Chapter 1421: Temp - Chapter 1419: Bai XiaoSheng
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Chapter 1419: Bai XiaoSheng
(TN: This is a temporary chapter. It will be updated when I receive the Raws.)
“You call my little senior sister ‘grand aunt’?”
Mo Hua wore an expression of utter disbelief.
The White-robed Cultivator shot Mo Hua a cold, threatening glare and said, “Shut up! Who are you to speak in front of Grandaunt? You have no respect for your seniors!”
After saying this, he froze, pondering Mo Hua’s words. His eyes widened instantly. “You called my grandaunt ‘little senior sister’?”
Mo Hua corrected him, “Senior sister.”
The White-robed Cultivator was equally incredulous. “How could she possibly be your senior sister?”
Mo Hua’s gaze also turned peculiar. “Are you from the Bai Clan? What’s your name?”
The White-robed Cultivator sneered, “Why should I tell you?”
“His name is Bai XiaoSheng,” Xiao Ju mumbled, her mouth stuffed with an orange.
Bai XiaoSheng sighed in resignation.
“Bai XiaoSheng…” Mo Hua murmured thoughtfully, “The ‘Xiao’ from ‘dawn’ and the ‘Sheng’ from ‘birth’?”
Bai XiaoSheng sneered, “So what if it is?”
Seeing the two about to argue again, Bai Zixi spoke calmly, “Enough.” She glanced at Bai XiaoSheng. “Sit down first.”
Bai XiaoSheng hurriedly replied, “I wouldn’t dare.”
Mo Hua said, “It’s fine. Since your grandaunt told you to sit, you should sit.”
Bai XiaoSheng truly felt like killing Mo Hua right then and there.
This was what he hated the most… the Clan was too large, with too many people, and the generational gaps between individuals were too vast. It made him not want to visit relatives at all.
The key point was this detestable Mo Hua, watching him with a mocking look.
Bai Zixi also turned her beautiful eyes, giving Mo Hua a slight glare, then said to Bai XiaoSheng, “Ignore him. Sit.”
“Yes,” Bai XiaoSheng replied and sat down.
Mo Hua also sat at the table.
Xiao Ju, knowing these people had things to discuss, went off by herself to brew tea.
Bai Zixi asked Bai XiaoSheng, “Is there something?”
Bai XiaoSheng hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly, “It’s nothing major, really. I just happened to be passing through Kun Province and came to pay a visit, to see…”
Mo Hua was sitting nearby. The term “Grandaunt” was something Bai XiaoSheng really couldn’t bring himself to say aloud, so he continued: “…to see if you… have been well recently, and if there is anything… this junior can assist with…”
Bai Zixi gave a soft “Mm” but said nothing more.
The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet.
Mo Hua, however, looked at Bai XiaoSheng and suddenly felt puzzled. He asked, “You’re from the Bai Clan? How do you know me?”
This didn’t seem to make sense.
Bai XiaoSheng rolled his eyes at Mo Hua, clearly unwilling to answer.
Mo Hua pondered inwardly.
This “Bai XiaoSheng,” if he was from the Bai Clan and was Little Senior Sister’s… grandnephew? Then he and Mo Hua shouldn’t have had any interaction.
How did he know Mo Hua, and why did he seem to hold a grudge against him?
Mo Hua looked at Bai XiaoSheng, couldn’t help but perform a quick calculation within his sleeve. A moment later, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he blurted out: “The Sword Debate Tournament?”
Bai XiaoSheng was taken aback.
“So many matches? You probably didn’t just watch, you also…” Mo Hua’s gaze sharpened. “You also placed bets? You lost your bets, so you’re blaming it all on me…”
Hearing this, Bai Zixi was slightly stunned and silently turned to look at Bai XiaoSheng.
Bai XiaoSheng was dumbfounded.
What kind of creature was this guy? A fortune-teller? He hadn’t said a single word, yet how did this guy… figure it all out?
Mo Hua silently watched Bai XiaoSheng, his gaze profound, posing a soul-searching question: “Am I right?”
