Star Gate

Chapter 323: Clouds Shift On All Sides (II)

Hao Lianchuan descended from the sky and looked at the end of the alley. He turned to Manager Yu with a twinkle in his eye. Although he’d previously surmised that she wasn’t weak, it would seem that he’d still misjudged.

“Is Director Hou not here?”

“Mmhmm!” Manager Yu didn’t say anything else. She scanned the area. “Burn it all aside from that battered Red Moon mask. Don’t leave anything behind!”

Burn it all and leave nothing behind. She bypassed Hao Lianchuan and Li Hao’s plans to pin the deed on Red Moon as she was well versed in handling these affairs. No matter how well done the cover-up was, Hu Qingfeng was certain to fly into a rage and cause trouble when he saw the bodies of his men.

Thus, there was no need to go to so much trouble. Just destroy it all and leave nothing but half a mask. As for who died, how many died, and how they died... that could be left to the imagination!

Hao Lianchuan's eyes widened, but he didn’t protest. Fire engulfed the alley. It stretched beneath the ground and consumed the body of the earth supernatural. Tendrils of mysterious power wafted through the small alleyway; the mixture of wind, earth, wood, and metal was particularly disordered.

Manager Yu waved a bolt of thunder energy into existence after scanning the surroundings. The walls around them collapsed, erasing the few traces of sword strokes.

A thunder supernatural!

Hao Lianchuan’s eyebrows shot up. This was an attribute that was exceedingly suited for combat. This grand secretary was an absolute powerhouse!

“How much power did you bring to bear against that Huang Jie?” Manager Yu turned to look at him after she destroyed everything in front of them.

“Thirty percent...” Hao Lianchuan responded after momentary thought.

She had a good understanding of the situation now. Manager Yu once more looked in the direction that Li Hao had left in.

“I... don’t know if it’s good or bad for this person to stay in White Moon.” She took in a small breath. “You should not come in too much contact or have many dealings with him. These bold and impetuous matters... Real martial masters are much more reckless than you think! When Yuan Shuo tore through Silver Moon, there was nothing he dared not do and no one he dared not kill. But this young man’s violent nature may be worse than Yuan Shuo’s in my eyes!

“He is alone, without any ties or considerations. Other than Yuan Shuo drawing a few notes of care, he is completely without handicap. If you don’t wish to be dragged down by him, Hao Lianchuan, you should stay away from him!”

The deputy director regarded these words awkwardly. It was the first time that anyone said anything like this to him. If someone had told him before that he should keep his distance from Li Hao, that the young man would drag him down and was a killing fiend, he would think it a joke. Is Li Hao more threatening than I am?

But in this moment, he felt that perhaps Manager Yu was the correct one. He’d only exchanged a few words with Li Hao so he could make an example out of Yu Xiao, but now even Huang Jie was dead! If it wasn’t for the young man’s lack of strength, he suspected that Li Hao would go on such a rampage that even Hao Lianchuan himself would be terrified in the end!

“Then... Manager Yu... what now...”

“Now?” The woman flicked a glance at him. “You take care of the trouble that you’ve created. You’re the one who killed them, so make up whatever story you wish. It’s up to other people whether they believe you or not. But there’s one thing you do need to mention, and that’s that you didn’t know their identities. The Flaming Phoenix Spear killed them all when it was deployed, it’s that simple!”

A rueful expression spread over Hao Lianchuan’s face. Hu Qingfeng would realize that he was missing men sooner or later. Hao Lianchuan was in for a world of trouble when that took place. He’d thought that the burden on his shoulders might be lightened with Director Hou present. However, the secretary didn’t seem inclined to help him in the director’s absence.

“Then...”

“That’s it, I’m going back!” Manager Yu didn’t want to waste too many words on him. Her presence flared, summoning the Flaming Phoenix Spear to her hand. A streak of fiery light arced across the horizon and vanished on the spot, landing in the Night Watcher headquarters.

She left as fast as she came, leaving Hao Lianchuan in a tight spot. Leave if you want, why did you take the spear with you? Are you even thinking about me here??

Mysterious power was already surging around him. Plainly, the powerhouses from earlier knew that ‘Hou Xiaochen’ was washing his hands of the matter with that streak of light. Since the man had left, it was time to visit the premises again. Other than the three great organizations that didn’t dare openly show themselves, the other factions didn’t fear putting themselves forward and weren’t afraid of Hao Lianchuan.

Contrary to expectation, the first to arrive wasn’t Hu Qingfeng. A powerful presence roiled through the air, depositing two figures in the wrecked alleyway—Hu Dingfang and Chen Yuhua.

A brooding Hu Dingfang had rushed to the scene with the fastest speed possible and urgently looked around. He saw only a sea of flames!

“Hao Lianchuan, where’s Li Hao?!” The man’s heart skipped a beat. The boy wasn’t dead, was he??

