Chapter 636: The Internal Spy

Gu Changhuai's head felt like a tangled knot of hemp, unable to make sense of it for a long time.

This waist token is indeed a Dao Ting Si waist token.

Mo Hua, even if he were bold, could never risk such a grave offense by forging a Dao Ting Si waist token.

Bronze means it's extra-listed.

But even an extra-listed waist token is still a waist token, under Dao Ting Si's authority, not something an ordinary cultivator could get his hands on.

"Where did you steal this waist token from?"

Gu Changhuai asked suspiciously.

Mo Hua frowned, "Steal? This was given to me personally by the Zhou Zhangsi of Tong Xiancheng Dao Ting Si!"

"Tong Xiancheng?"

Gu Changhuai remembered—it was that remote, second-class Xiancheng in Lizhou where Mo Hua came from.

Mo Hua shook his head, "No."

Gu Changhuai was puzzled, "Then why on earth would he give you a bronze waist token?"

Unlikely…

"No!"

Gu Changhuai frowned deeply.

"To serve Dao Ting Si, benefit the cultivators of Tong Xiancheng, and contribute to the peace of the cultivation world!"

Otherwise, Gu Shuji would find out that although he held a title, he was just a lowly slacker in Dao Ting Si.

The key was, he never imagined that a ten-year-old free cultivator, just entered Grand Void Gate, would secretly be carrying a bronze Dao Ting Si waist token…

Gu Changhuai snapped to full attention.

Go ahead and brag…

Mo Hua was too lazy to explain, he was used to it—no one believed him when he spoke.

"Benefit?" Gu Changhuai shook his head, "You're just a child—what benefit could you possibly bring?"

In the future, when he wanted to dodge or delay, he'd use this trick.

Gu Changhuai looked unconvinced.

In the future, Gu Shuji might even become his "superior."

Mo Hua smoothly changed his tone:

Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai with an expression that said, Don't judge a gentleman by a villain's standards, and declared:

"Of course the Zhou Zhangsi saw I was young but talented, so he gave me the waist token to… mix…"

Every time Mo Hua passed by, he stared at those two characters for a long while.

I killed the great demon myself.

In front of your superior, you must appear eager and ambitious!

Mo Hua learned.

Don't say "mix merit."

"Did you marry into their family?"

He thought for a moment, then dodged, "I only said I'd consider—I didn't agree."

Careless.

"I've brought great benefit!"

Carved in the top line, largest characters, gilded too!

Mo Hua!

Mo Hua nodded, "Fine."

Mo Hua said firmly.

Gu Changhuai's heart tightened, his gaze sharpened, "You won't go to my cousin and Yu'er and speak ill of me, will you…"

This kid is cunning as a fox, full of tricks—next time I talk to him, I must be more careful, can't slip up and give him leverage…

Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai, his bright, clear eyes filled with sincere trust, "Gu Shuji, you're a hundred-year-old my lord—your word must be binding!"

Gu Changhuai froze—he hadn't expected Mo Hua to suddenly be so reasonable, so easily let it go?

My name is still carved on the demon-subduing stele outside Tong Xiancheng.

Gu Changhuai frowned, "Is your Zhou Zhangsi a relative of yours?"

Gu Changhuai coughed, looked away, picked up the wine flask, poured himself a cup, and drank it casually, "I'm busy now, haven't decided yet—talk again in a few days…"

"Regardless, the waist token is mine—I'm half a Dao Ting Si member…"

So this is how a my lord dodges responsibility…

Too hasty—I fell right into this kid's trap, got caught in his words.

Mo Hua nearly blurted out the three words "mix merit" again…

"So, what's your decision?"

Mo Hua looked at Gu Changhuai, thought for a long while, then answered honestly:

"Gu Shuji, you don't have any 'good things' for me to say, do you…"

Bad temper too.

A bit of a show-off.

Won't help when you ask him.

And he breaks his word, dodges responsibility with me…

Even if I wanted to say something nice about him to Xu Wanyi and Yu'er, I wouldn't know where to start…

Gu Changhuai was momentarily stunned, then fell silent, his expression somewhat complicated.

What Mo Hua said seemed to be correct…

"Right?" Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai and sighed, "If you don't treat me well, how am I supposed to say good things about you to Auntie Xu and Yu'er?"

