Star Gate

Chapter 201: A Low Key Arrogance (III)

Yuan Shuo rose to his feet and walked outside, bumping into Wang Ming returning with food.

“Are you not eating anymore?” he asked with surprise to see teacher and disciple leave.

“Nope, you eat!”

Fine then! Wang Ming was a bit dejected. A real disciple was best. Woe for an honorary disciple like him!

......

The center of the campsite.

Hao Lianchuan had a large tent to himself. He was mulling over whether or not to summon Li Hao for a chat when his eyes darted to the tent flap. They lifted, admitting Yuan Shuo!

Maybe he’s come to his senses...

“Contact Hou Xiaochen, I want to speak to him!” Yuan Shuo said merrily before Hao Lianchuan had a chance to speak.

“......” The director’s face instantly darkened with irritation. “You can tell me anything you want to say! The director may not be in. Apparently, Red Moon and Yama’s representatives have been spotted near White Moon City. The director might have left headquarters.”

It would be difficult to contact him if he wasn’t physically present.

“Try. Even if he has, they shouldn’t meet until the 28th. What, are they in a relationship to be meeting ahead of time?”

Hao Lianchuan was the epitome of wordlessness at Yuan Shuo’s response. “Is there a need for this, Yuan Shuo?” he couldn’t help himself. “Have I offended you in some way?”

“Nope.”

“Then why...”

“You want to listen in?” Yuan Shuo asked with resignation. “Do you really want to listen? This has to do with classified information, so it’s not necessarily a good thing for you to listen. Of course, I can’t stop you if you want to. You can just stand off to the side, how about it?”

Hao Lianchuan started and stopped several times before finally managing, “Forget it. I warn you, don’t think of causing trouble for me day in and day out. If I’d known you’d be like this, I wouldn’t have added you to the expedition team.”

“I know!” Yuan Shuo waved him off; he couldn’t be bothered.

Hao Lianchuan felt that he’d been marginalized again and grew all the more depressed for it. Meanwhile, Li Hao was trying to suppress his laughter. He didn’t have any ill will toward Hao Lianchuan, just that it was fun to see the man being thrown around the last couple of times.

Hao Lianchuan’s tent was different from the primitive environment of the other tents; his seemed more like a base of operations. There was a large display screen in the middle.

“To think that you’d really come up with this!” Yuan Shuo nodded. “It’s good for communications, right?”

“It’s alright, so long as the distance isn’t greater than three thousand kilometers. Most connections go through, but they might end if there’s supernatural interference. Entering the ruins will most likely cut off contact with the outside world.” Hao Lianchuan shifted some components around and infused a small hole with mysterious power. He finished with pressing some buttons.

It was late at night, but the screen brightened in less than ten seconds. A youthful face appeared on it, one with a languid air. He was about to speak when he saw Yuan Shuo on the other side.

“Professor Yuan, long time no see.” A smiling Hou Xiaochen snapped to mental alertness as he leaned against a chair.

“Director Hou!” A light danced in Yuan Shuo’s eyes. “It has indeed been a long time.”

“Director, he insisted on contacting you...”

“Mm, I understand.” Hou Xiaochen inclined his head. “You can attend to the rest of your affairs, I’ll speak with Professor Yuan.”

“Very well!” There was nothing for Hao Lianchuan to do but leave. He glanced at Li Hao as he vacated the premises—it was like the young man didn’t see him. The latter kept his head down without a word and didn’t move. He was a fixture by Yuan Shuo’s side.

“......” Hao Lianchuan mentally threw his hands up at the situation and left. He disliked being in the same room as this teacher and disciple duo. It always put him in a bad mood.

......

Inside the tent.

Li Hao shifted a chair over for Yuan Shuo. The professor sat down jovially. Hou Xiaochen assessed Li Hao with a smile.

“This must be Li Hao.”

“Correct.”

“He’s not bad.” Hou Xiaochen nodded. “Indifferent to favor or humiliation—being able to bide one’s time is a blessing. He suffered in silence for an entire year after a friend’s grisly death and did not reveal a single hint. He has a much better temper than you.”

The director looked at Yuan Shuo again after proclaiming his judgment. “You must have something to say since you’re calling me in the middle of the night.”

“Zhang Ting!” was the professor’s only response.

“Zhang Ting...” Hou Xiaochen turned the name over in his mouth. “Born of the Southern Range province and joined the Silver Moon Night Watchers three years ago. Originally serving at the Southern Range Inspectorate, she was reassigned to Silver Moon after offending her peers. She was of the Inspectorate to begin with and given an induction chance after winning marks of merit for her actions in executing missions. Thus she became one of the Night Watchers and her registered strength is Fullmoon...”

“Do you know her current strength?” Yuan Shuo asked bluntly.

Hou Xiaochen fell silent for a bit. “Are you in possession of something like an origin weapon? You have one of the eight family weapons, don’t you?”

“What makes you say that?”

“How can you see through Zhang Ting without an origin weapon?” Hou Xiaochen asked in return, then curved his lips in a half smile. “Or has your student done so? Is the bloodline of the eight families that wondrous?”

“Friend or foe?” Yuan Shuo couldn’t be bothered to answer.

“Hard to say.”

“Hard to say?” Yuan Shuo frowned.

