Chapter 211: Ambush
Among the Demon Hunters, there was a Little Formation Master, the very same First-Grade Formation Master.
Following this lead, Qian Hong ordered Qian Shunzhi to investigate further. After several days of inquiry, the matter finally took shape.
Qian Shunzhi uncovered Mo Hua's name, residence, parents' information, and even obtained a portrait of him.
That portrait now lay on the table before Qian Hong.
In it was a boy of eleven or twelve, his features delicate and refined, eyes clear as water, and his smile as bright as the morning glow.
Qian Hong's expression flickered between shock and fear.
He was shocked that one so young possessed the strength of a First-Grade Formation Master, and fearful that if this child continued to grow and improve in formation arts, the Qian Family might one day lose all standing.
Among the hundred branches of cultivation, formations had the widest application and the most profound influence.
At present, Mo Hua could only draw first-grade formations, yet the Qian Family was already struggling to cope. If he were ever to advance to second-grade, he would not even need to act personally, just a word from him could bring the Qian Family to ruin.
A murderous intent rose in Qian Hong's heart.
Master Qian, however, preferred to negotiate first and urged Qian Hong not to act rashly.
To kill a First-Grade Formation Master at such a young age would be too great a waste.
Master Qian understood the immense difficulty of mastering formations, and therefore advised against completely cutting off the boy's path.
Qian Hong thought for a moment, then said, "Master Qian speaks reasonably. I will give it proper consideration."
Master Qian nodded in relief.
After sending him off, Qian Hong turned coldly to Qian Shunzhi. "Find several Qian disciples at the ninth level of Qi-Refining and have them kill that Little Formation Master."
Qian Shunzhi was startled. "What about Master Qian?"
"Master Qian is obsessed with formations and knows little of such matters."
Qian Hong's eyes hardened as he continued, "That Mo Hua is of rogue cultivator origin. His father is a Demon Hunter, and his relatives and friends are all independent rogue cultivators. Moreover, he is highly regarded by Yu Changlin. He will never stand on friendly terms with our Qian Family."
Qian Shunzhi bowed. "Yes, Patriarch. But if the Dao Court Division learns of this…"
"If the Dao Court Division investigates, I will do my best to protect you. If I cannot, then exchanging a few lives for that of a First-Grade Formation Master is still a profitable bargain."
Qian Hong looked straight at him. "Do not act yourself. Let others do it. If something happens, the blame will fall on them. I value your usefulness, keep your hands clean."
A chill crept into Qian Shunzhi's heart.
He finally understood why Qian Hong had become the patriarch.
That cold heart and ruthless method... those were worth learning.
Qian Shunzhi respectfully accepted the order and soon found several ninth-level Qi-Refining cultivators within the family, men he was not particularly close to.
He told them the Patriarch had a command: kill a certain person. Once successful, each would be granted a direct-line family position.
Should misfortune occur, the Patriarch would see to generous compensation for their families.
Fortune favors the bold, and none of the cultivators refused.
They disguised themselves as traveling merchants, sitting in a teahouse along South Street, drinking tea, listening to storytellers, while secretly waiting for Mo Hua.
This was the path Mo Hua took to return home.
Their preparations were thorough. They carried expensive jade talismans, intending to strike swiftly and leave no trace.
Qian Shunzhi sat farther away, pretending to sip tea, but the corner of his eye remained fixed on the street entrance. He searched for Mo Hua's face from memory.
Before long, a small cultivator with bright eyes and rosy lips appeared, a storage pouch hanging at his waist.
It was Mo Hua.
Qian Shunzhi coughed softly as a signal.
The Qian Family cultivators kept their composure. Some continued eating, others drinking or listening to the story, but their hands began to move.
Some gripped knives, others swords, while a few slipped hands into their robes to ready their talismans.
Their disguises were convincing. They planned to wait until Mo Hua was close, strike suddenly, and retreat immediately.
However, as Mo Hua walked by, he suddenly stopped, glancing curiously toward the teahouse, and met Qian Shunzhi's gaze.
"These people… want to kill me?" Mo Hua was momentarily stunned.
Through his Divine-Sense, he sensed that these cultivators' spiritual power was already circulating, a sign they were preparing to act.
Moreover, ever since he appeared, their faintly probing Divine-Sense had been brushing over him with malicious intent.
They were all at the ninth level of Qi-Refining, their Divine-Sense far weaker than his own. They believed themselves subtle, but to Mo Hua, their hostility burned like torches in the dark.
"What to do?" he thought.
Mo Hua reached into his Storage pouch, feeling several pre-drawn formation scrolls, and quietly slipped a few into his sleeve.
He would prepare first.
If there was a chance to escape, he would run.
If not, he would find an opening to deploy a formation and blow them away.
A First-Grade Earthfire Array might not kill them, but it would at least delay their pursuit.
Once that happened, his Flowing-Water Step would ensure escape.
He was only at the sixth level of Qi-Refining; clashing directly with ninth-level body cultivators would be unwise. Escaping was the best course.
Having decided, Mo Hua turned to leave.
Qian Shunzhi and the others sensed that something was wrong, their intent seemed to have been discovered.
There was no time to waste. They rose abruptly, preparing to strike by force.
Suddenly, a pair of large hands pressed down on Qian Shunzhi's shoulders, forcing him back into his seat.
Startled, he looked up to see a burly Demon Hunter, Qi-Refining ninth level, aura thick and fierce.
Looking around, he found that all his companions had also been subdued. Several Demon Hunters surrounded them, weapons drawn.
"You stole my things," the hunter said flatly.
Qian Shunzhi's eyelid twitched. "I didn't steal anything."
"No, you stole them."
Qian Shunzhi sneered. "And what exactly did I steal from you?"
"Oh, my mistake," the hunter said calmly. "You were trying to rob me."
"You—"
Before he could finish, the hunter's fist slammed into his abdomen.
Pain shot through him, and Qian Shunzhi realized the ambush had completely failed. He gritted his teeth, drew his blade, and slashed at the hunter.
The other Qian cultivators also attacked.
The street erupted into chaos. Demon Hunters and Qian Family cultivators clashed, spiritual power roaring, blood boiling.
After more than twenty exchanges, the outnumbered Qian cultivators were beaten down and bound with ropes.
Mo Hua stood frozen for a moment before realizing what had happened.
This was South Street, the territory of Demon Hunters.
Which meant, in a sense, his territory.
The street was full of hunters he knew.
At that thought, Mo Hua straightened proudly.
Since the Qian Family had come to cause trouble, naturally the uncles and elders of the Demon Hunters would deal with them.
He didn't even need to flee, nor waste his formations.
Once the attackers were tied up, Mo Hua walked closer and asked, "Uncle Zhao, what should we do with them?"
The leading hunter was Old Zhao.
He had once been chased by the Qian Family and left hanging from a cliff, barely alive, until Mo Hua found him and helped rescue him.
After a long recovery, Old Zhao had nearly healed.
He smiled at Mo Hua. "Beat them first, then deliver them to the Dao Court Division. Say they attempted murder."
Mo Hua nodded. "They really did try to kill me. Thank you, Uncle Zhao."
"Thank me for what?" Old Zhao laughed. "If anything, I should thank you. If not for you, I'd be dead."
Mo Hua grinned. "It was nothing, really."
Old Zhao rummaged through the Qian cultivators' storage pouches, fished out a few jade talismans, and tossed them to Mo Hua. "Here, take these. Play with them."
(End of Chapter)