Chapter 413 - Disappearance

Chapter 413: Chapter 408 Disappearance

Situ Fang saw Mo Hua and was full of surprise.

After explaining a few words to the arguing cultivators, she managed to get away and led Mo Hua and the others to a quiet teahouse by the road. They ordered a few cups of green tea, some dried fruits, and pastries.

Curious, Mo Hua asked:

“Sister Situ, are you the Supervisor for South Yue City?”

Situ Fang being a Supervisor wasn’t surprising to Mo Hua.

She wore the official robes of a Supervisor and her cultivation was not weak. Plus, coming from a clan background, it was natural for her to hold the position of Supervisor at the local Taoist Court.

What puzzled Mo Hua was why she would be the Supervisor of South Yue City.

South Yue City was quite far from Tongxian City. If she was the Supervisor of South Yue City, why would she have gone all the way to Tongxian City to capture evil cultivators?

Situ Fang sighed and said, “Clan training, we have to take turns serving everywhere.”

“Oh,” Mo Hua understood.

The practices of the Situ Family seemed quite good, knowing to send disciples out to various places to serve and hone their skills.

And it looked like this kind of training was rather exhausting.

Even the idle Zhang Lan ended up busy as can be with one incident after another, what with the Black Mountain Stronghold and the Big Demon and all.

“What about you?” Situ Fang also asked, “What brings you here?”

She looked around and then asked, “Did Zhang Lan come with you as well?”

Mo Hua shook his head and laughed,

“Uncle Zhang didn’t come. I’m traveling with my master, and we just happened to pass by here. I wanted to visit an elder, and it just so happened that I ran into you.”

“Master, traveling?”

Situ Fang was slightly startled.

She remembered Zhang Lan briefly mentioning that Mo Hua was good at Drawing Formations and had a mysterious and profound master.

She then glanced at Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi.

Both had extraordinary appearances and an otherworldly aura; they clearly looked like disciples of a remarkable person.

Especially Bai Zixi, Situ Fang couldn’t help but take a few more glances, somewhat astounded by her beauty:

“This is your junior sister, isn’t it? She’s truly beautiful…”

“Mhm!” Mo Hua nodded, but inwardly thought to himself:

“You haven’t even seen her at her prettiest…”

Bai Zixi also smiled lightly and said, “Sister also looks very beautiful…”

Beautiful in appearance, pleasant to listen to, nice to talk to.

Situ Fang grinned from ear to ear.

A moment later, she asked again:

“What about Zhang Lan, is he still in Tongxian City?”

“He should have returned to his clan.”

“He reached the Foundation Establishment.”

“Mhm.”

Situ Fang nodded and then suddenly asked:

“I heard that you all in Tongxian City killed a Big Demon, is that true?”

Mo Hua quickly nodded, “Yes!”

“The Large Formation was drawn by me, and in the end, I also used the Great Formation Dissolution to send that pig soaring to the heavens!”

Of course, Mo Hua did not say these words out loud; they were just thoughts in his heart.

Situ Fang exclaimed in admiration, “Truly… that is no small feat.”

Such an achievement, where a local cultivator constructs a Large Formation to subdue a Big Demon, was extremely rare even in the history of the Taoist Court.

She didn’t ask for more details.

This kind of matter, which was related to the life and death of all the cultivators in the city, probably had nothing to do with Mo Hua, a young cultivator of about ten years old.

Even if asked, he might not know.

Mo Hua took a sip of tea, smacked his lips, feeling its bitterness and astringency, followed by a hint of sweetness.

It was somewhat unpleasant yet slightly enjoyable, a strange sensation.

He tasted each of the dried fruits and then the pastries, his eyes lighting up.

They were delicious.

He tasted a few more, silently guessing the methods used to make the dried fruits and pastries, wondering if he could replicate them.

Dried fruits for Old Kui, pastries for his junior sister.

Mo Hua ate and drank while pondering, when suddenly something occurred to him. He asked Situ Fang:

“Sister Situ, you were arguing with someone just now. What happened?”

Situ Fang’s previously relaxed mood instantly vanished, leaving her with a sense of resignation as she replied:

“Indeed.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

Mo Hua blinked, his eyes sparkling.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi also looked at Situ Fang, clearly curious as well.

Situ Fang considered for a moment, then sighed and said:

“There’s no harm in telling you…”

“I was transferred here as the Supervisor for South Yue City’s Taoist Court six months ago.”

“Around here in South Yue City, the clans hold the mines while most loose cultivators earn their living by mining, what’s commonly referred to as ‘mining cultivators’.”

“Mining cultivators need to enter the mines, dig tunnels, and mine—which is quite tough and very dangerous.”

“Inside the mines, there’s not only centuries-old Evil Qi but also other odd and sinister spirits, as well as monster beasts that burrow through the mountains.”

“If the Evil Qi invades the body, it can cause severe injuries at best, and at worst, death.”

“The mine’s monster beasts, too, are man-eaters.”

“Additionally, if the mineshafts are poorly excavated or the Formations are crudely drawn, it can easily lead to the collapse of the mines.”

“Once a mineshaft collapses and rocks tumble down, cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm wouldn’t be able to make it out alive.”

“That’s why, every year in South Yue City, quite a few cultivators die within the mines…”

“So the cultivators just now, they were arguing with you because they had relatives who died in the mines?” Mo Hua asked.

Situ Fang nodded, “Yes, but it’s not certain. They are just missing.”

She then sighed again, “Based on past experiences, those who went missing in the mines are most likely dead.”

Mo Hua asked with confusion, “But what does this have to do with you?”

Situ Fang helplessly said, “Their family members went missing, and they cried to the Taoist Court to file a report. The Taoist Court accepted the case, but they don’t seem very willing to handle it.”

