Star Gate

Chapter 200: A Low Key Arrogance (II)

“Let’s go take a look!” Li Hao flashed a grin and beelined for the tent of ladies. He muttered as he walked, “Female supernaturals... and so many in one place. That’s a rare sight. Ole Wang, do you think I can sire a Heaven Favored if I marry a female supernatural?”

Wang Ming was at a complete loss for words. Where the heck did you get this idea from?! I haven’t heard you speak of it before, ever! Look at you showing your true colors as soon as we’re away from home!

Li Hao chuckled and didn’t bother to explain himself. Was that person listening? It was best if she was!

......

Inside the tent.

The ladies were awake. Some were cultivating, others were chitchatting. They were all Darkmoons and the expedition was close at hand. General nerves stretched heartstrings taut, making it impossible to sleep.

“Someone’s coming!” One of them broke off their conversation.

“Who?”

“Hello!” Wang Ming’s voice rang out. “I am Wang Ming and I’m here with Professor Yuan’s student to visit everyone. May I come in?”

“Wang Ming?” One of them recognized the name and lowered her voice, “It’s Big Mouth Wang...”

“Don’t say that, he’s not bad. He’s got good potential—apparently he’s discovered five locks. He’s strong and a metal attribute...”

“And Professor Yuan’s student, is it the little boy that gets shy easily?”

“Should be.”

Murmur murmur.

The chattering of women traveled out from the tent. Nothing flickered across Li Hao’s face, but Wang Ming’s expression changed. As a Sunflare, his hearing was much better than before.

Big Mouth Wang??

Who’d given him that nickname?!

You’re the big mouth! Is my mouth big?? Not at all!!

This is all Li Hao’s fault. I didn’t want to come!

The tent flaps quickly lifted and the woman that Li Hao had taken note of walked out. Falling on the thin side, she looked to be between her thirties and forties. Wang Ming seemed to know her and smiled when he saw their greeter.

“So Sis Zhang is here!”

“Brother Wang, introduce me,” Li Hao quickly said in a small voice. He was a shy little boy who didn’t even dare raise his voice!

Wang Ming chuckled merrily as he cursed inwardly. Yeah yeah yeah, keep putting on that act! How would he not know what type of person Li Hao was after being in contact with the young man for so long? This was a fellow who didn’t react to Liu Yan teasing him. Did he have a shy bone in his body?

“Hello, I’m Zhang Ting, a water Fullmoon!” The woman dimpled when she heard Li Hao’s words and extended her hand, seeming to want to shake Li Hao’s.

Supernaturals rarely shook hands during introductions. The same went for martial masters—they only shook hands if they wished to test each other. The gesture easily revealed many things about the superhuman, particularly martial masters. Internal force was contained inside the body and difficult to detect from external appearance.

This woman wants to shake my hand...

Li Hao was a rookie and a weakling in other people’s eyes. There was nothing about him to hide. Shaking hands was an exchange between equals, a show of respect.

Wang Ming didn’t think much of it.

Li Hao flashed a bashful smile and stretched out his hand, lightly clasping the other’s. He quickly withdrew his hand and quietly said, “I’m Li Hao. I’m from Silver City.”

The other ladies also walked out of the tent, regarding Li Hao with curiosity before greeting Wang Ming.

When Zhang Ting saw that no one paid attention to Li Hao, she drew him into a conversation like the understanding big sister she was.

“Li Hao, is this your first trip away from home?” she asked softly with a gentle smile.

“Yes!” Li Hao nodded. “I was always in Silver City before.”

“Then how are you here at such a dangerous time? You’re a Slayer, right? You haven’t made the crossover yet, right?”

“I’m not a Slayer...” Li Hao shook his head. “My teacher doesn’t want me to say anything, but I’ll tell you a secret, Sis Zhang. Don’t tell anyone—I have great martial potential! I’m a Sunderer, but Brother Wang and the others don’t believe me.”

Zhang Ting chuckled delightedly. What a cute little greenhorn! A Sunderer! She’d sensed it earlier that Li Hao may not be a Slayer. The handshake had only been for a split second, but she’d perceived that Li Hao might be a Sunderer. Indeed, little greenie here didn’t know anything and spilled his secrets without further ado. He rather resembled Big Mouth Wang in that regard.

“Big sis believes you!” Zhang Ting chuckled. “You can come to me if you need any help in the ruins. You’re so young, so you can ask me about anything you don’t understand.”

“Thank you, Sis Zhang!” Li Hao bobbed his head up and down with pleasure; his mind rapidly flew through calculations. This woman is absolutely a mid Solar and a water supernatural like she claims. Not only that...

She seems to have an origin weapon on her.

It felt different from Hao Lianchuan’s fire phoenix—that phoenix seemed alive. It was very obvious and detectable at a single glance. It flew around with immense strength. When it came to the woman, Li Hao didn’t notice it with his first impression. Now that they were face to face, they were so close that he could see everything about her.

