Star Gate

Chapter 626: Arriving at Skystar City (III)

“Do you mean the little priest?” Big Eyes fluttered her lashes. “Don’t you know, big sister Yu? He’s gone into closed door cultivation. The little priest was late Nova before and almost at peak Nova. He’ll probably be peak Nova when he emerges, or even metamorphosis. He’s really something...

“Do you want to get him out of seclusion, big sister Yu? The little priest is really something.”

Hou Xiaochen smiled before Manager Yu had a chance to respond. “Alright then, let him stay in seclusion. That’s just as well.” He smiled benignly at the three. “What are you guys up to lately? I hear that you’re tracking down Indigo Moon?”

Spear and Blade didn’t respond.

“That’s right,” giggled Big Eyes. “Everyone should kill those of the three great organizations! We received word that Indigo Moon has come to Skystar City. Perhaps there’s a plot brewing, so we’re hunting her. What a pity that she hides herself well and we’ve been unable to catch a glimpse of her.

“Indigo Moon is apparently from Silver Moon too,” she tittered. “As fellow martial masters from back in the day, big sister Yu and Deputy Hou both know her exact identity and appearance, don’t you? Why don’t big sis join us...”

“There’s no rush, Indigo Moon by herself won’t raise a fuss.” Hou Xiaochen smiled widely. “Upstairs has given me additional missions lately that I’m sure you three know about.”

“We do. Is the deputy director sending us to kill members of the three great organizations?” Big Eyes beamed merrily. “We can do that, we’d like that. But the three great organizations are gathered at the City of Supernaturals and there are Arcanus supernaturals holding down the fort there. How about the deputy director run interference for us while we have some fun at the city...”

Manager Yu’s eyes sharpened with a cold look. She didn’t like these kids, especially Big Eyes. They were so unruly! The girl had interrupted before Hou Xiaochen could finish, that was very bad. Even the renowned Demon Sword of Silver Moon wouldn’t talk to Hou Xiaochen this way.

Of course, she knew this was the central region. But so what?

She looked sharply at Big Eyes; all three Heaven Favored shook when they suddenly felt a hint of killing intent.

“Cough cough cough...” Hou Xiaochen coughed a few times and looked at Yu Luocha. She retracted her killing intent and refrained from looking at the trio. She sat down to continue her business.

The three continued to be inwardly surprised. Intelligence reports indicated that Yu Luocha was only mid Nova. The three of them were late Novas and steadily progressing to peak Nova. They were also Heaven Favored who’d already killed peak Novas. Once they entered peak Nova, they might be able to fight those above their level of strength, such as metamorphosis experts. But just now, they’d been frightened by someone’s killing intent.

As they thought, these veteran martial masters weren’t easy characters to consort with! They’d killed so many that their killing intent was truly abundant. Yu Luocha was also different from Yellow Dragon and the others. Yellow Dragon adopted a half fawning attitude against these youngsters; Hou Xiaochen seemed ready to do the same. Yu Luocha, however, showed them a bad attitude.

Hou Xiaochen coughed for a while to interrupt the awkwardness and started anew with a smile on his face. “The City of Supernaturals is a bit far and we’ve yet to find our footing in Skystar. We can leave the city be for now...” He paused and smiled when Big Eyes didn’t interject again. “We’ll be concentrating our attentions in Skystar City instead...”

“What does the deputy director want us to do?” asked the young man with the blade. He was utterly fearless. “We will not shirk our duty in what can be done, but ask that you look elsewhere if it is something that we cannot do!”

“It’s nothing much, I just wanted to secure the duties of Skystar commander. The Night Watchers are the only official supernatural agency recognized by the nine ministries and royal family, the only one approved for law enforcement over supernaturals.

“The Skystar commander oversees all of the supernatural agencies in the central region. However, now... You may be unaware that we arrested some people a few days ago, but they weren’t that useful as we didn’t take anyone with sufficient standing. Those who we killed didn’t grasp enough authority.”

The trio’s hearts quailed! Not enough?! You killed the Steadfast Duke’s younger brother and put many Xu clan members in jail! You took down the vice headmaster of the Skystar Academy, how is that not enough?

Who else was higher than them? The first and second-in-command of the nine ministries? Or the other dukes, princes, or descendants of the royal family? Or headmasters of the oher academies??

They didn’t understand what Hou Xiaochen wanted to do. Did he just want to consolidate his authority? What good would that do?

They weren’t even aware of what goals Hou Xiaochen had in the central region. What did he want to accomplish? He’d kicked up such a disturbance that it really seemed like he thought of himself as invincible!

The three of them were brash, but not stupid. There was too much involved here and the situation was exceedingly perilous. After the Arcanus cultivation realm was revealed, the trio was well aware that further disturbance might provoke action from the sixth cultivation realm!

