After thinking it over, Li Hao was first surprised, then not so surprised. The royal family was not a benevolent party either. Heâd thought that it was Hou Xiaochen and the others behind the death of the governor general overseeing the three northern provinces, but later found out that that wasnât the case. The Steppe Prince himself had gone to kill the man.
His goal was simpleâthrow the world into chaos to pave the way for the royal familyâs return. The nine ministries were still suffering as the scapegoat for that act.
Yellow Dragonâs goal had been similar when he was at the head of the Night Watchers. The world was to be thrown into chaos and the people suffer in abject misery. Heâd succeeded as wellâthat was evident from the state of the dynasty. That the nine ministries hadnât taken a stand and permitted him to do so... likely because they were of the same mind as the royal family.
Let it all burn!
Yellow Dragon was doing the deed and the Night Watchers were taking the fall. So long as Yao Si could be kept under control, then the nine ministries and royal family didnât care about anything. It was all the Night Watchersâ fault if the world went to hell in a hand basket.
Then what of Dao Sword and the others? wondered Li Hao. Those youngsters were the fuse to the chaos in the central region. Dao Sword killing Yamaâs grandson had resulted in all-out warfare between the Night Watchers and Yama. Li Hao hadnât thought much of it before and even found the central region Night Watchers to be real men!
But once he reached the central region, he realized that that wasnât the case at all. Not that many had died among the three great organizations; it was the regular people who died in large droves. This was no war with the three great organizations to be seen anywhere! It was the final straw that broke the back of peaceâa blatant attempt to create an era of chaos!
Was Dao Swordâ murder of Yamaâs grandson part of the plan?
And it was said that Heavens Dictate had the function of determining potential, that it could help mundanes instantly recognize what elemental attribute they were most suited for. That would make ascending them as supernaturals an exceedingly easy task and would be tremendously helpful in popularizing the supernatural domain.
But to this day, Heavens Dictate was apparently in Dao Swordâs hand. It wasnât really put to general use!
Then what good was that stupid ruler? It only brought disaster to the Night Watchers and people of the central region.
Li Hao wouldnât have realized all this if Hu Qingfeng hadnât said anything. So Yellow Dragon was part of the royal familyâs faction! Li Hao had truly thought that the fellow was the greatest idiot and a candidate that the nine ministries had put forth to suppress Yao Si. It rather looked like he was the one who hadnât thought enough instead. Yellow Dragon had died too quickly for Li Hao to pay attention to those details.
âSo Dao Sword and the others are also part of the royal family?â Li Hao asked as they walked.
Hu Qingfengâs expression shifted slightly and he wanted to say something, but he snuck a look at Li Haoâs face. âUm... I donât really know,â he offered awkwardly after a while.
He wanted to say yes, but he didnât have any evidence. The one he was speaking to wasnât Yellow Dragon. If he offered a casual yes, but it turned out that those youngsters werenât, Li Hao would beat the literal shit out of him. And that would be getting off lightly. It would be normal and expected if Li Hao killed him.
Hu Qingfeng had always known that Li Hao was a vicious individual. The young man had acted as bait back in Silver Moon to kill two of Hu Qingfengâs subordinates. It was apparent then that Li Hao was clearly not a n innocent soul, and heâd only just arrived in White Moon City. A country bumpkin in the big city for the very first time had dared cast a net to kill Solars!
Therefore, Hu Qingfeng didnât dare speak of anything he wasnât completely sure of.
âYou donât know?â Li Hao tilted his head at the man.
âI really donât!â Hu Qingfeng answered carefully. âI donât have any evidence, but itâs true that Dao Sword and the others are a bit undisciplined and donât really listen to instruction. They donât think much of Night Watcher rules.â
Li Hao laughed and ignored him. Some people approached him at this time. The young man swept a look at them and inclined his head without saying a word. He set course for Hou Xiaochenâs office building.
âDid you see that?â Big Eyes transmitted to her comrades. âHe was so arrogant! Dao Sword, go kick his ass!â
Dao Sword ignored the goading and looked at Li Hao for a bit. He slowly frowned and transmitted back, âHeâs really strong!â
âWe know that!â Big Eyes was at a loss.
Dao Sword looked at Big Eyes and thought over his next words. âDonât provoke him. I can tell from how he appears like the wind that he is certain to be ruthless and cruel!â
Li Hao had ignored them, but not entirely. At the very least, heâd inclined his head. Regardless, he was truly cocky from the very depths of his bones and plainly thought nothing of the youngsters. Dao Sword didnât mind, but he could sense how Li Hao dismissed them.
If they truly offended him... this one was no elder who treasured young talent. Li Hao was younger than them and wouldnât give them any face.
âI donât want to provoke him,â Big Eyes drooped. âHeâs just too haughty! Iâve never seen such a guy with his nose in the air. Weâve met some big fellows before, and princes too! None of them are as conceited as him.â
She simply felt a bit dejected. Everyone called them geniuses of the age, but when it came to Li Hao, he would incline his head if he was in a good mood or outright ignore them if he wasnât. He would curse at them to get out of his way if he was in a bad mood. Who could suffer this kind of treatment?
