Chapter 516: The Little Zombie
Chapter 516: The Little Zombie
These wooden oxen and flowing horses were just simple puppets. Their structure was straightforward, capable of only mechanical movements like moving forward, backward, and turning. They were even less complex than Mo Hua's little tiger, but they would suffice for transporting ore.
Due to their simplicity, only the most basic Ling Shu array was required. There was no need for complex sequence array patterns like those on the Corpse King, which had hundreds of Ling Shu layers for control.
Thus, Yun Shaoye, who was just beginning to learn the Ling Shu array, was able to draw them.
With Yun Shaoye's help, the progress was much faster.
However, it wasn't that simple after the arrays were drawn.
These Ling Shu arrays and oxen-horse puppets still needed to be tested and debugged.
Mo Hua found time to go to the mine and test the wooden oxen and flowing horses to ensure they functioned properly.
The debugging process wasn't difficult, but it was tedious.
During the trial run, he needed help with mining and ore transportation. He also required assistance in debugging, modifying, and repairing the arrays and puppets.
Mo Hua decided to enlist the help of zombies for these tasks.
He reassigned a group of zombies from the Corpse Mine to dig for ore, load it into mine carts, and then have the wooden oxen and flowing horses pull them out.
Among these zombies was a little zombie.
Small in stature with a pale face, this was the same little zombie who had secretly opened the door for Mo Hua every night in the Ten Thousand Corpse Array by modifying its sequence array pattern.
A portion of the Corpse Mine had collapsed, and the Ten Thousand Corpse Array had been destroyed. When the zombies and coffins in the array were cleared, Mo Hua discovered that this little zombie was still among them.
Due to its small size, it was relatively weak. Lu Chengyun hadn't sent it out to fight in the Daoist army. So, during the fierce battle with the zombie tide, it had remained quietly in its coffin.
This little zombie was probably around ten years old, a little older than Mo Hua. Judging by its frail appearance, it likely came from a poor background.
Mo Hua wondered how such a young child had died and ended up in Lu Chengyun's hands, turned into a zombie.
At the tender age of ten, life had barely begun. If the child came from a poor family, they might not have experienced much happiness.
Mo Hua felt a mix of sympathy and regret.
During the testing of the wooden oxen and flowing horses, he deliberately kept the little zombie by his side.
The other zombies were assigned tasks like mining and ore transportation.
The little zombie, on the other hand, followed Mo Hua around, helping with menial tasks like carrying things, sweeping the mine paths, and scouting the mountain roads.
When the wooden oxen and flowing horses malfunctioned, it would obediently dismantle the puppets at Mo Hua's instruction, allowing him to inspect them. It would also hand him brushes and ink so he could repair the arrays...
The little zombie took on these relatively lighter tasks.
Baizi Sheng and Baizi Xi also encountered this little zombie and were quite surprised.
Baizi Sheng, mainly angry, exclaimed:
"That bastard Lu Chengyun! He didn't even spare such a young cultivator. I should have stabbed him a few more times!"
Baizi Xi, on the other hand, frowned as she looked at the little zombie.
Perplexed, Mo Hua asked, "Sister, is something wrong?"
Baizi Xi furrowed her brows and said thoughtfully, "This little zombie only has corpse energy and no vital energy."
No vital energy? Mo Hua was taken aback for a moment before he understood.
The absence of vital energy and the presence of only corpse energy meant that the little zombie had died and been turned into a corpse, but it hadn't fed on humans or drunk blood yet.
However, this wasn't entirely unexpected.
The little zombie was weak and probably couldn't kill anyone. Even if it had the opportunity to feed on flesh and blood, it wouldn't be able to compete with the other zombies.
It could only rely on the demonic energy in the zombie-nourishing coffins to sustain its corpse energy.
Baizi Sheng glanced at Mo Hua and asked, "You don't plan to keep it by your side, do you...?"
Mo Hua sighed and shook his head.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Now that it's become a zombie, it has found its place."
Baizi Sheng pouted and muttered, "So old-fashioned for someone so young."
"No beef for you tonight!" Mo Hua said with a humph.
Immediately, Baizi Sheng softened his tone and said, "Little junior brother, I was wrong. What you said earlier was correct, very correct, and made a lot of sense!"
Baizi Xi sighed softly, her gaze at Baizi Sheng filled with disdain.
