Chapter 822: The Dao Court
Chapter 822: The Dao Court
Central Dao Court!
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Why is the Dao Court here to investigate? What are they looking for? How are they conducting the investigation?"
Wang Chen's face was bitter as he replied, "This...you think too highly of me. How could I possibly know..."
Mo Hua pondered for a moment and found his words reasonable.
The sudden involvement of the Dao Court at this juncture certainly had deeper intentions.
It was unlikely that Wang Chen, an ordinary disciple of the Gui Water Gate, would be aware of such matters.
"Then let me ask you something else," Mo Hua said after a moment of thought. "What exactly do you mean by 'nice' and 'fun'? Where is this place? If you lead us there, what's in it for you?"
Wang Chen sighed helplessly, "I...I was just looking for a task to earn some merit points."
"My senior brothers mentioned that for each disciple from the eight major gates and twelve streams that we bring onboard, we'll receive two hundred merit points per head."
"The destination is just a pleasure boat with all sorts of entertainment. It's not anything sinister. Going there for some fun might even allow us to make some connections with fellow cultivators..."
Mo Hua let out a cold laugh, "Deceiving others is one thing, but don't deceive yourself as well."
Wang Chen fell silent.
However, after some contemplation, his expression turned cold as well, "Are you capturing me because you have other motives? Are you not actually planning to board the ship?"
Mo Hua was slightly taken aback by his insight.
This Wang Chen wasn't as foolish as he appeared.
Mo Hua replied calmly, "I dare to tell you, but do you dare to listen?"
Wang Chen was stunned.
Mo Hua's voice deepened as he said, "If you don't know about this matter, it's fine. But if you do, I'm afraid that before long, you'll be inviting disaster upon yourself, and you won't even know how you died."
Mo Hua wasn't bluffing.
Usually, individuals like Wang Chen who got wind of certain secrets wouldn't live to see another day.
That was how it always played out in drama scrolls.
Wang Chen dared not ask further.
He was from the Wang family and had grown up with Hao Xuan.
Although his family wasn't as influential as Hao's, and his standing within the family was far inferior, he was always cautious in his actions.
He was well aware of certain forbidden topics.
However, despite his silence, it was clear that he didn't intend to say anything more.
Mo Hua glanced at him and said indifferently, "Let me be frank with you. Initially, we were planning to torture you, kill you quietly, and throw your body into the river to feed the water demons, making sure no one ever found out. But Hao Xuan persuaded us otherwise..."
Hao Xuan, standing beside him, was taken aback.
'I was the one who persuaded them? How come I don't remember?'
Mo Hua continued without batting an eye, "Hao Xuan said that since you two grew up together, he couldn't bear to see you die a horrible death in the belly of a demon. So, he asked us to give you a chance. That's why we only knocked you out and are now asking you some questions. Otherwise, you would already be at the bottom of the river..."
"Xuan ge..."
Wang Chen's eyes softened as he looked at Hao Xuan with a touch of gratitude.
Hao Xuan, on the other hand, wasn't sure how to react to this revelation.
"But..." Mo Hua's expression turned slightly stern, "...you should be aware of your own actions."
"If you continue like this, not only will you face dire consequences, but you will also implicate the Wang family, bringing shame to your parents. Even your death will be dishonorable..."
Wang Chen's face paled, "But...but..."
He raised his head to look at Mo Hua and forced a bitter smile, "What choice do I have with the current state of affairs in the sect?"
Mo Hua shook his head, "You can't keep things hidden forever. The Gui Water Gate's actions will eventually lead to their downfall. You should consider your options carefully..."
Mo Hua gazed at Wang Chen, "When the Gui Water Gate falls, they will undoubtedly hold some disciples accountable. Do you think you can escape then?"
"This..."
Wang Chen lifted his head and glanced at Mo Hua, trying to discern his tone and demeanor.
It was then that he realized that the person before him was the same handsome and youthful disciple of the Tai Xu Gate he had encountered earlier in the day, and he felt both surprised and confused.
"But...can you really help me?"
Mo Hua replied arrogantly, "I can't reveal my true identity to you at this moment. But I can tell you that I have the backing of my ancestor. My words carry weight among my fellow disciples, and I have close connections with many elders. I also have some influence in the Dao Court..."
Mo Hua boasted, exaggerating his influence and connections.
However, Hao Xuan and the others knew that he was telling the truth.
