Chapter 318 - Provocation

Chapter 318: Chapter 317: Provocation

The Qian Family applied pressure, forcing Instructor Yan to leave, and Tongxian Gate no longer taught formations.

In this way, the Qian Family could monopolize formations, and the Black Mountain Stronghold could also use formations to cover up their misdeeds.

The loose cultivators of Tongxian City, because they did not understand formations, would never know what the evil cultivators had done with them…

The more Mo Hua thought about it, the colder his heart felt, and a flicker of hesitation stirred within him.

Could the Qian Family’s conspiracy really be so far-reaching?

Walking along, Mo Shan saw Mo Hua suddenly stop as if struck by a thought, his expression growing increasingly solemn, even revealing fear, which prompted him to ask with concern:

“Huar, what’s wrong?”

Mo Hua snapped out of his reverie, pondered for a moment, then said solemnly, “Dad, let’s go find Elder Yu.”

Mo Shan didn’t know what Mo Hua had realized, but guessed it must be some discovery, so he nodded and said:

“Alright.”

Mo Hua followed Mo Shan to the Yu Family.

Elder Yu had just returned and was leisurely drinking tea in the hall. When he heard Mo Hua had come, he got up cheerfully, just about to say something when he saw Mo Hua’s grave expression, with Mo Shan also looking very serious beside him.

Elder Yu was taken aback, and his smile gradually faded as he asked:

“What’s happened?”

Mo Hua gathered his thoughts and shared his speculations

The Qian Family forced Instructor Yan to leave and stopped Tongxian Gate from teaching formations so that Black Mountain Stronghold could use formations to hide deep in the mountains, committing numerous evil acts undiscovered.

Elder Yu frowned, tapping his slim fingers against the table surface, deep in thought, before slowly saying:

“It’s quite possible, but still somewhat far-fetched…”

It might simply be that the Qian Family monopolized formations to make a profit, not necessarily to cover for Black Mountain Stronghold.

This was merely a clue, not conclusive evidence.

Mo Hua nodded and said, “I know it’s far-fetched, that’s why I came to ask you.”

Elder Yu asked, “What do you want to know?”

“During the attack on Black Mountain Stronghold, you fought with the evil cultivators. Were there really no cultivators from the Qian Family inside?” Mo Hua asked.

Elder Yu’s gaze sharpened, pondered carefully once again, but still shook his head and said:

“At least those few householders were not from the Qian Family.”

Mo Shan also added, “The other Qi Refining Realm evil cultivators, I also did not notice anyone from the Qian Family.”

“What about the head householder? Do you know his identity?”

Elder Yu shook his head, “He was masked with a black cloth, his face was unseen, and his aura was very unfamiliar, even not resembling that of a local Foundation Building Cultivator of Tongxian City.”

Mo Hua scratched his head, feeling uncertain again, “Could I have guessed wrong?”

“The problem is precisely here.”

Elder Yu sighed, “If the Qian Family were indeed the Black Hand behind the scenes and had ties to Black Mountain Stronghold, there would be no way the evil cultivators wouldn’t include cultivators from the Qian Family, and among those householder positions, there would certainly be one from the Qian Family with a Foundation Establishment!”

“There couldn’t be any exceptions?” Mo Hua asked.

Elder Yu let out a sigh, “I’ve dealt with the Qian Family for so many years; I’m well aware of their modus operandi. If they were colluding with Black Mountain Stronghold, they would definitely try to infiltrate people, gradually permeate, and consume the stronghold for themselves.”

“And if the Black Mountain Stronghold was indeed established by the Qian Family, that head householder, even if not Qian Hong, would be some elder from the Qian Family.”

Mo Hua asked, “Could it involve disguising or changing appearances”

Elder Yu shook his head and said, “No matter the disguise or transformation, the spiritual power and aura remain the same. I’m very familiar with those few Foundation Builders from the Qian Family; just by them opening their mouths, I would know what they are up to, there’s no way I could be mistaken.”

Mo Hua felt somewhat disheartened, as he had thought he had discovered a connection between the Qian Family and Black Mountain Stronghold…

Elder Yu patted his shoulder encouragingly and said:

“Your line of thinking is good, but we need more evidence. I’ll have someone keep a closer watch on the Qian Family to see if they show any unusual behavior.”

“Alright,” Mo Hua nodded.

On the way home, Mo Hua asked Mo Shan:

“Dad, do you think it’s the Qian Family?”

Mo Shan nodded, “It does seem like it.”

“But, it seems like there really isn’t any clue…”

Mo Hua sounded a bit despondent.

Mo Shan pondered and said, “Truth cannot be hidden forever; there’s no wall in the world that doesn’t have cracks. If the Qian Family is really involved with Black Mountain Stronghold, they will eventually show their trails.”

He then touched Mo Hua’s head and said gently:

“Some things, it doesn’t matter if they don’t make sense at once, just keep an eye out and eventually the day will come when it all becomes clear.”

Mo Hua’s mood improved slightly, and he silently nodded.

