Chapter 407: An Old Acquaintance
Mo Hua and the others were invited into the main hall, where disciples presented fresh fruit and fine tea infused with spiritual energy.
The array master introduced himself:
“I am surnamed Su, a First-Rank Array Master, humbly serving as an elder of the Nanyue Sect. I wonder, young sir…”
Mo Hua replied,
“My surname is Mo, a First-Rank Array Master as well, though no one has yet invited me to serve as an elder…”
The array master smiled.
“Mr. Mo, your words are quite amusing.”
Mo Hua’s talent was extraordinary, yet he was unassuming, speaking with a straightforward innocence. His smile was warm and endearing, putting Su Elder at ease. He leisurely sipped his tea and asked,
“And may I ask the reason for your visit, young sir?”
Mo Hua said,
“Master Su…”
“Not at all, not at all, please call me Elder Su…”
Elder Su hurriedly waved his hand.
Being a fellow First-Rank Array Master, he felt it improper to be called “Master.”
Mo Hua nodded and asked,
“Elder Su, do you know an array master surnamed Yan? His array skills are Half-Step First-Rank, or perhaps already First-Rank…”
Elder Su paused, stroked his beard, and murmured,
“Surnamed Yan…”
After pondering for a while, he shook his head and said,
“I’m afraid I don’t know.”
“Nanyue City… it’s big in some ways, small in others, especially within the circle of array masters. Those with even a bit of skill usually cross paths at least once.”
“An array master surnamed Yan… there are some in Nanyue City, but Half-Step First-Rank or already First-Rank? I haven’t heard of any.”
Mo Hua felt slightly disappointed and said,
“He’s from outside.”
Elder Su reflected:
“If an outsider stayed long enough and interacted with others, I likely would have heard of him.”
“I haven’t, so perhaps he only stayed briefly and then left…”
“Of course, if this array master kept a low profile and didn’t mingle with others, it’s normal that I wouldn’t know…”
Mo Hua nodded slowly.
Since Yan Jiaoxí was looking for the sect’s traitor, it was possible he had come here, kept a low profile, and avoided drawing attention.
Elder Su hesitated a moment and asked,
“What is your relationship with Mr. Yan?”
He added apologetically,
“If it’s inconvenient to say, just disregard my question.”
“Mr. Yan is my senior teacher. I happened to be passing by and wanted to pay a visit,” Mo Hua replied briefly.
Elder Su understood. Visiting one’s teacher was natural.
He sighed regretfully,
“Unfortunately, I haven’t met this array master, so I cannot help you.”
Mo Hua politely said,
“Elder Su, you are too kind. We were the ones who intruded.”
Since he couldn’t get information about Yan Jiaoxí, Mo Hua stood to leave. He still planned to inquire with other array masters.
Elder Su thought for a moment, had a disciple fetch a calling card, and handed it to Mo Hua:
“This is my calling card. If you visit other array masters, it would be difficult to enter without showing your Tianxu Ring. But the ring is valuable; displaying it could attract attention or envy. With this card, visiting will be much easier.”
Mo Hua took the card. It bore Elder Su’s name in elegant script, sprinkled with gold ink, along with the Nanyue Sect’s seal. It was both prestigious and significant.
Grateful, Mo Hua said,
“Thank you, Elder Su!”
Elder Su smiled,
“While you remain in Nanyue City, feel free to come to my residence to drink tea, discuss the Dao, and exchange array techniques.”
Mo Hua thanked him again but worried,
“Will it disturb your guests?”
Elder Su, a First-Rank Array Master and elder, often had many visitors and could be busy. He waved his hand,
“No matter the time, you are always a distinguished guest.”
Mo Hua smiled,
“Thank you for your kindness, Elder Su. I’ll come when I can.”
Elder Su personally saw Mo Hua to the door. After Mo Hua left, he stroked his beard and murmured,
“Good heavens, where did this young First-Rank array master come from? At this age… surely he didn’t learn arrays from the womb? But that can’t be right…”
The disciple beside him whispered,
“Master, could he be fake?”
“Impossible,” Elder Su shook his head.
“Array techniques cannot lie. When he draws an array, I can tell. He is undoubtedly a First-Rank Array Master!”
The disciple felt a pang of envy.
“Even a First-Rank array master, but so young… aren’t you being too polite to him?”
“What do you know?” Elder Su glared, silencing him.
After a moment of thought, Elder Su said slowly,
“This young sir… I cannot see through him.”
“Not only him, but those two extraordinary-looking young disciples with him—I cannot read them either…”
“Though they appear to be Qi-Refiners, their Divine-Sense is inscrutable…”
“I am already Foundation Establishment, yet I cannot perceive their cultivation…”
“This means they must be wearing some spirit-suppressing artifacts.”
