Chapter 1369

Chapter 1369: Orphan

The Yin-Wood Rejuvenation Formation could only reverse life and death for a single instant, afterward, causality returned to its proper course.

Qing Zhu’s fate had reached its end.

She died within the Four Symbols Palace.

And until her final breath, even at the cost of her life, she wished only for the child in her womb to be born into this world… to live.

The only person she could entrust with that hope was the Divine-Shaman of the Desolate Wilderness… Mo Hua.

Mo Hua looked at Qing Zhu before him—her face pale, her breath gone—and his heart trembled with deep sorrow.

The infant in his arms had just been born, its body sticky and blood-slick. Though it weighed almost nothing, it felt heavier than a thousand jin.

At that moment, the baby began crying again.

Mo Hua’s heart suddenly tightened.

He realized that certain strands of causality had been stirred.

This child—conceived within Qing Zhu after Prince Ye visited in dreams—was surely inseparably tied to the fate of the Great Wilderness.

Even more unsettling, the child had been born after he reversed yin and yang, overturned life and death, and allowed a dead mother to revive long enough to give birth.

The fate of the Great Wilderness.
Life and death inverted.

With these two matters layered together, Mo Hua did not need to think to know this was an immense karmic entanglement, one that violated terrifying taboos.

And the warning from his causal intuition confirmed it.

His chest throbbed with uncontrollable palpitations, as if he had committed yet another act defying heaven and earth.

“Not good…”

He tightened his hold on the child and pulled out several blankets, wrapping the infant securely.

With a movement of divine sense, formation patterns generated themselves, quickly inscribing water-wood arrays onto the blankets—water qi to maintain cleanliness, wood qi to sustain vitality, and a trace of fire qi to keep the child warm.

In addition, he drew concealment formations to obscure its aura.

The child became a “small bundle,” warm and tranquil within, completely sealed off from the outside world.

No one could tell what he was carrying.

After finishing, Mo Hua turned back to look once more at Qing Zhu’s body.

He wished to prepare her remains and bury her properly, but the current situation did not allow it. This was a murder scene; he could not linger. If he were caught, the child in his arms—and that outrageous life-and-death formation—would be impossible to explain.

Yet seeing Qing Zhu’s corpse exposed within the Four Symbols Palace, he sighed softly. Compassion ultimately moved him.

Using dissipating techniques, he erased all traces of the Yin-Wood Rejuvenation Formation. Then he employed earth-element formations to shape a burial coffin of soil, covering her remains.

The burial formation was drawn in standard Five Elements format—ordinary and unremarkable—to conceal his own formation traces.

At the same time, earth qi distorted any lingering yin-wood aura he had left behind.

He then arranged concealment and sealing formations, isolating Qing Zhu’s aura within the small Black Tortoise section.

Finally, Mo Hua located the central nexus of the Four Symbols Palace. Inserting his divine sense into the framework of the Four Sacred Beast’s formation hub, he manually controlled the palace, shifting its orientation and hiding the small Black Tortoise section containing Qing Zhu’s body deep within the complex.

Such control had once been beyond him.

But after forming his Golden Core, his divine sense surged, and his understanding of formations naturally rose to a higher level.

Thus he now possessed a portion of the authority to command the Four Sacred Beast formations within the Four Symbols Palace of the Great Wilderness.

The palace began to tremble slightly. Before him, the labyrinth walls distorted; White Tiger and Black Tortoise shifted positions. As the maze transformed, Qing Zhu’s body was concealed in a distant corner of the palace.

Lonely and desolate, yet quiet and peaceful, free from the turmoil of the mortal world.

Unless someone surpassed Mo Hua in mastery of the Four Symbols formations and control of the Four Symbols Palace, no one would discover her resting place.

Watching the palace shift and Qing Zhu’s body vanish from sight, Mo Hua no longer hesitated. Holding the infant, his form flickered like water as he swiftly withdrew from the Four Symbols Palace.

…

At the same time, many people sensed subtle movements in causality and felt puzzled.

Within the Royal court of the Great Wilderness.

Inside a fragrant meditation chamber, a Feathered Ascension True-Person wearing a wood-patterned green robe slowly opened his eyes.

A strange palpitation flickered through his chest. Frowning, he muttered:

“The person is indeed dead… there can be no mistake…”

“The heart meridian was pierced through. The infant in her womb was also dead. I have cultivated the Dao my entire life, comprehending the laws of Yin-Wood ‘life’ transformation. I couldn’t possibly have misjudged…”

“But why, just now, did I feel that sudden unease?”

“Did I… make a mistake?”

After pondering for a moment, the green-robed True-Person shook his head. “I’m a Feathered Ascension True-Person. How could I possibly fail to kill a Golden Core?”

