Star Gate

It wasn’t an impossible idea if everyone worked together. Red Moon was caught in obvious trouble and danger these days, Ying Hongyue might not be able to hang on forever. If the martial world united and forced him to hand over the method to nurture blood pearls, they might attain some success.

If the Breathing Method of the Five Styles was also available then... that would be a perfect match!

Li Hao nodded and intoned, “I can make the decision on my master’s behalf so long as we confirm that Red Moon the method is real and can truly create blood pearls. I can swear on the Night Watchers if there’s people who don’t believe me! If Ying Hongyue dares share his secret method, how would my discipline continue to hoard our own?

“But without the blood pearl method, only Ying Hongyue stands to benefit if our breathing method is publicized. As great the fools we may be, we will not permit Red Moon to freely benefit from us!”

That made sense to the assembly. If the Breathing Method of the Five Styles became public knowledge, but not the way to foster blood pearls, then Red Moon... Red Moon would be so much stronger!

“Little friend Li is righteous!”

“That’s right, I think we should try for the method to nurture blood pearls since it’s beneficial to martial masters. Red Moon’s Ying Hongyue was once a martial master. Since the Five Styles has spoken thus, why can’t they?” f(r)eenovelkiss

If Old Demon Yuan, an incredibly difficult person, was amenable to the idea, why not Ying Hongyue?

All pressure immediately redirected to Red Moon. As opposed to scheming over how to seize the Breathing Method of the Five Styles, it was better to force out the way to foster blood pearls. That way, the breathing method would be automatically offered up. It was a move that killed two birds to benefit everyone.

“Our thanks to King Yuan’s sense of honor and justice! The Five Styles are the shining example for the rest of the martial world, alright!” The assembly of martial masters overflowed with flattery. The old demon was proposing to give away the secret art of his heritage, whereas Ying Hongyue only needed to pay the price of an uncommon secret art. This disparity in importance was readily evident.

So what if Ying Hongyue was strong? It wasn’t like martial masters were pushovers. Ying Hongyue himself also knew that dominating the central region wasn’t the same as commanding the world. If he didn’t relinquish his method, they’d kill all Red Moon members outside of the central region and assassinate all of his supernaturals!

Celestial wasn’t a match for martial masters when it came to assassination. Energy ripples gave Celestial members away. If a large group of martial masters decided to assassinate others, even Celestial would have to bow their heads and stand to the side!

......

Thus the meeting concluded, leaving behind an assembly of agitated martial masters. Many of them were discussing if they should ally together to force Ying Hongyue’s hand. It was too foolhardy and frankly, idiotic, to bring the fight directly to Red Moon’s doorstep. So how else could they do it?

Kill!

Hunt down Red Moon members in all other provinces to the point where Ying Hongyue was forced to announce his secret method. That was the right and proper plan.

The martial masters were in agreement. Negotiations weren’t reliable—killing Red Moon members until Ying Hongyue could no longer bear it was the best option.

......

The second floor. fr(e)enovelkiss

Hong Yitang breathed out inside his private booth and said softly, “Red Moon will find themselves in a lot of trouble in the days to come unless they announce the method ahead of time.”

“Won’t that turn the Five Styles into a sitting duck if Ying Hongyue publishes his secret method?” his wife transmitted back. The Five Styles discipline would be stuck between a rock and a hard place then.

“How would they? Not to mention, why would Red Moon ever bow their heads to a group of martial masters? They are part of the three great organizations! Although Ying Hongyue knows that acquiescing will bring certain trouble to Yuan Shuo, the invincible reputation that he’s crafted for his organization over the years will be instantly destroyed! Everyone in Red Moon will wonder that, if he’s willing to announce their secret method today, will he offer up their lives tomorrow?

“For a large faction like his, they cannot easily bow their head in these kinds of circumstances. They must grit their teeth and bear it to the end. Otherwise, everyone will use the same method to force Red Moon into giving way again and again.

“This is similar to the government’s reactions to the three great organizations. No matter how the government is under threat, they fire city annihilation missiles at the first sign of real trouble. They do not compromise or negotiate. Why are they so decisive? To head off the possibility of a second occurrence!”

As the leader of the Sword Sect, Hong Yitang saw things very clearly. If Ying Hongyue was still a pure martial master and operating by himself, then he might actually hand over the knowledge if enough pressure was brought to bear. But now? He was the master of a large organization, how would he ever?!

He wouldn’t, not unless he couldn’t hold up beneath the strain. Only then would they stand a chance of forcing the method out of him. He would never bow his head unless Red Moon suffered grievous harm.

Hong Yitang’s wife nodded in understanding. “Did you hear Li Hao’s conversation with his colleague?” she transmitted.

“A little...” Hong Yitang frowned slightly, then responded silently, “We can ignore that. A reminder can be given if the opportunity presents itself, but we should not get involved. We cannot be blinded by self-interest, Hou Xiaochen still reigns in this part of the world. No one who knows these things would take the risk unless they want to be openly hostile with the man.”

Of course, there were always those who were completely reckless. Those people well deserved their deaths.

If anything happened to Li Hao... Well, Hong Yitang felt that that might not be the case upon further thought. The young man was hardly a simple character. He appeared simple, honest, and kind, but Hong Yitang had explored the ancient city with the lad.

So many had died in there, but Li Hao and his companions emerged alive. Were things as straightforward as they seemed? How many supernaturals had died those days, but Li Hao and Liu Long retreated unscathed? Just that alone indicated that they were far more than met the eye.

