Chapter 941: Take Sides

The Gu Master looked at the person in front of him, whose face bloomed like an autumn chrysanthemum and whose smile was brighter than sunlight. He was a big man, and the Gu Master was involuntarily stunned.

Was this that Fan Jin, Fan Dian Si?

He almost didn't recognize him...

Mo Hua also laughed, "Fan Dian Si, long time no see."

"Long time no see, long time no see," Fan Dian Si said happily. Then he bent down his tall body, extended a hand, and made a gesture of invitation, "Young master, Gu Master, please come inside."

"Fan Dian Si is too polite," Mo Hua laughed.

"Not polite, not polite."

Fan Dian Si walked in front, leading Mo Hua and the Gu Master into the inner hall. After they sat down, he called out, "Someone!"

The Zhi Si from before walked over.

Fan Jin said, "Serve tea." And then, afraid that his subordinate would act stupid and lack awareness, he instructed him again in a low voice, "Serve good tea."

Zhi Si was stunned for a moment and inquired in a low voice, "Dian Si, is it... the tea in that top compartment? The last time the Gu Master came..."

Fan Jin used his eyes to command him to shut up and said in a low voice, "An even better one."

Zhi Si muttered, "It seems... there isn't a better one..."

Fan Jin's old face turned red, and he started to get angry in his heart again.

This stupid fellow, his brain was really made of elm wood.

Stuck with such a subordinate, he really couldn't make any progress.

"Above that, there's still a small box, and inside the box is a jade box..."

Zhi Si nodded, suddenly stunned, "Isn't that what the Palm Si treasured..."

If it weren't for the distinguished guests present, Fan Jin would have loved to kick him.

"Just go and get it if I tell you to. Where does all this nonsense come from?"

Seeing that Fan Jin seemed genuinely angry, Zhi Si didn't dare to nag any further. He immediately said, "Yes," and ran off to 'steal' the tea.

Fan Jin sighed in relief. Turning his head, he saw Mo Hua's pair of clear, large eyes staring at him. His old face involuntarily turned red, and he laughed awkwardly:

"This poor, remote place, the subordinates I've recruited are also a bit stupid. It's made the young master laugh."

"Fan Dian Si is being modest," Mo Hua said curiously, "However, you're using the Palm Si's tea to entertain me. If your Palm Si finds out, won't he blame you?"

"Where are those words coming from?" Fan Jin laughed, "If the Palm Si knew that his tea could entertain Young Master Mo, he would be too happy to have the time to be upset."

What kind of person was the young master in front of him? How could Fan Jin not know?

A prodigy of the eight great sects, the little monster of Tai Xu Gate.

The last time he heard Mo Hua's name, Fan Jin had his suspicions.

Later, he tried every means to verify it and found that it was indeed correct!

At the Dao Discussion Assembly, with a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment mid-stage, he single-handedly suppressed the four sects, emerged as the absolute champion of the eight sects, surpassed thousands of Qian Xue sect disciples, and claimed the top spot as the "Array Dao Leader."

Initially, Fan Jin was completely ignorant of array methods and didn't pay much attention to the Array Discussion Assembly.

But there was no way around it. A Foundation Establishment mid-stage Array Dao Leader was simply too "abnormal," so abnormal that even he, a Dian Si in Gu Shan City who had never cared about array matters, had heard of Mo Hua's great name.

Such a person drank the Palm Si's tea.

The Palm Si would have enough material to boast about for three years if he went out.

Not only would he not blame himself, but he might even thank him.

After a while, the tea was served. The tea soup was green and bright, with a rich fragrance. It was indeed good tea.

Mo Hua took a sip and nodded.

Fan Jin observed his expression. Seeing Mo Hua nod with a satisfied look, he seemed relieved. At the same time, the smile on his face deepened:

"May I know the reason for the young master and Gu Master's visit?"

Mo Hua looked at the Gu Master and said, "The Gu Master and I went to Gu Shan once. When we returned, we discovered some traces that looked like they were left by tomb robbers. We thought this matter was a bit suspicious, so we specifically came to the Dao Ting Si to inform Fan Dian Si."

"Tomb robbing?" Fan Jin was a bit surprised.

"Fan Dian Si, have you not discovered any signs of this before?"

