Chapter 576: Chapter 498: You Are My Benefactor_3
"So that’s how it is," Yang Xiao realized. In the Nightmare World, one couldn’t use the Power of Resentful Eyes; no matter how capable you were, you had to solve puzzles step by step and seek out the truth. There were no exceptions for anyone.
After a pause, Nalan Shuo looked at Yang Xiao with a playful gaze, "Do you know why they go in less often, and you go in more?"
"Because I use Resentful Eye more often," Yang Xiao answered.
"Exactly. Frequently using Resentful Eye with high intensity is no different from committing suicide. Those old guys cherish their lives. They’ll not make a move if they can avoid it, letting others struggle and strive for them while they hide at home and reap the benefits, only taking action when their families face life and death situations," Nalan Shuo said, revealing the harsh truth with a rare softness in his tone, "So, Little Yang, I truly hope you can live, we all need to stay alive."
Yang Xiao knew Nalan Shuo meant well, but everyone has their own path to walk. Given a choice, Yang Xiao would rather die in a Ghost Script than be killed by a Mirror Ghost or hunted down by the Yu Yuan Sect. He was fed up with being at others’ mercy.
"Thank you, Director, I know what to do now," Yang Xiao said with a smile of gratitude, but he still had to walk his own path in the future.
Nalan Shuo, however, seemed to see right through him, shook his head, and fell silent. He knew Yang Xiao had his own choices to make. If one had shoes, who would walk barefoot? If one could earn money standing, who would kneel to beg? They were all forced by circumstances, with no control over their fate in the world of martial arts.
"Little Yang, I’ve only understood two sayings over these years, and I’m giving them to you today. The first one is, ’If one doesn’t look out for oneself, the heavens will punish and the earth will destroy.’" Nalan Shuo said.
"And the second?"
"A true man doesn’t act to feel at ease, but to be without regrets."
"I have learned," Yang Xiao sat up straight.
That night, Yang Xiao returned to his apartment and couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. His head felt heavy, but he wasn’t sleepy. He got up, turned on the light, went to his desk, and began to write and draw on a notebook, which was his habit when thinking.
He recalled the battle with the City God Master of Pingxi Marquis, which was extremely perilous. Even with the Soul-Capturing Mirror in hand, it was still a close call.
Despite the strength of the Soul-Capturing Mirror, its limitations were significant. If there were no reflective objects like mirrors on the battlefield, the Soul-Capturing Mirror would be of no more use than having none at all.
Searching for mirrors or puddles on the battlefield was too time-consuming. Yang Xiao had thought about carrying mirrors himself, but firstly, it was inconvenient, and secondly, mirrors were fragile. They could be crushed not just by attacks, but even by his own rolling, and only mirror pieces of a certain size could function as a medium; they needed to be at least as large as a dinner bowl.
He planned to ask the technical department if they could create mirrors with sufficient durability, yet light and easy to carry. He could prepare 7 or 8 of them, kept in his backpack, ready to be used when needed.
Moreover, he had two Resentful Eyes concealed in his wardrobe: one was the City God Master’s waist drum, and the other was Hao Laojiu’s dagger. The threat of the Mirror Ghosts made him wary of storing them in the Mirror World, yet he felt uneasy just keeping them in his room.
Recently, he had been banned from the Peace Hotel and couldn’t trade, so it was time to think of a place to store them.
After much thought, the best person Yang Xiao could think of was Tong Han. Firstly, she was reliable, and secondly, as a defector from the Yu Yuan Sect, she was from the same sect as the City God Master, and Yang Xiao could take the opportunity to ask about her as well.
Although it was late, Yang Xiao still sent a message, and he quickly received a reply.
After changing clothes, Yang Xiao used the Soul-Capturing Mirror to silently leave his apartment, hailed a taxi under the cover of night, made a mid-journey transfer, and after a few changes, left the city to arrive at the small mountain village where Tong Han lived. The village was quiet at night, with few houses lit, and the residents still followed the more traditional living habits.
