"When did the Union Sect start meddling in Houtu City?" Mo Hua asked with some confusion.
He wasn't a local Kun Prefecture cultivator; he had fallen into Houtu City through a Great Teleportation Array, so he didn't have deep knowledge of many behind-the-scenes matters.
Although Uncle Gu had also just arrived, he was after all an Archivist of the Dao Court Department, with authority to access some behind-the-scenes jade slips and files.
Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "It's hard to say for sure—on the surface, roughly from a certain period about fifty years ago, the Union Sect began to show its traces."
"And about ten years ago, after the Wild Heaven Blood Sacrifice incident in Ganxue Prefecture, demonic cultivators everywhere became more active."
"Houtu City was no exception. At the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, demon heads from the Union Sect kept appearing, disguised as courtesans, absorbing people's yang energy for cultivation. But back then, they still restrained themselves a bit."
"Not long after that, the baleful star Mars fell in the west, and the Great Wilderness rebelled. To suppress the rebellion, the Dao Court got bogged down in war with the Great Wilderness, draining massive military and financial resources. With hearts unsettled, the demonic path, which had once vanished, reared its head again, and its arrogance grew rampant—"
"Not just in Kun Prefecture, but everywhere, demonic sects showed signs of resurgence."
"In Houtu City, the Union Sect was especially unscrupulous. Using brothels and flower streets, they openly sold female beauty while secretly plucking yang essence, engaging in yin-yang dual cultivation, and corrupting the Dao Court Department—and audaciously sending half-step Feather Transformation demon heads to open altars, set up incense, and establish strongholds—"
"Of course, these are just the surface timelines discernible from the files."
Gu Changhuai frowned. "The real scheming might have started earlier—as early as hundreds of years ago, when someone exploited a loophole and obtained Dao Court Department approval to build the first brothel in Houtu City."
"At first, it might have been just for entertainment, a few simple brothels to indulge people in sensual pleasures and luxury."
"There were no Union Sect demonic cultivators in those brothels, no dual cultivation dealings."
"But later, as more brothels were built, they formed a prosperous flower street. The street flowed with gold and jade, and more and more women made a living there. Over time, it became a custom and gathered momentum."
"Then the Union Sect could seamlessly blend in. With their union cultivation techniques, they thrived in places of lust and desire, expanding rapidly."
"The brothels became demon dens, and the entire flower street turned into a gilded hell, rotten inside—"
Gu Changhuai's expression was grim.
Mo Hua also furrowed his brows slightly.
Human desire is like that—initially negligible, but once the dam is breached and left unchecked, it floods like a torrent.
Houtu City's prosperity only required building one brothel, opening that first crack, and step by step, it transformed from prosperity to depravity.
Many things perish from rot within. When they rot, the surface may not even show it.
In fact, the more rotten inside, the more glamorous the surface appears.
But after a moment's thought, Mo Hua felt something was off.
The Union Sect corrupted the Dao Court Department—
Yet in all of Houtu City, the most powerful force was not the Dao Court Department.
For the Union Sect to develop in Houtu City and "steal food" on its turf, it must have clashed with various major powers.
Especially—
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai and asked quietly, "Did the Earth Sect—tacitly allow the Union Sect's existence?"
Gu Changhuai's eyelid twitched, but after so many years, he had grown accustomed to Mo Hua's sharp and cunning mind.
Gu Changhuai nodded. "On the surface, the Union Sect—no, the Jade Fragrance Pavilion—has no connection with the Earth Sect."
"But don't forget, the Earth Sect is the biggest power in Kun Prefecture, the biggest local snake—or even a local 'flood dragon.'"
"If the Union Sect wants a piece of the Earth Sect's territory, it must contend with the Earth Sect for profit."
"Yet now—the Union Sect and the Earth Sect coexist peacefully, neither interfering with each other."
Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened, but he didn't elaborate.
Mo Hua nodded.
