Star Gate

Chapter 479: Judgment (I)

“What kinda pissed off crap are you saying!” He Yong laughed. “Ole Hong, do you have a grudge against Hong Yitang to suddenly target him in the last battle? Do you think he killed the General of Northern Pacification and is sitting by to watch the northern territory descend into chaos? Did you slap his face because you feel that he’s the reason why the people can’t live in peace?”

“I don’t, and you’re the one who punched him!”

“I don’t care,” He Yong laughed. “He’s ugly when he smiles and I only punched him gently. You’ve always kept yourself removed and indifferent about the situation. It’s quite something for you to go all out and pit yourself against him!”

“What are you trying to say?” Hong Yitang didn’t want to waste further time talking to the man.

“Not much,” He Yong responded. “I just want to pay back my debt. Don’t I owe you three thousand mysterious power stones? I won’t be able to pay them back quickly, so why don’t we cut a deal? I’ll have the royal family bequeath you a minor title and a small fiefdom. You can be your own boss and won’t have to answer to anyone. You can take in anyone you want to. I’ll get you a bunch of provisions and some orphans from the war...”

As crude as the man typically acted, he was no fool. He’d seen something in Hong Yitang. “You can do whatever you want behind closed doors. I don’t think you’re in the mood to go for general conquest, you’re different from Hou Xiaochen and the rest. They might be thinking further and seek to do more. I feel that you’re more down-to-earth, Ole Hong. What do you say?”

“Go screw yourself,” Hong Yitang transmitted. “This is how you want to pay back three thousand stones?”

“Do you want it or not!” He Yong responded in kind. “I’ll choose a good place for you. There are plenty of good fields close to your Sword Sect, but they all belong to others. No one’s been tilling them for a while and much of Silver Moon has fallen to the wilderness these years. Since you don’t have high ambitions, you might as well be the king of your own little place. Isn’t that just as well?”

“Get outta here. Not to mention, this isn’t up to the royal family.”

“It’s fine, the royal family just needs to legitimize you. It’ll be a better circumstance than claiming your own plot of land—that would be rebellion. If anyone makes trouble for you after the royal family gives you a title, then they’re the traitors. You won’t need to be afraid of them. All you need is that title.”

Hong Yitang sank into deep thought.

“I wouldn’t say this to just anyone, but you have a taste of the ancients about you, Ole Hong. Although it’s very little... I can help you! Your Sword Sect is only so big, but you’ve taken in several hundred orphans. I know that you’re used to keeping a low profile, yet you built up the Sword Sect reputation to intimidate the nearby supernaturals, did you not? You might do better if you have a greater expanse of territory. The world is about to fall to unrest!

“The three northern provinces are a mess, the central region is a mess, the whole world is about to become a mess! That’s also good as that will facilitate the new. As opposed to spending our days in a foggy haze, it might be better to have the people wake up from chaos. You have some thoughts in your brain, I saw how you looked at those schools. You mentioned the general literacy rate—more evidence that you have some plans in mind! Then you should materialize those plans...”

Hong Yitang walked in silence for a bit, then shook his head. “I can’t, I can’t do it!”

I’m just talking about it. I have neither the courage nor the charisma.

“Don’t be like that. Why are you afraid when you’re so strong? Do whatever you want. Are you still a martial master if you’re afraid of hard times? Can anything be harder than you crouching at home the three times that Yuan Shuo came for you?”

“......” The hell?! Hong Yitang cursed to himself. What bullcrap was this?? Were they even the same concepts?

“Don’t you find that you’re very calm inside the city? And you feel at ease. There are Black Armors on duty outside, so you can live at peace. If you could, I’d say you probably want to bring your wife and daughter here. Just think about it, have the children of the Sword Sect shared similar thoughts? They are reassured when you’re there, but are they the same when you’re gone?”

“Those aren’t the same concepts, stop trying to misdirect me. You’re saying all this just because you don’t want to pay off your debt, aren’t you?”

“That’s right!” He Yong cackled in direct admission. “If you want me to pay you back... I really don’t have that much money! I won’t be able to pay it off even with the help of military merits. When it comes to ordinary items, however, I think I can get them for you!”

“Let’s table that until we leave the ruins!” Hong Yitang didn’t say anything else, he didn’t want to say anything else.

He Yong grinned proudly, knowing that he’d tempted his counterpart. Paying off his debt suddenly looked so much easier.

Mysterious power stones were difficult to come by, but basic resources were easy for him given his status, strength, and identity. Everyone cared more about the resources available for supernatural training. As for those employed by mundanes, that wasn’t even a topic of discussion.

He Yong had heard what Hong Yitang murmured when the old man entered the ancient city. Li Hao just happened to wax eloquent in a sudden outpouring of emotion. He Yong could guess at what Hong Yitang was thinking by the look of lost hesitation in the man’s eyes.

