Star Gate

Chapter 222: Hu Dingfang (III)

Li Hao ignored the outsiders and glanced at Liu Yan next to him. He followed her gaze when he saw her fix a vicious glare on someone. The target of her look was a muscular man. His ball of light placed him as a Sunflare.

That’s probably Li Dahu, isn’t it?

“Big sis?”

Liu Yan had turned extremely taciturn since arriving at Rift Canyon. She barely said a word these days. She must be burning for vengeance, yet unable to do anything. Her enemy was right in front of her, but there was nothing to be done. It would be a horrible feeling indeed.

“I’m fine,” Liu Yan murmured. “I saw Red Moon’s people looking at you. You should probably stay out of the ruins...”

“It’ll be okay,” Li Hao chuckled and shook his head. “Sis, just find a chance to kill that guy. Don’t lose sleep over it.”

“Don’t think about it, Little Hao. Just keep an eye on your own safety.” That was all that Liu Yan would say. It would be more trouble if she said too much and caused the others to seek out Li Dahu without considering the consequences. Revenge wouldn’t immediately jump to the top of her priority list as soon as she entered the ruins. The right timing had to be identified.

A curious Wang Ming walked over. “Who do you think the director is bringing here? They must be pretty strong. Can it be a powerhouse from headquarters?”

Li Hao shook his head. He had no idea. Perhaps Manager Yu would be going inside? Her ball of light was a little stronger than Violet Moon’s. Perhaps she was the Nova that the director spoke of. Even if not, she was at least a peak Solar. If she entered the ruins, she would absolutely be able to handle the other two.

......

The Night Watchers were also waiting. Since Director Hou had confirmed that he wouldn’t be entering, whoever went in his stead was critical. Hao Lianchuan sulked off to the side—no one paid attention to him. Plainly, everyone thought that he wouldn’t be able to stand against Violet Moon and the Revolution King.

A loud rumble sounded near midnight, startling everyone awake. Was it more powerhouses?

Li Hao walked out with the rest and glimpsed an aircraft in the sky. Or rather, a helicopter.

It’s from the army!

The thought flashed through the crowd’s minds when they saw it. Only the military would have equipment like this. It was said that civilian versions existed in the central region, but Silver Moon didn’t have any. Only the military did.

A figure jumped down from the sky, splitting the ground with a roar!

Such a massive disturbance alarmed even the organizations on the outside. They approached the Night Watcher camp as well. The assembly saw an expressionless person when the dust cleared. He was roughly forty years of age with very short hair. His black army uniform was similar to an inspector uniform, but not quite. It was a bit more domineering.

Wang Ming started to see the man, a bit dazed by shock. “My... heavens... why is it him?”

“You know him?” Li Hao asked quietly. This person was very strong! It wasn’t that his light was intense—he seemed similar to Sun Yifei. It was the feeling that this person emanated, his temperament. It indicated that he was very, very strong!

“Do you know the local army?” Wang Ming whispered. “There’s three hundred thousand of them stationed in Silver Moon, I told you about it before, right? My family has a bit of power and influence inside. The army is split into three parts, roughly one hundred thousand each. This is Commander Hu of the Tiger Wings, one of the three parts. He commands the Tiger Wings, but the army and Night Watchers rarely act in concert...”

The middle-aged man nodded at Hou Xiaochen and looked at the perimeter.

“Piss off!” His look was as arctic as could be. “If you want to die, I’ll grant your wish once we enter the ruins!”

A few more figures materialized in the distance. Violet Moon looked on gravely. “Hu Dingfang, since when did the army get involved in these affairs?”

Hu Dingfang!

Those who didn’t know him memorized the name.

Hu Dingfang swept her a cold glare and answered aloofly, “Violet Moon, I told you to piss off. Who gave you the right to look down and fly in front of me? Director Hou doesn’t take you to task for it, but I, Hu Dingfang, will not tolerate you! If you don’t piss off now, I’ll eliminate the Red Moon delegation first!”

“Hmph!” Violet Moon sniffed, but said nothing else. She turned and left.

Hu Dingfang!

This was out of their expectations. They thought that the Night Watchers would send more powerhouses, but it was the army instead. And it was Commander Hu Dingfang of the Tiger Wings! Since when had the mysterious agency reached an agreement with the military? They hadn’t anticipated this at all!

“Ole Hu, it’s enough that you’re here,” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “Why fuss over them?”

Hu Dingfang inclined his head, his expression still remote. But perhaps he was just naturally that way and not an uncaring person. He scanned the Night Watchers instead of responding.

“I’m not familiar with you guys. Director Hou invited me here just to counteract Violet Moon and Revolution. Do as you should tomorrow. If Violet Moon and Revolution don’t make a move, I will not help as well.”

Now these words were truly indifferent. Hao Lianchuan curved his lips.

“Hao Lianchuan.” Hu Dingfang suddenly settled his gaze on the man, as if he’d seen the gesture. “Would I need to be involved if not for your incompetence?”

“......” Hao Lianchuan nearly exploded on the spot. He answered irately, “Hu Dingfang, I’m not one of your subordinates!”

“You will be tomorrow!”

“......” Hao Lianchuan was stunned into speechlessness and looked at Hou Xiaochen. Surely not? This guy was in charge of the team? He knew Hu Dingfang, this was an unequivocally merciless, callous, and bloodless fellow. Hao Lianchuan itched all over at the idea of being on the same expedition team as him.

