Chapter 978: Two Choices
Xiang Chuan spoke with certainty, as if the one truly wanting to kill Yang Haoran was indeed Huo Laoban, the Emissary of Death from Xinyang City. However, Yang Haoran remained silent, neither fully endorsing Xiang Chuan's reasoning nor outright dismissing it.
As he had said before, while Xiang Chuan’s analysis wasn’t entirely accurate, it wasn’t without merit. At least one point was correct: the Black-Robed Person very likely belonged to the Xinyang City Yin Division.
Of course, it was only a possibility, not an absolute certainty. There was insufficient evidence to prove the Black-Robed Person was definitively from the Xinyang City Yin Division. Perhaps he was a Night Watcher from another city, or an Emissary of Death from a smaller town; these possibilities couldn't be entirely ruled out.
Therefore, based solely on the information currently at hand, he couldn’t definitively conclude that the mastermind behind everything was Huo Laoban, the Emissary of Death from Xinyang City.
Nevertheless, Xiang Chuan’s analysis did provide him with a direction, dispelling the confusion he had felt earlier. At least now there was an opening in this matter, and he could proceed from that point. As for whether Huo Laoban was the true mastermind, he would need time to meticulously investigate, and eventually, the truth would come to light.
Seeing Yang Haoran remain silent, Xiang Chuan continued speaking.
“Emissary Yang, it’s clear this was orchestrated by the Emissary of Death from Xinyang City. If I were you, I’d immediately head to Xinyang City and eliminate that person to prevent future trouble. With your strength, accomplishing this would be a mere trifle. What are you still hesitating for? ”
Though Xiang Chuan didn't know the full extent of Yang Haoran's power, he could surmise some of it. On that day, even though he had been knocked unconscious by Bai Xue, Yang Haoran’s side survived, which meant the Gold Talisman Master and Han Fushi must have been dealt with by Yang Haoran. How could anyone capable of defeating a Gold Talisman Master be weak?
“Heh heh, do you know what kind of consequences await an Yin Division agent who instigates another Yin Division agent to attack? ” Yang Haoran asked with a smile.
Xiang Chuan paused, then let out an awkward laugh, rubbing his hands together.
“Heh heh, look at you, Emissary Yang, saying such things. Wasn’t I thinking for your sake? What if the mastermind really is the Emissary of Death from Xinyang City? If you don’t eliminate him in time, you’ll be the one to suffer in the end. An open spear is easily dodged, but a hidden arrow is difficult to guard against. ”
Yang Haoran smiled dismissively, his inner resolve unshaken by Xiang Chuan’s words. Although being secretly targeted by someone made him uncomfortable and posed a significant danger, it didn't necessarily mean the other party had the ability to kill him. After all, his true strength was unknown to them, and the assassins they sent, along with the methods they employed, might not be enough to take him down.
“I’m well aware of this matter, and I’ve already made a decision on how to proceed, so there’s no need for you to trouble yourself with it. Since you can’t provide me with any more useful information, we’ll stop discussing this. Now, let’s talk about you. ”
Yang Haoran spoke with a smile. Hearing this, Xiang Chuan's expression shifted slightly, then he immediately plastered a smile back on his face.
“Emissary Yang, if you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn’t have dared to bring it up. Heh heh, I’ve said everything I know, and I’ve been extremely cooperative from start to finish, without a single lie. Since Emissary Yang can’t get any more useful information from me, shouldn’t I be allowed to leave? ”
Xiang Chuan quickly rubbed his hands, smiling as he spoke to Yang Haoran. However, by the end of his sentence, his voice grew somewhat weak and was kept very low, as if he feared a louder tone would displease Yang Haoran.
“Let you go? Heh heh, Pharmacist Xiang seems to underestimate himself. A precious treasure like you—do you think I would let you leave? ” Yang Haoran asked with a smile.
When sealing Xiang Chuan’s internal power, Yang Haoran had examined Xiang Chuan’s body, giving him some understanding of Xiang Chuan’s strength. Like Feng Xiao, Xiang Chuan wasn’t a common Pharmacist at the lowest realm; he had already broken through to the Spirit Medicine realm. Such Pharmacists were highly sought after everywhere, so there was no way he would let Xiang Chuan leave.
