Star Gate

Chapter 525: Yuan Shuo’s Resentment (III)

Li Hao looked on from the sidelines as his people busied themselves. He watched as the crowd gradually livened up from their lethargic apathy. They were filled with righteous indignation, as opposed to petrified insensitivity.

“So it turns out... that people are kind after all.” The young man suddenly smiled. “Or rather, they are empathetic. Not everyone is indifferent to the circumstances.”

Kong Jie looked at Li Hao, then at the crowd around them. “Silver Moon wasn’t as apathetic in the past. Thanks to the nonstop feed of bad news over the past couple of years and disturbances here and there, the provincial government has its hands tied. There is no money for reforms and no people or source for improvements. There’s countless factors to keep in mind when taking any action.

“The dynasty still exists—we can easily draw their scrutiny if we go about things haphazardly. After a sustained decline in the external environment, even Silver Moon lacks some of its previous vitality and enthusiasm.”

“I understand.” Li Hao nodded. “Therefore, the world needs a transformation!” He looked into the distance and located where the Sword Sect was. “The land needs innovation and revolution! We can naturally turn over a new leaf when we kill all of the ambitious souls, local tyrants, royal family, influential clans, nine ministries, soldiers that are more bandits, evil organizations, supernaturals creating trouble, and martial masters that are butchers...”

“......” Kong Jie stared like he was looking at a madman. He was completely bowled over. Are you crazy or am I crazy? What are you talking about?

Li Hao ignored him. I’m not the one saying this, it’s written in the ancient tomes and referenced by Hong Yitang and the others. I don’t understand it! But I do understand one thing—kill everyone causing trouble and there will be no more trouble.

Conquer the world first, then push reforms. No one will stop me then and I can change things how I wish. Everything will naturally play out according to my desires.

There was so much sophisticated technology in the ancient civilization, but only so many being popularized. Those in charge stood in the way of such changes because they did not wish for the people to awaken their minds.

Comments from Hong Yitang and the others had ultimately taken root in Li Hao’s heart and germinated. If the world could be not pacified, then he would pacify the people. Of course, he couldn’t do so at the moment. These were just words spoken in a fit of rage, but they did reflect the sentiments of his heart.

He thought back to who he suspected was the Human King. Are you going to listen or not? I’ll kill you if you don’t listen, I’ll kill until there’s no one left!

Kong Jie fidgeted a bit uncomfortably next to him; Li Hao vanished from the spot and reappeared on the pirate ship in the distance. He’d said enough today, that was all for now. He was used to keeping a low profile and didn’t want to step into the limelight, but some things were assaulting his mind too strongly.

He vanished from the pirate ship moments later and soundlessly threaded through the waters on the small ship, Panther by his side. They disappeared into the sparkling expanse of the sea. There was one final thought on Li Hao’s mind—he wanted to see...

See what?

The town that’d been razed.

He still didn’t believe that the world had become so dark. He wanted to visit Near River to take a look. The provincial government should be aware of what’d transpired after a day and should be mobilizing a response. The young man wanted to observe what the situation was now.

The Vast Kun Ship shot through the seas at high velocity, moving faster and faster until it reached its peak speed. He passed by their earlier battlefield after an hour, continuing forward for another hour as he passed through the Moon Sea. He stayed close to the next branch of the North Sea; it also connected to Cloud River.

Li Hao could see fires rise up in the distance and leaping flames blazing everywhere. He jumped into the air like a bird and vanished in the sea, alongside the little ship.

......

Moments later.

Li Hao hovered in the air and looked down below him. A group of soldiers was setting fire to a ravaged town. Some supernaturals were present as well. The corpses were already charred husks and whatever valuables the pirates didn’t make off with were now in soldier hands.

They searched each house individually, going from door to door.

“Hurry up and finish your search before night falls!” someone roared. “Upstairs has ordered us to retreat before night arrives. Fire supernaturals, be ready to burn Seabrink Town to the ground and don’t leave a single trace behind...”

Don’t leave a single trace behind.

Li Hao’s ears twitched as the voice on the ground grew smaller. A supernatural outside the town was having a hushed conversation with a military officer. “We must clean up all traces and draft the report that a fire broke out in Seabrink Town. That’s why only ashes remain of it. Skystar City is already dissatisfied with the northern territory as things stand. If word gets out that pirates invaded and killed all ten thousand in a town, we’ll have to bear responsibility for that!”

