"But over these past few years, Changhuai, whether itâs due to a turn of fortune or meeting a ânoble person,â has achieved quite a lot of merit working in the Taoist Court."
"Just recently, he even eradicated a Demon Sect with over a thousand members."
"Thatâs quite an accomplishment. It seems the Taoist Court is even considering promoting him to âDeputy Court Leader.â At his age, with hard work, his cultivation could reach Feather Transformation, and with more experience, if fortune favors him, he might even become the Court Leader of the Qianxue State Boundary in the future."
"Even if he doesnât become the Court Leader of the Qianxue State Boundary, being placed in other slightly inferior Fourth or Fifth Grade State Boundaries as a local Court Leader, with great authority in hand, his prospects are still limitless."
Even Mo Hua was astonished, "Uncle Gu has such a promising future?"
Elder Gu Hong looked pleased, "Changhuai himself is not lacking. In the Taoist Court, in terms of qualification, family background, and capability, he is top-notch. Of course, his temper is somewhat lacking, and his popularity isnât the best. But being a Supervisor is about offending people, so thatâs not much of a shortcoming."
"Previously, the biggest issue was his âperformance,â which was middling, so whether he got promoted or not was indifferent."
"But now, heâs proven his achievements, and he has the experience. That previous Supervisor from the Xiao family...who was that?"
"Xiao Zhenhai?" Mo Hua chimed in.
"Right," Elder Gu Hong said, "Xiao Zhenhai, originally more experienced than Changhuai, also more adept at networking, but it seems he got himself into trouble? Is he gone now?"
"Yes." Mo Hua nodded.
Got himself killed.
"So," Elder Gu Hong continued, "now in the Taoist Court, when you count them all, Changhuai stands out. If not promoting him, then who? Heâs a man of the Gu family. If he was lacking in ability, being suppressed would be one thing. But now that he has both ability and experience, who dares openly put my Gu family at a disadvantage?"
Mo Hua slightly nodded.
Elder Gu Hong remarked, "Among these great families, indeed there are many who are not so sharp, but each can be sharper than the other when it comes to shrewdness. Seeing Changhuaiâs situation and knowing he has boundless prospects, potentially becoming a âCourt Leader,â their attitudes change entirely."
"These past few days, those talking about this almost broke the threshold down."
Elder Gu Hong couldnât help but be a bit pleased, boasting to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua was also happy for Uncle Gu.
However, he also had his own little plans.
Mo Hua quietly asked, "But... isnât Sister Xia good?"
Elder Gu Hong was momentarily startled, then sighed, "That girl is certainly good, but still, as I said before... Changhuai might not be up to match..."
"The future âCourt Leaderâ wouldnât be a match?"
"You mentioned, itâs âthe future,â who can say for sure about the future?" Elder Gu Hong shook his head, "To other families and small families, the position of Court Leader is extremely precious, but to the Daozhou Xia Family, itâs not so crucial. Furthermore, the appointment to Court Leader, before itâs settled, everything is uncertain..."
Mo Hua mused, "What if... I speak with Master Xia on his behalf?"
Elder Gu Hong, surprised, asked, "You have ties with Master Xia?"
"A little," Mo Hua answered.
Just a little tie from chatting recently.
Elder Gu Hong patted Mo Huaâs shoulder, pleased, "I appreciate your intentions, but in matters like these, they canât be forced. A personâs destined marriage in life, sometimes, is fate, and ultimately, it depends on Changhuaiâs own affinity."
"You shouldnât expend favors on him. Among great families, favors are very precious. Without a family to rely on, save these favors for yourself for the future, and donât always fret over others."
Elder Gu Hongâs words were sincere and considerate of Mo Hua.
Mo Hua felt grateful and nodded, "Elder Hong, I understand."
...
After bidding farewell to Elder Gu Hong, Mo Hua went to see Gu Changhuai.
Gu Changhuai was in the study, perusing the files of the Taoist Court.
Mo Hua couldnât help but ask, "Isnât the Demon Sect matter finished?"
