Star Gate

Chapter 150: Battle (III)

“You’re here for the ruins, aren’t you?” Qiao Feilong’s voice was haunting. “That is not something you or I can claim alone. don’t force me into making it common knowledge. Perhaps you and I can partner to explore them together! You have the strength and experience, whereas I have decades of research. Working together is the way.”

Yuan Shuo remained silent.

A silhouette slightly darker than the rest disengaged from the wall and slowly approached them. A shadow in the night, it was soundless, without smell, and lacking even mysterious power. It was more eerie than the scarlet shadow.

The shadow gained a target when Qiao Feilong pointed out that the threat came from Yuan Shuo’s right brass knuckle. It didn’t seek to kill the professor, that was too hard!

Dominators possessed aura and consciousness, of that everyone was well aware of. It was very easy for scarlet shadows or similar entities to move against Sunderers. But when it came to Dominators, it was very hard to invade their bodies. At the same time, it was incredibly difficult for the martial masters to discover these entities, especially in moments like this.

Powerhouses could not afford to lose their concentration in battle.

Qiao Feilong would have a chance to counterattack if they removed the brass knuckle. Once they interrupted Yuan Shuo’s momentum, the man was sure to die.

......

At the same time, below ground.

Li Hao drove the car straight into the building and looked up when he abandoned the tattered silver car. He saw a massive ball of light!

It went without saying that that was Qiao Feilong.

However, the young man quickly frowned. The ball of light illuminated a black shadow—what was that? He hadn’t seen anything near Qiao Feilong when he visited last time, so what was that shadow?

He wasn’t seeing a wall or other matter, it was an energy source. Just like Qiao Feilong’s fire energy and Yuan Shuo’s internal force could not be seen through, the visibility of the shadow meant that it was a special type of energy that he’d never seen before.

The black shadow dawdled around the ball of light. Li Hao was no fool, he guessed it was Qiao Feilong’s trump card that he meant to ambush his teacher with. Should he yell? But who knew if his teacher could hear in the thick of battle. Even if he did, that might goad the black shadow into pouncing on his teacher.

“The black shadow looks like a Sunflare, not a Solar...”

What should he do? Should he yell?

Various possibilities floated up in his mind.

“The Night Watchers are here on a case! Stop resisting and turn yourself in, Qiao Feilong!” Li Hao roared. He didn’t know if the two could hear him, so he utilized Tiger Roar Through Mountain and Woods, bawling like a cub. A string of strange words emitted from his mouth next. “The three spirits safeguard the flag, the southern mountain in my heart...”

The secret language!

Yuan Shuo shared a secret language with his students, employing it to discuss certain ancient texts and to pass on secret arts such as the Breathing Method of the Five Styles. He’d utilized it when teaching the method to Li Hao through the communicator.

Up in the air, Yuan Shuo kicked another floorboard to pieces. He plummeted downward with his opponent, but still managed to catch the juvenile roar of Li Hao’s voice.

“Be careful teacher, there’s a black shadow behind you...”

A black shadow?

The hairs rose on the back of Yuan Shuo’s neck. He didn’t sense anything and his perception was exceedingly keen as a Dominator. He also possessed the usage of a consciousness, so he could sense it if a scarlet shadow drew near him.

But now, he had no idea that anything was around him. Where was the black shadow? Behind him?

A strong mental fortitude led him to put the thought out of his mind. “Get away!” he roared without turning around. It was a reminder to Li Hao for him to leave as fast as possible, and an attempt to distract Qiao Feilong.

The appearance of the black shadow ruined some of their plans because he couldn’t locate it! The unknown represented danger. As for why Li Hao could sense it, Yuan Shuo didn’t know. It might have something to do with his eyes. Those eyes were already unusual in that they could see the scarlet shadow.

Yuan Shuo had secretly asked around as his student said the Night Watchers may have taken some people like him. He hadn’t received word back yet.

Down below, Li Hao looked in a certain direction instead of responding. Some people were running down the stairs and fleeing for their lives. The battle had erupted so suddenly that there were still people inside the building. Joy erupted in his heart when he saw Qiao Peng. The man really was there!

“Cease your resistance, Qiao Feilong, or I’ll kill your son!” Li Hao shouted and jumped upward, rushing toward the panicked Qiao Peng.

Qiao Feilong didn’t even blink, but the black shadow approaching Yuan Shuo hesitated. Qiao Peng was Qiao Feilong’s only blood descendant, his only heir! Although the back shadow was close to Yuan Shuo, the situation on the ground was critical.

