Chapter 639: The Letter

The Xie family's mansion had been seen through, and everything that needed to be found had been found.

This matter is settled; the Xie family is no place to linger.

Mo Hua then left with Gu Changhuai.

As they reached the gate, Mo Hua suddenly remembered something and rummaged through his storage pouch for a flask of wine.

But his wine was fruit wine—not suitable.

Mo Hua looked up and asked Gu Changhuai, "Uncle Gu, do you have strong liquor?"

Gu Changhuai paused, then nodded. "Yes."

Without asking further, he pulled a delicate jade-green wine flask from his storage pouch and handed it to Mo Hua.

A strong, pungent aroma of liquor spread through the air.

Mo Hua poured the entire flask of strong liquor onto the Xie family's doorstep.

Mo Hua silently thought:

"Rest in peace…"

Gu Changhuai's slender fingers lightly tapped the table, pondering for a moment, then gradually formed a plan in his mind…

Mo Hua and he finally returned to the Gu family.

And it seemed…

The figures of the Xie family's cultivators, slaughtered like livestock, dead and then grotesquely mutated, surfaced one by one in his mind…

On the way back, Mo Hua sat silently in the carriage, frowning in thought:

Why did Huo Fotuo kill the entire Xie family?

After killing them, what did he do?

What were the black residues?

Why did they carry the aura of the Great Wilderness Demon God?

What connection does this have with the Demon God who calls himself "Lord of the Great Wilderness"?

Sacrifice?

Mo Hua had originally believed that "Dao Nai" only arose in impoverished regions, where low-level cultivators suffered oppression, and despair and sin gave birth to them.

Mo Hua emptied his thoughts, lay back on the soft blanket, and watched the scenery outside the carriage, thinking of nothing.

He had promised the slain Xie cultivators he would make Huo Fotuo join them in death.

He had taken Mo Hua along out of necessity, but he never expected Mo Hua would actually uncover clues—even ones his own Dao Ting Si Gu Diansi had failed to see.

The sky grew late; the sun sank westward.

It was the land of Qian Learning, where the Art of Heavenly Mechanism had declined, and no cultivator could divine it.

…

Wen Renwan waited at the gate; seeing Mo Hua looked weary but unharmed, she finally relaxed.

Was it because he was young, his childish nature still intact, so his thinking differed from ordinary people?

…

If that's the case…

Start by capturing "Huo Fotuo"…

But he never expected that near Qian Learning Province—a land of flourishing cultivation, prosperity, and peace—there were also signs of Dao Nai.

Like that sea of fire, which concealed Huo Fotuo's movements, had the Dao Nai matter also been covered up?

Mo Hua frowned tighter; the more he thought, the stranger it seemed, the more mysteries piled in his mind, his thoughts a tangled knot…

He realized he could no longer view Mo Hua as merely a simple child of ten or so.

The Yu'er incident too.

This time, his spiritual sense had truly been overtaxed…

Though unwilling to admit it, this child might truly see hidden secrets invisible to ordinary cultivators…

On the other side, Gu Changhuai was also silently watching Mo Hua.

Mo Hua nodded, his gaze resolute.

Or was he simply intelligent, meticulous, and his spiritual sense sharp?

This child…

No one had realized it.

It was some other reason…

Or perhaps…

Though all the Xie family's cultivators were dead, their bodies and lingering souls utterly gone, nothing remained to be known.

The longer he thought, the more his head ached.

But he had promised—he must keep his word.

The truth would unravel step by step.

"I will make Huo Fotuo join you in death…"

As dusk fell, the setting sun spilled like ink, drenching the sky in crimson clouds.

Were the Xie family's cultivators used as offerings?

Were Huo Fotuo's heretical cultivators servants of the Lord of the Great Wilderness?

And what was the ritual of sacrifice?

And the "fleeting glimpse" he had once seen—the opium-like, black-purple, hideous yet decaying, steeped in corrupt desire, heavenly fate and karmic threads…

Or was it because greed and lust blinded them, and no cultivator could see?

Or has the Heavenly Mechanism been obscured?