Bai XiaoSheng’s face tightened.
Of course, he was right.
Back then, he had joined the crowd to watch the Qianxue Sword Debate and made a bet with someone, wagering that Mo Hua would lose… only to end up losing himself.
Not only did he lose a considerable number of spirit stones, but he also honored the bet by performing sword swallowing in public.
He swallowed his own flying sword, a treasured artifact, over a dozen times in front of everyone, providing entertainment for the onlookers.
These events were truly a dark chapter in his life that he preferred not to revisit.
And all of this was because Mo Hua was cunning and deceitful, adept at hiding his true abilities, feigning innocence to fool everyone.
Bai Zixi looked at Bai XiaoSheng and asked, “You even placed a bet?”
Betting on her junior brother?
The inquiry from his grand-aunt made Bai XiaoSheng’s scalp tighten.
Mo Hua’s clear, deep eyes also silently watched Bai XiaoSheng.
Caught between a grand-aunt who held both bloodline and seniority over him and a “nemesis” who seemed like a charlatan, Bai XiaoSheng couldn’t take it anymore and felt the urge to flee in panic.
Muttering to himself, “What an unlucky year,” Bai XiaoSheng coughed, stood up with a serious expression, and gazed at the bright sun in the sky, saying: “It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb your quiet cultivation, Grand-Aunt. I’ll take my leave now and visit you again when I have the chance.”
Bai Zixi did not try to keep him, merely nodding. “Mm, I’ll see you out.”
Her temperament was aloof, and she disliked the formalities of family visits.
But given their seniority, he was, after all, her grand-nephew, so she felt obliged to see him off.
Bai XiaoSheng hurriedly replied, “No need, no need.”
Mo Hua then said, “Senior Sister, you focus on your cultivation. I’ll see him out.”
Bai Zixi glanced at Bai XiaoSheng, then at Mo Hua, and nodded slightly. “Very well.”
Thus, Mo Hua escorted Bai XiaoSheng to the entrance of the minor blessed land.
Bai XiaoSheng kept a stern face the entire way, not saying a word. Only when they reached the entrance did he glare at Mo Hua and demand: “Tell me, what exactly is your relationship with my grand-aunt?”
Mo Hua replied, “As I said, I’m her junior brother, and she’s my senior sister.”
Bai XiaoSheng sneered, “Nonsense! How could she possibly have a junior brother like you?”
Mo Hua said, “Then you’ll have to ask your grand-aunt why she has a junior brother like me.”
Bai XiaoSheng’s face turned as purple as liver.
Mo Hua studied him for a moment and suddenly asked curiously, “Is your seniority within the Bai Clan really this low?”
Bai XiaoSheng snapped angrily, “It’s not that my seniority is low, it’s…” He paused abruptly and said no more.
But Mo Hua nodded, understanding his meaning—his own senior sister’s seniority was simply too high.
Bai XiaoSheng truly had nothing more to say to Mo Hua. He glared at him fiercely once more, flicked his sleeve, and declared: “Watch yourself. I’m leaving.”
“Mm,” Mo Hua didn’t mind his rudeness. Instead, he replied gently, “Feel free to visit often to see your grand-aunt.”
Bai XiaoSheng wished he could slash Mo Hua with his sword, but he couldn’t. He could only grit his teeth, climb into the carriage, and speed away.
Thinking about his senior sister’s seniority, Mo Hua wore a complicated expression, shook his head, and turned back to the minor blessed land.
On the road away from the minor blessed land, the carriage rattled along.
Inside the carriage, Bai XiaoSheng held his forehead, still wearing a bewildered, almost haunted expression.
“That arrogant Young Master of the Great Void Sect, the cunning and deceitful Mo Hua…”
“My esteemed grand-aunt of the Bai Clan…”
“How on earth did these two end up together, and how could they possibly be senior sister and junior brother? What kind of relationship is this? My great-uncle?”
“Although my grand uncle is the sect leader of the Great Void Sect, it still shouldn’t be like this… Grand-uncle isn’t from the core lineage of the Bai Clan, and he and Little Aunt aren’t from the same branch either…”
Bai XiaoSheng scratched his head.