And yet, no one on the expedition team felt there was anything remarkable about the young man. It was after they emerged that the situation struck Hong Yitang in an increasingly odd way. Li Hao was just a run-of-the-mill martial master without special abilities, yet he’d survived to the very end of that harrowing expedition without a scratch on his body. Granted, the young man hadn’t gained anything on the trip either. Yet... was everything as simple as it appeared to be?

His wife had no further comment.

“We live in Silver Moon,” Hong Yitang transmitted after thinking things over. “The others can have two minds about their actions, but we cannot. We may be the only two Solars left unallied to a particular faction in the entire province. It’s time to make a choice. Do we join Hou Xiaochen or do we draw closer to the three great organizations? Or do we migrate out of the province and see if there’s a way out in the others?”

These were the thoughts that he’d brought to White Moon City on this trip—it was a very difficult decision!

But decide he had to—whether it was the three great organizations or the Night Watchers. The two sides had settled into mutual hostility. The Sword Sect had been able to survive in the cracks between them before, but those no longer existed. He needed to make a choice as soon as possible.

“Yitang, must we get involved? You built the Sword Sect from scratch and have poured so much care and effort into it...”

“There’s no way around it!” Hong Yitang continued transmitting as he watched Li Hao and the others leave. “Even someone as strong as Yuan Shuo has his disciple look to the Night Watchers for shelter. Yuan Shuo left by himself so he wouldn’t be shackled! How many martial masters in the martial world remain free at large these days? I can’t do so, at the very least. It’s come time to choose whether to close ranks with the three great organizations or Night Watchers!”

But he was worried that they’d be treated as cannon fodder if the Sword Sect leaned toward the Night Watchers. Therefore... it was more likely that he turned to the three great organizations instead!

He looked at Li Hao’s departing back once more, a light gleaming in his eyes. “I’ll wait for Yuan Shuo to return!” he transmitted.

“Huh?” His wife didn’t understand.

“I’m going to wait for Yuan Shuo to return to Silver Moon.” Hong Yitang gained. “I’ll use that excuse to fob off the Night Watchers for a while. If even Yuan Shuo is willing to join them when he comes back... The Sword Sect follows Yuan Shuo in everything we do!

“That guy is immensely flexible and adaptable, he’s also very perceptive. Although he’s killed so many people, he’s still perfectly hale and hearty, and openly walks the land. He’s now reached legendary heights with martial dao! As a martial master of the same era, we may not come out worse for the wear if we follow his footsteps.”

His wife still didn’t fully understand and continued the transmitted conversation, “Can we really say this to them!”

“We can! Don’t worry, Hou Xiaochen must be waiting for him to return as well. There won’t be a problem!”

Yuan Shuo would certainly return to the province. As arrogant and unyielding as he was, he had one major outstanding quality in that he would remember where his home and disciple were. He’d be back, sooner or later.

......

Li Hao was naturally unaware of the Sword Sect’s decision, neither was he interested in learning about their thoughts. He was on his way back to headquarters. It wasn’t far, but he wasn’t concerned about potential danger along the way either. That would occur on his way home at night if there was any.

He had another group to contend with after meeting with the martial masters—the Night Watchers from central headquarters!

Hao Lianchuan had notified him beforehand and indeed, a young man with green hair blocked his way as soon as he reached the front doors. The latter wore a smile that didn’t seem very genuine; Hao Lianchuan stood next to him.

“Li Hao!” The deputy director beamed and waved him over. “Come here for a second!”

Li Hao trotted over.

“I’d like you to meet a special agent from central headquarters—Special Agent Yu!” Hao Lianchuan chuckled. “Don’t underestimate him just because he’s young. He’s top tier when it comes to strength—a mid Solar powerhouse!”

“You praise me too much.” Yu Xiao smiled and presented a dignified front. “Mid Solars are worth nothing in the central region!”

“Greetings to milord!” Li Hao hastily saluted—respect, admiration, and adoration on his face. The look of yearning instantly put Yu Xiao in a better mood.

So what of Yuan Shuo’s disciple, the heir of the eight families? He was just a Sunderer at the moment, a Darkmoon!

The difference between him and the lad was as if heaven and earth. There was Sunflare and initial Solar between them; the gap was so great that there was nothing Yu Xiao needed to admire Li Hao for.

“You’re Li Hao, right?”

The young man hastily bobbed his head with a biddable expression on his face. “In response to milord, I am Li Hao of Silver City. I am of the Five Styles discipline and a Night Watcher. It hasn’t been long since I’ve joined the Night Watchers, so please look after me well!”

“Well met!” Yu Xiao was all smiles. “I have some questions I’d like to ask you. Is this a good time?”

“Of course,” the young man hastily responded. “Please ask whatever you like, milord.”

“Then let’s find a place to sit and chat.” Yu Xiao didn’t like it here, it was too stifling.

Li Hao snuck a careful look at Hao Lianchuan. Although the deputy director frowned slightly, he still said, “That’s fine. Li Hao, take Special Agent Yu to the teahouse next door. Remember what you can and cannot say!”

The young man nodded emphatically.

“Then let’s do that,” Yu Xiao said indifferently. “Come with me, Li Hao.”

“Yes, sir!” Li Hao was hot on the man’s heels. Yu Xiao left with quick strides. He wouldn’t want to be here if not for the young man.

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