Chapter 977: Will it be him?
When the Black-Robed Person sought out Xiang Chuan for the fourth time, Xiang Chuan assumed he wanted him to refine some more pills. But to his surprise, the Black-Robed Person wasn't requesting Dānyào; instead, he wanted him to kill someone—an Underworld Officer, and that officer was none other than Yang Haoran.
The Black-Robed Person didn't want to show his face, so he lured Yang Haoran to the Xinyang Mountain Range. At that point, Xiang Chuan would only need to agree to treat Yang Haoran's injuries, then find an opportune moment during the treatment to kill him. After all, as a Pharmacist, ending Yang Haoran's life during treatment would be a simple matter. Once the deed was done, the Black-Robed Person would pay him a hefty sum, far more generous than the remuneration he received for refining Dānyào.
Although the Black-Robed Person's offer was very tempting, he didn't agree. Personally slaying an Underworld Officer would completely change the nature of things. Already being pursued by enemies, he had no desire to become a target of the Underworld Office's hunt as well.
Furthermore, there was another reason: he was a Pharmacist, and he refused to kill a patient while in the process of healing them. He simply couldn't bring himself to do such a thing, and so he rejected the Black-Robed Person.
The Black-Robed Person didn't give up because of his refusal. After some negotiation, Xiang Chuan only agreed to provide intelligence to the Black-Robed Person, insisting that the act of killing Yang Haoran be carried out by the Black-Robed Person himself.
After Yang Haoran arrived at the bamboo house, Xiang Chuan used a Communication Talisman to contact the Black-Robed Person. At that time, the Black-Robed Person still hadn't given up hope of killing Yang Haoran through Xiang Chuan's hand, but Xiang Chuan again refused to cooperate. Ultimately, the Black-Robed Person had no choice but to appear himself.
To convince Yang Haoran, Xiang Chuan's explanation was very detailed. However, how much truth and how much falsehood it contained was difficult to say.
While Xiang Chuan explained, Yang Haoran didn't interrupt him. He listened very carefully and observed Xiang Chuan just as meticulously, not overlooking even a single change in expression or a subtle physical gesture.
However, given Yang Haoran's personality, he naturally wouldn't fully trust Xiang Chuan based on a single account. Even if he felt Xiang Chuan's words were largely credible, out of caution, he still harbored a degree of doubt in his heart.
"When the Black-Robed Person first sought you out to refine Dānyào, did he ever ask you to refine any potent poisons, such as medicinal liquids or powders?"
Although Xiang Chuan had mentioned that the Black-Robed Person had asked him to refine Dānyào three times previously, he hadn't specified what kind of pills he'd made. That's why Yang Haoran brought it up now.
"Yes, I've refined poisons," Xiang Chuan chuckled. "The very first batch of Dānyào he asked me to make contained poison. Speaking of poisons, I'm not trying to boast, Sir Yang, but the potent toxins I concoct are truly formidable. People call me the 'Master of Fatal Poisons,' hehe, a title not just anyone can live up to."
Xiang Chuan immediately responded to Yang Haoran's question, appearing quite excited. Yang Haoran, however, remained unchanged, showing no reaction and maintaining his composure.
Yang Haoran had originally intended to ask Xiang Chuan if the poison the Black-Robed Person suffered from that day was his creation. However, recalling that Xiang Chuan had been bound by chains and lying on the ground at the time, he probably hadn't witnessed the Black-Robed Person getting poisoned. So, Yang Haoran changed his approach.
"Among the poisons you've refined for the Black-Robed Person, was there any liquid toxin capable of rapidly corroding the target's flesh and soul, ultimately causing the soul to completely dissipate and the body to dissolve into a foul-smelling black sludge?"
Xiang Chuan thought for a moment before replying.
"I have indeed refined Dānyào that target the soul, and also toxic liquids that corrode the flesh. However, I haven't refined a poison that combines both these characteristics for him. That said, the only reason I haven't made such a poison is because he never requested it; it doesn't mean I'm incapable of refining it."
Xiang Chuan chuckled, a smile on his face that was not only confident but also slightly smug.
Yang Haoran felt a flicker of doubt. He had initially assumed the poison the Black-Robed Person used was Xiang Chuan's creation, but now it seemed he might have guessed wrong.
