Chapter 677: The Past

"Gu Shifu?" Mo Hua was a little surprised.

Gu Shifu gave Mo Hua a kind smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Little Mo young master."

"Aren't you in Lonely Mountain City?" Mo Hua asked.

"There's a temporary matter, I needed to come to Qingzhou City," Gu Shifu said kindly.

"Oh."

Mo Hua nodded.

Gu Shifu hesitated slightly, then smiled and said, "Last time in Lonely Mountain City, I didn't entertain you well. Meeting again this time is also fate, I'd like to invite Little Mo young master for a drink of thin wine, I wonder if Little Mo young master is free..."

Although Gu Shifu expressed himself very kindly, as a Golden Core cultivator smiling at Mo Hua, a Foundation Building cultivator, his face still looked a bit awkward.

Moreover, it was clear that Gu Shifu wasn't very skilled at this kind of fawning.

Mo Hua shook his head, "I don't drink alcohol."

Especially strong alcohol, it was too spicy.

Fruit wine was fine, but cultivators generally didn't consider fruit wine as alcohol.

Gu Shifu looked a little disappointed.

Mo Hua said, "Eating a meal is fine."

Gu Shifu was startled, then felt as if a burden had been lifted from his heart. A trace of a smile appeared on his firm face. "Good."

It was good that he agreed.

It was still early, and Gu Shifu guessed that Mo Hua still had things to do, so he didn't bother him. He just arranged, "In Qingzhou City, there's an Immortal Crane Building. The spirit fish is fresh and delicious. At noon, I'll have a feast prepared at the Immortal Crane Building and respectfully await Little Mo young master."

"Just call me Mo Hua, no need to call me 'young master'," Mo Hua said.

Gu Shifu nodded and said, "Okay, Little Mo young master."

Mo Hua didn't know what to say.

After bidding farewell to Gu Shifu, Mo Hua went to greet Aunt Wan.

Wen Ren Wan was accompanying Yu Er to play.

Yu Er's complexion was getting better day by day, and she was getting more lively day by day. Before, she was so small and weak it was heartbreaking, but now she was lively and jumping, already a little mischievous.

Wen Ren Wan was extremely grateful to Mo Hua because of this. She felt even more that putting Yu Er into Tai Xu Gate, by Mo Hua's side, was an absolutely correct decision.

"If you encounter trouble in the sect that's difficult to resolve, go find Elder Murong. Elder Murong and I are like sisters..."

"For matters outside the sect, go find Chang Huai."

Wen Ren Wan pointed to Gu Chang Huai, who was sitting on the side drinking tea.

"He's from the Court of Justice. Although he's only a third-grade Golden Core, he still has some prestige in the Dao Court Division."

"If you have trouble, and Chang Huai doesn't take care of you, just come back and tell me..."

After Wen Ren Wan finished speaking, she looked at Mo Hua again, inexplicably feeling a little heartache. She sighed and said, "Throughout this entire Qian Xue state boundary, there are so many sects, so many disciples, but none are like you, this child. At such a young age, you are here alone seeking knowledge, with no parents or relatives by your side, no one to rely on, no one to dote on..."

"I'm afraid you'll be bullied in the sect and won't even dare to speak out..."

Wen Ren Wan was still a little worried.

Gu Chang Huai just sat silently to the side, his expression indifferent, not wanting to speak.

Who would bully him in the end?

That ferocious demon cultivator, Fire Buddha, chased and killed Mo Hua without success, resulting in his own chest being blown through.

Needless to say about others.

In this Qian Xue state boundary, on the surface, besides those sect elders and ancestors...

And within the four major sects, those who are the direct lines among the direct lines of truly great families, born with heavenly spirit roots, the heavenly prides among heavenly prides, who can still bully him in the end?

Furthermore, these great figures and true heavenly prides are all high above, living in completely different worlds. They might never intersect with Mo Hua in their lifetime.

It's not worth it for them to specifically come and bully a small Tai Xu Gate disciple.

Gu Chang Huai sighed.

He had already very tactfully mentioned to Wen Ren Wan that Mo Hua, this child, only looked pure, but in reality, he was full of wicked thoughts, narrow-minded, and black-hearted. There was fundamentally no need to worry about him.

He didn't know how many evil cultivators had fallen into his hands.

