Chapter 138: Smooth Sailing

Master Gu Meng took the wooden comb from Mo Bai's hand and examined it carefully for a long moment before asking, "Mo Bai, where did you obtain this comb?"

Mo Bai smiled slightly and replied, "I had a chance encounter with Master Ku Zhi of the Yuntian Sect, and he gave this item to me. He instructed me to bring it to you here at the Yihua Sect to seek your help in opening the spirit gate for Wu Luohua."

Master Gu Meng nodded, then suddenly asked, "Has something unusual occurred within the Yuntian Sect?" Her eyes sharpened, becoming exceptionally piercing as she stared intently at Mo Bai.

It was the first time Mo Bai had been subjected to such a gaze, especially from the head of the Yihua Sect. He felt an invisible pressure and thought to himself, *How sharp she is; she was able to deduce that the Yuntian Sect had undergone changes just from a wooden comb.* After a brief moment of reflection, he reasoned that since Master Ku Zhi had sent him to her, he must trust her implicitly; therefore, there was no need to keep secrets from her. Furthermore, since Master Yun Fa had already revealed to Hong Lin Nu in Guihai City that he was no longer the head of the Punishment Hall, the truth would eventually reach the ears of the Yihua Sect leader anyway. It would be better to speak plainly now, as it might earn her trust and benefit Little Hua.

With this in mind, Mo Bai pondered and said, "Indeed, you are correct. Some time ago, the Yuntian Sect faced internal problems. Master Yun Kong, the former deputy head and one of the Six Sons of Yuntian, turned out to be a mole planted by the Demon Sect. It happened that while I was escorting a criminal disciple of the sect to face justice, Yun Kong attempted to use me to eliminate Master Yun Fa, who was growing too powerful and no longer under his control. This led to a crisis within the sect. However, the matter has been settled; Yun Kong has been punished, and the Yuntian Sect is now under the leadership of Yun Ling. Everything has returned to normal." As he mentioned Yun Ling, he faltered, suddenly recalling that extraordinary woman. *Are you doing well now?*

Before Mo Bai could dwell on it, Master Gu Meng said, "Mo Bai, you make it sound simple, but I am sure the situation was deeply tangled. And if I am not mistaken, this catastrophe at the Yuntian Sect was averted by your own hand, much like at the Lingjue Tournament." Her tone was sharp, giving Mo Bai no chance to deflect.

Mo Bai looked at her as she scrutinized him and smiled calmly. "Perhaps I was just lucky." He then changed the subject, asking, "I wonder if, for the sake of Master Ku Zhi, you would be willing to help my brother, Wu Luohua, and see if there is any way to open his spirit gate? It would be a great act of kindness."

Master Gu Meng stood up slowly, fiddling with the wooden comb, and laughed heartily. "I will help. I will certainly help."

A scar on Mo Bai's brow twitched inexplicably. He asked, "Would you be able to return the comb to me, Senior? One day, I would like to return it to Master Ku Zhi personally."

Master Gu Meng reached out and handed the comb back to Mo Bai. "Very well," she said. "Since you and your friends have traveled a long way, go and rest in the guest courtyard for the night. After our morning lessons tomorrow, bring the young master of the Wu family here. I must see for myself what kind of difficult, incurable condition has left both the Wu family and Master Ku Zhi of the Yuntian Sect at a loss."

Mo Bai bowed and said, "Thank you, Master. I will not disturb you further."

Master Gu Meng nodded and spoke toward the door, "Yu Rou, take Hero Mo to the guest courtyard to rest."

"As you command, Master." Yu Rou, who had been waiting outside, politely opened the side gate of the courtyard and smiled at Mo Bai. "Hero Mo, please, this way."

Inside the guest courtyard, Wu Luohua and Nalan Xin'er were chatting in the company of Hong Lin Nu. Seeing Mo Bai return, they all stood up. Hong Lin Nu chuckled and said, "Mo Bai, you really are a man of unfathomable depth."

Mo Bai paused, confused. "Why do you say that, Miss Hong?"

Hong Lin Nu smiled. "I have followed my Master for many years. I can tell from the expression of anyone who meets her whether they succeeded or failed in their errand. You are the only one who showed no flicker of emotion. Does that not make you unfathomable?"

Mo Bai laughed, realizing. "Haha, you tease me, Miss Hong. It is just that I was beaming with joy the moment I stepped out of Master Gu Meng's residence, and I have only just calmed down now."

"Oh? Is that so?" Hong Lin Nu seemed skeptical.

Nalan Xin'er, however, was already brimming with excitement. She turned to Wu Luohua and said, "Brother Little Hua, it seems Master Gu Meng has agreed to open your spirit gate! You are not far from entering the ranks of the cultivation experts. If you practice for another hundred years or so, you might reach my level."

Little Hua felt a headache coming on and asked, "And what if I wanted to reach Mo's level?"

The little girl began counting on her fingers, and everyone burst into laughter. Mo Bai asked, "Little Hua, why isn't Miss Gan here?"

Little Hua gave a helpless smile. Hong Lin Nu replied, "Sister Gan is a very sensible woman. She feared that seeing Young Master Wu today would cause him emotional fluctuations, which might affect the opening of his spirit gate tomorrow."

Mo Bai nodded. "Gan Yu is indeed a thoughtful girl."

Little Hua sighed, "True, but I wonder how she is so sure that Mo will succeed. She doesn't realize that her confidence only makes me more anxious."

Mo Bai laughed. "She must have been praying for your success at the temples. You should be satisfied! If everything goes well tomorrow, you will likely stay at the Yihua Sect for some time, and then you won't have to worry about meeting Miss Gan."

Little Hua spread his hands. "I hope so."

Just as the atmosphere grew slightly awkward, the little demoness remarked, "Oh, Brother Little Hua, I don't have enough fingers! If you want to catch up to Brother Mo's strength, you might have to lend me your fingers to count it out."

"Aunt, you have been so busy these past few days that I have finally managed to see you." In a quiet, secluded courtyard, a free-spirited woman walked in. She was pretty, but her short black hair made her look quite unique.

"Ah, it is Zi Yan. Come in, child." The one speaking was Master Gu Yu. Today, she had given Gan Yu half a day off to visit with Nalan Xin'er, which had given Mu Ziyan the opportunity to pay her respects to her aunt.