Chapter 694: Not Leaving (III)

Chapter 694: Not Leaving (III)

The fighting earlier had purposefully avoided the captured nobles, so they thought all was fine. Now, all of them were as white as a sheet and someone roared angrily, “Li Hao, you’re just bullying the weak if you kill us! It’s the weak being food for the strong!”

“Mu Xiaorong’s run off and so have those major nobles. Why don’t you go after them?”

“All your talk of fairness is just a joke! You’re just someone who picks on the easy targets!”

These nobles could sense the threat of impending death. The nine ministries had withdrawn, but Li Hao had come back. They shouted with anger and outrage. It was obvious that they’d been abandoned!

Most of the premier nobles, the likes of Mu Xiaorong and the others, had run off. It was the ones remaining who were discarded pawns. There were too many of them and the ministry experts hadn’t planned on saving them in the first place.

Li Hao watched them silently. Moments later, his shout echoed in all directions. “Commence the execution!”

Flushed with excitement, Silver Moon Guards swung down their blades with a grunt!

Pfft!

Arrows of blood shot out! The bleary-eyed citizenry within the city paused with astonishment when bloody scenes appeared on the projection screens.

......

The Nine Dragons Pavilion.

An opulently dressed woman vanished and reappeared underground. She let her displeasure be known with a frown. “Why is the broadcast still continuing? It should have ended when the nine ministries lost!”

Indeed, as the extension of the royal family in the outside world, this farce should have ended when the nine ministries retreated. Scenes of the nobles being executed did not need to be streamed. It enhanced Li Hao’s reputation, but was a blow to the nine ministries and the royal family. That was not a good outcome.

They had an arrangement to cease the broadcast when the nine ministries were defeated or Li Hao killed. No matter what, there should be no scenes of execution. And yet, the Nine Dragons Pavilion producer did not shut the stream off!

The woman had been focusing on the unrest at the palace and didn’t realize that the projection screens were still active. It was only when gasps rose and fell outside that she realized what was at hand.

Massive machines whirred with activity below ground. A dozen people were in charge of operations. The female manager was here as well and about to speak when an old man with white hair smiled, blood suddenly oozing out of his mouth.

“Your Highness the Seventh Princess,” he addressed the opulent woman. “Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Zhao Mingduan, head of the Skystar Ancient Academy research division. I gave the order... for continued broadcast. Doesn’t Your Highness... think it’s so beautiful... when the heads are chopped off?”

He laughed, oozing more and more blood until he gradually lost his vital signs. The seventh princess looked severely at the others in the room. Everyone was quiet. Operating the projection machines was a technical job, not one strictly related to martial ability.

“Everyone, remember this—there will always be someone who steps forward! Another would’ve come along if he hadn’t, so do not lose hope! We... will not be the only ones awake in this age!”

Everyone’s heart had died when the Ancient Academy fell. It was too hard to want to do anything in this era. They chose to join the Nine Dragons Pavilion in order to guarantee their survival. They swiftly built the communications system and helped the Pavilion complete their monitoring of all information within the ninety-nine provinces.

That was how they found their footing and why the seventh princess gradually relaxed her guard against them. But today, they defied orders and completed streaming the last scene of the execution...

......

Skystar City was in an uproar as the final projection image had frozen on the executions. While the images were gone, a fire burned in people’s hearts. Three hundred nobles had lost their heads—the last moments of their fear, fury, and incredulity were emblazoned in looks that the entire city had seen.

They didn’t know which side had won, but Li Hao was alive. The nine ministries had ignored the nobles and permitted their heads to be chopped off, so it seemed like Li Hao had won!

That was enough!

Within the city, some noble vassals trembled with unease. Minor nobles who spent their days bullying others also cowered and shook, hiding at home to avoid going outside.

They were dead!

Several hundred had died! The people didn’t understand, nor did they want to understand. All they knew was that such matters were too far removed from them. They only knew that the villains that walked in their midst seemed to be afraid. That was enough!

“The Night Watchers will commence patrols of the four directions!” Li Hao’s voice blared through the city. “Those who commit evil will be executed! Those who cause disturbance will be executed! The Skystar Commander Office is still in operation, now at the northern gate plaza! Those who wish to file a report can do so. So long as the evidence is clear, concrete, and having to do with supernaturals, then they will be executed!”

......

The nine ministries.

The various ministers gaped at each other.

“He’s staying?!” one of them roared. Indeed, what a shocking turn of events! They’d thought that Li Hao would leave after this operation and return to Silver Moon. But no!

Li Hao was staying and seemed to want to continue cleaning house!

The current minister of the Judiciary ground his teeth and looked to the north. “You court death, Li Hao!”

It was incredible that the young man was staying. Did he really think of himself as invincible? Who knew how many from Silver Moon would die today if it wasn’t for the nine ministries being impeded by the royal family. Where did Li Hao get the courage to stay from??