Tong Han changed into a set of gray cloth garments, the collar of which still bore traces of hand embroidery. It had to be said that she looked quite good in them.
The two were not strangers to each other. After sitting down, Yang Xiao immediately inquired about the City God Master. Upon hearing this name, Tong Han’s previously calm expression cracked slightly, "Why are you suddenly asking about her? Did she come looking for you?"
"No, I killed her." Yang Xiao picked up the suitcase he had placed on the ground and put it on the table. Upon opening it, he revealed an old waist drum.
The moment she saw the waist drum, Tong Han was stunned, then looked incredulously at Yang Xiao, "You killed her? By yourself?"
"Mhm, she was quite difficult to kill." Yang Xiao remembered the City God Master’s methods, which were indeed very tricky, with two magical artifacts specialized for both offense and defense.
"Hiss—" Tong Han took a deep breath, leaned back against the cold stone wall, and seemed to fall into deep thought. After a long while, she finally spoke, "Impressive. I have only met the City God Master once. She had a very high status within the sect. Besides the Sect Leader, almost no one could command her to do anything. It is said that her methods were peculiar and her strength ranked among the top in the Venerable Level, possibly even at a historical level. I really didn’t expect you to be able to kill her alone."
"It was just a surprise attack, but I also nearly lost my life. That waist drum could summon a City God Temple, and one City God after another would appear from within, each stronger than the last, and they were impossible to kill. Actually, it was her exhaustion of spiritual power and the backlash from her magical artifact that killed her." Yang Xiao didn’t want to brag; he just tried to recount the events of that night as accurately as possible.
"She also had another protective magical artifact, but I didn’t get it." He chose not to mention the incident involving Daoist Qingfeng.
In fact, upon analyzing the fight afterward, Yang Xiao thought that it must have been that protective magical artifact which, after blocking a strike from the Ghost Duster, had drained the City God Master of too much spiritual power. Otherwise, the end result of the battle was truly uncertain. If the City God Master could have summoned one or two more City Gods, he figured he wouldn’t have been able to hold on. The best outcome would have been to use the Soul-Capturing Mirror to escape.
Upon hearing this, Tong Han stubbornly insisted, "Whether it was a surprise attack or she died from exhaustion of spiritual power, a win is a win, the victor takes all. However, you must be even more careful moving forward. Now that you have killed the City God Master, the Yu Yuan Sect will certainly not let this go easily. Next time they may send someone who’s more than just Venerable Level."
"Don’t worry about that, they don’t know it was me who killed her. Even if it was accidental, I did a clean job, leaving no survivors." Yang Xiao grinned.
"That’s good, then." Tong Han breathed a sigh of relief.
"How have you been lately?" Yang Xiao asked with a smile, seeing that her spirits were good.
"Very well, my body is also recovering. Your friend sends over tonics from time to time, and I’m well-provided for in every aspect. Please thank him for me." Tong Han replied.
This person was naturally Fu Qingzhu, a reliable brother who handled affairs very dependably. Yang Xiao thought about finding time to invite him to a meal to express his thanks in person.
"Has Mo Daidai contacted you again?" Yang Xiao took the tea poured by Tong Han and asked out of curiosity.
Tong Han shook her head, her voice cold, "No, he probably finds no use for me anymore. But that’s for the best."
As a merchant, Mo Daidai was definitely an excellent trading partner. His word was his bond, his prices were fair, and he was honest with both old and young. But as a friend... Yang Xiao didn’t know how to describe him. After all, the disparity in their status was too great; they couldn’t really be considered true friends. He couldn’t see through the man, yet the latter seemed to know everything about him. Being friends with such a person was too stressful and too dangerous.
After chatting for a while, Yang Xiao stood up, intending to leave. He had come just to deliver the magical artifact; Tong Han was among his most trusted friends.
"It’s so late, are you still going back?" Tong Han looked up, "This is a small village, it’s not easy to hail a ride here."
