Chapter 367: Mom Will Always Be There
After helping Old Master Wu absorb the Soul Pill within him, Yang Haoran left the South Lake Death God Temple and returned to the villa.
Old Master Wu didn't return immediately. As the second-in-command, he naturally had many trivial matters to attend to; he didn't enjoy Yang Haoran's freedom.
However, the surge in his strength put him in an excellent mood and filled him with vigor. The exhilarating sensation of power coursing through his entire body was something money simply couldn't buy. This was precisely why, despite his high-ranking position, he was willing to work under Yang Haoran — because Yang Haoran could give him what he desired, something unattainable through wealth.
Back at the villa, Xiao Kang was still studying as usual, Bai Xue was refining spiritual fruits in her room, while Yang Haoran had secluded himself in his study, having also set up a powerful barrier.
The reason he shut himself in the study was to sort and categorize all the souls in his possession in the shortest possible time.
One category of souls he needed to hand over to the Underworld, while the other he intended to keep for himself.
Yang Haoran kept very few souls for himself; to be precise, an extremely small number. For example, the Evil Spirit he obtained in Stone Forest Town, the Ghost Infant acquired some days ago, and a handful of other souls, like the construction worker Wu Mei, that simply couldn't be handed over.
The reason Yang Haoran kept these souls was, firstly, to prepare materials in advance for refining Soul Pills in the future.
Secondly, he didn't want to invite trouble for himself. Because once certain souls were handed over to the Underworld, they were bound to cause him some negative repercussions, so he absolutely had to keep them.
After dealing with all the souls, Yang Haoran couldn't help but think of Xiao Kang and Xiujuan, the unfortunate mother and son.
According to their initial agreement, Xiujuan was to accompany him to the Underworld by the end of the year, while he would be responsible for looking after Xiao Kang. This was the promise he had made to Xiujuan back then.
However, forcibly separating this mother and son would likely cause them immense pain.
After a moment's thought, Yang Haoran dispelled the restrictive barrier around his study, then walked towards Xiao Kang's study.
Upon arriving at Xiao Kang's study, he found Xiao Kang engrossed in his studies, while Xiujuan floated beside him, earnestly teaching him how to read and write.
Yang Haoran's appearance caught the attention of both the human and the ghost.
"Emissary, have you come to see Xiao Kang again?"
"Uncle Yang, Uncle Yang, come quickly and see if I've written these characters well!"
Xiujuan bowed respectfully to Yang Haoran, while Xiao Kang chuckled, hopped off his chair, and rushed towards Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran picked up Xiao Kang, then went to Xiao Kang's study desk. He carefully examined the characters Xiao Kang had written; though not exceptionally beautiful, they were already quite neat for a child his age.
"Not bad, a great improvement," Yang Haoran said with a smile, ruffling Xiao Kang's head.
Receiving Yang Haoran's praise, Xiao Kang was overjoyed, his face alight with happiness, joyful laughter bubbling continuously from his lips.
As for Xiujuan, seeing her child so happy, a look of relief appeared on her face. For her, a child growing up healthy and cheerful was all she ever wished for.
Watching Xiao Kang's joyful smile, and then glancing at Xiujuan, who stood beside him with a relieved expression, Yang Haoran suddenly felt a pang of difficulty.
Though it was difficult, some things still needed to be done.
He smiled as he set Xiao Kang down, then asked, "Xiao Kang, do you remember the agreement Uncle Yang and your mom made back then?"
Yang Haoran's sudden mention of the matter left Xiao Kang tilting his head, not quite understanding what he meant.
However, just because a child didn't understand didn't mean Xiujuan was equally clueless. Xiujuan first froze, then reacted, her Spirit Body trembling slightly.
"Emissary, may I speak with you privately? " Xiujuan asked Yang Haoran, trying to force a smile onto her face.
Yang Haoran hesitated slightly, but then nodded.
The reason for his hesitation was that he didn't want to avoid Xiao Kang. Once he took Xiujuan away this time, Xiao Kang would know sooner or later; it couldn't be concealed for long.
Instead of hiding it, it would be better to let Xiao Kang learn to face it bravely, to expose him to reality prematurely. Though it would be painful and cruel, how could one learn courage and strength without experiencing reality and suffering?
However, this was just his own thought. As a mother, Xiujuan also had her own considerations and ideas, so after a moment of hesitation, Yang Haoran chose to respect Xiujuan's wishes.
Ruffling Xiao Kang's head once more, Yang Haoran said to Xiujuan, "Let's go, we can talk in my study."
"Thank you, Emissary," Xiujuan said with a grateful expression.
Yang Haoran turned to leave, with Xiujuan following closely. However, just as Yang Haoran was about to reach the doorway, Xiao Kang, who had remained rooted to the spot, spoke up.
