Hao Ren returned to the Crescent Moon Empire, and as he walked through the palace premises he whistled out a song from Blue Star. The people noticed this and they all were left to wonder how the strongest entity could behave in such a manner.
The people recalled the celebration he held before the palace, and they were all able to relate to it. As the young man entered his cultivation room, he was called by Han Lingshi and he smiled as he asked, "Hello, Love. Did you finish exploring the secret realm?"
Han Lingshi replied, "Yes, I did, but why are you so happy?"
The young man smiled and replied, "My wife is calling me from such a long distance, how can I not feel happy?"
Han Lingshi scolded him, "Glib tongue. I want to ask, are you playing hands off Emperor again?'
Hao Ren sucked in a deep breath and asked, "I am the strongest person in this empire, how come I should be running around with all the errands?"
Han Lingshi sighed and said, "My dear, you just need to give the people a piece of yourself so that they can feel your warmth. That is how you retain the loyalty, otherwise, the governors will become the kings."
The young man sighed and said, "Fine, I will go and handle the business myself. Happy? Don't tell me to act with restraint then. If someone does something wrong, I will show them how I deal with it."
He thought Han Lingshi might budge but the lady went on, "Good, that is what you should do. I have been too soft in my approach I feel."
Hao Ren opened his eyes wide thinking how serious his wife was, unaware that Han Lingshi and the gang were laughing their lungs off in the far place.
The young man took a deep breath and said, "Hao Mei put you up to this, right? Ugh, fine you all just wait."
Han Lingshi tried to coax him but he didn't listen and acted like a spoiled child. In the end, Han Lingshi promised to make it up to him and the young man disconnected the communication with a snort, and a whisper like, I love you.
The communication finished and the system said, *For teaching a lesson to the people who offended the dignity of your wife, you are rewarded with a consolidated Sage Halo.*
Hao Ren shivered and the comprehension of the refining profession began to seep out of his mind in the form of condensed Dao Runes and then were engraved on a second halo that appeared behind his back.
The sword halo was located on the inside, and around it was a new halo. The glow from the halos was so strong that even Hao Ren himself had the urge to close his eyes but he noticed that his knowledge could not even mark the ten percent of the halo. He almost spat out some blood at this, and sighed as he mumbled, "Looks like I need to come up with some solutions." Fresh chapters posted on NoveI★Fire.net
That said, he walked out of the room. Given his realm of cultivation he didn't mind taking a few days off to handle the task of watching the home left behind by his wife. He came to the administration office and the people began to bow to him deeply.
Hao Ren waved his hands as he made his way to the Prime Minister's office. Coincidently, he found Maya Okudera talking to a few people in the lobby. Her expression looked rather serious.
Maya Okudera was shocked, and she exclaimed, "Your Excellency, how come you are here? You could have summoned all of us."
Hao Ren waved his hand and said, "Prime Minister, my wife told me that if I didn't take part in the things at home then she would have me kneel on the washing board. I was so scared that I dared not waste time to summon you away from any important task."
Some people wanted to laugh, they could never believe that given the love their Empress had for the Emperor she would have him kneel. However, Maya Okudera was sighing and after a few moments of silence she said, "Your Excellency, if you could, please, follow me?"
The young man nodded and then followed Maya Okudera. When they came inside the office, Maya Okudera sighed and said, "Your Excellency, there has been a situation."
Hao Ren raised his brow and said, "It seems to me that you have contact with Lingshi, no wonder she allowed me a free hand."
Maya Okudera smiled faintly and said, "In the Samsara County, the governess has reported that a Dao Being Realm Genius is getting drunk on strength and he has been rallying many people beside him. We have sent the second command of Ye General, Lord Jian's protege, to investigate, but Ye Long has fallen in battle."
Hao Ren narrowed his gaze and asked, "What do you mean? A Sword Grandmaster fell just like that?"
Maya Okudera sighed and said, "We have intel to confirm that there is a realm suppression array being used by the rebel forces."
Hao Ren thought about it and said, "This makes sense, Xiao Mei confirmed it?"
Maya Okudera nodded and said, "She did. General Ye Jian wanted to go out and handle this, but the enemy has taken an entire city as hostage. They have contaminated the water sources with bone dissolving poison. If we try to barge in, they would kill innocent civilians."
Hao Ren rubbed his temple, and asked, "Which city is it?"
Maya Okudera replied, "Star Horizon City."
Hao Ren nodded, and then he turned to look at one of the maps hanging on the wall, and then raised his left hand to use the digital communicator and found out a few things about the city before he said, "I will handle it."
Maya Okudera nodded and Hao Ren said, "Make sure that you have a good propaganda advisor who could calm the citizens. I don't wish to have to sweet talk them after what I am about to do."
Maya Okudera nodded, and Hao Ren turned around to walk out of her office, and then headed to the intelligence office, where Ye Lan had left her protege as incharge. Seeing Hao Ren arrive the workers all stood up in respect.
The crescent moon restaurant had a branch in almost every city of the Empire, and they were one of the biggest and the best intelligence gathering units. They had secretly hired many other businesses but didn't change their names. So even if the enemy dodged them, they wouldn't be able to dodge all of them.
The young man took a deep breath and asked, "Ummm, the person in charge, step up."
A young lady stepped forward, and Hao Ren said, "Did you know of any movement from the neighboring nations in Samsara County, Star Horizon City."
The young lady gulped and nodded, Hao Ren sighed and said, "What was the identity of the involved party? Ye Xian."
Ye Xian took a deep breath and said, "Herald Merchant Group, originating from the Shiya Kingdom on the east."
Hao Ren sighed and said, "Next time, have the merchants tailed up to know who they are talking to to prevent such a mess happening from. As the times change, intelligence would become the face of war. The leaders are too busy chasing strength so they send out their tools to create chaos and reap benefits from it.
However, the person behind all this just wanted to tell us that they can cause such situations everywhere in the region. The merchants will curse me but well, they called this upon themselves. Ye Xian, send out the message to all the assets all over the Spirit Shimmer Continent. Eliminate all the members of the Herald Merchant Group, spare none, and they can be loud, but have to be precise. Got it? They have a week, and the attacks shall be concluded all at the same time, the midnight hour of the seventh night."
Ye Xian was shocked, this was a kill order and the intensity was so high that it would shock the entire spirit shimmer kingdom. She bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Big Brother Ren, I will issue the kill order."
Hao Ren frowned, and then he waved for the girl to raise her head. When she did, Hao Ren flicked his finger on her forehead and said, "Kiddo, your master calls me big brother, for your generation, I am Uncle. Don't mess up the family tree. Silly Lass. To get the work done, I have to work my old bones."
Then he turned around and walked out of the intelligence department. He stood outside the administrative building and said loudly, "Ye Jian, get here you old coot."
In an instant, Ye Jian appeared before Hao Ren, dressed in all black as always, kneeling on the ground. Hao Ren could sense his gloom and said, "Old friend, lets go, we have to bring our boy back home."
Ye Jian looked up with bloody eyes, his disciple was dead, and he was drowned in rage and grief. Hao Ren's word gave him the chance that he wanted.