Chapter 253: The Pursuit
The next day, they entered the mountains to capture the Bald Monk and, incidentally, to rescue Kong Sheng, whose fate was still unknown.
The Dao Court Division of Tōngxiān City dispatched ten Law Enforcers , led by Head Law Enforcer Officer Zhang Lan. From Qīngxuán City, Lu Hui was in charge. The demon hunters only had three people: Ji Qingbai, Mo Shan, and Mo Hua.
Mo Shan had a connection with Ji Qingbai and was concerned about Mo Hua, so he joined them in venturing into the Great Black Mountain.
Lu Hui didn't pay much attention to the personnel arrangement at first, but when he saw Mo Hua, he furrowed his brows.
"Head Enforcer Zhang, what is this young cultivator's role?" Lu Hui asked, his gaze sharp.
"We need him to guide us through the mountains," Zhang Lan replied calmly.
"Guide us? Rely on him?"
Lu Hui looked a bit stunned and even slightly contemptuous.
Zhang Lan glanced at him. "Head Enforcer Lu, do you have a problem with that?"
Lu Hui smiled faintly. "Not at all."
He didn't say anything further, but silently thought: 'Is it that the demon hunters are lacking, or that your Dao Court Division is incompetent, to let such a kid lead the way?'
The group left the city and entered the Great Black Mountain, passing the outer ridges and heading into the inner mountains.
The terrain grew perilous, the forest dark and eerie, and the miasma far thicker.
They took out anti-miasma pills and consumed them, then found a temporary campsite.
"What are your plans, Head Enforcer Zhang?" Lu Hui asked.
Zhang Lan didn't want to engage him too much, but since they were working together, he had to clarify.
"The inner mountains are set with formations. If a battle occurs, we will detect it."
"Elder Yu also instructed that demon hunters should avoid hunting in the mountains for these few days, so if a fight breaks out, aside from beasts clashing, it's likely the Bald Monk is at work..."
Lu Hui's eyes narrowed. "Such formations exist? Which master created them?"
Mo Hua remained expressionless beside him.
Zhang Lan cast him a glance, silently thinking: "It's the handiwork of this 'master' beside you."
But he didn't say it outright, only: "You'll find out soon enough."
Lu Hui frowned in confusion.
Zhang Lan didn't bother to explain further and continued:
"We'll split into two teams, each carrying a compass formation. If a battle occurs, we investigate. Even if we encounter the Bald Monk, don't act immediately; wait until everyone is together."
Mo Shan and Mo Hua each carried a compass, splitting into teams. Over the next few days, they patrolled the mountains, searching for clues about the criminal cultivators, meeting at the camp each night.
Several days passed, yet no sign of the Bald Monk appeared, nor any trace of criminal cultivators. Everyone gradually grew puzzled.
However, this was like demon hunters searching for prey in the mountains; patience was necessary.
After several days of fruitless searching, Mo Hua rested at the edge of a dense forest.
His team included Zhang Lan, Lu Hui, and a few other Dao Court cultivators. Mo Shan and Ji Qingbai were in the other team.
Mo Hua took a sip of water and said to Zhang Lan, "Strange… why can't we find them?"
Zhang Lan frowned. "It is indeed odd."
"Could the Bald Monk have already left the Great Black Mountain?"
Zhang Lan pondered. "It's possible."
"If that's the case, Young Master Kong is probably dead and gone," Mo Hua said, a hint of schadenfreude in his tone.
Lu Hui shot him a cold glare. "Young man, watch your words."
"Fine," Mo Hua rephrased with a sigh. "Young Master Kong's situation might be dire."
Lu Hui's eyelids twitched.
Zhang Lan sighed. Even at this moment, Mo Hua still had the energy for quips.
But on second thought, this matter was none of Mo Hua's business; he would probably prefer that the Bald Monk kill Kong Sheng.
Zhang Lan actually felt the same way, but with a mission in hand, he couldn't shirk responsibility.
After resting briefly, they continued to track the compass' glowing points.
Most points showed battles among beasts, and a few were other demon hunters—none of the criminal cultivators.
By afternoon, they encountered a small group of four or five demon hunters, dressed like Tōngxiān City hunters, though Mo Hua had never seen them.
He asked, "Where are you demon hunters from?"
One hunter smiled. "We're from Tōngxiān City, young man."
Mo Hua asked about the route and whether they had seen any strange cultivators.
The hunters replied: "No other cultivators were seen."
Mo Hua nodded and parted ways, walking a few steps before giving Zhang Lan a subtle signal.
Zhang Lan's gaze sharpened, and he nodded slightly, signaling the other Dao Court cultivators. They quietly trailed the demon hunters to a valley.
Once the hunters entered the valley, they disappeared from view.
Mo Hua said, "This must be their lair."
Lu Hui asked, puzzled, "How do you know they aren't demon hunters?"
"Because they claimed to be from Tōngxiān City, but I've never seen them before."
Lu Hui frowned. "There are nearly a thousand demon hunters in Tōngxiān City... you know them all?"
Mo Hua ignored him and said to Zhang Lan, "Let's prepare to act."
Zhang Lan nodded. "I'll gather everyone."
The Dao Court cultivators quickly mobilized as instructed.
Only Lu Hui's gaze on Mo Hua was dark and cold.
...
Night fell, and the valley faintly glimmered with firelight, accompanied by the murmur of cultivators.
Zhang Lan's team gathered outside the valley, hiding behind a large rock and tall surrounding grass.
Zhang Lan whispered, "I've observed them all afternoon, about twenty people. The Bald Monk and the one-eyed cultivator are inside."
This was more than expected, either leftover from the Bald Monk's previous concealment or recently gathered criminals.
They were not numerically superior, so any strike had to be a surprise attack.
Ji Qingbai said, "They're probably drinking. We could strike now, but the darkness might allow some to escape. Best to wait until dawn."
Mo Shan nodded. "Attack at daybreak. They'll be intoxicated and drowsy; the timing will be ideal."
Zhang Lan: "Agreed"
After discussing details with Mo Shan and Ji Qingbai, Lu Hui remained silent, occasionally glancing at Ji Qingbai.
Zhang Lan added, "We must seal the mountain entrance."
The valley was hidden, with only one entrance, easy to defend, hard to attack. Sealing it would trap the criminals completely.
But guarding the entrance with people alone would be difficult.
Zhang Lan looked at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua nodded. "I'll seal the entrance."
Using his Divine-Sense, Mo Hua scanned the valley. The criminals were drunk and careless, unaware of his presence. He crept closer under cover of darkness.
The dim night and blurred vision concealed him. Even if the criminals noticed, his partial concealment technique would prevent them from identifying him.
This technique worked poorly during the day but was far more effective at night.
Moreover, with his powerful Divine-Sense deliberately masked, even scans would fail to detect him.
Time was short, and Mo Hua hadn't prepared a Earth-Fire Formation in advance, so he had to improvise.
He crouched at the valley entrance, took out a formation brush, dipped it in ink, and drew several Earth-Fire formations on the rocks.
Zhang Lan and the others were accustomed to this.
Only Lu Hui was stunned. He never expected this kid to be a formation master!
(End of chapter)