Star Gate

Chapter 303: Fishing With One’s Life (I)

“Is Li Hao that easily frightened?” Hu Qingfeng chuckled. “Very well, you’ll make the trip tomorrow. Take Chen Min with you. It’s best if you two can return with Li Hao. If not, there’s no need to start any conflict. Obtaining a sample of his blood will also do.”

There was no need to antagonize Hou Xiaochen at this stage of the game. The provincial government had not taken any action thus far. Hence, even if the central Night Watchers had certain plans in mind, they needed support from some of the major local figures to ensure success.

“A blood sample... Will Hao Lianchuan agree to that?” Yu Xiao frowned. “He likes to give us excuses...”

“Figure it out yourself!”

Fine then. Yu Xiao shut his mouth. It was just some blood, would there be any difficulty in that?

“Li Hao is our secondary target outside of the mission,” Hu Qingfeng continued. “Our primary mission is still Hou Xiaochen! Additionally, does the Silver Moon military elder still refuse to meet?”

An older, middle-aged man responded in a low voice, “The Silver Moon Division says that their Commander Yu’s old injuries have recently flared up. He’s been in recovery and needs a period of rest.”

More old injuries! Hu Qingfeng glowered. Hou Xiaochen’s old injuries had flared up, that old commander’s injuries had flared up, and even the inspector general of the Inspectorate said he was struggling with old injuries. Director General Zhao of the provincial government was also saying that he didn’t feel too well and that his cough had grown stronger...

Damn it, were the leaders of this vast province all sickly and feeble?! All of them trotted out the same excuse! It was either old injuries or feeling under the weather. Hu Qingfeng wanted to explode with anger. He wouldn’t be faced with this kind of treatment in the central region! He wouldn’t be met with a closed door no matter where he turned!

He was a Nova and a Heaven Favored!

Other than some of those perverts at headquarters, he commanded attention and respect no matter where he went in the central region!

Of course, those perverts wouldn’t always at headquarters. Apparently they’d gone out a few days ago to cause more trouble. Who knew what they’d stir up this time? They were the reason for the war in the central region.

Irritation gnawed at Hu Qingfeng when he thought of those people. They were excellent at creating a mess and leaving it for others to clean up. They were the bane of his existence and people like him often had to step in to pick up the pieces!

“Then we’ll ignore him for now!” Hu Qingfeng declared. “Is there anything from the three great organizations?”

“The Parity King is outside White Moon City, there doesn’t seem to be anything from Half Mountain. Apparently Blue Moon has come from the Red Moon organization...”

Hu Qingfeng inclined his head and thought over these details. “We can meet with them if need be. Hou Xiaochen is a thorn in their side. There are many secrets in Silver Moon and this thorn must be digging into a lot of people’s sides!”

“Understood!” The group was in no hurry to meet with Li Hao after their discussion. Everything could wait until the meeting concluded tomorrow. They also wanted to see if any secrets might be divulged during it. Was it hard for martial masters to reach Summoner of Spirit or not?

......

Quiet could be found on all sides tonight as everyone waited. Li Hao’s arrival was a pebble dropped into the lake of White Moon City. Small ripples undulated across the lake’s surface. Meanwhile, the young man was perfectly at ease as he looked around his new home. He admired massive balls of light through the window—so bright!

The house wasn’t big, but it was very clean. Plainly, someone had been by to put it in order. It was a standard two bedroom apartment, but superb accommodations in a place like White Moon. Land was at a premium in the city, yet the Night Watchers were assigned units wholly for individual use.

Hao Lianchuan was across the way from him. The man was a deputy director, yet this was his residence as well. Who knew if he was unwilling to move to a new house or if this was the best that his status could afford?

Li Hao opened the window, enjoying the light touch of a cool breeze over his face. White Moon City really is impressive! There’s seven supernaturals gathered in this tiny spot and probably an unknown number of martial masters.

There’s two earth supernatural hidden in the ground. I wonder if they’ll suffocate as time goes on?

There a wind supernatural floating through the sky as a wisp of breeze.

There’s someone who knows invisibility—it’s probably a dark supernatural ability—in the house across from me.

And then there’s three more that are further away. Maybe they have some sort of vision or ability to hear from far away.

It’s really impressive!

Are these seven from seven different factions? I’ve only just gotten here, but there’s so many people keeping an eye on me already. How interesting.

A knock sounded on his door as he admired the large light bulbs. Li Hao cocked his head at the front door—there was no ball of light coming from it. Therefore, he wasn’t afraid and stepped forward to open the door.

“Are you Commissioner Inspector Li?” smiled a bubbly woman in her thirties. “I’m from the Inspectorate’s logistics department. We’ve learned that it’s the commissioner inspector’s first time in White Moon City. You’re no doubt unfamiliar with your surroundings.

“The Inspectorate makes certain arrangements for all commissioner inspectors and those above. Just give us a call if you need anything. You can give us your dirty clothes to be washed, and do you prefer motorcycles or cars as a form of transportation? There is a free cafeteria in this neighborhood, but if the commissioner inspector doesn’t like it, we can arrange for your own meals...”

