Chapter 251: Kong Sheng
Chapter 251: Kong Sheng
"Kong Sheng?" Mo Hua frowned, puzzled. "Is this the Kong family's caravan?"
Yu Chengyi shook his head. "It's just an ordinary merchant caravan carrying pills and passing through Qingxuan City to do business in Tongxian City."
Mo Hua was still confused. "Then why is that young master from the Kong family traveling with this caravan?"
Yu Chengyi's expression became complicated. "Apparently, he wanted to come personally to kill the Ji Qingbai father and son and take Fu Lan back..."
Mo Hua fell silent, then asked, "Is he a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
Yu Chengyi sighed. "Just like you, he's at the seventh level of Qi Refining."
Mo Hua's expression mirrored his friend's. He exclaimed, "He must have had his brain eaten by a pig!"
To dare venture outside alone with a caravan and enter the inner mountains of Daheishan—did he not know the meaning of the word 'death'?
Yu Chengyi explained, "I heard that Kong Sheng has been spoiled since childhood. He's selfish and extreme in nature. Growing up, he got whatever he wanted and did whatever he pleased without anyone daring to go against him. In the past, he often beat up fellow cultivators his age and forcibly took female cultivators for himself, but no one dared to stop him..."
"Later, when he saw Fu Lan and desired her beauty, he wanted to make her his concubine. When Fu Lan refused, he relentlessly pursued her, eventually causing the death of her mother. Finally, the Ji family father and son, filled with righteous indignation, taught him a lesson, but they didn't dare kill him."
"Kong Sheng was furious and ordered the Kong family cultivators to pursue the Ji family. Later, he even bribed rogue cultivators to take out his anger on them."
"But the rogue cultivators failed, and Kong Sheng, in a fit of rage, decided to come personally. When the Kong family disagreed, he became even more resentful and secretly disguised himself, following the caravan to Tongxian City."
Yu Chengyi recounted the whole story.
Mo Hua listened, finding it unbelievable. This Kong Sheng was even more foolish than Qian Xing.
At least Qian Xing knew to bring a group of lackeys to do his dirty work, and he rarely ventured outside the city.
Kong Sheng, on the other hand, dared to travel without any followers and even contemplated taking lives with his own hands.
Did he really think others wouldn't dare to kill him?
"So, he spent spirit stones to hire rogue cultivators to commit murder, only to disguise himself and leave the city, ultimately falling victim to the very cultivators he hired?" Mo Hua asked slowly.
"In a nutshell, that's the gist of it..." Yu Chengyi's expression was complex. "However, it's uncertain if he was actually killed or just kidnapped."
Mo Hua felt a sense of schadenfreude and laughed. "A taste of his own medicine. Serves him right. Hopefully, he's dead; otherwise, he's just a waste of spirit stones."
Yu Chengyi couldn't help but laugh as well. After a moment, he sighed, "But this matter has become troublesome."
"What does it have to do with us whether he's dead or alive?" Mo Hua asked, perplexed.
"Kong Sheng has a grudge against the Ji family, and he went missing in Daheishan. The Kong family suspects that Brother Ji is behind this, and they want us to hand over the person."
Mo Hua's eyebrows shot up. "Are they dreaming? Who do they think they are, bullying people like this?"
Yu Chengyi nodded. "Indeed, they're going too far."
Mo Hua worriedly asked, "Can we stand up to the Kong family?"
Yu Chengyi smiled reassuringly. "Rest assured. Even the Qian family can't do anything to us now, let alone an outsider like the Kong family. If they dare to create trouble, our blades won't hold back."
Mo Hua nodded in relief. "If they dare to show up, slaughter them all. I bet none of them are any good!"
Yu Chengyi continued, "They might not dare to come themselves, but they'll likely pressure us through the Daoting Court in Qingxuan City."
"Can the Daoting Court in Qingxuan City interfere with matters in Tongxian City?"
"That's for the Daoting Court to handle. I'm not sure about the specifics, so let's just take it one step at a time."
