Star Gate

Chapter 376: Mask of Pain (IV)

Li Hao thought for a bit more. “Is it possible that he knew of certain things, such as Mu Sen being pretty strong, so Silver City would be fine with Mu Sen there...”

He wanted to say a word or two on the man’s behalf because he’d met Wang Henggang once. The deeply tanned man seemed to be a nice guy. Of course, to know one’s face was not to know one’s heart. From Liu Long’s perspective, Wang Henggang was an incredibly loathsome person for taking away the Inspectorate’s powerhouses and leaving the city’s defenses in a very weakened state.

“It doesn’t matter,” Liu Long said softly, not as angry as he was all those years back. “Not to mention... It now looks like it was a good thing that he took those people with him! What would they gain if they remained in Silver City? It’s still the same after all these years without the slightest hint of improvement. Wu Chao and the others stayed with me and refused to go. You see how they were. If it wasn’t for your support, they would still be Slayers!”

He shook his head with a sigh. “Hence, he might’ve given the people a better future in taking them with him. There is no talk of blame to go around, just a little disgruntlement.”

The car headed for the White Moon City Inspectorate as they conversed, not the Inspectorate headquarters. The provincial capital had its own independent Inspectorate; its sense of existence was so weak that most people didn’t know the capital had its own independent Inspectorate.

......

The White Moon City Inspectorate.

Wang Henggang was hard at work. He was very busy after large numbers of Red Moon powerhouses surged into the province. He needed to prevent the organization from assaulting the capital. His communicator rang while he was face down in work.

The voice of someone from downstairs traveled into his ear when he picked up. “Inspector General, someone’s here to see you. It’s a chief commissioner and a commissioner inspector from the Night Watchers...”

The Night Watchers? Wang Henggang blinked. He didn’t have much to do with the Night Watchers, why was someone here to see him? A chief commissioner was at least a Sunflare.

“What are their names?”

“One’s surnamed Liu and says he’s from Silver City...”

Old memories suddenly gripped Wang Henggang. He thought of Liu Long, the fellow with the stubborn temper. Wang Henggang had chosen to come to White Moon City three years ago, but Liu Long chose to stay in Silver City. They had a close relationship before that. One was the inspector general of the Inspectorate and the other the team captain of the law enforcement team. The entire city had been within their grasp and security was very good. They’d worked together for many years in a happy partnership.

What a pity...

“Let them come up...” Wang Henggang breathed out softly. “Forget it, take them to the reception room. I’ll go down.”

“Inspector General...”

“Leave it at that!” Wang Henggang stood up and dithered for a moment before walking downstairs. Had Liu Long come for him? To fight? To yell? To make trouble? Or to persuade him to return to Silver City?

Regardless, this fellow had chosen to visit today after many years. It didn’t seem like he came with friendly intentions.

......

Within the reception room.

Li Hao looked around calmly, Liu Long was a bit silent.

“Don’t worry, boss. If you’re really ticked off, we can beat him up before we go!”

“......” Liu Long looked at him wordlessly. This is the White Moon Inspectorate! You’re going to beat up their inspector general right here? You already said he’s a peak Solar! Do you realize how arrogant you’re being??

Footsteps sounded as he mentally censured Li Hao. They were a bit heavy, plainly on purpose. The door swung open, revealing a heavily tanned man.

Wang Henggang looked at Li Hao, learning only now that the other person was the young man. He turned to Liu Long instead and smiled, “Ole Liu... It’s been a while.”

Liu Long flicked a glance at him and nodded. “It’s been a few years.”

“Let’s grab a drink tonight?”

“Let’s not, I’m busy with official duties.”

“Then...” The two ignored Li Hao, who didn’t mind.

Liu Long started first, “Let’s not stand on pleasantries, there’s no need to do so. Do you know the Silver Moon Guards?”

“......” Wang Henggang raised an eyebrow, but nodded. “Yes.”

“There’s a new one hundred person team there who needs people. Do you have any suitable talents?”

“Yes.” Wang Henggang nodded. “You know the group of brothers from all those years ago. Apart from a couple who ascended to the supernatural, the rest are still martial masters. There are seven Sunderers and nine Slayers. Is that enough? They’re willing to follow you if you ask them. They’ve wanted to go back for you all these years, but I stopped them. I said we can go back when there’s really a need, that it wasn’t the time. It’s too hard for us to improve in Silver City.”

Sixteen martial masters, seven of which were Sunderers. That wasn’t too few. It was clear to see that Wang Henggang thought Liu Long had joined the Guards and that the Dominator needed to build a team.

“Not me, but Li Hao!” Liu Long corrected.

“Hmm?” Wang Henggang blinked and looked at the young man. Li Hao was the centurion? “Li Hao... is a Dominator?”

“Yes!” Li Hao smoothly inserted himself. “It was just luck, pure luck! I know that big brother Wang’s from Silver City, so I grabbed chief here to come looking for some support. I’ve only just arrived and don’t know anyone or anything. I can only look to big brother Wang.”

