Fled in the Night

It had been quite some time since Li Hao last saw Southern Fist, and he had genuinely missed the man. When Southern Fist came into view again, Li Hao was practically beaming. "Good evening, Martial Uncle!" *When he needs something, I'm Martial Uncle; when he doesn't, I'm just Soldier Southern Fist,* Southern Fist grumbled inwardly. His bushy beard bunched up as his face hardened into a sneer. "You've got some nerve, haven't you?" He had chosen not to come to Heavenly Star City earlier, yet now that he was finally here, this kid was growing more insolent by the day! "It has nothing to do with nerve," Li Hao replied with a brilliant grin. "As a Silver Moon martial master, I merely intend to walk the realm, sword in hand, tracing the footsteps of our forebears. I will sweep across the world's supers and restore the renown of Silver Moon's martial masters!" "Big words!" Southern Fist cast his gaze around. "Here at Nine Dragons Pavilion, at the end of Nine Departments Avenue right outside the imperial palace, not many who've dared utter such things met a good end." Li Hao remained unbothered. "Eighty years ago, the imperial family thought the same way. Look at them today, hemmed in by the Nine Departments. Martial Uncle, nothing in this world is difficult if one sets their heart to it." Southern Fist barked out a laugh. He himself was reckless enough, though his swagger always hid a sharp calculation. When he had first met Li Hao, the youth had struck him as cautious and reserved. Now, Li Hao had changed drastically. Southern Fist did not know whether this transformation was driven by Li Hao's soaring strength or something else, but he did not mind. In truth, this swagger was precisely what a Silver Moon martial master ought to possess. "Find a place for a drink?" "Works for me!" Li Hao nodded. He had just shared tea with Hou Xiaochen; Southern Fist's idea of a drink was naturally hard liquor. That suited him fine as well. Southern Fist said nothing more, merely leading the way as he remarked, "Change out of that getup of yours. It looks hideous! Aside from that, it draws too much attention. Everyone knows Li Hao dresses like a clown. Do you want every passerby staring at you wherever you go?" Li Hao chuckled. Without a word, he flicked his sleeve, and the conspicuous hat vanished. The staff in his grasp melted away as well, coiling around his wrist as a bracelet. "You've mastered it?" Southern Fist was taken aback. Had he already refined it? "Not quite," Li Hao said, shaking his head. He had merely absorbed the armament spirit, making it somewhat easier to control and giving him access to a few basic capabilities. "Where's Black Panther?" "*Woof!*" Right on cue, a tiny puppy yipped from a corner. Southern Fist's brow furrowed, and after studying the creature for a good while, he muttered, "If you didn't tell anyone, who on earth would believe this dog is the Golden Hound on the Divine Master Roll?" "The Divine Master Roll?" "Haven't seen it?" "Nope." "You ought to take a look. While it might not be entirely accurate, it gives you a general sense of who the top powerhouses under thirty are throughout the Central Region." "Not interested." "Hm?" "I'm well past caring about that stage." Li Hao's face was completely calm as he pointed forward. "My targets are the people ahead—the directors of the Nine Departments, the old veterans, the ancient fossils, the relics of antiquity... Even if my current strength falls short, my ambitions reach higher than the heavens! As for whether my life proves as fragile as paper... that depends on my luck. If you don't aim high, you won't go far, and I intend to go a very long way!" Southern Fist looked at him with profound surprise. It had only been a month or so since they parted ways in Silver Moon, yet Li Hao had truly changed beyond recognition. Perhaps it was because he had led the assault that killed Xu Qing, or perhaps because he had seen so much more of the world. Southern Fist knew that Li Hao had achieved tremendous feats since his departure. When Southern Fist left, Li Hao could only contend with the middle Rising Light stage. Now, he had even slain someone at the Transmutation stage. Even if luck and circumstance had played a part, a Transmutation expert was still a Transmutation expert. In just one month, Li Hao had fought the battle against White Shark, the battle of the North Sea, and the battle of Dingbian... Three massive engagements, claiming the lives of multiple Rising Light combatants. For a Silver Moon martial master, three such trials were enough to turn the world upside down. At this moment, Southern Fist no longer held much of an advantage over Li Hao. Without unsealing his power, he wasn't even a match for the youth. And even unsealed, he was only a notch above ordinary Transmutation experts—he still fell