"Mhm." Mo Hua nodded.
After their conversation, Yu Chengyi left to speak with Elder Yu.
Mo Hua was still concerned about the matter, so when Zhang Lan came to the restaurant for a drink, he asked, "What's the latest on the young master of the Kong family?"
Zhang Lan exclaimed, "How do you know about everything?"
Mo Hua waved his hand dismissively. "That's not important. Will the Daoting Court in Qingxuan City get involved?" he asked, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Lan.
Zhang Lan sighed.
Fine, he hadn't even answered the first question, and Mo Hua was already asking a second one.
However, Mo Hua knew too many people in Tongxian City—from the Chief Judge of the Daoting Court to the mountain-dwelling demon hunters and even the children running errands on the streets. He probably knew them all by name.
So, it wasn't surprising that he knew about the Kong Sheng matter.
Moreover, Zhang Lan suspected that he would need Mo Hua's help with this issue.
"For now, the Daoting Court's conclusion is that the young master of the Kong family was abducted by a rogue cultivator. We need to go into the mountains to capture the rogue cultivator and rescue the young master," Zhang Lan explained.
"He's not dead?" Mo Hua asked, sounding a bit disappointed.
Zhang Lan winked at him. "Are you hoping for his death?"
Mo Hua nodded honestly and added, "Or at least a miserable end."
Zhang Lan's expression turned pensive for a moment, but then he agreed, "If Kong Sheng died, it would be one less trouble for Qingxuan City."
"That's true, but we still have to find him. The Daoting Court in Qingxuan City will also send people to join us in the search," Zhang Lan continued.
"How many will they send?" Mo Hua inquired.
"Not too many, probably three or four at most. Any fewer would be ineffective, and any more would seem like they're interfering with our Daoting Court's business, which could cause issues," Zhang Lan replied.
"Three or four is fine," Mo Hua nodded, then asked, "Won't the Kong family send people as well?"
Zhang Lan took a sip of wine and looked at Mo Hua meaningfully. "Isn't the Daoting Court in Qingxuan City essentially the Kong family's people?"
"Oh, I see," Mo Hua said, understanding.
It seemed that everyone was aware of the situation in Qingxuan City.
The Kong family used the Daoting Court to act on their behalf, which not only gave them legitimacy but also saved them time and effort.
After all, it was much more convenient for the Daoting Court to carry out such tasks.
"I'll probably need your help with this matter," Zhang Lan added.
"No," Mo Hua refused outright.
For other matters, he would agree for Zhang Lan's sake.
But for this, Mo Hua definitely wouldn't lend a hand.
Kong Sheng was the kind of person he wouldn't mind sending to the heavens with a fire formation; he certainly wouldn't waste time rescuing him.
"Don't refuse so quickly," Zhang Lan smiled. "It's not about saving Kong Sheng. It's about those rogue cultivators. Don't you want to catch them?"
"The bald one?"
"Yes," Zhang Lan nodded. "If we leave him in the mountains, he'll continue to be a menace. If he gathers more rogue cultivators and gains a foothold, it will be much more dangerous for you when you go into the mountains to hunt demons."
Mo Hua still seemed reluctant.
"After the matter is resolved, the Daoting Court will give you a reward," Zhang Lan offered.
"A reward?" Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "What kind of reward?"
"You'll find out later. It won't be something that puts you at a disadvantage," Zhang Lan assured him.
"Can you tell me now?" Mo Hua asked, curious about the reward.
Zhang Lan kept him guessing. "If you help us capture the bald monk, you'll find out what the reward is."
Mo Hua blinked and smiled. "If you don't tell me, I won't help."
But Zhang Lan didn't fall for it. Smiling gently, he said, "If you don't want to help, that's fine. But don't regret it later."
Uncle Zhang Lan was a clever one... He knew not to show his cards too soon.
Mo Hua sighed. "Alright, fine."
After all, he also wanted to capture that bald monk, and this was a good opportunity to do so while also profiting from the Daoting Court's reward.
(End of Chapter)
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