These relationships… were so messy… Even he, as an insider of the Bai Clan, couldn’t sort them out clearly.
And, most importantly…
Bai XiaoSheng frowned deeply.
“How could Little Aunt… allow this so-called ‘junior brother’ to live in the same minor blessed land as her?”
…
After returning to the minor blessed land, Mo Hua didn’t ask many questions.
It was best to inquire less about the Bai Clan’s affairs.
After all, he was only at the Golden Core stage now. In the eyes of ordinary cultivators, Golden Core cultivators were already lofty figures.
But in the eyes of a Great Clans like the Bai Clan, entrenched in the ancestral dragon’s land, an early-stage Golden Core cultivator was essentially no different from an ant.
At least for now, it wasn’t advisable to get too involved.
The Bai Clan had a fearsome reputation, and Mo Hua didn’t assume that everyone in the Bai family was as gentle and easygoing as his own Great Void Sect’s sect leader.
And Bai Zixi obviously didn’t discuss Bai Clan matters with Mo Hua either.
The two of them were quite tacit, both avoiding the topic.
Days flowed like water, passing one after another.
Mo Hua continued as before, cultivating and nurturing his Spiritual Skeleton, comprehending the Earth-Ground Formation, and sitting together with his little senior sister to discuss formations.
A few more days passed, then half a month went by, and it was time for the day he had agreed upon with Manager Zhao to discuss his remuneration.
On this day, Mo Hua rose early, bid farewell to his little senior sister and Xiao Ju, and headed to the Eastern District of Houtu under the morning sun.
Arriving at the Eastern District of Houtu, he passed through bustling streets and arrived before the magnificent Fortune Pavilion.
He noticed that the area in front of Fortune Pavilion was livelier than usual, with many cultivators in brocade robes and embroidered garments at the entrance, all equipped with identical sabers, appearing to be family guards.
Mo Hua’s heart stirred slightly.
His first instinct was that Manager Zhao had messed up the business and someone had come to cause trouble.
But after overhearing the casual conversations of nearby cultivators, he realized it was merely that a “distinguished guest” had visited Fortune Pavilion.
These family guards were truly just on alert and guard duty.
He had just finished his burial and was being overly suspicious. Moreover, considering Manager Zhao’s capabilities and connections, it was unlikely that he would make a mistake the first time helping him “dispose of stolen goods.”
Mo Hua then walked toward the entrance of Fortune Pavilion.
The lead guard, seeing that although Mo Hua was plainly dressed, his handsome face and relaxed demeanor exuded an air of distinction, assumed he was no ordinary person.
Guarding for a great family required keen judgment; they dared not neglect their duties but also didn’t want to offend Mo Hua. They simply cupped their hands respectfully and said solemnly: “Might I ask what brings you to Fortune Pavilion, young master?”
Mo Hua replied, “I’m looking for Manager Zhao.”
The guard said, “Please wait a moment, young master.”
After turning to order someone to inquire within Fortune Pavilion, he received a response shortly after, nodded, and cupped his hands again to Mo Hua: “Apologies for the delay, young master. Please proceed.”
The guards then allowed Mo Hua to pass.
Mo Hua walked through the group of tall guards and entered Fortune Pavilion.
A maidservant was already waiting inside, bowing and saying, “Young Master Mo, Manager Zhao has been expecting you for some time. This way, please.”
Mo Hua nodded and, guided by the maidservant, went directly to the second floor to meet Manager Zhao.
Manager Zhao sat in his chair, holding a jade slip as if calculating something. Upon seeing Mo Hua arrive, he immediately stood up and said with a smile, “Young Master Mo, my apologies for not welcoming you properly.”
Mo Hua also clasped his hands in greeting. “You’re too kind, Manager.”
Manager Zhao invited Mo Hua to take a seat and had a maid serve tea. After dismissing the attendants, he presented the jade slip to Mo Hua. “This is the list from the last transaction. Please take a look, Young Master.”
