Immortality Through Array Formations

Chapter 977: Chapter 644: Water Concealing Jade Chapter 977: Chapter 644: Water Concealing Jade The next day, Mo Hua took leave of absence and departed from the Taixu Gate, first making his way to the Taoist Court at the Qianxue State Boundary.

This was the arrangement he had made with Gu Changhuai.

They would meet at the Taoist Court and then set off for Bishan City.

Within the Taoist Court, Gu Changhuai had specifically returned to accompany Mo Hua and passed him a storage bag.

“What’s this?” Mo Hua inquired.

“Consider it supplies distributed by the Taoist Court for the mission,” Gu Changhuai replied indifferently.

Mo Hua opened the storage bag and saw some pills, spirit stones, runes, and an official Taoist robe inside.

“Don’t wear your Taixu Gate clothes; they’re too conspicuous. Change into this official robe…”

“Oh.”

Mo Hua changed into the Court’s official Taoist robe, looking both charming and dignified.

However, the robe was baggy, with sleeves that were too long, clearly a size too large.

“Uncle Gu, the clothes are too big…”

“Just make do with it; that’s already the smallest size we have…”

“Can’t it be tailored?”

Gu Changhuai appeared somewhat helpless, “You’re an external hire, just make do. How could we tailor one specifically for you?”

Mo Hua muttered under his breath, “So stingy…”

The grand Fifth grade Taoist Court of the Qianxue State Boundary was really pinching pennies.

No help for it, the matter of the Fire Buddha was urgent.

Mo Hua could only tighten his belt, roll up his sleeves, and eagerly said:

“Let’s set out.”

They had seven days to catch the Fire Buddha and obtain the Meteor Fire Skill; there wasn’t much time to waste.

“Mhm,” Gu Changhuai nodded.

Afterward, Gu Changhuai led Mo Hua out of the Taoist Court.

They had just reached halfway when they came face to face with a middle-aged man dressed in a black Supervisor robe, with narrow eyes and a pale complexion, but a smiling face.

“Supervisor Gu.”

The man greeted him with a smile.

Gu Changhuai’s gaze turned cold, unwillingly responding:

“Master Xiao.”

Mo Hua, standing to the side, secretly observed Gu Changhuai, noticing his cold demeanor, it appeared that he was not friendly with this Supervisor surnamed “Xiao.”

It seemed the relationship between the two was not very good.

Master Xiao wanted to say more, but then he noticed Mo Hua and his expression revealed a hint of surprise.

“This young cultivator…”

Clad in an official Taoist Court robe, yet it obviously didn’t fit, as if it was hastily found and thrown on.

Wearing the official robe signified his affiliation with the Taoist Court.

But judging by his height and appearance, he was but a naive little cultivator, unlikely to have been admitted into the Taoist Court.

Moreover, he was following Gu Changhuai, known for keeping others at a distance like a “Cold-Faced Judge.”

That made it even more mysterious…

“Who might this young brother be…”

Master Xiao, with a springtime warmth in his face but eyes that carried a predatory chill, made others feel uncomfortable.

Mo Hua immediately gave him the nickname “Smiling Tiger” in his heart.

Just as he was pondering how to concoct an excuse to deal with this Smiling Tiger, Gu Changhuai coldly interjected:

“Master Xiao, we’re on official business.”

Master Xiao, interrupted, could only turn to Gu Changhuai, his eyes shifting, but his smile unaffected as he inquired:

“Supervisor Gu, still busy with the Fire Buddha case?”

“Yes.”

“It has been quite a while, hasn’t it…”

Gu Changhuai remained silent.

Master Xiao sighed, “The Fire Buddha’s slaughter was atrocious, causing widespread panic; the higher-ups are taking it seriously, the Court Leader is under pressure…”

“But… although the case is complicated, taking this long to resolve it indeed looks bad.”

“No one blames the superiors; they blame Supervisor Gu for not being efficient enough…”

“Perhaps…” Master Xiao’s eyes hardened as he spoke quietly, “Just catch a few, close the case, and give an account to those above…”

Gu Changhuai, with a penetrating gaze, asked, “Is that the Court Leader’s suggestion, or is it your own, Master Xiao?”

Master Xiao’s expression stalled, with a forced smile he said:

“Supervisor Gu, I wouldn’t dare to jest like that…”

“Both of us are Supervisors; we simply carry out the orders from above, remember not to…”

Master Xiao’s smile slightly faded, his voice carrying a profound message, “Take matters into your own hands…”

Gu Changhuai lost his patience, his face immediately darkening without any pretense of politeness as he said:

“Do your own Supervisor duties, and don’t think about teaching me how to do my job.”

Master Xiao paused.

Gu Changhuai snorted disdainfully and walked away.

Mo Hua, careful in observation and minding his words, pretended to hear nothing and closely followed Gu Changhuai in departure.

Only Master Xiao remained, standing in place.

The smile on his face gradually faded, and he sneered softly:

“The people of the Gu Family are still so naive; sooner or later, they’ll perish clean…”

…

Sitting on the carriage bound for Bishan City, Mo Hua quietly asked:

“Uncle Gu, does that Master Xiao have a grudge against you?”

Gu Changhuai, lost in thought, did not reply.

Mo Hua inquired again, “He’s not a spy within the Taoist Court, is he?”

Caught off guard, Gu Changhuai exclaimed, “How did you figure that out?”

“Just a feeling…”

Gu Changhuai, with a touch of exasperation, “The Taoist Court doesn’t proceed on mere feelings…”

“Master Xiao…”

Mo Hua muttered, then pondered aloud, “To be appointed as a Supervisor, he must also be a noble family’s son, surnamed Xiao; does the Xiao family, like the Gu family, have close ties to the Taoist Court?”

Gu Changhuai appeared somewhat surprised, but he nodded and said:

“Yes, the Xiao family’s influence in the Taoist Court is greater than the Gu family’s; the current Court Leader of the Fifth grade Taoist Court in the Qianxue State Boundary is from the Xiao family…”

“Oh…”

Mo Hua nodded, then curiously continued:

“Then this Master Xiao…”

“Stop asking,” Gu Changhuai interrupted Mo Hua, “You shouldn’t pry into the affairs of the Xiao family; it’s best to stay away from them to avoid bringing trouble upon yourself…”