Chapter 257: Bury Alive

Lu Hui was already severely wounded; no matter how he struggled, he stood no chance against two first-rank beasts.

The two beasts would never let their prey escape, tearing into Lu Hui with fangs and claws.

The scene was bloody, and Mo Hua felt a pang of discomfort—but Lu Hui had it coming.

Moments later, Mo Hua's spiritual sense stirred, and he said to Zhang Lan: "Dao Ting Si cultivators are approaching."

In his spiritual sense, he could already sense the presence of Dao Ting Si cultivators.

Zhang Lan nodded.

Lu Hui could die, but he couldn't be eaten—his corpse must be left intact, as witness for all.

Otherwise, who would know if Lu Hui's death had anything to do with us?

Zhang Lan shouted loudly: "Audacious beasts! How dare you kill Lord Lu, the Diansi?!"

After saying that, Zhang Lan condensed Water-element sword qi and charged at the two beasts.

The sword qi struck the beasts; they howled in pain, glaring fiercely at Zhang Lan.

Mo Shan seized the opportunity to attack the beasts, while Mo Hua assisted by binding them with Water Prison Technique.

Water Prison Technique was less effective against late-stage first-rank beasts, holding them for less than a breath—but that fleeting moment was enough to disrupt their attacks and buy Mo Shan time.

After considerable effort, Mo Shan finally wrested Lu Hui from the beasts' jaws.

Their prey snatched away, the two beasts roared in fury—one lunged at Mo Shan, the other charged toward Zhang Lan.

Mo Shan, relying on his deep cultivation and refined Dao arts, engaged one beast in combat, but primarily evaded and circled.

Mo Hua released a firework signal, then used the Flowing Water Step to circle the other beast, buying time.

Against two first-rank beasts in direct combat, they were no match.

They could only delay, waiting for Dao Ting Si cultivators to arrive after seeing the signal.

Zhang Lan simultaneously launched distant Water Sword Technique attacks to support the two, while inwardly marveling.

Mo Shan, needless to say, was an experienced beast hunter with extraordinary strength—holding his own against a late-stage first-rank beast for a while was no issue.

But this Mo Hua, merely a Qi Condensation Seventh Layer cultivator, could also duel a late-stage first-rank beast using his footwork, matching blows and parries with surprising skill.

Every time the beast lunged—whether tearing, clawing, or biting—Mo Hua evaded with perfect precision, fully embodying the subtlety of the Flowing Water Step.

He even found moments to cast spells.

Either Fireball Technique to harass, or Water Prison Technique to trap.

His spellcasting was lightning-fast—hand raised, spell formed—so even when close to the beast, he always had time to gather his energy.

Though his spells struck the beast like scratching an itch, causing little damage, they at least landed solidly.

The beast fighting Mo Hua, no matter how enraged, could never touch him—not even a single scratch.

Zhang Lan felt a strange pang inside.

The Flowing Water Step was a Zhang family secret, yet Mo Hua, not even of the Zhang family, wielded it with flawless mastery.

He now doubted whether this footwork belonged to the Mo family or the Zhang family.

"You'd better not let my Zhang family's ancestral elder see you—he'll drag you in as a son-in-law for sure."

Zhang Lan watched Mo Hua, silently thinking.

After holding out for a while, Dao Ting Si cultivators arrived to reinforce them—about fifteen or sixteen, from both Tongxian City and Qingxuan City.

Now outnumbered, the two beasts let out frustrated roars and retreated into the mountains.

A Qingxuan City Dao Ting Si cultivator, seeing Lu Hui, gasped in shock: "Lord Lu! How did you…?"

Lu Hui had lost one arm to the beasts, his body drenched in blood, his breath fading, with only a single clot of blood stuck in his throat, unable to swallow.

He pointed at Mo Hua but could not speak.

Zhang Lan grabbed Lu Hui's shoulder and shook him violently, his expression filled with grief:

"Lord Lu, what happened? Lord Lu, speak to me!"

The last breath Lu Hui had clung to was shaken loose—he slumped, dead.

