Chapter 211: Ambush
Chapter 211: Ambush
The little array master among the demon hunters was the very same First-Rank Array Master.
Following this lead, Qian Hong instructed Qian Shun to investigate further, and after a few days, they had a breakthrough.
Qian Shun discovered Mo Hua's name, address, parents, and even obtained a portrait of the young array master.
Now, that portrait lay before Qian Hong.
The painting depicted a boy around eleven or twelve years old, with a delicate and handsome face, and eyes as clear as water. His smile was like the morning mist at dawn.
Qian Hong's expression was a mixture of shock and fear.
He was astonished that someone so young could possess the prowess of a First-Rank Array Master, and he feared that if this child continued to improve in array mastery, the Qian family might lose their standing.
Among the myriad pursuits of cultivation, the application of arrays was the most widespread and influential.
Mo Hua was already capable of creating First-Rank arrays, and it was taxing the Qian family's resources to counter him. If he advanced to the Second-Rank and above, he wouldn't even need to act personally; a mere word from him would be enough to bring disaster upon the Qian family.
Qian Hong's heart darkened with murderous intent.
Master Qian, however, advised against taking drastic action and urged Qian Hong to negotiate first, arguing that it would be a waste to kill a First-Rank Array Master who was barely a teenager.
Qian Hong considered this and replied, "Master Qian, your words are reasonable. I will give this matter careful thought."
Master Qian nodded, relieved.
But as soon as Master Qian left, Qian Hong turned to Qian Shun and issued his orders. "Find a few Qi Refining Ninth Layer disciples from the family and have them kill that little array master by any means necessary!"
Qian Shun was taken aback. "But what about Master Qian...?"
"Master Qian is obsessed with arrays and doesn't understand these matters," Qian Hong said, his eyes turning cold. "Besides, Mo Hua comes from a lineage of solitary cultivators. His father is a demon hunter, and his relatives and friends are all solitary cultivators as well. With his close relationship with Yu Changlin, it's absolutely impossible for him to be friendly with our Qian family!"
Qian Shun lowered his head in acknowledgment, then added, "But if the Court of the Dao investigates..."
"If the Court of the Dao pursues this matter, I will do my best to protect you. And if I can't, it's still worth exchanging a few lives for that of a First-Rank Array Master," Qian Hong said, his gaze unwavering.
He continued, "Try not to get involved personally. Let the others do the deed, and the blame will fall on them. I value your talents, so don't bring trouble upon yourself. Just make sure the job is done cleanly."
Qian Shun's heart chilled.
Now he understood why Qian Hong had become the head of the family.
This cold, ruthless mindset and cunning approach were worth emulating!
Qian Shun acknowledged the order with a respectful tone and then set about carrying out Qian Hong's instructions. He found a few distant relatives within the family who were at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and told them that they had been chosen by the family head for a special task: to kill someone. As an incentive, he promised that if they succeeded, they would all be granted a place in the main branch of the family, and if they met with misfortune, the family head would provide generous compensation for their children.
The prospect of wealth and status was too tempting to refuse.
The group disguised themselves as traveling merchants and took their seats in a teahouse on South Street, listening to a storyteller while keeping an eye out for Mo Hua. This was a route he would have to take on his way home.
They were well-prepared, even carrying expensive jade talismans to ensure they could kill their target in one fell swoop and leave no loose ends.
Qian Shun sat at a distance, pretending to sip his tea while his peripheral vision remained fixed on the street corner, searching for Mo Hua's figure based on the portrait in his mind.
Soon enough, he spotted a young cultivator with rosy lips and white teeth, carrying a storage bag, approaching the intersection.
It was Mo Hua.
Qian Shun coughed slightly as a signal.
The Qian family cultivators maintained their casual appearances, eating, drinking, and listening to the storyteller, but their hands began to move.
Some grasped their knives, others readied their swords, and a few reached into their pockets, preparing to use their talismans.
