Chapter 1174: Under Surveillance
After Yang Haoran departed, the ruined village fell into a profound silence. No sounds were heard, no one appeared, and just as before, not even a single bird or beast was to be seen.
Approximately five or six minutes later, a spatial rift reappeared at the exact spot where Yang Haoran had been. A figure emerged from within the rift—it was none other than Yang Haoran, who had returned.
Yang Haoran’s gaze swept across the village once more, simultaneously sensing for any power fluctuations nearby. However, his eyes saw no one, nor did his senses detect any ripples.
At this, Yang Haoran merely smiled. He had no intention of digging three feet deep, nor did he mumble to himself as he had before. Instead, he gracefully (gracefully/leisurely) tore through space and departed from the place, without the faintest bit of lingering.
Outside the village, on an inconspicuous small hillside, a black figure witnessed everything. Hidden within the dense vegetation, he emitted no fluctuations of power, and from beginning to end, he made not the slightest sound, appearing like an inanimate object.
When Yang Haoran returned, his body visibly trembled slightly, indicating that Yang Haoran’s reappearance had affected his emotions. However, his body only trembled a little, without making any noise.
The black figure remained motionless, concealed in the thick vegetation, but his eyes were fixed on every movement within the village, especially the area Yang Haoran had left from previously, which was his primary focus.
About half an hour passed. The village was calm, and Yang Haoran, who had returned earlier, did not appear again. Only then did the motionless black figure finally stir. He did not head towards the village but quietly left his spot, vanishing into the dense jungle. It was not until he was far away from the former village that the black figure opened a spatial rift and drilled into it.
After continuously tearing space and undergoing several teleports, the black figure finally stopped. This was a clear, small river. There were no signs of human habitation along its banks, but it was not silent; the calls of birds and beasts could be heard, and fish could be seen leaping from the water.
“Whew, that was close. That Yang Haoran is truly cautious. If Shenshi hadn’t repeatedly warned me to act discreetly, I would most likely have died miserably by his hand today. ”
The black figure removed his hood while taking off his black clothes, muttering to himself with lingering fear. As his voice faded, his previous attire had already been stored in his independent space. What he was now wearing was the unique Emissary of Death uniform of the Underworld Office, the kind only Emissaries of Death were qualified to wear. On the cuff of his left sleeve, the words "Jingling Continent Seventh District" were embroidered, and on the right cuff, the name "Chun Yang" was sewn.
From these details on his Emissary of Death uniform, it was clear that this person was Chun Yang, the Emissary of Death for the Seventh District of the Jingling Continent's Underworld Office.
Chun Yang appeared young, around twenty-four or twenty-five, handsome and dashing, his face radiating a sunny smile. His smile was like the warm sun of spring, giving one a comfortable feeling.
Having changed into his Emissary of Death uniform, Chun Yang washed his face by the river, rubbed his wrists, and stretched his neck, allowing himself to relax thoroughly.
Earlier, while secretly observing Yang Haoran, even though they were far apart and his position was well hidden, he dared not be careless. Especially after Yang Haoran’s return, his nerves had remained taut. Only after reaching this place in one breath did his strained nerves finally relax.
After a short while, Chun Yang’s emotions settled. He did not linger there, tearing through space to leave. When he emerged from the spatial rift again, he was already at the Guardian District of the Jingling Continent's Underworld Office's Seventh District.
It was no secret in the entire Guardian District that Chun Yang was one of Huo Laoban’s trusted subordinates. Therefore, Chun Yang entered the Guardian District without any obstruction, and along the way, every guard he encountered saluted him without exception.
Half an hour later, Chun Yang finally met his Shenshi, Huo Laoban. The reason it took half an hour to see Huo Laoban was that Huo Laoban was also very busy.
Upon meeting Huo Laoban, Chun Yang reported everything he had seen without omission, including Yang Haoran’s eventual return.
