Chapter 81: Qian Xing

Looking at the ethereal presence of Xue-ayi, Zhang Lan found his gaze utterly captivated.

Mo Hua observed his lingering gaze with even greater disdain.

Zhang Lan cleared his throat, straightened his appearance, and with a face of seriousness tinged with flattery, addressed Xue-ayi:

“I am Zhang Lan. May I inquire, Daoist Friend...”

Xue-ayi didn't even acknowledge him. She turned directly to Mo Hua and said: “Mo Hua, we'll wait for you up ahead.” With that, she led Bai Zi Ying and Bai Zi Xi away, leaving Zhang Lan standing alone, stunned, his expression of flattery still frozen on his face.

Mo Hua's eyes toward Zhang Lan became somewhat sympathetic. He wanted to pat Zhang Lan's shoulder, but his height was insufficient. He couldn't reach, so he settled for patting his waist, saying:

“Everyone experiences setbacks, Uncle Zhang. Try to see the brighter side...”

These words of comfort, spoken in his childish voice, failed to offer even a hint of solace.

Zhang Lan remained bewildered: “My appearance isn't bad, my cultivation isn't low, and my every gesture carries the etiquette and demeanor of a family disciple. Why wouldn't she even speak a word to me?”

Although Mo Hua found his self-satisfied demeanor annoying, he felt there was some logic to his words.

“Perhaps Xue-ayi heard about your reputation as a 'scumbag,' and that's why she's avoiding you like the plague? Or maybe you should try changing your name?” Mo Hua suggested.

Zhang Lan stared at Mo Hua with a speechless expression.

Mo Hua offered a few more words of comfort, and Zhang Lan eventually let go of the earlier incident. After exchanging a few more words, Zhang Lan left with a look of regret.

Mo Hua then met up with Xue-ayi and the other two, and they continued to wander the streets for a while. They returned home just as the hour of Chou was nearing its end.

Bai Zi Ying returned loaded with purchases and even forced a pile of things onto Mo Hua. There were many strange and unusual items that Mo Hua couldn't refuse.

Mo Hua also bought some gifts for his father and mother. For Liu Ru Hua, he bought a fire-repelling hairpin. He had purchased it the day before yesterday, and the craftsmanship was much better than the previous one he had given her.

Mo Hua erased the array inside the hairpin and drew a new one himself, creating more intricate array patterns.

Before returning home for this purpose, he had specifically sought out Master Chen and asked him to help disassemble the hairpin. After redrawing the array, he asked Master Chen to reassemble it.

For Mo Shan, he bought a jade pendant. He had also disassembled the array inside and redrawn a clear miasma array. Once activated, this array could eliminate poisonous gas or miasma from the mountain to a certain extent, though its range wasn't large.

Both Mo Shan and Liu Ru Hua were very happy, not only because Mo Hua had brought gifts, but also because the gifts contained arrays that Mo Hua had personally drawn.

The excitement of the Demon Hunting Festival subsided, and Tong Xian City became quiet again. Cultivators returned to their usual lives.

Mo Hua was no exception. His cultivation was improving, and there were many things to learn about arrays.

One day, Mo Hua was walking home from Master Zhuang's place. He was strolling down the street, pondering Master Zhuang's teachings and considering which arrays he still needed to learn. Suddenly, he found his path blocked by a group of people.

Mo Hua looked up and saw a well-dressed young master in brocade robes, fanning himself with a sprinkled gold paper fan, his eyebrows and eyes appearing frivolous. He was standing directly in front of Mo Hua.

“Young Master Qian?”

Qian Xing, the youngest son of the Qian family head.

The Qian family was the most powerful and wealthiest family in Tong Xian City. Qian Xing was the son of the family head, the most direct descendant among the direct descendants, and the youngest in rank, making him the most pampered.

As the youngest, Qian Xing wasn't expected to inherit the family business, so his only concern was eating, drinking, and having fun. Mo Hua's only interaction with him was when he had written a few array homework assignments for him during their time at Tong Xian Gate.

“Is there something?”

Qian Xing smiled warmly, “Indeed there is. I need your help with a favor.”

“What is it?” Mo Hua had a feeling he wasn't up to anything good.

Qian Xing coughed lightly a few times and said: “The night of the Demon Hunting Festival, I happened to see you. There was a little girl behind you with a veil. Do you know her?”

A little girl with a veil? Was he talking about Bai Zi Xi?

“Sort of...”

