Mo Hua snorted disdainfully and said, "I didnât even move a hand, what could I have done to him?"
The Golden Core cultivator of the Shen Family was taken aback.
They had witnessed the scene clearlyâit was their young master who struck first, while this young master of Taixu Gate indeed didnât move a muscle, just barely lifted an eyelid at most.
How... is that possible?
Mo Hua pondered slightly, then speculated:
"Did your young master practice some evil skills and encounter a mishap during cultivation, leading to rebound and causing a deviation?"
"You... slanderer!"
The Golden Core cultivator from the Shen Family was furious, but this anger seemed somewhat bluffing and tentative.
They also knew in their hearts that these affluent young masters live luxurious lives and might seek thrill by practicing some forbidden cultivation techniques secretly.
Upon hearing Mo Huaâs words and looking at the Shen Familyâs young master rolling on the ground, babbling nonsensically and seemingly mad, these two Golden Core cultivators of the Shen Family actually found Mo Huaâs words to be quite plausible, and couldnât help but suspect in their hearts:
"Could it be that Young Master Qing really learned some evil skills, causing his meridians to become disordered, and thus he deviated?"
While everyone was still in shock and doubt, a commotion gradually arose.
It seemed that the disturbance here was too great, attracting the nearby cultivators, and many people gathered around.
Master Gu then approached Mo Hua and whispered, "Young Master Mo, itâs crowded and noisy here, itâs best to return early."
Upon seeing Mo Hua about to leave, the two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen Family immediately said, "Halt! You cannot leave."
"Our young master has become like this, you need to give an explanation."
"Thatâs right!"
Mo Hua glanced at them indifferently and said coldly:
"You tried to kill me and still want me to give you an explanation? Do you really think that Taixu Gate canât kill you?"
The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen Family felt a shiver down their spine immediately, and their backs went cold.
Mo Hua was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, but at this moment, this aura of indifferently holding othersâ life and death in his hands made the two Golden Core cultivators feel a faint sense of fear.
If it wasnât a mere bluff, then it meant that this seemingly frail young master indeed had the background and means to hold their lives under his control.
The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen Family were immediately at a loss.
Just at this moment, there was a stir among the crowd, and then it quieted down.
The crowd parted to both sides, and a middle-aged cultivator with a paper fan in hand, scholarly in appearance and extraordinary in demeanor, stepped forward.
The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen Family saw him and immediately brightened up, bowing their hands, "Elder Xiu, youâre just in time."
The middle-aged cultivator frowned, "Whatâs going on?"
"A little conflict..." one Golden Core cultivator from the Shen Family stepped forward and whispered a few words into his ear.
The middle-aged cultivator nodded arrogantly, his gaze sweeping over Mo Hua.
At first, he glanced casually, not paying much attention, but after a moment, he slightly paused, unable to help but stare at Mo Hua a few more times.
As he looked, his pupils gradually dilated, his face full of disbelief, and finally, his expression even became somewhat... frightened.
"You..."
The middle-aged cultivatorâs lips trembled, yet he still tried to suppress the alarm in his heart, speaking in a seemingly calm tone:
"Alright... I understand... Weâll discuss this later... Young Master Qingâs safety is most important; first find a way to send him back to the Shen Family..."
The middle-aged cultivator instructed, but his gaze was evasive, never daring to look directly at Mo Hua.
Everyone exchanged glances.
And the commotion ended hastily like this.
The people from the Shen Family, protecting their young master, left the Food Building.
The middle-aged cultivator known as "Elder Xiu", turned his back to Mo Hua, seemingly calm, but hurriedly walked away.
Master Gu and Fan Jin exchanged a look, both finding the situation inexplicably odd.
"Young Master Mo..."
"Letâs head back first." Mo Hua gazed at the corridorâs end where the middle-aged cultivator disappeared without daring to look at him, his eyes narrowing as he slowly said.
"Alright."
Master Gu and Fan Jin nodded.
Itâs not suitable to stay here for long.
After all, this is the Shen Familyâs Food Building, and they didnât want Mo Hua to linger here any longer to avoid unexpected incidents.
The three of them thus left the Food Building, heading in the opposite direction of the Shen Family.
As the distance between the two parties grew, no further incident occurred.
Fan Jin escorted Mo Hua back to the Gu Familyâs Refinery Shop, where he felt at ease and bowed to say goodbye:
"There are matters at Taoist Court; I shall not disturb you any longer. The Shen Family is powerful, so please, Young Master Mo, be extra cautious."
Mo Hua nodded lightly, "Thank you, Master Fan; I will remember your kindness."
Fan Jin was overjoyed but remained humble on the surface, saying:
"It was nothing, Young Master. You speak too highly. Whenever you need any assistance in the future, feel free to call on me. I, Fan, will surely do my utmost to help."
Mo Hua smiled, bowed, and said, "Alright."
A great weight was lifted from Fan Jinâs heart, and he smiled as he bid farewell, leaving in light steps.
After Fan Jin left, Master Gu was still somewhat worried.
"Young master, perhaps you should depart for Taixu Gate early? Iâm afraid..."
Master Gu didnât say it outright, but Mo Hua understood.
He thought for a moment and nodded, "Thatâs fine, but before that, thereâs one more thing..."
Mo Hua paused briefly, his gaze meaningful, "I need to see someone."
...
In front of a magnificent residence in the northwest of Solitary Mountain City.
A middle-aged cultivator, holding a folding fan and looking cultured, instructed a disciple of the Shen Family:
"The Pill Master of the clan checked, and it seems Young Master Qing was merely frightened, which caused panic. It shouldnât be anything serious. You should report to Elder Shouxing early; after all, he has only one son... There are some matters in my sect that need to be dealt with, so I wonât stay any longer."
"Yes."
After giving his instructions, the middle-aged cultivator got into a carriage, leaving the Shen Family Mansion and heading south along the street, eventually leaving the city gate and heading towards the outskirts of Solitary Mountain.
Inside the carriage, the middle-aged cultivator closed his eyes to rest, but his brows were furrowed, clearly troubled.
The desolate mountain scenery around him slipped away.
The carriage drove further and further from Solitary Mountain City.
After traveling for an hour, passing by a desolate forest, the middle-aged cultivator suddenly opened his eyes.
He hesitated for a moment, then sighed deeply and shook his head helplessly.
"Stop the carriage."
The carriage stopped, the middle-aged cultivator paused for a moment, got off, and instructed the driver: "Wait for me here."
"Yes," the disciple bowed in response.
The middle-aged cultivator then plunged alone into the sideâs desolate forest.
The barren forest was deserted; thick layers of dead yellow leaves covered the ground, rustling underfoot.
The middle-aged cultivator walked into the forest, stepping on the fallen leaves, continuing forward for about a hundred steps, then looked up to see a young cultivator with refined eyebrows and deep eyes sitting on the bough before him.
The middle-aged cultivator looked at the young man ahead and bowed with a sigh, "Itâs been a long time since we parted outside Li Mountain City."
Mo Hua nodded, "Indeed, itâs been a long time."
His gaze was deep as he scrutinized the cultivator in front of him.
And this person was the same middle-aged cultivator who traveled with Young Master Yun and the skeletal elder.
Back in South Yue City and the ruined temple outside Li State City, he had had some interactions with him.
However, Mo Hua never expected him to be an elder of the Shen Family.