Chapter 1179: Taking Over the Mess
Yang Haoran had said all that needed to be said, and the doubts in Uan and Luoyang's minds were almost completely dispelled. Therefore, Yang Haoran felt it was time to ask the two of them for a definite answer.
Uan remained silent, but his brows furrowed even tighter, his face lost in thought, as if contemplating whether to agree.
Luoyang glanced at Uan, subtly winking and gesturing, his expression as if telling Uan, "I've been dealing with Yang Haoran, this Guardian, all this time. Now that we're at such a crucial moment, shouldn't you say a few words and share some of the pressure?"
However, Uan's reaction left Luoyang utterly speechless, as he was completely ignored by Uan. A pensive Uan was deep in thought, not noticing him at all.
Yang Haoran smiled, taking a sip of tea. He didn't immediately press them. Only after he set down his teacup and lit a cigarette, and the two still hadn't given a definitive answer, did he finally ask with a smile.
"Heh heh, what's wrong? Is this matter difficult to decide? Or are you truly unwilling to take over the Tongyou City Yin Division in your hearts?"
Yang Haoran's words conveyed no hint of displeasure, and his tone was exceptionally gentle. But the two men weren't fools; they understood in their hearts that their Guardian was certainly a bit displeased, merely choosing not to show it.
"No, no, no, Your Excellency, you misunderstand. I don't know what Uan is thinking, but this subordinate absolutely has no intention of not wanting to take over the Tongyou City Yin Division, it's just that. . ."
Yang Haoran smiled, looking at Luoyang. He didn't speak immediately, instead taking a drag from his cigarette. Only after exhaling all the smoke did he faintly ask Luoyang with a smile.
"Heh heh, just what? It's fine. Feel free to raise any issues you have. I didn't directly order one of you to forcefully take over the Tongyou City Yin Division; instead, I had both of you come to see me because I wanted to discuss it with you. So, there's no need to hide anything or worry that I'll be displeased."
Seeing that Yang Haoran had laid it all out, Luoyang felt it was indeed a good opportunity to voice some of his thoughts. So, with an awkward smile, he began to speak.
"Heh heh. . . Your Excellency, this. . . as you know, Tongyou City is one of the few large cities in our Ninth District. If the Spirit Masters wish to strike at our Ninth District, Tongyou City has a very high chance of becoming their target. As long as they destroy our Tongyou City Yin Division, our Ninth District's reputation will undoubtedly be severely affected. Conversely, the Spirit Masters can then make a big fuss about it, boosting their influence. So, in a sense, it's not an exaggeration to say that Tongyou City is one of the flags of our Ninth District that cannot fall."
Luoyang's words seemed somewhat disjointed, but Yang Haoran didn't see it that way. He knew this was merely Luoyang's preamble before getting to his main point, so he didn't interrupt, patiently awaiting the rest.
Sure enough, after a slight pause, Luoyang continued to speak.
"We understand this point, and the Spirit Masters understand it too. We want to protect the flag of the Tongyou City Yin Division from falling, while the Spirit Masters will try every possible means to pull it down. In the past, the Tongyou City Yin Division was powerful; whether it was Emissary of Death Ding Tianhua or the Night Watchers under him, their strength was formidable compared to others of their rank. Thus, even if the Spirit Masters wanted to pull down this flag of our Ninth District, they wouldn't dare act rashly. This time, the Spirit Masters' attack on the Tongyou City Yin Division was definitely a long-planned affair, there's no doubt about that, otherwise, it wouldn't have caused such massive losses to the Tongyou City Yin Division."
At this point, Luoyang's expression shifted. The awkward smile on his face vanished, replaced by a bitter one.
"Although the Spirit Masters didn't succeed this time, it doesn't mean they've abandoned this idea. Having stumbled here, they're very likely to do what they do: Where one falls, one gets up from there. They might return with renewed force someday. Should that truly happen, the power the Spirit Masters bring will undoubtedly far surpass this current assault, as they won't want to be defeated again, thus they'll have to intensify their attack on the Tongyou City Yin Division."
