Chapter 261: The Map
Chapter 261: The Map
"I'll go back and ask Guangtoutuo again." Zhang Lan said.
"Mhm."
Mo Hua nodded. This situation was peculiar and needed further clarification.
For the remainder of the day, Zhang Lan instructed his subordinates to inventory the looted items. After registering each one, they would be picked up by officials from the Daotingshi Court the following day and transported back to Tongxian City.
Mo Hua and his group, on the other hand, would spend the night in the inner mountains.
Once the cave was tidied up, they prepared to set off for their base camp.
As they were about to leave, Mo Hua suddenly exclaimed, "Oh?"
Zhang Lan turned around and asked, "What is it?"
Mo Hua pointed to a small corner. "There's something over there."
Intrigued, Zhang Lan walked over to the corner Mo Hua had indicated and released his spiritual sense to scrutinize the area. He was surprised to discover, "There really is a hidden compartment here."
The area had been blocked by clutter before, which was why they hadn't noticed it earlier.
Now that the cave was cleared, Mo Hua's spiritual sense was able to detect the hidden compartment.
"Is there a formation?" Zhang Lan asked.
"No," Mo Hua shook his head.
Zhang Lan then turned to Mo Shan, "Brother Mo, it's up to you now."
Mo Shan nodded and clenched his fist, causing it to ignite with fierce flames. He then punched the stone wall in the corner with a loud "boom."
The wall creaked and cracks appeared.
Mo Shan continued this process for five or six rounds, completely shattering the stones.
Behind the broken wall was a small hidden compartment, about the size of a palm, containing a wooden box.
Zhang Lan retrieved the box and scanned it with his spiritual sense, finding no danger before opening it.
Mo Hua also leaned in for a closer look.
Inside the box were two books and a map.
One of the books was titled "The Longfeng Jue," and the other was "The Quick Wind Technique."
The Longfeng Jue was a wind-based cultivation technique, and the Quick Wind Technique was a wind-based movement skill—both were part of Guangtoutuo's repertoire of martial arts.
It seemed that this hidden compartment was where Guangtoutuo stored his treasures.
As for the map, it appeared to be a topographic map with simple lines depicting mountains, cliffs, and hasty, unannotated strokes. At first glance, it was unclear which location it depicted.
"These cultivation techniques and movement skills are valuable," Zhang Lan said. "Wind spirit roots are rare, so few people can practice them. You guys can copy them later and either sell them or exchange them for other martial arts. They should be worth quite a few spirit stones."
"As for this map..." Zhang Lan furrowed his brows and asked Mo Hua, "Can you tell which location it depicts?"
Zhang Lan was not familiar with the terrain near Tongxian City, especially the mountain roads of Dahuishan.
He didn't use maps often either.
However, he recalled that Mo Hua had personally drawn a map of Dahuishan, marking every path, stream, forest, and tree with great precision.
If this map indeed depicted Dahuishan, Mo Hua should be able to recognize it.
Mo Hua took the map and examined it carefully, feeling perplexed.
It seemed familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.
"The mountain contours resemble those of Dahuishan, but I can't pinpoint the exact location," Mo Hua said thoughtfully. He then asked his father, "Dad, can you make sense of it?"
Mo Shan studied the map for a while and also found it odd. "Didn't you draw maps of the inner and outer mountains? Get them, and we'll compare them."
"Oh, right." Mo Hua nodded and retrieved the maps he had drawn, spreading them out on the ground.
With Guangtoutuo captured, the heretic's lair destroyed, and Lu Hui dead, they had some time on their hands. The three of them carefully studied the maps, scrutinizing every detail.
Half an hour later, after thoroughly searching through the maps several times, they still couldn't find a matching location.
"It's possibly a topographic map of Great Wisdom Mountain outside of Tong County City," Zhang Lan suggested.
Mo Hua nodded, agreeing that this was a likely possibility.
Dahuishan was vast, and its mountain ranges extended beyond Tongxian City into other territories.
If that were the case, it would explain why Mo Hua found it vaguely familiar yet couldn't identify the specific location.
"We can ask Guangtoutuo about the origin and purpose of this map when we get back," Mo Hua said after a moment's thought.
Guangtoutuo had kept this map together with his valuable cultivation techniques and movement skill manuals, indicating its significance to him. It likely held some secrets worth uncovering.