Chun Yang had been present throughout Ding Tianhua’s operation against Yang Haoran, but he had not revealed himself or taken action. Instead, he had hidden in the shadows, observing. This matter was known only to Chun Yang and Huo Laoban; no third person, including Ding Tianhua, was aware of it.
Chun Yang’s mission, of course, wasn't because he was bored and ran off to watch the spectacle. It was a direct order from Huo Laoban. His objective for this mission was singular: to secretly observe the entire battle. He was forbidden from interfering, no matter what happened, until Yang Haoran was on the brink of death and required a finishing blow. Only then was he allowed to appear and act.
This mission seemed simple, but in reality, it was fraught with danger. If Chun Yang were exposed, the outcome for him would likely be a miserable death, as the gap in strength between him and Yang Haoran was not insignificant.
Furthermore, he had to make an accurate judgment as to whether Yang Haoran was truly on the brink of death. If he misjudged and intervened prematurely, the outcome awaiting him would still be destruction.
The battle between Ding Tianhua and Yang Haoran took place within a restrictive barrier, so it was impossible to discern the situation inside with the naked eye. However, Chun Yang was an Underworld Official and possessed a Ghost Eye that ordinary people did not. When the restrictive barrier appeared, he immediately activated his Ghost Eye, allowing him to witness the battle firsthand.
However, to avoid exposing himself, he only used a minimal amount of Spirit Power when activating his Ghost Eye, just enough to see clearly inside the barrier. He did not fully activate it. And when the restrictive barrier shattered, he was not caring in the slightest, nor did he harbor any wishful thinking; he immediately retracted his ghost eye.
Because he had activated his Ghost Eye, Chun Yang could clearly see Yang Haoran and Ding Tianhua fighting within the barrier, but he could only see the visual display; he could not hear sounds or sense the fluctuations of their powers.
After listening to Chun Yang’s report, Huo Laoban nodded with a smile, his expression unchanged. From his reaction, he did not seem surprised by this outcome.
“Hehe, thank you for your hard work this time. You did very well. If you hadn't listened to my arrangement and had acted against Yang Haoran on your own, your fate would likely be no better than Ding Tianhua's right now. That Yang Haoran is incredibly cunning. ”
Chun Yang nodded in agreement with Huo Laoban’s words, his smile now tinged with lingering fear.
“Shenshi is right, that Yang Haoran is indeed insidious enough. I truly didn’t expect that guy to return. If Shenshi hadn’t warned me repeatedly, after Yang Haoran’s first departure, I, your subordinate, would surely have succumbed to curiosity and gone to investigate the area. If I had done that, even if I weren’t dead now, I would certainly have fallen into Yang Haoran’s hands. ”
Chun Yang’s voice paused slightly, then he continued.
“It’s just a pity that when they were fighting, your subordinate was outside the barrier, so I couldn't hear their conversation during the process. However, Yang Haoran was at a disadvantage initially, and it looked like he was about to die miserably by Ding Tianhua’s hand. Then, Yang Haoran suddenly turned the tables and gained the upper hand. I don’t know what method he used to achieve that. ”
Huo Laoban chuckled at his words, then gently waved his hand, and a Death God Pendant appeared before them both.
Chun Yang looked puzzled, but he did not ask any questions, for he knew that his Shenshi had a purpose in producing this Death God Pendant at this moment.
The Death God Pendant looked quite ordinary, like any of the countless Death God Pendants one could find at any Death God Temple. But when Huo Laoban extended his finger and lightly tapped this Death God Pendant, it immediately ceased to be ordinary.
A dense Underworld energy visibly emanated from the Death God Pendant. Immediately after, this Death God Pendant shot out a black light. The black light transformed into a light screen before them. What was playing on the screen was precisely the scene of Yang Haoran and Ding Tianhua fighting inside the restrictive barrier. The visuals were not only clear but even had sound.
This scene filled Chun Yang with surprise.
