Chapter 1335: General Yang

Chapter 1334: General Yang

Mo Hua stood within the Situ Clan’s encampment, gazing from afar at the Dao Court’s main army. Like an endless tide of steel, it pressed forward across the land. Within the ranks, he also saw True-Person Zhuge.

But he had no intention of going over to greet him.

Because beside True-Person Zhuge stood True Person Huá.

And beside Mo Hua stood his Little Senior Brother.

True Person Huá had long coveted his Little Senior Brother. Those so-called “slicing” techniques researched by the Huá clan were most likely prepared specifically for him.

Naturally, Mo Hua would never let his Little Senior Brother walk into a trap of his own accord.

…

That night, Mo Hua lay on his bed, eyes open, his thoughts churning unceasingly.

With the Dao Court’s grand army entering the territory, the situation was surging and turbulent. What followed would be the true clash of metal and blood, a vortex of life and death.

Mo Hua faintly sensed that certain unknowable, momentous events were about to unfold. The hair all over his body stood on end, and he simply could not fall asleep.

Amid this mixture of tension, anxiety, unease, and confusion, a sudden trace of icy strangeness arose within the room.

Mo Hua sat up and looked toward the floor.

There was nothing on the ground, yet suddenly, a damp stain seeped out. The stain gradually deepened, turning dark red in the darkness, like a spreading pool of blood.

Then the bloodstain began to writhe, forming flesh, continuously proliferating, transforming into a crawling monster that looked vaguely human, yet was all flesh and no bones.

The entire process was completely silent, there was not the slightest fluctuation of divine-sense aura.

An ordinary cultivator would never have noticed anything at all.

Mo Hua silently watched the crawling mass of flesh, his brows knitting slightly.

Suddenly, killing intent flashed.

Mo Hua felt himself being locked onto by some kind of causal force. The flesh monster, like a wild beast that had caught the scent of blood, turned into a black shadow, carrying a foul, bloody toxin as it lunged straight at him.

Mo Hua sat on the bed, completely unmoving.

In the next instant, a long spear tore through the air, piercing the flesh monster and nailing it firmly to the ground.

The creature struggled and writhed, emitting a soundless yet Divine-Sense–disturbing wail.

(TN: Disturbing wail on the level of Divine-Sense)

Bai Zisheng stepped forward, gripping the spear. With a twist of force, he completely ground the monster apart. The Mysterious Yellow Dragon Qi within his bloodline burned through the creature’s flesh, utterly incinerating it.

All that remained on the ground was a pool of blood and flesh.

The flesh melted away like ice and snow, leaving behind bloodstains. The bloodstains then gradually faded, turning back into water.

Mo Hua looked into the distance and saw that not far away, there were three other similar puddles of water, clearly the remains of creatures that had attempted to ambush his Little Senior Brother and were killed.

Those puddles, too, slowly seeped back into the earth. Given enough time, not a single trace would remain.

As if nothing had ever happened.

Bai Zisheng frowned slightly. “What the hell is this thing…?”

Mo Hua’s gaze sharpened as he murmured, “Flesh and blood, corpses, Causal targeting, curse-killing…”

He sniffed lightly at the air. There was no smell to be found, yet he could sense a familiar, unpleasant odor on the level of karma.

That feeling was very similar to what he had sensed when he was imprisoned in the Huá clan’s dungeon.

It was also very similar to the aura of those “bandaged men” he had seen in the Huá clan.

“It’s… the Huá clan,” Mo Hua said heavily.

Bai Zisheng was momentarily stunned. “The Huá clan sent this to kill us?”

He had always only cared about killing. No matter what the enemy was, one spear thrust was enough. He had never been willing to waste effort thinking about who wanted him dead.

Of course, he also didn’t care who wanted to kill him. Whoever tried, he would simply kill in return.

Bai Zisheng didn’t understand. “The Huá clan sent these half-human, half-ghost things, and they think they can kill me?”

Mo Hua glanced at Bai Zisheng and sighed inwardly.

The things sent by the Huá clan were certainly not simple. They fused Corpse-Dao, Demonic-Dao, Causal-Dao, and even more complex elements.

For ordinary cultivators, this kind of silent, formless assassination was extremely dangerous.

It was just that his Little Senior Brother was too monstrous.

If you’re absurdly overpowered, you really can’t blame others for seeming weak.

Of course, the Huá clan sending these things likely wasn’t truly meant to kill his Little Senior Brother. The Huá clan knew how strong he was; sending these was probably just a warning.

Perhaps not even a warning to his Little Senior Brother, but to himself.

The message was clear: the Huá clan already knew. There was no need to hide anymore.