"If I only know your bad side, then wouldn't everything I say be bad?"

"You can't blame me for that either…"

Mo Hua wore a face that said he had good reason and could not help it.

Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched, but thinking of his elder cousin and Yu'er, he could only sigh in the end. "Speak, what exactly do you want to do?"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "I want to catch Huo Fotuo!"

Gu Changhuai still didn't understand. "You're just an entry disciple, why are you going up against Huo Fotuo?"

Mo Hua said with perfect seriousness: "I'm petty and I hold grudges. Huo Fotuo wanted to kill me, and I don't want to let him off either."

Gu Changhuai was stunned.

Petty, holds grudges…

That was way too "honest."

But being petty probably wasn't a lie…

Gu Changhuai's pair of handsome, elegant eyes looked at Mo Hua and narrowed slightly. "What else?"

"What else?"

"Your reason for catching Huo Fotuo definitely isn't this simple…"

Gu Changhuai said with certainty.

As expected of the Gu Diansi of Dao Ting Si, really not easy to fool…

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said: "If I help you all—no, help 'us' Dao Ting Si—catch Huo Fotuo, can you share some of the merit with me?"

"You're that short on merit?" Gu Changhuai asked, puzzled.

"Can one ever have too much merit?" Mo Hua countered.

Gu Changhuai was slightly startled and couldn't help but nod.

Indeed.

Sect disciples—cultivation resources, cultivation methods, all expenses, and advancement within the sect hierarchy—all depended on merit.

Naturally, the more merit the better.

Even for Dao Ting Si, it was the same.

"The Huo Fotuo matter carries no merit," Gu Changhuai said. "This is Dao Ting Si's business; it won't issue a mission to the sect."

After all, Huo Fotuo was a villain who had wiped out entire families, his hands drenched in blood.

If a sect disciple took the mission and acted rashly, dying at Huo Fotuo's hands, that would cause enormous trouble.

"If it doesn't count as sect merit, can it count as Dao Ting Si merit?"

"As long as I get merit, that's fine…"

Mo Hua wore an expression of "I'm not picky."

Gu Changhuai sighed.

"Fine then…"

He couldn't exactly withhold Dao Ting Si's merit and not give it.

But looking at Mo Hua's utterly delighted expression, Gu Changhuai always felt something was off.

This child Mo Hua had seven or eight schemes hidden in one heart; there had to be another reason.

Gu Changhuai quickly replayed everything about Mo Hua from beginning to end in his mind, his heart jolted, and he exclaimed in shock:

"You wouldn't be thinking of secretly learning Huo Fotuo's Falling Fire Art, would you?!"

Mo Hua's expression didn't change, and he silently glanced at Gu Changhuai:

"Uncle Gu, do you think I could learn it?"

Gu Changhuai examined Mo Hua carefully, let out a breath of relief, and gradually set his mind at ease:

"That's true too, you couldn't learn it either…"

The Falling Fire Art was a forbidden technique with tremendous spiritual might, which meant it required a top-grade spiritual root and abundant spiritual power to cultivate and perform.

This child Mo Hua, though clever, had spiritual roots and spiritual power that didn't amount to a tenth of his comprehension.

Even if he had the brains for a forbidden technique, he didn't have the raw material.

After pondering for a moment, Gu Changhuai agreed.

"You can tag along with Dao Ting Si and help catch Huo Fotuo, but we need three rules…"

"Three rules?"

"Mm." Gu Changhuai listed them one by one:

"First, you must not delay your sect's cultivation, and taking leave is absolutely not allowed. You can only come help during the ten-day rest. On ordinary days, don't leave the sect;"

"Second, you must not fight. Huo Fotuo, and all of Huo Fotuo's accomplices, are at least mid Foundation Establishment cultivation—not something you can handle. You might get lucky and escape once or twice, but if you fail to escape even once, you might lose your life there…"

"If anything unfortunate happened to you, I wouldn't be able to explain it to my elder cousin, and Yu'er would surely be heartbroken…"

"Third, when going out to pursue and capture Huo Fotuo, you stay by my side, never leave me, and don't act on your own or do as you please…"

……

"Mm, mm, mm." Mo Hua nodded repeatedly.

His demands weren't high either; getting into Dao Ting Si and being able to tag along was enough.