short of Divine Power. Back at Mount Cang, while unsealed, he had only been able to suppress a single great monster, unlike Hong Yitang, who had pummeled several of them all at once. "Aiming high is a good thing!" Southern Fist nodded, his lingering irritation fading into a grin. "Without high ambitions, you won't get far. Still, don't set your sights so high you trip over yourself. Heavenly Star City is no ordinary place." "I understand." The two strode forward at a brisk pace. Only after leaving Nine Departments Avenue did the ambient clamor finally reach their ears. This was a city that never slept; it was merely the Nine Departments sector that grew quiet early and kept its lanterns dim, mirroring the dynasty itself—glittering on the outside, rotten and dark within. "There's an old tavern ahead with great liquor. I drop by often," Southern Fist said cheerfully. "Pity you refused to come with me last time and missed out on a good opportunity. Otherwise..." "An opportunity?" Li Hao glanced at him. "Are you stronger than before, Martial Uncle?" "It's tough!" Southern Fist shook his head with a sigh. "Replenishing vitality and blood is no easy task. Still, I've made modest progress." "What sort of opportunity was it?" Southern Fist mulled it over before sending a voice transmission: "An imperial one. I suspect the imperial court has indeed secured the Heavenly Star Town ruin, though they haven't finished exploring it. Every year, they assemble teams to venture inside... As a martial master, I can protect some of the princes and princesses, so they occasionally allow me to enter..." "Would they really let you participate in something so confidential?" Li Hao asked, puzzled. Southern Fist seemed surprisingly well-regarded by the imperial family. Why was that? Silver Moon martial masters were rarely welcome anywhere, yet Southern Fist had managed to cultivate to such an extent under the court's roof. That couldn't have been easy. Under normal circumstances, an outsider like him would never be permitted near an ancient ruin. "What's strange about that? All under heaven hustle for profit!" Southern Fist scoffed dismissively. "Twenty years ago, I threw my lot in with the prince who had the smallest faction and the weakest personal strength. When things were hardest for him, I backed him to the hilt, even shielding him from several assassination attempts. Now that his strength has grown and his faction has expanded, I'm one of his earliest investors. Whether it's genuine gratitude or just putting on a show to attract other talents, he's not going to shortchange me." *Impressive!* Li Hao sighed in admiration. "You have an eye for people, Martial Uncle." "Eye, nothing! I just bet on the weakest horse. If I won, the payout would be massive; if I lost, I'd cut and run. Adding flowers to a brocade never compares to offering charcoal in a blizzard. And if he managed to rise, that was down to his own capability." Li Hao nodded, then asked curiously, "The imperial family is already in this state, yet they're still fighting among themselves?" Clearly, those assassination attempts on the weakest prince hadn't come from the Nine Departments. Why bother killing the weakest one? It had to have been internal infighting. "If the imperial family didn't fight among themselves, would the Nine Departments even exist?" Southern Fist chuckled. "The Nine Departments only got their chance because of imperial squabbles. Otherwise, the Black Armored Army was invincible back then—how could the Nine Departments have ever stood a chance? The imperial house is ruthless. When it comes to the throne of the Heavenly Star King, their internal feuds are far nastier than any outside conflict! Forget the throne—even the seats of the Nine Kings and the thirty-six dukes, which family among them hasn't battered themselves bloody over succession? "It's been slightly better in recent years. They know the dynasty is in peril, so the infighting has cooled down somewhat. Twenty years ago, they didn't even need the Nine Departments; the royal family alone could have plunged the entire realm into chaos." Struggle was omnipresent. Li Hao nodded, feeling his understanding broaden once more. He had assumed the imperial family would be pulling together to break free of the Nine Departments' grip, but reality was quite different. Even in such dire straits, their internal strife remained fierce. "The prince you backed—is he very strong now?" "Not bad. Roughly on par with you," Southern Fist replied with a grin. "The imperial family actually possesses plenty of resources and opportunities. Don't assume they can't leave; they can. The Nine Departments only restrict their political authority, not their physical freedom. Besides, if they truly wanted to step outside, the Nine Departments couldn't stop them unless they were prepared to go