Chapter 1438: Demanding Someone
Upon arriving at Huo Laoban’s Guardian District, Luo Yao came up empty-handed, for he found no trace of Huo Laoban there.
"Hmph, quite adept at hiding, aren't you? Do you truly believe you can hide from me?"
Luo Yao let out a cold snort, then muttered to himself. With his words hanging in the air, he summoned the Emissaries of Death from Huo Laoban’s Guardian District, but after a round of questioning, he received no useful information.
"During this critical period, your Guardian has disregarded my orders, abandoned his post without authorization, and shown no concern for the safety of his jurisdiction. Such a person is unfit to hold the important position of Guardian. My Jingling Continent Underworld Office will not tolerate such idlers. Therefore, I hereby publicly announce that he is no longer your direct superior, nor is he a Guardian of my Jingling Continent Underworld Office. I will soon arrange for a new Guardian to take his place. In the interim, you shall temporarily act as Guardian."
Luo Yao’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, and his expression was extremely grim. As he spoke the last words, his knife-like gaze settled on an old man standing at the very front, whom he directly appointed as the interim Guardian.
Luo Yao didn't know who the old man was. As an Emperor, he rarely paid attention to Emissaries of Death below the rank of Guardian, unless they were exceptionally outstanding and managed to catch his eye. Clearly, the old man was not such an Emissary of Death, so Luo Yao did not recognize him.
Although Luo Yao didn't know the old man, the fact that the old man stood at the very front of everyone present was enough to indicate his significant standing in this Guardian District. Luo Yao naturally perceived this, and it was one of the reasons, though only one, for his appointment as interim Guardian.
The crowd was stunned, and the old man was no exception, as the matter had come too suddenly, and the appointment was very hasty. Thus, everyone was taken by surprise without exception. However, Luo Yao showed no intention of explaining himself, and seeing this, no one dared to ask further, only respectfully accepting the order.
The people in Huo Laoban’s Guardian District had all been personally promoted by Huo Laoban, yet they dared not defy the will of Emperor Luo Yao, at least not openly. After all, Luo Yao was an Emperor, while Huo Laoban was merely a Guardian. Moreover, Huo Laoban, their backbone, was not present. Without their leader, naturally, whatever Emperor Luo Yao said, went. No one would be foolish enough to jump out and contradict Luo Yao, as such an act would be no different from seeking death.
Even without seeing Huo Laoban, and despite stripping him of his position, Luo Yao's anger hadn't diminished in the slightest. So, after leaving Huo Laoban's Guardian District, he showed no intention of stopping there. He decided to investigate Huo Laoban’s whereabouts through other means. He absolutely had to find Huo Laoban and make him pay a painful price; only then could his inner rage find some release.
Several more days passed. Luo Yao expended considerable effort and mobilized significant forces, and he truly managed to discover Huo Laoban's whereabouts. Huo Laoban was actually in the Underworld, and he had been spending a lot of time with the Underworld Emperor lately.
Upon learning this news, Luo Yao's anger was understandable. With just a brief thought, he knew why Huo Laoban had been so close to the Underworld Emperor recently.
The Tong Continent Great Emperor was dead, and Huo Laoban had lost his backing. Huo Laoban definitely needed to find another powerful patron to cling to. Otherwise, how could Huo Laoban endure his wrath?
After some deliberation, Luo Yao, unable to swallow this insult no matter what, finally decided to immediately make a trip to the Underworld to meet the troublesome Underworld Emperor. The reason for his urgency was that he didn't want Huo Laoban to truly secure the Underworld Emperor's patronage. He wanted to thwart Huo Laoban's plans before he could cling to the Underworld Emperor's leg, or else it would be troublesome.
Luo Yao arrived in the Underworld and successfully met the Underworld Emperor at his residence. His biggest worry was that the Underworld Emperor would avoid seeing him, but thankfully, the Underworld Emperor did not. After a servant's announcement, the Underworld Emperor allowed him to enter the residence. There, he not only met the Underworld Emperor but also saw Huo Laoban, whom he hated to the bone.
