Star Gate

Chapter 173: Going or Not? (II)

“Chief Commissioner Huang!” A group of rookie Night Watchers rushed up behind Huang Yun, each of them worried and conflicted.

Huang Yun had been defeated.

Although their opponent voluntarily retreated in the end, Huang Yun was injured and his opponent unscathed. Plainly, Huang Yun had lost the battle. Battle ended only because the other didn’t wish to cause additional trouble.

An unpleasant expression hung on the wind supernatural’s face. He’d lost! And to a newly ascended Hu Po! Huang Yun had three years under his belt as a Sunflare, whereas Hu Po had ascended only at the beginning of this year. That made for roughly half a year, or at the very least, less than a year.

Yet, a veteran Sunflare such as him had lost!

Losing in battle was not a horrifying outcome as geniuses abounded in the world. Losing to a wanted criminal, however, and at a time like this was too much of a blow to Night Watcher confidence.

Huang Yun looked in the direction that Hu Po had left in, his teeth clenched with fury. This was a probing maneuver from the three great organizations and he had not responded with a demonstration of strength! On the contrary, he displayed Night Watcher weakness, showing that this was all there was to Night Watcher Sunflares.

If he’d struck back with domineering force or even imitated Yuan Shuo and killed his opponent, that would strike fear into the hearts of the various organizations. It wasn’t the three great organizations that were the crux of this expedition, but the mid and small organizations that were involved.

What was termed mid-sized were organizations active within a province and lacking any existences beyond Solar. Those who lacked any beyond Sunflare were a small organization. Those whose strongest were Darkmoon didn’t even count as a supernatural organization. Darkmoon was the most basic supernatural level. These days, Starlight was regarded as a quick springboard to Darkmoon.

Silver Moon counted a few mid and small organizations among its ranks. Apart from the three great organizations, there were two mid sized and a dozen small sized organizations involved with the excavation. Mid sized organizations, in particular, were not any weaker within the confines of a province than the three great organizations.

The three great organizations were spread out across the land and their powerhouses pulled in many directions. They might have one or two Solars in residence in a province, with two or three at most. That was the limit of their capabilities as they didn’t dare put everything on the line all at once.

Mid sized organizations, on the other hand, might send their leaders for these expeditions—Solars. One possible side effect of this battle with Hu Po was that the other organizations would see how weak the Night Watchers were and decide to swear fealty to the three great organizations. It would then be the three great organizations calling the shots for the entire supernatural side.

Overwhelming regret seized Huang Yun! He regretted his impulsiveness—Hu Po might not have attacked had he not made a move. But at the same time, he’d judged that he had a chance of overcoming the other since he had three years of experience as a Sunflare.

Unfortunately, he’d overestimated himself and underestimated Hu Po. Three years as a Sunflare was not a short time considering it’d only been twenty years since the supernatural world developed, but he’d lost all the same!

Night Watcher rookies behind him ground their teeth, while those with more experience understood the factors at play.

“Chief Commissioner Huang did not properly demonstrate his strength just now!” the latter shouted lowly. “That was direct frontal combat, whereas the chief commissioner is more adept at speed! He didn’t utilize his abilities because he wanted to protect us!”

“That’s right!”

“So what of the three great organizations? The Night Watchers are the only legitimate, orthodox organization! Don’t forget that Red Moon lost a Heaven Favored when they invaded the miniscule Silver City. That Heaven Favored was a Solar, and it was a Dominator who killed him!”

“Professor Yuan is coming this time too! Let’s see who dares throw their weight around when he’s here!”

Some said this to raise morale, others said it because they truly believed their words. Yuan Shuo was a known factor to many as he’d often partnered with the Night Watchers to explore ruins. Much of the group’s fear dissipated when they thought of the professor.

Indeed, so what if Yuan Shuo wasn’t a Night Watcher? To the Night Watchers, Yuan Shuo was one of them and he’d killed a Solar! This was the first Solar to die in Silver Moon—the first publicly known one, at the very least. Hou Xiaochen had killed one too, or he wouldn’t have obtained a Solar level blood pearl. But he hadn’t spoken of it in order to keep the peace with the three great organizations.

Huang Yun gradually recovered his calm. “Alright now, I was no match for him,” he rumbled. “I’m old, after all, and my potential is limited compared to a youngster’s. You all are the future of the Night Watchers. Take vengeance for my loss in the future—a fist is afraid of youth! You guys are younger than him, and it’s you who I wish to see win.

“I hear that Wang Ming has killed a Darkmoon in Silver City. All of you are in the same cohort as him, so I hope that none of you are not left behind.”

“Brother Wang’s killed someone?”

“And a Darkmoon? I hear that he was almost beaten to death by one when he carried out his mission in Silver City last time. So he’s redeemed himself?”

