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Chapter 383: Premature Exposure

Yang Haoran set Xiao Kang down from his lap, his gaze shifting towards Xiujuan, who floated in the air.

"This time, I've brought you something good. I'm sure you'll love it."

As his words fell, Yang Haoran snapped his fingers, and a 'Skin' was retrieved from a private spatial dimension, hovering in mid-air.

Both Xiujuan and Xiao Kang were incredibly curious to see what Yang Haoran would produce, but the moment they got a clear look at the Skin hovering before them, Xiujuan's expression shifted, and Xiao Kang let out a terrified shriek, scrambling to hide behind Yang Haoran.

Though Xiao Kang lived alongside ghosts and spirits daily, the only demon he had ever seen was Bai Xue, and in her human form, she appeared not the least bit frightening.

As for ghosts, his mother, Xiujuan, was one, and she loved him dearly. Since he spent every day with her, he naturally felt no fear towards her.

He harbored no fear for Bai Xue or Xiujuan, but that didn't mean every terrifying thing was incapable of startling him. Thus, upon seeing the Skin suspended in the air, he was not only shocked but reacted quite intensely.

Such was the horror of this Skin that even an adult suddenly witnessing the scene would be scared half to death.

Forget humans; even Xiujuan, who was an Evil Spirit, saw her expression shift when this Skin suddenly materialized before her. It was easy to imagine how an ordinary person would react to such a sight.

It wasn't that Xiujuan and Xiao Kang were timid; rather, this Skin was genuinely unsettling. It felt as though it had been flayed directly from a living person, and it was perfectly normal for one's blood to run cold upon seeing such a thing for the first time.

"'Uncle, did. . . did you kill someone? ' Xiao Kang stammered from behind Yang Haoran, his voice trembling."

Sensing Xiao Kang's fear, Yang Haoran gently pulled him out from behind him.

"'Xiao Kang,' Yang Haoran said with a smile, as if discussing a trivial matter, 'killing is something best avoided if possible. But if it ever becomes absolutely necessary, then those who deserve to die must indeed be killed. '"

In truth, there was one detail Yang Haoran himself had yet to notice: as his power grew and he encountered more and more extraordinary things, his character had progressively grown colder.

This coldness, however, wasn't directed at those close to him, but rather at anyone beyond his immediate circle.

To be precise, it wasn't merely people outside his immediate circle, but any entity beyond it—be they human, demon, or even ghosts—towards whom he displayed profound indifference, growing increasingly dismissive of their lives.

For in his eyes, whether these beings lived or died held no consequence for him. He simply didn't care. Even as a smile constantly graced his lips when interacting with them, the apathy within his heart only intensified.

Xiao Kang was still too young to fully grasp the meaning behind Yang Haoran's words. And though he didn't quite understand, his response left Yang Haoran with a feeling that was both amused and exasperated.

"'Even if she deserved to die, Uncle Yang,' Xiao Kang said timidly, 'you shouldn't have peeled off her skin. That looks too cruel. '"

At that, Yang Haoran chuckled, then gently but firmly pulled Xiao Kang out from behind him.

"'Xiao Kang, don't be afraid. Be a little bolder. In the future, you'll encounter many more things that will make you feel disgusted or terrified. If you can accept these things in advance, then when you come across such scenes again, you won't be afraid, and you'll be able to face everything with equanimity,' Yang Haoran said with a smile."

As his mother, Xiujuan had initially intended to stop Yang Haoran, as she felt it might not be good for Xiao Kang to be exposed to such things prematurely.

Ultimately, however, she didn't interfere. She trusted Yang Haoran implicitly; in her eyes, he was more than a benefactor to her and Xiao Kang, like a second parent. She believed he must have his reasons for acting this way.

Furthermore, she felt that Yang Haoran's words held a certain truth, though as Xiao Kang's mother, she simply wished he wouldn't be exposed to such bloody, terrifying, and harsh realities so soon.

Xiao Kang, too, harbored a deep reluctance. He genuinely lacked the courage to directly confront the terrifying Skin before him. Yet, his meager strength was no match for Yang Haoran's, and he was effortlessly lifted into his arms.

He simply kept his head bowed, not daring to glance up at the Skin hovering above.

"'Don't be afraid. Just look at it. The longer you look, the less scared you'll be. You're a little man, aren't you? Aren't you going to protect your mom and Uncle Yang in the future? If you don't even have this much courage, what will you use to protect us? ' Yang Haoran asked with a smile."

Hearing Yang Haoran's words, Xiao Kang finally mustered his courage, slowly raising his head to peer towards the Skin above.

"'Don't worry, Uncle Yang and your mom are right here. Let's not even talk about it just being an inanimate object; even if it were alive, what could it possibly do to you? ' Yang Haoran continued to ask with a smile."

Hearing Yang Haoran put it that way, Xiao Kang felt a sudden understanding. In his eyes, Yang Haoran was practically a god. Upon reflection, he realized there truly was nothing for him to be afraid of.

"'Xiao Kang isn't afraid! Xiao Kang's a little man! '"

Xiao Kang gritted his teeth, raised his head, and stared directly at the Skin hovering above him.

Staring directly at the Skin, he initially feigned composure, yet a sliver of fear lingered in his heart. But the longer he looked, the more he found Yang Haoran's words to be true: there was indeed nothing terrifying about this Skin.

"'Your Uncle Yang suffered such a setback back when he first became a Night Watcher,' Yang Haoran chuckled. 'At that time, I was just an ordinary person, yet I faced a mass of ghosts that scared me so badly I almost wet my pants. Your Uncle Yang doesn't want you to face such an embarrassing situation in the future, so I'm giving you some advanced training. '"

Hearing that Yang Haoran had once been scared enough to almost wet his pants, Xiao Kang instantly burst out laughing, and the last lingering shred of fear in his heart vanished like smoke.

"'I'm not afraid anymore! Xiao Kang isn't afraid of this thing now! ' Xiao Kang laughed."

"'This is just an inanimate object, so naturally there's nothing to be scared of,' Yang Haoran asked with a smile. 'In a while, your Uncle Yang will have Old Master Wu give you some special training to completely transform your courage. Are you scared? '"

"'Not afraid! Xiao Kang definitely won't be scared! '"

Xiao Kang answered readily, as if he had instantly gained immense courage. Xiujuan, however, hearing these words, found the smile on her face becoming strained.

As Xiao Kang's mother, she was naturally concerned whether he would suffer any harm, particularly psychological harm.

Seeing that Xiao Kang was no longer afraid of the Skin and had fully agreed to undergo the special training, a few more hints of gratification appeared on Yang Haoran's face,

"'Actually, this person wasn't killed by your Uncle Yang,' he revealed. 'This Skin wasn't flayed from a human; it's artificially made. However, you won't find this kind of Skin for sale in the mortal realm; I brought it back from the Underworld. The reason I said all that earlier was simply to test you, to boost your courage. '"

As his words fell, Yang Haoran turned his gaze to Xiujuan and said, "'Xiujuan, try integrating your Spirit Body into this Skin. '"