Chapter 820 – The Bait
After returning to the sect, life returned to peace.
Mo Hua resumed his daily cultivation and continued studying array formations.
Yet in his spare time, he still couldn't let go of his curiosity about that ancient sword sect that existed before the split of Tai'a, Chongxu, and Great Void.
So he started asking around subtly, trying to find out if anyone in the Great Void Sect knew the name of that old sect.
None of the disciples had heard of it.
He even asked among the elders—Elder Xun Ziyou, Elder Xun Zixian, and the gentle Elder Murong—but none of them could give him a clear answer either.
After much thought, Mo Hua could only turn to Venerable Elder Xun.
That day, after Elder Xun finished teaching Mo Hua the key concepts behind the Nineteen-Line Bagua Formation, Mo Hua seized the opportunity to ask:
"Venerable Elder, I heard someone say that our Great Void Sect was once part of an ancient sword sect. Do you know what that ancient sect was called?"
Elder Xun paused, and his gaze toward Mo Hua turned slightly strange.
"Why do you want to know that?"
"Just a little curiosity," Mo Hua replied.
Elder Xun's expression became a bit complicated. After a moment of silence, he sighed with a hint of melancholy:
"That matter is too ancient. And that name… is forbidden. I don't know it."
Though he said he didn't know, Mo Hua could tell from his expression—he clearly knew something.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then suddenly realized something and asked:
"You said 'it's forbidden to mention'—who forbade it?"
Elder Xun's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing more. He simply patted Mo Hua on the shoulder and said:
"Just focus on your array cultivation. Don't ask about other things."
"Alright." Mo Hua nodded.
Since Elder Xun wouldn't say more, and even advised him not to pry, it was clear this matter involved some deep, unspoken secret.
Elder Xun looked at Mo Hua again, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't hold back his question:
"How is your spiritual sense progressing?"
"It's improved a little," Mo Hua answered honestly, "but it's really slow…"
"Is that so…" Elder Xun sighed faintly.
He knew that was to be expected.
After all, his spiritual sense had already reached 19 lines of a second-tier cultivator—near the limit of Foundation Establishment. Every step beyond that would be extremely difficult.
Cultivation has its limits.
Once near those limits, even if one has spirit stones and powerful techniques, progress becomes agonizingly slow.
Let alone spiritual sense, for which there is no direct cultivation technique.
Still, Elder Xun couldn't help but feel a bit regretful.
Mo Hua asked, unable to resist:
"Venerable Elder, is my spiritual sense… really that important?"
Elder Xun shook his head gently, his voice kind:
"It's nothing. Just cultivate properly and don't let yourself be distracted…"
Some things, he still couldn't say.
And he didn't want Mo Hua burdened with too much.
But after saying that, Elder Xun suddenly fell silent.
He gazed at Mo Hua—who was growing day by day—thought for a moment, and suddenly his eyes sharpened as he spoke in a solemn tone:
"Mo Hua."
Mo Hua looked over at him instinctively.
Elder Xun's expression was grave as he slowly said:
"The situation in the Qianxue State is growing increasingly turbulent. In the near future, events may unfold that will decide the very survival of our Great Void Sect…"
"The karmic threads involved are tangled and unstable. No one knows what the outcome will be. That's why—every bit stronger your spiritual sense becomes, the more you'll be able to protect yourself."
Mo Hua's heart trembled.
So this wasn't just some random political turmoil—this involved the rise and fall of the entire sect?!
He had guessed things might not be simple before, but he hadn't expected it to be this serious.
And this was coming from the profound and unreadable Elder Xun.
Mo Hua thought deeply for a moment, then nodded seriously:
"I understand, Elder."
——
After leaving Elder Xun's residence, Mo Hua suddenly felt the weight of a heavy burden on his shoulders.
If strengthening his spiritual sense could affect the survival of the sect, then he had no excuse to slack off.
It wasn't that he wanted to consume evil spirits…
But desperate times called for desperate measures—he had no choice.
Eating a little wouldn't cut it anymore.
He needed a full feast.
Time was running out…
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then sent a message to Gu Changhuai:
"Uncle Gu, have you investigated the Xiao Clan yet?"
Gu Changhuai replied:
"That's Dao Court business. You shouldn't be asking about it."
Mo Hua wasn't pleased and argued:
"Uncle Gu, I told you everything about the Water Prison Sect and Elder Yu. Don't you think you owe me some fairness? A little reciprocity?"
Gu Changhuai fell silent.
