âI just feel that he really might be the death of himself,â Kong Jie sighed. âWith how heâs proceeding and us being far away... Even if we were close at hand, weâd have to fully unseal ourselves to be able to handle an Arcanus. We wonât be able to do anything otherwise!â
Kong Jie punctuated his words with another sigh and continued in a plaintive tone, âMy daughterâs in Skystar City, I almost forgot about that! I hope she isnât dragged into Li Haoâs matters. Itâd be horrible if she died... ai!â
It was only now that he remembered his daughter was at the royal city? Director General Zhao looked speechlessly at him and said faintly, âI thought you recalled her presence a long time ago.â
âIâve been brainwashed by Li Hao over the past few days and all I can think about is his name. I donât have the capacity to think about anything else,â Kong Jie grumbled. âForget it, all is fine if she doesnât die. If she does... Iâll go kill whoever kills her! Iâll take down as many as I can!â
The director general couldnât be bothered to dignify that with a response.
âWe canât advise him otherwise or stop him,â he said instead after some thought. âI donât know what exactly Li Hao has in mind, but I know that it will be a new beginning whether he succeeds or not. The only thing we can do now is spared the news far and wide! Whether itâs to create a bigger audience or give rise to more rumors, at the very least, we need to let people know that Demon Sword Li Hao is commencing some things in Skystar City that no one else dares attempt or has the ability to attempt!
âAnd he comes from Silver Moon!â The director general raised his head to look at the other two. âWe need to let everyone know that those from Silver Moon have the most spirit and backbone! Others of the dynasty need to know that in this vast world, if we are left out of it, then no one will dare declare themselves first beneath the heavens!â
Director General Zhao stood up with a smile. âAs for everything else, letâs leave that for him!â
âYou... arenât going to do anything?â Kong Jie asked with a wordless look. What use was just advertising? Heâd thought that Old Zhao would have some good ideas.
âGo about your business!â
Kong Jie had no option available other than to just leave. Ole Zhao was so useless!
Huang Yu shook his head when the inspector general left. âOle Kongâs been a bit restless lately. It looks like he wants to head to Skystar City, probably because heâs being affected by Li Hao and Hou Xiaochen. He probably finds it uncomfortable standing guard here.â
âStanding guard sometimes is an even more difficult choice,â the director general commented faintly. âForget it if he doesnât understand. Where were we? Skystar is just the beginningâthe true problem lies in Silver Moon! Can you make it to Skystar City in three days if you travel at full speed?â
The dynastic capital was too far away from them. Hou Xiaochenâs convoy had taken seven days by car, and theyâd traveled at a decent pace. Martial masters might make it there in three days if they traveled at full strength, but they wouldnât have enough time to recover once they arrived.
âIâll be faster if you give me a partial ride with the helicopter...â Huang Yu looked at the director general. âDo you want me to go?â
âYou can go take a look around.â
âI thought youâd send Ole Kong.â Huang Yu smiled.
âHe wonât be of much use if he goes.â
âThen Iâll get there as soon as possible.â
âMmhmm.â The two exchanged a few brief words before Huang Yu hastily took his leave. Time was of the essence. Since Ole Zhao had made a decision, then he should make due haste.
......
As various sides were embroiled in discussion, the subject of their conversationsâLi Haoâdidnât mind at all. He currently sat in a private room on the ninth floor at the Nine Dragons Pavilion.
Just him.
And a dog.
He was eating food and drinking tea. The female manager from his last visit was serving him, placing choice morsels on his plate and pouring more refreshment. Contrary to his previous visit, she didnât have any complaints this time or find anything untoward about the situation. The only thought in her mind as she watched Li Hao gobble down food was that... the uncommon conducted themselves in an uncommon manner!
She had a lot of questions and doubts, as well as confusion that she wanted to clear with the stunning young man in front of her. However, she didnât dare voice any of them.
âDelicious! The only con is that itâs too expensive here.â Li Hao heaved a comfortable exhale after he cleared the table.
âPlease have as much as youâd like, Commander Li. Someone else is taking care of the bill,â chuckled the manager. âOur pavilion master is buying. Apart from precious items such as Water of Life, everything else is free.â
âYour pavilion master?â
âYes, the master of the Nine Dragons Pavilion.â
âIsnât that someone from the royal family?â
âThatâs right, our pavilion master is from the royal family.â
âThen my thanks!â Li Hao roared with laughter. âHow nice of him. Very well, get me ten more servings of everything I just had. Iâm honestly not full yet!â
The manager didnât mind the enormous order; she quickly left the room to give some instructions before returning to her honored guest.
