Star Gate

Chapter 292: Cultivation, Temporary Leave (I)

The tattered car finally drove into Silver City boundaries. It was quiet as usual inside the small city. Few came to disturb its peace when both Li Hao and Yuan Shuo weren’t present. At the same time, regular Darkmoons weren’t able to leave the city after coming by for a look.

The sun had fully risen by the time they returned to Silver City. It was almost noon. There were no walls around the city as it wasn’t an ancient metropolis. Accessible on all sides, anyone could enter.

Having just returned from the ruins, it took a moment for the trio to adjust to being back home. They warily considered the storefronts on the sides of the streets. It seemed possible that they wouldn’t come back out if they ventured in.

The little car continued to the Inspectorate. Upon turning in, they saw Mu Sen before seeing anyone else. Was the inspector general waiting for them, or was this a chance meeting?

Mu Sen looked over the group when they alighted and smiled. “Welcome back!”

Liu Long inclined his head, neither enthusiastic nor dismissive toward the fatty. He treated his superior as a random bystander.

“Deputy Director Li.” Mu Sen looked warmly at Li Hao. “I hear you’re going to White Moon City in a few days? Congratulations!”

His sources of news worked fast. Not many people knew of what’d happened last night, but he knew ahead of time. He wasn’t the inspector general for nothing!

“I’m just going there to be a figurehead. It’s so much better being in your position, Inspector General!” Li Hao chuckled and quickly scanned Mu Sen. He hadn’t been able to see anything before rising to Dominator, but now that he had and was summoning his spirits, he could begin to make out a thing or two.

The inspector general... possessed an aura! That made him at least a half step Dominator—Li Hao wasn’t sure if he was a Dominator or not.

“Stop looking at me, Director Li.” Mu Sen waved him off with a smile. “We’re all on the same team in the future, there’s no point in looking at me so closely. Allow me to reintroduce myself. This humble one is Mu Sen, a member of the Silver Moon Guards!”

“......” Li Hao stared blankly at him. The Silver Moon... Guards? He only knew of the Skystar Guards—that was the government agency once with a mission of eliminating martial masters. It was said that Hou Xiaochen might be one of their three commanders. Hence, the young man was very confused by Inspector General Mu’s sudden mention of a Silver Moon Guards.

Liu Long frowned as well, but waited for the inspector general to explain.

“No questions, there’s no need for questions,” Mu Sen chuckled. “You’ll learn of all this when you go to White Moon City. It’s good that Director Hou thinks highly of you. You are both martial masters and we play for the same team. The dynasty knows how strong Silver Moon’s martial world is. Can it truly have been extinguished after twenty years?

“Also, you’ll know after your visit to the ruins that the Night Watchers also own a troop of armor. You’ll know all about it when you join the Silver Moon Guards.”

Li Hao nodded with a smile and didn’t ask further. He could guess at the general outline of everything. There might be yet another organization inside the Night Watchers—or rather, a remnant of the Skystar Guards. It might be a force comprised entirely of martial masters and commanded by Hou Xiaochen.

Supernaturals joined the Night Watchers, martial masters joined the Guards. While it was said that Night Watchers did not accept martial masters, it only meant that martial masters stayed with the Guards so long as they were yet to ascend.

So Mu Sen was also one of them...

Upon further thought, it made sense as all members had to be at least half step Dominators. Except, was he speaking of it so openly because he was certain that Li Hao and Liu Long would both join? Er... Wang Ming was still standing here!

Wang Ming’s head swiveled quickly between the rest. Um... do I know too much?

Mu Sen didn’t mind his reaction. “The public knows about the events of the ruins and Director Hou’s background is almost general knowledge. Previous suits of armor have disappeared and he killed a Red Moon Nova... The Silver Moon Guards will probably come out of hiding after this. There’s no need to conceal our presence, anyhow.

“It’s not that we’re that strong either, we’re just similar to the royal family’s Black Armaturas. There’s not that many of us—less than one thousand. It’s a significant force for Silver Moon, but a tiny provincial guard for the dynasty at large!”

“Did you wait here for us just to say this?” Liu Long couldn’t help but interrupt.

“Not exactly,” Mu Sen laughed. “I did want to greet you and give a brief introduction. The other reason was for Ole Liu. You didn’t tell us when you ascended to Dominator. If we’d known, we could’ve sat down and had a few drinks...”

“I don’t drink!” Liu Long retorted. “Out with whatever fart you’re building up!”

“You really have a bad temper!” Mu Sen chuckled, completely relaxed. “What I want to say is that there aren’t that many of us in the Guards and even fewer Dominators. We do have some, just exceedingly few of them. Ole Liu, Silver City might not let you stay after you’ve become a Dominator. Your mission might be different from mine and they’ll send you to White Moon City...”

