Chapter 74: Counterkill! (II)
Granted, this was also the truth. A few years ago, government higher-ups proposed abandoning the smaller cities and consolidating the larger ones. Silver City was on the list of those to relinquish as the Night Watchers didn’t have the people or energy to guard it against supernaturals.
And yet, Liu Long said he alone was enough! He could withstand the invasion of supernaturals with the might of a martial master and prevent Silver City from being replanted elsewhere!
A migration was so much more easily said than done. Countless people would have to abandon their properties and businesses if an entire city moved. They would arrive in a sprawling city sans savings, career, familiar faces, and be dependent on others. The young could adapt, but what about the elderly and children?
The world grew ever more chaotic and half of this city of a million would fall into bleak misery.
So long as Liu Long was in residence, he eliminated all invading Darkmoons. Sunflare and above didn’t think much of Silver City, so the supernatural domain refrained from encroaching on the metropolis. But what if he was dead?
There were so many supernaturals who wished to ascend to the heavens with one step. They craved money, power, material wealth, and beauties. Not daring to try their luck in one of the large cities, they turned their sights to the smaller ones for entertainment.
Countless pairs of eyes were fixed on Silver City!
Secure in Liu Yan’s arms, the look in Li Hao’s eyes shifted slightly. Is that so? If those upstairs wanted to abandon the smaller cities, that meant even the government was finding it hard to maintain control over the state of affairs. They were being forced into giving up certain territories and forge larger cities that would hold more people and be easier to defend.
Was the government being coerced into a defensive position? Were they on the back foot when it came to the supernatural field?
But they commanded a massive army and overpowering hot weapons! It was rumored that the government even hoarded super weapons that could destroy cities. Were they still compelled to react passively under such circumstances?
It was an incredible notion to Li Hao!
The government exercised immense might and authority in his eyes; he’d always felt that the Night Watchers weren’t willing to exert more effort on Silver City’s behalf because they couldn’t be bothered with such a tiny place.
But now, things took on a different cast!
Abandon Silver City??
No wonder the province had wanted to change its name to Moon Flare a few years ago. The continued absence of such a modification might have something to do with Liu Long. As a Sunderer, he would be greeted with respect in White Moon City, but he insisted on staying in Silver City.
Liu Long’s usual slogan rang in the ear. To safeguard justice! Eliminate evil and defend dao!
Li Hao had always felt that hypocrisy and delusion disguised as self-comfort laced these words, but after learning of some things from the enemy, perhaps the captain cared more sincerely about this slogan than one might realize.
“Darkness never triumphs over justice!” roared the young man.
The Sunderer behind them drew ever closer. “You’re wrong!” he denounced coldly. “The victor is justice! The defeated is the darkness!
“Martial masters are in decline, supernaturals are on the rise! Countless supernaturals stir with ambition, unwilling to be left out in the cold and having to skulk through the shadows. When humans exceed their limits and can withstand or even pulverize hot weapons, their next thought is to replace the government that wields these tools!
“Martial masters steadily put one foot in front of the other, so their desires are less intense and they can exercise self control. But supernaturals?”
The Sunderer snorted with derision. Supernaturals?
They soared to the heavens with one step and left virtue behind in the dust. When an eighteen year old suddenly became a Darkmoon or Sunflare and easily killed a thousand people by themselves, how were they willing to limit themselves to the slow progress of one step at a time?
No, they would overthrow the world order and build a nation that belonged to only them!
Such was the state of the modern world and the current supernatural field.
The Ghostface martial master quite held these upstarts in contempt, but reality was cruel. As much as he disdained them, he had to work for them!
So what if he hated the circumstances? He had to find a way to join them, no matter his level of distaste. How could he become them when even Yuan Shuo failed the crossover? Inadequate support was forthcoming from the government, leaving people like him worse off. The only option left available was to throw themselves under the banner of supernatural organizations in the wild.
The martial master said nothing more as the chase continued. He’d almost caught up to his quarry! His earlier words served to sow seeds of doubt and make Li Hao hesitate. Perhaps the young man would deliver himself to his pursuers’ hands?
That wasn’t outside the realm of possibility!
Based on what the martial master knew, Li Hao highly valued the ties of friendship. He voluntarily withdrew from the renowned Veteris Institute in order to seek revenge for his classmate. Would such a person be willing to let the Demon Hunters sacrifice themselves for him once he knew what the team represented?
“Li Hao!” The martial master closed the distance with a mighty bound. “Are you going to send an entire city to the grave for the sake of you alone? Silver City has value so long as Liu Long is alive and Yuan Shuo remains. Who will withstand the supernatural once they are gone?
