Star Gate

Chapter 675: Li Hao Returns (III)

“Little Ye, do you know of someone?” Yao Si asked softly after considering his secretary for a while.

“Whom do you speak of, director?”

“Yun Haoran.”

Little Ye blinked and paused. Her cheeks flushed, but her expression quickly turned sorrowful. It was an incredibly fast change that transformed to a deathly quiet moments later. She managed to squeeze out a smile in the end. “Of course, Yun Haoran was the headmaster of the Skystar Ancient Academy. He was a leading scholar of civil subjects who championed general education for the people.

“His fondest wish was that everyone would have a chance to attend school. He threw his weight behind widespread propagation of ancient technologies. He voluntarily shared some, such as the method of making concrete, how to reclaim wasteland as fertile fields, and mechanical reforms that revolutionized the world’s technological capabilities...

“In the year 1725 of the Star Era, Yun Haoran wanted to contact the ancient academies of the various lands to establish ten thousand middle and elementary schools. They would enroll ten million students total. However, he died as soon as he submitted the proposal to the nine ministries. Powerhouses from the three great organizations snuck into Skystar City to go on a killing spree. He died at home, and his entire family with him.

“All technology rollouts halted with his death!” Little Ye was very calm at the end. “The Skystar Ancient Academy shuttered its doors, and all teachers and students were expelled. It became what is now known as the Skystar Supernatural Academy. It’s said that there aren’t many left of the original batch of teachers. They’ve all either died or fled for their lives. Most of the students have also left Skystar City...

“Actually, I... wanted to join the Ancient Academy five years ago.” She smiled. “I wanted to learn some skills. The academy was no more later on and I happened to be able to induct mysterious power into myself. This is how I came to the Night Watchers and was lucky enough to find favor in the director’s eyes. I then became your secretary because I can recognize a few words, so I am quite fortunate.”

“Do you know? I knew him and was very close to him.” Yao Si inclined his head.

Little Ye blinked.

“Would you say he was a supernatural or not?” asked Yao Si.

“I’ve never heard he was, so he was probably a mundane?” Little Ye furrowed her brows.

“No no no, he was a supernatural, and one ascended from martial dao. He set foot straight into the Nova level five years ago.”

Little Ye started. A Nova from five years ago! Novas then were probably on par with Arcanus now? Even if there were some differences, they would at least be metamorphosis, no?

But... she was still in a daze. “No, wait, they say that they caught some members of the three great organizations that day and killed a few. They were all Sunflares, but... there... was also a Solar. Solars then were incredibly strong and everyone felt that the headmaster was so unlucky as to encounter one...”

“That’s right,” Yao Si chuckled. “They caught and killed his murderers, giving an account of the situation to the rest of the world. Therefore, people quickly forgot about him. The authorities wouldn’t have been able to explain themselves had they continuously failed to capture the killers.

“Yun Haoran was a grandmaster of knowledge known throughout the lands. Skystar’s Ancient Academy led the educational field and was the vanguard for technological reforms. It was devoted to pursuing advancements for the people. Every one of its moves affected all ancient academies elsewhere. In those days, intellectuals focused on absorbing the knowledge from the academy’s cultural technology research...

“Therefore, change took place rapidly up to a few years ago. We built cars, houses, machines, planes, rockets, televisions, communication systems... Everything one could need when it came to food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

“It was all being set into motion when it suddenly came to a halt!” Yao Si sighed and looked ahead, saying with emotion, “I relinquished my grasp on the reins of power after he died. I felt that this era had become too dangerous and my strength was too weak. An arm will not stand against a thigh.”

Little Ye had been listening with bated breath. What did this mean? Had the director and Headmaster Yun been good friends?

Yun Haoran had died five years ago. The director officially relinquished power five years ago and no longer concerned himself with Night Watcher affairs. He let Yellow Dragon do as he wished.

Yao Si said nothing further and simply looked into the distance. He seemed to see the famous grandmaster of knowledge die a grisly death. His death had been inevitable and his name now forgotten. Back then, information wasn’t readily exchanged throughout the dynasty. It was a far cry from the open lines of communication in modern times.

Yu Haoran had created and popularized many things; he had a certain number of protectors. One of them was an old man called Yao Si, but the old man later gave up and sank into quiet, biding his time. That flash of light was gone with Yun Haoran’s death.

Yao Si could not withstand the enemy. Today, someone else stepped forward, someone even more vicious and ruthless than Yun Haoran!

Yun Haoran had simply wished to progress incrementally through technological development. The newcomer wanted to establish his authority through killing people and use martial might to force upstairs to give way.

