Star Gate

Chapter 669: Not Looking For Anything (IV)

“I just feel that he really might be the death of himself,” Kong Jie sighed. “With how he’s proceeding and us being far away... Even if we were close at hand, we’d have to fully unseal ourselves to be able to handle an Arcanus. We won’t be able to do anything otherwise!”

Kong Jie punctuated his words with another sigh and continued in a plaintive tone, “My daughter’s in Skystar City, I almost forgot about that! I hope she isn’t dragged into Li Hao’s matters. It’d be horrible if she died... ai!”

It was only now that he remembered his daughter was at the royal city? Director General Zhao looked speechlessly at him and said faintly, “I thought you recalled her presence a long time ago.”

“I’ve been brainwashed by Li Hao over the past few days and all I can think about is his name. I don’t have the capacity to think about anything else,” Kong Jie grumbled. “Forget it, all is fine if she doesn’t die. If she does... I’ll go kill whoever kills her! I’ll take down as many as I can!”

The director general couldn’t be bothered to dignify that with a response.

“We can’t advise him otherwise or stop him,” he said instead after some thought. “I don’t know what exactly Li Hao has in mind, but I know that it will be a new beginning whether he succeeds or not. The only thing we can do now is spared the news far and wide! Whether it’s to create a bigger audience or give rise to more rumors, at the very least, we need to let people know that Demon Sword Li Hao is commencing some things in Skystar City that no one else dares attempt or has the ability to attempt!

“And he comes from Silver Moon!” The director general raised his head to look at the other two. “We need to let everyone know that those from Silver Moon have the most spirit and backbone! Others of the dynasty need to know that in this vast world, if we are left out of it, then no one will dare declare themselves first beneath the heavens!”

Director General Zhao stood up with a smile. “As for everything else, let’s leave that for him!”

“You... aren’t going to do anything?” Kong Jie asked with a wordless look. What use was just advertising? He’d thought that Old Zhao would have some good ideas.

“Go about your business!”

Kong Jie had no option available other than to just leave. Ole Zhao was so useless!

Huang Yu shook his head when the inspector general left. “Ole Kong’s been a bit restless lately. It looks like he wants to head to Skystar City, probably because he’s being affected by Li Hao and Hou Xiaochen. He probably finds it uncomfortable standing guard here.”

“Standing guard sometimes is an even more difficult choice,” the director general commented faintly. “Forget it if he doesn’t understand. Where were we? Skystar is just the beginning—the true problem lies in Silver Moon! Can you make it to Skystar City in three days if you travel at full speed?”

The dynastic capital was too far away from them. Hou Xiaochen’s convoy had taken seven days by car, and they’d traveled at a decent pace. Martial masters might make it there in three days if they traveled at full strength, but they wouldn’t have enough time to recover once they arrived.

“I’ll be faster if you give me a partial ride with the helicopter...” Huang Yu looked at the director general. “Do you want me to go?”

“You can go take a look around.”

“I thought you’d send Ole Kong.” Huang Yu smiled.

“He won’t be of much use if he goes.”

“Then I’ll get there as soon as possible.”

“Mmhmm.” The two exchanged a few brief words before Huang Yu hastily took his leave. Time was of the essence. Since Ole Zhao had made a decision, then he should make due haste.

......

As various sides were embroiled in discussion, the subject of their conversations—Li Hao—didn’t mind at all. He currently sat in a private room on the ninth floor at the Nine Dragons Pavilion.

Just him.

And a dog.

He was eating food and drinking tea. The female manager from his last visit was serving him, placing choice morsels on his plate and pouring more refreshment. Contrary to his previous visit, she didn’t have any complaints this time or find anything untoward about the situation. The only thought in her mind as she watched Li Hao gobble down food was that... the uncommon conducted themselves in an uncommon manner!

She had a lot of questions and doubts, as well as confusion that she wanted to clear with the stunning young man in front of her. However, she didn’t dare voice any of them.

“Delicious! The only con is that it’s too expensive here.” Li Hao heaved a comfortable exhale after he cleared the table.

“Please have as much as you’d like, Commander Li. Someone else is taking care of the bill,” chuckled the manager. “Our pavilion master is buying. Apart from precious items such as Water of Life, everything else is free.”

“Your pavilion master?”

“Yes, the master of the Nine Dragons Pavilion.”

“Isn’t that someone from the royal family?”

“That’s right, our pavilion master is from the royal family.”

“Then my thanks!” Li Hao roared with laughter. “How nice of him. Very well, get me ten more servings of everything I just had. I’m honestly not full yet!”

The manager didn’t mind the enormous order; she quickly left the room to give some instructions before returning to her honored guest.

Li Hao burped and lifted his tea cup for a sip. “It’s said that the Nine Dragons Pavilion can do anything. How about a transaction?”

“Please go ahead, commander.”

“The... massive projection that He Yong put together last time, that really large thing. Do you guys have something like that? The kind that can project to thousands and thousands of people and can’t be broken. I want the entire city to see me chop heads off!”