This was obviously True Person Huá’s handiwork.

When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you.

When he saw True Person Huá, True Person Huá had surely seen him as well.

And not only True Person Huá, when he saw True-Person Zhuge, True-Person Zhuge had likely seen him too.

Mo Hua let out a soft sigh.

He had wanted to keep a low profile, to act quietly. Now it seemed that was no longer possible.

“Little Senior Brother…” Mo Hua called.

Bai Zisheng looked up at him.

Mo Hua said solemnly, “From now on, I’m no longer your Junior Brother. We stand on opposing sides. I insulted you, and you hate me to the bone.”

Bai Zisheng froze for a moment, then nodded. “I understand. You’re that damned Mo Hua.”

Mo Hua nodded.

…

The next day, Mo Hua brought his Little Senior Brother to meet True-Person Zhuge.

The meeting place was within the Dao Court army’s main camp.

At the junction between the Second-Rank Royal Capital region and the Fourth-Rank Royal Court mountain realm, the Dao Court had established a massive military camp to station its forces.

This was also the final headquarters for the assault on the Royal Court.

When Mo Hua arrived, True-Person Zhuge was drinking tea with several other Dao Court Feathered Ascension experts, seemingly chatting about something.

Seven Feathered Ascensions sat together.

Besides True-Person Zhuge, True-Person Huá, and True-Person Qingmu whom Mo Hua had met before, there were four others—dressed differently, with unfamiliar appearances—none of whom Mo Hua had ever seen.

As Mo Hua entered the main tent, everyone turned to look at him.

Seeing this “little ancestor” walk in whole and unharmed, with decent color in his face, True-Person Zhuge finally relaxed. But at the same time, irritation surged within him, ending up with such a “walking disaster” was truly ill-starred fate and disastrous fortune.

Even True-Person Zhuge, usually calm and detached, couldn’t help snorting coldly. “Not bad. At least you knew to come back.”

Mo Hua laughed awkwardly.

The unfamiliar Feathered Ascension cultivators were somewhat surprised by True-Person Zhuge’s attitude, but given their status, none said anything.

True-Person Qingmu stared at Mo Hua, eyes flickering, clearly pondering something.

True-Person Huá kept a cold expression, revealing nothing.

Mo Hua beckoned behind him. “Come over.”

Bai Zisheng, bound in chains, swaggered in, utterly arrogant.

That was just how he was, facing Feathered Ascension cultivators as though they weren’t even there.

The expressions of the assembled Feathered Ascension cultivators all changed when they saw Bai Zisheng.

The most obvious reaction came from True-Person Huá. The instant he saw Bai Zisheng, a sharp gleam burst from his eyes, as though he were looking at a peerless treasure.

True-Person Huá glanced at Mo Hua and asked, “Why is Bai Zisheng in your hands?”

The question was clearly asked despite knowing the answer.

After all, he had sent those monsters to kill the night before.

Mo Hua didn’t dwell on it and pretended ignorance. “That day, during the chaos of battle, I saw Bai Zisheng trying to flee amidst the turmoil. How could that be allowed? This man is lust-blinded and guilty of countless crimes, how could he escape Dao law? So I chased after him and once again relied on my formidable cultivation to suppress him…”

“Later, the situation grew too chaotic. I couldn’t find the main army, so I had no choice but to escort him around the nearby Royal Capital region and find a place to settle, which delayed things for some time.”

“Now that the army has set out and passed through here, I naturally brought this criminal Bai Zisheng along and delivered him before the two True-Persons.”

Mo Hua spoke fluently, mixing truth and falsehood before the gathered True-Persons.

The seven Dao Court True-Person listened to Mo Hua’s boasting and were momentarily stunned.

True-Person Huá and the others who knew Mo Hua well managed fine, but the four Feathered Ascension cultivators meeting him for the first time were completely overwhelmed by his calm, brazen nonsense.

Anyone with eyes could tell, his spiritual roots and qi-blood were truly third-rate.

In an ordinary clan, he wouldn’t even qualify as a direct-line afterthought.

And who was Bai Zisheng?

Yet this young man dared to declare, before everyone, that he had personally suppressed the Bai Clan’s top prodigy.

As though Bai Zisheng were just a head of cabbage he could grab at will.

Even as seasoned True-Persons who had seen much of the world, they hadn’t encountered such a youth who could make blatant bragging sound so convincingly real in many years.

It made one want to laugh, yet somehow unable to.

But after only a moment, the four Dao Court Feathered Ascension cultivators realized something was off.

True-Person Huá, True-Person Zhuge, and True-Person Qingmu were actually letting this boy spout nonsense without any reaction at all?

