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Chapter 994: Well-Prepared

At this moment, Old Master Wu was still at the South Lake Death God Temple handling miscellaneous affairs, while Bai Xue stood guard by Zhu Rong, ensuring her safety.

Thus, only three individuals had arrived at the villa courtyard: Ye Zhiqiu, Xiao Kang, and Xiujuan.

When the trio reached the courtyard, they happened to witness Yang Haoran bowing to Luo Yao. They had initially assumed it was an enemy attack, but Yang Haoran’s reaction made it clear that the situation was not as they had imagined.

Yang Haoran’s attitude towards Luo Yao, combined with his form of address, immediately allowed the three to guess Luo Yao’s identity.

Ye Zhiqiu showed no significant change in expression. He loosened his grip on his sword hilt, then expressionlessly pulled out his wine gourd and took a deep swig.

Compared to him, Xiujuan and Xiao Kang’s reactions were entirely different. The mother and son’s faces both changed, but their expressions were not of excitement; rather, they looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Especially Xiujuan, the change in her complexion was far more intense than Xiao Kang’s, and her eyes even revealed a hint of terror.

That the mother and son had such a reaction clearly indicated they both realized what Luo Yao’s arrival truly meant.

Based on his previous analysis, Huo Feihong’s disappearance was certainly Luo Yao’s doing. Yang Haoran didn't know what Luo Yao had instructed Huo Feihong to do, but it must have been some extraordinary and important matter. However, Luo Yao had only recently taken Huo Feihong away, so why had he suddenly come to find Yang Haoran?

If Luo Yao had some important task for Huo Feihong and sought him out for it, Yang Haoran wouldn't find that strange. After all, Huo Feihong was a seasoned Emissary of Death with considerable power, so it was hardly surprising that Luo Yao would approach him for special assignments.

But why had Luo Yao sought out *him*? Could there also be some important task for him?

However, he had always maintained a low profile in front of outsiders, never revealing his true strength. Everyone who had witnessed his real power was either one of his own or already dead, some even having suffered Soul Transformation. So, in the eyes of outsiders, he was merely a Yin officer who had only been an Emissary of Death for a few years, and just for a small city at that. He carried no dazzling halo. With such a profile, what right did he have to warrant a personal visit from a Guardian like Luo Yao?

After all, Luo Yao had thousands of Yin officers under his command, and Yin officers like him were simply among the lowest tier. Even if Luo Yao had some important special task, he shouldn't have come to Yang Haoran.

In an instant, numerous conjectures arose in Yang Haoran’s mind. Though confused, he felt no fear, for he could find no reason to be afraid.

However, not being afraid was one thing; how to treat Luo Yao was another. After all, Luo Yao was his direct superior. Moreover, Luo Yao was the one who had given Yang Haoran the opportunity to become an Emissary of Death, so he felt he should show Luo Yao sufficient respect.

The spatial rift behind Luo Yao quickly healed. He glanced at Yang Haoran, grunted in acknowledgment, then shifted his gaze to Xiujuan and Xiao Kang.

Although Luo Yao had merely swept his eyes over the mother and son, both felt as if struck by lightning, their bodies trembling slightly. Xiujuan, in particular, felt an unprecedented sense of oppression radiating from Luo Yao. Even though she had successfully broken through to the Evil Spirit realm with Yang Haoran’s help, facing Luo Yao rendered her cultivation useless, providing her no sense of security whatsoever.

Luo Yao merely glanced at the mother and son before retracting his gaze and turning back to Yang Haoran. Neither Xiao Kang nor Xiujuan had concealed their power fluctuations. Luo Yao, as a Guardian, naturally perceived that Xiao Kang was a Night Watcher and that Xiujuan was a ghost wearing a skinsuit. However, his expression remained unchanged.

“I believe your name is Yang Haoran, isn’t it? ”

Luo Yao looked at Yang Haoran and spoke calmly.

“Precisely, this subordinate is Yang Haoran. ”

Yang Haoran immediately replied, displaying a look of flattered deference.

