Chapter 161: A Clever Conveyance

Mo Bai and the others stepped out of the Qionghua Hall on Duifeng Mountain and arrived once again at the pavilion at the foot of the mountain. They never imagined that so many events could unfold in the span of just a few hurried days. Reflecting upon their initial ascent to the Yihua Sect, they had started with a simple and singular intention, yet after enduring so much, they had still failed to secure a method to open the spiritual barrier of the Spirit Cultivators for Xiaohua.

"Xiaohua, have you truly decided to pursue the path of physical spiritual cultivation?" Mo Bai stood beside the pavilion. This was a fork in the road; one path led toward the Purple Dragon Palace, while the other wound back to the Wu family estate.

Wu Luohua glanced once more at the picturesque Duifeng Mountain, recalling the woman with whom he had made a vow. At this very moment, she was perhaps longing for him, yet he ultimately had to walk the path of spiritual cultivation. In truth, Xiaohua had also considered that if he were to take Ganyu right now, escorted safely by Mo Bai back to the Wu family manor, and spend the rest of his life never stepping foot outside again, growing old together with Ganyu, it might not have been a bad choice. However, they were both so young; could they simply be content to spend their entire lives sheltering beneath the wings of their elders? Spiritual cultivators could maintain their youth and refine their bodies, but they could never achieve enlightenment, ascend to immortality, or attain eternal life. Eventually, the day would come when he, the eldest grandson of the Wu family, would have to step onto the public stage. Could he really allow the Wu family to decline when that moment arrived?

Wu Luohua refused to let that happen, and he knew that Ganyu certainly would not be willing to bear such a damning reputation—the reproach of being a woman who caused the young master of the Wu family to lose his fighting spirit out of mere lust. Ganyu, too, needed to complete her studies so that she would be a match of equal social standing for the young master of the Wu family. Understanding Ganyu's inner thoughts, Xiaohua hardened his heart; he would have to endure greater pain and loneliness, and put forth far more effort than ordinary people. He looked at Mo Bai, knowing that Mo Bai was asking him for the very last time. Once this decision was made, it might alter many things—including himself, Mo Bai, and even Ganyu and Xin'er.

"Big Brother Mo, if I were to return to the Wu family right now, would there no longer be any places with delicious food along the way?" Wu Luohua suddenly asked.

Mo Bai smiled faintly and replied, "Perhaps. At least, as far as I know, there won't be."

Wu Luohua nodded, flicked his folding fan, and sighed, "Ah, these past few days at the Yihua Sect have been so dull and tasteless it could drive a man mad. I heard that on the way to the Purple Dragon Palace, one passes by the Divine Blade Li family. The mistress of the Li family is said to be a woman from exotic foreign lands who roasts mutton to absolute perfection—hailed as a peerless delicacy under heaven. I wonder if Big Brother Mo has any acquaintance with the Divine Blade Li family, so that your younger brother might satisfy his appetite?"

Mo Bai laughed heartily. "You rascal, resorting to devious methods now! It is a great pity, however, that I truly have no acquaintance with the Divine Blade Li family. I am afraid I must disappoint you this time." Mo Bai knew that by saying this, Xiaohua had made up his mind to head toward the Purple Dragon Palace.

"It matters not that Brother Mo does not know them; I happen to have some connections. Why don't we travel together?" a soft voice suddenly chimed in. Everyone turned to look and was surprised to see Yuzhi, the second disciple of the Daoist Master Gu Meng.

Mo Bai cupped his fists in greeting and said, "Lady Yuzhi, are you leaving the mountain once more, or are you here specifically to see us off?"

Yuzhi smiled faintly. "Brother Mo jests. Yuzhi loves to travel the length and breadth of the land. Although my stay on Duifeng Mountain was rather brief this time, I have experienced a great deal. If the Yihua Sect is to prosper and remain stable, I must frequently leave Duifeng Mountain. As it happens, I have matters to attend to that require passing by the Divine Blade Li family. I wonder if Brother Mo would be willing to let me accompany you for a stretch of the journey?"

Mo Bai looked at Yuzhi with admiration. "With a lady so righteous and public-spirited, how could I, Mo Bai, have any reason not to wish to travel with you?" How could Mo Bai fail to understand what was in Yuzhi's heart? Although the Yihua Sect still appeared outwardly secure after the recent conflict involving Mo Bai, Daoist Master Gu Meng had deeply sensed the looming crisis. The leader of a grand sect, one of the five major orthodox spiritual cultivation sects, had nearly been defeated by a young man who previously possessed no fame whatsoever on the Exquisite Continent. This was not merely an insult to Daoist Master Gu Meng; it was a wake-up call. As the most important outer-circle disciple of the Yihua Sect, Yuzhi bore a heavy burden on her shoulders. For the Yihua Sect to endure long-term, it had to be strong within and harmonious without. Internal strength meant that the disciples must seize every moment to cultivate their spirituality without the slightest internal wavering. Yuzhi's departure undoubtedly provided a tremendous safeguard in this regard; at the very least, for a short period, the Yihua Sect would not disintegrate from within. External harmony, on the other hand, relied heavily upon Yuzhi's capabilities. For instance, during the recent Spirit-Rising Tournament in Guihai City, if not for the intervention of the Yuntian Sect, the Yihua Sect likely would not have gained such a massive advantage—even with Mo Bai's emergence—let alone achieve what could almost be called a complete victory. This only highlighted the paramount importance of external harmony. As the saying goes, when one party is in trouble, support comes from all quarters. Although the Yihua Sect possessed a renowned reputation, it still required others to offer timely assistance in moments of critical need. Without a doubt, Yuzhi had made a personal sacrifice.