Either the Union Sect gave the Earth Sect some benefits, paid some 'protection fees,' to earn their tacit approval.
Or the Earth Sect and the Union Sect were colluding.
The Earth Sect used the Union Sect to corrupt the Dao Court Department.
The Earth Sect and the Dao Court Department had always been at odds.
The Earth Sect was powerful, but suppression by force and influence was only superficial and temporary, likely to cause backlash.
But collusion through lust was insidious, long-lasting, and deeply rooted.
Of course, this was just speculation, without evidence. The Earth Sect wouldn't easily leave evidence.
Unless—
Mo Hua's heart stirred, and he suddenly asked, "That Liu San—could he be—Earth Sect—"
Gu Changhuai quickly said, "Don't ask."
Seeing Gu Changhuai's attitude, Mo Hua understood.
Gu Changhuai said helplessly, "I can't disclose the details, but this is just a clue, not necessarily true. Besides, if Liu San were truly that important, the Union Sect would have silenced him long ago; they wouldn't leave him in our hands."
Mo Hua nodded, thought for a moment, then asked, "The Earth Sect—if they really are colluding with the Union Sect and corrupting the Dao Court Department, what is their goal? What do they want to achieve through the Dao Court Department?"
Gu Changhuai frowned deeply. "That's exactly what the Dao Court wants to investigate, but so far hasn't fully figured out—"
"'Hasn't fully figured out'—" Mo Hua's eyes brightened. "That means they've actually found something, just not clear yet—"
Mo Hua leaned in and whispered, "Uncle Gu, what did you find?"
Gu Changhuai rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
But since he had brought it up, he couldn't hide it anymore. After thinking for a moment, he said solemnly, "In recent years, a large section of Houtu City's Dao Court Department files has been blank."
"Blank?" Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.
Gu Changhuai nodded. "The official explanation is that a fire destroyed the jade slips and files, making them irrecoverable."
"But that's definitely an excuse."
"Didn't the Dao Court send someone to investigate?" Mo Hua asked.
"They did, but they found nothing," Gu Changhuai said.
Mo Hua asked, "How could they find nothing?"
Gu Changhuai sighed. "Bribery, connections, forgery, impeachment, assassination—there are a thousand ways to stop you from investigating."
"If those don't work, they'll invite you to the Jade Fragrance Pavilion—"
Would you rather die horribly at the hands of demonic cultivators, or enjoy a night of romance with a beauty in the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, then return to the Dao Court with treasures from the Earth Sect to live in comfort?
Such a choice is too difficult.
Mo Hua was still puzzled. "Would the Earth Sect really dare to kill someone sent by the Dao Court?"
Gu Changhuai corrected him, "Not kill—dual cultivation."
Mo Hua was stunned, then immediately understood.
Just like what happened to Uncle Gu.
The Earth Sect wouldn't directly kill you; they'd just 'invite' you to the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, capture you, and have a female demonic cultivator dual cultivate you to death.
You die in a brothel, on a Union Sect cultivator's bed, your yang depleted, your reputation ruined.
The Dao Court wouldn't publicize it, because spreading such a thing would be extremely disgraceful and shameful.
For the Dao Court, and even for the investigating Archivist and his background family, it would be a humiliation.
That was true killing with heart.
And from start to finish, you only died at the hands of a Union Sect demonic cultivator.
The Earth Sect never intervened, so they could stay out of it.
Mo Hua sighed inwardly.
Indeed, the world is unpredictable, and people's hearts are vicious. Some people's methods are so malicious and filthy that they defy ordinary understanding.
"What were those missing files about?" Mo Hua couldn't help asking.
What matter could be so important that the Earth Sect would go to such lengths?
