Star Gate

Chapter 532: Stillness (III)

At the same time, White Moon City. The Night Watcher encampment.

“Stop it with the questions!” Hao Lianchuan raged. “Stop the bullshit! How do I know when Li Hao will be back? What are all of you doing? I’m still here, why are you asking me this shit? There’s nothing going on right now, what’s the deal with these constant questions??”

He completely lost his cool in front of the visiting Sunflares, they were so infuriating! These people came several times a day to ask when Deputy Director Li would be back. When he asked them what they wanted, one said that there might be a base of the three great organizations somewhere that required Li Hao’s help. The other asked if the Silver Moon Guard were still recruiting, they wanted to introduce a friend. A third complained that Director Li couldn’t always stay in the Guards, that he was a deputy director of the Night Watchers, after all. He needed to come and get to know everyone.

Hao Lianchuan was nearly beside himself with fury! Do all of you take me for dead?

Next to him, the metal attribute Deputy Director Zhou was a Solar and smiled placatingly at seeing Hao Lianchuan’s anger. “Director Hao, everyone’s thinking of the Night Watchers. To be honest, we’re all a bit uneasy after Director Hou’s departure. This is a good development, we’re much more at ease after Director Li has slayed some Novas.

“With a powerhouse that can fight Novas present, it feels much the same as when Director Hou was present. We’re much more confident. Otherwise, we wouldn’t even really dare eliminate the remnants of the three great organizations...”

That was the truth, the unfortunate, blatant truth!

“Am I not a mid Solar?!” Hao Lianchuan grumped. “Can I not handle some stragglers? Who are you looking down on?”

“......” No one said a word. Don’t ask us anything so we don’t need to say anything. If you insist... we really do look down on you a little bit.

“Get out of here, all of you!” Hao Lianchuan cursed. “I’ll let you know when he comes back. Get out of my sight and don’t bother me!”

“......” The group of people left sheepishly.

Hao Lianchuan sagged against his chair when they left, his face full of resignation. Bah, screw you Li Hao! You were so polite when you came and called me Uncle Hao. Now look at you, your head’s gotten too big after your strength grew! You said you’d take me along when you did something big, but you ran off without anyone knowing!

Demon Sword Li Hao was now known throughout the lands, and poor Hao Lianchuan was almost a backdrop. No, he was a side character. Nah, he wasn’t even a side character.

Wasn’t that aggravating??

As he cursed incessantly to himself, his eyes flicked toward the door and he suddenly beamed with joy. “Li Hao’s come back! Good, come, sit! Let’s chat! Are you tired? Are you hungry? Let’s get some food, my treat...”

“......” Li Hao looked blearily at the man. What was going on for him to be so welcoming? He’d come straight here after settling in the others. He was a nominal deputy director, after all. Hao Lianchuan had offered to join in his operations, but he’d left the man behind.

Li Hao had wanted to bring him along, but felt that they wouldn’t necessarily encounter pirates. The young man thought that Hao Lianchuan might be livid and looking to vent his anger, but the situation looked alright!

“Director Hao...”

“Call me brother!”

The hell?! Li Hao’s mind blanked. “Erm... I... should still call you Director Hao... Or director, or Uncle Hao at the very least?”

“Whatever you wish!” Hao Lianchuan beamed. “Were you hurt?”

“No, I’m alright.”

“Then that’s good. Did you just come back?”

“Yes, just came back.”

“Then...”

“Director Hao, you don’t have to be enthusiastic, I’m not used to this kind of treatment.” Resigned, Li Hao raised a hand to cut the man off. “We’ve known each other for a while and you’re the first Solar I met...”

“Nonsense, Brokensky was!”

“......” Li Hao coughed and couldn’t help but laugh. That was... true. He didn’t want to argue with Hao Lianchuan over this. “I’m here to explain why I didn’t invite you to come along...”

“I understand!” Hao Lianchuan plastered on an understanding smile. “I’m a supernatural and easily exposed. You were out for a regular sail and didn’t expect to engage with the pirates on your first excursion, right?”

“......” You’ve said everything I want to say, so what can I say?

Hao Lianchuan didn’t mind and continued with a chuckle, “Li Hao, the director said before he left that he was leaving the Night Watchers in your hands. That makes sense to me too. I don’t sit that comfortably in my position as director, even as an acting one, because I’m too weak.”

“I understand!” Li Hao interrupted. “This is why I’ve come to the director. Supernaturals find it easier to improve compared to martial masters. There are too few supernatural powerhouses in the Night Watchers, so I want to invite Director Hao to the Guards barracks. I’m going to cultivate over the next couple of days, so the director may be able to make use of the opportunity to find your fifth supernatural lock.”