After a while, Baizi Sheng asked, "So, what do you plan to do with this little zombie? Burn it? The incineration array in the Dao Court seems to be almost ready..."
Mo Hua hesitated, deep in thought. Finally, he sighed and said, "I've drawn an array on it before, and it has helped me. We also have a connection. After this is all over, I'll let it rest in peace..."
Baizi Sheng and Baizi Xi nodded in agreement.
...
More than ten days later, the wooden oxen and flowing horses had been successfully debugged.
All the oxen and horse puppets had been inscribed with the Ling Shu array.
Just as Mo Hua had expected, they consumed minimal spirit stones, were simple to control, made of durable wood, and had considerable strength, making them more than capable of transporting ore.
The only problem was that if they were damaged, no one could repair them.
Repairing these puppets required knowledge of the Ling Shu array.
Once he and Yun Shaoye left, there would be no one in Nan Yue City who understood the Ling Shu array, and thus no one to fix the wooden oxen and flowing horses.
Therefore, it was essential to maintain them properly during regular use.
As long as they were used reasonably and with care, these oxen and horses would have long lifespans.
Mo Hua instructed the new chief of Nan Yue City's Dao Court about this matter.
Almost the entire Dao Court in Nan Yue City had been replaced with new personnel.
The new chief was from the Si family, named Si Tu, and his given name was Shen. He appeared to be a branch sibling of the previous elder, Si Tu Jin.
Perhaps due to family instructions or information obtained from Si Tu Fang, Si Tu Shen was very polite to Mo Hua. His politeness even carried a hint of respect.
His attitude was solemn.
Nan Yue City represented an opportunity for him and the Si family.
The Corpse Mine was a matter of great importance, and all eyes were on him. If he failed, he would bring shame to the Si family.
Conversely, if he handled the aftermath appropriately, it would be a significant achievement. He would gain a favorable reputation within the clan, and his promotion within the Dao Court would be smoother with this merit under his belt.
Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. The competition within the Si family must be intense, and the pressure was immense. If one didn't put in effort and be mindful, they might not even get a sip of the soup, let alone a share of the meat.
...
With the completion of the wooden oxen and flowing horses, as well as the construction of the new mine, it was time to commence operations.
Si Tu Shen organized the miners and prepared to restart work.
The miners hesitated, their faces filled with trepidation. The incident with the zombie tide still haunted them. Although the tide had receded, they feared lingering threats, especially within the depths of the mine—a place shrouded in darkness and perfect for zombies to hide.
They were afraid to start work, not only because they had endured poverty and hardship but also because they feared encountering zombies and losing their lives.
Yet, they dared not refuse to work. They were desperately poor and lacked even the most basic necessities. If they didn't work, their entire families would starve.
They reasoned that if they went to the mine and encountered zombies, at most, only one of them would die. But if they didn't work, their entire families would perish.
Their hearts were filled with anxiety and unease.
However, as they entered the mine, they discovered that everything had changed.
The mine was now larger, more spacious, and brighter, with a gentle breeze that was neither too cold nor too warm. The oppressive and eerie atmosphere was gone, and the foul air had dissipated. Being inside the mine was now a comfortable experience.
The work was no longer as arduous, and formations were everywhere, even those designed to ward off demonic beasts. This brought a sense of reassurance to the miners.
"Is this really the mine of Nan Yue City?" The miners couldn't believe their eyes.
Later, they gathered together and expressed their gratitude to the chief of the Dao Court.
Since the establishment of Nan Yue City, these miners and their ancestors had never worked in such a safe mine. In the hundreds or even thousands of years of mining history, the number of formations laid out for their protection paled in comparison to the ones currently in this single mine.
They were filled with gratitude.
The chief of the Dao Court asked them to rise and said, "There's no need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Little Mo. He's the one who quelled the zombie threat and built this mine for all of you."
The miners bowed and thanked Little Mo profusely. However, they had no idea who this Little Mo was.
Subsequently, Si Tu Shen established some rules. For example, miners were not allowed to work in the mine for more than four hours a day. Their daily wages must not be less than one spirit stone, and no local family or force was allowed to withhold the miners' spirit stones for any reason.
Moreover, Jin Hua Street was shut down. All establishments for drinking, gambling, and prostitution were closed. The female cultivators working in the brothels were freed from their contracts and returned to the path of righteousness. Anyone who forced cultivators into prostitution or caused their deaths would be severely punished.
