Chapter 798: Hundred Flowers

Gu Changhuai immediately gave Mo Hua a look of disgust and said irritably, "Aren't you leaving? Why aren't you going yet?"

"I'm tired from walking—I need to rest a bit," Mo Hua said with an innocent expression.

"Go rest somewhere else," Gu Changhuai frowned.

"I can't walk anymore…"

Mo Hua turned his clear, sparkling gaze toward Gu Hong, the Elder.

Gu Hong, the Elder, immediately softened, scolding Gu Changhuai:

"Let the child rest a moment—what harm does it do you? Are you really driving him away? With such a narrow heart and such a foul temper, no wonder you still haven't found a Dao partner at your age."

After reprimanding him, Gu Hong, the Elder, smiled at Mo Hua:

"Ignore your Uncle Gu—he's just like this. Stay right where you are, wherever you want. I'll see who dares to chase you away."

Mo Hua smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Elder Gu Hong."

Gu Changhuai couldn't take it anymore and stood up. "Fine, then I'll leave."

But as soon as he rose, Gu Hong, the Elder, slapped him back down. "Where are you running off to? I haven't finished speaking."

Gu Changhuai couldn't move.

Mo Hua watched, grinning with delight.

Gu Hong, the Elder, said: "Before, I urged you, but you always said Dao Ting Si was too busy, so I didn't press. But now I've heard from your Dao Ting Si's Zhou Zhangsi…"

Gu Changhuai frowned. "Aunt, you know our Zhou Zhangsi?"

"Of course I do," Gu Hong, the Elder, said. "I introduced his youngest son's Dao partner. After it was settled, he came personally to thank me. How could I not know him?"

Gu Changhuai had nothing to say.

"Don't interrupt," Gu Hong, the Elder, continued. "Where was I?"

Mo Hua whispered softly, "The Zhou Zhangsi of Dao Ting Si said…"

Gu Hong, the Elder, remembered. "Yes—your Dao Ting Si's Zhou Zhangsi secretly told me you've been acting recklessly, offending the wrong people. Someone seems to be scheming behind the scenes to target you. He couldn't gauge the situation, so he held you back, kept you from handling cases…"

Here, Gu Hong, the Elder, sighed. "Working in Dao Ting Si is never smooth sailing—ups and downs are normal. Don't let temporary setbacks get to you."

"Besides, this is actually good news…"

Gu Hong, the Elder, fixed her piercing gaze on Gu Changhuai. "Now that you have time, go find a match!"

Gu Changhuai's head throbbed. He stayed silent.

"How can you be so dense, child?"

Gu Hong, the Elder, shook her head and pulled out a portrait, shoving it before Gu Changhuai.

Gu Changhuai's face was cold—he didn't even glance at it.

"Look at it," Gu Hong, the Elder, glared.

Gu Changhuai reluctantly glanced once—then turned away with disdain.

Mo Hua, curious, leaned over and took a quick look.

Seeing Gu Changhuai's indifference, Gu Hong, the Elder, turned to Mo Hua. "Well? Isn't she beautiful?"

Mo Hua studied the portrait carefully.

The portrait showed a stunningly beautiful woman—her face like blooming peach blossoms, her eyebrows delicate and curved.

Purely by appearance, she was truly peerless.

But her heavy makeup made her look overly alluring.

And in Mo Hua's eyes, she wasn't as lovely as Little Sister.

Mo Hua nodded. "Beautiful."

Gu Hong, the Elder, beamed. "You're the one with taste, child—not like your Uncle Gu, as hard as a rock."

Mo Hua paused, then suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Elder, isn't this the woman you previously introduced to Uncle Gu—the one from Baihua Valley, that radiant, fairy-like inner sect instructor?"

Gu Hong, the Elder, was surprised. "You still remember? Yes—that's Miss Hua Ruyu…"

"I looked into her further. Her name is Hua Ruyu, a direct descendant of the Hua family of Baihua Valley. Though her branch is somewhat distant, she is indeed a true-blooded heir—her lineage is flawless…"

She sighed in frustration. "Changhuai, as a Diansi, spends his days fighting and killing, and with his terrible temper, no noblewoman from a pure-blooded, high-status clan would ever marry him."

"This is the best match I could find—no need for distant marriage. She's within Qianxue Province, from Baihua Valley, one of the Twelve Streams. A Diansi of Dao Ting Si and an inner sect instructor—someday she might even become an inner sect Elder. How perfectly matched they'd be…"

"Indeed…" Mo Hua nodded.

"And her appearance is excellent…" Gu Hong, the Elder, emphasized again.

