Chapter 622: The Little Neighbor
Chapter 622: The Little Neighbor
Before Gu Changhuai could react, Mo Hua took the initiative and asked, "Uncle Gu, can you issue a task for the Daotingsi?"
Gu Changhuai was taken aback, feeling displeased.
This little brat was too forward, acting as if they were close acquaintances...
Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua with a cautious expression and asked, "What are you up to?"
"I'm just asking," Mo Hua replied casually, then revealed a mischievous look in his eyes as he continued, "What if..."
Mo Hua emphasized, "I'm saying what if, and by chance, I happen to come across clues about the guilty cultivators. Could you issue a task through the Daotingsi then?"
Frowning, Gu Changhuai rejected the idea, "The Daotingsi has its own rules and procedures. Even the rewards offered to the sect must be carefully considered by the Classics Division. It's not something that can be issued arbitrarily..."
Mo Hua nodded, instantly understanding the implication.
Careful consideration, deliberation, and not acting rashly...
In other words, it still depended on one's mood.
Whether something was carefully considered or not, whether it was deliberated upon, and whether it was done arbitrarily—all of this was entirely up to the subjective judgment of the head of the Classics Division, without any objective rules in place.
As the head of the Classics Division, if Uncle Gu decided to do so, he indeed had the qualifications to issue a reward!
Gu Changhuai looked at the playful Mo Hua, unsure what the boy had figured out. He furrowed his brows and asked, "Why are you asking about this..."
Midway through his question, he realized his mistake.
Wait, I asked him a question first, and this kid hasn't even answered me yet...
The reason he had come here was to investigate Mo Hua's connection to Elder Jiang's death.
But now, due to Mo Hua's digressions, the topic had veered off course...
With a stern face, Gu Changhuai asserted, "I asked first, you answer first."
"What did you ask?" Mo Hua blinked innocently.
Feeling a slight headache coming on, Gu Changhuai repeated his question, "Do you know the Fireball Technique?"
Mo Hua didn't try to hide the truth and nodded, "The Fireball Technique is such a basic spell... it would be quite difficult not to know it."
The Fireball Technique was one of the most fundamental and versatile spells for cultivators.
Mo Hua wore an expression of calmness.
Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua, and even with his experience as the head of the Daotingsi's Classics Division, he couldn't discern the slightest hint of emotion or hesitation from Mo Hua's youthful face.
Instantly, he made a judgment.
This kid was a slippery one, hard to pin down and impossible to get anything out of.
After some thought, Gu Changhuai's gaze turned slightly solemn, and he decided to ask directly, "Did you kill those kidnappers who abducted Yu'er?"
As he finished speaking, Gu Changhuai's eyes narrowed, fixing an intense stare on Mo Hua.
Mo Hua wanted to give a perfunctory response, but he felt that in the future, he might need to rely on Uncle Gu, who was the head of the Daotingsi's Classics Division. If the two of them were to work together, there needed to be a basic level of trust, so lying didn't seem like a good idea...
Mo Hua nodded, "Yes, I did."
Mo Hua's admission was straightforward and without hesitation.
Gu Changhuai was stunned for a moment, his thoughts momentarily frozen.
He had imagined various scenarios, but he hadn't expected that when he asked, Mo Hua would admit it so readily. This left him at a loss for words.
After a long hesitation, Gu Changhuai asked, "How did you kill them?"
"I used the Fireball Technique to slaughter all those kidnappers," Mo Hua answered.
Gu Changhuai's heart sank, knowing that this was indeed what he had suspected.
However, he soon hesitated again and pondered over Mo Hua's words for a long time before eventually shaking his head, "Impossible..."
How could they be killed with the Fireball Technique...?
Mo Hua was at the early Qi Refining stage.
Those dozen or so kidnappers were also at the Qi Refining stage, and they had been cultivating for many years. They were experienced and their cultivation levels were far deeper than Mo Hua's.
Using the Fireball Technique...
Gu Changhuai couldn't fathom how a low-level spell like the Fireball Technique could be used to kill over a dozen cultivators of the same stage.
Even killing one would be difficult...
Mo Hua looked helpless, "If I don't tell you, you'll suspect me. But when I tell you the truth, you don't believe me. Uncle Gu, you're making things difficult for me..."