“Such artifacts are not something an ordinary cultivator could possess.”
The disciple’s heart tightened,
“Could these three young cultivators be significant?”
Elder Su nodded, then shook his head, suddenly frowned, and said sharply,
“Why do you care so much? Focus on your arrays! If you put even half this effort into array techniques, you wouldn’t still be an apprentice now.”
“You are the slowest student I’ve ever had. If not for your mother, I would have kicked you out already.”
“Look at others—around ten years old and already a First-Rank Array Master. You? Even at a hundred, you might achieve nothing…”
…
Elder Su scolded the disciple relentlessly. The disciple sulked,
“Disciple knows his mistake, I’ll get back to array drawing.”
He dashed off, though not appearing overly panicked.
Elder Su sighed helplessly,
“How did I get myself involved in such a romantic trouble back then?”
…
After leaving Elder Su’s residence, Bai Zisheng asked,
“Shall we still visit the other array masters?”
“Yes,” Mo Hua nodded.
“Though there’s probably no clue, it’s still worth a visit to get familiar.”
Being unfamiliar in Nanyue City, meeting more cultivators was useful. Especially since these were array masters, who were influential figures.
Building some rapport would make handling conflicts easier. Without it, disputes might turn physical. Even a small acquaintance made things smoother.
Mo Hua had learned this from Master Luo, who thrived in Tongxian City, skillfully navigating the array master circles. Listening to his advice was always wise.
Bai Zisheng nodded.
With Elder Su’s calling card, they visited the influential array masters of Nanyue City one by one, inquiring about Yan Jiaoxí and establishing connections.
Elder Su was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a First-Rank Array Master, and a Nanyue Sect elder, likely of the inner sect. His calling card proved very useful.
Mo Hua smoothly toured the array masters’ residences. Everyone was courteous and cordial.
With the calling card, he didn’t need to reveal he was a First-Rank Array Master—Su Elder’s authority was sufficient.
Even the haughty array masters softened when speaking with Mo Hua, chatting about arrays pleasantly.
Among array masters, competence shows quickly; just a few words reveal the depth of skill.
Mo Hua’s age and array mastery astonished them.
After a full day of inquiries, he became familiar to the circle.
As the saying goes, a strong outsider must respect the local power. Once the “passing dragon,” Mo Hua was now a recognized “local dragon” in Nanyue City’s array world.
Walking the streets, Mo Hua held himself taller.
Bai Zisheng was puzzled. Every array master, even initially arrogant, treated Mo Hua kindly.
Was this just because he was an array master? But Mo Hua hadn’t revealed he was First-Rank, only that he knew “a little” array techniques.
Bai Zisheng couldn’t understand. Mo Hua wasn’t concerned; he was focused on Yan Jiaoxí.
As expected, none of the array masters he asked knew Yan Jiaoxí’s whereabouts—or had even heard of him.
Mo Hua frowned.
Where exactly had Yan Jiaoxí gone? Was he still in Nanyue City?
…
Back at the residence, Mo Hua reported everything to Master Zhuang.
Master Zhuang was unsurprised, as if expecting it, only nodding slightly.
“Shall we continue searching?” Mo Hua asked, not wanting to waste Zhuang’s time.
“Search,” Zhuang said. “Give it some more time.”
“Understood.”
…
In the following days, besides routine cultivation and drawing arrays, Mo Hua spent his time with Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, wandering Nanyue City’s streets, asking about Yan Jiaoxí’s whereabouts.
After five or six days, still no clues.
Though Yan Jiaoxí was not found, Mo Hua met other familiar faces.
One day, on the street, he noticed a dispute. Among them was a striking young female cultivator, vaguely familiar.
Mo Hua looked again.
Bai Zixi watched curiously.
Mo Hua blinked, suddenly recalling, eyes brightening. He waved and called,
“Sister Situ!”
The woman was Situ Fang.
Years ago, outside the Great Black Mountain of Tongxian City, she and Zhang Lan had been pursuing evil cultivators when they met Mo Hua.
Mo Hua guided them to the evildoers, helped subdue them, and even broke one of the evildoers’ legs.
He remembered Situ Fang treated him kindly and later, with Zhang Lan, invited him to a full meal at the Spirit Feast Hall—an entire table of dishes!
Dressed in the black official robe of the Dao Court Division, Situ Fang looked surprised. She turned and saw a small, fair-skinned cultivator waving at her, calling her “Sister” in a clear voice.
After a long pause, she recognized him and exclaimed,
“Mo… Mo Hua?!”