Chapter 216: The Patriarch
"The Dao Prison is not a place where cultivators can freely enter. Ordinary cultivators best stay away from it for their entire lives. That is not a good place to go."
Mo Hua nodded, finding Zhang Lan's words entirely reasonable.
He intended to be a "law-abiding and regulation-following" cultivator; a place like the Dao Prison was one to avoid if possible.
The Dao Court Division was surrounded by many formations.
These formations were subtle and of high grade. Some Mo Hua could recognize, while others he could not discern at all.
He did not dare to scrutinize them too closely.
After all, this was the Dao Court Division. Accidentally glimpsing a formation that should remain unseen could lead to serious trouble.
Zhang Lan led Mo Hua before Division Chief Zhou and bowed respectfully.
Mo Hua followed suit, then lifted his head slightly to take a discreet look.
Chief Zhou was very old, his hair streaked with white and his back slightly hunched. His expression was kindly, yet his eyes carried the unspoken authority of one long accustomed to power.
Chief Zhou regarded Mo Hua, nodded approvingly, and could not help but offer several words of praise.
Mo Hua, adhering to proper etiquette, returned the compliments, borrowing phrases Zhang Lan had taught him earlier and using them deftly: "peace under your governance," "industrious and meritorious," "outstanding contributions," and the like.
As expected, the smile on Zhou's face grew even broader.
He turned to Zhang Lan and said, "This child is indeed extraordinarily clever."
Zhang Lan smiled, though his emotions were mixed.
"Clever indeed," he thought wryly. "Those flattering words came straight from me, and he has already used them all without missing a beat…"
Chief Zhou next inquired about formation matters.
Mo Hua answered truthfully.
However, Zhou himself was not particularly skilled in the art of formations. His questions sounded lofty but were, in truth, rather superficial. Mo Hua had no difficulty replying.
Zhou was even more satisfied, his gaze filled with approval.
There was little need to continue. The conversation had served its polite purpose.
Since Zhou oversaw the Dao Court Division of Tōngxiān City and had countless affairs to manage, Mo Hua and Zhang Lan soon took their leave after performing their bows.
Just as they were departing, Zhou called out to Mo Hua:
"I have already spoken to the Qian family. You need not concern yourself with them. Focus on your study of formations."
Mo Hua was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Thank you, Division Chief!"
Zhou stroked his long beard and nodded with satisfaction.
That "thank you" was precisely what he wished to hear.
...
The Qian Family.
Inside the Qian Family Patriarch's cave residence, Qian Hong wore a look of disbelief.
(TN: Qian Hong is Family Head.)
The Patriarch had just instructed him to be cautious in speech and conduct, and to stop making trouble for the young Formation Master named Mo Hua.
Qian Hong protested, "Patriarch, Mo Hua is but a youth, yet already a First-Grade Formation Master. If we allow him to grow unchecked, in time our Qian family may lose all standing in Tōngxiān City."
The Qian Family Patriarch was in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, yet advanced in years. His vitality had waned, and his cultivation was declining. Unless a major incident occurred, he rarely involved himself in family affairs.
His clouded eyes rested on Qian Hong as he spoke slowly, "You should have acted earlier, joined with several Foundation Establishment elders and struck swiftly to kill that boy before anyone could react. Now, it is too late…"
His breath was weak, his voice hoarse, each phrase interrupted by pauses.
Qian Hong bowed respectfully. "Your grandson only wished to act prudently, so as not to be reckless and leave evidence."
The old Patriarch regarded him silently, his gaze measured and penetrating.
Under the pressure, Qian Hong finally added, "The elders of the clan all have selfish motives. I fear they would not heed my command."
The Patriarch's expression grew disappointed. "You are the family head. If they do not obey your command, whom do you have to blame?"
The words were heavy with reproach, implying incompetence and failure to command respect.
Qian Hong dared not argue and bowed lower. "Your lesson is well taken, Patriarch."
"You…" The Patriarch coughed harshly. "You are ruthless, but not ruthless enough. Selfish, but not selfish enough. Patient, but never to the end."
