Star Gate

Chapter 711: Return (II)

“I don’t want to be like this either, Brother Wang,” Lu Chuan said in a loud voice. “But the three northern provinces are too cold and there’s truly no hope of survival there if they stay. In the central region... even if they’re nabbed for a ghastly life in the mines, they still stand a chance for survival.”

Li Hao blinked at his response. He knew this perspective well. Plainly, Lu Chuan was no ignorant bumpkin. He knew that there wasn’t necessarily a good end in store after he ferried people to the central region, but he knew even more that they were doomed without a hope if they stayed in the three northern provinces.

The inspector in the distance fell silent before quickly shouting, “Fool! I told you before that you should take these people to the north, to Silver Moon even further north! You might be able to survive there...”

“I want to, Brother Wang, but I’m just one Starlight and I’m several provinces away. Near River has even sealed off the roads to Silver Moon, so there’s no way of passing. They kill anyone who tries to press the issue. At least there’s Brother Wang here giving a hand, helping me stow away the people. Near River... is even more vicious than the rebels in the three northern provinces! There’s nothing I can do about it either...”

Their conversation traveled into Li Hao’s ears. This inspector didn’t seem like a bad person, he just wanted Lu Chuan to take the people to Silver Moon in the north. Yet, Silver Moon was separated from the three northern provinces by quite a few other provinces, and Lu Chuan had to cross Near River to be in Silver Moon proper.

Near River had sealed off the roads leading to Silver Moon and didn’t permit anyone in or out. When it came to a water path, there were plenty of pirates in the North Sea. Even though the North Sea King was dead, pirates yet abounded in the waters. The Starlight Pirates were also still present, as were the other seven pirate factions. How could a small fishing vessel enter the Moon Sea?

Li Hao had wanted to directly cross the North Sea and head to Silver Moon, but a thought occurred to him and he vanished on the spot.

The inspector had been conversing with Lu Chuan when his expression froze—a young man had suddenly appeared in front of him. Lu Chuan also stiffened and turned around for a look. He breathed out more readily when he saw that it was the fellow admiring the view from earlier.

“Greetings, sir!” He raised a cupped fist salute.

“Do you know me?”

“No!” Lu Chuan kept his head down. “But your speed is so fast that you must be a powerhouse. We will leave immediately and not disrupt milord from enjoying the view.”

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Dressed in threadbare clothing, the dozen civilians nearby looked over with fear. While Li Hao wasn’t dressed opulently, he wasn’t wearing clothing that ordinary people could afford either.

The inspector off to the side looked at Li Hao a few more times, finding the young man a bit familiar, but unable to recognize him. He just felt that the newcomer was very strong and carried himself with an uncommon demeanor.

Li Hao took a quick glance, seeing that the inspector was not a supernatural. He was a martial master, a Slayer of Tens. Li Hao could still detect the exact cultivation strength of weaklings.

“Have the three northern provinces fully fallen into disarray?”

Lu Chuan nodded. “Complete disarray! They’ve been rocked with unrest ever since the death of General Kou. Things were fine enough before, but after the north was caught in a cruel grip of winter, there is barely any harvest this year! Large sums of civilians have been forced into joining the rebel army or become bandits... The three northern provinces are completely rotten and decayed!

“It’s also just turned into winter,” Lu Chuan breathed out. “It will be colder later on. There’s nothing I can do other than send a few people past the sea into the central region. Our only hope is that they have a chance of survival here. Even if it’s the dead of winter, they can still find some food to eat from the waters.

“That is not a possibility this year, however. The North Sea pirates are in pitched battle and fighting over territory. We don’t dare go into the seas to fish.”

“You are a supernatural. Although you are just a Starlight, you shouldn’t get hungry, shouldn’t you?” asked Li Hao.

The young Lu Chuan laughed at Li Hao’s question. “Sir, supernaturals are people too, not to mention that I’m only a Starlight. We’re born from other people—I have family, friends, and neighborhoods... Supernaturals are not gods, I can’t just watch my friends and family starve or freeze to death at home, can I?”

“True that.” Li Hao inclined his head. “Right, I heard you say just now that the road to Silver Moon has been sealed off?”

“Ai!” sighed Lu Chuan. “Silver Moon is not in a good position among the nineteen suffering provinces of the north and it’s even colder in the winter. But at least there’s law and order there. Silver Moon martial masters are famous and they have many powerhouses, not to mention that the province has been stable enough all this time. At least there’s a chance of survival there! But Near River’s sealed off Silver Moon and refuses to let anyone out or in...

“Such has been the case these years.” Lu Chuan shook his head. “Otherwise, we’d go to the north since Silver Moon is there. As such, we can only come to the central region in hopes of survival.”

