Star Gate

Chapter 159: Hou Xiaochen (I)

White Moon City.

Night had fallen, yet lights were ablaze in the city center. A metropolis with thirty million residents was prosperous beyond imagine. Far more bustling than Silver City, an uproarious din echoed on its streets despite the late hour. It was the very picture of peace and prosperity.

The Night Watchers had a different name in an official capacity. Their full name was the Inspectorate Night Patrol Committee. Their headquarters was named the Silver Moon Province Inspectorate Night Patrol Committee Headquarters. As their name indicated, they were an agency under the Inspectorate.

As the supernatural domain developed, the Night Watchers gradually grew from a branch department into a major leadership role. In terms of position, they outranked some ordinary local Inspectorates.

Silver Moon Night Watchers were headquartered in the southern quadrant of White Moon City. They were not grouped with the Inspectorate’s headquarters—those were in the northern quadrant. There was an interesting layout employed for White Moon’s agencies of force.

The Night Watchers could be found in the south. The Inspectorate in the north. A military base in the west. The provincial government in the east.

If the Night Watchers were viewed separately from the Inspectorate, the four major agencies were perfectly arrayed in the four cardinal directions. They encircled the city, leaving the city center available for commerce and some of the city government’s organizations.

An old building only six stories tall in the southern quadrant was the headquarters of the renowned Silver Moon Night Watchers. It stirred to life when night fell. People came and went from its doors; activity surrounded the building.

This agency patrolled the night, so th0se were naturally its hours of operation. It was also when most supernaturals preferred to be awake.

The sixth floor.

Director’s office.

A limber Hou Xiaochen with shoulder-length hair was in the middle of assessing some thorny cases. Next to him, a large screen abruptly activated with a subtle ripple of mysterious power. He raised his head for a look—this was the core method of messaging for the Night Watchers. It utilized ancient technologies to break certain communication boundaries and facilitated real-time messaging. It was the foundation of how the government’s agencies exercised authority over their territories.

“Urgent report. Silver City, 8:50 pm. Yuan Shuo of Silver City fought an alleged Solar. Battle was over in ten minutes. The Solar has disappeared. Yuan Shuo has returned safely. Director Liu Long of the Silver City Night Watchers led all Silver City Night Watchers into battle. The exact results are unknown. Inspector General Mu Sen of the Silver City Inspectorate executed a Plenilune inside Inspectorate grounds...”

The report was long. Despite lacking precise details, it fully conveyed events that had taken place inside the city that night.

Hou Xiaochen steepled his fingers. Another Solar! And this one’s whereabouts were unknown. Had they escaped, or were they dead?

After a moment of silence, he waved a line of etched words into the screen. “Continue observing, use your discretion. Pay no attention if there are no transgressions. Yuan Shuo’s morale is high after advancement. Refrain from interference unless his life is in imminent danger!”

Although mysteries swirled in the report, such as the Solar’s origins, why Yuan Shuo had made a move, what role did Li Hao play in all of this as the heir to the eight families...

None of it was important.

So long as none of these people broke the law or slaughtered innocents, Hou Xiaochen would readily leave Yuan Shuo to his own devices if the professor was confident of resolving a supernatural battle. While Hao Lianchuan fretted over whether this might affect the upcoming partnership, Hou Xiaochen did not think the same.

As the highest leader of the Silver Moon Night Watchers, his vision stretched further. Whether it was Red Moon or Yama, they would not rip up the partnership for a small matter like this. And what of it even if they did?

If they decided to pull out of the excavation?

As they wish!

It wasn’t the Night Watchers begging for their involvement in the expedition. They shouldered their way on the basis of formidable strength. A bloody fight was sure to develop after all of them entered the ruins. It was just heralded by some cooperation.

Hou Xiaochen pressed a button after he responded to the message. A knock sounded on his door shortly thereafter. He kept his head down in paperwork, but raised his voice.

“Investigate everyone associated with the Qiaos of the Silver City Qiao Mining Industries. I want specifics! Additionally, pull up information regarding Solars located in Silver City. See if any of them showed abnormalities tonight, particularly fire Solars...”

“Understood!” The person who entered quickly jotted down notes. They were about to leave when Hou Xiaochen stopped them with a new question.

“How many blood pearls do we have in storage?”

“Nine.”

“Only nine?” Hou Xiaochen gave it some thought. “Retrieve a Solar blood pearl, one Sunflare, and three Darkmoon. Have Huang Yun deliver them to Silver City on the double and give them to Hao Lianchuan. Tell him they’re for Yuan Shuo and the rest as a reward for their actions in slaying enemies!”

“Director!” gasped the woman in front of him. “We only have one Solar and two Sunflare blood pearls in storage.”

The Night Watchers had paid a high price to obtain them, but they were now being freely given to Silver City!

