Star Gate

“It’s good to be confident in your abilities!” He Yong nodded; some of his resentment receded and he managed a smile. “You won’t get far without confidence, but you can’t be overly confident. Skystar City is not a typical metropolis.”

“Understood.”

The two walked together at a moderate pace. It wasn’t until they left the avenues behind that a din built in their ears again. This was a city that didn’t sleep, it just grew quiet at the nine ministries at an early hour. It was dim in those avenues, just like the dynasty. Resplendent on the outside, dim and dark on the inside.

“There’s an old pub up ahead with good alcohol. I go there often,” He Yong chuckled. “What a pity that you weren’t willing to come with me last time. You missed out on a precious opportunity. If not…”

“A precious opportunity?” Li Hao looked at He Yong. “Is martial uncle stronger than before?”

“That’s tough!” He Yong sighed with a shake of his head. “It’s tough to replenish blood qi, but I’ve improved ever so slightly.

“What was the opportunity, you ask?” He Yong thought for a moment before transmitting, “One involving the royal family. I suspect that they’ve come into full control of the ruins of Skystar Town, but that they haven’t had time to fully explore it. The royal family sends expedition teams into it every year. As a martial master, I am sometimes permitted entry since I can protect the royal children…”

“They allow martial masters to participate in such highly classified matters?” Li Hao was baffled. The royal family seemed to value He Yong a great deal. Why was that?

Silver Moon martial masters typically weren’t welcome elsewhere. That He Yong could cultivate to such heights with the royal family was a rare sight. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t let an outsider like him participate in the ruins.

“Why else, if not for profit? Such is the way of the world!” He Yong answered dismissively. “I offered my services to the weakest prince who had the least authority twenty years ago. I supported him immensely when he was in difficult straits and even saved him from a few assassinations. Now that he’s grown stronger and his faction’s authority increased, he responds in kind towards me—whether out of real gratitude for an early investor or just spending significant resources on true talent.”

Fascinating!

“Martial uncle has a great eye for the future,” Li Hao sighed with appreciation.

“What eye? I simply bet on the cheapest investment. I would make it big if I won and run for the hills if I lost. The impact of timely assistance is far greater than congratulations at the height of success. It is a testament to his own abilities that he was able to rise up.”

“How is the royal family able to fight among themselves when they are already in less than ideal circumstances?” Li Hao asked curiously. Plainly, the assassination did not come from the nine ministries. Why target the weakest prince? That was obviously a result of internal discord.

“How would the nine ministries find any sort of footing if the royal family wasn’t rocked with conflict?” He Yong laughed. “But it’s not like they have their opportunities only because the royal family is preoccupied. Otherwise, how would there be the nine ministries at all given how strong the Black Armaturas were in those times?

“The royal family is filled with ruthless characters and fight each other more viciously than outsiders do with them for the position of king! Even the positions of nine ministers and thirty-six dukes are hotly contested by blood, to say nothing of the royal throne.

“It’s been a bit better these years because the royal family themselves know they are in trouble. The conflict has dwindled somewhat. If this was twenty years ago, just the royal family would turn the world upside down, to say nothing of the nine ministries.”

Disputes were ever present. Li Hao nodded, finding that his worldview had expanded yet again. He’d thought the royal family would be of one heart at this point in time, wanting to break free of the nine ministries. To think that the truth would not be thus, that they would still be fiercely fighting against each other!

“Is the prince that you support still very strong?”

“He’s alright, about the same as you,” He Yong chuckled. “The royal family has a lot of resources and opportunities. Don’t think that they’re stuck to their palace. They can move about freely since only their political authority is restricted, not their personal freedom. Not to mention, the nine ministries aren’t able to stop them if they really want to leave. Not unless they wish to declare open war. The key thing is, the royal family can enter the ruins without leaving the palace.”

“……” The two chatted as they walked, stopping in a small alleyway before long. It really was a small pub. Despite the hustle and bustle around it, there weren’t that many people inside.

He Yong sauntered in, waking up the dozing owner. When he cracked his eyes open to see He Yong, the man shot to his feet. “Boss He is here…” He glanced at Li Hao. “The usual?”

“Yep, make that double!”

“Alright, I’ll get on it.” The boss disappeared into the kitchen. There wasn’t even a server around. It looked like this was a one man show.

The two sat down; He Yong grabbed a jug of liquor with a casual probe of his hand and two bowls with another snatch. “Don’t be put off by the lack of people here, this is where the good stuff is. Places are bigger in the city, but their food and drink doesn’t taste much. C’mon, have a sip!” He poured a cup out for Li Hao.

