Star Gate

Chapter 700: Changes (III)

The steward’s expression shifted and a vicious look flashed through his eyes, but it promptly disappeared when something else occurred to him.

“I was too hasty just now,” he hastily admitted with fear. “I know my fault and admit to it...”

It was just a matter of a broken leg and paying off the aggrieved parties. If Scrawny didn’t raise a fuss, he’d be in jail for a year and a half at most. They couldn’t 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 noble’s 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 didn’t 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 Changxing’s 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 wouldn’t 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 wouldn’t respect his authority, he could execute them with a legitimate reason.

......

The slums.

A group of children eagerly discussed the events of the day.

“Sis, sis, the Night Watchers are incredible! Marquis Changxing had his head chopped off because he owed street vendors thirty thousand star coins! Everyone’s talking about it right now!”

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 wouldn’t 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 wasn’t 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, “Have you heard the news, lil bro? I want... to visit the northern quadrant of the city tonight!”

“Sis, this talk of the marquis being dead must be fake...” Yu Ming replied softly.

“I know!” Yu Qi rolled her eyes. “I’m not an idiot. But... haven’t you realized that things are different now?”

Yu Ming thought it over, then nodded. “If sis wants to go... then I’ll go with you.”

“It’s fine, I can go alone. You stay at home. No... you head out first and find a place to hide. I’ll go find you when I come back!”

Yu Ming nodded after thinking about it. He didn’t say anything else. Meanwhile, Yu Qi was energized and slightly anxious. She checked the sky—why wasn’t 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.

The Night Watcher headquarters.

Yao Si was confused by the talk on the streets and looked at the exuberant Little Ye. “Did Li Hao really kill Marquis Changxing?”

“No, Commander Li is in closed door cultivation and helping the Silver Moon martial masters heal. He hasn’t come out yet...”

“Then this news is ridiculous!” Yao Si didn’t know what to say. “I’ve received eight communications this morning, all wanting to know more. Who do they think I am? This is just a piece of fake news!”

“Director, whether it’s fake or real news, haven’t you noticed something?” Little Ye bubbled with excitement.

“What?”

“Everyone’s really happy!”

“Who?”

“Everyone! The people outside are happy, the Night Watchers are happy. Have you seen it, director? Headquarters used to be a stifling place, but everyone’s talking about the gossip today!”

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!

“Little Ye, do you really think this is a good development?” Yao Si wearily rubbed his temples.

“Of course!” Little Ye nodded. “Why isn’t it, director? Everyone’s 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. Isn’t that how things should be for a law enforcement agency?

“People know to seek out the Night Watchers if they’ve suffered a wrong. They know that we’ll take action if they come to us! We’ll arrest or kill whoever’s responsible, no matter who they are. Isn’t that how things are supposed to be?”

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 hadn’t 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 Hao’s hand. This time, it was by their hand. So they had the right to do so as well! And they weren’t 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. “We’ll be in trouble if Li Hao runs off...”

“Then we’ll just run to Silver Moon with him!” Little Ye answered matter-of-factly.

“Eh?” Yao Si blinked, as did Little Ye.

“I... I didn’t say anything!” she stammered as the color drained from her face.

“So this is what everyone thinks now?” Yao Si raised an eyebrow. “You’ll follow him if he runs away to Silver Moon? He’s only been here a few days, but you’re all ready to abandon your homes to go with him?”

He hadn’t thought that this would be their mindset! It was so surprising!

Little Ye was afraid, but also determined to speak her mind. “What would be the big deal in that, director? It’s work no matter where we go, it’s 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.

“Apparently, their cultivation resources come from killing the three great organizations or pirates. While their days are a bit harder, they live more freely! It’s a more dignified death if they die in battle because they can say they perished while fighting the enemy...”

“The Night Watchers have been battling the three great organizations for the past twenty years!” Yao Si retorted irritably. “Don’t we do the same?”

“It’s not the same...” Little Ye responded cautiously. “Our days were... full of suffering before! Dao Sword was the only one who dared randomly kill people. We didn’t dare, no one did. Important people couldn’t be targeted in case that created a bigger conflict.”

“How much better do you think Silver Moon is?” 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?

“We might have our reservations if it was Director Hou in charge,” Little Ye mumbled. “But isn’t it Commander Li in charge now?”

Oho! Yao Si suddenly understood. So it’s 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 don’t 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. Aren’t 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 Watchers’ 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 nearby—what kind of scene might be found there today?

It might be a hotbed of activity, but that didn’t matter. Since the Night Watchers had lost a few deputy directors, he’d put Li Hao’s 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 wouldn’t know what to say! Hahahaha!!

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