Chapter 796: Hundred Flowers
Chapter 796: Hundred Flowers
Gu Changhuai immediately shot an annoyed glance at Mo Hua and said displeased: "Weren't you about to leave? Why are you still lingering?"
"I'm tired from walking and need to rest for a bit," Mo Hua replied innocently.
"Then go rest somewhere else," Gu Changhuai frowned.
"But I can't walk anymore..." Mo Hua said.
Mo Hua turned his clear and lively gaze towards Elder Gu Hong, who was standing beside them.
Elder Gu Hong's heart immediately softened, and she scolded Gu Changhuai, "Let the child rest for a while. What's it to you? You're always so narrow-minded and bad-tempered. No wonder you're still unmarried at your age."
After reprimanding him, Elder Gu Hong smiled at Mo Hua and said, "Don't mind your Uncle Gu. He's always like this. Stay as long as you like and rest wherever you want. I'll see who dares to chase you away."
"Thank you, Elder Gu Hong," Mo Hua said with a smile.
Gu Changhuai couldn't take it anymore and stood up, "Fine, then I'll leave."
But before he could take a step, Elder Gu Hong slapped his hand on the table and said, "Where do you think you're going? I'm not done talking yet."
Gu Changhuai was left frozen in place.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, wore a schadenfreude expression on his face.
Elder Gu Hong said, "I used to urge you to find a partner, but you always said you were busy with work at the Dao Court. I didn't want to bother you too much, but now I've heard from the Chief Judge of your Dao Court..."
Gu Changhuai furrowed his brows, "Aunt, do you know our Chief Judge?"
"Of course," Elder Gu Hong said, "The Dao companion of his son was introduced by me. After the successful match, he even came to my place to express his gratitude. How could I not know him?"
Gu Changhuai didn't know what to say.
"Don't interrupt me," Elder Gu Hong continued, "Where was I?"
Mo Hua quietly reminded her, "You were talking about the Chief Judge of the Dao Court."
"Oh yes," Elder Gu Hong recalled, "The Chief Judge of your Dao Court secretly told me that you sometimes fail to prioritize your work and have offended someone. Someone seems to be plotting against you in the shadows, and because he couldn't figure out their true intentions, he decided to suppress you for a while and took away your cases..."
At this point, Elder Gu Hong sighed, "Working in the Dao Court will never be smooth sailing. It's normal to have ups and downs. Don't be too affected by temporary setbacks."
"Moreover, this might even be a good thing..."
Elder Gu Hong's eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Changhuai, "Now that you have some free time, it's time to go on a blind date!"
Gu Changhuai's headache intensified, and he remained silent.
"Why can't you just understand?" Elder Gu Hong shook her head and took out a portrait, pushing it towards Gu Changhuai.
Gu Changhuai remained cold and indifferent, refusing to even glance at it.
"Look at it," Elder Gu Hong insisted, narrowing her eyes.
Gu Changhuai reluctantly glanced at the portrait, but only spared it a brief look before turning away in disdain.
Mo Hua, driven by curiosity, also leaned in for a peek.
Seeing that Gu Changhuai was still being impolite, Elder Gu Hong became slightly angry. She turned to Mo Hua and asked, "Well, isn't she beautiful?"
Mo Hua carefully examined the portrait.
The portrait depicted an extremely beautiful woman with a delicate and exquisite appearance, a face like a peach blossom, and curved eyebrows.
In terms of appearance alone, she could indeed be considered a country-toppling beauty.
However, her heavy makeup made her look a bit too flamboyant.
And in Mo Hua's eyes, she wasn't as beautiful as his little master.
Mo Hua nodded, "She's beautiful."
Elder Gu Hong beamed with joy, "At least you have an eye for beauty, unlike your Uncle Gu, who's as dull as a stone."
Mo Hua pondered for a moment and then suddenly remembered something. He asked, "Elder, isn't this the woman you mentioned before? The one from the Hundred Flowers Valley, as beautiful as a celestial fairy, an inner sect instructor?"
Elder Gu Hong was a little surprised but nodded, "You actually remembered. Yes, it's that young lady..."
"I made some discreet inquiries later on," Mo Hua continued, "Her name is Hua Ruhu, and she's from the main branch of the Hua family in Hundred Flowers Valley. Although their lineage is a bit eccentric, they are indeed the genuine article, and their bloodline is pure..."
He then added with a hint of frustration, "Changhuai, as the Chief Judge, is always busy with battles and conflicts, and with his terrible temper, it's impossible for those from highly esteemed and orthodox families to marry him."
