In the agonized cries of the evil cultivator, Zhang Lan and his two companions looked at Mo Hua with even more complex emotions.
Mo Hua wiped Zhang Lanâs sword on the ground, but the bloodstains remained, not wiped away.
Zhang Lan sighed, helplessly took the sword back, and slid it directly into its sheath.
âAlright, itâs done now, we can go back.â
Then, still led by Mo Hua, Zhang Lan and his two companions took turns dragging the evil cultivator down the mountain path.
As for whether the evil cultivator would die from the rough handling, they were too lazy to care.
If he didnât die, good fortune was on his side; if he did, he got what he deserved.
On the way, Situ Fang couldnât help but praise:
âMo Hua, your movement technique is amazing!â
She had been watching from the side, sweating from fear.
When she saw Mo Hua successfully evade the evil cultivatorâs attacks each time, she breathed a sigh of relief and couldnât help but admire him.
Mo Hua felt quite pleased on the inside, but he humbly said:
âWhere, itâs just average.â
âWho taught you?â Situ Fang asked.
Zhang Lan coughed a few times.
Mo Hua glanced at him and said in a straightforward manner, âA passing, unnamed, kindly uncle taught meâ¦â
Situ Fang asked doubtfully, âThereâs such a person?â
After thinking for a bit, she whispered to Zhang Lan, âIt looks to me⦠why does it resemble the Water Passing Step of the Zhang Family so much?â
Zhang Lan choked and coughed several times before finally catching his breath, and hurriedly said:
âDo not smear someoneâs innocence, Water Passing Step? Where does it resemble?â
Situ Fang nodded, âIt really doesnât seem quite right, the Water Passing Step of the Zhang Family isnât that impressive.â
Zhang Lan grew discontented, âHow can the Water Passing Step of the Zhang Family not be impressive? This isâ¦â
Situ Fang looked at him.
Zhang Lanâs voice weakened as he said:
âIt is⦠maybe just a tiny bit better than our Zhang Familyâs Water Passing Step.â
Zhang Lan was also confused in his heart.
The Zhang Family had two movement techniques, Falling Flower and Water Passing; one set was Falling Flower Steps, the other Water Passing Step.
He primarily practiced Falling Flower Steps, but he was also proficient in Water Passing Step and had seen other cultivators in the Zhang Family, who specialized in Water Passing Step, use it, but none of them used it asâ¦
As effortlessly, as unpredictably, with a bit of a devious and mysteriousâ¦
âHow did I teach him again?â
Zhang Lan frowned, somewhat unable to remember, and mumbled to himself:
âDid I teach him Water Passing Step? It should be rightâ¦â
While Zhang Lanâs thoughts were in disarray, Mo Hua heard a faint thank you, as soft as a mosquitoâs buzz.
He turned his head to see Situ Xiu with a flickering gaze, but also with a stubborn face.
Clearly she wanted to give thanks but felt too embarrassed, so her voice was as faint as a mosquitoâs.
She had been confident and arrogant when they ascended the mountain, but after a few injuries and bloodshed, she now seemed much more reserved.
Mo Hua nodded, feeling somewhat gratified.
Indeed, young people who experience setbacks tend to grow.
Yet he had forgotten that he was even younger, not even qualifying as a young man.
As they walked down the mountain path, Zhang Lan was still troubled by the matter of Water Passing Step.
He went over and over the scene in his mind of Mo Hua dealing with the evil cultivator just moments ago.
He carefully compared Mo Huaâs Water Passing Step with the version from his memory.
The basic steps were the same, but the minute nuances of each movement were more refined, and some moves were streamlined, eliminating unnecessary actions. It seemed Mo Hua had learned something else from someoneâ¦
Why was it that the same movements looked completely different?
Zhang Lan thought about it and suddenly realized, âCould it be Divine Senseâ¦?â
Because the Divine Sense was strong enough, the control of Spiritual Power was fine and nuanced, making the movement technique more elusive and varied.
The cultivators of the Zhang Family were not good at Formation, they had weak Divine Senses, so they failed to grasp the essence of this movement technique, making it seem rather mediocre.
âItâs over!â Zhang Lan felt a chill in his heart.
When he taught Mo Hua the movement technique, he thought Mo Hua would just learn it casually and not master it very well.
