https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-579-Sending-Big-Brother-on-His-Way/12542640/
Chapter 578: Child Traffickers
Chapter 578: Child Traffickers
Mo Hua asked excitedly, "Manifesting a sword with divine consciousness? How is it done? What does the manifested sword look like? And how does one control it with their consciousness?"
Huang Shanjun's expression was complicated as he replied, "How would I know..."
I was the one who was slashed to death by 'Manifest Sword with Divine Consciousness', not the one who used it...
Mo Hua continued his inquiry, "So, is this 'Manifest Sword with Divine Consciousness' technique very powerful?"
Huang Shanjun nodded, "Just look at my current pitiful state after being defeated by it, and you'll know..."
Mo Hua glanced at Huang Shanjun with a hint of skepticism, "You're not that strong yourself..."
How could Huang Shanjun prove that "Manifest Sword with Divine Consciousness" was formidable? He felt ashamed and annoyed as he explained, "That was then, this is now! Back then, I was a Mountain Lord! I was in charge of these mountains!"
"It's just that I made a wrong step and harbored evil thoughts. My cultivation was destroyed in an instant, and that's why I ended up in such a miserable state, defeated by you, a tiger fallen from its peak and..."
Mo Hua frowned, his gaze turning dangerous.
Huang Shanjun immediately swallowed the words "bullied by a dog".
He couldn't exactly say that a tiger had fallen from its peak only to be bullied by a "dog"...
This little monk was quite skilled. At the very least, he was a "little tiger", or rather, a "little vicious tiger"...
A "little vicious tiger" that ate people...
It was best to avoid provoking such a creature if possible.
Mo Hua still seemed a bit doubtful, "Were you really that powerful before?"
"Of course..." Huang Shanjun replied defensively.
Mo Hua pondered, "This place is within the boundaries of a second-grade minor state in Qianzhu. Even if you were powerful, you would only be a second-grade mountain god. How strong could you really be?"
"That's something you wouldn't understand..." Huang Shanjun began to explain, his narrow face filled with arrogance. However, he suddenly stopped midway and forced a smile, "Well, I was indeed just a second-grade minor mountain god..."
Mo Hua looked at him with suspicion.
Huang Shanjun felt uncomfortable under Mo Hua's stare and looked up at the sky, pretending that nothing had happened.
Mo Hua felt that there were a lot of issues with Huang Shanjun's story, but since he had softened up and was, after all, a mountain god, Mo Hua couldn't be too rude.
Mo Hua was more concerned about the "Manifest Sword with Divine Consciousness" technique...
"What does a swordsman who can manifest a sword with their divine consciousness look like? What's their name? Do you know?" Mo Hua asked eagerly.
Huang Shanjun shook his head, "I don't know. I only remember that he wore white robes and looked like an immortal. And there was that terrifying sword intent. As for his appearance, I didn't dare to look too closely, and I certainly didn't dare to ask his name..."
"Which sect was he from?" Mo Hua inquired further.
Huang Shanjun shook his head again.
Mo Hua sighed in exasperation and gave Huang Shanjun a disdainful look, "You really don't know anything, do you?"
Huang Shanjun felt helpless.
What can I do? I was slashed by that person and barely escaped. How could I have dared to ask questions?
"A swordsman in white, slaying an evil mountain god..."
Mo Hua could only make a mental note of this clue and plan to investigate further after joining a sect.
He hoped to find out the identity of the "Manifest Sword with Divine Consciousness" practitioner and learn the method to manifest a sword with divine consciousness, mastering the art of projecting spiritual consciousness and manifesting it as a sword...
That way, if he encountered any more evil beings or consciousnesses like Huang Shanjun's, he could use his divine consciousness to manifest a sword and slash them down outside of his sea of consciousness.
These thoughts ran through Mo Hua's mind as he hid quietly.
Huang Shanjun shivered involuntarily.
He didn't know what Mo Hua was planning, but he could guess that it wasn't anything good, and it might even be something terrifying...
Otherwise, he wouldn't feel a chill running down his neck...
"Little Master..." Huang Shanjun offered a extremely friendly, even somewhat ingratiating smile, "The mountain air is cold. You should rest early and continue your journey tomorrow morning..."
He wanted to send this little ancestor on his way as soon as possible...
