Chapter 1475: Little Senior Brother!
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Chapter 1473: Little Senior Brother!
After downing a cup of wine, Zhū Mùchén felt a bit dizzy.
Mo Hua then softly explained, “In a single cohort of the Great Void Sect, there are thousands of little junior brothers. As the little senior brother, I inevitably have oversights. But no matter what, forgetting about you is my fault as the little senior brother. Please bear with me.”
Zhū Mùchén thought it over and felt it made sense.
Across the entire Great Void Sect, plus the Tài’ā Sect and the Chōngxū Sect, there were so many little junior brothers, but only one little senior brother.
The little senior brother had his own matters to attend to—how could he possibly remember every single person clearly?
This didn’t seem to be the little senior brother’s fault.
Zhū Mùchén couldn’t help but nod.
Mo Hua sighed and said, “It’s not just you. I’m afraid there are quite a few little junior brothers I don’t remember clearly either.”
Zhū Mùchén was taken aback, thinking to himself, “So the little senior brother didn’t just forget me alone.”
There were many other little junior brothers who, like him, had been forgotten by the little senior brother.
For some reason, Zhū Mùchén felt a sense of balance in his heart.
Even though the little senior brother hadn’t remembered him, he hadn’t remembered many other little junior brothers either!
“But…” Zhū Mùchén suddenly remembered something and felt puzzled again. He asked softly, “Little senior brother, your Divine-Sense is very strong, right?”
Cultivators with strong Divine-Sense typically have excellent memory, able to remember things after just one glance.
Back in the Great Void Sect, the little senior brother was famously known for his powerful Divine-Sense and exceptional skill in Formations.
A Formation Master with strong Divine-Sense shouldn’t be so prone to forgetting things, in theory.
Mo Hua sighed softly and looked at Zhū Mùchén, saying, “Do you know the saying, ‘The best swimmer often drowns, and the best rider often falls’?”
Zhū Mùchén nodded.
Mo Hua’s expression turned serious as he slowly explained, “The reason behind this involves certain Dao Arts related to cultivation. I shouldn’t discuss it with outsiders, but you are my little junior brother.”
Zhū Mùchén’s face flushed a little more, feeling an inexplicable sense of pride.
Mo Hua continued, “Because my Divine-Sense is strong, I rely heavily on it for various cultivation methods. Whether it’s drawing intricate Formations, engaging in battles with powerful enemies, or performing Derivative Algorithms on all things and principles, all of these consume a great deal of Divine-Sense.”
“‘The best swimmer often drowns.’ Those who excel in Divine-Sense use it the most and suffer the greatest depletion.”
“Therefore, my Sea of Consciousness is relatively more susceptible to injury.”
“Moreover,” Mo Hua sighed, “I once fought an extremely powerful enemy, which left my Divine-Sense overdrawn and my Sea of Consciousness damaged. As a result, some memories have faded, and I’ve forgotten some people.”
Upon hearing this, Zhū Mùchén was deeply shocked.
If anyone else had said these things, he would have thought they were boasting.
How many cultivators truly focus on cultivating Divine-Sense?
But the little senior brother was different. His methods were miraculous, and his Array Formations were profound and extraordinary—this was widely acknowledged among their cohort of disciples.
For such a remarkable little senior brother to refer to an enemy as “extremely powerful,” that person must have been terrifyingly formidable and dangerous.
And for this powerful enemy to have injured the little senior brother was even more extraordinary.
Zhū Mùchén felt both awe and fear, his expression shifting to concern as he asked: “Then, little senior brother, how is your injury now? Are you alright? I can ask the Zhū Clan’s alchemists to treat you.”
Mo Hua was touched and replied, “I’ve almost fully recovered. No need to worry.”
Seeing Mo Hua’s gentle and healthy complexion, Zhū Mùchén finally relaxed and asked, “That powerful enemy…”
Mo Hua shook his head, “That’s a great demon, don’t ask.”
Zhu Muchen didn’t know just how great the demon his Little Senior Brother spoke of was, but he knew that his Little Senior Brother’s judgment would never be mistaken.
