Chapter 381: Sword Intent and Secrets (II)
At that time, the higher-ups of the Warrior Temple gradually came back to their senses. Everyone’s expression changed from hearing the words Qiu Yonghao said to Long Haochen, but what could they say after this sight? They had all just witnessed what Long Haochen intended to show them. If this youth really becomes the head of the Warrior Temple, then, ten or twenty years in the future, he will undoubtedly add another illustrious page to the history of the Warrior Temple.
The auxiliary chief that stood strong all this time strode forward until he was next to Qiu Yonghao, and right when the latter was believing he would oppose him, this elder declared without hesitation, “I support the decision of Brother Qiu. Child, as long as you are willing, you will be the most important person in the Warrior Temple from now on.”
If Qiu Yonghao’s words could be said to have brought Long Haochen to gain half of the throne of the Warrior Temple, then the words of this veteran auxiliary head could be said to have secured him this position. As long as Long Haochen assented, he would really become the head of Warrior Temple.
“Seniors, I am really sorry, but I cannot accept. I am a part of the Knight Temple. And furthermore, I am now a Demon Hunter and the captain of my Demon Hunt Squad. As such, I am responsible for all my comrades. Moreover, I haven’t failed!”
While this head and auxiliary head were speaking, Long Haochen’s finally regained some of his physical strength. At least enough to have the strength to speak.
He actually refused? The two elders were in a daze. And what did he just say then? He hasn’t failed?
Long Haochen gave Haoyue an eye signal, and his massive body started to move, sweeping his tail at this heavenly meteorite.
With a rumbling noise, at least a third of the heavenly meteorite fell to the ground. The meteorite was very heavy and produced a very loud bang when smashing to the ground. But this stunned everyone present once again.
Everyone here knew how tough the heavenly meteorite was. Let alone its whole, even a portion of it would be incomparably hard to split! So actually, he didn’t fail, and managed to cut down such a large piece of heavenly meteorite. Including those powerhouses of the ninth step, no one present got to clearly see that blow from Long Haochen. When the strike was launched, everything around it had been engulfed in light.
Qiu Yonghao could only feel his throat becoming dry. And this time, he didn’t know what to say.
He was speechless, and the same applied to all the powerhouses from the Warrior Temple present. Right at that instant, Qiu Yonghao’s mind was totally blank.
In this short time, Long Haochen regained more of his physical strength and managed to stand up straight. With the support of Yating’s arm, he slowly advanced in the direction of that heavenly meteorite, and with a glint of gold, the light of the Eternal Paradise enveloped the heavenly meteorite, and a third of that heavenly meteorite disappeared, according to the agreement they made before.
Because of the agreement with the Warrior Temple, Long Haochen directly took the chopped parts of the heavenly meteorite which were his reward for his task. But did the Warrior Temple really suffer a loss? The answer was no.
The staff in Yating’s hands was pointed towards the remaining two thirds of the heavenly meteorite, and with a golden glint, it seemed to emit a buzzing sound. Immediately, a sword intent full of might blossomed from the cut. This severe sword intent reappeared slowly in everyone’s view, and was finally dispersed within a radius of three meters around the heavenly meteorite. Slowly spreading out, it didn’t look as unyielding as before, but this sword intent appeared even more concentrated.
That’s right, with that strike, Long Haochen left the entirety of his sword intent inside this heavenly rock. If that wasn’t the case, he wouldn’t be in such a weak state. Of course, his own sword intent didn’t disappear, and as long as he would be given the time to rest, it would recover in his body. But this heavenly rock wouldn’t run out of sword intent for at least hundred years. With the stimulation from Yating’s spiritual energy, the sword intent was activated.
It was an incomparably precious thing that Long Haochen left to the Warrior Temple. Every one of the warriors present was speechless.
Qiu Yonghao slowly approached Long Haochen, and after letting out a long sigh, declared, “Child, come with me.” Saying this, he slowly strolled towards the side of the hall. He advanced at a slow speed, and in that instant, seemed to have gained a lot of age.
Followed by the attentive gazes of the other powerhouses from the Warrior Temple, Long Haochen followed Qiu Yonghao as he stepped out.
Currently, most of Long Haochen’s physical strength was restored. Right before going up the stairs, he sent Haoyue back to the Tower of Eternity, before following Qiu Yonghao upstairs.
Top floor of the Warrior Temple, office of the Temple Head.
Qiu Yonghao pointed to a nearby sofa, “You may sit down.”
Long Haochen sized up the room of the highest leader of the Warrior Temple, full of shock. This was because this place was just too plain and simple.
Inside the room wasn’t any ornament. There were only simply tables, chairs, wooden bookcases, very old-fashioned sofas and a board bed. Nothing more.
Although this room was more than two hundred square meters large, it was devoid of any personal thingsfeelings.