"I'm not sleepy!" Mo Hua declared.
With the stele in his consciousness sea, he didn't feel tired even without sleep.
Huang Shanjun felt bitter inside.
Little ancestor, please feel a bit sleepy...
The night is long, and it's hard for me to endure if you're not sleepy...
Mo Hua had a lot on his mind.
He wondered about becoming a mountain god, what constituted good karma, whether a mountain god who harbored evil thoughts would become an evil god, why they needed to absorb incense offerings, and why they required worship, among other things.
It was still early until dawn, and Mo Hua wanted to keep questioning Huang Shanjun to get clear answers. However, just as he was about to speak, he paused and his gaze shifted towards the door.
Huang Shanjun noticed Mo Hua's unusual reaction and was taken aback.
A moment later, he also stiffened.
"Someone's coming from outside..." Mo Hua said.
Huang Shanjun's expression turned to one of astonishment.
He now understood that this little monk's spiritual sense was extraordinary. Even within his own mountain domain, Mo Hua could sense the slightest changes before he could.
"We should hide..." Huang Shanjun suggested weakly, glancing at Mo Hua for approval.
Mo Hua nodded, and Huang Shanjun breathed a sigh of relief. He transformed into a wisp of white smoke and merged with the mountain god statue, concealing himself.
Mo Hua erased the warm fire formation on the ground and, using the Flowing Water Steps, walked vertically along the wall and hid behind the broken beam, using the Hiding Technique to remain unseen.
Soon, faint footsteps could be heard outside the temple.
Although the footsteps were muffled, in the quiet mountain night, especially with Mo Hua's heightened senses, they were still clearly audible.
Two unfamiliar monks hid outside the temple door, crouching as they peered inside. They released their spiritual consciousness to scan the area before lowering their guard and reporting to someone behind them, "Big Brother, there's no one in the temple..."
More voices could be heard from behind.
"Let's rest for a bit in this temple..."
"May the Mountain Lord protect us..."
"A man's life is in his own hands. What use is praying to the Mountain Lord?"
...
A group of people walked into the dilapidated temple, chattering amongst themselves.
Mo Hua, hidden in the rafters, stole glances through the gaps in the beams, aided by the moonlight. He noticed that over a dozen people had entered the temple, most of them early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Some carried knives, others wore swords at their hips, and a few pushed a mountain cart on which sat several storage boxes, their contents unknown.
Their leader, a middle-aged man in blue robes and carrying a sword, had an air of refinement and culture about him. Despite also being an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, his cultivation was clearly more robust than the others, and his footsteps carried a practiced rhythm.
Mo Hua heard the others address him as "Boss Jiang."
Boss Jiang entered the temple and surveyed his surroundings before nodding in satisfaction. "We've been traveling day and night, brothers. Let's rest here for the night and continue our journey at dawn. Once we deliver the goods, we can all earn some spirit stones and relax a little." His voice was gentle and cultured.
The other cultivators nodded in agreement and set down their belongings, finding clean spots within the temple to sit cross-legged. Some took out dried rations to eat, while others drank to quench their fatigue. A few, exhausted from the journey, simply lay down and fell asleep.
A handful of them spoke in hushed tones, their conversation piquing Mo Hua's curiosity.
"Boss, how many more days...?"
"Three or four days' journey..."
"How much can we earn?"
"Don't think about that now. We'll see when we get there..."
"What about the others...?"
"It's just us..."
...
Their hushed conversation continued for a while.
Mo Hua listened intently but grew puzzled as he couldn't make sense of their cryptic discussion. Just as he was about to strain his ears further, Boss Jiang's expression suddenly changed.
"Something's wrong!"
The other cultivators were taken aback by his exclamation.
"Boss, what is it?"
"What's happening?"
Boss Jiang stood up and slowly scanned their surroundings, his eyes narrowing. "There's someone here!"
Mo Hua was surprised by this declaration.
The newcomers were even more startled, and they all stood up, their spiritual senses intertwining as they carefully scanned the temple. After a moment, they all frowned, confused.
"Boss, there's no one here..."
Boss Jiang knelt down and rubbed his hand against the ground, his eyes alert. "The ground is still warm. Someone was definitely here not long ago, taking shelter and warming themselves by a fire..."
