Chapter 172: Hidden Agendas
Upon hearing Yang Haoran's thoughts, Deng Feng laughed heartily and replied, "Good! I'll accompany you in this play! But convincing the figure in the Ghost Tower won't be easy. It will require some investment!"
"As long as we can kill that old immortal Duda, a little investment shouldn't be a loss," Yang Haoran remarked.
Deng Feng chuckled but didn't give a direct response to Yang Haoran's statement. Instead, he looked at Yang Haoran and said, "So you're saying Duda implanted a soul scattering needle inside you?"
Yang Haoran maintained a composed expression on his face while feeling a glimmer of anticipation inside.
He couldn't proceed with his plan without Deng Feng, so he informed Deng Feng of his encounter with Duda. This was a crucial step.
Apart from this, he had another purpose: to confirm whether Deng Feng truly couldn't remove the soul scattering needle inside him, as Duda claimed. Was it true that no one besides Duda could remove it?
Not just Duda, even if it were someone else, Yang Haoran would have doubted them too.
To outsiders, he appeared trusting, but in reality, he only believed one-third of what he heard. As for Duda's words, they held only a fraction of credibility in his eyes.
"Indeed, he claims that only he can unravel this soul scattering needle. No one else has the ability, including... you," Yang Haoran said to Deng Feng.
While speaking, Yang Haoran closely observed Deng Feng's facial expressions. His directness was deliberate; he wanted to gauge Deng Feng's reaction to his words.Deng Feng raised an eyebrow but didn't respond directly to Yang Haoran. Instead, he remained silent with a smile on his face.
Observing Deng Feng's reaction, Yang Haoran remained outwardly composed while contemplating internally.
Yang Haoran's expression remained unchanged as he added, "He said if I don't believe him, I can ask you."
This time, Deng Feng didn't stay silent. He wore a disdainful smile and said, "He really thinks highly of himself. Just because he says I can't, does that mean I can't?"
Although Yang Haoran's face showed a hint of joy, he was skeptical of Deng Feng's words. However, Deng Feng caught that subtle expression of joy.
"First, let's focus on acting out this play well. After dealing with him, I'll remove the soul scattering needle from your body. Then, I'll let his soul witness how a divine envoy removes such a needle," Deng Feng said mockingly. "There's no knot in this world that can't be untied. Various secret techniques pose different levels of trouble. Though the soul scattering needle may be troublesome, claiming that no one besides Duda can remove it? Hmph, that's just boasting. I wonder who gave him the courage."
Deng Feng spoke confidently, and Yang Haoran listened with increasing satisfaction.
Yang Haoran's joy was only a facade, though. Internally, he harbored doubts about Deng Feng's words.
However, one thing couldn't be denied: Deng Feng's words gave him some hope.
He kept his thoughts hidden and, upon hearing Deng Feng's words, maintained a delighted expression. He quickly asked, "Can the divine envoy really remove the soul scattering needle?"
Deng Feng's expression turned sour, and he huffed, "Are you doubting my words or my abilities?"
"No, no! I'm just excited! I had prepared myself for certain death, but unexpected opportunities arose, and I got a bit carried away!" Yang Haoran hurriedly explained.
Deng Feng's expression softened slightly after hearing Yang Haoran's explanation. He said, "I can remove the soul scattering needle for you now, but it would harm your soul. So, to avoid harming your soul, I need to make other preparations. Also, if I remove the needle now, it will surely raise suspicions. How will we continue the act then?"
Yang Haoran nodded eagerly, his face filled with joy and excitement, seemingly believing Deng Feng's words completely.
Deng Feng's smile returned, seemingly satisfied with Yang Haoran's reaction. He then asked, "Why does Duda think I think highly of you?"
Yang Haoran had the same question in mind when he heard Deng Feng's words earlier. Now, seeing Yang Haoran's joyful expression, he asked.
"He learned from the other three Night Watch members he killed. I believe it's not just those three who think so; others from the Night Watch probably do too," Yang Haoran replied without hesitation.
"Oh?" Deng Feng looked intrigued.
Yang Haoran shared his speculation with Deng Feng under his gaze, explaining how he intentionally avoided other Night Watch members and received special treatment. He presented his thoughts coherently, giving the impression that it was indeed the case.