As a result, he didn't succeed in persuading her. Instead, he was reprimanded by Wen Ren Wan, who said he was narrow-minded and shameless for speaking ill of a child behind his back.

People are only willing to believe what they are willing to believe.

Gu Chang Huai was helpless, and thereafter he also knew better, no longer mentioning this matter.

Every time Wen Ren Wan cared about Mo Hua and worried that Mo Hua would be bullied, he would pretend not to hear.

Mo Hua was also a little embarrassed, so he said, "Aunt Wan, the sect elders, senior brothers, senior sisters, and fellow disciples are all very good to me, you don't need to worry."

Wen Ren Wan then nodded gladly.

After that, the two exchanged some pleasantries, talked about some gossip in the sect, and Yu Er's cultivation situation in Tai Xu Gate.

Wen Ren Wan wanted to leave.

She wasn't idle staying in Qingzhou City. Besides taking care of Yu Er, the ten or so large and small immortal cities nearby, and some of the Shangguan family, Wen Ren family, and Gu family's industries, were all managed by her alone.

But before parting, Wen Ren Wan's gaze slightly darkened, and she still admonished Mo Hua, "That Gu Shifu... if you have requests, you can ask him. If he has any intentions, you don't need to pay attention."

Mo Hua was startled.

Wen Ren Wan then tactfully said, "A few days ago, he entrusted some people to inquire about your identity in the Gu family."

Mo Hua suddenly understood, then smiled and said, "Thank you, Aunt Wan, I know."

Wen Ren Wan saw that Mo Hua understood and also smiled warmly, then got up and left.

Only Mo Hua and Gu Chang Huai were left in the living room.

Gu Chang Huai sat in the corner, drinking tea with an indifferent expression.

Mo Hua quietly approached and said in a low voice, "Uncle Gu, why are you free today?"

Gu Chang Huai didn't even lift his eyelids, using the lid of the cup to skim the foam from the bowl. "Cultivators of the Dao Court Division aren't like grinding donkeys, there are always some rest days."

Gu Chang Huai took a sip of tea, put down the cup, "Speak, what matter do you need to find me for?"

Mo Hua was puzzled, "How do you know I have something to find you for?"

Gu Chang Huai glanced at Mo Hua, "You guess."

Mo Hua was stunned, "Uncle Gu, why are you talking like me?"

Gu Chang Huai choked, and couldn't help saying, "Are you going to speak or not? If not, I might leave."

"Mm mm," Mo Hua nodded repeatedly, then didn't hide anything and said straight to the point, "Uncle Gu, suppose I have clues about an evil cultivator, can you directly issue a reward from the Dao Court Division?"

"Then I can take the reward, complete the task, and earn merit, and the Dao Court Division can also catch the evil cultivator. Kill two birds with one stone!"

Gu Chang Huai's expression was stunned, and he couldn't help but look at Mo Hua. "You calculate quite well..."

Mo Hua said modestly, "It's okay..."

Gu Chang Huai shook his head and refused, "This doesn't conform to the rules."

Mo Hua curled his lip, his face full of disbelief.

He compared it. His plan was clearly almost the same as the Dao Court Division's process from beginning to end.

There was no difference between the Dao Court Division getting clues from elsewhere and issuing rewards, and getting clues from him and issuing tasks.

There was no matter of receiving bribes involved either.

Moreover, he didn't have spirit stones to bribe Uncle Gu.

Uncle Gu was purely unwilling to help.

Mo Hua then bargained, "Uncle Gu, if you don't help me, I won't help you later either."

Gu Chang Huai hummed, "What do I need your help for?"

After he finished, his heart was startled, realizing something wasn't right.

Mo Hua smiled slyly, then raised a finger and counted to him one by one:

"Like evil cultivator clues, array investigation, transmission order restoration, seal pattern and secret pattern cracking..."

"Moreover, I am only in the initial stage of Foundation Building now, and my array skills will definitely get better and better."

"If you don't help me now, when you have matters to beg me for later, don't blame me for not giving face!"

Mo Hua put on a stern little face.

Gu Chang Huai felt the fresh tea in his mouth was a little bitter.

He was being threatened!

He, a dignified Justice Officer of the Dao Court Division, was being threatened by a little kid of ten years old...

It was truly absurd.

