Chapter 302: Chapter 301 Progress_1 Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then could only sigh. With his cultivation so weak and his knowledge of formations so limited, even if Mr. Zhuang was in trouble, he was incapable of offering help. “I should just focus on my cultivation, learn formations diligently, so that one day, when my Tao cultivation succeeds, I can properly repay my mentor for his kindness in teaching me.” Mo Hua nodded, and seeing that it was already 1 p.m., he sank his Divine Sense into his Sea of Consciousness, painstakingly began practicing the Reversed Spirit Formation with the help of the Taoist Stele. Days passed calmly like flowing water, with Mo Hua dedicating himself to cultivation and Drawing Formations as always. In addition, he was very concerned about the matter concerning the Black Mountain Stronghold, but he had no idea how the situation was progressing with the court officials. A few days later, around noon, Mo Hua paid a visit to Old Mr. Feng, received some everyday Pills, and on his way home, he encountered Zhang Lan. Mo Hua quickly greeted Zhang Lan. Zhang Lan was walking with his head down. Hearing a child’s voice calling “Uncle Zhang,” he didn’t need to think twice to know it was Mo Hua. Mo Hua approached Zhang Lan and asked in a hushed voice, “How are things going?” What Mo Hua was referring to was naturally the matter of the Taoist Soldiers. Since it was a secret operation, Mo Hua cautiously did not spell it out. Zhang Lan glanced around and said, “This place is crowded and noisy, let’s talk in the restaurant.” The two went to the restaurant, took their usual seats, and Jiang Yun served them some food and drinks. Seeing that the customers around were regulars, mostly Monster Hunters, clinking cups and drinking merrily, paying them no attention, Zhang Lan also whispered to Mo Hua: “I have informed the Court Leader of all the details, and the Court Leader has already reported to the Taoist Court. Now we just wait for the court’s approval. If the court agrees, it won’t be long before the Taoist Soldiers are dispatched to eradicate the Black Mountain Stronghold.” “Will it take a long time?” “If the court agrees, it won’t take long.” “And what if the court does not agree?” Mo Hua asked. Zhang Lan took a sip of his drink and pondered: “If what you saw is true, that inside the Black Mountain Stronghold there are five to six hundred Evil Cultivators, and they are killing people to refine Human Pills, the Taoist Court will certainly not let the Evil Cultivators do as they please. They’ll definitely send the Taoist Soldiers, you can rest assured.” Mo Hua nodded, his relief evident. Zhang Lan glanced at Mo Hua and sighed inwardly. The situation wasn’t as simple as it seemed. The hardest part was proving that deep in the mountains, there indeed was a stronghold, and within it were truly five to six hundred Evil Cultivators practicing such wicked deeds as refining Human Life Pills. So far, all they had was Mo Hua’s word. The only evidence was two maps drawn by Mo Hua: one a guide map of the Foggy Forest and the other a strategic map of the Black Mountain Stronghold. Beyond that, there were no other witnesses or physical evidence. They believed Mo Hua, but the Taoist Court would not trust a young Cultivator in his teens. Moreover, with Mo Hua unassessed, even the status as a Grade One Formation Master was of no use. It wasn’t easy for Court Leader Zhou either. He was already getting on in years, and retirement was within reach, allowing him to live out his days in peace, completing his service as a Court Leader with integrity. Now, with the emergence of the Black Mountain Stronghold issue, he was in a dilemma. If he reported to the court and Mo Hua’s information turned out to be incorrect, there was no such stronghold in the mountains, or the stronghold wasn’t harboring Evil Cultivators, the responsibility would be grave for the old Court Leader. Should the Taoist Court hold him accountable, even though it would not land him in jail, he would definitely be unable to continue as a Court Leader. If he didn’t report it, allowing the Evil Cultivators to remain in the mountains and grow stronger, one day, the Cultivators of Tongxian City might all face a catastrophe. The choice was not easy: to live out his days in peace or to risk it all for the safety of Tongxian City. But in the end, Court Leader Zhou chose to report the matter of the Black Mountain Stronghold to the Taoist Court. Zhang Lan still remembered Court Leader Zhou’s words: “I’ve served as Court Leader for most of my life, following the rules without