Throughout his speech, Luoyang had been observing Yang Haoran's expression, but Yang Haoran's demeanor remained calm and composed. Even after Luoyang had spoken to this extent, not a single ripple appeared on Yang Haoran's face.
This was not the outcome Luoyang desired, but he was helpless. However, having laid such extensive groundwork, he certainly wouldn't stop just because Yang Haoran's expression remained unchanged. To achieve his ideal result, he decided to put on a bit of a performance for Yang Haoran.
"Now, after this great battle, our Tongyou City Yin Division has suffered heavy losses, and our combat strength is far from what it once was. Although this subordinate has opened his Heaven and Earth Souls, the power of one person is ultimately limited. If this subordinate were to take over the Tongyou City Yin Division, I would have confidence in managing the Yin Division aspect, but if an external enemy were to attack, I'm afraid this subordinate would not have the strength to resist."
As he spoke, Luoyang shook his head bitterly, letting out a low sigh.
"Alas, if an external enemy were to invade, it would be nothing if this subordinate were to die in battle. Not only would I feel no regret, but I would instead feel immense glory, because this subordinate would have died for our Ninth District, died for our Yin Division, died for my faith. So, it wouldn't matter even if I were shattered to pieces. However, the flag of the Tongyou City Yin Division must not fall. Once it falls, where would the face of our Ninth District be? This subordinate certainly doesn't want our Ninth District to be shamed because of my incompetence."
Luoyang's speech was truly splendid, portraying him as someone who cared nothing for his own life or death, only for the honor of the Yin Division. It felt as if he was constantly thinking for the Yin Division, never considering himself.
Regarding Luoyang's words, Yang Haoran naturally held a skeptical attitude. With his personality, he certainly wouldn't be so foolish as to completely believe Luoyang's speech.
It wasn't that he didn't believe there were people in this world who lived for their faith; on the contrary, he believed such devotees existed, and he even had one by his side: Jiang Dashi.
If it weren't Luoyang speaking these words to him right now, but Jiang Dashi, then Yang Haoran would absolutely not have a shred of doubt. But coming from Luoyang's mouth, he wasn't so convinced.
After finishing his speech, the look of difficulty on Luoyang's face intensified. In truth, all he had said could be summarized into one meaning: he refused to take over the mess that was the Tongyou City Yin Division.
Luoyang was an Emissary of Death under Yang Haoran, so of course, he wouldn't directly utter the word "refuse" in front of Yang Haoran, his Guardian. That would be somewhat inappropriate, which was why he beat around the bush so much.
Yang Haoran looked at the troubled Luoyang. He didn't expose Luoyang's true thoughts, keeping this thin layer of window paper intact. However, just as before, he didn't respond immediately. Instead, he quietly smoked, watching Luoyang with a faint smile.
Luoyang saw that not only had Yang Haoran's expression not changed in the slightest, but he was also looking at him with a meaningful gaze. His heart couldn't help but thump a little. His intuition told him that Yang Haoran didn't seem to believe him at all.
"Your Excellency, every word this subordinate speaks is true. A clever cook cannot make a meal without rice; this subordinate truly has the will but lacks the power!"
Luoyang quickly spoke, as if afraid Yang Haoran wouldn't believe him.
However, being silently observed by Yang Haoran like this, Luoyang's heart inexplicably filled with apprehension. It had been a long time since he'd felt such a nervous emotion, yet today, facing Yang Haoran, it had resurfaced, overwhelmed by the invisible aura emanating from Yang Haoran.
"Heh heh, I can't say that everything you've said is entirely correct, but your analysis of the situation is indeed accurate. Tongyou City is one of the few large cities in our Ninth District, a flag that cannot fall. It's true that we can't rule out the possibility of the Spirit Masters returning to pull down this flag of our Tongyou City. You've analyzed all this very thoroughly and accurately. However, to say that you're not capable of serving as the Emissary of Death for the Tongyou City Yin Division, that point is inaccurate."