That way, even if it was used, others would glance at it and then forget.
How well can a child with an innate frailty learn a movement technique?
But unexpectedly, now not only had Mo Hua learned it well, but he had also become somewhat too good, even better than the Zhang Familyâs disciplesâ¦
If someday Mo Hua became famous, others would see and say:
âThis is the Zhang Familyâs Water Passing Step, even better than the Zhang Familyâs own!â
Where would the Zhang Family put their face then?
Zhang Lan unintentionally added a stroke to his familyâs dark history.
Zhang Lanâs scalp tingled.
Being punished was one thing, but bringing shame to his family was something far beyond just kneeling in the ancestral hall or being confined in solitary.
While Situ Fang and Situ Xiu were not paying attention, Zhang Lan quietly tugged at Mo Huaâs sleeve, his expression grave as he said,
âYou must not! You absolutely must not! You mustnât say it was me who taught you!â
Mo Hua also looked serious and patted his chest in assurance,
âDonât worry, I wonât rat you out!â
Zhang Lan nodded, but then he realized something was off.
What does ârat outâ mean⦠That made it sound like he was some kind of criminal accompliceâ¦
Halfway through their journey, the group stopped on a small hillside to rest for a while.
Mo Hua took out some beef and shared it with everyone.
They didnât give any to the Evil Cultivator since he didnât deserve to eat what his mother made.
Zhang Lan savored the beef, finding it spicy and delicious, and could not help but think,
âMo Huaâs family beef is really great, tender yet chewy, and the cooking time is just masterfulâ¦â
Then Zhang Lan paused, suddenly remembering that Mo Hua seemed to have used a Fireball Technique earlier?
The power was average, but the speed of casting⦠seemed a bit fastâ¦
At least much faster than his own spells.
Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua with a meaningful gaze.
He had originally thought that since Mo Huaâs Spiritual Power was not strong, his spellcasting wouldnât be particularly skilled, but now that was up for debateâ¦
The combination of Water Passing Step with such a fast and accurate Fireball Technique made Zhang Lan think it would be quite a handful to deal with.
After eating their fill, the group continued on their way.
Before evening, they reached the foot of Big Black Mountain.
Mo Hua remembered something and walked up to the Evil Cultivator, who was awake, and asked,
âA few days ago, did you pursue a Monster Hunter in the mountains?â
The Evil Cultivator snorted coldly but did not respond.
âIâm talking to you.â
The Evil Cultivator gave Mo Hua a disdainful glance.
Mo Huaâs temper flared, and he turned around to reach for the sword at Zhang Lanâs waist.
Zhang Lan was startled and hurriedly stopped him, âWhat are you doing?â
Mo Hua replied, âHeâs being stubborn. Iâll break another one of his legs!â
Situ Fang advised in a low voice, âThatâs enough. Youâve already broken one.â
Mo Hua said, âIâve only broken one, and heâs still got two left!â
Situ Fang said awkwardly, âIf you break them all, heâs probably not going to make it.â
Mo Hua regretfully said, âThen itâs just his bad luck.â
When the Evil Cultivator heard this, he immediately said,
âWhatever you ask, Iâll tell you!â
Mo Hua was surprised.
Why had the Evil Cultivator suddenly become so cooperative?
Meanwhile, the Evil Cultivatorâs eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
He was not afraid of death.
He could die at the hands of his enemies, die from being replenished by others, be sentenced to death by the Taoist Court, or even face the ultimate punishment.
He didnât really care about being killed by another Cultivator in any manner.
But he absolutely could not die at the hands of a kid in his teens!
To be slaughtered by a little brat at the fifth level of Qi Refinement was a disgrace he simply couldnât bear!
âThen go ahead,â Mo Hua said.
âIt wasnât me who was chasing him.â
âAnd then?â
âThereâs no âthen.â That was it.â
Mo Hua slowly said, âYou say it wasnât you who chased him, which means it wasnât you, but you saw someone else chasing him.â
The Evil Cultivator remained silent.
Mo Hua moved to draw the sword again, and the Evil Cultivator had no choice but to say,
âThere were a few Cultivators chasing him.â
âWhat did they look like? What were they wearing?â
âI couldnât see their faces clearly, but they were wearing silver-white Taoist Robes.â
Mo Huaâs gaze sharpened, silver-whiteâ¦