to war immediately. The main point is, they don't even need to leave—the imperial family has direct access to the ruin." "..." The two chatted as they walked, soon coming to a halt in a narrow alley. The tavern truly was small, tucked away in the backstreets; despite the roaring bustle outside, hardly a soul was here. Southern Fist swaggered inside. The tavern keeper, who had been dozing, snapped his eyes open and leapt to his feet upon recognizing him. "Boss He, you've come!" He glanced at Li Hao before adding, "The usual?" "Yeah. Just add another portion!" "Right away!" The owner hurried into the back. There wasn't even a single waiter in sight; he seemed to run the entire establishment by himself. The two took their seats. Southern Fist reached out with an open hand, and a jar of liquor flew into his grip from across the room. With another flick of his hand, two large bowls appeared. He chuckled and said, "Don't look down on it just because it's quiet. This place is the only one left that serves authentic, old-school flavors. The establishments in the city center are grander, but their stuff tastes like garbage. "Come, have a bowl!" He filled a bowl for Li Hao, who took a sip and smacked his lips. It wasn't about refined flavor—it was simply searing. The moment the brew reached his gut, it felt like liquid fire. To someone like Southern Fist, strong liquor was the only good liquor. Yet once that blazing fire erupted within his belly, it left behind a distinct, peculiar sensation. Southern Fist helped himself, drinking freely as he spoke. "Alright, out with it. Why did you look me up? To deal with the Department of Finance? Or the Heavenly Star Colosseum? That's Hou Xiaochen's objective, not yours. What do you personally have in mind?" *Personally?* Li Hao pondered for a while before answering quietly, "Nothing specific. I don't really have a grand ambition. Before arriving, my intent was to make trouble for Red Moon, but along the way, I changed my mind... I want to see whether the heart of this dynasty is black or white, and whether this world will ever see the light of day again." "Why are you starting to sound like Hong Yitang?!" Southern Fist said, utterly exasperated. "Let me tell you straight: every crow under the sky is pitch-black! And Heavenly Star City is the blackest, oiliest pit of them all. In the corners you can't see, dozens of people die every single day. Every rat, snake, and scum gathers here." Li Hao gave a soft laugh, took another gulp of liquor, and exhaled slowly. "I'm not copying Martial Uncle Hong. I just feel that as a martial master, as a super, and as an official... there are things one must do, and things one must never do! Take the Heavenly Star Colosseum, for instance. To be honest, sparring, dueling, killing each other—I don't really care about that..." Southern Fist listened in silence. "I just want to see." "See what?" Southern Fist looked at him. "What could you possibly see? What can you do? I'm not trying to pour cold water on you, but meddling in this is just asking for misery." "I don't care." Li Hao continued drinking, a broad smile spreading across his face. "Martial Uncle, do you remember the Battle Heaven Army?" Southern Fist froze. "Tell me, would the Battle Heaven Army be willing to protect the kind of people living in Heavenly Star City?" "..." Silence fell. Southern Fist began drinking as well, his brow furrowed in contemplation. After a long time, he finally spoke. "Grand principles and lofty ambitions are too far removed from me—I've got no interest in them! Of course, righting wrongs and roaming the martial world with sword in hand is every martial master's dream. Just be blunt with me: how do you plan to do it, what do you want done, and where does it end? That's all I need to know." Li Hao laughed. A moment later, he asked, "How much help can you give me, Martial Uncle?" Southern Fist glanced at him, rubbing his temples. "How much help do you want?" "A few Divine Power experts." "..." "Fuck off!" Southern Fist cursed, shaking his head at the youth's nonsense. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I've been in Heavenly Star City for twenty years, but I've only built up a modest network. I can pull together two Rising Light experts. With me, that makes three. They're reliable, and they'll do whatever's asked, but you have to pay. If the price is right, everything is negotiable!" "What stages of Rising Light are they?" "One late stage, one peak." Li Hao's brow knitted slightly as he looked at Southern Fist. The older man rolled his eyes in response. "What, you think they're weak?" He felt Li Hao had gotten entirely too full of himself. Yet Li Hao simply nodded. "They are weak!" "You think Transmutation experts grow on trees?!" Southern Fist could not help snapping. "You've seen so many of them only because the