"Kong Sheng?" Mo Hua was puzzled. "Is this the Kong Family's caravan?"
Yu Chengyi shook his head. "No, it's just an ordinary caravan carrying elixirs, passing through Qingxuan City and doing business here in Tongxian City."
Mo Hua was somewhat perplexed. "Then why is the young master of the Kong Family in this caravan?"
Yu Chengyi's expression was somewhat difficult to describe. "It's said that he wanted to come personally, kill Ji Qingbai and his son, and take Fu Lan back..."
Mo Hua fell silent and asked, "Is he a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
Yu Chengyi sighed. "Like you, he's at the seventh level of Qi Refining..."
Mo Hua's expression was also hard to describe as he sighed. "Is he out of his mind? How dare he venture out alone with the caravan and even into the depths of the Great Black Mountains? Doesn't he know the meaning of death?"
Yu Chengyi said, "It's said that Kong Sheng has been spoiled since childhood, selfish and radical in temperament. Growing up, he could have whatever he wanted and do whatever he pleased, without anyone daring to oppose him. He had beaten up fellow cultivators and forcibly taken female cultivators before, but no one dared to intervene..."
"Later, he saw Fu Lan's beauty on the street and developed evil intentions, wanting Fu Lan to be his concubine. When Fu Lan refused, he pressured her step by step, causing the death of Fu Lan's mother. In the end, Ji's father and son took action in righteous indignation, but they didn't dare to kill him."
"Kong Sheng was furious and had the Kong Family's cultivators chase after Ji's father and son. Later, he even bribed the sin cultivators to settle the score."
"But the sin cultivators failed, and Kong Sheng, impatient and furious, wanted to come personally. The Kong Family disagreed, but he was filled with resentment, so he disguised himself and followed the caravan secretly to Tongxian City."
Yu Chengyi explained everything clearly.
Mo Hua found it somewhat incredible. This Kong Sheng was even more foolish than Qian Xing. At least Qian Xing knew to bring along a group of lackeys and rarely ventured out of the city.
This Kong Sheng dared to venture out alone without any lackeys and even thought of committing murder himself.
Did he really think no one dared to kill him?
"So he hired sin cultivators with spiritual stones to kill people, but ended up being killed by the sin cultivators himself?" Mo Hua said slowly.
"In simple terms, that's how it happened..." Yu Chengyi's expression was somewhat complicated. "But whether he's dead or alive, it's not certain yet. He might have been abducted instead."
Mo Hua felt somewhat satisfied and said with a smile, "What goes around comes around. He deserves it. It would be best if he's dead. It would be a waste of spiritual stones if he's alive."
Yu Chengyi couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. After a moment, he sighed again. "But this matter is troublesome."
"What does it have to do with us whether he's dead or alive?" Mo Hua was puzzled.
"Kong Sheng has a grudge against Ji's father and son and disappeared in the Great Black Mountains. The Kong Family suspects that Ji's brother is responsible for this and wants us to hand over the culprit."
Mo Hua raised an eyebrow. "Are they dreaming? Who do they think they are to bully us?"
"They're indeed going too far," Yu Chengyi nodded.
Mo Hua then expressed his concern, "Can we beat the Kong Family?"
Yu Chengyi chuckled, "Don't worry, even the Qian Family can't do anything to us now, let alone the Kong Family from another region. If they dare to cause trouble, our knives are not just for show."
Mo Hua nodded in relief. "If they dare to come, we'll slaughter them all. Probably none of them are good people!"
Yu Chengyi added, "Although they may not dare to come themselves, they might put pressure on us through the Daoist Court in Qingxuan City."
"The Daoist Court in Qingxuan City can meddle in Tongxian City's affairs?"
"That's a matter for the Daoist Court. I'm not sure of the specifics. We'll see how things develop."
"Okay." Mo Hua nodded.
After Yu Chengyi finished speaking, he parted ways with Mo Hua to discuss matters with Elder Yu.