He sighed softly. "You possess every quality in part, but each one falls short."
Qian Hong hurriedly knelt and kowtowed. "Please, Patriarch, grant your grandson another chance. I will act decisively and cut that young Formation Master down!"
"You cannot kill him anymore…"
The Patriarch's voice came faint and slow. "Even if you do, it would bring no better result than sparing him."
Qian Hong was puzzled. "Please enlighten me, Patriarch."
"Go back and count carefully," the old man murmured. "If you were to kill that young Formation Master, how many people would you offend?"
The Patriarch closed his murky eyes. "Go. Think it through yourself."
Qian Hong kowtowed again and withdrew respectfully.
In the vast and echoing cave, only the Patriarch remained.
He lowered his gaze to his withered hands, the brown age spots, the flaking skin. His eyes were vacant.
"I am dying, am I not…"
His rasping voice trembled with exhaustion.
A fit of violent coughing seized him, his frail body shaking as though his lungs might be expelled.
With trembling hands, he took a jade bottle from his robe, poured out a single pill, and placed it reverently into his mouth. He closed his eyes to refine the medicinal power.
Gradually, the coughing eased.
When he opened his eyes again, faint streaks of blood tinged his gaze.
"Yet… I do not wish to die…"
...
After leaving the Patriarch's cave, Qian Hong immediately ordered his men to find out who had spoken to the old man.
That evening, a subordinate reported, "It was the Division Chief of the Dao Court Division. He personally visited the Patriarch and advised that our Qian family not trouble the young Formation Master."
Qian Hong frowned deeply. "There is no connection between them. Why would the Chief Supervisor intercede on his behalf?"
He recalled the Patriarch's words: "If you kill that young Formation Master, count how many people you will offend…"
Qian Hong reviewed the people Mo Hua knew and sent others to investigate further. Before long, a sheet of paper was delivered to him.
One glance, and he sank limply into his chair.
How could this be?
The list was long enough to make his head throb.
The old Division Chief of the Dao Court Division sought to protect Mo Hua. The Dao Court's Law Enforcer Zhang Lan was close to him, and behind Zhang Lan stood the Zhang family.
Among the Demon-Hunters, Elder Yu was fiercely protective of his own, no surprise there.
But more than half of the other Demon-Hunters, regardless of cultivation, had received favors from that boy and were all willing to defend him.
Among the rogue cultivators, both the Artifact Forgers and the Alchemists were largely acquainted with Mo Hua.
Especially the widely respected Elder Feng, who had watched Mo Hua grow up.
The young master of the An family was Mo Hua's friend, and old Master An had long been at odds with the Qian family. Naturally, he would side with Mo Hua. Moreover, as Mo Hua was a First-Grade Formation Master, Patriarch An had every reason to support him.
Among the city's Formation Masters, Master Luo—another First-Grade Formation Master—had already declared that no one in Tōngxiān City was to make trouble for Mo Hua.
Even within the Qian family, Master Qian refused to oppose him.
Furthermore, among the visiting nobles from the distant Bai clan, the three travelers—particularly the brother and sister—were said to have a friendly relationship with Mo Hua. Some even witnessed them strolling together during the Demon-Hunting Festival.
As Qian Hong reviewed each connection, his scalp tingled.
How could a mere youth barely into his teens know so many cultivators?
If he were to kill Mo Hua now, would that not instantly provoke a catastrophe?
Terror and disbelief churned within him.
There is a saying: a mighty dragon does not suppress a local snake.
By all rights, the Qian family was the true "local snake" of Tōngxiān City.
Yet now, upon closer look, if the Qian family was a local snake, then Mo Hua had already become a genuine "local dragon."
How could he possibly act now? How could he dare?
How had matters come to this?
Qian Hong's head ached fiercely. After a long moment, he exhaled slowly, rubbed his forehead, and though his heart burned with unwillingness, he could only mutter helplessly:
"At this point, we must take the long view… endure for now."
He did not wish to let Mo Hua go, but given the current circumstances, there was no choice.
Endure... for now. There will always be another chance.
(End of Chapter)