Chapter 617: Gu Chang Huai
Chapter 617: Gu Chang Huai
"Three days ago, outside the borders of Qiaoxue State, south of Canglang Mountain, along the Luopan Mountain Path, three family disciples were found dead with their storage bags stolen..."
"The Daotingsi inquiry is underway, and an investigation is underway..."
"These three disciples, all at the Foundation Establishment realm, had gathered to discuss the Dao. As they made their way back to the sect along the Luopan Mountain Path, passing by Canglang Mountain, a murderer stealthily approached them from behind and stabbed each of them in the chest with a dagger infused with soaked poison, ending their lives."
"And until their dying breath, they had no idea what hit them..."
"Even the cultivators climbing up and down the mountain did not notice any suspicious cultivators passing by..."
"The perpetrator's identity remains unknown..."
There was an additional note at the end:
"The culprit is surely cunning, extremely vigilant, and highly skilled in the art of concealment..."
"Anyone who accepts this bounty, please proceed with extreme caution!"
Here it is!
Mo Hua's spirits lifted.
The Art of Concealment!
Although it was a little different from what he had imagined...
He had assumed that the Art of Concealment was used for theft, but he never expected someone to use it to secretly kill others, and in such a cruel manner.
Mo Hua immediately used the Taixu Order to send a pointless message to Murong Caiyun:
"Senior sister, are you there?"
After a moment, Murong Caiyun reluctantly replied:
"What is it? Go ahead."
"Senior sister, are you free? Do you want to take on a task?"
Without waiting for Murong Caiyun's response, Mo Hua hastily added, "I've found a great task. Do you want to take it? If you do, can you bring me along?"
"My access level is too low, and I'm not allowed to accept many tasks."
Murong Caiyun hesitated for a moment before asking, "What task is it?"
Mo Hua immediately sent her the entry titled "A Bizarre Robbery and Murder Case."
Murong Caiyun looked at it for a long time but still couldn't understand what was so "great" about this task...
Robbery and murder.
Three people had died mysteriously, and there was no information about the perpetrator—no description, no cultivation technique, no known accomplices, no criminal record, no idea about their cultivation level...
The only clue was the speculation that the perpetrator was highly skilled in the art of concealment.
But that was just a guess.
Aside from that, there were no leads.
Even just finding the perpetrator would take a significant amount of time, not to mention the subsequent tracking and capturing. It was very likely that a lot of time would be spent to no avail.
Murong Caiyun wanted to refuse politely, but at that moment, she saw Mo Hua's string of "Senior sister, please take it..." messages on the Taixu Order.
She could almost picture Mo Hua looking at her with his big, watery eyes, full of anticipation.
Murong Caiyun couldn't bring herself to refuse.
She even felt a strange sense of guilt at the thought of disappointing her junior disciple...
Murong Caiyun sighed.
Oh well, she might as well accept it.
It didn't matter if they couldn't complete it. It was just a two-day break, and she had wasted time before with no results.
"Alright then..." Murong Caiyun agreed.
Mo Hua was overjoyed. "Thank you, Senior sister!"
Senior sister Murong truly was a kind person!
As expected, Murong Caiyun accepted the bounty for the "Concealed Murder" case and then invited Mo Hua.
Mo Hua eagerly "agreed."
Thus, the decision to investigate the "Concealed Murder Case" was finalized.
Mo Hua withdrew his spiritual sense from the Taixu Order and noticed that Cheng Mo and the others were staring at him.
"What's wrong?"
Mo Hua looked confused.
"You..." Situ Jian was curious, "What were you looking at in the Taixu Order?"
Mo Hua blinked.
Access privileges, bounties, merits... these were all things that Old Mr. Xun had secretly arranged for him.
It wouldn't be good to talk about it.
Moreover, matters like "bounties, manhunts, pursuing evil cultivators, and hunting down criminals" were too early for them...
They had been sheltered by their families and lacked life experience, so they couldn't handle such risks.
He, on the other hand, was different. He was a "senior disciple."
It was better for him to take on these dangerous tasks.
Mo Hua nodded with a sense of "responsibility" and then made an excuse, "I was looking at the course schedule to see what classes we have next and what spells we'll be learning..."
The other disciples stared at Mo Hua suspiciously.
Their expressions seemed to say, "I'll believe it when pigs fly..."
Seeing their disbelief, Mo Hua had no choice but to say,
"Alright, fine. I was just thinking about how much homework I should assign you for the formation class..."