people you provoke are completely absurd—either the Nine Departments, ducal estates, prince residences, or governor-generals! Go take a look for yourself: how many Transmutation cultivators are there across the entire realm?!" Look at the enemies Li Hao had crossed: the Three Great Organizations, the Plain King's Residence, the Linjiang Governor-General's Manor, the Duke of Dingguo's Residence, the Department of Finance... Every single one was a titan whose name shook the world. In truth, Rising Light experts were already apex figures. Yet in Li Hao's eyes, they seemed like relics of the past. In reality, even a veteran martial master like Southern Fist was still stuck at that level. Hearing this, Li Hao could only sigh. "Well, better than nothing!" Southern Fist's face darkened. *Better than nothing, my ass! A peak and a late stage, and you give me 'better than nothing'?!* "Are they on good terms with you, Martial Uncle?" "Very good." Southern Fist chose not to stay mad, nodding instead. "I've got a rough temper, so I either make no friends at all or become sworn brothers. Those two are just like me—daring enough, restless, never satisfied with the status quo... If there's profit, they'll brave real danger..." "Could they turn on me? After all, the bounty on my head is far greater than whatever they'd make fighting the Department of Finance, and the risk would be far lower." Southern Fist blinked, caught off guard. He stroked his chin, and after a long silence, he gave an awkward chuckle. "Now that you mention it... that's actually not impossible! Tell you what, I'll go sound them out. If they refuse, so be it. But if they agree, they won't pull that kind of stunt." Li Hao was at a loss for words. He then asked, "Martial Uncle, if you were to fully unseal yourself right now, roughly where would you stand?" "Below Divine Power," Southern Fist answered honestly. "Put it this way: for people like us, the key is how many supernatural locks we've unsealed. And even then, it depends on the degree of unsealing and the saturation level... Once martial masters reach this realm, it's hard to make precise comparisons. Everyone's situation is different... "The Transmutation stage of the Rising Light realm is actually a very long process. Do you know what Transmutation actually is?" Li Hao shook his head. "Transmutation experts are those who have broken through one of the five visceral locks, on top of having completely shattered all the limb locks. That represents Rising Light. Only by breaking a sixth lock—the second of the visceral locks—does one attain Divine Power... "So why is Transmutation treated as a distinct stage?" He looked at Li Hao and explained, "Transmutation is essentially a process of gradual acclimatization, slowly releasing a second supernatural affinity. It can't be snapped all at once, or the body would blow apart! It's quite similar to how we unseal ourselves. They gradually shatter the second visceral lock, little by little, steadily releasing the supernatural energy trapped within... Only once it is completely broken do they become Divine Power. Before that point, entering the process of shattering marks the start of Transmutation." Realization dawned upon Li Hao. *So that's how it works.* "Then naturally, Transmutation experts have varying levels of strength—some have broken a tenth of it, others a fifth... That really is quite similar to our unsealing process." "Whether it's Xu Qing, Hong Yitang, or myself, we're all at this stage. It's just that for me... even after unsealing completely, I can't reach the Divine Power level. But once Hong Yitang unseals himself fully, he'll definitely be no weaker than Divine Power." Li Hao pondered this for a moment before asking, "What if you were to saturate a few more supernatural locks, Martial Uncle?" Southern Fist's gaze shifted as he looked at Li Hao. Stroking his chin, a broad, radiant grin broke across his face. "Then that's an entirely different story! If that's possible, I'll hit whoever you want hit and tear apart whoever you want dismantled! But will there be enough time?" "Why wouldn't there be?" "Aren't you supposed to—" Before he could finish, Li Hao chuckled. "Supposed to what tomorrow? Everyone assumes I'll follow Director Hou's orders and go pick a fight tomorrow morning... So why should I show up tomorrow? I'm not going. I'll enter secluded cultivation for a few days—is there a law against that?" Southern Fist stared in disbelief. *That works?* *Damn, that actually works!