Zhang Lan stared, disbelief on his face, then mourned: "Lord Lu, how could you leave us like this?!"

Mo Hua watched, wide-eyed.

Zhang Lan was truly a veteran of Dao Ting Si—he acted as if it were real.

To anyone unaware, they'd think he and Lu Hui shared deep bonds.

Such convincing, theatrical, yet utterly seamless acting—Mo Hua had to admit defeat.

After confirming Lu Hui was truly dead, Zhang Lan sighed:

"Lord Lu first battled the Bald Monk, subdued him, then fought the beasts to the death to prevent the Bald Monk from being devoured—unfortunately, he perished in the line of duty. His devotion and sacrifice are worthy of song and praise."

Several Qingxuan City Zhisi exchanged glances.

Was this really their Lord Lu? Their Lord Lu was never like this…

"Worthy of song and praise" had nothing to do with Lord Lu.

He'd never risk his life for Dao Ting Si's duties.

Zhang Lan glanced coldly at them: "Lord Lu is dead, yet you stand motionless—do you harbor ill will toward him?"

The Qingxuan City Zhisi stiffened, immediately lowering their heads, donning expressions of sorrow, and bowed:

"Lord Lu's death has left us heartbroken, unable to believe it—please, Master Zhang, handle the aftermath."

Zhang Lan nodded: "You all contributed to capturing the Bald Monk; Lord Lu's role was indispensable. His body shall be returned to Qingxuan City for proper burial."

With Lu Hui dead, Zhang Lan was now the only Diansi present—his word was law.

Moreover, capturing the Bald Monk granted each Zhisi credit—they hadn't come for nothing.

As for Lord Lu—he was dead, and that was that.

What could these Zhisi do? They couldn't oppose a Diansi like Zhang Lan.

Several Zhisi of Qingxuan City bowed and replied, "As Master Zhang the Diansi says."

Zhang Lan nodded in satisfaction and ordered, "Take Lu Hui's body back to Dao Ting Si in Tongxian City first; once the Zhangsi大人 has seen it, send it back to Qingxuan City."

"Yes."

The Zhisi of Qingxuan City carried Lu Hui's corpse down the mountain first, while Mo Hua and Zhang Lan returned together to the valley where the criminal cultivators had dwelled.

Ji Qingbai and several Dao Ting Si cultivators were clearing the battlefield; seeing Mo Hua, they glanced around and could not help asking:

"Where is Lu Hui?"

Mo Hua sighed, "Master Lu the Diansi died in the line of duty."

Ji Qingbai's face showed disbelief.

How could it be that he died in the line of duty so soon?

That was Lu Hui!

The Diansi of Qingxuan City's Dao Ting Si, who had always acted as a tyrant's henchman and done nothing but evil.

So many cultivators in Qingxuan City had been powerless against him—how could he have died in the line of duty here in Tongxian City?

Ji Qingbai pondered for a moment, then slowly realized something, and asked cautiously, "Could there be any problem?"

Mo Shan glanced at Mo Hua and said helplessly, "We didn't lift a finger."

Mo Hua smiled, "It was the Bald Monk and the beasts who killed Lu Hui—nothing to do with us."

Zhang Lan also nodded, "There's not a shred of evidence. Dao Ting Si won't pursue it."

Ji Qingbai stood stunned for a long while, unable to fathom how Lu Hui could have been killed without leaving even a trace of evidence.

But he didn't need to know—he only needed to know that the utterly wicked Diansi Lu Hui was dead.

A heavy stone that had weighed on his heart finally fell away.

The cultivators of Qingxuan City could now breathe easier.

Ji Qingbai bowed deeply and said solemnly, "On behalf of Qingxuan City's cultivators, I thank you all!"

Zhang Lan waved his hand, "I did nothing. If you want to thank someone, thank Mo Hua."

Ji Qingbai stared at Mo Hua in surprise.

Mo Hua chuckled, "Just a small favor."

He had merely raised his hand and cast a few Water Prison spells—truly just a small favor.