Chapter 1384: I Choose the Former
From stepping into the Ghost Gate to emerging from it again, only a short while had passed. Yang Haoran still had a much larger problem to deal with, so although Xiaokang's girlfriend crossed his mind at that moment, he didn't dwell on it. What he needed to consider most right now was how to resolve the crisis he currently faced.
The crisis he faced wasn't merely his own; it was a crisis for his entire Guardian District. Should anything happen to him, his trusted subordinates, the Flock of Demons Society, and the Medicine God Society would all suffer, and many would even lose their lives.
He didn't want such a thing to happen. He didn't want to fall like this, and he certainly didn't want his people to be persecuted. Therefore, he had to find every possible way to resolve the current crisis!
Yet, this was easier said than done, a task as difficult as ascending to the heavens. The crisis he faced wasn't something that could simply be resolved, but he refused to surrender and allow himself to be slaughtered by the other party!
After stepping out of the Ghost Gate, Yang Haoran returned to his Guardian District. Following him, the Tong Continent Great Emperor and two Guardians also emerged from the Ghost Gate. The Tong Continent Great Emperor and the two Guardians were not teleported to other areas but instead arrived with him in his Guardian District, proving that the Tong Continent Great Emperor's traction rune was effective.
However, this traction rune seemed to possess only this one ability, for as soon as the four of them emerged from the Ghost Gate and arrived together in the Guardian District, the traction runes on their bodies transformed into wisps of Yin Qi and vanished, as if they had never existed.
The moment the traction runes disappeared, Yang Haoran, who had been constantly observing them, immediately sensed it. Their absence indeed removed a potential danger for him, as he had no idea if the runes possessed any other function besides positioning and traction, or if they could cause him any harm. Thus, the disappearance of the traction runes was a good thing for him.
Although it was a good thing, saving him from one potential trouble, he couldn't bring himself to rejoice or even relax. Compared to the crisis he was about to face, the traction runes were merely child's play.
Yang Haoran's successful return to the Guardian District via the Ghost Gate immediately drew the attention of many within the district, especially the hidden experts responsible for its security. They had sensed the Ghost Gate's appearance the instant it manifested. However, they were long accustomed to such occurrences and possessed special methods to confirm that it was Yang Haoran returning from the Underworld. Hence, none of them panicked or came to investigate, even when they sensed three other individuals besides Yang Haoran. They did not disturb him.
Yet, they did not know that this time, Yang Haoran truly had been coerced back, and the three individuals he brought were not esteemed guests, but enemies.
Since Yang Haoran had opened the Ghost Gate in his study when he departed for the Underworld, it was naturally his study where the four of them reappeared upon returning to the mortal realm through the Ghost Gate.
As the Ghost Gate transformed into Yin Qi and dissipated, Yang Haoran turned to face the Tong Continent Great Emperor. Before he could utter a word, the Tong Continent Great Emperor spoke first.
"Heh heh, Yang Guardian," the Tong Continent Great Emperor began, "will you voluntarily hand over the ghostly entities you've secretly been raising, or shall I personally drag them out? If you choose the former, the punishment might be relatively lighter. If you choose the latter, the punishment will certainly be doubled. Make your choice."
Yang Haoran's brows furrowed upon hearing this, and a deep look of helplessness appeared on his otherwise expressionless face. He took a deep breath, then respectfully bowed to the Tong Continent Great Emperor, before finally speaking.
"Your subordinate. . . your subordinate chooses the former."
Yang Haoran's voice was weak and lacked energy, filled with an intense weariness, as if he had resigned himself to fate in the face of despair.
The Tong Continent Great Emperor sneered at his words, then strode towards Yang Haoran's personal chair and plopped down.
"Before, you wouldn't admit it no matter what, but now you confess so readily," the Tong Continent Great Emperor sneered. "Just like that fool Luo Yao, you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Truly a man he personally promoted—birds of a feather, indeed."
Yang Haoran remained silent in response to the Tong Continent Great Emperor's sarcasm. Without a command from the Emperor, he didn't move, merely lowering his head slightly, his face still etched with despair.
Seeing Yang Haoran say nothing, the Tong Continent Great Emperor let out a cold snort, then turned his gaze to the two Guardians he had brought with him. "You two go with Yang Guardian. Keep a close eye on him, so he doesn't try any tricks to interfere with our apprehension. Everyone else in the Underworld is still waiting to see this grand show, after all."
The Tong Continent Great Emperor's words were quite impolite, but Yang Haoran offered no rebuttal, his face still bearing that same desolate expression.
The other two respectfully assented. After receiving their affirmative reply, the Tong Continent Great Emperor leaned back comfortably in the chair and gently closed his eyes.
"Go on, don't make me wait too long. I'm not accustomed to waiting for others."
The Tong Continent Great Emperor's words weren't just for the two Guardians; they were also for Yang Haoran. All three respectfully acknowledged his command and exited the study.
"Please follow me, two Guardians."
Stepping out of the study, Yang Haoran looked at the two Guardians under the Tong Continent Great Emperor, his expression unchanged as he spoke weakly.
The two were a man and a woman: a slightly corpulent young man and a middle-aged woman still possessed of alluring charm. As a Guardian himself, Yang Haoran naturally knew them both. However, due to the antagonistic relationship between the Jingling Continent Underworld Office and the Tong Continent Underworld Office, Yang Haoran not only had no friendship with them, but even harbored grievances.
Earlier, with the Tong Continent Great Emperor present, the two had behaved impeccably, even controlling their facial expressions perfectly. But now, having left the study, the expressions on their faces instantly changed, no longer as respectful as before.
When Yang Haoran spoke this time, neither of them replied. They merely sneered repeatedly, their gazes towards Yang Haoran clearly malicious.
Yang Haoran took in both of their expressions, understanding their intent. However, he said nothing further, simply turned and walked away.
The instant Yang Haoran turned, the despair vanished from his face, replaced by an icy coldness, and a chilling glint shot from his eyes.
Yang Haoran's attitude made the two Guardians uneasy. They had expected that, given his current predicament, Yang Haoran would most likely butter them up, begging them to put in a good word for him before the Tong Continent Great Emperor so his punishment would be lighter. And they, in turn, could use the opportunity to thoroughly humiliate Yang Haoran.
But Yang Haoran did no such thing, which not only disappointed them but also filled them with annoyance.
"Yang Haoran, are you mentally deficient or what? " the alluring middle-aged woman began. "Did you not understand the Emperor's words, or are you pretending not to? The Emperor said not to make him wait too long. At this 'strolling' pace, when will you round up all those ghostly entities you're raising? I think you're doing this on purpose, to give those ghosts time to escape, aren't you?"
Neither of them moved a step. It was the alluring middle-aged woman who spoke, a woman whose looks seemed quite good, but whose sarcastic tone made it difficult for anyone to feel any goodwill towards her.
Yang Haoran's steps halted upon hearing this. Then, with a flash, he vanished from his spot. Seeing this, the two exchanged glances, both seeing annoyance in the other's eyes.
"He's already fallen to the status of a prisoner, and he might even lose his life soon, yet he still dares to be so arrogant! Just wait and see how I deal with him!"
This time, it was the slightly corpulent man who spoke. After he finished, the two locked onto Yang Haoran's position based on the power fluctuations emanating from him. Then, with a flash, they too vanished from their spots. When they reappeared, they were in front of a small two-story building, with Yang Haoran standing before them, his back turned.
Under the Night God
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