Chapter 349: Swords Drawn, Bows Bent
Yang Haoran's words not only declared his stance but also turned the tables, directly pinning a huge accusation on Jiang Die and even the Talisman Order.
Elder Zhang's expression was grim, Jiang Die's was even grimmer, while Wang Yiming's face was filled with anxiety.
Whether Yang Haoran's words were true or false, at this moment, apart from the snake demon and Yang Haoran himself, Elder Zhang and the other two couldn't be certain.
However, Yang Haoran spoke with such conviction, it didn't seem like he was lying.
Moreover, they thought it unlikely that Yang Haoran would lie; after all, he was the head of Lecheng's Underworld Office, and lying to deceive people would simply be too brazen.
However, they truly underestimated Yang Haoran, or rather, misjudged him, for Yang Haoran was indeed lying about this very matter.
If Yang Haoran hadn't been lying, and he had indeed nearly died under the Demon Sealing Talisman at that time, then the nature of the matter would have changed entirely.
Killing an Underworld Office Undertaker for no reason was no small matter; even if the Undertaker ultimately survived, it would still be regarded by the Underworld Office as an act of provocation.
Elder Zhang dared to openly surround Yang Haoran's villa today precisely because he believed his side was in the right, which emboldened him to do so.
His original intention for coming here today was simply to take the snake demon away, or kill it, which was why he considered negotiating with Yang Haoran. As long as his ultimate goal was achieved, his side was willing to offer some benefits to compensate Yang Haoran.
What he hadn't expected, however, was Yang Haoran's unyielding attitude, going so far as to pin a huge accusation of attempting to murder an Underworld agent on their Talisman Order.
Jiang Die's presence could have been used to force Yang Haoran to hand over the snake demon. Yet now, in a twist, Jiang Die, whom he initially saw as the victim, had, thanks to Yang Haoran's words, become the perpetrator attempting to murder an Underworld agent.
Elder Zhang didn't fully believe Yang Haoran's words, but he believed about sixty to seventy percent of it, and it was this partial belief that made him feel caught in an impossible dilemma.
However, having lived to his age and managed Lecheng's Talisman Order for many years, he had certainly weathered many storms and possessed the ability to adapt. Though he believed sixty to seventy percent in his heart, his face displayed complete disbelief.
"Emissary Yang," Elder Zhang said in a deep voice, "Just now you told me not to speak nonsense, and now I'm also warning you not to speak nonsense. Do you think I'll believe you based solely on your words?"
"Didn't I just say so? If you don't believe me, you can go and ask Vice-captain Zhou to see if what I said is true or false."
Yang Haoran smiled faintly, speaking with an air of absolute confidence, as if everything he said was nothing but the truth.
However, what he said was nothing but half-truths and half-lies. If Elder Zhang were to truly seek clarification from Vice-captain Zhou, he would only receive a vague answer.
But as a liar, Yang Haoran naturally possessed a liar's professional integrity and baseline: not letting others see through his lies—that was a liar's baseline. Deceiving others, and even deceiving oneself, was a liar's professional integrity.
Seeing Yang Haoran speak with such certainty, and once again invoking Vice-captain Zhou, Elder Zhang still felt a flicker of apprehension in his heart.
It would be fine if everything Yang Haoran said was false, but what he feared was that it was all true. If Yang Haoran were to pursue the matter, their Lecheng Talisman Order would have to provide him with an explanation, and perhaps even offer some benefits to settle the matter peacefully.
"Senior Brother, don't listen to his nonsense! " Jiang Die interjected. "He's deliberately exaggerating. It's true I activated all the Demon Sealing Talismans at the time, but as you know, Demon Sealing Talismans only have immense lethality against demons. He's an Underworld agent; how could a Demon Sealing Talisman pose much of a threat to him, let alone his life!"
Jiang Die spoke up at this moment, and upon hearing her words, Elder Zhang secretly cried out 'not good' in his heart. Meanwhile, Yang Haoran seized the opportunity to follow up on Jiang Die's statement.
