Chapter 415: Clues

After moving into the cave dwelling, Mo Hua had hoped for some peace and quiet, but within just a few days, people kept arriving with visiting cards.

First was the owner of a jade business, said to be a direct disciple of the Nanyue Sect.

Mo Hua gave him a simple reception.

This owner’s surname was Zheng, not very old, with a Qi-Refining cultivation at the ninth level. Dressed in fine clothes with jade ornaments, he looked every bit the young nobleman.

Young Master Zheng was polite to Mo Hua, and after a brief conversation, Mo Hua got a general understanding.

Zheng was a direct disciple of an elder surnamed Lin in the Nanyue Sect. His parents ran a prosperous refining business and were wealthy, so he had been admitted into the sect’s inner disciples.

But even among inner disciples, competition was fierce.

To protect him from losing out, his parents invested in a jade business for him. He became the owner, earning spirit stones and building relationships with the sect and other local cultivation powers.

However, a jade business without backing wouldn’t succeed.

His Dao partner came from the Lu family, and a small portion of the business was part of her dowry.

Seeing that Mo Hua was young but had remarkable insight into formations, Young Master Zheng wanted to befriend him. That’s why he sold the cave dwelling at a relatively low price.

Some of this Mo Hua learned directly from Young Master Zheng, and some he got by spending two spirit stones to inquire from the jade merchants.

Since Zheng was not ill-intentioned, Mo Hua treated him politely.

After a few cups of tea, Zheng took his leave, saying:

“I’ll have my servants deliver some good tea to you later, young master.”

Presumably, he found Mo Hua’s tea unsatisfactory but didn’t want to say it outright.

It was indeed not good, since Mo Hua had bought it for just half a spirit stone.

Good tea was expensive.

He usually only “borrowed” tea and rarely bought it himself. Buying it for the dwelling was a reluctant courtesy to visitors.

Anyway, taste didn’t matter much to Mo Hua, and since Zheng wanted to give it, he accepted it graciously:

“Many thanks, Young Master Zheng.”

Zheng was pleased that Mo Hua accepted his gesture, bowed, and left.

Afterward, a few formation masters came to visit, sharing tea and exchanging knowledge about formations, along with neighbors bringing some greetings.

Two days later, Elder Su also arrived.

Mo Hua brewed the tea Zheng sent and offered it to Elder Su.

After a sip, Elder Su said:

“This is… tea from the Nanyue Sect?”

Mo Hua asked in surprise, “You can tell?”

Elder Su smiled, “Drink it every day, and you can tell by its fragrance.”

After a pause, Elder Su asked:

“Who sent this to you, young master?”

Mo Hua replied, “A young master surnamed Zheng.”

Elder Su frowned, “Zheng?”

“The one in luxurious clothes, wearing jade, slightly plump, runs a jade business…”

“Oh,” Elder Su recalled, “Zheng Yu, right?”

“He actually sent tea to you?”

Elder Su was surprised, but in just a few days, he realized Mo Hua already knew quite a few cultivators in Nanyue City.

When he entered, gifts were even piled at the door.

“Bought the dwelling and met them,” Mo Hua said.

Elder Su nodded.

Mo Hua then inquired about Instructor Yan.

Elder Su shook his head, “I asked around later, but still couldn’t find any clue about Mr. Yan.”

“I see…” Mo Hua nodded. “Thank you for your efforts, Elder Su.”

“Just a trivial matter, nothing to mention,” Elder Su replied politely.

After a moment of thought, he hesitated, then asked:

“Young master, have you been to the Lu family’s mine?”

Mo Hua was slightly surprised but kept his expression neutral, nodding, “I have.”

Elder Su seemed hesitant to continue.

Mo Hua asked, “Is there something wrong?”

After some contemplation, Elder Su sighed:

“The Lu family’s mine is a bit deep. Young master would be better off not getting involved.”

Mo Hua lowered his voice:

“Could the Lu family be hiding something…”

Elder Su waved his hands repeatedly, “No, no, don’t overthink it.”

He added: “The Lu family’s mine is completely legal, approved by the Dao Court. The miners are voluntary, paid in spirit stones, and any accidents are compensated. There’s nothing to hide.”

Mo Hua, though outwardly disinterested, was secretly curious:

“I heard from a friend in the Dao Court that five miners died tragically in the mine… it was gruesome…”

Elder Su was shocked: “You have friends in the Dao Court?”

“Sort of,” Mo Hua nodded. He had worked and eaten with Sister Situ Fang, so naturally counted her as a friend.

Elder Su’s expression turned complex.

This first-rank formation master wasn’t new to Nanyue City. He already knew Zheng Yu, and now apparently had connections in the Dao Court too.

But these were not matters concerning him.

He only remarked:

“This mine… people die every year. And when they die there, the circumstances are always tragic.”

“Every year?”

“Yes.”

Mo Hua frowned. “How many die?”

“That’s hard to say,” Elder Su mused. “A few hundred at least, and if a major accident occurs, possibly thousands…”

“Major accident?”

“Mine collapses, monster rampages, release of noxious energy, things like that.”

Mo Hua shuddered, “So many deaths?”

