Chapter 76: Zhang Lan
Chapter 76: Zhang Lan
As long as Mo Hua didn't ask him any questions, there was nothing to fear.
The man in green calmed down and secretly vowed to never show off aimlessly again. Especially when dealing with an adorable and well-behaved little cultivator like the one before him, it was best to first find out what book they were reading before trying to impress them.
"Uncle, are you an array master?" Mo Hua asked.
"No, why would I be an array master?" The man shook his head.
"You know so much even though you're not an array master. You're amazing," Mo Hua praised sincerely.
"It's alright, these things are simple, nothing much," the man in green said, feeling a bit guilty.
"Can I ask you more things in the future?" Mo Hua asked.
"No!"
The man panicked and blurted out a refusal, then quickly tried to explain, "I'm also very busy and may not have the time. Moreover, cultivation has always emphasized inheritance and the path cannot be transmitted lightly. We are neither relatives nor friends, so it's inconvenient for me to share more knowledge about arrays..."
"...and I may not even be able to answer your questions," the man added silently to himself.
Mo Hua was a little disappointed, but since he could still ask the Bai siblings and Mr. Zhuang, he didn't mind too much. He opened the Primer to Array Reconstruction and continued reading the latter half.
The man in green was a bit afraid that Mo Hua would ask him questions if he encountered something he didn't understand, so he tried to make small talk. "Where's your father?"
"He went up the mountain to hunt demons."
"Hunting demons? Are there many cultivators in the area who make a living by hunting demons?"
"Yes, the land here isn't very fertile and there aren't many resources. Only demons run rampant, so most cultivators make a living by hunting them," Mo Hua explained, then asked curiously, "Uncle, what do you do?"
"I work for the Daoting Court," the man replied.
Mo Hua's eyes widened. The Daoting Court!
The Daoting Court ruled over the Nine Provinces, and was the largest power in the cultivation world, similar to the imperial court in a feudal dynasty. It was home to the most powerful cultivators in the Nine Provinces.
Located in the central province of Dao, the Daoting Court was the heart of the cultivation world. Each of the remaining provinces had a Daoting Court office that managed specific affairs, including spirit stone taxes, infrastructure, various cultivation industries, and law enforcement.
In other words, it was a "secure job" and offered a "stable income"! The status of being a Daoting Court cultivator went without saying, and even being employed in one of its offices was a dream come true for many cultivators.
The man in green corrected him, "I'm here to observe and understand the local culture and customs of the cultivators in this province."
"Oh," Mo Hua replied nonchalantly, clearly unconvinced. "Aren't you afraid that the chief of the Daoting Court will reprimand you for slacking off?"
The man chuckled, "It doesn't matter. If he scolds me, I'll just pretend I didn't hear it."
Mo Hua nodded, "I understand now."
"What do you understand?" the man asked, intrigued.
Mo Hua thought for a moment before saying, "If I'm not mistaken, you're a disciple from a prominent family, right?"
The man raised an eyebrow, and Mo Hua continued, "I assume your family is quite influential, and you're either here in Tongxian City because you made a mistake and were sent away, or you were sent to this small place for a temporary training assignment and will return home after a while."
The man was taken aback, "How did you figure that out?"
Mo Hua shrugged and pointed to the nearby diners, "This place is full of travelers and locals. During mealtimes, all sorts of gossip is exchanged. When it comes to the disciples of influential families, there are only a handful of reasons why they would end up here."
The man in green glanced at Mo Hua, "You have a polite and obedient demeanor, but you're quite perceptive."
Mo Hua giggled and then lowered his voice, "So, what mistake did you make that got you exiled from your family?"
"Nonsense!" The man was slightly annoyed.
"Then why are you here?" Mo Hua asked.
The man sighed and replied with an air of self-proclaimed charm, "To be honest, I come from a prestigious family, possess exceptional talent, and have a handsome face. There are daughters from prominent clans who, upon laying their eyes on me, secretly pledge their hearts to me and insist on becoming my dao companion. I find it all too bothersome, so I came here to hide for a while and seek some peace and quiet..."
Mo Hua looked at him skeptically.
"You don't believe me?"
"No, I don't," Mo Hua nodded.
"What part don't you believe?"
"The part about 'seeing you once and secretly pledging their hearts to you'. Even the street storytellers don't use such cliched lines anymore; they're too unrealistic to fool anyone. Erhu's father was deceived by a woman who used those exact words. He abandoned his family, and in the end, he was killed and his body was never found."
The man in green was speechless.
"So, if a woman tells you that she secretly pledged her heart to you after seeing you, she's definitely lying, and you should be careful."
"What possibility?" The man couldn't help but ask.
"Perhaps you're the type to mess with people's emotions, abandoning them without taking responsibility, and then running away to hide from it all..." Mo Hua trailed off, leaving the implication hanging.
The man nearly choked on his saliva, "What do you mean by 'mess with people's emotions'? 'Abandoning them'? How old are you? What's going on in that little head of yours?"
"I may not have much experience, but I've read many stories," Mo Hua defended himself. "The cultivation world is treacherous, and it's best to be knowledgeable so you don't get deceived."
The man was both annoyed and amused, "You're quite an interesting little fellow, aren't you?"
Mo Hua wore a serious expression, "Uncle, I'm just looking out for you. As the saying goes, 'Heed good advice and you'll never go hungry.'"
A mix of emotions washed over Zhang Lan, leaving him at a loss for words. After a moment, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, what's your name?"
"Mo Hua."
"Mo Hua?" The man glanced at Mo Hua's fair face and delicate eyebrows, feeling that the name suited him well.
"Uncle, what's your name?" Mo Hua asked in return.
"Zhang Lan."
"Zhang Nan?" Mo Hua repeated, mishearing him.
Zhang Lan choked on his mouthful of wine, coughing for a long while before gritting his teeth and correcting him, "Zhang! Lan! Zhang as in changing the course, and Lan as in turning the tide! It's not Zhang Nan!"
"If it's not, then why are you shouting?" Mo Hua mumbled.
Zhang Lan felt foolish. Why was he arguing with a child? He took out a jade pendant from his storage bag and tossed it to Mo Hua, "Here, take this."
Mo Hua shook his head, "I can't accept this without doing anything in return. I shouldn't take your things."
"You treated me to wine, and I'm giving you a jade pendant. Keep it, and I'll come find you to play again next time."
Zhang Lan waved his hand, preparing to leave. Suddenly, he turned back and asked, "Just to confirm, what's your cultivation level?"
"I'm at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement!" Mo Hua replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
Only the fourth layer of Qi Refinement?
Zhang Lan sighed.
Recalling the array reconstruction earlier, he shook his head. The mere thought of it gave him a headache. With a dismissive wave, he turned and fled the scene.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