* Li Hao's eyes flashed with calculation. "If those two friends of yours are willing... I can pay their fee in advance. What does a peak Rising Light expert need to step into Transmutation? Energy? Sword energy? The five elements? Something else? I'll foot the bill! Consider it hiring bodyguards!" Southern Fist stared at him for a long time, then bared his teeth in a wicked grin. "You clever bastard!" Everyone assumed that after Hou Xiaochen declared war tonight, Li Hao would show his face the very next day. Yet the kid was going into seclusion instead. This... was completely out of left field. The Department of Finance would be armed to the teeth, waiting for a clash, only for Li Hao to vanish. Who could they even complain to? "Fine... where are we going for this seclusion?" "The Heavenly Star Sea. About three days should do it." Li Hao grinned broadly. "Better to enrich my own martial uncle than some outsider, right? Once we're fully prepared, we'll hit them like a thunderclap and make a killing right off the bat. The Heavenly Star Colosseum must hold plenty of spoils..." At that point, Li Hao paused to consider, then added, "Besides, we don't necessarily have to target the Heavenly Star Colosseum first... Martial Uncle, can you find proof that the Four Seas Corporation is colluding with pirates? As long as we have that... we raid Four Seas first!" Southern Fist sucked in a deep breath, then another. After a long pause, he eyed Li Hao. "You're a ruthless piece of work!" Li Hao laughed. "What kind of talk is that, Martial Uncle? The Four Seas Corporation might not be any poorer than the Colosseum—in fact, they're probably even wealthier. More importantly... they're almost certainly in league with pirates!" Li Hao let out a cold scoff. "If they weren't colluding with pirates, how could the Four Seas Corporation sail the four seas with such complete impunity amid all this maritime chaos?" Any idiot could see that the two sides had an understanding, if they weren't outright partners in crime. In fact, it was quite likely that the Four Seas Corporation engaged in piracy under the table as well—they were two sides of the same coin. Otherwise, normal merchant shipping could never match the profits of piracy. Pure plunder was where the real wealth lay. Southern Fist gazed at Li Hao for a long time without saying a word, while Li Hao continued, "Because the Four Seas Corporation operates across all four seas, their headquarters is right beside the Heavenly Star Sea. The Heavenly Star Sea connects directly to all four seas, though the waters are currently blockaded and closed to traffic. "Their current boss is Wu Yong. I've met him once—a Transmutation expert... But right now, he's likely staying inside Heavenly Star City... Without evidence, moving against someone from the Department of Finance directly would look bad... But as long as we have proof involving supers, I have the authority to act against them immediately! "The Four Seas Corporation has sailed the realm for so many years. Even if the bulk of their wealth is remitted to the Department of Finance, and a portion rests in Wu Yong's personal hands, it doesn't belong solely to him... Raiding the Four Seas Corporation is guaranteed to make us rich!" Southern Fist broke into a grin and nodded. Just then, the tavern owner brought out several side dishes. Once he set them down, he slouched back into his corner to continue dozing. Li Hao and Southern Fist ate and drank together. After a while, Southern Fist spoke up. "I'll get in touch with those two first. If they agree... we go together. If not, it'll just be the two of us." "Sounds good!" Li Hao didn't object. Southern Fist didn't make the call there; he told Li Hao to wait while he slipped outside. Li Hao didn't know whether he was using a communication device or some other special method. Nearly half an hour later, Southern Fist returned, wearing a grin, and gave a nod. "Done! The moment those two heard... they were thrilled! But they have one condition: afterward, they want to join either the Inspectorate or the Night Patrol." "Oh?" "To save their own skins," Southern Fist said plainly. "You're not wiping out the Department of Finance entirely. You're not afraid of them, but those two are, and they'd easily face retaliation later. I'm different—I at least have a post attached to my name. Both of them are independent operators, so they need to be brought into the fold afterward... Not as regular personnel, just in an honorary guest-elder capacity. That shouldn't be an issue, right?" "Not at all. I can do that right now. The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is about to be established, and I'm the deputy governor-general. It's just an official title. Anything below a first-rank inspector, I can appoint at will—even Inspecting Commissioners... It's just a matter of two extra command medallions." "Look at you, holding an official title really gives you swagger!" Southern Fist chuckled and transmitted his voice: "I told them to head for the Heavenly Star Sea first... When we leave, you go first, and I'll follow. Just contact me through your armor." "Alright." Li Hao said nothing more. After a few more words with Southern Fist, he quickly took his leave. *** Without taking a carriage, Li Hao melted into the shadows. He headed straight for the outskirts of Heavenly Star City. Before long, Southern Fist vanished into the night as well. The sky gradually began to lighten. Throughout Heavenly Star City, the top echelons had been unable to sleep that night, all of them waiting—waiting for daybreak to arrive. *** Inside the Night Patrol Headquarters. Hou Xiaochen hadn't slept either. Golden Spear, Mu Lin, Chief Steward Yu, and several others were gathered in his office, waiting. After a long silence, Hou Xiaochen let out a breath and couldn't help laughing. "Li Hao... you really are something!" *Damn it all!