Chapter 810: The Traitor

Moreover, there was another issue Mo Hua cared about.

During break, beneath a shady tree on Lianyao Mountain.

Mo Hua glanced left and right, saw no one else, then whispered: "You two were captured and taken to the Ten Thousand Demons Valley—does that mean your sect…?"

Mo Hua paused, lowering his voice even further, "... has a traitor?"

Linghu Xiao and Ouyang Mu both wore complex expressions.

After a moment, Linghu Xiao also whispered: "Elder Shangguan forbade me from speaking of this publicly, but…"

But Mo Hua wasn't an outsider.

Besides, Mo Hua already knew everything about the Ten Thousand Demons Valley incident.

Linghu Xiao continued: "Elder Shangguan suspects that some disciples—even elders—in our sect are secretly colluding with other sects, leaking intelligence about our own disciples."

"He said he's already reported it to the Ancestor, who was furious. The Chongxu Sect will conduct a covert internal investigation, and he ordered me to keep silent and not let a word leak out."

Mo Hua nodded.

The full details are still unclear.

It's possible a complete traitor has emerged within the Chongxu Sect—betraying the sect for personal gain.

Or perhaps, simply because Linghu Xiao's talent is too outstanding, some old-guard elders are jealous and fearful, so they leaked his information, hoping to use others' hands to eliminate this brilliant sword prodigy.

If Linghu Xiao grows strong and stands alone at the top, it would naturally benefit the Chongxu Sect.

But sometimes, the sect's interests don't align with certain elders' interests.

Some people only want to suck blood from the sect.

Whether the sect prospers means little to them; should the sect decline, they simply switch allegiances and find another power to feed from.

Mo Hua turned to look at Ouyang Mu.

Ouyang Mu looked bewildered.

"That day, I really didn't know anything…"

"I was just training normally in the disciples' quarters, felt sleepy, took a nap, and when I woke up, I was already in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley."

"Did you have contact with any suspicious people before that?" Mo Hua asked.

Ouyang Mu thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Did you take any pills?"

"Yes," Ouyang Mu nodded. "But they were all normal cultivation pills—like Peiyuan Pills and Juling Pills."

Mo Hua frowned slightly, suddenly remembering something: "Were those pills all yours?"

"Some were mine, others…" Ouyang Mu paused, then froze. "They were given to me by Senior Brother Ma…"

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.

Sure enough...

That day, he'd seen Senior Brother Ma from Tai'e Sect walking with Little Wood, claiming he'd been sent by Senior Brother Ouyang Feng to deliver cultivation pills, spiritual artifacts, and jade slips.

At the time, he'd sensed a faint, elusive aura of malice emanating from this "Senior Brother Ma."

He'd initially thought it might have been accidental contamination.

Now, it seemed this Senior Brother Ma was very likely involved.

"Where are those pills now?" Mo Hua asked.

"I gave them all to my brother."

"Senior Brother Feng?"

"Yes," Ouyang Mu replied. "After I returned from the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, my brother came to my room and took away some things, saying he needed to investigate them."

Mo Hua nodded.

Senior Brother Feng is mature, steady, and meticulous—he clearly sensed something too.

If that's the case, he shouldn't interfere.

Besides, this is an internal matter of Tai'e Sect and Chongxu Sect; it has nothing to do with me, a lowly disciple of Taixu Sect—I'm not even their junior brother.

After class, disciples are free to hunt demons.

Ouyang Mu is quiet and doesn't get along well with his fellow disciples.

Linghu Xiao is reclusive and doesn't fit in easily.

So this Tai'e Sect嫡系 and this Chongxu Sect prodigy ended up mingling with Taixu Sect disciples.

The elders of Tai'e and Chongxu Sects could only sigh helplessly when they saw this.

…

In the following days, Mo Hua accidentally encountered Song Jian on Lianyao Mountain.

This was the first time Mo Hua had seen Song Jian since the Ten Thousand Demons Valley incident.

Song Jian hadn't changed much—he wore a golden brocade Duanjin Sect robe, carried an expensive spiritual sword, had pale skin, and looked like a pretty boy.

What had changed was his entourage.

In recent days, the Duanjin Sect had been in turmoil.

After the Ten Thousand Demons Valley incident, the Jin family fell from power, the Song family rose, began purging Jin clan cultivators, promoting Song clan influence, and gradually seizing control of the Duanjin Sect's discourse.

The Jin family had declined; the Song family was no longer what it once was.

Song Jian, as a core scion of the Song family and a "meritorious son" of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley chaos, was naturally heavily favored.

Now, when he went out, his entourage was nearly twice as large as before.

Even some Jin clan collateral branches, seeking survival, willingly became his "yes-men," fawning over him.