Si Tu Shen and Mo Hua stood on the city wall, watching Jin Hua Street being demolished.
The bosses, gamblers, thugs, pimps, and bouncers who had relied on the protection of the Lu family and committed all sorts of atrocities were now being escorted to the prison by the officers of the Dao Court. Along the way, they were met with curses, stones, and rotten vegetables thrown by the angry crowd.
Some, freed from their misery, wept in the arms of their loved ones. Others, alone and forsaken, grieved in silence.
Most people, however, were filled with righteous indignation, applauding the downfall of Jin Hua Street.
For decades, Jin Hua Street had been a place of splendor on the surface, but beneath it lay a world of tears and blood. Built by Lu Baopi, it was now being torn down in broad daylight.
Si Tu Shen sighed, "In the light of day, the filth and darkness have nowhere to hide."
But Mo Hua understood the deeper meaning behind his words. "What about the places where the light doesn't shine?"
Si Tu Shen was taken aback by Mo Hua's sharp insight. He hadn't expected Mo Hua to be so perceptive, able to discern his subtle thoughts.
Mo Hua's gaze was profound, his mind clear, and since he could be considered to have done a great service to the Si family, Si Tu Shen decided to speak candidly and reveal his true thoughts.
"Little Mo," Si Tu Shen sighed, his voice slightly hoarse, "I started working in the Dao Court when I was thirty years old, starting from a small position and working my way up to become a chief clerk, deputy chief, and even taking turns as the chief of a few small immortal cities..."
"To be honest, I've seen a lot of these kinds of things..."
"Or rather, if you look at the entire cultivation world, such things are commonplace."
"The reason this issue could be resolved was that it was brought to light."
"When things are out in the open, they are done in a righteous and upright manner, with proper justifications. But when they are hidden in the shadows, the situation is completely different."
"Let me speak bluntly..."
Si Tu Shen looked at Mo Hua and said in a low voice, "Today, as the chief of Nan Yue City, I can stand here righteously and take charge of these unfortunate cultivators, sweeping away the brothels and gambling dens, appearing to be a model of integrity."
"But if it weren't for this incident..."
"I would likely have done the same as the previous chief."
"I would have indulged in the brothels and gambled away fortunes, using the bodies of these unfortunate women for my pleasure, drowning myself in a world of debauchery."
"I would have joined hands with the Lu family, oppressing and exploiting these cultivators..."
Si Tu Shen's eyes clouded with complexity, and he continued, "Of course, I'm just speaking hypothetically..."
"The Si family has its rules, and at most, I would have tried to stay out of trouble. I wouldn't have truly sunk to their level."
"But most people, even if they spout righteous words, once they reach that position, would end up doing similar things as Qian Zhangshi..."
"And if this incident hadn't blown up and there wasn't intervention from the higher-ups, the Lu family's affairs would likely have been swept under the rug as well."
"There won't always be light, and even you will inevitably walk in the shadows at times..."
Si Tu Shen looked at Mo Hua with sincerity and said, "Mr. Mo, you must be careful from now on."
Be careful of others, but also be careful of yourself...
Si Tu Shen could see and understand these things, but he couldn't solve them. He didn't want Mo Hua's pure heart to be dragged into the quagmire of fickle human nature and be troubled by the darkness of worldly desires.
Mo Hua nodded solemnly, deep in thought.
"Thank you, Chief Si," Mo Hua replied with gratitude.
Si Tu Shen was speaking from the heart, also for his own good.
Mo Hua understood this.
Si Tu Shen smiled and nodded.
He then turned his head to look at the demolished Jin Hua Street below, a faint sigh escaping his lips.
This street, once glittering and bustling with lights and gold under the cover of night, now revealed its true, sordid self under the daylight, laying bare its filth and ugliness.
The cultivation world still had its dark and unjust places.
But at least, a ray of light had shone on this city...
With Jin Hua Street destroyed, many cultivators regained their freedom.
Qing Lan specially visited Mo Hua to express her gratitude and brought him a hundred-flower cake that she had made herself.
She had no family left in Nan Yue City.
Orphaned and alone, Qing Lan could take care of herself, but life was still difficult.
So, Si Tu Fang decided to take her in. Qing Lan could teach her cultivation techniques, and in return, she would help with meals and take care of her daily needs.
As the Chief Disciple, Si Tu Fang was usually busy and had little time to look after herself.