To be precise, from the moment he brought Xiang Chuan back, he had no intention of letting him go. However, upon hearing Yang Haoran's words, the smile on Xiang Chuan’s face immediately became somewhat unnatural.
“Emissary Yang, you are broad-minded; please don’t hold that previous matter against me. It was all my fault for being temporarily blinded by greed and unable to resist temptation, which is why I got involved. Now that I think about it, I’m filled with regret. If I had known it would turn out this way, even if the Black-Robed Person offered me, Xiang Chuan, countless benefits, I would never have done something so akin to digging my own grave. Young people, they inevitably make mistakes. Don't hold it against me, alright? Considering how cooperative I’ve been today, can’t you give me a way out? ”
Xiang Chuan spoke with a forced smile, his tone even carrying a hint of plea. From his words, it wasn’t hard to tell that he had misunderstood Yang Haoran’s meaning. Yang Haoran merely wanted to keep him, but Xiang Chuan thought Yang Haoran was still holding a grudge about the previous incident and wanted to kill him to vent his anger.
The "previous incident" naturally referred to his collaboration with the Black-Robed Person to deal with Yang Haoran.
“It seems Pharmacist Xiang is a bit nervous, so nervous that he didn’t even grasp the meaning of my words. I said you’re a precious treasure. How could I not give you a way out? If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so back in the Xinyang Mountain Range. Why would I bother inviting you to my home as a guest? ”
Yang Haoran’s explanation finally made Xiang Chuan understand. Though no panic showed on his face, he knew deep down that Yang Haoran was right; he truly had been a little flustered, which was why he had misunderstood Yang Haoran’s words just now.
“Emissary Yang is far too kind. My meager abilities are barely worth mentioning; they certainly wouldn't catch your eye, Emissary Yang. Besides, there are plenty of Pharmacists like me out there. With your capabilities, you could easily recruit a whole bunch. There’s no need to waste time on me. Look at that Black-Robed Person; he only conducted transactions with me and showed no other interest. Even he didn’t value me, so how could Emissary Yang possibly value me? ”
Xiang Chuan chuckled awkwardly. Yang Haoran gently shook his head, clearly disagreeing with Xiang Chuan’s assessment.
“The Black-Robed Person only transacted with you and didn’t extend an olive branch, likely because he was still testing your abilities. Otherwise, if he could obtain potent poisons from other Pharmacists, he could certainly acquire other necessary medicines from them as well. Why would he bother going deep into the mountains to find you to refine dānyào? Once he finished testing your abilities, he would undoubtedly have extended an olive branch to you. It’s just that he didn’t get the chance to do so before losing his own life. ”
The excuse Xiang Chuan came up with was truly flimsy, and Yang Haoran easily debunked it. Just how highly sought after a Spirit Medicine realm Pharmacist was, Yang Haoran understood, and Xiang Chuan, being a Pharmacist himself, surely understood it even more acutely.
The reason Xiang Chuan offered such a clumsy excuse was actually a veiled refusal to Yang Haoran. Yang Haoran, of course, understood Xiang Chuan’s intent, but he wouldn’t give up just because Xiang Chuan refused. After all, he was currently in dire need of Pharmacists. Even if he wasn’t, he still wouldn't give up, because in his eyes, Pharmacists were like wealth: the more, the better. It would be one thing if he hadn’t encountered one, but since he had, how could he let such an opportunity slip away easily?
With his poor excuse exposed by Yang Haoran, Xiang Chuan’s smile grew even more awkward, and he looked thoroughly uncomfortable.
“Heh heh, um. . . um, Emissary Yang, I, Xiang Chuan, thank you for your appreciation. However, I’m accustomed to a wild and free life and don’t wish to be bound by anyone, so. . . so please, Emissary Yang, let me go. ”
Yang Haoran smiled and shook his head, then spoke.
“Heh heh, I’m sorry, you know too much, so I cannot let you go. If it were you, you certainly wouldn’t let me go either. Therefore, I can only give you two choices: either you come aboard with me and follow me from this day forward, or your soul will undergo Soul Transformation. Apart from these two options, no other choice can put my mind at ease, so you must choose one of these two. ”
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