Chapter 317 - Clues

Chapter 317: Chapter 316: Clues

Mo Hua quite liked the idea of being able to eat and drink blatantly for free, so naturally he turned no one away.

The next day at noon, Mo Hua set out to attend the banquet.

Leader Yang seemed to have invited quite a number of people, including officials from the Taoist Court and the Taoist soldiers Court, as well as many Monster Hunters.

Mo Hua’s father, Mo Shan, also went, but he arrived early, as he left with Elder Yu, likely because they had matters to discuss.

Mo Hua practiced his Formation Patterns a few times and calculated some Compound Formations before setting out, so he was a bit late, but he should arrive just in time for the start of the feast.

As Mo Hua walked along the road, who would have thought that he’d run into Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan was swinging around with a reluctant expression, seemingly heading in the same direction.

Mo Hua greeted him, and upon hearing someone calling him and seeing it was Mo Hua, Zhang Lan perked up and joined him.

Mo Hua asked, “Uncle Zhang, are you also going freeload some food?”

Zhang Lan corrected, “It’s called attending a banquet, not freeloading!”

“You can say it that way too.”

Zhang Lan clearly disagreed, but then he thought for a moment and realized that attending a banquet and freeloading seemed to be pretty much the same thing.

The streets were quite lively at noon.

They strolled and walked together.

Suddenly remembering something, Mo Hua quietly inquired:

“Is there any new news about Black Mountain Stronghold?”

Zhang Lan was a bit surprised, “What do you want to know?”

“Isn’t the second Householder arrested? Did he say anything?”

Zhang Lan looked around, noting the busy surroundings and that no one was eavesdropping, then whispered to Mo Hua:

“The second Householder is bloodthirsty and has lost his sanity. He only reacts to a few names, and knows nothing else. After inquiring for about ten days, we got nothing from him.”

Mo Hua was somewhat disappointed.

Zhang Lan raised an eyebrow, asking in a low voice, “Do you still suspect something?”

Mo Hua released his Divine Sense to check for safety, then also whispered:

“I suspect there are people behind Black Mountain Stronghold…”

Zhang Lan’s eyes narrowed, but he was not surprised.

Mo Hua was taken aback. “Uncle Zhang, do you think the same?”

Zhang Lan nodded, “The power of Black Mountain Stronghold is too great, and it has been entrenched here so long. It’s hardly possible without local support.”

Mo Hua directly asked, “Could it be the Qian Family?”

Zhang Lan queried, “Do you know what exactly the Qian Family has done?”

Mo Hua pondered for a while, then shook his head.

He had also thought about it when he had spare time, but after much consideration, he found no connection between the Qian Family and Black Mountain Stronghold.

There were no exchanges of Spirit Stones between the Qian Family and Black Mountain Stronghold, nor had the Qian Family hired Evil Cultivators of the stronghold to kill for them, and there were no cultivators from the Qian Family hiding in the stronghold.

Zhang Lan said, “In situations like this, anyone can be suspected, even the Taoist Court, Elder Yu, and even me, Zhang Lan. You should try to guess…”

“But when you come to a conclusion, you must be cautious and base your judgment on evidence, or else it’s easy to make mistakes.”

Mo Hua knew Zhang Lan was guiding him, and he nodded seriously, “Uncle Zhang, I’ll remember that.”

This child really catches on to things quickly…

Zhang Lan nodded slightly, feeling gratified yet a little bittersweet.

If it continued like this, he wouldn’t have much left to teach Mo Hua, and naturally, he wouldn’t have anything to show off in front of him either.

It seems like I really need to reach Foundation Establishment soon. Otherwise, I won’t just lose face in front of Mo Hua; even in front of that young fellow Yang Jiyong, I’ll hardly be able to hold my head high…

Zhang Lan lamented inwardly.

Mo Hua, unaware of Zhang Lan’s thoughts, was still troubled by the matter of Black Mountain Stronghold:

“If it’s not the Qian Family, who could it be? What dealings could they possibly have with Black Mountain Stronghold? What exactly have they done to help Black Mountain Stronghold?”

As Mo Hua walked and pondered, the two of them arrived at the Spiritual Meal Building.