“I’m not leaving!” Liu Long frowned. He was going to safeguard Silver City!

“My word isn’t law,” Mu Sen chuckled. “Not to mention, you were simply worried about the city being attacked before. But now, everyone’s gaze is on White Moon City! The Night Watchers here are strong and your team is here as well. You can fight for more opportunities and resources there...

“Your personality and habits are just like Director Hou. Director Hou is being labeled as a traitor, are you sure you want to imitate him?”

“......” Liu Long didn’t have a comeback. That... did indeed seem to be the case. Hou Xiaochen refused to leave when the central region sent him redeployment orders. If he did the same when White Moon requested his presence... Was he supposed to declare independence for Silver City?

“Alright now, this isn’t set in stone,” Mu Sen finished laughing. “I’m just mentioning it ahead of time. There aren’t many in the Silver Moon Guards and few Dominators. If you join, you’re probably... no, you’ll definitely be a centurion! Once you are, seek out my big brother for a chat. He has something he wishes to discuss with you...”

“Your big brother?”

“Mmhmm, the second-in-command of the Guards. He just barely made it to Dominator...” Mu Sen beamed merrily. “Be at ease, we’re not forming cliques. There’s only so many of us, what’s the point of further division? We eat out of the same pot, he probably has other matters to discuss with you. There’s nothing to be concerned about, would I act against your best interests?”

“Hah!” Liu Long snorted. That was hard to say, but he committed the task to memory all the same. “We’ll see,” he replied halfheartedly. “I haven’t decided I’m leaving yet. Silver City is my roots!”

“Whatever you wish, then!” Mu Sen didn’t care, he was just letting Liu Long know ahead of time and doing the man a favor so that he didn’t fly blind into a new situation.

“Inspector General,” Li Hao asked with curiosity. “What do the Silver Moon Guards do? Do they seize and arrest villainous martial masters like they did in the past?”

With the Night Watchers already in place and creating the Guards out of them... surely this group would be put to good use?

“You’ll know when you join,” Mu Sen chortled. “Good luck, Director Li. Do well. I’m sure you’ll be a centurion after two years as well. If your teacher comes back... I think the position of commander will be his!”

“My teacher probably isn’t interested...” Li Hao smiled.

Being a commander? His teacher wouldn’t want to be king! Granted, he would still put forth effort because he hadn’t finished everything he’d promised Hou Xiaochen after being rendered a favor. But the Silver Moon Guards... his teacher probably hated them with every fiber of his being. The Skystar Guards had been notorious back in the day; those of the martial world hated this army unit.

Li Hao didn’t care. Whether it was the Guards or Night Watchers, they were all the same. Hou Xiaochen might have long wished to separate himself from the system in creating the Silver Moon Guards. Who cared!

Mu Sen said nothing further and left with a few more words.

......

“Don’t listen to the fatty,” Liu Long grumbled as soon as the inspector general left. “It’s just all talk! You probably have to go to White Moon, but I... will try to turn them down as much as I can! I don’t want to go there!”

He still wasn’t willing to move. Li Hao didn’t say anything. It would be very fine if Liu Long stayed. The young man didn’t want to leave Silver City like this. The eight trigrams, stone door, bloodlines, Red Moon... There were too many secrets here waiting to be uncovered!

How could he give up and leave? White Moon City was just a temporary shelter. He would return when the storm passed. If Liu Long stayed, he would be able to keep an eye on the ruins. The chief was familiar with that area.

......

The trio entered the law enforcement building. It was eerily silent. There weren’t that many left on the team after Li Hao and the others left. They didn’t have any missions, so everyone was training in the basement. It was extraordinarily quiet in the building.

Liu Yan most likely hadn’t come back. It was too dangerous to travel on her own. She’d probably followed the Night Watchers to White Moon City. They didn’t see her earlier, possibly because she was so weak that she was evacuated ahead of time.

The three went straight for the basement instead of heading upstairs.

......

As expected, everyone was here—including Li Meng and Hu Hao.

General wariness hummed through the group when Liu Long pushed open the door; it was quickly replaced with joy.

“Chief is back!”

“The director is back!”

“......”

They rushed forward with great excitement, but their faces dimmed when they didn’t see Liu Yan.

“Liu Yan’s alive, she went to White Moon City.” Liu Long smiled. “We came back first.”

Delight brightened the group’s faces again. Good, good, she was alive! The Demon Hunters shared a tight-knit bond. They’d worked together for many years prior to Li Hao joining. Having braved life and death together, no one wished to see a teammate die.