Chapter 466: Aiding the Oppressor
Chapter 466: Aiding the Oppressor
Mo Hua's heart stirred with a sense of solemnity as he furrowed his brows and asked, "Above the Iron Corpse is... the Bronze Corpse?"
Lu Chengyun neither confirmed nor denied, merely smiling enigmatically. "What do you think, young master Mo?"
Instead of answering directly, Mo Hua knitted his brows in thought before countering with a question, "Lord Lu, how did you know that I knew?"
Mo Hua's phrasing was a bit roundabout, but Lu Chengyun understood his meaning and smiled faintly in response. "It was in your eyes."
Mo Hua was taken aback. "My eyes?"
"Indeed," Lu Chengyun affirmed. "Although you've always been polite and respectful towards me, there was often a guarded look in your eyes, a hint of suspicion..."
"But today, something was different..."
"Before you left Elder Su's residence, your attitude towards me was the same as always."
"But when you left, the way you looked at me was unusually calm and unguarded."
Lu Chengyun gave a self-deprecating smile. "Most people might not have noticed anything amiss, but I'm a naturally suspicious person. The slightest hint is enough to spark my curiosity."
"The change in your gaze planted a seed of doubt in my mind."
"After some thought, everything became clear."
"Your calm gaze indicated that you no longer suspected me."
"And that could mean one of two things: either you've come to trust me, or you've discovered my true intentions and no longer see a need to be suspicious."
Lu Chengyun's gaze fixed on Mo Hua, a half-smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I needed to confirm my suspicions."
"So, I took my leave from Elder Su early and waited for you on your way back, hoping to have a private chat."
"But instead, you took a detour, as if you wanted to avoid meeting me."
Lu Chengyun sighed. "I was disappointed, but I understood."
Mo Hua was speechless.
This Lu Chengyun, the son-in-law of the Lu family, was indeed exceptionally sensitive and suspicious. Even the slightest change in Mo Hua's gaze had aroused his suspicion.
"What if I hadn't said goodbye at Elder Su's residence and had just slipped away quietly?" Mo Hua asked.
Lu Chengyun's eyebrows arched. "Wouldn't that have been even more suspicious?"
"What if I hadn't taken the detour?"
"If you hadn't taken the detour, we would be in the same situation as we are now," Lu Chengyun replied calmly. "You and I would sit down for tea, and I would ask for your help."
In other words, there was no escape...
Mo Hua sighed and assumed an expression of innocence. "Why must you target me, a thirteen-year-old cultivator with mediocre talent, weak strength, and only a basic understanding of formations, who has never had any malicious intentions?"
Lu Chengyun's eyelid twitched.
Out of that entire speech, he suspected that only "thirteen-year-old" was the truth.
The rest was utter nonsense.
Lu Chengyun poured himself a cup of tea and took a delicate sip before speaking slowly. "Young master Mo, I knew the moment you arrived in Nanyue City."
Shaking his head, he continued, "At such a young age, a master of formations—even I, who has lived for so long, have never seen the likes of you. You've truly broadened my horizons."
"There are always higher mountains and better men..."
"Indeed, the cultivation world is filled with all sorts of talented individuals."
"A thirteen-year-old master of formations—I knew then that your background was extraordinary, and your presence here must be for a significant purpose."
"You've been inquiring about a man named Yan."
"To be frank, this Mr. Yan and I are somewhat acquainted. He possesses clues to an extremely confidential formation."
"As a master of formations yourself, your interest in him must be because of that very formation."
Mo Hua neither confirmed nor denied Lu Chengyun's speculation.
Lu Chengyun offered another faint smile. "I didn't pay it much mind at first, but your inquiries became more and more thorough, and your discoveries more and more profound."
"You uncovered the mine, captured Zhang Quan, and even followed the trail to the Zombie Village, ultimately destroying it along with the Si family..."
"At the same time, you discovered the formation on the zombies and were bold enough to obtain one for your research..."
"I had no choice but to activate the formation and cause the Iron Corpse to go berserk, forcing you to destroy it..."
"And now, you've meticulously unraveled the truth, discovering that I was the one pulling the strings behind Zhang Quan..."
Lu Chengyun paused, letting out a sigh. "In all my years, I've never encountered a formation master as clever and thorny as you."
Mo Hua's thoughts raced as he quickly pieced things together. In Lu Chengyun's eyes, he was an extraordinary young formation master who was seeking Yan Jiansheng to obtain the Ling Shu Formation.
By investigating the mine, capturing Zhang Quan, and destroying the Zombie Village, he had ultimately traced the mastermind behind Zhang Quan to Lu Chengyun, the head of the Lu family.
All of this pointed to a singular motivation: formations.