Elder Su sighed, “No choice. People live off the mountain. Nanyue City has many mines, and cultivators survive by them…”

“Now it’s slightly better. The Lu family compensates in spirit stones.”

“In the past, death was in vain…”

Mo Hua was surprised, “They didn’t compensate before?”

Elder Su nodded, “Freelancers, no one cared if a few died.”

Mo Hua also sighed.

Elder Su realized the topic had strayed, so said:

“In short, the mines involve miners’ livelihoods, family interests, and Dao Court power struggles. It’s complicated. We formation masters should stay detached and not meddle. Especially since you are an outsider, young master—it’s best not to interfere.”

Mo Hua nodded:

“Rest assured, Elder Su. I know my limits.”

Elder Su relaxed. He didn’t know if Mo Hua truly listened or just said so, but the assurance was enough.

They chatted a while longer before Elder Su took his leave.

Mo Hua, however, tilted his chin, puzzled.

How did Elder Su know he had been to the mine?

He could inquire and find out, but he wasn’t related to Mo Hua. Why check on his movements? Could it have something to do with the Lu family?

Mo Hua remembered that Nanyue Sect and the Lu family were closely connected…

Sure enough, the next day, Mo Hua received an invitation.

It came personally from the head of the Lu family.

The wording was brief, not stating any reason, only asking Mo Hua to visit the Lu residence to discuss formations.

“Discuss formations…”

Apparently, the Lu family knew of his first-rank formation master status, or the head wouldn’t personally send an invitation.

In a second-rank prefecture, a first-rank formation master was still highly respected.

In Nanyue City, the only cultivator currently aware of Mo Hua’s status was Elder Su.

Clearly, Elder Su had considerable relations with the Lu family.

Mo Hua frowned.

Should he go? Would there be danger?

After considering, he decided to go.

The Lu family wouldn’t act recklessly against a first-rank formation master. If they did, it would be in secret, not with an open invitation.

Besides, he was curious. He wanted to see what kind of person the Lu family head was.

Mo Hua told Mister Zhuang about this.

Mister Zhuang only nodded, saying nothing.

Mo Hua felt at ease. If Zhuang said nothing, it must be safe.

Bai Zisheng wanted to accompany him but was held back by Zhuang.

“Draw the formations I taught you a hundred times first,” Zhuang instructed.

Bai Zisheng pouted and watched Mo Hua leave alone, relaxed.

Mo Hua arrived at the Lu residence.

Disciples greeted him respectfully, leading him inside and showing the way.

Mo Hua took the chance to observe the residence.

First impression: the Lu family was wealthy!

If the Sun family was a minor rich family, the Lu family was a major landlord.

The scale and grandeur of the residence exceeded even the Qian family’s in Tongxian City.

The formations were equally impressive.

The Lu family likely had a complete formation inheritance, with first-rank formation masters at home and abundant spirit stones.

The entire residence’s formations were the best Mo Hua had seen so far—better than those he had drawn for refining or alchemy shops.

Of course, still far from true grand formations like the Five-Element Monster-Slaying Array.

The Lu family disciples brought Mo Hua to the study of the family head.

It was Mo Hua’s first time meeting the Lu family head.

To his surprise, the Lu family head was an exceptionally gentle and refined middle-aged cultivator, with a warm demeanor and handsome features, immediately likable.

After a few words, Mo Hua discovered his formation skills were high—at least first-rank.

During conversation, the Lu family head praised Mo Hua greatly.

They spoke for an hour, discussing formations, trivial matters, Nanyue City customs, and cultivation experiences—without mentioning the mines.

Mo Hua was shy but polite; the Lu family head was warm and attentive.

It was a scene of perfect hospitality.

At parting, the Lu family head gave Mo Hua numerous gifts: formation manuals, spirit ink, formation brushes, some spirit meat snacks, and Nanyue City specialties.

He even arranged the family’s luxurious carriage to escort Mo Hua home.

Mo Hua returned in the lavish, soft carriage, dumping the storage bags in his yard.

Bai Zisheng gaped, “Mo Hua, did you scam them?”

Mo Hua rolled his eyes, “I didn’t lie.”

Bai Zisheng shook his head, “We’re brothers. Don’t trick me.”

He asked again, “All these were from the Lu family?”

Mo Hua nodded.

Bai Zisheng frowned, “Why?”

Mo Hua thought: “Unsolicited generosity usually hides something.”

But what that might be, he couldn’t guess yet, so he kept it in mind.

Mo Hua frowned.

The urgent matter was finding Instructor Yan.

Instructor Yan had taught and guided him in his early cultivation.

Nanyue City’s situation seemed complex: faction collusions, miners dying, and strange absolute formations…

If Instructor Yan had really been here, he might have encountered danger.

Mo Hua wanted to locate him quickly and confirm his safety.

But no matter how he searched, there were no leads. He had to ask Situ Fang for help.

Situ Fang, as an officer of the Dao Court, likely had more resources.

She agreed.

A few days later, she arrived and reported two things.

First, there indeed had been a cultivator surnamed Yan, resembling a teacher, who came to Nanyue City several years ago and rented a house south of the city near the mines.

But the house had been unoccupied for a long time.

Nearby cultivators said that one evening, Mr. Yan left for the mines and never returned…

Second, there were now clues about the five miners who had died tragically…