"Elder Zhang, you heard her too, didn't you? She truly attacked me. I wasn't lying to you, was I? " After saying this to Elder Zhang, Yang Haoran shifted his gaze to Jiang Die and continued, "You might be overestimating my strength. In truth, my power is quite weak, and I was severely injured at the time, far from my peak. If the Demon Sealing Talismans you used to maliciously harm me were only Yellow Talisman level, I might have been able to handle them. But you're a Black Talisman Master; the Demon Sealing Talismans you left behind were all Black Talisman level. I truly had no way to deal with those few talismans back then, and I very nearly lost my life there."
As Yang Haoran spoke, he deliberately used the word "maliciously harm," emphasizing its pronunciation, as if afraid others might overlook it. His actions clearly showed he was determined to pin the blame squarely on Jiang Die's head.
Jiang Die trembled with rage, her eyes blazing with fury. It seemed she was no longer willing to engage in a verbal dispute with Yang Haoran and intended to resolve the problem with direct force.
"Martial Aunt! Calm down! " Seeing this, Wang Yiming quickly wrapped his arms around Jiang Die, desperately holding her back, afraid she might do something drastic.
The current atmosphere was like gunpowder spread thick upon the ground. Not only were the few of them standing directly on this powder, but they were also recklessly playing with fire, leaving Wang Yiming, who dared not participate, utterly terrified.
Elder Zhang glanced at the nearly frenzied Jiang Die, then turned his gaze to Yang Haoran, who was casually pulling a cigarette from a pack and lighting it, as if nothing were amiss. This sight made Elder Zhang involuntarily take a deep breath.
Yang Haoran's composure left him feeling utterly at a loss. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly sensed something, and his expression changed abruptly.
Meanwhile, another scene was unfolding outside the villa.
When Elder Zhang came today, he brought a group of Talisman Masters, about ten of them. Their primary purpose was to seal off the villa, preventing the snake demon from secretly slipping away.
However, at this moment, another group of black-robed figures appeared outside the villa. Shrouded entirely in black robes, they emitted dark Yin Qi, giving off an aura that was both mysterious and eerie.
These black robes, emblazoned with the Death God's Law Aspect, were unique to Underworld Office Night Watchers, and this group of black-robed figures were, naturally, all Night Watchers under Yang Haoran.
The sudden appearance of the Night Watchers made the Talisman Masters of the Talisman Order change their expressions, but they did not panic, nor did they actively make a move. Instead, they warily watched the approaching Night Watchers.
"Keep a close eye on them. If anyone dares to make a move, kill them. Don't be afraid to die; if you die, you have your boss behind you. If they die, they will experience what true suffering after death feels like."
It was Old Master Wu who spoke these words, and as they left his lips, the Night Watchers responded in unison, their voices respectful, booming, and filled with fighting spirit.
Conversely, upon hearing Old Master Wu's words, all the Talisman Masters present instantly changed their expressions. Some turned grim, while others became fearful.
They weren't fools; how could they not understand the implication of Old Master Wu's words? If the Night Watchers died, their boss, Yang Haoran, as an Undertaker, would certainly find a way to deal with their souls, granting them special treatment. It wouldn't even be surprising if they continued to exist in this world in a unique way.
But if the Talisman Masters died, the situation would be different. Their souls would fall into the hands of the Underworld Office, and the outcome was predictable: torment was certain, and if Yang Haoran was ruthless, he might even ensure they met the fate of soul dispersion.
After dropping these words, Old Master Wu casually glanced at the Talisman Masters present, a look that was both a warning and a provocation, before quickly striding into the villa.
Earlier, when Yang Haoran told Old Master Wu to handle his own affairs, Old Master Wu immediately understood Yang Haoran's intention.
In that situation, what else could he have needed to handle besides calling for backup? So, even though Yang Haoran hadn't explicitly stated it, he still understood what Yang Haoran meant.
Old Master Wu had been with Yang Haoran for almost a year now. They spent a lot of time together, and his understanding of Yang Haoran naturally grew deeper. Coupled with the fact that he was an exceptionally astute man, he could grasp Yang Haoran's intentions even without a word, merely from a glance or a gesture.
The atmosphere inside the villa had become incredibly tense, and outside the villa, with the appearance of the Night Watchers, the air was equally charged, with swords drawn and bows bent.
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