Gu Chang Huai was silent for a long time, his thoughts turning, but he thought for a long time, still with no solution.

Moreover, Mo Hua was right. With his current array level, it was hard to say that the matters of the Dao Court Division might not really need him later...

Gu Chang Huai sighed, "Even if I issue a reward, you won't necessarily get it..."

"Rewards are issued to sects, not to you personally. If you can take it, others can also take it. Even if I issue it, the task doesn't necessarily fall to you..."

Mo Hua said doubtfully, "Don't I just need your agreement?"

Gu Chang Huai said, "Rewards have requirements. If others meet the requirements, we generally can't refuse."

"Then make the requirements stricter?" Mo Hua said.

Gu Chang Huai raised an eyebrow, "For example?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, "For example: initial stage of Foundation Building, skilled in concealment technique, skilled in second-grade arrays, skilled in water prison technique... these?"

Gu Chang Huai was expressionless, "Or, I can directly mark that this reward is only for a disciple named 'Mo Hua' in the initial stage of Foundation Building at Tai Xu Gate."

Mo Hua said a little awkwardly, "Is... is it a little too obvious?"

Gu Chang Huai said angrily, "You still know it's obvious?"

Mo Hua muttered in a low voice, "It doesn't matter anyway..."

Gu Chang Huai was helpless and thought for a moment, saying, "I'll think of a way, I'll tell you after a while."

Mo Hua was overjoyed, "Thank you, Uncle Gu!"

Gu Chang Huai nodded slightly.

He considered it a bit...

Although this kind of matter had some suspicion of using backdoors, it wasn't entirely "non-standard". Exchanging merit for merit was originally the principle of the Dao Court Division.

Moreover, Mo Hua's array attainments were profound to the point of being... a little scary.

In the future, some thorny cases in the Dao Court Division, involving tricky and complex arrays, might really require begging this child, Mo Hua.

This was absolutely not him being threatened, but the Dao Court Division carrying out "mutual benefit" cooperation to win over "special array talent".

Thinking this way, Gu Chang Huai felt much more at ease.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and nodded slightly, feeling that the tea flavor wasn't that bitter.

His purpose was achieved, and it was getting late, almost noon. Mo Hua then bid farewell to Gu Chang Huai.

"Gu Shifu wants to invite me for a meal, I'll leave first."

Gu Chang Huai was startled, "Gu Shifu?"

"Mm." Mo Hua nodded.

"Which Gu Shifu?"

Gu Chang Huai frowned. He thought of the "Gu Shifu" Wen Ren Wan just mentioned and then said, "Our Gu family's refining master?"

Mo Hua nodded and said, "The Gu family's third-grade refining shop in Lonely Mountain, the Golden Core realm Gu Shifu!"

Gu Chang Huai looked at Mo Hua, a little dazed for a moment.

Remote Lonely Mountain City, a third-grade refining shop, Gu Shifu, still in the Golden Core realm...

"Invite you for a meal?"

Gu Chang Huai's expression was even more puzzled.

Mo Hua sighed, "Alas, there's no other way, Gu Shifu's hospitality is hard to decline, I also couldn't push it away."

Gu Chang Huai was speechless for a moment.

He didn't understand.

Among the Gu family, Cousin Wan Er treated Mo Hua as a real nephew;

Aunt Hong Elder also often said that Mo Hua was well-behaved, smart, and handsome, and that when he grew up a bit, she would definitely personally find a marriage for this child;

Gu An and Gu Quan also constantly had "Little Mo young master" on their lips;

Now, even in a remote place, a third-grade refining master of the Gu family also specifically invited Mo Hua for a meal...

Gu Chang Huai slightly drew in a breath.

How long had this child just come? A little over a year, and he had already blended in to this extent...

If it were another ten years, wouldn't the Gu family simply change its surname to "Mo"?

Mo Hua saw that Gu Chang Huai's face was full of melancholy, still thinking that it was because he was invited for a meal while no one invited him, so his heart was melancholy as if lost. He then quietly said, "Uncle Gu, or... you can come along?"

"I heard we're going to Immortal Crane Building to eat spirit fish, it tastes very fresh and delicious..."

Gu Chang Huai's face immediately darkened.

Mo Hua then knew better than to speak and only muttered in a low voice, "If you don't go, then don't go, you don't know what's good for you..."

