Chapter 1502: Which Yu?
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Chapter 1500: Which Yu?
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief’s emotions were in turmoil.
If this Young Master Mo had truly killed the Ghost-Child Wanderer back then, he would certainly have killed him yesterday as well. Yet he had not struck the fatal blow, merely standing by and watching.
Why? The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief thought of two possibilities:
Either this kid was a fraud who “bluffed his way through,” with all his achievements being exaggerated to boost his own reputation.
Such things had happened before. To gain fame, some prodigies from prominent clans would loudly claim to have slain notorious demonic chiefs, showcasing their strength. But these claims were all false—the demonic chiefs were killed by others, and the prodigies merely took the credit, fishing for fame.
If this Mo Hua truly had a powerful background, with an Ancestor-level figure ‘promoting’ him behind the scenes, fabricating achievements was not impossible.
A senior expert could have killed the Ghost-Child Wanderer and then bestowed the fame of slaying the demon upon Mo Hua, elevating him as a righteous prodigy of his generation. This Mo Hua was someone who ‘reaped the fruits of others’ labor.’
The second possibility was… this Mo Hua truly possessed an unimaginably terrifying inheritance, allowing him to kill enemies beyond his cultivation level.
This terrifying inheritance most likely came from an Ancestor of his Great Void Sect.
This should not be Mo Hua’s own power but something he borrowed—a treasure or inheritance from an Ancestor. Such a powerful method of killing across cultivation stages would inevitably come at a great cost, with heavy restrictions, and could not be used casually.
Even if he had truly killed the Ghost-Child Wanderer by breaking the rules, he must have paid a terrible price.
It was possible he suffered severe injuries, lost part of his cultivation, or endured a backlash. That was why Mo Hua dared not act lightly.
The day before yesterday, although this Young Master Mo appeared ferocious, in the end, he could only intimidate with his reputation and aura, not truly strike to kill.
Ghostly light swirled in the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief’s eyes.
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
If this were truly the case, perhaps it was not impossible… to try setting a trap to kill this Young Master Mo.
The Ghost-Child Wanderer, one of the three great wanderers of the Skull Cave, was a Late Golden Core Stage demonic chief with a fearsome reputation.
How could a mere Early Golden Core Stage righteous youth kill him?
The Skull Cave could not endure such humiliation.
Killing this Young Master Mo, devouring his Divine Soul, skinning him, carving patterns and piercing holes into his bones to forge an Evil Artifact… this would wash away the shame…
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked Elder Lu, “Is the Earth Sect’s grand marriage alliance about to begin?”
Elder Lu’s expression changed slightly. “Why do you ask?”
“Is it or not?” the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief pressed. Elder Lu looked displeased. “It is.”
This was not a major secret; the Earth Sect had been laying the groundwork for so long that all factions were more or less aware of it.
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief, however, had a sudden realization and roughly formed a deduction.
This Young Master Mo was likely more about seeking fame and reputation. His appearance in Kun Province and such eagerness to compete and display his name were most likely related to the marriage alliance of the Earth Sect in Kun Province.
In matters of aristocratic family alliances, reputation was extremely important—whoever had the greater fame held the initiative.
Men relied on strength, women on beauty.
And both could actually be ‘promoted’ and hyped into fame.
Righteous youths, full of vigor and vitality, who wouldn’t want to marry a Dao Companion from a great family, noble and beautiful, to enjoy eternal blessings and soar to success from then on?
This Young Master Mo was surely no exception.
Having formed a plan in his mind, the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief didn’t want to delay any longer and said, “I’ll take my leave first, Elder Lu. Take care of yourself.”
Elder Lu nodded but suddenly replied, “Next time you kill someone, be thorough. Don’t leave a loose end.”
“Your Skull Cave can’t even kill people cleanly, leaving a Foundation Establishment Stage kid to tie up cause and effect for yourselves?”
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief had been about to leave but paused at these words, asking, “What do you mean?”
Elder Lu also frowned, “What do you mean, what do I mean?”
“What Foundation Establishment Stage kid?” the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief asked.
Elder Lu frowned and said, “Thirty-seven refugees, thirty-six dead, one still alive… Your Skull Cave’s Demonic Cultivators can’t even kill people cleanly, and you ask me what I mean?”
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief was also puzzled, “Impossible, Soul Extraction and Spirit Refining, all of them were killed. How could anyone survive?”
