Star Gate

Chapter 174: Going or Not? (III)

“Has this Red Moon powerhouse come to Silver Moon?” Manager Yu’s expression shifted slightly.

“Possibly.” Hou Xiaochen nodded. “Just relay my words in full and tell Yuan Shuo that he might know this vanished person. They’re a martial master who left Silver Moon twenty years ago—Qimei Staff King Sun Yifei! [1] Based on what we know, he should be a late Solar now.”

Manager Yu’s eyes widened with dismay. “Late Solar?”

“Yuan Shuo has already killed a Heaven Favored that was initial Solar,” Hou Xiaochen said calmly. “Do you think Red Moon will send a mid Solar to just barely suppress him? They most certainly want to kill him. If they want to kill him, they’ll send a late Solar!

“Even if it was just an accident or ambush that Yuan Shuo killed Brokensky, Ying Hongyue knows better than us how sinister and insidious Yuan Shuo can be. They’ll absolutely send a late Solar. If it wasn’t for the demands of battle, Ying Hongyue would come in person since he knows that Yuan Shuo has broken through Dominator!”

A late Solar quite surprised the manager, but she wanted to laugh after hearing the director’s assessment. Sinister and insidious? Was this the director’s impression of Yuan Shuo? And judging from his words, it was an opinion shared by the leader of Red Moon—a powerhouse greater than Solar.

“Director… can the central region not… stop them?”

“Stop them?” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “It is a tense situation over there and they’d rather prefer that the pressure was alleviated with one less late Solar. It’s fine that Red Moon sends people to Silver Moon, they can’t wait for that to happen. I’m here with the origin weapon. No matter how that missing guy causes trouble, he won’t do anything of note. This shifts some of the burden off their shoulders and they’ll actually see it as me coming to their aid. So you tell me, will they hinder Red Moon’s movements?”

“But…” Manager Yu objected angrily.

“Enough!” Hou Xiaochen waved her off. “Just pass on my messages. It will be enough that Yuan Shuo knows about Sun Yifei. He’ll have time to make his preparations, and it’s up to him if he can actually handle the man.”

There was nothing for Manager Yu to do but leave the office and relay the information.

Hou Xiaochen sank into deep thought when she left. Sun Yifei, a late Solar. Silver City was a small place with only one million denizens. It was unlikely enough that they’d given rise to a singular Yuan Shuo. He was a Dominator of Thousands who’d killed one Solar, could he kill a second?

No, could he kill a third?

Indeed, a third.

If he could kill Sun Yifei, then Red Moon would incur heavy losses this time.

And that Liu Long, had he also become a Dominator as well?

Various thoughts flickered through Hou Xiaochen’s mind as he made his plans. He pushed another button after a while, summoning Hao Lianchuan.

“You wanted to see me, Director?”

“Come with me!” Hou Xiaochen led his subordinate into the depths of his office; there was a suite there.

Hao Lianchuan was confused. Go in there? Why? The suite adjoining the director’s office was his personal resting quarters and he didn’t normally receive guests there. Although questions swirled, he followed his superior nonetheless.

He jerked with shock at what greeted him inside. A spear was unceremoniously tossed onto the coffee table. Flaming red, Hao Lianchuan’s eyes shot open with surprise when he sensed it!

It was real! It was the origin weapon that kept this region under control, the most important treasure in Silver Moon—the Flaming Phoenix Spear!

“Familiarize yourself with it.” Hou Xiaochen lazily reclined on the couch. He pointed at the spear. “Spend the next few days acclimating to it.”

“Director, this… isn’t appropriate, is it?” Hao Lianchuan said hesitantly. “I won’t be able to hold down the fort here if you leave! Why don’t… you have upstairs send someone else in your stead?”

Hou Xiaochen started, then looked at the man. It took a second for him to understand what his subordinate meant.

“You… can’t wait for me to leave, huh?”

“Not at all!” Hao Lianchuan protested innocently. How would he?

“Do you want to be the director instead?”

“Absolutely not!”

“It’s a futile wish even if you wish to be.” Hou Xiaochen flicked a glance at him. “I didn’t say that I’m leaving. I’ll probably be here long after you.”

“Then… the origin weapon…”

“Take it to the ruins!” Hou Xiaochen said softly. “There might be several Solars in attendance this time, with more people coming as reinforcement from other regions. Take the Flaming Phoenix Spear with you to ensure that nothing goes wrong.”

“That won’t do, Director. If I lose this treasure, we have no hope of nurturing a new generation…”

“Cut the crap!” Hou Xiaochen asserted. “Do as I say. You happen to be a fire type. You’ll be able to use it quickly after getting used to it. That’s the end of the matter. Leave with the spear.”

“But…” Hao Lianchuan really was apprehensive. This wasn’t something for him to just take! They would be in enormous trouble if it was lost and stolen. The Silver Moon Night Watchers only had one origin weapon—so many eyeballs rested on it!

