Chapter 459: The Lu Family

Chapter 460: The Lu Family

The Lu Family’s mine was a corpse mine, harboring zombies.

The five missing miners who had died gruesome deaths earlier had been devoured by the zombies in the mine.

Zhang Quan killed people, bought corpses, refined them into zombies, and delivered the refined zombies to the Lu Family.

The Lu Family hid these zombies in the mine.

They set up a meticulous formation to seal the zombies, preventing anyone from noticing.

Mo Hua furrowed his brow.

What exactly did the Lu Family intend to do?

And that traitor—what was their status within the Lu Family?

Mo Hua glanced at the heavily guarded mine.

To mobilize so many people and resources, set up formations, and guard the mine, that traitor must at least be a powerful elder in the Lu Family, or perhaps a highly respected guest elder.

As long as they uncovered this traitor, everything would fall into place.

“But who exactly is this traitor…”

Mo Hua had no clear idea at the moment and kept thinking about it even after returning.

Even during meals, he was somewhat distracted, staring off into space mid-bite.

Bai Zixi nudged him with her arm and softly said,

“Focus on eating.”

“Oh.” Mo Hua snapped back to attention and nodded.

Bai Zisheng leaned closer and asked in a low voice,

“What are you thinking about?”

Mo Hua glanced at Mister Zhuang, who was drinking by himself and ignoring their whispers, and quietly said,

“I’m thinking about the Lu Family.”

“What about them?” Bai Zisheng’s eyes lit up.

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, then decided there was no need to hide it and told Bai Zisheng about the traitor from the Little Lingyin Sect, the Lu Family mine, and their raising of zombies.

Bai Zisheng clicked his tongue. “I knew it, the Lu Family isn’t good people.”

Then he frowned, doubting himself:

“Our Bai Family wouldn’t also…”

Bai Zixi said helplessly, “The Bai Family rose through military merit.”

Bai Zisheng was momentarily stunned, then relaxed.

Military merit was acceptable…

Those were earned on the battlefield, with clear-cut combat.

Bai Zisheng asked Mo Hua again, “So, what do you plan to do?”

“I want to find that Little Lingyin Sect traitor hiding in the Lu Family.”

Mo Hua thought aloud, “The complete Lingshu Formation is definitely with them; the one who bought zombies from Zhang Quan is probably them; the one orchestrating the Lu Family’s stockpiling of zombies and creation of the corpse mine is likely them as well…”

“Need help?”

Bai Zisheng was eager to join in.

Bai Zixi also looked at Mo Hua, her meaning clear without words.

Mo Hua hesitated, then nodded,

“All right.”

It takes three posts to make a fence, three allies to make a hero.

He couldn’t handle this alone, but with Little Senior Brother and Little Senior Sister helping, it should go much smoother.

Mister Zhuang sipped his wine, glancing at the three disciples huddled together whispering, feeling somewhat gratified.

Suddenly, he felt a pang of nostalgia.

In a fleeting moment, he saw the three young disciples from years ago, practicing and playing together.

But in the blink of an eye, everything vanished again.

Time flies; things change, people change.

Mister Zhuang’s expression was melancholy as he sighed softly…

…

After finishing their meal, the three set off separately to gather information on the Lu Family.

Mo Hua first went to find a broker.

This was the clever, articulate broker who had sold him the cave abode.

Upon seeing Mo Hua, the broker looked respectful, but with a hint of fear.

Mo Hua mentioned his name, and the broker hesitated:

“Sir, perhaps you’d like someone else?”

Mo Hua was puzzled. “Why?”

The broker gave an awkward smile.

Last time, when he showed Mo Hua the cave abode, Mo Hua’s sharp eyes found over ten flaws, dismissed the formation as worthless, and slashed nearly half the price.

Seeing Mo Hua’s clear yet profound gaze now, he felt intimidated.

Although Young Master Zheng hadn’t blamed him, it left him embarrassed in front of peers.

Now others nicknamed him “Half-Price.”

Meaning, when bargaining with him, the first move was always to cut the price in half.

The broker politely declined, “I… I’m not capable enough to…”

Mo Hua placed two spirit stones in his hand, reassuring him,

“I’m just looking, not buying.”

The two spirit stones warmed the broker’s heart.

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked eagerly, “Really just looking, not buying?”

“Yes, yes.”

Mo Hua’s expression was sincere, his gaze pure.

The broker couldn’t refuse Mo Hua, nor the spirit stones in his hand.

And Mo Hua had said he wasn’t buying.

Not buying was fine.

Not buying meant no bargaining…

“All right.”

The broker agreed readily.

He led Mo Hua through several cave abodes on North Street in South Yue City.