Of course, it wasn't impossible that Xiang Chuan was lying to him, but Yang Haoran found that possibility unlikely. He had been carefully observing Xiang Chuan, and the man didn't seem to be fabricating anything.
If the potent poison the Black-Robed Person used wasn't refined by Xiang Chuan, then where did the Black-Robed Person acquire such a toxin?
Yang Haoran wasn't interested in the poison itself, but he was curious about the Black-Robed Person's identity. If he could find the individual who supplied the Black-Robed Person with that toxin, he might be able to glean some information about the Black-Robed Person.
The Black-Robed Person's choice to end himself via Soul Transformation at the last moment had a clear intention: he didn't want his soul to fall into Yang Haoran's hands, preventing Yang Haoran from obtaining more information and dragging others into the open.
Originally, he had hoped to extract some information about the Black-Robed Person from Xiang Chuan, but it now appeared Xiang Chuan knew nothing, which brought the matter to another standstill.
Seeing Yang Haoran lost in thought, Xiang Chuan seemed to guess what he was pondering, and said to him with a smile.
"Sir Yang, are you thinking that the Black-Robed Person wasn't the only one trying to kill you, and that others are also involved, so you want to drag them all out into the open?"
Yang Haoran nodded with a smile, then spoke.
"Exactly. I truly want to root out and eliminate all the others so I can rest easy. Judging by the Black-Robed Person's reaction that day, it's likely he wasn't acting alone; he must have had other accomplices. But right now, I have no leads whatsoever. Dragging everyone else out won't be easy – to be precise, it will be extremely difficult."
Xiang Chuan chuckled upon hearing this, then spoke.
"If I were capable of assisting you, Sir Yang, I certainly wouldn't hold back. But regrettably, I truly know nothing about the Black-Robed Person's identity, so I'm powerless to help. However, I do wonder, could this Black-Robed Person be the Emissary of Death from the New Sun City Underworld Office?"
Xiang Chuan's words caused Yang Haoran's eyebrows to twitch slightly.
"Why do you think that?"
Xiang Chuan chuckled, then replied.
"Hehe, he could open his Heaven Soul and summon a Soul Armament, and he also used Spirit Power – that alone proves he's a member of the Underworld Office. That's one point. On the other hand, not many people know I'm deep within the Xinyang Mountain Range. The first to learn about it would undoubtedly be people from New Sun City. The fact that he could find me so quickly deep in the Xinyang Mountain Range suggests he's very likely from New Sun City. Otherwise, how could he have arrived so fast? Since he's from the New Sun City Underworld Office and has opened his Heaven Soul, then of course, it's highly probable he's the Emissary of Death for New Sun City. Ordinary Night Watchers don't have the ability to open their Heaven Soul."
Hearing this, Yang Haoran pondered for a moment, then nodded at Xiang Chuan again.
"While your words aren't entirely accurate, they're not without merit. I understand the Underworld Office better than you do. Although Night Watchers who have opened their Heaven Soul are rare, they aren't nonexistent. Our Old Master Wu in Lecheng is one such example."
At this point, Yang Haoran paused slightly, then continued.
"I've dealt with the Emissary of Death from New Sun City before. His strength is far above the Black-Robed Person's, and he's a man, not a woman. So, the Black-Robed Person couldn't possibly be the Emissary of Death for New Sun City."
The moment Yang Haoran's words fell, Xiang Chuan chuckled and completed his thought.
"Since the Black-Robed Person isn't the Emissary of Death for New Sun City, could he be one of the New Sun City Emissary of Death's subordinates? Sir Yang, you have the ability to help your Night Watchers open their Heaven Soul. Does the Emissary of Death from New Sun City not possess such a capability?"
Yang Haoran pondered for a moment, then responded with a smile.
"I don't know if the Emissaries of Death from other cities have such capability and boldness, but the Emissary of Death from New Sun City certainly does. He absolutely has the courage. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he has Night Watchers under him who have successfully opened their Heaven Soul."
Upon hearing this, Xiang Chuan clapped his hands excitedly, feigning an exaggerated expression.
"Well then, isn't it obvious? It's plainly the work of that Emissary of Death from New Sun City! So what are you still deliberating about?"
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