Star Gate

No wonder Golden Spear didn’t break teacher’s will by himself. He can’t do it! The thought came to Li Hao as he ran. At the same time, certain pressure formed about his future in the Silver Moon Guards. Someone as stern as Golden Spear might not approve of his style. Li Hao suddenly thought of Mu Lin. Mu Lin was another person who seemed off the cuff. Perhaps Golden Spear didn’t like him much either.

Someone like the ranking officer liked those who were quiet and biddable. Li Hao quickly forgot about him; he moved speedily through the air. Having just partially comprehended what sharpness to the extreme meant, he ran as if an arrow streaking through the sky.

Li Hao set foot into the northern quadrant of the city before long. This was Inspectorate territory. Someone was on patrol as soon as he entered the area; they were a bit nervous on account of his speed. A medallion appeared in Li Hao’s hand, “Night Watcher on duty!”

The inspectors breathed sighs of relief to hear the self-identification.

“Where is the Sword Sect branch office in White Moon City?” the young man asked hastily.

There were three inspectors in front of them, one of them older than the other two. He drew a quick conclusion after looking at Li Hao and answered, “Close to the southern quadrant, near the watchtower...”

“Thanks!” Li Hao vanished with a leap, leaving behind inspectors staring with admiration. Was that a Night Watcher?

They knew about the secret agency and had met some Night Watchers before, but that was under normal conditions. When Li Hao approached from a distance, they saw him move as fast as lightning!

“Man, are guns even useful anymore with people like that?” sighed one of the inspectors. It was hard to see the target when it moved at that speed, much less aim and hit them with a gun. The notion was a complete daydream!

The other two sighed with envy over superhumans while the veteran inspector calmly spoke into a communicator.

“An ordinary life is the real existence,” he said after finishing his report. “The stronger one is, the greater the danger. There are many dangers in the world of superhumans.”

With that task complete, he continued his patrols. Youngsters liked pursuing thrills and stimulation. They would know at his age that no excitement was worth a commonplace routine. Being superhuman was nice, but that came with a constant risk of imminent death.

......

The branch office of the Sword Sect.

The sect occupied a building of six floors in White Moon City. As a local supernatural organization, it wasn’t one of the evil organizations. It occasionally assisted the Night Watchers. Neither did the government label the Sword Sect as an evil supernatural organization, mainly because the Sword Sect resembled a sect of the martial world.

The Sword Sect retained some martial world culture and mannerisms. Whether it was their supernaturals or martial masters, they participated in the world of martial dao and not that of mundanes. Therefore, supernaturals of the Sword Sect rarely disturbed ordinary people.

Supernatural organizations that did not plague mundanes were typically not deemed as evil by the authorities.

There weren’t many people at the branch. Establishing a branch in the capital city was just to prove to the Night Watchers that the Sword Sect was a legitimate, aboveboard organization. They were an upright existence that could take their place in the light.

On the first floor of the branch.

Hong Yitang shared a meal with his family in a large private room; he ate with his daughter and second wife. He’d staunchly remained in White Moon City over the past couple of days. The Sword Sect could not be headquartered in White Moon, but Hong Yitang lingered at the capital due to the large number of people gathered here. He stayed in order to swiftly respond to potential developments and sought to remain until the ruins next opened, or until Hou Xiaochen left Silver Moon.

The family of three chatted throughout the meal. Hong Qing had much to say as she wasn’t subject to the old martial rule of not talking while eating or before sleeping. Hong Yitang doted on his daughter, so he didn’t enforce that many rules.

“Dad, are we going to keep staying here? When can we go home?”

“Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Hong Qing wasn’t dissatisfied with their present circumstances as the sect’s headquarters was stationed in a remote location. She rather liked living in White Moon City. It was bustling with a lot of restaurants, shops, and entertainment. However, her father often seemed distracted these days. Perhaps he missed home.

Deep in thought, Hong Yitang picked up some food with his chopsticks and abstained from drinking. His wife added some more food to his bowl when she saw his state.

“Focus on eating when we’re eating, don’t think of anything else,” she said softly.

“Mmhmm, you guys eat too.” Hong Yitang smiled.

“Dad, are the Night Watchers going to make trouble for us?” Hong Qing asked curiously. “If it can’t be helped, we can offer all of the Black Amors we took. Wealth stirs up feelings, they must be after us for the one hundred suits of armor we collected!”

Nine hundred Black Armors had been settled last time, with over eight hundred being claimed. The wandering supernaturals all died, making the three great organizations, Night Watchers, and Sword Sect the biggest winners.

Many died from the three great organizations, leaving the Sword Sect to take home numerous sets of armor due to having two Solars on the scene. If it wasn’t for the sect voluntarily taking a step back, they could’ve claimed two hundred sets with the strength they had left.

“Let’s trade some of the Black Armors for mysterious power,” his wife suggested. “While we have many members, we don’t have that many martial masters. We don’t need so many sets and it brings us to people’s attention instead.”

