Star Gate

Chapter 304: Fishing With One’s Life (II)

It was one thing that Yuan Shuo didn’t take Hu Dingfang to task for growing stronger through an illegitimate acquisition of the Five Styles, but the commander shouldn’t have used it in front of others!

That was a grave taboo!

He’d demonstrated the secret art of the Five Styles, but was not of the discipline itself. Anyone who saw him might think that the discipline had been exterminated! That was the only way an outsider would possess core knowledge!

“Very well then, that’s the last I speak of this matter.” Hao Lianchuan exchanged a few other simple lines before saying, “I’m going back to rest. You can come to me if you have further business, or you can eat by yourself if you don’t. I don’t want to eat with you anymore.”

The fatty is so narrow minded! He wanted to eat with me just now, but loses his temper as soon as I say he’s not a martial master.

Li Hao didn’t say anything. He watched Hao Lianchuan walk out of his front door, through his own, and slam the door shut with a bang. The deputy director’s temper was really riled up.

......

Inside the opposite apartment.

Hao Lianchuan turned back with a grin. The little guy was interesting! He put Li Hao out of his mind and entered his study, pulling out a tattered book after some thought.

The Chronicles of Silver Moon’s Martial World.

Chapter one: A listing of Silver Moon’s martial heroes.

“When it comes to the heroes of the martial world, there are thirty-six personages as of this book’s date of publication!

“We must mention Five Styles King Yuan Shuo when we speak of the martial world. His Five Styles are that of the tiger, bear, deer, ape, and bird. He dominated the martial world in seven years. Wails and cries of agony filled the land when a challenge letter arrived from the Five Styles King. Those who accepted it did so frightened out of their wits, and their disciples were ready with coffins...”

Hao Lianchuan read with great relish. What a pity this book hadn’t been updated since twenty years ago. He hadn’t perused it much before because he hadn’t been interested in the characters it explored. And now, the names in these pages were appearing in front of him one by one.

Yuan Shuo who kept a low profile, the brash and crude Southern Fist, the Qimei Staff who shook the land with one staff, the Earthturner Sword who churned heaven and earth, Silver Spear who died on his sickbed, and Ying Hongyue known far and wide. The main villains of the book were the three commanders of the Skystar Guards. They were given monikers of Cannibal, Laughter, and Sickly.

Which one of them was Director Hou? Laughter or Sickly?

Sickly seemed more possible. Had the director been in his condition early on?

Hao Lianchuan felt it more likely than not that the director was one of the three commanders. Sadly, the book didn’t mention Sickly much and only expounded on his many evil deeds. It was obvious to tell that Silver Moon’s martial world thought very poorly of the three commanders!

Another figure floated into his mind as Hao Lianchuan read on—Manager Yu. He paged through the book, but it didn’t mention anyone like the secretary. The woman had been by Director Hou’s side for many years and Hou Xiaochen had never been stationed elsewhere. They must’ve met in Silver Moon.

Hao Lianchuan himself had been in White Moon City for many years. Manager Yu’s sudden appearance was quite bizarre and out of the norm.

What other inspiration might this book give him today?

He hadn’t cared before and truth be told, he still didn’t care now. He was just curious and really wanted to come to a deeper understanding of Manager Yu. What other identities did she have?

The deputy director kept reading and recounting everything he knew about the secretary... Finally, he saw a very short mention at the end of the book.

“Sickly abandoned the idea of killing her. She was one of the few martial masters to escape his grasp. The martial world was in disarray and the supernatural was on the rise in the central region. It was time for the martial world to withdraw from this age. Ying Hongyue had left, the Sky Sword had left. They all chose to leave...”

Hao Lianchuan read for a bit longer and carefully read through all of the identifying details once more. He flipped the pages again and again, abruptly breaking out into a grin after a long while.

“No way?” He smiled craftily, and with some incredulousness. A merry Hao Lianchuan quickly closed the book.

Perhaps... I know who you are now. He thought of the meeting of martial masters taking place in the morning. Will some more of these legendary characters appear tomorrow? These people had been stuff of myths and legends twenty years ago, existences that could not be reached. After falling quiet for so many years, they seemed to be awakening one after another.

How many of Silver Moon’s thirty-six heroes were still alive today?

......

Hao Lianchuan was reading, but Li Hao wasn’t in the mood to read. His muscles writhed over his arms as he operated the Nine Forged Force again and again. It would be difficult to comprehend its aura if he couldn’t attain nine layers. This would be one of the easiest auras for him to grasp once he completed nine layers; everything would fall into place then. He would naturally sense the water aura. All that would remain then was to fashion it into the water sword aura.

Almost seven layers...

He could only manage six layers before. It wasn’t that one could layer internal force faster simply when they were stronger, but that they needed to repeatedly hone their layers. Li Hao hadn’t spent enough time honing his.

If he could swiftly attain nine layers and grasp the second aura, he would be able to perform his second summoning once he incorporated sword aura into it and turned it into the water sword aura.

Five auras for five organs... What about my four limbs? How should I meld the wind, rain, and thunder that I command?

He pushed his hand out very gently, shooting out a ray of force that was visible to the naked eye. One, two three, four five...