Elder Lu’s pupils contracted, “Then… what’s the deal with that kid?”
Seeing Elder Lu’s expression, the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief’s heart skipped a beat: “Are you saying there’s a youth whose soul was extracted by my Skull Cave but who is still alive?”
A thought flashed through the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief’s mind, as if he had suddenly realized something, stirring up a storm of shock within him.
But on the surface, he suppressed his emotions and asked as calmly as possible, “Where is that youth?”
Elder Lu, being shrewd, sensed something off in the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief’s mood but couldn’t determine the exact reason behind it.
Elder Lu simply said, “Sent away.”
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief’s pupils contracted again, “You didn’t keep him?”
Elder Lu sneered, “That’s someone Young Master Mo wanted. Could I have kept him?”
“This Young Master Mo again…” the White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief gritted his teeth inwardly and hurriedly asked, “Where was he sent?”
Elder Lu said, “Young Master Mo took him away. How would I know?”
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief’s gaze darkened.
Elder Lu asked lightly, “Is there something wrong with that youth…?”
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief shook his head, “Nothing, I was just asking. It must be that my Skull Cave’s evil arts have some flaws, allowing a fish to slip through the net even under Soul Extraction and Spirit Refining…”
Elder Lu inwardly cursed the demonic chief for his cunning and said with a serious expression, “Forget it then. Remember our agreement, well water doesn’t interfere with river water. If something like this happens again, I won’t show mercy…”
After saying this, Elder Lu lit another stick of incense for the Earth God temple, paid brief respects, and took his leave.
The White-Bone-Eyed Demonic Chief remained where he was, his half-rotted eyes fixed on the Earth God statue, muttering with disbelief, “It can’t be such a coincidence… Did I really encounter it…”
…
Three days later, Houtu City.
The vermilion carriage, having raced like the wind along the way, finally came to a stop within the Zhū Clan’s estate.
After stepping down from the carriage, one’s gaze was met by towering red pavilions that rose and fell like mountain ranges, adorned with glazed jade tiles, luxurious and imposing.
Tusheng, born in the Great Spirit Field Realm, had never witnessed such a grand display of aristocratic wealth and extravagance. For a moment, he stood there utterly stunned.
Zhū Mùchén turned to Mo Hua and asked, “Little Senior Brother, would you like to rest at the Zhū Clan for a while?”
Mo Hua replied, “No need, there are still matters to attend to.”
Zhū Mùchén felt a tinge of regret but added, “Then, Little Senior Brother, when you have time next, please come visit our Zhū Clan.”
Mo Hua nodded, “Alright.”
Zhū Mùchén glanced at Tusheng and asked, “Little Senior Brother, where… are you taking Tusheng?”
Mo Hua thought for a moment and sighed, “I’m sorry, but for now, I must keep it confidential.”
Though Mo Hua did not explicitly state it, he was being quite candid.
Zhū Mùchén didn’t mind, and deep down, he understood that Tusheng’s whereabouts were indeed not something easily disclosed.
“If anyone asks you about Tusheng’s whereabouts…” Mo Hua put an arm around Zhū Mùchén’s shoulder and whispered, “remember to say you don’t know…”
Feeling the trust from his Little Senior Brother, Zhū Mùchén quickly nodded, “Mm-hmm, I won’t say a word.”
Mo Hua smiled and patted Zhū Mùchén’s shoulder.
Afterward, to maintain secrecy, Mo Hua did not take the Zhū Clan’s carriage.
Instead, he led Tusheng away from the Zhū Clan estate, entered the streets of Houtu City, and blended into the crowd. Within a few turns, they vanished without a trace.
When they reappeared, Mo Hua had already brought Tusheng to a small alley.
They followed the alley for half an hour, and after a quick calculation with his fingers, Mo Hua felt that all cause and effect had been severed.
He then walked to the end of the alley and hired an ordinary carriage from a stable and carriage service.
Mo Hua boarded the carriage with a bewildered and clueless Tusheng, circled a few more times along the streets of Houtu City, and then, almost imperceptibly, turned the carriage’s direction straight toward the Dao Court Division’s outpost in Houtu City.
Upon arriving at the outpost, Mo Hua got off the carriage and, with Tusheng in tow, effortlessly found the building where Gu Changhuai was stationed.
