Chapter 1382: Self-preservation is Difficult
The Tong Continent Great Emperor decided to take Yang Haoran to the Guardian District for two reasons.
The first reason was that Yang Haoran was the only one present who could return to his Guardian District in the shortest possible time. This was because departing from the Underworld’s Ghost Gate would directly return one to their point of origin. Therefore, if Yang Haoran had opened the Ghost Gate from his Guardian District to arrive at the Underworld, then leaving the Underworld’s Ghost Gate would allow him to return directly to his Guardian District.
The second reason was that if they returned to Yang Haoran’s Guardian District and found that all the ghost creatures he raised had vanished, he would undoubtedly conclude that Yang Haoran had secretly tipped them off through some clandestine method. That would be why these ghost creatures had hidden themselves in advance, to prevent being captured and taken back to the Underworld. Although the hall they were currently in possessed a special Absolute Prohibition, rendering communication talismans useless, it didn’t rule out the possibility of Yang Haoran using other means to notify his subordinate ghost creatures.
Considering this, he believed it best to bring Yang Haoran along. If Yang Haoran’s subordinate ghost creatures truly had hidden themselves, he would directly make a move against Yang Haoran. He was quite confident in his methods; he had many ways to pry information from Yang Haoran’s mouth. Even if these ghost creatures had hidden in advance, he could still learn their whereabouts from Yang Haoran.
It was precisely for these two reasons that he decided to bring Yang Haoran along, and indeed, he had to bring Yang Haoran!
Currently, Luo Yao could barely protect himself and had no time to spare for Yang Haoran. If Yang Haoran were proven to have been raising a large number of ghosts, it would not bode well for Luo Yao. However, a greater problem now awaited him: the black box floating suspended on the high platform.
Furthermore, even if he spoke up for Yang Haoran at this moment, it would be utterly useless. The Jun Prefecture Great Emperor and the Underworld Emperor had both agreed to the Tong Continent Great Emperor’s approach. His obstruction would not only be ineffective but would also hasten his downfall. What he needed to do now was figure out how to deal with the crimes and evidence contained within the black box!
Luo Yao’s heart was filled with both fury and unwillingness. He remained silent. This time, the Qing Shan Great Emperor also kept his counsel, for he too knew that speaking up would be of no use.
“Since His Imperial Majesty wishes to proceed to this subordinate’s Guardian District, I naturally will not refuse, nor would I dare to. ”
After these words fell, Yang Haoran, under the gaze of the assembly, waved his hand and tore open a spatial rift. This rift was not a direct passage to the mortal realm’s Guardian District, but rather a gateway to the Underworld’s Ghost Gate, for one had to pass through the Ghost Gate to leave the Underworld.
The Tong Continent Great Emperor observed Yang Haoran’s reaction, a cold sneer playing on his lips. Then, he directed his gaze towards the area where his Guardians were seated, extending a hand to designate two of them.
“You, and you, will accompany me to Guardian Yang’s Guardian District. ”
The two designated Guardians immediately rose from their seats, bowed respectfully to the Tong Continent Great Emperor, and promptly assented.
The Tong Continent Great Emperor decided to bring two Guardians with him to Yang Haoran’s Guardian District not because he was concerned about his own safety, thus bringing along two bodyguards to ensure it. As a Great Emperor, how could he possibly fear a mere Guardian, especially a “young” one? In his eyes, crushing Yang Haoran was as simple as crushing an ant, and destroying a Guardian District was effortless. Naturally, he had no worries about his safety.
He decided to bring two of his subordinate Guardians to Yang Haoran’s Guardian District simply because he didn't want to handle everything personally. With these two Guardians present, the task of apprehending people could be entirely left to them; he would merely need to preside.
The Tong Continent Great Emperor’s figure flickered and vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he was already hovering above Yang Haoran’s head. Seeing this, the two Tong Continent Guardians also instantly vanished, appearing the next instant behind the Tong Continent Great Emperor.
“Heh heh, Guardian Yang, please proceed. ”
The Tong Continent Great Emperor looked down at Yang Haoran below him. His words were polite, yet the expression on his face and the tone of his voice conveyed not a hint of courtesy, but rather scorn and disdain.