Li Hao blinked with surprise. This level of treatment was wonderful! The Night Watchers were almost completely separate from the Inspectorate, yet the agency was still able to enjoy this level of care from the Inspectorate.

A commissioner inspector was a major personage in a small place, but nothing much in the provincial capital. Many Darkmoons were given a commissioner inspector position, some Sunflares were only high rank commissioner inspectors—they weren’t further promoted for their strength.

Chief commissioner was still more worthy of note.

“I see, thank you. I don’t know anything since I’ve just gotten here. You don’t need to take care of me, big sis. I’ll ask Director Hao when he comes back. I’ll usually eat with the director if nothing comes up...”

The woman’s eyes lit up and she grew even more enthused. “Got it, I won’t disturb you then. You can reach the logistics department if you press 1 on the communicator in the room. Please let us know any time if there’s anything we can do to help!”

“You’re too kind!” Li Hao thanked her so profusely that the woman left quite reluctantly. The young man shut the front door, a smile still on his face like he was truly very happy. “How nice!”

Li Hao laughed, as if quite satisfied. He walked over to the window and looked down at the ground. He was moderately high up at twelve floors, but there wasn’t much to see outside the window. The building directly in front blocked some of his line of vision. However, the neighborhood’s greening efforts were well done.

It was late in the day when he arrived and now night was almost upon him. The sky was dark, yet Hao Lianchuan had not returned from work yet. It looked like this deputy director of his needed to put in overtime. Poor guy.

Li Hao was in no rush since Hao Lianchuan was still at work. He walked around the apartment, taking his measure of the place. It wasn’t very big—there was a study aside from the two bedrooms that held some books on a bookshelf. They were all elementary primers.

The young man perused them, then replaced some with his own books. He hadn’t brought anything special, but he’d brought some of the books from the third row of his teacher’s bookshelf. They were part of Yuan Shuo’s treasured collection. Li Hao had been concerned that his teacher wouldn’t be able to find them when he came back, so the young man decided to bring the books with him.

There seemed to be one missing, however, possibly because his teacher had taken it with him. His teacher really loved books more than life itself! The situation had been so dangerous then, but he still chose to take a book with him before that great battle. How touching it was!

Li Hao didn’t bring anything else with him other than the books. The agency issued clothes and other standard equipment. Public servants had no need to bring those with them; they were naturally issued some when they reached their destination.

Ah, he also carried a bank card. Several months of his salary was saved inside. After his promotion last month, his salary and bonuses should be sizable. There might be tens of thousands in his bank account now.

That should be enough to treat some folks to a meal, right?

Some sounds traveled from the unit across from him after the young man spent some time busying himself around the apartment. Li Hao glanced out the window instead of his neighbor. The light bulbs in the vicinity immediately vanished, even the ones in the dirt. It looked like they were still wary of Solars. If he lived alone, they’d probably stay the entire time.

Li Hao breathed out gently. While he liked looking at light bulbs, it was uncomfortable to have them watching even his business in the bathroom.

Sharp raps sounded on his front door. The young man quickly went out to open the door. A slightly weary Hao Lianchuan took a look inside the apartment and nodded with satisfaction. “It’s good that you’re settled in. I’m usually at the Night Watchers, but I come back to sleep at night if there’s nothing happening.”

“Have you eaten yet, Director Hao?”

“No, have you not either?”

“No.” Li Hao smiled and whispered, “How about my blood pearl?”

“There’s no rush, maybe tomorrow!” Hao Lianchuan rolled his eyes. “I asked Manager Yu after you left. She says that they might be able to give it to you tomorrow, possibly after the meeting.”

“How is Director Hou?”

“His injuries seemed to have worsened and he needs to be in seclusion for a few days more.” Hao Lianchuan smiled, as did Li Hao. These injuries were quite severe to still be an issue after a few days.

“I had people deliver dinner,” Hao Lianchuan continued. “Ah, your senior sister’s husband gave me a call. All he wants to say is that it’s fine if you don’t wish to go to the Tiger Wings. You can go to him anytime.”

“He’s quite sincere!” Li Hao nodded without a change in expression, plainly unmoved. Hao Lianchuan was curious about the reaction.

“You’re utterly shameless when you kiss up to me, so why don’t you think about doing the same to him? That guy would certainly help you more if you were willing to.”

“Director Hao is not a martial master,” was the only thing that Li Hao said.

Hao Lianchuan frowned. The young man didn’t explain further.

You don’t understand because you’re not a martial master. A heritage can not be randomly passed on or learned!

Yuan Shuo wished to learn the Nine Forged Force, but did either Li Hao or Liu Long teach it to him despite their good relationship? Did Yuan Shuo teach the breathing method to Liu Long?

Martial masters adhered to basic rules. One’s heritage could not be disseminated in such a manner. Even if one learned it accidentally, one could not display it without permission. Hu Dingfang had employed the Five Styles in public, and the full, official version. That was a violation of the rules!