A ripple stirred in Yuzhi's heart as she looked at the man before her. He seemed capable of understanding the true purpose behind everything she did. Such a man was enough to drive any woman to distraction, yet she—an ordained Daoist nun bearing such a heavy responsibility—could only harbor a quiet sorrow. Perhaps this was simply one's destiny, or rather, a woman's destiny. Some women dared to love and hate fiercely, yet certain women could never afford to do so. Yuzhi offered a calm and graceful smile, feeling that being able to journey alongside Mo Bai for a portion of life's path was a blessing in its own right. "Brother Mo flatters me. Yuzhi is merely a drop of water in the vast ocean of the Yihua Sect, and there is no grand righteousness to speak of."

Before Mo Bai could reply, an aged yet somewhat childlike voice sounded: "Little Yuzhi, you are leaving again? Why aren't you coming to visit Grandpa Cuizhu this time? Old woman, stop pulling me! I've said it before, the food on Duifeng Mountain is so bland it could drive a man mad. Look, didn't this young fellow just say the exact same thing?"

Everyone turned to look and saw Grandfather Cuizhu and Granny Yinhua approaching. Granny Yinhua wore an expression of utter fury as she snapped, "You old fossil, what do you mean by that? Are you saying the food I cook is unpalatable? Don't think I don't know the little schemes playing out in your mind! You took an oath never to leave Duifeng Mountain, so you want Little Yuzhi to collect delicacies from all over the world for you, to bring them back when she returns or have someone else forward them to you. You've hatched a clever plan indeed! If you were to get addicted to eating like that, what would become of me in the future?" Both of these elderly people were well past ninety years of age, yet they still spoke of "the future," which showed just how wonderfully youthful their mindsets remained.

Grandfather Cuizhu smacked his lips and whimpered pitifully, "You two young men, while you are still young, enjoy yourselves to the fullest! And as for taking a wife, don't be in any rush at all. Look at how pitiful I am—aiyah, old woman, stop pinching my ear! With so many people watching, at least give me a shred of face, won't you? Aiyah, aiyah!" Just as the old man finished complaining, his ear was seized by Granny Yinhua, causing him to instantly leap up in pain. Yet no matter how wildly Grandfather Cuizhu hopped about, Granny Yinhua's hand remained latched onto his ear without releasing it for even a fraction of a second. To anyone else, this might have looked like a pair of aging mischief-makers acting playfully, but in Mo Bai's eyes, his gaze suddenly flashed with brilliant insight.

Yuzhi seemed to catch the underlying meaning as well. Only then did she realize that these two elders were secretly imparting some profound spiritual arts to her. Judging by matters of seniority, these two elders belonged to the generation of her grandmaster; they were the sole surviving pillars of the Yihua Sect. To have either of them offer personal instruction would normally be as difficult as ascending to the heavens. They had even taken vows never to accept any disciples, yet they held a deep fondness for the clever young Yuzhi, and thus chose this unique method to impart their arts. As for whether others possessed the fortune and the level of intelligence to grasp it, that depended entirely on their own destiny and affinity.

Grandfather Cuizhu's ear had turned bright red from Granny Yinhua's pinching, but casting a stealthy glance, he saw Yuzhi's expression and knew that she had already comprehended the lesson. With an exaggerated squawk, he cried out, "Old woman, don't go too far! With so many people here, you leave me no face at all. See how I deal with you!" With that, he executed a reverse movement, twisting his body through the air in an unfathomable shift of stance, instantly leaving Granny Yinhua without any opening or time to continue pinching his ear.

Even Wu Luohua let out a sound of surprise at this sight. He shook his folding fan and began to watch with rapt interest. Only the little enchantress Nalan Xin'er watched purely for the spectacle, because in her eyes, she failed to perceive any profound footwork in their movements; instead, everything appeared remarkably slow and clear. She had no idea that her pair of purple eyes had already unconsciously begun to memorize these exquisite spiritual cultivation techniques.

Seeing that her previous method could no longer keep pace with Grandfather Cuizhu's footwork, Granny Yinhua immediately altered her tactics. Instead of using rapid motions to catch Grandfather Cuizhu, her movements grew increasingly sluggish and slow. Yet Grandfather Cuizhu's pressure escalated dramatically; no matter how swiftly he darted and maneuvered, he found himself utterly unable to escape Granny Yinhua's sphere of control. This sudden shift had Grandfather Cuizhu breaking out in a heavy sweat.

While ordinary observers could not make sense of it, Lady Yuzhi understood clearly. This was another supreme secret technique of the Yihua Sect, distinct from the Yihua Formula—the Vessel-Clearing Hand. Although it appeared ordinary on the surface, it secretly embodied a deeply profound mental cultivation. Unlike the overwhelming destructive power unleashed by the Yihua Formula, the Vessel-Clearing Hand emphasized the clever application of close-quarters combat, bearing a closer resemblance to the physical spiritual cultivation lineage, yet possessing its own unique traits. In this brief instant, Yuzhi felt as though she had matured significantly.

Wu Luohua on the other side also found his rhythm. After all, he had previously experienced the technique used by Daoist Master Gu Meng to clear his spiritual barriers, and he now found this method remarkably familiar.

Granny Yinhua glanced sideways and saw Yuzhi continuously nodding, knowing that the clandestine instruction had achieved its purpose and that whatever remained depended entirely on Yuzhi's own comprehension and cultivation. With a sharp shout, she declared, "Old fellow, let's see where you can run!"

Grandfather Cuizhu suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Old woman, for all these years I have remained under your thumb, but this time I shall display the supreme art of the Li family before outsiders!" Following his laughter, Grandfather Cuizhu flicked a single hand, and a flash of cold light—like a streak of lightning—darted forth from his palm, instantly piercing straight through the net of spiritual energy Granny Yinhua had cast, charging directly toward her!