Chapter 554: Always Keep a Trick Up Your Sleeve
Seeing Bai Xue's question, Yang Haoran's smile didn't waver in the slightest. He nodded at Bai Xue, giving a firm answer.
<r>"No, at least not for now."
<r>This answer, in fact, was not Yang Haoran's true intention. He had told Old Master Wu that he planned to play a long game, which was why he had Bai Xue join the Spirit Police.
<r>Beyond the two reasons he just gave Bai Xue, he indeed had other intentions for having her join the Spirit Police.
<r>However, the timing wasn't right yet, and he couldn't reveal this idea. If Bai Xue knew he had other objectives, even if she wasn't foolish enough to blurt it out, she might inadvertently give away clues in her daily actions. So, he directly denied Bai Xue's speculation, ensuring she wouldn't overthink things and thus affect his plan.
<r>Yang Haoran's definite answer made Bai Xue lose interest in pressing further.
<r>"You're right. Our Lecheng Spirit Police are quite limited in strength. Besides Captain Luo, everyone else is just average. There really isn't much to gain."
<r>Yang Haoran didn't continue the topic. He turned his gaze to Xiujuan and said with a smile, "Xiujuan, same as always, I'm entrusting the household to your care. Especially Feng Xiao; there's a lot she doesn't understand, so I hope you'll pay extra attention to her."
<r>
Xiujuan quickly pledged her assurance. She understood even better than Xiao Kang what a Pharmacist meant to Yang Haoran, which was why she made such a solemn promise. m. i. c
<r>Seeing Xiujuan speak so gravely, Feng Xiao felt both a blush of embarrassment and a wave of warmth in her heart.
<r>"What about me? What about me! Uncle Yang! What should I do? " Xiao Kang quickly asked.
<r>"Heh heh, as for you, you just focus on your studies and attend your classes," Yang Haoran replied with a smile.
<r>Yang Haoran's words greatly disappointed Xiao Kang. He had wanted to say something to make Yang Haoran change his mind, but with a glare from Xiujuan, he immediately straightened up, sticking out his tongue, not daring to haggle.
<r>"You're still young, so Uncle Yang doesn't have much for you to do. But when you're older, Uncle Yang will likely have many things to trouble you with," Yang Haoran said with a smile.
<r>"Then Uncle Yang can arrange as many tasks as he likes, I'll complete them all! " Xiao Kang said with a grin.
<r>Yang Haoran nodded with certainty, then retrieved the Array Disk of the Mountain River Grand Array from his independent spatial dimension.
<r>"The newly constructed villa has an additional restrictive barrier, a fact I'm sure you're all aware of. I will now plant the corresponding marks on you, so from now on, you can freely enter and exit the new villa. However, there are some areas within the villa where I've set up restrictions; I have other plans for those zones, so please be careful and make sure not to damage the restrictions."
<r>Yang Haoran said with a smile, then, one after another, he implanted a mark on each of them, except for Feng Xiao.
<r>"From now on, I will keep the Array Disk of the Mountain River Grand Array in my study. If anyone breaks into the barrier when I'm not home, you can use the Mountain River Grand Array to greet them."
<r>Yang Haoran's initial decision was not to allow others into the newly built villa, because his main purpose for it was to cultivate ghosts. This was no small matter, and he had to be extremely cautious.
<r>However, upon further thought, he felt this approach was somewhat inappropriate. After all, everyone in the villa was his own, and such an action would seem too standoffish.
<r>Therefore, after careful consideration, he decided to implant the barrier-entry marks on the others in the villa, granting them permission to enter the barrier.
<r>As for the ghosts he was cultivating, he decided to move them to a different location, as this approach would be the safest. In any case, these ghosts were currently out on missions, giving him time to handle this matter.
<r>After dinner, Yang Haoran went alone to the newly constructed villa. Many areas within this villa had been set with restrictive barriers by him, specifically to conceal the presence of ghosts.
<r>Now that he had decided to relocate his ghosts, these restrictive barriers no longer served their original purpose.