"This is already the best option I could find. There's no need for a distant marriage. She's from the Hundred Flowers Valley within the Qian Xue Province, one of the Twelve Flows. A Chief Judge of the Dao Court and an inner sect instructor, perhaps she might even become an inner sect elder in the future. They would make a perfect match..."
"Indeed..." Mo Hua nodded.
"And she's beautiful too..." Elder Gu Hong emphasized once more.
However, Gu Changhuai remained indifferent, "Aunt, don't judge a person by their appearance. You can know a person's face, but not their heart. A beautiful person isn't necessarily a good person."
Elder Gu Hong was left speechless by his words and immediately retorted, "Then take a look at yourself in the mirror. Are you a good person?"
Gu Changhuai was left speechless.
Elder Gu Hong pointed at Mo Hua, "Look at Mo Hua here. He's so handsome and well-behaved. Are you saying he's not a good person?"
Gu Changhuai muttered, "He was never a 'good person' to begin with..."
Elder Gu Hong felt like pulling his ear, "At your age, you're still badmouthing a child."
Mo Hua quietly reminded her from the side, "Elder, let's focus on the important matters. It doesn't matter what happens to me."
"Look at Mo Hua, so generous!"
Elder Gu Hong said another sentence about Gu Changhuai, then turned to Mo Hua, her expression softening as she sighed, "Oh, if only Changhuai could be half as sensible as you, I would be content."
"You're over ten times older than him, yet he's ten times more considerate than you."
Mo Hua nodded involuntarily.
Gu Changhuai's expression was lifeless, as if he had lost the will to live.
"Well, it's getting late, and I still have some matters to attend to," Elder Gu Hong glanced at Gu Changhuai, her tone carrying a hint of warning, "This time, you're not allowed to brush me off. Anyway, you've already been 'removed' from your position at the Dao Court, so you have plenty of time now. After the new year, come with me to meet that young lady, and get to know each other properly. If you two are compatible, then it's time to settle down. That way, I can also..." She trailed off, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.
"Also, you're not allowed to 'bully' Mo Hua anymore. I won't say anything if you put on that sour face to others, but you shouldn't show that attitude towards Mo Hua. Is that clear?"
Gu Changhuai's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
That little brat, Mo Hua, really knew how to push his buttons, and now that he was a few years older, he was even better at it!
"I'm leaving. You can entertain yourself," Gu Changhuai said, his face like a slab of stone.
But Mo Hua had other ideas. "Uncle Gu, don't rush off..." His eyes lit up. "Let's make a deal."
"What kind of deal?" Gu Changhuai frowned.
Mo Hua lowered his voice. "You secretly help me investigate 'Water Yama,' and I'll handle Elder Gu Hong. Of course, you still need to show up for the blind date, since I'm too young to go in your place..."
Gu Changhuai's frown deepened. "You?"
Mo Hua nodded confidently. "My words carry more weight with Elder Gu Hong than yours. We can help each other out."
Gu Changhuai's face turned an ashen shade of blue, but he had to admit that Mo Hua was speaking the truth.
When it came to his aunt, he was truly helpless.
And Mo Hua, that little rascal, had a silver tongue and was always brimming with clever ideas...
"Fine," Gu Changhuai conceded with a sigh.
Mo Hua extended his hand.
Gu Changhuai hesitated for a moment, then realized what he was doing and reluctantly shook Mo Hua's hand to seal the deal.
A smile spread across Mo Hua's face. "Deal!"
...
With Gu Changhuai, his uncle, investigating 'Water Yama' on his behalf, Mo Hua felt much more at ease. As for dealing with Elder Gu Hong, he already had a plan in mind.
He spent another happy day at the Gu family home.
Later, Wan'er and Yu'er were going back to the Shangguan family to pay respects to their ancestors, but Gu Changhuai was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was busy investigating 'Water Yama' or trying to avoid the blind date—Mo Hua wasn't sure.
Feeling a bit bored, Mo Hua decided to return to Tai Xu Gate.
Back at the sect, he continued his cultivation and studied formation techniques.
Although refining the evil spirits to enhance his divine sense was a faster method, the divine sense cultivated through the arduous process of formation training was more solid and reliable.
Thus, he couldn't afford to neglect either aspect of his training.
Without any evil spirits to consume, Mo Hua had no choice but to continue refining his consciousness sea and enhancing his divine sense through the "tedious" method of drawing formations.
