Chapter 1352: A Clean Break
The suddenly echoing cold voice caused Yang Haoran's body to stiffen. He had just reached the location of the teleportation talisman, his hand outstretched to grab it, but the abrupt appearance of that cold voice made the hand poised to grasp the talisman abruptly freeze.
This voice not only stopped Yang Haoran in his tracks but also caused his mind to clear a little. His gaze instinctively turned towards the hall entrance.
At the hall entrance, the guests, eager spectators of the commotion, parted to create a path. A figure slowly stepped out. This person was none other than today's bride, Xu Meijing. She was also the one who had just called out to Yang Haoran. If she hadn't suddenly spoken to stop Yang Haoran, given his state just then, no one else would have been able to prevent him. Yang Haoran wouldn't have stopped, nor would his mind have regained any measure of clarity.
Xu Meijing halted, standing exactly where Yang Haoran had just been. Her face was covered in frost. Although she wasn't unleashing powerful fluctuations of energy, no one around her, save for her confidantes, dared to approach. Everyone could feel the bone-chilling cold emanating from her. As for Yang Haoran, while he had regained a sliver of rationality, it was only a sliver. There was still a vast difference compared to his usual self. The ferocious expression on his face vanished, replaced by an anxious one.
No matter how furious he became, he would never vent his anger on Xu Meijing. So, when he realized the voice belonged to Xu Meijing, the savage look on his face vanished. However, the anxiety in his heart did not subside, for Bai Xue was in mortal danger. How could he not be anxious?
"Xiao Jing, Bai Xue has been with me for many years and has performed many meritorious deeds for me. Now that she's in danger, I must go save her immediately. Please wait for me a moment; I'll rush back as soon as I've rescued her!"
At that moment, Yang Haoran was unlike his usual self, unable to consider everything thoughtfully. Now, there was only one thought in his mind: rush to save Bai Xue, or it would be too late. Thus, he hadn't considered any other issues at all, including how awkward Xu Meijing's current situation was—he had completely overlooked it.
As these words fell, Yang Haoran didn't wait for Xu Meijing's reply. His outstretched hand snatched the teleportation talisman into his grasp.
Xu Meijing witnessed this scene, and her body involuntarily trembled slightly—a reaction identical to Yang Haoran's when he had first seen that blood-stained scale. Although she didn't yet fully understand what had happened, one thing was now clear to her: Bai Xue was in trouble, in mortal danger, and the man who was about to become her husband was interrupting their wedding to go save Bai Xue. This was utterly intolerable to her!
Xu Meijing's heart turned to ashes. She spoke coldly, her words a final chance for Yang Haoran, and simultaneously, a final chance for herself.
Yet, it was all too late. The moment Yang Haoran grasped the teleportation talisman, it erupted in a blinding golden light, and the power of the teleportation array operating above also enveloped Yang Haoran.
By the time Xu Meijing spoke, Yang Haoran was already shrouded in the golden light.
When Xu Meijing's words fell, Yang Haoran's body had already become distorted and blurred.
"Xiao Jing, wait for me to come back! !"
The golden light ascended. As Yang Haoran's anxious voice rang out, his body vanished along with the golden light. The teleportation array operating above also ceased its function at that moment, then rapidly contracted and shrank, finally transforming into a speck of golden light that completely disappeared.
Yang Haoran departed via the teleportation array, leaving behind a group of onlookers gawking at each other. Some of them had initially believed that Xu Meijing's intervention would snap Yang Haoran out of his composure-losing state and allow the unfinished wedding to resume. They never expected that Yang Haoran would actually leave like that for another woman.
Those on Yang Haoran's side were now both shocked and embarrassed. Conversely, those on Xu Meijing's side all wore unpleasant expressions.
The most unsightly expression, of course, belonged to Xu Meijing. She was the female lead of today's wedding, today's bride. Now, with her man leaving in front of everyone to save another woman, naturally, no one's expression could be uglier than hers, nor could anyone be in more pain.
However, she did not show her inner agony on her face, nor did she shed tears of sorrow. For a strong-willed woman like her would absolutely never expose her vulnerable side in front of everyone. She merely gazed in the direction Yang Haoran had vanished, saying nothing, her face as cold as ten thousand-year-old profound ice, emitting an oppressive chill! In the area just enveloped by the pale golden light pillar, Ye Zhiqiu, Huang Sha, Lu Wu, Yao Guozhi, and the siblings Jing Qi and Jing Miao, all remained rooted to the spot. Yang Haoran's departure had left them somewhat at a loss.
Old Master Wu, Zhu Rong, and the other confidantes hidden in the dark all wore grim expressions. They knew that this wedding was completely ruined. Even though they had made ample preparations for it, something had gone wrong in the end, and it was a major, irreversible disaster!
