Chapter 1088: The Past (2)

Chapter 1088: Chapter 676: The Past_2

Chapter 1088 -676: The Past_2

Gu Changhuai took a sip of tea and set the cup down. “Alright, speak. What do you need from me?”

Mo Hua looked puzzled. “How do you know I came to ask for something?”

Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua. “Take a guess.”

Mo Hua was momentarily stunned. “Uncle Gu, why are you mimicking me?”

Gu Changhuai froze for a second, then couldn’t help but say,

"Are you going to spit it out or not? If not, I’m going to leave.”

"Okay, okay,” Mo Hua nodded repeatedly. Without beating around the bush, he got straight to the point and said,

"Uncle Gu, if I have leads on a Sin Cultivator, can you issue a reward through the Taoist Court directly?”

"Then I’ll accept the reward, complete the task, earn merit points, and the Taoist Court catches the Sin Cultivator. It’s a win-win!”

Gu Changhuai’s expression froze. He couldn’t help but glance at Mo Hua. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”

Mo Hua replied humbly, “It’s not bad

Gu Changhuai shook his head and refused, “That’s against regulations.”

Mo Hua pouted, looking unconvinced.

He had compared it carefully. His plan obviously aligned with the Taoist Court’s procedures from start to finish.

The Taoist Court obtaining leads from elsewhere and issuing rewards versus obtaining leads from him and issuing tasks—there really wasn’t much difference.

There wasn’t any bribery involved in the process either.

Besides, he didn’t even have the Spirit Stones to bribe Uncle Gu.

It was purely because Uncle Gu didn’t want to help.

So, Mo Hua began to haggle. “Uncle Gu, if you don’t help me, I won’t help you in the future either.”

Gu Changhuai snorted. “Why would I need your help?”

As soon as he said this, he froze internally, realizing he had messed up.

Mo Hua flashed a sly grin, raised his fingers, and began ticking off points one by one:

"Like leads on Sin Cultivators, array investigations, restoring Transmission Tokens, deciphering Sealing Patterns and Secret Patterns

"And right now, I’m only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. My skills in Formations will only get better and better.”

"If you don’t help me now, and you need a favor from me in the future, don’t blame me for not honoring our relationship!”

Mo Hua’s small face was stern.

Gu Changhuai felt the previously smooth tea in his mouth turn slightly bitter.

He was being blackmailed!

A dignified Dao Court Canon of the Taoist Court, blackmailed by a kid barely past ten years old…

This was outrageous.

Gu Changhuai sat in silence for a long time, his mind turning over the situation. After much deliberation, he still couldn’t think of a way out.

Moreover, Mo Hua wasn’t entirely wrong. With his current level of mastery in Formations, it was entirely possible that the Taoist Court might need his help with complex cases in the future…

Gu Changhuai sighed. “Even if I issue the reward, it’s not guaranteed that you’d be able to accept it

"Rewards are issued to entire sects, not to individuals. Even if you qualify, others can accept it too. I might issue the reward, but the task wouldn’t necessarily land in your hands

Mo Hua asked, puzzled, “Doesn’t it require your approval first?”

Gu Changhuai explained, “There are requirements for rewards. If someone else meets the criteria, it’s not easy for us to refuse.”

"Then set stricter requirements?” Mo Hua suggested.

Gu Changhuai raised an eyebrow. “Such as?”

Mo Hua thought for a moment. “For example: Foundation Establishment Early Stage, proficient in Concealment Technique, adept at Second-grade Arrays, and skilled in Water Prison Technique… Things like that?”

Gu Changhuai’s face was expressionless. “Why don’t I just explicitly mark it: ‘This reward is exclusively for a Foundation Establishment Early Stage disciple from Taixu Gate named ‘Mo Hua’?”

Mo Hua scratched his head sheepishly. “Isn’t… isn’t that a bit too obvious?”

Gu Changhuai retorted irritably, “You’re aware it’s obvious?”

Mo Hua muttered softly, “It’s not like there’s anything wrong with that

Gu Changhuai sighed helplessly. After pondering for a moment, he said,

"I’ll think of a way. I’ll get back to you in a while.”

Mo Hua was overjoyed. “Thank you, Uncle Gu!”

Gu Changhuai gave a small nod.

He considered it carefully…

While there was a hint of favoritism in such an approach, it wasn’t entirely “against regulations.” Exchanging merit points for accomplishments was fundamentally the Taoist Court’s guiding principle.

Besides, Mo Hua’s grasp of Formations was… formidable, to put it mildly.

In the future, the Taoist Court might very well require his help with some thorny, intricate Formation-related cases.

This wasn’t blackmail; it was merely the Taoist Court nurturing and collaborating with “special Formation talents” for mutual benefit.

Thinking along these lines, Gu Changhuai felt much more at ease.

He picked up his tea, took a sip, and nodded slightly, finding the flavor not so bitter anymore.

With his goal achieved and the hour approaching noon, Mo Hua prepared to bid farewell to Gu Changhuai.

"Master Gu is treating me to lunch. I’ll be off now.”

Gu Changhuai blinked. “Master Gu?”

"Yep,” Mo Hua nodded.

"Which Master Gu?”

Gu Changhuai frowned, recalling a mention of “Master Gu” from earlier by Wenren Wan. He asked again, “The Gu Family’s Artifact Refining Master?”

Mo Hua nodded and said, “The Third Grade Artifact Refiner of the Gu Family’s Solitary Mountain Refinery Shop, the Golden Core Realm Master Gu!”

Gu Changhuai stared at Mo Hua, momentarily at a loss for words.

Solitary Mountain City, a remote branch family, a Third Grade Refinery Shop, and a Master Gu—a cultivator at Golden Core Realm…

"And he’s treating you to lunch?”

Gu Changhuai’s expression grew even more perplexed.

Mo Hua sighed. “Ah, what can I do? Master Gu insisted; I couldn’t refuse.”

Gu Changhuai was momentarily speechless.

He couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Within the Gu Family, Cousin Wan’er treated Mo Hua as if he were a nephew;

Their aunt, Elder Hong, often praised Mo Hua as clever, well-mannered, and handsome, even saying that once he grew up a bit, she’d personally find him a match;

Gu An and Gu Quan also frequently mentioned “Young Master Mo” in their conversations.

Now even a seemingly distant, remote family member—a Third Grade Artifact Refiner of Solitary Mountain Refinery Shop—was going out of their way to invite Mo Hua to lunch…

Gu Changhuai took a sharp breath.

This kid had been here barely over a year and had already established himself to this extent…