Gu Changhuai was silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Currently, there's no direct evidence of the files' contents. But conversely, using the process of elimination, among all the files of the Houtu City Dao Court Department, only one area is incomplete. That area is—the Great Spiritual Field Realm—"
Mo Hua's pupils contracted. "The Great Spiritual Field Realm—"
Gu Changhuai nodded. "Therefore, if this guess holds, what the Earth Sect wants to hide is most likely related to the Great Spiritual Field Realm. As for other matters—"
Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua and said truthfully, "—we'll have to slowly investigate. And some things, I can only tell you up to this point. I am an Archivist; I cannot divulge secrets."
Mo Hua also nodded. "I understand."
After all, it was internal affairs of the Dao Court Department; many things had to be kept confidential. He didn't want to put Uncle Gu in a difficult position.
"Oh, by the way," Mo Hua asked about another matter, "Uncle Gu, you just said the war between the Dao Court and the Great Wilderness was deadlocked—how is it now? Has a victor emerged?"
Gu Changhuai said, "Still fighting."
Mo Hua was taken aback. "Still fighting now?"
Seeing Mo Hua's expression, Gu Changhuai asked, "What's wrong?"
Mo Hua frowned. "Who said—that the Great Wilderness war is still ongoing?"
Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened. "All the official gazettes issued by the Dao Court and the major families say so."
"For a war of this scale, it's not unusual for it to last decades or even centuries."
"And most of the Dao troops sent to suppress the Great Wilderness Royal Court haven't returned yet; they're still mired in the quagmire of war—"
Those Dao troops weren't not returning—they could never return.
They weren't stuck in the quagmire of the Great Wilderness war; they died in the nightmare of endless Guidao—
The sky-covering Return to Ruins Array, the terrifying Guidao demon statues, and the abyssal power that could devour sunlight and make the sky collapse—all flashed through Mo Hua's mind.
Mo Hua sighed.
The Dao Court was still covering up the defeat of the Great Wilderness.
The Great Wilderness was far away, communications cut off. By blocking information, the Dao Court could indeed fool most cultivators.
Thinking from the Dao Court's perspective, Mo Hua supposed there was no other way.
Senior Uncle had calculated too ruthlessly in the Great Wilderness game, and his hidden strength was too terrifying.
The irreversible momentum had already been set; they could only delay and postpone, to make this 'thunder' explode a little later.
But paper cannot contain fire; sooner or later, this matter would be exposed.
Once the defeat of the Great Wilderness was fully revealed, what upheaval would the world undergo?—The real turmoil was likely coming.
Seeing Mo Hua's grave expression, Gu Changhuai realized something was wrong and asked, "Is something amiss?"
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai and sighed. "Nothing."
The general trend was just that; the Nine Provinces were vast, and with the convergence of heavenly mechanisms, how the situation would evolve was still unknown.
Better to focus on the present.
And even the current situation was far from easy.
The Earth Sect was a real vicious flood dragon before them, stirring up waves. At the slightest misstep, Uncle Gu would probably be devoured without a trace.
At present, Kun Prefecture was prosperous on the surface, but inside it was also a huge 'powder keg.'
Mo Hua couldn't help asking Gu Changhuai, "Uncle Gu, why were you sent to Kun Prefecture at this time?"
Although Uncle Gu was a scapegoat, toiling in the Dao Court Department and unafraid to take the blame,
This 'pot' of Kun Prefecture was too big.
Gu Changhuai was silent, but his expression was grim.
Mo Hua's heart stirred, and he suddenly asked, "What about Sister Xia? How are you two?"
Gu Changhuai said, "Nothing much—"
Mo Hua asked, "Did you have a fight?"
Gu Changhuai sighed but said nothing.
Mo Hua was startled. "Uncle Gu, don't tell me you abandoned her and became a jerk?"
Gu Changhuai's face darkened. This kid had always been able to infuriate people with his words, and now that he was grown up, that habit hadn't changed a bit.
Gu Changhuai was silent for a moment, then sighed. "The Xia family—doesn't approve—"
Mo Hua was taken aback and frowned. "Sister Xia has distanced herself from the Xia family, hasn't she? Still, they don't agree?"