“......” Weariness washed over the female manager again. Why did this one always voice such... horrifying words! “Yes, but completely avoiding interference is nearly impossible. No one wishes for this matter to become public knowledge.”

“So not even the Nine Dragons Pavilion can accomplish it?”

“We can, but we cannot!”

“I’ll pay.”

“Not even if you pay.” The manager looked at Li Hao with a complicated expression. “This isn’t a matter of money, but whether or not this course of action is permitted. It may not be protestations from others, it could be that we ourselves don’t wish for this to come to pass either.”

“In that case, let’s change to a different reason,” Li Hao laughed. “Say it’s to broadcast my failure and death! You guys need to learn how to bend the rules, it’s not like I’m guaranteed to win! Is a newcomer like me assured to succeed against those guys? Just announce that you want the world to see how Li Hao dies!”

“This... could work!” The manager thought rapidly. “But we’ll need to put in an application for it. After all, the commander is incredibly strong. Not even the nine ministries may be able to easily take you down.”

“Are they that cowardly?” Li Hao burst out laughing. “If they’re such wusses, then it’s all the same whether I project the beheadings or not. How are they to rule over the world if they don’t have even this level of confidence? You’re joking!”

“I’ll do my best,” the manager emphasized. “As for costs... we can waive that. If the request goes through, I think a lot of people will want to see how the commander dies.”

“Yo, the beauty’s gotten more straightforward!” Li Hao tilted his head at her with a smile.

“Someone like the commander might like a more straightforward nature better,” chuckled the manager.

“Good ass kissing!” Li Hao nodded. “I like what I hear! As expected, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s real and important after one comes into power and authority.”

His laughter was echoed by the manager. “Then I’ll put in the application for the commander. In addition, if I may be so bold as to ask a question...”

“Ask away!”

“What does the commander wish to achieve?” She didn’t receive an answer to her question, but didn’t mind. The manager left after a few beats of silence.

What do you wish to achieve? Your actions will plunge you into the depths of despair and danger more perilous than before.

Li Hao barked with laughter right before she exited the private room. “I wish to achieve clear thoughts! Such is martial dao, such are Silver Moon martial masters! You are neither a martial master nor a Silver Moon martial master, so you don’t understand the willingness to endure a thousand cuts just to pull the emperor off his horse. Didn’t the nine ministries accomplish that back in the day?”

The manager nearly tripped over her feet; she quickly rushed out of the room. These weren’t words that she could listen to!

Li Hao grinned widely and caressed Panther’s head. “I’m not a dog. If I were, I’d eat and sleep and sleep and eat. I wouldn’t care about anything. Isn’t that right, Panth?”

“Arf arf arf!” Panther shook its head. Dogs had their worries too! Right now, for instance, Li Hao’s hand on its head wasn’t too comfortable. The noble descendent of a mighty ancient monster spirit shouldn’t be treated in such an irritating fashion!

“As I thought, you agree too!” Li Hao laughed and pressed the dog’s head downward, giving Panther no choice but to nod.

Forget it, a dog could only bow its head when under someone else’s roof. It was enough that it had food to eat, there was no need to consider too much else. All of the mighty ancient monster spirits were no longer, so what did their descendants count for?

At least, this was how Panther tried to comfort itself.

......

Within the Nine Dragons Pavilion.

Dishes were constantly brought to the table; Li Hao ate some and gave the rest to Panther. The fare of the Nine Dragons Pavilion was quite up to par. It went without saying that it was a feast for the senses, but also contained a great deal of energy.

The chefs here are really good.

The manager returned after a while; merriment could be heard in her voice. “Commander, upstairs has agreed to try. We might have to discuss with the nine ministries for a bit—upstairs is very interested in what the commander said. The nine ministries are not interested in executing nobles, but beheading the commander might be something that a lot of people wish to see.”

Li Hao grinned and nodded without a word. The manager hesitated upon seeing his attitude.

“If someone does attack the commander, it might be powerhouses from the three great organizations apart from the nine ministries and royal family,” she ultimately said. “In addition, the City of Supernaturals might send people. Apart from Sky Sword Mountain of the seven divine mountains, the rest are hard to gauge. There’s also other princes and dukes to consider...”

“You might as well say that everyone in the world, apart from those of Silver Moon, wants to kill me,” Li Hao laughed. There was no need to name so many people.

The young man rose and called out to the black dog. “Panther, we’re going!”

There was no need to linger since his goal had been accomplished. Li Hao patted its head when he saw the dog take a long gulp of all the energy in the room.

“We’re being treated by the pavilion this time, it’s not appropriate for you to do this!” he said with resignation.

“It’s fine!” the manager hastily said. “So long as Master Panther likes what he finds.”

Li Hao smiled. Fear and respect developed when one grew famous or became ruthless. Look at the difference in the pavilion’s treatment of him compared to last time!