Mo Hua temporarily set aside his questions and went up the building with Zhang Lan.

The farewell banquet was lavish, and many guests were present, most of them acquaintances of Mo Hua.

Feeling at ease, Mo Hua took a seat and waited for everyone to start using their chopsticks before he happily began to eat.

Leader Yang sat beside Mo Hua, leaned over and asked quietly:

“Mo Hua, have you given it some thought? Would you like to join the Taoist soldiers Court?”

Mo Hua glanced at his father, Mo Shan.

Leader Yang continued, “I asked Brother Mo Shan, and he said it’s all up to you. He won’t interfere.”

Zhang Lan then muttered, “Still harboring ill-intentions, what a thick face!”

Leader Yang said, “This is a great opportunity…”

“What’s so great about the Taoist soldiers Court?”

“It’s better than your Taoist Court anyway…”

The elderly Court Leader from the Taoist Court kept to himself, pretending he hadn’t heard a thing, yet he couldn’t help but cough.

Realizing his gaffe, Leader Yang apologized to the Court Leader:

“I meant Zhang Lan is lacking, not the Taoist Court. Lord Court Leader, please don’t take offense.”

The Court Leader didn’t react, but Zhang Lan retorted:

“Yang, don’t push it, or I’ll spill your embarrassing incidents right in front of our Court Leader…”

“You think you don’t have embarrassing incidents? Who’s afraid of who?”

The two resumed their bickering.

Fortunately, with many guests around and everyone toasting and enjoying themselves, the atmosphere was generally harmonious.

Initially, Mo Hua listened to their bickering, but realizing it was about trivial matters, and being hungry himself, he just ate to his heart’s content, ignoring them.

Leader Yang and Zhang Lan argued for a while before Leader Yang remembered that he had been so preoccupied with his spat that he had nearly forgotten the important matter.

He looked intently at Mo Hua again.

Engrossed in his meal, Mo Hua saw Leader Yang’s look, felt obligated for the free meal, and had trouble outright declining, so he responded tactfully:

“Uncle Yang, I still want to study formations. Once I’ve made progress in formations, then I’ll consider whether or not to join the Taoist soldiers,” Mo Hua said.

Mo Hua had thought that Leader Yang wouldn’t be too pleased, but to his surprise, Leader Yang’s eyes brightened, and he exclaimed in admiration,

“That is exactly how it should be! A Formation Master wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao, focusing on the study of formations, is truly following the Righteous Dao. Joining the Taoist soldiers Court can wait, and even if, in the future, you’ve made achievements in formations and don’t wish to join, it’s not a big deal…”

Leader Yang smiled kindly, revealing his hidden agenda:

“You could directly join the Yang Family as well…”

Zhang Lan scoffed and spat disdainfully, “Are you so drunk from a few cups of wine that you’re dreaming in broad daylight? If he’s joining anyone, it’ll be the Zhang Family. When is it your turn?”

“My Yang Family is a major clan…”

“And the Zhang Family isn’t?”

“I’m not going to argue with you.”

“As if I’m eager to argue with you?”

The two began to argue once again.

Mo Hua sighed helplessly and resumed focusing on his own meal.

When the feast ended, and everyone dispersed, Mo Hua left feeling quite full.

As they reached the ground floor, the group exchanged a few pleasantries, about to part ways.

In a few days, Leader Yang would lead his troops away. The long and arduous path of Tao cultivation lay ahead, and who knew when they would meet again.

As their departure was imminent, Zhang Lan stopped arguing with Leader Yang.

On behalf of the Loose Cultivators of Tongxian City, Elder Yu presented some gifts to Leader Yang, cupping his fists in thanks,

“This time, it was all thanks to Leader Yang’s strategic command, and the valiant and adept fighting of the Taoist soldiers, that the Black Mountain Stronghold was eradicated, securing the peace of Tongxian City.”

“It was but a trifle; Elder Yu is too courteous,” Leader Yang replied, returning the gesture.

Then he added, “Moreover, if we speak of this matter, we truly owe a great deal to Mo Hua…”

Zhang Lan couldn’t help but give him a reproachful look, “Enough is enough…”

Was he not just trying to coax Mo Hua into joining the Taoist soldiers Court with endless praise?