But Gu Changhuai said coolly, "Aunt, don't judge by appearances. You can't know a person's heart by their face. A beautiful person isn't necessarily good."

Gu Hong, the Elder, was furious. "Then look in the mirror—do you think you're a good person?"

Gu Changhuai was speechless.

Gu Hong, the Elder, pointed at Mo Hua. "Look at Mo Hua—so handsome and well-behaved. Is he not a good person either?"

Gu Changhuai muttered, "He's never been a 'good person' to begin with…"

Gu Hong, the Elder, wanted to grab his ears. "You're such a grown man, still talking trash about a child!"

Mo Hua quietly reminded her from the side, "Elder, focus on the matter at hand—my affairs don't matter."

"See how magnanimous Mo Hua is!"

Gu Hong, the Elder, scolded Gu Changhuai again, then turned to Mo Hua with gentle expression, sighing, "Ah, if Changhuai had half your sense, I'd be perfectly content."

"He's over ten times your age, yet he's less than a tenth as considerate."

Mo Hua couldn't help but nod.

Gu Changhuai's expression was numb, utterly lifeless.

"Enough—it's getting late, I have other matters," Gu Hong, the Elder, glanced at Gu Changhuai, her tone carrying a warning edge:

"This time, you mustn't brush me off again. Anyway, you've already been sidelined by Dao Ting Si—you have plenty of time now. After the New Year, come with me to meet that girl, get to know her well, and if things work out, settle down. I'll finally have something to report…"

Elder Gu Hong's expression suddenly grew melancholy. Before Gu Changhuai could speak, she added:

"Also, you're not allowed to 'bully' Mo Hua anymore. I won't say anything if you scowl at others, but how can you treat this child with such a cold face? If I find out, I won't forgive you."

"Exactly, exactly!" Mo Hua chimed in.

Elder Gu Hong spoke clearly and briskly. After finishing her speech, she pulled out a box of pastries and shoved them into Mo Hua's hands, saying they were wedding cakes sent by a prominent family—exquisitely made, rare, and he should taste them as his New Year gift.

"Thank you, Elder Gu!"

Mo Hua bowed politely in thanks.

Elder Gu Hong smiled at Mo Hua, then shot Gu Changhuai a glare—clearly meaning, "Remember what I said, don't forget"—before turning and leaving.

On the steps, only Mo Hua, beaming as he clutched the pastries, and Gu Changhuai, face dark and sullen, remained.

Mo Hua took a bite of the pastry.

It was fragrant, glutinous, soft, yet chewy; the sweet, clean flavor mingled with the aroma in his mouth. Though not as good as his mother's, it was already delicious.

After eating, Mo Hua sighed, glanced at Gu Changhuai, and asked hopefully:

"Uncle Gu, when will I get to eat your wedding cake?"

Gu Changhuai's face turned as black as a soot-covered pot.

That little brat Mo Hua could sometimes drive a person to madness—he'd grown older, and now he was even more infuriating!

"I'm leaving. Play by yourself," Gu Changhuai said stiffly.

But Mo Hua said, "Uncle Gu, don't rush off…"

His eyes lit up. "Let's make a deal."

"What deal?" Gu Changhuai frowned.

Mo Hua whispered, "You secretly investigate 'Shui Yanluo' for me, and I'll handle Elder Gu Hong. Of course, you still have to show up a little for the matchmaking—I'm too young to go for you."

Gu Changhuai's frown deepened. "You?"

Mo Hua nodded. "I'm more effective than you with Elder Gu Hong! We help each other."

Gu Changhuai's face turned ashen, but he had to admit Mo Hua was right.

He simply had no way with his aunt.

And this child was exceptionally skilled at flattery and always had clever tricks up his sleeve…

Gu Changhuai sighed. "Fine."

Mo Hua extended his hand.

Gu Changhuai paused, then understood. Though reluctant, he reached out and shook Mo Hua's hand.

Mo Hua grinned.

"Deal!"

…

With Gu Changhuai, Dao Ting Si's Diansi, investigating Shui Yanluo for him, it was far better than him, a mere sect disciple, doing it himself—Mo Hua felt at ease.

As for how to handle Elder Gu Hong, he'd already thought of a plan.

He spent another happy day at the Gu household.

Later, Xu Wanyi took Yu'er back to the Shang family to pay ancestral respects. Gu Changhuai was nowhere to be seen—either busy investigating Shui Yanluo or avoiding matchmaking.

Bored, Mo Hua returned to Grand Void Gate.

There, he resumed his usual cultivation and studied arrays.

Though absorbing malevolent spirits to strengthen his spiritual sense was faster, the spiritual awareness honed through array practice was far more solid.

