This question is a bit tricky and peculiar.
Shen Xiuyan thought for a moment and still shook his head, "In the past, the impoverished Mining Cultivators, when entering the mines for safety, would worship things not knowing whether they were Mountain Gods or spirits."
"But this is because they were poor, with low cultivation; when encountering danger, they couldn’t protect themselves and had to place their fate on the elusive mythical beings."
"The Shen Family’s mines are deep and solid, mostly mined with Spiritual Machines, and few people go down the mines, so it’s unnecessary and almost never builds such things..."
Mo Hua nodded, her gaze tightening, and then asked, "Then your Shen Family...would you massacre an entire family?"
Shen Xiuyan’s face stiffened.
Is it really appropriate to ask such a sharp question directly to him, a Shen Family Elder...
"No." Shen Xiuyan flatly denied.
"Really no?"
"If the Taoist Court were to know this, reported to the Taoist Court, my Shen Family wouldn’t be able to escape unscathed."
Mo Hua, suspicious, said, "But, your Shen Family’s Young Master seems very arrogant, ready to kill at the slightest disagreement."
That’s because he’s foolish, his eyes growing above his backside.
Shen Xiuyan cursed secretly.
He’s truly spoiled, lawless, daring to do anything.
"Great families often have wastrels, there’s no way around it." Shen Xiuyan said, "It’s not just the Shen Family; other Great Families are like this too, having some dark dealings more or less in secret."
"Great families are too large, with too many people, and even if the family rules are strict, they’re still beyond control."
"However, those with the backing, the legitimate ones who can act recklessly, are in the minority. Most family descendants still have to follow the rules and are far from being so free."
"Even if these legitimate disciples really make a mistake and kill someone, it doesn’t mean there’s no impact at all."
"In most cases, the family will find some branch members to ’take the blame’ for the legitimate ones, go to the Court Official to confess their crimes, and thus quell the situation."
"In this world, there’s nothing that comes entirely without cost, it’s just that..."
"It’s just that," Mo Hua said, "those with privileges will shift the cost onto others."
Shen Xiuyan sighed and nodded.
"The Young Master in Gushan Hongyan Building, is he called ’Young Master Qing’?" Mo Hua asked again.
"Yes," Shen Xiuyan said, giving the name of that Shen Family Young Master to Mo Hua, "His name is Shen Qingsheng."
"Shen Qingsheng..." Mo Hua repeated, "Is he also a legitimate descendant of the Shen Family?"
"Strictly speaking, not quite." Shen Xiuyan said. .
"What do you mean?"
Shen Xiuyan said, "This Shen Qingsheng, he’s a legitimate descendant raised halfway, with not a very pure bloodline, and without the protection of the ancestors." 𝖗á𐌽оВÈ𝘚
"Then how is he so prestigious?" Mo Hua was somewhat puzzled.
Shen Xiuyan explained, "His father is a real Powerful Elder, whose jurisdiction includes Solitary Mountain. In Solitary Mountain, he practically rules the place."
"Shen Qingsheng has thus gained from it, so long as he’s in Solitary Mountain City, almost no one dares to control him, and over time, he’s become this lawless personality."
"What’s his father called?" Mo Hua asked.
"Shen Shouxing." Shen Xiuyan said.
"Shen Shouxing, Shen Qingsheng..." Mo Hua nodded, "I remember."
He had asked about almost everything he wanted to know.
This trip had indeed revealed some clues, but not too many...
Mo Hua thought for a moment and then said, "Elder Xiu, could you help me find some Shen Family archives related to Solitary Mountain City? Especially those involving the mines from back then."
Shen Xiuyan frowned tightly.
Mo Hua said, "Never mind if they’re too confidential, ordinary level archives would suffice."
The truth often hides within ordinary details.
Moreover, Shen Xiuyan probably couldn’t get his hands on highly confidential archives.
Shen Xiuyan was a bit troubled but after thinking it over, he didn’t refuse.
He truly didn’t dare to owe Mo Hua any karma.
"Alright, I’ll go back and check." Shen Xiuyan said.
"Thank you, Elder Xiu." Mo Hua said politely.
