Chapter 414

After Mo Hua moved into the cave dwelling, he had hoped for some peace, but within just a few days, people kept delivering visiting cards.

First came the owner of the brokerage, said to be a direct disciple of the Southern Yue Sect.

Mo Hua gave him a simple reception.

The owner's surname was Zheng, not very old, at Qi Condensation Ninth Layer, dressed in brocade and jade, clearly styled as a Young Master.

Young Master Zheng treated Mo Hua with great courtesy, and the two exchanged a few words.

Mo Hua then understood the general situation.

Young Master Zheng was a direct disciple of a Lin elder from the Southern Yue Sect; his parents ran a weapon-forging business, were wealthy, and had entered the inner sect.

But among the direct disciples within the inner sect, rivalries were common.

His parents feared he would be taken advantage of, so they funded him to establish a brokerage, making him its owner to earn Spirit Stones for cultivating goodwill with the sect and other local cultivation factions.

But a brokerage cannot operate without power backing it.

His cultivation partner came from the Lu family, and half of this brokerage was essentially part of her dowry.

Seeing Mo Hua was young but showed exceptional insight into arrays, Young Master Zheng wished to befriend him, which is why he sold the cave dwelling at a lower price.

Some of this information Mo Hua learned directly from Young Master Zheng.

The rest he obtained by spending two Spirit Stones to ask the broker.

Since Young Master Zheng did not seem hostile, Mo Hua treated him with equal courtesy.

Young Master Zheng had no other business; after drinking a few cups of tea, he left, saying before departing:

"I'll have my servants send you a few boxes of fine tea, Young Master."

He probably thought Mo Hua's tea was terrible but didn't dare say so outright.

The tea was certainly terrible—it was what Mo Hua bought for five-tenths of a Spirit Stone.

Good tea is expensive.

He usually just "borrowed" tea to drink and rarely bought any himself.

Only after buying the cave dwelling, fearing visitors, had he reluctantly purchased some tea for hospitality.

Since good or bad tea was still just tea, Mo Hua didn't care.

But since Young Master Zheng wished to give it, Mo Hua didn't refuse, bowing with a smile:

"Then thank you, Young Master Zheng."

Seeing Mo Hua accept his gesture, Young Master Zheng was delighted, bowing and taking his leave with a smile.

Later, several array masters came to visit, drank tea, and exchanged insights on arrays.

Some neighbors brought gifts upon meeting him.

Two days later, Elder Su arrived as well.

Mo Hua brewed the tea Young Master Zheng had given him and served it to Elder Su.

Elder Su took a sip and said:

"This is… the Southern Yue Sect's tea?"

Mo Hua asked in surprise, "You recognized it?"

Elder Su smiled. "I drink it every day—I can tell just by the scent."

Elder Su fell silent for a moment, then asked:

"Who gave you this tea, Young Master?"

Mo Hua replied, "A Young Master surnamed Zheng."

Elder Su frowned. "Surnamed Zheng?"

"The one dressed in fine clothes, wearing jade pendants, a bit chubby, runs a brokerage…"

"Oh." Elder Su remembered. "Zheng Yu?"

"He gave you tea?"

Elder Su was surprised—within just a few days, Mo Hua had already met many cultivators in Southern Yue City.

When he entered, there were even piles of gifts stacked at the door.

"Met him when I bought the cave dwelling," Mo Hua said.

Elder Su nodded.

Mo Hua then asked about Teacher Yan.

Elder Su shook his head. "I sent people to inquire again, but still found no trace of this Mr. Yan."

"I see…" Mo Hua nodded. "Thank you, Elder Su."

"It's a minor matter, nothing to mention," Elder Su replied politely.

Then, after a brief pause, he hesitated before asking:

"Young Master, have you been to the Lu family's mine?"

Mo Hua felt a flicker of surprise but kept his expression calm, nodding as if nothing were amiss. "I have."

Elder Su opened his mouth but held back.

Mo Hua asked, "Is there something wrong?"