“Really?” Hao Lianchuan was overjoyed. Was that possible?

Li Hao nodded. Supernatural locks would not manifest if they were too weak. That wasn’t a major issue—they could simply be strengthened if they were too weak. Blood pearls and elemental power would do, but mysterious power would not!

It had to be elemental energy. Perhaps mysterious power stones could be a stand-in if they were available in sufficient numbers as their energy was much more pure. However, Hao Lianchuan didn’t seem to have that many stones.

Li Hao was prepared to increase his organs and physical body to ten thousand cubes each. There was no need for the other martial masters to absorb energy because they’d reached the limits of their current state. More energy wouldn’t have much of an effect unless they comprehended the aura. This time, his focus was to fortify the supernaturals under his command.

It was easy for supernaturals to progress—there wouldn’t be so many powerhouses in just twenty years otherwise. This factored in the time they needed to search for the next stage, or else those fellows in the central region would’ve set foot into Nova in just a few short years.

Hao Lianchuan could dance with joy. There was hope yet! He was almost despairing because he continued to fail to locate his fifth lock. He burned with passion now that there was hope.

“Li Hao, Director Hou’s gone and I can’t be bothered to go up to the sixth floor to his office. You can have it and conduct your affairs from there in the future.”

“......” Li Hao blinked with astonishment. “No, I don’t want it!”

“It’s an entire floor! Don’t look down on it for an outwardly small size. There’s another house inside that the director lived in. There’s a massive balcony and tons of space...”

“Director Hao, do you think that Director Hou isn’t coming back?” Li Hao stared at him for a bit.

“......” Hao Lianchuan instantly quieted down. He laughed awkwardly. “Of course not!”

“So how come you’re giving his office to me?” Li Hao rolled his eyes. Hou Xiaochen will kill us both if he comes back and finds his home of a few decades with another occupant in it!

“Hahaha... we... we can talk about that later!” Hao Lianchuan continued laughing drily. Ole Hou’s gone, what does he care what we do with his office! It’s his fault for leaving like that!

“Then we’re decided. I’m going back first and Director Hao can come find me when you wrap up things here. I’ll be cultivating over the next three days. It’ll be the best if the director can manifest your fifth lock during this time.”

Hao Lianchuan hastily nodded, both expectant and impatient. His fifth lock! Not seeing it meant that he stood no chance of becoming a Nova. Only when he did was there hope. He wanted to leave with Li Hao on the spot! But there were matters to take care of in advance if he was to leave for a few days.

“Alright then,” he said with reluctance. “You go back first and I’ll be right there when I’m done.”

Hao Lianchuan was such a warm host that he insisted on walking Li Hao out. The young man left amid the admiring gazes of many Night Watchers. Hao Lianchuan ended up directing his driver to take Li Hao back and also told his driver that when Li Hao was present, the man would service Li Hao.

The young man didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. How come he hadn’t realized before that Hao Lianchuan was so good at currying favor? He knew no shame and was just the same as Wang Ming. Were they long lost father and son?

......

Back at the barracks, Li Hao put his matters in order. He didn’t actually do much, just tossed the dao comprehension weapons to Liu Long and had him assign opportunities based on merit.

They still followed Silver Moon Guard regulations at the moment, but Li Hao was prepared to shift to the Battle Heaven Army system. It was easy to keep track of merits when everyone was outfitted with black armor. At the moment, that function seemed to be obscured—possibly due to their distance from the city.

Li Hao consulted his armor and found that troop leaders could set up a similar merit system if they lost contact with the city. He wasn’t present when most of the fighting occurred, so he didn’t know who put forth more effort or less. Everyone split the gains equally at the moment, but that wouldn’t do once their numbers increased.

Was there a need to expand the Demon Hunters? He didn’t think so before, but after witnessing the Battle Heaven Army and the scale of the pirates, some other thoughts brewed in his mind. He just didn’t want to recruit right this very moment—training was a hassle!

It’d be nice if there were ready-made personnel, and he would’ve wanted to poach some from the other troops if the Guards were still here. What a pity that they’d all left.

With that in mind, he began closed door cultivation on the evening of October 6th. This time, he sought to elevate his body and organs to the ten-thousand-cube level.

The supernaturals sitting outside were all nervous and excited. Hao Lianchuan was the most excited as he knew some of the inside story, such as the sword of the Lis. He hadn’t been at liberty to say anything before as Li Hao refused to admit he’d turned in a fake. Now that the young man summoned him here, the newly promoted director knew that the real one must be on the young man.

Li Hao constantly wore his sword in open sight on this day, possibly to show off, or just that he felt there was no need to conceal it anymore. Or perhaps it was bait for others. Who knew?