This immediately stirred up strong emotions in the group.
No one doubted his words.
"Mo Hua!"
"Can we still be friends?"
"I advise you to be careful..."
"My formation skills are my business. I advise you not to meddle in my affairs!"
"Don't forget the bonds of our sect!"
"Formation idiot" Cheng Mo was almost in tears. "Bro, please, that's enough. I can't handle so much homework..."
Mo Hua put on a conflicted expression and sighed,
"Fine, if that's how you feel, then forget it."
Cheng Mo immediately broke into a smile and put his arm around Mo Hua's shoulder. "Great! From now on, you're my brother, my real brother!"
...
Two days later, during the break.
To be safe, Mo Hua took an additional day off, making it a total of three days.
After class, Mo Hua left the mountain gate of the Taixu Gate and met with the others at their usual spot—the large stone at the foot of Taixu Mountain.
There were five of them this time.
Murong Caiyun, Ouyang Feng, Hua Qianqian, and Shangguan Xu were all present.
Shangguan Xu's injuries had healed, and he was ready for action.
Although the Shangguan family was a large clan, they had many disciples. While Shangguan Xu was from the main family, he wasn't from the core lineage, so he had to earn merits on his own.
Hua Qianqian was the daughter of a true disciple elder from the Hundred Flowers Valley. She was deeply loved and would undoubtedly be accepted into the inner sect of the Hundred Flowers Valley to receive their true legacy.
However, she didn't want people to talk behind her back, so she wanted to earn merits on her own and work her way up to becoming an inner sect true disciple of the Hundred Flowers Valley.
After all, in the entire Qianxue State, there probably wasn't a single sect disciple who didn't want to earn merits.
Shangguan Xu, who was quite familiar with Mo Hua, nodded and smiled.
Hua Qianqian also greeted Mo Hua with a charming smile and sparkling eyes.
However, Mo Hua always felt that this Senior Sister Hua looked at him with a hint of ulterior motives.
He wondered what thoughts lurked behind her gaze.
When Mo Hua looked at her, Hua Qianqian's eyes shone even brighter, emitting a peculiar glow.
Sensing danger, Mo Hua quickly moved closer to Senior Sister Murong.
Murong Caiyun sighed helplessly.
After gathering everyone, they set off towards the area near Canglang Mountain.
Canglang Mountain was not far from the Qianxue State boundary, and the fifth-rank Daotingsi, which governed the Qianxue State, was located along the way to Canglang Mountain.
Before heading to the mountain, the group had to stop by the Daotingsi to confirm their identities, accept the bounty, and inquire about any clues regarding the deceased.
The sound of hoofbeats filled the air as they traveled for over an hour, finally arriving at the Daotingsi.
Mo Hua dismounted and looked up, his eyes immediately drawn to the majestic and imposing court ahead. The towering pavilion, with its soaring eaves and golden wings, exuded a solemn and dignified aura.
It resembled a massive seal, stamped upon the mountain, guarding the entire Qianxue State.
Inscribed on it were seven large characters: "Qianxue State Boundary Daotingsi."
This was the fifth-rank Daotingsi of the Qianxue State.
Mo Hua was deeply shaken by the sight.
Standing before the grand and awe-inspiring Daotingsi, Mo Hua felt like a tiny sapling at the foot of a mighty mountain, fragile and insignificant.
Ouyang Feng patted Mo Hua's shoulder and said gently, "This sense of awe is partly an illusion. You'll realize that if you come here a few more times..."
Mo Hua paused, then looked up again, understanding dawning on him. "A formation?"
Ouyang Feng was taken aback for a moment before smiling and nodding. "Indeed. When this Daotingsi pavilion was constructed, it was infused with a formation that amplifies its grandeur. That's why outsiders tend to feel insignificant when they first see it..."
Ouyang Feng pointed upward and whispered, "It gives the impression that the authority of the Daotingsi is overwhelming and inviolable."
"So that's how it is..."
Mo Hua nodded.
Now that he knew the trick behind it, his sense of reverence diminished slightly. However, when he followed Murong Caiyun inside, he was even more disappointed.
While the Daotingsi appeared majestic from the outside, the inside told a different story. It was plagued by bureaucracy, redundancy, and a stifling atmosphere.
Most of the officials had stern expressions and spoke with an air of superiority, looking down on others.
Their faces were cold, and their words were harsh.
