Chapter 954: Rumors
Old Master Wu secretly inquiring about Pharmacists caused both confusion and curiosity among Lecheng's major forces.
Soon after, news spread that Yang Haoran, the Emissary of Death for Lecheng's Underworld Office, wishing to expand his influence, had thought of recruiting Pharmacists. After all, having a Pharmacist nearby would not only greatly ensure his safety, making it easier to survive in these chaotic times, but also allow him to obtain various Dānyào refined by the Pharmacist, which could be used to enhance his own strength and that of his team—killing two birds with one stone, bringing a hundred benefits and no harm.
It was precisely for this reason that he dispatched Old Master Wu to secretly inquire everywhere about Pharmacists, hoping to obtain clues about them through this method.
This explanation spread throughout Lecheng, and many people felt it might truly be the case, as it was logical and reasonable.
However, within two days, this explanation was overturned by another piece of news.
Whispers emerged from Ancheng that Yang Haoran had been involved in a major battle there and sustained very severe injuries. When this news reached Lecheng, people couldn't help but connect it to Old Master Wu's inquiries about Pharmacists.
Initially, they had all believed Old Master Wu's secret inquiries about Pharmacists were to strengthen the Lecheng Underworld Office's power. But upon learning this new information, they no longer thought so. Instead, they came to believe that Old Master Wu was searching for Pharmacists not to expand the Lecheng Underworld Office's influence, but to treat Yang Haoran's injuries.
As soon as this explanation spread, it immediately overturned the initial one, as it was far more convincing than its predecessor.
Naturally, the Night Watchers of the Lecheng Underworld Office were no exception.
Some discerning individuals noticed that recently, the Night Watchers of the Lecheng Underworld Office had become much more subdued. Their spirits were low, and they seemed deeply worried. Their reactions appeared to confirm that the rumors were true: something serious had indeed happened to Yang Haoran.
The Night Watchers' abnormal behavior was only one aspect; beyond that, news also spread that Wang Yiming, the head of the Lecheng Talisman Order, and Zhu Rong, the Administrative Chief of the Lecheng Administrative Courtyard, had successively rushed to Yang Haoran's residence.
Although outsiders didn't know what exactly transpired after the two of them went to Yang Haoran's residence, according to informed sources, their expressions were grim when they left the villa, their faces clearly revealing undisguised worry.
From this perspective, their visit to Yang Haoran's villa was likely to check on his illness, or rather, to verify the truth of the rumors. Their grim expressions upon leaving the villa indicated that the rumors were very likely true, that Yang Haoran had indeed suffered a severe blow, perhaps even more serious than rumored.
No one found anything amiss with Wang Yiming and Zhu Rong visiting Yang Haoran at the villa. Wang Yiming and Yang Haoran had been friends for many years, and Zhu Rong was Lecheng's Administrative Chief, with Yang Haoran being her supporter. With rumors swirling, it was perfectly normal for the two of them to go to Yang Haoran's residence to verify the situation. If they hadn't gone, it would have been cause for suspicion.
Days passed, but the matter showed no sign of subsiding; instead, it intensified, with more and more versions of the story emerging. Some rumors even claimed that Yang Haoran wasn't merely gravely injured, but had actually died, and the Lecheng Underworld Office's worldwide search for Pharmacists was nothing more than a smokescreen, a tactic to mislead outsiders.
The Lecheng Underworld Office's objective in doing this was quite simple: to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation to cause significant losses to their organization, especially the Spirit Mediums who had gone quiet in Lecheng. They were the sworn enemies of the Underworld Office, and if they knew Yang Haoran was dead, there was no reason why they wouldn't seize the opportunity to wipe out the Lecheng Underworld Office.
To quell the rumors, the Lecheng Underworld Office specifically stepped forward to clarify the matter, and the one who did so was Old Master Wu, the second-in-command of the Lecheng Underworld Office.
Old Master Wu's explanation was that the search for Pharmacists was indeed to strengthen the Lecheng Underworld Office's power, so that they might have a means of survival in these chaotic times, and not as the outside world rumored. He stated that Yang Haoran, the Emissary of Death for their Lecheng Underworld Office, had not suffered any severe injuries, nor had he lost his life; he was currently alive and well.