As for future matters, he'd play it by ear…

Since he had already "revealed" his identity with Dao Ting Si, and reached a "mutual cooperation" agreement of "three rules" with Uncle Gu, Mo Hua didn't hold back and hurriedly asked:.

"Uncle Gu, what exactly happened the night the Xie family of Bishan City was wiped out?"

"How did Huo Fotuo get into Bishan City?"

"Why didn't a single member of the Xie family escape?"

"Why was the Xie family wiped out?"

"After the Xie family was wiped out, where did Huo Fotuo go? Was he not found? Are there any clues?"

……

Mo Hua, like a curious child, chattered nonstop with a rapid-fire stream of questions…

Gu Changhuai's head throbbed from listening.

He knew this child was a major troublemaker.

But he was already on the "bandit's" boat—regret was too late.

Gu Changhuai released his spiritual sense, confirmed no one was nearby, then took a sip of wine to moisten his throat, frowned, and spoke in a low, grave tone:

"The day you filed the report, I personally led a team to search for Huo Fotuo…"

"But at the border between Luanshan City and Bishan City, there were only faint traces of flame—no sign of Huo Fotuo or his companions."

"I sent people to investigate everywhere, yet Huo Fotuo and his group vanished as if they had disappeared into thin air—as if someone had concealed their traces…"

"And several days later, the Xie family massacre occurred…"

"The specific details of the case are still under investigation, hard to confirm—I can only tell you the general outline…"

"The Xie family's formation had been tampered with."

"What was originally an outward-facing defensive formation had been altered into an inward-facing trapping formation."

"That night, Huo Fotuo suddenly appeared within the Xie residence, unleashed a spell, and fiery meteors rained down, killing many instantly and igniting the buildings—the flames spread rapidly and grew larger…"

"Then dozens of ruthless criminal cultivators took advantage of the fire to launch a massacre, slaughtering the Xie family's cultivators…"

"When the Xie family was attacked, they hastily activated the formation to defend themselves—but instead, the formation trapped them, leaving no escape, and they perished in the inferno…"

"Huo Fotuo's methods were extremely cruel."

"As rumors claimed, Huo Fotuo held a deep grudge against the Xie family—not content with merely killing them, he carved open their bellies, dismembered their bodies, and ground their bones to ash…"

"Because the formation sealed them off, even Dao Ting Si's Gu Diansi and Zhi Si could not enter, and those inside could not escape…"

"Thus, before the eyes of Dao Ting Si and all the cultivators of Bishan City, Huo Fotuo slaughtered every single member of the Xie family…"

As Gu Changhuai spoke, his face betrayed uncontainable fury.

Mo Hua also felt sorrow, silently sighing.

"Then what?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled. "The formation was sealed, turned into a trap that locked the entire Xie family inside—so it should have trapped Huo Fotuo too. If the Xie family had no escape, how did Huo Fotuo get out?"

Gu Changhuai's expression turned solemn. "That's precisely the problem…"

"After wiping out the Xie family, Huo Fotuo vanished as if he had evaporated from the mortal world—there was not a single trace of him in Bishan City."

"Not only Huo Fotuo, but the dozens of criminal cultivators who aided him also disappeared."

"For these past days, Dao Ting Si has scoured Bishan City and every nearby Xiancheng—there's not a single clue…"

"To this day, the leads are painfully scarce…"

Gu Changhuai's face grew cold and tense, filled with irritation.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and asked: "Uncle Gu, did Dao Ting Si hire someone to calculate the karmic threads?"

Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua in surprise. "You understand karmic calculation?"

Mo Hua replied with quiet pride: "A little."

Gu Changhuai paid it no mind, only shook his head. "We did. We had it calculated—but they couldn't trace anything. Said the traces had been concealed…"

Then Gu Changhuai grew displeased. "In my view, they're just incompetent—making excuses to dodge the task…"

"Besides, in this day and age, who still believes in celestial calculations and karmic predictions? Just mystic nonsense to fool people…"

Hearing this, Mo Hua realized the Gu family had no lineage of celestial calculation techniques.

Their family was the "fool" in the realm of celestial karmic calculation.

Mo Hua didn't bother explaining.

Celestial mechanisms were unfathomable; karmic threads were obscure—explaining them would be too troublesome.