"Un-Uncle Yang, are you. . . are you taking Mom away?"
Xiao Kang's voice was choked with a sob. He hadn't burst into tears, but was desperately trying to control his emotions.
Yang Haoran paused, then turned to look at Xiao Kang. He saw Xiao Kang standing motionless, biting his lip tightly. Although he tried hard to control his emotions, large tears still rolled uncontrollably from his eyes.
Yang Haoran hadn't originally intended to hide the matter of taking Xiujuan from Xiao Kang. Now that Xiao Kang had reacted, he simply nodded.
"Uncle Yang, actually. . . actually, I really don't want Mom to leave. . ."
Xiao Kang was still trying hard to control his emotions, but as he spoke, the tears fell much faster.
Compared to other children his age, Xiao Kang was already very strong. But no matter how strong he was, he was still just a child. Knowing that he was about to be completely separated from his mother, never to see her again, it was already remarkable that he could control his emotions and not burst into loud wails.
Let alone a child, even an adult might not be able to maintain that level of composure.
Xiao Kang's appearance was heartbreaking. Yang Haoran's smile faded, his heart filled with conflict.
"Xiao Kang, Mom is already dead. She no longer belongs to this world, and it's time for her to leave. Moreover, even if Mom hadn't died back then, she would eventually die, and she would eventually leave you. The day of our separation will always come; it's unavoidable."
As she spoke, Xiujuan's voice also choked up.
Yang Haoran knew that Xiujuan's words were meant only for Xiao Kang, her purpose simple: to hope Xiao Kang could bravely face reality. Her true feelings, however, were no different from Xiao Kang's; she didn't want to be separated from him.
But she had an agreement with Yang Haoran, so she had to abide by it.
She didn't blame Yang Haoran, for he had helped her far too much. If not for Yang Haoran, she wouldn't have had the chance to spend so much time with Xiao Kang; she would have been taken away by the Spirit Police that very night.
If not for Yang Haoran, Xiao Kang might have already been tortured to death by her man. Even if he hadn't died, he would certainly be in a desperate plight; how could he possibly have such a peaceful life now?
Therefore, for Yang Haoran, Xiujuan felt only gratitude, no resentment, and certainly wouldn't blame him for taking her away.
"Xiao Kang, promise Mom that after Mom leaves, you must listen to Uncle Yang. Uncle Yang is your only relative in this world. I hope you won't disappoint Mom."
As she spoke, Xiujuan's voice trembled slightly, but she didn't cry. She knew she couldn't; if she did, Xiao Kang's current display of strength would surely crumble.
She wanted to set an example for her child one last time before she left.
"I won't disappoint Mom. . . I'll listen to Uncle Yang too, but. . . but I still don't want Mom to leave me. . . " Xiao Kang sobbed, clenching his small fists.
"My foolish child, Mom hasn't actually left you. As long as you're willing, Mom can live in your heart forever. If. . . if you miss Mom, just look at the Soul-Gathering Bead around your neck. That's the best proof that Mom is always with you. Mom. . . Mom is always here."
Xiujuan finished speaking through her sobs, finally unable to hold back two streams of tears. Though she had tried her utmost to control herself, she ultimately couldn't.
The moment Xiujuan shed tears, Xiao Kang's forced strength completely shattered. He burst into loud wails, then rushed towards Xiujuan, shouting "Mom" over and over, repeating it heartbreakingly.
At that moment, his mind went blank. Apart from those two words, he seemed to know nothing else.
He wanted to hug his mother, but his arms closed on empty air. Her Spirit Body was like smoke; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't grasp it.
The more he couldn't grasp her, the more he wanted to; the more he wanted to grasp her, the more elusive she became.
He cried out, repeatedly making the same motion, continuously screaming the words "Mom."
Yang Haoran sighed, then shook his head with a bitter smile, making a decision in his heart.
"Since neither of you wants to be separated, then so be it. Stop crying, and carry on with what you were doing."
Yang Haoran's action was, in fact, breaking the rules of the Underworld Office. Although he had committed rule-breaking acts since becoming the Lecheng Emissary of Death, such matters were strictly forbidden from the light, only manageable furtively, and always carried a certain risk.
Therefore, if at all possible, he preferred not to violate the Underworld Office's rules. But in the current situation, forcing himself to take Xiujuan away was something he truly couldn't do.
Since he couldn't do it, he simply wouldn't. Though he was an Underworld Official, he never considered himself a qualified one, because many of the things he was doing now were not what an Underworld Official would do, or rather, would dare to do.
Once a rule-breaking act like this was committed, it was never just the first or last time; today wasn't the first time he'd broken a rule, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
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