Deng Feng listened, wearing a pensive expression. After a moment of thought, he waved his hand under Yang Haoran's gaze and took out the wooden box containing the soul pill.
"If he thinks that way, and if I don't do anything, he'll become suspicious. You're quite lucky to have this opportunity to get rid of that old immortal," Deng Feng remarked.
Yang Haoran listened to Deng Feng's words and glanced at the wooden box floating in front of Deng Feng, seeming to realize something, his expression becoming somewhat excited.
Deng Feng wore a pained expression as he waved his hand, drawing a large amount of pure yin qi from the wooden box without a word. He then directed this substantial pure yin qi towards Yang Haoran.
The pure yin qi enveloped Yang Haoran's body, so dense that it appeared as a black mass of gas, obscuring his form entirely. Yet, Yang Haoran seemed to absorb this immense pure yin qi greedily, like a sponge soaking up water.
Under this influx, his Yin spirit power surged madly, akin to gaining experience points in a game, skyrocketing!
This soul qi infusion was more intense than any Yang Haoran had experienced before. Even though he had previously encountered the hard currency of an evil spirit on two occasions, it paled in comparison to the vast pure yin qi he was now receiving.
Deng Feng didn't disturb Yang Haoran; he simply observed as Yang Haoran voraciously absorbed the pure yin qi before him. The pained expression on Deng Feng's face vanished, replaced by one of contemplation. It was unclear what he was thinking.
After some time, Yang Haoran absorbed the last bit of pure yin qi. While the dense Yin Qi surrounding him had diminished, his Yin spirit power had more than doubled.
Before the power erupted, the Yin Qi emanating from his body was merely superficial, serving as a reference rather than an absolute indicator of strength. The true measure of strength lay in the power within.
Of course, when the internal power erupted completely, the Yin Qi surrounding his body would increase dramatically. In such a scenario, the strength could be roughly gauged based on the intensity of the Yin Qi.
Yang Haoran appeared somewhat excited at this moment, feeling his body filled with strength. The immense Yin spirit power coursing within him made him feel incredibly comfortable.
He estimated that with his current strength, he might not be able to deal with a genuine evil spirit. However, facing a Half-Step Evil Spirit, he felt entirely confident in confronting and defeating it.
"Congratulations on your rapid growth. I don't know whether to attribute it to luck or your strength," Deng Feng remarked, waving his hand to stow away the wooden box. He then smiled faintly at Yang Haoran.
"Thank you for nurturing me, divine envoy!" Yang Haoran hastily bowed in gratitude.
Deng Feng waved his hand dismissively. "I indeed need someone like you by my side. You've satisfied me. By nurturing you, I can save myself some trouble in the future."
Yang Haoran nodded vigorously, his joy undiminished and even more pronounced.
"You don't need to worry about the soul scattering needle. I'll take care of it when the time comes. Just follow me and perform well. I won't let you down, but you must show me your abilities and worth," Deng Feng stated.
"Rest assured, divine envoy. I won't disappoint you!" Yang Haoran promised eagerly.
"See if there are any suitable candidates recently; Night Watch needs new blood. Otherwise, it won't be able to function properly," Deng Feng frowned, addressing Yang Haoran.
From Deng Feng's demeanor, it seemed he genuinely regarded Yang Haoran as a right-hand man to nurture.
Yang Haoran tried to conceal his excitement, but his efforts were in vain. He asked, "What are the requirements for new recruits? Is there an age limit?"
"No age limit, no educational requirements. The only condition is loyalty! Absolute loyalty to me!" Deng Feng stated the conditions.
Yang Haoran nodded excitedly, indicating his understanding.
"You may leave now. Stick to your plan, do what needs to be done. However, remember to report anything regarding Duda to me immediately. I may trust you, but I must always be aware of developments," Deng Feng demanded of Yang Haoran.
"Rest assured, divine envoy. I won't let you down!" Yang Haoran assured with fervor.
"Go on then. A month's time is fleeting. I hope you make the most of every moment," Deng Feng added.
Yang Haoran made another eager promise before turning to leave.
Yet, as he turned away, he suppressed his excitement, his expression turning serious with furrowed brows, lost in thought.
Watching Yang Haoran's departing figure, Deng Feng's expression also changed, a smile of deep contemplation gracing his face.
[Heartfelt thankyou for the support! BokuBoku]