“I’d love to give some away, but it’s hard to!” Hong Yitang smiled. He didn’t really care about the armor and also wanted to give them away. But certain things couldn’t be gifted just because one wanted to. He’d been in communication with the Night Watchers and their response was simple—they couldn’t seize and take from another! They would accept a gift of this caliber only from one of their own people!

Hou Xiaochen’s meaning was very clear. Either join his side, whereupon these items would naturally belong to the Night Watchers. Otherwise... hold onto it yourself!

Holding onto the suits of armor wasn’t a good thing. The three great organizations knew of the Sword Sect’s riches, how would they not be tempted? So what of a mere two Solars in residence?

Hou Xiaochen was trying to recruit the Sword Sect without dirtying a single blade! His method was so sophisticated that nothing could be said about it. Could the Night Watchers be blamed for not wanting the treasure under these circumstances?

Should the Sword Sect offer it to the three great organizations instead?

Very well, then that was collusion with evil organizations, which would make the Sword Sect an evil organization. Thus, even Hong Yitang sighed over his next steps these days. Hou Xiaochen was killing without shedding a single drop of blood!

It was one thing to openly attack someone, it was another and the peak of shrewdness to stand atop the clouds, looking down at his target and having said target offer allegiance without lifting a finger.

The Sword Sect was a powerful faction in the province, standing at two Solars, a dozen Sunflares, a dozen Sunderers, and hundreds of Slayers and Starlight. The Night Watchers would be immensely bolstered if they brought such a faction to their side.

The key thing was, the Sword Sect also had decent foundations and was self sufficient. It didn’t need to be nurtured from scratch.

The last expedition to Battle Heaven had resulted in the obliteration of Light Island, heavy losses to the three great organizations, and clearing out the incredibly bold wandering cultivators. By now, Hong Yitang long realized that perhaps news of the ruins had been purposefully leaked and the joint expedition a calculated move.

Hou Xiaochen’s true goal had been to clean house of the province’s supernatural domain! Every step had been within his calculations and extremely sophisticated methods, yet there was nothing for people to do but obediently set foot into the trap.

The center of his forehead jumped as he considered these irritating affairs. His wife sensed it moments later and frowned. “Is someone coming?”

The sensation wasn’t too apparent, so it shouldn’t be a supernatural. A martial master?

A laugh traveled through the door after a while. “Li Hao of the Five Styles is here to visit martial uncle Hong!”

The three in the private room blinked. Li Hao? Hong Yitang found it odd. What was the lad doing here?

“Come in, you’re too polite!” Hong Yitang stood up to welcome his visitor when the room door opened with a gust of wind. Li Hao stood in the doorframe.

Some Sword Sect disciples gaped behind the young man. So fast!

“Master!”

“Sect leader!”

“......” All of them opened their mouths, some extremely fearful that they’d let someone barge in.

“It’s fine!” Hong Yitang waved them off and looked at Li Hao with a smile. “Li Hao’s here, have you eaten yet?”

It was lunchtime.

“Not yet.” Li Hao raised a cupped fist salute to the lady. “Greetings to Madame Hong!” He then nodded in a friendly manner to Hong Qing. “Thanks for the sword last time!”

The girl said nothing and just looked curiously at Li Hao. What was he doing here? Madame Hong smiled, but shock roiled within her heart. This Li Hao was very fast!

“Then let’s eat together, martial uncle?” Li Hao casually dropped into a seat and rubbed his stomach when he looked at the table full of dishes. “I really am a bit hungry...”

Hong Yitang’s look shifted slightly and he laughed. “Then let’s have some together, but we’ve already dug into the dishes. I’ll have someone bring hot ones out...”

“There’s no need to go through that hassle!” Li Hao picked up an unused bowl and set of chopsticks, digging in with relish. He was so at ease that Hong Qing and Madame Hong stared. This was something that only very intimate disciples or brothers would do; his actions represented their closeness! But coming from an outsider, it was impoliteness.

They looked at Hong Yitang, who didn’t seem to mind. He sat down with a smile and watched the young man eat. “Don’t you usually go to the cafeteria at noon? What brings you to my sect’s branch office today?”

“I miss the martial uncle!”

“......” Hong Yitang had no response. Is our... relationship to this point?

“And I mean to apologize. I’m terribly sorry about breaking martial uncle’s Earthturner Sword. I didn’t cherish it properly.”

“It’s fine,” Hong Yitang chuckled. “I gave it to you, so it was yours.”

“It’s broken?” Hong Qing gasped. “The Earthturner Sword is very durable and mighty! How did it break?”

“It shattered when I hacked at someone two days ago.” Li Hao grinned. “They wanted to kill me, so I struck back and accidentally broke it.”

“But... that sword is really very strong. Did someone switch it out on you?” Hong Qing was in disbelief.

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