Chapter 750: Persuading With Fist and Reason (II)

After thinking it over, Li Hao was first surprised, then not so surprised. The royal family was not a benevolent party either. He’d 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 wasn’t the case. The Steppe Prince himself had gone to kill the man.

His goal was simple—throw the world into chaos to pave the way for the royal family’s return. The nine ministries were still suffering as the scapegoat for that act.

Yellow Dragon’s 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. He’d succeeded as well—that was evident from the state of the dynasty. That the nine ministries hadn’t 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 didn’t care about anything. It was all the Night Watchers’ 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 Yama’s grandson had resulted in all-out warfare between the Night Watchers and Yama. Li Hao hadn’t 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 wasn’t 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 peace—a blatant attempt to create an era of chaos!

Was Dao Sword’ murder of Yama’s 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 Sword’s hand. It wasn’t 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 wouldn’t have realized all this if Hu Qingfeng hadn’t said anything. So Yellow Dragon was part of the royal family’s 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 hadn’t thought enough instead. Yellow Dragon had died too quickly for Li Hao to pay attention to those details.

“So Dao Sword and the others are also part of the royal family?” Li Hao asked as they walked.

Hu Qingfeng’s expression shifted slightly and he wanted to say something, but he snuck a look at Li Hao’s face. “Um... I don’t really know,” he offered awkwardly after a while.

He wanted to say yes, but he didn’t have any evidence. The one he was speaking to wasn’t Yellow Dragon. If he offered a casual yes, but it turned out that those youngsters weren’t, 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 Qingfeng’s subordinates. It was apparent then that Li Hao was clearly not a n innocent soul, and he’d 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 didn’t dare speak of anything he wasn’t completely sure of.

“You don’t know?” Li Hao tilted his head at the man.

“I really don’t!” Hu Qingfeng answered carefully. “I don’t have any evidence, but it’s true that Dao Sword and the others are a bit undisciplined and don’t really listen to instruction. They don’t think much of Night Watcher rules.”

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 Xiaochen’s office building.

“Did you see that?” Big Eyes transmitted to her comrades. “He was so arrogant! Dao Sword, go kick his ass!”

Dao Sword ignored the goading and looked at Li Hao for a bit. He slowly frowned and transmitted back, “He’s really strong!”

“We know that!” Big Eyes was at a loss.

Dao Sword looked at Big Eyes and thought over his next words. “Don’t provoke him. I can tell from how he appears like the wind that he is certain to be ruthless and cruel!”

Li Hao had ignored them, but not entirely. At the very least, he’d inclined his head. Regardless, he was truly cocky from the very depths of his bones and plainly thought nothing of the youngsters. Dao Sword didn’t 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 wouldn’t give them any face.

“I don’t want to provoke him,” Big Eyes drooped. “He’s just too haughty! I’ve never seen such a guy with his nose in the air. We’ve met some big fellows before, and princes too! None of them are as conceited as him.”

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 wasn’t. 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?

They’d 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 didn’t 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. He’d 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. “Sir, these guys have always refused to accept your authority...”

“Shut up!”

“Yes, sir!” Hu Qingfeng didn’t dare say anything else.

Seriously, what’s going through your mind?

Unfortunately, he didn’t dare say too much.

Li Hao didn’t care what he thought and wanted to head upstairs, but his sidekick was still there. “Enough, go about your business,” he said impatiently. “If you don’t know what to do, find out some things for me.”

“Please give me your orders, sir!”

“Get me a list of the nobles who ran off last time and figure out where they are now. Don’t create too much of a fuss and don’t alarm anyone!”

“Understood, sir!” Hu Qingfeng was delighted. This was an important mission! Hadn’t he been fawning over Li Hao because he wanted to join the young man’s 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 didn’t.

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 shouldn’t mind that Hu Qingfeng was jumping to Li Hao’s team. How nice!

......

Upstairs.

Li Hao entered after knocking on the door.

“I haven’t had time to welcome Commander Li’s return, my apologies for the oversight!” Hou Xiaochen smiled faintly.

“Director Hou is mocking me with these words!” Li Hao grinned. “Director Hou is the principal commander of the Skystar Commander Office, I’m just a deputy!” The young man laughed as Hou Xiaochen continued staring at him. “Director Hou, you’re not annoyed because people call me commander, are you?”

“......” 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.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Hou Xiaochen flicked a glance at his manager.

Are Little Yu’s brains not too useful lately? Can’t she see that I’m having a face-off with Li Hao? What do you mean in giving him a seat?

Manager Yu truly hadn’t thought that much. She’d simply felt that it wasn’t good for Li Hao to be standing when both of them were sitting.

Li Hao plopped down without another word and began merrily, “Director Hou, I’m here on some business...”

“Of course you are, why else would you be here?”

Li Hao was promptly jeered into silence.

Did you get up on the wrong side of bed this morning? I haven’t done anything to you. Are you mad about the whole commander issue? If you are... you’ve 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. What’s gotten into you lately?

“Ah, I have two matters,” Li Hao coughed. “First, I’d like to take the Silver Moon Guards!”

“As you wish, so long as they are willing,” Hou Xiaochen replied indifferently.

“Mmhmm, that’s good.” Li Hao relaxed. “The second is for you to give me the position of commander for a while. I’m going to establish the Skystar Commander Office on the Avenue of the Nine Ministries, but I need to be the head...”

So the shoe drops, huh! You just said that I’m the principal and you’re the deputy, but you want me to abdicate in the blink of an eye! You’re 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.

“Li Hao, is this how you speak and conduct your affairs?” Hou Xiaochen asked dejectedly.

“I’m frank and direct when it comes to my own,” Li Hao laughed. “Not to mention, it’s just a position of commander. I can trade the position of Inspectorate vice minister for it if Director Hou wants it!”

“......”

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!

“So long as Director Yao agrees.” He flicked a glance at Li Hao.

Go to Yao Si!

“Did you grasp a third element yesterday or not?”

“Heh,” Li Hao cackled. “Yes and no... No and yes...”

Hou Xiaochen really wanted to beat the kid’s face in! Instead, he stared quietly at Li Hao without saying a word.