“She’s most likely not of the three great organizations. My guess is that she’s here because some fellows want to prevent me from declaring independence. Her mission is most probably to keep an eye on me.”

“You’re preparing to secede??” Yuan Shuo was astonished. “Do you nurse this kind of ambition?”

“I don’t,” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “But I will when I should. There’s no need to be overly surprised. The central region has been requisitioning personnel to itself and whittling away the strength of the borders. Everyone’s being thrown into the central region battlefield, resulting in countless casualties. Geniuses are absorbed into the central region, powerhouses are sent to the meat grinder... This is one way to restrain and suppress those who wish to declare independence. I quite approve.

“But for our Silver Moon, we only have so many powerhouses. We can’t even beat off the three great organizations. It is thus inappropriate to redeploy our troops and put our geniuses into their reserves! They’re dissatisfied after I refused them a few times and so sent Zhang Ting to watch me.” The director laughed, “If they keep forcing me, I’ll just secede!”

“......” Yuan Shuo’s shock was evident while Li Hao’s jaw couldn’t be picked up off the floor. He’d discussed this matter in the car with Wang Ming and the others, but felt that Silver Moon hadn’t been so inclined. But now, the boss of the provincial Night Watchers was brazenly saying that he was preparing to be independent!

“Don’t widen your eyes at me.” Hou Xiaochen looked at Yuan Shuo. “You’re nothing good yourself, what do you care about this?”

“I don’t,” the professor suddenly laughed. “I just hadn’t fathomed that you’d be harboring these kinds of thoughts. Based on my impression of you, you should be presenting yourself in the central region to ask for a flogging.”

“And why should I?” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “Silver Moon would be safe and secure if they sent people to clean out the three great organizations. It would not be out of the question if I fought in the central region then. But with the situation as it is, trouble gnaws at the province. Silver Moon is abandoned if I leave, so why should I go?”

He laughed gently. “The Night Watchers, Inspectorate, and local army have reached an accord. Only the provincial government is not in agreement with us. Are you interested in joining us, Professor Yuan?”

“......” Yuan Shuo found himself in an extremely awkward situation. He was just asking after the man in a general sort of way, but the director responded with an invitation to rebel! He replied in a muffled voice, “A lack of strength will see the gun shooting the bird that takes the lead!”

“Mmhmm, for sure,” Hou Xiaochen laughed. “So I’m in no hurry, we can take it slow. Seizing the defensive origin weapon on the expedition is also preparation for this goal. It might not fully be to your tastes if you join us now, but wouldn’t it be so satisfying when you can take another step forward and exercise your old style? You can kill to the point where people shudder at your name!”

A migraine was settling in for Yuan Shuo. He took a while to collect his thoughts. “What about Zhang Ting?”

“As you wish. She will not move against the Night Watchers or you, but don’t look to her for help if you run into danger. And if she dies, well then, she dies!” Hou Xiaochen was completely indifferent. “It’s fine if she dies, but Hao Lianchuan cannot die! Resolve some of his problems for him if you have effort to spare.”

“I’m a Dominator, he’s a Solar.” Yuan Shuo’s headache intensified.

“Uh huh!” Hou Xiaochen nodded smilingly. “That’s alright, do as you see fit. Ah, yes, do you want the method to extract blood pearls from scarlet shadows?”

“......” Yuan Shuo stayed quiet.

“Then I’ll tell you. It’s simple. Use the soul of the origin weapon if you have one and directly draw upon the shadow. However, the weapons of the eight families might be different... That’s fine. Hao Lianchuan took the Flaming Phoenix Spear with him. You can borrow it.

“Kill everyone from the three great organizations if you’re able to when you’re in the ruins! If you can’t, go on the run once the expedition is over!”

“Run where?” Yuan Shuo frowned slightly at the director.

“Wherever you want. Send Li Hao to White Moon City.”

“I will!” Yuan Shuo agreed after some thought. “So on the surface, it will be me who takes the defensive origin weapon, is it?”

“If that sits well with you, then it will be.”

Yuan Shuo considered silently for a moment. “Very well, I’ll think about it. I will not owe you anything after this!”

“You never owed anything to begin with, it’s all up to you!”

Yuan Shuo turned to leave; Hou Xiaochen spoke up just before the professor departed. “I can give you a guarantee that the ruins of Silver City belong to Li Hao. I will not interfere!”

The professor shook, but didn’t say anything. He left with Li Hao.

Hou Xiaochen fell silent on the screen, resuming speech only when Hao Lianchuan entered after a while. “You can lend the Flaming Phoenix Spear to Yuan Shuo in critical moments!”

“Eh?”

“That’s all!” The screen darkened.

Hao Lianchuan cursed under his breath. Again? These guys are so irritating!

......

Li Hao was still gripped by shock when they walked out of the tent. Independence? The notion had never occurred to him before, but he heard it from Hou Xiaochen today. At the moment, all thought of Zhang Ting and the three great organizations flew out of his mind. He knew full well what would happen the moment Silver Moon seceded.

It would be suppressed by the central region and attacked from all sides. Skystar Dynasty had not toppled yet, after all, nor had it fully lost control. There were plenty of personages harboring great ambitions, but no one dared openly declare itself an independent nation. No one would possibly dare!