Chapter Thirty-Four: Sincerity

“Master Mo, please have a seat,” Luo Qishui gestured gracefully, picking up a delicate teapot and pouring Mo Bai a cup of tea. The fragrant aroma immediately filled the air, a sign that this was no ordinary brew.

Mo Bai nodded slightly and sat down as Luo Qishui had indicated. He took a sip of the tea and said, “Sister Luo, I imagine you must have many questions on your mind?”

Luo Qishui smiled gently and replied, “I believe your heart is much like mine at this moment.”

Mo Bai burst into hearty laughter. “Sister Luo, you are indeed a clever woman. I do have many questions. I was merely escorting a disciple of the Cloudsky Sect to face justice, but unexpectedly, I found myself accused of murder. If not for Sister Yunling’s intervention, I might have lost my life already.” He shook his head as he spoke, but only when mentioning Yunling did warmth flicker in his heart.

Luo Qishui mused, “Though I am Yun Tong’s wife, I hold little real status within the Cloudsky Sect. If you wish to learn something from me, I fear—”

Before Luo Qishui finished speaking, Mo Bai understood her meaning. He chuckled, “The Imperial Dragon Array was won by me in a bet with your esteemed father. Rest assured, first, your father is in perfect health and has no cause for unhappiness; all is well with him, and we have become close friends despite our age difference. Second, though I know this spiritual formation, I would never reveal it lightly, nor hand it over to anyone else,” Mo Bai declared resolutely.

Luo Qishui’s expression finally relaxed. Clearly, she had been worried about her father, for the Imperial Dragon Array was one of the three secret arts of the Luo family; few within the family itself could master it, let alone outsiders. When Mo Bai had demonstrated it earlier, her anxiety soared. Now, hearing her father was unharmed and Mo Bai would not use the formation lightly, she felt a measure of relief. As for how Mo Bai had bested her father, she could only wait for an opportunity to ask in person.

At this thought, Luo Qishui smiled and said, “Master Mo, what is it you wish to know?”

Mo Bai glanced at Luo Qishui, sensing her guard had dropped, and boldly asked, “Sister Luo, is the Cloudsky Sect truly as solid as outsiders believe, the leader among the five great cultivation sects of Linglong Continent?”

His question surprised Luo Qishui. Though prepared, she hadn’t expected Mo Bai to cut straight to the heart of the matter. She slowly rose, gazing out the window. A gentle breeze stirred the willows, but she noticed the sky had grown somewhat gloomy. Her brows furrowed in sudden resolve. She turned to Mo Bai, her tone agitated, “The Cloudsky Sect may be nearing the brink of life and death. The only question is, which straw will finally break the mountain?”

A flash of light appeared in Mo Bai’s eyes. “Please, Sister Luo, enlighten me!”

On Yunli Peak, Wuluohua held Nalan Xiner’s hand, feeling its soft smoothness—a touch of youthful promise. Unconsciously, Wuluohua hooked it with his pinky. Nalan Xiner giggled, “That tickles! Oh, you’re still holding my hand.” When Wuluohua had pulled her away, her mind had been on Mo Bai, forgetting the companion by her side.

Wuluohua smiled awkwardly and released her hand. “Xiner, do you know why Brother Mo sought out Sister Luo?”

Nalan Xiner paused, then said firmly, “It’s definitely not because Sister Luo is beautiful.”

Wuluohua shook his head. “Of course not.”

Nalan Xiner relaxed, then asked curiously, “Then why did Brother Mo go?”

Wuluohua sighed, “Because the Cloudsky Sect no longer has anyone he can trust.”

This single sentence stunned the usually sharp-tongued Nalan Xiner. She felt a subtle pressure, sensing something was wrong. “Brother Hua, how can that be? The Cloudsky Sect is a reputable school. Its cultivators are symbols of justice on Linglong Continent. How could there be no trustworthy people?”

Wuluohua gazed into the distance and smiled bitterly. “Xiner, you’re still too young.”

Nalan Xiner hated being called young—physically or mentally. She protested, “Then I want to know what makes someone untrustworthy.” She pouted, “My third granduncle, Master Yunfa, is the most upright person. He oversees the Hall of Justice and acts with integrity. Can’t Brother Mo trust him?”

Wuluohua replied firmly, “He cannot.” Seeing Nalan Xiner’s confusion, he continued, “If this had happened when we first arrived, perhaps Master Yunfa would remain impartial. But now, he too is a suspect. His heart can no longer dispense justice.”

Nalan Xiner pressed on, “What about Senior Brother Jiuxi? He’s the deputy of the Hall of Justice. If Granduncle Yunfa can’t preside, Senior Brother Jiuxi is surely trustworthy.”

Wuluohua shook his head, “No. Jiuxi is ambitious. He’s already hinted to Brother Mo that if Mo clears his name, Jiuxi will fully support him, ignoring all else.”

Nalan Xiner was puzzled. Wuluohua explained, “It’s his ambition. Deputy is never enough for him; his desires are personal, so he can’t be impartial.”

Nalan Xiner gasped, realizing something dreadful. “Is Senior Brother Jiuxi planning to use this to bring down Granduncle Yunfa?”

Wuluohua nodded. He saw that Nalan Xiner now grasped the gravity of the situation. She exclaimed, “We must report this to Second Granduncle at once! He’s the deputy leader; only he can stop this from happening.” In her mind, Jiuxi’s actions were almost treasonous, though Wuluohua’s suspicions lacked evidence.

Wuluohua seized her arm, his voice sharp, “No, we must not tell Master Yunkong.”

Nalan Xiner asked anxiously, “Why not, Brother Hua?”

Wuluohua hesitated before finally saying, “Because Master Yunkong is the most inscrutable. He’s the one Brother Mo cannot predict.”

Nalan Xiner was at a loss. “No one can be trusted—how will Brother Mo clear his name?” Her small jade hands twisted nervously, her sorrowful eyes fixed on Wuluohua.

Wuluohua gazed at the inner hall of Yunli Peak, thoughtful. “It all depends on whether Brother Mo can get what he needs from Sister Luo. Perhaps the day’s fog will soon lift.”

Wuluohua’s heart remained hopeful, for he believed in Mo Bai.

Within Yunli Peak’s inner chamber, Luo Qishui sat across from Mo Bai, her manner solemn. “Cloudsky Sect does indeed have problems—serious ones. Though my husband manages the finances, he can only speak his mind here on Yunli Peak, and cannot influence the overall situation. Ever since Senior Brother Yunjin retreated into seclusion atop Cloud Palace, there have been frequent changes in the leadership of key positions within the sect. It’s impossible not to harbor doubts.”

Mo Bai listened, realizing that some truths were finally beginning to surface.