Chapter 796 – Hundred Flowers
Gu Changhuai immediately shot Mo Hua a look of disdain and snapped,
"Weren't you leaving? Then hurry up and go!"
"I got tired and need a rest," Mo Hua replied innocently.
"Then rest somewhere else," Gu Changhuai frowned.
"I can't move anymore…"
Mo Hua turned his bright, watery eyes toward Elder Gu Hong nearby.
Elder Gu Hong's heart instantly softened, and she scolded Gu Changhuai,
"He's just resting for a bit—what's it to you? And you're still trying to kick him out? So petty, so short-tempered. No wonder you're this old and still haven't found a Dao companion!"
Then she smiled at Mo Hua and added,
"Don't mind your Uncle Gu. That's just how he is. Stay as long as you like. I'd like to see who dares to chase you off."
"Thank you, Elder Gu Hong," Mo Hua said with a sweet, smiling face.
Gu Changhuai couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and grumbled,
"Fine, then I'll leave."
But the moment he stood, Elder Gu Hong slapped a palm on his shoulder and pushed him back down.
"Where do you think you're going? I haven't finished talking!"
Gu Changhuai couldn't move an inch.
Mo Hua watched gleefully, absolutely delighted at the scene.
Elder Gu Hong continued,
"I used to nag you and you'd always say you were busy with Dao Court affairs. I couldn't push too hard. But recently, your Division Chief told me…"
Gu Changhuai frowned.
"Auntie, you know our Division Chief?"
"Of course I do," Elder Gu Hong snorted. "I introduced a Dao companion for his youngest son. After they got together, he even came to thank me in person. How could I not know him?"
Gu Changhuai was at a loss for words.
"Don't interrupt," Elder Gu Hong continued. "Where was I?"
"You were saying the Division Chief mentioned something…" Mo Hua helpfully reminded.
"Ah right!" Elder Gu Hong snapped her fingers.
"He told me in secret—you've been acting recklessly, ruffling the wrong feathers. Someone might be plotting against you. Not knowing who's behind it, he had to put you on the shelf for a while, kept you away from any major investigations…"
She sighed.
"In the Dao Court, things never go smoothly. Ups and downs are normal. Don't let a little setback get to you."
"And honestly, this might be a good thing."
Elder Gu Hong's eyes lit up as she stared at Gu Changhuai.
"You've got time now—go on some blind dates!"
Gu Changhuai massaged his forehead, saying nothing.
"Why are you so stubborn?" Elder Gu Hong shook her head and pulled out a portrait, thrusting it in front of him.
Gu Changhuai looked like a statue—cold, unmoved, not even glancing at it.
"Just look at it," Elder Gu Hong said, eyes wide.
Gu Changhuai reluctantly gave it a glance, then turned away like it was offensive.
Mo Hua, curious, leaned in for a peek.
Elder Gu Hong, irritated with Gu Changhuai, turned to Mo Hua and asked,
"Well? Pretty, right?"
Mo Hua took a good look.
The woman in the portrait was stunning—delicate and radiant, with soft peach-blossom features and elegant curved brows.
Purely in terms of looks, she was a true beauty.
But the heavy makeup made her seem overly flashy.
To Mo Hua, she still didn't compare to his little senior sister.
Still, he nodded,
"She's pretty."
Elder Gu Hong beamed,
"See? That's a good eye. Not like your Uncle Gu—more stone than man."
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then suddenly asked,
"Elder, is this the one you mentioned before? That inner-sect instructor from Hundred Flowers Valley, the one who's stunning and fairy-like?"
Elder Gu Hong looked surprised and nodded,
"You actually remember? Yes, that's her."
"I looked into her further afterward. Her name's Hua Ruyu, from the direct line of the Hua Clan in Hundred Flowers Valley. While her branch is slightly more… independent, she's definitely of proper lineage—no issues there."
Then she sighed,
"Changhuai's a field officer who's always off fighting and killing. Combine that with his awful temper, and no noble family's proper daughter would want him."
"This is the best match I could find—no need for long-distance marriage, she's right here in Qianxue Province. She's also part of a Twelve-Stream sect. A Dao Court dian si and an inner-sect instructor—who knows, she might become an elder one day. They'd be a perfect match."
"That's true," Mo Hua nodded.
"And she's pretty too," Elder Gu Hong emphasized again.
Gu Changhuai, however, said flatly,
"Aunt, don't judge by appearance. Faces don't show hearts. Just because someone looks good doesn't mean they're decent."
