Chapter 619: Confronting Death
Yang Haoran wasn't at all surprised that Mo Jingnan came directly before him. In Mo Jingnan's heart, the one he hated more was likely Huo Laoban, so he would save Huo Laoban for last to torture.
The reason for saving the two Underworld agents for later was, naturally, to exert greater psychological pressure on them and inflict more torment, ensuring they suffered more within the limited time.
Watching Mo Jingnan appear before him, Yang Haoran's heart, paradoxically, grew calmer.
From the moment he embarked on this path, he had been prepared for the day he might meet a tragic end at another's hands. He could kill others, and others could naturally kill him too. Whether others died by his hand or he died by theirs, it depended on their respective capabilities.
If he killed others, he wouldn't feel guilty. Similarly, if he died by another's hand, he wouldn't hate them, nor would he feel wronged. If blame was to be cast, it could only be on his own lack of ability, not on others.
Before, he had harbored a sense of unease, a hint of anxiety, and a touch of hope. But watching others die gruesomely one after another, his mood, conversely, settled. The unease vanished, the anxiety faded, and even that sliver of hope disappeared.
With his heart calmed, his frozen mind seemed to reboot.
Facing this desperate situation, he didn't abandon himself to despair, nor did he entertain the idea of throwing caution to the wind. He was still devising an escape plan. In his view, as long as he wasn't dead, anything was still possible; he shouldn't feel despair.
Mo Jingnan said, toying with the dagger in his hand, a hideous grin plastered across his face, as he looked at Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran's reaction, however, deeply displeased him.
The reason he had saved Yang Haoran and Huo Laoban for last was to use the deaths of others to torment and provoke the two of them. He wanted to see them wet themselves in fear.
But to his surprise, Yang Haoran's expression and reaction at this moment appeared utterly calm. There wasn't a trace of panic or hatred on his face. This wasn't the outcome he desired.
"Heh, at a time like this, you still have the nerve to put on an act for me. But you're putting on quite a convincing show."
Mo Jingnan chuckled, then, with a cruel smile, plunged the dagger in his hand fiercely into Yang Haoran's body.
As the dagger pierced him, Yang Haoran furrowed his brow slightly, then his brow smoothed out as his expression regained its calm. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Having successfully stabbed Yang Haoran once, Mo Jingnan stepped aside. The Spirit Medium behind him stepped forward, grasping the dagger, ready to pull it out of Yang Haoran's body and plunge it in again, but Mo Jingnan stopped him.
"Wait a moment."
Although he didn't know what Mo Jingnan intended, since Mo Jingnan had spoken, this Spirit Medium naturally dared not say more and immediately ceased his actions.
The reason Mo Jingnan suddenly stopped the Spirit Medium was because he saw Yang Haoran's facial expression had once again returned to calm. In his eyes, this was nothing short of blatant provocation.
"Move aside. I think I can stab him again."
For the previous five individuals, Mo Jingnan had only stabbed each of them once, then handed them over to other Spirit Mediums to sate their craving. The young woman had made it very clear earlier: one stab per person.
Yet now, facing Yang Haoran, he made an exception.
This Spirit Medium didn't foolishly question Mo Jingnan. Without hesitation, he hastily retreated a step, ceding the space for Mo Jingnan to act.
A grotesque cackle escaped Mo Jingnan's lips. He pulled out the dagger embedded in Yang Haoran's body, then aimed at Yang Haoran's abdomen and savagely plunged it in again, and with a savage grin, he twisted the dagger a few times.
Yang Haoran winced in pain, his brow furrowing once more. Compared to before, this time his brow was clearly furrowed deeper. But soon after, his expression returned to normal once more. Only now, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his complexion was slightly pale.
The smile on Mo Jingnan's face froze. Yang Haoran's reaction sparked anger in his heart.
The young woman on the high platform, her expression had remained serene, witnessing everything like an outsider. But now she slightly frowned.
The reason for her frown, whether it was because Yang Haoran's reaction displeased her, or because Mo Jingnan had defied her orders, making her feel her authority was challenged, or perhaps it was a combination of both reasons, remained unknown.
"If you stab him to death all by yourself, how will the others get their fill?"
The young woman said lightly. Mo Jingnan's body stiffened slightly at her words. He had originally intended to stab Yang Haoran a few more times, but he had no choice but to abandon that idea. After twisting the dagger a few more times, he finally withdrew his hand, then turned and bowed respectfully to the young woman.
"May the Emissary not blame me. Your subordinate did not intentionally defy your orders. It's just that the resentment in my heart made it impossible for your subordinate to resist stabbing him a few more times."
The young woman's face was impassive as she nodded gently and said lightly, "Continue. Don't waste my time."
Mo Jingnan nodded in assent, then cast his gaze towards the next Spirit Medium.
"It's your turn. You can be a bit harsher; it doesn't matter. Judging by his appearance, he probably isn't afraid of pain."
The Spirit Medium respectfully nodded in assent, then once again stepped before Yang Haoran. He pulled out the dagger, then immediately plunged it in again with force.
Blood flowed freely, already soaking the ground beneath Yang Haoran. He ignored Mo Jingnan, who was watching the show from the side, nor did he pay attention to the Spirit Medium currently assaulting him. Although his body was growing weaker by the moment, the intense pain, paradoxically, made his mind clearer and clearer.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck his mind. He thought of a way to escape.
Currently, his body was immobilized, and the Spirit Power within him was sealed. Thus, he couldn't resist, nor could he activate the Ground-Escaping Talisman in his pocket.
The young woman's method not only prevented them from using their abilities to flee but also stopped them from using phones or other means to contact additional help.
However, even before the young woman appeared, Yang Haoran had sensed that something was amiss. So, for safety's sake, he had secretly made a call in advance.
This number, before he came to Hongyu Cement Plant tonight, had been set as a one-touch dial.
Though his phone was in his pocket at the time, and he hadn't spoken into it, he believed the other party would understand his meaning. And the person he called was none other than his direct superior, Luo Yao!
The reason he had harbored hope earlier was because he was waiting for Luo Yao to arrive. However, even when Mo Jingnan appeared before him, Luo Yao still hadn't arrived. That flicker of hope in his heart vanished with it.
He didn't know if Luo Yao would come, but he knew he couldn't simply wait for death in this situation. If he continued to allow himself to be slaughtered like this, even if he was stabbed to death, Luo Yao might not appear.
Therefore, he felt he had to do something. No matter what, he couldn't sit idly by and wait for death.
At this moment, he thought of a method to escape. He couldn't activate the Ground-Escaping Talisman because the Spirit Power within him was sealed. But if he could convert the Spirit Power within him into Talisman Spirit Power, would he then regain his strength?
If this approach could truly allow him to regain his power, then he could activate the Ground-Escaping Talisman and use this method to escape.
He also had a sealed Dānyào hidden within his body. This Dānyào was specifically for healing physical injuries. While activating the Ground-Escaping Talisman to escape, he could unseal the Dānyào and heal his physical injuries.
If, during his escape, the Ground-Escaping Talisman was broken and his physical body destroyed, he would still have a chance to escape: the Soul Manifestation aspect of his Spiritual Art. If his soul could escape, he would still have a chance to rise again, and it wouldn't count as true death!
It was just that the success rate of this method was too low. If the young woman wasn't here, he would have a high degree of certainty of escaping. However, with this young woman presiding over them, he felt his chances of success were almost zero.
He knew very well there was hardly any chance of success. But now, he had no choice. Let alone a success rate that was almost zero; even if it was completely zero, he would still try.
Because this time, he wasn't gambling on a miracle, but rather, to give himself an accounting before death.
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