“What was sold and for how many spirit stones is all recorded here.”
“Since these items came from underground, some were unclean and heavily discounted—some even by more than half… That’s just the way of the market. There’s no helping it. After all, they can’t be openly traded. Both buyers and sellers have to bear risks, so the price naturally suffers.”
Mo Hua nodded to show his understanding, then glanced at the items listed in the jade slip.
These were all his gains from this trip, including various spiritual artifacts, cultivation methods, and more. Whether they were sold, for how much, and even some miscellaneous notes were all meticulously recorded.
It was clear that Manager Zhao conducted his business with extreme rigor and attention to detail—not a single spirit stone was misplaced.
Calculating this way, if everything sold, his total earnings from this trip would likely amount to around two million spirit stones.
The full earnings were certainly more than this.
But Old Mo, Scholar, Da Shan, and that newcomer Qian Jin had all perished in the tomb.
Some of them still had relatives, lovers, or intermediaries who needed to be taken care of, and some spirit stones would have to be distributed to them as well. This was only reasonable.
For a single trip underground, earning two million spirit stones was already quite good.
Moreover, this was without accounting for that “Heavenly Crystal.”
Mo Hua then asked, “Manager Zhao, has the Heavenly Crystal been sold?”
Manager Zhao shook his head. “Not that quickly. I’m still making connections, but…”
He paused thoughtfully before continuing slowly, “It depends on you, Young Master Mo. Do you want to sell it quickly, or wait and see how the market fares?”
“For something like this, rushing to sell will only fetch a low price. If the right opportunity arises, the price could easily double or triple.”
Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, “No rush. Sell it when the opportunity is right.”
Although he urgently needed spirit stones, he didn’t want to undersell the Heavenly Crystal.
Besides, feeding the Taotie Twelve-Meridian Spiritual Skeleton was a massive undertaking. Even if he sold the Heavenly Crystal, it might not be enough to feed many meridians, so there was no need to rush.
Moreover, Mo Hua was curious about how many spirit stones Manager Zhao could actually sell this Heavenly Crystal for.
Mo Hua said, “Leave the Heavenly Crystal with you, Manager Zhao. Keep an eye on the market and sell it when the time is right.”
Mo Hua’s trust moved Manager Zhao, who replied, “I will do my utmost and will not disappoint you, Young Master Mo.”
The two of them went back and forth like this, finishing their business matters.
Suddenly, Mo Hua remembered something else and asked, “By the way, why are there so many more guards at the entrance today?”
Manager Zhao replied, “Fortune Pavilion has a distinguished guest visiting today.”
Mo Hua was curious. “What kind of distinguished guest?”
“Well…” Manager Zhao looked troubled. “Young Master Mo, it would be better if you didn’t ask.”
Mo Hua said, “Is it someone from a prominent family?”
Manager Zhao nodded, speaking only vaguely. “It’s someone from a major family in Kunzhou. Their identity is special, and they do not meet outsiders.”
Mo Hua pondered this, and Manager Zhao added: “Noble families, raised in luxury, are often capricious in temperament, with complex relationships. It’s best not to get involved, or you might easily bring trouble upon yourself… especially for someone like you, young master…”
Weak in background, gifted in talent, handsome in appearance, and living under someone else’s roof, “kept” by your senior sister.
This almost makes you a natural “troublemaker,” easily attracting unclean people and affairs.
Mo Hua didn’t know what Manager Zhao was silently criticizing this time, but he still nodded, “I understand.”
Afraid that Mo Hua might ask further, Manager Zhao quickly said, “Steward, bring another two hundred thousand spirit stones for Young Master Mo.”
Upon hearing “two hundred thousand spirit stones,” Mo Hua’s attention was indeed diverted.
Before long, the steward brought two hundred thousand spirit stones, placed them on the table, and bowed before retreating.
Manager Zhao said to Mo Hua, “For this trip’s reward, aside from the Heavenly Crystal, your share totals two million and fifty thousand spirit stones.”
