Chapter 579: Sending Big Brother on His Way
Chapter 579: Sending Big Brother on His Way
Beyond the deep mountains, Qingzhou City lay several hundred miles ahead.
Reaching Qingzhou City would mean they were almost at the borders of Qian Xue Province.
Qian Xue Province was known for its thriving academic culture and was also considered a safer place.
From there, they could refer to the maps to locate Qian Dao Sect and gain entry with the admission order, formally becoming disciples of the sect.
"Becoming a disciple of the sect..."
Mo Hua's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Throughout the journey, he had been carefree and cheerful, following Jiang Laoda and the others without a care in the world.
He also took the opportunity to mooch off them for food and drinks.
At night, they took shelter in dilapidated temples or abandoned houses in the mountains. After eating his fill, Mo Hua would wrap himself in his small blanket and sleep soundly.
Jiang Laoda and the others huddled around a campfire.
One of them glanced at Mo Hua and snickered, "This kid has big dreams, he's as clueless as they come, not knowing anything..."
Jiang Laoda shot him a stern look, "Watch your mouth!"
The man lowered his head, but muttered under his breath, "This little fool can't even hear us anyway..."
Another man shook his head, "This boy, he seems smart, but he's really quite simple-minded..."
"What's so smart about him? You're not that different at your age, maybe even worse than him..."
"If he really was smart, we'd be in big trouble."
"Alright!" Jiang Laoda frowned.
The men fell silent.
The night was quiet, with only the crackling of the campfire breaking the silence.
The mountain breeze was chilly, and the group huddled around the fire, drinking to ward off the cold.
Sentries were posted on the outskirts, their spiritual senses sweeping the area, vigilant against any signs of movement.
As midnight approached, the night grew even quieter.
Mo Hua slept even more soundly, occasionally smacking his lips in his dreams as if eating something delicious.
One of the burly men glanced at Mo Hua and said to Jiang Laoda, "It's probably for the best that this kid is a bit simple-minded. Having him with us won't arouse any suspicions along the way."
Jiang Laoda nodded slightly.
The burly man furrowed his brow, a layer of doubt crossing his face, "Boss, do you think we'll be able to complete this mission successfully?"
Jiang Laoda's eyebrows knitted together as he lowered his voice, "It's just us now, but we have no choice but to succeed..."
The burly man said, "But what about us...?"
Jiang Laoda glanced at Mo Hua out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that he was sleeping soundly, he said, "It's hard to see what's right under your nose..."
"Out of all the groups we sent, the strongest team, consisting of eight late Qi Refining cultivators equipped with superior demonic artifacts and practicing demonic cultivation techniques, was suspected by the Daotang Court. They were all slaughtered, not a single one left alive."
"As for the other groups, some were captured by the Gu family, while others are now being hunted by the Daotang Court..."
"The Daotang Court is pursuing us too aggressively this time. If we're not careful, we might all end up dead..."
The burly man cursed, "Damn that Daotang Court!"
Then he continued, his confusion evident, "Those bureaucrats in the Daotang Court are usually just freeloaders. How did they become so formidable this time?"
Jiang Laoda glanced at him, "Those who can worm their way into the Daotang Court are no ordinary freeloaders. They're just unwilling to take action unless there's something in it for them..."
"Once their interests are threatened or there's a chance for profit, they'll become true 'hawks and hounds'..."
"This transaction is of great significance, and the Daotang Court is both directly involved and stands to gain a lot. Naturally, they're putting in all their effort."
The burly man lowered his voice, "Are we, a group of early Qi Refining cultivators, really no match for the Daotang Court and the Gu family?"
Jiang Laoda looked at him coldly, "Even if you were at the early Golden Core stage, you still wouldn't be their match."
The burly man fell silent.
Jiang Laoda sighed, "That's why we chose to take the route through a second-rate province like Qianzhou.
"Fortunately, we're only at the early Qi Refining stage. If our cultivation were any higher, it would be too eye-catching, and we might have been exposed and slaughtered by the Daotang Court or the Gu family halfway through the journey."
The burly man shuddered at the thought.
Cultivation was indeed dependent on one's fate.
Sometimes, having a higher cultivation level didn't necessarily mean better, as it could also lead to a quicker death.
"Boss, do you think we'll really be able to deliver the goods this time?"
Jiang Laoda said in a deep voice, "Mr. Tu has already calculated everything. As long as we follow his instructions, we'll have some surprises along the way, but no dangers."
The three words "Mr. Tu" seemed to carry a lot of weight.
The burly man relaxed a little.
Jiang Laoda continued, "After this transaction, we'll earn a large sum of spirit stones. At that time, brothers can buy some pills and spiritual objects to aid in their cultivation, and they should be able to break through a level or two."
"Once the heat dies down, we can go back to our old trade..."