Mo Hua was somewhat curious, so when Zhang Lan came to the tavern for a drink, he asked him, "What's the situation with the young master of the Kong Family?"
Zhang Lan had just sat down, hadn't finished his first sip of alcohol, and felt a bit helpless upon hearing Mo Hua's question.
Mo Hua always seemed to know everything.
"This isn't crucial," Mo Hua waved his hand, gazing intently at Zhang Lan. "Will the Daoist Court in Qingxuan City intervene?"
Zhang Lan sighed.
Well, he hadn't even answered the first question yet, and Mo Hua was already asking the second one.
But in Tongxian City, Mo Hua knew too many people. From the chief/magistrate of the Daoist Court to the demon hunters in the mountains, and even the children running around the streets, he probably knew all of them by name.
It was normal for him to know about Kong Sheng's situation.
Moreover, he would probably need Mo Hua's help with this matter.
Zhang Lan said, "Currently, the conclusion on the Daoist Court's side is that the young master of the Kong Family was abducted by sin cultivators, and they need us to go into the mountains to capture the sin cultivators and rescue the young master of the Kong Family."
"Is he dead?"
Mo Hua felt somewhat regretful.
Zhang Lan blinked at Mo Hua. "Are you hoping for his death?"
Mo Hua nodded honestly and added, "If he doesn't die, it's fine too."
Zhang Lan's expression froze for a moment. After some thought, he felt that Mo Hua's words made sense. If Kong Sheng died, it would be one less trouble for Qingxuan City.
"That being said, we still need to search for him. And the Daoist Court in Qingxuan City will also send people to assist us."
"How many people will they send?"
"Not too many, probably three or four at most. Too few won't be enough, and too many will raise suspicions of interfering with the affairs of our Daoist Court."
"Three or four should be fine." Mo Hua nodded and asked, "Won't the Kong Family send anyone?"
Taking a sip of his drink, Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua with a meaningful expression. "Isn't the Daoist Court in Qingxuan City equivalent to the Kong Family's people?"
"Oh~" Mo Hua understood.
It seemed that everyone was well aware of the situation in Qingxuan City.
The Kong Family used the Daoist Court to carry out their actions, which not only gave them legitimacy but also saved time and effort.
After all, it was much more convenient for the Daoist Court to act than for them.
"This matter will probably need your help too," Zhang Lan added.
"I won't go." Mo Hua directly refused.
For other matters, he would naturally agree out of respect for Zhang Lan. But for this matter, Mo Hua was certain he wouldn't help.
Someone like Kong Sheng didn't even deserve to be sent off with the Earthfire Array, let alone wasting time to rescue him.
"Let's not rush to refuse," Zhang Lan smiled. "It's not about saving Kong Sheng, but those sin cultivators. Don't you want to catch them?"
"The bald one?"
"That's right," Zhang Lan nodded. "Leaving him in the mountains would still be a problem. If he gathers other sin cultivators and becomes a force, it will be much more dangerous for you when you go hunting demons in the mountains."
Mo Hua was still reluctant.
Zhang Lan continued, "After the matter is done, the Daoist Court will reward you."
"Rewards?" Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "What rewards?"
"You'll know when the time comes. It won't disadvantage you," Zhang Lan smiled.
"Tell me now."
Mo Hua was very curious about what rewards the Daoist Court would give him.
But Zhang Lan teased him and refused to say, only stating, "Once you help us catch the bald one, you'll naturally know what rewards there are."
Mo Hua blinked and chuckled, "If you don't tell me, I won't help."
However, Zhang Lan didn't fall for his trick and just smiled. "If you don't help, it's fine. But when the time comes, don't regret it."
Uncle Zhang Lan was quite cunning...playing hard to get.
Mo Hua sighed, "Fine."
Anyway, he also wanted to catch that bald one, so this time it's a perfect opportunity, and he could also get some benefits from the Daoist Court.
(End of the Chapter)