To outsiders, Old Master Wu's explanation was merely a transparent attempt at denial. Now, with all of Lecheng abuzz over this matter, if Yang Haoran truly were unharmed, why wouldn't he step forward to quash the rumors himself, instead of having Old Master Wu clarify the situation?
Consequently, no one believed Old Master Wu's explanation. They all thought he was merely trying to cover up, but his cover-up was so clumsy that it not only failed to convince anyone but instead confirmed that something had indeed happened to Yang Haoran.
After Old Master Wu's weak explanation, another piece of news circulated in Lecheng, and this news revealed the reason for Yang Haoran's severe injuries.
According to news from Ancheng, not long ago, Yang Haoran had caused a major disturbance at the largest Talisman Ancestor Temple of the Ancheng Talisman Order. He not only destroyed the temple but also injured the Talisman Masters present and even killed many Talisman Order followers. Just as both sides were locked in a fierce, indecisive battle, a Gold Talisman Master from the Talisman Order appeared and halted the bloodshed.
Everyone else present at the time was sent away by this Gold Talisman Master, while Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing, the Emissary of Death for the Ancheng Underworld Office, were kept behind. Therefore, outsiders had no knowledge of what transpired afterward.
However, some speculated that Yang Haoran's severe injuries were definitely related to this Gold Talisman Master, and it was even highly probable that he was wounded by this very Gold Talisman Master. After all, under those circumstances, the Gold Talisman Master had every reason to act against Yang Haoran. When someone has attacked your home, how could you not retaliate?
Once this news spread, many immediately felt that this must be what had happened: Yang Haoran caused trouble at the Ancheng Talisman Order, was severely injured by their Gold Talisman Master, and after fleeing back to Lecheng, discovered that ordinary healing methods couldn't resolve his injuries, which was why he had Old Master Wu try to find a Pharmacist.
However, the Ancheng Talisman Order quickly came forward to dispel the rumors, stating that Yang Haoran's severe injuries had absolutely nothing to do with them. On that day, their Gold Talisman Master had indeed detained Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing, but had not harmed either of them. After understanding the full course of events, they realized it was merely a misunderstanding and released both from the Talisman Order, without inflicting any harm.
Furthermore, the Ancheng Talisman Order added that Emissary Xu from the Ancheng Underworld Office could vouch for their statement.
Not long after, Xu Meijing indeed confirmed that what the Ancheng Talisman Order said was true. Although she and Yang Haoran had been detained by the Talisman Order's Gold Talisman Master that day, the other party had not harmed her, nor had they harmed Yang Haoran. As for the exact nature of Yang Haoran's injuries, she offered no explanation.
With it confirmed that Yang Haoran's injuries were not inflicted by the Talisman Order, news then spread that his injuries were actually sustained during a fight with a Spirit Medium. However, others claimed Yang Haoran was wounded by a formidable ghost.
Gossipmongers had their own versions and their own conjectures. Although the cause of Yang Haoran's severe injuries remained unconfirmed, after some time had passed and the matter had fermented, one point became an undeniable fact in the eyes of these people: Yang Haoran was indeed severely injured and close to death.
Few worried for Yang Haoran, as he had few friends. However, there were plenty who enjoyed the spectacle, and among them, a very small number even wished for Yang Haoran to die sooner rather than later.
Apart from these individuals, some others, upon learning that Yang Haoran had indeed suffered severe injuries and had not long to live, became restless. This group consisted almost entirely of Spirit Mediums.
Yang Haoran was an Underworld Official, and Spirit Mediums were sworn enemies of the Underworld Office. If they could seize this opportunity to kill Yang Haoran, it would not only be a great achievement, but they could also gain considerable benefits from him, as the Spirit Power within Yang Haoran's body was a favorite of their Guardian Spirits. Furthermore, Yang Haoran must have accumulated many treasures over the years; if killing him caused an independent space to "burst open," it would be a massive windfall.
Therefore, some Spirit Mediums lurking in the shadows harbored murderous intentions towards Yang Haoran, wishing to use this opportunity to eliminate him and make him a stepping stone on their path to power.
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