The burly man's eyes lit up at the mention of spirit stones, but he forced a smile and said,
"With so many spirit stones, it would be too bitter to just spend them on cultivation..."
Jiang Laoda saw right through him and kicked him, scolding, "Stop visiting brothels so often, you good-for-nothing!"
The burly man smiled sheepishly, unconvinced, and glanced at Mo Hua again, asking,
"What about that kid then? Are we selling him too?"
Jiang Laoda nodded, "I've decided that when we reach the outskirts of Qingzhou City, we'll hand him over at one of the meeting points. We'll take whatever price we can get for him."
...
As the two men chatted, the night deepened, and their eyelids grew heavy. Soon, they closed their eyes to rest.
In his sea of consciousness, Mo Hua practiced the array while eavesdropping on the "story." However, his brow furrowed as he listened.
"Several batches..."
"Mr. Tu..."
"Transaction..."
It seemed that these slave traders were not just one batch but part of a larger syndicate.
There were even demonic cultivators among them...
He wondered if the groups of demonic cultivators he had encountered on the way were also involved in the slave trade.
And who was this "Mr. Tu"?
How did he calculate that there would be surprises but no dangers?
Did he possess heaven's secrets or possess a heavenly computational technique? Or did he have a heaven-defying treasure?
Mo Hua felt conflicted as he thought about his next course of action.
"Should I capture this group of slave traders in one fell swoop?"
Mo Hua shook his head.
He was only at the early Qi Refining stage and didn't have the ability to do so.
Moreover, this was Qianzhou, not a second-rate province like Dahei Mountain. High-level cultivators were everywhere.
He had no influence, background, or connections here, and no one would back him up.
He didn't have the qualifications to handle such matters.
"Forget it, I should just focus on myself for now..."
When they neared Qingzhou City, he would find an opportunity to slip away quietly.
His priority was to join the sect.
That was the main task, and he shouldn't waste time on other matters.
At most, after reaching Qingzhou City, he could report the slave traders to the Daotang Court and let them handle the rest. As for him, a mere early Qi Refining cultivator, he couldn't get too involved.
However, that calculative "Mr. Tu" might be worth keeping an eye on in the future...
Mo Hua committed the name "Mr. Tu" to memory and then continued practicing the array on the stele.
Mo Hua felt it was time for him to make his move and slip away.
The world was vast, and his initiation into the sect was a momentous event.
He didn't have time to play games with these slave traders anymore.
However, when they stopped to rest in a mountain forest, Jiang Laoda suddenly took out an iron bracelet and handed it to Mo Hua, his expression cold.
"Put it on."
Mo Hua was taken aback. "What is this?"
"Don't worry about it, just put it on." Jiang Laoda's tone was indifferent.
The other cultivators also stared at Mo Hua, their smiles sinister.
Mo Hua feigned fear. "I... I won't put it on..."
One of the burly men let out a cold laugh. "That's not up to you..."
"But... aren't you going to take me to find my master?" Mo Hua stammered, secretly releasing his spiritual sense to search for a corner where he could use the Flowing Water Step to escape unnoticed, then use his Concealment Technique to blend into the grass and shrubs.
The first-grade Concealment Technique wasn't the best, but it would be enough to shake these people off his trail, given his small stature and the cover of the vegetation.
However, these slave traders were unaware of Mo Hua's inner thoughts.
Jiang Laoda offered a gentle smile, though it seemed forced and insincere. "If you wear this bracelet, we will take you to find your master..."
"Really?" Mo Hua's face lit up with a look of pure innocence, but he was already mustering his Qi, his heels slightly raised.
Just as Jiang Laoda was about to say something more, one of the burly men let out a derisive laugh.
"Find his master? You little fool!"
"Who has the time to bother with finding your master, who knows where he's rotting away..."
The group fell silent for a moment.
Mo Hua's expression gradually turned neutral, his eyes cooling as a hint of darkness flickered in their depths.
However, this change was fleeting and went unnoticed by the others.
Jiang Laoda's gaze turned sharp as he glared at the man who had spoken.
The burly man closed his mouth, looking resentful.
Jiang Laoda turned back to Mo Hua, his voice gentle.
"Little brother, don't mind their rude words... We will take you to see your master."
"This bracelet is a spiritual artifact meant to protect you and ensure you don't get lost. It will make it easier for us to find you if you wander off. It's for your own good, so please wear it..."
Jiang Laoda's tone was mild, but his eyes were icy, leaving no room for refusal.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright!"
He took the bracelet and slipped it onto his delicate wrist.
Jiang Laoda seemed relieved, looking at Mo Hua as if he were a lamb to be led to slaughter.
"Let's go..."
Jiang Laoda led the way, and the others followed, their smiles sinister.