After what Mo Hua said, he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
Come to think of it… he had taken advantage of the kid.
After a while, Gu Changhuai sighed:
"I'll tell you. But you need to be very careful with the Xiao Clan."
"Most of their cultivators have served in the Dao Court. They're experts in law and punishment, cold-blooded and ruthless. And don't forget—you've already taken the life of one of their people. So it's best to stay away from them…"
"Got it," Mo Hua replied. "I understand."
Gu Changhuai sighed again.
He wasn't sure whether Mo Hua truly understood or just said he did, but he continued anyway:
"I looked into it. The Xiao Clan's fingerprints are definitely all over this."
"Ye Jin's older brother—Ye Xiu—the one who died on the Yan Shui River? When the Ye Clan deregistered him from the Dao Court, the official in charge was someone from the Xiao Clan."
"And on the other side, when Guo Jianglong killed Ye Xiu—who was using the alias 'Young Master Lin'—that case was also handled by someone from the Xiao Clan."
"In fact… it was the same person who handled both."
"He took a single case—and turned it into two unrelated ones."
"And that person… you know him too."
"I know him?" Mo Hua was stunned.
There weren't many people from the Xiao Clan he even recognized… unless…
"The Barking Heavenly Dog?" Mo Hua guessed.
Among the Xiao Clan members, the only ones who left an impression on him were Smiling Tiger and Barking Heavenly Dog.
Smiling Tiger was that smiling, yet cold-blooded, Dao Court adjudicator—Xiao Dianzhi.
Barking Heavenly Dog was Xiao Tianquan—the talented young scion of the Xiao Clan, newly recruited into the Dao Court, with many loyal underlings helping him earn merit. A rising star.
Smiling Tiger was too high-ranked to handle day-to-day cases himself.
Which meant… it had to be the Barking Dog.
Gu Changhuai sighed.
"Didn't I tell you to stop giving people nicknames?"
"Not my fault. He named himself badly…" Mo Hua argued righteously.
Xiao Tianquan and Xiao Tīanquǎn—"Heaven Barking Dog"—sounded exactly the same.
Gu Changhuai couldn't win that argument, so he let it go and continued:
"And it's not just the Ye Clan's case. The Xiao Clan is very closely tied to the Yin Water Sect. Many of their disciples even come from the Yin Water Sect and practice their techniques."
"That's not all. I went through Qianxue State's records for the last two hundred years and found that the Xiao Clan's involvement pops up in many cases involving demonic cultivators."
"Some of these so-called criminals were arrested, but released due to 'lack of evidence'. Others were sentenced to death—but mysteriously died in prison before execution. And some had suspicious identities, like one person using two names, or two people sharing one… all of them were covered up in the case files by the Xiao Clan."
Mo Hua frowned.
"And no one investigated them?"
Gu Changhuai said coldly, "No one will investigate it."
Mo Hua was momentarily stunned, then after some thought, he more or less understood.
The Dao Court was bloated with redundant positions. Most people just went through the motions—if a task didn't offer any benefit or profit, they'd do the bare minimum and muddle through. As long as the Xiao Clan kept things discreet and everything looked decent on the surface, no one would bother digging into the past.
Besides, reopening old cases would mean offending one of the Dao Court's giants—the Xiao Clan.
Anyone with a functioning brain wouldn't want to touch that hornet's nest.
"What about that executive you killed?"
"Which one?"
"The one I blew up…" Mo Hua said quietly.
Someone had died—surely the Xiao Clan would have reacted.
Gu Changhuai's expression turned complicated, and he sent a message back:
"The Xiao Clan handled the deregistration themselves. They claimed one of their disciples was involved in the bandit suppression at the Yan Shui River, fought valiantly, but unfortunately died at the hands of a 'brutal and ruthless' river bandit."
Mo Hua: "That 'brutal and ruthless' bandit… wouldn't happen to be me, would it?"
Gu Changhuai: "As long as you know it, that's enough."
Mo Hua: "…"
Gu Changhuai continued,
"So, the matter was settled on the surface. But behind the scenes, the Xiao Clan definitely won't let this go. Be careful. Don't slip up or you'll burn yourself."
Mo Hua: "Got it. Thanks, Uncle Gu."
Having said all he needed to, Gu Changhuai added:
"I have other matters to handle. Can't chat anymore. The Dao Court has sent down a Dian Si—very difficult to deal with, and temperamental. I'll be busy for a while. You take care of yourself."
A Dian Si from the Dao Court?
Mo Hua wanted to ask who it was, but Gu Changhuai had already gone silent.