Gu Changhuai's heart was heavy with doubt.

Could it also be related to this matter?

The strangest thing, however, was the Dao Nai…

Then she scolded Gu Changhuai:

"Why are you so late?"

"Mo Hua's ten-day break is only two days long; tomorrow he must return to classes and cultivation. What if he falls behind?"

"You're such an adult now—how can you still act without restraint…"

Gu Changhuai looked helplessly resigned and sighed.

Since childhood, when he lived as a guest in his cousin's home, he had often been scolded like this by her.

Now he was over a hundred years old, a Jin Dan grand cultivator, and Dao Ting Si's Diansi—yet he still couldn't escape it…

Mo Hua stepped in to defend him: "Auntie Wan, it's my fault—I was playing too much and delayed the time…"

Mo Hua wore an apologetic expression.

Wen Ren Wan patted Mo Hua's shoulder. "It's not your fault…"

Then she shot Gu Changhuai another glare. "Look—Mo Hua's just a child, yet he's more sensible than you."

Gu Changhuai's face twisted in anguish.

Mo Hua sighed helplessly and gave him a look that said, "I can't help you."

Auntie Wan only scolded Uncle Gu—there was nothing he could do.

Then the four of them had dinner together.

Wen Ren Wan prepared many delicious dishes; Mo Hua and Yu'er ate happily, while Gu Changhuai sat quietly, gloomy.

After dinner, the sky had grown late, so Wen Ren Wan decided to personally escort the two children back to Grand Void Gate.

Gu Changhuai said: "Sister, I'll take them."

Wen Ren Wan glanced at Gu Changhuai and softened her tone: "Rest instead. Dao Ting Si affairs are busy—don't overexert yourself."

Gu Changhuai froze, warmth rising in his heart, though his face showed nothing.

Wen Ren Wan no longer paid him heed, picked up Yu'er, and stepped onto the carriage first.

Satisfied and full, Mo Hua followed cheerfully, heading toward the carriage.

"Mo Hua."

Gu Changhuai suddenly said.

Mo Hua turned, puzzled, to look at Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai hesitated a moment, then pulled out a token and handed it to Mo Hua.

The token was made of Bai Yu, smooth and luminous throughout, but unmarked—its purpose unknown.

Mo Hua took the token with suspicion, glanced at it briefly, and his heart leapt. "Uncle Gu, what is this…?"

"A Transmission Token."

Gu Changhuai's expression was reluctant, his tone flat:

"If anything comes up, use this jade token to send me a message…"

"But this token has limits—it won't work over great distances. If you're not in the same province, I won't receive your message…"

"When on official duty, sometimes I can't carry the Transmission Token—I won't receive your messages then either…"

"Use it carefully—don't lose it, don't break it…"

"Even though it's only a second-rank Transmission Token, they're not easy to obtain, especially ones specially made by Dao Ting Si with strong secrecy—even with spirit stones, you can't buy them anywhere…"

Though his face remained stern, Gu Changhuai meticulously explained every precaution—"thoughtfully"—to Mo Hua.

"Mm-hmm!"

Mo Hua took the jade token, overjoyed.

A Transmission Token!

It was complete, intact, fully functional!

Mo Hua's eyes sparkled brightly.

Seeing Mo Hua's expression, Gu Changhuai suddenly felt uneasy.

He suddenly felt he perhaps… shouldn't have given this Transmission Token to Mo Hua.

And the feeling was very strong.

Like…

Giving a white rabbit to a big gray wolf…

It was the instinct of a Dao Ting Si Diansi.

But he'd already given it away—could he really take it back?

That would seem… undignified?

Gu Changhuai frowned.

In that instant, Mo Hua seemed to sense Gu Changhuai's thoughts—his small hand flashed out, leaving a blur, snatching the Transmission Token with lightning speed before Gu Changhuai could react.

Before Gu Changhuai could even think to retract it, the Transmission Token was already inside Mo Hua's storage pouch!

"Thank you, Uncle Gu!"

Mo Hua beamed happily.

