Chapter 463

Elder Su quickly glanced around.

Mo Hua said: "Elder, rest assured, no one is around, and Shuisheng isn't here…"

Only then did Elder Su exhale in relief; he looked at Mo Hua, lips parting but words failing, utterly baffled as to how Mo Hua could know about Shuixian.

Mo Hua did not mention Qinglan, but replied vaguely:

"I overheard it by chance at Baihua Tower."

Elder Su froze, then nodded helplessly, his gaze drifting into thought.

The name Shuixian pierced Elder Su's heart; his earlier easy demeanor vanished, his eyes vacant, lost in memories, overwhelmed by sorrow he could not shake.

"Elder Su?"

Mo Hua called out to him.

Elder Su did not respond.

"Elder Su!"

Mo Hua raised his voice; only then did Elder Su snap back, his face filled with apology. "Forgive me—I got lost in old memories."

Mo Hua hesitated, then asked carefully:

"Could you tell me about those memories?"

Elder Su looked at Mo Hua in confusion. "You… why do you want to hear this?"

Mo Hua said: "Curiosity."

Elder Su immediately shook his head.

His romantic past—especially that painful, shameful chapter—how could he tell it to a child…

Mo Hua said: "I have a use for it."

"What use?"

"Not yet."

Elder Su replied evasively: "Just old, dusty gossip—I'm not at liberty to speak of it."

Mo Hua thought a moment, then said:

"Then let this be a favor—I'll owe you one."

Elder Su laughed. "What use is a child's favor to me…?"

He fell silent, suddenly stunned.

This favor could be immensely valuable!

A thirteen- or fourteen-year-old first-grade array master, personally promising a favor!

And Mo Hua's expression was serious—no trace of jest.

Though both were first-grade array masters, Mo Hua was still Qi Condensation, while Elder Su had already reached Foundation Establishment.

Precisely because he was Qi Condensation, this favor was even more precious.

A Qi Condensation first-grade array master—after ten or twenty years, might he not become second-grade?

A second-grade array master? In a second-grade prefecture, he'd be a rarity.

Even in a third-grade prefecture, he'd be no minor figure.

Elder Su pondered, hesitating.

Mo Hua said: "It's a real favor—I keep my word!"

Elder Su was tempted, feigned restraint for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine."

Though it was a painful, romantic past, it wasn't a secret too grave to reveal.

Elder Su sipped tea, then began slowly, telling Mo Hua everything about Shuixian.

How he met her, how they fell in love, how he planned to free her from servitude, and finally how she died, leaving behind a child whom he took in and named "Shuisheng"…

Naturally, he omitted some unsuitable details.

When he finished, Elder Su felt thirsty and drank again.

Mo Hua listened, astonished:

"You went to the brothel with Lord Lu?"

"Shh!" Elder Su glanced around again, whispering:

"Yes, but that was long ago—he's the lord now. Don't speak of this, or you'll ruin his reputation."

"Oh." Mo Hua nodded, thinking to himself:

No wonder Elder Su and Lord Lu are so close.

Turns out they used to visit brothels together back in their youth.

Mo Hua paused, then asked with a touch of sympathy:

"How did Sister Shuixian die?"

Elder Su's expression darkened; he shook his head.

"Fate was cruel to her—she was always frail, suffered greatly at Baihua Tower, fell ill, and though I had alchemists treat her after she came with me, it was only temporary relief…"

"That time… I blamed myself."

"I said I wanted to free her, but I hesitated."

"I am, after all, an elder of Nan Yue Sect, an array master—my status isn't lofty, but in Nan Yue City, I'm a respected figure."

"Families and sects from this city and other prefectures have all sought to arrange marriages for me."

"Their daughters were beautiful, talented, of noble birth, with excellent spiritual roots—their children would surely inherit fine potential."

"Compared to her, Shuixian was…"

Elder Su sighed bitterly, "Shuixian probably guessed my thoughts, so she deliberately kept her distance, as if she didn't want to drag me down."

"But deep inside, she must have resented me—I don't know if she hated me or not…"

Elder Su sighed.