"No," Fan Jin shook his head, somewhat puzzled. He muttered in his heart, "Gu Shan is a godforsaken place, what tomb is there to rob? They're probably out of their minds..."

Of course, he didn't dare to neglect the problem Mo Hua mentioned and immediately guaranteed, "Young master, rest assured. I will certainly investigate thoroughly afterward to prevent any petty thieves from plotting improper schemes."

Mo Hua nodded, lowered his head, and sipped a mouthful of tea. Feeling the tea water enter his throat, with a sweet aftertaste, his mood also improved slightly.

But when he looked up, he noticed that Fan Jin was drinking tea like a cow chewing on a peony, pouring it into his mouth. On the surface, he was as usual, but his divine soul was restless, seemingly with some inner turmoil.

Mo Hua's heart stirred slightly, and then he asked, "Fan Dian Si, is your promotion matter not going too smoothly?"

Fan Dian Si was startled and surprised, "How did you see that?"

Mo Hua drank a mouthful of tea and didn't speak.

Fan Dian Si also didn't feel it was appropriate to ask again. He sighed and said, "To be honest with the young master, things have indeed been... not smooth recently."

Mo Hua asked, "You should have accumulated quite a few merits from the encirclement of the Demon Sect last time, right?"

A large part of the intelligence about the Demon Sect was "leaked" to the Dao Ting Si by Mo Hua after he dug it out using Lei Ci.

Mo Hua also clearly understood many of the Dao Ting Si's plans.

While Fan Dian Si didn't achieve any major merits in eliminating the Demon Sect, he was diligent and hardworking, not afraid of hardship. Even if they were just ordinary small merits, when accumulated, they amounted to quite a bit.

Mo Hua roughly calculated that with Fan Dian Si's desperate efforts, his accumulated merits, while not enough to elevate him to a fifth-rank Qian Xue Dao Ting Si in one step, should be sufficient to promote him to a fourth-rank, or at least transfer him to another slightly more prosperous third-rank state.

Fan Jin was depressed and had no one to confide in in Gu Shan. Now that the topic was open, he poured out his thoughts like beans, telling Mo Hua:

"To be honest with the young master, my merits should be sufficient. I even specifically consulted Gu Dian Si before, and Gu Dian Si said that according to the regulations of the Dao Ting Si, generally speaking, there should be no problem. Even if I don't get promoted, I can at least be transferred horizontally."

"I was originally extremely happy, just sitting at home waiting for good news. But who knew that the process would go on and on, and in the end, it was still stuck. The superiors said that my qualifications were insufficient and still needed to be examined. That damn..."

Fan Jin was not careful and blurted out a swear word.

Mo Hua asked, "Do you know who is blocking you?"

Fan Jin smiled bitterly, "These kinds of internal promotion matters in the Dao Ting Si, as a powerless small Dian Si, where do I have the qualification to know? I'm just like a chess piece, manipulated by those above."

Mo Hua glanced at Fan Jin without showing any emotion.

According to his knowledge, appointments in the Dao Ting Si mostly relied on interests and connections, but they wouldn't unreasonably block a small Dian Si's promotion.

Perhaps someone wanted to keep Fan Dian Si in Gu Shan City?

It was better not to move him.

Someone didn't want to see personnel changes in the Dao Ting Si of Gu Shan City...

"Fan Dian Si," Mo Hua asked, "Are you familiar with the Shen family?"

Fan Jin was slightly startled, "The Shen family?"

"Yes."

Fan Jin pondered for a moment, "I have dealt with them some, but the Shen family's threshold is too high. I can't climb to make friends, so I can't be considered familiar."

Mo Hua nodded and asked again, "North of Gu Shan, there is a large mountain area belonging to the Shen family. Is the Shen family still mining that mountain area now?"

Fan Jin shook his head, "I'm not sure about other things, but it's absolutely impossible to mine that mountain again. That year, various families passed through like locusts, mining out everything that could be mined in Gu Shan, not even leaving the soup. How could there still be anything to mine now?"

"Since there's nothing to mine, why does the Shen family still occupy that mountain area and not let others approach?" Mo Hua was somewhat puzzled.

"This... is indeed a bit strange," Fan Jin frowned, "But this mountain area was bought by the Shen family after all. They can do whatever they want, and others can't control them..."