He looked around and soon spotted the potato peelings that Mo Hua had left behind.
He picked up the peelings, his brows furrowed in confusion.
Suddenly, one of his companions exclaimed, "Boss, look!"
Boss Jiang immediately walked over to where the man was pointing. On the ground, he saw a mess of intersecting lines, as if someone had been drawing something there recently...
Boss Jiang's heart skipped a beat. "A formation...?!"
His gentle gaze turned sharp, and he barked, "Everyone, be on guard!"
The cultivators in the temple immediately shook off their fatigue and drew their weapons, channeling their spiritual power with grave expressions.
However, despite their vigilance, the temple remained quiet, with no signs of movement or presence, whether detected by the naked eye or spiritual sense.
One of the cultivators hesitated, "Boss, do you think we're mistaken...?"
Boss Jiang frowned, thinking for a moment before shaking his head. "No, the formation was just erased, and the ground is still warm. Someone was definitely here in this temple not long ago..."
"In these remote mountains, with only this one dilapidated temple, that person must still be nearby. They probably hid when they saw our large group. Or perhaps..." His eyes narrowed, "...they're ambushing us."
The other cultivators' faces turned grim.
"Boss, what should we do?"
Boss Jiang thought for a moment, then called out to the temple, his voice carrying a hint of respect. "Friend, why don't you show yourself? It's better to meet than to hide."
"Meeting is fate..."
"We mean you no harm, and we have no grudge. Let's be friends in this chance encounter in the mountains..."
...
Boss Jiang's words were polite, but Mo Hua remained unmoved.
He couldn't read their intentions, and the saying went that one could never truly know what was in another's heart.
Boss Jiang tried to persuade the unseen presence, but when his efforts yielded no response, his eyes turned cold, and he said sternly, "If you don't appreciate our kindness, don't blame me for being impolite."
"I'll tear down this temple, smash this statue, and raze this place to the ground. Let's see where you'll hide then..."
Tear down the temple? Mo Hua was taken aback. He glanced down and saw Huang Shanjun, the fallen mountain lord, looking annoyed but helpless within the statue.
In his current state, he was no match for these Foundation Establishment cultivators.
If they destroyed his statue, he would truly be left without a home.
Mo Hua, however, didn't particularly care.
The mountain was vast, and the night was deep. Even if they tore down the temple, he could still escape. But Huang Shanjun, once a proud mountain lord, would be left homeless and rootless.
Mo Hua still had a lot of questions for this fallen mountain god.
After a moment's thought, Mo Hua withdrew his concealment art and called out in a clear voice, "I'm coming out!"
Boss Jiang was surprised. In the darkness of the night, he had expected any hidden observer to be a seasoned cultivator, well-versed in the ways of the world.
Boss Jiang froze, then a chill ran down his spine as he asked, "Are you human or ghost?"
Mo Hua rolled his eyes at him. "You're the ghost?"
Boss Jiang saw that Mo Hua's voice and appearance were lively and dynamic, and he indeed seemed to be a living young cultivator. He breathed a sigh of relief.
But then, he frowned again. "Are you alone?"
Mo Hua naturally wouldn't admit to being alone. "I got separated from my master, senior martial brothers, and senior martial sisters. I'm just taking a temporary rest in this dilapidated temple and will look for them tomorrow."
He has a sect...
Boss Jiang furrowed his brows slightly but didn't take it to heart.
However, there was one thing he couldn't understand, and he asked in a deep voice, "Why didn't we detect your presence when we entered?"
Mo Hua replied with righteous indignation, "How would I know?"
"If you couldn't detect me, shouldn't you look for the reason within yourselves?"
"Isn't it because your cultivation is insufficient, your spiritual sense is weak, or your alertness is lacking?"
"What does that have to do with me, a child?"
The group flushed with shame and anger at Mo Hua's words, but they seemed unable to refute him.
They could only blame themselves for their incompetence...
It wouldn't do to blame this child for hiding well...
Mo Hua nodded slightly, seeing that they had such "self-awareness."
A burly man leaned closer to Boss Jiang, his lips barely moving as he whispered:
"What should we do?"
"Should we...?"
The man's eyes turned cold, and he made a slashing gesture with his hand.
His movements were small, and his voice was soft, but Mo Hua, with his powerful spiritual sense, heard him anyway. However, he pretended not to.