Qiu Yonghao spoke insipidly, “In those years, when Commander Ye led the Warrior Temple, this room was also decorated this way. It remained the same for more than a hundred years, and even the positions of the items weren’t changed in the slightest.”
Since the time he saw this head of the Warrior Temple for the first time, Long Haochen felt his fanatical belief in Ye Wushang.
“You think it’s strange to cherish the memories of Commander Ye that much even as the head of the Warrior Temple, don’t you?” Qiu Yonghao gave a frustrated look to Long Haochen as he voiced this question.
Long Haochen didn’t utter a word, only lightly nodding.
“This is because I was originally the chamberlain of Commander Ye, or perhaps I should say his servant, the partner that grew up with Commander Ye.” Qiu Yonghao’s voice was actually choking with emotions. The appearance of the Aria of the Goddess of Light called had reawakened his extreme grief, but also his most beautiful memories.
“Commander Ye also had great family circumstances. His father was a consul, while my family was poor. When I was five, his parents bought me for the home of Commander Ye, where I was held as a slave. I was two years younger than Commander Ye, thus I was urged to follow him in the mansion, as his little manservant, and his lifelong chamberlain.
Commander Ye treated me very well. Since young, he never treated me as someone inferior to him. I still clearly remember that when he was only seven, he told me the words: From now on, you are my younger brother, and I will be protecting you.”
At this point of his story, Qiu Yonghao couldn’t control his own emotions. Tears fell down, and this old man, already more than a hundred years old, cried bitterly about his memories from a time more than a hundred years ago.
While Long Haochen could say before that he still felt somewhat resentful toward the Warrior Temple, after hearing the proposal of Qiu Yonghao to succeed him as Temple Head and experience their trial, this resentment started to change into sympathy.
“When Commander Ye was training in the sword arts, he let me accompany him during his training. Then, when joining the Warrior Temple, he let me follow him as well. Even right before his decisive battle against the Demon God Emperor, he still didn’t forget to warn me to cultivate well. At that time, I was still merely at the seventh step of cultivation. Without the support of Commander Ye, I wouldn’t be here today, and would have simply lived as a manservant, leading a mediocre life. I really didn’t expect that I would see the brilliance of Commander Ye reappear in front of my eyes ever again. I know that I cannot possibly make you return the divine sword to the Warrior Temple. You were entirely right, it’s only in your hands that this divine sword can regain the bearing it had in those years while it was in the possession of Commander Ye. However, I wish for you not to act as impetuously as Commander Ye did in those days. Before your wings blossom entirely, you have to place your safety as top priority. The reason is that you already do not belong only to yourself, but to the Alliance, as the hope of the entire humanity.”
“Yes.” Long Haochen stood up, giving his agreement with respect.
Qiu Yonghao let out a sigh, “I really envy the Knight Temple! My invitation will be valid forever. The doors of the Warrior Temple will be open for you at any time.”
After reaching this point, his eyes suddenly lit up, suddenly having a thought, “Haochen, what about remaining in the Knight Temple while holding the post of head of the Warrior Temple, how do you think the idea sounds?”
“What?” Long Haochen had a start, “Temple Head, you are overvaluing this junior.”
Qiu Yonghao continued with a gentle laughter, “This isn’t impossible. It’s not that I am overvaluing you, but the ability you showed today simply created the prerequisite for anyone to value you. You definitely have to keep yourself alive. I heard from Xu Zhongliang that you came to the Warrior Temple to handle three matters.
The most important one is already handled. What about the other two?”
Long Haochen said, “I have just accepted some Slaughter Missions with my comrades and am prepared to follow the Yue Ye Caravan to the demon territory. But our cultivation already exceeds the sixth step, so I’m afraid we’ll not be able to cross the inspection when leaving the Southeastern Fort.”
Qiu Yonghao replied, “This will be simple. I will just have someone tell a word to the one in charge. And what about the other one?”
Long Haochen muttered to himself irresolutely, before telling the simple story about what happened in Starseeker City. With no superfluous addition, he only spoke the truth.
“The soldiers in the front are blood soaked and struggle fiercely, while this sort of things happen in the rear. Can you please have Hall Master to pay attention to this?”
Qiu Yonghao wrinkled his eyebrows, “I got it. I will see to it that these matters are solved. Is there anything else you need the help of the Warrior Temple for?”
Long Haochen shook his head.
Qiu Yonghao then revealed a smile, “In that case, please let me offer you a gift.”
“What?” Long Haochen declined with haste, “Senior, there’s no need. The Warrior Temple already gave me a lot. The fact you are permitting me to use the Aria of the Goddess of Light is already the greatest gift I could wish for, to say nothing that I already took a piece of the heavenly meteorite.”
Qiu Yonghao revealed a somewhat mysterious smile, “This is actually a secret about yourself. However, in this world, I am the only one to know.”
Long Haochen glanced curiously at this old Temple Head.