but instead, he received only their belated thanks. Not a single person or event that piqued his interest was mentioned.
Although Shi Kai and Gan Ning’s thanks came a little late, Yang Haoran still accepted their gratitude. After all, both of them were now his Emissaries of Death, so he certainly wouldn’t quibble over whether the thanks were early or late.
As a manager, one must not only manage relationships with superiors but also with subordinates. Only by doing both well can one’s work proceed more smoothly, achieve better results, and yield unexpected gains.
With the interlude of Shi Kai and Gan Ning past, Yang Haoran returned to his room, preparing to continue refining the Dānyào within his body to recover from his injuries. But just then, he suddenly sensed something and retracted the foot he had just stepped into the room.
“Heh heh, it seems I won’t be able to properly heal for a while. ”
Yang Haoran chuckled softly, then abandoned entering the room and instead strode towards the living room.
Meanwhile, outside the main door, a figure appeared before the two women. Upon recognizing the arrival, the women’s expressions changed, and they immediately knelt down.
“Greetings, Lord Emissary! ”
Facing the women’s bows, Ding Tianhua didn’t even glance at them. He merely hummed in response, then immediately asked,
“Is Lord Emissary Yang inside? ”
Without Ding Tianhua’s permission, the two women dared not rise, but this didn’t prevent them from responding. One of the women, not daring to show the slightest slack, immediately spoke.
“Replying to Lord Emissary, Lord Emissary Yang is inside. ”
The woman’s answer was cautious. She merely gave a concise reply to Ding Tianhua’s question, saying nothing more. She knew that talking too much could lead to mistakes, so she dared not speak further, lest she invite unnecessary trouble upon herself.
Upon learning that Yang Haoran was inside, Ding Tianhua no longer paid attention to the two women but quickly bowed towards the interior.
“Your subordinate, Ding Tianhua, has an urgent matter to report to Lord Emissary. ”
When Ding Tianhua questioned the two women, his tone had carried an air of command. However, now, speaking to Yang Haoran, his tone immediately changed. Although it lacked a bit in terms of genuine reverence, there was absolutely no hint of command.
Of course, this change was because Ding Tianhua simply dared not speak to Yang Haoran in a commanding tone.
Several seconds after Ding Tianhua’s voice fell, Yang Haoran’s voice finally came from inside. During this time, Ding Tianhua remained slightly bowed, maintaining his bowing posture.
“Heh heh, come in. ”
Receiving Yang Haoran’s permission, Ding Tianhua finally straightened up, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.
As for the two women kneeling on the ground, he didn’t spare them a glance, nor did he even utter a word for them to rise, walking directly into the room.
Since Ding Tianhua hadn’t spoken, the two women naturally dared not ask, much less rise on their own. In this situation, there was only one thing they could do: remain kneeling obediently in place. Although this wasn’t the outcome they desired, they had no other choice.
When Ding Tianhua arrived in the living room, Yang Haoran was leisurely sipping tea. Seeing this, Ding Tianhua bowed once more to Yang Haoran.
“Greetings, Lord Emissary! ”
Yang Haoran gently set down his teacup, then looked at Ding Tianhua, a faint smile on his lips.
“Heh heh, whether I’m inside, you could sense it easily. After all, there are no restrictions or formations here now. Why bother asking others? ”
When Shi Kai and Gan Ning left, Yang Haoran had already removed the restrictions and formations in the area, and he hadn’t completely sealed his own power fluctuations or aura. With Ding Tianhua’s Earth Soul mid-stage strength, sensing his presence would be incredibly simple. Let alone Ding Tianhua with his Earth Soul mid-stage strength, even an ordinary Night Watcher who hadn’t even opened their Heaven Soul could still sense his presence.
“Uh. . . ”
Ding Tianhua hadn’t expected Yang Haoran to ask about such a trivial matter. He had clearly stated that he had an urgent matter to report, yet Yang Haoran didn’t ask about the urgent matter but instead brought up such a minor detail. This left him momentarily bewildered, unable to fathom what Yang Haoran was thinking.
However, since Yang Haoran had indeed asked about it, even if he didn’t know Yang Haoran’s true intentions, he still felt it was better to explain.
“Your subordinate was anxious, so I overlooked that detail. Lord Emissary, please don’t make fun of your subordinate. ”
Ding Tianhua explained. Yang Haoran smiled at his words. He first lit a cigarette for himself, then asked,
“Heh heh, what kind of major event could make you this anxious? ”
Seeing Yang Haoran get to the point, Ding Tianhua naturally didn’t dwell on the previous question and immediately replied,
“Before long, the Spiritualists will undoubtedly attack our Tongyou City Underworld Office again! ”
Ding Tianhua’s words made Yang Haoran’s eyebrows arch slightly, and his action of smoking paused.
“Oh? Is that so? Tell me in detail. ”
Yang Haoran resumed his smoking, taking a puff, then spoke to Ding Tianhua,
“Over the years, your subordinate has also cultivated a decent intelligence agency. Their main task is to collect all sorts of information for me, especially information on Spiritualists, which is of paramount importance. Just now, your subordinate received news that a large number of Spiritualists are gathering in a deserted village outside our Tongyou City. In your subordinate’s opinion, their gathering there is ninety percent likely to be for the purpose of attacking our Tongyou City Underworld Office! ”
Ding Tianhua spoke with a serious expression and a clear tone of anxiety. Yang Haoran listened to Ding Tianhua’s words, his expression unchanged, calmly smoking his cigarette.