"Let's not be hasty. Let's see what happens first..." Boss Jiang said in a low voice.
He couldn't quite figure out this young cultivator's background and identity.
Frowning in thought, Boss Jiang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked, "Little brother, did you set up the array in this temple?"
The Warm Fire Array?
Mo Hua thought about it and nodded. "Yes, I did!"
Boss Jiang was astonished, but even more so, he was delighted.
"You actually know how to set up arrays?!
"Mmm..."
Boss Jiang's expression immediately softened, and he even smiled kindly.
A young cultivator...
Who knows how to set up arrays...
That price tag would be extraordinary...
"Put away your knives and swords, don't disturb the young brother..." Boss Jiang instructed, then looked at Mo Hua, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze.
"We are legitimate merchants traveling through these parts, and we're afraid of being ambushed and losing both people and goods. That's why we're a little overly cautious, little brother, please don't take offense..."
Mo Hua nodded, indicating that he didn't mind.
But inwardly, he scoffed.
Legitimate merchants? I've seen those before. Who are you trying to fool...
Boss Jiang invited Mo Hua to sit down and even took out some dried rations and wild fruits to offer him.
Mo Hua didn't eat.
Boss Jiang didn't mind and asked gently, "Little brother, at such a young age, you're able to set up an array of this caliber. You're truly remarkable!"
This caliber? The Warm Fire Array's caliber? His attempt at flattery didn't touch Mo Hua, who merely replied nonchalantly:
"It's so-so..."
Boss Jiang tried again, "Then, little brother, can you set up first-rate arrays?"
Mo Hua nodded, "I suppose so..."
Boss Jiang was overjoyed. "Little brother, you will surely have a bright future ahead of you!"
Then he raised his cup and said sincerely, "I'll drink a penalty cup to apologize for my earlier rudeness and impoliteness!"
Boss Jiang drained his cup.
Mo Hua was also very generous and said, "It doesn't matter. I don't take it to heart."
Boss Jiang said some more flattering words, then moved his eyes slightly and asked in a low voice, "May I ask, little brother, who is your master..."
"My master doesn't allow me to say..." Mo Hua replied, "But my master is amazing. He can casually set up third-rate arrays..."
"My master uncle is even more incredible, but I can't tell you about him..."
Boss Jiang smiled and thought to himself.
A master at the Golden Core stage...
That's a bit low.
With array talent but only a mediocre master... Can't extort much, so I'll have to change tactics and sell him...
Boss Jiang made up his mind, then suddenly slapped his forehead as if he'd just remembered something. "Your master..."
"On my way here, I seem to have met a remarkable man who was looking for his disciple. He said his disciple had extraordinary talent and profound array skills, and it seems to fit your description, little brother..."
"This remarkable man might be your master!"
Mo Hua silently watched his performance, his expressionless face as he said, "Are my senior martial brother and sister there too?"
"Yes," Boss Jiang said, "That remarkable man had a male and a female disciple by his side, both of whom were extraordinary in appearance and truly dragons and phoenixes among men..."
Mo Hua pretended to be "delighted" and said in a flat tone, "Ah, that's wonderful. They are indeed my master, my senior martial sister, and my senior martial brother!"
Although Boss Jiang thought Mo Hua's tone was strange, he had his own agenda and didn't notice at the moment. Instead, he sighed, "It's just a pity that they took the wrong path..."
"Wrong path?"
Mo Hua's expression fell.
Boss Jiang looked at Mo Hua and made a judgment in his heart.
This child seemed quick-witted and cautious, but after all, he was still young and inexperienced, especially when it came to matters concerning his master. His concern made him more prone to confusion.
It wouldn't be difficult to deceive him with a few lies...
"Your master is an extraordinary person, and we'd like to establish a good connection with you," Boss Jiang said. "Why don't we take you to find your master? We're headed towards Qingzhou City anyway, so it's on our way..."
"Really?" Mo Hua asked excitedly.
"Of course," Boss Jiang replied with a warm smile.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up with joy, and he exclaimed, "That's wonderful! Thank you, brothers!"
Mo Hua's eyes were clear and pure, and they held a lively spark, like that of a fawn.