Which was a wiser course of action?

Yao Si didn’t know. He just knew that Yun Haoran was dead and Li Hao was more dangerous!

Off in the distance, the conflict was growing more heated. Zhou Chao’s presence flared as he shouted, “Get out of my way or I’ll execute all of you for insubordination!”

Killing intent flashed through Chen Jin’s eyes as he tightened his grip on his great ax. However, he was a bit rooted to the spot. He was a Dominator, not a Summoner. He felt that he could kill peak Sunflare, but Solars were difficult. That would take the Guard formation to do so. He also stood no chance in dealing with a peak Solar.

Several Dominators rushed over. Chen Jin took a deep breath when he saw them; his weapon shook his hands.

“What, are you going to attack me?” Zhou Chao asked coldly. “Think carefully about your next actions. Insubordination is a death sentence!”

He’s doing this on purpose! Anger rose in Chen Jin’s heart. A death sentence?? You’re the prisoner!

His great ax trembled fiercely as he wanted to kill people. He wanted to hack through all of these bastards! Zhou Chao was a regular when it came to all manner of base acts. The Guards had arrived at the central Night Watchers for only a month, but they’d already heard all sorts of rumors!

A variety of information flowed freely within the Night Watchers, some even warned the female martial masters of the Guards to be careful of Zhou Chao. It was only after Hou Xiaochen demonstrated his might that others came to be wary of them instead.

“Get out of the way, do you hear?!” Zhou Chao stepped forward with an arctic demeanor. He wasn’t afraid of being attacked—their captors had to have the courage to make a move for that.

Yellow Dragon and the rest stood nearby, exerting wordless pressure as they towered like mountains. Their gazes were fixed on another structure—Hou Xiaochen’s office building.

......

A deputy director’s building.

Hou Xiaochen watched silently as Manager Yu burned with fury. She wanted to charge downstairs to kill people!

“Wait, there’s no rush!” Hou Xiaochen said softly.

“Director!” Manager Yu flared with killing intent. “I want to kill people!”

Who dared provoke Silver Moon martial masters in this manner? Who dared push them to the brink like this? How dare a piece of trash, a worm do so!

“Wait a bit longer,” Hou Xiaochen calmed her down. “I want to let them know that this is what happens when one is too weak. They will suffer beatings, they will be humiliated, they will be entirely without dignity!”

Who did he mean?

Chen Jin and the others. Martial masters were too weak—this was a commonly held viewpoint. They were too weak, so they couldn’t achieve what they wanted.

A spear slowly materialized in Hou Xiaochen’s hands as he said softly, “Wait a bit... I want to wait for Chen Jin to act before killing those guys!”

Since Li Hao was gone, then Hou Xiaochen would provide an example for the young man.

Yellow Dragon, do you think I don’t dare kill you? Or do you think you can do as you wish just because you have a few more metamorphoses by your side?

......

Chen Jin waved his great ax around. He had a fiery temper to begin with and it raged even more out of control now. He suddenly roared in the next moment and hacked with his ax. “You piece of shit, I’ll kill you!”

Bam!

Zhou Chao jerked back, astonished. So you really do dare take action?? His father and some other deputy directors were in the back of the crowd. Yellow Dragon was also present as well. These were all premier powerhouses, so Zhou Chao had thought that the Silver Moon Guards wouldn’t dare do anything.

Of course, it was best if they did. Hence, Zhou Chao suddenly smiled. This was good! As expected, the northern barbarian that was Chen Jin couldn’t keep his cool in the face of simple provocation. That he’d chosen to make a move now meant that even Hou Xiaochen would find it difficult to save his people.

Metal mysterious power erupted! BOOM!

A punch illuminated the air with metal energy as Zhou Chao sneered, “You’ve got some nerve! The Silver Moon Guards have committed the offense of subordination and have dared attack me! As the saying goes, the tone is set at the top! Today, I will execute you first to cleanse the Night Watchers of traitors!”

Yellow Dragon and the rest looked into the distance, at a Hou Xiaochen who’d already revealed himself. A light danced in the eyes of the deputy ministers.

“Be careful,” transmitted the deputy director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “This guy isn’t weak and may even have the power to kill metamorphosis experts. Our minister speculates that he is near Arcanus. We don’t need to kill him, just hold him back...”

“Don’t worry, I know what to do!” A vicious look appeared in Yellow Dragon’s eye as he looked at Hou Xiaochen. If you dare make a move... I’ll borrow the strength of the nine ministries to end you!