Yet the unease in his heart was real. In the end, he still felt slightly unsettled. “Should I go back and take another look? No matter what, the remnant of that bloodline must not be left alive.”

Just as he was about to rise, he slowly sat back down again, frowning.

“I handled this matter discreetly. If I return now, wouldn’t that be unnecessary, leaving extra traces and exposing myself?”

After committing murder, killers often return to the scene to confirm their results.

That was what ordinary people did. He was not that kind of fool.

After thinking for a moment, the green-robed True-Person took out a compass and performed some calculations with hand seals. The more he calculated, the more confused he became. Unable to hold back, he cursed:

“This compass keeps spinning round and round, my eyes are going blurry. Can it really see a damn thing…”

“Those fellows who study Heavenly Secrets, every one of them putting on airs all day. Can they really foresee the future?”

“If they can calculate it, why the hell can’t I learn it?”

He set the compass down, growing more irritated the more he thought about it.

The higher the cultivation of the Nine Provinces’ cultivators, the more they liked to study these hazy, elusive Heavenly Secrets.

But no matter how he imitated them, no matter how he researched, he still couldn’t explain what this so-called karmic causality truly was, or what use it had.

“Ten thousand calculations aren’t worth a single sword strike,” he thought darkly.

“If I’d known, I should’ve stabbed that bitch’s lower abdomen one more time to make sure that that dead infant die even more thoroughly. That would’ve been safer…”

Of course, he was only saying it.

Stabbing that woman to death and stabbing that “infant” to death carried different weight in karma.

If he had personally pierced that infant—even if it was already stillborn—he would have been tainted with terrifying baleful karma, and nothing good would come of it.

He didn’t study Causality that deeply, but he understood at least this much.

“Then should I send someone to check?”

After some thought, he ultimately shook his head. “Forget it. True-Person Zhuge is over there… If I interfere now and he notices, that would be troublesome…”

“When that True-Person Zhuge gets serious… he’s not easy to deal with…”

“Besides, the matter on his side… I don’t dare to touch it.”

The green-robed True-Person’s gaze sharpened slightly.

…

On the other side, in Dao Province.

Within a small courtyard for retirement.

Ever since sensing that aura of life-and-death inversion a stick of incense ago, the Grand Elder had been lying on his chair, face ashen.

As the chair rocked gently, he lay there like a corpse, unmoving, only his heart tingling in waves.

The thing he feared most had happened, and even more abruptly than he had anticipated.

At this moment, his heart was filled with confusion.

“What kind of creature is that brat, exactly? Can he even be considered human?”

“At most… at most he’s only Golden Core right now. And something like Yin-Yang Rebirth… he can actually learn it?”

“And using inverted yin-yang methods, just who did he ‘rebirth’? Whom did he pull back from the gates of hell? What exactly did he extend the life of?”

“Isn’t this… taking my old life instead?”

The Grand Elder was full of regret now… profound regret.

Fishing carries risks.

If he had known, back in the Qianxue Prefecture realm, he wouldn’t have casually cast bait.

Now this fish had grown fatter and fatter. Not only had it bitten his line and refused to let go, it even looked ready to drag him into the water as well.

Sure enough, under heaven, there is no such thing as a free bargain.

You think of the fish and use bait to hook it. But the fish also covets your bait—and might even eat up the feeding ground you prepared.

Where was the justice in that?

The Grand Elder sighed. Still, he had no choice but to brace himself, take out a chessboard, and secretly arrange karmic patterns to conceal Mo Hua a little.

Concealing Mo Hua was equivalent to concealing himself.

Otherwise, once the radish was pulled up and brought out the mud, this Grand Elder would eventually lose his late-life reputation as well.

His brain, which hadn’t rested for long, began turning again. The Divine Sense he had painstakingly nurtured for so long now had to be expended once more.

But after calculating for a while, his expression gradually sank.

He slowly rose and walked to the fish pond.

In the pond, the big fish were still opening their mouths, the small fish still swimming, but the pond itself was different.

At some unknown time, the black silt at the bottom had been stirred by something unseen, all of it churning upward, gradually dyeing the entire pond black.

The water became turbid; no one could see clearly what was happening inside anymore.

The Grand Elder’s pupils shrank. His face grew increasingly unsightly.

“So… it’s begun…”

…

Within the Four Symbols Palace.

Mo Hua concealed himself, holding the swaddled child, streaking through the labyrinth like invisible water-light at incredible speed.

The entire maze was filled with perilous sacred patterns, complex and intertwined, but in Mo Hua’s eyes, it was like walking across level ground, without the slightest obstruction.

