Free Web NovelChapter 523: Chapter 451: A Good Minister Chooses His Master Wisely
"You can’t take all the treasures away from here; you must leave at least one as a reward for clearing out the ghost slaves," the Taoist Boy said and then turned to leave.
But before he could take even two steps, he was stopped by Yang Xiao, "Taoist, please wait a moment!"
Yang Xiao quickly approached the torn corpse of the man in the Tang suit and crouched down. Now, only the man’s two legs remained intact. He grabbed the cloth shoes and pulled hard, exerting great effort before finally managing to take them off.
The inside of the shoes was bloody, and several pieces of human skin were torn off along with them. The shoes had actually grown into the man’s feet.
Yang Xiao quickly took off his coat and wrapped the blood-stained cloth shoes carefully. He then approached the Taoist Boy with the package in his hands and presented it with the utmost respect.
Seeing this, the Taoist Boy became suspicious, "Was I not clear enough? It’s for the cleaning of the ghost slaves here, not for me. Moreover, these shoes are at least mid-level lethal-grade artifacts; you don’t need to leave these behind."
"Taoist, you have misunderstood. That robe is what’s left for the ghost slaves. These shoes are my gift to you," Yang Xiao responded respectfully.
"Oh?" The Taoist Boy seemed to become intrigued. He appraised Yang Xiao up and down with a smirk and said, "I don’t deserve a reward for no meritorious service. Just forget it; I’m simply following the commands of my esteemed master."
"Taoist, you are mistaken. Your master is naturally a great benefactor of mine, but you are also my benefactor," Yang Xiao said.
"How so?" the Taoist Boy asked, his eyes narrowed as he inserted his hands into his sleeves, holding them in front of his body.
"I am aware that although the order came from your esteemed master, the action was by you. Had it not been for the Taoist’s swift action, rescuing me from a perilous situation, even a half-minute delay would have led to unpredictable consequences. I dare not fail to repay such a great debt of gratitude," Yang Xiao replied.
At these words, the Taoist Boy imperceptibly nodded. His sleeves opened, and his bent arms hung by his side. Suddenly, with a smile he said, "In that case, it seems you really do owe me a favor."
Seizing the moment when the Taoist Boy’s sleeves opened, Yang Xiao deftly slipped the wrapped shoes into the Taoist Boy’s left sleeve without a sound. The entire process took only the blink of an eye. Then stepping back half a step, he bowed and saluted, "I respectfully see you off, Taoist!"
The next second, a cold little object was slipped into Yang Xiao’s fingers, and as the Taoist Boy turned to leave, his voice carried lightly back, "Keep this item safe. If you encounter any trouble in Xiang Ma Town, use this item as a signal, and someone will come to assist you."
"I respectfully see you off, Taoist!" Yang Xiao bowed even deeper.
It was only after the Taoist Boy’s figure had completely disappeared around the street corner that Yang Xiao slowly straightened up and opened his palm. In his hand lay a short arrow, resembling a concealed weapon, cool to the touch. This item instantly reminded him of the signal arrow fired by the man in the Tang suit.
An arrow to pierce the clouds can summon thousands of troops to meet.
It was also this small thing that attracted these ghost slaves and almost allowed the man in the Tang suit to escape.
This place was not safe to linger. Yang Xiao swiftly secured the item close to himself and then turned his head to look at the Qipao woman and the Golden Snake, who were sitting slumped not far away.
Seeing Yang Xiao look their way, the pair, still clutching their ears, shivered in fear, for they had a deep realization of Yang Xiao’s methods.
"Sir, please let us go!" The Golden Snake was even less spine than the woman, desperately kowtowing to Yang Xiao.
"Come over here!" Yang Xiao was obliging to the Taoist Boy, but with these two, he was set to take a firmer stance.
The two practically crawled over on their knees. Yang Xiao kicked each of them, flipping them onto the ground, "You have two options now. First, I kill you now, take the treasures from your bodies. Or second, I give you a chance to pledge your loyalty."
"We are willing to pledge our loyalty to you, my lord!" the two said in unison.
