Chapter 318: Stone Forest Town
The saying, "Near water towers, the moon is seen first," was a principle Old Master Wu naturally understood. To achieve his goal, he had prepared in advance, renovating the third floor with the hope that one day, Yang Haoran would allow him to reside there.
As a subordinate, Old Master Wu was certainly not foolish enough to make demands of his superior. Thus, he had been waiting, waiting for Yang Haoran to speak first.
Now that Yang Haoran had actively invited him to move in, his objective was finally met. How could he not be thrilled?
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Old Master Wu said with a sigh of emotion.
Yang Haoran chuckled, then replied, "I don't have nannies or servants here. I'm worried you won't get used to it if you move in."
"Boss worries too much. Although I'm getting on in years, I'm not that delicate. From the moment I came to my senses, I've walked step by step to where I am today, enduring countless hardships and grievances—I can't even remember them all. I'm accustomed to living with servants, and I can adapt just as well to living without them."
Upon hearing Old Master Wu's words, Yang Haoran let out a small laugh and said, "It seems I was overthinking things earlier. Since you're willing, then I naturally welcome you."
Speaking of which, Yang Haoran pointed to the books on the bookshelf and smiled, "These books I've collected should be useful to you. Feel free to read them whenever you have time."
Old Master Wu's face was beaming with joy as he hastily offered his thanks. "Thank you, Boss."
"Heh heh, being able to assist the Boss is more than I could ask for. Call me anytime if you need anything, I'll take my leave now."
Yang Haoran nodded with a smile, and Old Master Wu then exited the study.
After Old Master Wu left, Yang Haoran didn't return to his room. He lit a cigarette, his fingers lightly tapping on the desk, his face deep in thought, lost in contemplation.
After dawn, Yang Haoran gave Xiao Kang and Xiujuan some instructions, then left his residence once more.
However, this time he wasn't alone. Besides him, the snake demon Bai Xue was also present.
Throughout the journey, the snake demon wore a sullen expression; her face did not look good at all.
The snake demon was wearing the tracksuit she had bought yesterday. Although she had ripped it off her body in anger yesterday, she had put it back on today.
Yet, even with the tracksuit on, the sulking expression on her face lacked yesterday's vitality.
Why the sultry and charming snake demon had become like this, Yang Haoran naturally understood the reason. However, he offered no explanation, nor was it possible for him to coax her simply because she was in a huff.
In Yang Haoran's view, his relationship with the snake demon was merely cooperative. If the snake demon wanted to sulk, she could go ahead. He wouldn't take it to heart, much less waste time coaxing her.
He had brought the snake demon out today specifically to subdue the Evil Spirit she had mentioned. As he wasn't certain if the snake demon was lying to him, he absolutely had to bring her along for this trip.
The snake demon did not refuse Yang Haoran's request. It wasn't that she didn't want to refuse, but rather that she simply couldn't. After all, Yang Haoran held her lifeline. If she didn't do as he said, who knew what Yang Haoran might do?
No, not even ghosts knew what Yang Haoran would do!
The two of them were currently in Stone Forest Town, Lecheng. Stone Forest Town was quite famous in Lecheng; not only did Lecheng locals know about it, but even some outsiders were familiar with it. It was, one might say, well-known far and wide.
Stone Forest Town garnered its reputation due to a dense stone forest located there. The presence of this stone forest attracted many visitors from other regions to tour and admire it, and over time, the town's fame spread.
And the reason Stone Forest Town was called Stone Forest Town was also due to the existence of this stone forest. If Stone Forest Town had been famous for stone eggs instead of stone forests, then without a doubt, it would have been renamed Stone Egg Town or Egg Town.
The unique and wondrous nature of the stone forest made Stone Forest Town one of Lecheng's renowned scenic areas. The number of tourists visiting here daily, while not a "sea of people," was still significant, thus bringing a decent income to Lecheng and Stone Forest Town each year.