“The Death God Pendant I freely gave Ding Tianhua had more uses than what you witnessed. The moment his emotions plunged into rage, the Death God Pendant in his hand not only warned him but also successfully activated. From that moment on, as long as he didn’t put the Death God Pendant into his independent space, all the scenes within several hundred meters centered on him would be transmitted to this Death God Pendant of mine. ”
Huo Laoban said with a faint smile. The battle scene currently playing on the Death God Pendant was enough to show that at least Yang Haoran and Ding Tianhua’s fight had been under his surveillance.
However, this also proved one thing: Yang Haoran’s caution was justified. If Yang Haoran had told the truth inside the barrier when facing Ding Tianhua, then his true strength would have certainly been exposed to Huo Laoban, and Huo Laoban would definitely not be as relaxed and comfortable as he was now.
“Hehe, so all of this was under Shenshi’s control. It seems my concern was completely unnecessary. ”
Chun Yang’s face broke into a brilliant smile as he watched the scene on the light screen and spoke with a chuckle.
“Indeed, there’s no need to worry, for I know all their conversations. ”
Huo Laoban said with a smile, a confident expression on his face.
The scene in the light screen finished playing when Yang Haoran shattered the Death God Pendant. Because of the images displayed on this screen, Chun Yang gained a deeper understanding of Yang Haoran and Ding Tianhua’s battle. The doubts he had from watching it like a silent film were now resolved due to their dialogue.
By the same token, Huo Laoban needed Chun Yang’s verbal account to understand the full sequence of events, as he was unaware of what happened after the Death God Pendant was shattered by Yang Haoran. Only by combining their knowledge could the entire battle be reconstructed.
“Yang Haoran was able to turn defeat into victory at the crucial moment because he consumed some kind of Dānyào. No wonder he, who had been at a disadvantage, could suddenly turn the tide. ”
Chun Yang sighed. As for other words, he did not speak them, nor did he intend to ask, for example, why Huo Laoban didn’t support Ding Tianhua at the last moment, instead letting Ding Tianhua suffer Soul Transformation. He didn’t ask these sensitive questions, nor did he need to, because he knew the reason in his heart.
“Yang Haoran is incredibly cunning, and his words cannot be entirely trusted. We underestimated him back then, which led to Xia Yu losing her life. That’s why I repeatedly urged you not to act rashly. However, I do hope he was telling the truth this time, otherwise, it would be troublesome. ”
Chun Yang naturally understood what Huo Laoban meant. His smile held a hint of lingering fear.
“My Shenshi is right, that Yang Haoran is indeed insidious enough. I truly didn’t expect that guy to return. If Shenshi hadn’t warned me repeatedly, after Yang Haoran’s first departure, I, your subordinate, would surely have succumbed to curiosity and gone to investigate the area. If I had done that, even if I weren’t dead now, I would certainly have fallen into Yang Haoran’s hands. ”
Chun Yang’s affirmative answer gave Huo Laoban some confidence. His heart, which had still been somewhat uneasy, finally settled. On one hand, he felt Chun Yang’s words were correct; on the other, he was also unwilling to believe that Yang Haoran truly possessed late-stage Earth Soul realm strength.
As if sensing his Shenshi’s inner worry, Chun Yang continued with a smile.
“Shenshi needn’t worry. That Yang Haoran absolutely cannot possess late-stage Earth Soul realm strength. Didn’t he himself say that he would be listing this Dānyào in his Underworld pharmacy in a while? At that time, whether this is true or false will be known when the pill is listed for sale. ”
Huo Laoban nodded with a smile. Although he hadn’t completely dismissed the matter, his doubts about it were few.