“These items are very useful to martial masters and have middling effects on supernaturals. They would be a waste on the latter. Since Yuan Shuo has become first among Silver Moon martial masters, it would be their best use if they are given to him.”

“But... Yuan Shuo is not a Night Watcher...”

Hou Xiaochen raised his head with a slight smile. “It is not a bad thing if he’s not. He will not think of opposing us so long as his enmity with Red Moon of the three great organizations has not faded. Under such circumstances, we are the only ones who can shelter and help him.”

Was it really only the Night Watchers who could render this aid?

His subordinates might think so; Hou Xiaochen didn’t care either way. Someone like Yuan Shuo didn’t necessarily have to be recruited into the agency. He just needed to be closer to them than other factions and have goals that were more or less aligned with them.

Characters like Yuan Shuo abounded everywhere. Not everyone was willing to work for the government, but they were willing to help if the government came knocking in times of need.

As hesitant and reluctant as the secretary may be...

She wasn’t a secretary in the usual sense of the word—she was also the overall manager of the Night Watcher headquarters. She knew how rare these blood pearls were. They’d come by after repeated battles with Red Moon and the director personally killing a Solar.

Formless and intangible, it was due to the director’s capabilities that they were reshaped into pills that could be eaten. And now they were going to be gifted to Yuan Shuo...

But since the director had made up his mind, she could only execute on her orders. No one in Silver Moon, including Hao Lianchuan who was also a Solar, dared disobey one of Hou Xiaochen’s decisions.

“I understand, but will Huang Yun run into danger along the way?”

Huang Yun was just an initial Sunflare. He was being tapped as the delivery service because he commanded superior speed as a wind supernatural.

“It will be fine.” Hou Xiaochen said nothing more. Based on his current judgment, there would be no trouble along the way.

......

While relaxing on vacation, Huang Yun abruptly received an order from headquarters. He was to deliver treasure to Silver City to reward their Night Watchers for eliminating enemies.

Huang Yun was perplexed when he took custody of a sealed box as he’d yet to receive word of what’d taken place in that city. He looked at the secretary. “Manager Yu, what’s happened in Silver City now?”

It’d only been a short period since the last battle, how had they already earned new merits of distinction?

“The Silver City Night Watchers were officially established today and killed a few troublesome supernaturals.”

“I see!” Huang Yun nodded. “How strong were these supernaturals?”

“I’m not sure.” She was indeed in the dark since the director hadn’t said anything. Who knew what kind of person Yuan Shuo had killed this time as the director wanted to give a Solar blood pearl as a reward?

“Very well then, I’ll be back soon!” Huang Yun traveled speedily and he didn’t wish to spend too much time in that city. Yuan Shuo was difficult to talk to. Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to interact too much with the professor since Director Hao was also present.

Huang Yun sped outside with the box, bounded up into the air and... landed by a small car. He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine!

Indeed, he was taking the car. He would drive until he reached an uninhabited part of the wilderness outside the city. Only a fool would fly the entire way—that was a needless consumption of mysterious power. There were a couple hundred kilometers of rugged roads between the two cities that cars would struggle with. That was when he would fly.

......

Silver City.

The reception was over. Superhumans gingerly streamed out of the hall, as if deathly afraid of disturbing someone.

Each of them felt the relief of surviving certain death when they left the Inspectorate. More than one heaved a long sigh and elected to walk home. They didn’t even dare drive their cars away. Who knew what kind of disturbance might raise someone’s ire and result in a blade straight to the face??

“This was highly effective!” Liu Long abruptly laughed. Killing the chicken to teach the monkey a lesson—the supernaturals didn’t know that the chicken was the monkey. It’d been a case of killing the monkey to teach the chickens a lesson. The effects were all the same. Silver City superhumans would be laying low for a while.

Hao Lianchuan couldn’t be bothered with him. He spoke up when he saw Li Hao escorting Yuan Shuo out.

“Come by the Inspectorate tomorrow. Headquarters just sent word that they will be sending treasures to commend your deeds of valor.”

Yuan Shuo looked back at him with surprise and smiled when it didn’t seem like Hao Lianchuan was joking.

“Hou Xiaochen is much more charismatic than you. But... I won’t want anything to do with ordinary treasure.”

“Yuan Shuo, it’s one thing if you’re rude to me!” Hao Lianchuan frowned. “You should be more polite to Director Hou! Don’t forget who it was that protected you in your time of need! Who forced back Red Moon when they demanded you to be handed over? Even central headquarters is wary of someone like Ying Hongyue. Director Hou withstood enormous pressure to save you!

“Although you’ve explored many ruins for the Night Watchers over the years and harvested many treasures for us, martial masters keep a clear record of their personal scores! Would you have willingly worked with us all these years if we’d forced you against your will?”

There was a story behind all this as Yuan Shuo had offended the leader of Red Moon—a powerful figure far from run-of-the-mill.

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