If it had been a third- or fourth-rank Daotingsi, it wouldn't have mattered as much.
But even the lowly second-rank officials carried themselves with an air of self-importance.
There were a few exceptions—some officials with sharp eyes and profound cultivation, who clearly stood out as capable individuals—but they were few and far between and seemed out of place in the overall atmosphere of the Daotingsi.
Mo Hua wanted to ask questions, but he remembered the saying "walls have ears." Moreover, they were inside a fifth-rank Daotingsi, surrounded by powerful cultivators. If he spoke carelessly, his words might reach the wrong ears. So, he held his tongue.
Murong Caiyun took the lead, confirming their identities, accepting the bounty, collecting several case files, and completing the necessary procedures.
As a member of a prominent family and a disciple of Tai Xu Men, her appearance and talent were noteworthy, so the Daotingsi officials treated her with courtesy.
Throughout the process, they did not encounter any rudeness or obstruction.
"So, they treat people differently based on their status..."
Mo Hua muttered to himself.
Just as they were about to leave, someone stopped them. An official said, "Wait, Gu Dian Si has something to tell you..."
Gu Dian Si? Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat. Could it be...?
After a moment, a figure approached from the distance. Mo Hua glanced at him and thought, "As expected..."
The newcomer had a handsome appearance and wore the robes of a Daotingsi official. He carried himself with grace and poise, and while his attitude wasn't overly arrogant, there was a hint of rebelliousness in his brows.
It was none other than Gu Chang Huai, the young master of the Gu family, whom Mo Hua had met a few times before.
Gu Chang Huai's voice was cold, calm, and composed, yet it carried a hint of self-importance. "This case is very tricky. I didn't want to assign it to disciples like you, so I notified the Daotingsi to withdraw the task. But it seems you've already accepted it..."
"There are rules for everything, and since you've taken it on, there's nothing I can do. However, there are a few things I must emphasize..."
Gu Chang Huai continued speaking as he walked, his sharp gaze barely acknowledging Murong Caiyun and the others.
That was until his peripheral vision caught sight of Mo Hua...
Gu Chang Huai visibly paused.
Mo Hua could almost see him blinking, as if to confirm that he wasn't mistaken.
With his innocent and well-behaved face and his clear and profound eyes, there was no one else like him in the entire Qianxue State. Gu Chang Huai couldn't be mistaken.
Gu Chang Huai remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Mo... Hua?"
"Yes, yes!" Mo Hua nodded eagerly and politely greeted him. "Hello, Uncle Gu."
Murong Caiyun's expression turned astonished, and the official beside her was equally surprised that Mo Hua knew Gu Chang Huai.
Gu Chang Huai struggled to contain his emotions but couldn't help asking, "What are you doing here?"
Mo Hua pointed to Murong Caiyun. "I came here with my senior sister to accept the bounty."
Gu Chang Huai frowned. "What bounty?"
"The one you just mentioned," Mo Hua replied.
Gu Chang Huai's eyelid twitched as he looked at Mo Hua's still youthful face, finding it puzzling. "You've just joined the sect, haven't you?"
How could a newcomer already be undertaking tasks?
And how did he manage to find senior brothers and sisters to accompany him? This kid... He sure had connections.
Gu Chang Huai was baffled.
Mo Hua shook his head and corrected him. "No, I've been in the sect for half a year now!"
His implication was clear: he was already someone of significance.
Gu Chang Huai rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Gu Chang Huai glanced at Mo Hua out of the corner of his eye and then began to discuss the matter at hand: "The perpetrator is likely a cultivator at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, proficient in concealment, with a calm and cruel demeanor. He's extremely stealthy and hard to guard against..."
"Even a late-Foundation Establishment cultivator, or one who has just entered that stage, would be in great danger if they encountered such a cunning and ruthless cultivator skilled in 'hidden assassination'."
"When someone proficient in concealment strikes from ambush, it's impossible to guard against their fatal moves..."
"All of you are sect disciples with limited experience. It would be difficult for you to match such a wily and vicious cultivator."
"And this murderer is definitely a habitual offender."
"I checked the archives, and among the cultivators skilled in concealment and murder, with a long list of crimes, there's one who fits the description the most. His real name is unknown, but according to the records, other cultivators refer to him as 'Hidden Second Elder'..."
"Hidden Second Elder..."
Ouyang Feng and the others looked thoughtful.
Only Mo Hua silently nodded, knowing that his guess was correct.
