Chapter 1148: Miss Hua Arrives
Mo Hua was a man of principle.
Debts must be repaid—this was an unshakable truth of heaven and earth.
Though he had once impersonated "Mister Yuan" to do business with Elder You, and eventually betrayed him, leading to the complete downfall of the Qianxue Demonic Sect…
Still, business was business. Regardless of how it ended, those spirit stones were undeniably owed by Elder You.
If Elder You had died, then the debt could only be written off. Mo Hua would sigh in regret, but he wouldn't push it.
But now?
Not only was Elder You not dead—he was very much alive, standing right in front of him.
That old debt couldn't be left unmentioned.
After all, 1.8 million was no small amount.
Mo Hua came from a poor family and was always frugal. What was owed, must be reclaimed.
That said…
Mo Hua still harbored some doubts.
How had Elder You survived?
The Demonic Sect was wiped out, and yet he lived.
He even made it through the chaos of the Bloodstain Grand Array unharmed?
Through all the calamity that swept the Qianxue Prefecture, he walked away unscathed?
Just who was this "Elder You"?
And why was Li San following him now? From the look of it, he seemed extremely loyal?
Mo Hua's heart was full of questions—growing more tangled the more he thought about them.
After a moment, his eyes narrowed slightly. He thought, "No matter what, I'll find a chance to collect that debt from Elder You first."
As far as he was concerned, Elder You was a walking, talking 1.8 million spirit stones.
"And this Li San… is his loyalty truly directed at 'Elder You'?"
Mo Hua's gaze turned subtly thoughtful.
Just then, Elder You cupped his hands toward Young Master Tuoba and said, "Miss Hua will arrive shortly. May I ask Young Master Tuoba to wait a moment."
The ever-prideful Young Master Tuoba actually showed a hint of a smile and waved his hand cordially.
"Very well. Elder You, please be seated. Someone—serve tea."
Mo Hua promptly stepped forward and poured tea for the man who owed him 1.8 million.
As the tea was poured, Elder You suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
But the sensation vanished just as quickly as it came.
He glanced around with a frown, noting only Young Master Tuoba and a few servants present. Finding nothing amiss, he let it go.
Li San, being merely Foundation Establishment, was not qualified to sit. He stood behind Elder You, eyes full of fanatical devotion, silent and unmoving.
The banquet hall grew quiet for a moment.
It seemed everyone was waiting for someone.
Mo Hua thought to himself—Young Master Tuoba is arrogant and quick-tempered. And yet here he is, waiting patiently?
Who could possibly be worth that?
Was it the "Miss" Elder You mentioned?
Mo Hua said nothing and simply waited quietly with the rest.
Less than half an hour later, the sound of footsteps echoed outside. Amid swirling mist and the jingle of ornaments, a woman clad in resplendent finery strode inside, her head held high. She was surrounded by guards, radiant like a goddess descending.
Elder You immediately stood and bowed respectfully.
When Young Master Tuoba saw the woman's face, he seemed momentarily stunned. Then he too stood, cupped his hands, and smiled:
"Miss Hua, you truly possess a beauty that could topple nations, outshining moon and flowers alike. Meeting you today is a blessing of three lifetimes."
Miss Hua appeared used to such flattery. She only gave a faint "Mm."
Young Master Tuoba, still smiling, gestured politely. "Please, Miss Hua, take the seat of honor."
Fragrance wafted. Her steps were light as lotus petals, and the chime of gold and jade followed her movements. Miss Hua took the main seat—even slightly higher than the host himself.
Mo Hua was curious but didn't dare look directly, for fear of drawing suspicion.
Only after everyone had taken their seats and the banquet began, amid clinking cups and flowing wine, did he subtly glance up at the woman in the seat of honor.
She was indeed a noble-looking woman, clad in extravagant robes.
It was clear she came from wealth and privilege.
Golden silk and jade adorned her garments, moonlight and snow seemed woven into her veil. A dazzling golden phoenix hairpin held her thick black hair in place, and her skin was radiant.
Her face was undoubtedly beautiful—like a sculpture carved from jade, exquisitely delicate.
Only her eyes betrayed a trace of arrogance and caprice, the gaze of someone used to looking down on others.
Mo Hua froze briefly, then quietly compared her in his heart—and shook his head slightly.
