Star Gate

“There’s no space on the fifth floor,” Hao Lianchuan responded after some thought. “But there’s an empty office on the fourth floor. It’s close to Manager Yu though, do you want it?”

“Really?” Li Hao was surprised that he would actually be allocated an office.

“It’s just an office!” Hao Lianchuan chuckled without care. “Not to mention... people don’t really want to be neighbors with that one. If you don’t mind, it’s yours as soon as you get your things together.”

While the secretary was more reliable in taking care of matters, she showed a frosty demeanor to everyone who was not Hou Xiaochen. Thus, the rest of the Night Watchers would rather stay on another floor than be her neighbor.

Li Hao didn’t care. This was great! He had his own office at headquarters on the second day of arriving in White Moon City. How nice. Should he bring over the silk banner from Silver City too?

Nah, he would be going back to Silver City one day. That banner should hang where he got it.

......

Li Hao didn’t do anything else that afternoon. He cleaned up the office, put away his things, and for all intents and purposes, looked to take over the space. The other secretaries and drivers on the fourth floor were surprised by his actions. How was there anyone who dared use that office?

Many snuck glances at Manager Yu, but found that the secretary didn’t care at all. It was as if this matter wasn’t happening. These people had to give up their desire to gossip and simply conclude that rookie Li Hao possessed above average courage!

The young man was busy until the end of the work day. He was in a wonderful mood as he looked at his new office. At forty square meters, it wasn’t a small office. Everything he needed for his office desk was present, as well as a sofa area for guests. Although it didn’t measure up to his office in Silver City, he was in a metropolis in which space was at a premium. Thanks to knowing people in the right places, he had a private retreat at work. All it’d taken was one simple word from Director Hao.

Li Hao walked out with satisfaction after admiring the results of his labor. He locked his office door and put away the key in his pocket.

In the hallway.

Manager Yu happened to set foot out of her office at this time. She raised both eyebrows when she saw Li Hao lock the door. This... fellow... really was quite interesting. He was treating this territory as his own! Was he really prepared to come to work here?

The time was 6 pm, precisely when they should get off work. Clocking into work in the mornings and leaving work precisely on time... Manager Yu didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling.

“Li Hao!”

“Manager Yu!” The young man followed what the rest called her. “You’re off work too, manager?”

“......” Manager Yu never knew what getting off work felt like. She rarely left the building. She blinked at the question and slowly inclined her head. “I’m off work!”

“Want to go together, manager?”

“That’s alright.” Manager Yu looked silently at him for a bit before leaving with large strides. Together for what? She never left the building, what together was there to be had?

“Then good bye, manager! I’m going home!” Li Hao bid merrily, in a great mood. It was a happy day. Instead of taking a car or a bike when he exited street level, he walked back to the family accommodations.

The light bulbs reappeared as soon as he left the Night Watchers, but he paid them no heed. These people weren’t worth dirtying his sword. Not to mention, they wouldn’t give in to their impulses. They would take action only when they fully grasped everything there was about him. For one, they needed to determine if anyone was protecting him from the shadows. No one would make an attempt before they understood what the Night Watcher arrangements were.

Li Hao seemed oblivious to his circumstances. He strolled home, buying a few buns and a bowl of beef noodle soup along the way. He didn’t like troubling others. Although the Inspectorate could deliver to his door, he didn’t like asking them to do so. Self-sufficiency was just fine and food here wasn’t too expensive. He drew a high salary at his rank, did he care about spending a few coins like these?

......

“Is there really no one looking out for the kid?” Some watchers in the darkness were confused; it looked like no one was standing guard in the shadows. Did the Night Watchers think Li Hao didn’t need oversight just because the kid didn’t live too far away? Or did they think that no one dared touch the young man because Hou Xiaochen was in the city?

They carefully observed for a while to confirm that indeed, there were no secret protectors for the young man. Out of the Night Watcher powerhouses, Hou Xiaochen was in seclusion, Hao Lianchuan was busy at headquarters, and some of the other peak Sunflares attended to their own missions. Nearly all of the Night Watcher Sunflares were preoccupied with other business.

The only one not busy was Wang Ming, and he’d driven off in his sports car after bringing Li Hao back in the afternoon. There were eyes on him too. He really had run off to pursue his own delights and wasn’t present in the southern quadrant of the city.

......

Upstairs, through the front doors.

