Star Gate

Chapter 125: The Qiaos (IV)

Qiao Peng swiftly headed outside without further word. Qiao Feilong mulled over the situation after his son left and addressed a corner of his office.

“Did you sense anything special?”

“No, he’s very ordinary, but he looks to have absorbed mysterious power. I can sense that his physique is quite decent and his skin’s tenacity is very good. He might be a Slayer of Tens.”

“That is to be expected!” Qiao Feilong dismissed the assessment. “He’s Yuan Shuo’s student and has absorbed mysterious power. With the New Book of Five Styles in hand and supposedly wielding its breathing method as well, setting foot into Slayer of Tens is only a matter of time!”

“Then does the boss think...” the person in the shadows lowered his voice. “Is there anything special about his blood?”

“It may not be as simple as just his blood. The so-called bloodline may need to be distilled from the blood. Mere blood flow will not do!” Qiao Feilong waved the conversation to a close. “Alright, let’s set this aside for now. Do not incite trouble as the city is unstable at the moment. Wait for the right moment to act!”

“Understood.”

The discussion was over.

......

At the same time.

Wreathed in smiles, Li Hao reached the first floor still reeling from shock. Was Qiao Feilong a Solar? Could his teacher kill a Solar now without the sword’s help? Would they reap large amounts of mysterious power if they killed this Solar? What kind of supernatural was the corporation president?

Scattered thoughts ran through his mind. To think that this old guy would hide himself so deeply!

He must carry a treasure on him!

Qiao Feilong wouldn’t conceal his energy ripples so perfectly otherwise. There was nothing to sense and in fact, it appeared that he held them completely within his body.

Got us a big one!

This was definitely a large catch, one that was staying put in Silver City. Logically speaking, even Heaven Favored found it difficult to break through if they didn’t do battle or see the rest of the world. Yuan Shuo had commenced his fair share of wandering when he was young, which enabled his eventual breakthrough to Dominator.

No one could absorb mysterious power and passively make their way to Sunflare or Solar.

Can it be that... they’ve taken something from my ancestral tomb? The possibility suddenly occurred to Li Hao, alongside deep anguish. Bastards! The guy must’ve dug into and robbed my ancestors’ graves! That’s how he’s able to ascend in Silver City and become peak Sunflare or even a Solar. Damn it, he stole from me!

It was highly likely and a given that something was afoot at the Qiao mines. What a pity that they could not afford to alert the enemy at this time! But the trip had not been made in vain. He’d discovered Qiao Feilong’s strength and obtained ten cubes of mysterious power. The latter was an unexpected gain, but these two together were enough.

“Li Hao!” Wang Ming glanced at his colleague and took note of the box in his hand. “An energy storage box?”

“You recognize it?”

“Of course!” Wang Ming furrowed his brows. “You accepted more presents?”

It was one thing to take small gifts, but this was mysterious power! He’d already forgotten how he derided Li Hao for his small worldview. One should either not accept gifts, or take only dozens or one hundred cubes of mysterious power!

“It’s not for me, it’s for Sis Liu,” Li Hao muttered. “She lacks this and it’s her compensation. You don’t understand, this is blood money!”

“You’re making the decision on Liu Yan’s behalf?” Wang Ming was startled that the young man dared accept this.

Li Hao leered. “It’s fine! It’s our loss if we don’t take it!”

Will Sis Liu want it?

Not under normal circumstances, but Li Hao felt that Sis Liu would want it if he put in a few words. Using the enemy’s gift to strengthen oneself and then kill the enemy in return... Why not accept something like this!

Well well, their relationship really extends beyond the norm! Wang Ming sniffed. Li Hao appeared to be an honest boy—he really kept his tendencies well under wraps.

They needed to carry out their duties well after accepting a present. The group quickly arrived at the mines outside the city. Li Hao didn’t even walk inside. He took a look from the entrance and quickly left in merry delight. He seemed to be in a hurry to return to headquarters—well, of course as he carried a box of mysterious power. He didn’t set it down once.

Qiao Peng suddenly spat on the ground when Li Hao and Wang Ming disappeared from view.

“Eyes of a rat that can only see an inch of light!” he cursed at Li Hao. The kid had been so upright and righteous before, but look at him after receiving a gift! He was worried about dirtying his shoes at the mine inspection and decided on taking a look from the outside before running off.

“The Night Watchers are blind to let this guy be the deputy director!” he spat. But this was just as well, it would save him a lot of effort.

......

At the same time.

In the car.

Li Hao’s smile slowly withered and he looked at Wang Ming. “Ole Wang, are Sunflare real powerhouses?”

“No shit!” Wang Ming rolled his eyes. “Do you know how many Night Watcher Sunflares there are in all of Silver Moon? Sunflare is the equivalent of Dominator—one against a thousand! Which one of them isn’t a heavyweight?”