In the following days, as Mo Hua practiced cultivation and drew formations, he considered this issue but made no progress.

He wasn’t discouraged; he remembered his father’s words, that by staying alert, he would eventually find a clue.

One day, Zhang Lan came to find Mo Hua and said:

“Be careful these days.”

Mo Hua was stupefied, “Why?”

“Someone may be looking to trouble you.”

Mo Hua frowned, “The Qian Family?”

Could it be that he suspected the Qian Family, and the Qian Family found out, so they wanted to deal with him?

“It’s not exactly the Qian Family… but it could be considered the Qian Family…”

Zhang Lan spoke unclearly.

Mo Hua looked at him suspiciously, “Uncle Zhang, have you been drinking? Why are you talking in riddles?”

“Nonsense, I haven’t even started drinking yet!”

Zhang Lan glanced at Mo Hua and gulped down a big bowl of wine before continuing, “It’s Qian Xing.”

“Qian Xing?”

Mo Hua was somewhat surprised; it had been a long time since he heard anything from Qian Xing.

“Wasn’t Qian Xing mad?”

“He was mad only for a while, not his entire life,” said Zhang Lan. “Besides, as the legitimate heir, the Qian Family has been seeking a cure for him. After so long, they finally succeeded.”

Mo Hua rested his chin on his hand and pondered, “He shouldn’t still be looking for trouble with me, should he?”

Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua with a half-smile, “What do you think?”

Mo Hua furrowed his eyebrows.

Well… it was really hard to say.

Qian Xing was used to bullying others with his power and was notorious for seeking revenge for the smallest grievances. It was possible he wouldn’t let Mo Hua off easily.

Such debauchees usually have temperaments but no brains.

After some thought, with a twinkle in his eye, Mo Hua whispered, “What if… I end up killing him…”

Zhang Lan coughed and said with a complex expression, “I am a Supervisor of the Taoist Court; isn’t it inappropriate for you to discuss this with me?”

“I’m talking about a ‘what if’.”

“Even ‘what if’ doesn’t work.”

Mo Hua sighed, “Uncle Zhang, you’ve changed. When you pointed me to harm Qian Xing back then…”

Zhang Lan quickly covered Mo Hua’s mouth, “I’ve never guided you on that!”

“Fine, let’s say you didn’t.”

Zhang Lan really had no way of dealing with Mo Hua and said with a sigh:

“If he really comes to trouble you, just have someone beat him up, as long as it doesn’t kill him. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain to the Qian Family.”

Mo Hua nodded and said, “Got it!”

In the following days, Mo Hua started to wait for Qian Xing to show up.

If his guess was right, Qian Xing would surely come looking for him.

And as expected, Qian Xing didn’t disappoint him. One evening, at the foot of a mountain, at a fork in the road, Qian Xing blocked Mo Hua’s way again with a few underlings.

Having not seen him for a long time, Qian Xing had lost much weight.

His complexion was paler, cheekbones more prominent, and temperament had a touch of madness amidst its sullenness.

Although he had changed a lot, the resentment in his eyes remained the same, along with his hatred for Mo Hua.

Without any pointless talk, Qian Xing directly ordered his underlings:

“Attack together, cripple him first!”

This time, for the sake of certainty, he brought five underlings with him.

One at the Qi Refining Ninth Level, four at the Qi Refining Eighth Level, and with him, taking down Mo Hua, who was at the Qi Refining Seventh Level, should have been more than enough.

Furthermore, he picked a secluded location, where there were neither Monster Hunters nor any other Loose Cultivators.

This time, he was set on avenging his past disgrace and making that little bastard Mo Hua kneel before him, begging for mercy.

As soon as Qian Xing’s words fell, the a few Qian Family disciples moved to attack, and the one at the Qi Refining Ninth Level took the lead, lunging directly at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua stood his ground with an expressionless face, neither dodging nor evading, and raised his hand to unleash a Fireball Technique.

The Fireball Technique was dark in color, not large in size, but extraordinarily fast.

The disciple at the Qi Refining Ninth Level didn’t have time to dodge, and by then, he also disdained dodging.

Just a Fireball Technique after all.

As a Body Cultivator with an Earth Spirit Root, he was tough and not afraid of such small Fireball Techniques, at most he’d suffer minor injuries.

And with Young Master Qian watching, it was a good opportunity to showcase his bravery and make a good impression.

So, he took the Fireball Technique head-on with his chest.

The crimson Fireball Technique exploded with a strange vibration.

The hot and twisted Spiritual Power instantly shattered his chest armor, broke open his torso, and even evaporated the blood near his heart vessels.

Intolerable pain swept through him.

The unsuspecting Qian Family disciple at the Qi Refining Ninth Level rolled his eyes back and thumped down onto the ground with a thud.

As quickly as he had charged in, he fell just as fast.

The other advancing Qian Family disciples stopped abruptly, their hearts filled with fear and faces showing disbelief.

This… was this really a Fireball Technique?

Just one Fireball Technique and the man was down?

The noisy foot of the mountain suddenly went dead silent.