Mo Hua trailed behind, his gaze fixed on the group as if they were already dead to him.
...
From then on, Mo Hua was well-behaved and obedient.
Jiang Laoda found this strange, but since Mo Hua was wearing the iron bracelet, he didn't think the young cultivator could cause much trouble, so he didn't pay it much mind.
After traveling over a hundred miles more, they reached an eatery in the late afternoon.
They were now only a few dozen miles away from Qingzhou City.
The eatery was located outdoors, with a thatched roof and wooden eaves. It was spacious but had no other customers.
The owner of the eatery was a plump man, and there was also a thin waiter. When they saw Jiang Laoda and his group, their eyes narrowed slightly, and they asked with a smile:
"What can I get for you, gentlemen?"
Jiang Laoda replied in a deep voice, "We won't be eating."
The owner asked, "Then would you like accommodations?"
Jiang Laoda asked, "Can people stay here?"
The owner breathed a slight sigh of relief and smiled. "Not for adults, but it's fine for children."
Jiang Laoda nodded. "Then we won't stay. Just bring us some wine and meat."
"Certainly!" the owner replied.
The conversation between the two men was a bit odd.
Mo Hua thought about it and realized that these men were working together.
This eatery owner was also a slave trader, disguised and lying in wait here to meet up with Jiang Laoda's group and trade small cultivators like himself.
The group sat down at the eatery.
The owner brought wine and meat, then raised his cup to Jiang Laoda and asked in a low voice, "Is it done?"
Jiang Laoda nodded.
The owner glanced at Mo Hua and frowned. "Is this the one? He doesn't seem the right age..."
Jiang Laoda shook his head. "No, he's just a bonus we picked up along the way. The important 'merchandise' wouldn't be traveling with us..."
"...Rest assured, everything is in order..."
Only then did the owner relax. "That's good..."
Jiang Laoda asked, "When will the person arrive?"
"In about an hour..."
"What about the Gu family?"
"They've left the city..."
"And the Daotang Court?"
"Someone is keeping an eye on them. There are no signs of their lackeys within a radius of ten to twenty li."
Jiang Laoda breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "Good!"
The others also looked relieved.
After traveling day and night, always on edge, they were finally about to conclude this deal and earn a substantial sum of spirit stones, which would allow them to live comfortably for several or even a dozen years.
The owner served the wine and meat.
The group had been hungry for a long time, so they dug in, though they drank in moderation.
At the final stretch, they didn't want to make any mistakes.
Mo Hua also received a small bowl of spirit meat and ate while pondering.
"An hour... Who's coming?"
"If it's a Golden Core cultivator, I probably won't be able to escape. If it's a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it could still be tricky if there are too many of them..."
"I need to make plans in advance..."
Mo Hua took a bite of meat, then slammed the bowl down and scowled. "This is disgusting..."
The other cultivators glared at him.
"What are you complaining about, brat?"
Mo Hua said, "The meat is terrible. It's poorly cooked. I can cook better than this..."
The plump owner flew into a rage. "How dare you! This is my family's secret recipe!"
Mo Hua scoffed. "Then your ancestors weren't very skilled..."
"You..." The plump owner's face turned red with anger, but Jiang Laoda held him back, signaling for him to calm down. "Don't bother with a child..."
In situations like this, it was best to keep a low profile.
Jiang Laoda looked at Mo Hua and said, "If you don't like it, cook it yourself.
"Alright!" Mo Hua exclaimed cheerfully as he got up and headed towards the kitchen.
Jiang Laoda's gaze followed the young boy.
The kitchen was enclosed within the eatery, and with the iron bracelet on his wrist, there was no way for Mo Hua to escape, especially with over a dozen pairs of eyes watching him.
However, to be extra cautious, Jiang Laoda continued eating his meat and drinking his wine while sending out a strand of his spiritual sense to keep an eye on Mo Hua's movements in the kitchen.
Indeed, Mo Hua was cooking meat.
Surprisingly, the ingredients in this eatery were all spirit meat, although there was less variety, but the quality was good.
Apparently, this group of men, while engaging in their despicable and unscrupulous dealings, were living a life of luxury and indulgence.
Spirit meat was expensive, and Mo Hua didn't get to eat it often, nor could he afford to indulge in it, but now he didn't have to hold back...
Mo Hua selected some of the best cuts of meat and placed them in a pot to cook. Then, following his mother's teachings, he adjusted the heat and added spices, bringing out the flavor of the meat and blending it with the fragrance of the spices...
Mo Hua noticed the tendril of Jiang Laoda's spiritual sense observing him, but he knew that such a weak spiritual sense wouldn't be able to keep up with him.
After adjusting the flavors and reducing the heat, Mo Hua allowed the meat to simmer slowly.
Then, he took out several bottles of spirit ink from his "Nazi Ring."