Wang Chen, on the other hand, was completely taken in by Mo Hua's claims.
"Do me a favor, and I'll make sure to protect you in the Dao Court if the Gui Water Gate gets into trouble," Mo Hua assured him.
Wang Chen hesitated, "Really?"
"If you don't trust me, do you at least trust Hao Xuan?" Mo Hua asked.
Hao Xuan snapped back to attention and nodded, "We're trying to save you. Otherwise, once you're too deep in this mess, there's no turning back."
Wang Chen wavered, "But I'm just an ordinary disciple, and I can't do much..."
"Don't worry," Mo Hua reassured him, "It's just some minor tasks, and I won't put you in a difficult position."
Wang Chen still seemed hesitant, "Can I...think about it?"
"Sure," Mo Hua agreed, "But it's best if you don't tell anyone about today's events. Otherwise, if word gets out, no one will be able to save you."
Wang Chen nodded.
Mo Hua gave Cheng Mo a signal, and Cheng Mo released Wang Chen.
Wang Chen was surprised that they were actually letting him go, and he glanced at them warily before leaving with a hesitant gait, his thoughts unknown.
As they watched Wang Chen's retreating back, Si Tu Jian frowned, "Little Senior Brother, do you think he'll really help us?"
"It doesn't matter.
Mo Hua said, "Si Tu Jian."
Si Tu Jian was taken aback.
Mo Hua continued, "If he agrees, it will be easier on the Gui Water Gate. And if he doesn't, I can think of other ways. It'll just be a bit more troublesome."
"However, if he doesn't agree, then once things unfold, he can only blame himself for the consequences."
Cheng Mo and Si Tu Jian nodded.
Hao Xuan, on the other hand, looked a bit uneasy. Deep down, he still hoped that Wang Chen, his childhood friend, would not stray down the wrong path.
After that, the group returned to the Tai Xu Gate.
Mo Hua lay on his bed in the disciples' quarters, his mind still pondering the events of the day.
The Dao Court...
The difference between the Dao Court and the local Dao Court branch was just one word, but the implications were worlds apart.
The Dao Court had unified the cultivation world for over two millennia, and its foundations were deeply entrenched and formidable.
No one knew how many cultivation resources it had accumulated or how many cultivation legacies it monopolized. And behind the Dao Court lurked countless ancient and formidable cultivators of unfathomable depths.
In the Qian Xue Province, there was a local Dao Court branch.
However, this local branch, although supervised and governed by the Central Dao Court, had already been infiltrated by the various great clans.
The Dao Court had turned a blind eye to this, either as a compromise or because the great clans of the Qian Xue Province had their people within the Dao Court, allowing them to collude and cover up for each other.
But the current situation seemed a little different...
The Dao Court had started investigating the Gui Water Gate. It seemed like a minor issue, but it could very well be a catalyst for something bigger.
However...
What exactly was the Dao Court investigating in the Gui Water Gate? Why did they choose to start there?
And just how much did the Dao Court know?
Mo Hua thought about it for a long time but couldn't come up with any clues.
After all, if it had been the local Dao Court branch, he would have had some connections and understanding, and he even knew a few people there.
But the Central Dao Court was an entirely different beast, a towering entity that loomed far above him.
"I need to find someone who knows the inside scoop..."
Mo Hua took out his transmission token and contemplated for a while. He decided that it would be better to ask directly, so he sent a message to Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, has the Dao Court sent people here?"
He waited for a long time but received no reply from Gu Changhuai.
Perhaps Gu Changhuai was busy and hadn't seen the message, or maybe he simply didn't want to talk about the Dao Court.
But this matter was crucial.
After some consideration, Mo Hua decided to go and ask in person.
Early the next morning, he left the Tai Xu Gate and headed for the local Dao Court branch in the Qian Xue Province.
Upon arriving, no one stopped him.
Gu Changhuai had served as a chief clerk in the local Dao Court branch for many years and held considerable influence.
Usually, the clerks were indifferent and treated newcomers with indifference or even hostility. However, Mo Hua was a familiar face and a friend of Gu Changhuai, so no one dared to cause him any trouble.
A clerk from the Gu family even poured a cup of tea for Mo Hua and politely said, "Chief Clerk Gu is busy with work. Please wait a moment, Young Master."
