Chapter 246: Respect Demands Strength
Although the female ghost intensified her illusionary art on the man, it did not achieve her desired effect.
She had intended to make the Spirit Police officers turn on each other through the illusion, but the young man's strength was far greater than she had imagined.
Not only was she unable to trap the young man, but even the other Spirit Police officers began to gradually break free from the illusion.
The main reason the other Spirit Police officers were able to escape the female ghost's illusion was primarily due to Xiao Tong, the Array Master. Without his powerful assistance as an Array Master, the other Spirit Police officers would not only have been unable to break through the illusion, but they might even have been toyed with to their deaths by the female ghost.
As the illusion shattered, a barrage of attacks followed, aimed at the female ghost. In particular, Wang Yiming's Ghost-Slaying Talismans were unleashed towards her as if they cost nothing.
After this wave of attacks, although the female ghost successfully dodged some, she still sustained some damage. She then once again cast her illusionary art, intending to trap the Spirit Police officers.
The young man had already retreated far away. He didn't want to intervene, nor did he want to fall into the illusion again, because breaking free from it each time was also a drain on him. So, he simply stayed far away to watch the show.
Similarly, each time the female ghost cast her illusionary art, it was also a considerable drain on her. But she had no choice; this was her strongest technique, and to eliminate the Spirit Police officers before her, she could only rely on it.
The female ghost's strength was, in fact, not weak. Any single Spirit Police officer present, apart from the young man, would have died if they had faced her alone.
"Their coordination is improving, very good. It seems taking them out to find targets for practice recently was the right decision. " The young man watched Wang Yiming and the other Spirit Police officers battle the female ghost, a satisfied smile involuntarily appearing on his face.
On a distant rooftop, Yang Haoran gnawed on a roasted rabbit, muttering indistinctly, "This female ghost is almost done for. Indeed, there's strength in numbers!"
No sooner had he spoken than he sensed something, his gaze drifting towards a certain direction.
The distance was shrouded in complete darkness; the naked eye could discern nothing. Yang Haoran hadn't activated his Ghost Eye, and his physical eyes could only perceive the same pitch-black void. However, unlike ordinary people, he could sense the presence of his target through his sensory abilities.
A whooshing sound rent the air, and two figures appeared at the female ghost's location.
Observing these two figures, Yang Haoran's greasy lips involuntarily curled into a slight smile.
"You're a bit late," he mused. "Appearing only now, it's easy for people to misunderstand and think our Underworld Office is just looking to pick up scraps."
As he spoke, Yang Haoran took a gulp of beer. His body remained still, seemingly with no intention of revealing himself yet.
The two figures who had suddenly appeared were both clad in the unique black robes of Death God Temple keepers. With large hoods covering their faces, and the house's light being far too dim, Yang Haoran couldn't make out their features clearly.
However, from their attire and the faint Spirit Power faintly emanating from within them, Yang Haoran could confirm that these two must be his people.
The appearance of the two naturally drew the attention of the Spirit Police. They halted their attacks and turned their gazes towards the newcomers.
With the Spirit Police ceasing their attacks, the female ghost finally found a moment to breathe. Compared to before, her Spirit Body was now much fainter, and the Yin Qi swirling around it was no longer as intense.
She didn't seize the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, for she understood that such an attack would be largely meaningless, merely serving to prompt the Spirit Police to resume their assault on her.
Nor did she flee, knowing that the young man had been observing her constantly, making any escape impossible. Should she attempt to run, the young man might very well make a move against her.
Furthermore, Song Laoyao was still alive, and her child was still inside the house. Of course, she couldn't flee.
She remained wary of every move the Spirit Police made, while secretly beginning to recover, trying to regain as much strength as possible before their next offensive.
"Everyone, our apologies, we're late."
An elder's voice emerged from beneath a black robe. The two pulled back their hoods, revealing their faces in the dim light: an elder and a young woman.
The elder was none other than Wu Laoyezi, currently the second-in-command of Lecheng's Underworld Office.
And the young woman was a newcomer to the Night Watchers, whom Yang Haoran had seen once at a sundry shop.