Ding Tianhua, of course, observed Yang Haoran’s reaction fully. Seeing Yang Haoran’s lack of reaction, his expression grew even more anxious than before.
“Lord Emissary, our Tongyou City Underworld Office suffered heavy losses this time, and the Spiritualists certainly don’t want to miss this opportunity to eliminate us. They didn’t directly attack our Tongyou City Underworld Office, but instead gathered secretly outside Tongyou City. I believe this must be because you, Lord Emissary, are holding the fort in Tongyou City, and they likely don’t yet have a Grand Spiritualist capable of fighting you. So they are waiting, waiting for such a Grand Spiritualist to arrive. Once they do, these assembled Spiritualists will surely launch another attack on our Tongyou City Underworld Office! ”
Yang Haoran silently smoked, still not speaking, his expression not changing in the slightest.
Seeing this, Ding Tianhua’s anxiety was completely visible on his face, even stronger than before.
“Lord Emissary, you know that while our Tongyou City Underworld Office suffered heavy losses this time, the Spiritualists suffered even greater losses. This time, they were determined to wipe out our Tongyou City Underworld Office. Not only did they fail to achieve their goal, but they also incurred massive casualties. Do you think they will give up so easily? ”
Yang Haoran first flicked off some ash, then took another puff of smoke, and finally spoke to Ding Tianhua,
“Heh heh, what do you think? ”
Although Ding Tianhua had already made his point quite clear, Yang Haoran still asked him this question.
In Ding Tianhua’s opinion, Yang Haoran’s question was completely pointless, but he dared not voice such a thought in front of Yang Haoran.
He didn’t dwell on whether Yang Haoran’s question had any deeper meaning. Since Yang Haoran asked, he immediately provided an answer.
“Your subordinate believes the Spiritualists will absolutely not give up so easily. They will certainly launch another attack on our Tongyou City Underworld Office. ”
Ding Tianhua’s answer was very firm. Yang Haoran’s expression remained unchanged. He took a final puff from his almost finished cigarette, then smiled faintly at Ding Tianhua and asked,
“Then what do you think we should do now? ”
Seeing Yang Haoran ask this, Ding Tianhua seemed to have already made up his mind, so he immediately replied without hesitation.
“Your subordinate believes that instead of passively waiting for the Spiritualists to attack us, it would be better for us to take the initiative. While they are still gathering their forces and before a Grand Spiritualist capable of matching Lord Emissary arrives, we should strike first and eliminate them. ”
Yang Haoran didn’t speak. This time, Ding Tianhua also remained silent, waiting for Yang Haoran’s reply. After a moment, Yang Haoran finally responded.
“Currently, your Tongyou City Underworld Office has very few Night Watchers left with combat capability, and other reinforcements have successively left Tongyou City. In such a situation, how can we launch a preemptive strike and find enough manpower? Are you planning to seek help from those factions in Tongyou City who are secretly watching the show? If they could be moved by you, they wouldn’t have hidden in the dark and watched during the previous battle with the Spiritualists; they would have come out to help you long ago. ”
After hearing Yang Haoran’s words, Ding Tianhua directly shook his head, seemingly disagreeing with Yang Haoran’s statement.
“Lord Emissary misunderstands. To swiftly and effectively strike this group of Spiritualists, I believe we don’t need to gather too many people. That would not only make us too conspicuous and easy to expose but also lead to greater casualties on our side. So, whether our Tongyou City Underworld Office has enough manpower is not an issue, nor do we need to seek help from other forces, because we simply don’t need that many people. ”
Ding Tianhua’s words brought a hint of interest to Yang Haoran’s face.
“Not gathering manpower, heh heh, are you perhaps planning to eliminate these Spiritualists by yourself? ”
Yang Haoran asked with a faint smile. Ding Tianhua’s face changed upon hearing this, and he quickly began to explain.
“If your subordinate hadn’t been severely injured, I would certainly have gone alone and eliminated these Spiritualists with absolute power. However, as Lord Emissary knows, your subordinate’s injuries are too severe. Even after receiving treatment and taking healing Dānyào, my injuries have only recovered a small portion, and my strength is less than three or four tenths of my peak. If your subordinate were to rush into the enemy’s gathering point in this state, not only would the Spiritualists not be completely eradicated, but I would also most likely lose my life. ”
Hearing Yang Haoran’s words, the smile on his face grew a little wider.
“Heh heh, since you can’t go alone, are you suggesting I go alone? ”
Ding Tianhua’s face changed. Although Yang Haoran had a smile on his face when he said this, and seemed extremely gentle, showing no sign of anger, for some reason, he felt as if Yang Haoran’s words concealed sharp daggers, pointing at various vital points on his body. Just one reason, or rather, one excuse, and these daggers would plunge into him.