Song Jian now strutted about with great pomp.

But when he saw Mo Hua, Song Jian's imposing demeanor immediately softened, his expression turning complex, several times opening his mouth as if to speak, then closing it again.

"Mo..."

Before he could speak, other Duanjin Sect disciples sneered:

"That kid from the Grand Void Gate up ahead! Ungrateful fool, daring to block Young Master Song's path!"

"Exactly. If you don't move aside, we'll make you regret it..."

"Get out of the way!"

Song Jian's henchmen spoke with arrogant smirks.

Mo Hua's expression was subtle.

The Grand Void Gate shattered the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, toppling the Jin family and allowing the Song family to rise.

But the Song family's attitude toward the Grand Void Gate seems no different from the Jin family's.

Not only the upper echelons of the Duanjin Sect, but even these Duanjin disciples share the same view.

Moreover, they've caused chaos and committed atrocities within the Alchemy Mountain, nearly all of them having been beaten by Grand Void Gate disciples—fully armed with arrays—so they harbor deep hostility toward the Grand Void Gate.

Now, seeing Mo Hua dressed in Grand Void Gate robes, their gazes turned hostile.

But they didn't know who Mo Hua was.

Mo Hua operated behind the scenes, rarely showing his face.

Thus, these Duanjin disciples had no idea the "mastermind" behind their defeats at the hands of the Grand Void Gate was this young cultivator standing before them.

Now that they met him, they merely assumed Mo Hua was a lowly Grand Void Gate disciple and treated him with contempt.

Mo Hua's temper wasn't that good.

He'd beaten Duanjin disciples before.

Just as he considered whether to call for help and teach these blind fools a lesson,

Song Jian suddenly said: "Mo Hua!"

He drew a sword and pointed it at Mo Hua with a cold sneer:

"You once offended me and destroyed the sword embryo I had nurtured for eighteen years to forge my Life-Link Artifact. I remember this debt clearly—today, I will settle this sword debt!"

The henchmen around him shouted in unison:

"Why should Young Master personally deal with such trash?"

"I need only a slight effort to cut him down with my blade!"

"This lowly Grand Void Gate scum can be crushed with a flick of the wrist—I volunteer to serve Young Master as dog and horse, to avenge this sword debt!"

"Young Master, I'll take him on!"

Song Jian's gaze turned icy. "My vengeance is none of your business to interfere with."

The henchmen quickly replied: "Yes, Young Master is right."

"This brat is no match for Young Master even for a single blow!"

Little did they know, their flattery had struck the wrong note.

Song Jian's face flushed slightly, filled with shame and anger.

"Shut up!"

"Yes, yes..." the group chorused.

Song Jian said: "You all stay here. I will..."

Song Jian glanced at Mo Hua, his tone slightly unnatural, "... settle this matter one-on-one with this brat, then return to the sect."

"Yes, sir."

Everyone replied.

Song Jian looked around, pointed his sword at a small grove, and said coldly to Mo Hua:

"I won't win by unfair means. Let us fight one-on-one in this grove, with no interference."

Mo Hua nodded slightly. "Fine."

The two then entered the grove, one following the other.

The Duanjin disciples followed Song Jian's order and remained outside, but they exchanged puzzled glances.

One frowned and said: "Why go through all this trouble? If there's a grudge, just swarm him and capture the brat!"

"True..."

Someone sneered: "That's why Young Master Song is an idiot."

With Song Jian gone, some lost all respect and grew arrogant.

They clung to Song Jian's status, not to Song Jian himself.

In terms of personal ability, they all believed themselves no worse than Song Jian—only their birth was inferior.

"Or perhaps..." another disciple chuckled, "Young Master Song fears losing face, so he chose a secluded spot to duel. Even if he loses to that brat, he won't be humiliated in public."

"Could Young Master Song really lose...?"

"Lose to that brat?"

"Why not?"

"No matter what, he shouldn't lose—look at that brat's weak blood qi and spiritual energy. If Young Master loses, he's utterly worthless..."

The group laughed with malicious glee.

Inside the grove.

Song Jian walked to a secluded spot, sheathed his sword, sat on a large rock, and sighed.

Mo Hua was puzzled. "Aren't you going to fight?"

Song Jian replied helplessly: "I can't beat you—how am I supposed to fight?"

Previously, he'd still held some pride, believing his own strength could defeat Mo Hua and avenge his "Duanjin Sword," which had been tortured into ruin by Mo Hua's hands.

But after returning from the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, he completely abandoned that thought.

He couldn't fight him. Not even close.

Not to mention fighting—he might not even know where Mo Hua was if they truly clashed.