Li Hao nodded silently. Really? Well, fuck! I saw three balls of light in the depths of the mines! If Qiao Feilong is thrown into the mix, then there might be one Solar and three Sunflares at Qiao Mining! And you say that Sunflares are apex powerhouses that are rarely seen? Who are you kidding??

I’ve only been at it for a few days and have seen a ton of Solars! Hao Lianchuan, Brokensky, and now possibly Qiao Feilong! There’s the Sunflare that died last time, Huang Yun, and the one hidden in the shadows of the Qiao office... That makes for three Sunflares!

The Qiaos!

A reeling Li Hao once more questioned if the Qiaos were just a money-making machine in the mundane world for Yama.

Hells no!

If Yama was that powerful, then Red Moon and the Night Watchers paled far in comparison. Who would assign so many powerhouses to a mundane fringe group designed to fund the organization?

It must be something from the eight families that’s propelled them forward. It’s got to be! One hundred percent!

Li Hao was certain that there was much more behind the Qiao curtain. They must’ve discovered something and possibly stashed it away for their own use. They wouldn’t be so powerful otherwise. Wasn’t that belittling the Night Watchers, to produce so many powerhouses in a family corporation from a fringe city like Silver City?

If Wang Ming said Sunflares were powerhouses, then they were powerhouses. It just pained Li Hao that the Qiaos was making use of some treasures. Had they emptied the ruins? Liu Yan’s husband had been dead for many years. With these years of excavation, perhaps they really had made off with plenty of loot.

The Qiaos bide their time and there’s no movement from Yama—I haven’t heard of any major disturbance in Silver City. Are the two in cahoots or not? Or are the Qiaos conducting some secret operations behind Yama’s back?

He nursed some suspicions—there should be more than Qiao Feilong on the scene. There might be other Solars from Yama, waiting in the shadows to reap their harvest. They would at least place checks on each other!

I need to go to teacher! Li Hao was both frightened and excited. Perhaps they’d make out like bandits this time, if they didn’t die in the attempt.

Off to the side, Wang Ming looked strangely at his counterpart. Just look at his expression change! What, was he a chameleon? Was he this excited to receive mysterious power? Was there a lot in that box?

Impulses stirred in Wang Ming, but he quickly dismissed the notion. I’m not Li Hao. This guy’s vision for the future is so meager that he accepts bribes! I’m going to report him one day!

Of course, if he was given some... Bah! I, Wang Ming, will never share his loot!

Wang Ming stomped on the accelerator as various thoughts ran through his head.

......

Veteris Institute of Silver City.

It hadn’t been long since Li Hao’s departure, but he hadn’t visited Yuan Shuo last time; he’d gone directly to the principal’s building. This time, he set course for his teacher’s residence.

Wang Ming wasn’t with him out of a decreased desire to run around. He waited outside with the car; Li Hao let him be.

......

Inside the yard.

Yuan Shuo was facing off against a dog. He found it fun to educate Panther on a daily basis. Li Hao didn’t know where a screw had gotten loose in his teacher’s mind. He’d matched wits and valor with the dog for almost half a month!

“Teacher!” Li Hao waved a greeting. Panther howled and barrelled out, rearing up on Li Hao’s thigh.

“Aouuuu! Arf arf! Meow meow!”

Li Hao blinked. What were those cries?

“Panth, what are you imitating a cat for?”

“Aouuu, aouuuu,” Panther answered frantically. It didn’t want to either, but that terrifying old man said that he might not be a dog, that he might be a mixed breed and could possibly climb a tree like a cat, bite like a wolf, and plow the fields like a cow...

Panther wallowed in an abyss of misery! This was too painful, so when it finally saw Li Hao, it itched to immediately run off with the young man. It didn’t want to spend a single second more with the old human!

“You’re here, eh?” Yuan Shuo looked much younger together. He casually wiped off his hands, ignoring the dog. “Don’t randomly run around on errands when you’ve got free time. You should take advantage of the opening to practice martial techniques. That Little Wang you work with is here too, right?”

“Correct, we’re here on official business and didn’t want to disturb teacher.”

“It’s fine.” Yuan Shuo didn’t mind and didn’t ask why Wang Ming wasn’t present. It was normal, the kid was too embarrassed to come.

“This dog is quite nice!” the professor chuckled. However, Panther was so frightened it nearly shook.

“Did you hit it, teacher?” Li Hao asked helplessly.

“Hit it?” Yuan Shuo grinned. “How would I? I’m an academic sort and rarely punish humans or dogs. Tell me, have I ever punished you?”

“That’s... true. You haven’t.” Li Hao found it odd. What was Panth afraid of if it wasn’t being beaten?