Chapter 302: Progress
Chapter 302: Progress
Mo Hua sighed again. With his current low cultivation and limited understanding of array formations, he knew he couldn't be of much help to Master Zhuang, no matter how much he wanted to.
"I should just focus on cultivating and studying array techniques. Once I've achieved a higher level of cultivation, I'll be able to properly repay Master for his teachings," Mo Hua resolved, nodding to himself.
As the hour of the yin energy peak approached, he submerged his spiritual sense into his sea of consciousness and, with the help of the Dao stele, began to meticulously practice the Reverse Spirit Formation.
Days passed tranquilly, with Mo Hua maintaining his routine of cultivation and painting formations.
In addition, he remained deeply concerned about the Black Mountain Fortress incident and wondered how things were progressing on Ting Si's end.
A few days later, at noon, after paying a visit to Old Man Feng and receiving some much-needed cultivation pills, Mo Hua ran into Zhang Lan on his way home.
"Uncle Zhang!" Mo Hua hurriedly greeted him.
Zhang Lan, who had been walking with his head down, immediately recognized the voice of the child calling out to him. It could only be Mo Hua.
Mo Hua approached Zhang Lan and lowered his voice, asking in a secretive tone, "Any news?"
He was, of course, referring to the matter of the Dao soldiers.
Given the sensitivity of the topic, Mo Hua was cautious not to speak too openly about it.
Zhang Lan glanced around before responding, "There are too many people around here. Let's talk at the eatery."
Once they were seated at their usual spot in the eatery, with Jiang Yun serving them wine and dishes, Zhang Lan surveyed the surroundings and noted that most of the patrons were familiar faces and fellow demon hunters, engrossed in their drinking and unlikely to pay attention to their corner. He then lowered his voice and said to Mo Hua, "I've informed Chief Zhou about the details, and he has already submitted a report to the Dao Court. Now, we just need to wait for their response. If the Dao Court agrees, they'll dispatch Dao soldiers to eradicate the Black Mountain Fortress soon."
"Will we have to wait long?" Mo Hua asked.
"Not too long if the Dao Court agrees," Zhang Lan assured him.
"But what if they don't agree?" Mo Hua pressed.
Zhang Lan took a sip of wine before answering, "If what you saw is true and there are indeed five to six hundred heretic cultivators in the Black Mountain Fortress, still killing and refining people for their elixirs, then the Dao Court won't stand idly by. They will definitely send Dao soldiers. You can rest assured about that."
Mo Hua nodded, visibly relieved.
Zhang Lan, on the other hand, sighed inwardly as he glanced at Mo Hua.
The matter was not as simple as it seemed. The most challenging part was proving that deep in the mountains, there truly existed such a fortress, housing five to six hundred heretic cultivators who were refining the Elixir of Human Longevity.
At present, they only had Mo Hua's word for it.
The only evidence was the two maps Mo Hua had drawn—one showing the route through the misty forest, and the other depicting the layout of the Black Mountain Fortress.
Apart from that, there were no other witnesses or tangible evidence.
While they trusted Mo Hua, the Dao Court would not take the word of a ten-year-old cultivator.
Moreover, Mo Hua's lack of a rank and his status as a first-grade array master held little weight.
Chief Zhou was also in a tricky position.
He was already quite old, and his tenure as the chief was nearing its end. He had hoped to retire peacefully, having served honorably.
Now, with the matter of the Black Mountain Fortress, he found himself in a difficult situation.
If he reported it to the Dao Court and Mo Hua's intelligence turned out to be inaccurate—if there was no such fortress in the mountains or if the cultivators there were not heretics—then Chief Zhou would bear a heavy responsibility.
While he might not end up in prison, his position as chief would certainly be jeopardized.
On the other hand, if he chose not to report it and allowed the heretic cultivators to continue their activities in the mountains, growing stronger, then all the cultivators in Tongxian City would one day face a dire threat.
It was a choice between his own peaceful retirement and the safety of Tongxian City.
It was not an easy decision to make.
However, in the end, Chief Zhou chose to report the Black Mountain Fortress to the Dao Court.
Zhang Lan recalled Chief Zhou's words:
"I've been the chief for most of my life, and while I've been diligent, I haven't accomplished anything remarkable. Later, when the loose cultivators established their own pill and artifact refining businesses, I actually benefited from it and gained merit. To be honest, I feel somewhat ashamed about that..."
"Now, with a hidden danger lurking in Tongxian City, I cannot turn a blind eye. As the city's chief, we rise and fall together. I cannot stand by and watch from the sidelines."
Mo Hua, with his mouth full, suddenly asked, "Uncle Zhang, aren't you eating?"
Zhang Lan came back to his senses and smiled, "I'll have some wine first."
Mo Hua picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Zhang Lan's bowl, urging him, "Uncle Zhang, have more!"
Zhang Lan looked somewhat haggard, having lost weight due to his recent exertions over the Black Mountain Fortress affair. Mo Hua's thoughtful gesture touched him.
Before long, Mo Hua spoke up again, "Uncle Zhang, you look much more dignified now. You truly resemble an official of the Dao Court."
Zhang Lan's face darkened as his momentary warmth evaporated, "What do you mean, 'much more dignified now'? I've always been a dignified cultivator—upright and proper at all times! Don't you forget it!"
"Yes, yes," Mo Hua mumbled through a mouthful of beef.
Zhang Lan was both indignant and uncertain, so he asked Mo Hua, "How did I seem before?"
Mo Hua recalled their first meeting and tried to describe it, "You looked a little... like a playboy who was idle and uninterested in cultivating."
Fearing that he might have offended Zhang Lan, he quickly added, "Just a little."
Zhang Lan was speechless.
How could he be considered idle and uninterested in cultivating? His visits to this eatery were part of his duty to understand the sentiments of fellow cultivators. How could that be equated with being idle?
And if I were truly a playboy, would I need your tiny bit of flattery?
Zhang Lan took a sullen sip of wine.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up as he asked, "Uncle Zhang, what are you like within your clan?"
Zhang Lan certainly didn't appear this weary and dispirited among his family...
"In my clan?" Zhang Lan thought for a moment, then replied, "Oh, I'd say I'm like a majestic tree in the wind, a graceful and carefree wanderer, captivating the hearts of countless women. Many young female cultivators vie for my attention, hoping to become my dao companion."
Mo Hua whispered, "Uncle Zhang, it's fine to exaggerate to others, but we're close now, so no need to be so formal with me..."
Zhang Lan choked on his wine and protested, "Who's exaggerating?"
Mo Hua silently studied him.
Sighing, Zhang Lan conceded, "Fine, I won't eat with you next time. If I don't fill my stomach, your words will."
Mo Hua picked up another piece of meat with his chopsticks and placed it in Zhang Lan's bowl, "Then, Uncle Zhang, eat up. If you fill up on anger, you won't be able to eat anymore."
Zhang Lan couldn't help but laugh and shake his head at Mo Hua's words, "You rascal..."
The two continued chatting and eating.
Sparring verbally with Mo Hua lifted Zhang Lan's spirits, and he felt less weary. Indeed, there were few cultivators in Tongxian City with whom he could converse so casually.
After they had eaten their fill, Zhang Lan prepared to leave, but Mo Hua stopped him with another question, "Uncle Zhang, if the Dao Court really sends their dao soldiers, can I go and watch?"
Mo Hua's eyes sparkled with curiosity, eager to witness the might of the dao soldiers from the cultivation world.
Zhang Lan considered for a moment, then shook his head, "No."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