Mo Hua politely expressed his gratitude and sat quietly, sipping his tea while discreetly observing the coming and going of the cultivators within the Dao Court branch.
After drinking four or five cups of tea, Mo Hua finally spotted Gu Changhuai, and he quickly greeted him, "Uncle Gu."
Just the sight of Mo Hua's handsome face made Gu Changhuai's head hurt.
If they weren't in the Dao Court branch, and he didn't have to maintain his image, he would have turned and left immediately.
"What is it?" Gu Changhuai asked indifferently.
"I sent you a message with my transmission token, but you didn't reply, so I came to find you," Mo Hua said boldly.
Gu Changhuai sighed. Just as he was about to say something, a cold but crisp voice interrupted them: "Chief Clerk Gu, you're quite relaxed, aren't you? Chatting away..."
Mo Hua was surprised and looked up to see a woman wearing the robes of a chief clerk.
This woman was tall and beautiful, with a cold expression. Her chin was slightly raised, exuding an air of arrogance.
Gu Changhuai's expression remained indifferent. He clearly wasn't in a good mood: "What? Can't I exchange a few words? Don't forget, you're a chief clerk, and so am I. You have no right to boss me around."
The woman's expression turned even colder.
The two of them stared at each other, their gazes equally icy and indifferent, creating an awkward stalemate.
Mo Hua, sitting between them, looked innocent.
After a moment, he leaned closer to Gu Changhuai and lowered his voice, "Uncle Gu, who is this beautiful lady?"
Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched.
This brat was bold, outright flattering, and he didn't know where he had learned such skills.
Mo Hua deliberately lowered his voice, but in front of a Golden Core cultivator, his words were as good as shouted.
The woman opposite them had obviously heard Mo Hua's words as well. Her expression remained as cold as ever, but the look she gave Mo Hua softened slightly.
No woman could resist being complimented on her beauty, especially by a pure and clear-eyed young man like Mo Hua. His words were like a gentle spring breeze, refreshing and pleasing.
Her voice, despite her efforts to remain indifferent, also softened a little. "Little brother, you shouldn't call me 'sister.' I'm quite a bit older than you..."
Mo Hua asked curiously, "Then what should I call you?"
Gu Changhuai, standing beside him, snorted coldly. "What else? Of course, you should call her 'Auntie.'"
The woman's gaze at Gu Changhuai turned icy, and a hint of killing intent flashed in her eyes. "Chief Clerk Gu, if you can't speak properly, it's better to keep your mouth shut."
After saying this, she turned to Mo Hua and said, "My surname is Xia. You can call me Chief Clerk Xia."
Mo Hua nodded and replied, "Nice to meet you, Chief Clerk Xia."
"Xia Dian Si nodded slightly and asked, "What brings you to the Dao Court?"
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai and began to fabricate a story. "Elder Gu Hong asked me to call for Uncle Gu to return to the Gu family. Something has come up."
Xia Dian Si was taken aback. "What's the matter?"
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai and then at Xia Dian Si, his expression hesitant as if unsure whether to speak.
After a moment, he beckoned to Xia Dian Si.
Xia Dian Si was slightly taken aback but soon realized Mo Hua's intention. She leaned in close, and Mo Hua whispered, "He's being called back for an arranged marriage..."
Once again, Mo Hua kept his voice low, but he couldn't hide the truth from Gu Changhuai.
Before Mo Hua could finish, Gu Changhuai's face darkened with anger. Losing his patience, he grabbed Mo Hua by the collar and marched away without another word, his back stiff with embarrassment.
...
Mo Hua had grown quite a bit taller, but he was still far shorter than Gu Changhuai.
Moreover, Gu Changhuai was a Golden Core cultivator with a stronger physical body. He easily lifted the slender Mo Hua and strode away without any sign of strain.
When they reached a secluded spot, Gu Changhuai set Mo Hua down and said coldly, "If you dare to spout more nonsense, I won't be so gentle next time."
"Oh?" Mo Hua replied nonchalantly.
Gu Changhuai sighed, knowing that his words held little weight. If he truly lost his temper with Mo Hua, the boy would simply run to Wen Renwan or Elder Gu Hong to complain, and he'd be the one in hot water.
Despite sharing the Gu surname, it was Mo Hua who held the real power in the Gu family, especially in front of Elder Gu Hong and Wen Renwan.
Gu Changhuai sighed again. "Fine, what do you want?"