Indeed, Earthturner Sword didn’t turn down his proposal too emphatically. There was hope in sight for He Yong to pay off his debts! But I wonder if it’s wrong to goad Ole Hong into doing this. Is it right to make him the leader of an orphanage? Would that cause his martial dao to become stronger or completely decline?

Who knew?

Would the guy not do anything just because He Yong didn’t mention anything? All he needed to consider was that he’d be able to pay off his debts after voicing this possibility!

......

Up in front, Li Hao didn’t think that much. They approached the eastern gate. The young man flew into the air—there weren’t that many Black Armors below. They were all on the gates defending. One could see supernaturals in the distance outside the city.

There were fewer supernaturals compared to before—at the very least, there wasn’t a teeming mass of them. Approximately six hundred were left.

Li Hao’s sharp gaze caught Light Moon, who continued to look at the city. This old man.... old woman... er, martial master who was difficult to determine a gender for... seemed to be in a very strange mood after Li Hao killed Xu Feng.

It wasn’t the fury or grief of losing a family member, but Light Sword had lost someone important all the same. Her emotions were so complex that Li Hao couldn’t begin to make sense of them. He didn’t sense the unbridled hatred of someone who would want revenge. If she didn’t want revenge... then why did she keep staring in Li Hao’s direction and at where Xu Feng had died? It was so weird.

Li Hao ignored her and turned to the two sides that were clearly delineated. There were those who wanted to leave, but couldn’t, and those who wanted to enter, but didn’t dare. It would seem that they were in a much more painful condition compared to him.

......

Those outside saw Li Hao when he appeared on the city wall.

“Director!” Manager Yu transmitted. “Li Hao has come out.”

Hou Xiaochen had been staring off into space and jerked away. He saw Li Hao when he looked over as well. The little guy was no longer hiding anything and took off his helmet, revealing his face. The young man did so because ventilation was poor inside the armor; it was stifling.

“He’s certainly a bold one,” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “It looks like he feels much more confident after killing Xu Feng.”

“What do we do now, director? Three Silver Armors have appeared on Battle Heaven’s side, along with that Gold Armor. Now that they’re reinforced with Li Hao and a few others, their battle strength is incredible. It won’t be easy to enter the inner city to take the Black Tortoise Seal!”

Much less than not easy, it would be hell!

Hou Xiaochen didn’t seem to mind. He transmitted, “Pay it no heed, we’ll leave it alone if we can’t take it. Right now, you should focus on how to exterminate the three great organizations!”

“Oh?”

“The three great organizations are gathered here and continue to draw more attention to Silver Moon. Whether it’s frightening them off or inflicting heavy casualties, we will not permit them to live! We can... let Battle Heaven stand as is.

“Find a chance to enter the city and speak to Li Hao...”

“Me?”

“Yes, go on, it’ll be fine. You haven’t done anything to their army, so take my key and approach the city gates. They’ll open for you. When you find Li Hao, ask him if he can convince the others to work with us and destroy these people together!”

Manager Yu blinked, but didn’t say anything. If the director said it was fine, then it was fine. No one dared enter the city as they were afraid of being surrounded by the army’s powerhouses. The manager was also worried, but if the director said she wouldn’t be targeted, then she believed him.

Thank goodness no one heard the transmission, or they might’ve mocked Yu Luocha for not thinking clearly!

“Ah, what about Hu Qingfeng and Qi Gang?” Manager Yu transmitted. “I say that they’re scared out of their minds. They’re not making a sound and their eyes dart around frantically. Perhaps they have some other thoughts in mind. Will they turn on us?”

There weren’t that many people on the expedition—just a few outsiders in the official delegation. They were Hu Qingfeng, his two men, and Qi Gang. The previous string of developments had scared them out of their wits. They probably wanted nothing more than to run.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” Hou Xiaochen transmitted back.

Manager Yu dropped the topic.

“Gentlemen!” Hou Xiaochen started a new transmission channel.

“......” Hu Qingfeng’s hair stood on end and his head snapped up with a look of terror. Qi Gang was slightly better, but he was also hard pressed to conceal his worry as he looked at the director.

“Special Agent Hu, you previously set up certain plans with Blue Moon and the others to kill me. Why did you give up on them?”

Terror flooded into Hu Qingfeng’s eyes! He only had one thought on his mind, run! Damn it! He knows!

“Don’t run, don’t be afraid. I don’t mean to kill you. If I did, I would’ve done so earlier and let you die to Earthturner Sword.”

Hu Qingfeng didn’t say a word as he went weak at the knees.

“You’re part of Yellow Dragon’s faction, aren’t you?”

Hu Qingfeng quelled his horror and shrank in on himself. “Yes!” he transmitted back.