According to Yang Haoran's previous arrangements, one person was needed both inside and outside Lecheng city to specifically guide spirits. This young woman was responsible for the city's inner area.
As for Wu Laoyezi, besides overseeing all the affairs of Lecheng's Underworld Office, he would also come out at night to guide spirits. While improving his own ability to guide spirits, he could also share some of the pressure on the young woman.
Tonight, the two had sensed a strong concentration of Yin Qi emanating from the slums, which was why they had rushed over immediately.
None of the Spirit Police officers present were surprised by Wu Laoyezi and the young woman's appearance. After all, the Evil Spirit before them possessed a potent Yin Qi, and the Underworld Office agents had a keen sensitivity to Yin Qi, so it was naturally impossible to hide it from them.
However, the arrival of the two elicited varied expressions from the Spirit Police officers present. Some wore smiles, others frowned in displeasure, while still others remained expressionless, their thoughts unreadable.
Wang Yiming was among those who smiled. He had, of course, long known that Wu Laoyezi had joined the Underworld Office, becoming one of its Night Watchers, and that Yang Haoran was now the Underworld Office's Emissary of Death. This filled him with both joy and shock.
He had tried to contact Yang Haoran multiple times, wanting to properly celebrate this news with him, but Yang Haoran's phone remained off, and his messages went unanswered. He simply couldn't reach Yang Haoran.
Although Yang Haoran remained unreachable, the cooperation between the Spirit Police and the Underworld Office had never ceased. Whenever a ghost needed handling, the Spirit Police would contact Wu Laoyezi, for they knew that in the current Lecheng Underworld Office, Wu Laoyezi held the position of second-in-command. In Yang Haoran the Emissary of Death's absence, Wu Laoyezi, the second-in-command, called the shots.
However, gradually, the Spirit Police began to form an opinion about the current Lecheng Underworld Office: it was too weak. The people of the Lecheng Underworld Office were simply too weak now.
Dealing with ordinary ghosts posed no great issue, but if they encountered entities like Half-step Evil Spirits, let alone other Night Watchers, even Wu Laoyezi, the second-in-command, was no match. As for true Evil Spirits, that went without saying.
No matter where one is, to gain recognition and respect from others, one must display corresponding strength. If one's own strength is insufficient, being denied and belittled is inevitable.
In the past, the Lecheng Underworld Office had been quite affirmed by the Spirit Police, for at that time, their long-term collaborator was Xu Meijing, whose strength was formidable even before she opened her Heaven Soul. Naturally, the Spirit Police dared not underestimate her.
But now, even Wu Laoyezi, the second-in-command, was no match for a Half-step Evil Spirit. How could they possibly respect the Lecheng Underworld Office? Their attitude towards it had become subtle.
At present, Wu Laoyezi's appearance here with others, in the eyes of some Spirit Police officers, was clearly an attempt to come and 'pick up fallen peaches,' so it was no wonder their expressions soured.
Nonetheless, despite the varied expressions on the Spirit Police officers' faces, no one spoke up. The young man was their vice-captain, and since he hadn't spoken, they naturally felt it improper to say much.
"So, it's the Underworld Office," the young man's voice drifted from afar after Wu Laoyezi finished speaking. "You've certainly arrived at a convenient time."
After Wu Laoyezi's words fell, the young man's voice drifted from afar. There was no malice in his tone, but no warmth either; it was utterly flat.
Wu Laoyezi was an old hand; how could he not see that the Spirit Police already held certain opinions about their Underworld Office? He felt helpless about it. Yang Haoran had been gone for almost two months, and without the opportunity for Soul Qi infusion, their strength couldn't improve. Being looked down upon by the Spirit Police was inevitable.
However, though he understood this inwardly, what needed to be done still had to be done, and what needed to be negotiated still had to be negotiated.
"We rushed over as soon as we sensed the Yin Qi," Wu Laoyezi said with a smile. "We didn't expect you all to be so fast."
The young man merely smiled, saying nothing more, and instead cast his gaze upon one of the Spirit Police officers.
That Spirit Police officer understood, and chuckled to Wu Laoyezi, "It's not that we're fast; it's that your Underworld Office is too slow. But then again, we can't blame you, after all, your strength is simply too weak."
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