Chapter 264

After returning, Mo Hua devoted all his attention to the Reverse Spirit Array, aside from his daily cultivation.

At night, he sank into his spiritual sea and practiced the Reverse Spirit Array on the Dao Stele; by day, in his small room or on the table of the eatery, he still drew the Reverse Spirit Array stroke by stroke.

After more than ten days like this, his spiritual sense had grown significantly, and he could now sketch the nine and a half incomplete Reverse Spirit Arrays roughly—he estimated he'd be able to draw them fully soon.

Once he could draw these nine and a half Reverse Spirit Arrays, he could go to Mr. Zhuang and ask about the method of drawing the Concealment Array.

If he learned the Concealment Array, Mo Hua could use it to compensate for the shortcomings in his own concealment technique.

Once he mastered the Concealment Technique, he would have greater flexibility in action and retreat, no matter what situation arose.

He gave Bai Zi Xi's meal catalog to his mother, and pointed to the pastry named "Flowers Full, Moon Whole," saying:

"Mother, I want to eat this."

"Always so greedy for food," Liu Ruhua tapped Mo Hua's nose, her tone reproving yet her expression affectionate.

She took the catalog, glanced at it, then asked with slight confusion: "Is this really what you want to eat?"

Though Mo Hua was never picky, his mother still knew his preferred tastes well.

This pastry used so many flowers as filling—it was overly sweet, surely not something he'd naturally crave.

Mo Hua blinked. "Mother, I just want to try something different."

Sweet… with flowers…

Liu Ruhua understood at once, then laughed. "Fine, I'll make it for you."

Though the "Flowers Full, Moon Whole" was tedious to prepare, its ingredients weren't expensive; after two days of study, Liu Ruhua mastered the method and steamed a basket of them.

Mo Hua carefully packed the pastries and brought them to Bai Zi Xi when he visited Mr. Zhuang.

Bai Zisheng also got a portion—his longed-for rabbit meat.

It was ordered by a customer; Mo Hua asked his mother to make extra, saving some for Bai Zisheng.

Under the big locust tree, Bai Zisheng ate with beaming delight.

Bai Zi Xi ate quietly and elegantly, intently—even a few petals stuck to her lips went unnoticed.

Mo Hua watched, intending to remind her, but found her lips more vivid than the flowers, and froze, forgetting to speak.

Seeing Mo Hua stare at her, Bai Zi Xi thought he wanted some too; after a moment's hesitation, she took out a piece and offered it to him.

Mo Hua paused, then shook his head. "You eat it."

He'd already tried it—the floral scent was too strong, too sweet; eating too much made him feel cloying, so he couldn't have much.

Bai Zi Xi asked: "You're sure you don't want any?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then took it.

Cloying is cloying—but one piece won't hurt.

Bai Zi Xi nodded slightly; the two sat in silence, quietly eating the flower pastries beneath the tree.

After this, Mo Hua continued studying the Reverse Spirit Array.

Occasionally, when he had free time, he took out the copy of that map to examine it.

Yet after pondering for hours, he still couldn't figure out which part of Great Heishan the map depicted.

And he wondered how the interrogation of that bald man and one-eyed man was going—whether any new clues had emerged.

On this day, Mo Hua was still practicing the Reverse Spirit Array at the eatery when Zhang Lan came again to eat, his expression solemn.

Seeing Mo Hua, Zhang Lan opened his mouth but hesitated.

"What happened?" Mo Hua asked.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Lan spoke: "The one-eyed cultivator confessed."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up.

Zhang Lan sighed slightly—he hadn't wanted to tell Mo Hua.

Mo Hua had already helped them capture the Bald Monk; the matter was settled, and now it was Dao Ting Si's duty: interrogation, sentencing, execution.

These matters had nothing to do with Mo Hua—but if the one-eyed cultivator spoke truth, this might concern every Hunter of Demons.

Zhang Lan continued: "About the map, the Bald Monk did lie."

Mo Hua snorted. "That bald man still lied even as death approached!" Then he asked: "What did the one-eyed one say?"

Zhang Lan's gaze sharpened. "The map is indeed a map of Great Heishan."

Mo Hua frowned, a sense of unease creeping in.

Zhang Lan went on: "Among cultivators who've shed much blood, there's a rumor: if cornered, one may enter Great Heishan."

"When did this rumor begin?" Mo Hua asked.

"Long ago. According to the one-eyed one, the saying existed among criminals nearly a hundred or two hundred years ago."

Zhang Lan's tone grew heavier. "But previously few believed it; Tong Xiancheng was remote, and Great Heishan perilous, so few criminals came. But recently, things have changed…"

"Recently, Tong Xiancheng has grown prosperous; hermits have grown wealthy, merchants travel more frequently, and profits have increased—many criminals have gathered in Great Heishan. That's why we could net them all and obtain this clue."

The more Zhang Lan spoke, the more solemn his tone became.

If true, Great Heishan's greatest trouble may not be these criminals at all.

"Those who've shed much blood, if cornered, may enter Great Heishan…"

Mo Hua murmured it again. "And then? What can one do upon entering Great Heishan?"

Zhang Lan shook his head. "We don't know. Or rather, those who do know probably haven't been caught yet."

"Neither the bald man nor the one-eyed one know?"

"No." Zhang Lan nodded. "They were tortured, still wouldn't speak—likely they truly don't know."

If these criminals don't know, then the only clue is…

Mo Hua's heart leapt. "The map?"

Zhang Lan spoke slowly: "I thought the same—if we can determine the location marked on the map, perhaps we'll uncover the truth behind this rumor."

"Where is Bald Monk? This map belongs to him."

Zhang Lan looked disappointed. "He doesn't know either. The map was indeed stolen by him after killing someone, but as for where it leads or what it means, he has no clue."

"But the one-eyed man said he encountered something strange."

"Strange?" Mo Hua frowned.

Zhang Lan nodded slightly and told Mo Hua the story:

"He said over a decade ago, he went to Great Heishan to rob, but found nothing. That night, wrapped in a thin robe, he slept atop a tree, braving the mountain winds. He dared not sleep beneath it, fearing that in a half-asleep state, a demonic beast might devour him."

"Half-asleep, he heard voices speaking."

"The speakers—whether two or three—lowered their voices; their throats were rough and hoarse, sounding strange in the night, and he couldn't make out the words clearly."

"Alone in the tree, he dared not even breathe loudly. After listening piecemeal for a long time, he finally grasped the gist."

"These cultivators beneath the tree were also criminal cultivators—apparently they had raped, plundered, and slaughtered an entire family of cultivators, looted their spiritual stone wealth, and were being hunted by Dao Ting Si. With nowhere else to turn, they came to Great Heishan seeking refuge."

"Their cultivation was profound, and their words revealed ruthless methods. The one-eyed cultivator trembled with fear in the tree, shaking until dawn, when he saw no one around and dared to climb down."

"And since then, he never saw that group of criminal cultivators again in Great Heishan. They claimed to be hiding there for refuge—but they vanished as if they had never existed..."

Mo Hua listened, and a chill rose in his heart.

If true, Great Heishan was a den of filth—its depths ran far too deep.

Seeing other diners nearby, Zhang Lan paused, then lowered his voice to Mo Hua again:

"The one-eyed man also heard this group of criminal cultivators say one other thing..."

Zhang Lan looked solemn; Mo Hua's heart tightened slightly.

"What did they say?"

Zhang Lan thought for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"Great Heishan's fog can hide abyss and thicket; at midnight's third watch, cast your name and ask for the way."