Boss Jiang felt relieved and said, "It's getting late. Let's rest for the night, and we'll set off early tomorrow morning to find your master."
"Okay!"
Mo Hua nodded eagerly.
The group settled down to rest in the dilapidated temple.
Mo Hua quietly fell asleep, his eyelashes dark against his fair skin, his breathing even and calm, looking just like an ordinary child.
Boss Jiang stood outside the temple, keeping his distance from Mo Hua, and spoke in a low voice with the other cultivators.
"Boss, why are we bringing this kid with us?"
"He knows how to set up formations, and he'll fetch a good price..."
One of the cultivators said, "His spiritual root is too weak; he's not that valuable..."
Boss Jiang replied, "What do you know? One outstanding trait makes up for a hundred flaws. The fact that he knows formations is enough; it's not like we're trying to get him into a sect, so there's no need to be picky..."
"Before we came here, the master warned us not to cause any trouble..."
Someone else voiced their concern.
"It's fine, just this once. Whether it's one or two, they're still for sale..." Boss Jiang whispered, "After this job, it might be harder to pull off something like this again. If we can make some extra profit, let's do it..."
"Moreover, Qianzhou is so vast, and the powers here are intertwined and complex."
"Having a Golden Core stage master isn't that impressive..."
"If we lose this kid, it'll be like dropping him into the ocean, and we'll never find him again..."
...
The cultivators spoke in low voices, their faces grim.
"Little Brother" Mo Hua secretly opened one eye, pretending to be asleep, and he soon understood what was going on.
These cultivators were child traffickers!
They specialized in abducting and selling young cultivators.
They looked kind on the surface, but their hearts were rotten to the core!
In Qianzhou, a place filled with sects and schools, most of their victims were young cultivators around Mo Hua's age.
They would either extort them or sell them.
If the young cultivators had good spiritual roots and outstanding talent, the traffickers could earn a fortune by either method.
Some cultivators had even fallen into the path of demonic cultivation, using the blood, essence, and spiritual roots of other cultivators as ingredients for their elixirs.
The Qian Family's elder was one such example, using human lives to refine the "Life Prolonging Elixir."
Naturally, young cultivators with pure bloodlines and exceptional talent would be the best "elixir ingredients."
Selling them to demonic cultivators would also bring in a substantial profit.
After thinking it through, Mo Hua slowly closed his eyes again, continuing to pretend to be asleep.
The night in the desolate mountains was quiet and still.
...
When morning came, someone shook Mo Hua awake.
Mo Hua pretended to wake up groggily, even rubbing his eyes with his small hands.
Boss Jiang wore a friendly smile and spoke gently, "It's morning. Time to set off. We'll take you to find your master..."
Find his master...
Mo Hua's heart stirred with mixed emotions, but he smiled and said, "Okay!"
The group packed up their belongings and prepared to leave.
At that moment, Huang Shanjun's voice whispered from within the clay statue:
"Little Master, be careful. These people are not good people..."
His voice was a mental transmission that only Mo Hua could hear.
"I know..." Mo Hua nodded slightly, then waved at the clay statue in the main hall, "I'm leaving now. I'll come back to visit you if I have the chance..."
The other cultivators found his behavior strange, but they attributed it to him being a child with childish tendencies, so they didn't think much of it.
On the surface of the clay statue, white smoke formed into Huang Shanjun's face.
He gave Mo Hua an awkward smile, but his heart was heavy with unspoken words:
"Don't... don't come back to visit me. I don't want to see you again..."
After they had packed up, Mo Hua followed Boss Jiang and the others as they left the dilapidated temple, walking towards the distant Qingzhou City, their path illuminated by the morning sun.
This was the way to Qianzhou, and it was indeed on Mo Hua's route.
Huang Shanjun watched them leave, his heart filled with worry.
"These ten or so cultivators carry evil karma; they are not good people..."
"I hope this young cultivator will be alright..."
Huang Shanjun frowned, then paused as a sudden realization struck him.
While these cultivators were not good people, this young cultivator before him seemed... even less like a good person?
What kind of child cultivator would think of "eating" a mountain god?!
Huang Shanjun's expression turned pensive as he watched Mo Hua walking boldly in the middle of the "child traffickers." At that moment, he wasn't sure who he should be more worried about...
(End of Chapter)
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