“There’s no need to say anything else, I know what to do. Don’t worry, there were no survivors in Seabrink Town, they all died in the fire!” murmured the general. Whoever was alive would end up dead.

It was a grave crime that a town had been razed by pirates. Although everyone understood each other, they could not proclaim it officially. They had to claim that it was errant fire that led to the town’s loss. As for whether or not the civilians believed them or if word of the true happenings got out... Who the hell cared!

It was enough if upstairs believed them. What, were they going to fight the White Shark Raiders? That’d be an utter joke!

The White Shark Raiders numbered more than one thousand supernaturals, multiple Novas, and a bunch of Solars. Near River could not do anything to them unless they mobilized everyone from the province. That would just be a death wish!

Their only hope was that the White Shark Raiders would not have their eyes set on other towns or small cities when the pirates returned. Near River would be in grave trouble then.

But upon thinking of the connection between the Director General Office and some of the pirates... It was one thing for the White Shark Raiders to eliminate a small town. They should show some face afterward and not move onto the major cities. Hence, the personnel present relaxed.

One supernatural and one officer continued their murmured conversation. They were both Sunflares. Not a single Solar was on the scene. Plainly, they didn’t intend on chasing down the pirates. They were just going through the motions.

Li Hao swept a glance from the air and noted that there were still survivors in the town. They were hiding in various secret caches, opting to stay hidden despite the presence of soldiers. Some were occasionally dragged out howling and screaming from the secret passages.

“Mercy, sir, we don’t know anything... We really don’t know anything...”

“She’s just a child, milord... Take me and let the child go...”

“Shut up and get out here. You’re gathering up ahead. What are you hiding for? We didn’t say that we’re going to kill you!” These soldiers were vicious, pushing and kicking a group of survivors out of hiding. Nearly one hundred survivors swiftly gathered on the plains outside the town.

The soldiers walked out with varying bundles of goods that they’d collected. More fires burned throughout the town. Very soon, hundreds of soldiers and a dozen supernaturals reconvened.

The Sunflare officer and the Sunflare supernatural were still conversing. Moments later, the supernatural announced in a barely audible voice, “Let’s clean this up since we’ve got everyone. I’ll have the fire supernaturals turn this place to ashes. As for the stuff inside the town... you and I will split it?”

“Sounds good! Let’s be quick in case the pirates come back.”

“They won’t, they’ve certainly moved on to Silver Moon and won’t be back for a while...” The two negotiated rapidly and quickly moved on to giving orders to their soldiers and supernaturals to tidy up the remaining residents. Even though they didn’t care about word getting out, backlash was inevitable if the news spread.

But if everyone was dead, it was up to the official authorities to spin the tale.

......

In the air.

Li Hao heaved a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling like a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Indeed, that was the feeling. He’d despaired when the women cowered and begged him for mercy. Later on, he felt that perhaps they were just being silly and that those of Silver Moon were exaggerating things, making the outside world seem like hell.

He wanted to believe them, but felt that believing them so easily may be too foolish. The young man himself couldn’t articulate what kind of reality he wanted to see. Was it one of the military helping the wounded and chasing down pirates, or was it the scene in front of him...

He’d seen what he wanted to see and laughed. This was good! Indeed, this was the outside world. It was a living hell in which soldiers were bandits. Then there was nothing else to be said here.

His sword slashed forward in the next second! Countless rays of sword light descended!

Pfft pfft pfft!

Sword light rained down; the strongest of the soldiers and supernaturals were but Sunflares, they couldn’t withstand the barrage. Almost all of them died in the first wave. The two Sunflares were the only ones left standing.

“Lords of the White Shark Raiders!” shouted the horrified supernatural leader. “You can have everything, we’re from the Director General Office....”

His head exploded with a loud pop. Terrified out of his mind, the other Sunflare whirled around to flee. He also exploded with a loud bang before he ran five meters.

Some of the residents were still in a daze. They’d only known that they were doomed, that these bandit soldiers were about to kill them all. This wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last time...

But now, they were suddenly all dead!

They came alive and looked at the sky. Was it powerhouses or... the White Shark Raiders?

Li Hao didn’t respond. He waved the ship into view and called out from it, “Get on, I’ll take you to safety. You’ll be dead sooner or later in Near River!”

“A god must have saved us!” The overjoyed crowd knelt on the ground and burst into tears of joy.

Li Hao couldn’t be bothered to listen to their praise. There were only so many people in a town of thousands, he could just ignore them and go on his way. But if he did, these survivors were likely not long for this world since so many of their people had died.