Chapter 318: Provocation
Chapter 318: Provocation
Under pressure from the Qian family, Yan Jiaoxi was forced to leave, and Tongxian Gate also stopped teaching formations.
This allowed the Qian family to monopolize the formations, and Black Mountain Stronghold could use the formations to cover up their evil deeds.
The scattered cultivators in Tongxian City, ignorant of formations, would never know what the evil cultivators were up to...
The more Mo Hua thought about it, the more chilled his heart became, and he began to hesitate.
Could the Qian family's plot really be so far-reaching?
As Mo Shan and Mo Hua walked, Mo Hua suddenly stopped, as if he had thought of something. His expression became increasingly solemn, and he even showed a look of hindsight. Concerned, Mo Shan asked, "What's wrong, Hua'er?"
Mo Hua came back to his senses and thought for a moment before saying solemnly, "Father, let's go find Elder Yu."
Mo Shan didn't know what Mo Hua had thought of, but guessing that he must have made some discovery, he nodded and said, "Okay."
Mo Hua followed Mo Shan to the Yu family residence.
Elder Yu had just returned and was leisurely drinking tea in the hall when he heard that Mo Hua had arrived. He got up with a smile, about to say something, when he noticed Mo Hua's serious expression, and Mo Shan's solemn demeanor beside him.
Elder Yu paused, his smile fading as he asked, "What happened?"
Mo Hua pondered briefly before sharing his speculation.
The Qian family forced Yan Jiaoxi to leave, causing Tongxian Gate to stop teaching formations. This allowed Black Mountain Village to use the formations to hide in the depths of the mountains, committing all sorts of evil deeds without being discovered.
Elder Yu furrowed his brows, his withered fingers tapping on the table as he sank into thought. After a long while, he slowly said, "It's very possible, but it seems a bit far-fetched..."
The Qian family's monopoly on formations could simply be for profit and might not necessarily be to cover up for Black Mountain Village.
This could only be considered a clue, not solid evidence.
Mo Hua nodded, "I know it seems far-fetched, which is why I came to ask you."
Elder Yu asked, "What do you want to know?"
"On the day we attacked Black Mountain Stronghold, you fought with the evil cultivators. Were there really no Qian family cultivators among them?" Mo Hua asked.
Elder Yu's eyes narrowed as he carefully recalled the events, but he eventually shook his head, "At least those in charge were not from the Qian family."
Mo Shan added, "I didn't notice any Qian family cultivators among the other evil cultivators at the Refining Qi stage either."
"What about the leader? Do you know his identity?" Mo Hua asked.
Elder Yu shook his head, "His face was covered with a black cloth, so I couldn't see his features, but his aura was very unfamiliar, and he didn't seem like a local Foundation Establishment cultivator from Tongxian City."
Mo Hua scratched his head, feeling uncertain again, "Could I have guessed wrong?"
"That's where the problem lies," Elder Yu sighed. "If the Qian family is indeed the mastermind behind Black Mountain Stronghold, and they are connected, then there's no way there wouldn't be any Qian family cultivators among the evil cultivators. In fact, one of the leaders would definitely be a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Qian family!"
"Couldn't there be an exception?" Mo Hua asked.
Elder Yu sighed, "I've dealt with the Qian family for many years, and I know their style well. If they were colluding with Black Mountain Village, they would definitely find a way to insert their people, slowly infiltrating and consuming them from within, eventually taking over Black Mountain Village for their own purposes."
"And if Black Mountain Village was founded by the Qian family, then that leader, even if he isn't Qian Hong, would definitely be one of the Qian family's elders."
Mo Hua asked, "Could it be a case of disguise or impersonation?"
Elder Yu shook his head, "No matter how good the disguise, the spiritual energy aura doesn't change. I know those Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Qian family very well. I would recognize their spiritual energy auras instantly, and they couldn't possibly escape my notice."
Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a bit dejected. He had thought he had uncovered a connection between the Qian family and Black Mountain Village...
Elder Yu patted him on the shoulder encouragingly, "Your line of thinking is good, but we need more evidence. I'll have someone keep an eye on the Qian family to see if they show any unusual behavior."
"Okay," Mo Hua nodded.
On their way home, Mo Hua asked Mo Shan, "Father, do you think it's the Qian family?"
Mo Shan nodded, "It seems likely."
"But there doesn't seem to be any clues at all..." Mo Hua said, sounding a bit disheartened.
Mo Shan pondered, "Nothing can be hidden forever. If the Qian family is truly connected to Black Mountain Village, they will eventually slip up and leave a trail."
He ruffled Mo Hua's hair affectionately and said in a gentle voice, "Don't worry too much about it. As long as we pay attention, we will eventually uncover the truth."