“I’m not being long-winded,” Leader Yang said gravely,

“In combat, formations are of utmost importance. Without Mo Hua, the Formation Master, the eradication of Black Mountain Stronghold would have indeed been a great struggle.”

Court Leader Zhou thought it over, sighed, and nodded in agreement,

“Leader Yang isn’t wrong. We were fortunate that this young man is a Formation Master; otherwise, we never would have discovered the mountain path hidden among the cliffs, seen through the reality of Foggy Forest, or found the concealed gate to Black Mountain Stronghold, not to mention breaching the Stronghold fortified by layer upon layer of formations…”

Court Leader Zhou followed with his own round of praise.

Elder Yu nodded in proud agreement.

Mo Hua, the child of a Monster Hunter, felt it inappropriate to join in the praises, so he simply nodded modestly in accord.

Mo Shan was a bit embarrassed, “You both give me too much credit.”

However, as Mo Hua was his son, and hearing him praised by two of the Foundation Building Cultivators, he felt extremely proud inside.

After bidding each other farewell, Mo Hua followed Mo Shan back home.

The streets around them were bustling and noisy, with the market town laid out in a grid.

Walking down the street, Mo Hua remembered the words of praise from Leader Yang and Court Leader Zhou, feeling happy inside and wearing a beaming smile on his face.

But as he smiled, Mo Hua suddenly felt a throb of unease.

Something didn’t seem right.

He felt as though he had realized something, but couldn’t quite grasp the clarity of thought.

Mo Hua thought over the words of Leader Yang and Court Leader Zhou again.

“…Without Mo Hua, the Formation Master, the eradication of Black Mountain Stronghold would have indeed been a great struggle…”

Without a Formation Master… eradicating Black Mountain Stronghold… would be a great struggle.

Without a Formation Master to discover the mountain path, see through the reality of Foggy Forest, find the gate to Black Mountain Stronghold…

Without a Formation Master…

A shiver ran down Mo Hua’s spine as a thought suddenly hit him:

Loose Cultivators lack Formation Masters.

Among the Loose Cultivators, few studied formations, and it was even less likely for one to reach first-class.

Mo Hua himself was an exception. He had the Taoist Stele, an extraordinary Divine Sense by birth, encountered Instructor Yan, and with a stroke of good luck, became a nominal disciple of Mr. Zhuang. By working tirelessly on Drawing Formation night and day, he managed to become a first-class Formation Master.

Normally, it would be impossible for Loose Cultivators to produce a Formation Master.

“What would happen without a Formation Master?”

Mo Hua furrowed his brows and pondered meticulously, feeling a growing coldness within.

If there were no Formation Masters among the Loose Cultivators, then no one would be able to see through the Concealment Formation, discover the mountain path spanning over Thousands miles of Abyss, penetrate the illusory reality clouded by the Foggy Forest, nor would anyone locate the invisible gate of Black Mountain Stronghold, let alone learn of the existence of a terrifying nest of Evil Cultivators deep in the mountains!

Black Mountain Stronghold could exist quietly on Big Black Mountain because of formations!

As long as there were no Loose Cultivators skilled in formations, unable to break the Concealment and Fog Formations,

They could settle there, murder, cultivate Evil Skills, refine Human Pills… and no one would ever know!

Mo Hua gasped in shock!

He forced himself to calm down and contemplate.

Not wanting the Loose Cultivators to learn formations…

Mo Hua remembered, initially, Tongxian Gate could have taught formations.

But later, when Instructor Yan left and no one could teach Formation Patterns, Tongxian Gate stopped offering formation courses, and at the same time, Mo Hua dropped out of Tongxian Gate because he couldn’t learn formations…

After that, it became nearly impossible for Loose Cultivators to learn formations, cutting off the path to formation mastery completely.

If it hadn’t been for Mo Hua, indeed, there would be no Formation Masters among the Loose Cultivators.

“Instructor Yan left, and Loose Cultivators couldn’t learn formations…”

And why did Instructor Yan leave?

Mo Hua frowned in thought, then slowly his eyes grew cold with realization.

It was the Qian Family!