Elder Su hesitated a long while, then sighed:

"The Lu family's mine is deeper than it seems. Young Master, you'd be better off staying out of it."

Mo Hua lowered his voice: "Does the Lu family have something… unspeakable…?"

Elder Su waved his hands urgently. "No, no, Young Master, don't imagine things."

Elder Su added: "The Lu family's mine is legal and compliant, approved by Dao Ting Si, the miners are voluntary, they're never late on Spirit Stone payments, and they compensate for accidents—nothing unspeakable."

Elder Su added, "The Lu family's mines are legal and compliant, having been reviewed by the Dao Ting Si; the mineral cultivators participate voluntarily, never default on their spirit stones, and compensate for any incidents—there's nothing to hide."

Mo Hua wore an expression of detached curiosity and whispered:

"I heard a friend of Dao Ting Si say five miner cultivators died horribly in the mine… terribly…"

Elder Su exclaimed in surprise: "You have friends in Dao Ting Si?"

"You could say that," Mo Hua nodded.

He calls Sister Situ 'sister,' and they've worked together and shared meals—naturally, they're friends.

Elder Su's expression grew complicated.

Isn't this first-grade array master supposed to be new to Nan Yue City?

Knowing Zheng Yu is one thing, but how did he get friends in Dao Ting Si?

Still, none of this matters—it has nothing to do with him.

Elder Su merely sighed, then said:

"This mine kills people every year; anyone who dies inside meets a gruesome end."

"Every year?"

"Yes."

Mo Hua frowned. "How many die?"

"Hard to say," Elder Su mused. "Hundreds at least. If a major accident occurs, it could be thousands…"

"Major accident?"

"Mine collapses, demonic beasts rampaging, toxic miasma leaks, and so on."

Mo Hua felt pity. "So many die?"

Elder Su sighed. "There's no choice. Living off the land—Nan Yue City has nothing but mines. Cultivators must rely on them to survive…"

"These days, it's better—after the Lu family's deaths, they pay spirit stones."

"In the past, death meant nothing—just wasted."

Mo Hua was startled. "They didn't pay spirit stones before?"

Elder Su nodded. "Sectless cultivators? A few dead, no one cares."

Mo Hua sighed too.

Only then did Elder Su realize the conversation had strayed too far. He said:

"In short, the mine issue involves miner livelihoods, family interests, and Dao Ting Si's power—it's extremely complicated…"

"We are array masters. We should remain above it all. No need to meddle in such trivial matters."

"Especially you, young sir—you're an outsider. You shouldn't interfere at all…"

Elder Su spoke sincerely.

Mo Hua nodded:

"Elder Su, rest assured—I know my limits."

Elder Su exhaled in relief.

He didn't know whether Mo Hua truly listened or just pretended—but with those words, it was enough.

The two chatted a while longer, then Elder Su took his leave.

Mo Hua, however, rested his chin in his hand, puzzled.

How did Elder Su know he had been to the mine?

If he wanted to find out, he could easily do so.

But he's no relative or ally—why would he care about Mo Hua's movements?

Could this be tied to the Lu family?

Mo Hua remembered: Nan Yue Sect and the Lu family were extremely close…

Sure enough, the next day, Mo Hua received an invitation.

The invitation came directly from the Lu family patriarch.

Its wording was brief, giving no reason—only requesting Mo Hua visit the Lu residence to discuss array techniques.

Discuss array techniques…

Clearly, the Lu family knew his first-grade array master status—otherwise, their patriarch wouldn't have sent the invitation personally.

In a second-grade prefecture, a first-grade array master's status remains highly esteemed.

So far, the only cultivator in Nan Yue City who knew Mo Hua's first-grade status was Elder Su.

Clearly, Elder Su and the Lu family had deep ties.

Mo Hua frowned.

Should he go?

Would it be dangerous?

After thinking it over, Mo Hua decided to go.

Without cause, the Lu family wouldn't dare—or need—to target a first-grade array master.

Even if they meant to strike, they'd do it secretly, unseen and unheard.