Besides, in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, Mo Hua had saved his life…

Song Jian hesitated a moment, then let out a deep sigh, speaking in a voice barely audible:

"Th-thank you…"

Mo Hua asked, "What?"

Song Jian, flustered and angry, snapped, "Thank you!"

"Oh…"

Mo Hua nodded.

"So you came to find me just to thank me? For saving your life in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley?" Mo Hua said.

"Sort of…"

After speaking, Song Jian's expression shifted, and he fell silent again.

Mo Hua observed his demeanor, his gaze flickering slightly, and asked curiously, "Are you… troubled by something?"

"No," Song Jian said stiffly.

Mo Hua naturally didn't believe him.

"If you have something weighing on you, you can tell me. I may not help you, but I can at least offer some advice."

Song Jian had no intention of speaking, but when he looked up at Mo Hua and met his clear, deep gaze, he somehow felt it wouldn't hurt to say it.

Moreover, aside from Mo Hua, he realized there was no one else he could tell.

Especially about matters related to the Ten Thousand Demons Valley…

Song Jian's expression grew melancholy, and he spoke slowly:

"I've realized… my parents don't care whether I live or die."

Mo Hua froze. "Why say that?"

Song Jian said, "In the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, I lost a fingertip and sent it to my parents—but they didn't react at all."

"Jin Gui said my parents were weighing the costs—deciding whether to save me. If the price was too high, they'd rather I died, shed a few tears, feel better about it, and be done with it. After all, the Song family has more than just me as a son."

"At first, I didn't believe Jin Gui's words…"

"But after returning from the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, I saw that while my parents were glad, they weren't nearly as ecstatic as I'd imagined…"

"They knew I was trapped in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley long ago, yet took no action. Even many senior members of the Song family knew—but after some calculation, they seemed to have decided to… "

Song Jian's face darkened. "…treat me as a disposable pawn."

"A disposable pawn?"

Mo Hua was taken aback.

"Yes," Song Jian murmured. "They're calculating something—and even my parents gained something from it. So they don't care much about my life or death."

"My returning alive seems to them like an unexpected bonus—even…"

Song Jian's gaze turned cold. "…I'm more like a 'gift.'"

Mo Hua frowned.

He had long heard of the cruelty and indifference within aristocratic clans, driven by利益 calculations.

But he never imagined such a thing could happen to Song Jian.

"How many brothers do you have?" Mo Hua asked.

"Two older brothers," Song Jian said. "I'm the youngest, but my talent is far worse than theirs, my cultivation is less diligent, and I'm not as ruthless in action…"

Song Jian pointed toward the forest's edge. "And I can't command respect."

"Now that the Song family's power has grown, I've got more lackeys around me—they won't leave even if I chase them off—but I know they look down on me."

He'd never thought deeply about these things before, when his life was comfortable.

But walking through the Ten Thousand Demons Valley, on the edge of death, he finally saw things clearly.

"No one in this world can be relied upon…"

"The sect can't be relied upon. The family can't be relied upon. My parents can't be relied upon. My brothers can't be relied upon. Not to mention all those lackeys."

Song Jian's expression grew lost.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then slapped Song Jian on the shoulder. "So you can only rely on yourself."

Song Jian's expression was blank. "I know I must rely on myself—but… I can't even rely on myself…"

"It's fine," Mo Hua said generously. "I'll help you."

Song Jian stared silently at Mo Hua, finding the words utterly incongruous.

You're a disciple of the Grand Void Gate—no relation, no reason—and you're offering to help me, a disciple of the Broken Gold Gate?

Mo Hua said, "Didn't I save your life?"

Song Jian nodded. "Sort of…"

"Aren't we comrades who've shared life and death?"

"Also… sort of…"

Song Jian hesitated.

"There you go," Mo Hua said. "The Dao is long and arduous—seeking it takes an eternity. The most important thing is to have 'kindred spirits' who can help each other, benefit each other!"

"I saved your life. Don't you trust me?"

Song Jian hesitated. "But… our allegiances are different."

"What allegiances?"

"The sects are different..."

"What does that have to do with you?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled. "You're not even the head of Duanjin Sect—just an ordinary disciple. Why are you meddling in this?"

"But my Song family... is still the Song family of Duanjin Sect. I am a disciple of the Song family..."

Before Song Jian could finish, Mo Hua sighed:

"What does that have to do with you?"

"You're a disciple of the Song family, but when it truly matters, they'll sell you out. You yourself said your family can't be trusted—your parents have three sons and can't even treat them fairly; they may not always keep you in mind. When trouble comes, all they weigh is profit."

"If that's the case, why are you worrying yourself over nothing?"

Song Jian was left confused by Mo Hua's words.

"But you destroyed my life-sword embryo..."