“......” The hearts of the young were not as convoluted. They immediately shook off their earlier despondency at the change in topic.

Huang Yun didn’t say anything and let them discuss as they would. He walked into a tent in the rear, falling silent for a while when he was alone. He took out a crystal monitor that exuded faint mysterious power. Moments later, Hou Xiaochen’s face appeared on the screen.

The image shook, as did the director's voice. “Signal is weak near the ruins... be quick with whatever you need to say...”

“Director, Hu Po taunted us just now and I... I met him in battle in an impetuous moment. I failed! Hu Po is the same as I—a Sunflare. I may even be peak Sunflare whereas he is only initial Sunflare, but I... I was defeated.”

“Hu Po?” It took Hou Xiaochen a brief moment to recall the person. “It’s that wanted criminal, the hired gun that the Qiaos of Silver City once employed?”

“It’s him.”

“I see!” Hou Xiaochen was still calm. “That’s fine, this is normal. You’re a wind type and not skilled at offense. He’s an earth type, right? And further specializing in heavy earth. Although his attribute is officially that of earth, there’s some gravity mixed in with it. If you don’t run or out maneuver him with speed, your only outcome is to be suppressed by him.”

Although the director hadn’t been present for the fight, he instantly drew the correct conclusion.

“Next time you run into him, run circles around him with your speed! Don’t be worried about anything else,” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “Those of the heavy earth attribute are very strong in offense, but their drawback is that they pause for a split second when they shift between deploying a move and defense. It’s easy to kill him if you identify that timing!”

The director didn’t berate Huang Yun, but the latter was still mortified.

“Director, powerhouses from all organizations were observing that battle, but I...”

“It’s of no matter!” the director laughed. “Do you think those guys will decide who to throw in their lot with from one battle alone? If they decide to stand with the three great organizations, that means they decided to do so a long time ago. You don’t matter.”

Huang Yun was first reassured, then let down by this response. I... don’t matter?

Hou Xiaochen also seemed to realize this wasn’t an optimal way of putting things. “It’s not that you don’t matter, but that Sunflares aren’t important...”

That hurt even more!

The director coughed awkwardly. “This isn’t the most pleasing to the ear, but it’s the truth. Battles between Solars draw attention in Silver Moon, while it has to be ones above Solar that are paid attention in the central region.

“Hao Lianchuan and I are present among the Night Watchers here, so these guys will think it through carefully. Yuan Shuo will also be attending this time. Although I won’t be there myself, the various organizations will thoroughly debate how best to make their moves so they won’t be exterminated.

“Although the mid and small organizations are weaker, that doesn’t mean they’re fools. If they brashly enter our struggle with the three great organizations, it’s just us that go down if they get the better of us. That might draw powerhouses from the central region in retaliation—none of them will make it home alive if that happens.”

Huang Yun was much assuaged after this exchange.

“Then director, I...”

“Just direct operations at the site with peace of mind. They won’t do anything now and Hao Lianchuan will be there in a few days.” Hou Xiaochen thought for a bit, “Hu Po... if Hu Po’s gone... I see!”

He hung up, his face vanishing from the screen, leaving Huang Yun speechless. What do you see? Regardless, he was much more at ease after the call. It was good that this wouldn’t affect anything. He seemed to have overestimated himself.

This was just as well! The director really knew how to comfort people. If It’d been Deputy Director Hao, he would’ve laid about with curses.

......

At the same time.

White Moon City.

Hou Xiaochen knocked his fingers against his desk and thought for a bit before pressing a button. The limber Manager Yu walked in before long.

“Director.”

“What have you learned from investigating the Qiaos?”

“There aren’t many clues, but based on the defection of their security detail captain to Yama, the Qiaos may have some dealings with that organization. It’s been too long, so we’re unable to confirm Qiao Feilong’s history before he returned to Silver City.

“At the same time, that doesn’t mean we’ve come up empty. Qiao Feilong may be hiding his strength or raising powerhouses in secret. Some merchants went missing or died in Silver City a few years ago—they all clashed with Qiao Feilong in matters of business. One of the ones that died had a Sunderer among their ranks!”

“How long ago was this?”

“Five years ago.”

Five years! The Qiaos had been able to kill a Sunderer five years ago. Hou Xiaochen rapidly considered the implications.

“Have Inspector General Mu Sen tell Liu Long that Yama has sent a Sunflare on the expedition. They are a heavy earth expert called Hu Po—their true name is Li Dahu. He defeated Huang Yun moments ago and his true strength is unfathomable!”

“Understood, director.” Manager Yu nodded. “Will there be anything else?”

Hou Xiaochen briefly hesitated, then said, “Also tell Mu Sen to let Yuan Shuo know that a Red Moon powerhouse has gone missing from the central region. Their whereabouts are unknown.”