These caves were all Lu Family properties.

Mo Hua took the opportunity to ask about the Lu Family.

As they spoke, the broker sensed something was off.

But he dared not ask directly, so he hinted,

“Sir, do you have some grudge with the Lu Family?”

“Not really…”

Mo Hua feigned embarrassment, “It’s just… the Lu Family head wants me to marry a Lu Family daughter. I… I’m unfamiliar with the area, so I just wanted to quietly ask about the Lu Family…”

Marry a Lu Family daughter?

As a son-in-law?

The broker’s expression mixed admiration and pity.

For the Lu Family head to personally propose a marriage for a son-in-law, this young master was indeed extraordinary.

But alas, only as a son-in-law.

In these times, capable cultivators rarely agreed to become sons-in-law.

Still, the broker had a good impression of Mo Hua.

Though Mo Hua had deeply hurt him during the bargaining.

The broker hesitated, then advised:

“Sir, I may be blunt, but the Lu Family… isn’t a good place. If you plan to join them, you should be cautious…”

Mo Hua’s eyes flickered, then he sighed,

“I don’t want to, but…”

His face flushed slightly, “The Lu Family girl is… truly beautiful.”

The broker paused, frowned, then nodded.

“Indeed.”

Beautiful looks—this reason was undeniably solid.

For a beloved beautiful girl, becoming a son-in-law was acceptable.

Mo Hua looked innocent and sincere.

The broker had no doubts.

His attitude even became more enthusiastic; Mo Hua didn’t have to ask, and the broker spilled everything he knew about the Lu Family.

“The most powerful in the Lu Family is the head, supposedly mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation…”

“Below the head are some powerful elders. One or two are mid-stage Foundation Establishment, the rest early-stage, considered trusted by the head and direct family…”

“If you want to become a son-in-law, choose from among them…”

“Preferably, someone related to the head, so you gain favor and have a bright future.”

“There are also some guest elders.”

“Their status is elevated, their power varies. Most are connected by blood or sect ties to other families or sects.”

“Among the guest elders, some are low-key, not showing off.”

“If you have good judgment, marrying into their family might bring unexpected benefits, even some secret inheritances.”

“Below the powerful elders are ordinary elders.”

“Ordinary, powerless elders; branch elders with weak bloodlines; marginal guest elders; incompetent servants, etc.”

“You don’t need to associate with them…”

“Especially for a formation master like you.”

“Of course,” the broker paused, then added, “unless it’s their descendant female cultivator, stunningly beautiful, absolutely captivating. That’s a different matter.”

The broker thought for a moment, then advised,

“But even then, in my opinion, it’s better not to marry in.”

“Looks alone won’t feed you; don’t be led astray in your Dao…”

“If you marry in, it should be for power and benefit, not just for fleeting desire…”

The broker spoke thoroughly and reasonably.

Then he glanced at Mo Hua, feeling regretful, and asked,

“Sir, have you considered your little senior sister?”

Mo Hua froze. “Consider what?”

“Marriage?”

Now Mo Hua’s face truly flushed, a hint of annoyance showing, and he said indignantly,

“She’s my little senior sister!”

The broker muttered to himself, “Why not her? Isn’t she perfect…”

From the same sect, childhood friends.

And truly beautiful.

Graceful and elegant.

Standing together, one refined, one bright-eyed and charming, like a golden boy and jade girl, perfectly matched.

But he only dared to think this internally.

Mo Hua asked more about the Lu Family, noting the elders, guest elders, and servants he learned about on paper.

He planned to return and thoroughly investigate to see who was most likely the Little Lingyin Sect traitor.

The broker regretted, thinking Mo Hua was considering marriage.

Later, Mo Hua went to South Yue Inn to find Qing Lan.

After the Baihua Tower incident, Situ Fang had obtained Qing Lan’s contract from the madam and placed her in the inn.

Qing Lan helped with cleaning and cooking, supporting herself.

She came from a poor miner family, was diligent and practical, and after leaving Baihua Tower, no longer endured humiliation or servitude for appearances, and her spirit had improved greatly.

Seeing Mo Hua, Qing Lan was both grateful and happy.

She personally brewed tea and served pastries to him.

Mo Hua asked, “Sister Qing Lan, may I ask you some questions? About the Lu Family.”

Qing Lan was slightly taken aback, then nodded,

“All right, ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Mo Hua thought for a moment and began asking about Jinhua Street.

Qing Lan had been there a long time, interacting with many cultivators, and had likely heard a lot of information.

She thought for a moment and slowly said,

“The matters of Jinhua Street start with the late Lu Family ancestor…”