Zhu Muchen then felt somewhat dejected and sighed, “What a pity. My cultivation isn’t high, and I’m not skilled in Dao Arts, so I can’t be of much help to you, Little Senior Brother. I might even… hold you back. During the Sword Debate Grand Tournament back then, my performance was quite mediocre.”
Mo Hua asked, “You participated in the Sword Debate Grand Tournament that year?”
“Yes,” Zhu Muchen replied, his expression turning ashamed. “I… only fought one match, won once, and then… lost.”
Mo Hua glanced at Zhu Muchen and roughly understood.
In this world, not everyone enjoys fighting and killing.
Zhu Muchen had excellent spiritual roots and had formed a Superior-Grade Golden Core, but he clearly lacked a competitive spirit and disliked conflict.
Thus, while Zhu Muchen possessed the strength, he had only won one match in the Sword Debate Grand Tournament.
Mo Hua said, “Winning one match is still quite good.”
“But…” Zhu Muchen’s expression darkened, clearly troubled by this. “As a disciple of the sect, I failed to make any significant contribution.”
Mo Hua smiled gently, “Everyone has their own strengths. You dislike conflict, yet you still took the stage for the Sword Debate. Having that intention is already commendable.”
“Moreover, as I’ve said before, the Great Void Sect’s first place in the Sword Debate isn’t the achievement of any single individual. It’s the result of all fellow disciples working together in unity. Even just one victory, one point earned, is a contribution to the sect.”
Zhu Muchen’s heart trembled.
If someone else had said these words, they might have been mere consolation.
But the person saying them now was his Little Senior Brother.
The Little Senior Brother who, during that year’s Sword Debate Grand Tournament, led a group of junior brothers to stand against the eight great sects, subdued the four major sects, and ultimately turned the tide for the Great Void Sect. Coming from him, the meaning was entirely different.
Zhu Muchen was instantly greatly inspired, his eyes shining brightly.
Mo Hua asked him further, “After graduating from the Great Void Sect back then, have you been staying with your family all along?”
Zhu Muchen nodded, “My parents were afraid I might encounter danger, so they only allowed me to stay within the family compound. They told me not to worry about anything else and to focus on cultivation peacefully until I achieved Core Formation.”
No wonder, Mo Hua thought to himself.
There wasn’t a trace of hardship or weathering on Zhu Muchen; he looked like a child raised in a greenhouse.
And precisely because of this, his temperament was even more innocent than most.
Such children are the easiest to deceive.
But this kind of innocence is often the most precious quality.
Mo Hua patted Zhu Muchen’s shoulder and said, “Regardless, you are my Little Junior Brother, and I am your Little Senior Brother. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, come to me without hesitation. If I can help, I will; if I can’t, I’ll find a way to help.”
He didn’t want this innocent Little Junior Brother to face any hardships in the future either.
Feeling the gentle and warm hand of his Little Senior Brother patting his shoulder, hearing his Little Senior Brother say he would help him and look out for him, Zhu Muchen felt as if all the gloom had dissipated. Boundless courage welled up in his heart, and the moon in the sky seemed as bright as the sun.
Zhu Muchen raised his wine cup, his voice trembling, “Little Senior Brother, I toast to you!”
Mo Hua nodded, “Yes.” With that, he clinked cups with Zhu Muchen and drained his cup in one go.
Zhū Mùchén also downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, thinking to himself that he had actually toasted his Little Senior Brother openly and honorably, and for a moment still felt as if he were in a dream. And that dazzling Little Senior Brother was now sitting right beside him, drinking together.
Zhū Mùchén glanced around, immediately picked up a chicken drumstick, and offered it to Mo Hua, “Little Senior Brother, have a drumstick.”
Mo Hua was taken aback for a moment, then accepted the drumstick and smiled, “Alright.”
Zhū Mùchén also broke into a smile.
Afterward, the two fellow disciples sat together, drinking wine, eating chicken drumsticks, and chatting about past events in the sect, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Not long after, the Zhū Clan Head finished discussing matters and returned with a group of elders. When he looked up and saw the scene before him, his pupils contracted in shock, and he froze on the spot.