At this, Yang Haoran paused. Seeing this, Luoyang intended to speak again, but Yang Haoran interrupted him with a wave of his hand. Luoyang could only swallow back the words on the tip of his tongue.
Yang Haoran's gaze shifted from Luoyang, briefly looking at the silent Uan, then returned to Luoyang.
"The two of you were meticulously chosen by me personally from thousands of Emissaries of Death. I know perfectly well whether you are capable of holding the position of Emissary of Death for the Tongyou City Yin Division. So, whether it's you or Uan, there's no need to be overly modest in front of me."
Yang Haoran's words brought another awkward smile to Luoyang's face. Before, he had been somewhat unsure, but now he was 100% certain that Yang Haoran had seen through his act. At this moment, he even wondered if he had overacted a little, which was why Yang Haoran had seen through him.
"You just said that the Tongyou City Yin Division is one of the flags of our Ninth District that cannot fall. Since you know that, couldn't you think a little deeper? Would I simply stand by and watch the Tongyou City Yin Division fall into crisis without a word?"
Yang Haoran asked with a faint smile, but Luoyang remained unmoved by his words.
Actually, when Luoyang was speaking to Yang Haoran, he had already considered this point. According to his analysis, Yang Haoran certainly wouldn't want to see the flag of the Tongyou City Yin Division pulled down by the Spirit Masters. After all, Yang Haoran was the Guardian of the Ninth District. If the Tongyou City Yin Division were destroyed by the Spirit Masters, Yang Haoran would not only lose face but also his career would be affected. Therefore, should the Tongyou City Yin Division fall into crisis, Yang Haoran would undoubtedly dispatch support to resolve the crisis immediately, and might even personally appear on site, just like this time.
Since Yang Haoran wouldn't ignore any potential crises the Tongyou City Yin Division might face in the future, the city's future safety was quite assured. Even though this battle had inflicted immense losses on the Tongyou City Yin Division, it wouldn't affect its future security.
Luoyang understood all these principles. The reason he still wanted to refuse taking over the Tongyou City Yin Division, despite knowing this, was because he still harbored some worries about unforeseen circumstances. After all, no one could guarantee that no accidents would occur once he took over the Tongyou City Yin Division.
Furthermore, Luoyang's refusal of Yang Haoran naturally stemmed from other reasons, such as his reluctance to leave his original jurisdiction, or his unwillingness to expend time and energy to clean up the aftermath of the Tongyou City Yin Division.
So, considering all factors, he truly didn't want to take over the mess that was the Tongyou City Yin Division. However, he also didn't want to directly refuse Yang Haoran, his Guardian, and thus could only express his inner thoughts in a roundabout way.
"If the Tongyou City Yin Division genuinely encounters any crisis in the future, I believe Your Excellency will certainly not ignore it and will undoubtedly handle the Tongyou City Yin Division's crisis. But if Your Excellency has to personally handle everything, what would be the point of us subordinates? It would make us subordinates seem very incompetent. Therefore, being able to resolve Tongyou City's troubles ourselves, without Your Excellency's assistance, would be best."
Luoyang smiled awkwardly. Yang Haoran nodded slightly upon hearing this; he understood Luoyang's meaning. So, he said no more to Luoyang, instead shifting his gaze to the silent Uan.
As if sensing Yang Haoran's gaze, Uan lifted his head at this moment and looked at Yang Haoran. Before Yang Haoran could even ask, Uan spoke proactively.
"I am willing to follow Your Excellency's arrangement, take over the Tongyou City Yin Division, and become the new Emissary of Death for the Tongyou City Yin Division."
Uan's words not only made Luoyang freeze for a moment, but Yang Haoran also paused slightly. Clearly, neither of them had expected Uan to say such a thing.
The reason Yang Haoran had looked at Uan was indeed to ask if Uan was willing to take over the Tongyou City Yin Division. However, he hadn't expected Uan to be so forthright. Before he even had a chance to speak, Uan had proactively brought up the matter and expressed his willingness to become the new Emissary of Death for the Tongyou City Yin Division.