These words were heard by Gu Chang Huai.

Seeing Gu Chang Huai's face darken even more, Mo Hua immediately got up and said, "I can't let Gu Shifu wait long, I'll leave first!" Then he ran away like smoke.

The living room was spacious, leaving only Gu Chang Huai sitting in his original place, sighing helplessly.

Qingzhou City, Immortal Crane Building.

Private room on the third floor.

The table was laid with four dishes and one soup, all complete in color, aroma, and taste.

The dishes were different types of spirit fish, and the soup was crystal clear and delicious fish soup.

Mo Hua ate the fresh and tender fish meat, sipping the fresh and delicious fish soup in small mouthfuls, his eyes slightly narrowed, extremely happy.

Gu Shifu saw Mo Hua eating happily and silently breathed a sigh of relief.

While the two ate, they exchanged some bland pleasantries. Mo Hua then brought up the main topic:

"Gu Shifu, there's a matter, I want to ask you for a favor."

Gu Shifu not only didn't find it troublesome, but was very happy, and generously said, "Just say it, Little Mo young master. As long as it's within my power, I will definitely spare no effort."

Mo Hua smiled and asked, "Gu Shifu, can you help me refine some array mediums?"

"Array mediums..."

Gu Shifu wasn't surprised and didn't ask further, saying straightforwardly, "No problem!"

Then he asked again, "Just don't know, what kind of array mediums does little young master want?"

Mo Hua had already prepared. He took out several array diagrams from his storage bag and handed them to Gu Shifu.

On the diagrams were some array mediums he had designed himself according to the array structure and his own needs.

The types of array mediums were also relatively simple, mostly some basic array flags and array disks.

Gu Shifu just took a look and felt a bit rough, indeed like things designed by a novice, but he didn't say anything.

Although they were a bit rough and would waste some refining materials, the functions were complete, the structure was intact, and there was no problem using them.

"How many does little young master want?" Gu Shifu asked.

Mo Hua himself wasn't wealthy and didn't like to pretend to be rich, so he honestly asked first, "How many spirit stones each?"

Gu Shifu was a little surprised, he rarely encountered a "young master" whose actions were as plain as Mo Hua's.

"If young master wants a few, only dozens, then take them as a gift from me."

"If you want many, several hundreds to thousands, I will also only charge some cost..."

Gu Shifu looked at the diagrams again and estimated slightly:

"Because they are all second-grade array mediums, and the materials are not precious, the price is not too high. An array disk is probably fifty spirit stones, and the array flag material is special, it will cost sixty-five spirit stones each..."

Mo Hua nodded slightly.

This was cheaper than he had thought before.

But he was also a little hesitant.

He originally only wanted to refine a dozen array mediums to play with, but Gu Shifu was a third-grade refining master. Refining this little was really hard to ask for.

Refining many was too wasteful of spirit stones. He wasn't a child of a prominent family and didn't have that many spirit stones to squander.

Gu Shifu seemed to see Mo Hua's worry and thought for a moment, saying, "How about this, I'll refine twenty of each type first, and then send them to little young master to look at the quality, evaluate the pros and cons, just take it as exchanging array medium insights..."

Where did Mo Hua have any array medium insights?

Those few array medium diagrams of his were all copied from refining books and modified by himself.

His only insight into array mediums was the "soil" of the ground.

But he also knew that this was Gu Shifu showing goodwill.

"This way is too much trouble for you..." Mo Hua asked in a low voice.

Gu Shifu waved his hand, "What trouble or not trouble, just a few second-grade array mediums. I'm idle anyway, just take it as warming up my hands..."

Mo Hua was also not polite, "Then many thanks, Gu Shifu."

Gu Shifu cupped his hands, "Little young master is too polite."

After that, the waiter served two more dishes, one steamed bighead fish and one fried big golden fish, both of which Mo Hua had never eaten before.

"Young master, taste it," Gu Shifu greeted.

Mo Hua tasted it and praised, "Delicious."

Gu Shifu's face was smiling.

After that, the two chatted for a while. It was all Mo Hua asking and Gu Shifu answering.

If Mo Hua didn't ask, Gu Shifu just served Mo Hua dishes, but he didn't actively ask anything or actively say anything.

Mo Hua originally thought that since Gu Shifu invited him for a meal, he must have some matter.