Mo Hua: "Just a life-sword embryo..."

Song Jian snapped: "What do you mean 'just' a life-sword embryo? I've carried this embryo since I first learned swordplay, nurtured it day and night for eighteen years—never parted from it! Eighteen years!"

The more Song Jian thought about it, the angrier he grew—and the more his heart ached.

Mo Hua sighed again, then asked: "What is the ultimate pursuit of a cultivator in his lifetime?"

Song Jian was taken aback by Mo Hua's question. After a pause, he said: "Immortality?"

"Yes! Immortality!" Mo Hua asked again. "How many years is immortality?"

Song Jian frowned. "If you're immortal, you live as long as heaven and earth—why would you care about any number of years?"

"Exactly!" Mo Hua said. "So your lifelong pursuit is immortality—to live a million, ten million years. Do you really care about these mere eighteen years spent nurturing a life-sword embryo?"

Song Jian was stunned.

He suddenly felt Mo Hua's words made some sense...

If his goal was to become a transcendent, to achieve immortality, to live forever...

Then these eighteen years spent nurturing a life-sword embryo were but the blink of an eye. Why should he care?

Mo Hua patted Song Jian's shoulder again. "So keep your vision long-term. Don't fixate on fleeting gains or losses—otherwise, your heart will grow narrow, and you'll never reach the peak of the Dao."

Song Jian couldn't help but nod.

But he still had reservations. "You say we help each other—but how exactly? I won't betray my family or Duanjin Sect."

"I'm not asking you to betray anyone," Mo Hua said. "We just exchange information. When I need intel, you tell me. When you're in trouble, I help you out."

"Publicly, you remain a core disciple of Duanjin Sect, a direct heir of the Song family, and still at odds with Grand Void Gate. But behind the scenes, we cooperate—advance together."

"That way, both of us keep a backdoor open. When trouble comes, we'll have one more path to survival."

"What do you think?"

Song Jian thought it over carefully—and realized Mo Hua's proposal was excellent.

Betraying his family or sect was out of the question.

But secretly securing a powerful ally for himself? That was ideal.

The events of the Ten Thousand Demons Valley rose again in Song Jian's mind.

He silently sighed.

Among cultivators of the same realm, Mo Hua was simply too strong...

Not the kind of strength shown on paper or in combat power—but a strange, bizarre, almost incomprehensible strength.

It left people utterly baffled.

If he were Mo Hua's enemy, he'd have no confidence at all.

But if he were Mo Hua's ally? Then he'd feel far more at ease.

"Alright..."

Song Jian nodded silently, and a great weight lifted from his heart.

Mo Hua was about to say more when he heard someone calling his name outside the mountains. He said: "Remember—if you need me, find me in the Demon Refining Mountain."

"Mm." Song Jian replied.

Then Mo Hua cast several fireball spells into the open ground.

Song Jian blinked in surprise, then immediately understood. He channeled his spiritual energy and slashed at nearby trees with his sword, creating the appearance of a fierce battle.

The two then walked out of the forest, one behind the other, wary of each other.

Outside the forest, Cheng Mo and Sister Situ and others were calling Mo Hua's name, standing in confrontation with Duanjin Sect disciples.

Seeing Mo Hua emerge unharmed, Cheng Mo and the others relaxed.

Mo Hua wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead and sneered at Song Jian:

"Pretty boy, next time I'll make you regret it!"

Song Yi Leng blinked, then sneered back: "You got lucky this time. Next time we meet, I'll tear you into a thousand pieces!"

Then he snorted, turned his head arrogantly, and walked away.

Cheng Mo couldn't stand his arrogance. He immediately growled: "Brat, talking big—let me cut you down!"

"Enough, enough," Mo Hua blocked him. "It's getting late. We should head back."

"Big Brother, are you alright?" Sister Situ asked.

"Fine. In the Demon Refining Mountain, how could I possibly be in trouble?" Mo Hua said.

Sister Situ thought for a moment, then nodded. "That's true."

Then both sides parted ways.

The forest fell silent once more.

No one but Mo Hua and Song Jian knew of the secret pact they had made.

And because this occurred during the sect's "instruction period," Elder Xun Ziyou was not watching Mo Hua, so he knew nothing of it.

On the way back, Mo Hua silently pondered:

"Tai'e Sect has a mole, Chongxu Sect has a mole, and now Duojin Sect has one too—equally a 'mole.'"

One placed there by himself.

The better Song Jian blends in, the easier it will be for him to act in the future.

"If one day he could even become an elder, that would be perfect…"

At this thought, Mo Hua suddenly froze, unable to help wondering:

"Could this kid Song Jian… one day become the sect leader of Duojin Sect…?"

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