Chapter 302: Progress
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then could only sigh softly.
His cultivation was still too shallow, and his comprehension of formations too limited. Even if Mister Zhuang truly encountered difficulties, there was nothing he could do to help.
“I should just focus on cultivating and studying formation arts properly. Once my Dao path is accomplished, I’ll repay Mister Zhuang’s kindness for teaching and guiding me.”
He nodded to himself. Seeing that midnight had come, he sank his Divine-Sense into his Sea of Consciousness, relied upon the Dao Monument, and began to meticulously practice the Spirit-Reversal Formation.
Days passed peacefully, like still water. Mo Hua continued cultivating and drawing formations as usual.
Beyond cultivation, he remained deeply concerned about the matter of Black Mountain Stronghold — though he had no idea how things were progressing with the Dao Court Division.
A few days later, around noon, Mo Hua visited Elder Feng to collect some everyday medicinal pills. On his way home, he happened to run into Zhang Lan.
Mo Hua quickly greeted him.
Zhang Lan was walking with his head lowered. Hearing a child’s voice call out “Uncle Zhang,” he immediately knew it was Mo Hua.
Mo Hua stepped closer and, lowering his voice, asked secretly, “How’s it going?”
Naturally, he was referring to the matter of the Dao Soldiers.
Since the issue was confidential, he spoke with utmost caution.
Zhang Lan glanced around and said, “Too many ears here. Let’s talk at the tavern.”
The two went to the tavern and sat at their usual table. Jiang Yun served them wine and dishes.
Seeing that the other patrons were all familiar faces — mostly demon-hunting cultivators, drinking and chatting noisily — Zhang Lan relaxed and whispered to Mo Hua:
“I reported everything to the Chief Supervisor. He has already written a memorial to the Dao Court. Now, all we can do is wait for their approval. If they agree, it won’t be long before Dao Soldiers are dispatched to exterminate Black Mountain Stronghold.”
Mo Hua asked anxiously, “Will it take long?”
“If the Dao Court agrees, it won’t take long.”
“And… what if they don’t agree?”
Zhang Lan took a sip of wine, pondering.
“If what you saw is true — that there are five or six hundred evil cultivators in Black Mountain Stronghold refining Human Longevity Pills — the Dao Court will never allow them to act unchecked. They will definitely send Dao Soldiers. Don’t worry.”
Mo Hua nodded, visibly relieved.
But Zhang Lan, glancing at the boy, sighed inwardly.
Things weren’t as simple as Mo Hua imagined. The most difficult part was proving that such a stronghold truly existed deep in the mountains — that it indeed housed hundreds of evil cultivators, and that they were actually refining Human Longevity Pills.
Right now, everything rested on Mo Hua’s words alone.
The only “evidence” they had were two drawings: one was a map of the misty forest paths, and the other a topographical map of Black Mountain Stronghold.
Beyond that, there was no testimony or material proof.
They believed Mo Hua, of course — but the Dao Court would not easily trust the claims of a ten-year-old child cultivator.
Moreover, Mo Hua held no formal rank, and his first-rank formation master status couldn’t be officially recognized.
Chief Zhou was in a tough position.
He was already old and ready to retire peacefully, ending his career honorably as the Dao Court Division Chief.
But now, this Black Mountain Stronghold matter had placed him in a dilemma.
If he reported it and Mo Hua’s intelligence turned out wrong — if there was no such stronghold, or if its inhabitants were not evil cultivators — then Zhou would bear grave responsibility.
Though he wouldn’t be imprisoned, he would certainly lose his post.
Yet, if he didn’t report it, and the evil cultivators were allowed to grow unchecked, the day might come when every cultivator in Tōngxiān City would face disaster.
To retire safely or to risk everything for the city’s peace — it was not an easy choice.
But in the end, Chief Zhou decided to report the matter to the Dao Court.