As Fan Jin spoke, he looked at Mo Hua suspiciously and asked in a low voice, "Young master, why are you... asking about the Shen family's matters?"

"It's nothing," Mo Hua blinked his eyes and said casually, "I passed by, saw it, was curious in my heart, and just asked casually."

"Oh..."

Fan Jin was half-believing and half-doubting.

Mo Hua drank another mouthful of tea, then stood up to bid farewell, "It's getting late, I should go back."

Fan Jin panicked and immediately said, "Young master has come from afar, you must allow me to fulfill my host's hospitality and properly entertain you."

"Fan Dian Si is too polite," Mo Hua declined.

Fan Jin pleaded, "Please, Young Master, give me face."

He didn't want this "noble person" who had delivered himself to his door to just leave like this. Wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?

At least have a meal and build a relationship. Otherwise, if he missed this opportunity, he wouldn't know if he would ever have it again in his lifetime.

Mo Hua was a little hesitant.

He wasn't being falsely polite, but his remaining time was limited, and he really had other matters to investigate.

Seeing the situation, Fan Jin immediately said, "Young master, I invite you to Hong Yan Tower as a guest. This is the largest restaurant in Gu Shan City."

The largest restaurant?

Mo Hua's heart stirred. "Is this restaurant perhaps the Shen family's property?"

"Exactly," Fan Jin said.

Mo Hua's gaze flickered slightly, and he nodded, "Then I'll let Fan Dian Si treat."

"Where, where." Fan Dian Si was overjoyed, cupped his hands and said, "Young master, please."

"Please."

The Gu Master on the side saw the situation and muttered in his heart, "This big head, Fan Jin, is really willing to spend money... But to be fair, with his eyesight and planning skills, if he wasn't really too poor in origin, with no power, influence, or connections, he would have definitely made a name for himself early on."

After Fan Jin led the way, the group left the Dao Ting Si and headed to the largest restaurant located in the most prosperous section of Gu Shan City:

Hong Yan Tower.

Arriving in front of Hong Yan Tower, Mo Hua looked up and was somewhat surprised.

This building was too grand.

In a remote and poor third-rank immortal city, the restaurant within the city, its opulence and magnificence, were actually not inferior to some high-end restaurants within the fifth-rank state of Tai Xu City.

Indeed, no matter how poor a place was, there were rich people.

Conversely, precisely because in some places, rich people were too rich, poor people were even poorer.

"Shen family..."

Mo Hua's gaze condensed slightly.

Fan Jin booked an elegant room in Hong Yan Tower, ordered a table full of delicacies, and specifically entertained Mo Hua.

At the banquet, Fan Jin kept refilling Mo Hua's wine and dishes.

He was clearly a Golden Core, with a sturdy physique, but he did these things with incomparable skill, no worse than swinging a hammer to kill Demon cultivators.

Mo Hua even praised him as a talent.

After three rounds of wine, the three of them exchanged pleasantries, talked about some casual things, and the atmosphere became much more familiar.

Mo Hua then asked, "Does the Shen family have many businesses in Gu Shan City?"

"That's natural," Fan Jin drank wine, his face red, and pointed to the ceiling, "This Hong Yan Tower is the Shen family's. Besides, on the way here, those things you saw like the Dan Cabinet, Refine Tool Cabinet, Merchant Cabinet... they're all the Shen family's."

And some things that were not suitable for children, Fan Jin didn't say.

Those smoky willow places were mostly some vulgar courtesans used to entertain and make business deals.

A character like the young master, who was as pure as clear wind and bright moon, shouldn't be exposed to this dirty air.

Fan Jin said, "These were all businesses set up by the Shen family here during the prosperous times of Gu Shan to mine the Ming Huang Copper Mine."

"The Shen family bought the mountain area, mined the mine, earned a wave of spirit stones, set up businesses for eating, drinking, and entertainment, and earned another wave."

Mo Hua frowned, thinking of something: "As the saying goes, rely on the mountain to eat from the mountain. According to the general regulations of the Dao Ting, Gu Shan City is adjacent to Gu Shan, so the mineral resources of Gu Shan should be jointly owned by the cultivators of this city. Why would they sell it to the Shen family?"

"This situation is just more complicated..." Fan Jin found it a bit difficult to explain.

Mo Hua poured him a cup of wine.