Gu Changhuai blinked, then forced himself to go along with it—"better to let it stand"—his face stiff as he muttered: "No need to thank me…"

Inside the carriage, Wen Ren Wan watched this scene, surprised.

Her cousin, whom she had watched grow up since childhood, had a somewhat reclusive temperament and a proud nature; he never spoke more than a few words to anyone.

But she never expected he would now be so "close" to Mo Hua.

He had even given Mo Hua a gift.

It was as if the sun had risen in the west.

It seemed her decision had been right…

Wen Wanyi felt reassured.

Mo Hua, carrying the message token, bid farewell to Gu Changhuai, boarded the Gu family's carriage, and returned to Grand Void Gate with Xu Wanyi and Yu'er.

The sky was already late, the night deepening.

The carriage rolled along the road, flanked by long stretches of pitch-black night, above which dotted faint yellow lantern lights glimmered.

Quiet and peaceful.

The carriage moved forward with the rhythmic "clip-clop, clip-clop" of hooves.

Mo Hua had spent this day and night shuttling between Luanshan City's Dao Prison and the ruins of the Xie family, with little rest.

Now that his mind relaxed and Xu Wanyi was beside him, weariness washed over him.

His eyelids grew heavy; soon, he slowly closed his eyes and fell into quiet, peaceful sleep.

His breathing was even; his jet-black eyelashes cast shadows on his fair cheeks, making him look innocent and adorable, and under the lantern light, he appeared almost painterly in his beauty.

Xu Wanyi glanced at him and marveled inwardly.

This child, Mo Hua, was truly beautiful.

His aura was pure and upright, his features soft and graceful; the two qualities blended naturally, radiating a clarity like jade.

He was still young, his face still bearing traces of childishness, making him endearing.

When he grew up, his appearance would surely be extraordinarily handsome.

It was just a pity to wonder which little miss would end up with him…

Xu Wanyi smiled faintly, thought mischievously, then gently draped a blanket over Mo Hua.

When Mo Hua awoke, they had already arrived at Grand Void Gate.

He bid Xu Wanyi farewell, then took Yu'er's hand and walked through the mountain gate of Grand Void Gate.

Yu'er was reluctant to leave her mother, turning back every few steps, her eyes glistening.

Xu Wanyi was also reluctant, but she still waved gently.

Beneath Grand Void Mountain, a cold night wind began to rise.

Xu Wanyi stood alone in the night at the mountain's foot, watching as Yu'er, led by Mo Hua, walked into the brightly lit Grand Void Gate.

…

Life after returning to the sect remained as usual.

Mo Hua cultivated daily; his cultivation gradually increased.

His expertise in arrays also deepened bit by bit.

In his spare time, he began pondering the message token Gu Changhuai had given him.

This was his first time using such a message token.

The Grand Void Token could also send messages, but its functions were too numerous and its internal array structure too complex—he couldn't understand it.

Unlike the one in his hand, which had simple functions and a single structure.

When sending a message, Mo Hua could even sense the appearance of magnetic ink, the shifting of irregular magnetic patterns, and the faint response of sub-thunder patterns.

The array logic of the message token was based on the standard beacon magnetic array, but more complex.

To understand this array's application and to inquire about Huo Fotuo's whereabouts, Mo Hua tried sending messages to Gu Changhuai whenever he had time:

"Uncle Gu."

Gu Changhuai did not reply.

After a while, Mo Hua sent another: "Uncle Gu…"

Gu Changhuai still did not reply.

"Is the message token broken?"

"Didn't he receive it?"

Mo Hua muttered to himself, then thought again and sent:

"Uncle Gu?"

"Uncle Gu?"

"Are you there?"

Perhaps unable to bear the annoyance, the other side finally replied:

"Not here."

Mo Hua: "If you're not here, who replied to me?"

Gu Changhuai seemed thoroughly irritated; after a while, he recovered and asked:

"What do you want?"

Mo Hua: "Have you found out what the black residue was?"

"Not yet, it won't be that fast…"

"What about the message token the Lord had? Any information on it?"

"No…"

As Gu Changhuai was typing, he suddenly froze, "How did you know it was a message token?"

