Star Gate

Chapter 289: Return (I)

South Fist King He Yong had run off in abject terror when Hou Xiaochen made his move. To think that he would reappear here at this point in time!

Liu Long and Wang Ming jumped out of the car, both highly alert and incredibly surprised. This guy had some nerve to appear right after Hou Xiaochen left! Did he mean to attack them? Wasn’t he afraid of Hou Xiaochen responding with fury if he dared act like this in Silver Moon?

“Senior He Yong,” Liu Long broached with a solemn tone. “What business might you have?”

He Yong’s eyes widened when he flicked a glance at the team captain. “Dominator? You’re a martial master too! Kid, what is your name?”

“Liu Long!”

“Liu Long?” He Yong thought for a bit and laughed. “Silver Spear’s son, right? Who would’ve thought that you’d rise to Dominator after your father’s death? It looks like you’ve received quite a few pointers from Old Demon Yuan.”

He didn’t think that anyone in Silver Moon could easily progress to Dominator without help from Yuan Shuo, particularly a martial second generation like Liu Long. Indeed, these martial second generations did not have the benefit of experiencing the great rises and falls of He Yong’s time. That was a period of turbulent wind and rain!

“But you won’t do!” He Yong was highly arrogant and immediately dismissed Liu Long. He couldn’t even be bothered to look at Sunflare Wang Ming. He instantly brought up his purpose when Li Hao alighted from the car. “Little fellow, take me to your master!”

“I don’t know where he is.” Li Hao shook his head.

“That’s fine!” He Yong roared with laughter. “You’re his final disciple. He’ll eventually come to you even if you don’t know where he is! I’m in no rush, I’ll wait for him!”

“What does senior want with my master...” Li Hao furrowed his brow.

“To fight!” He Yong declared with extreme self-assurance. “I want to witness the might of a Summoner!”

“Sun Yifei died in battle, he was a late Solar...” Li Hao reminded, but he’d already guessed at He Yong’s motive. These older generation martial masters didn’t seem to fear death. They wished to see the glories of Summoner of Spirit for themselves.

He Yong also meant to protect Li Hao with the words that he said on the cliff. Of course, it might be that he didn’t wish to see martial dao heritage be ended. He just couldn’t be too obvious about the latter.

Li Hao wasn’t exactly negatively inclined toward these martial masters, it was just that they loved to fight too much, which made them quite annoying at times.

“So what?” He Yong sneered. “Sun Yifei’s qimei staff ended a long time ago. He was a fake martial master! I am a real deal Dominator and I’ve been one for many years! I’ve had three blood transfusions, my bones and meridians are very strong. Do you take me for an ordinary Dominator??

“I might have failed to find the path above Dominator, but I have not been crippled over these years! The royal family has nothing but treasure! I’ve strengthened my meridians, changed my blood, and even absorbed vast sums of mysterious power stones. None of this is what the likes of what you can imagine!

“Old Demon Yuan is pretty impressive at killing Sun Yifei, but I don’t believe that he’ll be able to run right over me!”

He was very confident that if he proved to be less than Yuan Shuo, he would be able to strike back at the very least. He Yong had failed to locate the path to Summoner, but he hadn’t been idle during his employment with the royal family. He’d partaken of countless treasures and immensely enhanced all areas of his body.

Li Hao could also sense how strong the man was. He might even be a bit stronger than the young man at present—it was just a feeling that spoke to him. One had to know that although Li Hao had just risen to Dominator of Thousands, he’d comprehended the earth sword aura and absorbed vast sums of mysterious power to strengthen his organs. He did not match the current Yuan Shuo, but wasn’t far off from when Yuan Shuo initially broke through.

It was after Yuan Shuo’s advancement that he fought a Solar, utilizing the Incantation of the Blade of Blood to kill an initial Solar. Li Hao could probably do the same in his current state!

Of course, whether or not he actually could would have to be tested in battle. But the man in front of him possessed some real strength to his name since he appeared slightly greater than Li Hao.

“Kid, what are you thinking about?” He Yong demanded with impatience upon seeing Li Hao sink into deep thought. “I’ll follow you if I can’t find your master!”

“Sure” Li Hao grinned. “I'm going to White Moon City in three days. Senior can come with me!”

He Yong’s expression changed. Hou Xiaochen!

“Don’t try to scare me with Hou Xiaochen,” he snorted. “Am I afraid of him? He’s a man of the dynasty so long as he hasn’t raised the flag of rebellion. Would he dare kill me?

“But there’s no helping it if he does mutiny...” He Yong mumbled. “Anyway, there’s no use trying to scare me off with him! I’m not leaving unless your master shows his face!”

“Martial uncle Earthturner Sword Hong is also nearby...”

“Supernatural trash! Don’t bother me, I don’t have time for him!” He Yong cursed irately at the mention of the famed martial master who’d made the crossover.

“Senior, isn’t it inappropriate to force someone to do something against their will?” a frowning Liu Long interjected. “We have official duties to take care of and don’t have time to entertain the senior...”

“Entertain?” He Yong snapped. “Why does Yuan Shuo not show himself for a battle after progressing to Summoner and demonstrating the might of martial dao to the world?”

“Too many people wish to kill my master,” Li Hao replied solemnly. “Aren’t you forcing him to come out to his death, senior? Is this what you wish? You would force him out to satisfy your selfish desires? How many people will come for him then?”

He Yong paused, then quickly blustered in the same vein, “Who cares?! I’ll kill whoever comes!”

“......” Li Hao, Liu Long, and Wang Ming looked at him wordlessly. This guy was crazy. Kill whoever comes? Who do you think you are?