Li Hao smiled faintly like nothing was amiss, but was secretly quite surprised. Had Red Moon sent people to him again? There was a scarlet shadow inside his apartment.

A Red Moon member had probably slipped into the area while Hao Lianchuan was absent. There was no sign of a supernatural, just the scarlet shadow. They probably thought it wasn’t likely the shadow would be exposed, so it floated right in front of the young man.

Li Hao would’ve trembled with fear if this was in times before. But now... he was used to the sight. He even took a moment to sense that it was roughly initial Sunflare. That could also be determined from its size. He’d eaten so many of these that whenever he saw scarlet shadows now, it was like he saw a snack waiting to be swallowed in one gulp.

Red Moon was certainly bold. It looked like another one of their powerhouses had arrived in Silver Moon, or had Violet Moon recovered? They were more concerned about Li Hao’s wellbeing than anyone else.

The organization was deathly afraid of the young man dying, going missing, or breaking free of their control. He often thought that they were the only ones in White Moon City who truly cared about him!

How lonely that was, and a little sad! Red Moon was the best!

There was nothing else on Li Hao’s schedule for the night. After eating his buns, he sat down in front of the desk. The scarlet shadow watched silently next to him, as if a parent overseeing their child’s homework.

Li Hao began drawing a map of the ruins. He would fulfill his promise to Yu Xiao and produce a map for the man. Since there was no origin weapon anymore... The young man thought for a while and made a mark on the city doors. Those two characters were more valuable than an origin weapon!

This was a true treasure map, he wouldn’t lie about that. As for the scarlet shadow watching him... so it watched him.

Do you see this? Go look at the two characters over the city gates. There might be surprises in store for you. If that killing fiend rushes back from the past... Man, that’ll be fun.

The scarlet shadow was still present after he finished his diagram. It would seem that a lot of people had an eye on Hao Lianchuan. They were each bolder than the rest upon knowing that the deputy director wasn’t back yet.

Li Hao ignored the shadow and resumed practicing the boxing technique from earlier in the day. His punch shot out with significant force and was aimed at the scarlet shadow. The shadows weren’t afraid of physical attacks, but the blood qi of martial masters could damage them. Mind intent had an even greater effect.

Seeing that the scarlet shadow didn’t run off after extended practice, he picked up the Earthturner Sword to begin running through sword techniques!

......

Inside a unit of the family accommodations building of the Inspectorate.

A middle-aged man with run-of-the-mill features spoke into a communicator.

“He’s not doing anything.” The man frowned. “He came back, ate, drew a little, then began practicing martial dao. He’s focusing on the fist and sword, and his sword intent is rather strong...”

He had no words for Li Hao. Work, home, dinner, training... Was this the lifestyle of a young man? Didn’t he have any hobbies? There was nothing noteworthy about him at all!

......

On the other side of the communicator.

Outside White Moon City.

Violet Moon looked at the city; another person next to her also looked at the city with an amused expression. He could hear the report coming from the communicator.

“This heir of the Lis... is so boring!” he laughed softly.

Violet Moon nodded and cut off communication. “We don’t need to pay attention to him for the moment,” she murmured. “We are beset on all sides because of the blood pearls. Hou Xiaochen killed Red Hair. What do you think we should do next?”

“So he’s dead,” the man chuckled. “It’s enough for Hou Xiaochen to kill one, does he dare kill a second? Red Hair was too careless and too weak—he died in one move and lost incredible face for Red Moon!

“The leader gave me two missions for my trip. Number one, bring back Li Hao or his corpse! Number two, bring back Yuan Shuo or his corpse. Nothing was said about Hou Xiaochen.

“Therefore, the Hou Xiaochen that humiliated you isn’t our primary target. Our true goal is still Li Hao! We’re different from the others—Li Hao is more important to us than Hou Xiaochen. Don’t lose sight of our purpose, Violet Moon!”

“But... it’s almost impossible to take him alive,” Violet Moon fretted. “Then we can only kill him. Will he be effective when he’s dead?”

“I don’t know.” Blue Moon didn’t care. “I’m just going to follow orders. Perhaps the leader has other methods. Of course, taking the young man alive is for the best. We need to wait for the next rainy season and it’s almost upon us. The next rainy season will happen around December.”

The intervals between killing the heirs of the eight families were growing shorter and shorter. The next rainy season was less than half a year away.

“Then... what about the ancient city of Battle Heaven?” Violet Moon was loath to walk away from everything just like this.

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