Zhang Lan still remembered his words:
“I’ve served as Chief Supervisor for most of my life — steady and rule-abiding, but with little achievement. When the rogue cultivators established their own Crafting and Alchemy Guilds, I actually benefited and gained merit. Truthfully, I’ve always felt ashamed…”
“Now that danger lurks beneath Tōngxiān City, as its Chief Supervisor, I share in its honor and disgrace. I cannot turn a blind eye for the sake of self-preservation.”
“At worst, the Dao Court will strip me of my title and I’ll live my remaining years in peace.
But the extermination order for Black Mountain Stronghold must be submitted!”
Zhou’s expression had been resolute beyond doubt.
Still, Zhang Lan knew — being dismissed was far different from retiring with honor. The reputation and treatment were worlds apart. Zhou surely wasn’t as calm as he pretended.
Zhang Lan glanced at Mo Hua, who was busy eating, and secretly thought —
Perhaps Zhou only made this decision because of this child.
If it were anyone else bringing such intelligence, the Dao Court Division would never have believed it, and Zhou would never have risked his position to report it to the Dao Court.
As Mo Hua looked up mid-bite, he noticed Zhang Lan staring and asked,
“Uncle Zhang, aren’t you eating?”
Zhang Lan came back to himself and smiled. “No rush. I’ll drink a bit first.”
Mo Hua picked up a piece of meat and placed it in his bowl. “Uncle Zhang, eat more!”
Zhang Lan looked visibly worn — clearly exhausted from running around over the Black Mountain affair. He’d grown thinner, his face more gaunt.
He froze for a moment, unexpectedly touched.
Then Mo Hua added with disarming honesty,
“Uncle Zhang, you actually look a lot more proper now — more like a real Dao Court officer.”
Zhang Lan’s face darkened instantly, his brief gratitude vanishing.
“What do you mean, now I look proper? I’ve always been proper! Upright and dignified — a serious, law-abiding cultivator!”
“Mhm, mhm,” Mo Hua replied absentmindedly while chewing beef.
Zhang Lan, unconvinced, frowned. “What did I look like before, then?”
Mo Hua thought carefully, recalling their first meeting.
“Well… kind of like a carefree, idle young master who doesn’t do any serious work…”
Then, seeing Zhang Lan’s expression darken, he quickly added, “Just a tiny bit!”
Zhang Lan was speechless.
How was that fair? He wasn’t idle — his tavern visits were “investigations into cultivator life.” How could that count as slacking off?
And “just a tiny bit”? If I were really that kind of dandy, would a tiny bit make a difference!?
He drank gloomily.
Mo Hua’s eyes glinted mischievously. “Uncle Zhang, what about in your clan? What were you like there?”
Surely not this lazy version…
“In my clan?” Zhang Lan pondered, then said proudly, “Graceful and elegant, charming and refined — countless young female cultivators adored me. Many vied to become my Dao partner.”
Mo Hua murmured softly, “Uncle Zhang, it’s fine to fool others, but you don’t have to act with me…”
Zhang Lan choked on his drink. “Who’s acting!?”
Mo Hua just looked at him quietly.
Zhang Lan sighed. “Next time I’m not eating with you. You fill me with anger before I’m even full.”
Mo Hua handed him another bite of meat. “Then hurry and eat, Uncle Zhang — otherwise, if you get full of anger first, you won’t be able to eat later.”
Zhang Lan couldn’t help laughing and shaking his head. “You little rascal…”
So the two chatted and ate.
After a while, trading banter with Mo Hua actually lifted Zhang Lan’s spirits; the exhaustion of recent days eased somewhat.
He had been running himself ragged over the Black Mountain matter — few in Tōngxiān City could talk to him this comfortably.
When they finished, Zhang Lan was about to leave when Mo Hua called out,
“Uncle Zhang, if the Dao Court really sends Dao Soldiers… can I go see them?”
His eyes shone with excitement — he’d long wanted to witness what Dao Soldiers looked like.
Zhang Lan thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”
(End of Chapter)