Chapter 236: Chapter 235 Oppression_1
“Can’t survive?” Mo Hua was stunned.
Ji Qingbai nodded, didn’t want to elaborate, but seeing that Mo Hua, though young, was very capable within Inner Mountain and was not to be underestimated in ability or temperament, he realized he couldn’t treat him as a child any longer.
Besides, if he intended to find a livelihood in Tongxian City in the future, he would inevitably have to trouble his father, Mo Shan, so he spoke truthfully:
“Qingxuan City is not like Tongxian City, where the Loose Cultivators no longer have Foundation Establishment Cultivators to protect them.”
“The last Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator in Qingxuan City, Elder Zheng, passed away a year ago. During this past year, without any Foundation Establishment Cultivators among us, we Loose Cultivators have been oppressed by the families, forced to live at their mercy, and life has become more difficult by the day.”
“Although it was tough before, we could still scrape by. But the spirit stones we earn are getting fewer each day, not to mention cultivating, even normal living expenses have become a struggle.”
“On top of that, those family heirs cause trouble every day, bullying the Loose Cultivators. If we swallow our pride, it’s bearable, but the moment we resist, they intensify their oppression even more viciously.”
“If things escalate and there’s a brawl, without a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to stand with us, the Loose Cultivators simply can’t oppose the family Cultivators and are essentially doomed to defeat.”
Ji Qingbai grew more and more infuriated as he spoke, and his wounds throbbed with pain.
Mo Hua handed him more pills.
Ji Qingbai took the pills and expressed his thanks, then looked at the unconscious female cultivator and said:
“This girl’s name is Fu Lan. Her father was a Monster Hunter brother of mine. He was accidentally eaten by a Monster Beast while hunting long ago, and her mother worked hard to raise her alone.”
“Last month, the young master of the Kong Family in Qingxuan City wanted to take her as a concubine. They say concubine, but she wouldn’t be treated as a human being. Her mother disagreed and was beaten to a severe injury by the Kong Family. She didn’t recover from her injuries and passed away in less than half a month.”
“Afterward, the Kong Family’s young master continued to pester her relentlessly. Ji Li and I couldn’t stand it anymore, so we stepped in to teach the young master a lesson, but it brought great trouble upon us and we made an enemy of the Kong Family. I had no choice but to take the two kids and flee Qingxuan City.”
“It’s hard for Loose Cultivators in nearby Immortal Cities, and after much thought, Tongxian City seemed the only slightly better choice. Moreover, with the Foundation Establishment Stage’s Elder Yu for protection, it would be safer.”
Ji Qingbai sighed, “But this journey has been full of hardships. First, the Kong Family pursued us, and barely escaping them, we entered Big Black Mountain, only to be ambushed by some Cultivators with unknown affiliations. My son and I nearly lost our lives.”
Feeling grateful, Ji Qingbai thanked Mo Hua, “If not for you, we probably would’ve had a slim chance of survival.”
Mo Hua said, “I’ve just been bluffing, it’s nothing really.”
At such a young age, to know how to bluff and get away unscathed, that’s both clever and capable.
Ji Qingbai silently admired in his heart.
Mo Hua, however, was thinking about the things Ji Qingbai had just mentioned. He felt angry, and somewhat puzzled:
“With the Kong Family committing such injustices, doesn’t the Taoist Court do anything about it?”
Ji Qingbai’s expression turned bitter, “The Taoist Court in Qingxuan City has been bribed by the Kong Family and a few other families. When Loose Cultivators break the law, they are punished according to it, but when the family heirs do, the Court turns a blind eye. The Taoist Court looks the other way and the matters are just brushed aside.”
Mo Hua furrowed his brow, “Then there’s no way to deal with it…”
Ji Qingbai shook his head, “If there were any way out, who would want to leave their hometown?”
Mo Hua felt a deep sense of melancholy upon hearing this.
If it weren’t for the Foundation Establishment’s Elder Yu, the fate of Qingxuan City today could very well be Tongxian City’s tomorrow.