Mo Hua shook his head.
Uncle Gu really wasn't a very forthcoming person.
He decided: from now on, he'd keep his own intelligence to himself for a while. If he ever needed help from Uncle Gu, then he'd use that information as… not leverage, no, just part of a fair exchange.
Knowledge has value—it shouldn't be given away for free.
Putting away the messaging talisman, Mo Hua sat at his desk, deep in thought.
Still, he'd gained some clarity on the Yan Shui River situation.
The Dao Court's Xiao Clan was the umbrella of protection.
The Yin Water Sect was the visible front.
Water Yama and his ilk were the hidden enforcers.
As for Hundred Flower Valley…
Mo Hua still wasn't sure how deeply they were involved, but at the very least, that Instructor Hua seemed to be the supplier, maybe even the transporter.
All of these factions formed a web that now hung over the Yan Shui River.
And at the center of the web, was likely…
Rouge Boat.
But even though he now understood the structure, Mo Hua couldn't act just yet.
There'd been no progress with Hundred Flower Valley.
According to Uncle Gu, that Hua Ruyu had been extremely cautious lately—holed up in the valley, not stepping outside or maintaining contact with the outside world.
As for the Yin Water Sect, Mo Hua wasn't familiar with any of their people, and had no informants or foothold in the sect.
Water Yama was difficult to catch, and it couldn't be done casually.
With how slippery and alert Water Yama was, any future attempt to capture him would have to be meticulously planned, with no room for error. If he escaped again and caught wind of their tricks, it would be nearly impossible to get him the next time.
And as for the Xiao Clan… forget it.
He'd blown up one of their officers—he was already tied to them by karma. For now, it was best to steer clear.
"So many leads, but none of them are easy to act on…"
Mo Hua sighed.
"Where should I start?"
Over the next few days, Mo Hua kept turning this problem over in his mind, but nothing came of it.
Until one day, while having lunch in the disciples' dining hall, Hao Xuan suddenly rushed up to him.
"Senior Brother! Something's up!"
"Something's up?" Mo Hua blinked.
"Yeah!" Hao Xuan nodded solemnly. "Someone tried to seduce me!"
Nearby, Cheng Mo, who was mid-swig of his wine, choked and burst into coughing. Face red from the alcohol (and shock), he spluttered:
"Seduce you?"
"Yes!" Hao Xuan said seriously.
"A… girl?"
"A guy."
Cheng Mo's expression turned a bit… complex.
Hao Xuan quickly waved his hands and clarified:
"No, no, it's not like that! He wasn't seducing me like that—he was trying to lure me to a place I shouldn't go."
Mo Hua raised an eyebrow—now he was interested.
"What kind of place?"
"He didn't say exactly," Hao Xuan replied. "Just said he wanted to take me to a place to 'eat, drink, and be merry.' Said there were good-looking people, fun things to do…"
"I asked him, what kind of good-looking? What kind of fun? But he just smiled mysteriously and said I'd know when I got there. Said it was a 'paradise of earthly pleasures'—a place so unforgettable that once you've been, you'll never want to leave."
"I was kinda tempted…"
Hao Xuan was honest—his cheeks were a little red—but he still said seriously,
"But I remembered what you told me, Senior Brother—that someone might be plotting against our sect, trying to tempt us into doing something wrong. I got chills, so I pretended to agree, then came straight back to report it."
Mo Hua was quite pleased.
"Very good," he said, pouring Hao Xuan a cup of fruit wine himself.
Drinking a cup personally poured by his Senior Brother made Hao Xuan visibly proud.
"Who was it that tried to seduce you?" asked Situ Jian curiously from the side.
Hao Xuan sipped his wine and explained:
"An old childhood friend. Our families lived close by, we were the same age, so we grew up playing together. But later, we joined different sects and focused on cultivation, so we lost touch."
"And which sect did he join?" Mo Hua asked.
"Yin Water Sect," Hao Xuan replied.
Yin Water Sect...
Mo Hua's eyes flickered slightly.
"Senior Brother, what should we do now? Should I reject him?" Hao Xuan asked.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"No. Agree to go."
"Agree?" Hao Xuan blinked.
"Yes," Mo Hua said. "Not only agree—tell him you've got a fellow sectmate who's also interested. Ask if he's willing to bring him along."
"Senior Brother… that sectmate wouldn't happen to be you, would it?" Hao Xuan asked, already suspecting the answer.
Mo Hua nodded.
"Exactly."
Off to the side, Cheng Mo perked up immediately.