Besides, he now had the eighteen-pattern formation technique to learn.
Mo Hua spent two days studying the new formation technique, initially learning an eight-trigram formation with eighteen patterns. During his free time, he also paid another visit to the Elixir Chamber, where he met with Elder Murong.
This was per Elder Murong's instructions.
Concerned that Mo Hua might still be experiencing discomfort or incomplete recovery after their trip to the Demon Beast Valley, she had asked him to come for check-ups from time to time.
After examining Mo Hua's meridians, spiritual power flow, and the state of his "weak" blood qi, Elder Murong nodded in satisfaction.
"There's no major issue anymore. You can stop taking the pills... Also, be careful not to overeat during the New Year celebrations. Your blood qi is weak, and your digestion is not good. Overeating could harm your spleen and stomach."
Mo Hua felt a bit embarrassed.
Elder Murong then took out a bottle of pills and handed it to him. "These are for improving digestion. Take them after meals."
Mo Hua accepted the bottle and curiously opened it. The pills inside were a lush green color, exuding a grassy fragrance. He asked, "Can I take them now?"
Elder Murong was taken aback for a moment before laughing softly. "Yes, you can."
Mo Hua popped one into his mouth and savored the taste.
It had a slight bitterness, but it was mostly sweet, with a refreshing herbal fragrance and a unique medicinal flavor. After swallowing it, he felt his blood qi flowing more smoothly.
"Thank you, Elder Murong!" Mo Hua smiled.
Elder Murong's expression was gentle as she nodded slightly.
Just then, her eyes shifted to the jade pendant hanging around Mo Hua's neck.
It was a pale white jade pendant, simple in design and ordinary in craftsmanship. Within it, faint traces of bluish-green spirit patterns could be discerned, though it was unclear what type of jade it was made from.
Mo Hua always wore this pendant around his neck.
Elder Murong had seen it before but hadn't paid much attention. However, at this moment, she felt a slight chill in her heart.
"This jade pendant..." she began.
"Jade pendant?"
Mo Hua was taken aback, then looked down and realized what she was referring to.
"This..." Elder Murong's eyes narrowed, and her voice took on a strange tone. "Is this dan yu (jade pill)
?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. "Elder Murong, you know about dan yu?"
As soon as he said it, Mo Hua realized that dan yu was given to him by Master Feng, a first-rank Pill Master.
And Elder Murong, being a third-rank Pill Master herself, would naturally be familiar with dan yu.
"Is there something wrong with this jade?" Mo Hua asked.
Elder Murong's eyes flickered, and she shook her head. "No... It's just that..." She hesitated for a moment. "You're not a Pill Master, and you don't seem to be skilled in pill refining. How did you come to possess dan yu?"
"It was a gift."
"A gift?"
There was clear surprise in Elder Murong's eyes.
"Yes," Mo Hua thought for a moment, seeing no reason to hide the truth. "It was given to me by an elderly gentleman whom I've known since I was young. He's highly respected and has saved countless lives. In Tongxian City..."
Mo Hua paused, recalling the memory.
He remembered that at the time, Master Feng had also mentioned that this dan yu was given to him by his own master.
Among Pill Masters, it was believed that healing and saving people could accumulate merit and virtue.
The dan yu, carried by a Pill Master, embodied their accumulated merit and virtue.
Master Feng had given the dan yu to Mo Hua, hoping that it would protect him, turn bad luck into good, and ensure his safe growth.
"Pill Masters can save people, but they can't save too many; formation masters don't directly save people, but they can save many..."
These were Master Feng's words.
Indeed, wearing this dan yu brought a sense of peace to the mind.
However, Mo Hua had worn it for so long, and nothing dared to disturb his peace anymore, so over time, he didn't feel its effects as noticeably. He simply wore the dan yu as a "blessing" from his elder, keeping it around his neck as a memento.
Of course, he didn't share all of this with Elder Murong.
Not because he didn't trust her, but because many things were interconnected, and it was prudent to leave some room for discretion when speaking.
Elder Murong didn't ask further, but instead instructed:
"While within the sect, it's fine, but when you're outside, especially in front of other Pill Masters, don't reveal this dan yu..."
Mo Hua wanted to ask why, but Elder Murong's expression had already turned gentle and soft, indicating that she wouldn't say more, so he wisely refrained from asking and simply nodded, "Okay, I understand."
After that, Elder Murong gave Mo Hua a few more bottles of commonly used pills, and he took his leave.