Therefore, neither should be neglected.

With no malevolent spirits to consume, Mo Hua could only continue using this "clumsy method" of drawing arrays to refine his mind sea and advance his spiritual sense.

Besides, he now had an eighteen-line array to study.

After two days of studying arrays, Mo Hua had preliminarily learned one eighteen-line Bagua array. He then slipped away to the Pill Chamber and found Elder Murong.

This was Elder Murong's instruction.

Elder Murong feared Mo Hua had not fully recovered from his trip to the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, so she told him to return periodically for a checkup.

After examining Mo Hua's meridians, qi circulation, and the "faint" blood qi, Elder Murong nodded.

"No major issues. You can stop taking the pills… Also, don't overeat during the New Year. Your blood qi is weak, your digestion is poor—gorging will damage your spleen and stomach."

Mo Hua felt slightly embarrassed.

Elder Murong then took out a vial of pills and handed it to Mo Hua. "For digestion. Take after meals."

Mo Hua accepted it and, curious, opened the jade vial. Inside, the pills shimmered emerald green, exuding the scent of herbs and wood. He asked:

"Can I eat one now?"

Elder Murong blinked, then laughed.

"Yes."

Mo Hua took one out, put it in his mouth, and tasted it.

It had a slight bitterness, but mostly sweet herbal fragrance, with a unique medicinal note. After swallowing, he felt his blood qi flow faster.

Mo Hua smiled. "Thank you, Elder Murong!"

Elder Murong's expression was gentle; she gave a slight nod.

At that moment, her eyes flickered and noticed the jade pendant around Mo Hua's neck.

It was a pale white jade, simple in shape, plainly carved, with faint emerald-green spiritual patterns inside—unknown in type.

Mo Hua had always worn this pendant.

Elder Murong had seen it before but never paid attention—yet now, her heart stirred with unease.

"This jade pendant is…"

"Jade pendant?"

Mo Hua was startled, lowered his head to look, and only then realized.

"This is…" Elder Murong's gaze sharpened, his voice somewhat strange, "Dan Jade?"

"Mm." Mo Hua nodded and asked, "Elder Murong, you know about Dan Jade too?"

Only after saying it did Mo Hua realize that this Dan Jade had been given to him by Grandpa Feng, a first-grade alchemist.

And Elder Murong was a third-grade alchemist, so knowing about Dan Jade was perfectly normal.

Mo Hua asked again, "Is there something wrong with this jade?"

Elder Murong's eyes flickered, and he shook his head, "Nothing…"

But after a moment's hesitation, he still asked, "You're not an alchemist, and you're not particularly skilled at alchemy either, so how do you have Dan Jade on you?"

"Someone gave it to me."

"Gave it to you?"

Elder Murong's eyes held obvious surprise.

"Mm," Mo Hua thought for a moment, and without hiding anything, said:

"When I was in Xiancheng, it was given to me by a grandpa who watched me grow up since childhood, a man of high virtue and great prestige, who saved countless lives."

"This old grandpa, although he was only a first-grade alchemist, spent his life treating the sick and saving people, and was very much loved and respected."

"This Dan Jade was something he always wore on his person when treating the sick and saving people, and later when I began learning formations, he gave it to me…"

Mo Hua paused here, recalling for a moment.

He remembered that at the time, Grandpa Feng had also said that this Dan Jade had been given to him by his own master.

Among alchemists, there was a saying that treating the sick and saving people could accumulate merit.

The Dan Jade worn on one's person carried the alchemist's merit.

Grandpa Feng had given the Dan Jade to him, hoping it would bless him, turn misfortune into fortune, and let him grow up safely.

"Alchemists save people, but cannot save too many; formation masters don't save people, but can save a great many…"

Grandpa Feng had said this.

And wearing this Dan Jade did indeed bring peace to one's heart and mind.

But Mo Hua had worn it for too long, and besides, there was nothing nowadays that dared trouble his heart and mind, so over time he no longer felt it so clearly, and simply treated this Dan Jade as an elder's "blessing," hanging it around his neck as a keepsake.

Of course, he didn't tell Elder Murong about these things.

Not that he didn't trust Elder Murong, but many things were bound by cause and effect, so naturally one had to hold back a little when speaking, and couldn't say everything.

Elder Murong didn't ask further either, but admonished:

"Within the sect it's fine, but once you're outside, especially in front of some alchemists, don't reveal this Dan Jade…"

Mo Hua wanted to ask why, but Elder Murong already had a graceful, gentle, and no-more-words expression, so Mo Hua tactfully didn't ask, merely nodding:

"Mm, I'll remember."