Fan Jin immediately flattered him, and in the end, sighed, "Alright, this kind of matter is known by everyone with eyes, and I won't hide it from the young master..."

"The regulations of the Dao Ting are just regulations. The mines in Gu Shan are nominally occupied by all cultivators in Gu Shan City. But in reality, who occupies how much, and who can occupy more or less, there are too many hidden secrets within this."

"Local small families have ancestral properties and can occupy a small piece of mountain area."

"Scattered cultivators of the same clan and surname can also mine in designated mountain areas."

"There are also some scattered mines for scattered cultivators with no family or sect to mine for a living."

"Of course, the Dao Ting Si can also occupy a piece..."

"Overall, although it's chaotic, it's relatively reasonable, and everyone can have a meal. The minerals of the entire Gu Shan are also enough to support the people of this city."

Fan Jin shook his head and sighed, "But later, the various families, especially the Shen family, they came and it was just different..."

"Scattered cultivators are mostly ignorant and short-sighted. When the Shen family came, they wanted to buy mines at a high price, and many greedy people immediately sold."

"If they didn't sell, they would be persecuted by the Shen family."

"Some people wanted to gather a crowd to resist the Shen family. But people's hearts are different. Some are greedy for money, some are greedy for beauty, and some still want to attach themselves. They were secretly used by the Shen family, and then they were divided, unable to form a cohesive force."

"This back and forth, large areas of mountains, were all sold to the Shen family."

Mo Hua's brows furrowed slightly, "With all the mines sold, what do the cultivators of Gu Shan City still rely on to eat?"

Fan Jin said, "The Shen family initially promised that after buying the mines, they would still recruit scattered cultivators to mine for them, and they promised a not-low price."

Fan Jin couldn't help but sneer, not knowing whether he was sneering at the Shen family or at the scattered cultivators.

"The result was that once the mines were sold, if you wanted the Shen family to honor their promise again, they would ignore you."

"Big clans like the Shen family, with developed industries, built large spirit machines, and cooperated with arrays to mine, like an assembly line. Where would they still need those scattered cultivators at the bottom who sold their labor, hitting one hammer and one pick at a time?"

"Scattered cultivators knew they were cheated, and when they wanted to make trouble again, it was no use. The mines were already someone else's, and the spirit contracts were written clearly."

"Even afterward, due to mine disputes, there were several fights between families and scattered cultivators, but how could arms twist over thighs?"

"Some blood was shed, some people died, and the scattered cultivators became a plate of loose sand, nothing more."

"Then later..." Fan Jin looked towards the desolate Gu Shan outside the window, "The families finished mining the mines, carried the rich minerals, and directly withdrew, leaving behind a broken Gu Shan. The cultivators of Gu Shan City had no livelihood. Some died, some fled, and the population sharply declined. Gu Shan City thus declined and became the way it is now..."

Fan Jin finished speaking, his expression full of sighs. The Gu Master also felt emotional in his heart.

The atmosphere was somewhat depressed for a time.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment, his gaze flickering slightly. He said to Fan Jin, "Speaking of this matter, the Dao Ting Si can't escape responsibility, right?"

The families coerced and lured scattered cultivators, signed spirit contracts, annexed mines, and then suppressed the scattered cultivators' riots.

No need to think, there was definitely the Dao Ting Si fanning the flames within this.

Otherwise, with many regulations involved, the Shen family simply wouldn't be able to do it.

Mo Hua silently looked at Fan Jin.

Fan Jin's heart panicked from Mo Hua's gaze, and he quickly waved his hand, "This may have nothing to do with me."

Mo Hua didn't comment.

Fan Jin said helplessly, "These are all matters from the previous term's Dao Ting Si. At that time, I hadn't even entered the Dao Ting Si and wasn't too clear about the specific details."

"Then what about the people from the previous term's Dao Ting Si?" Mo Hua asked.

"They were promoted."

"Promoted?" Mo Hua's expression was somewhat complex.

Fan Jin sighed, "They helped the Shen family, annexed mines, mined so many ores, earned so many spirit stones, and made Gu Shan City 'prosperous' to the extreme for a time. On the surface, this is naturally an extremely great merit. With these merits, plus the Shen family's maneuvering in the middle, the related Palm Si and Dian Si naturally got promoted early and soared to great heights."