After Mo Hua left, Elder Murong stood there for a moment, a complex expression on her face, as if she was feeling a mix of envy and admiration.
"Indeed... a child blessed with deep fortune..."
...
Leaving the Elixir Chamber, Mo Hua walked alone back to the disciples' residence.
Elder Murong's words lingered in his mind.
"Dan yu..."
Could it be that dan yu was... something special?
Or perhaps, the dan yu that Master Feng had given him was particularly rare?
Otherwise, why would Elder Murong, a third-rank Pill Master elder of Tai Xu Gate, specifically inquire about this jade pendant he wore?
Mo Hua walked with his head down, deep in thought. Along the way, a crisp and melodious voice called out to him:
"Mo Hua..."
Mo Hua, lost in thoughts about the dan yu, didn't hear at first. After walking a few more steps, the voice sounded again, this time with a hint of annoyance:
"Mo Hua!"
Mo Hua stopped in his tracks, looking up in surprise, "Elder Sister Murong?"
Before him stood a woman in the Tai Xu Gate robe, her demeanor gentle and graceful, her appearance dignified and beautiful. It was Murong Caiyun.
Murong Caiyun's beautiful eyes glanced at Mo Hua, "What are you thinking about? I called you several times, but you didn't hear me."
Mo Hua smiled sheepishly, about to say something, when he turned his head and noticed several female disciples following Elder Sister Murong.
And they weren't from Tai Xu Gate.
They wore colorful skirts, vibrant and eye-catching, and their robes bore the emblem of the Hundred Flowers Valley.
Among them was Hua Qianqian, whom Mo Hua recognized.
Mo Hua was surprised, "Elder Sister Hua is here too?"
Hua Qianqian smiled at Mo Hua, "Mo Hua, it's been a while."
Her eyes scanned Mo Hua's figure, and she nodded in satisfaction, "You've grown taller, and you'll surely look even better in clothes now..."
Mo Hua's expression turned wary.
Murong Caiyun sighed, helpless in the face of Hua Qianqian's straightforwardness.
Mo Hua turned to Murong Caiyun and asked, "Elder Sister Murong, what brings you all here?"
"I'm visiting my younger aunt," Murong Caiyun replied.
"Younger aunt?" Mo Hua was slightly taken aback, and then he remembered, "Elder Murong?"
"Yes," Murong Caiyun nodded, "My younger aunt is a Pill Refining Elder, skilled in all sorts of pill refining techniques. Elder Sister Hua and the others wanted to seek her guidance in pill refining, so I brought them to her."
"Oh," Mo Hua understood.
After explaining, Murong Caiyun introduced the other female disciples from the Hundred Flowers Valley:
"This is Mo Hua, the disciple I mentioned who excels in drawing formations. If you need any help with formations, you can ask him."
Then, she introduced Mo Hua to the group:
"These are all disciples of the Hundred Flowers Valley, from the same batch as Elder Sister Hua. They are your senior sisters: this is Elder Sister Hua, Elder Sister Ye, Elder Sister Mu..."
Murong Caiyun introduced each of them.
Mo Hua bowed politely, "Greetings, Senior Sisters."
The female disciples from the Hundred Flowers Valley looked at Mo Hua with bright eyes, full of interest.
"What a handsome and adorable junior brother!"
"He's so talented in formations, and formations are so difficult to learn..."
"Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover..."
Mo Hua: "..."
"Alright, alright," Murong Caiyun said, "It's getting late, and we'll be scolded by my younger aunt if we're late. Farewell for now."
The senior sisters from the Hundred Flowers Valley bid farewell to Mo Hua reluctantly.
Mo Hua glanced at each of their faces, all of them fair and beautiful. Wearing the robes of the Hundred Flowers Valley, they stood together like a bouquet of blooming flowers.
Mo Hua felt a bit overwhelmed, unable to tell them apart.
However, one senior sister stood out as being even more beautiful than the rest.
Mo Hua recalled that her surname was "Ye".
Senior Sister Ye had an oval-shaped face, delicate features, creamy skin, and a hint of melancholy in her brows, giving her a more introverted and aloof personality. She didn't speak much, adding to her aura of cool elegance.
Mo Hua stole a few glances at her before waving farewell to the group.
He didn't think much of this encounter.
However, several days later, before the holiday season had ended, as Mo Hua was still busy with his formations, he received some devastating news:
Senior Sister Ye from the Hundred Flowers Valley...
Had committed suicide.
(End of Chapter)
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