Luo Master finally felt relieved and nodded. "Alright."
But they didnât keep going through the northwest gate, so as not to arouse suspicion.
Instead, they looped once more through the mountains, using the mountain wind to wash away the Blood Qi and murderous aura on them, calming their mood, and only then did they pretend to be as if nothing had happened, entering Canglang City from the north gate.
At the city gate, there were still Canglang Sect Disciples checking everyone.
The convoy was stopped.
Luo Master was feeling a bit uneasy, but Mo Hua had already changed his expression, head held high, face full of arrogance, casually tossing a Token to a Canglang Sect Disciple.
That Disciple was still a bit annoyed, but the moment he saw the Token, his face changed drastically. He respectfully cupped his hands to Mo Hua and said:
"I didnât know you were the Sect Leaderâs honored guest. Please forgive me."
As soon as these words came out, the crowd burst into an uproar, and Luo Masterâs scalp tingled.
The Sect Leaderâs... honored guest?
This Young Master Moâs "acquaintance" turned out to be the Sect Leader of Canglang Sect.
So it was the Canglang Sectâs Sect Leader who personally invited this Young Master Mo to come serve in Canglang Sect?
This Young Master Mo actually had such a background?
But...
Luo Masterâs expression was, for a moment, extremely complicated.
After a while, a Canglang Sect Elder personally came over, cupped his hands to Mo Hua and said:
"Young Master, please move to the hall at the back to have some tea. In a while, the Sect Leader will personally come to receive you."
The Sect Leader will personally come to receive him?!
Luo Masterâs expression was alarmed.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, looked utterly nonchalant, as if used to grand occasions. He only nodded slightly with an air of arrogance, then pointed at Luo Master and the others:
"These are all my friends. You mustnât slight them either."
The Canglang Sect Elder cupped his hands. "Yes." Then he extended his hand. "Please."
Mo Hua and Luo Masterâs group followed him into the city and were arranged in the main hall to drink tea.
The Canglang Sect Elder only exchanged a few routine pleasantries, then withdrew, not disturbing Mo Hua.
Seeing that the hall was spacious and quiet, with no one else around, Luo Master wanted to speak several times, but scruples held him back, and he forcibly swallowed the words each time.
Mo Hua swept his Divine Sense around, then turned his head and said to Luo Master:
"Thereâs no one else around, nor any ears behind the walls. If you have something to say, Luo Master, feel free to speak plainly."
Luo Master hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Young Master Mo, you... know the Canglang Sect Sect Leader?"
Mo Hua nodded. "It was their Sect Leader who invited me over."
Luo Masterâs expression turned a bit indescribably strange.
Mo Hua then said, "No need to worry, Luo Master. I know their Sect Leader. Two Elders diedâso long as you and I donât speak of it, no one will hold us accountable."
"No," Luo Master said in a low voice, "do you know what surname the Canglang Sectâs Sect Leader has?"
Mo Hua was stunned.
Luo Master gave a bitter smile. "The Canglang Sect Sect Leaderâs surname is Duan. That Elder Duan just now... was his own nephew."
Mo Huaâs expression immediately turned rather marvelous.
"Why didnât you say so earlier..."
"You didnât ask earlier either, and I didnât know the connections behind all this..." Luo Masterâs expression was bitter.
Mo Hua let out a helpless sigh.
The Canglang Sect Sect Leader had invited him to come work in Canglang Sect.
And yet the moment he reached the city gate, he went and butchered the manâs own nephew?
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then his expression calmed again. He said blandly:
"No matter. It wasnât us who killed him anyway. Whoever died doesnât really matter..."
Luo Master didnât know what he was supposed to say.
He secretly lifted his head and glanced at Mo Hua.
This Young Master Mo, after killing the Canglang Sect Golden Core Sect Leaderâs own nephew, swaggered into the city, and was even treated by Canglang Sect as an honored guest, soon to meet the Sect Leader in person.