"I already told you," Mo Hua replied.
Only then did Gu Changhuai remember the message slip. "You can't talk about Dao Court matters."
"Why not?"
"Because it's confidential, and the Dao Court is no ordinary power. If you offend them, not just you but even my Gu family could be wiped out."
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn.
However, he was just asking out of curiosity. He had no intention of offending anyone, let alone causing the destruction of his family.
After a moment of thought, his eyes lit up. "That Xia Dian Si earlier, is she from the Dao Court?"
Gu Changhuai remained silent.
Mo Hua studied his expression and nodded. "So it seems..."
"Uncle Gu, you mentioned before that the Dao Court has a new Dian Si who's difficult to deal with. Could it be this Xia Dian Si?"
After asking, Mo Hua continued to observe Gu Changhuai's reaction, and his suspicions were confirmed.
"Xia Dian Si, Xia... Could the Xia family be one of the major clans in the Dao Court?"
Gu Changhuai sighed in resignation. "Yes."
He had realized that Mo Hua, once curious, would not let go of a topic until he got to the bottom of it. It was better to just tell him directly than to try and hide things from him.
"The Xia family is an ancient clan that has been with the Dao Court since its inception," Gu Changhuai explained. "They have held numerous important positions within the Dao Court's central administration, the Seven Pavilions, and even the Astronomical Bureau throughout the generations."
"The Xia family is indeed a formidable clan."
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn at the revelation.
He had not expected the Xia family to be so influential.
"Then what is the Dao Court's purpose in sending the Xia family here? Are they investigating the Gui Water Gate?" Mo Hua asked.
Gu Changhuai frowned. "You know about the Dao Court's investigation into the Gui Water Gate?"
Mo Hua nodded. "I just found out."
Gu Changhuai didn't know what to say.
The Dao Court had only just started their investigation.
This boy's information network was truly impressive.
"Why is the Dao Court investigating the Gui Water Gate?" Mo Hua asked.
Gu Changhuai fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. "It's hard to say..."
"Hard to say?"
Gu Changhuai thought for a moment before finally speaking up. "In the Qian Xue Province, sects are numerous, and the influence of the great clans is immense. While the elders of these clans may have their own schemes and engage in covert struggles, they present a united front when it comes to the Dao Court: they allow the Dao Court to establish a branch to enforce the Dao Laws, but they insist that the Dao Court not interfere in their internal affairs."
"Unless a clan truly rebels or conspires to overthrow the Dao Court, touching on the Dao Court's bottom line, the Dao Court usually turns a blind eye."
"Even when serious incidents occur, the Dao Court merely holds the clans accountable and extracts some resources as punishment. That's the extent of their involvement."
"However, things seem to be changing lately..."
Gu Changhuai frowned. "It seems the Dao Court no longer wishes to tolerate the status quo in the Qian Xue Province."
"Or perhaps they have been eyeing the province for a long time but have been waiting for a suitable opportunity to intervene."
"But not long ago, an 'opportunity' presented itself."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed. "What opportunity?"
Gu Changhuai looked at Mo Hua. "You're a sect disciple, so you should have gone to the Demon Beast Mountain to hunt beasts and are likely familiar with the Demon Beast Valley, right?"
Mo Hua was taken aback. "The Demon Beast Valley?!"
Gu Changhuai nodded. After hesitating for a moment, he was about to share the secret with Mo Hua when he paused, "You don't already know, do you?"
Mo Hua remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.
"What do you know?" Gu Changhuai asked.
"I... I know almost everything..." Mo Hua replied softly.
"There's no one in the entire Qian Xue Province who understands the Myriad Demon Valley better than Master Tu and that mysterious young master, right?" Mo Hua said.
"Perhaps the demon cultivator managers know as well, but they're all dead."
Gu Changhuai's eyelids twitched.
"The Myriad Demon Valley..." was something he had only heard about from the head of the Gu Clan.
This matter was highly confidential, and only bits and pieces of information had been leaked out. Yet, Mo Hua claimed to know everything, which meant...
"You... You haven't been to the Myriad Demon Valley, have you?" Gu Changhuai asked.
Mo Hua nodded, "Sort of..."
It wasn't as simple as just having been there.
He had wandered around the Myriad Demon Valley for an unknown amount of time.
He had erased the soul marks of more than half of the demon cultivator managers.
He had devoured all the countless demons that the valley had to offer.