making any significant contributions. Later, when the Loose Cultivators started fending for themselves, establishing the Refinery Shop and the Alchemist’s Business, I actually benefited from it and received merits. To be honest, I feel undeserving…” “Now that Tongxian City hides dangers within, as the Court Leader of Tongxian City, I share both its honor and its woes. Naturally, I cannot simply look out for myself and stand by idly.” “The worst that can happen is being held accountable by the Taoist Court and removed from my position, which would just mean living a leisurely life thereafter.” “The annihilation report of Black Mountain Stronghold definitely has to be submitted to the Daoist Court!” Court Leader Zhou’s expression was very resolute. Zhang Lan, however, knew that there was a world of difference between being dismissed by the Daoist Court and retiring honorably in good grace, in terms of both reputation and treatment. Inside, Court Leader Zhou couldn’t possibly be as relaxed as he made it sound. Zhang Lan glanced again at Mo Hua, who was burying his head in eating meat, and silently speculated. The Court Leader had made this decision, probably also considering the face of Mo Hua, the child. If it had been anyone else who had obtained this intelligence, the Daoist Court Leaders wouldn’t have believed it; and even less likely would Court Leader Zhou risk his position to report to the Daoist Court… As Mo Hua was eating, he looked up to find Zhang Lan watching him and couldn’t help asking, “Uncle Zhang, aren’t you eating?” Zhang Lan snapped back to reality and laughed, “No rush, I’ll drink some wine.” Mo Hua passed a piece of meat to Zhang Lan, “Uncle Zhang, you should eat more!” Zhang Lan appeared to have lost a lot of weight, probably from running around busy with the matter of Black Mountain Stronghold, which had tired him and made him thinner. Zhang Lan was slightly stunned and felt somewhat touched. Mo Hua then said, “Uncle Zhang, now you look much more serious, a bit like a Department of Ceremonies official.” Zhang Lan’s face darkened again, his moment of being moved disappearing, “What do you mean I look more serious now? I have always been a serious cultivator, not just now, always, a proper and serious cultivator!” “Hmm hmm,” Mo Hua mumbled while eating beef, noncommittally. Zhang Lan felt slightly indignant but then unsure, so he asked Mo Hua, “How did I appear to you before?” Mo Hua recalled the first time he met Zhang Lan and tried to describe him, “You looked a little bit like a good-for-nothing, idle playboy…” Fearing that Zhang Lan would be upset, he emphasized, “Just a little bit.” Zhang Lan was speechless. Where had he been good-for-nothing or idle? Previously, him drinking here was to “understand the cultivators’ sentiments” in his time off duty, how can that be considered idle? Just a little bit, if I really were a playboy, would I be lacking that tiny bit… Zhang Lan sullenly took a sip of wine. Mo Hua’s eyes shifted, and he asked, “Uncle Zhang, what were you like in your clan?” It probably wasn’t like this weary appearance, right… “In the clan?” Zhang Lan thought for a while and said, “I was like a graceful and handsome man, dashing and elegant, admired by thousands of girls. Many young female cultivators were queuing up, competing to be my Dao companion…” Mo Hua whispered, “Uncle Zhang, it’s fine to fool others, but we are so close; no need to be so distant…” Zhang Lan choked on his wine, unable to help himself, “Who’s fooling anyone?” Mo Hua silently looked at him. Zhang Lan sighed, “I’m not eating with you anymore; if I don’t get full, your words will fill me up.” Mo Hua offered him another chopstick of meat, “Then Uncle Zhang, you better eat fast, otherwise you’ll be filled up with frustration and won’t be able to eat anymore.” Zhang Lan, feeling both annoyed and amused, shook his head, “You kid…” The two of them continued chatting and eating like this. After sparring verbally with Mo Hua, Zhang Lan felt somewhat rejuvenated; it seemed he wasn’t so tired anymore. These days, indeed, he had been running around quite a bit because of Black Mountain Stronghold and had a lot on his mind. In Tongxian City, there weren’t many cultivators with whom he could chat like this. After eating his fill, Zhang Lan was about to leave when Mo Hua called out to stop him and asked, “If the Daoist Court really sends the Taoist Soldiers, can I go have a look?” The light shone brightly in Mo Hua’s eyes; he had long wanted to see what the Tao Cultivation World’s soldiers looked like. After thinking for a while, Zhang Lan shook his head, “No.”