“What are you looking at me for?” He Yong sneered; he wasn’t crazy. “When Hou Xiaochen calls for an insurrection and Silver Moon rises with him, Yuan Shuo will have to sweat for him all the time since the old demon’s enjoyed his protection these years. Who will dare kill Yuan Shuo with Hou Xiaochen there?”

“How can you spew nonsense like this?” Wang Ming grumbled. Li Hao frowned as well. “Our director is wholeheartedly devoted to the public, what is this talk of rebellion? You don’t have impunity to create rumors like these just because you’re with the royal family!”

“What do you know, little shit stain!” He Yong snorted. “Hou Xiaochen will revolt sooner or later! He has to go to the central region if he doesn’t. The nine ministries will not permit such a mighty presence to stay on the border and watch tigers fight from afar so he can identify a good timing for his own plans!

“They’ll make him go to the central region even if that forces him to take up arms! He’s a traitor if he doesn’t go! He might even be the chicken killed to scare the monkeys, and he has no choice but to be the chicken! Yes, it’s a lot of trouble for there to be someone in open revolt as sparks of flames can set the prairie ablaze, but the dynasty will benefit once they are extinguished and the lands cowed by a show of might!”

New thoughts struck Li Hao and the others. Forcing Hou Xiaochen to take up arms! That was true—everyone’s theories were that the dynasty didn’t dare commit such an action. What would happen to the other territories once the government forced a major official into a corner?

However, the government’s movers and shakers were no fools. What if they could swiftly stamp out Hou Xiaochen?

The first to lead a rebellion was someone who killed a Nova with one spear jab. Would others with similar ambitions still nurse the same thoughts if he was swiftly executed after he declared his intentions?

They wouldn’t easily reveal their motives even if they did.

Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys!

Therefore, according to He Yong’s explanation, the dynasty would continue forcing Hou Xiaochen to move to the central region. They might really charge him with the crime of high treason if he refused to go!

This was a possibility that they hadn’t considered before. They hadn’t thought this to be a likelihood as the border region would all be engulfed in chaos if one province fell to disarray. The dynasty wouldn’t dare run that risk. But now, He Yong spoke of another potential!

“What, are just a few random words enough to scare you guys?” He Yong threw his head back with laughter when the trio fell silent. “Don’t worry, it won’t happen that quickly. Procedures will be observed even if they wish to force Hou Xiaochen into rebelling. They’ll have a conversation first, then draft him three times with three promotions. All of those will be publicly announced!

“He might be offered the position of deputy director of the Night Watcher headquarters today, then given the chance to lead the Night Watchers tomorrow. He might become the first deputy of the entire Inspectorate the day after that. If he still refuses to obey after the three promotions, then he will be labeled a traitor!

“The dynasty follows the proper order in doing things, they don’t go at it haphazardly,” He Yong continued laughing. “Of course, that doesn’t take into account some fellows creating trouble in Silver Moon and forcing that guy down this path anyway. The situation is even easier then—they just need to be ready to take him out!”

Li Hao frowned slightly and changed the topic again. “Senior, I really don’t know where my master is. You can follow me if you wish!”

“You don’t have any clues?” He Yong stopped laughing. “I hear that he was injured. Has he died on the way?”

“Surely you jest, senior.” Li Hao smiled. “My teacher is an academic matched by no other and his martial learning runs to the heavens. How would he die in a nameless place?”

“That’s good!” A hint of cold glinted in He Yong’s eyes. “It really would be a pity if he died. That old demon was no end of trouble for us back in the day!”

Li Hao couldn’t be bothered with him. He neither liked nor disliked this man. He could follow them if he wished, Li Hao didn’t care. Martial masters were just that oblivious sometimes!

He Yong made to follow the trio when they returned to the car.

“Are you going to take the car too, senior?” Li Hao raised an eyebrow. “Martial masters are better served walking...”

“Why?” He Yong blinked. Why should he walk?

“Walking is the best precaution against ambushes,” Li Hao explained. “My teacher explained this once and it doesn’t matter for us since we’re all amateurs. But since senior is an expert and possessed a great reputation in Silver Moon, you might have your share of enemies too. It would be such an unnecessary death if you were ambushed! We’ll drive slower, senior. You can stretch your legs as you follow behind us.”

He Yong thought for a moment, that did make certain sense. Martial masters did indeed like to walk, but it was more than one thousand kilometers from here to Silver City! As fit as he was, that would be the death of him!

“Senior, can it be that the Fist Kings are only adept with boxing methods?” Li Hao questioned upon seeing the man’s reaction. “I see, then hop in, senior! My master is well-rounded and usually walks because he is skilled with the Five Styles. He is first class in both the fists and levitation skills. He walked when we traveled to the canyon and didn’t fall the slightest bit behind. I thought senior would be the same, but just remembered that you are the Southern Fist, not Southern Leg!”

“......” He Yong stared at Li Hao, then sneered after a moment, “Who do you think you’re looking down on? True martial masters are all well-rounded, we’re just good in different areas. Piss off, I’ll follow you!”

Li Hao gestured for Wang Ming to drive off. They were leaving! There was nothing else to say to this man. He was convinced that he would find Yuan Shuo if he followed Li Hao, so he would not easily give up unless he was beaten up. As someone who kept a low profile and respected his elders, why would the young man do that?

Part of the reason was that this guy was so poor that his clothes were threadbare. There was no point to killing martial masters. He Yong traveled alone, without any possessions other than his fists. Was Li Hao supposed to kill him and cut off his hands to use as gloves?

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