"Senior Brother, if you're going, I'm going too!"
Even the usually serious Situ Jian added,
"I'll go as well."
Mo Hua was speechless.
"Why are you all tagging along?"
Cheng Mo straightened up and said solemnly:
"We don't mean anything by it—just worried you might be in danger, so we want to protect you."
Mo Hua: "…"
Situ Jian thought for a moment, then added earnestly,
"It really is a little risky for you to go alone, Senior Brother."
Mo Hua sighed.
"Alright then."
He wasn't particularly worried about danger—he could handle himself. But since Hao Xuan would be going too, and his strength was average, it wouldn't hurt to have Cheng Mo and Situ Jian along for backup.
Plus, another practical reason—if Hao Xuan only brought one person, the Yin Water Sect might not approve. But if he brought three disciples from the Great Void Sect, the odds of getting approval would be much higher.
Mo Hua guessed—pure speculation, of course—that the Yin Water Sect's disciples probably had to meet quotas for bringing in people.
Bringing in one might not matter, but three? That might be too tempting to refuse.
"Hao Xuan, go ask your childhood friend. Tell him there are three fellow sectmates who want to check it out. See if that's acceptable."
"Alright, I'll ask," Hao Xuan nodded.
The next day, Hao Xuan returned with news.
"I asked. He was a bit hesitant and cautious—wanted to know which three sectmates I was bringing. So I told him: one is from a prestigious clan in Gen Province, another is from a sword cultivator family in Li Province, and the last one—Senior Brother—you—I said your family isn't well-known, but you're a genius in array formations."
"Two noble scions, and one array genius. My friend was clearly delighted, though he pretended to act troubled. He said he'd have to ask his senior brother first—but not long after, he told me they agreed. Said it's fine to bring you all along."
Mo Hua nodded.
"When are we going?"
"This ten-day rest period," Hao Xuan replied. "He said time is of the essence. The place isn't open to just anyone. Even if you're qualified, there's a line—and if you're late, you might miss your chance."
"Since this is our first time, we get special treatment."
The more Mo Hua listened, the more this sounded like a classic pig-butchering scheme.
And in a way… it kind of was.
Just that instead of killing for blood, it butchered the Dao heart.
And once your Dao heart was gone, you were nothing more than a pig anyway.
"Alright." Mo Hua nodded.
A few days later, the rest period began.
Mo Hua, Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, and Hao Xuan gathered, and under Hao Xuan's lead, they headed for Yin Water City, located just outside the Yin Water Sect.
Within the Qianxue Prefecture, every sect had an associated cultivation city nearby.
These cities served as hubs where disciples could buy pills, talismans, spirit tools, arrays, and other daily necessities.
They also had inns, restaurants, tea houses, and other spots for rest and leisure.
Many cultivators even lived there long-term.
The Yin Water Sect was no exception.
When they arrived in Yin Water City, Hao Xuan led the group to a restaurant, where they met his childhood friend.
"This is Wang Chen," Hao Xuan introduced. "We grew up together. He's now cultivating in the Yin Water Sect."
Mo Hua gave Wang Chen a quick look.
He was about the same height as Hao Xuan, with a thin build. His looks weren't especially handsome or ugly—very average—but his presence was unremarkable, like someone you wouldn't remember even if you saw him twice. However, his eyes flickered constantly—clearly someone with a calculating nature.
As Mo Hua studied Wang Chen—
Wang Chen was also sizing up Mo Hua and the others.
He didn't seem too surprised when he saw Cheng Mo and Situ Jian.
But when his gaze fell on Mo Hua, his expression suddenly changed. He turned to Hao Xuan with a troubled look.
"Brother Xuan… this won't work."
"Why not?"
Wang Chen stole a glance at Mo Hua, then whispered to Hao Xuan,
"Didn't you say you were bringing three fellow disciples? Why is there a little junior disciple here?"
Mo Hua's face instantly darkened.
"He is a fellow disciple," Hao Xuan quickly clarified. "Not a junior—"
In fact, he's our Senior Brother!
Wang Chen looked awkward.
"It's just… he looks really young…"
His face looked far too tender.
And those eyes—so pure, so clear, untouched by worldly dust.
Wang Chen leaned in and whispered,
"That kind of place… really isn't suitable for someone like him."
There was something else he didn't say aloud.
In his eyes, this "junior" disciple from the Great Void Sect looked exactly like the type certain young masters liked.
If he really brought him inside, and someone took an interest…
He might be sending the kid straight into the tiger's den.
(End of this Chapter)