Mo Hua simply nodded along: "Yes, yes."

Though Gu Changhuai didn't understand celestial calculation, his intuition was sharp.

He always felt Mo Hua's gaze toward him carried pity—as if he were looking at a "fool"…

Seeing Gu Changhuai's expression darken, Mo Hua quickly changed the subject:

"Uncle Gu, are there any other clues?"

Gu Changhuai, distracted by the shift, forgot for a moment that Mo Hua saw him as a celestial "fool"…

"That's all. No other leads," Gu Changhuai said. "So don't pester me—return to your sect and focus on your cultivation."

Gu Changhuai wanted to get rid of this "little burden."

Seeing this, Mo Hua said: "I have a clue!"

Gu Changhuai didn't believe him and snorted. "What clue could you possibly have?"

"If you don't believe me, I won't say it."

Mo Hua lowered his head and began eating his drumstick.

This drumstick seemed to come from a brocade pheasant—large, tender, and delicious.

Gu Changhuai, left hanging, felt a complex mix of emotions.

To ask would be to lose face.

But if it truly was an important clue…

Though this kid is prone to "blowing smoke," on matters of this importance, he doesn't seem to lie.

Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment, then sighed helplessly.

The case of Huo Fotuo is more urgent.

"I believe you—speak," Gu Changhuai sighed.

Mo Hua didn't drag it out; he said directly:

"Young Master!"

"Young Master?" Gu Changhuai frowned.

"That thief who stole from women," Mo Hua explained. "I caught him before I encountered Huo Fotuo…"

"I heard Huo Fotuo and his people call him 'Sixth Young Master.' They must know him. And the reason he's been seen in Luanshan City is probably to meet Huo Fotuo and carry out the massacre…"

"But before going, his cultivation of the Yin-Yang Absorption Art triggered an addiction—he was consumed by lust and couldn't strike in Bishan City, or he'd alarm them. So he chose Luanshan City, near Bishan, to target women…"

Gu Changhuai frowned. "Why didn't you say this sooner?"

Mo Hua replied confidently: "You never asked me."

Besides, when the case was reported, the Young Master was already arrested and locked in the Dao Prison—he'd already "surrendered."

Mo Hua unconsciously overlooked him.

Now that all leads were gone, Mo Hua thought long and hard before pulling the "Young Master" back from memory…

Gu Changhuai nodded. "There's no time to lose—I'm going to Luanshan City right away."

"Isn't he in the Dao Prison within Qianxue Province?"

Gu Changhuai shook his head. "Local cases aren't transferred unless all procedures are settled…"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said: "I'm coming too!"

"No."

Gu Changhuai refused without hesitation.

"Fine," Mo Hua didn't press. He said coolly: "When you question him and have questions you don't understand, come back and ask me."

Gu Changhuai frowned. "What does that have to do with you?"

"Because I'm the one who arrested the Young Master!"

Mo Hua emphasized it again.

Gu Changhuai fell silent, then sighed. "Fine. Come along."

Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Mm-hmm."

So Gu Changhuai told Wen Renwan he was taking Mo Hua out.

Wen Renwan was puzzled—she didn't know what business Gu Changhuai could have taking Mo Hua out.

But seeing Gu Changhuai's reluctant expression and Mo Hua's eager one, she assumed it wasn't anything bad for Mo Hua, and nodded, warning:

"Be careful on the road."

"Take care of Mo Hua…"

Wen Renwan repeated the warning.

"Yes."

Gu Changhuai sighed.

Then Mo Hua and Gu Changhuai boarded the Gu family's carriage and raced through the night, arriving in Luanshan City.

They entered Luanshan City and went to the Dao Ting Si.

Gu Changhuai showed his Gu Diansi badge and passed without obstruction into the underground Dao Prison of Luanshan City.

But when they found the Young Master, Gu Changhuai's face turned icy, and Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.

The Young Master…

Was locked in his cell, his breath utterly still.

He was already dead.

He had died without a sound.

Mo Hua looked up at the grim, damp, sunless Dao Prison and whispered quietly to Gu Changhuai:

"Uncle Gu, do you… no, does our Dao Ting Si also have 'traitors inside'?"

Gu Changhuai's face was as cold as ice; he said nothing.