Mo Hua felt a little better and nodded silently.
In the following days, Mo Hua spent his time cultivating, studying formations, and pondering this problem, but he didn't make much progress.
However, he didn't give up, keeping his father's words in mind. He believed that as long as they stayed vigilant, they would eventually find the clues they needed.
Could it be that his suspicions about the Qian family had been discovered, and now they were coming after him?
"It's not exactly the Qian family... but it's related to them," Zhang Lan said vaguely.
Mo Hua looked at him skeptically. "Uncle Zhang, are you drunk? You're not making any sense."
"Nonsense! I haven't had a drop yet!" Zhang Lan glared at Mo Hua and then guzzled down a large bowl of wine before continuing. "It's Qian Xing."
"Qian Xing?" Mo Hua was surprised. He hadn't heard anything about Qian Xing in a long time.
"Isn't Qian Xing insane?"
"He was only insane for a moment; he can't stay that way forever," Zhang Lan said. "Besides, he's the legitimate heir, and the Qian family has been looking for a way to cure him. After all this time, they must have finally succeeded."
Mo Hua propped his chin in his hand, deep in thought. "Surely he wouldn't still hold a grudge against me?"
Zhang Lan gave him a half-smile, half-smirk. "What do you think?"
Mo Hua frowned.
Well... that was hard to say.
Qian Xing was used to bullying others with his status, and he was the type to hold a grudge. Perhaps he really hadn't let go of the past.
These spoiled young masters usually had tempers but lacked brains.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, his eyes gleaming with a new idea. He lowered his voice and said, "What if... I kill him?"
Zhang Lan coughed, his expression complicated. "I'm the Chief Judge of the Dao Court. It's not very appropriate for you to discuss such things with me."
"I'm just saying, what if."
"Even 'what if' is not okay."
Mo Hua sighed. "Uncle Zhang, you've changed. Back then, when you instructed me to harm Qian Xing..."
Zhang Lan quickly covered Mo Hua's mouth. "I never instructed you to do anything!"
"Fine, fine, let's say you didn't."
Zhang Lan sighed in exasperation. "If he really causes trouble for you, just find someone to teach him a lesson. As long as you don't take his life, the Qian family won't have a reason to make things difficult for us."
Mo Hua nodded. "Alright!"
In the following days, Mo Hua waited for Qian Xing to make his move.
If his guess was correct, Qian Xing would definitely come for him.
And indeed, Qian Xing did not disappoint. One evening, at a fork in the road near the foot of a mountain, Qian Xing appeared with several of his lackeys, blocking Mo Hua's path.
It had been a long time since they last met, and Qian Xing looked much thinner.
His face was paler, his cheekbones more prominent, and his aura was gloomy with a hint of madness.
Although he had changed, one thing remained the same: the deep-seated resentment and hatred toward Mo Hua in his eyes.
Without any preamble, Qian Xing ordered his subordinates, "Attack together! Cripple him first!"
This time, to be safe, he had brought five followers.
One was at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, and the other four were at the eighth layer, including himself. They were more than enough to deal with Mo Hua, who was only at the seventh layer.
Additionally, Qian Xing had chosen a secluded spot where there were no Demon Hunters or other loose cultivators around.
This time, he wanted to avenge his past humiliation and make Mo Hua beg for mercy at his feet.
As soon as Qian Xing finished speaking, several of the Qian family disciples attacked, led by the one at the ninth layer of Qi Refining.
Mo Hua stood his ground, expressionless, neither dodging nor evading. He simply lifted his hand and cast a Fireball Technique.
The fireball was deep in color, not too large, but incredibly fast.
The ninth-layer Qi Refining disciple didn't have time to react, but at this point, he didn't want to dodge anyway.
It was just a tiny fireball, after all.
He was a Body Cultivator with an Earth spirit root, his skin and flesh thick and sturdy. He wasn't afraid of such a small fireball; at most, he'd suffer a minor injury.
Moreover, Young Master Qian was watching, and this was his chance to display his bravery and leave a good impression.
So he chose to take the fireball head-on with his chest.
The deep-red fireball exploded with a strange vibration.
The scorching and warped spiritual power shredded his chest armor, tore open his chest, and evaporated the blood near his heart meridian.
Unbearable pain struck him.
Caught off guard, the ninth-layer Qi Refining disciple's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed with a loud thud.
He charged in fast, and he fell even faster.
The other charging Qian family disciples abruptly stopped, their hearts filled with shock and their faces reflecting their disbelief.
What the hell... was that a fireball? Someone had been taken down with just one fireball?
The once-noisy area at the foot of the mountain suddenly fell silent.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