* Chief Steward Yu was utterly speechless, nursing a headache. "The director just launched an offensive against the Department of Finance... Did he get lost?" Li Hao had previously said he had some minor business to attend to and would return shortly. Yet where was he? Gone! Was this what he meant by being willing to serve as Hou Xiaochen's vanguard? *Holy shit!* *Don't tell me he ran away?* Mu Lin spoke up cautiously: "Could Li Hao... have fled? Taking his dog and running off in the middle of the night..." It wasn't that they wanted to jump to conclusions, but everything had been set for a clash today, and Li Hao had simply vanished. It was impossible not to let one's mind wander. Golden Spear let out a heavy sigh. "If he really left... I'll take our men to the Heavenly Star Colosseum. Otherwise..." Otherwise, Hou Xiaochen would be left with no way to step down gracefully. Not only would he gain nothing, but he would have offended the Department of Finance to the point of no return. Hou Xiaochen chuckled. "Forget it. If the rascal really fled... unless I personally step in, sending little Yu won't accomplish anything either. Ah, forget it!" A trace of helplessness colored his voice. *Didn't you agree so readily last night? If you weren't going to show up, I wouldn't have rushed to declare war in the first place.* Now, the war was declared, but the man had vanished. Hou Xiaochen could already envision the moment the news of Li Hao's disappearance spread today... He would become the biggest laughingstock in all of Heavenly Star City. It truly left one exasperated! Chief Steward Yu thought for a moment before suggesting, "Could he have assumed a disguise like before and already slipped into the Heavenly Star Colosseum?" "That's not impossible either." Hou Xiaochen nodded with a faint smile. "Let's just assume that's the case! That's enough for now—everyone, go get some rest." He said no more. *** At that exact moment, elsewhere in the Night Patrol Headquarters. Huang Long sneered. "Li Hao disappeared... and hasn't returned?" "No, Minister." "Could he have disguised himself and infiltrated the Heavenly Star Colosseum?" Huang Long considered the possibility, then sneered again. "Does he think this is the Eastern Region? He pulled it off once, and now he thinks he can mask his identity a second time?" One of his subordinates murmured, "Could he have run away?" The speaker was someone Li Hao would have found very familiar. Hu Qingfeng offered carefully, "I know a bit about Li Hao; I've met him before. The sheer scale of the commotion he caused in the east genuinely surprised me. Based on what I know of his temperament, he shouldn't have been this reckless... Perhaps he has already fled. After all, he was challenging an entire department." Huang Long looked surprised. "Fled? Isn't he afraid of Hou Xiaochen...?" "His teacher Yuan Shuo, the Earth-Overturning Sword, the Bright Sword—they're all his backers. He certainly isn't afraid of Hou Xiaochen." Huang Long broke into a broad, brilliant grin. "If he ran, all the better! That makes things truly entertaining! Hou Xiaochen marched in, beating the drums of war with absolute swagger, only for his vanguard general to flee into the night! Aside from becoming a laughingstock and having his authority dragged through the mud, he has thoroughly alienated Director Liu. Even if Director Liu doesn't strike back right this second, he will soon enough. Let's see how Hou Xiaochen digs himself out of this hole!" Hu Qingfeng offered a dry laugh, not daring to reply. *** As the morning light spread across the sky, Li Hao still failed to appear. Everyone was stunned. At the Heavenly Star Colosseum, the sultry woman Liu Sha and the dark-skinned Wu Yong had been waiting for hours... but their target never arrived. The Heavenly Star Colosseum remained open for business as usual today. Yet the crowd was markedly different. Countless dignitaries and nobles had gathered, not to watch the Solar Flare matches in the ring, but to see Li Hao of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office come to tear the place apart. And yet... nothing happened. All