Chapter 235: Oppression

"Can't live?" Mo Hua blinked in surprise.

Ji Qingbai nodded, originally unwilling to elaborate, but seeing that although Mo Hua was young, he moved with ease within the Inner Mountain—his ability and character were not to be underestimated; he could no longer be treated as a child.

Moreover, if he were to seek a livelihood in Xiancheng in the future, he would inevitably need to trouble Mo Shan, so he spoke honestly:

"Qingxuan City is not like Xiancheng; the lone cultivators in the city no longer have Foundation Establishment cultivators to protect them."

"The last Foundation Establishment lone cultivator in Qingxuan City, Elder Zheng, passed away a year ago. Since then, with no Foundation Establishment cultivators among the lone cultivators, we've been oppressed by the clans, forced to beg for scraps, our lives growing harder day by day."

"Before, life was hard but bearable; now the spirit stones we earn shrink daily—let alone cultivation, even basic food, clothing, and necessities are barely enough."

"Besides that, the clan youths constantly provoke and harass lone cultivators. If we endure in silence, it's fine; but if we resist even slightly, they escalate their brutality, crushing us even harder."

"If matters escalate into open conflict, lone cultivators, lacking a Foundation Establishment cultivator to hold the line, stand no chance against clan cultivators—we're almost always defeated."

Ji Qingbai grew angrier as he spoke, his wounds throbbing faintly.

Mo Hua handed him more pills.

Ji Qingbai took the pills and swallowed them, thanked him, then glanced at the unconscious female cultivator and said:

"This girl is Fu Lan; her father was a hunting companion of mine. He was killed by a beast during a hunt years ago; her mother struggled alone to raise her."

"Last month, the young master of the Kong family in Qingxuan City wanted to take her as a concubine—though he called her a concubine, she'd be treated no better than an animal. Her mother refused, and the Kong family beat her into critical condition; she never recovered and died within half a month."

"After that, the Kong family's young master kept harassing her. I and Ji Li couldn't stand it, so we taught him a lesson—but we stirred up a huge disaster and made enemies of the Kong family. I had no choice but to flee Qingxuan City with these two children."

"In nearby Xianchengs, lone cultivators' lives are all miserable. After much thought, only Xiancheng might be better—and with Elder Yu's Foundation Establishment protection, it would be safer."

Ji Qingbai sighed, "But this journey has been brutal. First, the Kong family chased us; we barely escaped, then entered Great Heishan, where unidentified cultivators ambushed us—we nearly died."

Ji Qingbai felt deep gratitude and said to Mo Hua: "If not for you, we'd likely be dead by now."

Mo Hua said: "I just borrowed my father's reputation—nothing special."

Such a young child understands 'borrowing another's prestige' and still escapes unscathed—both clever and capable.

Ji Qingbai silently admired him in his heart.

Mo Hua, however, thought about what Ji Qingbai had just said, feeling both anger and confusion:

"The Dao Ting Si does nothing about the Kong family's crimes?"

Ji Qingbai's expression turned bitter. "The Dao Ting Si in Qingxuan City has been bought off by the Kong family and several others. When lone cultivators break the law, they're punished strictly; when clan youths break it, the matter is brushed aside. The Dao Ting Si turns a blind eye, and the issue vanishes."

Mo Hua frowned. "So there's truly no solution…"

Ji Qingbai shook his head. "If there were even a sliver of hope, who would abandon their homeland?"

Mo Hua listened, his heart heavy.

Without Elder Yu's Foundation Establishment protection, today's Qingxuan City could be tomorrow's Xiancheng.

Seeing Ji Qingbai's gloom, Mo Hua comforted him:

"Don't worry—Xiancheng is fine now. No one will bully you."

Hearing this, Ji Qingbai's spirits lifted slightly.

His demands were low: just a place to settle, some spirit stones to earn, enough food to survive, and his family to live.

The next few days, they rested quietly. Mo Hua had nothing to do and noticed the big man beside him, suddenly finding it odd.

Throughout the journey, the big man had said nothing.

He had cursed loudly before; Mo Hua had assumed he was a chatterbox.

Mo Hua studied the big man again, then suddenly gasped and asked: "You're not Elder Yu's son, are you?"

The big man blinked, frowning. "You know my father?"

So it was true.

Mo Hua studied his face and vaguely saw resemblance to Elder Yu—though he was more muscular; Elder Yu was much thinner.

Also, this big man had a bad temper and cursed often; his curses even sounded like Elder Yu's—this was clearly family tradition.

"I know Elder Yu quite well," Mo Hua said.

The big man grunted softly, saying nothing.

Inside, he thought Mo Hua was boasting—his father was a Foundation Establishment elder; Mo Hua was only Qi Condensation Seventh Layer and far younger—how could they possibly be close?

Mo Hua asked again: "What's your name?"

The big man still refused to answer.

Seeing this, Ji Qingbai said: "His name is Yu Chengwu."

"Oh," Mo Hua realized. "Is Yu Chengyi your older brother?"

Yu Chengwu looked stunned. "You know my older brother too?"

Mo Hua nodded. "Then should I call you Uncle Yu Two?"

"No need," Yu Chengwu said flatly.

Mo Hua found this strange and quietly asked Ji Qingbai:

"Is he always like this? He must have terrible social skills."

Even when others spoke to him, he remained indifferent.

Ji Qingbai's expression grew complex. "He usually talks plenty—just has a grudge against your father, so he probably doesn't want to talk to you."

"A grudge with my father?"

This was unexpected for Mo Hua.

His father, Mo Shan, was righteous and well-liked among beast hunters; he rarely held grudges.

Mo Hua instantly imagined half a dozen possible reasons for the grudge and asked Ji Qingbai:

"What's the grudge about?"

"It's not a big one," Ji Qingbai sighed slightly. "He's actually a good man—just loves to compete. He lost to your father, so he resents him."

"That's it?" Mo Hua found it dull.

Yu Chengwu said, somewhat displeased, "What would a child know?"

Mo Hua paid him no mind and instead asked, "You know me?"

Yu Chengwu glanced at him. "Seeing Mo Shan's son, of course I know you."

Judging by his manner, he had known Mo Hua for quite some time.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said, "Back when Qian Xing picked a fight and Chen Dazhu helped me brawl — were you watching from the side the whole time?"

Yu Chengwu raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised. "Not bad."

"Then why didn't you step in and stop it earlier?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled.

"Children fighting — why would I step in?" Yu Chengwu said coolly. "Besides, your father is Seeing Mo Shan. I couldn't be bothered."

"Then why did you step in later?"

"You kids fighting, I don't care one way or the other. But when the Qian family's later-stage cultivators stuck their hands in and bullied a loose cultivator, that I couldn't ignore."

Mo Hua nodded, thinking that although this fellow had a sour look on his face, he was actually quite righteous.

"You have a wolf-fang club, don't you?" Mo Hua asked again.

Yu Chengwu looked a little helpless. "Didn't you just find out? I have a past grudge with your father."

Why was he still asking him all these questions?

"You have a past grudge with my father — that's a matter between you grown-ups, what does it have to do with me?" Mo Hua declared, entirely self-righteous.

Besides, that little grudge of yours — even a child like me, watching it, thought it was a bit childish…