Hou Xiaochen smiled with gratification. There was no helping it, he had to ask the army for help since he wasn’t at liberty to enter the ruins. The Night Watchers were used to freedom, so they had to just grin and bear it. Hu Dingfang was from the army and accustomed to rules and regulations. He was a very stern person, so it was inevitable that the Night Watchers were unused to his style.

Hao Lianchuan abruptly felt that there was nothing worth living for. He was done for!

Merriment twinkled in the depths of Hu Dingfang’s eyes. He ignored Hao Lianchuan and continued looking around, finally stopping in Li Hao’s direction. He likely wanted to identify who was Yuan Shuo’s disciple.

After a while, he gave a faint nod. Li Hao blinked and looked at Wang Ming next to him. As he expected, the young supernatural brightened and quickly called out, “Uncle Hu!”

Hu Dingfang started and focused on him, nodding after a moment and reverting to indifference.

Wang Ming paused, perplexed. Huh? Didn’t you nod at me just now? I wouldn’t bother with a greeting otherwise. He was a bit too afraid of this one.

Neither Wang Ming nor Li Hao could make sense of what’d just taken place. That’d been strange, it was as if Hu Dingfang had been greeting the latter. But I don’t know him, does he know teacher?

That was a possibility.

......

Hu Dingfang quickly entered a tent with Hou Xiaochen.

Inside the command tent.

“Thank goodness you’re here,” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “It would be a dicey state of affairs otherwise. Did you see Li Hao? He insists on going in, there’s nothing that can be done about it.”

“Good! As disciples of the Five Styles should be!” Hu Dingfang responded faintly.

“You sound like you’re one of the Five Styles as well,” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “But I suppose you do count as half of one. Did Yuhua say anything to you before you came?”

Hu Dingfang smiled faintly at the mention of Yuhua. His lips shifted into a barely perceptible curve, but he was indeed smiling. “She said to kill everyone from Red Moon! And to make sure her junior brother gets back safely. Old man Yuan’s disappeared, so she needs to look out for the lad as his senior sister.”

Senior sister!

If Li Hao was present, he would understand. He knew he had a senior sister, one many years older than him. She was in her thirties and according to his teacher, an old hag. She didn’t have much of a future and worked a few jobs in White Moon City to support herself.

However, Yuan Shuo never mentioned that she had anything to do with Hu Dingfang.

“Do as you see fit.” A merry Hou Xiaochen wasn’t surprised. “Old man Yuan’s made a run for it and left us with a great deal of trouble. Yuhua should be fine as she isn’t out in public much. Now that you’re here, Li Hao will be much safer.”

“If you ask me, there’s no need to go to so much trouble!” Hu Dingfang said coldly. “We’ll act tonight and kill them all! We can target the others with a full barrage when they arrive and kill anyone that comes. It will naturally intimidate this group if we kill the entire delegation!”

“You... Ah, forget it.” Hou Xiaochen shook his head and refused the suggestion. “You can take action inside the ruins, but what’s the point of destroying a delegation on the outside? You’re too impulsive, so just speak less.”

“Never mind, then!” Hu Dingfang rose to his feet. “I’m going to turn in for the night. I’ll be there tomorrow morning. Also, can I hit Hao Lianchuan if he doesn’t listen to orders?”

Hou Xiaochen stayed quiet for a very long moment. It was a tough question to answer. Finally, he said in a muffled tone, “It’s up to you.”

“Good, then I can hit him!” Hu Dingfang turned on his heel and left.

Hou Xiaochen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It’s not like Hao Lianchuan has offended you, but you always want to hit him! All he did was exchange a few words with Yuhua back in the day and ask if she’d like to join the Night Watchers. Is there a need for this?? So many years have passed and you still carry this grudge. Who says that soldiers are straight shooters and don’t nurse a grudge?

Hou Xiaochen sighed. It looked like he needed to let Hao Lianchuan know in advance. The man may have forgotten his past actions, but Hu Dingfang remembered them clearly! He was very petty in this regard!

......

August 28. 5 am.

Activity bestirred the campsite. The delegations were to enter the ruins at 6 am, but Li Hao didn’t even know where the ruins were. All he knew was that they were an ancient city. Rift Canyon was massive. Yuan Shuo hadn’t had the time to explain where the city was and the young man didn’t ask the Night Watchers. He just needed to follow the crowd.

The sky was still gloomy, but the Night Watchers were raising a noisy clamor. Supernaturals of the other organizations decided to go without sleep this night. They showed signs of movement as well.

A group of them swiftly congregated at the center of the campsite. They were a large group, but many of them wouldn’t be entering the ruins.

Hou Xiaochen walked out with Manager Yu’s support. No one reacted in particular and Li Hao managed to keep his calm, but Wang Ming really wanted to gossip. Did those two sleep together last night?

But as he looked at Hou Xiaochen’s smiling face... fear prickled at his back. He didn’t even dare whisper.

“Let’s go.” Hou Xiaochen didn’t say anything. Hu Dingfang quickly walked over and stood in front of the crowd, usurping Hao Lianchuan’s position.

The deputy director cast a sidelong glance at him. People said that soldiers were honest and frank, but he somehow felt that this guy was awful to the core. Hu Dingfang liked to pick on him for no reason at all. He intensely disliked the bastard.

“Stand up straight! Did you not eat enough for breakfast?” Hu Dingfang turned his head with a rebuke.

Hao Lianchuan wanted to throw fists! Who are you yelling at?! I’m the deputy director here, and the first deputy director!