“Seeing their poverty and distress over their missing loved ones, who were washing their faces with tears day in and day out, I felt somewhat compassionate and took the initiative to take on the matter.”

“As a result, I didn’t expect…”

Mo Hua suddenly said, “You’ve run into trouble, huh…”

Situ Fang gave a bitter smile, “If the trouble was only from the Taoist Court’s side, it would still be okay. But these victims, they are also a big headache.”

“At first, when I helped them, they were immensely grateful to me.”

“Gradually, they started to complain, blaming the Taoist Court for being ineffective, wondering why it’s taken so long to find anyone.”

“Regarding compensation, they’ve also made extravagant demands.”

“The Court Leader from that side also dislikes my meddling in affairs.”

“Caught between both sides, I’m helpless and in an awkward position…”

Deep helplessness showed on Situ Fang’s face.

Mo Hua nodded, “Ungratefulness for kindness is often the case.”

“If you don’t help them, they will beg you to help. Once you actually help them, they will think your help is not enough and they will blame you.”

Situ Fang looked at Mo Hua in surprise, “Then what do you think I should do?”

Mo Hua thought for a moment and said:

“If you really want to help, you should adopt an official and impartial attitude from the beginning.”

“Unbiased, so they would plead for your help and naturally have a better attitude towards you.”

“Otherwise, it will be troublesome.”

“If you get too close to them and show that you’re considering their interests, they subconsciously think that, no matter what happens, you will side with them…”

“Consequently, they will take your kindness for granted, become even more demanding, and may even deceive you, treating you like a fool…”

Situ Fang exclaimed in shock, “How do you know all this?”

Mo Hua scratched his head, “Uncle Zhang Lan told me…”

Situ Fang was taken aback, “Why would he tell you these things?”

Recalling the past, Mo Hua crisply said:

“We had a drink together. Of course, it was mainly him drinking and me eating meat, and I also had some fruit wine… He talked a lot when he was drunk and told me everything.”

“He said that in the past, even when doing good deeds, he ended up not pleasing anyone…”

Situ Fang looked surprised upon hearing this.

She was quite familiar with Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan seemed lethargic on the surface, but in fact, he was very astute and somewhat proud by nature, did not have many friends, and was also slightly at odds with his clan.

She hadn’t expected him to have such a good relationship with this child, Mo Hua, and to share everything with him…

Situ Fang thought for a moment and then nodded.

Mo Hua was right.

She had been too soft-hearted, ending up with a mess on her hands. Now, with no progress being made, she was caught in a quagmire, facing daily complaints.

With this thought in mind, Situ Fang let out a deep sigh.

“Sister Situ, how did these mining cultivators go missing exactly?”

Situ Fang shook her head, “We haven’t figured it out yet. There aren’t any clues in that mine, and the families of these miners are being unreasonable, stirring up trouble for the sake of it, demanding an explanation and more compensation in spirit stones, but when asked about the specifics of the case, they’re evasive, talking about their hardships…”

Mo Hua’s gaze became focused, “There’s probably something wrong here.”

Situ Fang nodded, “I also feel something is amiss, but I can’t find any leads for the time being. Now, I’m constantly being troubled by these miners’ families, lost for what to do…”

Mo Hua ventured, “Why not lock them up?”

Situ Fang was taken aback, “Lock them up where?”

“The Taoist Prison…”

Situ Fang fell silent.

Even Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi were silently looking at Mo Hua with gazes akin to looking at a bad person.

“That doesn’t seem right…” Situ Fang said delicately.

“Just to scare them a bit…”

Mo Hua said, “They’re taking advantage of your kindness, which is why they’re overstepping their bounds. If this continues, you won’t be able to find the missing people or solve the case, and you’ll inevitably be in a difficult position.”

“It’s not good for anyone this way…”

“Besides, they’re definitely hiding something.”

“Lock them up for a few days, let them cool down and feel afraid, then they’ll know not to go too far. When you ask them anything again, they’ll speak honestly.”

Mo Hua paused, then, remembering what Zhang Lan had said, nodded:

“For those who are reasonable, you can be gentler, but for those who are unreasonable, you need to establish your authority appropriately; otherwise, you will be bullied.”

“Being a goody-two-shoes doesn’t solve problems.”

After pondering for a long time, Situ Fang finally said helplessly, “I’ll give it a try.”

After a few more pleasantries about turning to her if there were any troubles, and settling the bill, Situ Fang left.

After Situ Fang left, Mo Hua took a sip of tea and suddenly realized Bai Zisheng was staring intently at him.

Mo Hua was taken aback, “What’s the matter?”

Bai Zisheng said, “We should also go to the Taoist Court Official’s case.”

Mo Hua pouted, “What for?”

Bai Zisheng hesitated for a moment, not willing to admit he just wanted to join in on the excitement.

After thinking for a bit, he said, “Aren’t you curious? Why the mining cultivators disappeared, whether they are alive or dead?”

“If alive, where are they trapped, and can they be rescued?”

“If dead, how did they die? Could they have been killed by other cultivators, and why would they be killed…”

Bai Zisheng muttered on and on.

Upon hearing this, Mo Hua, who hadn’t been very curious before, also became somewhat intrigued…

Mo Hua then furrowed his eyebrows.

He also had a vague sense that there was something strange about this matter, as if it were tied to complex causality.

He couldn’t clearly explain why he felt this way.

But ever since he learned Divine Sense Calculation, he would occasionally get these premonitions.

Perhaps Divine Sense Calculation could sense the causality of certain things.

“Could it be that my master taught me Calculation all along so that I could sense causality and seek good fortune while avoiding disaster?” Mo Hua wondered to himself.