They couldn’t help but look toward the three of them.

True-Person Zhuge was rubbing his forehead, True-Person Qingmu wore an appreciative gaze, and True-Person Huá remained cold and indifferent. Their expressions differed, yet not one of them questioned Mo Hua.

The four Feathered Ascension cultivators were stunned.

During the campaign to pacify the Great Wilderness, every Feathered Ascension cultivator had their own responsibilities.

The hunt for Bai Zisheng had always been secretly orchestrated by the Huá clan.

Many inner details were unknown to them, but amid their surprise, they quickly sensed that something was amiss.

At the very least, this “big-talking” youth was probably far from simple.

What followed—True-Person Huá’s words—confirmed it.

True-Person Huá looked at Mo Hua and actually nodded in approval. “You did well. Capturing Bai Zisheng counts as great merit.”

“Since that’s the case, then this Bai Zisheng…”

True-Person Huá’s gaze sharpened. “You can hand him over to me now, can’t you?”

A Feathered Ascension cultivator asking a Foundation Establishment cultivator for someone… not a command, but a calm, almost requesting tone?

The four Dao Court Feathered Ascension cultivators were stunned.

What shocked them even more was that the Foundation Establishment youth shook his head and flatly refused.

“This Bai Zisheng is still useful to me. I can’t give him to you for now,” Mo Hua said.

True-Person Huá’s gaze grew colder. “He is a criminal of the Dao Court. What use could he be in your hands?”

Mo Hua replied evenly, “He’s entangled with a demoness of the Great Wilderness. I’m heading to the Dragon Pool next, and I’ll need him.”

“After the battle at the Royal Court ends and I return from the Dragon Pool, he’ll be useless to me. Then I’ll hand him over to you, True-Person.”

True-Person Huá’s expression darkened. He immediately reached out toward Bai Zisheng behind Mo Hua.

Mo Hua was startled and instantly shouted, “You’re trying to kill me!”

True-Person Zhuge reflexively grabbed True-Person Huá’s hand and said helplessly, “Brother Huá… don’t act rashly.”

True-Person Qingmu glanced at Mo Hua and also advised, “True-Person Huá, with a great battle ahead, steadiness is key. Please calm yourself.”

True-Person Huá looked at True-Person Qingmu, then at the arm True-Person Zhuge was gripping. His fingers clenched, then relaxed, and he slowly withdrew his hand.

The other four Dao Court Feathered Ascension cultivators were all inwardly shocked.

What kind of background did this youth have, to be protected like this by both True-Person Zhuge and True-Person Qingmu?

A Feathered Ascension cultivator clad in armor carefully examined Mo Hua’s face. A sense of familiarity stirred. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he remembered.

“You are Mo Hua?”

Mo Hua was startled. “You… recognize me?”

The imposing Feathered Ascension cultivator in dark silver armor nodded. “I am the Commander-General of the Dao Soldier Division, a Feathered Ascension cultivator of the Yang Clan. Yang Qianjun is my nephew. He has always called you Little Senior Brother and speaks highly of you. Back during the Qiánxué Sword Debate Tournament, I went to watch and saw you lead your fellow disciples to great glory…”

“I never expected that ten years later, I’d run into you here in the Great Wilderness. It’s quite the coincidence.”

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened as well. He immediately saluted. “This junior greets General Yang. You flatter me, I dare not accept such praise.”

General Yang examined Mo Hua again and asked, “After graduating, you didn’t stay at the Great Void Sect? Why did you come to the Great Wilderness frontline instead?”

Mo Hua sighed. “To be honest, General, my hometown is in Li Province. When the Great Wilderness rebelled, the flames of war spread there, everything was left in ruins. So I thought to join the Dao Soldier Division to help quell the chaos and repay the Dao Court.”

“But earlier at Wind-Crossing Ridge, the Great Wilderness Sect forces mutinied. I got separated from the main army, and after many twists and turns, ended up alone at this frontline.”

General Yang showed surprise. “So you’re also part of the Dao Soldier Division?”

Mo Hua nodded and took out a token. “I have a Dao Soldier Token.”

The token was unquestionably genuine. General Yang recognized it at a glance, and even noticed several Yang clan seals on it. His surprise deepened. “Who handled this token for you?”

“Brother Yang Jishan and Brother Yang Jiyong,” Mo Hua replied.

General Yang was taken aback. “You know Jishan and the others too?”

Mo Hua nodded. “We’ve known each other for a long time.”