As Ji Qingbai looked despondent, Mo Hua comforted him:
“Don’t worry, things are better now in Tongxian City, and nobody will bully you.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Qingbai brightened up a bit.
His needs were simple: to find a place to stay, earn some spirit stones, have enough food to eat, and keep his family alive.
In the following days, they all focused on healing. With nothing much to do, Mo Hua watched the big man beside him, suddenly feeling curious.
This entire journey, the big man hadn’t spoken a word.
He cursed fiercely, and Mo Hua had thought he was quite the chatterbox.
Mo Hua stared at the big man for a moment longer and then suddenly realized with surprise, he asked, “Aren’t you Elder Yu’s son?”
The big man was taken aback, frowning, “You know my dad?”
It was as he thought.
Looking at his features, Mo Hua faintly sensed a resemblance to Elder Yu, except he was more robust, while Elder Yu was much leaner.
Moreover, this burly man had a rather bad temper and was good at cursing others. His cursing, somewhat resembled that of Elder Yu, so it was clearly something learned from family.
“I’m quite familiar with Elder Yu,” Mo Hua said.
The burly man simply hmphed softly and didn’t reply.
But inwardly, he thought Mo Hua was boasting. His father was a Foundation Establishment Elder, and Mo Hua was only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, plus there was such a big age difference—how well could they possibly know each other?
Mo Hua then asked, “What’s your name?”
The burly man still didn’t want to answer.
Seeing this, Ji Qingbai stepped in, saying, “His name is Yu Chengwu.”
“Oh,” Mo Hua realized, “Is Uncle Yu, Yu Chengyi, your older brother then?”
Yu Chengwu looked astonished, “You know my older brother too?”
Mo Hua nodded and asked, “So should I call you Second Uncle Yu?”
“No need,” Yu Chengwu replied with indifference.
Mo Hua found it a bit strange and quietly asked Ji Qingbai:
“Is he always ? He must have a bad reputation.”
Others would talk to him, and still, he would be dismissive.
Ji Qingbai had a complex expression as he explained, “He’s usually quite talkative too, it’s just that he has some issues with your father, and that’s probably why he doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“He has issues with my father?”
This was unexpected for Mo Hua.
His father, Mo Shan, was known for his righteousness and had a good reputation among Monster Hunters; it was rare for him to have issues with anyone.
Based on the loves and hates of Cultivators, Mo Hua thought of five or six possibilities in an instant and then sought confirmation from Ji Qingbai:
“What kind of issues is it?”
“It’s not really a big issue,” Ji Qingbai sighed slightly, “He’s actually quite nice, it’s just that he likes to be competitive. He can’t beat your father, so he has a grudge against him.”
“That’s it?” Mo Hua felt it was somewhat anticlimactic.
Yu Chengwu spoke with displeasure, “What does a kid understand?”
Mo Hua didn’t want to argue with him but instead asked, “Do you know me?”
Yu Chengwu glanced at him, “The son of Mo Shan, of course, I recognize you.”
By his demeanor, it seemed he had known him for quite some time.
Mo Hua recalled for a moment and then asked, “Back when Qian Xing picked a fight, and Dazhu helped me, were you already watching from the side?”
Yu Chengwu raised his eyebrow in surprise, “Indeed.”
“Then why didn’t you intervene earlier?” Mo Hua asked, puzzled.
“Kids fighting, why should I intervene?” Yu Chengwu said indifferently, “Besides, your father is Mo Shan, I can’t be bothered to interfere.”
“Why did you get involved later then?”
“I don’t care how you kids fight, but when a latter-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Qian Family intervened, bullying a Loose Cultivator, then I couldn’t stand by and not care.”
Mo Hua nodded, thinking that though this man might have a grim face, he was actually quite righteous.
“Do you have a Wolf Fang Club?” Mo Hua continued to inquire.
Yu Chengwu appeared somewhat exasperated, “Didn’t you already know, I have an issue with your father.”
Why was he asking again and again?
“You have an issue with my father, that’s between you adults; what does that have to do with me?” Mo Hua argued confidently.
Moreover, the issue you have, when seen by a kid like me, seems quite childish…