Of course, these things couldn't be said out loud.
Gu Changhuai couldn't even begin to imagine such things.
However, despite his lack of knowledge, he still couldn't help but draw in a cold breath, feeling incredulous.
This kid was involved in everything...
How uncanny!
"What's the issue with the Myriad Demon Valley?" Mo Hua asked.
Gu Changhuai calmed himself and sighed, "The Myriad Demon Valley incident was the catalyst...
"It had terrible consequences and was extremely serious. Although it was eventually covered up, the Dao Court used it as an excuse to directly send people to the Dao Court Office to conduct an investigation..."
Gu Changhuai's expression turned grim, "...and that's how we got Summer Clan's Xia Dian Si."
Mo Hua slowly nodded.
Everything in this world had a cause and effect.
He had thought that the Myriad Demon Valley incident was over, but he never expected that it would secretly lead to a series of unforeseen changes.
Not only did it bring the hand of the Dao Court into the Qian Xue Province, but it also brought that 'Xia Dian Si' here.
Mo Hua frowned, "What impact will the Dao Court's involvement have on the Qian Xue Province?"
Gu Changhuai's expression became solemn, "That's the tricky part. They might just be going through the motions and will leave after a period of investigation, or they might be secretly investigating some truth, or perhaps they intend to use this opportunity to infiltrate the province..."
"Regardless, this is just the beginning."
"It means that the Central Dao Court is about to make its move..."
...
Even after Mo Hua left the Dao Court Office and returned to the disciples' quarters, Gu Changhuai's words still lingered in his mind.
The Dao Court was making its move.
It was hard to tell if this was a good or bad thing...
Mo Hua furrowed his brows.
However, the schemes of such a massive entity as the Dao Court were probably beyond his concern, and it was too early for him to worry about such things.
Mo Hua snapped back to the present and turned his thoughts to the Water Yanluo.
The most important thing right now was to capture the Water Yanluo as soon as possible.
By questioning him about the Yu Family's annihilation, especially matters related to the 'sacrifice', they could locate the altar and further his soul sense.
But Mo Hua soon realized that with the clues he currently had, it would be difficult to find the Water Yanluo, let alone capture him.
He had limited time and had to account for the ten-day break, which meant he couldn't personally investigate many things.
At this rate, even if he managed to capture the Water Yanluo, it would take an eternity.
It was too slow.
Even if he could afford to wait, the matter concerning the survival of the sect, as mentioned by Master Xun, probably couldn't.
Mo Hua fell silent, deep in thought.
A person should know their own limitations.
If he couldn't do something, he should humbly seek help.
A wise man adapts to circumstances and makes good use of everything at his disposal.
"The people who can help with this matter are Uncle Gu, Yu Canghai, Shallow Master from the Hundred Flowers Valley, and that Wang Chen from the Gui Water Gate. They're all already part of the plan..."
"But it's still not enough..."
"We need one more powerful helper."
"And that helper is..."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "The Dao Court!"
"The Dao Court's strength is unfathomable; they are a true behemoth."
"Within the Qian Xue Province, if the Dao Court wants to do something, they don't have to worry about any opposing forces or fear anyone's obstruction or retaliation."
"Now that the Dao Court wants to make a move and investigate the Gui Water Gate, I can take advantage of this opportunity and lure the Water Yanluo into the Dao Court's net, then fish in troubled waters."
"Moreover, I can also take this chance to build a good relationship with a part of the Dao Court's forces."
"Any force, be it a noble family, a sect, or even the Dao Court, has internal complexities."
"There are different interests, entanglements, and intentions within, and they are not an absolutely unified entity."
"By building a good relationship with a part of the Dao Court, if I ever truly touch some heavenly taboo and incur the iron-blooded killing intent of the Dao Court's upper echelons, I won't be left alone in a desperate situation."
"But..."
Mo Hua frowned, "How can I get in touch with the Dao Court?"
After much thought, Mo Hua could only think of one person.
He took out his transmission token and sent a message to Gu Changhuai: "Uncle Gu, forget about Teacher Hua. There's no result there. In your free time, try to get in touch with Xia Dian Si..."
Gu Changhuai had been influenced by Mo Hua's unconventional ways, and occasionally, he would also use magnetic ink to display strange symbols to express his emotions.
At this moment, he sent a big question mark to Mo Hua.
(End of Chapter)
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