But looking now, he seemed to be purely inviting a guest, without mixing other purposes.

After eating and drinking to his fill, Mo Hua thought of a problem and took the opportunity to ask:

"Gu Shifu, Lonely Mountain is a third-grade state boundary, how does it look..."

Mo Hua paused for a moment, still deciding to tell the truth, "...so poor?"

Gu Shifu was startled, and his face couldn't help but show a bitter smile.

"Can't say?" Mo Hua asked.

Gu Shifu shook his head, "There's nothing that can't be said. Since little young master asked, it won't hurt to say a bit..."

Gu Shifu sighed and said slowly, "This matter is actually simple..."

"Several hundred years ago, the mines in Lonely Mountain City were continuous, and the mineral resources were rich, so it was actually very prosperous."

"Moreover, at that time, the minerals produced had a high degree of spirit power compatibility, which was very suitable for refining 'array mediums'."

"As the saying goes, rely on the mountain to eat the mountain. Lonely Mountain City relied on the mines behind it. The cultivators in the city mostly made a living from refining, especially refining 'array mediums'."

"Although they couldn't become rich, their days were still not bad."

"What happened later?" Mo Hua took a sip of fish soup and asked curiously.

"Later..."

Gu Shifu sighed, "Later, some big families in Qian State took a fancy to the large mines in Lonely Mountain City, and then thought of buying them down to refine some luxurious spirit tools."

Mo Hua frowned, "Luxurious spirit tools?"

Gu Shifu said, "Just some glazed tiles, colorful lights, gold and jade resplendent bricks and stones, gold-plated overflowing carriages, and so on..."

"These things are not cheap to produce, and the selling price is even more expensive."

Mo Hua didn't understand, "Besides being good-looking, do these things have any other uses?"

Gu Shifu sighed and said, "This is to show identity. For some people, this is more useful than anything."

"Did the cultivators in Lonely Mountain City agree?"

Gu Shifu frowned, "Some agreed, some didn't, but those who didn't agree were eventually forced to agree."

"In the face of huge behemoth-like big families, the cultivators in Lonely Mountain City, including scattered cultivators and some small families, had no room for resistance."

Gu Shifu's expression was bitter.

"Didn't the Dao Court Division manage it?"

Gu Shifu didn't dare to say clearly, only tactfully asked, "Where do you guess all the cultivators serving in the Dao Court Division are from?"

Mo Hua's gaze slightly darkened.

Gu Shifu sighed, "Moreover, this matter on the surface, all procedures, all legal and compliant."

"The big families did 'buy' down, or 'rent' down these mines from the hands of Lonely Mountain City's cultivators."

"On the spirit contracts, the spirit power handprints were all pressed clearly."

"The big families 'followed the rules', the Dao Court Division 'followed the laws', and the cultivators in Lonely Mountain City had no way at all."

"Thereafter, various big families then established refining shops within Lonely Mountain City and mined minerals day and night."

"At first, the cultivators in Lonely Mountain City still protested, caused trouble, and created some disturbances."

"Later, the big families decided to only employ local cultivators to mine the mines, and the price given was not low either."

"Local cultivators got spirit stones, and gradually restrained their dissatisfaction and settled down."

"But..."

Gu Shifu shook his head, "The big families, relying on large spirit machines and arrays, mined too ruthlessly."

"In merely less than one hundred years, they directly mined all the mineral veins to waste."

"After that, the big families all left, leaving only a piece of abandoned mines."

"The foundation on which the cultivators in Lonely Mountain City relied for a living was destroyed in one go, and thereafter they gradually declined."

"Some small families went directly bankrupt, huddled together, unable to afford even a meal, and could only each seek a livelihood, re-divide the family, and become scattered cultivators again."

"As for scattered cultivators, they could only look out for themselves."

"Those who could leave left. Those who couldn't, and had no livelihood outside, could only stay in Lonely Mountain City, pick some broken minerals from the abandoned mines, go to rundown refining shops, exchange for one or two spirit stones, barely making ends meet..."

Mo Hua's expression was dazed.

He was clearly in Qian State, but in a trance, he felt as if he was back in Li State, back to those low-grade, hard small state boundaries in Li State.

The human way, damaging the insufficient to supply the surplus...

(End of this chapter)