Li Jianqiu opened his mouth, tapped his fingers on the table, and finally spoke.
"You're really going?"
He rarely felt so unsettled, and he was terribly worried about Oscar.
The Sky Net, which had only been established a few years ago, had already managed to investigate Tang San's family. There was no way Spirit Hall hadn't found out!
The most likely reason they were pretending not to know was that the Blue Silver Emperor had already sacrificed herself. Even if they fought Clear Sky Douluo, the most they could gain was a Spirit Bone. That might even disrupt their plans for the future, making it a losing proposition.
Now that Oscar was getting involved, it was as if he were making himself the fuse to set off this powder keg!
"Uncle Li, do you think that because I have no grudge against that father and son, there's no need for me to take this risk?"
Oscar took a sip of tea and spoke slowly.
"Mm..."
"Uncle Li, Sky Net's ultimate goal is to overthrow everything and completely remake the ruling class of this world, finding a way forward for the oppressed commoner soul masters.
So what do you think these sects will think of us as we work toward overthrowing the nobles?
When that time comes, these sects and families will absolutely side with the nobles to protect their own interests. What will Sky Net do then?
Even Spirit Hall is working behind the scenes to divide the sects. They're doing their best to avoid confronting every faction head-on, let alone us, who've only been around for a few years.
I'm not someone who kills indiscriminately. I only want to be prepared—to prepare for the possibility that Tang San's Blue Silver Grass really is an unawakened Blue Silver Emperor, and to prevent him from using his talent as an excuse to return to the Clear Sky Sect and drag them into this mess!
If that happens, the result will truly be a world of devastation!"
Oscar wasn't exaggerating. In the Inner Scene, he'd clearly remembered the sight of deadly poison filling the sky and green light sealing off an entire city!
Li Jianqiu didn't know what Oscar had seen, but given the situation, if that day came, the whole continent would descend into chaos!
Even "a world of devastation, with corpses strewn for miles and wails echoing everywhere" wouldn't be enough to describe it!
He'd experienced war before. Of course he knew how terrifying a conflict that could engulf the entire continent would be.
But as Oscar had said, a wise man didn't stand beneath a wall that was about to collapse. He didn't want someone like Oscar to fall into danger, even if it meant going in his place!
"Xiao Ao!"
Li Jianqiu finally couldn't hold back and stopped addressing him by his title as leader.
Oscar merely raised a hand and pressed it down, signaling for Li Jianqiu to sit.
Oscar knew Li Jianqiu too well. He could guess exactly what the man was about to say, but there was no way he'd agree to let Li Jianqiu take the risk for him!
Of course, Oscar didn't think this was just stubbornness, or that he valued his subordinate's life more than his own.
There was certainly some personal feeling involved, but more importantly, Oscar thought that if Li Jianqiu went to find the Blue Silver King, it would cause trouble down the line.
After all, Old Li couldn't keep eating Simulation Gold Jade Sausages every moment to maintain his disguise, could he?
If Clear Sky Douluo found him then and brought his hammer down on Old Li, that little frame of his wouldn't be able to take it!
This was something Oscar had to handle himself.
He'd be able to make Simulation Gold Jade Sausages whenever he needed and disguise himself as someone else. He believed he could even pass himself off as Tang San's grandfather, and no one would be able to tell the difference.
Well, Oscar suddenly remembered that the person he'd seen in the Inner Scene didn't seem to be Tang San's grandfather. Maybe it was Tang San's ancestor? He couldn't remember, and couldn't be bothered to think about it. If he found the Blue Silver King, he'd just say he was Tang Chen.
With that in mind, Oscar said at once:
"Uncle Li, you and Sister Wen Hua are each in charge of the intelligence networks in Heaven Dou and Star Luo. This is a critical time, so leave this matter to me.
"As for my safety, you can put your mind completely at ease. I may be the leader of Sky Net, but I'm not going to get done in by a beast.
"Also, Zhou Chang and the others need to focus on their training during this period. I hope that before long, they'll become the true backbone of Sky Net."
Seeing that Oscar was set on going, Li Jianqiu could only sigh helplessly. He spread his hands and leaned back in his chair.
"You, of all people, know you're the leader of Sky Net, and yet you're always going on about Sky Net, Sky Net. You never remember to handle the files, and dump them all on this old man and your Sister Wen Hua."
Though Li Jianqiu said it aloud, there wasn't a trace of blame in his voice. He sounded like an old father watching his child set off on a long journey, his face full of worry.
Of course, that wasn't quite the right way to describe it. The two were both superior and subordinate, as well as close confidants. Sometimes they even taught each other. Their relationship could be so complicated that it might fill an entire book.
"Then, Uncle Li, please help Sister Wen Hua shoulder some of the burden. I won't be gone long. I'll be back before you know it."
Oscar had just reached the courtyard gate when Li Jianqiu called out to him.
"Take this. It might come in handy someday."
Li Jianqiu tossed Oscar a long sword with no scabbard, its blade gleaming coldly. It stuck straight into the doorframe.
"Top-grade cold iron. This is a good one, Uncle Li."
Oscar grinned as he put the sword into his storage pouch, then turned and left.
Outside, Old Qing, who was at the forge, looked up at him a few times. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.
"I'm off. Don't worry about me."
By moonlight, Oscar headed out of Suotuo City.
Old Qing watched him wave as he walked away and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
"Old Qiu, isn't this too much of a burden for a child?"
Without turning around, Old Qing spoke to Li Jianqiu, who had come out behind him. His voice was full of dejection.
"He made his decision. What can anyone do about it? You? Me? Who?"
Li Jianqiu snorted in displeasure, then spoke again, sounding a little wistful.
"You and I both know how strong he is. Now that he can use Simulation, as long as he doesn't run into a Titled Douluo head-on in an open area, he can still get away.
"My only worry is that Soul Beasts will surround him in the Star Dou Great Forest. Once those Soul Beasts catch his scent, they'll swarm him like flies to... Well, sigh."
Oscar naturally didn't hear Li Jianqiu and Old Qing's conversation. By then, he had already left Suotuo City.
Two days later, Oscar had reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Tian Meng had been chattering nonstop in his head the whole way, driving him crazy.
"Oh, my goodness, big brother! You really came here?
"I told you, the Emerald Swan is a protected treasure of the Star Dou Great Forest. Most Soul Beasts have gone to them for treatment when they've been injured or sick. They're benefactors to every Soul Beast in the forest. You killed their benefactor, and now you're wandering around right in front of them? That's like an old man hanging himself—are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"Cut the crap. Hurry up and teach me that method you mentioned for hiding my aura, or we're both done for."
Oscar took off his clothes and plunged into the water.
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