He saw that Mo Hua was actually sitting with his youngest son.
And his youngest son, who had previously worn an aloof and indifferent expression, keeping others at a distance, had now, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, become incredibly close to that Mo Hua.
Flushed from the wine, his cheeks slightly red, his eyes sparkling brilliantly, his face full of admiration—he looked like a little fool.
The Zhū Clan Head felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
He had only been gone for such a short while… What on earth had happened?
What kind of devil was this Mo Hua?
Not only was the Zhū Clan Head utterly astonished, but the other elders were also wide-eyed with disbelief, unable to comprehend how Young Master Chén had transformed in the blink of an eye.
The Zhū Clan Head approached and coughed lightly. Only then did the two fellow disciples, engrossed in drinking and eating chicken drumsticks, snap back to reality.
Mo Hua quietly returned to his seat.
Zhū Mùchén looked regretful; he had wanted to chat a bit longer with his Little Senior Brother.
Watching this, the Zhū Clan Head’s eyelids twitched, but he sighed inwardly and silently returned to his seat at the head of the table.
Mo Hua bowed to the Zhū Clan Head and asked, “Has the Clan Head finished handling your matters?”
The Zhū Clan Head’s gaze sharpened slightly as he nodded, “Just some minor matters.”
Mo Hua did not inquire further.
The affairs of the Zhū Clan were not for him to pry into.
The Zhū Clan Head glanced at Mo Hua, pondered for a moment, and said, “Young Master Mo, have you met the Lu Clan Head, Lù Chónglóu, before?”
Mo Hua nodded, “I have.”
The Zhū Clan Head continued, “Did Lù Chónglóu express any intention of proposing a marriage alliance between you and his Lu Clan?”
Mo Hua did not conceal it either, “Clan Head Lù did mention it, but only briefly. It wasn’t a formal proposal.”
The Zhū Clan Head nodded slightly, “Although the Lu Clan is a prominent family and Lù Chónglóu has grand ambitions, you, Young Master Mo, are a Formation Master. If you wish to delve into the Dao of Formations, it is ultimately better to maintain a tranquil and detached lifestyle.”
“My Zhū Clan, on the other hand, is quite suitable. We have abundant resources, not many mundane affairs to trouble you, and our clan rules are not overly restrictive.”
“The young ladies of my Zhū Clan are also gentle, dignified, well-educated, and reasonable.”
“Might Young Master Mo be willing to form a marriage alliance with my Zhū Clan?”
Before he could finish speaking, Zhū Mùchén, who was sitting nearby, was first shocked, then overjoyed, his face brimming with excitement as he exclaimed: “Little Senior Brother, are you going to marry into… no, are you going to marry one of my Zhū Clan sisters?”
The Zhū Clan Head’s face darkened.
Mo Hua sighed helplessly, “No.”
Zhū Mùchén looked disappointed.
The Zhū Clan Head glared at him, “Mùchén, mind your manners.”
“Oh.” Only then did Zhū Mùchén quietly start nibbling on his chicken drumstick again, though his eyes couldn’t help but keep glancing at Mo Hua.
The Zhū Clan Head felt a slight headache and thought to himself: I miscalculated.
Afterwards, he spoke again, probing Mo Hua with indirect questions, but Mo Hua brushed them all off. As for the proposed deals, Mo Hua only said he would consider them and was in no hurry to respond. Occasionally, Zhū Mùchén chimed in from the side, helping Mo Hua out of tight spots as if Mo Hua were his own elder brother.
Seeing that it was getting late and there was still no progress, the Zhū Clan Head simply considered whether he should keep Mo Hua overnight, setting up a beauty trap in the evening to force a bond between them.
Just then, Mo Hua stood up and took his leave, saying: “It’s getting late. I should be going.”
The Zhū Clan Head’s gaze darkened slightly. “Young Master Mo, why not stay for the night? We can entertain you properly tomorrow.”
Mo Hua sighed. “I’d like to, but before I left, my senior sister reminded me to return early. If I’m late, I’ll surely be scolded by True Person Rong.”
“True Person Rong’s rules are very strict. I dare not disobey her in the slightest.”