Originally, Yang Haoran had thought that Uan, like Luoyang, would be quite resistant to this matter, unwilling to leave his currently managed jurisdiction to take over the mess that was Tongyou City. He had even considered his next steps if Uan also refused to take over the Tongyou City Yin Division.
However, the outcome surprised him. Before he could even ask, Uan had already proactively accepted the matter, rendering Yang Haoran's pre-conceived contingency plan useless.
Although the pre-conceived contingency plan couldn't be used, this was still a good thing for Yang Haoran. After all, executing such a plan would also consume time and energy, and being able to avoid it was naturally for the best.
"Heh heh, as I said before, I asked the two of you to come here this time to discuss, not to force either of you in any way. You've just heard Luoyang's analysis of the current situation of the Tongyou City Yin Division. I will only ask you once: are you certain you want to take over the Tongyou City Yin Division?"
Yang Haoran said with a smile. Uan's willingness to take over the Tongyou City Yin Division was a good thing for him, but he still wanted to see what mindset Uan had when accepting. If it was out of pressure, that wasn't the result he wanted. But if it was a voluntary acceptance, not under duress, that was what he truly wished to see.
"This subordinate is certain."
In response to Yang Haoran's inquiry, Uan nodded heavily at Yang Haoran without a moment's hesitation, giving a firm affirmative.
Judging by Uan's decisive affirmative answer, his earlier pensive expression must have meant he had already considered all the relevant issues. That was why, at this moment, he gave Yang Haoran a definite reply without any further thought.
"Good. From now on, Uan, you are no longer the Emissary of Death for Jiangyu City, but for Tongyou City."
Yang Haoran said, smiling at Uan. As these words fell, Uan promptly rose from his seat and bowed to Yang Haoran.
"This subordinate accepts the order!"
Seeing this, Luoyang also quickly stood up and bowed to Yang Haoran. However, unlike Uan, he did not speak.
"Since this matter has been handled, the two of you may leave Tongyou City. Luoyang, manage your Jiangzhong City well, and don't let the Spirit Masters exploit any loopholes. As for Uan, if there's a suitable candidate in your Jiangyu City to serve as Emissary of Death, you can recommend him to me to take over all affairs of the Jiangyu City Yin Division. If there's no suitable candidate, then I will personally select someone to take over Jiangyu City. While you return to Tongyou City, I will personally oversee things here, so you needn't worry about the situation here. However, I hope you can return to Tongyou City as soon as possible, as I still have many matters to attend to."
Yang Haoran said with a faint smile, arranging things for both of them. After receiving their orders, neither of them lingered in Tongyou City. They immediately tore through space and departed from Tongyou City, each rushing back to their respective jurisdictions.
However, as he left, Luoyang felt a certain degree of inner conflict. He couldn't shake the feeling that his refusal of Yang Haoran this time had caused him to miss out on something. He didn't know whether his decision to refuse Yang Haoran this time was right or wrong, a loss or a gain, which was why his heart felt somewhat conflicted as he departed.
After the two left, Yang Haoran took out two Communication Talismans. One was sent to Shui Ling, who was far away in the Guardian District, and the other was sent to Tang Shi.
Although the two Communication Talismans were sent to different recipients, their content was identical: instructing both to gather detailed information on Uan.
The information about Uan in the Underworld Iron Tome was very limited, and what little there was could only serve as a reference; its authenticity still needed verification. Yang Haoran wanted to gain a deeper and more accurate understanding of Uan, and the scant information in the Underworld Iron Tome was clearly insufficient. Therefore, he decided to take matters into his own hands, instructing his subordinates, Shui Ling and Tang Shi, to independently gather information on Uan.
Yang Haoran had a reason for having both of them collect Uan's information simultaneously. On one hand, he wanted to see how Shui Ling's abilities in this area compared to Tang Shi's. On the other hand, he wanted to ensure no information about Uan was overlooked; perhaps by collecting it concurrently, they could mutually fill in any gaps.
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