Shen Xiuyan looked at Mo Hua, hesitated, and finally spoke slowly: "Young Master Mo, you should try... not to get involved in the Shen Family’s matters."
The Shen Family is vast, with deeply rooted power.
Mo Hua, after all, only has Foundation Establishment cultivation, opposing the Shen Family is really not wise.
And besides, it is difficult for him to handle.
But Shen Xiuyan could only subtly mention it, he dares not instruct this young master on how to act.
"Also, in Solitary Mountain City, be cautious of Shen Qingsheng." Shen Xiuyan added.
"Will they father and son target me?" Mo Hua raised an eyebrow.
"It’s not them as father and son," Shen Xiuyan shook his head, "It’s Shen Qingsheng."
Seeing Mo Hua somewhat confused, Shen Xiuyan explained:
"Shen Shouxing is a Powerful Elder. His background is not great, but he’s climbed step by step over the years. Such a person, when faced with benefits, is like a hungry wolf. But relatively, given there is no interest involved, he has a clear mind about what risks not to take, and whom not to offend."
"If Shen Shouxing hears about your status in Taixu Gate, he should know boundaries and won’t act against you. But his son, it’s uncertain..."
"Shen Qingsheng is Shen Shouxing’s only son, spoiled since childhood, arrogant and vengeful."
Noble juniors, always unruly. If they truly were restrained, they wouldn’t be considered unruly.
Mo Hua nodded, "Thank you, Elder Xiu, I understand."
Shen Xiuyan didn’t know if Mo Hua really understood, but he didn’t say more.
"Well, Young Master Mo, I..." Shen Xiuyan said in a low voice.
Mo Hua cupped his hands, "Elder Xiu, take care as you leave. I won’t hold you back."
With Mo Hua’s permission, Shen Xiuyan finally sighed in relief.
Although he is Golden Core, and a Sect Elder of Qian Learning Hundred Gates, in front of Mo Hua, he dared not show any arrogance.
Even thinking about the karma related to Mo Hua, the people he is connected with, those scenes in the ruined temple, made Shen Xiuyan’s heart grow cold.
"Young Master, take care, I shall leave first."
Shen Xiuyan clasped his fists in greeting to Mo Hua, then turned, walking slowly out of the barren forest, boarding the carriage, and gradually moving away along the mottled mountain road.
As night deepened, Mo Hua watched Shen Xiuyan’s retreating figure, his expression thoughtful.
After a moment, he also did not hesitate further, and walked to the other side of the mountain forest.
On the other side of the mountain road, a carriage was parked, Master Gu held the horse, standing in front of the carriage, looking alert.
Upon seeing Mo Hua, Master Gu eased up.
"Young Master, is the matter settled?" Master Gu asked.
"Yes." Mo Hua nodded, "It’s done."
"Good." Master Gu said.
He didn’t ask what Mo Hua had seen, or what he had done, but acted as if he knew nothing at all, "I will take you back to the sect."
To Taixu Gate, the journey is quite long, and the sky is dark, Master Gu was uneasy and dared not be careless.
"Thank you, Master Gu." Mo Hua said.
Then he got into the carriage, under Master Gu’s personal escort, taking advantage of the night, returned to Taixu Gate.
...
Two days later, Solitary Mountain City, Shen Family.
In a luxurious study.
Shen Qingsheng, who hadn’t fully recovered, his face still pale, with eyes red, shouted hysterically:
"How could it just end like this?!"
"Dad, I’m your son!"
"That petty little one from Taixu Gate, he humiliated me, he schemed against me, he almost... killed me!!"
Opposite Shen Qingsheng stood a middle-aged man with a hooked nose, whose face was somewhat ordinary. This man is Shen Qingsheng’s father, Shen Shouxing, the Powerful Elder of the Shen Family.
Shen Shouxing looked lightly at his son, his voice deep, and asked:
"How did he humiliate you, how did he scheme against you, and how did he almost kill you?"
Shen Qingsheng was ashamed and angry, gritting his teeth, "He, he... looked at me..."
"Your meaning is..." Shen Shouxing’s face indifferent, "He just looked at you, and almost killed you?"
Shen Qingsheng’s face turned blood red, painfully hot like branded iron.