This "Miss Hua" might have a pretty face, but her eyes were shallow, her spirit unrefined. She was, at best, a hollow beauty.
Compared to his gentle, kind, and caring little senior sister, she was sorely lacking.
Mo Hua lost most of his interest.
That said, Miss Hua's appearance was undeniably striking.
During the banquet, Young Master Tuoba's proud and aggressive gaze was fixed almost entirely on Miss Hua.
Accompanying her were elders, guards, and several young nobles of obvious high status—apparently also her "pursuers."
Miss Hua, seated in glory, was like the moon surrounded by stars.
Every smile, every gesture shaped the mood of the entire banquet.
She was clearly drunk on her own vanity—and enjoying every second of it.
Mo Hua pondered deeply:
"Miss Hua… she must be from the Hua Clan. But which region are they from? Qianzhou? Kunzhou? Lizhou? Definitely not the Great Wilderness..."
"The Great Wilderness wouldn't raise someone this refined."
"So why has she come here?"
"And Elder You—he acts completely subservient to her. Is he a member of the Hua Clan too?"
"If so… why was he serving as a Demonic Sect elder?"
The more Mo Hua thought, the more tangled the web became.
No wonder Uncle Gu had once told him: The waters of noble clans run deep. Their ties are like tangled vines—complex, unpredictable. No one ever truly knows who's connected to whom, or what schemes are brewing behind the scenes.
This banquet in the underground beast arena of Desert City—this whole performance—was just the tip of the iceberg.
As Mo Hua mulled over all this, his gaze suddenly flicked—and he froze.
Among Miss Hua's "pursuers"… he saw a familiar face.
It was none other than someone he'd met (and fought) back in Little Relay City—Young Master Shi of the Yin Corpse Valley.
Young Master Shi—the bearer of the Undying Talisman, very likely the Saint or future Saint of Yin Corpse Valley.
He had helped orchestrate the massacre and corpse transformation of Little Relay City, part of Yin Corpse Valley's rise and its first foothold in the mortal world.
Clearly, Young Master Shi was highly valued by the sect.
Mo Hua never expected to run into him again here in Desert City after just a few months.
And this time… Young Master Shi was dressed in silk and brocade, his face fair and handsome, his every gesture full of grace—he looked every bit the noble young master. Not a trace of his corpse cultivator background remained.
Even more baffling—Young Master Shi was constantly refilling Miss Hua's wine cup, his gaze glued to her face, whispering sweet nothings with gentle devotion…
He looked like a lovesick puppy.
Mo Hua was completely dumbfounded.
Young Master Shi… what the hell are you doing?
You're the prized genius of the demonic Yin Corpse Valley!
You carry the Undying Talisman—you're a future Saint!
And now… you're simping for a woman?!
Do you even know what you're doing?!
Did cultivating corpses rot your brain, or did one of them eat it?
Mo Hua was thoroughly confused.
But Young Master Shi, instead of being alarmed, looked utterly smitten—his brows soft, eyes infatuated, fully immersed in his role.
Mo Hua shook his head… only to suddenly tense up.
He realized—this Young Master Shi had seen his face before.
Even though he now bore the look of a "bronze-skinned" body cultivator, his appearance had changed significantly… if Young Master Shi recognized him, even slightly, it would be extremely troublesome.
He wouldn't be able to stay in the beast-fighting arena much longer.
And he wouldn't be able to rescue the big tiger either.
Mo Hua immediately lowered his head, hands folded, aura fully restrained, and silently prayed:
"Just keep simping like a good dog… don't recognize me and we'll be fine…"
But of course—what you fear, always comes knocking.
A soft, crisp jingle of a bronze bell suddenly rang from within Young Master Shi's sleeve.
It was faint—so faint that most of the cultivators present didn't hear it.
A few did, but the sound was so light and crisp that even those who caught it couldn't place it.
But Mo Hua? A righteous cultivator with deep knowledge of corpse refinement?
He instantly recognized it for what it was—the distinctive bell used in corpse cultivation.
A corpse was sending a signal to Young Master Shi.
And sure enough, the next instant, Young Master Shi's expression froze—and his gaze snapped sharply in Mo Hua's direction.
Mo Hua had suppressed his presence to near-invisibility—but his body was still there.
To the average guest, who wasn't actively paying attention, Mo Hua might as well have been a piece of furniture.