Mo Hua: "I could tell at a glance!"

After the Young Master died in the Dao Prison, Uncle Gu searched his storage bag.

Mo Hua kept watching him, and when he found a jade slip, his expression changed—Mo Hua guessed that jade slip must be problematic.

Mo Hua suspected it was a Transmission Order.

He hadn't been certain before, but now, from Uncle Gu's tone, he was sure.

Gu Changhuai felt somewhat frustrated:

"Can't you find a better excuse?"

You see through it at a glance…

Do you have three eyes?

Mo Hua sent a message: "These are trivial matters, no need to mind."

Then Mo Hua quickly changed the subject: "Uncle Gu, is there any clue in the Transmission Order?"

"I can't tell you that."

"So there isn't any…?"

Gu Changhuai sighed: "Why are you so sure there isn't?"

"I'm guessing, but there definitely isn't—the information must have been erased…"

Mo Hua has experience.

It wasn't erased by the Young Master himself—it must have been erased by a "mole" in Dao Ting Si.

But it was definitely erased.

He himself possessed one such Transmission Order, its messages erased.

He got it from a man who was bald but wore a wig, with a Four Symbols Eagle Claw Array tattooed on his head—the "Bald Eagle."

Mo Hua had long wanted to restore the erased text on this Transmission Order.

But now, his exposure to Magnetic Array is limited, his skill is weak—he can only attempt "unsealing" or "decryption" by luck.

He cannot yet "restore" magnetic patterns or recover the original text.

The principle of "restoration" is far more complex.

Mo Hua hasn't figured it out yet.

Gu Changhuai, working in Dao Ting Si, sighed.

He glanced around, and for a moment, he felt as if Mo Hua had installed some surveillance array beside him—every move he made was being watched…

Or perhaps this kid could divine the future with uncanny accuracy…

Gu Changhuai shook his head and sighed:

"Yes, it was erased…"

Mo Hua immediately asked: "Can it be restored?"

"Hard to say."

"Hard to say," not "impossible to restore"…

That means Dao Ting Si can "restore" Transmission Orders?

At least they have a method to restore them?

"How exactly do you restore it?" Mo Hua asked humbly.

Gu Changhuai grew alert: "Why are you asking this?"

Mo Hua used magnetic ink to manifest a "smiling face": "I'm just curious…"

Gu Changhuai: "I'm not an Array Master."

Meaning he didn't know the exact method of "restoration."

Mo Hua felt disappointed and asked again: "Then who do you give the Transmission Orders to for 'restoration'?"

Before Gu Changhuai could answer, Mo Hua suddenly remembered:

"Tian Shu Pavilion?"

Gu Changhuai froze.

Mo Hua: "Right?"

Gu Changhuai: "How do you know that?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and replied: "I've researched within the sect—Magnetic Array is a classified technique; ordinary Array Masters don't learn it."

"Even Dao Ting Si's hired Array Masters, even if they know basic Magnetic Array, probably can't restore magnetic patterns."

"Because 'restoring' a Transmission Order involves complex array principles…"

He himself hadn't even learned it yet…

Mo Hua muttered to himself, then continued sending the message:

"If Tian Shu Pavilion's hired Array Masters can't restore it, then the only place left is Tian Shu Pavilion within Dao Ting Si's central headquarters."

"Tian Shu Pavilion belongs to the Central Dao Ting Si, responsible for rating Array Masters, with vast array knowledge and countless Grand Array Masters—there must be someone who can 'restore' Transmission Orders…"

Mo Hua spoke logically and clearly.

Gu Changhuai's expression remained blank.

He didn't want to admit that Mo Hua had "guessed" all his actions.

But the truth was, Mo Hua guessed correctly every time—everything he said was right.

He really was like a "little fortune-teller"…

Gu Changhuai: "Sort of…"

Mo Hua asked curiously: "Can it really be restored?"

Gu Changhuai: "Hard to say."

Mo Hua drew a "speechless little face."