Elder Gu Hong choked on her rage.
"Then go look in a mirror. You're good-looking too. Are you not decent?"
Gu Changhuai was briefly stunned.
She jabbed a finger at Mo Hua.
"And look at Mo Hua—such a handsome, well-behaved kid. You saying he's no good too?"
Gu Changhuai muttered,
"He isn't a good kid…"
"You're a grown man and still picking on a child?" Elder Gu Hong snapped, nearly grabbing his ear.
Mo Hua quietly said,
"Elder, let's not worry about me. The matchmaking is more important."
"You see? What a generous and thoughtful boy!" Elder Gu Hong praised.
Then she sighed again, eyes filled with exasperation.
"If only Changhuai were half as mature as you, I'd be content."
"He's over ten times your age and not even one-tenth as sensible."
Mo Hua couldn't help but nod.
Gu Changhuai sat in stunned silence, his soul practically leaving his body.
"Anyway, it's getting late and I've got things to do," Elder Gu Hong said, then gave Gu Changhuai a very pointed look,
"This time, no more excuses. You've already been 'sidelined' at the Dao Court, so you've got time. After the New Year, come with me to meet that girl. If things go well, get married already… give me some closure."
Her expression softened, a bit of loneliness in her eyes.
Then she added sharply,
"And another thing—stop bullying Mo Hua. You want to make a sour face at others? Fine. But to Mo Hua too? That's just wrong. If I find out again—don't think I'll let it slide!"
"Exactly!" Mo Hua chimed in happily.
Elder Gu Hong's words were fast and sharp. After she finished her rapid-fire scolding, she handed Mo Hua a box of cakes—made for a wedding gift by a prestigious clan, using rare ingredients. She told him to try them, calling it a New Year's present.
"Thank you, Elder Gu Hong!" Mo Hua said politely.
She smiled at him, glared once more at Gu Changhuai with a look that said "you better behave", then turned and left.
And so, the only ones left on the steps were Mo Hua, happily holding his cake box, and Gu Changhuai—dark-faced and full of regret.
Mo Hua took a bite.
It was fragrant, soft, chewy, with just the right sweetness. Not as good as his mother's, but still top-tier.
After finishing, he sighed and looked over expectantly.
"Uncle Gu, when can I eat your wedding cake?"
Gu Changhuai's face instantly turned pitch-black—like the bottom of a burnt pot.
This little brat really had a way of killing people with words. And now that he was older, he'd only become worse!
"I'm leaving. Play by yourself," Gu Changhuai said through gritted teeth.
"Wait, Uncle Gu, don't be in such a rush…" Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
"Let's make a deal."
"What deal?" Gu Changhuai frowned.
Mo Hua leaned closer, whispering,
"You help me secretly investigate 'Water Yama,' and I'll deal with Elder Gu Hong for you. Of course, you still need to show up at the matchmaking meeting. I'm still a kid—I can't go on your dates for you."
Gu Changhuai's frown deepened.
"You?"
Mo Hua nodded seriously.
"When it comes to Elder Gu Hong, my words work better than yours! Mutual benefit, right?"
Gu Changhuai's face was stormy, but… he had to admit, the brat was right.
He really had no way of handling his aunt.
And Mo Hua, this slick little schemer, had always been full of clever tricks…
Gu Changhuai sighed.
"Fine."
Mo Hua held out his hand.
Gu Changhuai stared for a moment, then reluctantly reached out and gave him a firm shake.
Mo Hua beamed.
"Deal!"
...
With a Dao Court Dian Si, Uncle Gu Changhuai, personally investigating Water Yama for him, Mo Hua finally felt relieved. No matter how you looked at it, that was far better than a mere sect disciple like himself poking around on his own.
As for how to deal with Elder Gu Hong, Mo Hua had already thought it through in advance.
He ended up staying at the Gu family for another joyful day.
Later, Aunt Wan took Yu'er back to the Shangguan Clan for their ancestral rites, while Uncle Gu was nowhere to be found—likely either busy investigating Water Yama or hiding from his matchmaking appointments.
Feeling a bit bored, Mo Hua returned to the Great Void Sect.
Back at the sect, his routine resumed as usual: cultivation and formation study.
Though refining evil spirits to strengthen his divine sense was faster, improving his spiritual awareness through formation practice made it far more solid and grounded.
Therefore, both methods were important and couldn't be neglected.