Gu Chang Huai noticed this reaction and was taken aback.
How did this little monk, secluded in his sect, know about the Hidden Second Elder? He must be quite extraordinary.
Gu Chang Huai stared at Mo Hua intently.
Mo Hua, sensing his gaze, quickly looked attentive and innocent, feigning ignorance.
Gu Chang Huai continued, "Normally, a case like this should be handled by a third-rank official from the Daotingsi, who would employ swift and severe means to capture and execute the culprit..."
"But the Daotingsi has limited personnel, and it's not easy for a third-rank cultivator to capture a third-rank criminal."
"A Foundation Establishment criminal doesn't warrant the involvement of a Golden Core cultivator."
"However, this person is indeed tricky and hard to deal with. That's why I wanted to let you know that if you decide to cancel this task, there won't be any punishment."
Ouyang Feng and the others exchanged glances and shook their heads.
They were all proud and talented individuals, and they wouldn't back down from a mere mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, no matter how tricky he was.
Gu Chang Huai's eyes showed a hint of approval, and he handed over several files:
"These are the files on the Hidden Second Elder, including his origin, cultivation techniques, and methods. Study them carefully and be on your guard."
Murong Caiyun took the files and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Officer Gu."
Gu Chang Huai nodded slightly and turned to leave, but before he did, he glanced at Mo Hua once more, seeing his carefree and ignorant expression. He couldn't help but frown.
The Hidden Second Elder was cunning and treacherous, and even experienced officials might find it hard to uncover his concealment or guard against his surprise attacks.
He wondered what this little monk was thinking, tagging along on such a dangerous mission.
Gu Chang Huai found Mo Hua peculiar, but he decided to let it go. After all, Mo Hua had saved his niece, and his cousin seemed to hold him in high regard. With a slight sigh, he offered a word of warning:
"Be careful..."
Mo Hua was taken aback.
The others were surprised as well, especially the Daotingsi official, who never expected the usually cold and distant Gu Chang Huai to show concern for others.
This was truly unexpected...
Mo Hua smiled and replied, "Okay, Uncle Gu."
Gu Chang Huai nodded and then turned to leave.
With all the formalities completed, the group set off on their mission to capture the Hidden Second Elder.
According to the files, the Hidden Second Elder was over two hundred years old in terms of cultivation lifespan and had once been a disciple of the Five Yin Sect, one of the hundred sects in Qianzhou.
However, due to its obscure teachings and difficulty in accepting disciples, the Five Yin Sect gradually declined and eventually sold its mountain gate due to financial difficulties. Fifty years ago, the entire sect moved out of the Qianxue State.
The rise and fall of sects were common occurrences.
But while the Five Yin Sect left, the Hidden Second Elder remained, using the sect's unique techniques for his nefarious deeds.
This technique was a concealment method known as the "Small Five Elements Concealment Technique."
Mo Hua's heart leaped with joy.
Small Five Elements...
His own spiritual root was also of the Small Five Elements, and he felt that this concealment technique was as if tailor-made for him.
The Heavenly Calculation Art was indeed useful.
The group left the Daotingsi.
Murong Caiyun and the others remembered Gu Chang Huai's words and maintained solemn expressions.
However, Mo Hua walked with light steps and a relaxed demeanor.
He felt that the Small Five Elements Concealment Technique was beckoning to him.
Among Mo Hua's abilities, his spiritual sense was exceptionally strong.
Therefore, he loved and excelled at dealing with cultivators who specialized in concealment and stealth.
...
In the depths of Canglang Mountain, within the forest that was once empty, a figure appeared.
He was a shriveled, short man with a sinister and wrinkled face. He looked around cautiously, his brow furrowed.
After killing those three people, he had fled to these mountains to lie low for a while, which was his usual practice.
But in the past few days, he had felt uneasy, as if something malicious was watching him...
The Hidden Second Elder was perplexed.
Without any apparent traces or clues, how could anyone have taken an interest in him, and who could it be?
The Hidden Second Elder shook his head.
Regardless, now was a critical moment, and he had to be extra cautious.
Those three people had already been a mistake.
If he made another mistake, Mr. Tu would surely kill him and offer his body as a sacrifice to the demon servants of the Demon Lord.
The Hidden Second Elder shuddered.
He enjoyed disemboweling others, but the thought of being disemboweled himself and fed to those half-human, half-demon creatures was terrifying.
(End of Chapter)
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