Chapter 135: The Flower Thief (Part 4)_1
Zhang Lan felt his Tao cultivation life’s dark history had been thickly added to by this kid, Mo Hua.
He had guarded himself as if facing a great enemy, only to find a small cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refinement on the other side.
Zhang Lan couldn’t help but complain, “You tell me, what’s a kid your size doing running around in the mountains?!”
“There’s so much I do in the mountains: drawing maps, setting up formation arrays, collecting monster blood, searching for fragrances, gathering herbs, mining ores…”
Mo Hua counted them off on his fingers, one by one, to Zhang Lan.
Zhang Lan became exasperated, “Alright, alright, I get it.”
Zhang Lan was skeptical; Big Black Mountain wasn’t a place for a child to come…
Even he, a cultivator in the later stages of Qi Refinement, had to be extremely cautious when entering the mountain, let alone Mo Hua, a little cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refinement.
And based on Zhang Lan’s understanding of Mo Hua, although the child had some natural talent for setting up formation arrays, he was physically weak. If he encountered any monster beasts, he would surely be snatched away as a snack.
Talking about setting up formations and gathering herbs, that’s nonsense…
Zhang Lan didn’t believe it.
But he also knew that this lad Mo Hua was somewhat unusual, not quite fitting the normal Tao cultivation understanding.
So even though he didn’t believe, he didn’t say anything.
The two people behind him were still immersed in shock, completely ignoring what Mo Hua was saying.
Their inexperienced looks made Zhang Lan feel a bit better, feeling he had regained some face.
Mo Hua glanced at the two behind Zhang Lan and asked, “Who is this sister?”
“You’ve got the generation wrong,” Zhang Lan said, “You should call her Auntie.”
The female cultivator’s gaze was sharp as a knife as she glanced at Zhang Lan, then turned to Mo Hua with a pleasant expression, saying:
“Sister’s surname is Situ, with a simple name of Fang. Don’t listen to your Uncle Zhang, just call me sister.”
Zhang Lan was speechless.
Mo Hua sweetly called out “Sister”.
Situ Fang’s face lit up with a smile.
The man next to her said arrogantly, “My name is Situ Xiu.”
Mo Hua responded indifferently with an “Oh”.
Zhang Lan couldn’t help but say to Mo Hua:
“Go wash your face clean, and see what you look like, all covered in dirt.”
He had been scared by Mo Hua’s appearance earlier, and now looking at him was still somewhat uncomfortable.
Mo Hua found a small stream and washed his face clean.
The dirty little face immediately turned rosy and white, like a porcelain doll.
Situ Fang took a few more glances and couldn’t help but praise, “Such picturesque brows and eyes, so good looking!”
“Thank you, sister, you are also very beautiful!”
Mo Hua returned the compliment as a matter of courtesy.
Situ Fang’s face bloomed with joy.
Zhang Lan sighed and said to Mo Hua, “It’s getting late, why don’t you head back first?”
Situ Fang nodded in agreement, “There are monster beasts in the mountains, it’s not safe for you here, do you want sister to escort you down the mountain?”
Zhang Lan couldn’t help but give Situ Fang a look, “Have you forgotten about the important matter?”
Situ Fang was somewhat conflicted.
Mo Hua asked curiously, “What are you doing in the mountains?”
“Taoist Court business, can’t tell you.”
“You’re searching for someone, aren’t you?”
Zhang Lan’s head ached, “How did you know?”
“I heard when you guys were chatting earlier.”
Zhang Lan sighed again, he had no way to deal with Mo Hua.
Mo Hua’s pitch-black eyes shifted as he said, “How about I help you look for him?”
Situ Fang smiled and responded, “Thank you, little brother, but this matter is too dangerous. We can’t let you do that.”
Zhang Lan stood on the side, silent.
Mo Hua glanced at Zhang Lan and warned, “Big Black Mountain is very large. Without knowing the way, you could wander for ten days to half a month and still might not find the person.”
Zhang Lan frowned and after pondering for a moment, said, “Alright, you come with us.”
Situ Fang’s brow furrowed tightly. “Are you crazy? He’s just a child.”
Zhang Lan said helplessly, “Without him to guide us, we won’t only fail to find the person, but we might also get lost in the mountains.”
On the side, Situ Xiu let out a cold laugh, “With this kid guiding us, we won’t get lost?”
“We won’t!” Zhang Lan declared decisively, “We will get lost, he won’t!”
“If he could get lost, he wouldn’t have come to the mountain alone.”
Zhang Lan figured it out—Mo Hua, the child, wouldn’t do something without certainty. If he offered to help, he must be confident.
Situ Fang and Situ Xiu fell silent, the image of Mo Hua appearing soundlessly from the bushes surfacing in their minds again.
At the same time, the chilling sensation they felt earlier, when they were on full alert, also resurfaced.
The little cultivator before them might indeed not be a concern. What they should be concerned about, on the contrary, were themselves…
“That thief is quite dangerous…” Situ Fang still hesitated.
Zhang Lan said, “The three of us can’t protect him?”
With no response to give, Situ Fang fell silent, and Situ Xiu let out a cold huff but didn’t say anything else.
Mo Hua then asked, “Who are you looking for? Do you have any clues?”
Situ Fang glanced at Zhang Lan.
With things as they were, Zhang Lan didn’t hide anything anymore and said:
“We are pursuing a rapist.”
Mo Hua was taken aback for a moment, “Rapist?”
He had heard the term before, but not in the context of the Tao Cultivation World, so he wasn’t sure about the difference.
Zhang Lan explained, “A rapist is someone who uses Evil Path Skills to forcefully Replenish from women, enhancing their own cultivation. Such people are intolerable according to Taoist Law and will be pursued by the Taoist Court.”
Situ Fang nudged Zhang Lan with her elbow and whispered, “That’s about enough. Don’t talk about Replenishing and such in front of a child.” Her cheeks turned slightly red after speaking.
Zhang Lan hadn’t thought there was anything inappropriate, but now being nudged like that, he felt embarrassed to continue.
Mo Hua was somewhat disappointed; he had wanted to understand more.
“So, do you have any clues?”
“We have a portrait.” Zhang Lan unfolded a drawing.
The man in the portrait was young and handsome, but there was a sinister look in his eyes.
“So young?” Mo Hua remarked.
“Practicing Replenishing Evil Skills makes him appear young. In reality, he’s over a hundred years old. If he goes more than a month without Replenishing, his face will age…” Zhang Lan said.
Mo Hua was shocked, “There are such techniques?”
“There are many bizarre and wicked skills…” Zhang Lan then reminded Mo Hua, “You mustn’t learn them. Evil Path and Demon Path skills are cold and ruthless. Once entangled with them, one essentially annihilates their humanity…”
Mo Hua quickly nodded, taking the warning to heart.
Zhang Lan continued, “We have a lead that the rapist, cornered and wanted by the Taoist Court, has entered Big Black Mountain. He probably wouldn’t dare go into the Inner Mountain, so he’s likely in the outer areas. He should be between Lonely Cloud Peak and Broken Mountain Cliff…”
After Zhang Lan finished, Mo Hua had a rough idea in mind and said:
“Don’t worry. Since he’s in the outer mountain, he definitely can’t escape.”
Seeing this, Situ Fang couldn’t help but smile, “Then we’re counting on you.”
“Mhm!” Mo Hua nodded in agreement.
The rapist hiding in the outer mountain, practicing Evil Skills, over a hundred years old, the pursued Uncle Zhao…
Was the cultivator chasing Uncle Zhao the same rapist?
Mo Hua also wanted to catch this thief and find out the truth.