Chapter 292: Cultivation, Temporary Leave (I)

Chapter 292: Cultivation, Temporary Leave (I)

The neighboring province was too far away from home. Rift Canyon was the furthest that Li Hao had ever traveled thus far in his life. All he wanted to do was return to Silver City. It was small, but there was some warmth there.

He had his teacher after his best friend from childhood died. He wasn’t too lonely even after his teacher was gone—he’d befriended the Demon Hunters. Everyone, including the captain, was nice.

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...

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.