Chen Yuhua’s expression was likewise extremely unpleasant. Was her little junior brother gone before they’d had a chance to meet? What should she do now?!

Hao Lianchuan glanced at them and responded calmly, “He’s fine, just slightly injured. I’ve already sent him back. There’s no need for a Sunderer to be involved in this!”

The two heaved sighs of relief as more figures dropped down from the sky. Hu Qingfeng was first on the scene. His face was composed, but some anger lurked in the depths of his eyes. A muscular man wearing an Inspectorate uniform followed behind him. Multiple stars twinkled on his uniform; leather boots landed emphatically on the ground. A stern expression crossed his face.

Hao Lianchuan ignored Hu Qingfeng, but quickly called out when he saw the latter, “Inspector General!”

This was their nominal superior. Not just his, but Hou Xiaochen’s as well. He was the inspector general of the entire Silver Moon Inspectorate and, judging from his speed, another powerhouse.

The burly man inclined his head and looked around. “Have all the evil supernaturals been executed?” he asked calmly, his tone less severe than one might expect.

“They have!”

“Is there evidence proving that they are from Red Moon?”

“No,” Hao Lianchuan replied rapidly. “Just that a few of them were wearing Red Moon masks. The assailants only wanted to capture Li Hao, not kill him. Other than Red Moon, it’s not hard for any of the other organizations to eliminate a Sunderer. There were two Solars present, yet they still only wished to capture Li Hao. Apart than Red Moon, I cannot think of any other organization who would seek to do so.”

“Are there any survivors?” Hu Qingfeng asked in a chilly fashion.

“There are no possible survivors when the Flaming Phoenix Spear is unleashed!” Hao Lianchuan answered evenly. “You may be unaware, Sir Hu, that the origin weapon is imbued with Director Hou’s will after being nurtured by the director for so many years. Even without his hand wielding it, it is but a small task for it to lay waste to two Solars.”

Some more people arrived outside the alley. Hong Yitang, He Yong, and a few others were all present. None of them greeted Hu Qingfeng.

Eyes darting around rapidly, He Yong sized up the scene. He furrowed his brows slightly. As a premier martial master, he could vaguely sense something different in the air.

Sword intent? Spear intent? Something like that.

Hong Yitang was expressionless, but his heart shook with shock. Sword intent! And it wasn’t just sword intent, he felt something that was somewhat familiar. He walked outside the alley in a casual manner and gently grasped at the air. An extremely fine metal shard landed in his hand. His shock multiplied to unfathomable levels!

The Earthturner Sword!

He was all too familiar with his sword. Other people would ignore the shard as it was too small—it was only slightly larger than a grain of rice. Who cared about that?

He did!

He knew that the Earthturner Sword was with Li Hao and wouldn’t have found it amiss if the sword had been left here after the young man was attacked. But... it was broken! Completely obliterated!

That alone wasn’t the key—this outcome was also normal since the enemy had been too strong. But these shards clearly weren’t the result of the weapon being shattered. It’d fragmented of its own accord, not from mysterious power, but from a sword aura!

Countless thoughts rose in his mind; Hong Yitang even managed to reconstruct some of the scene. A premier swordsman had been attacked and erupted with his sword aura, spontaneously shattering the Earthturner Sword. Its shards shot in all directions—that sword aura had been so strong that it exceeded the Dominator level!

This person was also a swordsman!

Hong Yitang could faintly perceive the other’s killing intent, fury, and berserk rage... It was a sword intent that was also slightly familiar. He couldn’t believe it and didn’t dare pursue that line of thinking further. The man thought back to a scene that’d occurred in the ancient city in the ruins. He’d also sensed something slightly different when he gave the sword to Li Hao, but hadn’t followed up on that moment.

Today... he had to.

The battle site had been destroyed by fire, leaving behind only half of a Red Moon mask. Everything else had been obliterated. Was there a need for Hao Lianchuan to do so when he employed the Flaming Phoenix Spear?

Was he hiding something? What was he hiding?

The look in Hong Yitang’s eyes shifted rapidly. Of course he was hiding something—he hadn’t killed these people. Instead, a swordsman had, one incomparably strong. How many within the modern day martial world could accomplish such a deed?

Yuan Shuo?

Yuan Shuo was no swordsman. He might be able to do so, but it wasn’t him. If his sword intent was so domineering, he would’ve become a premier swordsman and not the Five Styles King.

Li Hao!

The name appeared in Hong Yitang’s mind with difficulty. He almost lost his footing. The young man was an unfathomable swordsman!

“What are you looking at, Earthturner Sword?” A voice suddenly sounded in his ears. He Yong walked over, roaring with laughter. “Are you terrified out of your mind at this battle scene?”

Hong Yitang looked back to find He Yong staring at his hand.

“What, did you find some money?” joked the latter.

Hong Yitang placed his hands behind his back and slowly melted the shard in his palm.