Chapter 175: Your Chance Has Come
Old Master Wu was a man of deep schemes and profound cunning, a fact Yang Haoran was well aware of.
However, he had received favors from Old Master Wu and owed him a debt of gratitude, which he naturally had to repay. And now, an opportunity had presented itself.
The Night Watchers were currently short-staffed, and Deng Feng had previously instructed him that if there were suitable candidates, he could allow them to join the Night Watcher ranks. The requirements were simple: loyalty to the Underworld Office and loyalty to Deng Feng himself.
But human hearts are veiled, and loyalty isn't something one can discern at a glance. In other words, Deng Feng's requirement was as good as unstated.
Old Master Wu was already in his twilight years, but Yang Haoran's appearance had made him aware that the Underworld Office truly existed in this world and that people entered reincarnation after death. This rekindled ambitions in him that he had long since abandoned.
He had once subtly hinted to Yang Haoran, hoping to use him as a bridge to join the Underworld Office and become one of its members. At the time, Yang Haoran had neither agreed nor refused.
Later, Old Master Wu had visited the South Lake Death God Temple. He sought out Jiang Dashi and informed him of his good relationship with Yang Haoran, hoping Jiang Dashi could help him make connections. However, Jiang Dashi had directly refused him.
Yang Haoran hadn't known about this initially; he only learned of it coincidentally during a conversation with Jiang Dashi at the Death God Temple after returning from Yangjiawan.
Therefore, if there was an opportunity for Old Master Wu to become a Night Watcher, he believed Old Master Wu wouldn't refuse.
Nevertheless, he would explain both the pros and cons clearly to Old Master Wu. The final choice would be entirely up to him; Yang Haoran wouldn't interfere.
He had already made up his mind: regardless of Old Master Wu's final decision, his debt of gratitude to Old Master Wu would be considered repaid.
Soon, Yang Haoran arrived outside Old Master Wu's villa. He parked his car and dialed the old man's number.
It was still early, and Old Master Wu was just preparing for his morning exercise when he received Yang Haoran's call. This surprised and delighted him, and he rushed out to greet him immediately.
This prominent figure in Lecheng was difficult for many to meet on an ordinary day, and getting him to grace one with his presence for a meal was even more challenging.
However, this was only true for ordinary people. For someone extraordinary like Yang Haoran, with his special abilities, Old Master Wu was merely an ordinary person.
Old Master Wu himself understood this point. Therefore, he had always treated Yang Haoran and other extraordinary individuals with utmost courtesy, never daring to show the slightest neglect or offense.
"Haoran," Old Master Wu called out warmly from a distance, "if you were coming, a call beforehand would have sufficed. I could have sent the butler to pick you up. There was no need for you to drive yourself."
Old Master Wu enthusiastically greeted Yang Haoran from afar. Yang Haoran, with a smile on his face, walked forward to meet him.
"Old Master Wu, it's been a while," Yang Haoran replied with a smile.
"Indeed, it has been too long," Old Master Wu chuckled playfully. "If you'd only grace my humble home with your presence more often, we wouldn't go so long without seeing each other."
A hint of helplessness touched Yang Haoran's smile. "I wish I could," he said, "but I've been swamped with matters recently, which is why it's dragged on until now."
"I understand, I truly do," Old Master Wu said. "Wu Xiaoxiao practically worships you. Before she left Lecheng, she insisted on treating you to a meal. I knew you were busy, so I stopped her, which made her quite resentful towards her old grandpa when she left. She still won't even talk to me now, *heh heh*."
The two chatted and laughed as they walked into the villa.
Inside the villa, after exchanging a few pleasantries, Yang Haoran immediately got to the point. His current situation was quite unique, and he didn't want to waste a single second.
"Old Master Wu," Yang Haoran began, "I know you've been hoping to join the Underworld Office. The reason I rushed over so early this morning is to tell you: your chance has come."
