The stewardâs expression shifted and a vicious look flashed through his eyes, but it promptly disappeared when something else occurred to him.
âI was too hasty just now,â he hastily admitted with fear. âI know my fault and admit to it...â
It was just a matter of a broken leg and paying off the aggrieved parties. If Scrawny didnât raise a fuss, heâd be in jail for a year and a half at most. They couldnât take a hard tone with these Night Watchers anymore, that would result in the loss of their heads. The times now were different from before!
As to be expected, the steward quickly thought things through. Only people of uncommon talent would be a steward of a nobleâs household. Even though these Night Watchers were much weaker than him since they were either Darkmoons or Sunflares, he permitted them to grab him by the neck. He was a Solar, but he didnât resist and docilely left with the Night Watchers.
Cheers ripped through the air as they left! Those newly come to the area quickly asked the rest of the crowd what was going on. They were highly excited when up-to-date on the happenings. So this was possible? The Night Watchers would arrest even the steward of a marquis just because some money was owed?
That was a marquis! A major personage! Since when were the Night Watchers so tough? Of course, it must have much to do with Commander Li. He even dared kill a minister, so what was a marquis worth?
The news quickly spread, starting as arresting the steward to killing the steward. The final version was that the Night Watchers chopped off Marquis Changxingâs head because he owed thirty thousand star coins. His head now hung on the northern city gate!
The news traveled so far and fast that a steady stream of visitors soon visited the marquis, only to find that the subject of the rumors was alive and well. So how was the gossip mill saying that his head was swinging from the northern city gate?
The marquis was equally aghast and quickly sought help from the nine ministries. What if the rumors turned real after a while? He went to the palace when the nine ministries ignored him and decided he wouldnât emerge for the short term, even on pain of death. It was too dangerous!
Everyone said that Li Hao had stayed to arrest and kill people. There was no marquis, duke, prince, or minister safe from him! And yet, the royal family had gone utterly insane to give him the title of Skystar Governor General. Even the nine ministries fell under his purview now. While they wouldnât respect his authority, he could execute them with a legitimate reason.
......
The slums.
A group of children eagerly discussed the events of the day.
âSis, sis, the Night Watchers are incredible! Marquis Changxing had his head chopped off because he owed street vendors thirty thousand star coins! Everyoneâs talking about it right now!â
Yu Qi was slightly befuddled by what she heard. Was that person... that ruthless? He would kill even a marquis for a mere thirty thousand coins?
One had to say, the news had spread so quickly and broadly that the entire city was in an uproar. The people were more invigorated than yesterday. Everything had seemed so far removed at first. All that talk of filing reports or making their grievances known were actions that the people did not dare undertake.
But now that they heard of a pork seller calling out to the Night Watchers to demand settlement of debts, and the Night Watchers actually responding to the point of beheading the recalcitrant marquis... Everyone truly believed that the Night Watchers were different now!
They could make the decisions!
Countless people stirred to action. If a marquis was dead for such a small matter, then what else wouldnât the Night Watchers dare do? Even if the news turned out to be false, it was still electrifying!
No one wanted to pursue whether or not this was real. It wasnât like Marquis Changxing was stepping forward to clarify. Perhaps he really was dead.
Excited, Yu Qi looked at her younger brother not too far away. She jogged over, wiped off her hands, threw off her apron, and whispered, âHave you heard the news, lil bro? I want... to visit the northern quadrant of the city tonight!â
âSis, this talk of the marquis being dead must be fake...â Yu Ming replied softly.
âI know!â Yu Qi rolled her eyes. âIâm not an idiot. But... havenât you realized that things are different now?â
Yu Ming thought it over, then nodded. âIf sis wants to go... then Iâll go with you.â
âItâs fine, I can go alone. You stay at home. No... you head out first and find a place to hide. Iâll go find you when I come back!â
Yu Ming nodded after thinking about it. He didnât say anything else. Meanwhile, Yu Qi was energized and slightly anxious. She checked the skyâwhy wasnât it dark yet? It was a bit scary to attempt this during the day, someone might see her. If she wanted to raise an issue, it was better to do so at night.
......
Stories about the Night Watchers flurried through Skystar City.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
The Night Watcher headquarters.
Yao Si was confused by the talk on the streets and looked at the exuberant Little Ye. âDid Li Hao really kill Marquis Changxing?â
âNo, Commander Li is in closed door cultivation and helping the Silver Moon martial masters heal. He hasnât come out yet...â
âThen this news is ridiculous!â Yao Si didnât know what to say. âIâve received eight communications this morning, all wanting to know more. Who do they think I am? This is just a piece of fake news!â
âDirector, whether itâs fake or real news, havenât you noticed something?â Little Ye bubbled with excitement.
