Star Gate

Chapter 629: Finally Seeing Brother Hou (III)

The principal director of the agency, whose special talent seemed to be that of resembling a buddha statue, was steeping tea. Night Watchers worked at night, so their work day started at night. The director, however, spent his nights drinking tea and either attending meetings in the day or going home to sleep.

He suddenly looked outside as his tea brewed. The man gently knocked on the table. “Little Ye!”

A young woman walked in moments later and responded respectfully, “Director!”

The old man focused on his tea leaves and said slowly, “Go check outside to see if Old Qin has come. He said he would come by for a cup of tea, but there’s still no sign of him. Go and see if something’s happened to delay him...”

“Understood, I’ll go immediately!” The woman walked out with confusion swirling in her mind. Was that so? When did Director Qin say that he was coming over? The director’s getting turned around in his old age and his memory’s going.

Little Ye walked out of the office and down the stairs, taking a look around outside. Although she felt that it was the director with a faulty memory, it would still be best to take a look around the perimeter. There was no sign of Director Qin to be found. She was just about to visit another building when she noted the visitor headed straight for her.

This guy... is crazy to dress like this in the middle of the night! A trench coat, top hat, and a staff? What is he thinking?

Little Ye inwardly laughed at the stranger as the director’s voice came from upstairs. “Come back up, Little Ye, I seem to have misremembered!”

The old man stuck his head out a window, prompting a sigh of relief from the woman. It was good that he was back to the present. Since he was already looking out the window, the old man scanned the premises and caught sight of Li Hao.

The very oddly dressed Li Hao.

Both surprised and confused, the old man looked at the puppy behind the young man. His brows gently knit together despite himself. Where had this young man come from, and with a major monster spirit in tow...?

Li Hao also seemed to sense someone assessing him and raise his head for a look. There was a head of white hair leaning out of a window of a small building not too far away. He frowned after his quick glance. The Night Watchers were more than met the eye! He didn’t see anything, not even with his special eyes, but he sensed the distinct presence of a powerhouse.

The young man inclined his head, further surprising the old man. This young man had sensed his strength! Who was he? Openly sauntering into Night Watcher headquarters and looking to be headed to Hou Xiaochen’s building from his direction... A martial master, major monster spirit, young man, sword intent...

The old man was visibly astonished now. Him?! Surely not! That was impossible!

The coolly composed old man retracted his head with amazement. He settled back down on his chair and broke out laughing while sipping tea. Demon Sword? Surely not! Even he hadn’t thought that Demon Sword would openly appear in Skystar City and the Night Watcher headquarters. But the lad was a peacemaker commissioner, so it was logical that he reported for work here. There was nothing wrong with his actions!

But... you just created so much trouble in the east...

“Hou Xiaochen is quite bold!” murmured the director before he continued laughing quietly. Incredibly bold! Hou Xiaochen had summoned the lad, hadn’t he? The man was crazy! Not only was Hou Xiaochen crazy, but so was this Li Hao. Everyone from Silver Moon was crazy! Li Hao had been summoned to Skystar City in preparation for something big, hadn’t he?

Killing just a Steadfast Duke isn’t enough for you, is it? Are you going to declare war on all sides?

“He seems strong enough, as does that major monster spirit... It’s apparently the descendant of an ancient monster spirit! But even so, this is not Silver Moon or the east!” The director drank another cup of tea. His secretary Little Ye walked in again.

“Director, shall I contact Director Qin?”

“No need.” The old man smiled. “Is Director Yellow around?”

“He’s out.”

“Has Dao Sword come out of seclusion?”

“Not yet.” The secretary grew confused. The old man didn’t care about any of this normally, it was Director Yellow Dragon who oversaw affairs. Directors Yellow and Hou had been vying with each other lately, was that why the old man was paying attention to affairs now?

An even more surprising development happened next.

“Tell Director Hou that we should share a meal when he’s free,” chuckled the old man. “The agency didn’t even prepare a welcome banquet for him when he arrived. I’ve grown too old to keep tabs on everything these years and Little Yellow has been lax in his duties. We should host one for him...”

Secretary Ye was dumbfounded, but she quickly recovered. “Alright, I’ll go find Director Hou later...”

“Mmhmm!” The old man nodded. “Let’s wait a while. Also, send me the latest personnel transfer files.”

“They’re... all with Director Yellow.”

“Go request them so I can look at them.”

The secretary was astonished beyond belief. What... did the director intend by this? Despite her incomprehension, she nodded again. “Alright, I understand! If Director Yellow doesn’t agree...”

“How would he not? Or should it be said... that it’s time I retired?” laughed the old man.