Not by sending an invitation, then openly luring him to the Lu estate before acting.

Besides, Mo Hua was curious.

He wanted to see what kind of man the Lu family patriarch truly was.

Mo Hua told Mr. Zhuang about this.

Mr. Zhuang merely nodded, saying nothing.

Mo Hua relaxed—since Mr. Zhuang said nothing, the matter must carry no risk.

Bai Zisheng wanted to go with him, but Master Zhuang kept him back.

"First, draw the formation techniques I taught you a hundred times…" Master Zhuang said.

Bai Zisheng grimaced as he watched Mo Hua leave alone, effortlessly.

Mo Hua arrived at the Lu family.

The Lu family had dedicated disciples waiting outside to greet him; they bowed deeply and invited Mo Hua inside, leading the way ahead.

Mo Hua took the opportunity to observe the Lu family's estate.

His first impression: the Lu family was extremely wealthy!

If the Sun family was a minor wealthy household, the Lu family was a major landowner.

The scale and grandeur of their estate surpassed even the Qian family's in Tongxian City.

This was even more evident in their formation arrays.

The Lu family must possess a complete formation lineage, likely housing a first-grade formation master, along with abundant spirit stones.

Thus, the entire estate's formation arrays were the best building arrays Mo Hua had ever seen—better than those he painted for the Alchemy Guild and the Artifact Guild.

Of course, compared to true great arrays like the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Array, they were still far inferior.

The Lu family disciple led Mo Hua to the family head's study.

Mo Hua met the Lu family head for the first time.

To his surprise, the Lu family head was an extremely refined middle-aged cultivator, warm and gentle as spring breeze, with handsome features that instantly inspired goodwill.

After conversing with him briefly, Mo Hua realized his formation expertise was high—certainly at least a first-grade formation master.

Throughout their talk, the Lu family head expressed great admiration for Mo Hua.

They spoke for an hour, discussing only formation techniques, trivial matters, the customs of Nanyue City, and some cultivation anecdotes.

Not a word was mentioned about the mine.

Mo Hua appeared shy and polite; the Lu family head was warm and attentive.

It looked as if host and guest had both enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

Before parting, the Lu family head gave Mo Hua a pile of gifts—formation books, spirit ink, formation brushes, some spirit-meat snacks, and Nanyue City specialties.

He then sent Mo Hua back to his door in the Lu family's luxurious carriage.

Mo Hua rode the Lu family's plush, soft carriage home and dumped the bundles of storage bags in the courtyard.

Bai Zisheng gaped. "Mo Hua, did you swindle them?"

Mo Hua glared at him. "I don't swindle people."

Bai Zisheng shook his head. "We're fellow disciples—don't lie to me."

Then he asked: "All this was given to you by the Lu family?"

Mo Hua nodded.

Bai Zisheng frowned. "Why?"

Mo Hua thought: "No reason given, no kindness—there must be a catch."

But what the catch was, Mo Hua couldn't guess; he could only set the matter aside for now.

Mo Hua frowned.

The urgent matter now was to find Teacher Yan.

Teacher Yan had given him the enlightenment of the Dao.

Now it seemed the situation in Nanyue City was complicated.

Factions colluding, mining cultivators brutally killed, a sinister dead array…

If Teacher Yan had truly come here, he might have met with misfortune.

Mo Hua wanted to find Teacher Yan as soon as possible to confirm his safety.

But after searching everywhere, he found no leads, so he went to ask Sister Situ.

Sister Situ was the Gu Diansi of Dao Ting Si; her methods for finding people should surpass his own.

Sister Situ agreed.

A few days later, Sister Situ came to visit and delivered two pieces of news.

One was that a male cultivator resembling Mr. Yan had indeed come to Nanyue City several years ago and rented a house near the mine in Chengnan.

But that house had been unoccupied for a long time.

According to nearby cultivators, the Mr. Yan had left one evening toward the mine and never returned…

The other was that there were new leads regarding the five murdered mining cultivators…

(End of Chapter)