Gu Changhuai's expression was bitter. "It's not that easy. For great families, bloodlines and interests are intertwined; they can't just be distanced or cut off."
"And marriage in such families ultimately depends on the Old Ancestor's will."
"The Xia family's Old Ancestor wanted your Sister Xia to return to the clan for other arrangements, but she refused."
"So the Xia family used the Central Dao Court to transfer me, the Ganxue Archivist, to Kun Prefecture—"
"Officially, they said they thought highly of me and wanted to give me a tough assignment to temper myself."
"They also said that if I could achieve something in Kun Prefecture by standing up to the Earth Sect and other powers, I would prove myself worthy of marrying a daughter of a sixth-rank Xia family, and might even be promoted to the Central Dao Court—"
Gu Changhuai smiled bitterly.
What a beautiful cake they had drawn—
Mo Hua asked, "And if you don't achieve anything, Uncle Gu?"
Gu Changhuai sighed softly. "Then—of course, all talks are off."
Mo Hua thought for a moment and understood the Xia family's intention.
It was an open conspiracy. If Uncle Gu truly achieved something, it wouldn't matter if he married a legitimate Xia daughter.
But if he had no merit in Kun Prefecture, with his aloof and proud nature, he probably wouldn't go begging for Sister Xia's hand.
And if Uncle Gu was even unluckier and died directly in Kun Prefecture, caught in the crossfire with the Earth Sect, other powers, and demonic forces—
Then it would be over once and for all, completely cutting off Sister Xia's hopes.
With her beloved dead, Sister Xia would likely be disheartened and submit to her family's arrangements.
Mo Hua couldn't help cursing, "The Xia family's Old Ancestor is like a dog."
"Doesn't do a single human thing."
Gu Changhuai was startled, knowing Mo Hua was indignant on his behalf, and was touched, but still said bitterly, "Watch your words. The Old Ancestor's cultivation is immense; you can't insult him, or you'll court disaster."
Mo Hua said nonchalantly, "It's fine, I've already cursed him."
Can their Xia family Old Ancestor follow the causal threads to find trouble with me?
Seeing Mo Hua's 'arrogant' demeanor, Gu Changhuai shook his head helplessly.
Among all the cultivators he had ever met, only this child Mo Hua dared to be so reckless and fearless in cursing a family's Old Ancestor.
Though he didn't know where Mo Hua got his confidence, it seemed no one could do anything to him.
Over the years, the oppression Gu Changhuai felt from the Dao Court's great families and the immensely powerful Cave Void Old Ancestors had cast a shadow over his heart. But now, for some reason, that shadow had lightened.
He even found Mo Hua's cursing voice quite pleasant.
The two chatted on about past events for a while. Seeing it was getting late, Gu Changhuai said regretfully, "I—still have official duties."
Mo Hua nodded. "Alright, I'll be going then. I'll come find you to chat again when I have time."
There were still many things he needed to ask Uncle Gu.
Gu Changhuai saw Mo Hua to the door of the Dao Court Department and found him a carriage. Suddenly recalling something, he cautioned, "Be very careful these days—"
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Gu Changhuai frowned. "I don't know how you scared off those demon heads, but those wretches won't let it go. From now on, the demonic path will definitely target you and try to harm you by any means—"
Gu Changhuai's expression grew even more helpless as he spoke. "Times are changing. Some great demon lords who haven't appeared in ages will gradually show themselves. No one knows what terrifying figures are still hiding in the shadows. You—must be extra careful—"
Mo Hua's expression also turned somewhat serious. He nodded. "Alright, I understand."
And at that very moment, following the incident at the Jade Fragrance Pavilion, the name 'Mo Hua' carried a strange oppressive force, spreading into the unknown demon lairs beneath Kun Prefecture, drawing the attention of one great demon lord after another—
Mo Hua's existence began to deeply intervene in the causality of the demonic path—