Luo Yao had assumed that Huo Laoban would be as anxious as an ant on a hot pan lately, constantly worried, anxious, and uneasy, with no smile on his face. After all, the Tong Continent Great Emperor was dead, Huo Laoban had lost his backing, and Luo Yao, his direct superior, would certainly not let Huo Laoban off easy. If Luo Yao were in Huo Laoban's shoes, he would be extremely anxious too.
However, the reality was completely different from what he had imagined. When Huo Laoban saw him, not only did he show no panic, but he wore a faint smile as usual. This smile appeared utterly natural, as if nothing had happened at all, making Luo Yao feel alarmed. At the same time, his anger naturally intensified, because in his view, Huo Laoban was completely provoking him. How could he possibly feel at ease? "Greetings, Great Emperor!"
Huo Laoban, smiling, bowed respectfully to Luo Yao, showing no awkwardness whatsoever. It was as if nothing had ever happened between him and Luo Yao; he was still Luo Yao's confidant, and Luo Yao was still his direct superior.
Luo Yao, who had intended to mock Huo Laoban and perhaps make a few sarcastic remarks, now had a face as black as charcoal, feeling utterly stifled.
The Underworld Emperor sat in the main seat, while Huo Laoban stood respectfully behind him, like a servant. When Luo Yao arrived, the Underworld Emperor did not rise, merely casting a cold glance at Luo Yao. He didn't invite Luo Yao to sit down, seemingly having no intention of doing so.
Facing Huo Laoban's greeting, the stifled Luo Yao let out a cold snort, then turned his gaze towards the Underworld Emperor in the main seat. He not only had no pleasant expression for Huo Laoban but couldn't even be bothered to respond to him.
"Underworld Emperor, this man is a Guardian of my Jingling Continent Underworld Office. I am here to take him away."
Seeing that the Underworld Emperor showed him no good face and had no intention of inviting him to sit, clearly signaling his attitude, and also because he himself didn't wish to deal with the Underworld Emperor, Luo Yao did not beat around the bush and stated his purpose for coming today directly.
Upon hearing this, Huo Laoban's expression remained unchanged, still bearing a faint smile, while the Underworld Emperor gave a cold laugh.
"He is indeed a Guardian of your Jingling Continent Underworld Office, and he was even a confidant personally promoted by you. However, that was in the past, not now. Didn't you already strip him of his Guardian position a few days ago?"
The Underworld Emperor spoke coldly, asking unhurriedly. Upon hearing the Underworld Emperor's words, Luo Yao's brows furrowed even deeper.
"I stripped him of his Guardian position because he abandoned his post without authorization during a critical period, secretly defied orders, and disregarded the safety of his jurisdiction. Such a person would undoubtedly be a traitor in wartime. I will not allow such a person to continue serving as a Guardian of my Jingling Continent Underworld Office."
Luo Yao spoke forcefully and with conviction. The Underworld Emperor sneered repeatedly. Not until Luo Yao's words had fallen did he casually sip his tea, showing no intention of speaking immediately.
Luo Yao observed this scene, and he naturally understood what the Underworld Emperor's current actions implied. Although he was furious beyond words, he ultimately couldn't hold back, but he did not unleash his inner rage upon the Underworld Emperor.
After taking a sip of tea, the Underworld Emperor slowly set down his teacup, then looked at Luo Yao and spoke.
"Luo Yao, if you're acting out of personal vendetta, then just admit it. Why cloak it in such noble-sounding words? I'm not a fool; do you think I wouldn't know what you're up to?"
The Underworld Emperor exposed Luo Yao's true intentions, leaving him no face at all. In truth, anyone could see through his intentions in such a matter, but often everyone had a tacit understanding, especially between those of equal rank. However, the Underworld Emperor was not playing by the usual rules at this moment, which indicated that he was ready to completely fall out with Luo Yao.
Luo Yao's face was terrifyingly black. He and the Underworld Emperor were both Emperors of the Underworld Office, yet today, upon his arrival at the Underworld Emperor's residence, the Underworld Emperor neither invited him to sit nor offered him tea. His attitude towards him was not that of an equal but more like a subordinate. And now, as he openly declared his intention to take away the traitor from his Jingling Continent Underworld Office, the Underworld Emperor was obstructing him, even tearing off his veil of "acting for the public good. " His terrible mood was predictable, and at the same time, he knew that taking Huo Laoban away today might not be so easy!
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