“Then you...” Wang Henggang looked at Liu Long.

“I’m Li Hao’s helper,” the man responded calmly. “Don’t look at me like that, he’s stronger than you! I was your subordinate for many years, why can’t I do the same for Li Hao? Go ask those brothers if they’re willing to come. Tell them clearly that it’ll be more dangerous than their current gig. They can come if they’re willing, no one will be forced into something they don’t want. It’s going to be dangerous work that puts our lives on the line, not going shopping on the streets.”

“Do you think they won’t be willing?” Wang Henggang laughed, then quickly frowned. “Li Hao’s also here, so I’ll be frank. It’s not that I don’t think much of you, but I wonder if you’re too young...”

Liu Long turned to Li Hao without further ado. “Give him a punch and see how much of the Iron Shirt skill he still retains!”

Li Hao beamed happily, could he?

“A try is just as good!” Wang Henggang laughed. “Li Hao, bring your full strength to bear. To be honest, I’d be comfortable letting Liu Long take the men away. But if it’s you... I’m a little uneasy. So bring your full strength to bear...”

“Then, big brother Wang, you... need to bring your full strength to defend!”

“Of course!” Wang Henggang smiled. I know you’re strong, but do you know that I’m a peak Solar?

“I mean it, big brother Wang, it has to be your full strength for defense!” Li Hao reminded. “I’m very strong, I’ve already killed a Solar!”

“......” Wang Henggang blinked, a light dancing in his eyes. Killed a Solar? Yu Xiao?

“Then... I’ll punch you?”

“Mmhmm!”

Li Hao cocked his hand back with everything he had, not using the earth or fire sword aura, but the spontaneous eruption of the metal sword aura! BOOM!

A massive collision exploded as the fist landed on a metal wall. The eruption of the metal sword aura was domineering in the extreme! Wang Henggang flew backward with a rumble and smashed a hole out of the wall.

Li Hao shrugged. I told you to bring your full strength to bear. This punch is for the chief.

Indeed, Liu Long grinned from ear to ear. He was in a fantastic mood. The Inspectorate promptly exploded with activity, to which Wang Henggang calmed with a roar, “I’m fine, this is a spar between friends. Back to your duties!”

Moments later, the man walked back and nodded at Li Hao. “Very good, you can take the men with you. You’ve got a bright future ahead!” He patted his chest like he was brushing dust off. “I’m going to change my uniform as it seems to have ripped. That doesn’t look proper, so I’ll be a few moments...”

He turned and left, a rictus of pain twisting his face a few steps later. He sucked in air through bared teeth, the breath hurting his lungs. Agony was written over his deeply tanned face as he showcased a mask of pain!

Fuck!

The boy... that punch... was too damned brutal! Wang Henggang felt that his bones were about to shatter. Judging from the other’s nonchalant attitude, that hadn’t been his full strength. If it were, it wouldn’t look like this.

Wang Henggang’s expression was so twisted that it confused those who saw him. The inspector general immediately regained his composure.

“Go about your duties...” He vanished out of sight. It hurt so much! That bastard Liu Long, I was wondering why he was so agreeable to everything. He set up a trap for me!

......

Back in the reception room.

Li Hao laughed. That’s a stiff upper lip, alright!

Wang Henggang was the latest he’d met in a series of powerhouses adept at defense. Mu Lin was the other—both of them probably walked the Iron Shirt path. One had become a supernatural and the other a martial master.

Wang Henggang walked the path of the supernatural. Li Hao had briefly sensed him—he should be an earth supernatural, a good match for martial dao. He was a peak Solar, but unknown as to whether or not he counted as a strong peak Solar. The young man had met a few peak Solars by now. Violet Moon, the Revolution King, Huang Jie, Wang Henggang...

But their strengths varied wildly and the presence of an origin weapon was also a deciding factor. One also needed to see if they were crossed over from martial masters, such as the late Solar Qimei Staff and Hu Dingfang. Those two were also very strong, giving Li Hao the feeling that they were stronger than Huang Jie.

Wang Henggang might be an even stronger peak Solar since he was a martial master first. He was the first martial-master-to-peak-Solar that Li Hao had met. The rest, such as Violet Moon and the Revolution King, were plainly not former martial masters.

Although Li Hao’s earlier punch had drifted lightly without strength, he’d utilized the metal sword aura because he knew that his opponent focused on defense. The metal sword aura specialized in spontaneous eruption, so this punch would not be weak. Added to that the natural increase in Li Hao’s strength, the gap between his punch and the sword stroke he brought to bear against Mu Lin wouldn’t be that great.

He’d slammed Mu Lin into the ground and covered the man in wounds. When it came to Wang Henggang, Li Hao judged his force to cause minute cracks in the man’s bones at most. For powerhouses like them, those were easily recovered from. Of course, one was still in for a world of pain.

Li Hao didn’t use any force that reverberated, he was just testing the inspector general. He didn’t want to kill anyone—shaking the organs would lead to more severe injuries.

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