He invoked both his senior sister and True Person Rong by name.
The Zhū Clan Head understood perfectly well, though he couldn’t quite gauge what status this Young Master Mo held within the Bai Clan and the Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land, or whether he was lying.
Zhū Mùchén, standing nearby, said, “In that case, Little Senior Brother, you should head back early.”
Zhū Mùchén felt a bit regretful. Naturally, he wished his little senior brother could stay overnight at the Zhū Clan so they could chat more. But even as naive as he was, he could sense that his father and the group of elders had ulterior motives. The Zhū Clan was a place of trouble, and it was better to leave first.
The Zhū Clan Head frowned. Was his own son now sabotaging his plans?
But at this moment, it still wasn’t the time to tear off the mask. The Zhū Clan Head calmed down slightly and sighed: “Then, if you have time in the future, we must invite Young Master Mo to a banquet. Please do not refuse. You are Mùchén’s senior brother; treat the Zhū Clan as your own home.”
Mo Hua cupped his hands in salute. “Thank you for your kindness, Clan Head. I certainly will.”
Zhū Mùchén also said reluctantly, “Take care, Little Senior Brother. When I have time, I’ll visit you.”
Mo Hua smiled. “Alright.”
Since the Zhū Clan Head had made his decision, he didn’t press further. Instead, he ordered a Zhū Clan carriage to personally take Mo Hua to the Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land.
In the darkness, Mo Hua’s carriage gradually faded into the distance.
Zhū Mùchén stood at the gate, watching Mo Hua leave with longing eyes.
Seeing this, the Zhū Clan Head frowned deeply, feeling utterly astonished: “What has this Mo Hua done to change Mùchén so much?”
“This is truly bizarre.”
The Zhū Clan carriage delivered Mo Hua to the Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land, where a beautiful maid gracefully bowed and helped him alight.
Under the heavy night sky, Mo Hua lifted the gate restriction of Little Luan Mountain and returned to the small courtyard with a slight sense of guilt.
The courtyard was empty, with no one in sight. Naturally, there was no sign of Little Senior Sister’s graceful figure.
“Little Senior Sister didn’t wait for me.”
Mo Hua, who had enjoyed food, drink, entertainment, and even watched beautiful women dance, let out a long sigh of relief, followed by a faint sense of disappointment.
Just as he was about to return to his room, he noticed a teapot placed on the jade table in the courtyard.
Mo Hua walked over and poured himself a cup.
The tea was still warm, its fragrance refreshing, and it was infused with pills to sober him up and nourish his body.
The tea was brewed by Xiao Ju, and the medicinal pills were placed by Little Senior Sister. Mo Hua was slightly taken aback, then felt a warm current flow through his heart, smiling faintly.
He sat in the small courtyard, silently sipping his tea, while his mind couldn’t help but ponder the affairs of the Zhū Clan.
Wú Ming had been right when he spoke to him earlier.
Although the aristocratic families of Kun Province had not directly approached him, it was clear that they all had their eyes on him.
The only question was, what exactly were they after? What were they scheming to obtain from him?
And then there was the Zhū Clan. On the surface, the Zhū Clan treated him with utmost hospitality, but within this “kindness,” there was little genuine goodwill. It seemed the Zhū Clan was trying every means to probe his “weaknesses.”
Mo Hua had experienced the wars of the Great Wilderness, where Spell Duels were fought with real blades and bloodshed—brutal and cruel.
Yet the battles within the realms of wealth and fame were hidden in the abyss of human desire, gentle and seductive, lulling one into complacency.
Both kinds of battles were equally deadly—one killed the body, the other destroyed the soul.
Blades and swords slaughtered flesh, while wealth and fame corrupted the Dao Heart.
It might seem harmless at first, but once you fell into it, there was no turning back.
What exactly did the Zhū Clan want from him? To bind him to their interests?
Mo Hua’s gaze deepened, and he couldn’t help but look up at the sky of Kun Province.
Without him noticing, the night sky of Kun Province had grown darker, and it carried… an undetectable scent of decay?
The unease in Mo Hua’s heart, stemming from the cause and effect of the Heavenly Secret, grew heavier.