Yang Haoran said nothing, not even bothering to nod. With an expressionless face, he stepped into the spatial rift before him. His demeanor was that of a condemned prisoner marching to the execution ground, devoid of hope and utterly lifeless. As Yang Haoran stepped into the spatial rift, the Tong Continent Great Emperor also wasted no time, transforming into a wisp of Yin Qi and surging into the rift. The two Tong Continent Underworld Division Guardians followed closely behind.
In just two or three breaths’ time, the four individuals successively entered the spatial rift. Under the gaze of the assembly, the spatial rift rapidly healed, then vanished, and the fluctuating space returned to normal.
Xu Meijing’s seat was closest to Yang Haoran’s. When Yang Haoran first became the target of Huo Laoban, she hadn’t shown much reaction, nor had her heart stirred with great emotion.
However, when Yang Haoran began to be targeted by the Tong Continent Great Emperor, it became difficult for her heart to remain calm. Though her face betrayed no hint of anxiety or worry, inwardly, she was engaged in a fierce struggle with herself.
The moment Yang Haoran stepped into the spatial rift, her brow furrowed deeply, and a barely perceptible flicker of worry passed through the depths of her eyes. Her fists involuntarily clenched, but she made no drastic moves, nor did she speak up at that moment.
Huo Laoban’s reaction was entirely different from Xu Meijing’s. Watching Yang Haoran step into the spatial rift, a smile once again bloomed on his face, and his eyes held undisguised excitement. In his view, Yang Haoran was now utterly at their mercy, incapable of stirring up even the slightest ripple. This rival, who had opposed him for so long, was about to be led step by step towards his demise according to Huo Laoban’s meticulously laid plans. Not only would he soon eliminate this thorn in his side, but after Luo Yao’s downfall, immense benefits awaited him. At that time, both his strength and status would undergo earth-shattering changes.
Good things were happening one after another, each more satisfying, each more worth celebrating than the last. How could he not be excited? It was precisely because he was so overwhelmingly happy that he disregarded the decorum of the occasion, letting his inner excitement and joy show plainly on his face.
Huo Laoban’s reaction was perfectly observed by Xu Meijing, who was seated nearby. Seeing Huo Laoban’s excited expression, Xu Meijing’s eyes narrowed slightly, and her fists clenched even tighter. However, this lasted only for an instant. Immediately thereafter, Xu Meijing’s tightly furrowed brow smoothed out, and her clenched fists simultaneously relaxed.
The atmosphere in the hall did not return to calm with the departure of Yang Haoran and the Tong Continent Great Emperor’s four. It remained as tense as before. For some, the departure of the four only heightened their inner anxiety.
Luo Yao, in particular, was the most tense of everyone at this moment. The reason was simple: when Yang Haoran was still there, he could at least deflect some of the attention. Moreover, the issues previously targeted were Yang Haoran’s problems. But now, it was entirely different. With no Yang Haoran to divert the attention for him, the one who would be targeted was himself, no longer Yang Haoran!
Whether he had committed acts that violated Underworld laws over the years, he, of course, knew better than anyone. If he had done nothing, then he naturally wouldn’t be overly nervous, nor would he fear the evidence fabricated by the Tong Continent Great Emperor. The fact that he was so tense, the reason was self-evident.
At this moment, Luo Yao even wanted to make a move to destroy the black box floating suspended in the air, because as long as that box was destroyed, all crimes and evidence would vanish into thin air. However, he merely entertained such a thought; he absolutely dared not act on it, for he knew the probability of success was almost zero.
One reason was that the black box clearly wasn’t an ordinary box; destroying it wouldn’t be so simple. Another reason was that the Jun Prefecture Great Emperor and the Underworld Emperor would surely intervene to stop him. With these two Great Emperors actively preventing him, he had virtually no chance of success.
Once he failed, he would truly have no chance of recovery whatsoever. Thus, he only dared to entertain such a thought, but not actually do it.
“Jingling Great Emperor, may we open this box and take a look? ”
The Underworld Emperor looked towards Luo Yao, then spoke with a faint voice, seemingly asking for Luo Yao’s opinion. Yet, anyone with a discerning eye understood that this was merely the Underworld Emperor reminding Luo Yao.
Luo Yao naturally wanted to refuse, but he knew that a refusal would be utterly useless. Instead, it would only make him appear to lack confidence, offering no help to his subsequent defense. Therefore, he feigned composure and nodded.
“Of course, you may examine it however you wish. As for me, Luo Yao, my body is upright, so I fear no crooked shadow! ”
Beneath the Moonlight, Night God
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