The secretary didn’t dare say anything else. The tiger may be old, but his majesty was still present. The director had held sway over the Night Watchers for twenty years; he’d only grown quiet in the last couple of years and drank tea or read papers if there was nothing else to do. He completely appeared as if he was ready to be put out to pasture, whereas Yellow Dragon charged forward at full speed.

These days, many Night Watchers didn’t even know the name of their director. What was going on tonight?

The secretary left with boundless confusion swirling in her mind. Meanwhile, the old man looked outside again. How nice it was to be young! Youngsters were terrifying! Their strength may not be the pinnacle of their potential, but their boldness and spirit were certainly the best! This one even came with hints of killing intent.

Who are you going to kill? Who do you want to kill? Are generations of Silver Moon martial masters each crazier than the last?

The director took a sip of tea; a faint presence of vitality wafted from it. Anyone who saw it would be bowled over by shock. That was Water of Life!

The old man breathed out comfortably. How nice! One’s organs came under enormous strain in their old age. His were mostly under control after several years of nurturing. He felt much more comfortable!

“Don’t torment an old guy like this, it’s almost time for me to retire. Promoting that one to peacemaker commissioner... All of you have too much time on your hands!” The director shook his head, a headache brewing in his temples. How would they arrange matters if that peacemaker commissioner came to him as well?

Forget it, Hou Xiaochen could do as he saw fit.

Yellow Dragon, ah Yellow Dragon. It looks like you may not be able to do much anymore. The old man closed his eyes with a chuckle and put everything out of his mind. The Night Watchers still answered to Yao! Whether it was Yellow or Hou, they were all ranked beneath Yao. You guys can have your own fun, little fellows!

......

Knock knock knock!

A knocking sounded at the door. Manager Yu looked at it curiously. Who was visiting so late at night? Hou Xiaochen frowned and looked uncertainly at the door, not daring to confirm his thoughts.

Knock knock knock!

The knocking rang out again. The manager stood up; there was nothing to worry about since they were at Night Watcher headquarters. It was just... who would come for the director so late at night?

She walked up, opened the door, and immediately had her field of vision filled with a top hat. Manager Yu blinked before her expression shifted slightly. She tensed and her internal force almost rushed out when a familiar voice echoed in her ears.

“Long time no see, Manager Yu!” Their visitor spread open their arms and grabbed Manager Yu with a hearty laugh. “I’ve missed you so much! Not seeing you for a day feels like nine months have passed! I bet the manager misses me too!”

Yu Luocha stiffened with shock! Am... I.... hearing things? Is that Li Hao?? This is Li Hao’s voice! She was just talking about the young man and was suddenly hearing his voice. This was a delusion!

Li Hao let her go and strode forward, taking off his top hat and executing a graceful bow. “Minor officer Li Hao greets the director!”

“......” Hou Xiaochen raised his tea cup for a sip to suppress his spontaneous anger. Or rather, it was an incredulity, a confusion and bewilderment that almost raged out of control. For a split second, he thought he was back in Silver Moon. Li Hao was here!

A person hunted by the entire world was here! Completely out in the open and not a care in the world, the lad knocked on his office door to say that he was here!

Yu Luocha rubbed her stiff cheeks and closed the door to focus on the room again. It was shoved open before she could close it. A dog looked innocently at her.

Are you blind? I’m not inside yet!

Manager Yu seemed able to read the meaning in the dog’s eyes and stiffened. This dog... Panther... Was it the descendant of the ancient monster spirit? But why... was it a puppy now?

Contrary to her usual aloof composure, Yu Luocha teetered on the edge of a mental breakdown. She quietly returned to her seat and looked at Li Hao, then at Panther, and finally at the director. Director... stop drinking tea, will you? Are you surprised?

Li Hao rose when he didn’t receive a response. “Is my etiquette not up to par?” he asked with confusion. “Is the director not happy to see me?”

“I’m happy...” Hou Xiaochen put down his cup with slightly stilted motions. “I’m quite happy. How did you get here?”

“By car, and then by bike.”

“Then... have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Do you want some dinner?”

“Alright then.” Li Hao nodded after some thought. “You haven’t eaten either, have you? My treat then, director! It’s just that Skystar City is a bit expensive. I had to pay two hundred coins to have someone bring me here via bike!”

It was Hou Xiaochen’s first time meeting someone like the young man and he was at a momentary loss for words. “That’s fine, put it down for reimbursement!”

“Hahaha, you’re so generous, director!”

This was being generous?

Quite resigned, Hou Xiaochen breathed out after a long moment. “It... is... so... good... to... see... you...”