Chapter 381: A New Year Again |
Yang Haoran increased the intensity of his secret technique activation. The suction force released by the soul-refining cauldron also strengthened accordingly, speeding up the absorption of Yin Qi significantly.
However, the speed still did not reach Yang Haoran's ideal effect.
His ideal effect was to push this secret technique activation to the extreme, but with his current strength, he was simply unable to achieve that.
After a day, the Yin spirit power within him was depleted again, and he had to stop refining the soul-refining cauldron because he needed time to recover the consumed Yin spirit power.
During the recovery period for his Yin spirit power, after careful consideration, he decided to first use the soul pills to enhance his strength. With greater Yin spirit power within, activating the secret technique to refine the soul-refining cauldron would become easier.
After making the decision, he kept only two soul pills, one for his subordinate Night Watch, and one for himself as a life-saving measure. As for the other soul pills, he decided to absorb and refine them all to drastically increase his power.
So, he temporarily suspended refining the soul-refining cauldron and first refined the soul pills to boost his strength.
After an unknown period, apart from the two remaining soul pills in his hands, he had absorbed and refined all the other soul pills, causing his personal strength to soar.
With his strength enhanced, Yang Haoran found it much simpler to activate the secret technique to refine the soul-refining cauldron. Not only could he push the soul-refining cauldron to the extreme, but he could even maintain a balance between consumption and recovery.
As in previous years, Lecheng was overcrowded, with the aroma of the New Year everywhere. Shops were decorated with lanterns and couplets adorned the homes of every family.
Inside Yang Haoran's villa, Xiaokang had also put up couplets and stocked up on New Year's goods. However, Yang Haoran was not there, leaving him with an empty feeling in his heart.
"Grandpa Wu, is Uncle Yang really not coming back this New Year?" In the living room, Xiaokang looked at Master Wu and asked.
Although Xiaokang had asked this question more than once, Master Wu always gave a serious answer.
This time was no exception.
Master Wu patted Xiaokang's head and said, "Your Uncle Yang still has important matters to deal with and can't get away, so he won't be coming back for the New Year this year. But don't worry, Grandpa Wu will keep you company."
Upon hearing this, Xiaokang showed the same disappointed look as the previous times.
Some time ago, when he turned five, Yang Haoran had already left the villa. At that time, Xiaokang had hoped Yang Haoran would show up, but he did not.
He had thought Yang Haoran would come back for the New Year, but even until today, Yang Haoran had not appeared.
Today was the last day of the year. After today, it would be a new year.
"Xiaokang, I know you miss your Uncle Yang very much, but your Uncle Yang is not an ordinary person. He has many things to deal with. You may not understand these reasons now, but I hope you can view this issue correctly," Xiu Juan floated out from the soul gathering bead and said solemnly to Xiaokang.
Xiaokang nodded, but the disappointment on his face did not diminish.
Compared to children of the same age, Xiaokang was already much more sensible. However, he was still a child. In a child's eyes, if they liked someone, they wanted to see that person, which was very normal.
If it were other children, they might have cried and thrown tantrums. Xiaokang only showed some disappointment on his face, without even a hint of complaint.
"Hehe, I really don't understand you humans. What's so great about this New Year that everyone makes it into such a big deal? We demons are better off without these kinds of formalities."
Bai Xue's alluring laughter rang out as she swayed her hips, walking towards the living room and laughing.
Master Wu looked towards Bai Xue and smiled in response, "You haven't been in the human world long enough. Perhaps after a longer time, you won't hold this view anymore."
"Sister Bai Xue, the New Year is really fun! You can buy lots of delicious food, wear new clothes, and most importantly, you don't have to study and can play wholeheartedly!"
The previously disappointed Xiaokang became excited when talking about the benefits of the New Year. However, towards the end of his words, he suddenly felt something was wrong and looked up at Xiu Juan, who was looking at him sternly.
"Xiaokang, now is not the time to indulge in playing. During the New Year period, your mother won't control you, but you can't have your mind filled with nothing but playing. Your mother's intention is clear, I believe you understand."
Facing Xiu Juan's strictness, Xiaokang stuck out his tongue but didn't dare to talk back to Xiu Juan.
"Alright, Xiu Juan, it's the New Year, let the child play properly. Xiaokang has been working hard normally." Master Wu said with a smile.
Since Master Wu spoke up, Xiu Juan naturally couldn't say much. He had too high expectations of Xiaokang, which was why he was so strict with Xiaokang.
"Why don't we all go to my house for the New Year tonight?" Master Wu suggested.
Bai Xue shook her head, not agreeing with Master Wu's suggestion.
"In the human world, this is my home. I'm used to staying in my own home."
After Bai Xue finished speaking, Xiu Juan also declined Master Wu's suggestion.
"Like Bai Xue, I also regard this place as my home. During the big New Year, I naturally have to stay in my own home. Moreover, I'm originally an evil spirit, so going to Old Wu's house would be somewhat inconvenient. Additionally, my body is extremely heavy with Yin Qi, so if I appeared at Old Wu's house, it would also affect the health of Old Wu's family members."
Xiaokang is just a child, so in this situation, he would naturally listen to Xiu Juan. If Xiu Juan decided to go to Master Wu's house, he would definitely follow along to join the fun. Since Xiu Juan was unwilling to go, he wouldn't insist on going either.
Seeing that Bai Xue and Xiu Juan were both unwilling to go, Master Wu naturally couldn't force them.
The reason he made this suggestion was mainly to go home and see his family. During the big New Year, he also wanted to reunite with his family members. However, since Yang Haoran was not around, only a monster, a ghost, and a child remained here. If he also left, this place would feel too desolate.
If Bai Xue and Xiu Juan were willing to go to his house for the New Year, then he could not only reunite with his family but also take care of Bai Xue and Xiu Juan's side, killing two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, Bai Xue and Xiu Juan did not accept this suggestion.
"Since you're both unwilling to go, then we'll spend the New Year here tonight. However, I still need to go back for a while later, as my family members are waiting for me," Master Wu said with a smile.
"Old Wu, you don't really need to take care of us. Since your family is still waiting for you, just go back and accompany your family. After all, you're different from us," Bai Xue advised.
"That's right, Old Wu. You don't need to make such a decision because of us. Bai Xue and I are not children, we don't need someone to accompany us all the time," Xiu Juan also said.
Master Wu chuckled and said, "You're not children, but Xiaokang is a real child. Moreover, I just promised Xiaokang earlier. If I go back on my word now, wouldn't that be slapping my own face?"
After saying this, Master Wu saw that Xiu Juan still wanted to say something, so he spoke up first, "Don't worry, I have a plan. I can handle this small matter. It's decided, you don't need to persuade me anymore."
In the evening, the entire Lecheng city was brightly lit, and the sound of firecrackers was endless. Even though Yang Haoran's villa was some distance away from the county city, they could still hear it clearly.
Under such an atmosphere, Bai Xue was also influenced, allowing her to experience the festive New Year feeling that she had never had before. She was not a taciturn person, and under such influence, her entire demeanor became more lively.
With Master Wu's intentional guidance, the atmosphere inside the villa was not bad, with occasional laughter.
However, the only regret they had in their hearts was that they didn't wait for Yang Haoran that night.
Not only did Yang Haoran not return that night, but the entire New Year passed without his appearance. It wasn't until the end of May, nearly half a year after his disappearance, that Yang Haoran finally showed up.
[Heartfelt thankyou for the support! SlaySaga]