Before long, he passed through the Four Symbols labyrinth and reached the palace gate.

Golden Core commanders of the Dao Soldiers Division were stationed there.

Mo Hua’s figure flickered, and he passed directly through the crowd, leaving the Four Symbols Palace.

If he had been alone, he naturally would not have been discovered. But at this moment, he carried a newborn infant in his arms.

At the palace gate, several Golden Core commanders sensed a trace of anomaly.

“Who’s there?”

The Dao Soldiers were startled, drawing their swords and looking around. Yet when they released their Divine Sense to inspect the surroundings, they found nothing unusual and couldn’t help but frown.

“Why do I smell… a faint trace of blood?”

“Just now it felt cold beside me. Did someone pass by?”

“Don’t talk nonsense…”

“The Royal Court’s been bathed in blood. Countless are dead. Where wouldn’t there be the smell of blood?”

“It’s different…”

“I just feel uneasy. There might really be something…”

“Stop being paranoid.”

“I—”

“Enough.” At this moment, a late–stage Golden Core Dao Soldier commander, with the character Yang embroidered on his sleeve, barked a reprimand.

Looking at the crowd, his expression was solemn. “Many died in the Four Symbols Palace just now. Some blood scent and yin wind are perfectly normal. Don’t make a fuss.”

“Yes, Commander,” the Dao Soldiers responded.

Some still harbored doubts.

The Yang commander added, “Don’t forget the General’s orders. Don’t cause trouble and disturb True-Person.”

“Understood.” The Dao Soldiers saluted and resumed their vigilant watch.

The Yang commander inspected the formation, then personally went to the entrance of the Four Symbols Palace and observed for a while. Only after confirming there was no anomaly did he turn back.

Yet as he left, he couldn’t help glancing into the palace.

Having fought wars for years and experienced life and death countless times, he always felt that deep within the Royal Court, something even more terrifying was stirring restlessly…

But the thought had just arisen when he forcibly extinguished it.

The Royal court was broken. The Great Wilderness Royal clan was destroyed. This battle was over.

Everything had settled. What further storm could there possibly be?

Shaking his head, the Yang commander turned and left the Four Symbols Palace.

…

Within the Royal Court, flames still flickered, looting continued. Yet by now most of the night had passed; dawn approached in the east, and some of the chaos had quieted.

Mo Hua, still concealed, returned all the way to the Royal Court, to the Situ Clan’s encampment, and knocked softly on Dān Líng’s door.

Situ Fang opened it.

Previously, the two women had looked after each other. Now, since they were preparing to leave, Situ Fang and Dān Líng were staying in the same room, packing their belongings.

Seeing Mo Hua, Situ Fang looked surprised. “Mo Hua…”

Mo Hua shook his head. With a flash, he entered the room, shut the door, and set up several formations to block sound, sight, and aura.

Amid Dān Líng and Situ Fang’s astonishment, Mo Hua took the child from his arms and handed it to them.

Situ Fang froze.

Dān Líng, who had been distraught moments before, was equally stunned.

As she looked at the child Mo Hua handed over, she seemed to sense something faintly. A wave of unbelievable shock rose in her chest. Her ruby-like eyes locked onto Mo Hua as she asked in a trembling voice:

“This… is…”

Mo Hua said calmly, “This is an orphan without father or mother, picked up from the chaos of war.”

“My circumstances make it inconvenient to care for him. I am entrusting him to you. You must… take good care of him.”

Dān Líng took the child with trembling hands. In that instant, she felt her blood surge, sensing an aura both noble and intimately familiar. A storm rose within her heart.

“This child…” She wanted to ask more.

But Mo Hua shook his head. “He is only an ordinary child. Do not ask further.”

Dān Líng’s gaze shifted several times before she slowly nodded. Yet without realizing it, she held the child even tighter.

As if the child were her entire hope.

Situ Fang’s face turned pale. She knew the child’s origins were likely far from ordinary, though she could not grasp just how extraordinary.

Mo Hua looked at Situ Fang and said slowly,

“Sister Fang, in a while, you and Dān Líng must take this child and leave the Royal Court. As for everything else, you know nothing. Forget whatever you can.”

Situ Fang thought for a moment, then nodded. “I understand.”

Mo Hua sighed. “I leave it to you.”

“Rest assured,” Situ Fang replied.

She owed Mo Hua many favors. Within the Situ Clan, because of Mo Hua and Situ Jian’s relationship, her status had risen steadily.

Even her survival in the Great Wilderness expedition may have been thanks to Mo Hua arranging protection for her.

Now that Mo Hua faced difficulties, she would naturally do her part without hesitation.

(End of Chapter)