Gu Changhuai paused, feeling a bit guilty, but he persisted, "It definitely wasn't just the Fireball Technique."
Mo Hua thought for a moment and suggested, "How about... I set up an array beforehand to severely injure them, and then used the Fireball Technique to finish them off? Would that work?"
Following Mo Hua's line of thought, Gu Changhuai couldn't help but agree, "That does sound more reasonable..."
"So, is that it?"
Gu Changhuai nodded involuntarily, but then paused midway, feeling annoyed, "What do you mean 'so, is that it'? How could you, at the early Qi Refining stage and only about ten years old, set up an array with such powerful killing capabilities?"
Mo Hua continued to speak the truth, "I'm really good at arrays!"
Gu Changhuai clearly didn't believe him.
"When I entered the Tai Xu Sect, my specialty was arrays!" Mo Hua added.
Gu Changhuai didn't know how to respond.
How could he not know that Mo Hua was only admitted into the Tai Xu Sect because his cousin, Wenren, had spent a lot of spirit stones and pulled many strings?
Claiming that his specialty was arrays was just for show, a mere excuse.
How could a little brat from a remote county town with a mediocre Five Elements spirit root possibly master arrays?
And to set up a killing array to take out over a dozen kidnappers? That was a tall tale if he'd ever heard one.
Gu Changhuai let out a soft hmmph.
Mo Hua sighed, feeling helpless.
Every time he wanted to be honest with people, they just wouldn't believe him. There was nothing he could do about it.
"I really am good at arrays!" Mo Hua emphasized once more.
"Oh," Gu Changhuai said indifferently.
If you don't believe me, then fine...
Mo Hua pouted, no longer wanting to continue the conversation.
However, Gu Changhuai suddenly remembered something else and asked, "What about Elder Jiang? He displayed the Sword Flight Technique with tremendous power before he died, yet you escaped unscathed. How is that possible?"
Just as Mo Hua was about to answer, Gu Changhuai cut him off, "Don't tell me it was just good luck that you managed to dodge it..."
Mo Hua stammered, "I... I was going to say that..."
Gu Changhuai rubbed his temples, feeling a throbbing headache.
After all this questioning, he still couldn't tell which of Mo Hua's words were true and which were lies.
Or perhaps there were bits of truth mixed with lies, and bits of lies mixed with fragments of truth...
He couldn't very well use torture.
Trying to intimidate him with the Daotingsi wouldn't work...
Given Mo Hua's bold and casual attitude, he didn't seem to be afraid at all.
Moreover, his cousin would definitely favor this kid. If he went too far, he would surely displease her.
It seemed that he really had no choice but to let this Mo kid go.
"Forget it..."
After much contemplation, Gu Changhuai eventually sighed and gave in.
"I won't ask about Elder Jiang's matter anymore..."
Gu Changhuai's expression turned stern.
After all, those kidnappers were despicable and had no regard for human life.
If he didn't kill them, someone else would.
Moreover, they had dared to kidnap Yu'er, so he definitely wouldn't let them off the hook.
But now it seemed that Mo Hua, despite his young age, had a good deal of cunning and depth, and Gu Changhuai couldn't see through him or guess his motives. All he could do was ask directly...
Gu Changhuai's expression turned solemn, and his gaze, sharp as a sword, pierced through Mo Hua.
"Did you deliberately get close to Yu'er...?"
"Do you have... other ulterior motives?"
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Only then did he realize that Gu Changhuai truly and sincerely cared for Wan'er and Yu'er.
Although they were cousins, their relationship didn't seem much different from that of siblings.
As for Yu'er...
It was indeed a coincidence that he had met Yu'er, but whether there were other causes or calculations involved, he wasn't sure.
Yu'er was a well-behaved and lovely child with a pure heart.
Even without any personal gain, as long as it was within his ability to help, he would definitely save her.
It was understandable that Gu Changhuai would worry about Yu'er and be suspicious of him.
He, as an adult, would be magnanimous and not hold it against him.
Mo Hua was just about to speak when he suddenly heard a crisp and childish voice, filled with joy, calling out:
"Brother Mo!"
Mo Hua's expression froze as he turned his head to look.