Luo Yao nodded gently, then glanced at Xiujuan, and continued to ask,

“What’s the deal with this Evil Spirit? ”

Luo Yao’s voice carried no emotional fluctuations, as if he were asking Yang Haoran about some insignificant trifle. However, none of the people present believed Luo Yao was truly indifferent to the matter; if he were, he wouldn’t have inquired about it to Yang Haoran.

On the contrary, the calmer he appeared, the more oppressive it felt to those around him.

Yang Haoran knew that if his answer didn't satisfy Luo Yao, it would certainly bring him some trouble.

He was well-prepared for this matter. When he first decided to keep Xiujuan, he had anticipated this day, so he had already devised a countermeasure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to openly keep Xiujuan in his home.

“God Envoy, please forgive me. Your subordinate knows that Yin officers are strictly forbidden from keeping ghosts, but the plight of this mother and son was truly too pitiful, which is why your subordinate acted out of compassion. ”

Yang Haoran shed the excited expression on his face, immediately responded, and appeared slightly uneasy.

“There are many pitiful people in this world. If we showed compassion to every single one, what would be the point of rules? ”

Luo Yao’s words were sharp, but Yang Haoran was well-prepared and certainly wouldn’t be defeated by a single sentence from Luo Yao.

However, before he could speak, Xiujuan disrupted his rhythm. Without a word, she immediately dropped to her knees before Luo Yao.

“God Envoy, this is all my fault. Please don't blame God Envoy Yang. At that time, my child was young and alone, with no one to rely on. If I, his mother, were to leave him, I didn't know how he would survive in this world. I simply couldn't bear to abandon him, so I desperately pleaded with God Envoy Yang for leniency, hoping I could remain in the mortal realm for a few more years. This is all because of me, and it has nothing to do with God Envoy Yang. If you must punish, then punish me. I humbly beg the God Envoy not to hold God Envoy Yang responsible. ”

Xiujuan's words were uttered with utmost sincerity. She was unlike Yang Haoran; Yang Haoran talked through his hat, speaking to men as men and to ghosts as ghosts. Typically, to achieve his objectives, he spoke very few truths.

But Xiujuan was different. Xiujuan did not possess Yang Haoran's cunning. Seeing that Yang Haoran had encountered trouble and might even be punished because of her and her son, she immediately used the most sincere approach to plead with Luo Yao, hoping he wouldn't blame Yang Haoran on her account.

The reason she knelt was that she knew her words carried little weight, and ordinary methods would surely fail to move Luo Yao. That’s why she chose this method to beg him.

Yang Haoran didn't approve of Xiujuan's actions, for he already had a countermeasure in mind. Xiujuan truly didn't need to go this far, and even if his tactic failed, he wouldn't suffer too severe a punishment. Therefore, he felt that her kneeling was too heavy a burden for him.

However, in this situation, he naturally couldn't stop Xiujuan. Since she had already knelt, he certainly couldn't immediately help her up, otherwise, her kneeling would likely have been in vain.

Xiao Kang, witnessing this, also knelt before Luo Yao.

“Night Watcher Yang Kang greets the God Envoy. I hope the God Envoy won't blame Uncle Yang, nor my mother. All of this is because of me. If there is to be punishment, please punish me! ”

Luo Yao looked at the kneeling mother and son, his brow furrowing slightly. He didn't speak but activated his Ghost Eye, his eyes instantly turning an inky black, and then his gaze fixed upon Xiujuan.

Activating his Ghost Eye at this moment, with his gaze locked onto Xiujuan, was naturally to ascertain the circumstances of her life before death.

The scenes from Xiujuan’s life before death flashed through Luo Yao’s mind like a fast-forwarded film. In just an instant, he gained an understanding of her tragic existence.

His Ghost Eye dissipated, and Luo Yao's eyes returned to normal. Although he had witnessed Xiujuan's tragic life, his expression remained largely unchanged, nor did he show the slightest hint of sympathy.