Chapter 1167: The Iron Blood Demon Hall
The reactions of these children clearly showed their considerable courage, and simultaneously, it was evident that Jing Qi and Jing Miao had been very meticulous in selecting suitable candidates, at least in terms of character, which fully met the requirements. Yang Haoran's gaze swept over these adolescents, then casually settled on the one standing at the very front. This child looked about seven or eight years old, seemingly young in age, but his eyes held an unusually firm resolve—a kind of unwavering look rarely seen in a child so young. "Heh heh, what's your name? " Yang Haoran asked with a smile, his tone gentle, utterly devoid of any arrogance. When Yang Haoran addressed him, the child initially tensed up slightly, but quickly regained his composure, immediately replying, "Wang Hao. " His voice was tender, yet there was no fear, nor any hint of deference; he simply offered a response. As for why he had been a little nervous just now, it was because he sensed that Yang Haoran's identity was far from ordinary, and being just a child, it was inevitable to feel some nervousness when suddenly encountering such a situation. But his ability to swiftly recover and answer Yang Haoran's question without a trace of fear showed that this child was not one to be timid or cower from trouble.
"Did you come here voluntarily, or were you brought by force? " Yang Haoran nodded with a smile, then posed another question to the child. "Voluntarily. " The child's reply was just as direct and concise, without a single wasted word. Hearing this, Yang Haoran’s face showed a hint of surprise. According to his requirements, this group was only to consist of orphans, but being parentless didn't mean they would willingly follow Jing Qi and Jing Miao. And he hadn't forbidden the siblings from using coercive methods; if suitable candidates were found, forceful means were naturally permissible. Therefore, he had believed that many in this group must have been brought back by Jing Qi and Jing Miao through strong-arm tactics, after all, few people would willingly leave with strangers, especially in these chaotic times, where leaving with strangers today meant tomorrow's survival was an unknown. Of course, there would certainly be some who came voluntarily, as everyone's specific circumstances differed, but in Yang Haoran's view, such cases should be rare. His slight surprise at this moment was, of course, because the very first person he questioned had willingly come with the siblings.
"Heh heh, you came here voluntarily, aren't you afraid you might lose your life here? " Judging by the boy's expression and tone, Yang Haoran believed he wasn't lying, yet he still asked with a smile, "Before I chose to come here, I hadn't eaten for two days. I was starving to death. Whoever gives me food, I'll go with them. " The boy's answer made Yang Haoran thoughtful. After a brief pause of several seconds, Yang Haoran nodded with a smile, no longer asking the boy any more questions. Instead, he turned his gaze to another girl, about fourteen years old, and made similar inquiries. Her situation was the same as the boy's; when Jing Qi and Jing Miao found her and explained their purpose, she also didn't resist and willingly followed the siblings. Her reason for doing so was also prolonged hunger. Over the next ten minutes, Yang Haoran questioned several more individuals. Except for one who had been brought by force, all the others had willingly left with Jing Qi and Jing Miao. Their reasons were either severe hunger and lack of clothes, or because the areas they lived in were fraught with danger, and they lacked any means to defend themselves. Thus, despite knowing that the outcome of following Jing Qi and Jing Miao was unknown, they still made that choice. Although they were all young and didn't understand much, under the siblings' deliberate guidance, they had come to grasp a simple truth: staying meant certain death, while leaving didn't necessarily mean death. Furthermore, they wouldn't suffer from hunger or cold, and their safety would be guaranteed, freeing them from worries about attacks from demons, monsters, and ghosts.
After questioning a few children, Yang Haoran understood why Jing Qi and Jing Miao had managed to complete this task in such a short time. Firstly, the siblings were incredibly dedicated to the mission, which Yang Haoran didn't doubt in the slightest, as they were always fully committed to any task he assigned them. Secondly, these orphans were living a life worse than death in these war-torn times, and the promise of food and warm clothing was incredibly enticing to them. As long as these two conditions could be met, taking them away was not a difficult feat. Yang Haoran's initial surprise at the siblings completing the task so quickly was entirely due to his limited understanding of the refugees living at the very bottom of the New Beginning Realm; the suffering and intense will to survive experienced by these lowest-tier refugees had far exceeded his imagination.
After a series of questions, Yang Haoran gained a general understanding of these children's mindsets, so he decided not to ask any further and moved on to the main topic. "First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yang Haoran. From the moment you stepped into this place, you are my people, Yang Haoran's people. As long as you follow me, I will not only ensure you feast on delicacies and wear luxurious silks, but also grant you immense power that ordinary people lack, making you existences akin to immortals in their eyes. There are only two things I require of you: the first is absolute loyalty to me, and the second is absolute obedience to every command. " Yang Haoran spoke with a faint smile; although his tone wasn't forceful when he said this, and as calm as usual, the words emerging from his mouth carried an indescribable, unique aura.
Upon hearing Yang Haoran's words, the vast majority of the five hundred adolescents were exceptionally excited. Their excitement wasn't because they had gained a master named Yang Haoran; they were thrilled by the prospect of eating their fill and dressing warmly from now on. This was the primary reason they had initially been willing to follow Jing Qi and Jing Miao here, and now that they had Yang Haoran's promise, there was no reason for them not to be excited. Besides this, the idea of possessing power beyond that of ordinary people also greatly excited them. Although they were still ordinary people for now, they had all, to varying degrees, witnessed the formidable power of those who were not ordinary, and they yearned for such strength. It was true that they were still adolescents, and they didn't understand much, but having lived through these chaotic times, the hardships they endured were simply incomparable to those faced by children their age in peacetime. It was precisely because of these hardships that their personalities and mental fortitude had undergone significant changes. Thus, they understood that to survive in this tumultuous era, they absolutely needed formidable power; only with great power could they live better. Therefore, their excitement at this moment, besides the guarantee of food and warmth, was largely due to the chance to possess extraordinary power.
As for awe towards Yang Haoran, these children still lacked it. Hardship had made their minds much stronger than those of their peers in peaceful times, but children were still children; their consideration of issues was certainly not as mature as that of adults. Moreover, they were currently in a state of excitement and had no mind to consider other matters. However, despite their excitement, these children still had discipline; they didn't shout or scream because of their inner thrill. They merely showed their excitement on their faces; no one chattered, no one even uttered a single word. If any sound at all was made, it was only the slightly heavier breathing brought on by their exhilaration.
Yang Haoran noticed their lack of awe towards him but had no intention of dwelling on it, for he understood the reason, making it unnecessary to fuss over. He believed that with proper training, his image would slowly but deeply engrave itself into these children's very bones, successfully establishing their loyalty to him, and then, their reverence for him would naturally follow.
Although the vast majority of these children were still in a state of excitement, they were, after all, carefully selected by Jing Qi and Jing Miao, so their reactions were not slow. The moment Yang Haoran's words fell, they immediately gave an affirmative reply. "Understood! " The answer was firm and the reaction swift, but Yang Haoran was not satisfied, for he did not hear the imposing aura he desired in that reply.
"Understood? " Yang Haoran asked again, with a faint smile. Although these children were young, they were not fools. They understood that Yang Haoran's second question meant he was dissatisfied with their previous answer. Therefore, daring not to delay, they once again gave a resounding affirmative response. "UNDERSTOOD! ! " This time, the five hundred voices were unified and loud. Though still carrying the immaturity of youth, they erupted with a formidable aura, like a pack of wolf cubs just beginning to bare their fangs!
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