“You will be the sinner of the entire city!”
Li Hao grimaced and clenched his teeth. Eyes bloodshot, he glared at the martial master. His hand tightened on the third gen vortex gun since the two parties were very close, but his fingers trembled and he didn’t fire.
“Submitting to darkness will only result in greater disaster! If you dare kill me today, then tomorrow…”
“Idiot, who finds joy in killing mundanes? We kill you because there is value in killing you! Li Hao, don’t join Liu Yan and the others in their madness. You might not die, but if this standoff continues, none of you will get away when the supernaturals arrive!
“Being a martial master, I highly respect the Demon Hunters. I can let them go if they put you down! This is a promise from a Sunderer, Li Hao! You are the key and you will decide their life or death!”
Li Hao hesitated. He ground his teeth and grunted, “Let me down!”
“Shut up!” Liu Yan snarled.
The young man struggled!
“Don’t listen to his bullshit!” Chen Jian’s face contorted as he called out. “Don’t move, Li Hao! Don’t mess up the vice captain’s tempo!”
Damn it! Li Hao was steady enough in normal times, why was he suddenly acting up today?! He’d be the death of them! To hell with it, students couldn’t be trusted alright! They couldn’t be relied upon when push came to shove!
Liu Yan’s breathing hitched as Li Hao continued to struggle. The martial master behind them leered. As I thought! Someone as loyal as Li Hao wouldn’t remain unmoved after he said so much. How he liked students like these! A sly old fox like Yuan Shuo would’ve spat at him a long time ago, much less listen to everything he said.
Up ahead, Liu Yan began to slow due to the young man’s intensifying struggles.
“Li Hao!!” the woman growled. He ignored her and continued to flail around.
“Put me down and run for it! I can die, but you guys need to live! Silver City needs you! A wave of darkness rears and the world needs the team to light a spark of hope for Silver City! The people will see a future with you!
“Even if the city really is abandoned and moved elsewhere, the people will have an anchor to rely on if you guys still live! I can’t doom everyone for my own selfishness and extinguish the light for Silver City!” Li Hao declared righteously and began struggling again!
“You little bastard!” Liu Yan missed some steps due to his movements and couldn’t maintain her breathing. She was forced to put the young man down.
The martial master smirked at the sight. It’s in the bag! They were less than ten meters apart. What a good little boy Li Hao is!
Here was a child with justice in his heart. The Ghostface would’ve been delighted to see such a lad twenty years ago and consider taking him for a disciple. A youngster would bring glory to his master in the latter’s old age and never consider betrayal. Martial masters dearly needed followers like these to provide for the aged and take care of final affairs!
But unfortunately, the supernatural had risen!
“You said that you’d spare Sis Liu and the others!” Li Hao flung away Liu Yan’s hand, unwilling to be dragged along in her wake. He was nearly face-to-face with the enemy and implored, “You’re a martial master too. Every wrong has a source—kill me if you want to, don’t change your tune!”
“Li Hao!” An incensed Chen Jian was forced to grab the young man and push him forward. Damn it, what the hell are you doing?! Are you really placing your trust in an enemy’s promise?!
“Of course, I’m not crazy. Why should I kill them and make enemies of Liu Long and the Night Watchers? Killing you is my mission and I gain nothing from killing them. Even if the Night Watchers are preoccupied right now, they can still come for me after uncovering my true identity. I have no desire or ability to offend them!” Ghostface answered smugly. This was more like it! And he did speak the truth.
What was the point of killing the Demon Hunters if there was no need to? He’d just be creating trouble for himself.
Li Hao bit Chen Jian’s arm, making the man subconsciously release his grip. With a quick fling of his hand, the young man’s other arm broke free of Liu Yan. Having flung both of them off, he nearly collided with Chen Jian. Li Hao hastily dodged the portly man and ran toward the enemy.
“Li Hao!” Liu Yan immediately stopped; Chen Jian halted as well. The young man was running straight to the other side. Despite the rain, they could tell that his expression was relaxed.
“I’ll stay, you guys go!” he announced with the determination of willingly going to his death.
The two sides were too close! Ghostface stood in front of Li Hao as soon as he finished speaking!
Even the enemy was dazed in this moment. His target really had delivered himself on a silver platter! Concerned about trampling Li Hao to death since the young man was just a mundane, Ghostface hurriedly slowed down. His feet dragged across the ground as he came to a stop.
A smile blossomed on his face when his hand touched Li Hao’s shoulders. As his eyes were exposed, Li Hao could read glee and jubilation in the other’s eyes.
The mission was complete!