"So readily?" Yang Xiao sneered, "Don’t you want to think it over?"
"We dare not, my lord. Your methods are profound, and in all my time in Xiang Ma Town, I’ve never seen anyone who dares to strike a Ghost Slave. I am willing to pledge my allegiance to you, my lord!" The Qipao woman’s attitude was resolute.
"Golden Snake is willing to lead horses and undertake any errands for my lord, ready to face any number of deaths without hesitation. Please grant me an opportunity!" Golden Snake was equally determined.
Yang Xiao gave an amused smile, pointing at the eviscerated corpse of the Tang suit man on the floor, "What about him? Wasn’t he the godfather of you two? Don’t you want to seek revenge for him?"
"A good bird chooses the tree in which to nest, a good servant chooses the master to serve. Please accept our service, so we may atone for our crimes with meritorious deeds!" Golden Snake said earnestly.
Yang Xiao had not intended to kill the two of them anyway, as he needed manpower in Xiang Ma Town, and Ling Yanyu alone was not enough.
Although the abilities of these two were average, they could still be put to use, especially the oil-paper umbrella of the Qipao woman, its power quite bizarre. If not for the major flaw, he had considered seizing it for himself. Moreover, he intended to take over the Tang suit man’s entire force and needed their assistance. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Then I shall spare your lives temporarily. You will wear the yoke of your crimes and prove your worth through your deeds," Yang Xiao stated, hands behind his back, exuding the aura of an expert.
Then came cleaning up the battlefield. The cloth shoes of the man in the Tang suit had been sent off by Yang Xiao as a gesture of goodwill. The Demon Suppressing Map of that Tongtian Daoren could not be taken. Yang Xiao made the Qipao woman and Golden Snake rummage through the bloody remains, as he remembered the Tang suit man mentioning he had a top-grade Resentment Level Magic Artifact, which he could not afford to miss.
However, they almost tore the flesh apart and found no treasures. In the end, it was the Qipao woman who suggested that the treasures were likely hidden in the Tang suit man’s residence.
Thus, Yang Xiao decided not to linger any longer. He took the two masks scattered on the ground, one Character "Li" Mask belonging to the Tang suit man and the other Grudge Mask belonging to Tongtian Daoren, and then led the two of them back to the Nie Family Teahouse ahead of the others.
After returning, Yang Xiao inquired about their situation, learning that the number of people in the gangs they oversaw was not many; adding both gangs together, they totaled merely a hundred and eighty people. Like Tongtian Daoren, they had both taken the Tang suit man as their godfather, presenting him with no small amount of tribute routinely.
"Now that the Daoren is dead, can you take over his gang?" Yang Xiao inquired, for these were now his assets.
The Qipao woman nodded fiercely, "Yes, I’m familiar with a few of his managers. Besides, their boss is dead, and these people desperately need a new godfather to turn to. You know as well, my lord, in this hellish place, without an Angel Envoy’s protection, it’s too difficult for ordinary people to survive."
"Good, go immediately and take over the Daoren’s turf. Once you succeed, this Character ’Li’ Mask will be yours," Yang Xiao said, weighing the mask in his hand.
This scene made Golden Snake envious, the mask signifying status. "My lord, don’t... don’t you need it yourself?"
"Heh." Yang Xiao casually reached for his backpack, opened it, and then took out another Character "Li" Mask, "If I want one, I have plenty."
At that moment, both Golden Snake and the Qipao woman unraveled a bit of their confusion. No wonder the person before them was so formidable, able to take on many by himself, and none of the Li Generation could defeat him. It turned out he was not of the Yuan Generation at all.
From the casual demeanor of the person before them, they concluded that at the very least he was a standout existence among the Li Generation.
"We failed to recognize greatness, my lord. Considering you easily defeated Ming Emperor Ye Xiao, I guess even Qu Muzhi is no match for you!" Golden Snake fanned Yang Xiao in a bid to cool him, while smothering him in sycophantic praise.
Unexpectedly, Yang Xiao shook his head, "That man was an impostor; with those petty skills, he wouldn’t last a single round in front of Qu Muzhi."