Gu Changhuai sighed helplessly and explained:

"Restoring a transmission token is complicated—it truly must be handed over to the Tian Shu Pavilion…"

"I have an old acquaintance in the Tian Shu Pavilion of the Central Dao Ting, which is why I entrusted the transmission token…"

Mo Hua exclaimed: "Uncle Gu, you have old acquaintances?"

With such a bad temper and such poor social standing, you still have old acquaintances…

Gu Changhuai was furious and sent: "Do you even want to know?"

"Oh, oh."

Mo Hua quickly fell silent.

Gu Changhuai gathered his thoughts and continued: "I entrusted the Lord's transmission token to the Tian Shu Pavilion, asking someone to 'restore' it…"

"But this process takes a long time, carries a heavy cost, and involves cumbersome application procedures…"

"Moreover, electromagnetism-based arrays are relatively obscure—not all array masters can master them."

"And the array masters who truly can 'restore' transmission tokens are all prominent great array masters, of great status, with extremely limited time—they may not even have the leisure to restore such a tiny transmission token for a second-rank Dao Ting Si case…"

"Moreover, Dao Ting Si is subordinate to the Dao Ting; in status and authority, even a fifth-rank Dao Ting Si is far inferior in prestige to the Tian Shu Pavilion, one of the Seven Stars Pavilion…"

"Whether they're willing to help depends not only on their time, but also on their mood—and their disposition…"

Gu Changhuai grumbled: "Array masters really have big egos…"

Mo Hua said: "I'm an array master too, and I don't have a big ego!"

Gu Changhuai looked down on him: "You're not even a second-rank array master, are you?"

"I have second-rank strength—I just haven't been officially ranked yet."

"Oh." Gu Changhuai replied dismissively: "Every array master who can't get ranked says the same thing."

Mo Hua snorted and decided not to explain to Uncle Gu, this "array illiterate."

Mo Hua said: "Suppose… the Tian Shu Pavilion refuses to 'restore' this transmission token—could you let me try?"

Gu Changhuai remained silent for a long time, not replying.

After an unknown length of time, he finally replied with one word:

"You?"

Mo Hua felt intense skepticism.

He was indignant.

Don't underestimate the poor youth.

Although he still couldn't do it now, he already understood decryption and de-sealing; further 'restoring' magnetic patterns was merely a matter of time.

He just needed to study further.

Mo Hua snorted.

When he truly learned to 'restore' magnetic patterns, Uncle Gu would have to look at his "face."

He was a Diansi, handling cases daily—he'd inevitably encounter situations requiring restoration of transmission tokens, and then he'd surely come begging to him…

Imagining Uncle Gu begging him, Mo Hua felt a small sense of pride.

But since he still couldn't do it now, he'd better stay humble.

Mo Hua: "I'm learning…"

Gu Changhuai didn't know what to say, so he replied dismissively again:

"Fine, wait until you learn it…"

"I have other matters—don't disturb me."

Gu Changhuai finished and added two more lines:

"Contact me only if it's urgent!"

"This transmission token isn't for you to chat with!"

After that, Gu Changhuai fell silent.

Mo Hua was puzzled.

He was talking about serious matters…

At most, he just talked a bit too much…

Is there anything more serious than tracking down Huo Fotuo's clues?

If not this, what else could he talk about?

Mo Hua shook his head.

Uncle Gu really didn't know how to talk—that's why he had such poor social standing; no one wanted to play with him.

Only I have a good heart and don't care about his bad temper…

But even if I don't care, I won't let him look down on me.

Mo Hua decided to put everything else aside and first learn how to 'restore' transmission tokens.

Not for the steamed bun, but for the dignity.

Then I'll show Uncle Gu what "color" means.

Moreover, Uncle Gu said that this kind of magnetic pattern 'restoration' can only be done by the great array masters of the Tian Shu Pavilion.

Only great array masters can do it!

Then I must learn it too—I'll become a "great array master" one day!

Mo Hua nodded, then searched through his merit scrolls and some electromagnetism-based array texts, beginning to study the principles behind the magnetic pattern 'restoration' in the transmission token.

He would build upon "de-sealing" and "decryption," deepen his understanding of electromagnetism-based arrays, and master more advanced array applications…