General Yang was momentarily stunned, then nodded with a smile. “You’re Qianjun’s Little Senior Brother, a friend of Jishan and Jiyong, and you entered the Dao Soldier Division through my Yang clan’s connections. By that reckoning, you’re half a ‘Yang’ family member—one of our own.”

Mo Hua smiled and cupped his hands. “Many thanks for General Yang’s favor.”

General Yang looked at Mo Hua with clear appreciation.

This rapid turn of events left the other Feathered Ascension cultivators stunned.

Not only True-Person Huá, even True-Person Zhuge wore a dazed expression, feeling the situation was utterly absurd.

Are connections something you can just climb like this?

He walked in, said just a few words, and suddenly this kid transformed into a member of the Dao Soldier Division.

Personally certified by the Yang clan’s General himself as “half a Yang Clan member,” one of their own?

“You…this” True-Person Zhuge didn’t even know how to respond.

It wasn’t just the Feathered Ascension cultivators present who were baffled. Even Bai Zisheng, the Little Senior Brother standing behind Mo Hua, was inwardly shocked and completely lost.

What exactly had this Little Junior Brother of his been up to all these years?

How was it that every time he opened his mouth, he could just “hook up” with one of these unfamiliar yet awe-inspiring Dao Court Feathered Ascension figures?

So who’s the aristocratic scion here—him, or me?

Bai Zisheng couldn’t help muttering to himself.

“General Yang…” Mo Hua began, clearly intending to build the relationship further.

True Person Zhuge immediately cut in, “Alright. A major battle is imminent, let’s focus on proper matters.”

This kid couldn’t be allowed to keep talking. If he did, who knew what else he’d manage to latch onto…

“I’ll take this kid away and settle him for now,” True Person Zhuge said. “Everyone, continue discussing the main issues. The war at the Royal Court cannot be delayed.”

General Yang gave a slight nod.

The others also nodded in agreement.

True Person Zhuge said to Mo Hua, “Come with me.”

“Oh.” Mo Hua followed behind him for a few steps, then said to Bai Zisheng as well, “You come with me too.”

Bai Zisheng sneered, but didn’t refuse, following behind Mo Hua.

And so, with True Person Zhuge leading Mo Hua, and Mo Hua leading Bai Zisheng, the three of them left the main command tent.

True Person Hua’s gaze was dark. He clenched his fist several times, wanting to forcibly keep Bai Zisheng behind, but in the end—faced with Mo Hua’s utterly unreasonable “connections”—he still held back.

…

True Person Zhuge led Mo Hua into his own tent, while Bai Zisheng was assigned separate accommodations.

Mo Hua was a bit uneasy. “About Bai Zisheng…”

“Rest assured,” True Person Zhuge said. “With him under my watch, True Person Hua won’t make a move.”

Mo Hua nodded, finally at ease.

True Person Zhuge glanced at Mo Hua. After thinking for a moment, he said coldly, “The matter of the Royal Court, you stay out of it. Later I’ll have someone escort you out of the Great Wilderness. This mess of murky waters is not something you should wade into.”

There was no way Mo Hua would leave. He shook his head. “I still have important matters to attend to.”

True Person Zhuge said, “You truly want to go to the Dragon Pool?”

Mo Hua nodded.

True Person Zhuge’s expression grew grave. “You don’t even know what the Dragon Pool is, nor what’s inside it, and you still dare to go?”

Mo Hua’s heart stirred. He couldn’t help looking at True Person Zhuge. “True Person… you know something?”

True Person Zhuge shook his head. “Don’t ask.”

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then said quietly, “True Person, if the Royal Court is taken next… does that mean a great many people will die?”

“This is war,” True Person Zhuge replied. “Casualties are unavoidable.”

Mo Hua hesitated, but still gave an oblique warning. “But if… too many die, if the blood qi is too dense and resentment soars to the heavens, could it be possible that… something might be born from it…”

True Person Zhuge hadn’t cared at first, but with every sentence Mo Hua spoke, his expression grew colder. By the end, an icy aura radiated from his entire body.

He stared at Mo Hua, his gaze sharp. “Do you… know something?”

Mo Hua thought for a moment, dipped his finger in tea, and wrote a single character on the table:

“Sin.”

True Person Zhuge’s pupils shrank. He fell silent for a long time.

After writing the character, Mo Hua turned back to look at True Person Zhuge. Seeing his expression shift from shock to an icy calm, Mo Hua’s heart skipped, and he immediately understood.

True Person Zhuge knew.

He knew very clearly what would happen once the Great Wilderness Royal Court was breached and an enormous amount of killing sin was created…

He knew it, and yet he hadn’t stopped it.

No… perhaps he had planned it that way from the very beginning?

A chill ran through Mo Hua’s heart.