Star Gate

Chapter 428: Returning to Rift Canyon (II)

“It’s tough to say since all things are possible,” Hou Xiaochen laughed. “Who can be certain when the Black Tortoise Seal is not in hand?”

His response quieted the group. Director General Zhao interrupted the conversation with a cough.

“Let’s set that aside for now. How shall things be arranged this time? We can’t send too many people, but neither can we send too few. Who is to go? The province might easily descend into chaos if too many go.

“And is the director going himself?” He looked at Hou Xiaochen.

“Yes, I’ve already declared my intentions. There’s no helping it, and it suits everyone’s desires, does it not?” Hou Xiaochen chuckled. “I won’t be bringing many from the Night Watchers. It will be me, Golden Spear, Mu Lin, Little Yu, and Li Hao if he gets back in time.”

Reactions rippled through the crowd. Although only five were going, the list included all of the agency’s powerhouses other than Hao Lianchuan.

“Just you five?” Director General Zhao went into a coughing fit. “None of the Guards?”

“Forget it.” Hou Xiaochen shook his head. “Have them seal off the perimeter. They’re good enough against some Solars, but will be able to do nothing against Novas. Silver Moon is too weak and we’ll have to rely on the military if any Novas cause issues.”

The solemn-faced Huang Yu of the military glanced at the group and said, “We won’t be sending too many from our side either. Hu Dingfang, Ren Tianquan, Bai Yuanqing, and Wang Pengju. Adding in Berserk Blade makes for five.”

The first four were the commanders and vice commanders of the White Dragons and Tiger Wings. Berserk Blade’s addition rounded out the contingent to represent the Silver Moon military. Huang Yu himself did not choose to join.

“The Inspectorate will be represented by myself and Wang Henggang.” Kong Jie smiled.

“All of you guys are going...” coughed the director general. “I’d like to send someone from the provincial government as well, but sadly I don’t have anyone to send. Ah well, Qi Gang is here. He’s said to be a premier genius in the central region, so let’s have him represent the provincial government!”

Hu Qingfeng made to speak up, then checked himself.

“Special Agent Hu can do as you’d like,” Director General Zhao chuckled. “It is to your discretion whether you would like to go or not. You can also bring your subordinates if you wish. That will also fortify the delegation of the Silver Moon authorities.”

Hu Qingfeng inclined his head.

“This means that with me, Hu Qingfeng, and his two subordinates... that’s sixteen of us?” Qi Gang furrowed his brow. That was too few! Granted, this was almost the sum total of the government’s powerhouses.

What puzzled him was that Huang Yu of the Silver Moon military wasn’t joining the expedition. He’d thought for certain that the man would participate.

“Many are going from the three great organizations,” Qi Gang continued. “Orange Moon and Yellow Moon are said to be pulling off their mission to kill Yuan Shuo and heading our way. They are premier heavyweights.”

The situation would be very dangerous then.

“Quality over quantity!” Hou Xiaochen smiled. “We have enough! Our safety is ever more assured with our latest addition! Commander Yu needs to remain in position to curtail disorder. Director General Zhao and the others are advanced in age. The provincial government truly does lack powerhouses, as does the Inspectorate. It is already the limits of what we can draw upon with Inspector General Kong and Wang joining the team.

“If we add more people who are weaker, they’ll only become everyone’s targets once inside!”

“Is Deputy Director Hao Lianchuan not joining?” asked Hu Qingfeng. “He is a mid Solar. Having him come along will be helpful.”

Although there were numerous Novas slated to enter the ruins, Solars were still the core battle strength. And yet, the Silver Moon delegation wasn’t planning on taking a single Solar!

“We can forget him,” Hou Xiaochen coughed and shook his head. “He can stay behind to guard the place. We can’t all be taken out in the ruins, after all. That would be enormous trouble. If anything happens to us, he’s still a mid Solar who can stabilize the situation. Add to that the Silver Moon Guards... we’ll be able to hold our own for a bit even if Novas come.”

Hu Qingfeng spoke no further. This meant that their delegation would be very small indeed, and Hou Xiaochen would truly be in danger. Apart from the director, only Yu Luocha was at the Nova level. Although Golden Spear counted as one, his strength was difficult to determine. Berserk Blade seemed to only rival a Solar as well. Meanwhile, Hu Qingfeng and Qi Gang would certainly not be helping Hou Xiaochen in the event of trouble.

“That Li Hao is Yuan Shuo’s disciple,” Qi Gang suddenly said. “If he really comes back and enters the ruins, won’t that raise hostile attention from the three great organizations?”

“It’s all the same,” Hou Xiaochen replied indifferently. “His battle strength is uncommon as he’s already killed six Solars. Even the three great organizations have assessed him at peak Solar. That level of strength will be of great help to us.

“Additionally, he explored the ruins during the last excavation. If Hao Lianchuan is not part of our expedition this time, that leaves him as the only one who is more familiar with the lay of the land. The rest won’t have his experience to draw on.”

Hu Dingfang had also been one of the prior participants, but Hou Xiaochen didn’t mention that detail.