Yuan Shuo had come so suddenly that Qiao Peng’s bodyguard was still at the Inspectorate. The Qiaos weren’t ready to erupt in open hostilities just yet, so they would naturally send their people to the ceremony. And it was because he lacked a protector tonight that Qiao Feilong summoned his son to the building. He didn’t want anything to happen when his driver wasn’t around.

Who would’ve thought that Yuan Shuo would pick tonight to visit?

The disadvantages of Qiao Peng not yet crossing over to the supernatural world were evident in this moment. He was no match for Li Hao; his piddling skills were sufficient only for mundanes.

The black shadow hesitated. Should it strike against Yuan Shuo first or go down to save Qiao Peng?

The black shadow wouldn’t necessarily be able to invade Yuan Shuo’s body, but it was confident of seizing his brass knuckle. But once it did, the professor would discover it. If he wasn’t swiftly defeated, he might preoccupy the shadow.

All of these considerations were considered in half a heartbeat. Li Hao didn’t care about any of it. He who struck first was stronger!

“Go on, kill him!” Qiao Peng roared from the stairs. Some people ran by his side—not ordinary employees. Those still at the office in the middle of the night weren’t regular workers. Other than the security detail at reception who’d long run off, the ones remaining now were his usual bodyguards.

The supernaturals had gone off to the ceremony, these were the ordinary bodyguards. They were equipped with guns as the Qiaos had their own security company. All of them, Qiao Peng included, drew their guns to take aim at Li Hao. They wanted to shoot the young man dead in a firing blitz.

As for what would happen to the ruins if Li Hao died... that wasn’t on Qiao Peng’s mind at the moment.

The battle overhead continued. On the ground, Li Hao responded by landing explosively and stomping his foot, shooting out sharp shards of rock. They pierced through the heads of some gun-wielding bodyguards before they could react.

The young man was not the sort to show mercy when he acted. He was very concerned about his teacher’s circumstances. Perhaps it would instill some caution in Qiao Feilong if he captured Qiao Peng.

Bang bang bang! fired the surviving bodyguards and Qiao Peng when Li Hao stomped his foot.

Qiao Peng ran for cover as he shot wildly. Guns may not be able to kill the young man—the guy was a Slayer, after all, though it was said that his strength was mediocre...

The thought had just entered his mind when light flashed in front of his eyes. Li Hao slashed across several bodyguards’ throats with fingers like a keen blade. He instantly appeared in front of Qiao Peng, grabbed his throat, and swung his other arm down.

Crack!!

Qiao Peng’s hand holding the gun flopped down listlessly—it was broken. A massive boom sounded at the same time as the floor above them caved in. Two figures appeared in front of the two. Qiao Feilong and Yuan Shuo had fought their way to ground level! They’d blasted through an entire building with the fastest speed possible; such was the strength of a Solar.

Li Hao swiftly followed up with a kick that broke Qiao Peng’s leg, forcing the latter to kneel on the ground. He grabbed a handful of Qiao Peng’s hair and kept his other hand around the man’s throat. Qiao Peng flushed beet red as he struggled for breath.

“Heh...” Qiao Feilong panted, turning to Yuan Shuo. “Your disciple seems a bit dumb... Will I allow myself to be taken without a fight now?”

Was this an effective threat?

Not at all! Allowing capture now was to go to his death. How dare Li Hao use his son against him!

Li Hao naturally knew that it was ineffective to threaten Qiao Peng, but when he saw through the radiance of fire and light that the black shadow approached him instead, the gesture didn’t seem as impotent as he thought.

The shadow changed targets to him because it wanted to save Qiao Peng! It relinquished the chance to attack his teacher because it wished to conduct a rescue. It was clear to see that this ordinary person held some importance for the shadow.

Li Hao wasn’t as afraid of the black shadow—he’d terminated even the humongous scarlet shadow, to say nothing of this one. However, he wasn’t certain if the two shadows were similar.

The young man was still cautious as Qiao Feilong wasn’t too far from him. He was afraid of a powerhouse like the esteemed businessman, but not of unknown entities like the black shadow. He had all those meals of scarlet shadows to thank.

Yuan Shuo continued to fight, not considering the fact that his student was nearby and had taken Qiao Peng alive. His usual ferocity was on display; no caution marked his movements. He bore down in domineering fashion and utilized the Five Styles to their utmost, suppressing Qiao Feilong with repeated punches. He was so overbearing that the other’s fire energy couldn’t even spread out too far. Some ripples undulated from their fight, but there was nothing he could do about those for the moment.

Perhaps out of concern for his son on one side and his student on the other, both parties moved away with unspoken accord. They broke countless floor tiles and battled their way to the street. At the same time, Li Hao saw the black shadow pounce on him. Other people may not be able to see it, but he could.