The Two Enforcers

As his words fell, a flicker of surprise clearly flashed through Chrysanthemum Douluo's formerly placid eyes.

He stared at Ning Yao in silence for several seconds. Once he confirmed that Ning Yao was not bluffing, he turned to look at the empty corner of the room.

"Old Ghost, come out."

"He already knows you're here."

The next second, a wisp of black mist suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the spot that had been empty. The mist gradually thickened before finally taking the form of a black-robed figure whose face could not be seen.

It was the other of the original story's two enforcers—Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei.

Watching Ghost Douluo finally emerge from the shadows, Ning Yao raised his brows slightly.

When he had read the original story before, he had glanced over Ghost Douluo's past.

At the time, he had been rather curious about this Titled Douluo who had died once.

Now that he saw him, he truly was just as the original story had described.

But clearly, the black robe that blocked Soul Power detection, along with the mask beneath it, was useless against him.

With a single glance, Ning Yao saw through his true nature.

Curable.

Gui Mei's martial soul had mutated after his death, leaving him in a state between life and death. So what if Ning Yao cured him into becoming a genuine living person?

Ning Yao sank into thought.

Perhaps sensing Ning Yao's somewhat eerie gaze, Gui Mei shuddered involuntarily.

This Abundance Douluo isn't right.

His heart sank. Just now, he had instinctively seemed to sense an incredibly terrifying aura, but it had quickly vanished.

However, with Ning Yao standing right before him, Ghost Douluo had no mind to dwell on it. He took a few steps toward the two of them and cupped his hands.

"This is our first meeting. I am Ghost Douluo Gui Mei of Spirit Hall. I was offensive earlier; I hope Your Excellency Abundance will forgive me."

His hoarse voice came from beneath the black robe as he continued observing Ning Yao.

He tried to find what exactly had made him feel fear just now.

Yet after watching for a long while, he discovered that apart from the dense vitality that even alarmed him, Ning Yao had no other aura at all.

There was not even the aura of Soul Power. It was simply too strange.

He wanted to secretly transmit his voice to Chrysanthemum Douluo to discuss it, but when he looked up, he found that Ning Yao's gaze seemed to have remained fixed on him all along.

He felt somewhat uncomfortable and was just about to speak when Ning Yao beat him to it.

"So you are Ghost Douluo. I've long heard of your great name."

Ning Yao withdrew his gaze and smiled at both of them.

As an outsider, Chrysanthemum Douluo clearly had no idea what had just happened. Seeing Ning Yao act this way, he hurriedly smiled as well.

"It's good that Your Excellency Abundance doesn't mind. We were doing it for Spirit Hall, after all."

"I just didn't expect Your Excellency Abundance to be so powerful. Old Ghost's concealment is something even ordinary agility-attack Titled Douluo might not be able to detect."

While flattering him, Chrysanthemum Douluo also jabbed the unresponsive Ghost Douluo hard with his elbow.

Seeing this, Ghost Douluo hurriedly came back to his senses. He stopped thinking about what had happened just now and nodded along.

"That's right. I had long heard that Abundance Douluo's strength surpassed all across the continent. Now, it seems that was indeed true."

Ning Yao chuckled softly at that. Shaking his head, he sat down on the sofa beside him.

"Enough. Just say what you came to say. Haven't you been looking for me ever since before you even reached Skywater City?"

"Go on. What is it?"

With a slight wave of his hand, he gestured for the two of them to sit as well.

Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo did not refuse, sitting down on either side of Ning Yao.

They looked at each other. Chrysanthemum Douluo cleared his throat, then turned toward Ning Yao.

"It's like this."

"I wonder whether Abundance still remembers exchanging letters with our His Holiness the Pope."

Ning Yao nodded lightly.

"That did happen. But after the Pope made no further move, I left Suotuo City."

He thought of the Spirit Hall steward who had delivered messages. When he left, he had specifically confirmed that there was no reply from Spirit City.

But now, it seemed there was more to this matter?

He quietly waited for Chrysanthemum Douluo to continue.

Sure enough, after seeing Ning Yao nod, Chrysanthemum Douluo took a letter from his robes and handed it to him.

Only after Ning Yao accepted the letter did he continue speaking.

"After His Holiness the Pope sent you a reply, she unexpectedly learned that you had already left Suotuo City. So His Holiness sent the two of us to find you, Abundance Douluo, and deliver this letter into your hands."

Two Titled Douluo delivering a letter to him?

Listening to Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ning Yao raised his brows slightly.

That was probably just polite wording. Although Bibi Dong was somewhat insane in the original story, she was hardly a complete fool.

But he was not afraid of anything. Right in front of the two great Douluo, Ning Yao opened the letter.

The letter was short, containing only a few sentences, and its meaning was simple.

"Your Pope invites me to Spirit City for a talk."

Ning Yao did not hide anything. After reading it, he casually spread the letter out on the table before the three of them.

Bibi Dong wanted to invite him for a face-to-face discussion. No wonder she had sent two Titled Douluo to deliver the letter.

But did Bibi Dong think that two mere Titled Douluo could make him go to Spirit City?

Meanwhile, Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo clearly already knew the contents of the letter.

Chrysanthemum Douluo even rose to his feet and gave Ning Yao a slight bow.

"Your Excellency Abundance, please give Spirit Hall some face. Give His Holiness the Pope some face, and come to Spirit City for a talk."

Every word of his effeminate voice carried a threat, while Ghost Douluo beside him watched like a tiger eyeing its prey.

Yet Ning Yao acted as though he had heard nothing, studying the letter thoughtfully.

Only when the two Douluo had begun to grow impatient did Ning Yao raise his head.

He looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo first, then glanced at Ghost Douluo.

"I'm not an unreasonable person. Face, I can give you that."

"But I have one condition."

As he spoke, the corners of Ning Yao's lips curled up into a kindly smile.

Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded readily.

"Please say it. I trust His Holiness the Pope will certainly satisfy you, no matter what you want."

But as he spoke, he did not notice that Ghost Douluo, whom Ning Yao was staring at, seemed extremely uneasy.

After hearing Chrysanthemum Douluo's words, Ning Yao nodded readily as well.

"Very well. I want him."

As he spoke, Ning Yao pointed at Ghost Douluo.

Chrysanthemum Douluo: "???"

There was actually someone in this world trying to steal his man?

"Don't misunderstand, you two. I merely want Ghost Douluo to help me with an experiment."

Chrysanthemum Douluo visibly relaxed. He had nearly thought he was about to lose Ghost Douluo.

But an experiment?

"What experiment requires the cooperation of a Titled Douluo?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo scratched his head in confusion, looking at Ning Yao without understanding.

Ghost Douluo beside him merely frowned at Ning Yao.

He had long noticed that this Abundance Douluo had other intentions toward him.

(My computer broke, so I'm typing the old-fashioned way on my phone. Updates are a bit slow; I hope you generous readers will forgive me...)