“No, no, no, your subordinate didn’t mean that, nor would I dare to have such a thought. Your subordinate knows that Lord Emissary’s strength is astonishing, but how could I possibly ask Lord Emissary to do such a thing alone? ”
Ding Tianhua hurriedly explained, as if afraid Yang Haoran would misunderstand him. Yang Haoran listened to Ding Tianhua’s explanation, his smile unchanged. He calmly took a sip of tea, then chuckled and asked,
“Oh? Then what do you plan to do? ”
Ding Tianhua hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, as if having made a certain decision, and spoke to Yang Haoran.
“Your subordinate believes that if Lord Emissary and I go together, we can wipe out these Spiritualists in no time. Although both Lord Emissary and I have sustained serious injuries, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Those Spiritualist small fry are absolutely no match for me and Lord Emissary. Furthermore, with your formidable strength, Lord Emissary, even if a Grand Spiritualist were to arrive at a crucial moment, they would definitely not be your match! ”
When Ding Tianhua said these words, he was slightly bowed, feeling a degree of apprehension in his heart, and the expression on his face also showed some trepidation due to his inner unease.
Throughout this process, Yang Haoran’s gaze remained fixed on Ding Tianhua. As Ding Tianhua was slightly bowed, he couldn’t discern Ding Tianhua’s current expression. Although he couldn’t see Ding Tianhua’s expression, from Ding Tianhua’s words and the tone in which he spoke them, he could somewhat detect something different.
Ding Tianhua did not straighten up after speaking, appearing as if he was waiting for Yang Haoran’s reply.
However, Yang Haoran remained silent for a long time, which made him, already feeling somewhat uneasy, even more restless. This unease grew stronger with each passing second.
The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat oppressive. Under this oppressive atmosphere, Ding Tianhua went from feeling mentally uncomfortable to feeling awkward all over. Just as he was about to give in under this oppressive atmosphere, Yang Haoran finally spoke.
“Heh heh, your method is quite good. It saves manpower, isn’t easily exposed, and most importantly, with our combined efforts, we can achieve our goal in a very short time. It truly is an excellent idea. You must have put a lot of thought into coming up with such a brilliant plan. ”
Yang Haoran said with a smile. As he spoke, Ding Tianhua, who had been bowed, immediately straightened up, and the trepidation on his face vanished, replaced by an expression of delight.
“Lord Emissary. . . Lord Emissary has adopted your subordinate’s suggestion? ”
Although Ding Tianhua had a joyful expression, he wasn’t so overjoyed as to lose his composure. He couldn’t help but ask Yang Haoran, wanting to confirm Yang Haoran’s thoughts once more.
“Heh heh, such an excellent suggestion, of course I’ll adopt it. I’m not crazy, why would I miss such a good opportunity? ”
Yang Haoran responded with a smile, giving Ding Tianhua a definite answer. And after Ding Tianhua heard Yang Haoran’s words, the joy on his face grew even more intense.
“Lord Emissary is right, your subordinate’s suggestion truly is a good one, and it cost your subordinate quite a few brain cells. If Lord Emissary didn’t adopt this suggestion, it would truly be a huge loss, and we might even fall into another encirclement by the Spiritualists. ”
Ding Tianhua said with a laugh, taking the opportunity to flatter himself.
Yang Haoran chuckled in response, his smile deepening. From his expression, he also seemed quite pleased.
“Heh heh, since you could come up with such a flawless plan, I’m sure you’ve also decided on the departure time, right? ”
Yang Haoran asked with a smile. Ding Tianhua nodded, immediately giving a firm reply.
“Lord Emissary is right, your subordinate has indeed decided on the departure time. This matter should be dealt with as quickly as possible. Every minute we delay, a Grand Spiritualist from the Spiritualists might arrive. If Lord Emissary has no other urgent matters to attend to, we can depart now and catch these Spiritualists off guard! ”
Yang Haoran didn’t immediately nod in agreement, but instead asked Ding Tianhua with a smile,
“Your injuries have only recovered slightly. In this state, you are like an arrow at the end of its flight, unable to withstand the gusting winds. Are you sure you want to depart now and not take some time to recover your injuries? ”
Ding Tianhua didn’t even think, immediately shaking his head at Yang Haoran, then said with a beaming smile,
“There’s no need to recover my injuries. I’ve taken the healing Dānyào, and my injuries are recovering constantly, so there’s no need to spend extra time recovering. Besides, with Lord Emissary here, your strength is so formidable that the enemy is like an ant in your eyes. I have no worries at all. What’s more, I, Ding Tianhua, am not made of mud. Even if my injuries are severe, I am still an Earth Soul mid-stage expert. As long as I don’t encounter a Grand Spiritualist, it won’t be easy for those small fry to kill me. Lord Emissary completely needn’t worry about my safety! ”
From Ding Tianhua’s words, it was easy to tell that he was full of confidence for this trip, and he didn’t care at all about his own safety.
After Yang Haoran silently listened to Ding Tianhua’s words, he first lit a cigarette for himself, then said with a smile,
“Heh heh, since you’ve said so, I won’t try to dissuade you. I’ll give you ten minutes to make simple preparations. We’ll depart immediately in ten minutes. ”
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