Qian Xing was greatly pleased, his eyes revealing a hint of excitement. “Call her out. Let's get acquainted and become friends.”

On the night of the Demon Hunting Festival, Qian Xing had also mingled among the family disciples and had seen the little girl behind Mo Hua from a distance. Although she was young and veiled, that otherworldly temperament had captivated him, and he couldn't forget her after just one glance.

He had sent people to inquire about the little girl's origins, but there was no news. Then he thought of starting with Mo Hua. For the past few days, he had been searching for Mo Hua with his followers, and now he had finally found him.

“We're not familiar. I can't call her out,” Mo Hua said perfunctorily.

Qian Xing said: “You were strolling the street together. Don't say you're not familiar. I don't believe it. Don't worry, as long as you agree, I won't treat you unfairly. Do you want spirit stones, or spirit tools?”

Mo Hua calmly replied: “What if I don't agree?”

The smile on Qian Xing's face gradually faded. “I'm giving you face here.”

Your face isn't worth anything. No one would even pick it up if it were thrown on the ground...

Mo Hua had no intention of engaging with him further. He simply said: “I want to go home. Can you move?”

“Move?”

Qian Xing was momentarily stunned, then he let out a cold laugh: “Go ask around. In this Tong Xian City, it has always been others making way for Young Master I. No one has ever dared to tell me to move!”

Qian Xing's expression turned grim:

“I'll say it again. Call that little girl out and let me get acquainted with her. Then I won't pursue your earlier offense. Otherwise, I'll make your father and mother regret giving birth to you, and make you suffer in vain in this world!”

Mo Hua's eyes also grew colder. He said disdainfully:

“The first one to regret would be your father, for giving birth to a waste like you who only brings shame to this world!”

Who doesn't know how to scold? Since Qian Xing spoke first, Mo Hua saw no need to be polite.

Mo Hua thought he had only said a simple insult, but Qian Xing's reaction was beyond his expectation.

Qian Xing's face turned pale, then gradually twisted in anger.

The surroundings instantly fell much quieter.

The group of followers behind Qian Xing was also somewhat lost for a moment. They had been following Qian Xing and benefiting from his influence for so long, but this was the first time they had seen someone dare to scold Qian Xing in public.

Mo Hua was also a bit stunned.

He hadn't even said anything that harsh. Why did he get so upset?

If he couldn't even handle this, what would happen if he let loose the really harsh words he was brewing in his belly? Wouldn't Qian Xing just spit blood?

Indeed, spoiled people have more fragile Dao hearts...

Qian Xing's blood instantly rushed to his head. His eyes turned red, and even blood vessels appeared in them. His fingers trembled as he pointed at Mo Hua and roared ferociously:

“I want him dead! I want him dead!”

Mo Hua frowned. Just a few insults and he wanted to kill?

Qian Xing was infuriated to the point of madness. His followers behind him hesitated, “Young Master, do you really want to beat him to death?”

Qian Xing stared at him with blood-red eyes, “Either he dies, or you die. You choose!”

Most of them were illegitimate children of the Qian family or outer relatives attached to the Qian family. By following Qian Xing, they could get a little something, so they could only obey Qian Xing. If they angered Qian Xing, they would be thrown out of the Qian family like dead dogs.

But having followed Qian Xing for so long, they had done their share of dirty work, so there wasn't much burden on their hearts.

A Qian family disciple said sinisterly: “Kid, consider yourself unlucky. Next life, open your eyes wider.” With that, he threw a punch straight at Mo Hua's forehead.

This punch was both sinister and ruthless, clearly intended to kill.

However, this punch was still several feet away from Mo Hua when it was caught by someone.

The disciple whose fist was caught tried to break free, but he couldn't. Instead, he felt his bones creak. Before he could even cry out in pain, he was hit in the face with a punch. Blood spurted from his nose, and his body stumbled back from the strong force, finally crashing against the wall like a rag doll and collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

The other few people were shocked for a moment. They looked up and saw the sturdy youth who had appeared behind Mo Hua at some point.

It was Da Zhu, the apprentice of Master Chen from the tool refining shop.

Usually smiling foolishly, Da Zhu was expressionless at this moment. The muscles in his arms were like iron, and his whole being exuded an imposing aura without even needing to express anger. He stood silently behind Mo Hua.

Mo Hua's expression was as usual.

In this area of the south main street in Tong Xian City, if a fight broke out, his "connections" were quite extensive.