Luo Master was shocked in his heart and filled with utmost admiration.
Most importantly, from beginning to end, his bearing was calm, his expression didnât change in the slightest, and there really wasnât the least trace of anything on his face.
In great events, one must remain calm.
So young, yet with such a composed, unruffled demeanorâhe was surely someone destined for great things.
Luo Master marveled inwardly.
What he didnât know was that Mo Hua had already groped out the spell point of Planting Devil in Taoist Heart: he could not only toy with othersâ minds, but also with his own.
If you want to fool others, you must first fool yourself.
As long as he believed he hadnât killed anyone, then he would truly take it as if he hadnât killed anyone.
The karma was still there, but at least you couldnât see any ripple of emotion on his face.
Mo Hua was utterly composed, but Luo Master was not.
He couldnât help feeling guilty, and moreover, whenever he thought of the person he was about to meetâa Third Grade Canglang Sect, that Golden Core Realm Sect Leader Duan like a ferocious tiger, a ravenous wolf, whose very name struck fearâhis legs began to tremble, and cold sweat ran down his back.
Mo Hua said, "Relax a little, donât be nervous. This is all small stuff."
Luo Masterâs expression was taut with nerves. "Young Master Mo, what should I say later?"
Mo Hua said simply, "You donât need to say much later. Just say you escorted me all the way to Canglang City."
Luo Master was still uneasy. "Will that really work?"
Mo Hua nodded. "Rest easy. He not only wonât suspect you, he might even thank you."
Luo Master could only smile bitterly.
Like this, another hour passed. Just as Luo Master was sitting as if on pins and needles, a string of footsteps came from outside the hall.
A man wearing a wolfskin cloak, with dense Cultivation, a stern and gloomy demeanor, and eyes that opened and closed like a hawk and a wolf, strode into the hall.
The atmosphere of the entire hall instantly grew oppressive.
Mo Hua rose and saluted. "Sect Leader, long time no see."
The Canglang Sect Sect Leader showed a smile that was dignified yet not without warmth. "Brother Mo, I failed to welcome you from afar."
Mo Hua also smiled. "Iâve come to disturb you without warning. I hope Sect Leader wonât take offense."
The Canglang Sect Sect Leader shook his head. "For Brother Mo to come in person, I, Duan, couldnât ask for more. Tongxian City is too small a place. For a dragon among men like Brother Mo, how can you dwell in a corner and waste such great talent?"
Mo Hua cupped his hands. "Sect Leader flatters me."
The two chatted and laughed freely, leaving everyone present, including quite a few Canglang Sect Cultivators, inwardly astonished.
After all, the Sect Leader had always been ruthless and almost never showed a smile.
Those who could make him treat them with such courtesy were few and far between even in all of Canglang City.
The Canglang Sect Sect Leader reminisced with Mo Hua for a bit, then took the seat at the head. His sharp gaze swept once over Luo Master.
Luo Masterâs whole body shook.
The pressure of a Golden Core was not something a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Early Stage like him could bear.
Let alone that just outside the city, he had killed a Canglang Sect Elder and six Disciples.
The Canglang Sect Sect Leader said mildly, "This is... the chief escort of the Luo familyâs escort agency?"
Luo Master hurriedly stood up and bowed. "Yes."
The Canglang Sect Sect Leaderâs gaze tightened slightly in some confusion, and he asked, "Luo Master, why are you together with Young Master Mo?"
"Young Master Mo... doesnât know the way. By chance, he met me at the state boundary of the Small Realm Market, and then returned to Canglang City together with the convoy of our escort agency."
Luo Master was nervous, but still followed what Mo Hua had taught him.
The Canglang Sect Sect Leader gave Luo Master a once-over. Seeing him cowed by his aura and looking uneasy, he only felt that was normal. After a momentâs thought, he slightly nodded and said approvingly:
"In that case... I must thank you, Luo Master."
Thank... me...
Luo Master froze, not knowing for a moment what reaction he was supposed to have.