Their disguises were impeccable, and they showed no signs of their true intentions. They were waiting for Mo Hua to come closer so they could strike swiftly, then make a quick escape.
In his spiritual sense, he could detect that these cultivators' spiritual power was already circulating, a sign that they were about to make a move.
Ever since he appeared, these people had been secretly probing him with their spiritual sense, their malicious intent clear.
Although they were all at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, their spiritual sense was far weaker than Mo Hua's. They thought they were being subtle, but to Mo Hua, their intentions were as clear as day.
"What should I do now?"
Mo Hua reached into his storage bag and felt for the arrays he had inside. He quietly took them out and slipped them into his sleeves.
He decided to prepare the arrays first.
If he could escape, he would do so, but if he couldn't, he would look for an opportunity to set up an array and blast them away.
Even if the First Grade Earthfire Array didn't kill them, it would at least temporarily stop them in their tracks.
After that, Mo Hua could rely on his Flowing Water Steps to outrun them.
He was only at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, so it wouldn't be wise to get entangled with these body cultivators at the ninth layer. As long as he could get away, that would be enough.
Having made up his mind, Mo Hua turned to leave.
Qian Shun and the others also sensed that something was amiss. For some reason, their intentions seemed to have been discovered.
Without hesitation, they all stood up, ready to take action.
Suddenly, a large hand pressed down on Qian Shun's shoulder, forcing him back into his seat.
Qian Shun looked up and saw an unfamiliar demon hunter at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, his aura thick and robust.
He glanced around and noticed that his companions had also been restrained, surrounded by several other demon hunters.
"You stole something from me," the demon hunter said.
Qian Shun's eyelids twitched as he denied, "I didn't steal anything."
"No, you stole from me!"
Qian Shun coldly smiled. "What did I supposedly steal from you?"
"Oh, I must have remembered wrong," the demon hunter said. "You were planning to rob me, then!"
"You let–"
Before Qian Shun could finish his sentence, the demon hunter punched him in the stomach.
Agonizing pain shot through Qian Shun, and he knew their plan had been exposed. Gritting his teeth, he drew his knife and slashed at the demon hunter.
The other Qian family cultivators also sprang into action.
As the demon hunters and Qian family cultivators clashed, their blood boiled and spiritual power surged.
The scene became chaotic for a moment, but after more than twenty exchanges, the demon hunters, who had the advantage in numbers, managed to overpower and subdue Qian Shun and his companions, tying them up with ropes.
Mo Hua was taken aback, finally understanding what had happened.
This was South Street, the demon hunters' territory, which was also like his "turf."
Demon hunters he was familiar with were everywhere.
Mo Hua suddenly felt a boost in confidence.
Since the Qian family had come to cause trouble, it was only natural for the demon hunters, his uncles and aunties, to deal with them.
He didn't even need to run, nor did he have to waste his arrays.
Seeing that they had been tied up, Mo Hua walked over and took a curious look, asking, "Uncle Zhao, what should we do with these people?"
The leader of the demon hunters was indeed Old Zhao.
Previously, he had been chased by the Qian family and left hanging by a tree branch on a cliff, barely clinging to life. It was Mo Hua who found him, and with everyone's help, they were able to rescue him.
Old Zhao had been severely injured and had taken a long time to recover, but now he was mostly healed.
Old Zhao smiled at Mo Hua and said, "First, we'll give them a good beating, then we'll send them to the Court of the Dao and report them for attempted murder."
Mo Hua nodded. "They were indeed trying to kill me. Thank you, Uncle Zhao."
"Don't mention it," Old Zhao laughed. "If anything, I should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, I might not have made it out alive."
"It was nothing," Mo Hua smiled. "Just a small matter, no need for thanks."
Old Zhao searched through the Qian family cultivators' storage bags and took out several jade talismans, tossing them to Mo Hua. "Here, take these talismans and have fun with them."
(End of Chapter)
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