Li Hao burped and lifted his tea cup for a sip. âItâs said that the Nine Dragons Pavilion can do anything. How about a transaction?â
âPlease go ahead, commander.â
âThe... massive projection that He Yong put together last time, that really large thing. Do you guys have something like that? The kind that can project to thousands and thousands of people and canât be broken. I want the entire city to see me chop heads off!â
â......â Weariness washed over the female manager again. Why did this one always voice such... horrifying words! âYes, but completely avoiding interference is nearly impossible. No one wishes for this matter to become public knowledge.â
âSo not even the Nine Dragons Pavilion can accomplish it?â
âWe can, but we cannot!â n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIâll pay.â
âNot even if you pay.â The manager looked at Li Hao with a complicated expression. âThis isnât a matter of money, but whether or not this course of action is permitted. It may not be protestations from others, it could be that we ourselves donât wish for this to come to pass either.â
âIn that case, letâs change to a different reason,â Li Hao laughed. âSay itâs to broadcast my failure and death! You guys need to learn how to bend the rules, itâs not like Iâm guaranteed to win! Is a newcomer like me assured to succeed against those guys? Just announce that you want the world to see how Li Hao dies!â
âThis... could work!â The manager thought rapidly. âBut weâll need to put in an application for it. After all, the commander is incredibly strong. Not even the nine ministries may be able to easily take you down.â
âAre they that cowardly?â Li Hao burst out laughing. âIf theyâre such wusses, then itâs all the same whether I project the beheadings or not. How are they to rule over the world if they donât have even this level of confidence? Youâre joking!â
âIâll do my best,â the manager emphasized. âAs for costs... we can waive that. If the request goes through, I think a lot of people will want to see how the commander dies.â
âYo, the beautyâs gotten more straightforward!â Li Hao tilted his head at her with a smile.
âSomeone like the commander might like a more straightforward nature better,â chuckled the manager.
âGood ass kissing!â Li Hao nodded. âI like what I hear! As expected, itâs easy to lose sight of whatâs real and important after one comes into power and authority.â
His laughter was echoed by the manager. âThen Iâll put in the application for the commander. In addition, if I may be so bold as to ask a question...â
âAsk away!â
âWhat does the commander wish to achieve?â She didnât receive an answer to her question, but didnât mind. The manager left after a few beats of silence.
What do you wish to achieve? Your actions will plunge you into the depths of despair and danger more perilous than before.
Li Hao barked with laughter right before she exited the private room. âI wish to achieve clear thoughts! Such is martial dao, such are Silver Moon martial masters! You are neither a martial master nor a Silver Moon martial master, so you donât understand the willingness to endure a thousand cuts just to pull the emperor off his horse. Didnât the nine ministries accomplish that back in the day?â
The manager nearly tripped over her feet; she quickly rushed out of the room. These werenât words that she could listen to!
Li Hao grinned widely and caressed Pantherâs head. âIâm not a dog. If I were, Iâd eat and sleep and sleep and eat. I wouldnât care about anything. Isnât that right, Panth?â
âArf arf arf!â Panther shook its head. Dogs had their worries too! Right now, for instance, Li Haoâs hand on its head wasnât too comfortable. The noble descendent of a mighty ancient monster spirit shouldnât be treated in such an irritating fashion!
âAs I thought, you agree too!â Li Hao laughed and pressed the dogâs head downward, giving Panther no choice but to nod.
Forget it, a dog could only bow its head when under someone elseâs roof. It was enough that it had food to eat, there was no need to consider too much else. All of the mighty ancient monster spirits were no longer, so what did their descendants count for?
At least, this was how Panther tried to comfort itself.
......
Within the Nine Dragons Pavilion.
Dishes were constantly brought to the table; Li Hao ate some and gave the rest to Panther. The fare of the Nine Dragons Pavilion was quite up to par. It went without saying that it was a feast for the senses, but also contained a great deal of energy.
The chefs here are really good.
The manager returned after a while; merriment could be heard in her voice. âCommander, upstairs has agreed to try. We might have to discuss with the nine ministries for a bitâupstairs is very interested in what the commander said. The nine ministries are not interested in executing nobles, but beheading the commander might be something that a lot of people wish to see.â
Li Hao grinned and nodded without a word. The manager hesitated upon seeing his attitude.
âIf someone does attack the commander, it might be powerhouses from the three great organizations apart from the nine ministries and royal family,â she ultimately said. âIn addition, the City of Supernaturals might send people. Apart from Sky Sword Mountain of the seven divine mountains, the rest are hard to gauge. Thereâs also other princes and dukes to consider...â
âYou might as well say that everyone in the world, apart from those of Silver Moon, wants to kill me,â Li Hao laughed. There was no need to name so many people.
The young man rose and called out to the black dog. âPanther, weâre going!â
There was no need to linger since his goal had been accomplished. Li Hao patted its head when he saw the dog take a long gulp of all the energy in the room.
âWeâre being treated by the pavilion this time, itâs not appropriate for you to do this!â he said with resignation.
âItâs fine!â the manager hastily said. âSo long as Master Panther likes what he finds.â
Li Hao smiled. Fear and respect developed when one grew famous or became ruthless. Look at the difference in the pavilionâs treatment of him compared to last time!