"Under sorrow and regret, her old illness flared up again, and she was gone…"

"Back then, I was furious—I believed Shuixian had been murdered, so I investigated for a long time, but ultimately found nothing."

"Later, I understood: Shuixian… actually died because of me."

"I feared self-reproach, feared regret, feared guilt—so I shifted the blame."

"I hoped someone had killed Shuixian, so I could hate another person, avenge her, and ease my own guilt…"

"But there was no one…"

"Her life was a floating weed, trying to cling to me."

"But I betrayed her—so she scattered with the wind…"

A deep bitterness settled on Elder Su's face.

Mo Hua listened, feeling sorrowful, and asked:

"All these years, haven't you taken a Dao partner?"

He had visited this cave dwelling many times; apart from one or two maids who boiled water and brewed tea, there were no other female cultivators here.

Elder Su shook his head, helplessly saying:

"All these years, I've wanted to take a Dao partner, to forget Shuixian."

"But people are just weak…"

"I can't forget her at all…"

"It's fine not to think of a Dao partner—but the moment I do, my heart is filled only with Shuixian's shadow."

"Eventually, I understood—it doesn't matter anymore. My whole heart belonged to her. I owe her that. Now that she's dead, this heart of mine goes with her…"

Mo Hua never expected that Elder Su, once a frequent visitor to brothels, had such a sorrowful and melancholic past.

He never expected that this Elder Su was also a man deeply in love.

Truly… appearances can be deceiving.

Mo Hua patted Elder Su's shoulder but said nothing, offering silent comfort.

When Mo Hua patted his shoulder, Elder Su suddenly jolted.

Wrong!

Why did I say all that?

I wanted to tell Mo Hua about the past, but I never meant to spill all this sorrow and bitterness.

These thoughts were meant to rot in my heart.

Elder Su glanced at Mo Hua again, and a chill ran through him.

This child's face is far too deceptive.

So innocent, so sweet, so charming—it makes you want to tell the truth without thinking.

Without realizing it, I poured out my soul…

But I've already said it all—what can I do now?

Elder Su could only toughen his expression and pretend nothing had happened.

When Mo Hua saw Elder Su's mood had calmed, he asked again:

"So, Shu Sheng—is he your child with Shuixian?"

Elder Su froze, then nodded helplessly: "Yes."

"After Shuixian died, I kept this child by my side, made him my direct disciple, thinking that with me watching over him, he'd live safely, learn some arrays, and someday succeed—so his mother's spirit in heaven might find peace…"

"When she was pregnant with him, she had hoped he'd become an Array Master like me, and rise above others…"

As Elder Su spoke these words, he grew angry again.

"But this child—except for looking a little like me, he's nothing like her. He has no talent for arrays, refuses to work hard, is clumsy in everything he does, and his temper isn't gentle like his mother's…"

Elder Su listed a long string of faults, then fell silent. After a long while, he sighed wistfully:

"But his eyes and expression… are just like his mother's…"

Mo Hua sighed upon hearing this.

People often only learn to cherish what they've lost.

Especially emotions.

For a moment, both Elder Su and Mo Hua wore expressions of melancholy.

Elder Su's was from reminiscing about the past.

Mo Hua, so young and without romantic experience, was merely indulging in empty sorrow…

Shu Sheng walked in, sensing the heavy atmosphere, and suddenly didn't know what to say.

After a moment, he whispered softly: "Master, Lord Lu has arrived."

"Lord Lu?"

Elder Su froze, quickly turned to Mo Hua, and whispered:

"Whatever I just told you—don't tell anyone."

Mo Hua blinked. "What did you say?"

"It's just…"

Elder Su gestured to himself, then pointed outside, then mimed Lord Lu.

Mo Hua understood—it was about them visiting brothels together.

"Don't worry, I won't say anything!" Mo Hua assured him.

Only then did Elder Su feel at ease.

Not long after, Lu Chengyun entered, bowed to Elder Su, then politely greeted Mo Hua with refined grace.

Lu Chengyun's arrival did not surprise Mo Hua.