But now that Shi was deliberately looking…
He saw him clearly—a servant in plain clothes, yellowish skin, bright eyes, and a gentle expression.
For a moment, Young Master Shi's brain lagged.
His first instinct was: They look very alike.
The shape of the face, the contours—it strongly resembled that wretched little thief who had escaped from his grasp, ruined Yin Corpse Valley's grand plan, and indirectly caused Elder Xu's mysterious death.
But on second glance, he hesitated.
The resemblance was mostly in the face.
But this was clearly just a low-born servant, a mere Qi Refining body cultivator.
Completely different from that unpredictable, eerie, sinister youth from before.
Besides—someone like that would never lower themselves to become a lowly servant.
…Right?
Yet the warning from his gilded corpse shouldn't have come without cause…
Young Master Shi frowned slightly.
Miss Hua seemed to notice his abnormal reaction and gave him a strange look.
Young Master Tuoba, ever prideful and jealous, also noticed and asked coldly,
"Master Shi, is something wrong with tonight's banquet?"
Young Master Shi quickly composed himself and gave a soft smile.
"Nothing at all."
He discreetly retracted his gaze from Mo Hua.
Young Master Tuoba narrowed his eyes but said nothing more.
Mo Hua let out a small breath of relief.
No matter what Shi might've noticed—so long as he didn't act on it during the banquet, it was fine.
Once the banquet ended, Mo Hua would simply vanish into the beast arena again. Young Master Shi wouldn't be able to do whatever he wanted here—not on Tuoba's turf.
But before long, Mo Hua heard Young Master Shi say to Tuoba:
"Young Master Tuoba, I have a small, rather impolite request."
Tuoba's eyes narrowed slightly. "Please, speak freely."
Young Master Shi extended a hand and pointed directly at Mo Hua.
"That servant—could I have him as a gift?"
Tuoba frowned.
A servant was nothing—life or death meant little. Giving one away didn't matter.
But why would Shi suddenly ask for a male Qi Refining servant during such an important banquet?
What was his motive?
Tuoba looked toward Mo Hua.
At first glance, he was about to brush it off—until something stirred in his memory.
That day, the black-and-white tiger beast he had been carefully training for so long had suddenly become agitated.
At the time, he thought it was reacting to other nobles or Great Wilderness cultivators…
But wasn't there also… a servant nearby?
And that servant…
Tuoba's gaze sharpened as he pieced it together—wasn't that servant the very same one Young Master Shi just pointed to?
A chill ran through Tuoba's heart. He immediately replied:
"No."
Young Master Shi blinked, surprised.
He hadn't expected Tuoba to refuse so firmly over such a trivial thing.
He had only made the request to be safe—to possibly capture the servant who resembled that cunning youth.
Yet Tuoba had flatly rejected him, not even offering the slightest courtesy.
Shi's expression darkened.
Tuoba realized that his blunt refusal might have been too harsh, but his arrogance wouldn't allow him to explain. He simply asked:
"It's just a mere servant. Why is Master Shi so intent on him?"
Young Master Shi responded coldly:
"He looks familiar—like an old enemy of mine. I'd like to take him back, refine him into a corpse, and have him serve me day and night in eternal torment."
Tuoba's expression remained unreadable.
Shi's gaze sharpened.
"Just a servant—yet Young Master Tuoba refuses to gift him to me?"
Tuoba's mind raced.
If this servant truly had some unknown connection with the black-and-white king-class tiger…
Then his life might be the key to taming that beast.
If he could truly tame the beast, he would gain a powerful, unmatched mount—a beast king no one else possessed.
Even if the odds were slim.
What were the chances a mere Qi Refining body cultivator had a bond with a peak second-grade tiger king?
Slim—but not impossible.
And Tuoba couldn't afford to miss that chance.
That black-and-white king tiger… had to be his.
So he replied:
"Servants are lowly. It would be poor hospitality to gift one to a guest."
Young Master Shi said,
"No matter. I quite like him. If Young Master Tuoba gifted him to me, it'd be no different than gifting a mountain of gold."
The two stared each other down.
Mo Hua, standing silently in the middle, was utterly speechless.
And just then, things took a turn for the worse.
Miss Hua suddenly pointed at Mo Hua and said,
"I want that servant too."
She had always been that way.