âWhat?â
âEveryoneâs really happy!â
âWho?â
âEveryone! The people outside are happy, the Night Watchers are happy. Have you seen it, director? Headquarters used to be a stifling place, but everyoneâs talking about the gossip today!â
They were all wondering who was that ferocious as to kill Marquis Changxing. Upon further inquiry, they learned that it was some of their most timid members, the ones out on patrol. No one believed it, so another uproar ensued when the team returned with a Solar level steward!
Some other Night Watchers declared that since some Darkmoons and Sunflares dared arrest a Solar, then they had to bring back a Nova to maintain their standing among colleagues!
âLittle Ye, do you really think this is a good development?â Yao Si wearily rubbed his temples.
âOf course!â Little Ye nodded. âWhy isnât it, director? Everyoneâs saying that the Night Watchers are doing a great job and have done well on the streets. The noble and powerful are afraid of us. Isnât that how things should be for a law enforcement agency?
âPeople know to seek out the Night Watchers if theyâve suffered a wrong. They know that weâll take action if they come to us! Weâll arrest or kill whoeverâs responsible, no matter who they are. Isnât that how things are supposed to be?â
Was that so?
Yao Si sank into deep thought. He walked over to a window and looked outside. Some Night Watchers passing through the yard seemed to be walking with a lighter step. They occasionally exchanged a few words with each other, truly in different spirits than usual.
It was just rumors and those present knew that they were all fake. Marquis Changxing hadnât been arrested, it was his steward. Thousands of nobles had been arrested before, which made a steward a nonentity!
However, it was a very different feeling to the Night Watchers. The ones arrested before had been at Li Haoâs hand. This time, it was by their hand. So they had the right to do so as well! And they werenât faced with curses when they took someone, but applause, cheers, and laudatory yells! So they could be this kind of Night Watcher as well?
Yao Si looked down with a frown, then smoothed out his forehead and shook his head with a sigh. âWeâll be in trouble if Li Hao runs off...â
âThen weâll just run to Silver Moon with him!â Little Ye answered matter-of-factly.
âEh?â Yao Si blinked, as did Little Ye.
âI... I didnât say anything!â she stammered as the color drained from her face.
âSo this is what everyone thinks now?â Yao Si raised an eyebrow. âYouâll follow him if he runs away to Silver Moon? Heâs only been here a few days, but youâre all ready to abandon your homes to go with him?â
He hadnât thought that this would be their mindset! It was so surprising!
Little Ye was afraid, but also determined to speak her mind. âWhat would be the big deal in that, director? Itâs work no matter where we go, itâs just another way of living. I hear that Night Watchers in Silver Moon live with dignity, that they are part of the four institutions. Those who want to kill someone from the three great organizations can go on a patrol anytime.
âApparently, their cultivation resources come from killing the three great organizations or pirates. While their days are a bit harder, they live more freely! Itâs a more dignified death if they die in battle because they can say they perished while fighting the enemy...â
âThe Night Watchers have been battling the three great organizations for the past twenty years!â Yao Si retorted irritably. âDonât we do the same?â
âItâs not the same...â Little Ye responded cautiously. âOur days were... full of suffering before! Dao Sword was the only one who dared randomly kill people. We didnât dare, no one did. Important people couldnât be targeted in case that created a bigger conflict.â
âHow much better do you think Silver Moon is?â Yao Si asked wordlessly. That province was the same! The two sides kept each other in check! How did these guys think that Silver Moon was better than Skystar City?
âWe might have our reservations if it was Director Hou in charge,â Little Ye mumbled. âBut isnât it Commander Li in charge now?â
Oho! Yao Si suddenly understood. So itâs not just me being insulted, but Hou Xiaochen as well! Nicely done! He suddenly wanted to laugh. Hou Xiaochen, did you ever think this would happen to you? Do you hear that?
People donât think much of a Silver Moon that you oversee, but they see a future with the barbarian Li Hao, the brute and serial killer that they call Demon Sword. Arenât you pissed about it?
The ball of anger in his chest was much doused. Yao Si laughed and took a sip out of his tea mug, finding the situation hilarious. He took another look at the ground and did note more of a spring in the Night Watchersâ footsteps. The stagnant pool that was Skystar City had indeed become much more lively after the arrival of the Silver Moon savages. He glanced at the Inspectorate nearbyâwhat kind of scene might be found there today?
It might be a hotbed of activity, but that didnât matter. Since the Night Watchers had lost a few deputy directors, heâd put Li Haoâs name forward to have the Inspectorate arrange a deputy director title for the young man.
That would piss the nine ministries off so much that they wouldnât know what to say! Hahahaha!!