This was a secret office used by Archive Officers dispatched by the Dao Court.
However, upon entering the building, Mo Hua did not find Gu Changhuai. Instead, he unexpectedly encountered another person, the esteemed expert of the Demon Suppression Division, Yu Cangming.
Yu Cangming, Peak Golden Core cultivator and Deputy Chief of the Demon Suppression Division, was highly skilled in assassination Dao Arts and possessed formidable strength.
Ordinary cultivators would tremble in fear at the sight of him. Yet, such a prominent figure, upon seeing Mo Hua, was the first to cup his hands in a respectful salute, saying quite courteously, “Young Master Mo.”
Mo Hua was somewhat surprised and hurriedly returned the salute, “Chief Yu.”
“Deputy Chief,” Yu Cangming corrected.
“Deputy Chief is still a Chief,” Mo Hua said.
Yu Cangming sighed inwardly, thinking that this Young Master Mo’s way of dealing with people could truly be as refreshing as a spring breeze at times.
Mo Hua asked, “Where is Uncle Gù?”
Yu Cangming replied, “Archive Officer Gu has gone to handle a case.”
As for what case he was handling, it was a confidential matter of the Dao Court Division, which Yu Cangming was not at liberty to disclose, and Mo Hua was even less inclined to pry.
Yu Cangming glanced at Mo Hua, then looked again at the young boy, Tusheng, who was following behind Mo Hua with evident fear, and asked, “Young Master Mo, is there something you need?”
Mo Hua nodded, thought for a moment, and said, “Shall we talk somewhere else?”
Yu Cangming, showing Mo Hua due respect, nodded in agreement. “Very well.”
Afterward, Yu Cangming led Mo Hua to the sixth floor of the Dao Court Division, to a heavily guarded and solemnly austere confidential bureau sealed by multiple layers of formations, and then into one of its secret chambers.
Once inside the chamber, Yu Cangming said, “This is the territory of the Demon Suppression Division. It is very safe.”
Mo Hua glanced around at the surroundings and inwardly nodded.
Although the overall atmosphere was somewhat gloomy and severe, with various instruments of punishment arranged about, the security was indeed extremely tight, giving off a peculiar sense of safety.
Truly befitting the Demon Suppression Division.
Mo Hua had long heard of the reputation of the ‘Demon Suppression Division.’
The Dao Court Division, the Inspection Bureau, and the Demon Suppression Division were among the three major divisions of the Dao Court.
Most cultivators interacted primarily with the Dao Court Division, which was also the most widely established institution of the central Dao Court across various regions.
The Inspection Bureau was mainly responsible for overseeing officials and had little to do with ordinary cultivators.
As for the Demon Suppression Division, it was secretive and harsh, existing almost solely in rumors. In their entire lives, ordinary cultivators might never encounter a cultivator from the Demon Suppression Division.
Even Mo Hua was visiting the Demon Suppression Division for the first time, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit curious.
On the other hand, Yu Cangming, the Deputy Chief of the Demon Suppression Division, was actually even more curious about this mysterious Young Master Mo.
However, being cautious by nature and reserved in speech, he refrained from probing too deeply into secrets and simply asked, “Young Master Mo, what brings you here this time?”
Mo Hua pushed Tusheng forward in front of Yu Cangming and said, “This child is named ‘Tusheng.’ I would like to request that the Dao Court Division take him in.”
Tusheng looked startled.
Yu Cangming frowned. “Take him in?”
Mo Hua nodded.
Yu Cangming shook his head. “Positions in the Dao Court Division require examinations. We cannot make exceptions to take someone in.”
Mo Hua said, “Not that kind of taking in.” “What does Young Master Mo mean…”
Yu Cangming began to understand.
Mo Hua sighed softly. “This child is from the Great Spirit Field Realm. A few days ago, his parents and relatives… all died at the hands of Demonic Cultivators. He is now an orphan, and… he can no longer stay in the Great Spirit Field Realm.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Cangming’s expression turned stern.
As a member of the Demon Suppression Division, he had always abhorred evil and could not bear to see such atrocities committed by Demonic Cultivators.
Yu Cangming looked at Tusheng again, seeing that although the boy was young, he had lost all his family. A trace of sorrow flickered across Yu Cangming’s typically cold and stern expression.
Yu Cangming frowned and said, “The Dao Court Division is not a good place to settle down either. The Dao Court Division is very chaotic, with intricate and complex situations, and hidden dangers lurking.”