Hou Xiaochen couldn’t be bothered with him; he impatiently flapped his hand at his subordinate.

After a brief struggle, Hao Lianchuan picked up the weapon. He seemed to see a phoenix spit out flames that seared the air as soon as he touched the Flaming Phoenix Spear. How terrifying that such a change had occurred the second he grasped it!

The conflicted vice director left with the origin weapon. If he didn’t, the director would physically throw him out of the office.

……

What took place at Rift Canyon and White Moon City heralded the dangers in the upcoming expedition. Li Hao’s side swiftly received word as well.

Liu Long’s office.

Only Li Hao and Liu Long were present. Typically not a smoker, Liu Long had lit a cigarette and quietly puffed on it. The young man waited silently for a long while until the chief gave a long exhale.

“There’s two pieces of news. First, Red Moon has sent a powerhouse from the central region—late Solar Sun Yifei. I know this person, he was once called the Qimei Staff King. He’s got quite a reputation and reached peak Sunderer on the path of martial dao. Your teacher must know that he might appear at the ruins!”

Li Hao nodded without surprise. There was nothing to say, it was one of his teacher’s enemies.

“The second is that Li Dahu was seen around the ruins.”

“Li Dahu?”

“The guy who killed Liu Yan’s husband. He defeated Huang Yun today—you know that supernatural.”

Li Hao frowned as he looked at Liu Long.

“I’m debating what to do,” the man continued evenly. “I’m going to the ruins and will find a way to kill this guy. What I’m debating is whether or not I should take Liu Yan with me. What say you?”

“Chief… I… why are you asking me this?” Li Hao struggled with a response. What was he supposed to say?

“What’s wrong with that?” Liu Long barked with laughter. “You’re a deputy director, isn’t it normal that I ask your opinion? I want to let Liu Yan kill the guy herself, but I’m afraid of her dying there! You’re sinister and insidious, kid, so give me some ideas.”

Oh what the hell? You’re the sinister and insidious guy around here! Why does chief have such a huge misunderstanding of me?

“We should ask Sis Liu.” Li Hao thought for a bit. “Of course she’ll want to go, we don’t need to ask her that. Chief is not conflicted whether or not we should bring her, but whether or not we can kill Li Dahu. We’ll feel worse if we can’t, right?”

Liu Long inclined his head. Indeed, he wasn’t confident. Although he’d already killed Sunflares, the opponent was very strong if they could defeat Huang Yun. Not to mention, it was a group operation this time, not a solo killing.

There were powerhouses from Yama present. Under the circumstances, how to kill Li Dahu was the real question.

Of course, there was also the possibility that the team would die instead.

“Let’s do it, I’m going as well!” Li Hao continued. “My teacher will be there. I think ruins that can be accessed are worth fighting for. They are both danger and opportunity. Sis Liu isn’t a child, she’s very aware of everything. Sometimes, we don’t need to think too much, chief.”

“Ai!” Liu Long sighed without saying anything else. Think too much? Not at all, he’d just become a bit indecisive after losing so many brothers and sisters on the battlefield. This was especially true when it came to the Demon Hunters. It’d been so difficult for them to survive to this point.

“Chief, does the news come from White Moon City?”

“Yes.” Liu Long nodded. “From Mu Sen.”

Li Hao furrowed his brows with thought. “They made a point of telling us… Chief, do you think that upstairs knows something?”

“What?” Liu Long jerked with surprise. “That I’ve broken through?”

“Possibly!” Why else would they tell Liu Long something they didn’t need to bring up?

“So what if they know? I haven’t broken any laws and I’m the director of a Night Watcher branch. So what?” Liu Long suddenly laughed as he thought about it. “Alright, I’ll think about what to do with Liu Yan. Your teacher’s issue is the real trouble. Sun Yifei is probably actually here for him. If I remember correctly, your teacher shares some grudges with him.”

Li Hao was used to it. His teacher had too many enemies! Ying Hongyue might only be the strongest, there was possibly a horde of enemies behind him!

More likely than not, it would be very difficult for his teacher to take on a late Solar. An initial Solar had been difficult enough—a Solar level blood pearl wouldn’t immediately place him on par with a late Solar.

They had to think of a plan.

Li Hao was also coming to terms with the dawning realization that things were much more than they seemed for the expedition. Who knew, maybe existences above Solar would appear! That would make things even more dangerous.

The young man walked out of the office with some worries on his mind. He was also concerned about the tone at the top from White Moon. Did they want his teacher to go or not by sharing this information? It would be very normal for his teacher to cancel his participation if a late Solar was present.

“Hou Xiaochen…” Li Hao murmured, uncertain of this person’s character and temperament. He wanted to learn more about the man as the director was his true supervisor.