With no evil spirits around to "snack on," Mo Hua had no choice but to continue using the "slow-and-steady" method of drawing formations to temper his Sea of Consciousness and refine his divine sense.
Besides, he was now learning eighteen-pattern formations.
After two days of formation study, Mo Hua had gotten a basic grasp of an eighteen-pattern Bagua Array. He took some time to visit the Alchemy Hall and found Elder Murong.
This visit was actually on Elder Murong's instructions.
She was worried that after Mo Hua's expedition to Myriad Demon Valley, his body hadn't fully recovered, so she told him to come in for occasional checkups.
After examining his meridian flow, spiritual energy circulation, and the state of his still-"weak" blood vitality, Elder Murong nodded.
"Nothing serious. You can stop taking the restorative pills… Also, don't eat too much during New Year. Your blood vitality is weak, your digestion isn't great—stuffing yourself will hurt your spleen and stomach."
Mo Hua looked a bit embarrassed.
Elder Murong then took out another jade bottle and handed it to him.
"These are for digestion. Take one after meals."
Mo Hua took the bottle and curiously opened it. The pills inside were a vibrant green, radiating the fresh scent of herbs and vegetation.
"Can I eat one now?" he asked.
Elder Murong was momentarily stunned, then laughed.
"Sure."
Mo Hua took one, placed it in his mouth, and tasted it.
It had a slight bitterness, but it was very faint. Most of the flavor came from a sweet, herbal aroma with a hint of medicinal essence. After swallowing, he could feel his blood energy circulating faster.
"Thank you, Elder Murong!" Mo Hua smiled.
Elder Murong nodded gently, her demeanor as soft as ever.
Just then, her gaze shifted to the jade pendant hanging around Mo Hua's neck.
It was a pale white jade piece—simple in shape, roughly carved, but with faint cyan-green spiritual patterns flowing inside. Its exact jade type was unclear.
Mo Hua had always worn this pendant around his neck.
Elder Murong had seen it before but never paid it much attention. Yet now, her expression slightly stiffened.
"That jade pendant…" she murmured.
"Jade pendant?" Mo Hua looked down, suddenly remembering it.
"Is that… Dan Jade?" Elder Murong's voice turned strange.
"Mm," Mo Hua nodded. "Elder Murong, you know about Dan Jade too?"
As soon as he said that, he realized—this Dan Jade had been gifted to him by Grandpa Feng, a Grade-One alchemist.
And Elder Murong was a Grade-Three alchemist, so it was perfectly normal for her to recognize it.
"Is there something wrong with this jade?" Mo Hua asked.
Elder Murong's eyes flickered slightly, but she shook her head.
"No… not really."
Still, after a pause, she asked,
"You're not an alchemist, nor very skilled at alchemy. Why do you have Dan Jade?"
"It was a gift."
"A gift?" Her eyes showed clear surprise.
"Yes," Mo Hua thought for a moment, then didn't hide it:
"It was from a kind old grandpa who watched me grow up in Tongxian City. Though only a Grade-One alchemist, he was deeply respected for healing countless people."
"This Dan Jade was always with him during his healing work. Later, when I began learning formations, he gifted it to me…"
Mo Hua paused to recall a little more.
He remembered Grandpa Feng once said that this Dan Jade had been passed down to him by his own master.
Among alchemists, there was a saying: to heal others is to accumulate merit.
And a Dan Jade worn constantly would carry the accumulated merit of the alchemist.
Grandpa Feng gave the jade to Mo Hua in hopes it would protect him, ward off calamity, and help him grow up safely.
"Alchemists save people, but they can only save so many," Grandpa Feng had once said.
"Formation masters don't heal, but they can end up saving far more lives…"
Wearing this Dan Jade genuinely brought a sense of peace and calm.
However, Mo Hua had worn it so long that he'd gotten used to it. And these days, there weren't many things left that could shake his spirit, so the effect became less noticeable.
Eventually, he simply regarded it as a blessing from a respected elder—a keepsake that stayed with him.
Of course, that part he didn't tell Elder Murong.
Not because he didn't trust her—but because many matters involved karma and cause-effect. One must always leave room when speaking, and not reveal everything.
Elder Murong didn't press either. She simply gave a reminder:
"It's fine to wear it inside the sect, but outside—especially around certain alchemists—don't show that Dan Jade."
Mo Hua wanted to ask why, but seeing Elder Murong's soft, graceful expression and how she had no intention of explaining, he smartly didn't pursue it.