“One million five hundred thousand was advanced to you earlier. Now, another two hundred thousand is given, with three hundred and fifty thousand remaining. The final payment will be delivered to you, Young Master Mo, once the other party settles the balance.”
This is how business works—settling payments one by one is quite troublesome.
Fortunately, there are insiders like Manager Zhao to handle it.
Manager Zhao said, “Please verify, young master.”
Mo Hua glanced at the jade slip, touched the two bags of spirit stones, and nodded, “No problem.”
Manager Zhao took out a spiritual contract and handed it to Mo Hua, “Please press your fingerprint as a receipt.”
Mo Hua complied, then tucked the two hundred thousand spirit stones into his robe.
After a trip and a few words of conversation, two hundred thousand spirit stones were in hand.
Mo Hua was in a good mood.
Manager Zhao took out another token and handed it to Mo Hua, “Please accept this, young master.”
Seeing the token, Mo Hua was somewhat surprised, “A Message Transmission Token?”
Manager Zhao said, “Young master has a good eye. It is indeed a Message Transmission Token, encrypted. It can only be used one-on-one and has a range limit—it cannot be used outside Houtu City. In the future, if anything comes up, you can contact me, Zhao, using this token.”
Mo Hua touched the Message Transmission Token in his hand, couldn’t help but smile, and nodded, “Good.”
It had been a long time since he had gotten his hands on a Message Transmission Token to play with.
After chatting a while longer, Mo Hua stood up to take his leave.
Knowing Mo Hua’s situation, Manager Zhao didn’t press him to stay and said, “Allow me to escort you, young master.”
Mo Hua understood this was Manager Zhao’s kindness and didn’t refuse.
Manager Zhao then led Mo Hua away from the second-floor private room toward the main hall.
Descending the stairs and just entering the main hall, they hadn’t taken many steps when suddenly, a bustling crowd descended from the opposite high-rise hall.
These people, men and women alike, were all dressed in fine silks and brocades, with dignified expressions. Surrounded by a group of guards, they made their way toward the exit of Fortune Pavilion.
These were clearly the “distinguished guests.”
Manager Zhao quickly and gently held Mo Hua back, apologetically saying, “My apologies, please wait a moment, Young Master Mo.”
Not only Manager Zhao, but all the other managers, stewards, and guests of Fortune Pavilion at that moment stood aside to make way for these “distinguished guests.”
Mo Hua also nodded. He wasn’t one to seek trouble and always acted with humility.
Since others were passing by, he didn’t mind stepping aside.
Mo Hua stood beside Manager Zhao, watching this group of “distinguished guests” pass in front of him.
Suddenly, gasps of admiration arose. Following the sound, Mo Hua saw a tall and striking woman slowly descending from the upper floors of Fortune Pavilion.
This woman possessed a face like a flower and a complexion like the moon. She wore a misty rosy silk skirt embroidered with peony vines along the hem. Her raven-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, adorned with a sparrow-gold and jade hairpin. As she approached from a distance, she resembled a blossom of worldly opulence.
Upon seeing her, everyone was visibly shaken. Some were lost in a daze, while others lowered their gaze, not daring to look upon such celestial beauty.
Mo Hua, however, remained relatively unaffected. This was mainly because he saw his little senior sister every day, and her divine beauty constantly tested his Dao Heart. As a result, when he looked at other women, it was difficult for his heart to stir with any ripples.
Moreover, he did not know this woman.
With a calm expression, Mo Hua stood beside Manager Zhao, watching as this opulent flower-like woman passed by.
With her flower-like face, moon-like complexion, and snow-white skin, she held her head high. As she passed, she only glanced at Mo Hua out of the corner of her eye, as if looking at a mere “passerby,” her expression completely unperturbed.
But after she passed Mo Hua and walked a few steps further, she seemed to suddenly remember something. Her body trembled, and she sharply turned her head, her bright eyes fixed intently on Mo Hua.
Mo Hua was taken aback. He glanced left and right, wondering, “Who is this woman looking at?”
Then he saw the opulent flower-like woman point at him and angrily exclaim: “It’s you! The one surnamed Mo!”