But with the support of the Si family, she could provide a stable environment for Qing Lan, who would no longer have to drift like a floating weed.
Mo Hua, Baizi Sheng, and Baizi Xi sat in the courtyard, enjoying the hundred-flower cake and chatting with Qing Lan.
Baizi Xi gave Qing Lan a cultivation technique.
It wasn't rare in the Bai family, but it was precious to Qing Lan.
Before leaving, Qing Lan bowed deeply and sincerely vowed, "If there's ever a chance for me to help Young Master Mo and Miss Bai, I will do so even at the cost of my life!"
Mo Hua waved his hand modestly. "You're too kind, Sister Qing Lan."
...
After seeing Qing Lan off, Su Zhanglao visited the next day.
He brought some fine tea for Mo Hua to taste.
The two sat in the courtyard, sipping tea as a gentle breeze blew, filling the air with a misty fragrance.
Su Zhanglao apologized, "Young Master Mo, please forgive me. I didn't know that Landmaster Lu... Lu Chengyun had such greedy intentions. It's my fault that you were schemed against by him..."
"It's fine, it's fine," Mo Hua waved it off, not taking it to heart.
If Lu Chengyun hadn't targeted him, he wouldn't have learned the Ling Shu Array, devoured the contemplation drawings, completely solved the zombie infestation in Nan Yue City, or helped them rebuild the mine.
The freelance cultivators in Nan Yue City had a hard life.
Mo Hua, himself a freelance cultivator once, remembered his mother's words.
If you meet a struggling freelance cultivator, help them if you can.
Su Zhanglao sighed, "Young Master Mo, you truly have a broad mind..."
Even though Su Zhanglao's flattery was a bit stiff, Mo Hua was still happy to hear it.
Mo Hua smiled modestly, humbly replying, "You flatter me."
Seeing that Mo Hua didn't blame him, Su Zhanglao felt relieved.
The atmosphere became more harmonious.
The two chatted as usual, discussing arrays and trivial matters.
Eventually, the topic turned to Jin Hua Street and Bai Hua Tower...
Su Zhanglao expressed his gratitude, "Young Master Mo, thank you for what you did for Jin Hua Street."
Mo Hua nodded, but then frowned in confusion. "Now that Jin Hua Street is gone, Elder Su won't be able to go to Bai Hua Tower to listen to music. Are you thanking me for that as well?"
Su Zhanglao's face turned red, and he quickly denied it. "No, no, I'm not that familiar with them..."
Mo Hua clearly didn't believe him.
Seeing Mo Hua's transparent gaze, Su Zhanglao knew that he had seen through him and stopped hiding the truth. Instead, he looked dejected as he said, "The music was pleasant to the ears, and the ladies were a pleasure to the eyes."
"Not being able to hear or see them anymore is indeed a bit regrettable."
"But these are just minor desires and not that important."
"What I truly hope for is a world where no one falls into a life of prostitution and no more girls suffer like Shui Xian..."
Mo Hua was taken aback, then picked up his teacup and said, "Let me propose a toast with this cup of tea."
Su Zhanglao couldn't help but laugh and toast Mo Hua with his teacup...
...
The matters in Nan Yue City were finally coming to a close.
The mine was rebuilt, and the arrays were perfected.
The freelance cultivators in Nan Yue City could now earn spirit stones through their own efforts, providing for themselves and living peaceful and stable lives.
Additionally, the countless zombies were to be cremated.
The Dao Court's cremation array was already constructed.
It was a restoration array built on a burial mound, composed of numerous fire-attribute sub-arrays, covering a vast area. When activated, the entire burial mound turned crimson, resembling a mountain of flames.
All the zombies in Nan Yue City were lined up to be cremated.
Mo Hua controlled the walking corpses, leading them in batches into the cremation array to burn their bodies, dissipate their corpse energy, and eliminate the zombie poison.
Every zombie was to be cremated.
This process was a lengthy one.
The only exception was the little zombie, which was the only one that didn't undergo cremation.
It hadn't shed blood or committed any sins, and it had even helped Mo Hua.
Out of sympathy, Mo Hua set up an array to dissipate its corpse energy and buried it on a small hill in a quiet and secluded area of the burial mound.
The hill was desolate but peaceful, free from disturbances.
Every evening, as the sun set, the afterglow would bathe the hill and the small tomb Mo Hua had built for it...
(End of Chapter)
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