Seven layers were completed in the blink of an eye! It happened very quickly, but it was clear to see that it was a layering of seven times.

“Too slow... and too obvious!” Li Hao shook his head. The method was very powerful, but it was useless in anything other than offensive capability. Granted, that didn’t matter to him. He’d barely managed to pull off seven layers. It might take a while longer to attain nine.

“They say that there’s a sea at White Moon City... and I do see it to the east of the city on the maps. Perhaps I should go see what waves look like? Are they really that immense?” He’d never seen the sea before and didn’t know how capricious it could be.

They said that seawater was salty and those who lived by it could eat seafood everyday. Salty water, soft beaches, and apparently women liked to sunbathe without clothes on... Perhaps his teacher would like that. Li Hao didn’t care, he just wanted to see the waves.

Learning never stopped in martial dao! No matter how strong one was, prolonged disuse or lack of practice would lead to a decline in martial dao.

His tiny rooms weren’t suited for boxing routines. All the same, Li Hao threw himself around for a bit, conducted some breathing exercises, further tempered his organs, and finally went to bed late at night.

Hao Lianchuan also rubbed his eye when Li Hao’s side grew quiet and turned off the lights to sleep himself.

Li Hao’s first night in White Moon City passed by in a quiet manner.

......

September 5th. A bright and clear day.

The Night Watcher headquarters thronged with people early in the morning. Director Zhou was the first to report to work. He frowned at the crowd as he wasn’t a fan of this kind of uproar. But there were some within the gathering that he couldn’t do anything about.

“Everyone, you are all highly respected seniors,” he called out from the front door. “Therefore, the rules should be respected. The workday has not yet started, Li Hao will naturally appear at 9 am. You can wait in the meeting hall next door, what is the purpose of lingering here for?”

“It’s not that we don’t respect the rules,” an old man with white hair spoke urgently. “But that you Night Watchers come to work too late! Martial masters should sleep early and rise early, how is someone still not here at 9 am...”

These martial masters had come very early in the morning. Some didn’t even leave last night and decided to keep watch until morning. They’d thought that Li Hao would come bright and early, but there was no sign of the young man to be found at 8 am! Was he still a damned martial master??

It was the first time that they understood the Night Watcher system to be so lax. Some martial masters set up dojos that teemed with activity at 5 or 6 am.

Supernaturals were blessed by the heavens, alright! They didn’t need to cultivate!

These veteran martial masters were envious, jealous, and a bit contemptuous. How much battle strength could supernaturals like these possess? Regardless, they were still envious at the end of the day.

The supernatural domain was now the officially recognized way and the sun had set on martial dao. There was no use in rising earlier than the rooster. Supernaturals would laugh their heads off at the thought of rising at the first crow to train. Training all day and night for an entire year amounted to less improvement than one who absorbed a little bit of mysterious power.

A car stopped in front of the building as the crowd clamored. Li Hao alighted first, followed by Hao Lianchuan.

“My apologies, seniors!” Li Hao quickly yelled when he saw the amount of people. “I woke up a long time ago and wanted to rush here, but I’m unfamiliar with the roads. I had to come with Uncle Hao. My apologies for making everyone wait!

“Please take your seats in the neighboring meeting hall,” the young man offered a few more rounds of pleasantries. “I’ll be right there!”

Seeing that the young man was here in the flesh and being so polite, the crowd decided to disperse for now. They’d simply been worried by Li Hao’s absence. All was fine now that he was here.

These martial masters melted away in the blink of an eye. Some of them looked to be only Slayer of Tens. How had the Night Watchers arranged things, to let even Slayers in?

Hao Lianchuan laughed when he checked the time. Damn, they’re in a hurry! He caught a glimpse of someone else out of the corner of his eye and continued laughing. It looks like martial masters weren’t the only ones anxious about this matter! So were others!

“Get your things and head on over!” Hao Lianchuan said to Li Hao. “Don’t worry, you’re right next to the Night Watchers. Nothing can possibly happen. Just don’t run your mouth with nonsense!”

“Understood!” Li Hao nodded and fell in step beside the deputy director.

Many Night Watchers were very curious. They knew what was to take place today and that some information was about to be released. They all wished that they could learn some of it ahead of time. It was a pity that they weren’t close to Li Hao, but they knew someone who was. Those who’d explored the ruins together were familiar with him.

Huang Yun waited for Hao Lianchuan to leave the young man in the lobby before sidling over with curiosity, “Li Hao, are blood pearls really that useful for martial masters?”

“Would I possibly lie about this, Elder Huang?” Li Hao nodded with a smile. “You’ll know in a bit. Are you going to the meeting”

“I’d like to... but...”

“Then come,” Li Hao chuckled. “It’s not classified intelligence, just stuff that’s about to be made public. It’s no big deal.”

A smiling Huang Yun nodded in agreement. That was true. Perfect, he could tag along later and listen to the gossip.

The receptionist called out at this time, “Commissioner Inspector Li, Director Hao requests your presence on the fourth floor in Manager Yu’s office!”

“Thank you!” Excitement gripped Li Hao. Was he about to receive the Nova blood pearl?