Yang Haoran's opening words stunned Old Master Wu. His facial expression froze; he seemed to have utterly failed to anticipate such a sudden declaration from Yang Haoran.
After regaining his composure, Old Master Wu's face suddenly erupted in ecstasy.
This news was simply too monumental for him. His greatest wish now was to join the Underworld Office while still alive, paving the way for himself after death.
However, despite a period of effort, he hadn't achieved his desired outcome. He had originally intended to approach Yang Haoran, but considering the devastating impact of the Yangjiawan incident on Yang Haoran, he had wisely refrained from pestering him during that time.
And now, Yang Haoran had suddenly spoken so directly to him. Even with his deep schemes and profound cunning, he couldn't help but let his inner excitement show on his face.
Yang Haoran could tell that Old Master Wu's ecstatic expression wasn't feigned; it was genuinely from the heart.
"Haoran, are you sure you're not just pulling an old man's leg? " Old Master Wu asked, his face still beaming with delight, seeking confirmation from Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran chuckled. "Old Master, you're overthinking it. How could I possibly joke about something like this with you?"
Upon receiving Yang Haoran's confirmation, Old Master Wu excitedly rose from his seat and embraced Yang Haoran tightly.
"This is wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! " he exclaimed. "This is my only wish right now, and I never imagined it would come true so quickly! Thank you! Thank you so much, Haoran!"
Watching Old Master Wu's agitated state, Yang Haoran couldn't help but recall his past self. Back then, hadn't he been just as excited as Old Master Wu was now?
However, his gratitude and respect for Jiang Dashi, who had originally brought him into the fold, had been entirely sincere. He couldn't help but wonder how much of the appreciation Old Master Wu was currently displaying towards him was genuine.
Of course, regardless of the sincerity of Old Master Wu's current display of gratitude, Yang Haoran paid it no mind. He was doing this simply to repay Old Master Wu for the car he had given him back then, and he hadn't considered what Old Master Wu might eventually give him in return.
"Old Master Wu, please calm down for a moment," Yang Haoran said. "To become a Night Watcher, there's still a test. Only by passing this test can you gain the organization's approval and finally become one of us."
Yang Haoran's words brought Old Master Wu back from his excitement. He released Yang Haoran, chuckled awkwardly, and then returned to his seat.
"My apologies," Old Master Wu laughed, "this old man got too carried away with joy, so I lost my composure a bit. Please don't laugh at me, *haha*!"
Old Master Wu chuckled, trying his best to remain calm, but an irrepressible excitement still lingered on his face.
Recalling Yang Haoran's earlier words, he quickly asked, "What was that test you just mentioned?"
"It will make you see ghosts and test your courage," Yang Haoran said with a smile. "Although you're getting on in years, I don't think this test will be a problem for you. You've not only seen ghosts in this very villa before, but you were also able to overcome your inner fear to face them. So, I believe you should have no difficulty passing this test."
The joy on Old Master Wu's face didn't diminish. He spoke with full confidence, "If this test is truly as you've described, then I'm quite confident."
"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should be just as I've said," Yang Haoran continued. "However, there's one thing I must warn you about: ordinary people have their own advantages, their own happiness. Once you join us, you will no longer be an ordinary person. While you'll gain abilities that ordinary people don't possess and your life will become incredibly exciting, it will also become extremely dangerous. A single misstep could lead to an irreversible, eternal damnation."
Seeing that Old Master Wu was still caught up in his excitement and didn't seem to be fully absorbing his words, Yang Haoran reminded him again.
"People say that the business world is like a battlefield, and Old Master, you've spent a lifetime fighting your way through it, perhaps already accustomed to danger," Yang Haoran said. "But I still have to warn you: this is different from doing business. If a business fails, there might still be a chance to rise again. But for us, once we fail, we won't just die; we might even suffer Soul Transformation. Not only will there be no possibility of rising again in this life, but we won't even get back on our feet in the next, because after Soul Transformation, we won't even have the chance to reincarnate. Therefore, I hope you consider carefully before giving me your answer."
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