remained calm and peaceful. From the spectator stands and the private suites above, wave after wave of disappointed sighs echoed out. "He ran!" "Who would've thought?!" "Who indeed? Hou Xiaochen declared war himself! The Demon Sword just arrived in the capital, so we all expected him to make a huge splash and secure his footing. And what happens? The man vanished!" "Could he have been assassinated?" "Then you underestimate Hou Xiaochen, and you certainly underestimate how fast news travels in Heavenly Star City. If he had been assassinated, word would have spread hours ago. It's obvious—he fled in the night!" "The Demon Sword... is that all he is?" "Hilarious!" "Hou Xiaochen probably won't dare step out of his house today. If he shows his face, people will laugh him out of the streets... We all thought the Demon Sword would display his might today, but we didn't even catch a glimpse of his shadow!" "What a bore!" "..." Patrons everywhere were chattering away—some sneering, some chuckling, while others expressed understanding. After all, crossing one of the Nine Departments was no small matter. Fleeing... was simply the smart choice. *** At the Department of Finance. Director Liu looked up at the sky, his brow tightly furrowed in deep thought. *Was I played?* *Did Li Hao genuinely get frightened into running away?* Yet during their brief meeting the previous night, that youth hadn't struck him as a coward. He felt a throbbing headache coming on. Every preparation had been made. Today's Colosseum was supposed to be a slaughterhouse, Li Hao's very grave... and the bastard hadn't even shown up! What grave was there to dig now?! His communication device chimed. He accepted the call and listened to the report. After a moment, he said slowly, "Stay cautious and keep your guard up. When he was in Dingbian, he boldly disguised himself as a monster to walk right through the front gates of the Xu Residence. Be on guard against him infiltrating the Colosseum and striking when you let your guard down..." Still, if that happened, it would lack the swagger and domineering presence Hou Xiaochen had boasted of. In his view, if Hou Xiaochen wanted to establish his authority against the Heavenly Star Colosseum, this was not how it should look. Thoughts swirled in his mind. Frowning, he retrieved a jade pendant and inscribed a message, inquiring into Li Hao's whereabouts. Yet... there was no news whatsoever. After leaving Nine Dragons Pavilion the previous night, Li Hao had simply vanished into thin air. Where on earth had he gone? As for Southern Fist, he had kept an exceptionally low profile during his years in Heavenly Star City. Very few people knew about the handful of times he had struck, and those in the know kept their mouths firmly shut. Moreover, on the surface, Southern Fist had no ties to Li Hao. More importantly, Southern Fist was relatively weak, and he resided inside the imperial palace. Looking into Southern Fist would mean probing deep into the imperial residence, which could easily trigger major complications. Nobody was keen on marching into the palace just to ask if Southern Fist was at home. Li Hao had only just arrived in the capital and knew no one. For him to abruptly vanish naturally led everyone to suspect he had lost his nerve and run. *** At the Inspectorate. The director stroked his chin with an odd expression. After a long silence, he asked, "Does the Inspectorate have any trace of Li Hao?" A subordinate below answered, "None, Director... However, late last night, an expert took to the air near the north gate and flew out of the city... It might have been Li Hao, though he didn't encounter the garrison." "..." The Director of the Inspectorate was equally speechless. "What a farce! Look how overbearing Hou Xiaochen was last night, and now this... Well, whatever. The one losing face is Hou Xiaochen, not me." Li Hao had fled in the night, catching everyone off guard. The subordinates below wore wry smiles, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Thunderous noise, but not a single drop of rain. No, there wasn't even a sprinkle. *** On that day, Li Hao and Hou Xiaochen once again became the talk of Heavenly Star City's high society. Only this time, they had become something of a laughingstock. Parties from every quarter continued their search, desperately probing for Li Hao's trail. After all, Li Hao was carrying two divine armaments on his person. Yet not a single soul could track him down. At that very moment, Li Hao was deep beneath the sea, burning through fortune like water to saturate Southern Fist's supernatural locks. As for the gossip and ridicule of outsiders... Li Hao had never given a damn about such things. One's life belonged to oneself. Old Hou liked taking risks, but Li Hao refused to gamble his life by pinning all his hopes on someone else.