Otherwise, I’d really be down on my luck.
Even if it doesn’t get that bad, it’d still be a massive embarrassnt.
The dignified junior brother of Taixu Gate, Formation Leader of Qianxue State Boundary, sneaking around in a Hundred Flower Valley Taoist Robe, quietly blending into Hundred Flower Valley.
If people ever found out...
Just thinking about it made Mo Hua’s scalp tingle.
The New Year banquet kept rolling on, and Mo Hua didn’t dare do anything else, didn’t dare say a word, didn’t even dare look around, just kept his head down quietly, eating at the table until the very end of the banquet.
During that ti, the strikingly beautiful Hua Valley Master only exchanged a couple of polite words with Patriarch Gu, then sat alone, drinking her wine.
She had status, looked gorgeous, carried an elegant air—and her presence was imnse.
She didn’t speak, and no one in the room dared disturb her.
Once the banquet ended, Hua Valley Master rose to leave, Gu Shouyan and Master Xia all stood up to see her off.
"Sorry for the lackluster hospitality. Please forgive us," said Gu Shouyan.
Hua Valley Master smiled softly. "Sorry to impose. Thank you for your trouble, Patriarch Gu."
Gu Shouyan cupped his fists. "Not at all, I’ll walk you out."
Hua Valley Master gave a slight nod, and just before leaving, she glanced back at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua had drunk a lot, the alcohol still lingering, his cheeks flushed with a trace of red, but his eyes were even brighter than usual; he stood well-behaved on the high platform, looking shy and quiet.
Hua Valley Master’s thoughts stirred, and couldn’t help but recall, the scene in the upper pavilion—when she saw Mo Hua dressed in Hundred Flower Valley Taoist Robe, walking down that flowery mountain path in a riot of color.
"This kid, wearing my Hundred Flower Valley Taoist Robe... actually looked pretty damn good..."
After just that single glance, Hua Valley Master turned, left the Gu family hall, and climbed into the Hundred Flower Valley carriage, surrounded by a bevy of Hundred Flower Valley won.
Inside the lavish, fragrant carriage covered in floral silk and brocade.
Hua Valley Master sat upright for a long while, then silently took out a treasured sword.
The sword was inlaid with gold and jade, ancient and precious, with the words "Dragon Spring" inscribed upon the blade.
But the sword was covered in dust, and hadn’t left its sheath in ages, just like its forr master—a hidden gem, long lost to ti and hardship.
Hua Valley Master gently stroked the Dragon Spring Sword, her expression wistful, half-muttering to herself, half speaking to the sword:
"That day at the Formation Competition, I saw this kid, relying on his own strength, suppressing the Four Great Sects and hundreds of sects’ prodigies... cold and fierce, with a deanor that defied the whole world. He reminded so much of you. For a mont I wondered, maybe there’s so kind of fate between him and you..."
"But seeing him today, he’s just too shy and cute. Plus, no bloodline, and his Spiritual Root is weak. You never took in disciples like that."
"The disciples you chose... I can’t imagine them strutting around in my Hundred Flower Valley Taoist Robe, barging into my valley..."
Her face twisted into sothing between a smile and a sigh, then finally settled into deep lancholy.
So mories, when you first recall them, taste sweet. But the longer you chew on them, the more they leave you with a bitter aftertaste. The more you dwell, the more it hurts.
"In this lifeti... will I ever see you again..."
Every word stabbed straight to the heart.
But the Dragon Spring Sword lay silent, unable to reply.
...
At the Gu family, in the banquet hall.
Mo Hua watched as Hua Valley Master departed, imdiately feeling a huge weight lift from his shoulders.
"Guess I dodged a bullet..."
"From now on, I’ll never show my face again. This life—never, ever going to Hundred Flower Valley. Hell no, not happening..."
Then a question nagged at him.
That Hua Valley Master, the seriously beautiful one... she seed to carry a lot of weight?
Not only did the always serious and upright Patriarch Gu defer to her, even Sumr Family’s Sixth Grade, Dao Court Inspector Master Xia bent over backward not to offend her.
Why?
Hundred Flower Valley, at the end of the day, is just one of the Twelve Sects, right...
Isn’t she just the Sect Leader of Hundred Flower Valley?
Unless this Hua Valley Master actually has another, deeper background? Or so kind of remarkable origin?
Mo Hua pondered, didn’t co up with much, so decided not to overthink it. Wasn’t his problem anyway.
As long as he avoided that pretty Valley Master from now on, and didn’t let her catch him again, he’d be fine.
Mo Hua gave a quiet sigh.
He’d originally thought, like every year, this banquet was just a chance to freeload a nice al. Never expected to bump into so many unexpected people.
And huge players, all of them.
Still, he managed to muddle through—and picked up a ton of hush-hush big family secrets. Worth it, honestly.
And with that... the banquet wrapped up.
Guests trickled out, one by one.
Mo Hua, per usual, strolled around the Gu family’s courtyard, working off so food, and accidentally ran into Elder Gu Hong.
Elder Gu Hong was dressed all in red, beaming with joy.
Mo Hua asked curiously, "Elder Hong, sothing good happen? How co you’re in such a good mood?"
Elder Gu Hong saw it was Mo Hua, pulled him over to sit and poured him tea, piled on fruit. "Here, eat, let tell you."
Mo Hua was already stuffed, but picked up a slice of lon anyway and nibbled at it.
"It’s about Changhuai," Elder Gu Hong said with satisfaction, "These past days, a bunch of families from the Qianxue State Boundary have co to about proposing marriage..."
Mo Hua was a little surprised. "Uncle Gu’s stock is rising?"
"Rising stock, huh? You brat..." Elder Gu Hong grumbled, but clearly didn’t mind at all—he couldn’t even hide his smile.
"So what happened?" Mo Hua pressed, curious.
Elder Gu Hong explained, "Told you before, Changhuai is a Supervisor, which, on paper, is a pretty sweet gig. But for marriages among the big families? Not so much. It’s risky, it’s tough, you’re away from ho all year round."
"Don’t take bribes, and the pay’s crap. Take bribes, and you end up sliding down the Outer Gate Evil Path if you’re not careful."
"Plus, Changhuai’s personality—you know how he is. That’s why proposing matches for him always hit a wall."
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