If no one wanted something, she wouldn't care.
But the moment someone else wanted it—she had to have it too. Even if she threw it away afterward, it didn't matter.
Both Tuoba and Shi's expressions shifted.
They never expected Miss Hua to suddenly insert herself into this argument.
They could argue with each other, challenge one another—but Miss Hua?
That was a whole different matter.
Tuoba cupped his hands. "It's only a lowly servant…"
Miss Hua said coldly, "I don't care. Whatever I want—I must have."
Young Master Tuoba stayed silent.
Young Master Shi frowned slightly as well.
The atmosphere grew tense—until Elder You stepped forward from the crowd, cupped his hands toward Miss Hua, and said:
"Miss, the main affair takes precedence. A mere servant isn't worth making a scene over."
Miss Hua seemed to accept this, at least partially. She considered it, then nodded:
"Fine. After the banquet, have the servant sent to my estate."
Young Master Tuoba gave a noncommittal nod, then pointed at Mo Hua and ordered:
"Take the servant away."
They'd decide what to do with him later.
But for now, he couldn't stay here and risk triggering more drama.
Soon, a steward came forward and led Mo Hua away.
Mo Hua kept his head lowered the entire time, his posture meek and timid, as if frightened into silence.
The steward walked ahead, leading him out of the hall.
Mo Hua obediently followed.
Halfway there, the steward glanced back at him and snorted inwardly.
"What a lucky bastard…"
Though, another way of looking at it—it could be said he was incredibly unlucky too.
For a servant or slave, silence meant survival.
The moment one stood out and drew the attention of "noble" masters, it was often the beginning of a very short and miserable end.
In all his years as a steward, he had seen it far too many times.
Servants who dreamed of rising through the ranks, hoping to curry favor—only to be used, abused, and discarded like playthings by young masters and noble ladies.
Slaves are slaves.
Nobles are nobles.
They are not the same class of people. Crossing that boundary never ends well.
With that in mind, the steward led Mo Hua toward a dark and secluded corner.
He said flatly:
"Don't say I didn't warn you. For a servant, staying a servant is the best fate. Once you try to break away from your lot—well, good luck surviving."
"From that point on, your life is in your own hands. You…"
Mid-sentence, the steward froze.
He turned to look behind him—and found only empty air.
Mo Hua had vanished.
The steward stared blankly, pupils slowly contracting.
A stick of incense later, back in the banquet hall, a page boy approached Young Master Tuoba and whispered something into his ear.
Tuoba's expression darkened instantly, a cold frost settling over his face.
Something was wrong.
He had been played.
With a chilling voice, Tuoba ordered:
"Seal the beast arena. Search every corner. Don't let him escape. If he gets away… I'll hold you responsible."
The servant shuddered. "Y-Yes, sir…"
Young Master Shi's expression also turned grim—as if he had realized something unpleasant.
Miss Hua, however, looked utterly unconcerned. She simply thought to herself:
"As expected, anything others want is bound to be something good. That brat… next time I catch him, I'll make sure he learns what happens when a toy tries to run."
A glint of malicious amusement flickered in her eyes.
—
Outside the beast arena, in a narrow alley—
Mo Hua's figure gradually emerged from the shadows.
The cultivators inside the beast arena were nowhere near capable of seeing through his concealment.
Much less catching him.
But things had clearly changed. The beast arena was no longer safe for infiltration.
And being forced to flee now meant he couldn't save the big tiger—for the time being.
Still, as long as he left first, the tiger wouldn't be in immediate danger.
If he tried to escape with the tiger, even if he got away, the tiger might not—maybe even die in the process.
Mo Hua sighed, a trace of irritation flickering in his heart.
That damn Young Master Shi, Tuoba, and that ridiculous Miss Hua…
Three idiots—and they'd just ruined all his plans.
If not for their paranoia and nonsense, he could've kept lying low and buying time.
He honestly wanted to draw his sword and end all three of them on the spot.
Now that he had to withdraw, saving his tiger just got a lot harder.
Frowning, lost in thought, Mo Hua suddenly sensed something strange.
He looked up—and saw, in the distance, a powerful wave of blood Qi approaching, accompanied by the unified clamor of metal striking metal, echoing across the heavens and earth.
"That's…"
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly:
"Dao Soldiers?!"
(End of this Chapter)