He saw a child wearing a miniature version of the Xuan-Bai two-colored Tai Xu Daoist robe, with her hair tied up in a bun, running towards him with her arms outstretched and small legs carrying her forward happily.
Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, "Yu'er?"
Gu Changhuai, who was standing beside him, was also taken aback.
Yu'er had run halfway when she noticed Gu Changhuai standing opposite Mo Hua. Her smile immediately vanished, and she awkwardly performed a courtesy before calling out stiffly, "Greetings, Uncle Gu."
"Hm..."
Gu Changhuai's face was a bit stiff, as he tried to force a warm smile to be more amiable with Yu'er, but his usual habit made it difficult to hide the coldness in his brows.
He looked somewhat... fierce.
Yu'er took a small step back and turned her head to glance at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua waved at her with a smile.
Yu'er's small face immediately lit up with happiness, and she quickly took a few steps forward with her little legs, throwing herself into Mo Hua's embrace.
Gu Changhuai's heart felt sour and envious, and he almost bit his teeth in frustration.
Mo Hua gently patted Yu'er's head and asked in confusion, "How did you get here?"
Yu'er showed her small face and replied with a smile, "I'm going to enter the Tai Xu Gate!"
"Tai Xu Gate?"
Mo Hua was very surprised.
Gu Changhuai, on the other hand, was even more incredulous.
If Mo Hua truly had malicious intentions, then with Yu'er entering the Tai Xu Gate, wouldn't she be like a lamb delivered to a tiger's den? Gu Changhuai's brows furrowed deeply.
After a while, a tall man with a deep aura and a square, steady face walked over.
He bowed to Gu Changhuai and Mo Hua.
"Mister Gu, Little Mister Mo."
The usually arrogant Gu Changhuai had a solemn expression and returned the bow.
Mo Hua followed suit, but his face showed confusion.
The man then said in a deep voice:
"I am Wen Renwei, the bodyguard of the Wenren family. I will be accompanying the young master as he enters the gate and taking care of his daily needs. Please take care of me, Little Mister Mo."
Wen Renwei's attitude was polite but not subservient.
Mo Hua smiled politely and replied, "Greetings, Uncle Wen."
Wen Renwei's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes softened slightly.
However, Gu Changhuai was perplexed. "How can Yu'er, who is so young, possibly enter the Tai Xu Gate? Isn't this against the rules...?"
Wen Renwei simply said, "This is the young mistress's decision."
In other words, he could only follow orders and had no say in the matter.
Gu Changhuai frowned.
Wen Renwei remained silent.
Mo Hua pinched Yu'er's little face playfully, and Yu'er, sticking close to Mo Hua, looked satisfied.
After a while, Wen Renwan walked over with a female elder wearing a Tai Xu Daoist robe, her figure graceful.
The two of them chatted and laughed along the way, apparently on good terms.
When they drew near, Wen Renwan greeted Mo Hua and then introduced him, "Mo Hua, this is Elder Murong from the inner sect."
Elder Murong? Mo Hua's thoughts stirred. With the surname Murong, could she be related to Senior Sister Murong Caiyun?
He respectfully bowed and said, "Greetings, Elder Murong."
Elder Murong smiled and nodded, her voice gentle as she said, "So, this is the Mo Hua you were talking about..."
Wen Renwan smiled and said, "Mo Hua is a well-behaved and sensible child, diligent in his cultivation, but he comes from a scattered cultivation background and has no connections. Elder Murong, if you have the chance, please take care of him in the Tai Xu Gate and make sure he isn't bullied..."
Elder Murong smiled slightly and said, "Sister, rest assured."
She glanced at Mo Hua, her eyes carrying a meaningful look.
A child favored by Elder Xun probably didn't need her to take care of him.
Gu Changhuai, standing beside them, had a complicated expression, feeling helpless.
This little brat, full of lies and extremely cunning, was very dangerous...
At his age and cultivation level, having only joined the sect for half a year, he had already been able to go with his senior martial brothers and sisters to capture Yin Lao'er, a sinful cultivator known for his cunning and viciousness.
It would be good enough if he didn't bully his fellow sect members... who would dare to bully him?
Wen Renwan then spoke in a low voice with Elder Murong for a few moments before noticing Gu Changhuai standing beside them. She looked surprised and asked, "Changhuai, when did you get here?"