The young man postulated that she had an origin weapon because he saw a small snake swimming through the big ball of light that was a hallmark of Solars. It was a very transparent snake that was very small. One might not notice it if they didn’t look at it carefully, particularly when a Solar’s light was so bright.

Now that Li Hao knew more about the supernatural world, he seemed to be able to notice more. He could even observe certain unique qualities, such as the other’s light being particularly bright around the four limbs, but that the left arm was noticeably dimmer. This indicated that the woman had opened the locks on her right arm and legs. Water was attributed to the kidney, so she’d likely opened the lock around her kidney as well.

Opening four locks made one a Solar, so her left arm was possibly a source of weakness. The strength between her four limbs was not balanced.

A mid Solar with an origin weapon...

Li Hao didn’t know if it was an origin weapon or not, but he knew that anything that could be stored inside the body was not an ordinary object. This woman was terrifying if it was an origin weapon! Hao Lianchuan’s weapon seemed to be stronger, but she wouldn’t necessarily lose if they faced off in frontal combat. She was holding her cards close to her chest.

If there was an ambush... Hao Lianchuan might suffer misfortune.

Who arranged for her to be here?

Wang Ming concluded his conversation and looked merrily at Li Hao. “Let’s go to our next stop. We’ll be on our way then, Sis Zhang.”

Zhang Ting nodded and watched until they were out of sight.

“Do you have a fetish or something?” Wang Ming muttered after they’d put some distance between themselves and the tent. “You talked to Sis Zhang instead of the chicks next to you. She’s thirty, if not forty! And her looks... there’s something seriously wrong with you, man!”

“She speaks softly and I like her voice,” Li Hao answered pleasantly. “The younger ones only wanted to talk to you. What was I supposed to do?”

“Pfft, it’s not like I like them!” Wang Ming stuck his nose in the air. “I’m different now and need to look further. Perhaps I’ll be able to take a Solar or greater than Solar for my wife in the future...”

“They’re all really old!” Li Hao reminded.

“And what do you know, that’s just in Silver Moon!” Wang Ming sniffed. “Some of the Heaven Favored in the central region awaken as Sunflare! They cross into Solar in less than three years. Apparently, the youngest Solar is only twenty years old.”

“Wow, that amazing?”

“Of course, so I’m setting my sights there!” The two made their way to other tents as they chatted. Li Hao turned into a bystander, watching Wang Ming carry on conversation. He offered a few words only when people addressed him, the very image of a socially awkward person.

......

The sky was completely dark after two hours. Li Hao finally returned to his tent. Liu Yan was missing.

“Liu Long just came back,” said the resting Yuan Shuo without lifting his head when Li Hao displayed a confused expression. “He took her in the direction of Yama’s campsite. They may be around there.”

“Teacher, won’t that result in conflict?” Li Hao frowned.

“With Liu Long there, it shouldn’t.” The professor glanced at Li Hao. “You’ve been off since we arrived here and run around with Little Wang. Out with it, what have you discovered?”

The young man looked around them.

“Someone who can eavesdrop on my conversation is not worth guarding against,” Yuan Shuo said lazily. “It’s all the same.”

If there was such a powerhouse, it wouldn’t matter if they could hear the conversation or not. Li Hao swiveled his head at Wang Ming. The handsome supernatural had just entered the tent; Yuan Shuo called out, “Find whoever’s in charge and get me some food. There’s nothing to eat around here!”

“......” Why don’t you send Li Hao? Fine, I’m more familiar with this place. Wang Ming left without a word.

“Zhang Ting, water supernatural,” Li Hao began only when they had the tent to themselves. “Mid Solar, possibly has an origin weapon. She was seventh to the left of us. A skinny woman in her thirties.”

“I know.” Yuan Shuo nodded. “I felt being pried into when she looked at me. I thought it was a special ability, so this is the case!”

He was neither surprised nor angry, just very calm.

“Hao Lianchuan likely doesn’t know about her. She’s either Hou Xiaochen’s hidden pawn or one of an even higher up Night Watcher. Or, she belongs to the three great organizations.”

These were the only possibilities, none other.

“To be part of the Night Watchers until now and pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes right under Hou Xiaochen’s nose...” Yuan Shuo smiled. “Forget that. I’m going to meet Hao Lianchuan later. I won’t say anything and tell him to use the special communication method to contact Hou Xiaochen. I’ve been wanting to speak to the man for a while. You can come with me and observe Hou Xiaochen. Get to know him.”

Hou Xiaochen!

Li Hao was very curious about this person. His teacher was impressive alright! He was still debating whether or not to tell Hao Lianchuan while his teacher was already preparing to contact Hou Xiaochen.