"Thereâs still some wrapping up to do," Gu Changhuai looked up, glancing at the fruits in Mo Huaâs hands, "You came from Aunt Hongâs?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, "Elder Hong told me there are many people proposing, and youâre almost ready to marry...no, youâre almost ready to take a Dao companion."
Gu Changhuai paused in his actions, slowly uttering an "Oh."
Mo Hua observed his expression and quietly asked, "Uncle Gu, what do you think?"
"What are you thinking about?"
Mo Hua felt that he was playing dumb, so he probed, "What do you think of Sister Xia?"
Gu Changhuai was stunned for a moment and then said lightly, "...Just like that."
Seeing his heart and mouth were in disagreement, Mo Hua sighed, thought for a moment, and said:
"Uncle Gu, let me tell you a story..."
"When I was little, there was an instructor for Formation enlightenment named Mr. Yan. On the surface, he seemed like just a Formation instructor in Little Immortal City, but in truth, he carried the blood feud of a devastated Sect, spending his life searching for the Sectâs traitor, with a single-minded focus on reclaiming the Sectâs heritage."
"Instructor Yan had a chubby junior brother who always persuaded him to find a Dao companion to pass on his legacy, but Instructor Yan always refused."
"In the end, after relentless efforts, Instructor Yan found the traitor and reclaimed the heritage, planning to devote all his remaining efforts to rebuilding the Sect."
"I once thought Instructor Yan would die alone."
"But later, Instructor Yan met a female Formation Master, and upon merely seeing a portrait of her, he rushed to pursue her without a second thought, and they were married in less than two months..."
"Instructor Yan also told me to never let go of what you can grasp."
"So," Mo Hua concluded, "in this life, if thereâs no destined meeting, just focus on your own affairs."
"But if there truly is a destined meeting, you must seize it, or youâll regret it for a lifetime."
Mo Hua looked serious.
Gu Changhuai stared blankly at Mo Hua and after a moment couldnât help but ask, "How old are you? How do you have so much nonsense in your head?"
Mo Hua replied, "I canât help it, naturally smart, thatâs just how it is."
Gu Changhuaiâs face darkened, responding with resignation, "Alright, alright, off you go, I still have things to do."
After saying that, he lowered his head and resumed looking at the document.
"Alright then, I wonât disturb you." Mo Hua said with a little reluctance and left.
After Mo Hua left, Gu Changhuai looked at the document for a while but couldnât help recalling Mo Huaâs words in his mind.
He lowered his head, looked at his hands, and muttered:
"Never let go of what you can grasp..."
...
After leaving Gu Changhuaiâs study, Mo Hua wandered around the Gu Family a few more times before planning to return to the Sect.
As in previous years, after having dinner, he typically wouldnât stay overnight.
Now, he had enough time to return, and after going back to the Sect, he could practice Formations again in his Sea of Consciousness.
As for Uncle Guâs romance, it was something he had to figure out himself, Mo Hua had done his best.
The Gu Family personally sent a carriage to take Mo Hua back to the Sect.
But at this time, coinciding with the festival, Qingzhou City was bustling with traffic and very crowded; he needed to get outside the city to catch the carriage.
Mo Hua wasnât in a hurry, taking this opportunity to stroll around and enjoy the night scenery of Qingzhou City.
At this moment, red lanterns like dragons, colorful fireworks filling the sky, amid the pitch-black night, thousands of trees blooming, extraordinarily beautiful.
Mo Hua strolled through the night scene while making his way out of the city.
As he walked, suddenly someone brushed past him.
Because there were already many people on the street, at first, Mo Hua didnât pay it any mind, but as they passed by, a sudden chill rose from his heart.
A blur appeared before his eyes and a mass of dark purple Heavenly Mechanism Causality slowly emerged, weaving and twisting together, ugly and dirty, yet suffused with a depraved desire, like a filthy heart or a decaying "poppy."
The poppy gradually bloomed...
Just like that night by the Mistwater River, when he first saw the Rouge Boat.
Mo Huaâs pupils trembled, and he immediately turned around.
At that same moment, the young nobleman who had brushed past him seemed to feel something as well and turned his head.
In an instant, their eyes met, and they clearly saw each otherâs faces.