Lecheng was not inherently wealthy, but thanks to the stone forest serving as an attraction, the local residents' living conditions were considerably better than those in other impoverished townships.
Today was no exception. Stone Forest Town was bustling with people, predominantly tourists, while the locals were busy with their businesses, having no time to idly wander the streets.
"Bai Xue, are you sure we haven't come to the wrong place? Is the Evil Spirit you mentioned truly here in Stone Forest Town? " Yang Haoran asked, his hands in his pockets, glancing at the sour-faced snake demon beside him.
The snake demon shot Yang Haoran a glare and replied with dissatisfaction, "My life is in your hands; are you still afraid I'd lie to you?"
Yang Haoran chuckled, then said, "It's not that I don't trust you; I merely have doubts. I haven't sensed any Yin Qi here. If there really were an Evil Spirit as you say, under normal circumstances, I shouldn't be unable to sense even a trace of Yin Qi."
"Don't sugarcoat it so much. You just don't believe me, don't think I don't know that. If you truly believed me, you would have let me go long ago, and yesterday, you certainly wouldn't have imprisoned me in the house! " the snake demon retorted, her face grim, her voice filled with resentment.
Yang Haoran couldn't help but laugh dryly, momentarily at a loss for how to answer the snake demon's question.
Seeing Yang Haoran fall silent, the snake demon let out a cold snort and continued to sulk.
Yang Haoran, however, paid no mind to the snake demon's mood. What he cared about now was whether there truly was an Evil Spirit in Stone Forest Town, and if he had been tricked by the snake demon.
When he first heard this information from the snake demon, Yang Haoran found it somewhat unbelievable. This was also one of the reasons he insisted on keeping the snake demon, as he genuinely found it hard to believe in the existence of an Evil Spirit in Stone Forest Town.
He was a native of Lecheng. Although his hometown wasn't in Stone Forest Town, he had visited this place many times and had never heard any rumors of hauntings or other supernatural incidents here.
Normally, Evil Spirits had no interest in the souls of ordinary people. However, Evil Spirits were inherently extremely resentful, bloody, and brutal. How could they tolerate so many tourists wandering around under their nose? Trouble would surely be inevitable.
Yet, nothing of the sort had happened; the place had always been peaceful. So, it was not strange for Yang Haoran to question the veracity of the snake demon's information.
Of course, he only questioned it; he didn't completely dismiss it, as he couldn't be sure there weren't unknown factors at play that he wasn't aware of. Therefore, he wouldn't draw conclusions lightly.
After all, his inability to sense Yin Qi didn't necessarily mean there was no Evil Spirit in Stone Forest Town. He wasn't omnipotent; there was plenty he didn't understand.
The reason he voiced his doubts and questioned the snake demon now was for one purpose only: to coax more information out of her, so he could make targeted preparations and ensure he wouldn't "capsize in a ditch."
But unfortunately, the snake demon wasn't falling for his act.
If the snake demon hadn't been angry, he would have been confident he could extract more information from her. But in the current situation, how could the snake demon let him have his way? She was eager to keep him in suspense.
"Fellow old irons, I'm currently in Stone Forest Town, Lecheng. Look at these houses—they're full of a sense of history! They're witnesses to time, traces of time, they're. . . that, that. . . er, sigh, I don't know how to describe it, it's just good, okay? !"
A streamer was live-streaming. Yang Haoran and the snake demon passed by him, and the man unintentionally noticed the snake demon, his eyes immediately going wide.
"Old irons, I've found a treasure! I saw a beauty! I've never seen such a beautiful woman! I'll let you all feast your eyes too!"
The streamer's voice reached not only Yang Haoran's ears but also the snake demon's.
Upon hearing this, Yang Haoran simply smiled faintly, while the snake demon extended her tongue and licked her scarlet lips.
"Another streamer. What a coincidence, indeed," the snake demon sneered, a hint of killing intent in her voice.
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