In other words, Lu Chengyun was unaware that Mo Hua knew about his connection to Yan Jiansheng, the history of the Ling Yin Sect, or the fact that he was a son-in-law of the Lu family...
Mo Hua breathed a silent sigh of relief.
That made things easier...
Lu Chengyun saw Mo Hua's eyes shifting as if deep in thought, and asked, "Young Master Mo, have you come to a decision?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you willing to refine corpses for my Lu family?"
Mo Hua replied righteously, "I am an orthodox cultivator and will not engage in such deviant practices."
Lu Chengyun maintained his gentle and refined demeanor as he said, "On the surface, I, too, am an orthodox cultivator."
Mo Hua's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Lu Chengyun continued, "Only by appearing upright on the surface can one more easily engage in devious practices."
Mo Hua found himself oddly convinced by this argument.
He asked, "Then, what if I still refuse?"
Lu Chengyun's expression gradually turned cold.
"Are you planning to kill me, Lord Lu?" Mo Hua inquired.
Lu Chengyun was taken aback for a moment before offering a gentle smile. "You are a talented young man, and I couldn't bear to take your life."
Mo Hua was genuinely curious, so he asked, "Then, what would you do if I truly refused?
Lu Chengyun replied with a smile, "The best outcome would be for you to lend me your assistance. Feel free to make any requests, and they shall be granted."
"If you desire fame, I can appoint you as an influential elder of the Lu family, allowing you to act as you please without any constraints."
"If you desire wealth, I can give you a share of the mine's output, providing you with abundant spirit stones to ensure a carefree path."
"If you desire power, you can command hundreds or even thousands of zombies. With a single order, your enemies will be devoured, leaving you without peer among your peers."
"If you yearn for love and affection, the female cultivators of Jin Hua Street can offer you companionship. You may also choose a woman from the Lu family who captures your heart, and we can be joined in marriage, spending our lives together..."
Lu Chengyun spoke with fervor and passion.
Mo Hua's heart was stirred, and he found himself tempted.
With such silver tongues, they could easily deceive and convince others.
Lu Chengyun's tone shifted as he said, "However, if you feel that we cannot work together due to our differing paths, then it would be a pity."
"You are an extraordinary young man, and I do not wish to be your enemy."
"The best course of action would be for you to leave and never set foot in Nanyue City again, nor meddle in its affairs."
"You must keep everything you know a secret, locked away in your heart."
"We can part ways amicably, and my family will even provide some token gifts as a show of goodwill."
"But if you refuse to help me and also refuse to leave, then you are deliberately making things difficult for my Lu family."
"When family interests are at stake, even if your background is formidable, my family will have no choice but to fight to the bitter end."
Lu Chengyun sighed, "In that case, our tea sessions would be a thing of the past, and we would be forced to part ways forever..."
Lu Chengyun's expression conveyed both regret and wistfulness.
However, Mo Hua felt that it was all an act.
He believed that Lu Chengyun was the type of person who maintained a gentle facade but was driven solely by self-interest and would not consider sentimental attachments.
Mo Hua's eyebrows furrowed as he contemplated his options.
Confronting the Lu family was not a wise choice.
If he left Nanyue City, he wouldn't be able to obtain the Ling Shu Formation.
Moreover, once he left, it would be more difficult to return.
After his departure, who knew how many more miner cultivators would perish and how many more walking corpses would be created in the mine?
On Jin Hua Street, beneath the veneer of extravagance and indulgence, who knew how many tears would be shed and how much blood would be spilled...
After a moment of contemplation, Mo Hua nodded and said, "I can agree to your request, but I have one condition."
Lu Chengyun's eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, "Please tell me, Young Master Mo."
Mo Hua's gaze sharpened as he revealed his condition, "I want that formation! The one drawn on the iron corpse's heart meridian, the one that can control the walking corpses!"
Lu Chengyun was momentarily taken aback before his smile widened. "Good!"
Lu Chengyun's admiration for Mo Hua grew, "Fame and wealth are fleeting, and physical beauty is but skin-deep."
"For an array master, formations are the foundation of their practice and the path to immortality!"
"Young Master Mo, your ability to maintain your dedication to the Dao amidst worldly temptations is commendable, and it's no wonder that you have achieved so much at such a young age..."
Lu Chengyun did not skimp on his praise.
Mo Hua pretended to be nonchalant and affected an air of superiority.
Lu Chengyun bowed and said, "Young Master Mo, after you."
Mo Hua returned the gesture, "Lord Lu, please."
Lu Chengyun was pleased with the outcome and took the lead.
Mo Hua followed closely behind.
In the previous moment, Mo Hua had been contemplating the destruction of the Lu family, but now he had transformed into a young array master assisting Lu Chengyun, aiding the oppressor.
(End of Chapter)
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