Chapter 135: The Flower Plucker

Zhang Lan felt that the black chapter of his cultivation life had been further darkened, in bold strokes, by this child, Mo Hua.

He had prepared himself as if facing a dire threat, only to find the opponent was a mere Foundation Establishment fifth-layer cultivator.

How humiliating!

Zhang Lan couldn't help complaining: "What are you doing, a kid your age, wandering into the mountains?!"

"I do plenty in the mountains: draw maps, set arrays, extract demon blood, gather spices, collect medicinal herbs, mine ore…"

Mo Hua counted off each task one by one on his fingers for Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan's head throbbed: "Alright, alright, I get it."

What a mess.

Zhang Lan didn't truly believe it—could a child really come to Great Heishan?

Even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like himself had to tread carefully; how much more so this Foundation Establishment fifth-layer child, Mo Hua?

Besides, from what Zhang Lan knew of Mo Hua, though the boy had talent for arrays, he was born frail—any demon beast he encountered would surely snatch him up for a snack.

Talking about setting arrays and gathering herbs? Nonsense…

Zhang Lan didn't believe it.

But he also knew this boy was strange, not easily judged by ordinary cultivation logic.

So though he didn't believe, he said nothing.

Behind him, the two others remained stunned, utterly unaware of what Mo Hua was saying.

Their unworldly expressions made Zhang Lan feel slightly better, as if he'd regained a little dignity.

Mo Hua glanced at the two behind Zhang Lan and asked: "Who's this sister?"

"You're off by a generation," Zhang Lan said. "Call her Auntie."

The female cultivator's gaze sliced like a knife at Zhang Lan, then turned to Mo Hua with a gentle smile:

"Sister's surname is Situ, given name Fang. Don't listen to your Uncle Zhang—just call me Sister."

Zhang Lan was speechless.

Mo Hua sweetly called out: "Sister."

Sister Situ's face lit up with joy.

The man beside her boasted: "I'm Situ Xiu."

Mo Hua gave a half-hearted "Oh."

Zhang Lan couldn't help telling Mo Hua:

"Go wash your face—look at yourself, covered in dirt."

He'd been chilled by Mo Hua's filthy appearance earlier; now he still felt uneasy.

Mo Hua found a small stream and washed his face clean.

His dirty little face instantly became rosy-lipped and white-toothed, like a porcelain doll.

Sister Situ glanced at him several times and praised: "Truly, your features are like a painting—you're so beautiful!"

"Thank you, Sister. You're beautiful too!"

Mo Hua returned the compliment politely.

Sister Situ's face bloomed with delight.

Zhang Lan sighed and said to Mo Hua: "It's getting late—why don't you head back first?"

Sister Situ nodded too: "There are demon beasts in the mountains. It's unsafe for you to stay here—would you like Sister to escort you down?"

Zhang Lan couldn't help glancing sharply at Sister Situ: "Have you forgotten the mission?"

Sister Situ hesitated.

Mo Hua asked curiously: "What are you doing in the mountains?"

"Dao Ting Si secrets. I can't tell you."

"You're looking for someone, right?"

Zhang Lan's head ached: "How did you know that?"

"I overheard you two talking."

Zhang Lan sighed again, powerless against Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's dark eyes flickered: "How about I help you find them?"

Sister Situ smiled: "Thank you, little brother, but this is too dangerous—we can't let you go."

Zhang Lan stood aside, silent.

Mo Hua glanced at Zhang Lan and reminded him: "Great Heishan is huge. If you don't know the way, you could wander for ten days or even half a month and still not find anyone."

Zhang Lan frowned, thought for a moment, then said: "Fine. Come with us."

Sister Situ frowned tightly: "Are you mad? He's still a child."

Zhang Lan sighed helplessly: "If he doesn't guide us, we won't just fail to find the person—we might get lost ourselves."

Situ Xiu sneered: "So you think this kid will keep us from getting lost?"

"No!" Zhang Lan declared firmly: "We'll get lost—he won't!"

"How do you know—"

"If he could get lost, he wouldn't have come up here alone."

Zhang Lan understood: this child never acted without reason—if he spoke up, he was certain.

Sister Situ and Situ Xiu fell silent; the image of Mo Hua appearing soundlessly from the grass flashed back into their minds.

At the same time, the fear and chill they'd felt while fully on guard returned to their hearts.

This little cultivator might truly not be the one to worry about—the real concern, perhaps, was themselves…

"That thief is more dangerous…" Situ Fang still hesitated.

Zhang Lan said: "We three, can't we protect him?"

Situ Fang had no reply; Situ Xiu snorted coldly and said nothing.

Mo Hua asked: "Who are you looking for? Do you have any leads?"

Situ Fang glanced at Zhang Lan.

With matters thus, Zhang Lan no longer concealed anything and said:

"We're chasing a flower-plucking thief."

Mo Hua paused, "A flower-plucking thief?"

He had heard the term before, but not in the cultivation world, so he didn't know how it differed.

Zhang Lan said: "A flower-plucking thief is one who uses demonic cultivation methods to forcibly drain women's essence to enhance his own cultivation. Such thieves are forbidden by the Dao Code and hunted by Dao Ting Si."

Situ Fang elbowed Zhang Lan, whispering: "That's enough—don't tell the child about essence-draining and such." Her cheeks flushed slightly.

Zhang Lan, who hadn't thought it odd, now felt embarrassed and couldn't continue.

Mo Hua was disappointed—he had wanted to learn more.

"Then what leads do you have?"

"We have a portrait." Zhang Lan unfolded a painting.

The man in the portrait was young and handsome, but his brows and eyes carried a sinister aura.

"So young?" Mo Hua said.

"He cultivates demonic essence-draining arts, so he appears young, but he's over a hundred years old. If he doesn't drain essence for over a month, his face withers…" Zhang Lan said.

Mo Hua was stunned, "There's such a technique?"

"There are countless bizarre demonic techniques…" Zhang Lan said, then suddenly warned Mo Hua:

"Don't learn them—demonic and dark arts are cold-blooded and cruel; once you touch them, you lose your humanity…"

Mo Hua nodded quickly, taking it as a warning to himself.

Zhang Lan added: "We received intelligence that this flower-plucking thief, wanted by Dao Ting Si, had nowhere to run, so he entered Great Heishan. He likely won't dare go into the inner mountains—most probably he's in the outer mountains, around Gu Yun Peak to Duan Shan Cliff…"

After Zhang Lan finished, Mo Hua had a general idea and said:

"Don't worry—if he's in the outer mountains, he won't escape."

Situ Fang smiled and said: "Then we rely on you."

"Mm!" Mo Hua nodded.

The flower-plucking thief hiding in the outer mountains, cultivating demonic arts, over a hundred years old, pursued by killers… Uncle Zhao…

Are the cultivators chasing Uncle Zhao this very flower-plucking thief?

Mo Hua wanted to capture this thief and find out the truth.

Thank you, Mini Rabbit, for the gift~