His storage bag had been "confiscated" by Jiang Laoda, who claimed to be holding it for safekeeping.
Mo Hua didn't mind.
The crucial items were stored within the "Nazi Ring" given to him by his master, an item that was invisible to others and thus very secure.
Now, he needed to get rid of the iron bracelet on his wrist.
Mo Hua took out the spirit ink and, with a flick of his finger, manipulated the ink with his spiritual sense, inscribing intricate array patterns onto the bracelet, causing the lock that bound him to fall apart.
This iron bracelet possessed spirit-suppressing and tracking abilities.
The Daotang Court had similar spiritual artifacts used for restraining rogue cultivators.
The troublesome part about this bracelet was the array inscribed on it.
But the very thing that made it troublesome was also its downfall.
For Mo Hua, as long as it was an array, it was no problem at all.
That was why he had obediently put on the bracelet in the first place.
"Trying to trap me with this kind of array is a bit like 'carrying coals to Newcastle,'" Mo Hua thought with a soft hum.
With the array on the bracelet undone, it lost its effectiveness.
Now, it was time for the main event...
Mo Hua's eyes gleamed, his pupils turning pitch-black as shadows danced within them, and the divine incarnation within his sea of consciousness donned a layer of mysterious "Daoist robes."
His spiritual sense surged forth like a tidal wave.
The spirit ink floated up from the bottles, condensing into threads that fell to the ground and seeped into the soil, becoming fine strands that resembled blood snakes, creeping stealthily outward and layering upon each other as they wove an intricate web...
As dusk fell, the light dimmed, casting an eerie glow.
Unbeknownst to the men, something terrifying was taking shape on the ground, like a spider spinning an intricate web, layer by layer, slowly coming to life...
...
The spirit meat was tender, and it didn't take long to cook.
Soon, Mo Hua had finished preparing the dish.
He served the meat in a bowl large enough to cover his face and brought it outside, where he happily ate the meat and drank the soup by himself.
The others watched him silently, both surprised that the young boy could actually cook and impressed by the delicious aroma wafting from the dish.
However, they didn't disturb Mo Hua.
It seemed that no matter how delicious the meal was, it was still a "last supper" for him.
After being sold, no one knew who the buyer was or what they intended to do with him...
Perhaps he would be raised, enslaved, or used for alchemy, talisman-making, or artifact-forging...
Whether he would live or die was uncertain.
So, calling it a "last supper" was not an exaggeration.
Mo Hua devoured the entire bowl of meat, his stomach round and full, and then he drank the soup, warming his body.
He poured himself a cup of wine from the table and, holding it with both hands, approached Jiang Laoda to offer a toast.
Jiang Laoda was taken aback but smiled at the gesture.
"Thank you all for taking care of me on this journey," Mo Hua said sincerely, holding the wine bowl. "I would like to propose a toast to send you all on your way!"
With that, Mo Hua drained the wine in one gulp.
Jiang Laoda chuckled but inwardly scoffed, nonetheless raising his bowl to drink as well. However, halfway through, he paused, sensing something amiss with Mo Hua's words...
"Send you all on your way?" What did he mean by that?
Jiang Laoda's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Taking advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was on him, Mo Hua secretly crushed a bag of spirit stones, using his spiritual sense to activate the array.
The ripple of spiritual power gave him away.
Jiang Laoda's eyes widened in alarm as he turned sharply towards Mo Hua.
He reached out to grab the boy, but Mo Hua was suddenly enveloped in a misty aura, intangible and elusive.
Jiang Laoda's hand closed around nothing but mist, his grip finding only emptiness.
When he looked again, Mo Hua had already drifted to the corner of the room, his figure ethereal.
"What kind of body technique is this?!" Jiang Laoda exclaimed, stunned.
Before he could react further, his peripheral vision caught something that made his eyes bulge.
On the ground, intricate and profound crimson patterns had appeared, stark against the fading light of dusk, and spiritual power flowed within them like molten lava, encapsulating them all!
"A killing array?!" Jiang Laoda's heart clenched as fear gripped him.
...
Regarding the update schedule...
Although it's one chapter per day, the word count is similar to updating twice a day.
I don't want to split chapters, so I'll keep them intact.
When writing a long novel, it's inevitable to feel increasingly weary and anxious as the story progresses, so I have to pace myself and not rush it, or I might burn out.
I can only adjust the update frequency if I'm confident that I can finish the novel according to the outline.
My energy is limited, and I can't overdo it.
When I'm feeling better and in a good state of mind, I'll try to write more.
I understand that some readers may feel the updates are slow, and it saddens me, but I truly can't write faster...
If you really can't wait, I can only apologize and suggest that you take a break from the story for now~
I'm truly sorry (embarrassed.jpg)
.
(End of Chapter)
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