He looked up at Li Hao and said softly, “You are from Silver Moon... are you not, milord?”

“How did you know?” Li Hao laughed. Citizens of the north all appeared the same.

“You seem to be in a much better mood whenever Silver Moon is mentioned...”

Li Hao couldn’t help but grin. Was that so? To be honest, he hadn’t thought much of Silver Moon before. But upon hearing that all nineteen provinces in the north were engulfed by unrest and only Silver Moon retained order... that people thought there was a chance for survival if they trekked through the bitter cold to reach the province...

That was a tremendous seal of approval!

Li Hao couldn’t help but be happy at hearing outsiders speak of his home in such a way when he was in a foreign land. He looked at the civilians nearby and at the inspector who hadn’t spoken all this time. “The central region is a place that eats people,” he said slowly. “You might not have a good ending if you come here...”

“I know, but it’s all the same in this day and age!” Lu Chuan laughed ruefully. “It’s truly all the same! At least the central region is more prosperous and begging is less of a freezing affair.”

The inspector raised an eyebrow. “The central region is indeed decent. Some matters have developed in Skystar City recently and a large group of nobles and powerhouses have died. That scared a lot of people, and the central region Night Watchers are coming alive. The three great organizations have stopped a lot of what they were doing, so things are better than before. However... the influx of refugees is probably hard to handle.” He looked at Li Hao. “Is milord here from the central belt?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m just curious.” Inspector Wang lowered his head. “Will there be greater changes in Skystar City?”

“That’s hard to say.” Li Hao shook his head, that was indeed difficult to say.

The inspector sighed and didn’t continue the conversation. Each instance of unrest affected the civilians the most, not the nobles. Supernaturals weren’t impacted either as they did not lack sustenance.

Lu Chuan remained looking at Li Hao without a word, then turned his eyes to the civilians waiting around him. “Then... I will not disturb milord from viewing the sea. I... will send them on their way and return after we pass the coastline...”

He didn’t feel a need to converse too much with Li Hao, but of course kept his tone polite as he couldn’t afford to offend these people. He had other matters to attend to. After sending these people off, he needed to return to his duties as a ferryman.

“Are there many supernaturals like you?” Li Hao couldn't help but ask.

“What?” Lu Chuan hesitated, then realized something. “A few. There’s more than me in this area, there’s also a few friends doing the same. We \ come from humble backgrounds and no one’s particularly strong, so we can’t offer more help. Guiding ships is about all we can do.”

“Have you ever considered the future?”

“The future?” Lu Chuan smiled without a word. What future? What future was there to speak of? He was taking it one day at a time! “Then... I’ll be off, milord?”

“Go on!” Li Hao nodded. Lu Chuan raised his weak energy shield again to escort the dozen up the coastline. Li Hao didn’t offer help as it was useless to help only one person. His thoughts were preoccupied with the Near River province. It’d sealed off the road leading north, cutting off Silver Moon from the rest of the world. Although Director General Zhao and the others were in residence, they still permitted Near River to do as it would.

More numbers of refugees grew from the unrest in the three northern provinces. Though they wished to travel north, there was no path for them to reach their destination. Not to mention, Silver Moon was so poor that it couldn’t save too many people. Too many refugees pouring through their borders would be the downfall of the province. They would need food, drink, clothes, and shelter...

They would need everything!

Seeing that Inspector Wang still stood by his side, Li Hao asked after some thought, “What do you think is the most pressing need that everyone is desperate to be fulfilled?”

“Huh?” The inspector didn’t know what this great one was asking or wanted to know, so he didn’t know how to respond.

“I’m asking what you guys want most right now,” Li Hao laughed.

“Full bellies, warm clothes, and no more war. Whether it’s supernaturals or martial masters, it’s best if they come under some restrictions. War shouldn’t be declared at a drop of a hat anymore!” Inspector Wang answered frankly. “It always frightens a ton of citizens into abandoning the outskirts when battle breaks out. They no longer reclaim open land and even refuse to leave the cities. They simply wait for death.

“Neither supernaturals nor martial masters find anything wrong with their actions. They think that not randomly killing people is good enough. But what they don't know is that once they start fighting, the fields are ruined and people refuse to set foot outside. That leads to even greater disaster sooner or later!”

Inspector Wang was more talkative than usual because he knew that the person in front of him must be noble. It might not have an effect, but it would at least let those of the upper echelon hear their cries for help.

“I see!” Li Hao nodded and looked at the North Sea. “So everyone still craves peace...”

No shit! Who doesn’t? The inspector inwardly rolled his eyes. We have no desire to conquer the world. It’s all the same no matter who’s at the top, just leave us a way to survive.