<r>However, he did not remove all the restrictive barriers. He left a few, and these few were merely a smokescreen.
<r>Yang Haoran was not a naive child; he was cautious and vigilant. He could be good to his own people, for in his view, that was what he ought to do.
<r>However, he couldn't afford to have absolutely no precautionary measures.
<r>Who could guarantee that those he recognized as his own would truly see him as their own?
<r>Even if those he recognized as his own also recognized him, who could guarantee that they wouldn't betray him one day?
<r>No one could guarantee it, not even Yang Haoran himself could be one hundred percent certain.
<r>Because people change, and sometimes, when pushed to the brink, people are forced to make decisions they'd rather not, which could harm those around them.
<r>Yang Haoran didn't want to harm his own people, but he found it even more unacceptable for those he trusted to stab him in the back while he remained oblivious. That was why he left himself some backup plans.
<r>The few restrictive barriers he left behind actually contained nothing. Yang Haoran had no intention of keeping any secrets inside them in the future. However, if someone were to unilaterally intrude, wishing to uncover the secrets within, he would immediately sense it.
<r>Such precautionary measures were somewhat hurtful, but he had no choice. In the future, he would recruit more people to serve him and achieve his goals. If he didn't have such defensive strategies, he might not even know how he died.
<r>It would be one thing if he died, but once he did, all those who followed him would also be implicated.
<r>To put it bluntly, if he wasn't careful and didn't leave himself some precautionary measures, not only would he die, but he would also cause the deaths of those around him!
<r>This evening, he specifically told them that certain areas of the new villa were laid with restrictive barriers, warning them not to approach. Anyone not a fool would know immediately upon hearing that there were secrets hidden within.
<r>If someone desired to enter the barrier to investigate, it would indicate that there was, to some extent, an issue with that person.
<r>Of course, Yang Haoran hoped that this backup plan he left himself would never have to be used, otherwise, it would truly sadden him.
<r>Early the next morning, Old Master Wu sought out Feng Xiao.
<r>Old Master Wu had already taken care of the equipment Feng Xiao needed for alchemy.
<r>Feng Xiao didn't actually need much, but just in case, Old Master Wu had still purchased a considerable amount, and all of it was high-grade merchandise, each item costing no small sum.
<r>After receiving the various pieces of equipment delivered by Old Master Wu, Feng Xiao hadn't even had time to organize them when Bai Xue approached her, a warm smile on her face and a friendly demeanor.
<r>The reason Bai Xue sought out Feng Xiao was that she had taken a day off specifically to take Feng Xiao shopping, buy beautiful clothes, and eat delicious food.
<r>Feng Xiao had always lived in the valley, so her clothes were not only few but also none of them were presentable. They didn't fit well, and many were even patched with numerous mends.
<r>Since she rarely interacted with outsiders, she hadn't thought much of it; after all, her master dressed the same way. However, when she saw the exquisite clothing in the mall, her perception shifted.
<r>She was a girl, after all. It was one thing not to have seen beautiful clothes while living in the valley, but once she did, how could she not like them?
<r>When Bai Xue left, she specifically asked Yang Haoran for a bank card. There was a considerable amount of money in it, so Bai Xue didn't hold back in the slightest, nor did she let Feng Xiao hold back, telling her that Yang Haoran had plenty of money and she could spend it as she pleased.
<r>In truth, Bai Xue wasn't lacking money at all, but the reason she still asked Yang Haoran for it was simply because she enjoyed the process.
<r>Despite Bai Xue's words, Feng Xiao felt too embarrassed to spend freely. However, Bai Xue paid no mind to her reservations and insisted on buying Feng Xiao a good many clothes.
<r>Once they grew tired of shopping, the two found a place to eat. By the end of the day, they had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and the sorrow in Feng Xiao's heart had, to a certain extent, lessened.
<r>However, the only thing Feng Xiao couldn't understand was why Bai Xue put on a mask after they left the villa.
<r>She was quite puzzled but felt too awkward to ask, so she could only keep the question to herself.
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