Gu Changhuai's heart felt bitter. "I've been here..."
Wen Renwan didn't understand. "What are you, a director, doing here when you have nothing to do?"
Gu Changhuai sighed and said, "I came to find Mo Hua. I have something to ask him."
Wen Renwan looked puzzled. "You came to find Mo Hua?"
She suddenly remembered something, and her face sank. "Did someone bully Mo Hua, and he reported it to your Dao Court?"
"No..."
Gu Changhuai felt exhausted.
His cousin was fine in every way, except that sometimes she let her emotions get the better of her and couldn't see the facts clearly.
But he couldn't say more, so he simply said, "It's just some minor matters regarding the sect's bounty. Once I clarify them, it'll be fine..."
Wen Renwan was a bit skeptical but didn't pursue the matter further.
After speaking a few more words with Elder Murong, Elder Murong took her leave, saying, "I'll be going now. As for Yu'er's matter, I've taken care of everything..."
"You can bring him into the sect and complete the necessary procedures, and he will officially become a disciple of the Tai Xu Gate..."
"However, there is no precedent for this in the Tai Xu Gate, and he is still very young, so for now, he will reside in the disciple's quarters, and his family's bodyguard will take care of him."
"In terms of cultivation..."
"Since he is still at the Qi Refining stage and needs to nourish his meridians and lay a solid foundation, we won't make any arrangements. You can decide on his cultivation tasks yourself."
"Once he enters the sect, if there are any needs or requests, feel free to come to me..."
"There's no need for formality between sisters..."
Wen Renwan expressed her gratitude. "Thank you, Elder Murong, for making an exception and letting Yu'er join the sect. You've gone through a lot of trouble. I'll come to visit and express my thanks another day."
Elder Murong shook her head. "Sister, you're too kind. I'm just going with the flow..."
Her eyes glanced at Mo Hua, who was talking to Yu'er.
Initially, the ancestral elders were opposed to this idea.
But later, for some unknown reason, Elder Xun heard about it and, after calculating something, unexpectedly nodded his agreement, even going so far as to open wide the doors of opportunity...
As for Yu'er and Mo Hua's relationship, she only learned about it later.
A hint of realization flashed in Elder Murong's eyes.
"Elder Xun doesn't say it, but in his heart, he truly holds this child in exceptionally high regard..."
This was an absolutely unique situation.
Elder Murong glanced at Mo Hua once more before bidding her farewell and leaving.
Mo Hua was also about to return to the sect.
He actually had some matters he wanted to discuss further with Uncle Gu.
Mainly, he wanted to find a way to get him to agree to become his "inside man" at the Daotingsi and act as a tool for issuing tasks.
However, now wasn't a good time, so he would have to leave it for another opportunity.
Just as Yu'er was about to enter the sect, Mo Hua bid farewell to Wen Renwan and then accompanied Yu'er as they walked together into the mountain gate of the Tai Xu Sect.
Yu'er bid farewell to her mother reluctantly.
Wen Renwei bowed to Wen Renwan and Gu Changhuai.
As her bodyguard, he would be taking care of Yu'er's daily needs.
After they parted ways, the surroundings became quiet and empty.
Wen Renwan's gaze followed Yu'er's figure as she disappeared into the mountain forest, her expression slightly melancholy.
Then she retracted her gaze and glared at Gu Changhuai, "So, what are you planning?"
In front of Wen Renwan, Gu Changhuai lost his usual arrogance and instead looked a bit guilty, "Sister, what are you talking about?"
Wen Renwan snorted, "I've watched you grow up since you were little. How could I not know what you're thinking? Out of the blue, why are you looking for Mo Hua?"
"I..."
"Don't make excuses."
Gu Changhuai sighed, "I suspect him of having ulterior motives..."
Wen Renwan frowned, feeling helpless, "You're just like your brother-in-law, with too many schemes and always thinking that others are plotting as well..."
"The way you look at others is the way they'll look at you. If you scheme against others, naturally, they'll scheme against you too."
Gu Changhuai smiled bitterly.
Seeing his expression, Wen Renwan softened a little and continued, "I know you're concerned about me and Yu'er, but don't cause trouble for Mo Hua."