"By the time I became Dian Si, it was already a mess. I didn't even have an opportunity to 'assist the tyrant'."

He was also honest and spoke his mind.

"Moreover, those who were promoted were not just from the Dao Ting Si." Fan Jin's gaze sank slightly, "The mineral deposits of Gu Shan are a symbol of the Shen family's rise. The Shen family relied on their fortune made in Gu Shan and their widespread operations to achieve their current status step by step."

"Some side branches of the Shen family also obtained huge profits from the operation of these mines and were elevated to the core of the family."

As Fan Jin said these words, he kept shaking his head, not knowing whether he was envious or jealous.

The Gu Master on the side didn't say a word, but his expression was clearly somewhat angry.

It was just that the Shen family's power was too great. These cultivators, even if they were dissatisfied, could only be angry but dare not speak.

Mo Hua also showed contemplation in his eyes.

This banquet thus ended in a slightly depressed atmosphere.

Fan Jin breathed a sigh of relief. At least his purpose had been preliminarily achieved.

He had invited this Young Master Mo to eat and had told him so many secrets.

This relationship, no matter what, was a little deeper. If he had the opportunity later, he would properly help this young master with a small favor. With repeated interactions, the relationship would naturally deepen.

He could also finally hug a powerful thigh with an extraordinary background.

After the meal, the three of them left the elegant room and walked along the magnificent corridor towards the outside of the building. They bumped into a group of people face to face. In front was a young master from a family, followed by three or four people.

The two sides crossed paths. Mo Hua was thinking about things and only glanced at them slightly, not paying too much attention.

But he hadn't walked many steps when he suddenly heard someone shout at him:

"Stop!"

This "stop" was very abrupt, and everyone was slightly stunned.

Mo Hua turned his head and discovered that the person who told him to "stop" was the young master from the family opposite.

This young master was dressed in brocade clothes and splendid attire, with an arrogant expression.

But Mo Hua had no impression of him and didn't seem to be familiar with him. He didn't understand why this person would suddenly shout at him.

"I recognize you, you are Mo Hua," the young master said.

"Oh..."

Mo Hua responded casually.

He was now, to some extent, a "celebrity." Being recognized on the road seemed normal.

Mo Hua had gradually adapted.

"You don't recognize me?" the young master said with a cold face.

Mo Hua wanted to say that he didn't recognize him, but he felt it was not too polite, so he was slightly more tactful, "You are..."

Mo Hua's "disrespect" made a trace of viciousness appear in the young master's eyes, "Greatly, Qing State City, you and I met once. I was behind Young Master Lin Shu..."

Mo Hua remembered, and suddenly realized:

"You're that follower."

Follower...

The young master, who was surrounded by people like stars around the moon in the crowd, immediately turned pale with anger.

He was indeed Lin Shu's "follower," but this "follower" was not something anyone had the right to say.

He wouldn't dare to say it in other places, but here in the remote Gu Shan City, as a young master of the Shen family, he ruled the roost and always did whatever he wanted.

No one had ever dared to say that he was a "follower."

"Blind thing..." The young master's face was ugly, and he instructed the people behind him, "Go, tear his mouth apart, dig out his eyeballs..."

Behind this young master, a Golden Core immediately stepped forward, emitting killing intent.

The Gu Master's expression became alert, and he immediately, without thinking, stood in front of Mo Hua, emitting his Golden Core aura.

"Golden Core?" The young master sneered, "In Gu Shan City, are you comparing manpower with me?"

Before he finished speaking, another Golden Core stepped out from behind him, with sharp claws and a sinister smile on his face.

Another Golden Core appeared from the opposite side.

And at this moment, another Golden Core behind Mo Hua was somewhat at a loss, not knowing whether he should step forward or not.

"No, what is this situation..."

Fan Jin's forehead was dripping with sweat.

He had just thought about hugging a thigh. He hadn't done anything yet, just had tea and a meal. In the blink of an eye, he was facing a test of "choosing sides" as severe as a mountain of knives and a sea of fire?

On one side was Mo Hua, and on the other was the Shen family.

If he acted, he would offend the Shen family.

If he didn't act, he would offend Mo Hua.

Didn't this want his life?

Fan Jin's body was numb.

This damn cultivation world was too difficult to navigate...

He just wanted to hug a thigh, how was it so hard?!