Afterward, Elder Murong gave Mo Hua a few more bottles of commonly used pills, and Mo Hua took his leave.

After Mo Hua left, Elder Murong sat in a daze for a moment, his expression uncertain whether it was envy or admiration:

"Truly… a child of deep blessed fate…"

…

Leaving the pill room, Mo Hua walked alone along the road back to the disciples' quarters.

Elder Murong's words lingered in his mind.

"Dan Jade…"

Could it be that Dan Jade… was something good?

Or rather, was this piece of "Dan Jade" Grandpa Feng had given him rather rare?

Otherwise, Elder Murong, a third-grade alchemist elder of the Grand Void Gate, wouldn't have specifically asked about this jade pendant on him…

Mo Hua walked with his head lowered, thinking as he went, but halfway there a clear, melodious voice suddenly called out to him:

"Junior Brother Mo…"

Mo Hua was a bit absent-minded thinking about the Dan Jade and didn't hear, and after walking a while longer, the voice took on a hint of reproach:

"Junior Brother Mo!"

Mo Hua was startled, looked up, and said in surprise:

"Senior Sister Murong?"

The woman before him, wearing a Grand Void Gate daoist robe, with a gentle bearing, dignified and beautiful, was none other than Murong Caiyun.

Murong Caiyun's beautiful eyes gave Mo Hua a light glare, "What are you thinking about? I called you several times and you didn't hear."

Mo Hua smiled sheepishly, and was just about to say something when he turned his head and discovered that behind Senior Sister Murong there were several female disciples.

And they weren't from the Grand Void Gate.

They wore colorful skirts, a riot of blossoms, dazzlingly bright, dressed in the daoist robes of Hundred Flowers Valley.

And Hua Qianqian, whom he knew, was among them.

Mo Hua was somewhat surprised, "Senior Sister Qianqian is here too?"

Hua Qianqian looked at Mo Hua with a smile, "Junior Brother Mo, long time no see."

Her gaze roamed over Mo Hua for a moment, and she said with great satisfaction, "A little taller, clothes must look even better on you now…"

Mo Hua's expression turned wary.

Murong Caiyun sighed, truly at a loss with her.

Mo Hua turned his head and asked Murong Caiyun, "Senior Sister Murong, you all are…"

"I'm going to see my little aunt." said Murong Caiyun.

"Little aunt?" Mo Hua blinked in surprise, then remembered, "Murong Elder?"

"Yes." Murong Caiyun nodded. "My little aunt is the Alchemy Elder, proficient in all kinds of pills. Qianqian and the others wanted to ask about alchemy, so I'm taking them to her for guidance."

"Oh." Mo Hua understood.

After speaking, Murong Caiyun introduced Mo Hua to the other female disciples of the Hundred Flowers Valley:

"This is Mo Hua, Brother Mo. I've mentioned him to you—Brother Mo is exceptional at drawing arrays. If you need help with array diagrams, you can ask him."

Then she introduced them to Mo Hua:

"These are disciples of the Hundred Flowers Valley, same cohort as Qianqian. By seniority, they're all your senior sisters. This is Sister Hua, Sister Ye, Sister Mu…"

Murong Caiyun introduced them one by one.

Mo Hua bowed slightly, shyly:

"Hello, senior sisters."

The female disciples of the Hundred Flowers Valley looked at Mo Hua with bright, intrigued eyes.

"What a handsome and adorable junior brother!"

"He's even proficient in arrays? Arrays are so hard to learn…"

"You really can't judge a person by appearance…"

Mo Hua: "..."

"Alright, alright," Murong Caiyun said. "It's getting late. If we're late, little aunt will scold us."

The several senior sisters from the Hundred Flowers Valley reluctantly bid Mo Hua farewell.

Mo Hua briefly studied their appearances—all fair-skinned and beautiful, dressed in the Hundred Flowers Valley's Dao robes, standing together like a blooming garden.

Mo Hua was momentarily face-blind.

But one senior sister was clearly more beautiful.

Mo Hua remembered—she seemed to be surnamed "Ye."

This Sister Ye had an oval face, delicate features, skin like congealed fat, eyes and brows tinged with sorrow, and a quieter disposition—less talkative, lending her an air of cold aloofness.

Mo Hua glanced at her a few times, then waved goodbye to the senior sisters.

He didn't think much of it.

But several days later, before the New Year festivities had ended, while Mo Hua was still drawing arrays, he heard terrible news:

This senior sister from the Hundred Flowers Valley…

Had killed herself.

dengbidmxswqqxswyifan

shuyueepzwqqwxwxsguan

xs007zhuikereadw23zw