“Hehe, you performed very well in this mission; you didn’t act on your own. Otherwise, even if I wanted to save you, I would have been beyond reach. You know, the reason I had you secretly hidden was to pick up a fallen peach. Unfortunately, Yang Haoran was still alive and kicking at the end; there was no chance to take his life. While Yang Haoran is indeed troublesome, it’s also undeniable that Ding Tianhua is a good-for-nothing. He had his Soul Armament he could have used, yet he chose to use the Death God Pendant I gifted him. I don’t know whether I should be happy about his trust in me or lament his incompetence. ”
Huo Laoban’s words began with a touch of relief, then shifted to regret, and by the end, his tone even carried a hint of hating iron for not becoming steel.
Chun Yang merely maintained his brilliant smile, not intending to speak. However, Huo Laoban actively turned his gaze to Chun Yang and asked with a smile.
“Hehe, do you think that idiot Ding Tianhua deserved to die? ”
Chun Yang was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Huo Laoban to suddenly ask such a sensitive question.
If a general subordinate were asked such a question by their direct superior, most would immediately give an affirmative answer. But facing Huo Laoban’s question, Chun Yang stammered, unsure how to respond for a moment.
“This. . . well. . . ”
Seeing that Chun Yang didn’t immediately give an affirmative answer, Huo Laoban’s face showed no anger, nor did he look surprised. He seemed completely unbothered by Chun Yang’s reaction.
“Hehe, asking that is too direct. Let me rephrase it. Since Ding Tianhua and I were friends, can you guess why I still set this trap for him to fall into? ”
Huo Laoban asked with a smile, while Chun Yang listened with a smile. Although both men smiled, their smiles were completely different. Chun Yang’s smile was bright and sunny, giving off a warm feeling. Huo Laoban’s smile, on the other hand, was calm and composed, making him seem approachable.
Based on their smiles alone, both were pleasant, each with their unique charm, both positive. But what lay hidden beneath those positive smiles was something only they themselves knew best.
“Your subordinate believes it must be because Ding Tianhua did something foolish, which led Shenshi to make such a decision. Otherwise, with Shenshi’s character, I believe such a thing would absolutely not happen. ”
Chun Yang had not wanted to answer this question, but continually failing to answer Huo Laoban’s queries would be somewhat inappropriate, and even counterproductive. So, after a slight hesitation, he offered this reply.
Huo Laoban heard this, chuckled, and gently shook his head, denying Chun Yang’s statement. But then he lightly nodded, as if agreeing with Chun Yang’s point.
“Your guess isn’t entirely correct, but it’s not entirely wrong either. The reason I say that is because Ding Tianhua has always done foolish things, but before this incident, he hadn’t yet done anything foolish that threatened me. However, judging by my understanding of him, I can confidently say he definitely would have done things in the future that would threaten me. Rather than waiting for that day to arrive, it's better for me to eliminate this potential threat in advance. ”
Speaking of this, Huo Laoban paused slightly before continuing with a smile.
“Hehe, don't look at Ding Tianhua and me being friends before this incident, and him not being on Yang Haoran’s side. But Ding Tianhua was, after all, the Soul-Sower of the Ninth District. Given Yang Haoran’s cunning and deceit, it wasn’t impossible for him to take down Ding Tianhua. Even if he couldn’t take him down, Yang Haoran would definitely have found a way to pry open Ding Tianhua’s mouth. Ding Tianhua knew quite a bit about my affairs, and it’s certainly best not to let Yang Haoran know this information, so I simply devised this scheme. ”
As he spoke, Huo Laoban’s smile remained, but a clear hint of regret had crept into it.
“If Ding Tianhua had been able to eliminate Yang Haoran this time, he naturally wouldn’t have needed the Death God Pendant I gave him, and both his life and soul would have been preserved. If he used the Death God Pendant, it meant he was utterly incapable of killing Yang Haoran. In such a situation, to protect the secret between us, the most appropriate course of action was, of course, to let him undergo Soul Transformation immediately. My plan was originally flawless, but that cunning Yang Haoran, at the last critical moment, happened to activate his Ghost Eye, causing him to learn a lot of information. It truly makes me feel quite depressed! ”
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