"If Mo Hua has any difficulties, help him out. He's just a child without any family support, so it won't be easy for him to cultivate in the sect."
After speaking, Wen Renwan assumed an older sister's air and patted Gu Changhuai's shoulder, "If Mo Hua needs anything from you, help him if you can. Don't brush me off or try to deceive me."
Wen Renwan looked directly into Gu Changhuai's eyes.
Gu Changhuai was very conflicted, and after a long while, he reluctantly said, "Alright..."
Wen Renwan was quite satisfied and nodded, then said to Gu Changhuai, "Come back during your vacation, and I'll make jade pastry for you."
Gu Changhuai sighed, and as he saw Wen Renwan about to leave, he asked one last question, "Sister..."
His eyes turned slightly dark, "Are you really at ease sending Yu'er into the Tai Xu Sect?"
Wen Renwan paused, her body stiffening.
When she turned back, her usually gentle and graceful face had lost some of its color, replaced by a look of reluctance, melancholy, and a hint of... fear.
"Sister..."
Gu Changhuai didn't know what had happened, but his expression was anxious.
Wen Renwan's refined face held a bitter smile, "Changhuai..."
"I... I had a nightmare..."
"In my dream, there was blood raining from the sky, and demons were dancing wildly..."
"Yu'er looked at me coldly, his eyes empty, his skin pale, his blood drained, his organs removed, and his divine sense dried up..."
"With a cold voice, he asked me, asked his mother, why I didn't save him..."
Wen Renwan's chest tightened, and her face was filled with pain, "That was just a dream, but no matter how hard I struggled or how hard I tried, I couldn't save Yu'er..."
"In the face of overwhelming evil, the human heart is too fragile..."
"I couldn't save him..."
"So, I can only hope..."
Wen Renwan's voice was soft and inaudible, and finally, she looked up at Mount Tai Xu, her beautiful eyes filled with humble hope, fragile yet strong.
Gu Changhuai's heart trembled.
It was then that he realized that there were some things he didn't know at all!
And his cousin wasn't simply being "impulsive" as he had thought...
Gu Changhuai sighed deeply, his expression solemn, "Sister, I understand."
...
Inside the Tai Xu Sect.
Yu'er knew nothing about these things.
He was happily holding Mo Hua's hand, skipping and jumping as they made their way to the disciple's quarters.
Mo Hua swiped his Tai Xu Token, and they entered, only to find that Yu'er also took out a small token and swiped it, following him in.
Mo Hua was taken aback, "Yu'er, you're staying here too?"
"Mhm."
Yu'er nodded happily.
Mo Hua walked inside and noticed that Yu'er was still following him, all the way to the door of his room, number fifty in the Taiyi building.
Mo Hua looked at Yu'er.
Yu'er pointed to the side, "Mo brother, I live here."
Mo Hua looked up and saw that the disciple's quarters to his right, which had been empty, had been cleaned and the door plaque unlocked.
On it was written: Taiyi, Number Fifty-One.
Mo Hua was speechless.
He hadn't expected that Yu'er would actually join the Tai Xu Sect and become his little neighbor...
Wen Renwei, standing behind Yu'er, also bowed, "In the future, please take care of Young Master Yu'er."
Yu'er also smiled sweetly, "Mo brother, please take care of me."
Mo Hua looked down at Yu'er, her eyes sparkling, and gently smiled,
"Okay."
Since they had an afternoon cultivation class to attend,
To avoid disturbing Mo Hua, Wen Renwei took Yu'er into the room next door, Taiyi Number Fifty-One.
Yu'er waved at Mo Hua.
Wen Renwei followed her inside.
But Mo Hua suddenly called out to him, "Uncle Wen."
Wen Renwei stopped and turned, his expression calm as he looked at Mo Hua, his tone polite, "Little Mister Mo, is there something you need?"
Mo Hua shook his head, "I'm not a young master, just call me Mo Hua."
Wen Renwei nodded silently.
Mo Hua paused, his eyes deep, "If Yu'er has another nightmare, Uncle Wen, please call me..."
For a moment, Wen Renwei's solemn expression faltered, and then he seemed to understand something, and he nodded with a smile,
"Alright."
(End of Chapter)
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