Theyâd helped him in that grand battle of Skystar City, but he still treated them in this way... It further irked Big Eyes! We helped you before!
Of course, Li Hao didnât think of it that way. Of the four, he only thought of the spear wielder with a touch more friendliness. The others might as well not exist to him. Heâd observed their actions that day and saw that the spear wielder had been the first to charge out. The other two had hesitated, so Li Hao thought of them as saving themselves. After all, Hou Xiaochen and the rest had fully erupted by then and Yao Si was in the field.
His new sidekick Hu Qingfeng carefully looked backward and kept his voice down. âSir, these guys have always refused to accept your authority...â
âShut up!â
âYes, sir!â Hu Qingfeng didnât dare say anything else. Seriously, whatâs going through your mind? Unfortunately, he didnât dare say too much.
Li Hao didnât care what he thought and wanted to head upstairs, but his sidekick was still there. âEnough, go about your business,â he said impatiently. âIf you donât know what to do, find out some things for me.â
âPlease give me your orders, sir!â
âGet me a list of the nobles who ran off last time and figure out where they are now. Donât create too much of a fuss and donât alarm anyone!â
âUnderstood, sir!â Hu Qingfeng was delighted. This was an important mission! Hadnât he been fawning over Li Hao because he wanted to join the young manâs camp?
As for Hou Xiaochen... the man was too clear-cut in his style. It made it hard to feel close to him. Any dealings with him were transactions of equal value. He would give you benefits if you did a good job, and nothing at all if you didnât.
That was good and all, but felt too distant and removed for Hu Qingfeng. It was hard to digest! Someone like Li Hao might be a bit different. Their styles were different, at the very least. They were on the same side, anyhow. Hou Xiaochen shouldnât mind that Hu Qingfeng was jumping to Li Haoâs team. How nice!
......
Upstairs.
Li Hao entered after knocking on the door.
âI havenât had time to welcome Commander Liâs return, my apologies for the oversight!â Hou Xiaochen smiled faintly.
âDirector Hou is mocking me with these words!â Li Hao grinned. âDirector Hou is the principal commander of the Skystar Commander Office, Iâm just a deputy!â The young man laughed as Hou Xiaochen continued staring at him. âDirector Hou, youâre not annoyed because people call me commander, are you?â
â......â Hou Xiaochen continued smiling without a word. Manager Yu was equally silent, but she pulled up a chair for Li Hao and indicated for him to sit down.
Hou Xiaochen flicked a glance at his manager. Are Little Yuâs brains not too useful lately? Canât she see that Iâm having a face-off with Li Hao? What do you mean in giving him a seat?
Manager Yu truly hadnât thought that much. Sheâd simply felt that it wasnât good for Li Hao to be standing when both of them were sitting.
Li Hao plopped down without another word and began merrily, âDirector Hou, Iâm here on some business...â
âOf course you are, why else would you be here?â
Li Hao was promptly jeered into silence. Did you get up on the wrong side of bed this morning? I havenât done anything to you. Are you mad about the whole commander issue? If you are... youâve got a small mind! I never used to think that about you and, in fact, used to think that you were a magnanimous sort of guy. Whatâs gotten into you lately?
âAh, I have two matters,â Li Hao coughed. âFirst, Iâd like to take the Silver Moon Guards!â
âAs you wish, so long as they are willing,â Hou Xiaochen replied indifferently.
âMmhmm, thatâs good.â Li Hao relaxed. âThe second is for you to give me the position of commander for a while. Iâm going to establish the Skystar Commander Office on the Avenue of the Nine Ministries, but I need to be the head...â
So the shoe drops, huh! You just said that Iâm the principal and youâre the deputy, but you want me to abdicate in the blink of an eye! Youâre full of shit, kid!
Manager Yu could also tell that the conversation had taken a wrong turn. She wanted to laugh, but held herself in with effort.
âLi Hao, is this how you speak and conduct your affairs?â Hou Xiaochen asked dejectedly.
âIâm frank and direct when it comes to my own,â Li Hao laughed. âNot to mention, itâs just a position of commander. I can trade the position of Inspectorate vice minister for it if Director Hou wants it!â
â......â
Okay, fuck you kid! Do you think you own the Inspectorate? Have you asked them for their opinion?
Indeed, Li Hao was a vice minister at the Inspectorate and Hou Xiaochen was not. He was just a deputy director of the Night Watchers, which put him half a rank lower than Inspectorate vice minister. As for Skystar commander, that was even lower.
Someone wanted to trade a vice minister position for Skystar commander... and he better show appreciation for the favor! That was how the situation appeared to Hou Xiaochen and it was a completely humiliating sensation!
âSo long as Director Yao agrees.â He flicked a glance at Li Hao. Go to Yao Si! âDid you grasp a third element yesterday or not?â
âHeh,â Li Hao cackled. âYes and no... No and yes...â
Hou Xiaochen really wanted to beat the kidâs face in! Instead, he stared quietly at Li Hao without saying a word.