Mo Hua then said, “He actually has some other cause and effect on him, and there should be quite a few people who want to harm him. Once he falls into the hands of demons again, the consequences will likely be severe.”
“I understand the situation in the Dao Court Division, but even so, this is already the only place where he can settle down.”
The Little Luan Mountain blessed land wouldn’t work either.
True Person Rong allowing him to stay was already an extreme exception made out of consideration for Little Senior Sister.
Moreover, the Little Luan Mountain blessed land was actually not a “safe” place.
Although it was called a blessed land, its cause and effect was special, and outsiders could not become involved, otherwise it would easily lead to fatal danger.
It was just that Mo Hua’s fate was too tough, he himself was proficient in cause and effect, and had some connections, so others couldn’t easily kill him.
Plus, True Person Rong turned a blind eye, which was why he could live in the Little Luan Mountain blessed land.
The one who could settle down and remain safe was only Mo Hua himself, not the Little Luan Mountain blessed land.
Yu Cangming also fell into deep thought. Emotionally and rationally, Mo Hua’s request was not excessive.
He himself also felt that taking in an orphan whose family had been destroyed by the Demonic Sect was reasonable. But in terms of rules, it was somewhat overstepping and could easily cause trouble.
After thinking for a moment, Mo Hua said, “How about this: I’ll first settle him in the Dao Court Division, let him stay by Uncle Gu’s side and do some odd jobs. You just need to give him food to eat and some spirit stones for cultivation.”
“Half a month later, I’ll come back to check. If he really can’t be used and causes trouble, I’ll find another place to settle him.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Cangming no longer refused and nodded, “That works too.”
Mo Hua turned to look at Tusheng and asked, “Do you want to stay in the Dao Court Division?”
Tusheng was silent for a moment, then cursed softly, “The Dao Court Division is full of lackeys and hounds, not a single good person.”
Mo Hua was slightly taken aback.
Yu Cangming was also somewhat surprised, then nodded with a half-smile, “This kid has some guts, let him stay.”
Mo Hua shook his head and instructed Tusheng, “In the Dao Court Division, there are both good people and bad people. The one I’m having you follow is a good Archive Officer.”
Tusheng didn’t quite believe it, but he didn’t dare to go against Mo Hua’s wishes.
He knew in his heart that Mo Hua meant well for him, so he nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”
Yu Cangming then clapped his hands and called over a cultivator who looked like an officer, saying, “Go find a room close to Magistrate Gu’s and settle this kid there.”
The officer cupped his hands and said, “Yes.” Then he led Tusheng away.
Tusheng glanced back at Mo Hua, not resisting too much, and obediently went to look at his room.
Within the secret chamber, only Mo Hua and Yu Cangming remained.
Yu Cangming poured a cup of tea and said to Mo Hua, “Young Master Mo, have some tea.”
Mo Hua nodded, took a sip from the teacup, then suddenly looked at Yu Cangming and asked, “Chief Yu… your surname is Yu(余)?”
Yu Cangming nodded, thinking to himself that this was a pointless question, what exactly was this Young Master Mo trying to ask?
Mo Hua then inquired further, “The ‘Yu(余)’ as in ‘remaining life'(余生)?”
Yu Cangming nodded again, “Yes.”
Mo Hua let out a soft sigh of relief, “So it’s that Yu(余). I thought… it might be the other ‘Yu'(于)?”
Yu Cangming’s expression shifted slightly, “Which Yu?”
Mo Hua dipped his finger in the tea and wrote the character “Yu (于)” on the table.
Yu Cangming’s demeanor remained calm, “Not this Yu, Young Master Mo must be mistaken.”
Mo Hua nodded, “That’s good then…”
After a moment of silence, Yu Cangming couldn’t help but ask, “What is so special about this Yu(于) you mentioned, Young Master Mo?”
“Oh, nothing particularly special,” Mo Hua said slowly, “This character Yu(于) …”
“… is the Yu (于) of the Water Prison Sect’s direct lineage.”
The three words ‘Water Prison Sect’ struck like a sharp blade to the heart.
Yu Cangming’s right hand suddenly lost strength, shattering the nearby table to pieces.
His once steady eyes erupted with a chilling, murderous intent as he stared fixedly at Mo Hua. “You… just who are you?”