"Understood. I'll remember," he nodded.
After that, Elder Murong gave him a few more bottles of commonly used pills, and Mo Hua took his leave.
After he left, Elder Murong stood silently for a moment, her expression unreadable—perhaps touched, perhaps envious—as she softly murmured:
"He truly is… a child with deep karmic blessings…"
...
Leaving the Alchemy Hall, Mo Hua walked alone on the path back to the disciples' quarters.
Elder Murong's words lingered in his mind.
"Dan Jade…"
Could it be that Dan Jade… was something truly valuable?
Or rather, was the "Dan Jade" that Grandpa Feng gave him especially rare?
Otherwise, Elder Murong—a Grade Three Alchemist Elder of the Great Void Sect—wouldn't have taken such special notice of a mere jade pendant he wore…
Mo Hua walked with his head down, lost in thought.
Then, midway down the path, a crisp and melodious voice suddenly called out to him:
"Junior Brother Mo…"
Still preoccupied with thoughts of the Dan Jade, Mo Hua didn't hear it.
After another few steps, the voice carried a tone of playful complaint:
"Junior Brother Mo!"
Mo Hua blinked, snapped out of his thoughts, and looked up—his expression startled.
"Senior Sister Murong?"
Standing before him was a graceful and elegant young woman in the Great Void Sect's robes—none other than Murong Caiyun.
Murong Caiyun cast a playful sideways glance at him with her beautiful eyes:
"What were you thinking about? I've called out to you several times and you didn't even hear me."
Mo Hua chuckled awkwardly. Just as he was about to reply, he noticed several other young women standing behind her.
And they weren't from the Great Void Sect.
Dressed in colorful robes adorned with floral patterns, full of brightness and vibrancy—they were disciples from Hundred Flowers Valley.
Among them was someone he recognized—Hua Qianqian.
"Senior Sister Qianqian, you're here too?" Mo Hua said, a bit surprised.
Hua Qianqian smiled brightly at him.
"Junior Brother Mo, long time no see."
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, clearly pleased.
"You've grown taller… Clothes must look even better on you now…"
Mo Hua's expression immediately turned wary.
Murong Caiyun sighed—clearly used to this and helpless about it.
Mo Hua turned to ask,
"Senior Sister Murong, what brings you all here?"
"I'm visiting my aunt," Murong Caiyun explained.
"Your aunt?" Mo Hua paused, then remembered. "Elder Murong?"
"Yes." She nodded. "My aunt is an alchemy elder, skilled in all kinds of pills. Qianqian and the others wanted some guidance on alchemy, so I brought them along to seek my aunt's advice."
"Ah, I see," Mo Hua nodded in understanding.
Murong Caiyun then introduced him to the other Hundred Flowers Valley disciples:
"This is Junior Brother Mo Hua, the one I mentioned before. He's very talented at formation drawing. If you ever need help with formations, he's the one to go to."
Then she turned to Mo Hua and introduced the girls:
"These are all disciples from Hundred Flowers Valley—same generation as Qianqian. So they're technically all your senior sisters. This is Senior Sister Hua, Senior Sister Ye, Senior Sister Mu…"
She introduced them one by one.
Mo Hua gave a slightly shy salute:
"Greetings, Senior Sisters."
The Hundred Flowers Valley girls looked at him with sparkling eyes.
"So handsome and adorable!"
"And he knows formations? Those are so hard to learn…"
"Truly, never judge a book by its cover…"
Mo Hua: "..."
"Alright, alright," Murong Caiyun cut in, "it's getting late. If we're too slow, my aunt will scold us."
Only then did the girls reluctantly say goodbye to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua glanced briefly at each of them. They were all fair-skinned and beautiful, dressed in the elegant robes of Hundred Flowers Valley—standing together, they looked like a blooming garden.
He honestly found it hard to tell them apart.
But—one of the senior sisters stood out as particularly beautiful.
If he remembered correctly, her surname was Ye.
Senior Sister Ye had a delicate oval-shaped face, refined features, skin like porcelain, and sorrowful eyes. She was more reserved than the others, didn't speak much, and had a quietly elegant, cool demeanor.
Mo Hua gave them a few more glances, then waved farewell.
He hadn't thought much of the encounter.
But—just a few days later, before the New Year's holiday had even ended, while Mo Hua was still practicing his formation drawings…
He received devastating news:
That Senior Sister Ye from Hundred Flowers Valley—had taken her own life.
(End of this Chapter)