Mo Hua made a copy of the map for future reference.
Zhang Lan hesitated, "The Daotingshi Court's interrogations are not meant for outsiders..."
"But I was part of the team that captured Guangtoutuo. How can I be considered an outsider?" Mo Hua argued.
"You're right in theory, but rules are rules," Zhang Lan replied, gently refusing.
"Alright then, I'll go ask the Chief Judge," Mo Hua said as he started to walk out.
"What are you going to ask the Chief Judge for?" Zhang Lan quickly grabbed him, curious and concerned.
"Since you can't make the decision, it's only natural for the Chief Judge to have the final say," Mo Hua explained.
"The Chief Judge won't agree to it," Zhang Lan stated.
Mo Hua smiled slyly, "How do you know he won't agree?"
Zhang Lan pondered this for a moment, then realized that the Chief Judge probably wouldn't refuse.
After all, Mo Hua had helped capture the prisoner, and now that he wanted to observe the interrogation, it didn't seem like an unreasonable request.
Moreover, Mo Hua was well-connected and had many sources of information; he might even know more about certain matters than Zhang Lan, the Chief of the Palace Administration.
Perhaps letting him assist in the interrogation would yield some useful results.
The Chief Judge already held Mo Hua in high regard, and with him being a first-rate array master, it would be rude to deny such a request.
Zhang Lan's expression became complicated, and he sighed, "During the interrogation, there might be some blood..."
As Zhang Lan spoke, he suddenly realized that Mo Hua was a demon hunter and had probably witnessed many bloody battles between cultivators and demons.
With that in mind, Zhang Lan gave up his attempt to dissuade Mo Hua, "Follow me then."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhang," Mo Hua smiled.
The interrogation room of the Daoist Prison was located in a dark corner to the west.
As Mo Hua followed Zhang Lan into the room, he was greeted by the pungent smell of blood and decay. The room was dimly lit, with torture devices hanging on the walls, dark bloodstains on the floor, and a furnace heating up branding irons.
The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive with the scent of blood.
No wonder Zhang Lan didn't want him here.
Zhang Lan instructed, "Just stand over there and listen. If you feel uncomfortable, you can go outside for some fresh air. This isn't a pleasant place, so it's best to avoid it if possible."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhang!" Mo Hua thanked him again.
Zhang Lan gave a slight smile and patted Mo Hua's shoulder, then ordered the guards to bring in Guangtoutuo.
Mo Hua found a relatively clean stool in the corner and sat down. Soon, he heard the clanking of shackles, and he looked up to see several executors escorting Guangtoutuo, his body pierced with iron chains.
Guangtoutuo's body was covered in wounds, and he looked haggard, indicating that he had endured much suffering in the Daoist Prison.
The executors bound Guangtoutuo to the torture rack.
Zhang Lan's face turned cold as he said, "Guangtoutuo, I'm going to ask you a few questions. If you answer truthfully, I can reduce your suffering."
Guangtoutuo kept his eyes closed, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Zhang Lan asked several questions, but Guangtoutuo remained silent, even when they started to use torture. He didn't utter a single sound.
He seemed determined to endure whatever came his way.
Guangtoutuo knew that his fate was sealed, and he considered the Daotingshi Court's cultivators as lackeys. Having been captured by them again, he saw no point in saying anything.
Facing imminent death, he chose to remain silent.
Zhang Lan asked repeatedly and used various forms of torture, but in the end, he could only shake his head helplessly.
Then he noticed Mo Hua signaling to him.
Zhang Lan thought for a moment and nodded.
Mo Hua slowly walked forward and asked with a smile, "Hey, big baldy, do you know the Water Prison Technique?"
Guangtoutuo heard a crisp voice in his ear and looked up to see a young cultivator with red lips and white teeth, smiling at him.
Why was there a child in the Daotingshi Court's interrogation room?
Moreover, the figure and aura seemed familiar; it was the young demon hunter who had saved Ji Qingbai the other day.
Guangtoutuo was puzzled and asked, "What Water Prison Technique?"
Mo Hua smiled slightly and raised his hand, summoning a spiritual power chain that locked onto Guangtoutuo's body.
This technique...
Guangtoutuo's heart trembled, and his eyes widened in shock.
"It's you!" (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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