And Hou Xiaochen?

He didn’t rival an Arcanus after he unsealed himself, did he?

“Director Hou, who... do you have your eyes set on?” Big Eyes stop tittering.

“Not I, but the laws, the rules, our duties!” Hou Xiaochen smiled. “These aren’t my own thoughts, but that of the entire Night Watchers! This is how things should be done. We should cement our right to administer the law instead of milling about with confusion. Do we even look like the only supernatural law enforcement agency at the moment?”

The trio fell silent.

“Forget it, it looks like you do not have this kind of courage,” Hou Xiaochen sighed. “This kind of daring and resolution lies with your fourth member, the one who dared kill the grandson of the Yama leader. You can discuss this after he emerges from seclusion.”

It was a very blatant attempt to egg them on, but the youngsters chose silence. Hou Xiaochen narrowed his eyes with some regret. It looks like the fearless act they put on was truly just an act. That made sense as they wouldn’t have lived to present day were they truly this foolish.

“Go about your business then.”

“Director, we...” The one with the blade was conflicted and wanted to say something.

“It’s fine, go on!”

Big Eyes was no longer beaming. She also struggled with her thoughts before nodding. “Then we take our leave!”

When the three left, Manager Yu said faintly, “They lack a bit of resolution...”

“We can’t say that!” Hou Xiaochen smiled. “We’re not familiar with them. Those youngsters don’t lack for potential, strength, and courage. It’s just that we’re strangers to each other. They’re not fools—they won’t so easily be a weapon in our hands.”

“Why didn’t you say a few more words, director? Perhaps you could’ve persuaded them.”

“The three of them are not the heart of their little group. The one in seclusion is. He’s the one who killed Yama’s grandson and stole the Heaven’s Dictate. If he doesn’t emerge, these three... will see small matters through, but won’t put a toe over the line in more serious matters.”

Manager Yu found the outcome regretful, then smiled when she thought of something. “Too bad Li Hao’s not here, otherwise...”

“Don’t!” Hou Xiaochen laughed. “I’d have such a headache if he was here! He looked so apprehensive and shy before, but I knew he was a second Yuan Shuo when he visited the eastern continent. No, he’s even crazier than Yuan Shuo. If he came with me, he might cause trouble for me before I say a word!”

“That’s true.”

......

At the same time, outside Skystar City.

Li Hao crossed the Skystar Sea and smiled at the splendid, sprawling metropolis in the distance. “I’ve come to see you, Director Hou!” He didn’t know that many people in the vast dynastic capital. The young man didn’t want to seek out He Yong, so that left only Hou Xiaochen’s group.

Indeed, Li Hao didn’t plan on skulking around in the shadows. What could one see of the world if their status was too low? He had to find someone placed in a high position!

Therefore, he’d thought of a plan before he came. He would have a tearful reunion with Hou Xiaochen. He’ll be so happy to see me! And Golden Spear, Mu Lin, Manager Yu... They’ll be delighted to see a familiar face in a strange place.

“I’m a month late, but thank goodness I’m not too late!” He could already sense the excitement, agitation, happiness, and worship that the others would greet him with when they saw him. They must be so jealous that I wrecked the Steadfast Duke’s complex!

When he set foot into Skystar City, it was like he’d traveled to another world. It was so flourishing and crowded with a raucous din! Some flew, others walked, and cars drove along the streets. Skyscrapers forested the city and roads traveled everywhere. People bustled to and fro, a veritable hotbed of activity.

He would’ve never known that a city could be so prosperous if he hadn’t visited Skystar City. Lights blazed in the darkness and supernaturals put on magic shows not too far away. There were even some prodding minor monster spirits elsewhere to entertain the crowd. Was this the lives of lofty supernaturals and monster spirits in the capital? Did they have to demean themselves to this level for a bite to eat?

A troop of people in Inspectorate uniforms walked over from the end of the street. A dozen of them were led by a first rank inspector. He was a Sunflare! So a Sunflare... could only be a first rank inspector?

Li Hao was bewildered by the sight and suddenly felt that his knowledge of the world was too shallow! He didn’t find the Night Watcher headquarters after a look around. Where was he supposed to go in such a vast city?

There should be someone who knows where the headquarters are... The young man led the tiny Panther into the city proper. Just the outskirts alone stunned him.

Skystar City, here I come!

......

Skystar City was incredibly enormous. The newly arrived Li Hao was as if an idiot. There was no helping it, he was completely lost and had to ask for directions. Passersby were perfectly willing to tell him which road and which bus to take, or where to transfer and then which road to take...

He understood their instructions, but there were too many damned cars and people. He was turned around and around by them all. Just as he floundered around, a short girl of roughly sixteen years old winked at him.

“Hey there, want a guide?”

“......” Another fatty?