When Elder Su invited him for tea, Lu Chengyun would occasionally visit.

They had met several times before and were not strangers.

The three of them drank tea, discussed formations, then talked about matters of the Nan Yue Sect and the Lu family.

Drinking tea was fine; discussing formations was acceptable.

But Mo Hua had no business listening to the internal affairs of sects and families.

Though he very much wanted to listen—there might be clues about the traitors of the Xiao Lingyin Sect.

Still, basic etiquette had to be observed.

Mo Hua rose and said:

"Master Lu, Elder Su, you two talk. I'll take a stroll in the garden."

Elder Su said: "Young Master, feel free."

He had visited here often and was very familiar, so he didn't bother with formalities.

But Mo Hua wasn't strolling for leisure.

Seeing Elder Su and Master Lu deeply engrossed in conversation, he quietly found Elder Su and Sister Shuixian's illegitimate son—his disciple named "Shuisheng."

Shuisheng was reading by a small table beside a garden bridge.

Shuisheng was slightly older and taller than Mo Hua.

Mo Hua crept up beside him and asked:

"What are you reading?"

Shuisheng startled, quickly hid the book, was about to scold—then saw it was Mo Hua and bowed respectfully:

"Young Master."

Though young, Mo Hua was a guest of honor to Elder Su, his peer in status.

Shuisheng naturally dared not offend him.

Mo Hua sat beside him and patted the bench:

"Sit."

Shuisheng dared not sit.

Mo Hua glanced at him.

Shuisheng reluctantly sat down.

As he sat, Mo Hua glanced at the book in his hand.

It was a basic explanation of Five Elements formation patterns.

Mo Hua was surprised. According to Elder Su, this disciple was supposed to be lazy and poor at formations.

But now it seemed different.

Mo Hua asked: "What don't you understand about this book?"

Shuisheng paused slightly, stammered a few times:

"I can't draw them well…"

He opened the book and pointed to several Metal-element formation patterns.

Mo Hua glanced—they were basic patterns.

He began explaining: how to draw them, how to hold the brush, how to use ink, how to arrange the layout, how to mobilize spiritual awareness, what to do if spiritual awareness was insufficient…

As Shuisheng listened, his mouth opened wide; his gaze at Mo Hua filled with admiration.

These problems had plagued him for a long time—he couldn't figure them out at all—but Mo Hua's few words made everything crystal clear, unlocking his understanding.

Yet Mo Hua's mind remained utterly still.

This was already basic Five Elements formation patterns.

Extremely simple, extremely simple formations.

Mo Hua was puzzled: "These things… you…"

He had meant to say "your father," but stopped himself:

"…didn't your master ever explain them to you?"

Shuisheng shook his head. "My master never explained. He thought these were too simple—anyone could understand them at a glance. When I asked him, he looked at me with deep disappointment, as if I'd betrayed his expectations…"

"Over time, I stopped asking him. I read on my own, learned what I could, and let go of what I couldn't…"

Mo Hua shook his head.

How could you learn formations this way?

Elder Su must have placed too much hope on his only son.

When expectations weren't met, he grew disappointed.

But people are different.

Everyone's conditions for learning formations vary—they must progress step by step. One cannot harshly judge others due to one's own excessive hopes or disappointments.

Formations are hard enough. Elder Su's love for his son, coupled with excessive expectations, only left Shuisheng confused and lost.

Mo Hua sighed. He had drunk Elder Su's tea—that was a debt. So he taught Shuisheng a little longer.

Soon after, Shuisheng looked at Mo Hua with both admiration and gratitude.

Young in age, high in formation mastery, sincere in manner, without pretense, willing to teach him.

Better than his master by an unimaginable margin...

Shuisheng silently muttered to himself.

The two of them gradually grew familiar with each other.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"Shuisheng, do you know your mother?"

Shuisheng froze, lowered his head, and nodded.

"Do you know your father?"

Shuisheng looked at Mo Hua in surprise, then slowly nodded again.

Mo Hua's heart stirred slightly.

It seemed this child, Shuisheng, knew everything...

(End of Chapter)