Li Hao clucked his tongue after a mouthful. What kind of good taste was this? The alcohol was just strong. It burned on its way down and seemed to set his stomach on fire. Perhaps the only good alcohol was strong alcohol to He Yong. It was quite a novel sensation to have strong alcohol explode in the young man’s stomach.

He Yong was quite at home as he quaffed cup after cup. “Out with it, what do you want me for? Do you want to take down the Ministry of Finance? Or the Colosseum? But that’s Hou Xiaochen’s goals, not yours. What goals do you have?”

What goals do I have?

Li Hao thought for a while before saying, “Not many and my goals aren’t that ambitious. Before I came here, I just wanted to make some trouble for Red Moon. I changed my mind on the way and now I want to see whether the heart of the dynasty is black or white. Is there light to be found in this world?”

“Why are you taking after Hong Yitang for?!” He Yong was speechless. “I’ll tell you, this world is as black as night! Skystar City is the blackest of black! Countless people die in places you can’t see, all sorts of vermin are gathered here.”

“I’m not imitating Martial Uncle Hong,” Li Hao chuckled and took another sip. “I just feel that as martial masters, superhumans, and officials… There are things that we should and should not do! Take this Skystar Colosseum, for example. I don’t actually care about sparring matches or fights to the death…”

He Yong listened quietly.

“I just want to take a look.”

“A look at what?” He Yong stared at the young man. “What can you see? What can you do? I’m not trying to take the wind out of your sails, but just telling you that you’re creating trouble for yourself in getting involved with this.”

“I don’t care.” Li Hao continued to drink, a happy smile on his face. “Do you still remember the Battle Heaven Army, martial uncle?”

He Yong blinked.

“Do you think that that army would be willing to protect those in Skystar City?”

“……”

Silence.

He Yong started drinking as well, frowning with thought. He said after a long moment, “Those principles and logic are too far removed for me. I’m not interested! Of course, taking a stand when we encounter injustice and journeying through the world is the dream of all martial masters. Just tell me what you want to do, how you want to do it, and where you want to go with it. That’s enough for me!”

Li Hao burst out laughing. “How much help can you give me, martial uncle?”

“How much help do you need?” He Yong looked at Li Hao with a brewing headache.

“Send me a few Arcanus!”

“……” Go to hell! All this kid knew was how to bullshit. “I’ve spent twenty years in Skystar City, but I only have a small network. I can get you two Novas and me for a third. We’re reliable people and can do anything for the right amount of money. Anything is possible!”

“What level of Nova?”

“A late Nova and a peak Nova.”

Li Hao frowned.

“What, do you think that’s too weak?” He Yong rolled his eyes. The kid had seriously let everything get to his head!

“They really are too weak!” Li Hao nodded.

“Do you think metamorphosis experts grow on trees?” He Yong couldn’t help but jeer. “You’ve met a lot because you keep antagonizing the wrong people. You offend either the nine ministries or the royal family, a duke or a director general. Go see for yourself how many metamorphosis experts exist in the world!”

It was Li Hao’s fault for the background of all his enemies. The three great organizations, Steppe Prince, Near River Director General Office, Steadfast Duke, Ministry of Finance…

Each of these organizations were renowned throughout the lands. In actuality, Nova was a premier powerhouse in the world, but it was a minor detail of the past in Li Hao’s eyes. Even so, a martial master like He Yong remained at this level.

“It’s better than nothing,” Li Hao sighed.

He Yong scowled darkly. Nothing your ass! That’s a peak and a late Nova we’re talking about—this is your assessment of them??

“Are they on good terms with you, martial uncle?”

“Quite good.” He Yong put the matter out of his mind. “I don’t have the easiest personality, so I either make no friends at all or I make really good friends. My friends are similar to me—not the shyest, but unwilling to live in the status quo. We’re willing to give things a try if there’s anything to be gained…”

“Will you guys move against me instead? There’s greater benefits to be had if you take me out and it’ll be less dangerous than the Ministry of Finance.”

He Yong blinked, then stroked his chin. “This… might actually be a possibility! How about this, I’ll go ask them and if they’re willing to. Forget them if they’re not, but they wouldn’t turn on you if they decide to work with you.”

etvolare’s Thoughts

He Yong’s going to play the role of Hao Lianchuan for this upcoming arc lol.