“Will Li Hao really make it back?” Qi Gang asked curiously. “Half Mountain and Tidal Moon haven’t returned yet, and even the sixteen hell masters under the Parity King as well as the Revolution King have gone off to hunt him.”

He quickly explained himself when Hou Xiaochen leveled a look at him. “I’m just curious, I mean nothing else. The sixteen hell masters beneath the Parity King are quite famous, to say nothing of the others. The Parity King is active mostly in the south. He’s a mid Nova, which means he isn’t quite top tier. But he is quite renowned when acting in concert with his sixteen hell masters. Not even some peak Novas dare provoke him then.

“Although they’re just sixteen Solars, their joint Avici Iron Net and the Parity King’s own formidable abilities makes this ninth court master much stronger than Blue Moon.

“While Blue Moon is on the Divine Masters Ranking, his ranking is toward the back like us. The Parity King is not listed because he is over thirty years old, yet those who are listed near the front of the rankings dare not easily offend the Parity King...”

Qi Gang didn’t care much about Blue Moon of the Red Moon organization, but he paid a great deal of attention to the Parity King.

“They’ve gone to Ash Mountain,” Hou Xiaochen said after some thought. “Li Hao is a martial master—he won’t have much trouble if he’s careful and evades pursuit. The matters of before will be annulled after he returns. Once a few more of their Novas die inside the ruins, which of the three great organizations will recall what took place before?”

“......” No one had a comeback to that.

“The others are just along for the ride,” the man chuckled. “It’s Emissary Qi and Special Agent Hu who are the true pillars of support that we of the Silver Moon authorities depend upon! With me and Little Yu, we’ll be able to take care of any threats even if a few more Novas come from the three great organizations. I will be leaving Silver Moon after this, so whatever trouble I can take care of for everyone, that is all for the best.”

“You think too little of us, Ole Hou,” Kong Jie laughed. “I’m a peak Solar when it comes down to it. Do you take me for empty air?”

“Let’s wait until you reach Nova.” Hou Xiaochen grinned.

“Almost! I think I see the threshold!” Kong Jie roared with laughter.

“So it’s settled!” Huang Yu said coldly, seemingly out of patience. “You guys... cough cough cough, must look after Dingfang and the others while inside. The White Dragons and Tiger Wings will be in a tight spot without them!”

“Don’t worry, Commander Yu!” Hou Xiaochen reassured. “They will receive our care so long as we are fine. We look to you and Director General Zhao to take care of matters on the outside.”

“Tell Ole Huang that,” coughed the director general. “The only thing I can do is proactively submit reports upstairs so they send more powerful reinforcements.”

And so the meeting was over. Qi Gang looked at the others as they went on their ways. After some thought, he caught up to Deputy Zhou. He trailed behind and whispered, “Deputy Zhou, it’s said that the Skystar Guards were encamped primarily in Silver Moon back in those days. The identities of the three commanders were shrouded in shadow, but word of them is now circulating...

“Does the provincial government have any files on them in the archives? I asked the Ministry of Administration—they told me that apart from the royal family, Silver Moon’s government would also have a copy. Is that true?”

“That’s... true.” A surprised Deputy Zhou looked at the man. “But those files were destroyed. When the Skystar Guards designation was canceled and the Night Watchers formed instead, Hou Xiaochen came to headquarters to take them away and destroy them!”

“So the provincial government never looked at them?” Qi Gang whispered. “Surely you must know something.”

“We do know a little. At the very least, we know that Hou Xiaochen is indeed the Sickly that he is rumored to be. There is other evidence that points to Commander Huang Yu... Ahem, that is all I will say.” Deputy Zhou kept his voice down. “There is no point anymore in pursuing whether some matters are what they are made out to be.”

Qi Gang nodded, but still couldn’t help his curiosity. “I just want to know who the last person is. Was the third commander a senior executive of Silver Moon, someone in the martial world, or Yuan Shuo as some surmise?”

“That I don’t know.” Deputy Zhou shook his head. “But the truth will come to light sooner or later! Can it be kept a secret forever? Let’s move on from these boring topics. Emissary Qi, I hear that you are quite renowned in the central region. You are formidable and a very busy man, but they’ve sent you here in person this time! So central headquarters values this expedition quite highly. Have none of the other ministries sent their powerhouses?”

“I’m not sure, they may not have taken the same travel route that I did. Maybe they’re hidden among the supernaturals...” Qi Gang laughed. “I don’t count for much either. Talents abound in the central region and powerhouses are as plentiful as the clouds. Most keep a low profile. We are just more visible in order to suppress the three great organizations.”

“The three great organizations are a scourge and a cancerous tumor!” Deputy Zhou sighed. “I do wish for Emissary Qi to fully display your abilities inside the ruins. Please kill as many as you can. Hou Xiaochen is hotly ambitious, so thank goodness we managed to get him to agree to leave after the excavation. Whether or not he obtains the origin weapon or dies inside, he must be forced out of the province!

“If he does, I hope that Emissary Qi will stay in Silver Moon. With a titan such as you in residence, we will sleep soundly at night.”

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