Old Master Wu's heart was burning with anxiety. He wanted to step forward to ease the atmosphere, to try every means to soothe Xu Meijing's anger, and to make the situation less awkward than it currently was, if possible. But alas, he now possessed a ghostly body, no longer the Underworld Emissary of Death he once was. Revealing himself in front of everyone would only add more trouble for Yang Haoran. Naturally, he couldn't do that, so he could only fret anxiously in the dark, unable to do anything.
Huang Sha was one of Yang Haoran's publicly known confidantes. Although he was not a member of the Underworld Office, he was Yang Haoran's man. This was no secret, and moreover, Yang Haoran had more non-Underworld Office confidantes than just Huang Sha.
For instance, the Demon Hunter Ye Zhiqiu, or the siblings Jing Qi and Jing Miao, who practiced demonic arts—none of them were from the Underworld Office. Yet, like Huang Sha, they were all Yang Haoran's trusted confidantes. This was not only no secret but also nothing shameful. That was why Yang Haoran confidently kept them in the open; otherwise, given his cautious nature, he would have long ago had them conceal themselves in the shadows, just like Old Master Wu and Zhu Rong.
Since following Yang Haoran, Huang Sha's mind had become increasingly sharp, and he understood issues more and more thoroughly. Therefore, he now knew what was the most important thing for them, as confidantes, to do.
He knew Xu Meijing was in a terrible mood. Although she wasn't yelling, screaming, or throwing a tantrum, but was instead extremely quiet, he understood that this made it even more terrifying, like the calm before a storm. In his opinion, speaking up for their boss in front of Xu Meijing and trying to alleviate the anger in her heart was the most pressing task for them as confidantes.
However, he didn't have much confidence in this. He was Yang Haoran's confidante, not Xu Meijing's. Since he had begun following Yang Haoran, he had barely interacted with Xu Meijing a few times. He wouldn't receive special treatment in front of her, so he didn't believe his persuasion would have much effect.
Although he was very clear about this in his heart, what needed to be done still had to be done. Doing it at least offered some hope, or at least could play a small role. But if they didn't act, there would be no hope or effect whatsoever.
Therefore, knowing full well that his chances of success were slim, he gritted his teeth. His figure flickered, appearing before Xu Meijing, where he bowed respectfully.
"Boss's Wife, the Boss was just too anxious, which is why he. . ."
Huang Sha wanted to plead on Yang Haoran's behalf, hoping to mitigate the anger in Xu Meijing's heart. Unfortunately, he hadn't even finished speaking—or more accurately, had just opened his mouth—when he was stopped by Xu Meijing's icy glare.
He was stopped by a single look from Xu Meijing, not because he feared her and dared not speak. As long as he could alleviate Xu Meijing's inner fury, even if he knew speaking might well bring trouble upon himself, he would still choose to force himself to speak. The reason his voice abruptly cut off was entirely because he was overwhelmed by Xu Meijing's icy glare and intangible presence.
However, Huang Sha was no ordinary person now. He quickly broke free from Xu Meijing's intimidation, but before he could speak further, Xu Meijing spoke, cutting him off.
"Don't address me casually. I am not your Boss's Wife. If there's a next time, don't blame me for being harsh!"
Huang Sha, who had just regained his wits, was stunned again. Although he hadn't met Xu Meijing many times, because he was Yang Haoran's confidante, Xu Meijing's attitude towards him in the past had always been quite courteous, one might say she had given Huang Sha ample face. Such harshness as this, he was encountering for the first time.
At the same time, Yao Guozhi also flickered into position before Xu Meijing and bowed respectfully to her.
Among all of Yang Haoran's publicly known confidantes today, Huang Sha and Yao Guozhi were the most eloquent and possessed the sharpest minds—at least for the time being, this was indeed the case. The reason they proactively appeared before Xu Meijing one after another in such a situation was that both of them clearly understood that only they were suitable to handle this matter at present. If neither of them stepped forward, the situation would only worsen. Therefore, even though they both knew their actions might very well bring trouble upon themselves, they could only brace themselves and proceed.
"Emissary. . ."
Yao Guozhi had just opened his mouth, before he could even put in a good word for Yang Haoran, when Xu Meijing turned and walked away, not even sparing him a glance. His well-prepared words were abruptly stuck in his throat.
"Chu Jiu, gather our people and pack our things. We're leaving."
Xu Meijing strode towards the hall's interior, coldly instructing a nearby confidante, leaving Huang Sha and Yao Guozhi staring blankly at each other.
Compared to Huang Sha, Xu Meijing's attitude towards Yao Guozhi was far more severe. At least Xu Meijing had given Huang Sha a direct glance and an extremely unfriendly warning. Conversely, for Yao Guozhi, Xu Meijing didn't even glance at him, nor did she utter a single word. When compared like this, Xu Meijing's attitude towards Huang Sha could be considered quite polite.
Comments